Category Superman

A Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #11 Micro-Review – Leave ‘Em Wanting More

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**This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batman:Superman World's Finest 11, cover, January 2023, Dan MoraTITLE: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #11
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS: Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist), Steve Wands (Letterer)
RELEASED: January 17, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Considering the cliffhanger we got last issue, this “Strange Visitor” storyline ends pretty abruptly here. It seemed like there might have been a lot more meat on the bone. Better to leave them wanting more, I suppose?

This issue borrows an idea from Superman II that I don’t know if we’ve ever seen in the comics. Certainly not in recent history…

Mora and Bonvillain get to work on some fairly obscure villains in this issue. Zebra-Man? Acid Master? Bag O’ Bones? Sure! Why not?

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Epic Covers: Seinfeld, Superman, and Batman

Rob Siebert 1 Comment

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

For Christmas this year, Mrs. Primary Ignition gifted me a copy of The Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Book, which of course is based on the web series starring Jerry Seinfeld. To my great surprise, one of the first images seen in the book is this variant cover to March’s Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1.

Illustrated by Dan Mora, the cover shows us Seinfeld driving the classic 1966 Batmobile, with Superman in the passenger seat and Batman along for the ride as well. I’m a fan of everybody on this cover. So to see it come to fruition was a treat. I also love that Mora’s art is exposed to a whole new audience via the Comedians book. Everybody wins, including/especially the fans.

Batman:Superman World's Finest 1, Jerry Seinfeld, variant cover, 2022, Dan Mora

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

An Action Comics #1050 Micro-Review – Back to Normal

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***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Action Comics 1050, cover, December 2022, Steve BeachTITLE: Action Comics #1050
AUTHORS: Philip Kennedy Johnson, Tom Taylor, Joshua Williamson
ARTISTS: Mike Perkins, Clayton Henry, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Steve Beach.
RELEASED: December 27, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue undoes what might have been the biggest longterm effect of Brian Michael Bendis’ work with Superman’s world. It’s not necessarily surprising, as we pretty much knew it wasn’t going to last anyway. In effect, things are back to normal for Superman and Clark Kent.

Perry White has a minor stroke/heart episode in this issue. It makes you wonder, if Perry is so old and frail, how is he able to run The Daily Planet? As someone who’s worked as a journalist, if you think that’s not a stressful job, think again.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Alex Ross Spotlight: The Alex Ross Theory of Superman

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Alex Ross SupermanBy Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

When you hear or read Alex Ross talk about Superman, his passion for the character quickly becomes evident. So it should come as no surprise that he dropped this little nugget of wisdom that I’ve referred to as the “Alex Ross Theory of Superman.” Granted, this sentiment didn’t originate with Ross. But he verbalized it as well as anyone has…

“Superman should never reflect any fashionable trend or other affectation of a specific era – hairstyle, speech patterns, etc. He is beyond that. He is out of time.”

Essentially, what he’s saying is don’t tamper with what’s already perfect.

Ross dropped that knowledge almost 20 years ago in Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross. But it’s every bit as true today as it was then.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #10 Micro-Review – Dropping the Bombshell

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

batmansuperman_worlds_finest_10_cover_december_2022_dan_moraTITLE: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #10
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS: Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist) Steve Wands (Letterer)

RELEASED: December 20, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

There’s a big bombshell dropped at the end of this issue. I won’t spoil it, but it raises more than one intriguing question…

Waid is playing some of the same notes in this story that he did back in Irredeemable. It’s clear that, like the Plutonian, David/Boy Thunder is not emotionally equipped to be a superhero.

I didn’t expect the classic Teen Titans to be a regular fixture in this story. But I ain’t complainin’. It’s consistently a treat to see Mora draw them.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Superman: Son of Kal-El #18 Micro-Review – Superman vs. Twitter?

Rob Siebert 1 Comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

TITLE: Superman: Son of Kal-El #18
AUTHOR: Tom Taylor
ARTISTS: Cian Tormey, Ruairi Coleman, Scott Hanna (Co-Inker), Romulo Fajardo Jr. (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Travis Moore & Tamra Bonvillain.

RELEASED: December 13, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

We learn in this issue that Red Sin, Jon Kent’s new enemy, has been posting hateful stuff about him on social media. Does that mean we’ve got Superman fighting a Twitter troll? Hey, seems like a perfectly despicable villain to me. Especially after all the fake outrage that was generated on social media after the revelation that Jon was bi.

The Justice League are rebuilding Jonathan and Martha Kent’s house when we open the issue. Martha wonders if the Justice League should be prioritizing them, and Wonder Woman replies that they are Justice League. I love that.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Superman: Kal-El Returns Special #1 Micro-Review – The Bro Hug

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***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Superman KAl-El Returns Special 1, cover, 2022, Dan MoraTITLE: Superman: Kal-El Returns Special #1
AUTHORS: Mark Waid, Sina Grace, Marv Wolfman, Alex Segura
ARTISTS: Various. Cover by Dan Mora.

RELEASED: November 29, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue contains four short stories, most of which show us the immediate reactions certain characters have to Superman being back. The best of which, for my money, shows what may be Mark Waid’s best work on Superman and Batman since he’s been back with DC. He writes the two as close friends and confidants, which is a sensible approach given how long they’ve known each other.

Plus, they give each other a bro hug in the opening scene. A Superman/Batman bro hug? I never thought I’d see the day…

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 Micro-Review –

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special 1, cover, November 2022, Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding, Brad AndersonTITLE: The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1
AUTHORS: Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Roger Stern, Louise Simonson
ARTISTS: Various. Cover by Jurgens, Brett Breeding, & Brad Anderson

RELEASED: November 8, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

For those of us who were around back when Superman “died” in the early ’90s, this is a nice little supplement featuring many of the same creators who worked on the classic story.

The main feature sees a young Jon Kent learn about the big fight with Doomsday as his father fights an opponent named Doombreaker that’s almost identical. It’s a great performance on both the writing and art side by Dan Jurgens.

Meanwhile Steel gets a back-up story written by his creators Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove. The affection they have for him is evident on the page.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

An Action Comics #1049 Micro-Review – Bring On Bibbo!

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Action Comics 1049, cover, 2022, Steve BeachTITLE: Action Comics #1049
AUTHOR: Philip Kennedy Johnson
ARTISTS: Mike Perkins, David Lapham, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Trish Mulvihill (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Steve Beach.

RELEASED: November 22, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

You know who I’m starting to develop an affection for? Bibbo Bibbowski, Superman’s dopey civilian buddy. He’s had a small role these past issues, and he’s kinda grown on me. He’s not consistently around in the comics, so I hope he’s here for awhile.

We have a cover that doesn’t reflect anything that happens in the issue. It’s another gorgeous one by Steve Beach. Just not really relevant.

David Lapham and Trish Mulvihill once again steal the show in the Supergirl back-up.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #9 Micro-Review – Fleetfeet?

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batman Superman World's Finest 9, cover, 2022, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, JokerTITLE: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #9
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS: Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist), Steve Wands (Letterer)

RELEASED: November 15, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

The big attraction for this issue is seeing Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain do the Joker. They don’t disappoint. Mora even nails the crazed look in the character’s eyes (note the cover).

During this issue, someone calls Kid Flash “Fleetfeet.” I know it’s a joke. But was that an early version of the character’s name? Or maybe a nickname from back in the day? It sounds like a name they’d have come up with back in the ’50s…

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.