JLA: Classified #26: As with the Superman/Batman title, this series (and its JSA counterpart) is also one which exists just to…well, just because. To understand the reason, just imagine if the other ‘Civil’ comic company started a series with its biggest character and called it…lets say, ‘Spider-Man Family’, or heck, they took the biggest two stars (Spider-Man & Wolverine) and placed them both together in not one but two ‘Avenger’ titles (one in main continuity and the other in the ‘Marvel Adventures’). Uh, let me get back to you on that for I just boxed myself into a corner. Coming back to the issue at hand, this is a new arc and hence this issue was basically a build-up for the main story. As for the plot, once again it a political one, only this time instead of one dictator (in the little too long ‘Hypothetical Woman’ arc, #16-21), we have two countries fighting each other, with the oh-so-dangerous threat of metahuman soldiers/fighters/terrorists thrown in. The JLA? They are going undercover (against a UN directive of no interference). The main story will start in the next issue, but before that I have one question. What is the exact timeline of this story. Seeing Faith as she is (i.e. in the open), one would think that it is set after the ‘Obsidian Age’, but if that is the case, what is Kyle doing on the team? As seen in the JLA title, after that arc Kyle left the team with John Stewart taking his place. Moreover, if it is before that, then how come the other leaguers (except Batman) seem to know Faith?

Conclusion: Best thing about this issue? The Kyle-Wally dynamic. Seeing them here, only makes one miss both of them all the more.

Rating: 7.5/10

Savage Dragon #0: The origin of Image own Green Man, Savage Dragon is finally revealed in this one-off special, and as with just about everything Image, it is not a ‘good’ one. No, there is not last survivor of an alien race or even a magical being…none of that here. What it is, well, suffice to say, this greenie before he woke up years ago and went onto become SD…he was one mean, evil, heartless SOB. Yes folks, the man known as Savage Dragon was (in his former ‘remembered’ life) Emporer Kurr, and this special is the tale of that man. Starting with him (by force of order) commanding his forces to destroy all life on earth to make space for his own people and ending at the point he appeared naked with no memory of who he is/was. As for the memory, it is all a mind-wipe and instead of Zatanna’s botched mind-rape of Batman (and the villains she worked on), here the whole board is wiped clean…all of it.

Conclusion: Okay enough but instead of this story, I’d much rather have SD’s origin still remain a secret.

RATING: 7/10

Superman/Batman #29: Look Ma, someone has taken the plot away from this story. I maybe one among the minority who have found some use/purpose for this title…and one from a still smaller group who liked the last issue for anything other than Ethan Van Sciver’s artwork. Still, even I found myself floundering to make some head or tail from this issue. Other than showing us how much the Martian Manhunter has changed and the one time trust/friendship he and Batman shared is no longer there, the only thing that comes out of these beautifully visualized pages is just mindless fighting. The other development, the one that tells us that whatever is going on has something to do with the Green Lanterns…well, that is already clear from the cover (also by Sciver). The only surprise? John Stewart finally made his first Post-Crisis appearance...only to get knocked out.

Conclusion: Its already clear that this will make one gorgeous TPB, lets hope that by the time this arc ends, there is an actual story to go along with the art.

Rating: 8/10