What Comic Books Have You Read Today?

[Wandering Sensei: Moderator Man]

Report what comic books you have read today--and tell us a little something about it while you're here!

[Jeff of Earth-J]

JUSTICE LEAGUE ("The New 52"):

I generally follow ASB&RtBW (Miller/Lee) up with The Dark Knight Strikes Again (Miller), but this time I went with Justice League #1-6 (Lee). The whole thing is so decompressed that it took me less than an hour to read. The initial storyline takes place "five years ago" in respect to the rest of the "New 52" line. All of the main characters (save for Green Lantern and Flash, who already know each other) meet each other for the first time in this story. It's a bit of a cognitive disconnect (for me) to see Cyborg in place of the Martian Manhunter; I generally think of him as a peer of Robin, not Batman. If this story were to have occurred in the same universe as ASB&RtBW (it doesn't), it would have happened sooner. Whereas ASB&RtBW is just plain bat$#!t crazy, JL #1-6 is kind of... well, bland. Darkseid is substituted for Starro as the threat that brings them all together (with their stunning battle cry "We got this!"), but it doesn't help much. I don't know when (or if) the timeline ever caught up with the rest of the New 52 because this is the last issue I bought. I did try to give the New 52 a chance. In addition to Justice League, I bought Action Comics, Superman, OMAC, World's Finest, Earth 2... perhaps one or two others. If this is what you feel Crisis on Infinite Earths did to "your" Justice League, I truly feel bad for you.

 

[Travis Herrick (Modular Mod)]

I've read a ton in the past week. Here are just a few

Nightwing #114-116: The first three issues of Tom Taylor's final arc. What I really appreaciated was the set-up he did to bring about Dick's fall. Great stuff, I'll miss him when he is gone. One of the most fun I've had with a series in a while.

The Outsiders #27 - This is from the 80s and this issue was a crossover with Millennium. I was way out of the loop with this seris back then. Some doctor I've neer heard of betrays the Outsiders. Also, the Atmoc Knight and some character named Windfall who I have never heard of are part of the team. The only reason I mentioned this comic, was I was reading it and thought, "Wow this is some of the worst art." I went back to the credits. Art by Erik Larsen

The Outsiders #7 - From the current series. We learn the background of the new Drummer (Hey Planetary fans!). While I found this interesting, it didn't save this series from my own personal chopping block.

Rogue Sun #19 - This was a flip book, but it tells the same story from 2 different POVs. The current Rogue Sun is kind of being mentored by the spirit of the last Rogue Sun, who just happens to be his father. It is the same art twice, but you get each charcter's thought captions. There are a few times in which the person is so lost in thought, their captions cover-up some of the dialougue. When you read the other's story you get that missing dialogue. A really good comic. I liked the gimmick and I think they pulled off

Scarlet Witch #1-3 - Admittedly, this isn't something I would normally pick-up. I'm not a big Scarlet Witch fan, and magic based series are a hard sale for me. BUT Steve Orlando writes this and I've liked his work, plus I do like to try something I normally would buy from time to time. Sorry, this just doesn't work for me. Also, on the chopping block.

 

[Travis Herrick (Modular Mod)]

Planet Comics vol 5. - This is one of those series I can get one trade of it, get the flavor of the series, and I am good. Not only is each issue similar, the stories in each issue are mostly the same. The bad guys do something, steal some medicine, plan an attack, etc. A young lady gets capturded. Our hero soon gets captured as well. Gets tosses into the same place as the young lady. They escape. Our hero one punches the main baddie. The End.

I read 3 Gale Allen and the Girl Squaddron stories. In those tales the Girl Squadron appears in one panel. Kind of made me laugh.

At least Red Comet can grow in size...

I really do tip my cap to Jeff and Captain Comics who are anble to read multiple volums of these series. My eyes were glazing over through just one, and this was only 3 issues.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

SCOUT - "The Four Monsters":

It's been a while since I last read Scout... four years, in fact. I last read it during the run-up to the 2020 election and had plans to read War Shaman after. Luckily it didn't come to that. It's "fun" to read the initial arc and equate real world figures in place of Buffalo Monster, Eagle Monster, Antelope Monster and Owl Man Giant, be they Roger Stone, John Eastman, Kevin McCarthy, or Mitch McConnell. I am most convinced that Al Bonanza is Jeffrey Epstein and Jerry Grail is Donald Trump. Bill Loper, who turns out not to be one of the titular monsters, BTW, is Rupert Murdoch. Back then (i.e., 2020), "New America" was simply the MAGA movement, but now it's Project 2025.