Nightwing #148 Review

Creative Team
Writer: Peter Tomasi
Artist: Rags Morales
Inkers: Michael Bair and Bob Petrecca
Colorist: Hi-Fi

Issue Rating
Story: 8/10
Art: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.25/10

Issue Development
Continuing from last issue Nightwing, who has been shot in the shoulder and ribs, tries to muster all his strength to get him and Carol out of the snipers range. Nightwing is able to grab on to his winged-jet pack and is able to get himself and Carol out of the snipers sight. Nightwing takes Carol to one of the many safe house Batman has around Gotham to keep her safe while he goes to the Batcave to get some medical help from Alfred.

A semi-conscious and bloodied Dick is able to reach the Batcave with his badly damaged winged-jet pack exploding right when he reaches the Batcave and Alfred puts him on a medical table. Dick, who decides to be conscious during the surgery, and Alfred have some nice little banter back and for while Alfred works on getting the bullets out of Dick's shoulder and ribs. During their conversation we find out Bruce is still missing (read Batman RIP for details) and that they are both worried about Bruce.

After getting the bullets out Dick takes a quick nap to recover from his injuries. While Dick takes his nap Alfred cleans up and starts to show signs of worry over this whole situation in a nice quiet moment. After cleaning up Alfred grabs a chair and sits down next to Dick and also falls a sleep.

A little bit later Alfred wakes up to finds a note saying "Thank Alfred" and sees Dick back in a new Nightwing outfit riding out of the Batcave in one of Robin's motorcycles.

Nightwing goes to check on Carol at the safe house to make sure she is alright. After proving he is Nightwing Carol gets a phone call from Harvey. Carol ask Harvey why he sent Nightwing to protect her and Harvey just says becasue he still loves her. After a bit more talking Nightwing interupts the conversation. Harvey ask Nightwing how his stay was at Arkham Asylum (again read Batman RIP for details) and Nightwing just says that Harvey is going to go back to Arkham soon enough.

Nightwing hangs up on Harvey and tells Carol to stay at the safe house a little while longer while he goes to patrol the city for his shooter. As Nightwing is flying through the city in a new winged-jet pack Alfred tells Nightwing that the bullet he was shot with was laced with Scarecrow's Fear Agent and that he needs to come back to the Batcave to get an antidote.

But before Nightwing can make a u-turn back to the Batcave the alarm at the safe house Carol is staying at goes of. Nightwing flies in through the window of the safe house only to find that he is surrounded by all of Batman's rogue gallery. End of issue.

Highlights of the Issue

"There's a reason doctor's put patients to sleep during operations"

"A nice quiet touching moment"

"I don't think this is the type of party Nightwing was looking for"

Review
Nightwing #148 was another great issue by Peter Tomasi. Even though this is only Tomasi's second story arc on Nightwing it is quickly looking like Tomasi may go down as the definitive Nightwing writer, at least in my eyes. While some people might have been upset that this is more of a Nightwing story than a Dick Grayson/Nightwing story but this issue is sure to please Dick Grayson and Nightwing fans.

The only real gripe I had with this issue is the obligatory Batman RIP dialogue. It really is not the fault of Tomasi or Morrison since DC is just trying to shove neccessary tie-ins to Detective, Nightwing, and Robin comics. I know that with the dialog between Dick and Alfred of Bruce beeing MIA and Harvey mentioning Nightwing's time in Arkham Asylum and Black Glove will have many fans trying to figure out were this story fits in with Morrison's Batman RIP. But for anyone that has read any of Morrison's work should know that there is no writer other than Morrison that can actually write tie-ins to his story other than him and probably Geoff Johns and Greg Rucka. It is not saying that Morrison's writing is bad but just that Morrison's writing style is so unique, some say crazy, that when other writers try and tie-in to his story it usually leads to trouble with the story they are trying to tell.

So for anyone that is picking up this and the last issue of Nightwing I suggest you just ignore the bits of dialog that tie-in to Batman RIP and not worry were this fits in with Batman RIP. If you do this than you will enjoy this much more.

What made Nightwing #148, and Tomasi's run on this title, so great is the interaction between Dick and his supporting cast, in this case with Alfred. I know that since becoming Nightwing most writers like to have Dick be as far away as possible from Batman and most of the Bat-family but I just think that is a mistake by writers. The best interactions in this title have always involved Dick and someone in the Bat-family. And Tomasi has realized this by having as many scenes as possible with Dick and someone in the Bat-family and how close of a family they are.

In the last story arc I liked that Tomasi had Dick and Tim interacting with one another since there have been few instances those two characters, who already acted like brothers before they were both adopted by Bruce. And in this issue I loved the banter between Dick and Alfred while Alfred was trying to get the bullet out of Dick. I love how Alfred can't believe how Dick like Bruce wants to be conscious during surgery and Alfred's comment about Dick and Bruce attracting bullets.

Alfred has always been the father figure of the Bat-family and I loved the quiet three page scene of Alfred cleaning up after taking out the bullets from Dick's body. It shows just how much Alfred not only cares and worries about Dick, Bruce, Tim, and Barbara but that the life they have chosen has taken it's toll on Alfred both mentally and physically. It was such a great scene and I have to give credit to Tomasi for allowing Morales art covey what Alfred was thinking without any though bubbles or captions.

I also love how Tomasi writes Nightwing as a guy with a lot of will power that he is willing to risk his life to save the life of Carol and make sure she is safe before taking care of his gun shot wounds. Again Nightwing shows that he is not only a confident hero but also very competent at what he does living up to DC's quote of Nightwing skills being only second to Batman.

I especially love the dialog between Nightwing and Harvey because it just shows that these two advesary's have a lot of history with fighting one another. The reader, along with Nightwing, has to wonder what Harvey really has in mind since anywhere Harvey is his Two-Face persona is never to far behind. And I kind of wonder that if the last scene with all of Batman's rogue gallery actually real or is it Nightwing being affected by Scarecrow's fear toxin from the bullet. Whatever it is that was a great cliffhanger to end the issue on.

With this issue Rag Morales again takes over the art duties, but for how long is beyond me. But what I have gotten from interviews with Tomasi, Morales, and Kramer is that the artist team will be rotating between Morales and Kramer. That aside the art in this issue was very well done and like I said before my favorite scene in this issue was the three pages of Alfred cleaning up after taking the bullets out of Dick. I just love it whenever an artist is allowed by the writer convey the emotions and what the character is thinking with the art alone and no dialog. That Alfred scene was probably one of my favorite scenes of the year.

Titans #4 Review

Creative Team
Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Joe Benitez
Inkers: Victor Llamas and Oliver Nome
Colorist: Edgar Delgado

Issue Rating
Story: 2/10
Art: 5/10
Overall: 3.5/10

Issue Developments
Continueing from last issue the Titans fight Trigon's three kids, Wrath, Envy, and Lust. After each one of Trigon's kids uses there powers against the Titans a portal opens to Trigon's world. But before Trigon could pass through the portal Wrath, Envy, and Lust take Trigon's powers, close the portal and disappear with all that power. Ironically Raven caused Wrath, Envy, and Lust to take Trigon's power by manipulating there emotions. After talking, and Raven throwing up in the restroom, everyone decides to reform the Titans. End of issue

Highlights of the Issue

"Not everyone can handle The Flash's speed"

"Titans Together"

Review
Titans #4 was just an awful read. Both Winnick and EIC Dan Didio, who also edits the two Titans books, have been succesful in hating a book with my favorite team in comics. I know I am not alone when I say that Wolfman/Perez's Titans run was the best run in comics and that Dick, Wally, Donna, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy are the definitive Titans team that all other teams are based upon. I just can't believe who ill-concieved a relaunch of the best Titans team be.

I usually try and take something of a positive of any comic that I read and review but issue, and comic, just does not seem to have anything positive story or character wise. This whole plot of Trigon's three children trying to bring back there father is just not a very compelling plot to me and this whole story just felt so rushed from the very first issue back in the Titans East Special. And as you can tell from my summary for this issue not much at all happend at all in this issue. All this issue amounted to was one big brawl between Trigon's kids and the Titans.

Not even the art could help this title. Nothing against Benitez art but the art for this issue was just not very good. There were a lot of inconsistencies throughout this issue with the art. For everything that DC has said about how important this book is I would think they could get a higher profile artist drawing this title.

Now while I could continue to rant about how bad the charactarization and plot and question why DC continues to get Winnick high profile books but I think that other reviews will do that enough. So I have decided to instead talk about the reforming of the Wolfman/Perez Titans. I know that many people have been dying for a title with this Titans team back together but I just don't like the idea of bringing this team back together, even if Winnick wasn't writting this title. I think with how the current DC Universe is strutured and the storylines each of these characters have been in since the last time these guys were Titans together is just a step back for them as characters.

If I were DC I would have Dick join the JSA and have him act as there Batman. In Tomasi previous arc that took place before "Batman RIP" Nightwing and some of the JSA members, especiallt Dr. Midnight, got along really well. It is obvious that Nightwing will never be a full-time JLA member and even when he is a member it is only a matter of time Batman would return to the JLA. But with the JSA most Nightwing and JSA fans would not have to worry about Nightwing losing membership because he has Batman to take his spot and give him a more important role in the DC Universe. Also with the JSA always being a team that also trains the next generation of heroes Dick would make a good fit with the team with his leadership, trainning from Batman, and how many young heroes look up to him. And I know that in interviews I have read with Waid and Johns its been said that Johns has been asking to write Dick Grayson character for a long time and this would give him the oppurtunity to

Then with Wally and Roy they have already taken the place of their mentors spot in the JLA and have shown that they can handle that responsability. The one thing I would do is also have Cyborg join the JLA as well. For a while before the JLA relaunch a lot of fans thought Cyborg would finally join the JLA and I think that many people would not mind seeing Cyborg be the JLA tech guy instead of Red Tornado who continues to get destroyed in every story.

Also if DC wants Countdown to mean anything with all the money people spent on the 52 issues then make a title with Donna, and even Starfire, and the group she formed to "protect" the multiverse and make them some outer space team ala Guardians of the Galaxy. I know some of my friends feel that they just wasted money on Countdown which lead to nothing new for the DC Universe. But having Donna form her own group may actually put some importance on Countdown other than a waste of time and money. Also considering that since Infinite Crisis Starfire has also spent more time in outer space than on Earth it would make sense for her join Donna's new team.

Now with Beast Boy I have been hoping that DC would relaunch a Doom Patrol book with Beast Boy as the new leader and the team Johns used in his One Year Later story in the Teen Titans. And with Raven if she doesn't re-join the Teen Titans than she could easily join the Doom Patrol along with Beast Boy and further that relationship in that book.

So while I love the Wolfman/Perez era Titans I just wish DC would leave this group of Titans alone and let the readers appreciate that run for how great it was and allow not only the readers but also the characters to move on and grow up to take there own places in the DC Universe outside the Titans.

Wow I was able to keep my Winnick bashing to a minimum I think I deserve a little credit for that. DC you owe me one, so please get Winnick of this title and give it to some one else with much more talent and actually deserves the oppurtunity to write a high profile book like the Titans. Please.

Wolverine #68 Review

Creative Team
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Steve McNiven
Inker: Dexter Vines
Colorist: Morry Hollowell

Issue Rating
Story: 9/10
Art: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.25/10

Issue Summary
After some convincing Logan agrees to help Hawkeye save his daughter, but Logan says he will only read the map and not fight. While Logan and Hawkeye drive through Utah the new Kingpin, who killed Magneto and took his territory, executes Daredevil and Punishers grow-up kids in front of a packed Rice-Ecceles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

As Logan and Hawkeye arrive in to Salt Lake City the Kingpin's men are preparing to execute Ashley, aka Spider-Girl aka Hawkeye's daughter. But before they execute her Hawkeye drives the Spider-Mobile through the building and proceeds to kill Kingpin's men and free's his daughter from her cell. The Kingpin then bust in wanting to know what the hell is going on to get his head knocked of by Ashley using a gun as a bat.

Right as Hawkeye is about to hug his daughter Ashley clocks him in the head with the crowbar and proclaiming herself the new Kingpin. Ashley decideds that her first act as Kingpin will be to kill her father in front of her new followers. As Ashley prepares to kill her father Logan is behind the wheel of the Spider-Mobile cursing Hawkeye for making him do something he does not want to do. End of issue.

Highlights of the Issue

"Daredevil and Punisher's kids learn the hard way not to mess with the new Kingpin"

"Hawkeye has never kicked more ass"

"There is no messing with this Spider-Girl"

Review
Wolverine #68 was another kick ass issue by Millar and McNiven. For any that is upset over the shallow and simple blockbuster feel from Secret Invasion or the heavy in continuity and is not new reader friendly Final Crisis than "Old Man Logan" is definetly the story you should be reading. It could be said that like what Geoff Johns did in "Sinestro Corp Wars" Millar is not only able to make "Old Man Logan" a new reader friendly and has enough intricate plotline that keeps the reader interested in the whole story. While it would be an overstament to say this story is as big and universe changing as "Sinestro Corp Wars," which was a huge monster hit with both DC and Marvel fans and suprised DC big the story got, Millar's "Old Man Logan" may actually be sleeper pick for being the best story of the year.

One of the biggest complaints against Wolverine is that ever since Marvel decided to shove the character down our throats by placing him on two or more of the X-Men team books at the same time, New Avengers, two Wolverine titles, and various mini-series as well as getting his memory back that the character has lost that edge that made Wolverine such a popular character. Also I don't know if I am the only one but I have gotten tired of hearing the same "I'm the best at what I do" line that writters love to make Wolverine say all the time he appears in a comic now. I much rather see the badass Wolverine that doesn't give a crap that read as kid with the back in the first series of this comic that I was able to get in back issues.

With this story it feels like that edge that Wolverine lost Millar has returned it to the character. No the Wolverine, or Logan as he wants to be called, in this story is not the kick ass, ask question second type character people like but more of the wandering samuri that has not raised his sword for a long time. I am greatly enjoying Millar's take on an old and batered Wolverine that has no intetions of poping his claws or even making a fist for any reason. And in this post-apocalytic setting it only seems fitting that Logan would adopt that attitude after seeing all his friends and teamates and himself being beaten.

I like that in Wolverine #68 Millar gives a suitle and not so suitle hints to what might be the return of Wolverine. From when HERBIE gives Logan The X-Men key chain for luck to the final page with Logan behind the wheel of the Spider-Mobile preparing to save Hawkeye's life it seems that next issue will finally see Logan become Wolverine again. Even though that looks to be the case I wouldn't be suprised if all Logan does is get Hawkeye back into the Spider-Mobile and drives off leading to a chase scene involving them and Ashley the self proclaimed new, new Kingpin and her men.

I continue to love this old man Hawkeye. I have never really been to interested in the character in the first place but Millar has totally made me become a fan of the character. I love how Hawkeye contrast the pacifist Logan with all the kick ass fighting he does even though he is blind. Hopefully Bendis and other writers take a couple of Millar's ideas in how they should write Hawkeye from this story. I just really hope Millar doesn't go and kill Hawkeye in the next issue by his daughter's hands.

And speaking of the new Kingpin I actually like the new Kingpin, at least for the short time he was alive, and how he came to power from being a nothing street thug to ending up killing Magneto and taking his territory. I like this new Kingpin's style and how he killed both Daredevil and Punisher's kids in front of a packed area with some dinosaurs like what use to bee done in the old Romen Colosseum to the gladiators. The only thing against this story is that if your a person that does not like seeing so much bloodshed than this isn't a story you should be reading since there is a lot of it splashed around the whole issue

Also I love it seemed Millar was about to give Hawkeye a nice family reunion with his daughter after she killed the Kingpin, to only have her become the new Kingpin and about to kill Hawkeye. That is exactly how to throw a curveball in a story to the reader and even though this story has its predictability to it, like any other story, it is these kind of things that get me excited to read what is going to happen next.

The one thing hope to see or read in the next issue is to find out about what exatly happend 50 years ago to cause the villains to beat and kill the heroes. In this issue we find out that it was Magneto, Doctor Doom, and the president who gathered the villains together and were the leaders of the war. And hopefully we start to get some clues of who it is that is the president of this new world.

McNiven and Vines art work on this story definetly is bringing Millar's story to life. McNiven continues to show me why he is one of my favorite artist in the business and no one does the close up shot of characters facial expressions better than McNiven.

So for anyone that has stopped reading Wolverine for some reason I urge you to give Millar and McNiven "Old Man Logan" story a try even if your like me and dropping this title after this story ends and Millar is off the title.

Ultimate Spider-Man #125 Review

Creative Team
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade von Grawbadger
Colorist: Justin Ponsor

Issue Rating
Story: 7.8/10
Art: 7.5/10
Overall: 7.65/10

Issue Development
Eddie Brock wakes up in a prison cell like containment field in Trask Enterprise. Eddie sees the President and CEO of Trask Enterprise Bolivar Trask who is the person that hired Silver Sable and her crew to capture Eddie and the Venom symbiote. Trask says that he captured him so that he with from Doctor Adian Toomes they can seperate Eddie and the symbiote to make billions of dollars.

The scene shifts to Empire State Museum of Art were Spider-Man explains to the cops what happend ealier in the museum with Venom and Silver Sable. After talking to the cops Peter is back in his basement having a "date" with Mary Jane to study his blood. It seems that Peter still has some of the Venom symbiote in his system. Peter ends his "date" with Mary Jane and goes back out as Spider-Man to find Eddie.

Back at Trask Laboratories Toomes is beginning procedures to seperate Eddie and the symbiote when the Beetle breaks into the lab and sets Eddie free. Once he is set free Eddie starts going crazry and attacks everyone in the lab and actually eats one of the lab assistants as Venom. Venom than escapes the lab and starts a huge brawl in the city with the Beetle.

As Venom and Beetle fight Spider-Man sees all the comotion and tries to stop the fight and wanting to talk to Eddie. After a small fight between Spider-Man and Venom the symbiote decides to leave Eddie's body and take over Spider-Man once again. the symbiote completely takes over Spider-Mans body and we see Peter screaming as the issue ends.

Highlights of the Issue

"Venom is so hungry he can eat a horse"

"It's good to be home"

Review

Overall Ultimate Spider-Man #125 was another enjoyable issue by Bendis. But at the same time there wasn't really anything special about this issue and that is because the issue went by so fast with the Spider-Man/Venom/Beetle fight taking up a good part of this issue. That is not to say it's a bad thing but Ultimate Spider-Man has always been at its best when the focus is not on Spider-Man but on Peter Parker and his life outside the mask.

As a kid Venom was probably one of my favorite Spider-Man villains. I just thought Venom was one of the coolest villains but now Venom has become one of my least favorite Spider-Man villains. One of the reasons for this is because the whole novelty of an evil version Spider-Man, which is what Venom basically is, has been gone for long time now. Also the other reason I don't like Venom anymore is because there really hasn't been any good storylines involving Venom or the other symbiote characters since the first few stories were Venom originally appeared.

In saying all that I have to say that the Ultimate version of Venom and of Eddie Brock is a much more interesting character than his 616-counterpart. I like that Peter and Eddie have a much deeper connection to one another with being childhood friends and their parents being the creators of the symbiote. It actually makes it a lot easier to draw parrallels between both Peter and Eddie lives to how they each reflect what the other would have been if they swapped places.

I also like that Trask Enterprise is involved with the symbiote as well and it is starting to look like Trask has a much greater involvement in the Ultimate Universe. Because not only do they have the rights to the Venom symbiote that they took from Peter and Eddie's parents, the company has also been involved with Doc Ock, Sandman, Vulture, Osborn, and Silver Sable. So it will be interesting to see if SHIELD gets involved with the company or if Trask will be involved with the Ultimatum story in one way or another.

Now while I did enjoy the brawl in the story and am interested about the Ultimate Beetle and who he works for I wish Bendis would show more of Peter's supporting characters other than just Mary Jane and Kitty, and only MJ is in this issue. The great thing about Ultimate Spider-Man, and Spider-Man in general, has always been Peter Parker and his supporting characters like Aunt May, Mary Jane, Kitty, Flash, Kong, Liz, and The Daily Bugle staff are involved in the story. But when the supporting cast is reduced to only MJ and Kitty the stories have tended to be boring since the focus is on Spider-Man and not Peter Parker. Hopefully after, or even during, this story arc Bendis uses more of Peter's supporting cast then he has been in these past few issues.

On the art side I have to say that Stuart Immonen art is actually getting better and it seems he is getting better at Peter Parker and everyone that is not wearing a superhero mask. This was the best art Immonen has done since he has come on to this title. Now let just see if he can keep up the art on a more consistent bases before I start comparing his art to Bagley's.

DC Universe: Last Will and Testament Review

Creative Team
Writer: Brad Meltzer
Artists: Adam Kubert, Joe Dell, Joe Kubert
Colorist: Alex Sinclair

Issue Rating
Story: 8/10
Art: 7.6/10
Overall: 7.8/10

Issue Summary
The issue starts with Brion Markov better known as Geo-Force making preperations to fight Deathstroke in revenge for corrupting his sister Terra. He ask his firend and teamate Jefferson Pierce, aka Black Lightning, if he will help him get revenge on Deathstroke by hitting him were it hurts his family, Jerico and Rose Wilson. Even though Black Lightning would like nothing more but take out Deathstroke he cannot help Geo-Force kill Deathstroke by using his kids.

Elsewhere, various DC superheroes are making their final "goodbyes" before the final battle. In Valhalla Diana Prince and Donna Troy bury some items they swear to come back for, Diana some gold coins and Donna her wedding ring.Over at Gotham City Memorial Starfire is wating for Dick Grayson, Nightwing, to show up at his parents, John and Mary Grayson, graves but Dick does not show up.

In Gotham City 40 stories above the city Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake as Batman and Robin prepare to take one final leap before the final battle. Before they leap of the roof Batman and Robin are joined by Nightwing. Batman ask Nightwing why he is not at his parents grave and Nightwing just says "I'm exactly where I want to be." Batman, Nightwing and Robin swing off the roof as a family.

Shifting to Challengers Mountain, Grace Choi is in a confessional to confess her sins to Rocky Davis. With some advice from Rocky, Grace leaves with the confidence everything will be alright. As Grace leaves Geo-Force goes into the confessional to get some advice on what he should do but Geo-Force does not like what he hears and leaves.

At Kent Farm Clark Kent, aka Superman, is talking to Pa Kent telling his pa that he doesn't know if they can win the battle that is to come. Pa Kent gives Clark some advice that lift up his spirit and Clark says he is ready to fight.

Over in Star City Roy is thaking Olly for building and teaching his daughter how to use a bow. And over in Central City Captain Cold stops a couple petty crooks from robbing a conviniece store on his way out of the store.

In a New York City alley Geo-Force finally tracks down Deathstroke, who was waiting for him, and they have a brutal battle. Even with his powers Geo-Force can't even touch and is beaten by Deathstroke who starts taunting Geo-Force as nothing but a C-list hero. Geo-Force is able to take one of the swords Deathstroke stab him with in the leg and starts to swing it wildly to try and cut Deathstroke. Geo-Force then takes the sword and slices his throat with it and Dezthstroke gets a flashback to when Jerico did the same thing. Deathstroke grabs Geo-Force before he hits the ground but doesn't realize Geo-Force still has his sword and is stabbed through the heart. Both men fall to the ground in a bloody mess.

Next we see Geo-Force waking up in bed were Black Lightning tells him that he beat Deathstroke.

We then shift to various scenes were Wally and Linda, Jim Gordon and Barbara Gordon, Wildcat and his son telling each other it will be alright, and Liberty Bell and Hourman having sex. Wally as the Flash than meets Green Lantern Hal Gordon and ask him if he really thinks everything will be alright. Hal just tells Wally "What're you talkin abou? This is the life Wally. I'll see you tomorrow." End of issue.

Highlights of the Issue

"Burying old memories"

"One Final Swing"

"There will be a tomorrow"

Review

DC Universe: Last Will and Testament was a very good read. The thing about this issue is that the title should actually be changed to read "DC Universe: Last Will and Testament of Geo-Force." Some readers might be disappointed because the title really is misleading. Most people that pick up this issue are probably expecting to see all the DC Universe characters in their final moments before the last battle. And even though there are a few short scenes of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Greeen Lantern, Nightwing, Robin, Barbara Gordon, Donna Troy, and a few other minor DC characters appear, this is really a Geo-Force story masked as a DC Universe story. Geo-Force story alone takes a little more than half of the issue itself. Which is sad since if Meltzer decided to show more of what other DC Universe characters where doing in these final hours and less on Geo-Force this issue could have been a 9 or 9.5.

Personally I am not a big fan of Geo-Force and didn't even know or cared about this character before he appeared in Meltzer's Justice League run. Even then Geo-Force was never really interesting and thought that there were/are many other characters that are well deserving of having a spot in the Justice League than him. Also while I know that Meltzer really tried to get me to like his character in this issue I thought that the Geo-Force story made the whole issue feel a bit slow and started dragging a bit towards the end.

Also the motivation for Geo-Force revenge on Deathstroke really doesn't make much sense in the present DC Universe. I get that he is pissed off that Deathstroke was the reason Terra was evil and died but that was easily at least 6 or 7 years ago in DC Universe time and since then Terra has been resurected and killed again by Black Adam. It just makes Geo-Force a bit to pathetic of a character that it is now after so long that he decides to get revenge for his sister's first death. If anything I would have to think that Geo-Force would want revenge on Black Adam not Deathstroke since he not only lost his sister again but was actually there to witness it when it happend and did nothing to Black Adam at the time.

Even though I did not leave this issue caring more about Geo-Force than I already did, which wasn't much to begin with, I will give it to Meltzer for providing a badass fight between Geo-Force and Deathstroke. Deathstroke completely dominated the fight and only lost because of a momentary moment of weakness which lead to the fight to be a draw at best. Next to the Joker and Lex Luthor, Deathstroke is my favorite villain in the DC Universe and I love how in these past 5 years DC has made Deathstroke into one of the most dangerous villain not only to the Teen Titans but the whole DC Universe. As a Teen Titan fan and a huge fan of Wolfman and Perez run it was pretty cool to see that Meltzer refenced that run with the small flashback to when Deathstroke could not stop Jerico from slicing his neck and causing him to be mute. That is really Deathstroke biggest failure and awsome to see Meltzer reference that.

And speaking of the Teen Titans I really liked the scene with Starfire waiting for Nightwing at his parents grave. It shows that even though Starfire and Nightwing have not been together for a while and both have had many relationships with other people that Starfire is still in love with Nightwing. It also shows that while Starfire is still living in the past while Nightwing has moved on with his life even though he may still have feelings for Starfire he knows that relationship has long been over. I just hate that Winnick back in The Outsiders and in his current run on Titans he is trying to get Nightwing and Starfire back together. I get that Winnick and other writters are like me and many other fans who loved the Wolfman/Perez era but it is time to move on and both characters should just stay good friends and nothing more.

My favorite scene in this whole issue was the scene with Batman, Nightwing, and Robin. I just think it is awsome anytime these three characters are in a scene together. Most time writers will write Bruce as having his own adventures as Batman and doesn't like having people help him. They forget that for Bruce, Tim and Dick are the two people outside of Alfred he trust the most and are the two people he would actually spend time with outside of being Batman. Also seeing the three characters together just shows how close they have become and that even with all the crap they have been through they are still a family. Though I am not to sure what to think of Tim being jealous of Dick being "firstborn" since both Dick and Tim have always been portrayed as being even closer than Bruce and Tim are and haave never been jealous of one another. So I think that was a bit of an out of character moment for Tim.

My other favorite scene in this issue is the last scene with Hal and Wally. I just love that even in the face of death Hal believes they can still win and is not scared of death like many people are.

The scene between Diana and Donna was a nice touching moment between two sisters. The only thing I have to say is that I thought it was weird that Cassie, the current Wonder Girl, wasn't with them in the scene. But overall the short scene was nice and to the point of a final battle type situation there in.

Also while the scene between Clark and his dad was nice I thought it wasn't needed. The reason I say this is because over in Action Comics there was a scene just like this about a month or two ago and the scene just felt repetitive and not as good as the one Geoff Johns did in Action Comics.

Now the one question that is brought up with this issue since it is suppose to be a Final Crisis tie-in were this issue fits with Morrison's story. It could be that the issue takes place after the virus hits the internet and the one month gap at the end of Final Crisis #3 but that would not make sense for a number of reasons: 1) Batman was captured in issue 2 of the series; 2) Superman was taken away somewhere by a mysterous figure to help; 3) Green Lantern was taken into custody by the Alpha Lanterns and back to Oa; 4) Wonder Woman was captured before the virus hit the net in issue 3; and 5) Wally was travaling through the Speed Force with Barry ending up one month into the future so he wouldn't be present after the virus hit. But even with all these errors and a few others this was a very well written issue and if anyone wants to know when it takes place maybe it takes place before the big fight at the end of Final Crisis that is still to be told in the coming months.

Now the art for this issue was good but the problem I have with the art is that Adam Kubert didn't draw the whole issue. Both the action scenes and the quiet moments Kubert drew were great but I wouldn't have minded waiting for another week or two to give Kubert enough time to draw the whole issue. It's not saying that John Dell's art is bad but his art art just doesn't transition well with Kubert art and is the reason I did not give the art an 8.

Action Comics #868 Review

Creative Team
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Gary Frank
Inker: Jon Sibal

Issue Rating
Story: 9/10
Art: 8/10
Overall: 8.5/10


Issue Summary
At the Daily Planet Supergirl ask some of the staff were Clark but Lois sees Supergirl and takes her to the roof to talk alone.

Out in space Superman is being experimented on by some robots in Braniac's space ship. But before they can slice Superman's head open Superman wakes up and destroys them and takes of all of the devices they put into him. Superman starts to explore the space ship and goes into a room with a buch of pods containing some aliens Braniac has captured and is experimenting on. After being attacked by and knocking out an alien named Koko, Superman goes into a room were he finds the city of Kandor.

As he is about grab the city Brainiac appears and comes out of his cocoon taller and more muscular than Superman. Braniac grabs and throws Superman against a wall were some cables grab him.

At Kent Farm Clark's parents are having a conversation about Clark when a storm starts coming at the farm.

Back in the space Braniac starts belittling Superman as an unimpresseive kryptonian. Superman breaks the cables and attacks Braniac, Braniac just shrugs it off and grabs Superman by the head telling him that he is going to go after Supergirl.

On the roof of the Daily Planet Supergirl and Lois are talking about were Clark is when Braniac's space ship appears over Metropolis to the fear of Supergril and all of Metropolis. End of issue.

Highlights of the Issue

"I think I am going to be sick"

"Barry Bonds called and he wants his steroids back"

Review

Now I have never been a big Superman fan and it's been about 13 years since the last time I picked up a Superman comic when I was seven Geoff Johns really has me interested in what is going to happen in this story. I actually picked up this issue and the other two parts of the story after my friend, and after reading some reviews online, how good Johns run on Action Comics is. I am glad I stock his advice cause this was a truly enjoyable story.

The problem I have always had with Superman is that his powers make him so powerful none of the threats Superman faces are a real threat outside of Lex Luthor and I have never been able to relate to and sympathize for Superman or his Clark Kent persona. the other problem with Superman has always been that most writters are always trying to make Superman less powerful to fit there story and make the story more exciting.

The thing about this story that Johns is writting is that it is both complex and reader friendly. What I like about how Johns portrays Superman is that you are able to see through his expressions and dialog that Superman is missing something. And when Superman sees the city of Kandor you can see how happy Superman is to see that maybe he isn't the last of his people and that by finding Kandor maybe Krypton can be rebuilt. But it could be interesting to see how Superman may react to seeing his people especially after he actually has time to think what this will do to the connection he has made with his adoptive planet and who he would choose.

I also like the build up Johns has made for Brainiac so that when he actually appeared in this issue you could tell this isn't a Braniac that not even Superman may want to mess with. I actually like the fear that Supergirl shows to just hearing Brainiac's name and how worried she is about her cousin. Now even though I didn't like that Johns choose to make Brainiac have a humanoid form and look like a wrestler out of the WWE, Brainiac is still both physically and mentally imposing. And I loved that Brainiac didn't even flinch to any of Superman's punches and it makes you actually think that Superman may not be the same after this confrontation with Braniac both physically and mentally.

I got to say I love Gary Frank's art in this issue and how he draws Superman to look like Christopher Reeves is just awsome. Reeves Superman is the diffinitive Superman in my eyes and seeing his likeness being used is just awsome. Also this is probably the best looking Lois Lane that I have seen in comics in a long time. She really does look really hot.