Superman

Superman 166-167

Perfectly fine issues, worth keeping for the Ed McGuinness art.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Superman 171-173

Adventures of Superman 593, 595

Superman: Man of Steel 115-116

Action Comics 780-781

Our Worlds at War: Green Lantern 1

Our Worlds at War: Batman 1

Our Worlds at War: JLA 1

Our Worlds at War: Nightwing 1

Our Worlds at War: JSA 1

Our Worlds at War: Wonder Woman 1

Our Worlds at War: Flash 1

Wonder Woman 172

Hoo boy, Our Worlds at War.  I remembered this being pretty good, a massive epic with some fun action.  Instead, I return to find it a jumbled mishmash of scenes, with no coherence, no throughline, and no stakes, despite its desperate efforts to instill any kind of emotional heft to the story.  Hippolyta’s death is depicted with horrible storytelling, it’s impossible to tell what’s happening.  And don’t get me started with the interminable OWAW: WW issue; Phil Jimenez shoehorns the entire history of Wonder Woman into a single continuity.  I don’t know if he succeeded or not, because I was bored out of my mind.  His art may be the bee’s knees, but I still haven’t found a single instance where I don’t find his writing tedious as purgatory.

I can’t believe past me made it this far into the event before quitting.  It’s wretched.  Cutting it all.

The only two highlights of the whole thing: An Adam Hughes cover...

...and a sweet Stefano Gaudiano Batman pose.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice (Batman), Fine (JSA), a ton of Didn’t Sucks, a Boring, a couple Stupids, and one Hated (Wonder Woman)

A majorly random assortment of Superman from here on out.  No idea how past me decided what to buy.

Superman 174, 178, 182, 183

Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness finish out their run with some nice stories - Lex finds out Clark Kent is Superman (took him long enough) and Perry White fires Clark from the Daily Planet (it’s all a clever ruse).  Ultimately, Loeb never reaches the heights of For All Seasons, and it’s McGuinness’s art that really carries the day.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Superman 185

A so-so issue that’s redeemed by the imagery of Superman playing baseball with a team of kids.

Brent Anderson does a fine job here...

...but I would love to see Tim Sale's take on this scene.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Superman 190-191

Steven Seagle starts his run with Scott McDaniel.  (Is there any DC character he hasn’t drawn?)

It’s not bad, just a little generic.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes (No for 191)

Rating: Nice (Didn’t suck for 191, cutting)

Adventures of Superman 596

Superman deals with the aftermath of OWAW.  A nice quiet issue.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Adventures of Superman 618

A horribly unfun Mxyzptlk issue.  A fast cut.

Regret buying: Yes

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Hated (Cut)

Superman: Man of Steel 129

Once again, the much maligned Chuck Austen turns in pretty darn good DC comic.  (His Marvel work definitely not as good.)  He gets to the humanity of Superman here, just as he did in the Pain of the Gods arc.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Action Comics 791, 792, 796, 800

A number of impressive issues here that, like that Austen issue, focus on the man and not the super. 

791 - High school Clark asks a social pariah to prom.

792 - Clark conducts a search for the kiosk guy who sells him the newspaper after he goes missing, someone no one else would miss.  

What a wonderful encapsulation of their relationship.

796 - Manchester Black returns.  It sucks all the way up until the end, which manages to turn it all around.

800 - Basically another retelling of Superman’s origin, but writer Joe Kelly intersperses it with a number of vignettes (drawn by some amazing artists) showing how Superman inspires others.  Pretty heartwarming.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good (Nice for 796)