Justice League #22

The Trinity War begins.

In this issue we have a face-off between the Justice League and Justice League of America. Tension are high since Superman and Wonder Woman went into Khandaq.

We have another conversation with Clark and Diana that is left hanging about the way they deal with criminals. We all know Clark and Bruce don't believe in killing. Diana on the other hand, if she has no other option because she is a warrior, will use lethal force. I am hoping one day these two have the conversation that deals with this. To show that she admires Clark for his stance/mercy and Clark believes in her enough to know that she would only use lethal force if there was no other way. Not because she's ruthlessly efficient because love and empathy has been the core of Wonder Woman. Not vengeance.

Pandora seeks out Superman to open Pandora's box. Because she believes him to be pure of heart.

It does not go well because Superman get possessed by the skull. Luckily it's temporary. He comes back to himself while Pandora vanishes with the skull.

The Justice League are alerted to Khandaq when they learn Shazam has turned up there. The JLA also go and things don't go well.

Clark's heat vision seems to have gone haywire and Dr Light becomes a casualty.

Batman/Superman #2

So prime earth younger Batman and Superman meet earth 2, older, preachier Batman and Superman. Basically it's the generational gap dynamic here. The older heroes think they the bees knees and the younger ones are not in a mood to listen. Though age brings wisdom, it can at times brings arrogance and turn off youngsters. Can't say the older guys are handling the younger ones in a good way. Martha Kent is the only one with some sense.

We do see a rather hen pecked older Superman. He's got everything though in this life and Lois wears the pants. She's also a little presumptuous to suggest younger Clark from another universe is missing out on being with her while making older Clark apologize for nothing.

Diana is just Diana. Regal and fierce and young Clark is dazzled. So, he has a natural attraction to Wonder Woman. Makes sense seeing he couldn't keep his eyes off earth prime Diana when he first saw her in Justice League and well, we know what he does not know. He's dating a version of her.

Superman #21

Nothing much with Clark and Diana other than one panel. And in fact the Superman books have not brought her in for several months after #20 so it's unlikely I'll review those books. Now that the Superman/Wonder Woman series is out, books like this won't probably feature her. And Superman is currently going up against more psionic foes and Lois got convenient psionic powers to save his hide. Well, I suppose they have to find a way to put her in stories so why not give the most amazing human woman reporter super powers now.

Justice League #20

There is a fight with Despero in the Watchtower and as we learnt from the last issue a sample of kryptonite ( given to him by Clark) was stolen from Batman's cave.

In this issue Batman lets Superman in on his contingency plans. Okay, so this time Bruce isn't as much a jerk as he was last canon. But he still is on shaky ground imo because he is not sharing it with the team. And then he hits Clark with the plan for Diana. She has no weakness like Clark has kryptonite. Batman deduces her weakness would be...Clark. He is concerned that if Clark is emotionally involved with Diana...he could not do what needed to be done if she went rogue. Personally I think both Clark and Diana can do what needs to be done if either went rogue. Diana proved she could in Sacrifice in last canon. I think Diana would expect no less of Clark either if she did.

Justice League #19

This issue more or less asks the question, whether Superman and Wonder Woman together as a couple could be something to fear.

I ask how is it that the most optimistic, compassionate heroes can be viewed with such suspicion while the one who manipulates behind team members' back isn't seen as more dangerous?

Clark and Diana are adults. They don't need Batman lecturing them on being together. Does he forget his game playing with Catwoman?

Batman really cares so he spies and we know he makes contingency plans. Oh boy. This is why stories like Injustice stinks because this story asks really pertinent questions and Diana isn't playing with Gods here as in her book but having to consider serious real world questions where there is no black and white answer. But we of course will get diverted from that. Books like Wonder Woman Spirit of Truth and Superman Peace on Earth are far superior stories to Injustice which more or less treats Superman and Wonder Woman like unprincipled bullies when they can't get their way. They address the really tough situations facing these heroes and the genuine ways they would tackle them without losing who they are.

But I digress here are the pages. Ivan Reis' art is gorgeous.

Superman #20

This issue makes the wackiness of Superman #19 make a little more sense. The mind manipulation continues. Once again playing with Superman's memories and feelings. Last we saw Lois wearing Diana's uniform, we now see Clark dreaming about a perfect life with Lana and his parents alive.

But Clark gets his little perfect dream interrupted because this issue is really touted as a throw down between him and Orion. No, it's not over Diana. It's Highfather's fault. There is heavy hitting shown until Diana turns up to break up Blue and Red's fight.

Orion decides to help Superman with mother box putting mental blocks in his mind but of course we have some awkwardness between the three. It's clear Orion fancies Diana's wonderpants and she's still keeping stuff about her family from Clark. The "kiss" which was actually Diana's wringing Orion's testicles and punching his lights out was not really explained and Clark let it slide because he says she owes him no explanation.

Later we see that Clark's mind has manifested something interesting.

Superman #19

This issue is good because we get Diana meeting Clark's friends. Clark unfortunately acts like a bit of a douche. Is it because he's mind controlled ie Hector Hammond messing with his mind and using past feelings to confuse him or according to Lobdell ( not any other writer) he could be mooning secretly after Lois?

We get jerkish dialogue like this from him and one has to wonder why Diana would be with someone like this. Oh wait, didn't he pursue Diana in Justice League and made her think it was the right thing to do to give them a chance? What's happened here?

Luckily Lobdell handles Diana better, as he does everyone else. Including Lois and Jonathan as a couple who seem genuinely into each other. It's good he gives Diana some room to shine because otherwise she could have easily come off as the third wheel or dispensable girlfriend  and the obstacle why Clark isn't with Lois. Is Clark actually blaming Diana for the reason he had no balls?

Anyway here are some entertaining pages.

Of course, Clark is too busy with other things to find his date. Most notable is hallucinating Lois dressed as Diana. So, if he wants Lois why is she dressed as Wonder Woman, his girlfriend? Or is he torn between two ladies or transitioning from one to another? Who knows? Lobdell keeps it deliberately vague.

So she finds him. She is the only one not mind controlled or acting out of character. But one might wonder occasionally why she is with him if one just went by this title alone and did not read Justice League. Other than her calling him sexy and interesting etc. I mean when did he show this side of himself to her or us? It's nice to see she isn't fussing about him being late and is very understanding. Refreshing to what we're accustomed to the hero hiding, lying and his date getting miffed.

Of course they get interrupted.

This issue was a mixed bag of entertaining and annoying because Lobdell wants to play both camps. It's as simple as that. As per usual in the Superman book when Clark Kent is around Lois Lane he acts a bit of  a jerk. Diana was sparkling and charming. A pleasure to read.

So Late...

Oh yeah, real life and other stuff like helping with http://superman-wonderwoman.deviantart.com/ and http://hellyeahsupermanandwonderwoman.tumblr.com/archive sort of distracting me. In a good way. :)

So I'm just going to put up some favorite SM/WW images from books I read and gave a quick rating.