Superman Wednesday Roundup - Yesterday was the much anticipated release of Superman #204 featuring the writing talents of Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets) and artist Jim Lee (last year's Batman Hush series). Some trepidation has been floating around the old Inet about a gritty, dark writer like Azzarello taking over the helm of such an inspirational character. I personally have always felt Supes could handle some darker storylines without compromising his iconic status. Jim Lee on the other hand can only help the book with his superstar status. His incredible art combined with Jeph Loeb's stellar writing made the Batman Hush series a huge hit.

Now for the debut issue. I really have to say I am reserving judgement until the story arc is more developed. Azzarello/Lee are doing a 12 month run on the title so this one is going to take awhile to really hit its stride. Like most comic story arcs the first issue isn't a real judge of what's to come. In this issue we get the basic background for the arc. Superman confides in a Father Leone (Superman speaking confidentially with a priest? I was skeptical when Supes was having some sessions with a shrink, somewhere in the early #170's realm, but we will see where this goes). Supes tells the Father about him hearing the three words that are his Holy Trinity, "Superman. Save me." He rushes into outer space to aid his friend Green Latern. Upon returning (cool panel by Lee illustrating Superman on re-entry) Supes listens in on the world with his superhearing to see if he was needed while he was gone. The world's voices cry in unison about a single event. The Vanishing. Millions of people worldwide just disappeared. As disturbing as this is to Superman the one person he can find no trace of is the most troubling. "My wife...was gone," he confides in Father Leone. The writing is good, and Lee brings a slightly grittier version of Superman to the pages than he did in the Batman series. This is gonna be a good one so go down to your local comic shop and get one today. Worth the read.