By Alex Zalben

The Flash #8

First, a pet peeve: if you were new to a comic shop, what would you think this comic is called? The Reverse Flash Rebirth #8, right? I understand changing title treatments, but there needs to be some sort of clear indicator what the book is (I’m looking at you, Dynamite’s Project Superpowers).

Anyway, on to the review! This is the second issue of Flash in a row that doesn’t really feature the title character, at all, and instead does one of Geoff Johns patented “Rogue Profiles” – basically, a focus on the back-story of a Flash villain, fleshing them out so they aren’t simply evil bastards who want to kill The Flash. Last issue, we got a closer look at Captain Boomerang, jumping between the newly revived character’s past and present. Here, we’re focused on a fellow Rogue Boomerang released from prison last issue: Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash (a.k.a., Professor Zoom).

There’s a rather fascinating narrative technique Johns uses in this issue. Since Zoom can jump through time, we get to see the progression of his personal history (he grew up in the 25th Century) which is tweaked every time his future self changes something. When his parents have a hated second child, Zoom secretly erases the little brother from the timeline. Same with anyone who comes in the way of Thawne’s “destiny,” to become the evil version of Barry Allen, The Flash.

It’s always tricky, as a writer and as a reader, when you’re dealing with time travel: it needs to make internal logic, as well as match up with the logic of time travel as previously explained in your Universe. Unfortunately, we’re dealing with a shared Universe here, so does your future self going forward in time to change your own timeline make sense? Maybe not, but it is fun to read. It also gives us a break from the usual focus of the Rogue Profiles: they have more Daddy issues than the entire cast of LOST combined.

I should also mention Scott Kolins work on this issue, particularly as Johns and Kolins are credited jointly as “storytellers.” Kolins employs the more heavily inked and shaded style he’s been using recently, and I can’t say I’m crazy about it. I’m a huge fan of Kolins artwork, which recalls Jack Kirby, while adding his own unique style. But the heavily painted look he employs here, obscures what’s so great about Kolins work. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always happy to see an artist branch out and experiment. I just wonder if this is an intermediate style which will lead to something greater, or his new look. I hope it’s the former.

There’s also some nice teases here for the upcoming Flashpoint mega-event, and we get a Flash Facts two-page story at the end, which is always a nice bonus. I just hope, next issue, we can get back to Barry Allen. The first six issues of this series were a great reintroduction to the character, and I don’t want to lose that momentum [NOTE: That was my obligatory running pun. You’re welcome.]

Recommendation: Pick It Up – it’s a good one shot story that introduces you to a major Flash villain.

Action Comics #896

While over in Superman, the big blue guy is doing his best not to use his powers, and pissing off fans everywhere, over in his other title, Action Comics, he doesn’t even appear, even once. And I’ll tell you what: this is a great comic book. So good, Mr. Up Up And Away isn’t even missed,once.

Instead, we’re getting a brilliant, dare I say new classic tale of Superman’s arch enemy, Lex Luthor, by Paul Cornell and Pete Woods on art. Luthor has been traveling around the world, tracking down a black form of energy left over from the appropriately named Blackest Night event. Along the way, he’s run into a cadre of villainous guest stars, including Gorilla Grodd running around with a giant spoon, and Mr. Mind, the world’s most terrifying tiny little worm. Oh, and the entire time, he’s teamed up with an armed-to-the-teeth robotic version of Lois Lane. What about this doesn’t sound fun to you, because if it is anything? You’re wrong.

Last issue we left on a cliffhanger, as the immortal Vandal Savage had tracked down Luthor, who was part of an ancient prophecy. It seems Luthor is supposed to give Savage his “happiness,” whatever that means. And being a big ol’ bad guy, Savage is going to take that happiness, if it has to kill Luthor and everyone on his staff. So Luthor calls in, who else, but a team of villains: The Secret Six, which in their number have none other than Scandal Savage, Vandal’s estranged daughter. You might be able to see where this is going.

Unlike previous issues, which had Luthor flying to multiple locations, using his wits to battle his rivals, and many, many insane scenes, here we get one long battle scene, to be continued over in the next issue of Secret Six. Because this is a two part story, in particular, it’s a bit of a disappointment that the plot moves forwards in inches, rather than bounds as it has been doing. But you still get Cornell’s excellent handle on Luthor, some of Pete Woods unique, almost shiny looking character designs (which I love, by the way), and some great, very funny dialogue.

In particular, Cornell has a perfect handle on Ragdoll, Gail Simone’s weirdly perverted acrobat villain. Other than him, and Scandal, we don’t get a lot of “screen time” for the other members of the Secret Six, but they still make a good impact – and if this sends more people to read this title, then it’s a job well done.

What sends this issue over the top, though, is Nick Spencer and R.B. Silva’s superlative Jimmy Olsen back-up story. I’ll actually say nothing about it, as this story will be collected (and continue) in a Jimmy Olsen one-shot DC is releasing next year. But suffice to say, Spencer and Silva have captured everything that is fun and wonderful about Jimmy Olsen – maybe even everything that is fun and wonderful about comics – and put it into a tidy eight page package. Come for the main story, but stay for the back-up (which is sadly going away next issue).

Recommendation: Must Buy (For the back-up story alone)

Teen Titans #90

I’ll get this out of the way first: I am a Teen Titans fan. I love the idea of bringing together all the teen sidekicks in the DC Universe, and for the most part, I’ve picked up every issue of the title. That is, until a few years ago, when the quality started to go down. Way down. So low, in fact, that I did the unthinkable, and dropped the title. This is the first issue I’ve picked up in a few years, and while I’m not ready to fall head-over-heels in love with these plucky teenagers who live in a T shaped tower, I’m willing to say… this is okay.

The Titans are trying to track down a teenager named Barney, who has earthquake type powers. And they find him, but not before he and a few evil superpowered teens end up taking over, and burying, their high school. What follows is your typical slugfest, with the heroes getting knocked down for the count, before coming back even stronger than before. It’s been done a million times before, but it works fine here. There’s no new ground broken, but it also didn’t make me recoil in horror, like the title has previously.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a couple of mis-steps. Maybe this was explained in previous issues, but I don’t know why the first two pages of the book are devoted to a character we never hear from or see again, in a situation that has no seeming impact on the issue we’re reading. I assume this is long term seeding of a character, but that sort of Claremont-esque plotting belongs in the center of a book, not as the cold open. I’m also not 100% sure that writer J.T. Krul has a handle of Damian Wayne, Batman’s little snot of a son. Being a charming douchebag is a tricky thing to write, and while Grant Morrison can handle it, and Paul Cornell is doing it over in Action Comics, here, it comes off hollow. Maybe you need to be British?

Superboy also comes off a little whiney, and on a whole, the team is a little bit like ciphers right now. We get the sense of their characters, without them actually feeling unique in any way. But the action is good, and ably drawn by Nicola Scott. I may not be 100% sold on this particular issue, but there’s a neat cliffhanger, and it may get me to do the unthinkable: pick up the next issue of Teen Titans.

Recommendation: Pass it, but fingers crossed, this title may return to being good sometime soon.

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