MONDOmagazine

Action Comics #890
Paul Cornell (w), Pete Woods (a), Brad Anderson (c). DC Comics.

I’m not sure what it is about Lex Luthor that I’m a fan of.  I am a sucker for the smart guys, but it may also be the fact that he is an underdog against Superman. Whatever the reason, I’m glad to see he’s got a starring role in the new Action Comics run. I’m a little surprised at the art – Luthor has looked both fat and fit in his time, but I’ve never seen quite so much variation within a single book. And no, Luthor isn’t experimenting with the Nutty Professors formula. The story is pretty cool: Luthor gets kidnapped and acts like it’s no big deal and is only marginally surprised by the appearance of his true captor at the end. What a guy. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3/5

Bram Stoker’s Death Ship #2
Gary Gerani (w), Stuart Sayger (a), Dom Regan (c), IDW Publishing.

I’m still not sure that this is a story that needs to be told, but Gerani is stepping up his characterizations this issue, I especially liked the captain’s dream sequence. As with last issue, though, the real draw is Sayger’s art. It continues to be gorgeous work, adding a creepy, otherworldly quality to the book. If you’re an art enthusiast then this book is a must-buy. – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Flash #3
Geoff Johns (w), Francis Manapul (a), Brian Buccellato (c). DC Comics.

The Flash is far more static in this issue – kind of a necessity when he gets captured, so it’s a good change of pace (get it?) from the previous Flash issues. Captain Boomerang gets a long over due upgrade that ties in to all the Brightest Day stuff. It gives the illusion of moving forward with the story, but it could go a little faster in my opinion. The best addition is the “Flash Facts” segment at the back, two pages that talk about how a boomerang is supposed to work, and then how Captain Boomerang’s new boomerangs work. It’s told with humour, and isn’t bad as far as the information goes. I would have preferred if it went a little deeper into boomerang history and mechanics, but just because I would buy that doesn’t mean most comic readers would be interested. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3.5/5

Green Lantern #55
Geoff Johns (w), Doug Mahnke (p), Christian Alamy, Tom Nguyen, Keith Champagne, Doug Mahnke (i), Randy Mayor, Gabe Eltaeb (c). DC Comics.

The smile on Hal’s face when he steals Lobo’s space motorcycle says it all. I would have liked more of Lobo’s classic space slang/swearing, but maybe the people upstairs have finally decided that an unusual euphemism is still pretty recognizable. All of the characters manage to look cool, and never at the expense of another character – there isn’t some bow tied Jimmy Olsen to compare these guys too, they are all just cool. That’s hard to do. There’s a back up tale featuring the origin of Dex-Starr the Cat/Red Lantern which was suitably epic. Oh, and turns out the cat is just an Earth cat, not an alien… which actually makes him more amazing. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3.5/5

Invincible Iron Man Annual #1
Matt Fraction (w), Carmine De Giandomenico (a), Matt Wilson (c), Marvel Comics.

This book left me breathless. The story told of a director hired to make a film about Mandarin’s life is an epic one, and to read it all in one comic like this was an amazing comic-reading experience, one we don’t often get. Fraction’s strategy of contrasting the story Mandarin wants told with the true story works beautifully, and the director’s struggle against his difficult situation is heartbreaking. This is an incredible powerful book and a new high for Fraction’s Iron Man. – Owen Craig

Justice League of America #46
James Robinson (w), Mark Bagley (p), Rob Hunter & Norm Rapmund (i), Ulises Arreola (c), DC Comics.

I just can’t do this anymore. I’m a huge Robinson fan, but I don’t think I can give him any more time to win me over. The multiple narration boxes are being leaned on like a crutch, the villains fly in and out of the book with little or no characterization and the constant dependence on mind control plotlines are all trying my patience. This starheart plotline holds zero interest for me, so much so that I can’t justify dropping four bucks on it (plus the extra two Justice Society tie-in issues). Maybe I’ll check in with the next storyline, since I really want to believe that Robinson knows what he’s doing, but for this storyline, at least, I’m out. – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 2 out of 5

Secret Avengers #2
Ed Brubaker (w), Mike Deodato with Will Conrad (a), Rain Beredo (c), Marvel Comics.

Brubaker has done a great job launching this book. The team is incredibly interesting, with a unique dynamic and their first adventure seems to be a great one. This is shaping up to be the best of the Avengers books. Plus, Eric O’Grady is on the team, and that is awesome (plus, more if him the future). – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 4 out of 5

Sonic the Hedgehog #214
Ian Flynn (w), Steven Butler (p), Terry Austin (i), Matt Herms (c). Archie Comics.

I complimented the previous issue for improving on its story telling- but it seems to have been a case of one step forward and two steps back. Sally tricks her captor into monologuing for the purposes of exposition, but we weren’t told any information that wasn’t obvious just from being there. And it was done far beyond the point of being cute and was just boring. I usually complain about decompression in comics, but this storyline could have actually been stretched out an extra issue and the result would have been far stronger. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 2/5

Spider-Ham 25^th Anniversary Special #1
Tom DeFalco, Tom Peyer (w), Jacob Chabot, Adam DeKraker, Agnes Garbowska (p), Jacob Chabot, Robert Campanella, Agnes Garbowska (i), Emily Warren, Bruno Hang, Agnes Garbowska (c). Marvel Comics.

Gotta give Marvel credit- these guys can do animal based puns. The first story was the best, most in keeping with old school Spider-Ham, but even then it’s done with modern art sensibilities – and then we’ve got two stories (or just one story with a short interruption of a story in between) starring Swiney-Girl, not Spider-Ham. It’s just weird that there wasn’t more focus on Spider-Ham in his anniversary book. In the end my favourite part is the first page that has a panel from some old Spider-Ham comic, you can tell it’s from an 80’s comic, and really, that’s what I wanted. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 2.5/5

Wonder Woman #600
Various (w), Various (a), DC Comics.

Rating these anniversary issues is hard. Do you rate them entirely on the main story (Straczynski’s)? If so, then this was an okay issue, not great. I say no. Luckily, there was a lot more here. There was a great Gail Simone/George Perez story that was rather touching and had gorgeous artwork. There was a gorgeous Amanda Conner story with Egg-Fu in it. There was Louise Simonson, Geoff Johns, Scott Kollins and more. On top of all that, there was a pin-up gallery that WASN’T just recycled, unused covers (I’m looking at YOU, Batman #700)! As an anniversary issue, I’d say this was a massive success, even if I’m not sure what I think of Straczynski’s preview story. Easily the best of the three big anniversary issues DC put out this month. – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 4.5 out of 5