67-Points-of-Articulation Spidey took some time out from unclogging his web shooters to send us his thoughts on a few of last week’s comics. Enjoy, fanatical followers of FOOM!

New Universal #1
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Salvador Larroca

I don’t agree with Dan that Loeb and Liefeld’s new Onslaught series was a bold move — it reeks of that musty cash-grab smell. But reintroducing Marvel’s biggest disaster of the 80s, the New Universe? Now there’s some real brass balls. Ellis’s multiple-storyline, ensemble approach to everyday people discovering they have powers is a bit tired, and it’s too bad somebody told Larroca, a solid artist, to make like Bryan Hitch because he can’t pull it off. Still, Ellis keeps things moving as always. A diverting, mildly promising start.

Justice Society of America #1
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Dale Eaglesham

The JSA takes the first step in recruiting new members. The issue is somewhat fascinating in that it’s very close to being a genuine soap opera. Look, it’s melodramatic, aimed at a very specific audience, there are like 80 characters, 12 different storylines, references to obscure continuity, clunky dialogue, little to no sense of humor, and almost nothing to care about unless you’re a long-time DC fanboy — it’s cornball fiction for adults. Although there’s a serious undercurrent of sadism and erotica at work here that’s kind of interesting.

MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

Detective Comics #826
Writer: Paul Dini
Artist: Don Kramer

Cliched Comic Commandment #47: good writing can save mediocre art. That’s exactly what happens in this jolt of a Joker story from Dini, who continues to excel at transferring his concise and economical storytelling approach from TV to comics.

Midnighter #2
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Chris Sprouse

Sprouse’s work is so smooth he makes it look easy, and what self-respecting geek didn’t sit around as a kid and at some point bring up the old “if you could go back in time, would you kill Hitler?” quandry that’s explored here. The anti-gay comments are still a bit ham-fisted (Memo to GE: we get it, buddy), but this is a tense and unpredictable good time.

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