"Do you know why it's sometimes wise to use the bent arrow? Becasue the straight arrow can't absorb the impact."

-Killer Princesses #1

Back to the funny stuff! Whoo hoo! But first, the serious stuff . . .

Midnight Nation #9 (Joe's Comics / Top Cow / Image Comics, $2.50) After being gone for two months (at least -- I have a really hard time with chronology these days), J Michael Straczynski's story of a man's battle to save his soul is back. We're rapidly approaching the end of the story, and it looks like it might end with a bang.

The art in the book is, as usual, one of the best selling points. Gary Frank's high detail is perfect for this comic, matching the serious and slightly dark tone very well. In a lot of ways, this particular issue really gives him a chance to stretch out, as there's very little action and more exposition. Straczynski does a nice job of building toward the finale in this issue as well. Everything that he has set in motion seems to be coming to fruition.

With debuts like Midnight Nation and Rising Stars, I would say that Joe's Comics is a line to keep your eyes on. (9 out of 10)

The Adventures of Superman #599 (DC Comics, $2.25) It took me a second to figure out the point of this issue, which features little action and a lot of interaction between Superman and someone he saves. It hit me, as it should have immediately, that Joe Casey used this as an opportunity to explore Superman's past, his character, and the influence his parents had on him. It borders on maudlin at moments, but overall, Casey does a great job of reining in the expected. Derek Aucoin does a nice job on the pencilling as well, providing a nice issue to round out the first 599 issues of this book. It was nice to see a change of pace from the problems with marriage and the President, and just to have a calm look inside the heart of a hero. (8 out of 10)

The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius vol 3 #5 (Oni Press, $2.95) Who would ever have thought that Judd Winick would hold the laughter long enough to make me nostalgic?

This volume of the series has been a full story, told across episodes much like a TV show in Sweeps Week. While the others have consistent threads running throughout, this one has a flowing storyline that has grown tighter and tighter as this issue approached. It looks like this issue, along with the next and the last, will form an honest to goodness three parter, and it works. I might have thought that Barry was strongest as a series of one-shots, but this issue proved me wrong.

I've said everything that I should ever have to say about this series. If you're not buying it yet, you're either brain dead or dead, take your pick. I will say, though, that this issue has a wonderfully touching look at not only Sara (through Barry's eyes) but also Barry, through Jeremy's eyes. The definition of these two characters in the book is proof of Winick's strength as a writer. (10 out of 10)

Unquantified, shameless mark rant of the week: Killer Princesses #1 (Oni Press, $2.95) I want to take a moment to point something out to all of you: this book beats out Barry Ween for the shamless mark rant of the week. That should tell you something, because in my world, not much beats the holy trinity of Barry, Spider, and Planetary.

Gail Simone and Lea Hernandez bring us one of the most entertaining reads in a long, long time. The cover by Hernandez and Laura DePuy is gorgeous. You're a fool to miss this one. A fool, damn it. Go, now.

Stop reading and go buy it! (10 out of 10)