Also this week...

THE SPIRIT #12 - This would be Darwyn Cooke's final issue.  Now, I was very sceptical about DC's decision to relaunch the Spirit.  I still think the appeal of the original stories has more to do with Eisner's execution than the inherent strength of the character.  But Cooke is a master in his own right, and as a vehicle for him to produce classic adventure stories with his tongue slightly in cheek, this has been a vastly entertaining series.  He signs off with a homage to two Eisner stories, beautifully conveying Denny's childhood romance with Sand Seraf.  Wonderful stuff, and I look forward to seeing Cooke's next project.  A+

X-FACTOR #27 - Nearly there.  I'm getting the nagging feeling that Predator X is never going to tie in with the main story, and he's just going to wipe out the New X-Men in a subplot.  But we'll see - there are two issues still to go.  Come to think of it, we've also forgotten all about the second Madrox, which is presumably being left as a last-minute revelation.  This is basically an issue of calm before the finale, as we take a break from the action to indulge in some exposition.  Still, while I'd be the first to acknowledge that the story is basically just a load of running around and fighting over a macguffin, I'm enjoying it.  It's an interesting illustration of the point I keep making about the importance of the schedule in pacing.  As a year-long storyline, this would be soul-destroying.  But as a weekly serial, it's fun.  B

There's more from me at If Destroyed, and if you're desperate for more Article 10 columns, you can always hunt through the archives on Ninth Art.

Next week, New Exiles #1 relaunches the series, with its new all-Claremont format.  Deadpool teams with Ka-Zar in Cable & Deadpool #49; and he also guest stars in the new storyline in Wolverine: Origins #21.  I'm not holding my breath for that one.  And "Messiah Complex" reaches its penultimate chapter with New X-Men #46.

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