Buy Pile Report

Another up and down week as far as what I picked up, with the highest ups coming from unexpected places...

For any of you who leaped off of the Teen Titans bandwagon after that horrendous "Titans East" arc and the departure of Geoff Johns, y'all best come on back. Teen Titans #47 was fantastic. Just one issue ago, it seemed every idea had run dry and the idea man Johns was nowhere to be seen -- but after reading this latest issue, Adam Beechen's first flying solo, there are suddenly several different live story arcs just waiting to be explored. Honestly, if this issue is any indication, the Titans should not be abandoned.

Obviously spun out of Duela Dent's death in "Countdown," but thankfully, Duela's funeral was not the central focus (and it was actually shown in Countdown this week, but more on that later). Instead, we watch half the extended family of Titans take off on an investigation into her death, leading to a Nightwing/Robin/Jason Todd confrontation and a close encounter with what looks to be the Monitors. If that isn't enough, the other half of the team retreats to San Fran, where they try and help Jericho stay in control of Match's body -- which leads to intriguing conversations between Gar and Raven. Stretching over both these halves of stories, though, is the ongoing saga of Cassie dealing with Connor's death -- including a great moment between her and Donna Troy.

When I tell you this issue is packed with loose story arcs just waiting to be explored, I'm not just whistling Dixie! (And by my use of that phrase you can probably tell I've been reading a lot of 1980's Justice League lately).

I apologize for taking so long to get to the second comic on this list, but I was really just floored by the Titans' turnaround. Now then, Amazons Attack #2 was another pleasant surprise. Lots of action packed into a small amount of space, and, thankfully, we do see a big difference between this second issue of the series and the second Wonder Woman tie in from last week (Amazons Attack #1 and Wonder Woman #8 were virtually the same. As I predicted last week, it seems that the Wonder Woman series will deal with the specific impact on Diana, while the Amazons series will be all about the main war.

And wow is this a brutal war. The Amazons are playing for keeps, and this issue does a great job of showing A) how ruthless they're attacking and B) how much they are winning by right now. I'm once again optimistic this can be an enjoyable series, especially since Wonder Girl and Supergirl are joining the fray next month.

Countdown #48 was a mixed bag. For as many good things in this issue (more intriguing use of powers from Mr. Olsen, Jason Todd seeking out Donna Troy at Duela's funeral), it only presented more questions. In the long run, sure, it will likely pay off. Right now it just feels like we're being strung along too deliberately, especially with Mary Marvel's talk with Black Adam (Wasn't he attacking her violently an issue ago? Shouldn't something have happened instead of just talk?)

One major plus, though, Countdown was the only place Duela Dent's actual funeral was shown, proving that the Karate Kid/Batman fight waste of space a few issues ago likely won't be a common occurrence. I kind of like how twice this week (in Titans and Amazons) there were little boxes pointing toward an event being in Countdown. It reminds me a lot of how things were covered back in the 1980's crossover tie-ins (as I said, reading a lot from that time period lately).

Those are the only three titles that made a MAJOR impact on me...

You all know I love the Justice Society, but #6 was missing something for me. It just had a rushed and confused feel to it. Still, as this was the fourth part of the five-part "Lightning Saga" (Part five is Justice League #10), its still a good issue to pick up as there is plenty of important plot in this one.

X-23: Target X #6 wrapped up this second X-23 starring mini-series, and I've loved both, but this was a bit of a letdown issue. While I enjoyed watching her kick Wolverine's ass, I was just a little removed from this whole issue because it kind of contradicts the character's original introduction to the X-Men. I don't mind this new introduction, frankly I even think that it is a better way for her to join the team -- but the fact that it is such a blatant contradiction did remove me from the story. Still, I strongly recommend any reader picking up this mini-series when it is out in trade paperback form, or her previous one.

So what did everyone think of this week?