The Phantom #2

Writer – Peter David
Artist – Sal Velluto
Colours – Eugenio Mattozzi

After having to deal with the Singh Pirates, The Phantom is attacked by a man he does not know and the battle is fierce while it lasts, but thanks to the intervention of Diana, the Phantom’s wife, it is stopped before it could escalate very much further.  Unknown to the Phantom, Diana and this man Jimmy Wells used to know each other a while back, and they seem like they might have been more than friends.  It makes things a little bit awkward to say the least.  This new tale of The Phantom by Peter David and Sal Velluto keeps chugging along and it has a very classic superhero feel to it.  As such, there is a lot of action in the book, some misunderstandings and then a long conversation to hash it out between all the interested parties.  Come the end of the issue, David also reintroduces a character from the Phantom’s past named the Baroness, a woman who is married to Jimmy and whom he and Diana had no idea knew our hero.  When you think of old-school fun in comic books, this book has it in spades and it is unlike anything DC or Marvel puts out these days.  While it might seem a little dated because of it, like it could have been published in the 1970’s or 1980’s, it is not necessarily a bad thing.  In fact, it really ups the enjoyment level of the story because it is like reading a lost tale from one of your favourite characters.  While the pirates do not make a return this issue, and Jimmy Wells is a man who bothers the Phantom the wrong way in more ways than one, for the moment, he has to deal with the Baroness, at least until this misunderstanding is put to the side as well.  A wonderful second issue by David and Velluto that makes you really want to come back for the third.

3.5 out of 5

The New 52 Futures End #43

Writer – Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen
Artist – Andy MacDonald
Colours – Hi-Fi

Lois discovers that Superman is still alive and gives him a pep talk; Braniac does his best Galactus impression, Batman deals with Mr. Terrific’s madness and Red Robin, Plastique and Batman Beyond deal with the threat of Brother Eye’s cyborg from the future.  Here was another decent issue from the creative team that keeps things moving along at the brisk pace they recently introduced to the title while things are also heating up for certain members of our cast.  Red Robin is fated to die as was revealed in an earlier issue of the series and he almost gets it here, but for now thankfully, he is still sticking around.  Superman really did little of anything and the scenes involving Braniac were a little silly to see him on his little scooter and flying a city around.  It is always good to see Terry McGinniss in the book and his newfound romance with Plastique is good thing for our hero.  The big question in the book is just how Batman is going to deal with Mr. Terrific as he is the man essentially responsible for everything that is happening.  There is no doubt that if Terrific had refused help from the voice in the machine long ago, it would have just found somebody else, but he did and now he might be realizing that what he has done was a huge mistake.  What happens now is going to be interesting as things are escalating so fast, but if there is anybody that can help put a stop to it, it is Batman and Terrific.

3.5 out of 5