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Well hello again, old friends. Lots of great titles once again this week––DC and Marvel are really at the top of their game right now. There is some bad news, however, as all of you who have already journeyed to the shop will have noticed––Infinite Crisis is shipping a week late. Sigh.

SPOTLIGHT ISSUES:

Astonishing X-Men #13:

After what seemed like a lifetime, Joss Whedon and John Cassaday’s Astonishing X-Men is back, and it’s bi-monthly. When last we left the team, Emma Frost had been revealed as a member of the new Hellfire Club, and the rest of the X-Men were left licking their wounds after barely defeating…that’s right, the Danger Room. This issue, which I can thankfully say is artificial intelligence free, is a good start to the next 12 issues. If you liked the first year's worth of stories (and I did, including the rocky Danger arc), you’ll find issue 13 familiar––Whedon’s usual great dialogue, Cassaday’s “usual” pencils, which may be the best in comics. This issue is pretty slow–– mostly just nightmares, a great Wolverine moment, and a surprising last page––but it sets the stage for what could be another great ride.

FUN SIZE REVIEWS:

Storm #1:

Eric Jerome Dickey (who signed comics for tons of fans at Pulp Fiction last Saturday) makes his comics debut with this, the first issue of a new six part Storm miniseries. It’s a good start––his style fits comics well, and he makes a few good inside jokes, too. The art, by David Yardin, is very average, but doesn’t distract from the story which is solid.

Green Lantern #9:

Geoff Johns has made a Green Lantern fan out of me in about three months. This issue is a stand- alone team-up with Batman against the new Tattooed Man, and it’s damned good. Expect to see some post-Rebirth frostbite between the two, as well as an emotional moment or two. Well worth the buy.

Catwoman #52:

DC and Catwoman-writer Will Pfeiffer have gone a long way towards making up for the lackluster revelation that Catwoman had been mind-wiped by Zatanna along with several other villains. That fairly boring plot twist has yielded believable ambiguity from one of comicdom’s most ambiguous characters. This issue sees her make a shocking decision––check it out.

Batman #650:

Finally! The action-packed Joker/Batman/Red Hood confrontation we’ve been waiting for. I warn you: there is a huge cliffhanger, and you might not get the answers to what happens after it for quite awhile, thanks to One Year Later, which starts next issue. Still––if you’re a Batman fan, this is a must-read.

Wonder Woman #226:

End of the road for this WW series, though a new one will be around in a few months. Kudos to Rucka for an amazing run, which includes this final issue, a retrospective look at the relationship between Superman and Wonder Woman.

Supergirl #5:

This is Jeph Loeb’s last issue of Supergirl, which is a shame. It seemed like he could have gone to some really interesting places with this character, after a promising first arc and an excellent introduction of her in Superman/Batman. This issue wraps up the black kryptonite fiasco, and includes an explanation of exactly what the hell is up with the multiple Supergirls.

Ultimate Spider-Man #90:

This week’s issue concludes the Silver Sable arc, which has been good for the most part, though not spectacular. The appearance of the Vulture in this issue is certainly one of its high points, as well as a reference by Fury to whatever huge mystery event is going to go down in issue 100–– Bendis has been teasing fans mercilessly, claiming that issue will answer questions from as far back as issue 1. Next arc will deal with the new Ultimate Deadpool, as well as Peter and Kitty’s budding love (and perhaps a new crime-fighting partnership).

Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk #2:

I have mixed feelings about this issue and this series thus far––the first two books will be great to read in a collected volume, since they’re mostly dialogue and character development. And, for what they are, they’re good. Problem is, this series is not about character development, it’s about fighting. The caption at the bottom of the last page reads: Enough Chit-Chat—Let’s Get to the Damn Fight! I couldn’t agree more.

Amazing Spider-Man #529:

This issue is the first official Civil War-related release, as well as the debut of the new, shiny Spider- Man costume. So, expect the issue to be controversial, which it was. It’s mostly talk, except for a test-drive of the duds, but it’s starting to give us a god idea of what’s coming in the next big Marvel event. Some of JMS’ best writing in a while, perhaps to make up for Ron Garney’s less-than- impressive pencils. I miss Mike Deodato’s art, but he’ll be on New Avengers soon, so I guess it’s worth it.

NEWS BRIEFS:

––It was announced by DC that the Kubert brothers have been officially assigned to monthly books. Andy will be drawing Batman, alongside writer Grant Morrison, and Adam will be on Action Comics, with an as-yet-unnamed writing team said to be as big a star if not bigger than Morrison. Keep your eyes and ears open.
––The first annual New York Comic-Con was held last weekend, and while part of me didn’t want it to succeed so that So-Cal can keep it’s monopoly on huge cons, I’m glad to say it was a success, with a few cool news bites:
   The next team on Ultimate Fantastic Four will be Mike Carey and Pasqual Ferry (Ultimate Thanos will be in that run)
    DC and Todd McFarlane will be putting out a Batman/Spawn book sometime in the future, which McFarlane will draw.
    John Romita, Jr. was announced as the artist on Neil Gaiman’s upcoming Eternals series for Marvel.
––A bit of weird, but cool, news ––The California Science Center is asking for volunteers to work a few hours between March 26 and September 4 at a new exhibit they’re doing on the science of the Marvel superheroes. For more information visit Pulp Fiction and ask for a form, or email volunteerdept@cscmail.org

No trade reviews this week––I’ve been catching up on some old trades that have been piling up, but I should have something for you next week, hopefully. If you loved the column this week, if you disagree with a review or you agree so much you just have to let me know, or if you have any questions relating to anything from comics to the Olympics, email me at skio84@charter.net.

I think I’ve fully recovered from last week’s slew of titles, but again: blame any typos on Marvel and DC for burying me in quality, a reviewer’s favorite nightmare. Fortunately, there’s some good stuff this week, including what must be a fairly nervous Ed Brubaker stepping into the shoes of a giant.

SPOTLIGHT ISSUES:

Daredevil #82:

This month Ed Brubaker did something I wouldn’t want to do––he tried to follow a show-stopper. Yes, Bendis is his friend, and yes, he came in with a pretty amazing set-up, but still––critically, Bendis’ run on Daredevil stands up there with the greats (I’m one of the people who agrees he should be there). And it wasn’t just reviewers who loved it––Daredevil fans everywhere praised his take on the character, making Brubaker’s job pretty damn hard. But––he did it. It’s as tempting as it is inappropriate to start judging Brubaker alongside Bendis, but this issue was great. I won’t say he looks like he could be the next great, and I won’t say that he won’t be, I’ll just say that Daredevil #82 was a good solid issue, with a tense plot that’s as frustrating for readers as it must be for Matt Murdock. The art, provided by Michael Lark, is well-suited for this arc, and hopefully several to come after it. The twist ending may not surprise you if you’ve seen the cover to next month’s issue, but it’s still a punch in the gut. Pick this up for sure––it’s a must read. Kudos to Marvel’s creative staff for continuing to make me care about a character I never have before.

FUN SIZE REVIEWS:

Justice #4:

I’m so glad this book isn’t shipping late, but man do I wish I could get it faster. I’m already looking forward to reading the fancy hardcover edition…The story continues to move faster, as we see in this issue how the new super-villain team dismantles the JLA, while bringing the public to their side. Another great one from Ross, Krueger, and Braithwaite. Ultimate Fantastic Four #27: A new arc on this title as we get an alternate reality time travel story set in the Ultimate Universe. Lots of things are different in this brave new world (the arc is called President Thor after all), and I’ m sure we’ll see more in the issues to come. Greg “One Trick Pony” Land learns an impressive new trick by penning some great emotional scenes with the Thing. This book deserves a wider audience––check out the new arc if you haven’t tried it before.

X-Men: Deadly Genesis #4:

It’s a bad year for Charles Xavier––the one time peace-loving standard of goodness in the Marvel U is getting dragged through the mud all over the place, including here. We finally start to find out what he’s done in this issue, as well as learning the contents of the tape that Banshee died for, and who the mysterious kidnapper is. New Avengers #16: If the last few pages of House of M left you drooling to find out what that energy signature was, don’ t miss this issue, which starts a new arc. Should be a good one, from the looks of things––not a whole lot happening yet, but it’s got me really excited for the next issue. Also, don’t miss a surprise appearance by one of Marvel’s other superhero teams.

Apocalypse vs. Dracula:

I’ve been excited about this issue since seeing it in Previews, for no reason other than the title, really. I’m not familiar with the work of the writer (Frank Tieri) or the artist (Clay Henry), both of whom do an adequate job in this issue. The real draw, though, is the idea behind it. Apocalypse vs. Dracula? Awesome. Can’t wait for the real action to start in the next issues.

Batgirl #73:

Wow. This is the last issue of Batgirl, and it’s a doozy. I’m not sure if I can describe any of the issue without spoiling one of the many excellent twists, but needless to say, it’s good. Anderson Gabrych is starting to make a name for himself, and this issue proves why. A must read through and through.

Batman: Gotham Knights #74:

This is the second long-running DC book that’s bowing out this week, which is a shame since this is the first issue that the Joker vs. Hush story has actually paid off. Joker finally gets his revenge, which is always a sickly entertaining thing to watch, and Batman makes a choice that might be surprising. For the first month, I wish I could read more of this book––unfortunately, there won’t be any more of it.

Action Comics #836:

This is the second issue of the “Superman, This is Your Life” arc, which seems to be a series of flashbacks that take place during the monumental Superman vs. Superman that promises to unfold during Infinite Crisis #5. The art (for me) was less exciting this issue than last, but we do hear a lot more from Earth-2 Superman about what he would have done differently were he in our Superman’s shoes.

NEWS BRIEFS:

––I caught a tiny bit of info on the upcoming Absolute Sandman books off of Neil Gaiman’s official website/blog, www.neilgaiman.com. He says that they are planning four volumes total, and that the recoloring looks good so far. More details to come, I’m sure, though he’s promising there will be some scripts in the deluxe editions, which is always great news with a Neil Gaiman project.

Unbelievably slow news week following the big stuff from Wondercon last weekend, and no trade review again thanks to midterms, but I’ll be reviewing the first Powers Hardcover next week, so there’ s that to look forward to (or dread depending on where you stand). Hope you enjoyed the column this week––as always, send any comments, questions, or pleas for mercy to skio84@charter. net.

So, one of the best things about having this new-fangled internet comic book column is that I can fulfill a fantasy of mine from way back when I was eight years old, and finally announce the first annual presentation of (insert preferred fanfare here): The Mikeys! Yes, this year, and hopefully several hereafter, I will take a look at everything I can remember from the last year, and bestow truly heartfelt, if meaningless and wholly uninfluential, accolades on those most deserving of it. Any creator who requests one will receive some sort of personally crafted trophy, probably along the lines of two twizzlers wrapped around an iron bar.
Enough talk: on to the awards.

Best Writer: Brian K. Vaughan

   Weekly (as well as a few sources that start with a different letter) and no one could deserve it and no one could deserve it more. With Runaways, Ultimate X-Men, Ex Machina, his work at The Escapist, and of course the drool-inducing Y: the Last Man, Vaughan proved that not only can he write comics on a level not approachable by most mortals, he can write pretty much any kind of comic, too. His variety and consistent quality make him one of the few writers in comics who are truly essential, and should be read no matter what kind of series they’re writing. From what I’ve heard, 2006 looks to be an exciting year for BKV, and thus an exciting year for comics fans everywhere. Congrats on all the success and awards, Mr. Vaughan. I’m all too happy to cast my Mikey on the pile. success and awards, Mr. Vaughan.

Best Artist: Oliver Coipel and Phil Jimenez

So, here we are, the second award I’ve ever given, and it’s my first cop-out. This is why I don’t make the big bucks, folks. The fact of the matter is that best artist is always going to be a damn hard thing to pick. So, I picked the two artists from the two big projects at Marvel and DC, and figured I’d try to choose between them. Only problem is, I’m so impressed by both of them, I can’t. Coipel came out of nowhere to pencil House of M, and actually managed to keep it more or less on schedule, turning in killer pages every time. If you have any doubt that this guy deserves this award, look closely at issue 7 of House of M. It’s as perfect as comic art gets. His gracious co- recipient, Phil Jiminez, elevated his game to a new level in Infinite Crisis (or at least its first three issues). The level of detail crammed into every panel is stunning, and exactly what the incredibly thick series needed. He brings it all to us with clarity and precision. Kudos to both.

Best Series: The Ultimates

Had to do it, no way around it. This book is flat out way too good not to be named the best. Every issue since the second volume began has stepped up the intensity a little bit more, always managing to build higher and higher. In case there are two or three of you who haven’t read it, I won’t say too much, but there are some of the best “Holy #$%@” moments of all time in this book, and you should absolutely get every issue.

Best Mini: House of M

I’ve heard a lot of grumbling about House of M since it finished, and I’ll admit that I’ve been hot and cold on a few aftermath stories, but the actual miniseries itself is fantastic. Bendis pays off stories he’s been building for years, with the writing that’s made him famous––if your spine didn’t tingle when you read “No more mutants” you should probably make sure you’re still capable of such things. The art lived up to its script, which is no small task when you’re working with Bendis––this book was top notch on every front, and was carried out with relatively little hype given the mega- events going on at the Distinguished Competition.

Book You Should Be Reading but More than Likely Aren’t: Invincible

Usually when I see awards like this, I tend to think it’s kind of a backhanded thing to award someone, but in an industry as big as comics with as limited an audience, I figured I had to plug a book that deserves to jump up the bestseller list. If there’s any chance in hell that the esteemed Robert Kirkman reads this, I hope he understands I mean it in the best possible way. This book is as good as anything out there right now, and it deserves a huge readership. Pick up the Invincible Hardcover and discover the series Bendis says he wishes he could write.

Book You Should Be Reading but Maybe Aren’t Because So Many Other People Are: Infinite Crisis

Look, we get it. Things were better when you were a kid, mainstream sucks, yadda yadda yadda. Get over yourself and join the party. Infinite Crisis is written by Geoff Johns, who missed writer of the year by a hair’s breadth, and drawn by the Mikey choice for best artist of the year. The hype around this thing is nothing compared to its payoff, and if you’re the guy under the rock on Mars, crawl down to your store and be the last one to pick this bad boy up.

Best Company: DC

Sigh. I’m going to need to take a shower after this one. I grew up reading Marvel and I’m still loyal to that company and its characters, but hats off to DC. Truly a fine year for any company––they finally beat Marvel in sales a few times, they’ve got a creative stable that people are excited about, and they seem to have remembered how cool their characters are. They have, to this point, pulled off what most people though impossible, with Infinite Crisis being perhaps the biggest event in comics history. With more in store for 2006, it should be an interesting year.

Worst Thing of the Year: Bill Willingham

I’m not a negative guy––I don’t really spend my time bashing writers or books, but I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that Willingham has no clothes. I won’t knock Fables, but his run on Robin, and his mind-shatteringly bad half of War Crimes were the first things I’ve bought in a long while that made me feel like I’d been ripped off.

Up and Coming Writers to Watch: Robert Kirkman, Anderson Gabrych (and an honorable mention to Daniel Way)

Robert Kirkman is in the wings, ready to go. He’s talented, he’s versatile, and he’s got books going at Image and big things planned at Marvel. In other words, he’s the next guy who seems poised to become the eight-years-in-the-making overnight sensation. If you haven’t seen Invincible or The Walking Dead or Marvel Zombies or Marvel Team-Up, get on it this instant and feel all cool next year when he gets super-huge. Anderson Gabrych is a gut feeling of mine, who doesn’t quite have the steam that Kirkman has. What I’ve read of his has been mostly impressive, and it seems like the only thing keeping him from being famous is that he’s not famous yet. Next year, he might be, who knows? His work on the otherwise awful War Crimes got my attention, and his run on Batgirl has been quite nice as well. Daniel Way gets an honorable mention because he’s more or less already huge, helming big titles such as Wolverine and Incredible Hulk at Marvel. Still, his status is not up to par with Marvel’s expectations, so keep your eye on his star to rise even higher over the next twelve months.

‘Nuff Said/Lightning Round Section

Guy Who Never Gets Enough Credit Though He Always Deserves It: Greg Rucka
Guy Who Always Gets Enough Credit and Always Deserves It: Bendis
Guy Who is the Best Combination of Creator and Cheerleader and Editor that Comics Has Seen Since Stan Lee: Joe Quesada
Gal Who Needs More Love From Her Company and Readers: Devin Grayson
Best Aborted Series: Breach
Best Convention of the Year: Wizard Wor––Just kidding. San Diego Comic-Con
Death I Cared Most About (fictional): Blue Beetle
Death I Cared Least About: Uncle Sam (sorry Sam)
“No Way!” Moment of the Year: Wolverine ripped in half in Ultimate Wolvie Vs. Hulk

Well, congrats to the winners––I hope at least one or two of you hear about this, most likely through me pestering you. It was an insanely good year, and next year looks to be just as good. Here’s hoping we’ll see each other next year for the second annual Mikeys.
(Editor's Note: First, a heartfelt public apology to Mike who had this column to me quite awhile ago, but due to way too many circumstances beyond our control, is just getting posted now. Second, and just as heartfelt, a thank you to Mike for all his work on this column these past few months. Write to him and let him know how great you think it is.)

Please forgive any typos in this week’s column––my eyes are bleeding from reading through the massive stack I hauled home from the store this week. Hope it’s as good for you as it was for me. Onward!

SPOTLIGHT ISSUES:

Sensational Spider-Man #23:

This is the first monthly issue of a Spider-Man book to come out since the conclusion of The Other, and I for one say, thank God. I found The Other entertaining for all its unevenness, but it’s good to finally know where I stand again. Sensational is the new name of the Marvel Knights Spider-Man book, and this issue sees the debut of a new creative team, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Angel Medina. Their story, Feral, has an interesting premise, as violence across New York increases and all of Spider-Man’s animalistic villains start to become more violent and sinister than they’ve ever been. Suddenly the Vulture is a threat, and Curt Connors is starting to feel the Lizard rising up in his blood. Aguirre-Sacasa writes Spider-Man very well, and Angel Medina is all of the good things about ‘90s art with very little of its flaws. His human faces sometimes seem out of shape, but it’s all worth it for the drawing on the last page. A don’t-miss issue for Spidey fans.

JLA #125:

The esteemed webmaster of this site has already lashed out at this issue a little in his Behind the Counter column, but I’ve got the breathing room to give it the lacerating it deserves. I’ve been blasting this book every issue they’ve released for the last few months, but I still held out hope that for this, the last issue of the volume, they’d pull something out of their sleeves. I know that this is a planned ending, and that a new JLA book will be around in a matter of months (that book will be written by Brad Meltzer and promises to be much better than this one); but take for example Avengers #500––we knew there was going to be a New Avengers book, that was inevitable. Still, the last issue of that series was given the fanfare it deserved, with special guest artists and a plot that was fitting for the end of an era. This issue of JLA is just the battle between The “Who Gives a Crap” Key, the God Envy, Green Arrow, and Batman, and frankly, it’s not good. At all. I know DC has their eyes trained on the stars, but it would have paid to look down and remember how they got there, and who put them there––the fans of this and other JLA books, who deserved much, much better than this disappointing arc. Lets hope Brad Meltzer can wash the taste of this out of our mouth when he takes over the new title later this year.

FUN SIZE REVIEWS:

Nightwing #117:

If I wasn’t so cheesed off about the JLA issue, this would have been a spotlight for sure, and for much more pleasant reasons. Devin Grayson continues her semi-forced reinvention of Nightwing’s character, and continues to do it with style and skill. If you’re a fan of any of the Bat-universe characters, do not miss this month’s issue, which features Earth shattering moments that are supposed to be pretty important in the Crisis, but are certaintly important to some of DC’s best characters (and their fans).

Teen Titans #32:

I praised DC recently for using regular monthly titles to build emotional resonance of the huge events of Crisis, and I’m happy to say they’re still doing it. The huge fight in Crisis #4 between the Superboys is more or less retold in this issue, but from the point of view of the Titans, and Conner in particular. For all you Doom Patrol fans, they’re a big part of this one, too.

Ultimate X-Men #67:

Robert Kirkman is doing a lot of good in the Ultimate Universe, in only his second issue on the X book. Already he’s got a great story going in his Date Night arc that shows us where everyone is, has introduced the Ultimate incarnation of the Shi’ar, and has managed to make Scott Summers less of a boring wuss. There’s also a great Sabretooth/Wolverine moment that could be another huge step away from the regular Marvel U in an organic, interesting way that makes a lot of sense.

Incredible Hulk #92 (Planet Hulk 1):

This issue begins the actual Planet Hulk event, which promises to factor into the big events in the Marvel U in a Hulk-sized way. After the excellent Peace in Our Time arc, we find out that Hulk’s friends have made sure he’s being sent to a peaceable, happy planet where he can finally be alone. Unfortunately, his craft is knocked off course and he crash-lands on a planet that looks to be much more entertaining to read about.

Ghost Rider #6:

This series has been overrated and underrated, but what it ends up being, here in its last issue, is a pretty middle of the road Ghost Rider mini. Garth Ennis was born to write Ol’ Flamehead, although he got a little too involved in the Christian mythology in places and lost sight of his main character. Similarly, Clayton Crain’s art was perfect in places, but didn’t work well for the smaller panels as they got too cramped, and with the colors so dark, a bit hard to tell what was going on. A solid miniseries though, and worth the read if you’re a Ghost Rider fan. The ending is pretty predictable, but it’s not bad.

Superman #226:

There’s some pretty cool stuff going on in the Superbooks right now, and the cross-title Superman, This is Your Life is the event of the month. This three issue series, which will come out weekly until Infinite Crisis #5 (which should feature a battle between Superman and Earth-2 Superman), features the origin of Earth-2 Superman. This issue starts off at the fight between the two titans, then jumps back, starting with a fantastic five-page Superman For All Seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. With art by some of DC’s best, this is well-worth the buy.

Ultimate Extinction #2:

There were two miniseries leading up to this miniseries, the third in the Galactus Trilogy. We are now two issues in and not much is happening. Warren Ellis is amazing, but the pacing in this is kind of…interesting, to put it nicely. Hopefully we’ll get some action soon.

Supergirl #4:

DC has had some pretty funky stuff going on with Supergirl, a fact they had to address more than once at the Wondercon in San Francisco. This issue sees “dark” Supergirl battling Lex Luthor, Green Lantern, the Flash, and Martian Manhunter (quite impressively in each case) before the “light” Supergirl shows up on the last page to stop her. Good issue, the second-to-last in Jeph Loeb’s lame-duck tenure.

Legends of the Dark Knight #200:

In honor of the 200th issue of this consistently good series, DC presents a special $5 issue that contains a full two-arc story called Gotham Emergency. It’s the Gotham Central-style story of a young doctor on her first day in the Gotham General Emergency Room. That day happens to contain a pretty neat Batman/Joker story that she ends up playing a role in. Nothing groundbreaking here, and the art by Bart Sears is less than impressive, but a pretty good read nonetheless.

NEWS BRIEFS:

The big news of the week comes out of the San Francisco Wondercon, run by the same organization that puts on the huge San Diego Comic-Con each year. First off, the exclusives, though there weren’t any surprises here:
––Marvel didn’t show up for the con, but they did announce that Peter David signed a three-year exclusive deal with them. He’s been more or less exclusively working for them anyway, but kudos to both.
––The rest of the news is all DC, and there is some pretty cool stuff. First and foremost, it has been announced that Grant Morrisson will take over the Batman title in April or May, and be on for at least 15 issues. This could end up being one of the best books around, especially since the rumor mill has DC putting one of the Kubert brothers on the title as well, though this isn’t confirmed.
––Brad Meltzer’s newly renumbered JLA series launches in August, with art by Ed Benes.
––After Crisis is done, there will be a miniseries called Battle for Bludhaven, which looks almost No Man’s Land-ish in that the government will have outlawed superhero activity in the destruction zone, leaving a power vacuum - should be fun to read.

Too many new issues for a trade review this week, but I hope you helped yourself to the extra helping of news briefs. I’m sure I’ll be able to cook something up for next week. Were you in love with this week’s column? Thought it was bitter and chalk-like? Send all hate mail or Valentines to skio84@charter.net.

A new month is with us, bringing with it a mere 28 days, the only day on which groundhogs are of any significance, Valentine’s Day and my birthday (which is February 29th every once in a while, but this year is the 28th). Let’s see what the big two have for me:

SPOTLIGHT ISSUES:

Rann-Thanagar War Special:

Anyone who came within a thousand feet of me while I was reading the original Rann- Thanagar mini, or had just finished reading it, knows that I hated it. It was the only one of the four pre-Crisis minis that didn’t do it for me, and it didn’t do it in a big way. So it was with understandable trepidation that I grabbed this issue with shaky fingers, slapped down my money, and read it. Naturally, it was pretty good. In fact, there’s more story and value in this special than in the entire miniseries it caps off. Instead of a sea of nameless space-people, we are dealing with a smaller cast, even in this bigger issue, and one that is explained more in context than in the mini (read: Dave Gibbons wrote this more for people not familiar with DC’s intergalactic history). This issue deals with the large group of heroes concentrated around the hole in the universe that Alexander Luthor has opened, and we’re with them as they attempt to make sense of the rift, and perhaps try to reverse it. Also, a famous Green Lantern undergoes a potentially cool transformation that will launch a new regular series in the future. Worth the read, and the events of this book are supposed to lead right into Infinite Crisis #5, so if you’ve been reading the main series, you should probably check this out to stay caught up.

Gotham Central #40:

This is the end, my only friend, the end. After four years, the brainchild of Greg Rucka, Michael Lark and Ed Brubaker is wrapping up with this issue. It’s been a consistently good, and more often great book to read monthly, following the life and times of the hardest working cops in the country. In this issue, we watch Montoya slip closer and closer to her breakdown, which will be part of the subject of DC’s upcoming 52 series. When I read it in their plans initially, it seemed kind of contrived, but after watching Montoya try to deal with the murder of her partner, it makes a hell of a lot of sense, especially given that this issue seems to imply that said killer might get off scott-free. Everyone wave goodbye to Gotham Central, by picking this book up one last time. It goes out as the best of its kind, leaving behind a standard that will be hard to reach and nearly impossible to surpass.

FUN SIZE REVIEWS:

Green Lantern #8:

This is the second issue of the two-issue arc A Perfect Life, which shows us what Hal Jordan and Ollie Queen’s perfect lives would look like. The two are caught under Mongul’s psycho flowers, lost in a hallucination (think a shorter House of M here). Kudos to Geoff Johns for writing a great solid two issue story, something we don’t see enough of anymore.

Detective Comics #816:

Whoops, I spoke too soon. This is the second half of the great two-part story “Victims,” which focuses on Mr. Zsasz. He stabbed Alfred in the last issue, and learns in this one that he didn’t die, which means that one of his tally marks isn’t true. Needless to say, he’ ll stop at nothing to rectify this oversight, and Batman will stop at nothing to stop him. Well worth the read.

Batman and the Monster Men #4:

You literally could not ask for any more from Matt Wagner: he writes this book, he draws it, and he’s even done the covers. Not enough? How about the fact that he’s near perfect in all three arenas. Batman has to fight Strange’s Monster Men in this issue, the first time he’s had to fight superhumans. This book is a must read. Buy it, buy the trade, then buy the fancy version they put out in ten years to commemorate this series, which is rapidly taking its place as one of the best Batman stories ever.

Y: The Last Man #42:

This issue is a stand alone story featuring the beginning of Ampersand and Yorrick’s relationship (including a subtle explanation of how the stalwart simian go this name), and reveal how old Amp’s been doing since last we saw him. Next issue marks Pia Guerra’s return to the series as we count down to issue 60, the pre-planned end of the series.

TRADE REVIEW:

House of M:

This was a good series––it was controversial, and its effects, the so-called “putting the genie back in the bottle” effect for one, have been railed against from day one. The fact remains: this was a good miniseries, with more huge moments and better character- revealing scenes than Marvel had shown us in years. It may end up being a footnote in comics history thanks to the supernova of hype surrounding the much bigger Infinite Crisis event, but House of M deserves its day in the sun too, and I’m glad Marvel got this trade out so quickly. It’s well put together, including all the covers and variants as well as some sketches and the entire Pulse Special Edition that was put together as a cheap newspaper to go along with the series. If you were one of the few who missed this the first time around, I say it’s definitely worth the money, although $25 is a lot for a non-hardcover. Still you get 8 issues plus the newspaper, and it’s written by Bendis, and drawn exquisitely by Oliver Coipel, who was one of the most promising new artists of all of last year. He’ll be joining Bendis on New Avengers soon, but if you’re remotely interested in the goings on of the Marvel Universe, this is the place for you to start right now. Don’t miss out––it isn’t of the magnitude that Crisis is, but it’s really damned good and that’s what it’s about.

NEWS BRIEFS:

––It was a slow news week, and I’m sorry to say that the only thing worth reporting isn’t the kind of thing I’d like to report on. Artist Seth Fisher passed away last week, after he fell several stories off of a roof in Japan. He was only in his mid-thirties, with a budding career ahead of him. His biggest recent project was the Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big in Japan book that recently wrapped up. There will be a service in Coronado for him sometime in the near future. Please see sacredheartcor.org or call (619) 435-3167 for details.

Any questions, comments, complaints, queries, thoughts, notes, critiques, or glove-slaps about this week’s column should be directed to skio84@charter.net. If you’ve got nothing to say about the column, we could talk about the Super Bowl. Or the Puppy Bowl, if you’re into that sort of thing.