April 2011: Superman and Batman in Utah?

UPDATED: In Superman comics issue No, 709, due out March 16, 2011, the Man of Steel will visit Boulder, Colorado in his stroll across the U.S.
Does that mean that in mid-April of 2011, he will visit Utah in the following comic book story, issue No. 710 ($2.99)? That appears likely.
However, what city he appears in is the key question.
Will it be Utah's most famous city, Salt Lake City?
Or, will it be a smaller suburb, like Sandy, Layton or even to a southern Utah community?
I've been pulling for Layton, my city of residence.
But it may NOT be any Utah city, but rather the desert of Utah where he meets and converses with Batman, according to an official DC Comics blog. (But at least that's 2 super-heroes in the Beehive State.)
With the British "Dr. Who" TV series filming in southeastern Utah late last fall, the Beehive State is back firmly in the sci-fi world.
However, it's the deserts that spotlight the fascination with Utah in these tales.

Superman returning to "Action" in April

After a several year absence, Superman will finally be returning to star in Action Comics at the end of April.
Issue No. 900 will feature the return of the Man of Steel.
It looks like Superman will have been gone longer from Action comics this time around, then when he was "dead," (killed by Doomsday) back in 1993-1994.
Superman's return is long overdue and I'm personally tired of Lex Luthor starring in Action comics.

Shy Superman?

DC Comics has definitely been limiting the appearances of Superman in various products these days.
It can't just be a coincide that DC is currently involved with a lawsuit over the character with his creator's descendants.
(However, if I was on a jury and realized DC's recent poor treatment of the character, even I'd side with the creator's family!)
The Brave and Bold animated show has been on two seasons now and Superman has yet to be mentioned or seen (He'll be in at least one show this season).
Superman hasn't been in Action comics for months. Lex Luthor has taken over that historic comic.
The Man of Steel is lucky to make a cameo in the Justice League comic books these days.
All the rumors and hubub over Superman's next major motion picture is simply outrageous, with no clear future in sight.
If DC's trying to kill the character, then it is on the right course.
DC -- don't you even remember anymore when your official logo on the front of every comic stated:
"Superman National Comics DC"????????

Doomsday is Returning!

OK, Doomsday has been seen in DC Comics more than a few times since he killed Superman in the early 1990s.
He didn't die in the first fight, like Superman didn't.
Doomsday returns again in "Steel" No. 1 on Jan. 5, 2011.
This "Reign of Doomsday" – saga has him returning to Metropolis, and somehow Steel is the only hero who can keep him from destroying the city.
In this multi-part story, Doomsday will also face the JLA, Superboy and others in other comics in early 2011.
(Also, in the Marvel universe, Spiderman will die in early 2011 and does that sound familiar, almost 20 years after Superman's most publicized death happened?)

DC goes digital in comics ...

Should comic book stores be worried?
DC Comics unveiled its new digital comic book store this week.
It provides access to read and download some 800 different digital comics from one Web location.
The site is fully compatible with DC's iPad and iPhone App.
Now one shouldn't expect that digital comics will mean comic stores will go the way of the vanishing record/music stores, but it still represents yet another challenge to the business of comic book stores.
Hopefully it will attract the prospective younger comic book readers out there, that comic stores can't woo in.
Most older, long-time readers,like me, aren't likely to convert completely to digital comics, preferring to still have a hard, slick copy in their possession.
But finding a comic you missed might be a lot more convenient to finding the digital realm.
Digital comics are selling for less that the traditional comic. For example, some are priced as low as 99 cents. Others sell for $1.99-$2.99, or $1-$2 less than the printed versions sold for.
Of course, there is no delivery charge to worry about in digital comics.
DC has Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Justice League, Sandman and more available 24/7 at
https://read.dccomics.com/comixology/
You might need a flash program update to access the site. Then, you have to register and DC accepts Visa or Mastercard for payment,
Marvel Comics has had a digital comics service for sometime now. It boasts over 5,000 titles and even has a monthly membership fee.
Go to: marvel.com/digitalcomics/

Superman Earth One

Does the graphic novel, "Superman Earth One" live up to its hype?
I say not quite.
Yes, it is a different re-imagining of the Superman legend.
Yes, there a couple of clever new twists in the story.
But the story just didn't flow well.
The title is also confusing and should not have been used.
The ending was also too abrupt.
This re-imagining was a couple of notches above what Stan Lee did some years ago, yet the main villain just didn't have enough spark for my taste, Sure, it was a new, unexpected villain, but he seemed pretty cardboard-like to me.
My expectations might have been too high, but I had hoped for something as innovative and smooth as "Secret Identity" was a few years ago.
I'd only recommend buying it (19.99 plus tax), if you are a hard-core Superman fan.
UPDATE: They are planning a sequel to this comic, so despite my criticisms, it exceeded DC's expectations....

8.5 Percent Superman!

I had high hopes for Superman in 2011, but not so.
Checking DC Comics' January 2011 releases, there are 76 total comics for the month and only 9 are Superman related. That's just 2 new titles starring Superman; three re-published Man of Steel stories and three issues with characters in the "Superman Family."
That's awful DC -- just 8.5 percent of your stuff in the first month of the year features Superman.
This is the worst month I can ever remember and I'm only planning on buying four $2.99 comics in January -- my lowest level ever since the early 1980s.
Why is Superman not back in the JLA?
Why has Lex Luthor taken over Action comics?
I also just read the latest Superman-Batman comic and it starred Supergirl and Robin. DC's world's finest heroes seem to be taking a lot of vacations lately.
What's all this "Brightest" junk you're producing too?
DC what are you thinking?
There were MORE superman comic appearances around back in the early 1990s after Doomsday had killed him than there is now.
DC, your movie plan for your super-heroes sucks and now your lineup of your comics is likewise well below par.
I guess you have nowhere to go in February except up.
And, besides wanting Superman back in the JLA and Action, when the "Smallville" TV series ends next spring, I'd like to see a miniseries that continues the Smallville storyline further as Clark Kent becomes a full-blown Superman.
Is that too much to ask?
(The above photograph is the cover of JLA No. 50, that had Supergirl, but no Superman, at least not the real one!)