FEAR ITSELF #4 + FLASHPOINT #3

I'm looking forward to Amazing Spider-Man's big "Spider Island" event this month because in the summer I like to read guilty-pleasure books. I don't want super-serious, I want dumb fun. It fits the mood, the lightness of summer, of peaceful tranquility, mindless beach days, and not wanting to think too hard when the temperature hits 96 degrees. This is the reason I enjoyed last summer's Daredevil epic, "Shadowland," which everyone loathed. Right now there are two big event books going on; "Fear Itself" for Marvel and "Flashpoint" for DC. Fear Itself is very serious (hell, Bucky Barnes died in #3). Flashpoint is a little more fun, although still a tad dark. Both books are entertaining and nothing special. Fear Itself #4 is a gorgeous book, though, thanks to pencils by Stuart Immonen, inks by Wade Von Grawbadger (is that a real name?), and colors by Laura Martin. The book is just a feast for the eyes. The story is semi-interesting, albeit the usual heroes-band-together-to-fight-a-big-evil that defines most comic book events. Flashpoint is a little different. It's basically the plot of Back to the Future II, if you remember that. In Flashpoint #3, Batman and Cyborg free Superman from an underground, government vault. The catch, in this parallel universe, is that Superman was captured when he landed on Earth and has been held captive ever since. Now he's free. Cue #4. The art by Andy Kubert in Flashpoint is great, though the writing by Geoff Johns isn't anything particular fresh or super-exciting. These two event books are entertaining but fall short of being shockingly great. Kind of like my summer. Fear Itself #4 *** Flashpoint #3 **1/2