Iron Man: The End 1

It’s awhile since I’ve bothered with an Iron Man comic – my old friend Tony Stark disappeared around the time of Marvel’s Civil War. But here he is again, decades in the future, with no mention of the conflict. And that’s how it should be, I’d like to think that in a few years we’ll […]

Justice Society of America 20

The blurb at the end of this issue tells us that next month’s story is ‘Be careful what you wish for!’ Coincidentally, that very notion was going through my mind this time. For a while I’ve been praying for the end of the Gog storyline; it has its pleasures, but is too drawn out for […]

Adventure Comics Special featuring The Guardian

. . . being a big fat insert that could have fit into the recent Jimmy Olsen Special (the big clue being an editor’s note that states: ‘This story takes place between pages 53 and 54 of Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special 1!). That’s not to say it’s bad, as the cloned Guardian of the […]

Terra 1

Wow, this is really . . . pleasant. Nicely drawn by Amanda Conner, competently scripted by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, it’s the definition of OK. The new Terra is rushing around the world rescuing people from earth-based menaces, while an unscrupulous industrialist gains powers that are just perfect for taking her on. A guest […]

Secret Six 3

‘Unhinged’ continues with our villains united against a bunch of rival baddies out to get the mysterious card for the enigmatic Junior. Along the way we hear something of how the Tarantula came by said maguffin, and get our first glimpse of the newest member. Said newest member is one Jeanette, and she looks like […]

Superman 681 review

Part 2 of the New Krypton storyline running through the Superman family of books, kicks off with an attractive Alex Ross cover showing flying Kandorians, marred only by his usual chubby Superman, and a fugly event banner at the top. Not the unknown designer’s greatest moment. Inside, a dull page one – the cliched TV […]

Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1/35 (Make your mind up, Marvel)

Jackpot’s secret revealed! She’s an action figure who lives in Spidey’s crotch. Well, according to the cover. Inside we learn that, gasp! – the cover was merely a Mighty Marvel Impressionistic Masterpiece. Jackpot remains normal sized. Well done Mike McKone, you got me all excited there. And a huge well done to McKone and inker […]

Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns

Tell the truth, it’s a big pityEveryone now has a ditty With Hal alone it seemed wittyBut now it’s gotten rather shitty When I was a kid I read a story about the origin of Green Lantern Hal Jordan’s oath. It explained that the point wasn’t Hal’s penchant for poetry, the recitation was a timing […]

The next Pa Kent

The latest death of Pa Kent has been getting a lot of attention, with Jonathan hailed as the person who made baby Kal-El the man he is today (poor Ma Kent gets scant credit). He’ll be back in a reality rewrite or two, but until then, who’s the number 1 Dad at DC Comics? Alfred’s […]

Thor: The Truth of History

The current incarnation of the Thor book, by J Michael Straczynski and Olivier Coipel, can’t be faulted in terms of vision. JMS has his notion of how Thor should be treated in the 21st century, and Coipel has diverged from the Marvel bible to make the god of thunder look more Scandinavian than previously. And […]