ACTION COMICS #1051 DC COMICS
First off, I’d like to personally thank DC Comics for NOT starting a new numbering system with an All-New #1 issue. Getting to a issue count over 1000 should be something to celebrate and brag about. And this issue brings us into the new Dawn of DC era! And while I am not a big fan of all the additional Superman Family members, I do appreciate what it appears DC is doing here. Once upon a time, eons ago when I first started reading comics, Actions Comics was a anthology featuring multiple heroes and stories. Zatara, the Vigilante, Congo Bill, Mr. America all appeared in stories along (of course) with Superman. So adding to the page count so to be able to have multiple stories is a welcome idea. And while the secondary stories feature Superman Family members, it still works for me. And also brings us to another retro feature that this new direction takes us. At the end of the 1970’s, many of the secondary Superman title characters that had branched off into their own title where on the chopping block. Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen (why Perry White never got his own title is a damn shame in my opinion!) both had their titles cancelled. But the powers that be at the time did a smart thing. They combined these lost titles into a larger title called (you guessed it!) Superman Family. This Dawn of DC 1051’s issue is the 2023 version of that title. So while Lex and Metallo hatch their scheme, the Kent Family moves back to the farm. Meanwhile, Power Girl helps Nightwing bring Beast Boy back to reality. With the new Golden Age upon us and now this extra paged extravaganza, lets hope DC remembers their real past and continues in the right direction. I give it 9 out of 10 Grahams.
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #2 DC COMICS
While the Bat Family still play a big part of the story, I was glad to see more JSA and less Bat Family. There can be no doubt that the amazing double page spread sets up the original JSA as the focus of the book. Jay Garrick is still his caring fatherly self, Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt are a little less goofy which is a good thing. The Spectre, Sandman, Hourman, the gang’s all here. And writer Geoff Johns seems to be able to blend the plot points being set up in the New Golden Age one-shot and the Stargirl titles effortlessly. And while, I could do without the Justice Society Dark reference, it was nice to see Salem the Witch Girl and the Golden Age Mister Miracle in action. Especially loved the Bride of Grundy mention. Really want to see that character! Catwoman Year 1! Zero Hour! This title has all kinds of tricks up it’s sleeves. And with Jerry Ordway, Scott Kolins, and Mikel Janin on art detail, you can’t lose. This gets a 9 out 10 Grahams.
FEARLESS DAWN SWIMSUIT EDITION #1 ASYLUM PRESS
THEY’RE BAAAAACK! Dawn, Lil, Helga, Dr. Skull! The whole gang in pinup after pinup of everybody’s favorite bad girl and her pals. Steve Mannion floods these pages with his usual warped and twisted (while still cute and sexy) visions of the perfect female. With the gang at Asylum Press as well as pals Dan Berger and Frank Forte helping out, we get another one-shot that reminds fans to always keep their eyes peeled for the next Fearless Dawn book. Because whether we’re getting flipped off by a bikini wearing beauty or by a leather clad someone wearing a giant dinosaur/rhino skull, this quirky bit of comicdom has been entertaining us for over a decade! And rumor has it we might get another new mini-series in April! Page after page of old school pinup goodness with a very peculiar angel. 10 out of 10 Grahams.
SHAM COMICS PACEMAKER #1 SHAM COMICS
It’s like reading a classic Charlton Comic (Pre-DC Ownership) if it was being read by the folks over at Mystery Science Theatre! Even the ads aren’t safe from Tim Fuller’s smart aleck word bubbles. But it’s the fact that these are the original art pages that make this one-shot unique. And it is definitely the back cover ad that sums up life in the world of comics today. If only we had thought like that when we were younger. An enjoyable book NOT to take seriously. 7 out of 10 Grahams.
