Comics For July 5

[Gray Lensman]

Anyway, I finally picked up my latest stack. So what did everyone get?

My recent haul...

Action Comics #851 (3-D version)
Runaways #27
Atom #13
Boys #8
X-Factor #20
Punisher #49
All-Star Superman #8

The only thing I seem to have missed is Sinestro Corps, which is on backorder for me. Otherwise, it's a good week, especially for Garth Ennis comics. And any week with All-Star Superman is a good one for me.

[Gray Lensman]

Now for commentary...

Action Comics: Okay, I guess. Although the 3-D comic idea is an interesting experiment, the story itself isn't terribly memorable. Nice to see Mon-El again, though.

Runaways: I don't quite buy that there are that many super-powered beings living in New York in 1907, as Whedon suggests in this story. That having been said, I generally like where Whedon is going with this so far otherwise. It's kind of a shame he's not sticking around for a longer run.

Atom: I really, really wish the return of Ray Palmer were focused solely on this book. Instead, what we get here is a tie-in with Countdown, which I have no real interest in following. As it is, I can't help but wonder if this story would have been better without the tie-in. That said, I fondly remember Sword of the Atom, so it's good to see Ryan tossed into that setting.

The Boys: Very strange story so far, but I like where Ennis and Robertson are going with this. Also some good insight into Mother's Milk, who hasn't done much up to this point. Good issue.

X-Factor: Good resolution to the whole X-Cell plot. Nobody writes Quicksilver quite so well as Peter David.

Punisher: Good conclusion. I admit, I really like the themes that Ennis is exploring with this issue. He raises questions about the Punisher that I find quite intriguing, and using other characters to define who Castle is by contrast. It's a good technique.

All-Star Superman: Another great issue from Morrison and Quitely. Zibarro is quite intriguing.

[Elliot Kane]

The Boys - this just keeps on getting better. The more we get to see of these characters, the more interesting they become. The whole issue is conversation, but it's conversation with purpose, and no padding. There are a lot of writers in comics who could learn from Ennis.

Barracuda - funny to the last. Great dark comedy/satire.

Punisher - superb end to a great arc. Ennis pulls no punches in any regard, and it really works.

All Star Superman - rules. But you guys know that

Fallen Angel - now with added Shi. Good start to a new arc. I like it

Crossing Midnight - still excellent. Mike Carey knows how to weave some wonderful mythological tales.

UFF - Wow. Carey is even making the Ultimate Hood Ornament less lame. That takes some real doing!

Nikolai Dante - Tsar Wars 1 & 2 GNs. Very cool. One of 2000AD's best strips, collected.

Midnighter - well downhill. Needs Ennis. On the cusp of dropping from my list.

[The Spider]

Just All Star Supes, Detective, and Action for me--all were pretty good.