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September Comics by Mike-oh
Here's a quick review of the comics I'm reading this month. Updated each week. Descriptions are pulled from Midtown Comics' web site (New York City's finest comic book shop). Editorial is what I write.

Week of September 27

52 Week #21
DC
Writer: Various
Artist: Joe Bennett

Editorial:
Story and art were terrific this week. My hat is off to the writing team for the way they have Luthor committing one of his signature murders. With a push of a button, he removes the super powers he had given to Trajectory at the most critical of moments. In the next instance, her life is snuffed out and no one knows it was Luthor's hand that really did the snuffing. It's the classic kind of Luthor crime and reminds us once again that Luthor isn't just a ruthless business man who plays hardball. Luthor is a maniacal, cold-blooded killer.

Action Comics #843
DC
Writer: Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza
Artist: Pete Woods

Editorial:
Next month, we'll be treated to an amazing comic book event when Richard Donner, acclaimed director of the quintessential Superman from Superman: The Movie, joins comic book giants Geoff Johns and Adam Kubert to craft Action Comics #844. Despite the pressure of being followed by such heavy hitters, Busiek, Nicienza, and Woods go out with a bang. Superman and team defeat the giant alien threat with guile and guts. And in the end, leave us fans with another excellent new villian that will be cruising the universe, waiting for the perfect time to sweep back in and give Superman whatfor.

Batman #657
DC
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Andy Kubert

Editorial:
I have to say that I'm very disappointed in Andy Kubert's art on this series. Don't agree with me? Take another look at his splash page on the Batcave. It's amazingly weak and unfinished looking. There is a ton of room for improvement there without even changing the layout. Normally I would think that he's pissed off about something so he's just mailin' it in. But that can't possibly be the case. Getting to work with Grant Morrison on the Batman has to be just about any comic book artist's idea of a dream come true. It hurts to see him duffing it so badly. Morrison's script, by the way, is top notch.

Justice League of America #2
DC
Writer: Brad Meltzer
Artist: Ed Benes

Editorial:
Ed Benes' art is amazing. Sweet! And Meltzer's script rocks, too. I love the banter going on between Canary and Lantern as GL hazes Conner. Kathy's tender moment with the Red Tornado should have made just about everybody cry. And Superman and Wonder Woman secretly voting on whether or not to include Batman in the new League was priceless.

Trials of Shazam! #2
DC
Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Howard Porter

Editorial:
I'm having great concerns over the art. I thought I was on board with the first issue. But now I'm beginning to wonder. At any rate, the story is great. Although I have to confess that I'm a little confused about who is going to become who. I thought Freddie was going to become the next Captain Marvel but it looks like he's going to be the next Shazam? And Captain marvel is now a long-white haired guy named simply Marvel? And Mary is in a coma (I didn't know that). And if all the Marvel family has lost their powers, what's happened to Black Adam? If anyone knows, please use the form at the bottom of the page and clue me in.

Amazing Spider-man #535
Marvel
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Ron Garney

Editorial:
Spider-man turns on Iron-Man. Not a big surprise. And I read someplace that they're bringing back the black costume. So I guess the new, God-awful Spidey costume was never that big of a risk. It's just been a part of the story all along. That is, as long as the story goes the way I think it is. Spidey is going to tussle with Tony. Tony is going to use the Spidey suit against Spidey. Spidey will ditch the suit. Don the black suit. And kick Iron Man's ass. And don't think he can't do it.

Daredevil #89
Marvel
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Michael Lark

Editorial:
This is a wicked cool story that takes Daredevil on a James Bond style romp to Monaco. He throws an evil matador and a possible Karen Page reincarnate into the pot and mixes vigorously. Hang on! I think Bru is trying to convince us that Daredevil is the coolest character in comic books. Nice try Bru. Everyone knows that it's really Dick Grayson who is the coolest. All Nightwing needs is an equally cool writer such as yourself to make it a scientific fact.

Eternals #4
Marvel
Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artist: John Romita Jr.

Editorial:
JRjr's best art ever. The story is great too. Kirby so desperately needed a guy like Gaiman to make his wild, crazy stories easier to dive into. With Gaiman, we have all of the bombastic, over the top characters and settings without all the hokey dialogue. Gaiman should go back through Kirby's various creations and give us the thrill of a lifetime. Imagine Kirby's New Gods, Inhumans, Mister Miracle, or even Fantastic Four with Gaiman dialogue and narrative. I'm sure most Kirby fans would think it heresy. But that's just because they haven't tried it yet.

The Ultimates Vol. 2 #12
Marvel
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Bryan Hitch

Editorial:
Even after making it a bigger issue with more pages, Millar and Hitch were not able to wrap up their story. One more issue might do the trick. No complaints here though. This was an amazing issue that saw the Hulk brutalize the Abomination until he basically vaporized his head with a final punch. And then Captain America cuts the hands off of Abdul Al-Rhaman with his shield right before he skewers him with a light sabre. Take that Darth Maul. And Tony comes flying in from outerspace sporting his latest Iron Man armor which is so over the top, it made all of those comic book weapons from the nineties seem like pea shooters. Nothing excels like excess I guess. Millar must have that tatooed to his ass.

Week of September 20

52 Week #20
DC
Writer: Various
Artist: Chris Batista

Editorial:
The art in this issue is greatly improved. Batista's treatment of Steel coming out of the fire is totally believable. And he completely sold me on the emotion that everyone was feeling on the Lobo asteroid under attack. The story continues to be excellent. These guys actually made me like Lobo's character. That's a first.

Superman #656
DC
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Carlos Pacheco

Editorial:
Subjekt is awesome. He's the alien creature discovered by the Russians when he was a child and subjected to a lifetime of torturous experiments. Now he's been unleashed on the world. Superman has to fight against his own objectivity as he identifies with Subjekt as a fellow alien while protecting an old friend. The art is awesome. Especially the creation that is Subjekt. It's kinda funny in a way — Subjekt's head looks a lot like E.T. on super-steroids. The story is fantastic — great drama, great action, great art.

Astonishing X-men #17
Marvel
Writer: Joss Whedon
Artist: John Cassaday

Editorial:
Man, that's harsh. Kitty was such a hero in the last issue. Now she's just a pawn of the Hellfire Club. It's really pretty scary. She has an axe handle phased into Colossus' head in order to get the baby back that she dreamed was stolen from her by her friends. Meanwhile, Wolverine continues to skulk around like a frightened boy until a beer can rolls out of the fridge and knocks him back to his senses in what can only be described as a Homer moment. Astonishing indeed. Now that Wolverine is back in action, expect next issue to be fantastic. But before Wolverine can pop his claws, Cyclops steps into the room with a .45 and blows a few holes in the reigning White Witch. Oof!

Civil War #4
Marvel
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Steve McNiven

Editorial:
When you saw Thor was back in the last issue, weren't you all excited? How you feelin' now? Thought so. Thor is a rampaging freak clone gone beserk. Far out! Thanks, Mark. That's exactly the kind of twist I never see coming but always expect from you. It's what makes stoy arcs like this worth reading. Not a huge surprise seeing the Thor debacle break up Iron Man's crew. But I'm strugglin' with the final page that reveals Iron Man's new alliance with the likes of Bullseye, Venom, et. al. I'm not buyin' it.

Nextwave #8
Marvel
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Stuart Immonen

Editorial:
Is Nextwave the best comic book available today? Is Warren Ellis the greatest comic book writer of our time? Is Stuart Immonen the most talented comic book artist ever? Is the Captain totally nuts? Does Elsa Bloodstone have the creepiest childhood memories you've ever seen? Is it just me or does Michael Jackson's face look like it was drawn by Jack Kirby?

Union Jack #1
Marvel
Writer: Christios Gage
Artist: Mike Perkins

Editorial:
Union Jack is cool. I thought so back in the seventies when I read about him in his first appearance in The Invaders. He was like a British Captain America but even more like Batman because he didn't have the benefit of a super soldier serum to make him a badass. Just a big knife and a big gun. In retrospect, it might have been that impression that lead me to arm the Zombie the way I have. Anyway, this rendition of Union Jack is good. I'm not blown away. But I am intrigued by the story -- and the pacing and action has been good. I just think they are using a whole lot of characters (mostly unfamiliar to me) in this story and as a result, there's less of a focus on Union Jack. I might have done it differerntly myself. But then Marvel didn't ask me, did they? Crazy fools!

Week of September 13

52 Week #19
DC
Writer: Various
Artist: Dale Eaglesham

Editorial:
There's a brand new Booster Gold on the scene. But before anyone gets a chance to kick him around, he gets booted out of reality by his Benedict Arnoldbot from the 25th century. What a jerk. If you paid real close attention to the pointer on that chalkboard in Magnus' lab, you noticed it was the 25th Century robot that's being fingered for the destruction that is 52. The art takes a giant leap forward in this issue as well.

The Escapists #3
Dark Horse
Writer: Brian K Vaughn
Artist: Jason Alexander and Steve Rolston

Description:
Max Roth and Case Weaver have finished the very first issue of their re-launch comic, featuring a revamped Luna Moth, and their promotional plans include a risky publicity stunt that puts Denny in an old Escapist costume...and in harm’s way! Also in this issue is a never-before-seen chapter from Men of Tomorrow, Gerard Jones’s wildly acclaimed book on the history of comics, in which he unearths some scandalous press on the Master of Elusion!

Editorial:
This story just keeps getting better and better. Vaughn breaks through the third wall with the main character turning narrarator in the middle of his emotional heartbreak. And the scene that takes the main character and his artist into the pages of their comic collaboration are artfully and tastefully done. Brian K Vaughn does a dynamite job of maintaining the integrity of Michael Chabon's creation without stepping on the creators toes or revising the original work.

Annihilation #2
Marvel
Writer: Keith Giffen
Artist: Andrea Divito

Description:
One empire has fallen. Two heroes are dead. It all comes together here! Individually, the Silver Surfer, Super-Skrull, Ronan and Nova have faced down the Annihilation Wave...and lost! Now, they must unite those who remain or die by Annihilus’ hand! The Annihilation has only begun!

Editorial:
Drax the Destroyer is an old favorite of mine. I'm glad to see he's being thrown back into the ring against Thanos. It's his destiny, afterall. The one character I am growing particularly fond of is Skreet, Thanos' pixie. That kid's got moxie. The art and story are excellent. It makes the really lousy Super Skrull and Ronin issues that preceeded this almost worth it. Almost.

Incredible Hulk #98
Marvel
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Aaron Lopresti

Editorial:
The Hulk tussles with a chick tough enough to rock half the planet. He seems destined to fulfill this prophecy as ruler or destroyer. And it looks like he might get himself a little rock hard babe warrior action along the way. That's cool. The Hulk deserves it. He hasn't been this close to paradise since the old days with Jarella. Cheers, Hulk.

Week of September 7

52 Week #18
DC
Writer: Various
Artist: Various

Description:
"Ralph, we’re the CROATOANS. We found Shakespeare’s GHOSTWRITER, we can find one of our own GUYS." Plus, The Origin of The Question by Mark Waid and Joe Bennett!

Editorial:
The Elongated Man is now Dr. Fate. I like that everyone thinks he's still batty. And throw in a very gratuitous scene with Black Adam crashing in on Renee as she drowns her sorrows in the breasts of the local lesbian babe and you have another interesting issue in the ongoing mystery of 52.

Rush City #2
DC
Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artist: Timothy Green II

Editorial:
More solid action in this respectable follow up to Rush City's high octane opening issue. This time around, Rush finds himself in a tussle with the Black Canary. I think I like her the best when she's not lumped in with other super heroes. The Canary is cool. And so is Dixon's second issue. It's intersting to see DC weaving their super hero universe into this issue. I wonder how far they will take it. Can you see this guy as member of the Justice League? Think Snapper Carr.

X-Men Phoenix Warsong #1
Marvel
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist:Guy Tyler Kirkham

Description:
The Phoenix is back! But where has it been reborn? Fire and pain await the X-Men. Can they handle what’s to come?!

Editorial:
I've been thrilling to Pak's Incredible Hulk Planet so I'm pleased as punch to have another blockbuster level story of his to follow. The Phoenix is back. And somehow the Stepford Cuckoos and Emma are going to be dealin the fire this time around. Pak is playing up the creepy nature of the Cuckoos connection and just for good measure, leaves us with their two deceased sisters making a comeback. From Scott Summers being fried into crispy bacon in his own bed to total global annihiliation, this story has started off with a bang.

So, what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Give us your feedback.