Buy Pile Report: Everything but 'DCU #0'

I'm saving DC Universe #0 for it's own separate post, because it was just that HUGE.

But there was plenty of good stuff to read this week. X-Men Legacy #210 continues the young series' strong beginning, with Professor Xavier and Exodus doing battle on the psychic plane. While we again take a trip down memory lane, with Exodus showing Xavier all the many ways he has failed, the story again feels very fresh and exciting -- and I'm not even a fan of Xavier to begin with.

Plus, by the end of this issue, we are left with not only a clear understanding of how Xavier has changed since his "death," but also a clear view of where this story is going. I find myself shocked to say I cannot wait for issue #211, even if it seems Magneto won't be along for the ride like I thought he would be.

Green Lantern #30 was strong as well, as Geoff Johns continued to re-tell Hal Jordan's "Secret Origin." And while most of this is ground well covered in the past, its the small changes Johns has inserted to fit his storytelling needs that keep the story exciting. The prophecy of the "Blackest Night" is heavily alluded to, and we learn that it is actually a large reason why Hal became a GL in the first place.

While I understand why many of you out there would not want to bother buying the origin of a character we all know already, the story has been well-written enough so far to warrant a read.

Also from Johns, I loved Action Comics #864. Although, I apologize, last night I wrote this issue would be a one-shot featuring the Toy Man. That's actually next issue. This issue was an epilogue (and a major teaser) for the "Legion of Superheroes" arc.

The vast majority of the story is simply further fleshing out Clark's involvement with the Legion, this time with us readers hearing the story through the skeptical ears of Batman, while toward the end we learn a major villain is watching and waiting for his chance to strike (presumably during the Legion "Final Crisis" tie-in). We also get a FANTASTIC few pages with Starman (my favorite character in comics today), and he's as entertaining as ever.

The one thing about this issue though -- it's almost becoming funny how blatantly DC's better talent, like Johns and Grant Morrison, are COMPLETELY ignoring "Countdown to Final Crisis." It's almost as if they read the story, said "No, that's dumb, we're doing it our way and people will like it better." And you know what? They are right.

Lastly, I want to thank Robert Kirkman. For, in his final issue on the series, Ultimate X-Men #93, he ended it so bafflingly horrible and so incredulously neatly that I, a completist amidst completists, feel alright dropping this series. This issue was beyond bad. For several years now, this series has just been going farther and farther downhill, and with the conclusion of this "Apocalypse" story (which, unbelievably was also a Phoenix story and a Cable story), I feel content with knowing this series is never going to offer me anything worth reading in the near future.

Thank you for this trash, Robert Kirkman.