In an effort to save time and my own sanity there are several great books out this week that I’m not going to write about, because I have no superlatives left in me. So, just know that Ultimate Spider-Man #114 and Criminal #9 were great, whether you buy them in monthly or in trades, you need to be reading both. Green Arrow: Year 1 #5 still looks great and this issue has more trademark Ollie, with the invention of some of his trick arrows. It’s really coming together now, but wait for the trade.

PULL LIST 9-26-07 The Spirit #10 X-men #203 All-star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder #7 Supergirl and the Legion of Super-heroes # 34 Justice League of America #13 Astro City: The Dark Age Book 2 #4 Countdown to Adventure #2 Left on Mission #4

The Spirit #10
To get it out of the way, yes, this is another well drawn and impeccably designed book. Actually, I really need to point out how well thought out the design is. No other book right now is as visually interesting as The Spirit is. This issue has some panels looking like YouTube frames, as the story deals with a serial killer taking out newsmen. My problem with this issue was the story. The mystery was pretty boring, and the reveal at the end is completely out of left field and feels a bit tacked on. And the commentary that Darwyn Cooke was making about the U.S. media was very pedestrian (we know, cable news is more about ratings than actual news, we get it). I like a good smart comic that examines a topic, but this is pretty much a one-sided attack on conservative media figures and it was just boring. Too much space was devoted to making fun of TV personalities and not enough space was given to the actual story to make me care. The art gives the book some redeeming qualities though, so it’s not a total failure. –2 out of 5

X-Men #203
Talk about a lot going on in one issue. We’ve got Kitty Pryde and the rest of the New X-Men trying to revive one of their members who I don’t know because I don’t read that title. Then there’s Iceman and Cannonball searching for the Destiny diaries while fighting the Marauders. Finally we have Emma Frost, Cyclops, Wolverine, and Beast standing around while Emma regains her ability to move, having been drugged in one of the previous issues. It’s an action-packed and fast-moving plot, but it’s a bit overwhelming and not very friendly to this reader who is just stepping back into the X-pool. Mike Carey is writing the characters well and he’s got a fast-paced plot, I’m just wondering what the bloody point of it all is. I’m sure this all ties into the upcoming crossover, but it just leads to another story whose point is only to lead into a further story. Humberto Ramos is in his usual style which I enjoy, although Kitty looks overly exaggerated at times, and there’s one really out of place panel with Blockbuster breaking something. It’s okay, but takes some getting used to. I think I’ll drop it after next issue and then just wait for the whole crossover to be collected. Oh, and there’s another chapter of Endangered Species, but I skipped over it because Mike Perkins can’t draw Beast or Dark Beast to save his life. –3 out of 5

All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder #7
Yes, we get it Frank, everyone made fun of the “I’m the goddamn Batman” line, and now you’re making fun of them. It was funny last issue the first time, less funny the second time, and in this issue is just played out. Get over it and get back to the story. With that out of the way I have to say that this issue was just not very good. It’s kind of like dating your hot cousin, she may be good to look at, but you’ll regret it in the morning. Jim Lee does his usual great job, but the script is just kind of boring and with the slow production pace, this is just too quick of a read. At least the plot moves forward some this issue. I can understand that Frank Miller is writing a different Batman than we’ve ever seen before; it just doesn’t make for that interesting a character to read. If they decide to continue the title after Miller and Lee leave, I hope they let the next writer do another reinvention and not carry on with this interpretation. It’s the only way they’ll have any sales. –Goddamn 2 out of goddamn 5

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #34
I’m really looking forward to Francis Manapul to start on this series as I’m not digging the work of Dennis Calero. It doesn’t help that the colors on this book are so dark that everything is kind of a mush of black ink. It’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on at any given moment, and his characters lack emotion. It probably doesn’t help my enjoyment that the story is just okay, with the re-introduction of an old Legionnaire who isn’t on their side anymore. It’s not bad; it just feels like it’s treading water a bit, just waiting for the next arc to start. –2 out of 5

Justice League of America #13
Honestly, I don’t know why I’m buying this, and I should probably just drop it all together, but for some reason I keep coming back. I’ve never been a big JLA fan, never read the Morrison stuff, never read anything before the start of Metzler’s really. And that run fairly well disappointed, enough that I dropped the book and didn’t pick up #12. But I picked up the Wedding special from a few weeks ago, mostly on the strength of Dwayne McDuffie‘s name and pedigree, and I enjoyed it for the most part, although it wasn’t spectacular. I got the same feeling with this issue. It’s like I’ve seen this all before from the JLU cartoon, so why am I paying to see it again? But on the other hand, it’s really not terrible either. There’s some good banter, a funny JLU reference, and decent enough action. Maybe I’ll give this arc a try and see if it excites me, or maybe I just need to say that the Justice League isn’t for me. –3 out of 5

Astro City: The Dark Age Book 2 #4
As much as I love this series, and I love it a lot, the release schedule kind of kills it. In the face of all the other books I read, it gets hard to keep details straight, and when there are long delays between issues, it’s even harder. There is just too much going on in this issue and while a lot of it is good, it loses its emotional weight, which I know should be there. This sees the finale of book 2 (of a planned 4) as the Royal brothers deal with the fall out of a fairly big mystic event. I can’t keep all the characters straight, and then there’s stuff here that I’m sure is set up for further issues. It may be time to switch to the trades on this, just to keep things straight. That all said, it’s still great. –4 out of 5

Countdown to Adventure #2
This is another one that I’m not sure why I’m buying. Again, it’s not terribly bad or terribly good, but it does its job and is decent for those looking to continue part of the story of 52 without getting into the whole multiverse, Countdown mess. Now you’re saying “Henchman, part of the book is a look at the history of DC’s fun new character Forerunner, and ties heavily into Countdown.” To which I say, “Yes, that’s true, but I’m not reading that part of the book.” This ties into my problem with buying this, if I’m only reading part of it. The character interaction between Starfire and Animal Man (and his family) is fun though, and the plot with Adam Strange losing his job is also interesting. We do get a look at the villain for the book, which also ties into 52, so that has me interested as well. Definitely time to drop and wait for the trade. –3 out of 5

Left on Mission #4
I’m really having a good time with this series as it feels a lot like the most recent James Bond movie. It’s a fairly realistic look at the spy game with exotic locales, back stabs and double crosses, and lots of action. The poop goes down this issue as lead agent Eric makes his move against former lover and current target Emma, as she plans to tell her secrets to the Russians. Not everything goes according to plan though and a nice cliffhanger is set up. Chip Mosher has crafted a fun action story, and I can’t wait to see how this finishes. Art is by Francesco Francavilla who gets the right mood for the streets of Morocco and stages the fight scenes well. I’ll continue my advice this week of telling you to pick up the trade, not only because this is issue 4 of 5, but also because BOOM! Studio books tend to be a bit pricey and you can save some cash by picking up the trade. I recommend it though. –4 out of 5