Action Comics #52 (Super-League) by Peter J. Tomasi, Dale Eaglesham, and Scot Eaton

Summary: Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman are heading back to the Batcave to try and get a lead on “Fire Superman.”  Superman’s powers are fading; he even ends up almost falling out of the sky while trying to fly.

Mae #1

I'm old. No, I mean I'm ancient. Yesterday I rounded the corner on forty-nine, and for my birthday DC put out a bunch of books. Never mind that it was a Wednesday anyway. I'm old, let me think what I want to think.

Being old, I'm jaded. I was a comics reader -- a DC reader -- at the twilight of the Silver Age, into the dawn of the Bronze Age. And, God help me, I've tried to stick with it through the years, through all the twists and turns, the bad decisions and some good ones. I'd pretty much given up through the New 52, reading only a very few titles that still made sense to my history-filled mind that wouldn't let go of the past. So when I saw that DC was going through a "Rebirth" my initial reactions were cynical: "Well, that sure lasted a long time."

So, everyone has seemed to have lost their shit today with the reveal of Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 that CAPTAIN AMERICA HAS BEEN HYDRA FROM DAY ONE!! 

Now, I do plan on writing a review of this issue in next week's Front Lines column, I have had to argue against this stupidity all day, so I figure I would do it on my home turf.  I love how worked up people are about this. You can tell none of them actually read the comics that lead into this. Avengers Standoff offers at least three possible explanations for how this comic went down.

1. Red Skull mind implant after their encounter in Avengers Standoff

There was never a doubt that Daisy Ridley was going to be an actress. It was in her blood. What couldn't have been seen was how quickly all that study and hard work would pay off once it was put into practice. In relatively no time she was acting on British television, starring across from such names as Jeremy Piven.

That may have made her a passing name in England, but it was her role as Rey in STAR WARS EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS that propelled her to stardom faster than the Millennium Falcom making the Kesel Run.

Not that long ago, in a theater very near you, the legacy created by George Lucas took its next giant leap forward in its cinematic evolution. And fans around the world responded resoundingly.

Bringing back Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill in the roles they made iconic in the 1977 STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE (yes, starting with Episode IV confused us old timers even back then), STAR WARS EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS carried the story forward, creating new villains in the person of Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), new heroes like Finn (Jon Boyega) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) -- and introducing a whole new generation of fans to Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, and Jedi Luke Skywalker, not to mention the ever-present droids C-3PO and R2-D2..

Beth Harrington directs and co-produces this important and informative documentary that follows the modern river of country music back to the winding stream that is it's source -- The Carter Family.

Before there was country music, before there was a Grand Ole Opry, there was A.P, Sara and Maybelle Carter. THE WINDING STREAM follows in great detail how these three family members became the foundation cornerstone of American country music, without glossing over the family tragedies and heartaches, including A.P.'s singular focus on collecting songs from the mountains and Sara's eventual divorce. The documentary is never dry, and is wholly engrossing, telling the story without the benefit of any dramatic re-enactments, relying instead on actual footage, photography and, of course, recordings of the songs and interviews.

The Critical Blast Best of Awards added some new categories this year, among them Best Novel. And the first novel to win that category beat out (albeit narrowly) such books as WRITTEN IN THE STARS (Aisha Saeed) and ZEROES (Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti).

Announced on EW.com the digital comic service, comiXology, has launched a new NETFLIX-style service that allows users to read unlimited digital comic books for a flat monthly fee.

The weather is warm, the sun is shining, and it's time to get outside and get active. Everyone's getting into the athletics -- even Mickey Mouse and the Clubhouse gang as they assemble or the first ever Sport-Y-Thon! There are all kinds of games to play -- even Martian Mickey, Martian Minnie and Pluto from Pluto have showed up to participate. And there lies the mechanism for the episode's lesson: Mars doesn't have sports, so the visitors have no idea about what it means to show good sportsmanship and put in extra effort. Not that they're mean whiny cheaters, they just don't know better. So Martian Minnie has to learn that using a jetpack in a basketball game isn't fair, Pluto from Pluto has to learn he has to let other players participate in Volley-Bop, and Martian Mickey has to learn not to give up in a relay race just because it's hard work. In the end, everyone wins -- including color commentary provider, Donald Duck.

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that.  Let's get to it!

Comics shipping this week

I guess summer comic season has officially started, because this is a massive week for me with lots of real big books.

Everything is looking up -- up and away, that is, for former GLEE alum Melissa Benoist. The rising star not only found herself wearing one of the most recognized and respected symbols ever to come out of American pop culture, not only found herself the lead on a hot CBS property...but as SUPERGIRL she won the hearts of our readers and flew off handily with our Best TV Actor of 2015 award.

Benoist plays Kara Danvers / Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin sent to Earth ahead of him to care for the infant Kal-El upon his arrival. But due to science fiction space travel and timey-wimey things, she ended up getting here several years later after he'd already grown up. Taking on an adorkable human guise, she works as an intern for media mogul Cat Grant (Callista Flockhart), hiding the fact that she has the same abilities as her more famous cousin.

The results are in from this year's Critical Blast Best of 2015 Reader's Poll, and lightning has struck twice for the fan-favorite television show, THE FLASH.

After having defeated the Reverse-Flash in Season One, the second season of THE FLASH finds the hero, Barry Allen (played by Grant Gustin), opening a rift to an alternate Earth -- Earth-2 -- paving the way for an historic meeting of the Flash of Two Worlds, bringing Jay Garrick (Teddy Sears) into the cast. But with a new hero comes a new villain, and Earth-1 is now the potential new battleground for Zoom -- a speedster who is faster than either Flash.

This week!

Whether it be countless interviews, numerous books, or through documentaries, the making of the first STAR WARS film has been told in exhaustive detail.  It's really difficult to frame the film’s making in a novel way.  We've heard the details from George Lucas, the principal cast, most of the supporting players, as well as many of the folks that worked behind the cameras.  Unless you've been to conventions, a less frequently told tale is from the point of view of the tertiary cast and bit players.  ELSTREE 1976 attempts to remedy that omission with the story of ten cast members mostly from the first film.  

On Saturday, May 14, Geek Time Entertainment, Critical Blast and The Iron Room presented the First Annual Costume Party in Atlantic City!  The party served as a thrilling capstone for the day's events at ACBC Con.  Seriously, is there anything better than a cool party after an exhilarating day on the convention floor?

The winners always go home with an extra special smile, but just about everyone in attendance seemed to have a great time.  Here is a rundown of the winners:

I remember once, when I was a kid no higher than a grasshoppers knee, and I was taught a simple lesson. Our television, in its black and white glory, loudly played an interview between a seemingly elderly man and some subject who’s name and face were completely forgotten by a small child. As I sat on the floor at the foot of my father’s easy chair, I heard words that my tiny, inexperienced ears knew should be paid attention. “Now there’s a guy I could trust”, I heard.

When it was announced that SUPERGIRL was moving to The CW, I predicted a four-part crossover event that brought all the DC shows together. Today, comicbook.com is reporting that the crossover event is in the works.

While I may not have been accurate on the 'four-part' comment, it only makes sense for these shows to each get a chapter in the crossover. Starting with Supergirl on Monday and ending with Legends of Tomorrow on Thursday.

That's almost a whole week dedicated to one continuing storyline! It is my sincerest hope that there is some mention of the JSA (Justice Society of America).

With roots in Ireland, Australia, and now based out of New York, traditional singer-songwriter Vincent Cross exemplifies the folk song tradition by drawing inspiration from old and modern sources. 

Old Songs for Modern Folk, is a record in the truest sense, in that there is no editing, overdubbing or enhancement with each song recorded completely straight to tape in one take: no effects, no autotune. “I created the album I wanted to hear, raw and honest,” says Cross.

This contest has ended.

The winner is PAM G. of Southaven, MS.