Sam Christopher's Quick Hits

This week Dark Horse brings us The Cleaners #1, a CSI-type story from writers Mark Wheaton and Joshua Hale Fialkov and artist Rahsan Ekedal, a CSI with a supernatural twist, it seems. It’s basically about a hazardous material cleanup company that specializes in human remains and product. First ish is a little iffy. Didn’t really grab me but I’ll check out the next and we’ll see.

The Kingdom Come Special: Superman one-shot also hit the stands this week and I’m forced to admit after reading it that I’m not the most observant guy in the world. It says it right on the cover and I missed it. It says it in huge letters on the third page and I still missed it. On the other hand, I did kind of realize it while reading the book, which is what led me to turn back to the third page and find out. Obviously, Alex Ross had drawn it—and that’s okay with me because even though I don’t really like his superhero art he is co-creator of Kingdom Come and he is entitled— but I didn’t realize he had also written it until after he took us to Metropolis. Not awful but nothing great, either. “The burdens of the Supermen are shared by the Lois Lanes of the universe”?

Next we have Superman & Batman vs. Vampires & Werewolves #3, which continues to surprise. Writer Kevin Van Hooke is crafting an excellent story, with good characterization for Superman—especially his “sense of humor”—and a lively goriness rarely seen in any story involving the Big Red “S”. Which brings us to Tom Mandrake’s artwork. This is the perfect style for a dark and brooding supernatural tale, although his depiction of Supes leaves much to be desired. A super powered alien in a gothic horror setting is a huge contrast.

IDW kicks off Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. Kevin Grevioux and Andrew Huerta show us how the vampire/werewolf war that defines the Underworld-verse began. Not really an auspicious beginning. I find it incredible that Viktor rose to lead the vamps at all, much less maintained power for as long as he did. The vampires have a serious problem here, a problem Viktor helped create in the first place, and the solution falls right into his lap… so he turns it away. Brilliant! On the other hand, maybe he should run for President.

Other comics:
Action Comics #871- Part 4 of New Krypton brings us a new super team that we’ve seen before, a savage beatdown of a formerly un-savage beatdownable foe, and continues the pretty lame subplot of Gen. Lane’s War on Superman.

Amazing Spidergirl #26- Arana and Spidergirl—one and the same! And vice versa! And Lil Benjy saves Christmas.