Superman #706 – Review

By G. Willow Wilson (writer), Amilcar Pinna (artist), Rod Reis (colors) and John J. Hill (letters)

The Story: In a story that would have been almost passable, say, a decade or so ago, Daily Planet Editor-In-Chief Perry White discovers that *gasp* there’s a website making claims that the Planet bribes Superman for all the exclusives they get! And what’s worse, the site is about to break the even BIGGER news that Superman and Lois Lane are in a secret, illicit relationship! It’s up to perpetual whipping boy Jimmy Olsen and his amazing powers of detecting a bad Photoshop job to save the day!

What’s Good: Well…the cover is nice I suppose? It’s really more of a Batmanesque image, really, but it’s still neat.

Hmm…what else….what else…I’m still liking the colors on this book. Although we still have something of an odd purplish skin tone for the characters on a few pages, overall I still think it’s very good work, and fits the bright, shiny nature of Superman’s character in the same way that Batman’s dark, brooding shadow-filled Gotham fits him.

What’s Not So Good: Good grief, what can I say about this issue? I’ve been doing my very best to defend at least the concept of the Grounded storyline, if not its execution, but there’s not much redeeming about even the premise of this interlude. Rather than ranting in paragraphs (which could well go on for pages), let’s boil it down to a simple, numbered list of complaints:

1. The concept. Not that The Daily Planet coming under public scrutiny/fire is a bad idea for a story. It’s really not. But you’ve GOT to do more than phone in a 32-page after school special about the dangers of ‘trusting unverified internet sources.’

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: 27 #1 – This was really unexpected.  The solicitations made it sound like more of a band book, but I was hooked as soon as we saw the protagonist try to get his powers back by going to an eerie  dungeon/lab for a bizarre ritual involving a “scientist” who was disturbing, tattooed and naked.  How desperate would you have to be to let that dude do anything to you?  Runner-up: Lady Mechanika #1

Most Anticipated: Velocity #3 – It’s a shame this isn’t coming out more regularly, but it isn’t to be missed when it does show up.  The story is pretty good, but Ken Rocafort’s art is the main attraction for me.  He’s on my “buy whatever he draws” list.  Dude is really, really good.

Other picks: Amazing Spider-Man #650, Chaos War #4, Atomic Robo: The Deadly Art of Science #2, Strange Tales #3, Uncanny X-Force #3

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Fables #100 – A landmark collection packed with content, this was more graphic novel than single issue.  Best of all, it paid a lot of attention to building up for the future.  Here’s to another hundred issues!

Most Anticipated: Amazing Spider-Man #650 – I’m loving Big Time.  The sheer amount of comic book that you get for $3.99 is awesome, the art is awesome, and the story is all kinds of fun.  Hell, it’s not even a story anymore: each issue is just a giant chunk of Peter Parker’s madcap life.  That’s more than enough reason to get pumped every two weeks.

Other Picks: Batman & Robin #18, Brightest Day #16, DMZ #60, Green Lantern #60, Superman #706, The Unwritten #20, Wolverine #4

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Red Robin #18 – Red Robin was really fun. I enjoyed it and recommend it. Red Robin, hunting bad guys. In Russia. Tricking people. What more do you want?

Most Anticipated: Batman and Robin #18 – This book has: Dick Grayson, Damian Wayne, and a lady with a hole in her head. Lunatic Gotham, written by Paul Cornell. I’m going to be reading this first.

Other Picks: Green Lantern #60, Batman #705, and…despite issue #15’s sucktastic performance, I’m still buying Brightest Day #16, although my tolerance for further crapulence from this series is gone.

Joe’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: New Avengers v2 #7 – Bendis’ relaunched New Avengers title has been missing the mark a bit with me since it started earlier this year, but he and Stuart Immonen have gotten right back on track with this action-less epilogue to the first story-arc.  Lots of people complain about the writer’s wordy comics, but it’s that fact that drives this issue to great heights.  By the time I finished this, I was reminded why I love the New Avengers: because it feels less like a super-team and more a clubhouse for Marvel greats to get together and interact.  New Avengers #7 had that in spades and I loved it.

Most Anticipated: Uncanny X-Force #3 – There are a lot of contenders for the most anticipated this week.  While it was tough trying to decide which of them to pick, it came down to a knock-down, drag-out brawl between X-Force and Thunderbolts.  I have to admit, X-Force might have won based solely on my love and addiction to the X-Franchise.  Remender is writing the best X-Men title on the market right now, and Opena is making every last bit of it look beautiful.  Can’t wait for Wednesday!

Other Picks: Thunderbolts #151, Avengers Academy #7, Amazing Spider-Man #650, Brightest Day #16, Green Lantern #60, Wolverine #4, X-Factor #212, Supergirl #59, Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #5