Friday, June 21, 2024

On The Shelf: My Adventures With Superman moves to comics, plus other stuff

 Last month, My Adventures With Superman began its 2nd season on [adult swim](episodes are available On Demand and on the network's website). A week later, DC launched a miniseries that bridges the gap between seasons 1 & 2.


Image courtesy DC Comics.

Writer Josie Campbell picks up the plot threads from the end of the 1st season, and, well, it's no surprise that Amanda Waller, who is now DC's go-to big bad, has the same role here. I'm sorry, but that is bordering on overkill and over-exposure at this point. As viewers know, Superman has already revealed his secret ID to Lois Lane & Jimmy Olsen, and, yes, Lois & Superman are a couple. The creative team decided to get that out of the way early.

The miniseries runs about six issues, which means season 2 will be in the books by the time the final issue comes out. DC would be well served to make this an ongoing series, especially if the sales match viewer interest.

Rating: A-.

65 years ago, DC introduced readers to Sgt. Rock in Our Army at War issue 81. Rock appeared in 2 stories in that issue. Actually, it's a bit of deception, as this was actually a prototype, identified as Sgt. Rocky, but, two issues later, Sgt. Frank Rock was given a full introduction. The 1st prototype had appeared in the January 1959 issue of GI Combat (released in October 1958). 

"The Rock of Easy Co.", written by Robert Kanigher, and illustrated by Joe Kubert, is your standard World War II tale of the era, and a portent of things to come. Rock would subsequently narrate future stories. DC would change the title of Our Arny at War to Sgt. Rock in 1977, and the series would continue for another 11 years.

Rating: A.

Military Comics introduced readers to Blackhawk in its opening issue in 1942. Because of the series' format, covering both the Army & the Navy in a larger than normal comic, the facsimile issue released by DC is more expensive than the usual facsimile reprints. We can live with that. There are other features, such as Loops & Banks, that have been lost to the mists of time, and likely won't be revived. DC, remember, acquired Quality a number of years ago, and titles like Blackhawlk, Plastic Man, & the aforementioned GI Combat, were part of the haul. The art is typical of the Golden Age, and would improve over time.

DC has revived Blackhawk a few times over the years, with varying degrees of success.

Rating: B.

Actor-comedian Josh Gad tried his hand at comics, collaborating with the Berkowitz Brothers to create the fantasy adventure, The Writer, for Dark Horse. The titular hero, Stan Siegel, is a comics writer who comes across some ancient artifacts, and trouble. Trade paperback will be out in March 2025. 

Rating: B.

Archie Comics is investing heavily in Sabrina's new arch nemesis, Amber Lightstone, who stars in the one-off, The Wicked Trinity, which will set up an event running in August & September. The artwork aspires to capture the feel of the abruptly halted Chilling Adventures of Sabrina book, which Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa abandoned to pursue his Hollywood career. That's fine, but it doesn't really fit. Amber is a jealous witch who was born around the same time as our beloved Sabrina, but Archie would be better off if they gave Sabrina a new series to build the rivalry, but the company's issues the last few years seem to preclude committing to monthly titles again.

Rating: B-.

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