Action Comics #887 & Mighty Avengers #34

Only two new reviews tonight since I'm still waiting on my comic order. This is why I hate ordering from the comic shop in Texas... Sure, they have the best selection of back issues at really good prices, but it takes FOREVER to actually get the package! I mean, I ordered my books on Wednesday the 10t h and I'm still awaiting the package 10 days later! Even my patience has its limits! Granted, I still have a few new books to get to, but my new comics pile is starting to grow thin, and that always worries me a bit. Also, with tonight's reviews, I'm going to try something a little bit new... From now on, I'm going to post what I scored the prior issue for what ever series I'm reviewing. I figure last issue's score should give some indication of what I'll think of the comic I'm currently reviewing. Of course my first review of the night completely blows that theory out of the water... Well, I've got a bottle of strawberry flavored water and a big bag of Sour Patch Kids with me, so let's get to the reviews!

Action Comics #887: Writers: Greg Rucka & Eric Trautmann. Art: Pere Perez. Last Issue: 2 out of 10.

This comic gets underway with Lois Lane visiting the Web(whoever that is!)in Metropolis, where he gives her a computer that can't be hacked by the government. With no fear of her father killing her work, Lois embarks on a world tour, where she blogs about how Nightwing and Flamebird aren't the evil Kryptonian terrorists her father makes them out to be. From there we go to Flamebird and Nightwing in Iraq, where they are confronting evil Kryptonian, Jax-Ur, who happens to be the host for the vengeful Kryptonian god, Vohc-The-Breaker. Vohc wants Flamebird to love him, but she loves Nightwing, so it's all a big, soap opera-esque mess. Just with Kryptonians, instead of bad actors. Since he was spurned, Vohc creates a fake Rao(who is the main Kryptonian god)and sends it loose in the Middle East. Nightwing and Flamebird try to halt its progress, but fake Rao takes whatever is thrown his way and grows in size and strength. Realizing they were fighting a losing battle, Flamebird confronts Vohc himself, and Vohc throws a black lightning bolt at Nightwing, trapping him in what appears to be the Phantom Zone... Even though the Phantom Zone was destroyed. Flamebird loses the will to fight with Nightwing gone, but luckily for everybody, Lois Lane arrives on the scene with a cell phone! What a strange way to end things...

Compared to last issue, this comic wasn't all that bad. Then again, I don't know how this comic COULD have been as bad as last issue was! This comic was more or less about Nightwing and Flamebird attempting to halt the rampage of fake Rao, which was WAY better then last issues unwanted Kryptonian Mythology lesson. Sure some of the dialogue was hokey, and the story wasn't terribly original, but at least this comic was readable, and that makes it a huge improvement in my book!

Score: 6 1/2 out of 10.I can almost HEAR the noise Super Mario makes when Rao begins to grow in size!

Mighty Avengers #34: Writer: Dan Slott. Pencils: Neil Edwards. Last Issue: 7 1/2 out of 10.

This issue gets started with Pym FINALLY telling Quicksilver what everybody else has already known, that the Scarlet Witch who has been manipulating the team from its inception was actually Loki in disguise. Quicksilver throws one of his patented Quicksilver tantrums and Pym tells him that he has a plan for capturing Loki and seeing what he knows about the real Scarlet Witch's whereabouts. Pym then creates a machine/torture device on the Isle of Silence(think an Asgardian prison)and manages to snare Loki in it. Loki tries to manipulate the team into fighting each other('cause that's what he does), but Pym pushes a remote control button that inflicts a massive electrical shock strong enough to cause even Loki pain. Sensing that he could be in real trouble, Loki telepathically calls out to his brother Thor for assistance, and the God of Thunder arrives on the scene just as Quicksilver(who had stolen the remote away from Pym)is electrocuting Loki. Thor demands that Quicksilver halts his actions, and Quicksilver responds by baiting Thor into a fight. Thor makes quick work of Quicksilver, but Pym prevents Thor from really hurting Quicksilver. Thor then warns Pym to never create another Asgardian torture device, and Pym agrees to that, so long as Loki is punished for his actions. Since Loki DID torment the Mighty Avengers for so long, Thor grants Pym one question which he can ask Loki, and Thor warns Loki that he had better answer it truthfully. Instead of doing the expected, and asking Loki where the Scarlet Witch was, Pym asks Loki if he'd like to join the Mighty Avengers(!!!??!)! Loki of course turns down the offer, figuring Pym insane for even asking, and the rest of the team, from Quicksilver to Stature decide to quit, not wanting to be led by a man who would welcome Loki into the ranks of the Avengers. This issue ends with Ultron continuing to take over the bodies of Jocasta back at Infinite Avengers Mansion.

HA! Although there were some dead spots in this comic, as well as events that were never adequately explained(such as Pym knowing Loki would return to the Isle of Silence), the last few pages more then made up for that! First there was the part where Pym tried to recruit Loki to join his team, even though Loki has been an enemy of the Avengers longer then ANYBODY else. Not only did he try to get Loki to join up, but he then went about rationalizing it in a scientific way! Only Pym... Pym's actions seem to have broken up the team, and although I'm a bit upset about that, I'm overjoyed that I won't have to read about Amadeus Cho anymore... God do I HATE him! The ending, which heralds the return of Ultron also left me smiling, because Ultron IS my favorite Avengers villain, and anytime he appears is a good thing as far as I'm concerned... Well, as long as they revert Ultron back to his original appearance... I hated BENDIS'S female version of Ultron... So yeah, all in all, this was a pretty good read.

Score: 7 1/2 out of 10.When you can manage to leave Loki completely dumbstruck, you know you've done something right!