Okay, time for the final rankings. As predicted, it was a pretty good week. Red means that the comic was worse than I had predicted, green means it was better, and grey means that it was just as I expected. Not any real surprises, though.

9. Supergirl #9

Wow, this was bad and pointless. I was willing to stick with this comic for another couple of issues, but instead I’ll be dropping it. There’s nothing good I can really pull out of this. A slutty, smoking, bar-hopping Supergirl is such a good role model. Cassie needs a better role model.

Movement: -

8. Flash #3

While I think this comic is improving from its awful first issue, it just isn’t doing anything for me. I like seeing Jay Garrick around, but Bart Allen is just boring. I’m debating keeping this.

Movement: -

7. 52: Week Sixteen

I would expect that a meticulously planned comic like this would seem less rushed, but I felt like the Black Adam/Isis marriage was something that was written in the margin somewhere around issue 10, but someone forgot to set it up, so it had to be rushed. The Renee/Question stuff was also handled badly, I thought (and it seems like they are setting Renee up to become the new Question, I bet, or maybe she’ll be the Answer or something silly). I really need to drop this comic, but it is so damn addicting.

Movement: -

6. Legion Of Super Heroes #21

This wasn’t a spectacular issue, but it got the job done. I like my Brainiac 5’s to be arrogant, and this one fits the bill. The result of his tinkering was predictable, I think, and adds an interesting dimension to the character.

Movement: -2 (Was #4)

5. Batman #656

Ah, much, much improved from Morrison’s first issue. I liked the action and Batman’s thought processes. I did think that the "Jezebel Jet" character was a little much. I also like that we’re getting some closure to some old storylines. I think this could easily have been the first issue of the arc.

Movement: +1 (was #6)

4. Justice League Of America #1

On one hand, I love Red Tornado. Like the Martian Manhunter, he can offer an interesting view to the League. On the other hand, Diana league-blocking Nightwing because she thinks Batman will control him seems out of character. I mean, please, Arsenal or Nightwing and they pick Arsenal? WTF? I did like Batman’s attempts to rationalize choices, despite my disagreement with the final team (which seems rather on the weak side). Anyhow, I love Red Tornado. Having Kathy and Traya show up, too, was icing on the cake.

Movement: +1 (was #5)

3. Wonder Woman #2

I felt a little let down by this. What’s the use of having Donna Troy be Wonder Woman if she’s just going to be playing the part of Robin, the Boy Hostage? I’d have at least a couple of issues of Donna beating the crap out of some villains before tearing her down. I think the long time between issues has hurt the flow of the series, and I’m not quite sure what was so special about this issue that it took so long to create.

Movement: -

2. Birds Of Prey #97

Talia sure does get around (as does Cheetah). Interesting seeing the Birds up against a force they really have no way to defeat. The Batgirl subplot also continues this month, which has me intrigued. Is it Batwoman? Is Babs training a new Batgirl?

Movement: -

1. Batman And The Mad Monk #1

Matt Wagner does cool retro stories but makes them timeless: the art, the story, everything reads and looks like a classic. The same cast from his previous mini-series returns, and a new supernatural threat rears its head. And I love it.

Movement: -

Technorati Tags: Batman, Justice League, Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey, Legion of Super-Heroes, Supergirl, Flash, 52

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 24th, 2006 at 11:15 pm and is filed under DC Comics, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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