Mortlake on the Schuylkill

Catwoman #49, DC Comics

With an assist from Stretchy McShapeshift, Selina Kyle uses up another of her lives, is "resurrected", and proceeds to efficiently clear Gotham's East End of its recently aquired rogues gallery. Zatanna's appearance on the final page makes things interesting, indeed. Batman's question from a recent issue of the JLA gains heightened relevance: how did Catwoman become a friend and ally after decades of being one of his fiercest adversaries? I guess a simple change of heart won't cut it in the present DC universe.

Rex Libris, #1 & 2, Slave Labor Graphics

I can't praise this title enough. This is an enjoyable (and basically indescribable) comic for people who love books and libraries. Rex, Simon, Hypatia and Circe: I look forward to future adventures and developments!

Seven Soldiers: Zatanna #4, DC Comics

My favorite amongst Morrison's Seven Soldiers of Victory series. Zatanna is such an interesting character: boundless power; the best intentions; several bad choices. Layers and layers of guilt (and the legacy of a mythically powerful father who died saving the universe) constrain her. Another compressed and dense storyline from Morrison (no surprise, and no complaints from me), with well-matched artwork. While issue 3 had the big "reveal" at the end, and this one had the quite satisfying magico-psychic battle the series was building towards, for my money, the interaction between Zatanna, Cassandra Craft, and Misty Kilgore in issue 2 was the high point of the mini-series.

She-Hulk #2, Marvel Comics

A trial with jurors from the past, one of whom is Clint Barton; Jennifer Walters' plan to warn him of his impending death; Ms. Walters' very complicated domestic arrangements. This issue turns upside down some of what we thought we learned about Jennifer's life after the cataclysm at the close of last year's run. I'm happy to say that rather than having been tied into a neat bundle, things in the She-Hulk's life are messy and still developing.

Solo #7: Mike Allred, DC Comics

Allred's self-professed love-note to DC's silver age. Senseless stories; plots "solved' by dream sequences; a really loud party that gathers in every possible teen-aged side-kick: immense fun!