This week's comic book expectations

While Marvel again floods the shelves with "Dark Reign" material, DC pulls out some heavy-hitters this week. Check it all out at THIS LINK.

And, as is often the case when DC has a big week, we have plenty of Geoff Johns' work to choose from, including a landmark book, Justice Society of America #26, Johns' final issue with the team after writing (or co-writing) the JSA for a decade. I've actually been re-reading Johns' entire run with the team over the last few days, from "The Return of Hawkman" to "Black Reign" to "Thy Kingdom Come." In the next couple of days I will have a post dedicated to dissecting the lengthy run and reliving some of the more memorable moments. But for now, all you really need to know is if you've enjoyed any part of Johns' time with the team, you may want to check out this one-and-done story titled (and I love the title), "Black Adam Ruined My Birthday."

Don't let the title fool you, though, this issue seems like it will be all about retrospection (is that a word?) and relationships. Simply, this issue is a birthday party for the character nearest and dearest to Johns' heart, Stargirl, which means it will double as Johns' and artist Dale Eaglesham's personal going away party. Which means lots of memories, lots of jokes, lots of heart, and yes, lots of sappy dialogue. But, given the family-based makeup of this team, isn't it only a fitting farewell to the decade-long era?

Believe it or not, though, that JSA title may end up being only the third-best of Johns' books this week. We also will see the long-awaited (and awaited and awaited) Legion of Three Worlds #4. Remember when this mini began as a "Final Crisis" tie-in?!? Regardless of the wait, this is still one book all DC fans should pick up. Yes, Superboy Prime is still running rampant in the 31st century. Yes, Bart Allen has been resurrected to spook the brat. Yes, the three legions are together, making for some great dialogue. But the biggest reason for picking this book up could be the return of one CONNER KENT. It hasn't been expressly stated by any means, but all the clues point toward Con-El making an appearance here.

And then, we also have the only top-flight monthly issue of the week, Green Lantern #40, continuing the "Agent Orange" storyline. I, for one, cannot wait to learn more about the Orange Lanterns ... or is it Lantern, singular? So far there is no evidence that Agent Orange himself is not the be-all and end-all wielder of the Orange Light. What we do know is an Orange Lantern can possess anybody they've killed, turning them into Orange Lanterns. So are all the other Orange Lanterns simply powerful ghosts? And, if so, does that mean Hal Jordan will have to die in order to wield that Orange Light and fulfill that White Lantern prophecy? We'll see...

By the way, I am loving the new Dos Equis "Most Interesting Man in the World" commercials. One just came on. "He once had an awkward moment, just to see how it feels."

Where was I? Oh yeah, DC's big week. The week rounds out with Wonder Woman #31, Superman #687, Battle for the Cowl: The Underground, and Trinity #48, which is still going full speed despite only a handful of issues left.

As I said earlier, Marvel is mostly still putting its eggs into the "Dark Reign" basket, led this week by Dark Reign: The Cabal #1, a set of five quick stories looking at each individual member of Norman Osbourne's little troop, Namor, Doctor Doom, Emma Frost, The Hood and Loki. It will be interesting to see if Marvel's team of writers handle these characters properly, especially since each of their individual involvements have been so suspect. Doesn't Doctor Doom seem to arrogant to bother with all this? Shouldn't Loki not be so concerned with the human race? And since when does Namor care SO MUCH about the surface world? This issue can potentially go a long way in silencing us skeptical readers. Or, it can just be a waste of time one-shot tie-in.

Speaking of "The Cabal" (I hate that word almost as much as "Illuminati"), they're also scheduled to make an appearance in Dark Avengers #4, which promises to have both additions and subtractions to its team. Again, in order for this event in general to work for me, I really need to believe in the reasons why this "Cabal" is together. So, again, I am hoping when the group confronts Osbourne about their concerns here, it is a little more convincing than we've seen in the past.

Other "Dark Reign" titles this week include Ms. Marvel #38, Thunderbolts #131 and War Machine #5.

I'm off to watch basketball and read the last of Johns' JSA books so that I can get on that retrospective post. You keep doin' what'chu doin.'