We read some more DC books this week, “Rebirth” and otherwise. (Be sure to check out our reviews of Wonder Woman, Red Hood, and Deathstroke, too.) Here’s how well we fared.

Flintstones #2 (Russell/Pugh): We’re still doing this? OK, the Flintstones upgraded into Mad Men continues, reflecting on existential ennui through dinosaurs and cavemen. This month’s issue reflects on what it was like when cavemen discovered television, shopping, and capitalism. The jokes about how stupid we are for owning pointless goods which make us even more miserable are a little too on the nose, but at least this issue’s puns land a little better. And God bless any comic that takes a swipe at decades of Fred and Barney selling vitamins to kids. Rating: Three out of five rocks.

All-Star Batman #1 (Snyder/Romita Jr./Shalvey/Miki/White/Bellaire): Scott Snyder’s right: he’s got a little more freedom when he’s off the main title. There’s nothing too consequential in here (maybe hints that Batman’s been betrayed by someone close to him), but we do get a fun variation on a theme which was memorably raised in 2008’s The Dark Knight with a different villain taking the place of the Joker. Also, Snyder follows up on his plans for Duke Thomas and tells us what makes him distinct as a “Robin” (don’t call him that). Rating: Three bats in five belfries.

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #2 (Venditti/Sandoval): Punchy punchy! No, really, this issue was mostly one big fight. There’s some character development as Sinestro argues with his daughter, but really: it’s a lot of Hal punching Yellow Lanterns. We’ve read worse, but this isn’t anything special. If you want Hal and classic Lanterns, this delivers, but it reminds you that there’s a reason why publishers have to mix things up.  Rating: Two and a half rings out of five.

New Super-Man #2 (Yang/Bogdanovic): In Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton lamented how true power has to be earned, not usurped, so that the effort of obtaining power also brings wisdom. Kenan Kong has none of that, illustrating what happens when you give Superman’s power to an idiot teenager with no training. Kenan’s learning to be Superman, and he has his best All-Star Superman moment right up until someone puts him in front of a camera. This book isn’t stellar, but it is fun. Rating: Three and a half out of five capes.

Action Comics #961 (Jurgens/Segovia): Superman is still fighting Doomsday. Is this supposed to be a feature of the new twice-monthly shipping, that stories drag out for this long? I hope not. The best Superman/Doomsday fight happened in 1992 (and Jurgens had a pretty good follow-up in 1994). We know how this is going to turn out, absent any little surprises surround Mr. Oz and the mystery Clark Kent. Oh, well. At least this kind-of, sort-of, ties into this week’s Superwoman #1. Rating: Two and a half out of five capes.

Detective Comics #938 (Tynion IV/Martinez): In fairness, Detective is also running a multi-part story, but at least it’s a little more layered than Action is. But then, multipart stories seem to serve Batman better since Superman’s the guy who should be able to solve most problems in a page. It helps that Detective has an ensemble cast allowing a rotating focus, which in this case focuses on Batwoman’s relationship with her father. This is probably the book to read for the week. Rating: Three and a half out of five bats.

Flash #4 (Williamson/Googe): Green Lantern books tend to be about other Lanterns, Superman books tend to be about other Kryptonians, and of course, Flash books tend to be about other speedsters. A lightning storm has empowered a bunch of Central citizens with powers, and Barry has to train all of them, except for the one guy who wants to turn the speed force into a weapon. Williamson and Googe keeping the fun in this story even if there’s hints of an obvious Highlander riff coming. Rating: Three and a half out of five lightning bolts.

And that’s it for now. Stay tuned for a few more DC reviews to come, and be sure to check out our non-DC book reviews as well!