Happy Birthday, Jesus!

This one will be going on next year's Christmas wish-list!

Merry Christmas to all!

Random Review: Action Comics #809

"Creeping Death" by Joe Kelly, Pasqual Ferry, Cam Smith and Andy Owens.

Clark Kent and Lois Lane are on a Caribbean cruise catering solely to journalists; also present is television host Jack Ryder, accompanied by two female companions. Ryder is later found dead, followed by one of his companions and a former rival. As the body count rises, Clark Kent becomes the prime suspect.

I didn't like it, and the main reason why I didn't like it is the way the main characters behave: Jack Ryder is an asshole of monumental proportions, so different from the crusading television host of the Ditko era as to be virtually unrecognisable, while Clark Kent's occasional bitchiness seems completely out of character. Also, the setup felt rather contrived.

The only other story by Joe Kelly that I can remember reading is Superman/Batman Annual #1 which was also set on a cruise ship. I didn't like that one either, and for similar reasons.

Awesome Cover: The Avengers #57

The Vision debuts in dramatic style on the cover of The Avengers #57, by John Buscema. The decision to colour it entirely in shades of red was a bold one, but the result is startlingly effective.

Awesome Cover: Marvel 1602 #1

Every one of Scott McKowen's Marvel 1602 covers is a masterpiece, but the cover of issue one is a particular favourite. It's a shame that Scott McKowen didn't do the interior art as well.