Hey, we actually bought some comic books last week! Let’s review ‘em!!!

Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season 8 #4

The first arc - the Keeper refuses to call it an “episode” - concludes as Buffy finally meets the Big Bad … and it is us. (With all apologies to Walt Kelly.)

Following all that Season 4 hoo-hah with the Initiative - coupled with the smoking crater that was once Sunnydale - it makes sense that a post-9/11 America would declare a covert war against the Slayer.

Buffy’s response, however, caught us by surprise. No angst, self-righteousness or indecision, just steely resolve. Looks like the character has grown up a bit.

Aside from rehabilitating Buffy - we actually like her again! - creator/writer Joss Whedon has done a nice job of advancing the Scoobies’ characters without sacrificing the attributes we enjoyed in the first place.

Xander is a surprisingly natural fit in the role of leader, but he’s still aware of his limitations. Willow seems to have regained some of her equilibrium following the series finale (she’s wayy less whiny now) and giant Dawn is the sensational new character find of 2007.

Of course, nothing’s perfect. Parts of the issue seemed a bit rushed - the rescue sequence was especially choppy - but if future arcs maintain the quality of the first few chapters, the BVTS comic should be a wild ride. Grade: A-

Invincible #42

The latest issue of Supergirl provoked an online debate regarding “realistic” portrayals of teens in comics and the absence of young heroes acting responsibly.

Well, we’re happy to report that Invincible #42 answers such concerns admirably.

Mark Grayson is a likable mix of Superboy and Peter Parker, a teenager who possesses unbelievable power yet struggles to get through college. Like a certain blond Kryptonian, he is burdened with intense father issues and has lost control of his powers on at least one grisly occasion.

Yet, despite such obstacles, Grayson still tries to help people because it’s the right thing to do.

Creator Robert Kirkman is far from perfect - as his Marvel work has demonstrated, the writer rambles a bit and relies too much on shock tactics - but he consistently hits the mark with Invincible. Month in and out, the book draws upon the classic super-hero formula without sacrificing modern sensibilities.

Issue #42 is advertised as a jumping-on point for new readers. Maybe someone at DC should pick up a copy to see how a teen “super” character should be written. Grade: A

BEST OF THE WEEK

Dynamo 5 #4

Dynamo 5 is the Keeper’s favorite super-hero comic.

Much like Invincible, the book draws upon Silver- and Bronze-Age sensibilities (especially the Roy Thomas/Werner Roth X-Men) but adds a few twists that never would have seen the light of day in the Comics Code era.

The heroic quartet are the illegitimate sons and daughters of Captain Dynamo, a deceased super-hero who apparently couldn’t keep it in his pants.

Assembled by Dynamo’s widow to protect the city, the team busts a few comic-book stereotypes - the petite, art-punk possesses super-strength while the huge, muscular jock is a telepath - as they encounter amusing pastiches of Big Two super-villains.

The fourth issue takes a break from action as the characters reflect on their deceased father and ponder the mystery of his apparent resurrection.

Writer Jay Faerber - no stranger to soap-opera drama as evidenced by his other creation, the excellent Noble Causes - takes the occasion to flesh out the heroes without dipping into the soppy melodrama found at Marvel and DC these days.

The central issue of the book is the team’s struggle to bond as a real family, a word that is often bandied about in books like Teen Titans but usually means little.

Combining emotional depth with fun super-hero action, Dynamo 5 is currently one of the best titles on the stands. When you add Invincible, Gødland, Noble Causes, Casanova and Jack Staff to the list, the Keeper could one day drop the Big Two and make his … Image?!?

Wow. How times change … Grade: A+

Oh yeah, we bought Supergirl #18 as well. We’ve talked enough about that dog already, but The Keeper can’t help but reiterate how terrible the book looked.

Aren’t comics supposed to contain pretty pictures?