Funny book Roundup Tuesday

I got Red Robin #20 because it was crossing over from Teen Titans, and it was OK, just a basic Robin Needs Help Calls in Old Gang thing. 

I go into the 80 Page Giants out of curiosity with low expectations, which were surpassed by Superman Giant 2011. Which means there weren't any stories that I entirely skipped, which happens often. These books are used a lot of times for apprentice work by newer talent, and not much you can do in ten pages when you grow up in a world where everything is a multi part epic. The veteran Cafu did the best art in Beau Tidwell's opener, which was a good job of telling a pointless backfill prequel to Superman The Movie which I haven't been holding my breath for. Worst fir me was a Bizarro story with art that looked like refugee work from a Plop story from 30 years ago. 

DC Legacies was OK, not living down to either worst fears or up to best hopes as they move into retelling stories from my comics hiatus. 

We save some of the best for last. DMZ 61 was one of the best fill in art issues in the Free States Rising series as it started to move the story forward in current continuity and Shawn Martinbrough did a good job channeling the style of series co-creator Riccardo Burchielli. But the next issue with Brian Wood and Burchielli together on a DMZ for the first time in too long totally rocked. As with Pier Gallo on Superboy there's something quietly wonderful about the art that makes me linger on it a little, where the graphic part of the comic book comes alive. With the last ten issues kicking into gear and the original artist back on board this issue reminded me of why DMZ has been a favorite of mine these past five years. 

Brian Wood also wrote The New York Five, a sequel to a series The New York Four in the Minx DC imprint of women-oriented titles a while back. Hadn't read that, but with more DMZ behind me thought to try some more Wood Ryan Kelly is the artist and co-creator here and is doing excellent realist with the sets yet just a tad stylized with the people artwork that I liked. Characters all NYU students, bit soap opera-ish. Ya know, I will come back for issue 2. Rather against my better judgment I want to see if Riley will buy Frank a cup of coffee. 

And finally and delightedly, Superboy 3&4 by Jeff Lemire and Pier Gallo. Fantastic, still.  There is a scene with Conner Kent telling a kid at school that he can hang with Conner or with Superboy but not both which is well enough. written and the even better because the art is every bit the equal partner. A mild fault that the character's reaction doesn't get much follow- up, and similarly something from issue #2 where the followup if any is nebulous. Not sure they are quite mastering the art like the best TV shows can of letting things play out in a way neither too obvious nor too subtle. However what is on the page is so consistently good it seems churlish to complain about what isn't. This book is a must read.