Stupidly big day for comics; two of the best books on the stand, a new book by one of the best writers, a couple of ancillary titles and a relaunch of Wonder Woman. Cripes. I read too much of this shit.

What a little treat All-Star Superman #4 is. I just re-read the first three issues the other day and noticed for the first time that they're a complete mini-arc themselves, and indeed issue 4 is a lovely little stand-alone featuring a madcap capre for Jimmy Olsen, and an evil Superman. Pretty much flawless in its enjoyability. And after a heated debate with e-becca yesterday, who has revealed her Superman-hating stripes, a good Supes issue was just what the doctor ordered. My faith is confirmed. From here on, we will know Rebecca as The Evil Bex Luthor. Steer clear of her, she wears a Kryptonite thong.

Meanwhile, the other Luthor got featured in the third Superman Returns prequel comic, but this one was fairly gay. (Yes! I said "Gay!" In a derogatory fashion, and during Pride Week no less!) Yet more rehashing of Superman 1 and tepid musings on the interiors of Lex's mind. Honestly I can't imagine a single villain in the entire unified comicsverse who is as not-nailed-down as Lex Luthor. Every single incarnation of the guy, from the comics to the multifarious movies and television series (ahem Smallville ahem) is completely different. When you look at the Scarecrow, for example, you know that guy. You know Bullseye and Apocalypse and Geoffrey freakin' Wilder. But Luthor's been revised and re-edited so many times that I just don't know where he's coming from any more. What's that guy's problem?

Then there's Astonishing X-Men #15. Boy these things are starting to feel thin. I love 'em and all, but it always seems like we blaze through 22 pages in about 8 pages of actual story. So many pretty pictures, so little density. But that's okay, because Angry Kitty kinda rocked. And while I can't get entirely on board with English Schoolgirl Wolverine, I am all about Colossus kicking the shit out of Sebastian Shaw. It melts in your mouth and in your hand. Yet another AXM that I've read cover-to-cover thrice already.

OK, those are the key titles, I'll rip through the other ones because you're already sick of reading this. New Avengers #20 was pretty awesome with the Avengers kicking ass in Genosha, but I'm sort of tired of authors continuing to try to unravel the Xorn/Magneto clusterfuck. Leave Grant alone. Neil Gaiman's Eternals #1 was all right, but sort of over my head, and I'd read too many comic books by that point in the day anyway. And Wonder Woman #1 served my semi-annual need to see if someone can actually make a WW comic work for me. I guess some cool shit happened. I dunno... wonderful?