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I'm trying something new this week - there are some titles I pick up on a whim and don't really like that much, or some I follow as ongoings that have a so-so issue but which I'm not willing to give up on yet, and y'know, it can be a bit tiring thinking of something to say about them other than "meh" every week. They're not bad (I like to think I manage to avoid bad comics fairly well, all things considered), but they just don't prompt me to want to go out and shout at the internet that it needs to be reading this comic. So from now on, the reviews will be divided into two sections. 'Addictive' is the good stuff, the comics that personally I think any heroine addict should be reading this week. Below those, 'And The Rest' (in honour of the remainder of the Gilligan's Island cast from the first version of the theme song) covers other comics I read that didn't really excite me - I'm not saying I hate them, and maybe something I say in commenting on them will sound interesting to you, in which case go for it, but to save time and keep this reviewing malarky feeling fresh, I'll just review them briefly with a comment or two, rather than the whole paragraph the 'Addictive' entries will get. All clear? Okay, let's go - after Previews, of course, this week:
 Previews #254 ~ I always forget when I start doing my list whether last time I put art books and so on in with the comics or the merchandise - this month, they're with the comics:
p24: Mass Effect: Redemption ~ Starring the sci-fi woman in the cover of Previews itself.
p145: Dynamo 5 volume 4 trade paperback
Marvel p48: Avengers vs Atlas ~ Another versus? Does Atlas have its own book any more?
p184: Avengelyne vs Koni Waves one-shot ~ Avengelyne is my pet silly-90s-comic-cheesecake-badass heroine.
p204: Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #60 ~ Yowzers!
p210: Hack/Slash volume 7 trade paperback
p211: The Art of Hack/Slash volume 2
p218: Red Sonja She-Devil With A Sword Omnibus
p237: G.I. Joe: Best of Baroness ~ Sounds worth a look.
p239: Transformers: Tales of the Fallen #6 ~ With Arcee!
p249: The Phantom, Julie Walker: Race Against Death ~ This'll be the first Phantom comic I read.
p280: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Illustrated #1 ~ Let's give this a shot.
p286: The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia hardcover.
Merchandise:
p122: Cover Girls of the DC Universe: Harley Quinn statue (with a sneak peek at upcoming Poison Ivy)
p125: Detective Comics box set ~ includes the Showcase Presents Batgirl figure
p128: Women of the DC Universe: Raven
Marvel p85: Marvel Minimates Spider-Man's Friends and Foes ~ includes Black Cat
p315: Battlestar Galactica series 4 ~ includes Admiral Cain
p319: DC Heroes wave 12 ~ includes Mary Marvel
p320: DC Heroes best of wave 12 ~ includes Power Girl
p324: Marvel Legends: Invisible Woman/Human Torch 2-pack
p334: Fantasy Figure Gallery: Touch of Ice PVC statue
I'll just add that the solicits for the 'DC Heroes' figures are completely f'ed up - the line is called 'DC Universe' (Classics), and the "best of wave 12" is figures from series 10, not 12. I hesitate to blame Previews, though, since Mattel have methodically screwed up every other aspect of marketing these toys, so them giving Diamond misleading and error-filled information is just par for the course.
Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs Zombies #7 ~ The latest chapter in the saga of cheesecake versus the undead sees our three heroines seeking out a supposed safe house amid the zombie carnage - is it for real, or another trick pulled by a sentient house that wants to eat them? No, worse, it's the military, who never seem to do anything helpful in zombie situations, and this bunch and their dim-witted commander are no exception. Plus the hulking slasher (who may or may not be helpful, kind of) is still pursuing the girls, and now they have to contend with a puzzle box with the power to open doorways to hell (sound familiar? This time it's a Rubix Cube, which for me at least would be far more difficult to open), and from the cover you shouldn't be surprised who gets more dark magic than they can handle. In short, it's non-stop action, supernatural mayhem, and wise-ass jokes; with the zombie threat (and the tropes therein) firmly covered in the opening issues, this title is wisely mining new ground at a meteoric rate, providing ample material to be gleefully parodied with no risk of things getting dull. Think Scary Movie, in the moments when it's actually being witty and satirical, rather than just filling time with slapstick. Get it (and check out a six-page preview) here.
Detective Comics #858 ~ At last, here we go with the origin of Batwoman. And it's perfectly placed - I never felt like I needed to know more in 52 than was obvious (it wasn't about Batwoman, so more background wouldn't have served the story), and this origin plays directly with the big revelation at the end of Kate's opening big adventure last issue. Indeed, the present-day from which the flashbacks happen (and are woven in nicely) is a direct follow-up of last issue. But for the most part we're in the past, seeing Kate and her sister as young girls, dealing with school and family and the pressures of being the daughters of career military parents, most notably when they're uprooted (again) and moved to Brussels as their father is moved to NATO command. Then there's a kidnapping, a sequence shown largely from the girls' point of view, written and drawn with elegant and savage effect. Sadly, as always, the Question back-up story fails to deliver to the same high standard, concerning itself far too much with fights and style, leaving too little room for substance in its limited page space. But this comic is worth it for Batwoman alone.
Dynamo 5 #25 ~ This is an extra-large issue, but my copy (and the others at the store) had a printing error, resulting in the first and last five pages being absent, replaced with identical copies of the following pages and their corresponding numbers in the back. The details aren't important - looking at the issue it's easy to see how it's gone wrong at the printing press, but the effect is that I missed the opening of the story, and one of the five short stories at the back, each of which deals with one of the team members as they grapple with the new challenge this issue has thrown at them. Error aside it's yet another solid issue, full of excitement, clever plotting, and interesting characters - superhero comics at its best, and always fun to read. The twist (the team's powers are switched between them) offers up some interesting possibilities, but even as I'd like to see it last long enough to be properly explored, I'm hoping it won't be permanent - the combination of Scrap's slender (by comic standards) physique and her incredible strength is just too sexy a contrast to discard forever.
Wonder Woman #37 ~ An intriguing conversation opens this issue between Diana and the late Ares - no, not a Blackest Night tie-in, just a dream (perhaps...) but it's a great scene for what it says about Wonder Woman. Meanwhile the situation is slipping from uncertainty to potentially dangerous on Themyscira, and once Diana shows up things get even more tangled as she, her mother, and Donna Troy all are acting at cross-purposes (Donna, though, due mostly to the effects of her tussle with Genocide, and the resolution of that occupies much of this issue). Aaron Lopresti seems to be trying something new for Diana's face, which is a bit of a surprise - you don't expect to see a change like that without a change in artist, although having gotten used to the new version, I don't mind it at all; the overall quality of art remains high, in any case.
Queen Sonja #1 ~ I tried Red Sonja when it did its 'reboot' thing, but found it dully written - still, while I've been away the writer has changed, so I thought I'd give this new chapter a shot, and I'm glad I did. Sonja is, obviously, a ruler now, and we're introduced to her as such quickly, then cast back to see how it came to be this way, in a story which explains itself quickly and well, has some exciting action, and ends with a clever twist, both in itself and given what we saw of the near 'future' in the opening scene. The issue is padded with an old Sonja story, though, which I felt was unnecessary for an issue #1 - either a longer single story, or at least a new one-shot backup, would have been more satisfying than a reprint. The art on the main story is attractive and full of energy, although (I'm not sure if this is a criticism or praise) Sonja's scale mail bikini reaches new heights of briefness in it - still, even if she does look constantly in danger of falling out of her costume, she looks suitably badass in a fight, which is what really matters.
Justice Society of America #32 ~ This issue stands out among recent ones for two reasons: one, the heroes make real progress in figuring out what's been going on, rather than just reacting blindly to it, and two, Power Girl is clearly Chairwoman, and acts as such, which is good to see after the old guard having been taking the lead, more or less, quite often. Mr. Terrific isn't quite dead, surprising no-one (I mean, come on), but the struggle to save him is handled in a tense and believable way nonetheless, making it good reading. The situation with King Chimera is fun too, with his smart-ass 'genius' finally getting the richly-deserved kicking it's been crying out for since he showed up. Magog, though, is a worry - he's pretty much genuinely off the rails, and I'm not sure his state of mind would really stand up to close scrutiny. Having been a good soldier, the way he's acting now suggests that what he's been through as a superhero has done real mental damage, and I'd hope to see that addressed, rather than him just be allowed to run around being a source of conflict without anyone taking a hand in bringing him to heel.
Hack/Slash #27 ~ Ugh, still really dislike the art. But, there'll be a new artist along soon, and this issue includes some very promising previews of his work, so I'm looking forward to my original appreciation for both writing and art in this comic to return.
Gotham City Sirens #5 ~ The girls take on the Joker, and thanks to a clever twist, that's not as predictable as it sounds (I mean, we know they're not going to succeed in killing him). Nice to see Harley Quinn written well, showing her intelligence as well as just being a source of humour.
Aspen Showcase: Kiani ~ The long gap between Fathom issues has seen my interest in it wane somewhat, and this one-shot somehow just failed to connect with me - regardless of the angles it tried, I just felt my concentration slipping away.
Grimm Fairy Tales Halloween Special ~ Nothing much beyond what you'd expect - an old fairy tale (in this case, the Monkey's Paw) retold in a modern setting, with heavy lashings of cheesecake. Fun, but I think this comic takes itself too seriously.
Marvel Divas #4 ~ A satisfying ending, with strong showings from all four women - if any non-comic-reader were after an entry-level comic featuring women, this'd be a good one to give them.
Ms. Marvel #46 ~ Finally, Carol gets to be Carol again - Karla's brain gets played with in an interesting way, but I still have real doubts that she'll be allowed to develop in this title, rather than just remaining the villainous Moonstone, as per status quo.
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