This Week In Comics (for October 25, 2006)

This week, we're getting:

Action Comics #844
Justice #8
Superman/Batman Annual
Trials of Shazam #3
Official Handook of the Marvel Universe #10
Captain America #23
Exiles #87
Ultimate Spider-Man #101

I'll probably read these later in the week.

How ya doing, buddy?

These go from worst to best:

Action Comics--This isn't a bad story. Let me just say that now. Perry may act out of character. Clark may be subtley written as clumsy and sort of dense. There may be a continuity error with Up, Up, and Away. (A hologram of Jor-El says that Kal hasn't used this program in a long time. According to Up, Up, and Away, he hasn't had access to the hologram until maybe a week ago in comic book time.) But these things don't make it a bad story. They just make it a bad story for comic book continuity. With Richard Donner as a co-writer, it's easy to understand why. He's writing this mag like the movies.

Spoiler:

Although I don't like the idea of another young Kryptonian crashing onto the planet, I do like the Hyperion parallel. I really don't like the idea of Clark adopting him, as his assumption that adoption processes haven't changed since he was adopted.

Captain America--Little happens. The story is pretty much Nick Fury talking with the Winter Soldier (about Lukin, Civil War, and S.H.I.E.L.D.). I have a problem with how easily the Winter Soldier infiltrates and escapes the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility. He goes unnoticed, despite shots of him passing actual agents or guards. The ending is terrible.

Spoiler:

The Red Skull/Lukin makes a deal with Doom, a former gypsy. Doom would never support an ex-Nazi!

I'm just hoping some betrayal on one (Doom's) or both sides.

Ghost Rider--Another mothing-happening story. Luckily, though, there is progress. We learn about Lucifer's plan, a new character is introduced, and Blaze discovers a new power (not in that order). Despite the nothingness, this is superior to previous issues of this comic.

Ultimate Spider-Man--Huh?

Superman/Batman Annual--It is seemingly required for this title to be confusing. The annual is no different. If you dn't focus too hard on what's happening, you'll be fine. Some stuff doesn't make sense. Some stuff is never made truly clear. It would've topped Justice if it would've fully explained itself. It does have some nice humor, though.

Justice--Except for Elongated Man, I like the characterization. And although there is a fair amount of talking, we learn important information. The villains goals are realized. There's some explanation for what's been happening to some of the members (though the answers are a little unsatisfactory). The Phantom Stranger is written differently than usual, but this story isn't bound by continuity. There are a couple of twists, including an ominous ending. Good stuff.

Trials of Shazam--I'm liking this title. There's lots to feed on here. New villains are introduced (or, in a few cases, old villains in new forms) and the issue starts with a fight sequence involving a mystical monster. We learn the jist of how the trials work. I'm anticipating the next issue in ernest.

Exiles--Far and away, this is the best comic I read this week. It's Bedad and Pelletier doing a space story. What could go wrong? There's an angry Silver Surfer, the Imperial Guard, a stone giant, and a brief history of the universe the Exiles are dealing with. I was even reminded of a power one of the Exiles possess that I had forgotten. And the story starts with a space brawl! This is brilliant stuff. The only problem I had was within one panel where depth is done incorrectly. But that's so minor that I don't care. I highly anticipate the next issue.

There's nowhere I can't reach.