This week’s choice for my pick of the week was a tough one. Coming in third place this week is the first issue of Green Arrow with Oliver Queen taking a Robin Hood approach to his city. In front of Green Arrow was the second issue of the new Avengers title, in which the team gets a look into alternate futures, most of which we readers have seen already, but our character haven’t. That fanboy treat was quite tasty, but I have to give this week’s pick to the milestone 700th issue of Superman.
The War of the Supermen is over, and now Clark, Lois, and the rest of the super gang has to figure out what to do next. This issue provides three stories with some great talent. The first story by James Robinson and Bernard Chang takes places days after the 100-Minute War and has Lois and Clark reconnecting as a couple. Clark’s relationships help him keep his humanity, and his marriage to Lois is his most important. Lois tries to get Clark to promise he’ll never leave her again like when he went to New Krypton, but she knows as Earth’s greatest hero he can’t; but that doesn’t mean she couldn’t ask.
The second story is by Dan Jurgens, which is a flashback story, and a little funny one. Back when Dick Grayson was Robin he decided to go patrol Gotham City on his own without Batman, and got in a little over his head. Luckily the Man of Steel was there to rescue him. Not only does Superman save Robin from the bad guys, but he also does Dick’s geometry homework in a few seconds so Bruce doesn’t know he was out fighting crime all night. Superman: the ultimate wingman. I find this story interesting and fun because Dick Grayson grew up admiring Superman. He even came to him for advice when he wanted to quit being Robin, and now Dick Grayson is the current Batman, and on a level playing field as Superman. Just goes to show that you may grow up to be someone your role model look up too.
In the last story of this issue J. Michael Straczynski sets up what the next storyline of Clark Kent’s life will be. Superman spent over a year on New Krypton trying to stop a war that eventually came to pass, but now he’s back, and some people wish he never left. While he was gone a woman needed Superman to help stop her husband tumor, but the Man of Tommorrow was off planet instead of being another place he was needed. This gets Clark thinking about the people of Earth, and if he may be a disattached from them after being gone for so long. After a nice scene with The Flash, and a memory of his father, Superman is out to re-discover the world he calls home.
The end of the issue provides what is going to happen in Action Comics, Supergirl, and even Superboy getting his own title once again. Each of these stories I think says something about Superman. They each tap into what the basic principle about who he is: human. He’s the most powerful being in the universe not only because of his powers, but because of his heart and humanity. Two things he wasn’t born with, but taught by a Kansas farmer and his wife. There is even a contest to see if Superman will visit your home town:
http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/06/23/dc-comics-presents-%e2%80%9csuperman-across-america%e2%80%9d/
Clark has spent the last year trying to stop intergalactic war, and I look forward to him going around America not trying to prevent epic battles, but helping simple people with big problems.
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