Review: Action Comics #881

Last issue was part of the Codename: Patriot story that crossed over all of the Superman titles in August.  The opening chapters of C:P was very promising.  And I thought Action Comics in particular benefitted from all of the characters coming together to face a common threat. 

But then things went off the rails.  The Supergirl chapter of the story just stalled out.  And the entire affair crapped out completely in Superman.  Codename Patriot started off well, but ended us a thudding disappointment.

This issue of Action is the first book to really deal with the fall-out of Codename: Patriot head-on.  (WoNK was wise enough to largely steer clear of it.)  Unfortunately, that means the first half of this issue suffers from a lot of the same weaknesses as Codename: Patriot.

By the end of last month’s crossover, it was hard to remember who was fighting who and why.  The first half of this issue sees the characters just as confused as the readers about everyone’s true identity.  Accusations and punches are thrown about freely before anyone starts to catch on that things may not be what they seem.

The second half of the book narrows the focus to the characters who are participating in the “Search for Reactron” storyline.  Once this issue pulls away from the mess of Codename: Patriot, things improve mightily.

It makes sense that Supergirl and Flamebird would have some issues to resolve.  Kara’s father, Zor-el, was a surrogate father to Thara in Kandor.  Both Kara and Thara hold her responsible for his murder at the hands of Reactron.  When Kara finally voices her resentment, an emotional fight ensues.

But there is also conflict between Thara and Lor Lor “>Zod.  During a quiet moment, Supergirl explains that Flamebird and Nightwing are Kryptonian myths.  For the first time, Lor starts to doubt Thara.

After being stung by Codename: Patriot, I’m a little gun shy about the Hunt for Reactron.  However, this issue did a pretty good job of putting the former mess in the rear view mirror and focusing on some genuine conflict.  The second half of the book is all about the characters’ emotions and it gets past all the shape shifting shenanigans that marred Codename: Patriot.

Then we come to the back-up feature.  Chapter three still doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.  Honestly, I’m starting to get frustrated with Rucka and Robinson intentionally leaving the reader in the dark this long.  Yes, we’re getting closer to some kind of explanation.  But it’s hard to imagine the pay-off being worth the slow build-up at this point.

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Review: Supergirl #44

Sooner or later, it was bound to happen.  A mediocre issue.  The Gates/Igle run of Supergirl has been consistently good and the Codename: Patriot crossover has been exceeding my expectations.  So it probably shouldn’t be a big surprise that this issue was a bit of a let-down.

Regular Supergirl readers who haven’t been keeping up with Codename: Patriot might feel a little left out.  The first seven pages of the issue detail Ral-Dar’s escape from General Lane’s holding cell.  All the information that is needed for comprehension is provided, but I’m not sure these readers are likely to care if they haven’t been following the other Superman books.

If you have been following Codename: Patriot, the issue hits a lot of the same story beats as last week’s superior Action Comics.  After five pages recapping who all the characters were and how they related to each other, we get a fight scene in which the characters are being manipulated by Mirabai.  All of this was better done in Action where it also had the benefit of being done first.

Due to the nature of cross-over stories, the issue just kind of ends without anything being resolved.  The last few pages have characters commenting that “something big” is about to happen, but it doesn’t happen in this issue.  And we’re not given any clues as to what it might be.  Sure, there’s a cliffhanger on the last page.  But it’s nothing you can really sink your teeth into.

While Action Comics got a jolt out of the Codename: Patriot crossover, it seems to have interrupted the flow of Supergirl.  And as part of the larger crossover, this issue just felt like recaps and filler material.  Hopefully, the next issues of Supergirl and of the Codename: Patriot story will be a return to form.

Supergirl 43

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Review: Action Comics #880

This issue is the second chapter of the Codename: Patriot story that kicked off in Worlds of New Krypton #6.  It picks up where that issue left off.  But don’t worry if you missed part 1.  Everything you need to know is included in this issue.

Since the “New Krypton” story started, all of the Superman titles have been telling more or less their own stories with very little overlap.  That all changes with Codename: Patriot.  All of the players from all of the different titles come together for this one.  While I’ve enjoyed each of the individual Superman titles, there’s a real thrill seeing them all come together for this story.

Action Comics in particular benefits from this crossover.  For whatever reason, it has been the least compelling of the New Krypton books.  This issue, things finally start to heat up.

The premise is this: On New Krypton, a Kryptonian assassin made what appears to be a successful attempt on General Zod’s life.  After which, he fled to earth with Superman and Supergirl in pursuit.  With tensions between earth and New Krypton at an all-time high, the arrival of three Kryptonians sets the military in motion.

Of course all is not what it seems.  General Lane has been working behind the scenes.  The extent of his planning is hinted at here.  It’s not exactly surprising, but it is interesting.  I look forward to seeing how his game plays out.

The first half of the book mostly deals with the multiple plot threads of the crossover coming together.  In the second half of the book, we catch up with Nightwing and Flamebird as they continue their search for Nadira and Az-rel.  In the midst of all the action, we finally get an emotional pay-off to the romantic tension that has been building between the book’s two leads.

The issue ends with the long-awaited confrontation between Nightwing and Flamebird and Nadira and Az-rel.  But as has been the case with everything in this storyline so far, all is not what it seems.  The issue ends with a twist that I found genuinely surprising.

Two issues in, Codename: Patriot is the rare cross-over that works.  If you’ve been reading any or all of the Superman books, this is where it all comes together.  And it promises to be one hell of a ride.

The issue also includes a Captain Atom back-up feature.  The first installment of this back-up was intentionally confusing.  This installment offers a little more coherence, but it’s still a head-scratcher by design.  As such, it’s really hard to weigh in until more is revealed.  Although I will say I enjoyed the art by Cafu.  Hopefully I can form more of an opinion after the next installment.

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