Na na na na na na na na...Batfun!

SIMPSONS COMICS #120: This comic is not fun. Vaguely off-model character designs and art are the first sign that this issue of Simpsons Comics, released in the heat of summer, isn't going to set the world on fire. The pencils by John Delaney actually have a lot of the energy, rubberyness and action of Scott Shaw!, but with the exception of the annual Halloween Treehouse of Horror comic, it's always a bit off-putting to see a slight off-model Simpsons world. But the real problem here is a Simpsons story that's just not that funny. An excellent Simpsons comic can be favorably compared to an episode of the TV show (see last month's Simpsons Comics #119). But this mild and sedate saga of Homer obsessed with the fame that a game-winning baseball brings him has no solid gags, guffaws, or laughs—it's silly more often than it is funny, and reads like water-diluted Simpsons. (Say, that reminds me...when is the Family Guy comic coming out?) Even the Todd McFarlane reference is a bit a stilted and self-aware. The good folks at Bongo generally produce a fun comic. But to continue the baseball metaphor of this issue, not every issue is a home run grand slam, and while this issue may be a great souvenir for some lucky fan, it's not going into my hall of fame.


BATTLER BRITTON #2: This comic is fun. War is heck, and this comic lets you know it with all guns a-blazing. I'm a sucker for a good war comic, and this one continues the promise of Ennis's strong first issue enlivened by Colin Wilson's beautiful art of both fliers and airplanes (although there's a weird violation of the 180-degree rule on the page one). There's not much of a plot: Britton shakes things up, speaks his mind, antagonizes his American allies, and survives a deadly air dogfight—but it's a good thing to see a straight-forward war comic that does justice to the genre.


FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #11: This comic is fun. I'm on internet record as saying I'm enjoying the "Spider-Man Unmasked" storylines—it's giving the writers a dramatically different thing to do with a 43-year old character, so there's clever ideas and twists popping up in the various Spider-monthlies in almost every issue. This one continues the inevitable dramatic changes as Pete is forced by public pressure to resign from his teaching job, but it's done with such a light touch and fizzy dialogue by Peter David that it doesn't seem like just another "woe is me" Spider-Man story. The whole thing's a set-up of a Mysterio trilogy (while promising in the foreword that the Uncle Ben subplot of last month that had me a little ruffled is still a story where looks can be deceiving), but the big draw for me is a face-off...a dodgeball-off, to be precise...with one of my favorite Spidey supporting characters, Flash Thompson. Flash doesn't believe Pete's Spidey any more than a recent guest blogger of mine did, and for much the same reasons. I don't like seeing Flash as a big dumbass jock, but there's enough twists and turns and a new supporting character, all of which signal Flash may be on his way back again from being a...if you'll excuse the expression...bully. (But hey, I musta missed something not picking up New Avengers...just what the Sam Scratch is that Dr. Strange-lookin' TV antenna stickin' outta the top of Avengers Tower?!? Is it to get better reception on the Ditko Channel?)


52 WEEK 13: This comic is fun...sorta. It's one-quarter of the way through the maxiseries and a vague sense of ennui and dissatisfaction has set in for me on 52: I'm beginning to think if this trend of long-feature focus on storylines I'm less interested in than others continues, I might actually consider dropping the book. Which is a pity, because there's lots of fun moments to be found in the series as a whole so far, but I grew a little impatient with the lengthy Elongated Man/Superboy resurrection story in this issue, interrupted only by a Black Adam/Isis interlude that was the high point of the issue. I miss Booster, and Montoya, and Steel, and the Question, and while I know they'll be back in the book soon—maybe next week—week 13 only serves to confirm my suspicions that if there's only one or two plots summed up on the bottom-edge reading line of the cover, I might not be enjoying that issue as much. The camel-breakin' straw was the silly and unbelievable idea that Green Arrow, Zauriel and Green Lantern would infiltrate the Krypton Resurrection Cult's meetings still wearing their masks. Sure, they're hooded, but by golly, I can see their big masks as clear as day; why can't everyone else? And that Sue Dibny scarecrow is frankly scaring the heck out of this reader, and I usually don't have a problem with stuffed animals in comics. Sure, I want Ralph to come out of this series happy again...but if issues like this continue, I won't be stickin' 'round to see if it happens. (But I'm still enjoyin' the heck out of the two-page "Origins" backup series. Concise, to-the-point history that's ideal for both the new reader, those of us who've forgotten some of it, and useful for DC's growing marketing merchandise empire.)


JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #24: This comic is fun. As I said earlier, best splash-page of the week. It's got a fantastic cover, dynamic DCU-animated-style art, and a compelling done-in-one story—is there any doubt that Justice League Unlimited does the League more Justice than the last several years of the now-cancelled regular-DC Universe series? It's not quite up to the high, high standards of the late lamented Batman Adventures comic book, which was for years the finest Batman book being published in my little stuffed opinion. But while the upcoming JLoA looks fun and adventure-filled, don't ignore this book if you're longing for some solid big Justice League adventure. Furthermore, it's got one thing that the new series doesn't: J'onn J'onnz, in one of his strongest "solo" stories in years. If you're not pickin' up this book because it looks like a "kiddie" comic...well, you're missing out.


DETECTIVE COMICS #821 & 822: These comics are fun. Speakin' of missin' out, I missed last month's Detective #821, featuring Batman: The Animated Series's Paul Dini debuting as scripter on a character he definitely can do justice to. Luckily I remembered to plunk down my dimes for it when this week's #822 came out, and the two together are a breath of fresh minty Bat-flavored air after many, many long years of being disappointed by not only Batman comics but Batman himself. Both issues are solid thrilling done-in-one mysteries that emphasize Batman's detective skills, and done right, Batman as detective is always a good thing. The first introduces a new villain; the second sets up an old one in a "why hasn't anyone thought of that before?" role: The Riddler as a private detective competing with Batman to solve a murder. It's such a logical, delightful, and outrageous role for Edward Nigma that I hope it continues in further issues—it might even support a Riddler miniseries. (For you pre-Infinite Crisis fans, there's a short but important throwaway note that the Riddler no longer...probably...knows Batman's secret identity.) Our pal Eddie even provides the best line of the week: "Nice car. First time I've been inside it conscious.". All this plus Roxy Rocket, whoo hoo! The only minor tarnish on this energetic repolishing of DC's Dark Knight is Batman's patient but pointed dismissal of Robin in the first story: Batman as sullen loner was a too-frequent theme and occurrence in the past few years, leading to the spoiling and deaths of some likeable characters, and I don't wanna see this trend continue now. But aside from that, DC's flagship is decked out like the Queen Mary. One of the most brilliant things DC's done post-IC is assign its icon characters to solid writers—Paul Dini joins James Robinson and Grant Morrison on the reimagining of Batman—who are capable not only of taking the characters back to their basics but at the same time create new and innovative stories. So it's not just that these are two jim-dandy issues, but more important, the promise of more fantastic issues to come that makes DETECTIVE #822 the most fun comic of the week.