Wess Reads Comics - Week of 4/26/17

Each week, Wess grabs a few issues from his stack of comics to share his thoughts with you. If you're looking for a place for brief, initial impressions, then this is it! Have questions about books that Wess didn't review? Then leave a comment below!

Action Comics #978

Credit: DC Comics

Written by: Dan Jurgens

Pencils by: Carlo Barberi

Inks by: Matt Santorelli

Colors by: Hi-Fi

Letters by: Rob Leigh

Cover by: Andy Kubert & Brad Anderson

As the fallout from 'Superman Reborn' clears out, we finally have a pretty clear idea of Superman's canon and continuity. This issue takes us through Superman's life and recounts all of the infamous events from Superman's history including his first meeting, engagement, and marriage with Lois Lane, his death at the hands of Doomsday, his various costumes over the years, and the birth of Jonathan. The latter also shows how the events from "Lois & Clark" are now incorporated into Superman's main continuity. 

While the issue doesn't break any new ground, other than the background plot of the assembly of the new Superman Revenge Squad, it does make a pretty clear line in the sand to help any long time Superman fans to sink their teeth into. For all intents and purposes, the Superman you've known and loved your whole life existed and all of the major storylines are intact; whether you liked Superman from the 90's or the New 52 era.

Grade: B+

Credit: DC Comics

Supergirl: Being Super #3

Written by: Mariko Tamaki
Art by: Joëlle Jones
Colors by: Kelly Fitzpatrick
Letters by: Saida Temofonte
Cover by: Jones & Fitzpatrick

One of my favorite things is to pick up a comic, knowing almost nothing about it, and really enjoying it. There have been a few standouts from recent years that have really stood out: Wytches, Saga, & Superior are a few. When I picked up the first issue of Being Super it was on a whim. I needed another book to let me spend a little more to get a discount at my LCS (Local Comic Shop) or something like that. I immediately couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. Now three issues in, we already have a classic "coming of age" story that just happens to feature a super hero. It a world sometimes so obsessed with continuity that it seems to handcuff some really creative ideas, it's refreshing to see an opportunity for someone to do a fresh take on an existing character or property.

There's a great dynamic between Kara and those around her: her friends, her parents, and others at school. While we've seen several origin stories for Kryptonians, this one seems to take some of the best elements of properties like "Smallville" and really finds ways to get you to relate or care for the characters. Kara is dealing with the first life lost on her watch, and you really get a sense for how powerless she feels.

I can't wait to see how the last issue sticks the landing and will definitely pick up the collected edition when it drops.

Grade: A

PULL LIST

DC Comics

• Action Comics #978 by Dan Jurgens, Carlo Barberi, Matt Santorelli, Hi-Fi, & Rob Leigh
• Detective Comics #955 by James Tynion IV, Marcio Takara, Marcello Maiolo, & Sal Cipriano
• The Flash #21 by Joshua Williamson, Howard Porter, Hi-Fi, & Steve Wands
• Justice League of America #5 by Steve Orlando, Andy MacDonald, John Rauch, & Clayton Cowles
• Kamandi Challenge #4 by James Tynion IV, Carlos D'Anda, Gabs Eltaeb, & Clem Robins
• Supergirl: Being Super #3 by Mariko Tamaki, Joëlle Jones, Kelly Fitzpatrick, & Saida Tempfonte
• Wonder Woman #21 by Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp, Laura Martin, & Hi-Fi