Review: Justice League Vs. Godzilla Vs. Kong #7

Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #7 came out last week, ending the series, a true sprint to the finish line.

You know that feeling when you are watching a silly, summer blockbuster movie and you stop and try to rationalize some glaring plot holes or insane coincidences only to realize it is a fool's mission. That you aren't supposed to be thinking hard about something like this? 

That is sort of my feeling about this finale.

This book has been wildly fun in places. There has been plenty to love and there is a lot to love in this issue. But a couple of issues ago I began to worry how the many plots threads that writer Brian Buccellato had been introducing would be tied up. 

The answer is that they'll be tied up very quickly. You just have to roll with it. I wonder if I would feel more fulfilled if this was a movie and not a comic I am reviewing.

The art remains an interesting mix of Christian Duce's beautifully fluid, thin lined art mixed with Tom Denerick's scratchier 'late Neal Adams' style. They don't always mix well. 

I wish the energy and enthusiasm I felt in the first couple of issues carried throughout.

On to the book.

Review: Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #6

Well, here we are at Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #6, the penultimate issue of this mini-series which started out like an avalance of fun but has subsequently become bogged down by too many plot line and too much 'over the top' moments. When I reviewed the first issue which were crisp and fun and reined in just a little, I described it like a guilty summer blockbuster movie. Now, it feels sort of like a Michael Bay movie, fun with all the explosions and nonsense for the first 45 minutes ... but then you're wondering how it will end.

It is a shame because writer Brian Buccellato is clearly a fan of both DC and the kaiju everyone is battling. There are still some crazy moments in this book to make me smile and cheer. This issue is basically the brawl we have been waiting for, complete with kaiju and mecha. But there is also a feeling of overdoing it. A few pixy stix candies are sweet and fun. A barrel of them are a tummy ache.

More importantly, it feels like there are too many plots happening in this book to keep my head on straight and invested in all of them. Superman dead. Supergirl and Kong brainwashed. Lex piloting mechagodzilla. Godzilla imprisoned in the ocean. Ra's Al Ghul with his own kaiju army about to waltz in. And oh yeah, Toyman using the dreamstone to make all this stuff happen. How are all of these going to be bundled up next issue? And maybe just maybe one or two of these could have been left for a sequel to tighten up this one. 

The art is again split by Christian Duce and Tom Derenick. I have to say, Derenick is basically becoming a sort of Neal Adams' surrogate. Many of his panels look so much like Adams' work I had to pause. Duce brings his fine line stellar art to the main battle sequence and brings the fun.

In the end, I will probably rate this book a success. The highs are pretty high. But it is a shame the last couple of issues have had a reach that exceeds its grasp.

On to the book.

Review: Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #5

Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #5 came out last week and had, as usual, some real fun moments. But this is also the moment where I worry that the scope of this story has become so big (one might say kaiju-sized) that it might be tough to wrap up all the plot threads with only two issues remaining.

Writer Brian Buccellato has a lot of things going on this issue. Superman is still dying. Some of the League are protecting Atlantis. Supergirl is back on Kong Island. The Legion of Doom is still scheming. Luthor is close to activating mecha-Godzilla. Ra's Al Ghul has entered the mix. And Toyman and basically most of the monsters are nowhere to be found.

That is a lot of stuff going on! As a reader I kind of feel all over the place. And when a subplot I don't really care about (in this case protecting Atlantis) takes up a lot of the book, it sort of feels like wasted pages.

The art is an interesting mix. Christian Duce brings this gorgeous, fine-lined art to his pages which shine. Tom Derenick does the non-kaiju plot pages where the hero teams are strategizing their next steps. His is a thicker line. The two styles are quite distinct but given the discrete scenes it isn't too distracting.

I want to love this book and I have loved it. But this issue was the first one which felt a little bit of pause and a little bit scattered. On to the book.

Review: Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #4

Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #4 came out this week and was another funtastic romp through this Elseworlds tale mixing the Monsterverse with a sort of Super Friends style DCU. Without a doubt, this has been the most bananas and therefore most entertaining book I have read in a while. And this issue keeps up that frenetic pace with some great character moments.

Writer Brian Buccellato continues to mix the two universes well. The Justice League are trying to deal with these souped up kaijus who seem able to stand up to the most powerful of them. With Superman off the table, Supergirl remains a focal point which makes me smile. We get a rather emotional Batman and a solid Lois moment as well. But the best part of this is the insane Legion of Doom, who act like old school robbers rather than world conquerors here. Only Lex seems to rise above it all.

Christian Duce splits art with Tom Derenick. Each have a unique style making the pages easy to discern. Duce bringing a finer line and a more refined touch to the proceedings. This works well with the Supergirl pages and the insane Atlantis scenes. Derenick is on the Fortress scenes and brings appropriate gravitas to the Lois scene. I had to pick up the Whilce Portacio cover seen above. Is this the first time Portacio has drawn Supergirl?

On to the book.

Review: Dark Crisis The Deadly Green

When it was announced that the big bads in Dark Crisis were Pariah and the The Great Darkness, I anticipated that the writers would be leaning into two of the bigger stories that came out in 1985. 

One, of course, is Crisis on Infinite Earths. That would explain all the multiverse stuff and obviously Pariah's presence.

The other though is American Gothic, the Alan Moore Swamp Thing arc that looked at horror manifesting in the DCU during the instability of the Crisis. That arc starts with the formal introduction of John Constantine and ends with a battle on the plains of Heaven and Hell. We see Swamp Thing tangentially touch on the Crisis in Swamp Thing #46. That arc introduces the Parliament of Trees. It ends in Swamp Thing #50 where the Great Darkness is revealed as the shadow of God, the Anti-light. In that issue, Earthbound magical heroes perform a seance to lend what meager powers they have to the side of good. In the end, Swamp Thing is profound, Mento is insane, Zatara is dead, and the Great Darkness has created an uneasy truce with the original Light. 

Dark Crisis The Deadly Green really leans into that American Gothic arc and in particular that issue of Swamp Thing. From a super-hero seance, to a profound character speaking from the ultimate darkness, to Swamp Thing playing an important role, it all resonates. Without knowing that issue inside and out, I wonder if readers pick up and those reverberations. In particular, Constantine speaking to three aspects of the Great Darkness is a sort of inverse of four heroes speaking to the Darkness in that issue, a very sneaky back door homage. Alan Scott almost perishing in flames (like Zatara did) is also a decent echo. 

And a key plot point of the main Dark Crisis book is tucked away here too. 

All that, from the homage to the key plot point, makes me wonder why the creator list of the book reads like a phone book. It sports three writers - Ram V, Daniel Watters, and Alex Paknadel. It has four artists - Daniel Bayliss, George Kambadais, Tom Derenick, and Brent Peeples. I suppose that the number of creators doesn't matter if the story works. But the art styles flipping about did pull me a bit out of the story. 

All this makes me wonder if I should just review Swamp Thing #50 here.

On to the book.

Supergirl Best of 2018: Top Ten Comic Moments #10 - #6

It is that time of year, a time to look back and gauge the last 12 months. It is one of my favorite times of the year for this site as it gives me the opportunity to review all the places and all the stories that Supergirl has taken part in over the year.

2018 was an interesting year for Kara. Her own book was put on hiatus when I feel it was reaching a sort of creative zenith. The coming of Brian Michael Bendis meant that Steve Orlando and Jody Houser's Kara was shelved. So for a couple of months we didn't have a solo book.

But the arrival of Brian Michael Bendis meant Supergirl was going to have a new emphasis. First off, she played a big role in The Man of Steel, the introduction of Bendis' bold new direction. It also meant that her solo title, when resolicited, was going to have a very different approach and feel.

We also got to see Supergirl in other books - Wonder Woman, Injustice, and even a holiday special. She had small roles in Justice League:No Justice and other books.

But the big thing is, for the most part, she was treated well in all these appearances. She isn't used as a yardstick to prove how tough the enemy is. She isn't immature or foolish. And in some ways, she outshone the bigger names in these books.

As this would be a very long post if I covered all ten, I'll do the back end here. Covers, honorable mentions, and moments #10 - #6 will be covered here.

Onto the best moments of 2018.

Review: Supergirl #25

Supergirl #25 came out last week, a double sized anniversary issue celebrating ... I guess ... the title making it to the quarter century mark. It is amazing what passes as a high number in comics these days.

The book is made up of three stories. The first continues the current plotline with Kara investigating Rogol Zaar's part in the destruction of Krypton. Writer Marc Andreyko does a decent job here mixing in visions and reality, playing on a bit of Supergirl's history, and adding a new rogue to her villain list. The art there is done primarily by Supergirl veteran Emanuela Lupacchino and fits in well with the Maguire/Shaner look to the book.

The second story focuses on a past encounter of current shipmate Z'ndr Kol. We get a better sense of the sort of swashbuckling, Tomb Raider-like adventurer he is. But we also get some crumbs to deepen the current mysteries of this title. I don't know how much I can trust this guy. And there are so many apostrophes in his language that I can't help but think he's a Martian.

The last story feels like an inventory holdover for some never published holiday special. Dan Jurgens and Tom Derenick give us a story from Supergirl's past, clearly set in the Steve Orlando era, with a simple but beloved holiday message.

Overall I thought this was a very good issue but for one overused plot element that bores me.

On to the book!

Review: Batman/Superman #11

Batman/Superman #11 came out last week, the third chapter in the Doomed story arc. Knowing the August solicits we are really just at the beginning of this arc. There 3 ... three(!) ... more months of this. That is a bit crazy!

As a third chapter, this one does it's job. We learn much more about the background of the Doomsday attack. We learn about the origin of Doomsday leaving the Zone. There is a fair amount of exposition/plot progression but never by sacrificing the action. That is appreciated.

But for me the best thing about this issue was how well Pak shows us how Superman is an inspiration or at least an influence on the heroes and people around him. I don't know if I have seen or heard that in the New 52. As an long standing Superman fan, I like him being the brightest light in the universe, the light others strive for.

The art on the issue is a mishmash by Tom Derenick, Karl Kerschl, and Daniel Sampere. All have a nice style and the differences aren't so jarring as to knock me out of the story.

I commented how much I have been enjoying these opening recap pages done in the style of the Daily Planet. However reading this one, I think I missed have missed Doomed Chapter 2.5.

The last chapter in Superman/Wonder Woman #8 ended with Superman somehow willing the Doomsday germ inside. He was cradled in Diana's arms.

This says that Superman, in semi-Superdoom mode, went on a rampage in Metropolis. Did I miss something?

Batman, Wonder Woman, and Steel all decide to team up to help find a cure for Superman. And they have to act fast. In the media-saturated world, Superman being a monster is big news. What better way to get ratings than to whip the public into a panic, terrified of their hero. Even Batman knows that these terror tactics work.

Already we begin to see how important Superman and his image is to Batman. He knows he has to bring this problem to an end and soon. He, Wonder Woman, and Steel all head to the Fortress to try to find a cure.

When  I read Action Comics #31, I saw a panel where Krypto licked Superman's hand and at the time I wondered if that was a key. Wouldn't Krypto get the virus? Maybe him having the disease will help people figure out a cure?

Well, Krypto is indeed pretty sick when the heroes arrive in the Arctic. The heroes think it must be from the proximity Krypto was to Superman, that 'Doomsday plague wave' that made everything die around the original Doomsday.

But I think this is because he has the virus as well. Will see if that plays out.

A suddenly spry Krypto does bound about the Fortress and ends up jumping into the Phantom Zone. And Batman immediately assumes that Krypto is trying to tell them something. But that something is that he is on the trail of Doomsday.

Umm ... didn't Batman see Doomsday get ripped asunder? How can you be on his trail when he is dead?

And there is a little bit of Lassie here. Lassie barks and the owner knows the dog is saying Timmy fell down the well. How does Batman know what Krypto is thinking?

But I am nit-picking. What I liked about this panel was what Batman is saying. Batman is thinking of Superman fighting this disease. He thinks about what might happen if Superman succumbs. With his friend suffering, he is willing to jump into the Zone with Diana.

But he does tell Steel to stay out and shut things down if any villains try to escape.

The Zone seems off. There is some solidity to things, including the heroes. And that makes them easy targets for all the villains still in the zone - Mongul, Non, and others. In fact, those villains are trying to seal a rift between the Zone and Earth, perhaps the very rift Doomsday went through, a rift pouring energy into zone, changing its properties and killing those trapped there.

But Diana and Bruce aren't the only ones in there. The Ghost Soldier arrives and just in time to make the heroes intangible, saving them from Mongul. And under the influence of Diana's lasso he states he has left the Tower. He can't believe the Tower helped release Doomsday and he wants to make amends.

I said I liked how the heroes here are comparing themselves to Superman. Despite being saved by the Ghost Soldier, Batman attacks him. He says that he isn't Clark.

The search of the Zone leads Batman, Diana, Krypto and the soldier to a large Kirby-looking device which seems to be generating the energy causing the rifts.

And right nearby is Dr. Xa-Du, the phantom king, the first prisoner. We last saw Xa-Du in Morrison's Action arc, a member of the Revenge Squad. We know that his 'ectoplasmic' bandages allow him to be solid in the Zone and on the outside as well. Here he is wielding a pretty big gun and he doesn't seem to happy.

We really don't know too much about this Xa-Du. The original was introduced way back in Action Comics #283, a physician who killed his patients when he experimented on them. Hopefully we'll get some of his backstory because he seems to be a big part of this story.

We have heard how Batman is thinking about Superman, comparing himself to Kal. Now we see Wonder Woman doing the same thing. Batman can see that Wonder Woman is trying to think like Superman. She doesn't jump to the sword and tries to gather info. I like that, that even Diana is willing to strive to be like Clark.

It turns out that Xa-Du was recruited by Harrow to help bring about Superman's end. And thirsting for revenge he acquiesced. He freed Doomsday from a Zone within a Zone (a pocket Zone?).

So Xa-Du helped create/manifest/substantiate the Ghost Soldier? Fascinating.

And Harrow is also way more interesting now. How did she know about the Zone? Who is she really?

I need more backstories!

Part of the problem of releasing a monster is that you don't know how monstrous it has become. The released Doomsday was something different than Xa-Du expected. Doomsday broke the Zone. Superdoom will kill everything. Xa-Du wants to kill it. And he has a big old gun to do just that.

According to him there is no cure.

So there is the exposition. Who made the Ghost Soldier? How did the Tower know about Doomsday? Who released him? Xa-Du has a pretty big part to play in this. And, knowing that Diana and Bruce subdue him to bring him out.

In the meantime, Steel had to keep Non from escaping the Zone through the portal while keeping it open to let Diana and Bruce (with Krypto and Xa-Du) return.

Batman actually chastises Steel for endangering the world by keeping the door open. When asked, Steel responds simply. It is what Superman would have done.

Three heroes ... all influenced by Superman. All willing to risk their lives to save Superman. Fantastic. I think of Funeral for a Friend, the story after the original Death of Superman Doomsday story. That arc showed how much Superman was revered, how his death effected people. This reminded me of that a little. Superman is sick, dying, in peril ... and these heroes realize what he means to them and everyone else.

So this was a good chapter in Doomed, moving the story along, raising some new subplots, and showing how important Superman is. This wasn't a jaw-dropping issue. But it was perfect for a third chapter. And it was very good.

And when a sick Krypto recovers and we learn how to cure Superman from his dog ... well remember you read it here first.

I think Greg Pak has a nice handle on Superman. I am glad he is on the super-books.

Overall grade: B+/B

Review: Action Comics #23 Back-Up Feature

You know that feeling when a movie or book starts out great and then fizzles? That feeling that something wonderful was there, right in the grasp of the creators but sadly slipped away? That has been my feeling of the World Of Krypton Back-up feature which has run through Action Comics and the recent Superman Annual.

Action Comics #23 ended the story by writer Frank Hannah with art by Tom Derenick. And what started out as an interesting look at a young Jor-El and Lara decayed to a straightforward action book with some questionable ethics by our two protagonists. A Jor-El willing to mind control the planet. A Lara Lor-Van with a sadistic and murderous streak. That seems miles away from the curious elated scientist and strong young soldier we saw in the first chapters.

Something was there. And then it wasn't.

The loud violent second half of the tale does seem in line with the New 52. And I don't mean that in a good way.

As anticipated last issue, Jor-El is able to stymie the plans of Colonel Ekar but simply refusing to work the 'harmonic resonator'. While I don't like hearing that Jor-El made this thing at least he still has the ethics to not use it to enslave the populace. He is willing to sacrifice himself, or subject himself to torture, before he will cross that line.

Although by creating this thing, maybe he crossed that line already, albeit with his 'nudging' rather than Ekar's edicts. It just feels wrong for Jor-El to have done this.

Before the beating can get too severe, the loyal members of the Kryptonian military break in. Ekar is slaughtered before Jor-El's eyes.

Just like that the threat of the Eradicator cult is over.

Lara meanwhile takes out some frustration on Jax-Ur, giving him a good thrashing. And she continues to protest too much calling Jor-El a fool.

And yet, after Jor-El destroys his creation, immolating the harmonic resonator, there is that look of hidden love in her eyes.

So maybe the point of this story is to show us a young brash Jor-El and Lara, too young to know what's right but learning. I feel better about both in this one panel than I did in the three chapters before.

And it ends with a nice 'first appearance' of General Zod. He is the trooper who killed Ekar. And he is old friends with Jor-El.

I suppose there is some grist for the mill here. They are friends. It would be an interesting story to see how these two drift apart, eventually becoming enemies.

Still, this ending fell flat and I don't know if I liked my protagonists too much in the middle. And it is too bad that Philip Tan couldn't stay on art.

Overall grade: C+

Review: World of Krypton Back-Up Feature In Superman Annual #2

After being in the back pages of Action Comics for a few months, The World of Krypton back-up feature suddenly appeared in the back of Superman Annual #2. I wasn't expecting to see it here. It isn't even mentioned on the cover. I hope that people following this story know enough to look here if they want. This didn't seem to make sense to me, unless DC wants this story to be done prior to Greg Pak taking over Action. Maybe they needed to sneak in a chapter somewhere.

The sad thing here is that I had high hopes for this story when it first started. The wide eyed young Jor-El and the stern military cadet Lara was a sort of new take on the characters and seemed to capture some of the re-invigoration that the New 52 was supposed to do. In those early chapters, writer Frank Hannah seemed to capture the exuberance that these two young people brought to their very different lives.

Unfortunately, the story has taken something of a left hand turn and veered more towards the 'over the top' theatrics I have come to expect in the New 52. Instead of letting the characters carry the story, this has become a story driven by action. Worse, the young Jor-El has become a scientist engaging in mind control. And the young Lara has become an angry woman with a cavalier attitude towards killing. Suddenly we went to far afield with these character. Re-imagination is one thing. Re-writing characters completely is something else.

It also doesn't help that Philip Tan's slick art isn't on this story either.

Having escaped the Eradicator's troops, Lara and Jor-El head back to the science council to see if they can help.

I find it interesting that the head of the council says the Eradicator doesn't have many followers. This guy took over the capitol building. He has held it without much interference. He sent a troop ship to find Jor-El. This sounds like someone with a lot of followers.

I can feel that Hannah wants to bring some sort of 'opposites attract' feeling to Jor-El and Lara. But it doesn't work when I have to hear Jor-El defending the machine he built to 'persuade' people to thing creatively. I don't care what he thinks. That's mind control.

Now the Colonel wants to up the ante from persuasion to total control. Only Jor-El knows the machine that well.

Hmmm ... maybe coming here wasn't a bright idea.

I will say, the most sympathetic character here is Jax-Ur. He seems like a follower who got caught up with the wrong people. I don't get the sense he necessarily has bought into the Eradicator's ideas as much as got carried along with what he thought would be the winning side.

But he definitely has feelings for Lara and is willing to lie to save her. I do like that Lara won't give up her principles even if it means her death.

Captured, Jor-El is strapped to the 'harmonic resonator' and told to activate the Colonel's protocols.

I would like to think that Jor-El would rather die than enslave the planet. I suppose he could always use the machine to control the minds of the Colonel's men.

Anyways. It just feels like this story started out rather wondrous but the bloom is off the rose. Let's hope Hannah is able to pull off a miracle and have the ending recapture some of that earlier spirit.

Overall grade: C

Review: Action Comics #22 Back-Up Feature

I have been enjoying the back-up feature in Action Comics, a story written by Frank Hannah looking back at the early days of Jor-El and Lara. If there is any area of the Superman mythos which might be a bit malleable, it is that time period for those characters. Since Superman #0 last year we have known that Lara was a trained military officer. So seeing her here as a cadet has been interesting. And to see a wide-eyed optimistic and curious Jor-El has been fascinating.

Unfortunately, the latest chapter in Action Comics #22 seemed to go one step too far in this new characterization. We go from a determined Lara to one who seems to kill with a nonchalant attitude that seems off for the loving mother we have seen before. And the curious Jor-El suddenly is the architect of a mind-control device affecting the entire world. This also seems off from the guy who was so singular in his thoughts as to stand up to the Science Council with his findings and then defy them by saving his son.

It doesn't help that Philip Tan is off art on this chapter. The slick visuals he was bringing are replaced by the pedestrian work of Tom Derenick. Slightly off characterization and average art brought the buzz I had for this little story down a bit.

As seen in the prior chapters,a military coup is unfolding on Krypton where a high-ranking officer has blasted his way into the Science Council, killed some members, and wrested control. Hmmm. Sounds sort of like the beginning of the Man of Steel.

While the military troops hold the Council chambers, a smaller phalanx has been sent to kill off presumed enemies of the new state ... and that includes Jor-El. It looks as though the discovery if the sunken city of Xan and the presumed-extinct Teklons are merely set pieces. Perhaps there is a future story planned?

Regardless, when the troops come to get him, Jor-El jettisons his gear, flinging himself to the surface. And the commotion agitates the calm Teklons such that they lash out at whatever is near. In this case, it is a revolutionary soldier.

Seems a bit risky to me. Jor-El's team was also swimming in those waters. I suppose when staring down the barrel of a gun, the most desperate of time, you have to resort to desperate measures.

Here is the plot point I have the most trouble with. The Colonel who has organized this coup wants to take control of a 'sensory harmonic resonator', a machine controlled by Jor-El which is able to nudge the Kryptonian population towards 'intellectual curiosity'. While it isn't outright mental domination, it does seem like mind control. I think my Jor-El as a noble person who would value freedom above all. It is his civil liberties which allows him to save Kal. So to have him holding the keys to this thing feels really off.

And, of course, the Colonel wants to weaponize it, bringing the populace to its knees in a calm and controlled way.

We heard last issue that Cadet Lara Lor-Van might be harboring some feelings for Jor-El. We also saw that she recognized that he might be the best person to help her stop this coup. As part of her rescue of Jor-El, she casually destroys a troop carrier, presumably killing a bunch of her fellow soldiers (although working for the Colonel). I don't mind a stronger and tougher Lara, but I would prefer one with a bit more acknowledgment of the sanctity of life.

There is this pretty nice moment after Lara rescues Jor where he asks why she saved him. While he might be an ally to stop the coup, I also think she can't deny her attraction to him and not wanting to see him as a casualty.

The colonel running this coup has so far been unnamed. I actually wondered if it might be Zod (although it would be hard to be promoted after treason). Well, it turns out he is the New 52 answer to the Eradicator. Again, way back in Superman #0 that the Eradicator ends up heading a doomsday cult which embraces the end of the world.

I liked the Eradicator in the old DCU so I hope this one captures some of that essence. I don't quite understand the extreme close-up of the ring. Unless it is some sort of Black Zero symbol.

Anyways, a killing Lara, a mind-controlling Jor-El ... it seemed a bit too far astray from the welcome freshness of the early chapters. Will see if this can be turned around.

Overall grade: C

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #18

Legion of Super-Heroes #18 came out this week and continued the breakneck pace of the Fatal Five storyline which started in earnest last month. Like the best of Legion books, writers Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen are able to juggle a large roster of characters throughout the book, giving each sub-group of Legionnaires time to shine in their corner of the story. And by shifting the focus of the plot quickly among those groups, it really gives the book some kinetic energy. As a reader, I can't get too comfortable when the scene keeps shifting and so I also got caught up in the action as well.

This main plot reads like a reverse 'Magic Wars' story. Instead of magic destroying technology and causing chaos throughout the universe, it is 'old tech', used by Tharok, to destroy any 'quark based' technology. With all machines on planets not working, the worlds rather rapidly descend into anarchy. Everyone is caught off guard here.

And, like any big arc, there are deaths and major changes in characters. This really feels like a different Legion book than the last few stories.

The one complaint about this issue is the art. Last issue's art was done by Giffen and included many 6 panel pages stuffed with appropriately muddy art. This issue, the art is split between Tom Derenick and Scott Kolins. It just doesn't seem to work as well as Giffen's did last issue. I am intrigued to see how Francis Portela fares with this arc moving forward. I think Portela shines in drawing the sleek beautiful 31st century world. How will he handle this universe filled with detritus and catastrophes?

On Earth, civilization seems to be crumbling. The lack of technology seems to have lead to explosion, fires, rioting, and the gathering of mobs. That didn't seem to take too long.

Interestingly, at least some citizens are blaming the Legion saying only they had the power to bring about this apocalypse. Now why the Legion would do this, who knows. Mobs are unruly. At the very least, the mob should see that the Legion are suffering too.

I did like the combo of Harmonia Li and Dragonwind to calm the crowd down. Li wants to use words. Dragonwind wants to use fire. Nice dichotomy.

It is interesting that Harmonia was elected the deputy leader. And I like that she lashes out with tornadoes when Brainiac 5's sanity is called into question by the mob. I do think it is fascinating that she is romantically interested in him.

As I said above, it is 'quark' based technology that Tharok seems to be able to shut down. Older technology seems to be able to work but is harder to find because it has been replaced.

A team from Earth including Rokk, Mon-El, Lightning Lass, Vi, and Shady are trying to get a cruiser functional to help out off-world.

As a long time Legion fan, I love the Weber's World comment. Sort of the seat of power of the UP and a man-made machine world, it is probably in big trouble if not destroyed. So seems like the right place to start.

The stress from this anti-tech attack seems to be hitting the Legionnaires as well. Rokk asks Ayla if she will use her lightning to power up the ship. Seems reasonable to ask and certainly something I have seen her and Garth do in the past.

Vi seems to take offense to the proposal, at least until Ayla says it's okay. Of course, way back in the Legion Annual #1 from the last series, it was hinted that Vi might be possessed by the Emerald Eye. We haven't seen the Empress yet in this arc. Could Vi be an embedded Fatal Five villain? Maybe, even unwittingly, she is trying to stymie Rokk's efforts?

The Rimbor team of Ultra Boy, Cham, and Glorith figures out a way to get off the planet which is in complete disarray. Glorith can use her magic to open up a portal back to the Wizards' World and Mysa, the Black Witch.

Of all places, the Wizards World might be the least effected by Tharok's ploy. It might be the perfect place to make a last stand. 

One thing I like about the Legion is the sense of internal history and the breadth of its characters. In this issue we hear Shady talk about the barbarism of her home world. We hear Cham talk about the devastation of the 6 minute war. These heroes have such diverse histories; interesting to hear it still impact them during times of crisis.

Meanwhile, on the Promethean Giant world, the team of Phantom Girl, Polar Boy, and Invisible Kid continue to mourn Sun Boy's passing but also keep trying to figure a way off the surface so they can help out.

Even here some of that Legion history comes out. Phantom Girl wonders if she will be thrown out of the leadership spot because of this massive attack.

I love how Polar Boy supports her while sheepishly rubbing his own head. His tenure as leader wasn't that easy most remembered for him trying Brainy for violating Legion code and an internal conspiracy within the group to kill the Time Trapper. He was blamed for all the stuff that happened while he was leader. He would know about crushing self-doubt.

And on Earth, some other Legionnaires are also trying to but together a working cruiser. When the protesters break in, the Legionnaires (Brainy, Element Lad, Chemical Kid, Dream Girl, and Star Boy) actually need to make a break for it. They jump into their barely functioning cruiser.

In dramatic fashion, Star Boy is crushed at the doorway, right in front of Dream Girl.

I have been saying for some time that Star Boy wasn't long for this world. His yearning to retire. His walks through the garden of statues of fallen Legionnaires. It was written on the wall.

It also might set up the Dreamy/Brainy romance I have been saying is coming since they were kidnapped together.

Now that is a lot of stuff going on in this issue. But it ends with an unexpected cliffhanger. The Promethean Giant has awakened, is trying to literally scratch the Legionnaires off him, and ... somehow ... is being controlled by Tharok. He really does seem to be a sort of Cyborg Superman now. And I suppose I should just roll with this massive increase in his power level? Or should I hope for more of an explanation?

So, another good issue with a lot of action. The one thing that I liked about this was the Legionnaires ability to continue to keep their eye on the big picture. With death of friends and devastation all around us, they continue to be goal-oriented, to try to get into the action and stop the Fatal Five. Their will be time for mourning. But later.

So another turbo-fueled issue of Legion. And about these monthly Legionnaire deaths, to quote Fleming "Once is happenstance, Twice is coincidence, Three times is enemy action." I fear there will be many more.

It is a shame that Giffen is leaving so soon after revving up the title. That said, I will be thrilled when Francis Portela is back on art.

Overall grade: B+

Review: Reign in Hell #8

I said from the outset that I had little interest in reading Reign In Hell outside of the rumored appearance of Linda Danvers. The Shadowpact and other mystic players in the DCU have rarely grabbed me. But Linda Danvers? She was special to me.

The mini-series ended this week with Reign In Hell #8. As with most of the issues, I was scratching my head when I finished it. It just never seemed to make much sense to me. And I am still unclear how the mystic terrain has changed now that this war has reached a resolution. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Remember that in last issue, Linda seemed confused and was vacillating between helpful and innocent or vengeful and judging. After immolating some demons, she almost does the same to Dr. Occult before flying off screaming.

I don't think that sat well with most Linda fans. Most of us worried that this was a set-up to make her the Queen of Hell.

This issue opens up shortly afterwards. The human beings in Hell have congregated in the empty realm of Purgatory in hopes of finding a way home. Some are inexperienced; some are overmatched; most are battered physically and exhausted mentally.

The only sensible plan is for Nightshade to try to find a passage back through the shadow realms. She states that the shadows are now unpredictable and that she may get lost inside them. She also admits that they seem to lead her through many of the worst memories of her life. Dr. Occult, who comes across as a Philip Marlowe type, states he will join her and use his symbol as a guide. With no other choice, the two set off while they others try to heal.

The events in Hell have not gone unnoticed on Earth. As seen last issue, Rama Kushna is trying to force a chaos event to occur to shake up the new order in Hell. The hope is she will open the doors of Hell again.

As a way to try to influence Kushna's chaos event, the Earth magicians have Zatara bond with her psychically and project calm as much as he can. But he looks the worse for wear as he is being burned out by the effort.

In much the same way, the magicians ask Kid Devil to link so that he can observe and influence the evil magics Kushna is bringing to bear. Kid Devil also gets engulfed by Kushna's power and seems to fall into a coma.

As for Hell itself, Lord Satanus is reveling in his newfound power and title.

First he denies Zauriel his plea to let the humans trapped in Hell go free. Next he states that he will reclaim Purgatory as part of his kingdom. And lastly, he makes a pact with Lobo that he will free the Czarian if he slaughters the magic wielders hiding out in Purgatory. Since Lobo wants another piece of Zatanna, he agrees.

After setting Lobo free, Satanus is confronted by Black Alice who has been sucking up power throughout the series. I only know Alice from her early appearances in Gail Simone's Birds of Prey. In that series, she seemed like a confused adolescent Goth who was dealing with her mother's death and unsure of what to make of her powers. In this series, she has only seemed evil.

She grabs Satanus in hopes of draining him of his power only to have it seemingly overwhelm her.

We then cut to Purgatory where we read several pages of Lobo kicking the tar out of the worn-out good guys. Dr. Fate seems inexperienced. Ibis, Ragman, Sargon, and The Enchantress are simply overmatched. And Zatanna is running on empty. The best they can do against an enraged Lobo is parry and survive. But it is barely a fight. Look at Zatanna get the big hook to the left shoulder.

As the troops scramble to live, Nightshade and Dr. Occult wander through the back corners of Nightshade's mind until they run across a drill-like projection which leads to the outside world.

Using Kid Devil as a conduit, Nightshade and Dr. Occult crawl back to the physical plane. And then, using Dr. Fate as a beacon are able to bring back the magicians in Purgatory. All of them, that is, except Sargon who runs inteference with Lobo so the others can escape. It is hinted at that Lobo kills Sargon shortly thereafter.

The return of the living from Purgatory seems to be the necessary chaos event as we hear that the infernal font flows again.

What is it with guys called Sargon in these big mystic cataclysms. They always die! Remember the first Sargon bursting into flame way back in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing #50?

But more than the escape of the sorcerors has shaken the already tenuous landscape of the pit.

It turns out that when Black Alice tried to drain Lord Satanus of his power that made Satanus temporarily vulnerable to attack. Lady Blaze took advantage of that, entering the circuit and taking the energy for herself. Now both Black Alice and Satanus are drained and powerless while Blaze is almighty.

Blaze leaves her brother broken and drooling on the floor and proclaims herself Queen of Hell.

All that's left is picking up the pieces. Blue Devil gets to go home. But does he go free of his demonic side? The answer seems to be no. Shadowpact has reformed and we see Blue Devil brooding at their headquarters, still blue and brawny. Black Alice ends up back on Earth, powerless, confused, and overall terrified.

And, interestingly enough, the shakeup in the afterlife seems to have given an out to the Dibny's who are free to leave their ghost form whenever they please.

The series ends at (I presume) Blaze's coronation, the head of Neron still on a pike before her. And what is Zauriel doing there?

I really don't know what to make of this series. There did not seem to be any sort of comprehendable story over the eight issues. There were major plot twists introduced in one panel and then erased by the next bizarre turn of events. I have read a lot of comics in my life and at times I felt lost. I never quite understood the plan (if any) that the magicians from Earth had or how they would actualize it. The dialogue often seemed forced. Was it necessary to bring back the original Zatara only to kill him again. Was this the best way to bring back Lobo, who we had seen throughout 52?

Oh yeah ... and one more thing ...

THERE WAS NO LINDA!

I suppose I should be happy that she wasn't set up as Queen of Hell or a new villain. I mean it when I say I am thrilled they did not make her a villain. But why bring her into the story if she wasn't going to impact the plot at all. I mean, she really did nothing to advance the story. Instead, we see her as a spiteful angry woman in Gotham and a confused psychotic killer in Hell. Is this a better ending than the open ended one from Supergirl #80? Doesn't she deserve better than this?

What is the worst offense? A life in comic limbo, out of continuity? Or dragging her back into continuity, portraying her poorly, and leaving her sobbing and wandering outside Purgatory?

This seemed like a lousy way to get people like me (a Linda fan) to buy a pretty lousy 8 issue mini-series.

Overall grade (issue): D
Overall grade (series): D