In the interest of helping the mainstream comics industry by both promoting their good stuff and ignoring their less successful attempts, Dean Trippe takes time out of his busy schedule to inform you about the best of the best put out by the Big Two. Here are his picks for the last few weeks.

Batman and Robin #1 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely with Alex Sinclair. Well, this is how you do it. For my money, Dick Grayson taking over the role of his dead(ish) mentor is the biggest event to happen in Bat-comics since the introduction of Robin to the franchise. It has been the promise of Robin that he would one day carry on in his adoptive father's footsteps, fighting for justice as the Caped Crusader. Joining him as the fifth in-continuity Robin is Damian Wayne, the recently discovered son of Bruce Wayne, who was raised by his mother, Talia al Ghul and the League of Assassins (which is convenient as all get out, since it means the ten-year-old has a sufficient reason for being capable of handling the dangers of Gotham City sidekicking). There's a flying Batmobile, series standbys Alfred Pennyworth and Jim Gordon, and a Batman who's actually has fun spitting quips at his adversaries (and allies). Morrison and Quitely are pitch perfect as usual, and Sinclair's coloring, while a bit of a departure from the Jamie Grant colors I've come to associate with Quitely's work, is rad in a NuGotham, experimental future kinda way. With issue two hitting stands this week, I'm quite sure the buzz has reached the point of convincing you to grab this if you missed it, but in case it hasn't, consider this my endorsement: This is the best superhero comic I've read since All Star Superman. (Plus, I liked the issue so much I drew this.)

Detective Comics #854 by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III with Dave Stewart, backup feature by Greg Rucka and Cully Hamner with Laura Martin. And now it appears we have entered a new Golden Age of Bat-Book Awesome. This work was apparently intended for a Batwoman series but then repositioned as the new Detective Comics direction, which I gotta say, I'm a bit happier about. Detective is a good place for non-Batman Batman allies, and with the Question backup features, feels incredibly title-appropriate. Two gay heroines running together in a flagship title like this is also pretty awesome. JHW3 brings the incredible drawing, costuming, and page layout skills we expect from him, and Rucka's rocking the writing with a new witch-themed villain set that opens up new avenues of crime-fighting in the generally very familiar Gotham City cast. The Question story didn't get too far in this first issue, but showed off Cully's art and introduced Renee Montoya's new M.O. pretty well. It feels good to approve of every choice in an entire comic book, you know.

Batman: Streets of Gotham #1 by Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen with Derek Fridolfs John Kalisz. Despite the incredible creative team here, I wasn't expecting to dig this comic that much. With Morrison game-changing the Bat-line, I felt like Dini might step away from the Dynamic Duo and focus more on the old school Bat-villains, which he does, but not without putting his own spin on the new Batman and Robin. Which is awesome, because without other solid writers feeling comfortable with the new B&R, it'd feel like a temporary gimmick, rather than a step forward for the titles. While Bruce will undoubtedly one day return, I am all for enjoying this time with Grayson and Lil' Wayne tripping rooftops. Anyway, here we've got mainstay villains Harley Quinn and Firefly, with the all-new flavor of Batman (with non-lethal gun) & Robin (non-lethal when mentored). Also, check out how cool Dick and Damian look in Dustin's drawings! This book just went from "additional reading" to "required" in my syllabus.

Superman/Batman #61 by Michael Green, Mike Johnson, and Francis Manapul with Brian Bucellato. This is the second part of an alternate dream reality storyline with Batman (Classic Bruce Wayne Edition) and Superman meeting amalgamized versions of their Justice League and Teen Titans pals, as well as their rogues galleries. The story is fun with a few special character notes (Hal Jordan and Dick Grayson ARE kinda similar, huh?), but the real pressure point of purchase here is Francis Manapul's so-fresh art stylings. I just recently started following Manapul's work, mostly from being floored by his Previews'd covers for Red Robin and Adventure Comics, but now seeing his sequentials, I'd read any book drawn by this guy. Grab issue #60 and this one for a little extra World's Finest treat in your pull list goodies.

Ghost Rider #35 by Jason Aaron and Tony Moore with Dave McCaig. Wait, a non-Bat-title? OH RIGHT, there ARE other good comics out there! Specifically, there's Ghost Rider. Aaron and Moore are running like a dream team on this title. I'd never really gotten into GR until Aaron wrestled this title into awesomeness, and with Moore's expressive, fantastical art, the demon/angel battle situations are probably the first truly engaging ones I've seen since Preacher. Aaron writes Johnny Blaze as an oddly relatable badass, and has delivered hot-off-the-grill new heroes and villains (somewhat literally, I suppose) into this long-running mythos. This issue features a new villain I didn't want to spoil here, so if you're not already pulling this one, grab it off the racks and check it out for yourself. Crazy, crazy fun here.

MORE GOOD STUFF: The Unwritten #1 (& 2) by Mike Carey and Peter Gross. It falls a little outside the mainstream mandate of this column, but The Unwritten is the best new non-superhero comic launch I've read probably since The Walking Dead. Do yourself a favor and pick up the first issue and see if it grabs you like it did me.

30 Comments

• At June 29, 2009, Sam wrote:

  I still don't get this column. If anything the mainstream comics industry would be helped by pointing out the ...

• At June 29, 2009, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Do it, Sam! Write the column of the awful, the bad, the terrible, and the lamented 95% of comics. TREAD ...

• At June 29, 2009, Ian A. wrote:

  (Plus, I liked the issue so much I drew this.)

  You forgot to include the link to the "this" that you ...

• At June 29, 2009, Ian A. wrote:

  ...and I forgot to close the link correctly.

  Crap.

• At June 29, 2009, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Sorry, some formatting must've fallen out in my email to Brian. Thanks for posting intended the link, Ian!

• At June 29, 2009, Brian Cronin wrote:

  Fixed!

• At June 29, 2009, Dean Trippe wrote:

  WHOA SWEET, thanks Brian! Speedy service here at CSBG. :)

• At June 29, 2009, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Also, I would just like to take a moment to point out how excellent the new Robin logo is.

• At June 29, 2009, Julio Dvulture wrote:

  No pointing out the bad stuff doesn't help at all. Geeks and comic books afficionados are for me the most ...

• At June 29, 2009, Chris Bloom wrote:

  Wow ... Tony Moore's art looks all Erik Larseny there, doesn't it? Not that I mind; I've always liked ...

• At June 29, 2009, Bill Reed wrote:

  Detective Comics would only be cooler if Todd Klein was lettering it all old-timey style, like Desolation Jones.

  One day, Dean, ...

• At June 29, 2009, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Thanks Bill! Oh hey! I see you out there! *waves*

• At June 29, 2009, Nitz the Bloody wrote:

  I like this column and appreciate that Dean is a critic who rewards good work, as opposed to just scolding ...

• At June 29, 2009, Brad Curran wrote:

  "Good teachers would agree that giving a kid a treat for doing well is a better motivator than whacking them ...

• At June 29, 2009, Brad Curran wrote:

  Oh! And I've read those other comics. I was gonna tack that on there too.

• At June 29, 2009, Ian A wrote:

  I think Brad Curran is drunk.

  Ha ha ha ha ha

• At June 29, 2009, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Thanks, Nitz. I guess I've carved out a little niche of positivity that I enjoy. As a former retailer, I ...

• At June 30, 2009, Ian A. wrote:

  Fake me strikes again!

  This is almost bemusing.

  Almost.

  Also: I would totally vote Trippe for President of Comics. But, who ...

• At June 30, 2009, Stephen wrote:

  "I still don’t get this column. If anything the mainstream comics industry would be helped by pointing out the bad ...

• At June 30, 2009, Jeff Holland wrote:

  And the urge to read the Jason Aaron "Ghost Rider" series continues. I might have to break down and buy ...

• At June 30, 2009, Greg Burgas wrote:

  Jeff: If you start with Aaron's first issue, #20, it's gang-busters right out of the gate. He and Roland ...

• At June 30, 2009, Jeff Holland wrote:

  Excellent, thanks, Greg. I'll grab the first trade and see what I can make of it.

• At June 30, 2009, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Jeff - I'm with Greg, Jason Aaron's run on Ghost Rider rocks the socks right out of the blocks. I ...

• At June 30, 2009, Matt D wrote:

  It actually amazes me how good Jason Aaron is right now. I haven't gotten to his Ghost Rider stuff yet ...

• At June 30, 2009, Stephen wrote:

  BTW, if the lead story in Streets wasn't enough for you, the Manhunter backup was also very, very good.

• At June 30, 2009, Aaron wrote:

  Dean - I have a new desktop wallpaper now. Great drawing, and thanks!

• At June 30, 2009, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  Can we have a column like that?

  Put your money where you're mouth is - you buy the god awful books ...

• At July 1, 2009, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Funky - Hard to believe! But unlike Greg, I was more excited by the second arc, which is when I ...

• At July 1, 2009, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Hey so I totally repeated myself there with the Huat-noticing. That's what I get for multi-tasking while I respond to ...

• At July 1, 2009, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  I do plan to read it, but it just hasn't got off the bottom of my trade pile - every ...

In the interest of helping the mainstream comics industry by both promoting their best stuff and ignoring their less successful attempts, Dean Trippe takes time out of his busy schedule to inform you about the best of the best put out by the Big Two. Here are his picks for the last few months.

Final Crisis #7 by Grant Morrison and Doug Mahnke. Since it's been a while since I've had time to post some reviews, I'm mostly going to skip to recent stuff without catching up. But I can't skip Final Crisis. I understand there are a lot of folks who were confused by this series, and I really don't have the ability to convert anyone to loving it as much as I did. I really think it was written for a very specific kind of reader, and it may have been written just for me, personally. Having read nearly every Morrison supertitle since I was 12 (just a short time after I began reading comics), I'm still constantly thrilled by that man's superhero stories. I feel like they've gotten more complex and daring as I've become more capable of following the stranger and bigger ideas, and he's writing on a level that leaves some readers feeling confused (though I do think that if you accept that feeling and hang on, you'll be fine), for me it was incredible, beautiful, and moving. I consider myself a reconstructionist as far as the superhero myth goes, and while many comics continue to rip off Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns and other excellent deconstructions of the concept, we're more than ten years into letting them be what they say they are and tell us their stories.

Final Crisis had Batman mortally wound the god of all evil, sacrificing his life to do it. The use of the gun was particularly powerful, since while Batman's hatred of guns is justified, it's also irrational to think any particular tool or action might NEVER be useful. In sealing Darkseid's fate, Batman overcame his last fear, ending his life as Batman with an act of heroism using the tool that began it with an act of villainy. There was so much more, of course. Superman's wish. Nix Uotan's emergence as the world's first hyperhero. Lois's story. And the constant reminder that signs ARE what we interpret them to be. As with all hero stories, choices, not events, are what define our reality. I feel like Final Crisis would've been stronger as part of Justice League and not a company-wide crossover, but having read all the "required" bits in the old JLA, Seven Soldiers, Batman RIP, and Superman Beyond, I had the lucky pleasure of being told one of the best superhero stories that's been printed and stapled. Hats off to the various artists and of course, Mr. Morrison.

Ghost Rider #33 by Jason Aaron and Tony Moore. Dudes, okay, listen. If you're not reading Ghost Rider right now, first, slap yourself out of your lameness and grab the first trade of Jason Aaron's run. Aaron has turned this B-list character into the Marvel book I look forward to the most every month. As you may already know, Johnny Blaze has recently found out his powers draw from Heaven, not Hell, and that there are many, many more Ghost Riders that have been operating around the world since Biblical times. (The new variant Ghost Riders Aaron's come up with are all awesome, btw, and if there's not a Tales of the Spirits of Vengeance spinoff or regular backup feature coming out of this, then the universe is against us.) Former Ghost Rider Danny Ketch has been corrupted by an angel in charge of manipulating the Spirits of Vengeance, and has been on a mission to deliver all their accumulated power back to that angel, Zadkiel, who is waging a war in heaven. In the hands of a lesser writer, this would all sound pretty cool, but with Aaron's dialogue, it's flipping incredible. He's the master of the badass quip, making Ghost Rider the most fun mainstream book I read.

Superman: World of New Krypton #1 by James Robinson, Greg Rucka, and Pete Woods. Superman trying to find his place on New Krypton is pretty interesting, as Supergirl's mom Allura and Kal's longtime adversary General Zod form the new world order. I love how the Johns-helmed superbooks are applying the "both+ and" philosophy to the representations of Krypton we've seen before. The superwriters seem to have found the true voice of General Zod, much like Johns has done over on Green Lantern with Sinestro. These world-conquering super-villains may drop the occassional "KNEEL BEFORE ZOD," but they're also real people who believe in what they're doing and have reasons for their actions, crazy as they may seem to our stalwart heroes. Zod's motivations have become clearer and clearer since Johns took over Action Comics, and here we see him in his element more than ever before. My only criticism with the whole New Krypton story is how easily Kryptonians have taken to having superpowers. Kal makes a point of schooling them with his superior control of them, but still. While I miss the old inking style Woods used to prefer, he's still rocking out some solid work here (despite the incongruous coloring style). Woods' ability to convey his characters' emotions effectively is still super-impressive. And just to make it an even 10 for this review, "SUPER."

Green Lantern #38 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. The thing that impresses me most about this whole Blackest Night event buildup stuff, is that it's not an EVENT so much as an engine to make entertaining comics month after month. Johns has been laying the groundwork for this stuff for YEARS now, since Green Lantern: Rebirth and the first arc on this volume of GL with Carlos Pacheco (collected in Green Lantern: No Fear). Each new Lantern color that shows up runs the risk of being lame, or handled poorly, missing either a strong character motivation or failing in an understanding of the color's base emotional concept, but Johns defies those risks, constantly surprising us readers with how much thought he's clearly put into this. This month, we learned that the hope-powered Blue Lanterns are only powerful when working alongside a Green Lantern, whose strength is will-power. Hope without willpower is powerless. I love that superhero comics can deal in abstract concepts like that, and Johns and Reis manage to create a kickass action series around it all. GL is the most recommendable title at DC right now. Grab some trades and get on board.

9 Comments

• At March 23, 2009, E.D. wrote:

  I agree 100% on Ghost Rider. Aaron has completely turned this title around, and it's just chock full of ...

• At March 23, 2009, Nick Marino wrote:

  i didn't know such great stuff was going on in Ghost Rider. i'm looking forward to checking it out now!!!

• At March 23, 2009, Stephen wrote:

  Hm, Ghost Ride sounds like Johns' Hawkman run in terms of the reincarnation hook. Neat.

• At March 23, 2009, Ian A. wrote:

  Crap, I didn't realize Tony Moore's stint on Ghost Rider had started.

  Looks like I've got some back ordering to ...

• At March 23, 2009, Sijo wrote:

  While I find the expansion of the "mythology" of Ghost Rider laudable, it is confusing since it seems to contradict ...

• At March 23, 2009, Dean wrote:

  I've got to take a look at Ghost Rider. Plus, I love the "Oh, shit!" expression on the nearest ...

• At March 24, 2009, Caanan wrote:

  I've not read any of the New Krypton stuff, but that one page up there reminds me SO much of ...

• At April 30, 2009, Ghost Rider series « Alternating Reality Bookstore wrote:

  [...] Dean Trippe’s The Good Stuff (3/23/09) (goodcomics.comicbookresources.com) [...]

• At June 30, 2009, Ghost Rider series « Alternating Reality Books wrote:

  [...] Dean Trippe’s The Good Stuff (3/23/09) (goodcomics.comicbookresources.com) [...]

In the interest of helping the mainstream comics industry by both promoting their best stuff and ignoring their less successful attempts, Dean Trippe takes time out of his busy schedule to inform you about the best of the best put out by the Big Two. Here are his picks for the last few weeks.

Amazing Spider-Man #578 by Mark Waid, Marcos Martin, and Javier Rodriguez. Following New Ways To Die, I'm jumping on Spidey arcs that feature teams I like. Waid and Martin here are two of my favorite comics creators, so I had to nab this one. I keep finding myself feeling skeptical about the possibility of enjoying Amazing right now, Post-One-More-Day and all, but the creative teams are pretty dang great for the most part, and guys like Waid aren't gonna let you down when it comes to writing Pete. In this unbelievably gorgeous issue, Spidey nabs a fortuitous Metro pass on a rainy day and stumbles into a dangerous subway situation. I miss MJ as much as the next guy, but gosh it's great to be enjoying Spider-Man again.

1985 #6 by Mark Millar and Tommy Lee Edwards. I've loved this miniseries from the begining, and its final issue is no exception. There's crazy/fun battles, nerd trivia, and meta-solutions to life-and-death problems. And sharing the above moment with the lead character was probably worth the price of admission anyway. 1985 was a love letter to the 80's Marvel U., comic book fans, and good-hearted but not-quite-respectable dads. If you missed it, keep an eye out for the trade.

Ghost Rider #29 by Jason Aaron, Tan Eng Huat, and Jose Villarrubia. I've never been a Ghost Rider fan. I guess I've always thought he looked pretty badass for a cover image, but I just couldn't find a good place to enter into his mythos. Aaron's run on the title is that entrance, and I keep hearing from more folks that've just gotten interested in GR, and this is why: Aaron is utilizing his broad understanding of the character's history to create a large but welcoming cast of supporting characters as he builds up the character rather than tearing him down or locking him in a box where he can't grow and change. Also his dialogue is killer. Recently, former Ghost Rider Danny Ketch has resurfaced, leading a "Ghost Rider Assassination League" (as coined by CBR columnist Tim Callahan) and lead an assault on the Caretaker's home, which housed a museum of Ghost Rider history. Aaron's revealed that there are more Ghost Riders in the world than just our familiar American one, and he's got Danny on a mission to "free" them of that burden. It's a cohesive but broad mythos Aaron is bringing together, as he introduces new elements, including the growing threat of villainous angel Zadriel and even a new Caretaker! Huat's art is expressive and kinetic, and Villarrubia's colors rock.

JSA Kingdom Come Special: Superman by Alex Ross. This special isn't super integral to the ongoing Kingdom Come storyline going on over in JSA right now, but it's pretty enjoyable, especially visually. Here, Ross reveals quite a few more details concerning the death of Kingdom Come's Lois Lane and sheds some light on the concerns of the KC Superman, who's recently found himself in our time and joined ranks with his pals in Justice Society. I really like the colors-over-pencils style Ross uses for most of the issue and I enjoyed his portrayal of both Loises.

Superman #682 by James Robinson and Renato Guedes. So New Krypton rocks. Suddenly having thousands of Kryptonians on Earth is exciting and terrifying, and I think the Action Comics, Superman, and Supergirl teams have all done a swell job of providing both of those feelings. Over in Superman, Robinson's back on his game following his poorly received and decompressed first arc, and Guedes is really shining, especially cloaked in the magical hues of new colorist David Curiel. I'm not usually one who enjoys multiple title crossovers, but Johns, Robinson, and Gates are all doing such a good job here. This issue's got Kryptonian military police, lots of classic Superman villains, and a setup for some more awesomeness next issue. I'd rather the new Kryptonians had to spend some time on Earth before developing their powers (ala Morrison's take on Clark's power development) rather than instantly being adapted to Super-Life (ala Donner's Kryptonian villains in Superman 2). Besides that quibble, this story's a blast.

5 Comments

• At December 5, 2008, stealthwise wrote:

  Can we have a 50 year moratorium on the phrase "THIS ENDS NOW!" It seems like ten percent of ...

• At December 5, 2008, Tom Fitzpatrick wrote:

  "THIS ENDS NOW!"

  Sorry, couldn't resist.

  My bad.

  Going now.

• At December 6, 2008, 7243 wrote:

  The Good Stuff > What I Bought

• At December 6, 2008, Hawkeye wrote:

  Great column. What I Bought is cool when it's about some good indie stuff, but the mainstream bashing is getting ...

• At December 7, 2008, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  Following New Ways To Die, I’m jumping on Spidey arcs that feature teams I like

  I'm going to give the next ...

In the interest of helping the mainstream comics industry by both promoting their best stuff and ignoring their less successful attempts, Dean Trippe takes time out of his busy schedule to inform you about the best of the best put out by the Big Two. Here are his picks for the last few weeks.

Action Comics #870 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. This issue concluded Johns' reintroduction of Braniac, applying his usual "include and transcend" problem solving to enhance the emotional and physical power of the villain. In his new "first" appearance, Brainiac is now far more reminiscent of his Golden Age counterpart (complete with monkey-like alien pet, Koko!) as a traveling alien species collector. Meeting the real Brainiac puts all of their previous encounters into a new perspective, retconning them into mere drones and odd offshoots that developed from them. In this arc, Johns and Frank have also been laying the groundwork for the new status quo in the Superman books. Lois is strong and confident, Supergirl is facing her real past and her real power, and the Daily Planet newsroom has some old familiar faces (even for recent fans dropping in from All-Star Superman). Perhaps most notably, Pa Kent's fatherly guidance of the Last Son of Krypton has come to an end. While controversial to some, I think it's a fair time for Superman to deal with this loss, and the handling of Pa's final moments was incredibly respectful. Similarly, the above moment of self-doubt with Supergirl respects the recent handling of the character, but forces her to grow. The introduction of her real--and alive!--parents promises to be just as helpful in undoing the problematic "Zor-El Sent Supergirl to Kill Baby Kal-El" plotline in a way that makes that stuff all make sense. Also, Gary Frank is doing the work of his career here, and I say that as a fan of his going back to his runs on Hulk and Supergirl. (By the way, if you haven't read Brainiac's first appearance, it's available in these collections.)

Captain America #42 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. This issue brings Brubaker's long-running New Cap introduction of the last year to a close. Good gosh, there was a lot to tie up, and Brubaker manages to pull it all together. Bucky as Captain America is a Change You Can Believe In, even if you know Steve Rogers will be back someday. Brubaker's put Buck through the gauntlet, forcing him to prove himself to Cap's closest allies and battle the machinations of Cap's fiercest villains. The great thing about this book is the wicked mix of "24"-like action and intrigue (thanks in large part to Epting's strong cinematic pages) alongside...let's call it "comic booky sci-fi fun." As evidenced above, as weird old Cap villain, Arnim Zola has been back on the scene, adding a strong and welcome Marvel Silver Age vibe. Brubaker's monthly-fu is strong, so the running subplots hold plenty of story yet to be mined. If you missed the new Cap's introduction (intentionally or not), but have been waiting to hear if it turned out to be worth reading...it did. Even the costume kinda grows on you. Grab the last year of issues, or consider the next one a good jumping-on point.

Fantastic Four #560 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. Okay, this team's first arc received mixed reviews, even from me. My main concern was that half the enjoyment of a comic book is the artwork, which can often be sabotaged a bit by mistakes in coloring. The colorist Paul Mounts is one of the top ten in the industry in my book, so I was a little disappointed in his choices in the first arc, which featured muted, nearly-pale colors and WAY too many blurry effects. If you doubt my claim that a colorist can affect the readability of a book that much, try to decipher the Robo-Cap fight from issue 556 with all the artwork covered in blurry snow, electrical power effects, washed out costume colors, and lack of panel borders. Now. That said, the storyline as an opening for Millar's run, was actually pretty strong, Hitch's art is as usual, pretty great, and as of this story arc, Mounts is back on his usual A-game. Millar is currently writing three Marvel titles, Wolverine, 1985, and Fantastic Four. If you're reading all three, it really feels like Millar is laying down some broad ideas about the Marvel U. We've got future Hulk bloodlines playing out in Wolverine and Fantastic Four, as well as an appearance by Smart Hulk back in 1985. If you're currently reading one, I'd recommend checking out the other two. He's doing some interesting stuff in all three. Here in FF, a new team of Defenders has shown up to save the population of 2509 with a South Park-reminiscent evacuation plan. Personally, I'm starting to think this has the potential to be the best run on FF since Mark Waid and the late Mike Wieringo's excellent run on the title.

Hulk #6 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness. A friend of mine said, "Turn off your brain and this book is awesome." I agree. I was initially skeptical of this run, the Red Hulk, and the merits of a decompressed fight book, but I stuck it out on the merits of the stellar artwork from McGuinness. And I'm glad I did! Holy smokes, this series is an all-star, Brawlfest. Loeb applies some interesting logic to how the A-List fights would go down, like Thor's hammer being wield-able in outer space--outside of Earth's gravitational pull--even by the unworthy. And the plot and dialogue seems to be intentionally simplistic, setting up a superhero mystery that appeals to my old adolescent power fantasies. Again, it's not heavy stuff, but as a fun book with excellent art, this book delivers.

Marvel 1985 #5 by Mark Millar and Tommy Lee Edwards. Of the three Marvel titles Millar is penning, this is the most touching. This series is a love letter to the Marvel Universe of my childhood wrapped up in a truly scary storyline as the villains of the Marvel U. have found their way from their universe into ours via a secret portal in a spooky old house. Our only hope: A young boy and his dad who both read comics. In this issue, Toby escapes back through the portal to rally the superheroes to come save the day. Edwards' art here is so gorgeous. His storytelling and expressive linework is inviting and bold. I'm SO glad they ditched the idea to do this as a photo comic. Millar is similarly doing solid work here, offering plenty of action and heart at the same time. Most of Millar's work of the last decade has been soldier-as-superhero, cinematic, deconstructive kinda stuff (and I've enjoyed most of it), but his current Marvel titles seem to me to be reflecting the New Golden Age reconstructive movement that's been building since the mid-to-late 90s and is really gathering steam lately with writers like Morrison, Johns, Waid, etc. If this is the one title of Millar's books you're not reading, it's almost wrapped, so be sure to grab the trade.

Supergirl #34 by Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle. As with all of the Supergirl creative team changes of the last few years, I approached this new one with a little trepidation, but I gave it a shot, just as I've done with each of the last few. I wanted to review this book with just one word. "Finally." But just to make sure you give it a shot, I'll say a bit more. Igle's art offers the best Supergirl since Amanda Conner's single issue chores on Supergirl #12, and Gates' take on the character surpasses all previous attempts since the reintroduction. Honestly, I'm kinda floored by how much Gates accomplishes in this single issue. He brings up the criticisms of how she's been handled recently, using recently reintroduced Daily Planet staffer Cat Grant as a critic. Supergirl has to face her own recent actions, which begins the healing process for both the character and the title. Gates is right on here, finally giving the new Supergirl a secret identity, the a familiar supporting cast, and a much needed female mentor. Also, Gates efficiently has Supergirl catch up with her familiar super-mentors, or in the case of Batman, his protege (above). I've been pretty critical of this title since its inception, but I am quite pleased to finally be able to recommend Supergirl. With the upcoming New Krypton Superman title crossovers, it's the perfect time to jump onto this book.

22 Comments

• At October 20, 2008, MDV wrote:

  This is what comics must be like on a heavy regimen of prozac and illiteracy.

• At October 20, 2008, Suzene wrote:

  "Turn off your brain and this book is awesome" is not something that I'd consider applicable to the "best of ...

• At October 20, 2008, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  Personally, I’m starting to think this has the potential to be the best run on FF since Mark Waid and ...

• At October 20, 2008, Max wrote:

  Wow, everyone's just lined up to throw poop at this column, aren't they? I mean, why does anyone bother ...

• At October 20, 2008, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  Wow, everyone’s just lined up to throw poop at this column, aren’t they?

  Yup, looks like the whole internet is here ...

• At October 21, 2008, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Throw away. Under your yellow sun, I am impervious to poop-throwing.

  But for the record: The Good Stuff is about the ...

• At October 21, 2008, -alistairw wrote:

  At least be constructive. Jesus.

  Dean: I dig the column. It's not likely to make me want to read Hulk, for ...

• At October 21, 2008, Bat2supe wrote:

  These, for the most part, are the comics that I enjoy the most.

  Funny thing is that I though the same ...

• At October 21, 2008, TimCallahan wrote:

  Dean is right about all of these comics, and anyone who disagrees with him is wrong.

  Sorry, but it's true.

• At October 21, 2008, captaintrips wrote:

  Is Action Comics by Johns and Frank really that well received? I can't believe that.

  To me, it really reads ...

• At October 21, 2008, Dalarsco wrote:

  @Suzene: I like intellectual pursuits more than most, but even I enjoy stupid hilarity from time to time. ...

• At October 21, 2008, Max wrote:

  Wow, Funky Green Jerusalem, you're so nice, won't you be my friend?

  I wrote because I like this column, and yeah, ...

• At October 21, 2008, Max wrote:

  Oh, and for Dean, here's some of my latest picks:

  Dynamo 5: consistently one of the best super-hero team books on ...

• At October 21, 2008, BrianC wrote:

  Love this, Dean. Hope to see you do this here regularly.

• At October 21, 2008, Scott Free wrote:

  Love you, Dean (Butterfly is my Favorite. Thing. Ever!), and thanks for showing up here.

  I agree with you about Action ...

• At October 21, 2008, Jake Powell wrote:

  Good choices! I'd personally have to fit in Green Lantern and Batman somewhere. I'd be curious to know your thoughts ...

• At October 21, 2008, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  But instead of just dissing the books I enjoyed, wouldn’t it be more productive for you, me, and anyone who ...

• At October 21, 2008, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Dudes, great picks! :D

• At October 22, 2008, Jono11 wrote:

  "“Turn off your brain and this book is awesome” is not something that I’d consider applicable to the “best of ...

• At October 22, 2008, Jono11 wrote:

  My picks.

  Batman: Fuck the haters, this story is amazing. And I know this doesn't completely let Morrison off the ...

• At October 22, 2008, Max wrote:

  Funky Green Jerusalem:

  I've been snarky in every post? Me? I admitted that the "illiterate and on prozac" comment ...

• At October 24, 2008, FunkyGreenJerusalem wrote:

  So shut up and back off from here on out, get me?

  Or what?

  You'll get more snarky about me being snarky?

  Chillax ...

In the interest of helping the mainstream comics industry by both promoting their best stuff and ignoring their less successful attempts, Dean Trippe takes time out of his busy schedule to inform you about the best of the best put out by the Big Two. Here are his picks for the last couple of weeks.

All-Star Superman #12 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely with Jamie Grant. It's no secret that this series has been the best book on stands since its debut. In its final issue, All-Star Supes pulls the complex threads laid down in the first issue into a cohesive closure that feels inevitable...and perfect. I don't think I'll ever forget Superman's final labor, Lex's great realization, or Lois's enduring faith. I found this comic profoundly moving, and honestly, that is the best compliment that can be given to any story. I spoke briefly with Mr. Morrison at SDCC this year, and his contention that we are in a New Golden Age is hard to deny, given the great steps his and Geoff Johns's work at DC has taken to elevate the genre. I can't say too much about this issue, because I know many of you are waiting for the trades. I will tell you, though, I honestly feel grateful to Morrison, Quitely, and Grant, for sharing this incredible story with us, for believing in a Superman truly worthy of his status as the world's first and best superhero. I'm left awestruck. (I struggled with what preview clip to show for this issue, because there were so many incredible moments I wanted to leave spoiler-free just for you. You're welcome.)

Amazing Spider-Man #572 by Dan Slott (and the Spidey team) and John Romita Jr. I've been giving the current storyline, "New Ways to Die," a try, since I haven't been that into Spidey since the whole devil-wish-magic-divorce storyline. It's pretty dang cool. The creative team is solid. No one beat JRJR on Spidey, and Klaus Janson's inks here are beefy and strong. Dean White's coloring is some of his best work, rounding out the art team with finished pages to rival anything else being done at the Big Two. Dan Slott's Spidey feels classic and fun, and I'm genuinely enjoying the multi-threaded storyline. If this was a monthly, I'd be concerned about how complex and decompressed it is, but for a near-weekly series, it's a blast. (One quibble: Is Norman Osborn's hair changing from issue to issue?)

Green Lantern #34 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. Continuing the "Secret Origin" storyline, Johns and Reis are STILL brining their heavy-hitting skills to this "include and transcend" retelling of Hal Jordan's origin. If you don't know anything about Hal's story, here's a great way in; if you know a bunch of different versions of it with lots of loose threads, let this carefully crafted story tie those threads into a cohesive fabric. It's like Birthright for Green Lantern. Johns is pulling from disparate tales of various writers, and connecting things up with his own ideas about the Corps dynamics and the emotional color spectrum. Johns' understanding of Sinestro is unmatched, by the way, as is evident in his recent Sinestro Corps storylines. But this look back to Sinestro as the best of the GLs is excellent, and makes his seduction by Fear all the more tragic.This will be the story arc you give friends to introduce them to the GL mythos. Great book from a great team.

Secret Invasion #6 by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Yu. Okay, nothing in this book is as badass as the cover, though Nick Fury's line here comes pretty close. Finally reuniting the Avengers teams and specifically the triumvirate of Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor (all in their new costumes!) is exciting, though it really needed a moment somewhere in the book to truly consider the weight of their likely reconciliation. I'm interested to see where Bendis is going with the Skrull's God-fixation, which many have noted seems like a nod to (or rip from) the Cylons in the current Battlestar Galactica series. I'm not as concerned about that, since honestly, all of these stories have been told and retold. I'm just enjoying seeing it rail across the Marvel U. Leinil's art this issue is mostly solid, though I think I see some series fatigue setting in in some of the background characters. My only crit on the writing would be the lack of investment in the "fascist"-crying youths wishing to "embrace change." It looks like next issue should be an all-out brawl, which wouldn't be that exciting for me except that Yu is REALLY GOOD at those. Haha. Here's hoping there's more of Tony, Buck, and Thor teaming up specifically. It's really good to see those three together.

19 Comments

• At September 19, 2008, Steven E. McDonald wrote:

  The "He loves you" and invading-for-your-own-good stuff that bendis is using reminds me more of (your choice of) Crusaders or ...

• At September 19, 2008, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Steven - Of course, a technologically superior invading force claiming to offer a better way of life while tactically eliminating ...

• At September 19, 2008, Scavenger wrote:

  "except that Yu is REALLY GOOD at those."

  No. He's really not. He draws pages of random people fighting random ...

• At September 19, 2008, Scavenger wrote:

  Quick note: I went a bit personal in my post above. I apologize for that. It was uncalled for. ...

• At September 19, 2008, Joe Rice wrote:

  I liked Secret Invasion. It was what it needed to be . . .a fairly clever blockbuster. Not ...

• At September 19, 2008, Ariel S. wrote:

  Nice reviews, but what I absolutely LOVE is the Headline Image!! Bookmarked.

• At September 19, 2008, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Scavenger - No worries, man. Thanks for the additional comment. I wrote this review before heading over to my local ...

• At September 19, 2008, Sam wrote:

  I don't see why Nick Fury's line is badass. A hammer isn't that great a thing to have, anyway. ...

• At September 19, 2008, fanboy d wrote:

  i'm a HUGE marvel zombie and, although i have a soft spot for dc when it is, as i perceive ...

• At September 19, 2008, Dalarsco wrote:

  Scavenger, most scripts are panel-by-panel breakdowns. If a fight scene is written a certain way it's not the fault ...

• At September 19, 2008, Dean Trippe wrote:

  fanboy d - I'd recommend the Superman & the Legion of Superheroes arc from Action as well (which just hit ...

• At September 19, 2008, Eric wrote:

  Am I the only one who was disappointed that this was Dean Trippe talking about comics instead of Dean Trippe ...

• At September 20, 2008, Codename assassin wrote:

  @Fanboy_D:

  I stopped reading it 'I'm a Marvel zombie and i hate the DCU" , it screamed fucking brainless fanboy to ...

• At September 20, 2008, Dean Trippe wrote:

  Eric - See the header banner? It's called multi-tasking. :P

• At September 20, 2008, Alan Coil wrote:

  #1 on this week's s(p)it list---Joe Rice.

  Reason---speaking ill of George Perez.

• At September 20, 2008, fanboy d wrote:

  i already bought 'superman birthright', picked it up in singles as it was coming out actually. it was pretty damn ...

• At September 20, 2008, Ming Doyle wrote:

  That header image is how I always imagine you, Dean; ceaselessly working for the good of comics in every avenue!

• At September 20, 2008, Dean Trippe wrote:

  fanboy d - let's be best friends. :)

  ming doyle - awww :)

• At September 22, 2008, Brad Curran wrote:

  Joe's on your spit list this week for smack talking Perez? Because 1) He does that all the time, so ...