The final chapter of this monumental miniseries is proof that some of the best of the current crop of comic book professionals simply aren't as good as their predecessors. Geoff Johns, Phil Jimenez and company-- top-line names in the DC stable-- simply fall short of the standards set by Marv Wolfman and George Perez in the original CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTH not so many years ago. Basically in this issue, the supervillains launch a massive assault on Metropolis while Superboy-Prime and Alexander Luthor make a last-ditch attempt to re-create the universe. Despite some well-crafted fight scenes, there is a lack of feeling in the story. There is no sense of triumph when the modern day and Golden Age Supermen team up to defeat Doomsday. Nor is there a sense of tragedy when a beloved comic icon dies. Just a sense of relief that the ordeal is over. Superboy-Prime and Alex Luthor are reduced to cartoon psychoes. No one feels sad about how they were twisted into villains, nor do we care about their motivations. Much of the art is a mess and was clearly rushed just to meet the deadline (hence the many artists working on it.) A key example is a two-page spread of all the villains battling the heroes at the gates of Metropolis. Thanks to the lack of detail, most of what we see in this scene is a red blur. Numerous heroes and villains died in this issue but the art is so messy, we can't tell who was blasted, crushed or whatever... The few pages that were clearly done by Perez see a dramatic jump in the quality of the art-- but even those ones look rushed. DC really should have spent more time on this story before releasing it. It will be looked on as a mere footnote to the original Crisis-- something like ZERO HOUR or LEGENDS.
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…