Star-Spangled War Stories (2010) #1

Ssws1

I don’t know if Justiniano and Tom Derenick draw exactly alike or if Andrew Mangum is just a really strong inker. If it’s just Magnum, he’s got have been going crazy to make it all fit.

The issue is a slick espionage story set in occupied France. There’s a decent twist at the end and Billy Tucci writes a strong Mademoiselle Marie. She’s not just smart, she’s cunning to a vicious degree. It’s a nice characterization.

It’s a shame Tucci’s dialogue is weak and his plotting is confusing.

The comic reminds me a lot of a slick Hollywood blockbuster. The pitfalls in the plot don’t matter because it’s moving very fast and is sufficiently compelling—I mean, at times it feels like the comic is missing pages because it’s so disjointed.

Some of the fault lies with the artists (regardless of it being smooth, it’s boring), but it’s Tucci’s responsibility.

Superman / Batman (2003) #75

Sb75

Levitz wraps up the arc with a Legion of Super-Heroes story guest starring Batman. Superman’s in a panel or two. Lex’s planet has paid-off (in the future), with a Kryptonite-infused Lex clone going through history after Superman (and Superboy).

The story’s unpredictable and funny. And Ordway’s mostly just drawing, not trying to look painted, so the art’s much better.

The rest of the issue is two-page anniversary stories.

Seagle and Kristiansen’s is pointless self-indulgence. Tucci’s actually funny. Hughes does a poster; great art, of course. The big surprise is the Krul one (with Manapul on the art). The writing’s actually funny. Thompson’s got a couple pinups. Green and Johnson (art by Davis and Albuquerque) are unmemorable.

Rouleau’s got a fantastic one, so do Azzarello and Bermejo.

Finch and Williams’s one is atrociously written.

Tomasi and Ha’s entry is pointless but looks nice.

Excellent feature though.