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.

Superman #18 Review

Not a lot really happens in this issue. I'd say it's more filler and a set up for what is to come than anything. We have an introduction to new 52 Orion who is written much better here than Azzarello's. Still arrogant but clearly a seasoned alien warrior who does not actually act like an earthly frat boy. We see he is on a collision course with Superman. There is also some fun with Clark and Cat Grant and their , well Cat's dream, to start the next big online entertainment site. A quite predictable Lois back on the beat and Superman tells her how happy he is for that. Then we have people tossing themselves off buildings and see Hector Hammond is being held in Star Labs.

The best thing in this issue is Superman facing the government. I really enjoyed that.

Justice League #18

This issue is basically filler. It gives us a little breather from the action to allow the League to consider new recruits. It has some very funny moments as with Flash and Goldrush and nice to just see these folks interacting. In the end we know the League chooses Element Woman, the new female Atom and Firestorm. And we also learn than someone has hacked into the JL headquarters.

Just posting up some pages with Clark and Diana.

Justice League of America #1 Review

I had no real desire to pick this book up. For one, I don't care for the line-up. The only two characters I remotely like here are Catwoman and Martian Manhunter.  I picked it up because it was going to crossover with the main Justice League with the up coming Trinity War where we know the teams are going to clash. Plus I saw art of the Supeman/Wonder Woman kiss so I was keen to know what was going on.

Well, it turns out this book was quite well written and entertaining with good characterization and ongoing machinations behind the scenes that makes one want to know more. The government are not happy with the Justice League but mostly because they can't control them. Amanda Waller is one of these master manipulators using Steve Trevor's feelings for Wonder Woman to set up a team designed to take down the Justice League.

I was not a fan of Steve Trevor.He irritated me no end at the way he treated Diana when he shouted at her and blamed her for their break-up (Justice League #12) and we see he still acts as if she can't look after herself. All he did before was moon and act like a sap and in my opinion he was pretty presumptuous blaming her considering he was the first man she ever saw and had a relationship with. But oddly enough when Steve is not focused on Diana or around her we see an interesting Steve once Waller craftily gets him to accept her offer.

There is some succinct and curious intros to Vibe,Hawkman, Green Arrow and Martian Manhunter. But my favorite is Catwoman and her interaction with Steve Trevor. I am a Bat/Cat fan but got to say Selina and Steve kind of sizzle.

I have one query in the line of Waller's to take down the Justice League.

In what universe can Katana ever take on demi-goddess, Wonder Woman? I get she has some powerful sword but she couldn't get near her (unless Diana wished it) to take her down.

Anyway I was pleasantly surprised how much I did enjoy reading this. 4 out of 5.

Young Romance #1 DC New 52 Valentine Special, Review of Superman and Wonder Woman,Truth or Dare,

This comic has several stories featuring couples like Clark and Diana, Batman/Catwoman, Arthur/Mera etc centered around themes of love and romance. The Superman/Wonder Woman one was written by Andy Diggle and it attempted to finally bring Superman into Wonder Woman's world. Something at the time the Wonder Woman writer refused to do. It was very nice to see them together out on a date getting to know each other better and talking about the burdens of secrets.

With Diana, Clark can simply be himself and not have to hide and lie about Superman. Something he does to protect others. Clearly it is a relief for him and he opens up to her and Diana, while confident about herself as a hero, ( Clark has his journalism etc) admits she is still searching for her place in the world after finding out a lot about her life was built on lies.

Their date gets interrupted ( as you do if you are heroes) and they have to deal with the Sirens and Eros. The story has a really clever twist and wonderful ending but it suffers from being way too short. It could have been extended to flesh out more of this couple seeing DC had been sparing with what we had been given so far. Not too keen on the art but I enjoyed it and most fans of this couple will as well.

The Kenneth Rocafort cover is just gorgeous.

Enjoy some pages.

How awesome is that? He stopped Eros' love bullet. While it is magical and it does wind him to catch it, a bullet to Superman is still a bullet. And he already has love in his heart...for her...which is his choice.

Justice League #17 Review

Action packed, gorgeous art, and the tie up ( well in JL at least) to a really excellent crossover event.

The team finds out that Vulko is responsible for triggering the War because he wants Arthur to take back the throne. Arthur feels guilty and responsible for what is taking place only fuels fears about meta humans.

This issue basically has him facing off with his brother, Orm, to try to get him to surrender. The League are really supporting Aquamam in this issue because the story is driven by themes of duty, family loyalty etc but the pages with them in battle adds to grand spectacle and drama unfolding. The story ends on a sad note because we see one of the greatest casualties in the war is the relationship between brothers. I give this story 5 out of 5.

Again I am putting up pages that have Clark and Diana in them.

The repercussions? Arthur going back to Atlantis to try to keep the peace, the League considering opening their ranks, Amanda Waller plotting and villains getting organized.