Action #999: Jurgens, Conrad, and Nunes bring us a very character driven story featuring Lois, her dad, and Jon as well as a story with Superman contemplating if the Phantom Zone is truly the best way to contain major threats. Lois and her dad argue about Superman--it reminded me of Batman V Superman--the way Sam was talking about the unknown elements regarding Superman. Lois and Jon defend Superman of course. Meanwhile Superman allows Cyborg Superman out of the Phantom Zone and prepares a more humane incarceration for him, hoping for rehabilitation. Clark arrives home and ultimately acts as a peacemaker for his family.
The art is phenomenal, almost like photos. The colors complement this as well. I enjoyed certain parts of the story, but if Cyborg Superman murdered millions when he destroyed Coast City, I would think the Phantom Zone is the perfect place for him. Not sure if Jurgens was trying to get political here or not, but the part with the Phantom Zone didn't quite resonate with me. Overall, a good issue as we leave behind the Mr. Oz story and look forward to Action #1000!
7/10

Titaans #21 by Abnett, Pelleteir, Hennessy, and Lucas: Roy Harper is on the verge of discovering the Brotherhood of Evil's nefarious scheme, but because of his drug binge ( he may have been drugged and didn't relapse) last issue, the Titans (and JLA) don't believe him. There is a quick scene with Donna, Wonder Woman, and Batman checking out Roy's story. Donna then alerts Nightwing and Flash. It all goes wrong and Roy decides he has to save the world alone. I liked the element of friendship in the story--the concern shown by Donna, Nightwing, and Flash. There is an intense fight between Nightwing and Roy--lots of hurtful and personal insults. The relationship between the Brain and Mallah is both unsettling and curious at the same time. I can't shake the feeling that the Brain will ultimately betray his paramour. The art is nice. Not a bad issue.
8/10

I've really been enjoying the current She-Hulk series.

Jen's latest client is a woman who hit an anti-mutant activist who was protesting (with a large group of similar bigots) outside the high school where a mutant had just been elected class president. The client's daughter was the mutant who had been elected. The client said she was protecting her daughter.

But Jen lost the case, possibly because of anti-mutant bias. And her firm was unhappy she had taken the case. They expressed their displeasure in corporate lawyerese with a bunch of rationalizations that supposedly showed there was no bigotry involved.

So Jen has agreed to keep an eye on the client's daughter, and that includes going to prom (as a chaperone) with Patsy Walker along for fun. (Because Patsy is a whacko! I love Hellcat's friendship with She-Hulk.)

And of course the anti-mutant activists attack!

Good story!

I used to think Marvel's portrayals of anti-mutant sentiment were overblown because I thought prejudice and bias and bigotry and racism were things that had to develop a little more gradually But now I know I WAS WRONG!

In the last few decades I've seen conservative hate television and conservative hate radio and conservative hate social media create and build on prejudice and bigotry that didn't exist or barely existed before. It's disgusting. So yes the anti-mutant activists ring true, and couldn't be more timely coinciding with the latest target of conservative bigotry - young people who have figured out that high school massacres are a bad thing. Their opponents can't just disagree with them. They have to say these young people are being coached or they are being exploited or they are actors. They have to call them moonbats and "lesbian skinheads."

And I am not seeing any of the legendary "nice" or "reasonable" conservatives saying anything to indicate that this is just the extreme craziness of a few whacko radical conservatives.

She-Hulk #163 was the highlight of my comic-book week.

Marvel Two In One #4. Written by Chip Zdarsky. Art by Valerio Schiti. Cover by Nick Bradshaw.

Ben & Johnny start searching the multiverse for the Richards family. Their first stop is an earth where history went a different way when Galactus first appeared.

Zdarsky is writing a great story arc. I like the premise that he presents about Galactus on this earth. Everything so far with this arc has been great. I like Schiti's art. This book is probably my favorite Marvel title right now.

9/10.

Titans #21. Written by Dan Abnett. Art and Cover by Paul Pelletier and Andrew Hennessy.

While I miss the team dynamic I am enjoying the focus on Arsenal. I really liked the fight between Nightwing & Arsenal. Abnett has had some rough spots on this title but overall I think he has a done a great job with this classic line up of Titans. Pelletier has a clean old school style that I really like.

7/10.

Riverdale #11 by Murray and Pitilli: Reggie launches his most elaborate (and cruel) prank yet when he tricks everyone (except Jughead) into thinking he is dying. His motive is to ensure Josie is his prom date. Excellent story (and quite believable in today's age of social media) as we see the prank escalate. His classmates launch a fundraiser and Reggie catches the attention of the local morning show. Of course it all falls apart, but no doubt Reggie will bounce back and top this new low. The art is still not quite there. One page in particular looks very unfinished and inked with a sloppy marker. A minor distraction in what is otherwise an excellent issue.
9.5/10