Blue Beetle #11 – Josh Trujillo, Writer; Adrian Gutierrez, Artist; Wil Quintana, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: There’s been quite a bit of a gap between issues here, which is surprising – but also not, because this final issue is packed with story as it sends Jaime off into the future. Last issue saw the defeat of Victoria Kord’s rogue robots, and there’s no big threat this issue – but a lot of little plot threads. There were a lot of things here that made me happy, including Jaime’s whole family in town to celebrate a rambunctious Milagro’s birthday. Victoria Kord’s fall from grace is complete, seeming to put her on the path to villainy and bring Ted back to where he should be. But there are darker elements too, including a surprising resurrection for one character who might be friend or foe. We catch up with just about everyone, including checking in on Brenda’s recovery and sending Jaime off to a new chapter of his life. But this issue also has a ton of cliffhangers, including an unexpected romance, and it makes me wonder – where will they be followed up on? Hopefully Trujillo is getting a chance to continue his story at some point.
My Adventures With Superman #3 – Josie Campbell, Writer; Pablo M. Collar, Artist; Nick Filardi, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: This series picking up from season one of the cartoon continues to be a delight, even if Season Two raised the bar so much that it often feels a bit…quaint by now. Last issue, Superman helped the benevolent robot Amazo escape Checkmate custody, only for Clark Kent to be detained on suspicion of treason. Of course, it’s very hard to imprison Superman, so Clark is seamlessly zipping in and out of his cell, still in handcuffs, to conspire with Lois and Jimmy. Complicating things, Jimmy has brought the Kents to Metropolis for Christmas, and the entire crew soon gets involved with trying to free Willy – I mean Amazo. General DuBois makes for a strong villain, even more ruthless than Waller, and a showdown on a bridge provides some great Superman content as he battles to save both his family and the larger public. It’s a light read that has some surprisingly serious and emotional moments mixed in.
The Batman and Scooby-Doo Mysteries #8 – Sholly Fisch, Writer; Erich Owen, Artist
Ray – 8.5/10
Ray: It’s a bigger threat than the Mystery Machine gang usually takes on – literally – as a museum for giant props is invaded by a mysterious hulking giant who takes one prop with every appearance. Along with Batman, Robin, and the fast-talking museum curator, the teens investigate while dodging the massive beast. There isn’t all that much of a mystery here – no real suspects, in fact – but when the culprit is unmasked, it’s actually an incredible call-back to a completely forgotten but fairly significant Bat-villain from the silver age and the TV series. That’s part of what I love about this series – it is very clear how much the creative team loves those old-school stories and uses them for inspiration. The final set piece, a giant pinball machine, is also one of the coolest deathtraps I’ve seen in a Bat-comic in quite some time. It’s pretty incredible how long this series has gone on and stayed fresh.
Kneel Before Zod #8 – Joe Casey, Writer; Dan McDaid, Artist; David Baron, Colorist
Ray – 8/10
Ray: As Zod’s journey through space continues, he and is motley crew of criminals encounter an unexpected figure – Sinestro. Naturally, these two massive egos don’t get along – which makes it all the more surprising that they actually only fight briefly before they start comparing notes. Sinestro actually proves useful, directing Zod to a salvage planet to repair their ship with the implication that he’ll consider this a favor to be repaid. From there, the crew works on the ship while Zod…has a breakdown and wrecks part of the planet fighting with an imaginary Jor-El. One of the best parts of this series is the way Casey has shown that Zod – a rather implacable and stoic villain, usually – is actually deeply unstable. With little to lose and driven by revenge, he ends the issue by setting a course for his first deeply personal target, but it seems inevitable that he’s headed for a bloody showdown on Earth with Superman.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
