Buy Pile Report

It was a very average week, sadly. And I had such high hopes.

First off, DC. I know you're hurting in the sales category. I know you needed another big seller, especially in the month that "Secret Invasion" officially began. BUT that's no reason to give us all a fairly average Titans reunion book, after we've been anticipating it for so long.

Yes, Titans #1 is nothing to write home about. It was alright, but definitely by the book -- each main hero is shown enjoying everyday life, and each main hero is shown having that everyday life interrupted by a vicious and calculated attack on their lives. And, if you were holding out hope that there would at least be some suspense to figuring out who is behind the attacks, you're lost there too. Raven has already told us all that Trigon is the reason for their troubles (VERY Original, guys!).

I'm hoping Judd Winick's characterizations can somehow navigate this book into the reunion title we've been waiting for, but after the lack luster first issue, I'm not holding my breath.

While we're on the topic of fairly average, though, I'm sorry to say that Justice Society #14 and Booster Gold #8 were both just that (two of my favorite books, no less!).

JSA features the showdown we've been waiting for -- Gog vs. the WHOLE JSA -- but Gog's beefed up power level completely kills all the momentum the story had right up until the fight. Gog takes down nearly the entire JSA, including the Earth 22 Superman that was shown to be far stronger than New Earth's in the last issue, with only a couple of combatants left ready for next issue's comeback. (Alan Scott's costume does bring a smile to my face at the end of this issue, though).

And, as I said, it's too bad the fight was so poorly orchestrated, because the book really cooked for the first 12 pages or so, featuring the team all together for really the first time, and showing just how difficult this large ensemble is for them to manage. Oh well, I have faith Geoff Johns will turn it around next issue.

In Booster Gold, however, I don't even think it would be fair to call this one average. It was a fine issue and all, with Blue, Gold, and the "Freedom Fighters" attacking Maxwell Lord's Castle... but the story runs in one big circle. At the end of issue #7, Booster and Beetle were down and out and met up with Hawkman & Green Arrow's team. At the end of this one, Booster and Beetle are down and out and plan to meet up with.... some other team... and frankly, it's that other team that has me counting the days until issue #9. But for now, this issue was utterly pointless.

Before we get off DC, though... Countdown to Final Crisis #3 was just one great big pile of pig crap. That's all I have to say about that. Oh, and the fact that next issue Darkseid will be squaring off against Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen. Geh.

I warned you all Marvel had a light week, and Mark Millar's horrible script in Fantastic Four #556 made the week even tougher to get through. Let me get this straight, there, Marky... Not only was a Robot created that perceives all of humanity as a threat for violence (a blatant DC Manhunters ripoff), but this singular robot is also powerful enough to take down roughly ALL of the Marvel Universe's heroes? Spider-man, Storm, Wolverine, Ms. Marvel, Johnny, Sue, and Thing, just to name a few of the dozens shown getting their asses kicked?

A Robot? Really? That's you're big bad grand idea for this book that got you all excited? A Robot that's just stronger than any other Robot known to man? Why is there even a need for Superheroes if Robots can be made that strong? Why don't we just have a Robot stationed in each of the 50 states instead of Superhero teams?

Oh, but don't worry, Reed Richards was shown flying in on his motorcyle at the end of this book, so of course he's going to save the day.

Just like so many of Millar's other works, he pulled me in with a great first issue, his second issue was alright, and by the third issue you're mad at yourself for ever getting pulled in by one of his grand ideas.