JSA vs Kobra #1

Evil cult Kobra embarks on a suicide bombing campaign, apparently aimed at taking down the Justice Society of America, and rival faiths. Mr Terrific, personally targeted by Kobra for his Checkmate connections, narrates part of this issue. Sharing the chore is someone from Kobra – presumably the current leader – and it’s through their words […]

Flash: Rebirth #3 review

Could everyone please dip into their pockets, we’re having a whip round. I’m booking Ethan Van Sciver a place at the Jack Kirby College of Dynamic Foreshortening. Cos that cover image is just wrong. Yes, it’s the latest Flash/Superman race, this time to see who can look most constipated, most quickly. I think Barry has […]

Red Robin #1 review

When the red, red Robin comes bob-bob-bobbin’ along . . . Oh dear, I just can’t see this book without that lovely old song ringing through my head. And that new logo, as chirpy as a cute ickle wed wobbin deserves! Ooh, goodness me though, that’s a very grim fellow underneath it, on Francis Manapul’s […]

Batman #687 review

After last week’s sterling first issue of Batman & Robin, do we really need to backtrack for a Battle for the Cowl epilogue? Maybe not, but this book is a lot better than I expected it to be. So far as I can make it, it’s not actually a BftC coda until the final few […]

Exiles #3 review

That’a a bit of a dull cover from the talented Dave Bullock, showing the Exiles traversing dimensions – it looks like a final issue deal rather than a third issue image. And I know cartooning is all about exaggeration, but Polaris looks less like a person here than a stick of green licorice. The first […]

Captain Britain and MI13 Annual #1 review

I’ve often bemoaned the fact that the X-Men never have any fun these days. They never have time for a trip to the Westchester mall, for example, or a game of baseball. But my nostalgia for those issues in which mutants took to the backfields of Xaviers School for Gifted Youngsters ignores one salient fact […]

Batman and Robin #1 review

The new Batman and Robin have their first night on the town and, suitably enough, meet a new villain. Mr Toad is a self-proclaimed slippery customer but, alas, not exactly formidable and our heroes make quick work of him. They’re aided in this by the latest version of the Batmobile, one harking back to the […]

Amazing Spider-Man #595 review

And a new storyline begins, American Son, in which Spidey determines to take down Norman Osborn, currently head of North America’s super-powered defenders. And quite right too, though I’d expect a big brain like Peter Parker to come up with something sneakier than kidnapping and beating up Osborn in public. And his anger makes him […]

Superman #688 review

Holy Seventies Flashbacks, Mon-El has Supergirl’s on-again, off-again super-powers. It turns out that Brainiac 5’s cure for Daxamite-on-Earth lead poisoning is actually a bit rubbish, and he’ll be dead within 18 months. Darn. Luckily his partner-in-Superman’s-title The Guardian is going to teach him fisticuffs and swimming, to lessen his chances of dying in an off […]

Justice Society of America #27 review

‘Ghost in the Darkness’ is a fill-in prior to the new creative team coming on board, but if we’re going to have guest creators, I’m always glad to see writer-artist Jerry Ordway help out. The All-Star Squadron and Infinity Inc artist here revives the latter team for a flashback and it’s great to see them […]