DC’s been promoting this special wedding issue for months now. They’ve put enough ads and “COMING SOONS” inside their comics to make the original release of the Segway seem like a sleeper hit. I won’t give anything away (for now), but the end of this issue leads into yet another upcoming series. Am I the only one who thinks it’s cheesy when the last page of an over-advertised comic is basically an advertisement for the next issue? DANGEROUS CLIFFHANGER! SPILLS! CHILLS! SCHILL (out another three bucks to find out who dies).
The Obligatory Warning: Heavy innuendo, stabbing, an unforgivably tacky wedding dress.
To be fair, the Green Arrow/ Black Canary Wedding Special is pretty good. It’s funny, creative, and has fantastic art. Writer Judd Winick, who wrote the issue where Green Arrow proposed to Black Canary, which STARTED this entire process, has written this Wedding issue, too. Oliver Queen (the Green Arrow) and Dinah Lance (the Black Canary) are finally getting married, after years of tempestuous romance. They invite the entire DC community, who aren’t sure whether the match will last.
What makes this issue worthwhile? Lois Lane pays a male stripper to proposition Wonder Woman, and Zatanna orders another to (magically) take it off. This is the sort of humor the old Marvel Comics Holiday Specials used to have-- hilarious and unabashedly nerdy.
Amanda Conner is a perfect match for this story. This issue demands a tongue-in-cheek style, which Conner draws as naturally as fish swim. It helps she knows how to manipulate layout for the sake of comic timing. This same ability made her work on JSA Classified #1-3 very good, and it’s even sharper here. She can also draw an excellent pout, which is always useful for love stories.
Action Comics #883
Nighwing and Flamebird make their public debut and start the hunt for Zod’s most dangerous sleeper.
Blood and Water
Vampire stories are all the rage these days. Most are silly teenage romances, but every once in a while a vampire tale comes along that doesn’t, um…suck.
Secret Six # 15
Deadshot tries to come to terms with his homicidal impulses.
Blackest Night #4 (of 8)
Barry Allen does his best to rally the heroes, but will they be able to stand against the arrival of Nekron?
Superman: World of New Krypton #9
Jemm storms New Krypton’s High Council Chamber demanding an audience, Kal-El and Zod meet, and the first murder on New Krypton is committed.
Madame Xanadu #16
The return of series artist Amy Reeder Hadley also marks the start of a new, creepy, and great Matt Wagner story.
Superman #693
General Lane makes Mon-El an offer he has to refuse, but an unlikely ally might just save Mon-El’s life.
The Brave and the Bold # 28
The Flash travels back in time to World War II where he joins forces with the fabled Blackhawks.
Northlanders #21
A settlement along The Volga River in Russia deals with the onslaught of a plague in the start of a new story arc.
Superman: Secret Origin #2 (of 6)
Young Clark Kent experiences a bit of a super identity crisis, but manages to get by with some help from his parents and some new friends…Long Live The Legion!
Superman/Batman #65
The Scarecrow takes Superman, The Batman, The Joker, and Lex Luthor on a fear gas induced Halloween nightmare ride.
Azrael #1
The new Azrael’s ongoing series debuts with the death of a major character…
Supergirl #46
The Metropolis Three finally capture Reactron, Thara and Kara make up, and some more light is shed on Lana’s mysterious condition…