Sunday, March 28, 2021

Dave Wrighteous Writes Some Super-Reviews

Guest reviews by The 10,000 Comics Pryamid's DAVE WRIGHTEOUS . . . . .


 

Some 2021 DC Comics, all recent releases . . . . . .

Infinite Frontier #0- After establishing if Future State was really the future with a "Maybe? Could be? Who knows!" the Spectre, now part of The Quintessence (a group of super cosmic-y beings playing Uatu The Watcher for DC) joins Wonder Woman for a stroll thru the DCU, setting up snippets of what's to come in later titles by focusing on individual characters/teams written/drawn by various teams. 

Given the variety, it's uneven, but generally not bad, even though this latest overhaul just doesn't stir excitement for me. Grade B-

Superman #29, Action Comics #1029- Radiation from a breach in space proves deadly to Superman, panicking Jon Kent who's seen the future and knows this might not end well for Dad. And what's Amanda Waller's part in this? 

A slow start for a new creative team made worse for me by DC's relentless pushing of Jon as a new Superman. I like Clark, that's why I read Action/Superman, but SuperKid? Give him his own title to star in! I liked him when he first arrived with no powers.

It was an interesting new dynamic to Lois and Clark, but now it's like the DC brass said "Y'know how powers and time travel made Franklin Richards such a confusing, unappealing mess? Let's do that with Jonathan, but instead of taking 30 years like Marvel did, let's do all that in 3!" Grade C+

Superman Red and Blue #1- I'll probably catch hell for this review, but w/e, I'm speaking my opinion and YMMV . 

Superman's place as an iconic fictional hero is unparalleled. He is universally known to everyone and stands as an archetype of heroism, selflessness and hope. The assorted tales here swing for the fences in that regard, but for me fell short, trying SO HARD to be meaningful and poignant, but sadly coming off as maudlin pap at best, virtue signaling at worst. 

One tale has Superman going to a woman's funeral, only to be guilt tripped by her son who tells Supes he disappointed him by not responding to a letter he sent asking for help when he discovers his mom is an addict. Wait, so that was SUPERMAN'S FAULT?!? Drug abuse has been dealt with smartly in comics before, but this was absurd.

Look, I'm not a cynic saying these types of stories shouldn't be told, but for God's sake do them WELL ala Paul Dini's BRILLIANT Superman: Peace on Earth. Grade C-

Sheesh...sorry to be so negative in my reviews lately, but I'm striking out with new stuff. Don't worry, I'm rereading a classic and the sun will shine again soon..

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