Cully HamnerBesprekingen

The first six issues are disjointed due to Jaimie being in Infinite Crisis, but picks up after that. I love the supporting cast, especially Jaimie and Peacemaker, and will be reading the rest of this run.

Short but interesting story of retired agent specialized in bringing down countries, people, man,woman and children as long as it is in interest of his country.

Paul Moses is a walking legend of undercover "foreign acquisition department" of CIA, happily retired and going through nightmares every day while trying to live with what he did while being active agent. When new director goes through briefing and finds out about Moses he is deeply disturbed - not because of what he did mind you but because people may find out. And worse - they could find out about it on his watch, while he is director.

So he does what every popular politician does - he decides to kill Moses [by sending group of fresh Paul-Moses-like assassins - I mean like actions that Moses did stopped when he retired, get real) and this triggers Moses to go after those who sanctioned his murder.

I especially liked the discussion between Moses and Kane (one of the director assistants) - here we can see that while administrations change main objectives are the same and state-machine is ready to continue (mis)using walking weapons like Moses while it can to finally dispose him in worst possible way when he is no longer needed.

Great story of a man trying to live with himself for his deeds in the past getting pushed to the very edge by [true un-human] career politicians and policy makers who see everyone but themselves as cannon fodder. This is not the first time novel is based on this subject - but do give it a try, you are going to enjoy it.

Art is great, action is non-stop, only it is a short one (70-something pages).

Highly recommended to all fans of action and thrillers.

Normally I'd be beside myself that they would bastardize the film to release this solely for a cash grab, but Cully Hammer pulled this one out of his ass without Warren Ellis, who chose not to participate in these. Not too shabby.

RED: Better RED Than Dead is a prequel that answers the questions the film presented, which is really how Paul (now Frank in this to go with the film) Moses, Victoria, Joe, and Marvin became the REDs essentially.

Moses is ready to retire. He's getting a conscious about the job and is ready to take the brass ring and the watch package. His superiors decide he need to go guard the black guy running for POTUS. The mission is a clusterfuck and shows the treachery of the CIA getting what they want when they want out of him, which eventually leads to his retirement. There is also another story with him where he's training another agent who winds up being questionable in their allegiances, and in true Moses fashion, he gets to the bottom of it.

Victoria's story ties into Ivan's - this is the backstory of their 50 year love affair, which if you watched the movie you know she shot him three times in the chest when they were young. This tale explains the particulars of that and why it made him love her more while she ascended to being one of the best wetwork killers in the business.

Joe, the black guy, is sent to extract Russians, as if that's believable back in the 60s/70s. He also gets into a kerfluffle and gets the tables turned on him. He's good with a gun and he's quick on his feet so of course he gets out in tact, but of all the back stories this one they could have left on the cutting room floor.

Marvin's story answers all the questions about his paranoia of being slipped LSD while working for the CIA as a Man Friday safe cracker, robber, thief.

Essentially, this reads as a companion for the film, and when it was released it was to tie fans of the movie over until RED 2 came out, which, as we all know, was a bitter disappointment compared to the first film. A short, quick, comic read that you can breeze through with relative enjoyment.

If you've only seen the film adaptation you MUST read RED by Warren Ellis. This isn't the Hollywood brew ha-ha campaign of a love story of Frank Moses in the middle of killers tailing killers. This is the real deal here - we get to see true Paul Moses in style doing what he was trained to do best - be retired, extremely deadly. He pretty much gets activated back after his former employer want him dead since of course he knows too much and could blow the lid of a lot of dirty dealings. That's it, that's all - this is a short read and a one shot.

So for fans of the film, the film took a lot of liberties in expanding Paul Moses' universe. As a result there are a few other RED comic book prequels floating out there about Victoria and the gang, but they are more like cash cows to capitalize on the success of the 1st film. This also has squat to do with RED 2, which bombed like a flaming pile of turd on a doorstep with a firecracker lit in the middle.

Warren Ellis delivers. That's all you need to know to read it.

So, this steaming pile is supposedly "the best of Warren Ellis"...

To which I vociferously disagree. This is utter crap.

There's two stories here, the first is a four issue collection that takes place mostly over the span of a few hours. While it's readable, and the art is quite good, it's shockingly unbelievable, and therefore completely unenjoyable. I guess Ellis was trying to make some point that SA is bad...as though no one knew that before now.

The second, two issue story is...just...so bad. On all levels. A nonsensical story that has elements tossed in simply for shock or titillation value, and an even more ridiculous ending than the first one. And don't even get me started on Billy Tan's artwork. He draws women like Barbie dolls. Well-endowed sticks.

Just awful.

Don't waste your time on this. Go read the multitude of Ellis stuff that is far, far better than this.

5,0
Crítica | Tom Strong – Vol.1: A Origem
http://www.planocritico.com/critica-tom-strong-vol-1-a-origem/
.
TOM STRONG: QUADRINHOS
http://www.planocritico.com/tag/tom-strong-quadrinhos/
.
TOM STRONG
http://www.planocritico.com/tag/tom-strong/

Man, the whole Syria factor kinda ruined it for me. Bad timing I guess.

• [Untitled - "My palms sweat."] / John Ridley, writer; Clayton Henry, artist
~ 2 stars ~
In an epilogue to World's Finest #192-193 from 1970, Clark Kent is anxious when he has to interview a man who tortured him years earlier when he was in a powerless state as Superman. A realistic downer.

• The Measure of Hope / Brandon Easton, writer; Steve Lieber, artist
~ 2 stars ~
A dead mom? More depressing mopiness about the limits of Superman's powers.

• The Boy Who Saved Superman / Wes Craig, story & art
~ 3 stars ~
So powerlessness is definitely a theme here. When Superman is down and out, it's up to a young immigrant to get him back into the fray. The right kind of inspiring.

• Human Colors / Dan Watters, script; Dani, art
~ 2 stars ~
A silly, if well-intentioned parable about the importance of color to humanity.

• The School of Hard Knock-Knock Jokes / Marguerite Bennett, writer; Jill Thompson, artist
~ 2 stars ~
Kindergartener Clark Kent stars in a heavy-handed afterschool special about shunning and friendship.

• Own / Steven T. Seagle, writer; Duncan Rouleau, art
~ 2 stars ~
Martha Kent rips her coffee clique when they make a slight about adoption.

• Into the Ghost Zone / Chuck Brown, writer; Denys Cowan, pencils; John Stanisci, inks
~ 2 stars ~
I'm not familiar with the Earth-2 Superman, Val-Zod, and this silly action piece does little to properly introduce him.

• Patience / Dan Panosian, story & art
~ 2 stars ~
Lex Luthor futilely attacks Superman with some new red kryptonite, including a boxing match. I grew up with Muhammad Ali clobbering Supes in glorious, full-color, treasury-sized Neal Adams art, and, friend, that is not a comparison you want to invite.

• My Best Friend, Superman / Stephanie Phillips, script; Marley Zarcone, art
~ 2 stars ~
Another obvious and heavy-handed afterschool special set on a playground. Or maybe it would be more at home on the corny old Superfriends TV show.

• S Is for Cyborg / Jason Howard, art & story
~ 2 stars ~
Cyborg Superman Hank Henshaw needs to be forgotten forever by everyone. Just stop with him already, DC.

• Deadline / Jesse J. Holland, writer; Laura Braga, artist
~ 3 stars ~
It's a little awkward, but I like this story of Bruce Wayne and Diana musing whether or not a busy and constantly distracted Clark Kent will make his newspaper deadline and their dinner date.

• Kilg%re City / Michel Fiffe, writer & artist
~ 2 stars ~
Nearly unreadable nonsense, but the art is sort of fun.

• A Man Most Saved / Brandon Thomas, writer; Berat Pekmezci, art
~ 2 stars ~
I like the premise of a man who has been saved by Superman repeatedly getting the chance to pay him back, but it felt like it needed a few more pages or a slightly different angle of attack to succeed.

• Something to Hold on to / Nick Spencer, writer; Christian Ward, art
~ 2 stars ~
Superman invites the kids from a group home to his Fortress of Solitude for a field trip. Toyman crashes. I zone out.

• Little Star / James Stokoe, story & art
~ 2 stars ~
I like the concept of an asteroid on a collision course with Earth hiding a special little mystery, but the end left me cold. That's not how Supes would've handled it.

• Namrepus / Mark Waid, writer; Audrey Mok, artist
~ 3 stars ~
A classic throwback sort of tale with Superman deciding to show up in the Fifth Dimension and prank Mr. Mxyzptlk. Funny and clever.

• Prospect of Tomorrow / Francis Manapul, writer & artist
~ 2 stars ~
Superman goes to Mars to play matchmaker with exploration drones? Bizarre.

• A Little Is a Lot / Robert Venditti, writer; Alitha Martinez, artist
~ 3 stars ~
A simple story of everyday heroism being a match for Superman's extraordinary abilities.

• For the Man Who Has Nothing / Michael W. Conrad, writer; Cully Hamner, artist
~ 2 stars ~
Oh, no, another bad Bizarro story.

• #SavedBySuperman / Rich Douek, writer; Joe Quinones, art
~ 2 stars ~
A cool concept wherein social media idiots start throwing themselves off things as part of a viral challenge to have Superman save them. But it goes for a preachy ending instead of something realistic or clever.

• Fetch / Judd Winick, writer; Ibrahim Moustafa, artist
~ 2 stars ~
Krypto arrives on Earth and makes Clark Kent happy. Ho-hum.

• Deescalation / G. Willow Wilson, writer; Valentine De Landro, artist
~ 3 stars ~
A crime is committed, and Clark Kent gets to save the day for once. Nice.

• Your Favorite / Josh Williamson, writer; Chris Sprouse, pencils; Karl Story, inks
~ 2 stars ~
Jimmy Olsen is a screw-up, and a pretty boring one at that.

• Red Sun . . . Blue Dot / Mark Buckingham, story & art
~ 2 stars ~
Baby Supes flies in a rocket while his Kryptonian parents have a morose voice-over dialogue.

• [Untitled - "Matthew 3:17"] / Daniel Warren Johnson, writer & artist
~ 2 stars ~
Jonathan Kent's a good dad. Yup.

• Streaky the Supercat in: Hissy Fit / Sophie Campbell, story & art
~ 3 stars ~
Cats, amiright? Hee.

• Scoop / Matt Wagner, story & art
~ 3 stars ~
Clark Kent's a damn good reporter.

• The Special / Tom King, writer; Paolo Rivera, artist
~ 3 stars ~
Clark Kent's a good man too. Yup.

• Son of Farmers / Darcie Little Badger, writer; Steve Pugh, art
~ 2 stars ~
I was a son of a maize farmer too. Didn't find any of these lessons shaping my life.

• "Ally" / Rex Ogle, writer; Mike Norton, artist
~ 2 stars ~
Nice, but really?

FOR REFERENCE:

Contents:
• Superman Red & Blue #1 Cover / Gary Frank, illustrator
• [Untitled - "My palms sweat."] / John Ridley, writer; Clayton Henry, artist
• The Measure of Hope / Brandon Easton, writer; Steve Lieber, artist
• The Boy Who Saved Superman / Wes Craig, story & art
• Human Colors / Dan Watters, script; Dani, art
• The School of Hard Knock-Knock Jokes / Marguerite Bennett, writer; Jill Thompson, artist
• Superman Red & Blue #2 Cover / Nicola Scott, illustrator
• Own / Steven T. Seagle, writer; Duncan Rouleau, art
• Into the Ghost Zone / Chuck Brown, writer; Denys Cowan, pencils; John Stanisci, inks
• Patience / Dan Panosian, story & art
• My Best Friend, Superman / Stephanie Phillips, script; Marley Zarcone, art
• S Is for Cyborg / Jason Howard, art & story;
• Superman Red & Blue #3 Cover / Paul Pope, illustrator
• Deadline / Jesse J. Holland, writer; Laura Braga, artist
• Kilg%re City / Michel Fiffe, writer & artist
• A Man Most Saved / Brandon Thomas, writer; Berat Pekmezci, art
• Something to Hold on to / Nick Spencer, writer; Christian Ward, art
• Little Star / James Stokoe, story & art
• Superman Red & Blue #4 Cover /John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson, illustrators
• Namrepus / Mark Waid, writer; Audrey Mok, artist
• Prospect of Tomorrow / Francis Manapul, writer & artist
• A Little Is a Lot / Robert Venditti, writer; Alitha Martinez, artist
• For the Man Who Has Nothing / Michael W. Conrad, writer; Cully Hamner, artist
• #SavedBySuperman / Rich Douek, writer; Joe Quinones, art
• Superman Red & Blue #5 Cover / Amanda Conner, illustrator
• Fetch / Judd Winick, writer; Ibrahim Moustafa, artist
• Deescalation / G. Willow Wilson, writer; Valentine De Landro, artist
• Your Favorite / Josh Williamson, writer; Chris Sprouse, pencils; Karl Story, inks
• Red Sun . . . Blue Dot / Mark Buckingham, story & art
• [Untitled - "Matthew 3:17"] / Daniel Warren Johnson, writer & artist
• Superman Red & Blue #6 Cover / Evan "Doc" Shaner, illustrator
• Streaky the Supercat in: Hissy Fit / Sophie Campbell, story & art
• Scoop / Matt Wagner, story & art
• The Special / Tom King, writer; Paolo Rivera, artist
• Son of Farmers / Darcie Little Badger, writer; Steve Pugh, art
• "Ally" / Rex Ogle, writer; Mike Norton, artist
• Variant Cover Gallery / Lee Bermejo (#1), Yoshitaka Amano(#1), David Choe (#2), Brian Bolland (#2), Derrick Chew (#3), John Paul Leon (#3), Alexander Lozano (#4), Walter Simonson (#4), Arthur Adams (#5), Miguel Mercado (#5), Gabriele Dell'Otto (#6), and Kevin Eastman (#6), illustrators
• Cover Process / Gary Frank, Nicola Scott, Amanda Conner, Evan "Doc" Shaner, and John Paul Leon, illustrators

The art was perfect. It reminded me of Powers. The writing was beautifully done, and conveyed both the main character and the supporting cast in a brutal way that left no room for discussion.

I'll be interested to see the movie adaptation. From the IMDb summary of the plot alone I can tell they added quite a bit. Since the plot is such a basic one in regards to revenge I can't help but think they optioned this just so they could have Warren Ellis' name attached to the movie.

Good short story/comic for someone who likes government malfeasance and intrigue. The main character is completely unbelievable, but that's okay. I'll happily suspend my disbelief and buy into the lie that anyone in our government has any scruples right now. There's a bit with him killing peasants that's totally believable.

It's weird, reading around all the references to other stories and characters that I have not read. I love the fact that a Mexican-American superhero exists. I could wish that the writer and illustrators got their Spanish-language bits looked at by a Spanish speaker. I love the fact that this superhero talks to his family and friends.

Access a version of the below that includes illustrations on my blog.

This book is still a blast. Co-writer Keith Giffen departs halfway through the volume, but John Rogers is so good on his own you wouldn't even notice. The book opens up with a semi-flashback issue that clarifies exactly what happened to Jaime leading up to the One Year Later gap for those who didn't read Infinite Crisis (or those of us whose memories are vague). As always, some of the best bits are the jokes, such as Batman telling Jaime that he should say Superman helped him out so he doesn't ruin his dour mystique, or Green Arrow and Black Canary bickering about GA's limitations as a superhero while kind-of helping Jaime.

That's not the only trip into the past here, as soon Jaime and Brenda are on the road with mysterious-gruff-and-lovable mercenary the Peacemaker to find out about the history of the Blue Beetle from Danielle Garrett, granddaughter of the original Blue Beetle. The book is good about dolling out both solutions and mysteries-- everything Jaime learns about the mysterious scarab fused to his spine only leaves him with more to learn.

But soon Jaime's going to outer space and tangling with the New Gods-- more hilarity ensues. Has Metron ever been this funny? You might fret it's disrespectful to Jack Kirby, but it's too good for me to complain.

Jaime may have not chosen to be the Blue Beetle, but by this point in the series, he has chosen to be a hero. I love that his parents have rules for when he can go out and fight crime, and I love that Paco has organized tech support for him, and I love that he loves being a hero. This is a book with a lot of heart, and so far it's moved from success to success and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Blue Beetle: « Previous in sequence | Next in sequence »

Access a version of the below that includes illustrations on my blog.

Many people were mad and/or sad when the Ted Kord Blue Beetle was killed off in "Countdown to Infinite Crisis." But if you ask me, it was all worth it because it gave us the new Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes. Jaime is an ordinary Latino high schooler who discovers the Blue Beetle scarab sometime after the death of Ted Kord (as seen in Infinite Crisis itself). The first couple chapters of this volume alternate between Jaime's life leading up to his involvement in the fight against Brother Eye in Infinite Crisis, and his return to Earth a year later, apparently during the timeframe of 52. Giffen, Rogers, and Hamner do great work here. The opening fight between Jaime and Guy Gardner (Guy is drawn to fight the Blue Beetle, but doesn't know why) is dark and intense, while Jaime's interactions with his friends (Paco, who learned six languages just to insult people in on-line FPSs, and Brenda, whose Dad hits her and wants to go to law school) are fun. Jaime wants to make extra money working at his dad's garage, but his dad wants a better life for him.

Much like Ms. Marvel a decade later, this is the perfect archetypal teen superhero comic: humor, good characters, fun dialogue, a little bit of angst but not too much. Jaime feels like a real person with real friends; take this exchange between a villain and Jaime's friends while Jaime fights a tree monster:
BRENDA: Hey, I know you! You're that guy's always hanging around trying to get in my aunt's pants!
VILLAIN: Why fine, thanks, and you?
PACO: You know this guy?
VILLAIN: Don't be difficult. I'm certain your aunt wouldn't approve of your lollygagging with ruffians--
BRENDA: Did he just say "lollygagging"?
PACO: What's a ruffian?
BRENDA: You don't even know what a "ruffian" is?
PACO: Well I don't go to some froufrou private school!

I laughed a lot throughout this book, which is the mark of (one of) the kind of superhero comic I look for. Giffen & Rogers recreate the classic formulas while also providing new variations: I like that Jaime's armor speaks to him in an alien language, and that there are aspects of it he doesn't entirely understand. I like the sense of a superheroic universe this story builds up, instead of being an ordinary universe with superheroes grafted on: La Dama, the local crimelord, doesn't just kidnap people, but specifically magic users, and the gang Jaime's friend Paco falls into is entirely made up of people with powers-- but they need the powerless Paco because sometimes they need someone who won't attract attention. There's a real sense of a world that's a lot like our own (I like that the story takes place in El Paso and not a fake city, and that almost all the characters are Latino), but not like ours in some logical ways. There's also some good twists on the usual formula-- Paco's gang has some redeeming value, the Blue Beetle comes to an understanding with La Dama, and I especially like that Jaime's family and friends know what he is right from the off. There's no lying to your loved ones stuff here.

This is a winning mixture for a superhero comic, and I hope to see it continue from strength to strength.

Blue Beetle: « Previous in sequence | Next in sequence »

The second in the Jamie Reyes Blue Beetle TPBs. There's a lot going on in this one. He tells his side of the story for what happened during the Brother Eye stuff, and what he remembers about the afterward stuff.

Then he and Brenda, one of his Best Friends (the other's Paco) go and visit the first Blue Beetle's granddaughter and she is snarky, but not too helpful, most of those who are 'helping' him aren't actually much help.

He gets a Virtual Online hideout. And Brenda gets transported to an alien planet where some stuff with the New Gods happens then he finally meets a representative of the aliens whose technology the scarab is.

I think my favorite part of the issues and the title is the family feeling I get about the Main Characters, even with Blue Beetle's 'arch-nemesis' as Paco names her, there's an underlying connection there. I also love the banter between the teens. Very Whedon-esque.

So, there's a new Blue Beetle in town. A scarab hooked itself onto Jamie Reyes before the Infinite Crisis and in the TPB it's one year later and now he's dealing with how to be a superhero, oh, and he has voices in his head from the scarab too.

He also has to deal with the two best friends who have changed in his absence and his family as well, which has really changed.

I liked that it didn't take place in the usual cities and places that these stories usually do (Metropolis, Coast City, Star City, Gotham City, etc.). I also really liked the characters. They were all really unique as well as quite complicated. The banter between the blue suit and Jamie was also hilarious and it's been awhile since I read a comic that had a real sounding reaction from a teen two gets super powers.

The art was cool too, pretty clean, very colorful, and not lost in shadows, something that generally drives me crazy.

Very good illustrations fun stroy

Another Question TPB. This time she's helping people through a website, www.ask-the-question.net (haven't tried it in a real browser). This time she stumbles onto a ring of human traffickers, and then an even bigger smuggler's ring.

Somewhere along the line she also picks up Helena, the Huntress, as a partner against the Organized Crime bosses behind the entire thing. It takes Renee all over the world and back to Gotham even. Where we get to see Barbara Gordon (yay!!) and the way in which Renee reacts to the fact that Helena is going to Barbara for help is just amazingly hilarious. It made me sad that they never let the Question be part of the Birds of Prey.

The one thing that confused me was what was up with Renee having blonde hair when she was The Question (with the no face mask on). She didn't have blonde hair in 'Five Books of Blood' when she was the Question. Just a little weird thing. Overall though I did like the art.

I really enjoyed this. When it first came on interlibrary loan I was a little confused, mainly b/c I had no memory of requesting it but I am glad that I did. The Shade is more of an anti hero then a hero. This volume goes back and forth between the current time period and the past. The stories from the past involve the Shade's interactions with various family members, related by blood and not. All of this leads to finding out how his family is connected to the current plot on his life.

I loved La Sangre and wish she had a book of her own. I would totally read it and yes that does have something to do with her operating in Spain but it also has to do with how selfless and tough she is. I would also read more about most of the other heroes that made an appearance like Montpelier. They seem so much more subtle and interesting then some of their American counterparts.

The historical tales that showed the Shade's interaction with his family were great. They showed a human side that the Shade's human side was never totally lost, and I loved them.

I really enjoyed this. When it first came on interlibrary loan I was a little confused, mainly b/c I had no memory of requesting it but I am glad that I did. The Shade is more of an anti hero then a hero. This volume goes back and forth between the current time period and the past. The stories from the past involve the Shade's interactions with various family members, related by blood and not. All of this leads to finding out how his family is connected to the current plot on his life.

I loved La Sangre and wish she had a book of her own. I would totally read it and yes that does have something to do with her operating in Spain but it also has to do with how selfless and tough she is. I would also read more about most of the other heroes that made an appearance like Montpelier. They seem so much more subtle and interesting then some of their American counterparts.

The historical tales that showed the Shade's interaction with his family were great. They showed a human side that the Shade's human side was never totally lost, and I loved them.

I really enjoyed this. When it first came on interlibrary loan I was a little confused, mainly b/c I had no memory of requesting it but I am glad that I did. The Shade is more of an anti hero then a hero. This volume goes back and forth between the current time period and the past. The stories from the past involve the Shade's interactions with various family members, related by blood and not. All of this leads to finding out how his family is connected to the current plot on his life.

I loved La Sangre and wish she had a book of her own. I would totally read it and yes that does have something to do with her operating in Spain but it also has to do with how selfless and tough she is. I would also read more about most of the other heroes that made an appearance like Montpelier. They seem so much more subtle and interesting then some of their American counterparts.

The historical tales that showed the Shade's interaction with his family were great. They showed a human side that the Shade's human side was never totally lost, and I loved them.

I really enjoyed this. When it first came on interlibrary loan I was a little confused, mainly b/c I had no memory of requesting it but I am glad that I did. The Shade is more of an anti hero then a hero. This volume goes back and forth between the current time period and the past. The stories from the past involve the Shade's interactions with various family members, related by blood and not. All of this leads to finding out how his family is connected to the current plot on his life.

I loved La Sangre and wish she had a book of her own. I would totally read it and yes that does have something to do with her operating in Spain but it also has to do with how selfless and tough she is. I would also read more about most of the other heroes that made an appearance like Montpelier. They seem so much more subtle and interesting then some of their American counterparts.

The historical tales that showed the Shade's interaction with his family were great. They showed a human side that the Shade's human side was never totally lost, and I loved them.

I liked the movie better, but they are very different. The movie is much more of a comedy, so don't go into the book expecting it to be as funny as the movie. This was good, but it didn't feel like a complete story, more like a piece of the story.

A modern-day Greek Tragedy. Each character is making reasonable decisions and assumptions based on the information they possess, and those decisions lead to the deaths of almost everyone involved. (There is an 'innocent', possibly a nod to the 'Greek Chorus', who is spared.) Once the first decision is made, everything else follows as inevitably as dominos falling. There's a lot more here too; the nature of sacrifice, how the rights of men and governments collide, acceptance of the inevitable. Highly recommended.

After ten years away, James Robinson returns to Opal City and his greatest "creation"-- now clearly(?) set within the confines of the "New 52." Mikaal Thomas is Starman (again), and the series references the events of Cry for Justice but studiously avoids doing anything to indicate that superpowered beings existed in America prior to Superman. But it doesn't say they didn't, either, so you can interpret this story as taking place in the New 52 or the old continuity just fine. Now there's a masterclass. Anyway, speaking of Cry for Justice, I think it's awesome how all the cover blurbs basically boil down to "Maybe James Robinson still is a good writer."

Anyway, this is indeed pretty good. I think the post-reform Shade loses some of his spark, but Robinson otherwise delivers with a globe-trotting adventure, and that's what's cool here: we get to see Australia, Spain, and London, among other places, and I especially liked Robinson's invented superheroes of Spain, as well as the way this story draws into a perfect conclusion. The bits of backstory Robinson sprinkles in also work very well, as did his "Times Past" back in the Starman days.

The biggest kudos must go to Robinson's artistic collaborators. Darwyn Cooke, Jill Thompson, and Gene Ha each do a single issue, and each is great, of course, but Cully Hamner, Javier Pulido, and Frazer Irving each tackle a third of the main story, each taking a distinctive slice. Pulido takes the three issues in Spain, and his art is the definite highlight of the book, with thin lines, wonderful character design, and some cool layouts. Frazer Irving's use of lighting and color in the final part is perfect for a story so much about darkness and light, too. I wasn't familiar with the work of these three before, but I hope to see more in the future.