So far so good for Marvel’s long-awaited X-Over Messiah Complex. Last week’s fifth entry, written by Mike Carey, tightly captures a plan going horribly wrong, as Nightcrawler is wounded and several other X-Men left behind to face the full force of the Marauders. Cable - who will be starring in his own title next year - turns up alive, with the all-important mutant baby - in the book’s end.

Chuck Dixon is still amazing in “Batman and the Outsiders”, though I can’t help but think DC has made the title more set-up than execution. After several weeks of mashing the old line-up and recruiting a new one, Batman’s picks pretty much get the axe in the second issue - Catwoman leaves (she eventually ends up on Salvation’s Run) and so does Martian Manhunter, with Thunder possibly going the same way. What gives? Nevermind DC pumping this up to be the events which mars the Outsiders as fugitives - some guy calls his boss on the phone and basically says, “NOT the Justice League.” Wow, that’s really descriptive. Don’t get me wrong - this book is still hot, but I fear DC might be lining up to shoot Chuck Dixon in the foot with their own hype-machine.

Though it’s kinda of cheesy, I love holiday books - I’m a bit peeved DC isn’t putting together another Infinite Holiday Special this year (don’t want Santa Claus to upstage Final Crisis, I guess). I did pick up Moonstone’s Holiday Super Spectacular, though the book isn’t anything to write home about. The Phantom’s story is the nicest of the bunch - safe, simple and sweet. Kolchak’s ”A Christmas Story” is quirky, with several references to - you guessed it - ”A Christmas Story” - one character even remarks Carl Kolchak “You totally look just like that Darren McGavin guy!” Though laying it on a bit thick, this is probably the most interesting story in the comic. The Spider’s story is bleak for the sake of being bleak on Christmas, while Buckaroo Banzai’s is cheerful for the sake of not being bleak on Christmas. And Sherlock Holmes’ Christmas story just confused me - period.

The big thing coming out this week is Justice Society of America #11, which features Kingdom Come Superman’s historic team-up with the JSA - and even better - Wally West and Jay Garrick take a run on that most awesomely cheesy comic book gadget - the Cosmic Treadmill.

The Order #5 also ships this week, following the trials and tribulations of a super-team that only has one year to make a difference. After the last issue, I wanted to see more, but this book doesn’t have its hooks in me just yet - hopefully it can turn up the heat this time around.

The major Marvel event - which will doubtlessly get sold-out - is Ultimates 3 #1 by Jeph Leob (Heroes) and Joe Madureia and Christian Lichtner. I’m very curious to see how this shapes up - is the Ultimate universe loosing its steam after so many things have come to pass in the regular universe - from New Avengers, Civil War and beyond? This is going to be the acid test for the entire franchise - and I hope of all of them, Mandureia is up to the task - I don’t want to see another Battle Chasers (or lack thereof) again!

If you liked that, try...

1. Comic Rundown: Sweet Salvation
2. Comic Rundown: I Hate Marvel Zombies . . .
3. Comic Rundown: Captain Cold and Puppy Skrulls
4. Comic Rundown: Secret Spoiler Subscriptions
5. Comic Rundown: Skrulls Down Right

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