Legion of Super-Heroes 50 review

In which Jim Shooter wraps up the storyline he set up in his first issue, over a year ago, in a very satisfying manner. Using a combination of smarts and powers, the Legion convincingly dispatches the threat of the Intruder Planet. It’s scintillating stuff, but there’s something missing. A small thing . . . where […]

Wonder Woman 28 review

Rise of the Olympian has been anything but boring so far, yet things kick up a gear here, as writer Gail Simone gives a masterclass in pacing a story for maximum action and characterisation. Sergeant Steel is not a man to sing the Wonder Woman TV show theme and that’s the latest clue that he’s […]

Mysterious the Unfathomable 1 review

Dr Strange, Zatanna, Dr Fate, Scarlet Witch . . . comics are full of gorgeous, altruistic, self-denying magicians, but here’s something new – a pot-bellied, lecherous, drink-sozzled medium for hire. And I love him. Mysterius is the star of Wildstorm’s new series written by Jeff Parker and drawn by Tom Fowler. Parker, I know from […]

Dark Avengers 1 review

Tony Stark’s SHIELD is gone, Norman Osborn’s HAMMER is now the major peacekeeping force in the Marvel Universe. And as the name implies, the once and future Green Goblin believes in peace through force. So it’s time for a new version of the Avengers, comprising heavy hitters loyal to him. Carol Danvers won’t play ball? […]

Mighty Avengers 21 review

‘And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Dan Slott finally got to write a genuine Avengers title . . .’ Sure, Avengers: The Initiative has been a superb read, packed with intricate storylines and spot-on character work, but it wasn’t an Avengers book. Not really, despite the appearance of such stalwarts […]

Faces of Evil: Prometheus review

I very nearly didn’t buy this. Prometheus was created by Grant Morrison as an arch foe for the JLA, but didn’t catch on. Maybe it was his shtick – he could download data on any foe and instantly beat them. Even in a world of flying men, a villain who stops mid-battle to slot CDs […]

Get down with Living Lightning

Minor West Coast Avenger outed himself in the Great Lakes Avengers mini series in 2005 (click on the image for bigness) but was he dropping hints even before that? Here’s a panel from Thor 445, part of the Avengers: Galactic Storm crossover of 1992.

Amazing Spider-Man 583 – yes, thank you Marvel

The news media is terribly excited because someone has drawn a president in a comic book! Who knew such an artistic barrier could be broken (again) – but that don’t impress me much. I mean, selling comic books to idiots on eBay for the price of a house is all very well, but if the […]

Captain Britain and MI:13 9 review

Last issue the team’s tussle with an evil dream lord stepped up a notch when it was revealed that British not-very-super soldier Captain Midlands had betrayed them. The Plokta thickened . . . a character previously considered a joke gained poignancy, while dropping his colleagues in the *&^*%$&- (actual quote – I get to use […]

Manhunter 38 review

A few months ago I suggested that the sheer number of plotlines and characters wouldn’t help the back-from-cancellation Manhunter from finding new readers. * Sad to say, for whatever reason, this is the last issue. And dang it if it doesn’t show that creator Marc Andreyko can indeed turn in a script with lots of […]