All Star Superman, Action Comics, and Billy Batson

Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam #2: This is one of DCs books from their kid line up that consists of such titles as Tiny Titans and Superfriends. However while those titles are really meant for younger readers and older readers can enjoy and find humor in the spectacle of the immature situations they find their heroes in Shazam is actually wholly enjoyable for adult readers. The first issue I marveled at how easily they were able to fit the Shazam into a childs setting without changing it that much. All they did really was make Teth Adam into Theo Adam and now hes a kid instead of an adult. A little disappointing but the books quite funny and the art is very cool. This issue is a step down from the last one though because it does venture into slightly less compelling storytelling when the big threat is a firehose going off in school. The ending to this issue gives me hope that there will be some good villains and action next issue though. Recommended if you're a fan of Captain Marvel.
Rating: 3/5

Action Comics #869: Braniac part 4 and it is probably Johns best work on Action comics so far. Braniacs invasion of Metropolis feels urgent and threatening. Supergirl continues to be portrayed better than in her own book (or any other for many years). Braniac himself is creepy and a great foil for Superman. Theres alot more plot given about Braniacs machinations on Krypton this issue and some fantastic art again. The facial reactions of all the characters is really selling the ominous themes running here. This arc is really well paced so far too which is something Johns sometimes falters a little bit. The issue ends with things looking really bad I'm actually not sure how Superman gets out of this. And that is quite the accomplishment in itself.
Rating: 4/5

All Star Superman #12: For those who haven't been reading this book theres good news. The whole story is complete now so you can read it all at once without having to wait who knows how many monthes for the next issue. But for those who have been reading it we already know that in this books case the delays do not detract from the enjoyment simply because this book is so damn good. This issue finishes off Grant Morrison and Quitely's 12 issue run with the ultimate Superman vs. Luthor fight. How else would you expect it to go down. Thats not to say theres nothing new here. Quite the contrary like every issue of the series its absolutely brimming with far out ideas and fantastic dialogue. The art is phenomenal. The story epic. No, mythic. Its simply amazing. Full of wonder and fun yet always being sophisticated. There is nothing to complain about. This caps off the best Superman story ever. One of the best comics ever. A masterpiece of the medium I dare say. Its all out there now. Read it.
Rating: 5/5