Randy, thanks for input on SS and Checkmate. I will hold off on the new stuff, then. I re-read the original run every couple of years and that ought to keep me. I still find fun new nuggets each time I go through it. It is kind of odd to see the new book attempt to bring it up to the present. SS was a book set squarely in the 80’s. It was thick with political and social commentary of the times. Hard to see them dropping all of that to update it 20 years.

4) Suicide Squad re-read continues (gads, they are good)- Did Ostrander create Oracle? This was the earliest I remember her appearance.

Ostrander and his wife Kim Yale co-created Oracle, yep.

Will reading the current Checkmate be an enjoyable reminder of spy-supers-past or just make me wish for those good old days?

For me, it was mostly the latter, but I did recently read Checkmate #1-9 and found it… OK. If you’re dying for something else in that vein, it’s certainly passable, but it’s very weak compared to Ostrander’s Suicide Squad.

I agree about Crossing Midnight. It didn’t have the best of start, but the series has really been picking up.

While, I like American Virgin from the beginning, though it’s becoming repetitive lately. Like Adam and Vanessa smooches through most the issue and the ghost of Cassie comes around to annoy Adam.

Default top 5:

1. Crossing Midnight- Seriously people, check this book out, Mike Carey is playing with some really cool ideas here. The series really picks up around issue 6, so if you’ve read the trade, stick with it.
2. Teen Titans- McKeever does a pretty good job of filling Geoff Johns’ shoes. Great mix of humor, teen angst and superhero ass-kicking.
3. Punisher MAX Annual- Not quite on the level of Ennis, but I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Probably not the most original story idea, but the execution(no pun intended) was great.
4. The Spirit- The Cooke/Bone art is awesome as usual, the story is a great satire, even though the targets (Bill O’Reilly, Rosie O’Donnel, etc.) are cliche.
5. Iron Man- Still enjoying this book despite its creeping pace.

4) Suicide Squad re-read continues (gads, they are good)- Did Ostrander create Oracle? This was the earliest I remember her appearance.

I don’t know if it was Ostrander’s idea, but yes, Barbara Gordon’s first appearance as Oracle was in Suicide Squad.

I pondered getting The Killer HC but decided to wait for hopefully a big HC with the complete series and extras galore. I’m dying for the next issue already.

1.Criminal
2.The Spirit
3.Justice League of America
4.The Punisher Max Annual
5.Green Arrow: Year One

1. Captain America Omnibus (came out last week but picked it up this week)
2. American Virgin
3. The Killer Vol 1 HC
4. X-Men First Class
5. Immortal Iron Fist & Immortal Iron Fist Annual
6. All Star Batman & Robin (so bad, it’s good)
7. Criminal
8. The Order
9. Annihilation Conquest: Starlord
10. Batman

Jeez, I guess I’m going to have to check out that Killer book, huh? A bit pricey, though. I assume it’s worth it?

Oh, yeah. It’s a great book, looking at the mind of a professional hitman as he slowly comes apart mentally, with beautiful European-style artwork.