Capsule Reviews - 4 June, 2006

I wanted to write up some more full reviews of recent issues, but I'm getting swamped with work and may not have the time. So, here are some quick comments about a few recent titles, so I can get them out of the way and put the issues into my long box:

52 #2 - The plot thickens. After being introduced to our main characters and the general set-up in the first issue, 52 starts moving very quickly to move on its main stories. I'm most interested in Ralph Dibny's tale of redemption right now. Hmm... Scientists have gone missing, and evidently by the OYL start many of them are still missing. Still not interested in Renee Montoya, but liking The Question. Cassie has started a Superboy cult... still in denial about Conner's death, is she? Good writing, good art. RATING: 4/5.

52 #3 - Black Adam throws down the gauntlet, says superheroes need to be more proactive when dealing with evil. Lex Luthor is slimy as always; is that Alex Luthor's body the police found? I guess Alex ain't coming back for the next crisis. John Henry I'm getting a little more interested in, and I think he's got the right attitude when it comes to his niece. Still good writing, still good art. RATING: 4/5.

52 #4 - Hints about the return of Donna's Space Patrol (tm). John Henry gets caught up in an explosion - is he going to be Supernova? Ralph Dibny's story picks up, but why did he wait more than a week to meet the rest of Cassie's Superboy cult? At issue's end, some of the Space Patrol return - looks like Red Tornado exploded, injuring several of them - including Alan Scott, Bumblebee, Herald, Hawkgirl. Not sure, but I think one of the merged figures at center of the page is Cyborg, which means we may see the Titans in the next issue. As always, the writing is keepinig me interested, although I think the art may have slacked off a bit from previous issues. But not by much. RATING: 4/5.

Blue Beetle #3 - This series continues to be my favorite of the new titles. A little more lighthearted than regular DCU fare, although that doesn't mean the hard edge is absent. This issue Jaime tries to explain to his family where he's been for the last year, and ends up having to show off the Beetle armor to them. Also gets involved with a skirmish with organized crime, possibly of the drug cartel variety. Interesting plot twist at the very end involving one of Jaime's friends and their "Aunt"; didn't see that coming. Overall, another good issue, marred only by some slightly rushed artwork from a fill-in artist. RATING: 3.5/5

Teen Titans #36 - Johns and Daniel continue to rock! Probably the best issue I've read of any title in many, many weeks. We meet the new Doom Patrol this issue, and what a dysfunctional group they are. Chief (the DP's leader) is absolutely despicable in a creepy, Jim Jones way. Really, really powerful scene with Gar and his adoptive father Mento (Steve Dayton), and some hints about what happened to the Titans during the One Year. I'm still hoping Gar isn't staying with the Doomers and will return to the Titans, but alas, I'm afraid that might be a forlorn hope. Next issue both teams tangle with the Brotherhood of Evil, and - I have a feeling - confronting the Chief as well. The only thing that could make this series better, in my view, is bringing Garfield and Raven back to the team where they belong. RATING: 4.5/5.

Shadowpact #1 - The Day of Vengeance mini series turned out to be the most pleasant surpise out of the four (really, five) Infinite Crisis lead-in minis. Now in their own ongoing series, the Shadowpact are off to a wonderful start. Humor, mystery, and even a touch of the macabre, all rolled into one Great debut issue, marred only by some very annoying continuity problems in the opening pages. But I suspect we'll be able to safely ignore those problems and just continue on with a good series. RATING: 4/5.

Robin #150 - Some people are going to hate this issue. Heck, a number of them already do. The Bat-staff writers have decided to do a number on one of the more popular characters in the Batman family, and many fans will not like it.. Kudos, at least, for having the guts to do it, but its all wasted on a fairly trite and contrived story. Not liking the direction this series is taking; I may drop this one pretty soon. The only thing that might keep be buying it through the summer is an appearance by the new Captain Boomerang in the July and August issues. But if that arc turns out anything like this arc has been, then this series will be going bye-bye for now. RATING: 2.5/5.

I'm also picking up Crisis Aftermath: Battle for Bludhaven, Crisis Aftermath: The Spectre, and Secret Six right now, but since those are all mini series I thought I'd wait until they were done before commenting on them. Give me a chance to evaluate the stories as a whole rather than the sum of their parts.