Welcome to the Weekly Comics Review Thread!

Every week we'll put up a "sticky" thread like this one so people can review and discuss the current weeks comics, whether they be Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, etc.

The threads will stay at the top of the Another Realm forum from Wednesday afternoon until the next Wednesday morning, after which time they'll be "unstuck" and return to their chronological spot in the forum, to be replaced by the current week's thread. Each thread will be marked with the ! icon.

Geoff Johns spectacular...

Hawkman #17 and Teen Titans #1

Last week I kind of poo-poo'd Johns's writing in JSA #50. I am happy to report that he has come back with a vengance this week.

First, the title that was selling like hotcakes at the comic book store this morning... the new Teen Titans. This was very much a set up issue, but it's quite a nice set-up. The ghost of Donna Troy hangs heavy over the characters, and tension is high among the former Young Justice teammates. To combat that is the return of Beast Boy and Starfire to the pages of Teen Titans. As with all of Johns writing, he seems to care very much for the past depictions of characters, and he really seems to be channeling Marv Wolfman here. If your are looking for action, you won't get it in #1, but I think the ride is going to be worth it.

Hawkman on the other hand is all about the action this week, as Shayera Thal and Animal Man wrap up their cameos in a wild battle against the Thanagarian drug dealer Byth. Byth is truly vicious, and it's really a viceral pleasure when Hawkman gets the opportunity to unload on him. Johns seems to have put a hood on Hawkman the last several issues, and it was nice having him unload on a bad guy at last. Also, Carter and Kendra work as a team better in this issue than any other yet. Johns as usual pays homage to the characters that came before, and Kator Tal gets a loving send off. Hopefully we'll see more of Shayera in the future (love those redheads!).

Uncanny X-Men #428

The second stand-alone Uncanny in a row... put this is much more interesting than #427. Set completely in the past (@20 years ago in comic book time), we get to finally see the circumstances around the birth of Nightcrawler. While it had all but been confirmed that Mystique is Kurt's mother, I don't believe there has been any speculation about his father.

This issue will be certain to raise some thoughts about that.

The art work is much better that the cartoony style of last issue, with very bold darks.

This issue is a must-have for all X-fans, even if you don't normally pick up Uncanny.

X-treme X-Men #28

The penultimate issue of Claremont's sequel to "God Loves, Man Kills". Stryker's motives are sort of made clearer, but the mystery about the previously unknown mutant town in Colorado only gets thicker. This has been a pretty good story line so far, but this issue feels like a set-up issue. There is action, but it's kind of frentic. A Lady Deathstrike and Wolverine battle happens kind of suddenly, with no real set up - it just sort of happens.

The art work is fine, although the previous installments were much better. I can't put my finger on it, but it just doesn't feel like the same care was taken on the art on this issue. Also, for some reason Sage looks more like Jubilee (although she was in disguise, so maybe she should).

All-in-all, the weakest installment of what has been a pretty good series. But don't worry, Cannonball will save the day next issue. Right?

The only thing with that Uncanny issue is that how does Kurt know that his surname is Wagner if Mystique tossed him off the cliff!

Easy in the comic world with rumors and gypsies! Someone heard that there was a demon child born to Wagner with blue skin! I may have read an earlier post incorrectly but I am pretty darn sure that the question of Kurt's mother AND father has been answered.

Queen & Country #17:
With lack of a good Marvel (S.H.I.E.L.D.) or DC (Checkmate) spy title, Q&C is a really good bet. Greg Rucka really writes a good story.

Eternal #2:
This title is really where it belongs..in the Marvel MAX line. It resembles the Eternals only in basic concept. Otherwise it is just another excuse to warp a long existing Marvel charater/s/. I am not ####ing it, it has it's place, but I do not yet know if I like it.

Superman: Birthright # 1:
This was pretty good and i believe much needed in the Superman origin. It is to Superman what Legends of the Dark Knight (early issues mostly) is to Batman.

The Possessed # 1:
I wasn't impressed with this at all. It is run of the mill demon hunter junk. I ecpect more from Johns.

Batman: Gotham Knights # 43:
I liked this story from the past. Now I know why Jason Todd is no longer with us...what a whiny baby. If the Joker handn't taken care of business I would have..."hand me a crowbar!"

Masters of the Universe Icons of Evil: Mer-man # 1:
This was horrible. It was not even close to the Beastmaster issue. It only showed Mer-man's stupidity and pride in his quest for absolute power. Bad form on this one.

Where do you think he {was?} teleported *to* at the end of the issue? The obvious answer to _that_ answers the above, IMO.

Micronauts # 9:
Karza's plan to take over the Earth is proceeding without much problem. Ryan is about to return to full size and the crew is freshly reunited. This is a good book even if you don't know what a Micronaut is.

Wolverine # 3:
This has definately gotten much better since #1. Rucka is still flexing his creativity with this character. We will se even better from him soon enough.