Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Fool’s Gold Part Two

WildGuard and Laserwolf – against the forces of magic!

Writer: Todd Nauck
Art: Todd Nauck & Sanford Greene
Colors: Todd Nauck & Francisco Perez
Letters: Todd Nauck & M-Crusade
Cover Art: Todd Nauck
Publisher: Image Comics

Review: Last issue, WildGuard teamed up with Laserwolf to track down a group of teenagers whose capricious use of a magical book was swiping valuables from people all over the city. As they faced them, the teens summoned up a swarm of monsters, but that wasn’t enough. This issue, they summon up something… bigger.

Nauck had to conjure up (no pun intended) a huge number of characters for the first miniseries in this line, and he doesn’t stop now, dropping in a lot of other characters, both his own and guests from the pages of Noble Causes and Invincible. (Incidentally, I must say I’m really happy to see the creators at Image making more of an effort to create a real “universe” from their titles these days – a far cry from the Image of the past.) He even shows that Four, the leader of the team, is willing to call in help if she thinks they need it.

This issue actually is a bit more somber than this lighthearted title usually is. In addition to a particularly nasty moment in battle, we see more of Shonda McKay this time around. While she’s always come across as kind of a shallow character, tagging along with Snapback to leech off his fame, this issue you start to get the impression that she has some issues that go even beyond that.

I must say, I’m glad that Nauck has decided to start the “Where Are They Now” back-up features with the “rejects” from the first series. After a surprisingly dark look at American Icon last issue, this issue we get a more lighthearted look at Travel Agent (with art by Sanford Greene. For being one of the more innocuous characters in the original series, he’s got some of the most potential, and it’s nice to see him getting used.

Nauck does a usual fantastic job on the artwork. He’s one of the best superhero artists in the business these days, and this is the book where he gets to let himself go the most. I always give credit to guys like George Perez for having the knack for drawing hundreds of characters in a book. Nauck not only does that, but he has to design almost every one himself, give them all a unique and distinctive look, and you can tell he has a heck of a lot of fun doing it.

I’m kind of sorry that this two-issue miniseries came out biweekly – who knows when the next mini will come out? I love these characters, I love this book, and I’m always anxious to see when it will come out next.

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Quick Rating: Good
Title: Parts 9-14
Rating: T+

To find his son, Jack Berkley seeks out some old friends.

Concept By: Jack Kirby
Writers: Lisa Kirby, Michael Thibodaux, Steve Robertson & Richard French
Art: Michael Thibodeaux, Karl Kesel & Scott Hanna with Jack Kirby & Mike Royer
Colors: Wil Quintana
Letters: Dave Lanphear
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Cover Art: Jack Kirby, Karl Kesel & Wil Quintana
Publisher: Marvel Comics/Icon

After a strong opening, the second issue of Jack Kirby’s Galactic Bounty Hunters is a little bit of a letdown. This is more or less the obligatory “gathering of forces” issue, where we see Jack “Mainframe” Berkley on his quest across the galaxy, reassembling his old team to join him on the rescue mission to save his son.

Ostensibly, this is the section where we not only really get to meet our characters, but also learn a bit more about the universe the story takes place in. We do see a lot, but unfortunately, the stuff we see is all pretty pedestrian. The Galactic Bounty Hunters world looks like a pretty standard science fiction universe from this issue – the sultry cat-woman, the lizard-men, the robots, the monsters… There’s nothing wrong with any of it, but there’s nothing particularly outstanding either.

The best stuff in the writing comes through the humor. There are several good one-liners and funny snippets of dialogue, and a couple of nice twists to the stereotypes of the aliens. The humor in this issue is actually one of the bigger selling points, whereas it was only a small facet of the first issue. That kind of fundamental shift in the tone may be a little jarring when the story is read in collected form (which is apparently how it’s really intended).

The artwork continues to be a big sell. Thibodeaux, along with Karl Kesel, Scott Hanna and Mike Royer, do an excellent job of imitating Kirby’s classic style. The space scenes in particular are very evocative of the sort of starscapes Kirby would grace his pages with.

Now that we’ve got all our characters in place, I expect next issue will have a lot more meat to it. As it is, this second issue comes across as necessary, but not quite as exciting as it could be.

Rating: 7/10

Quick Rating: Very Good

A meeting of the super-teens

Writer: Kirk Kushin
Art: Gonzalo Martinez
Cover Art: Gonzalo Martinez
Publisher: Alias Enterprises/forcewerks

Review: While Super Teen*Topia #0 makes for a good low-priced introduction of Alias Enterprises’ newest superhero comic, this first issue improves upon it in virtually every way. There’s more room to develop the characters, more room to develop the world, and the artwork shows considerable improvement as well.

This issue, as Violet thwarts a liquor store robbery, Kevin and Cameron meet Paige for the first time at the scene of a crisis. We get to see our young heroes as they go into action for the first time – with unexpected results. It’s amusing when the character who doesn’t actually want to be a superhero turns out to be more competent at it than those that do, and it makes for a nice dichotomy. We also get to see a little more of Paige’s day-to-day life, which gives you more of a feeling for who she is as well. Kevin’s powers are still rather ill-defined, but a lot of that seems to be because he himself doesn’t really understand them that well just yet.

Seeing Violet in action gives us the impression that she may have the most interesting powers of our little group – a sort of telekinetic ability, but one that comes with consequences. Overall, though, the best thing about this comic remains to be the promise of a rather unique superhero world and the way these four very different characters will interact with it and with each other.

Gonzalo Martinez’s artwork has improved dramatically since the zero issue. A few of his poses are still a little stiff, but his page layout is much more dynamic and he’s done a solid job of capturing an old-fashioned superhero style, which is exactly what this title requires. I’m much more impressed here than I was with the preview – he’s clearly worked very hard to make himself better, and the work has paid off.

I’ve been a little wary about Alias lately – while I enjoy most of the company’s comics and am very supportive of their efforts to branch out to many different styles and genres, I’ve been worried that they’ve launched too much too fast. But as long as those launches are entertaining, it’s hard to complain too much. Super Teen*Topia is something I didn’t think was even possible anymore – a new angle on superheroes that doesn’t sacrifice the elements that make the genre so much fun in the first place. This is the kind of stuff that’s making it fun to read comic books again.

Rating: 8/10

Quick Rating: Great

A new superhero duo is born!

Writer: Tom Bancroft
Pencils: Tom Bancroft
Inks: Cedric Hohnstadt
Colors: Josh Ray
Letters: Greg Hardin
Cover Art: Tom Bancroft
Publisher: Alias Enterprises/Funny Pages Press

Review: Although it suffered from the same chronic lateness as most of Alias’s titles, Tom Bancroft’s Opposite Forces has hit its conclusion, and a wholly satisfying one it was.

In the final issue (like the rest of the miniseries, a color reprint of the original series from a few years ago), Marty and Alexis have finally discovered that their powers only work when they’re in close proximity to one another – and not only that, but as they drift apart, they start to get sick. They’re quite literally stuck together… and that’s not at all a bad thing.

Each of their pets was also doused with the energy that gave them their powers, but while Marty’s dog Bopper was graced with super-intelligence, Alexis’s Waggles has transformed into a hulking monster bent on revenge against his owner and her roommate for the many indignities forced upon him. He’s taken Jennifer hostage, and it’s up to the new Intrepid Two to save the day.

Bancroft pulls out all the stops with this final issue, with the debut of the costumes handled quite well and plenty of little character moments that show just how much the relationship between the two main characters has evolved since the first issue. It’s all handled extremely well – the changes in these two have been very smooth, very natural and very realistic in what is otherwise a sort of goofy slapstick title (and I mean that in a good way).

His artwork is also fine, with a sort of grace and fluidity that betrays his background in animation. Josh Ray’s colors make this issue pop even harder, and while I never read the original black and white edition of this series, seeing it in color, I simply can’t imagine it any other way.

In the back of the book, Bancroft discusses the many avenues he’s considering to follow through with more adventures of Marty and Alexis, but I can’t help but notice that he doesn’t mention the obvious – more comic book adventures. I’d certainly love to see this property given life as a TV show or a movie, but even more than that, I want to see another miniseries to persuade people to read along with this one. Hopefully he’s got some plans for that as well.

Rating:9/10

Quick Rating: Very Good

What can Marty and Alexis do with their powers?

Writer: Tom Bancroft
Pencils: Tom Bancroft
Inks: Cedric Hohnstadt
Colors: Josh Ray
Letters: Greg Hardin
Editor: Sean J. Jordan
Cover Art: Tom Bancroft
Publisher: Alias Enterprises/Funny Pages Press

Review: I seem to fall more in love with this title each issue. Tom Bancroft has taken all of the conventions of superhero comics and poked fun at them, but in a loving fashion that’s as entertaining as anything on the market.

Marty and Alexis, the neighbors who accidentally absorbed all the powers of Captain Dynamo, were stunned last issue when Marty’s dog, Bopper, started talking. Their pets got something from the power transfer as well, it seems, and the new super-genius dog begins explaining what really happened to them. Meanwhile, stuck in a hospital, Captain Dynamo struggles to break out and get his powers back.

Bancroft has really created a great comic book here. In addition to telling a funny story, he’s made his characters far more than the caricatures one may have expected them to be at first glance. Marty’s got a huge crush on Alexis, but he doesn’t think she’s flawless, either, and isn’t even so intimidated that he won’t crack a joke or laugh at one at her expense. Alexis has begun her journey as sort of a stereotypical pretty girl, but this issue we do see that she has the qualities of a real hero, even if they’re sometimes misplaced. The characters are actually layered, actually real, and that sets this apart from a lot of the superhero parody comic books out there.

The artwork, again, is wonderful. Bancroft’s background in animation really shows through, as his panels look wonderfully fluid and his character’s “acting” – those small poses and facial expressions that make a comic book look real – are absolutely wonderful.

The issue ends with a major cliffhanger to lead into the final issue in this miniseries, but the “next issue” box refers to the end of the “first story arc” – which really gives me hope that Bancroft already has plans for the next story starring these characters. They deserve it.

Rating: 8/10

Quick Rating: Good

As Alice palavers with the Cheshire Cat, her comrades go into battle!

Writer: Ben Avery
Art: Hector Sevilla
Colors: Ulises Arreola
Letters: Bill Tortolini
Editor: Mike S. Miller
Cover Art: Hector Sevilla
Publisher: Alias Enterprises

Review: I apologize for the apparent lateness of this review, guys – the book itself was behind schedule and, to be frank, I don’t even know when exactly this issue came out, just that my local comic shop just finally got it in. Normally I wouldn’t factor that into a review, but this is one case where I think the persistent lateness is really damaging what is otherwise a very strong title.

As Alice is whisked away by the Cheshire Cat’s song, Jim Hawkins fights to get back control of his living sword and the Pied Piper continues his search for poor Pinocchio (who I must admit has become one of my favorite characters in this series). Piper has grabbed my attention as well, particularly since his backstory was revealed in the first Lullaby: Once Upon a Time special.

Really, the only negative comment I have about this book, story-wise, is that it’s been so long since issue #2 that I don’t remember half of what’s going on, and Alias doesn’t help by giving us a previously page. The big gap would be a problem with any comic, but it’s especially problematic for a book that’s so suitable for young readers. Alias has instituted a policy that new issues won’t be solicited until they are finished, which should definitely help – but hopefully that won’t just mean bigger gaps between solicitations.

Hector Sevilla and Ulises Arreola’s artwork for this issue is a little off. Sevilla lapses into Manga-style visual shorthand more often than he usually does, and the faces and eyes seem a bit more plastic, although I suspect that’s due to the coloring.

This is still one of the most wildly inventive comics on the racks – only the schedule is making it less than great.

Quick Rating: Great
Title: Uhebbuki & The Origin of Black Adam

The Marvels unite at last, as Renee and the Question chase a tragedy in the making.

Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka & Mark Waid
Breakdowns: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Joe Bennett
Inks: Ruy Jose
Origin of Black Adam Art: J.G. Jones
Colors: David Baron & Alex Sinclair
Letters: Pat Brosseau & Nick J. Napolitano
Editor: Stephen Wacker & Harvey Richards
Cover Art: J.G. Jones
Publisher: DC Comics

I suppose I shouldn’t be, but I’m pretty surprised that the Black Adam storyline of 52 has honestly turned into my favorite in the series – and this issue is a big one. Adam and Isis are planning a very special event with some very special guests – the Captain Marvel family. Billy is (apparently) feeling better since the last time we saw him, and Isis is acclimating nicely to her role in Khandaq. In fact, her very presence seems to be changing Adam for the better.

As their ceremony begins, though, Renee and the Question – fresh out of Black Adam’s prison -- undertake a frantic chase of their own. The search that brought them to Khandaq in the first place has led them to a bomber, and if they can’t find it soon, the ceremony may well turn into a bloodbath.

This issue is a fantastic mix of these two related but separate stories. The writers shift seamlessly from the more quiet, tranquil story of Adam and Isis to the fast-paced search sequences. We also get a brief glimpse at one of the other ongoing storylines, one that’s been somewhat arrested lately, but this issue things really take off. I’m expecting it to really go places soon.

Joe Bennett’s artwork (over Keith Giffen’s breakdowns, of course), is just fine. There were a few scenes with such facial expressions (particularly on Mary Marvel) that I had to check to make sure Kevin Maguire wasn’t handling the issue. The issue is broken and choreographed very well, and Bennett has a nice, light touch on the faces that works very well.

To go with the lead story, this issue’s origin backup is Black Adam himself, with art by cover artist J.G. Jones. Like all of the “origin” back-ups, Mark Waid has done a really good job of distilling the character’s basics down to two pages, with a handy recommended reading list at the end for new fans who want to check in on his major storylines.

The best issue of 52 yet? Well, that’s arguable. But this is definitely in the running for my personal favorite.

Rating: 9/10

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Sand and Rust

As Renee and the Question head to Kahndaq, John Henry comes from hiding.

Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka & Mark Waid
Pencils: Dale Eaglesham
Inks: Art Thibert
Origin Story Art: Eric Powell
Colors: Alex Sinclair, Trish Mulvihill
Letters: Travis Lanham, Nick J. Napolitano
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Cover Art: J.G. Jones
Publisher: DC Comics

This is one of those quieter issues of 52 that has drawn scorn from readers who don’t seem to appreciate that they’re reading a chapter of a novel at a time – it’s low on the earth-shattering moments, but it does advance several of the ongoing plots, most notably the Montoya/Question storyline. As Renee and “Charlie” go to Kahndaq to investigate Black Adam’s possible ties to Intergang, they see firsthand what the rule of a god on Earth has done to the country, and it isn’t exactly what they expected. This is the first time two of our ongoing storylines have really converged like this (although the principal characters from the two still haven’t met), and I’m very interested to see what’s going to happen to these two next… and especially interested in the cryptic comments “Charlie” keeps making about Renee.

We also check in on John Henry Irons this week – the former Steel has been mostly absent since his niece joined up with Lex Luthor and he himself began a transformation into a creature of living metal. This issue we see what he’s been doing, and it’s clear he is reaching his limit as surely as Ralph Dibney did last week. This story really feels like we’re watching a metamorphosis, watching John Henry change from one kind of hero to something else. As he’s one of my favorite DC characters, I’m keeping my fingers crossed as to what form that transformation takes.

The series was initially discussed as involving six principal characters and/or storylines, but as Montoya and the Question immediately came together, we saw two storylines rush in to fill the gap – that of the missing space heroes and that of Will Magnus, who gets some spotlight time here. He’s working on rebuilding his greatest creations, the Metal Men, when he gets some unwanted pressure. As he makes his regular trip to visit his mentor, the mad scientist T.O. Morrow, he gets another surprise altogether. I find that the mystery of the missing scientists, which has been part of this book since the outset, is just as intriguing to me as everything else.

I didn’t check the credits to see who this week’s artist is at first, and it’s a credit to how popular Dale Eaglesham has become since Villains United that I recognized his style about halfway through the book. He brings that same style here, and although he doesn’t have as much action to work with, he does just fine.

The “Origin” back ups in this series have been a vast improvement over the disappointing “History of the DC Universe” storyline, and this issue’s spotlight on Metamorpho is no exception. Mark Waid, as always, manages to encapsulate the character’s story and abilities in a taught two pages, illustrated nicely by Eric Powell. It works.

This is an issue of 52 for people who appreciate development in their stories. You get it here in spades.

Rating: 8/10

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Thief

A new hero appears, old heroes reunite and John Henry Irons begins a chilling transformation.

Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid & Dan Jurgens
Breakdowns: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Eddy Barrows & Dan Jurgens
Inks: Rob Stull & Andy Lanning
Colors: Alex Sinclair, Jeromy Cox & Guy Major
Letters: Travis Lanham & Nick J. Napolitano
Editors: Stephen Wacker, Eddie Berganza, Ivan Cohen & Jeanine Schaefer
Cover Art: J.G. Jones & Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics

Review: There’s an awful lot going on in this week’s issue of 52, and as much of it involves Steel, that makes me a very happy camper. John Henry Irons is beginning to exhibit symptoms of a very bizarre transformation, and a checkup at S.T.A.R. Labs proves his worst fears realized. At the same time his niece, Natasha, fed up with trying to build her own armor to replace the one John Henry took from her, begins to ponder Lex Luthor’s metagene project.

Meanwhile, Ralph Dibney recruits an old friend to help his investigation into the Cult of Conner, Booster Gold defends himself to the media, a new superhero appears in Metropolis and the space trio of Adam Strange, Animal Man and Starfire run across a new threat. It’s hard to imagine how any comic could pack more story into such a relatively short page length.

The Steel stuff continues to be my favorite aspect of 52. John Henry is one of my favorite DC characters, and seeing him face off against Lex Luthor in Superman’s absence is immensely satisfying. Natasha’s “teenage rebellion” story arc is working as well, and between the two of them it seems like Steel’s corner of Superman’s universe is in for some major changes.

Ralph’s storyline this issue also gives us a lot to go on, as we see the planting of some of one of the best “One Year Later” storylines so far. The new hero that arrives this issue only makes a quick, mysterious appearance that helps build up the drama surrounding him.

Eddy Barrows’s pencils this issue are quite an improvement over the last couple of issues – while Keith Giffen’s layouts help this book maintain a consistent look no matter who the penciller is, some will invariably be better than others, and I like what Barrows does here.

As for Dan Jurgens’s “History of the DC Universe” segment… well… I’m a Jurgens fan from way back, but I just can’t wring any enjoyment out of this feature. It’s just treading water, going over stuff that long-time readers already know and new readers will just be confused by. It’s wasted potential all around. I’m just glad there are only three weeks left before we finish it off and move on to the origin stories that will make up the rest of this title’s run.

Rating: 8/10

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: China Syndrome

The Green Lanterns meet the protectors of China, and Booster Gold seeks out a fellow time-traveler.

Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Dan Jurgens
Breakdowns: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Joe Bennett, Dan Jurgens
Inks: Ruy Jose, Andy Lanning
Colors: Alex Sinclair, Guy Major & Jeromy Cox
Letters: Nick J. Napolitano
Editors: Stephen Wacker, Eddie Berganza & Jeanine Schaeffer
Cover Art: J.G. Jones & Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics

Review: When the Green Lanterns pursue their old enemy Evilstar into China, a group of eastern superheroes face off against them, standing side-by-side with Black Adam. Meanwhile, Booster Gold tracks down the lost Rip Hunter, master of time, and sets out to get some answers about his own twisted perceptions.

After last issue’s knockout punch, this issue is slightly subdued. The bulk of the issue is the Black Adam/Green Lantern story, which is notable for introducing the Great Ten, but more importantly, begins to establish the new political landscape of the DC Universe. We begin to see how different nations react to the superhero community and where the alliances lie. As for the new heroes themselves, you can feel Grant Morrison’s fingerprints all over them – with some really bizarre powers and unusual names that reflect their culture of origin. Names like “August General in Iron” and “Mother of Champions” are no doubt literal translations of names that sound better if you speak Chinese, which ads a touch of realism.

The Booster Gold story is more intriguing, at least to a hardcore DC fan. He uncovers something pretty disturbing this issue that, like last issue’s revelations, has the feel of laying groundwork for the series as a whole. The visit to Rip Hunter’s lair is a particular treat – the two-page spread in this issue is full of clues and Easter Eggs that no doubt have the longtime DC reader salivating in anticipation. Will all of these tidbits come to fruition? Probably not, but man, it’s going to be a lot of fun to speculate.

I’m sorry to say that the “History of the DC Universe” series, chapter five of which is included this issue, remains the weak point for 52. Unlike the original series (which followed up the original Crisis on Infinite Earths), this series so far has been little more than a learned by rote recitation of DC history as we already knew it, not really shedding any new light on how the “new” Earth’s history was pieced together. For longtime fans, it’s redundant. If the intent, on the other hand, is to help new readers find a gateway into the universe, the chapters are too short and don’t give enough information.

I hate to say it, but I’ll be glad when the “History” series will end and be replaced by the two-page origin stories we’ve been promised. 52 has been a fantastic read in the first six weeks, but the back-up has failed to live up to the immensely satisfying main content.

Rating: 8/10