What the heck happened in the comic world this week?!  Between this lackluster issue and the one in Iron Man this week, I’m disappointed as all get out.  This issue felt so completely unnecessary to the story at large.  I expected more out of you, Johns!  MORE! 

After what’s already felt like an 18-issue arc, why in the heck do I need a diversion issue?  The entire issue feels like set-up for a character action that could have occurred without this issue on its own.  Some of the dialogue and beats are very un-Johns-like and feels overtly cliche and cheesy.  The story itself had almost nothing to do with the arc at hand (and I’m being on “almost.”)  I don’t know if Alex Ross had more to do with the “story” than before hand but this did not feel like a Geoff Johns issue.

Nor did it feel like a Dale Eaglesham issue!  Did Jerry Ordway posess Dale or did I just imagine Ordway’s style being transfixed onto the page. (EDIT: It WAS Ordway for the E2 scenes… sorry)  Plus, the art had an overall sense of feeling rushed and incomplete.  I honestly don’t know what to think here.  This is usually such a strong comic and yet this issue was just… not good.  I suppose after that perpetual cycle of win in October, Geoff just collapsed right into November.  I’m just going to blame this on some intergalactic pox.  Get well soon, Geoff!