Welcome back to This Week In Comics, my reviews of whichever comics I’ve bought for the week. As always, reviews are SPOILER HEAVY. If you don’t want to know what happens in these books, kick rocks.

Doctor Who: The Forgotten #6 | Fantastic 4 #563 | Incredible Hercules #125 | Justice Society of America #23 | She-Hulk #37 | Wonder Woman #28 | Young X-Men #10

DOCTOR WHO: THE FORGOTTEN #6
Writer: Tony Lee
Penciler: Kelly Yates
Publisher: IDW

When our story began, the 10th incarnation of The Doctor and Martha Jones had woken up in a strange, dark museum filled with artifacts from Gallifrey and the Doctor’s own personal history. The Doctor also seemed to have forgotten most of his memories, only remembering from the moment he regenerated in front of Rose to his travels with Martha. They found an exhibit in the museum filled with the many outfits the Doctor has worn throughout the years, and used numerous accessories (such as umbrellas and bags of jelly babies) to jog his memory of his past. Meanwhile, they’re being watch and pursued by a man in a control room, cloaked in shadows where the only thing you can see of his face is his beard. This mysterious man claims that the Doctor “should ahve left [him] in the Crucible,” and uses the museum’s recreations of the Doctor’s greatest mechanical enemies to attack the lost duo. However, things took a turn for the Doctor when he began to notice things weren’t as they seemed, and the Martha Jones at his side knew things that Martha couldn’t possibly know. Issue #5 concluded with “Martha” revealing herself to be an avatar of the TARDIS taking a familiar human form, and the mysterious antagonist revealing himself to be a perfect doppleganger of the Doctor– only with a beard.

This issue opens with the doppleganger proclaiming himself to be a new version of the Valeyard (a potential future incarnation of the Doctor), once again out to steal the Doctor’s remaining regenerations and make his own existence solidified. This is, of course, false. When the Doctor calls him on that, the doppleganger reveals the truth: his name is Es’cartrss, and he is the last of a parasitic alien race known as the Tactire. It turns out this story takes place immediately after series four, in which Davros stole twenty-seven planets to use in an engine. Es’cartrss was a resident of one of those planets, and he found himself stuck aboard Davros’ space station known as the Crucible. When the Doctor, Donna Noble, and the Half Doctor destroyed the Crucible, Es’cartrss (whose true form is that of a large insect) stowed away aboard the Doctor’s TARDIS, and lunged himself upon the Doctor’s head as soon as his companions departed. This museum The Doctor has been roaming through is actually a creation of the Doctor’s mind, controlled by Es’cartrss. The TARDIS, sharing a psychic link with the Doctor, entered his mind in the familiar visual form of Martha Jones, and attempted to help him regain control of his own mind.

After all had been revealed, Es’cartrss and his army of mechanical monsters attack the Doctor and TARDIS-Martha, who run away. The Doctor asks the TARDIS to take the form of someone other than Martha, as he still feel bad for how he wronged her in the past. The TARDIS then changes into Harry Sullivan, and tackles one of their attackers. When another enemy corners them, the TARDIS changes into Leela, and stabs it with her knife. The TARDIS then changes into Mel, and hands the Doctor Ace’s old bat, which the Doctor then changes into the Great Key of Rassilon. They find two mechanical enemies guarding the entrance to a mysterious room, which means that’s clearly an important room they must get into to use the key. The TARDIS changes into Steven Taylor and tries to attack the mechanical enemies, but fails. The Doctor realizes they’re simply repelling anything organic that comes near them, and tells the TARDIS to change into Kamelion so they can sneak by. The mysterious room is a control room that looks like the classic pre-1996 interior of the TARDIS. They need to cut off all power from the console. The TARDIS changes into Nyssa, then Adric, then Sarah Jane, then Adric again while helping the Doctor work on the console. Then Adric dies. Again.

Then comes a final showdown between the Doctor and Es’cartrss (who still looks like the Doctor with a beard). Es’cartrss attempts to attack the Doctor with the Master’s old tissue compression eliminator, but the Doctor distracts him and knocks it from his hand. When the fight begins to make its way to general fisticuffs territory, the Doctor remembers that he basically in his own mind, and that he’s not just one man, but the sum of all of his past incarnations. The Doctor summons all nine of his past selves, who mentally overpower Es’cartrss, reducing him to nothing. The ten Doctors then congratulate one another for a job well done and disappear–but not before the 9th Doctor tells the 10th that he’s fantastic.

The final pages are of the Doctor thanking the TARDIS for projecting itself into his mind to protect him. The TARDIS has taken the form of Martha again, but the Doctor asks her to change into someone else– the one person he needs to see: his granddaughter Susan. Though the Doctor knows she’s not real, he uses this opportunity to tell Susan that she was the companion he regretted leaving the most. The Doctor then wakes up on the floor to find a large insect sitting by his head. He kicks it away, then sets out for another adventure. The End.

I really loved this series. It was truly a love letter to Doctor Who, all series new and old. Previous issues featured flashbacks to adventures that may have been, complete with black & white shading during the earliest flashbacks. The story was a tad convoluted, but what Doctor Who story isn’t? The brilliant part of this story was the idea of the TARDIS being the Doctor’s companion, as it is his only constant traveling partner. The art was inconsistent, which is surprising for a book with only six issues. There were a couple of different artists that randomly traded artistic duties, although that wasn’t a problem in this issue at all. Really, this is something I’d recommend to any Doctor Who fan.

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FANTASTIC 4 #563
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: Bryan Hitch
Publisher: Marvel

Recently, a Susan Richards from an alternate future came to the present day with a band of New Defenders. Their goal was to harness the cosmic energies of a future version of Galactus and the present day Human Torch, as well as the magical power of the present’s Dr. Doom to power a machine capable of transporting the entire human race of the future (which was reduced in size and slowly dieing out) to the past where they could flourish. Well, they succeeded, but Dr. Doom killed the future version of Susan shortly before being carted off to prison. When Reed Richards visited Doom in prison, Doom assured him that he had friends in high places, and that his “masters” were coming. Meanwhile, Ben Grimm popped the question to his new girlfriend Debbie, and she said yes.

Our opening page is of Johnny Storm popping champagne in his apartment with Storm of the X-Men and the Avengers’ Scarlet Witch. Well, not really. They’re actually two girls from a club who like dressing up as superheroes. Johnny’s roommate interrupts, and tells him that Ben just got engaged. Johnny then leaps out the window, flames on, and flies to the Baxter Building. When he gets there, the media has surrounded the building and the whole family is celebrating. Later, Reed tells Iron Man about Dr. Doom’s vague threat, and that he’s taking the family on a vacation. On the roof, Ben is setting up a giant fertility statue that Black Panther and Storm has shipped from Wakanda. Up in the sky, Johnny has sky-written a congratulating message in the sky. At Madison Square Park, Susan and Debbie are on an outing with Franklin and Val. Susan uses this time to warn Debbie about the dangers of joining the Fantastic family, and how Susan has to go incognito just to take her kids to the park. She also warns Debbie that her job as a school teacher could be in danger, as her students could be in indirect danger because their teacher is married to the Thing.

Meanwhile, one dimension away, two mysterious figures walk through the ruins of what was once New York City. Buildings have collapsed, and the bodies of recognizable superheroes are scattered on the ground. The last survivors of this world are alternate versions of Dr. Richards, and a Human Torch known as Jack Richards. The two mysterious men rip the heart out of Dr. Richards’ chest, and pull the Human Torch out of the sky. The final thing left to destroy in the sun itself, which they blow up with a wave of a hand. One of them remarks that now is a good time to check on their old protege, Dr. Doom. Meanwhile, back in the regular universe, Dr. Doom sits in his prison cell, smiling.

The first thing I want to do is express my disapproval of Debbie, who will now be referred to as Not-Alicia. Not too long ago, Ben had rekindled his relationship with Alicia Masters. However, as soon as Mark Millar began his run of this book a few issues back, he ignored that, and created Ben’s relationship with Not-Alicia. Aside from not being repulsed by Ben’s looks, I haven’t seen anything that convinces me that Not-Alicia is the woman for him to marry. Susan also gave Not-Alicia an ominous warning, which leads me to believe Not-Alicia won’t be around for very long. Basically, I’m not becoming at all emotionally invested in Not-Alicia. Not-Alicia!

Otherwise, this issue felt like the standard start to a new story arc. Things are starting off slowly, and there’s a lot of general family interaction with the main characters. Millar seems to enjoy writing these characters, and is doing an overall decent job with them. Hitch’s pencils are a great as ever, and are coming out on a surprisingly timely basis. This issue also sported a unique recap page, which was made to look like a blog by Val Richards, whose intelligence recently shot up from standard toddler levels to super-genius. If they could remember to bring Franklin back up to his old pre-teen age rather than physically regress him to the same size as his little sister (seriously, he was the same height as his sister, and he should be 12 by now), I’d love them forever.

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INCREDIBLE HERCULES #125
Writers: Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
Pencilers: Salva Espin & Clayton Henry
Publisher: Marvel

When last we left our heroes, the team of Hercules, Athena, Namora, and Amadeus Cho were trying to stop Amazon queen Artume from stealing a powerful artifact called the omphalos. During his time as the Amazons’ captive, Amadeus began a sexual relationship with a gorgon woman named Delphyne. By the time Delphyne helped Amadeus escape, however, Artume had nearly finished her incantation with the omphalos, and had begun to shift and change the world into her own twisted image. And then… she succeeded.

In Artume’s new world, she is the president of the United States, in a matriarchal society where men are not granted equal rights. The Avengers of this world are the Invisible Woman, a Spider-Woman whose costume more resembles Spider-Man’s than Jessica Drew’s or Julia Carpenter’s, a version of Laura Kinney who calls herself Wolverine instead of X-23, and a phoenix-powered Emma Frost who calls herself White Phoenix. The enemies of the state are a male terrorist group called the Y-Men, and a Atlanteans led by the fascist Namora. In recent news, the Avengers have captured the Y-Men terrorist Hercules. Artume is making a televised statement about his capture, and how the people of the US need to stay vigilant. When the cameras go off, her personal aid Amadeus Cho goes over her day’s schedule, which includes a requested meeting from Reed Richards, the Secretary of Male Services.

One page shows information about a new executive order, whereby all “unnecessary” men will be chemically castrated, and only the most desirable (strongest, smartest, superpowered) will be allowed to mate. Amadeus Cho goes to Hercules’ prison cell, and tosses him a gift-wrapped present that comes personally from President Artume. Hercules and Amadeus then talk about how all men are treated as second class citizens, and that Amadeus turns a blind eye to Artume’s most devious actions simply so he can have more power.

Later, Amadeus is on a date with Delphyne, who is his ex-girlfriend. They discuss why their relationship didn’t work in the past, how Delphyne won’t tell him why she quit the military, and also how Amadeus doesn’t question Artume’s actions. Their date is soon interrupted by an explosion, which has been blamed on Atlantean terrorists.

The next day, Amadeus tweaks Artume’s daily schedule and the shifts of the military guards in a manner that would allow him sneak into a top secret room where men aren’t allowed. When he enters the dark room, he sees the dead body of Namora, who has clearly been dead for a long time. Artume then walks in behind Amadeus, revealing that she knew his plan the whole time, what with White Phoenix being able to scan his mind. Artume tells Amadeus that Delphyne had found and killed Namora a long time ago, but they refused to reveal this to the public so the US government could still have an enemy and the people would unite behind Artume without question. That’s why Delphyne quit the military. White Phoenix then subdues Amadeus so they can use him as a new pariah. What no one realizes, however, is that Wolverine is near the door, overhearing the whole thing.

Meanwhile, in Hercules’ cell, the “gift” Artume sent him turned out to be a machine designed to help him escape from prison so he could be hunted down and used as a scapegoat again. When Hercules exits his cell, however, he’s greeted by Delphyne and the remaining three members of the Avengers, who have joined Hercules’ cause after learning the truth from Wolverine. Together, they raid Amadeus’ public execution, and Delphyne slays Artume by chopping her head off.

With Artume dead, the spell of the omphalos has worn off, and reality has gone back to normal. Due to Amazonian law, Delphyne is now their new queen, and is no longer allowed to continue her relationship with Amadeus Cho. Hercules confronts Namora, who he believes is really in love with her cousin Namor. She admits it, and tells Hercules that their relationship couldn’t have lasted anyway. Hercules and Amadeus then sit down, heart broken by different women. Athena strolls by and informs them that she’s used the last of the omphalos’ energy to conveniently restore any damage the Amazons may have done, wrapping everything up in a neat package.

This book is always a treat, if only because it combines just the right amount of humor with classic-style superheroic story telling. There was also quite a bit of social commentary about how a female dominated world wouldn’t be the paradise many would believe, and the present and past inequality between genders is highlighted as an inverted image of itself. A political statement is also made in regard to Artume withholding the truth of her nation’s victory in order to maintain power over the people, but I’ll leave that one alone.

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JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #23
Writers: Geoff Johns & Jerry Ordway
Penciler: Jerry Ordway
Publisher: DC

It’s the beginning of a new story arc! Because of his violent tendencies and condoning of homicidal actions, Hawkman is being asked to temporarily leave the team. He then storms out, smashing the JSA’s meeting table on the way out. With the team’s roster now so large, team mentors Green Lantern, Flash, Wildcat, Dr. Mid-Nite, Mr. Terrific, and Stargirl discuss whether or not they should kick some of the new kids off of the team. For the time being, members Amazing Man, Mr. America, Magog, Starman, and Citizen Steel have already left. Lightning has gone back home, but they think about re-inviting her to the team. Power couple Liberty Belle and Hourman are vouching for Damage and the new Judomaster, Stargirl vouches for Cyclone, and Wildcat is pretty much forcing his son Tommy to stay. Stargirl also goes out of her way to tell them that they can’t kick anyone off of the team for mistakes they’ve made in the past, as she’s one of the team’s most trusted members, and she started out as a superhero just to make her step-dad mad. Atom Smasher then shows up and tells them that he wants back on the team so he can mentor Damage. He also informs them of villain turned hero turned villain Black Adam’s recent actions.

Previously, Black Adam enlisted the help of sorcerer Felix Faust to resurrect his deceased wife, Mighty Isis. At first, Faust claimed to have failed. In reality, Isis had come back to life, and Faust had captured her to keep as a slave. Black Adam found out, and threatened to kill Faust. Faust freed Isis, who has lost all of the mercy she once had in abundance.

At the Rock of Eternity, Captain Marvel sits alone in his new duty as the wizard Shazam’s replacement. That’s why Isis appears before him, allowing him to become distracted enough for Black Adam to sneak up, attack, and subdue him. Isis then uses the power of the Rock of Eternity, bringing her back to full strength, and sapping all power away from from Captain Marvel. Black Adam and Isis vow to use their power to cleanse the world of all who would spread famine, pestilence, war, and death. Ironically, I’m sure, by causing death.

In Fawcett City, Captain Marvel has reverted to teenager Billy Batson, and lost all access to his powers. Billy lodges with his twin sister’s adoptive parents, the Bromfields, who tell him that neither of them have seen his sister Mary in a while. The Justice Society then show up at the Bromfields’ front door, saying they received a distress signal from Captain Marvel. Not knowing that Billy is really Captain Marvel, they ask him where the Captain is. Stargirl, who used to date him, knows. She tells Billy to tell the truth, and he reveals that he used to be Captain Marvel.

Meanwhile, Black Adam and Isis seem to have enlisted the aid of the new, twisted Mary Marvel.

This is a fairly fast paced beginning to a new story, with a lot of information to cram in, and a lot of references to past stories. Luckily, this issue uses the oft-forgotten editor boxes that tell readers where to look for continuity references. Ordway’s art is by no means terrible, but it does take some getting used to after having gotten used to Dale Eaglesham. Still, it’s an overall decent issue.

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SHE-HULK #37
Writer: Peter David
Penciler: Steve Scott
Publisher: Marvel

Previously, She-Hulk led a team of female superheroes called the Lady Liberators into a foreign country to provide humanitarian aid to the citizens after a recent disaster struck. However, the government was refusing all foreign aid, refused to help the people themselves, and told all superheroes to stay out. Of course, the Lady Liberators wouldn’t listen. They secretly took down the country’s president-for-life and installed a new president in power, then publicly helped with disaster relief.

Now She-Hulk is in jail for committing international border crimes. While she thinks over her legal strategy, her old boss Mallory Book walks in as her attorney. She-Hulk doesn’t understand what’s going on, but Mallory sums it up by saying that despite crossing international borders illegally, no one cares. The people have rallied behind her, and the media is praising her actions. On top of that, Mallory may have found a way to reverse She-Hulk’s disbarment. She takes her to the the office, where all of her old co-workers greet her. It looks like her life may be heading back on track.

Meanwhile, back at the old trailer park, She-Hulk’s bounty hunting partner Jazinda has gotten a call about a supervillain named Femme Fatale who just skipped bail. Jazinda, who is one of only a handful of good guy Skrulls, decides to disguise herself as She-Hulk. That’s when a ridiculously strong bad guy named Behemoth attacks her, and completely knocks her out. Upon being knocked out, Jazinda reverts to her Skrull form, leading onlooking kids into believing she was really an alien invader.

This is the penultimate issue of the She-Hulk comic, which has been officially cancelled for some time now. It looks like David is using these last two issues to bring back She-Hulk’s old status as a superpowered attorney, although it’s difficult to tell what his plans will be for Jazinda. At the very least, it looks like this book won’t go out on a complete downer.

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WONDER WOMAN #28
Writer: Gail Simone
Penciler: Aaron Lopresti
Publisher: DC

To recap, the Secret Society created a supernatural genetic monster named Genocide, who hates all things and is impossibly powerful. Agent Diana Prince recently ran into Genocide while on a mission, and transformed into Wonder Woman to face it in battle. Diana lost very badly, was critically injured, and had her magic lasso taken. Genocide returned to the Secret Society, who had the lasso sewn into Genocide’s skin. When Colonel Etta Candy and Agent Tom Tresser (Diana’s fiance) run to her side, she informs them that they need to find Genocide, defeat it, and retrieve Diana’s magic lasso before Genocide discovers it has the power to do more than force others to tell the truth. Genocide is then ordered to attack the Department of Metahuman Affairs headquarters, and find Dr. Psycho.

This issue begins with a more-or-less still injured Diana donning a golden armor, and telling Tom she’s going into battle to retrieve her lasso. Tom expresses his concern, and says he’s going with her after sharing a passionate kiss. On their way down the stairs, Diana rallies her army of intelligent gorilla soldiers from Gorilla City.

Meanwhile, at the Department of Metahuman Affairs, Diana & Tom’s boss Sarge Steel continues to slip into insanity. He’s decided to go down to the brig, where he will pop a cap into supervillain Dr. Psycho’s head, killing him. Up at the main lobby, some members of the Justice League have tried taking on Genocide, but were critically injured in the process. Only two members of the League are still standing: Vixen and Black Canary. Before Genocide can strike against them, they’re all interrupted by Wonder Woman’s team: Wonder Woman herself, her sister Donna Troy, Wonder Girl, Tom, and the gorillas. Wonder Woman then does her best 300 impression, and slams a battle-axe into Genocide’s shoulder.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the ocean, Zeus has created his own society of Male Amazons, created from the souls of fallen Greek warriors. Their leader is Jason of the Argonauts, and Zeus fully intends to give Jason a son to rule by his side. This new group of Amazons are set to be exact replacements for the originals, complete with a reverse rule that no women are allowed on their island.

Back at DMA headquarters, Wonder Woman recalls all of her training during childhood to fight against Genocide. Genocide, however, manages to ensnare Diana’s hands with a piece of the lasso of truth, causing Diana to slip into uncontrolled submission. While Genocide is distracted by using the lasso on Diana, Donna runs up and uses her sword to slash Genocide across the neck. Wonder Woman then breaks free, and punches Genocide across its mask, revealing its real eyes: hundreds of miniature dead bodies.

Meanwhile, in the brig, Cheetah has snuck into the cell with Sarge Steel and Dr. Psycho, and blows up most of the DMA building.

Elsewhere, Jason and his New Amazons have embarked on a journey to bring war to the outside world. In the name of peace, of course.

We’re nearing the end of Gail Simone’s “Rise of the Olympian” story, and it finally feels like she has some decent pacing going. The prior two issues felt like something was missing, and I’d say that was because Simone was cramming a longer story into a short number of issues, except this is already set to be about six issues long. That said, this is still a readable book, and Simone is doing a better job than previous writers at making me believe Wonder Woman and Tom are a decent couple.

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YOUNG X-MEN #10
Writer: Marc Guggenhaim
Penciler: Ben Oliver
Publisher: Marvel

As far as we knew, team newcomer Jonas Graymalkin was talking to himself most of the time. That is, until Ink was informed by a strange girl named Cipher that he was needed by the rest of the team, and Graymalkin revealed that he was talking to Cipher the whole time. But… who the hell is Cipher?

The first time anyone met Cipher was back during the time when Xorn was with the X-Men. Jean Grey-Summers had only barely sensed the mind of a girl named Alisa, who had the ability to phase through solid matter and turn invisible both optically and telepathically. Scott, Jean, and Blindfold were the only ones to know she had joined the student body of the Xavier Institute. When the school was destroyed, Cipher stuck around the wreckage and discovered Jonas Graymalkin, who was living underground. There is a series of flashbacks from older stories in which Cipher’s presence is implied, such as at times when Blindfold appears to be talking nonsense.

Needless to say, team leaders Dani Moonstar and Bobby da Costa are upset with Scott for not revealing that Cipher existed, and that she had been following their team the whole time. Dani also calls out Scott’s decision to keep secret members in the X-Men, saying it’s something untrustworthy enough for Charles Xavier to do. Over at the Young X-Men’s abandoned church base, Cipher spies on Rockslide and Anole, who are talking about how little they trust Ink, who now has a simulation of Jean Grey-Summers’ Phoenix powers.

At the X-Center’s infirmary, Beast analyzes Dust’s condition, and confirms that her cells are degenerating, and she is going to die. He tries not to tell her how long she has left, but when she insists on knowing, Beast tells her that she only has a week to live.

Later on, Cipher has a private talk with Scott for revealing her existence to the rest of the team. He reminds her that she is the one who revealed herself to the team, and that he just filled in the blanks. He also told her that maybe now is the time for her to come out of the shadows and join the team and allow others to see her.

Meanwhile in the brig, Dust visits Donald Pierce, who she has been talking to to vent her worries while knowing he doesn’t genuinely care about her. Pierce surprises her when he offers to give her access to his team of scientists, but only in exchange for his release.

This is yet another book on its final few issues, with its cancellation having already been announced. Luckily, Guggenheim is using this time to fill in more plot holes than create new threads. The creation of Cipher, who piqued my curiosity at first, now seems convoluted and unnecessary. If Guggenheim had more than two issues left, he would’ve had his work cut out for him by making her a decent character. Oliver (along with colorist Ulises Arreola) provides some nice art, and provides decent recreations of panels seen in other X-Men titles.