SOLO #7 - Michael Allred

Continuing DC's line of creator-specific one-shots-within-a-series, SOLO #7 focuses this time on the terrific stories and artwork of Michael Allred (which for some reason makes me think of Al Feldstein's linework). Allred's previous forays into comics include RED ROCKET 7, the wildly fun MADMAN, and a superlative run on Marvel's X-FORCE/X-STATIX, wherein the heroes had feet of clay and were more worried about their publicity and residuals than super-heroicing (new word?). SOLO #7: Michael Allred opens with the delightful story "An Hour With Hourman" in which our hero has to find something to do to burn up all that Miraclo Pill energy... great stuff! This is followed by the romping good "Doom Patrol vs. Teen Titans" wherein a secret party at Wayne Manor gets completely out of hand. The third story "Batman A-GO-GO!" is the real gem of the book, and worth the price of admission all by itself. Told through the lens of the 1960s TV Batman, it's a rather sad story of a time of innocence, of loss, and of doubt. Allred perfectly captures the nostalgia for an era that will never be again... you just can't go home. Two more stories round out the book, "Fourth World Wager", which is a hoot and a half, and "The Adventures of Lee, Mike, and Curtis: Comic Book Clubhouse!", which is an homage to the comic book kid in all of us... All in all, a great package, a great group of stories, and another top-notch issue... well worth a read!