Squadron Supreme. There had been numerous Squadron Supreme appearances before this mini-series, most notably the Serpent Crown and Overmind affairs. However, this was the story that truly turned them into real people, not just secondary characters and not just knockoffs of the JLA (though they continue to wear their Justice League origins on their sleeves). The character studies in this mini-series are wonderful and often full of heart. 
 However, this comic is truly great because it's one of the great superhero deconstructions of the '80s, right up there with Miracle Man, The Watchmen, and The Dark Knight. It imagines what heroes would do if they were going to change the world and what they would do if faced with human foibles. So Dr. Spectrum (Green Lantern) is more self-absorbed and selfish than Hal Jordon ever was; Nuke (Firestorm) is actually radioactive and causing the death of his parents; and Tom Thumb (Atom) is unsure of his place in the Squadron. The list goes on. 
 The plot of changing the world is a great one, because it's the sort of thing that superheroes should think of, but it was rarely even considered in earlier Ages. The Squadron Supreme may be the most complete investigation ever of the trope. It's not surprising that it inevitably leads the Fight of the Titans that also seems common in deconstructionist superhero stories of this type ... but Greenwald doesn't pull any punches, and the result is tense and heart breaking. 
 By the time you get done with this mini-series, your mood should be hovering somewhere between awe and the desire to read more [10/10]. 
 Death of a Universe. After the scope and innovation of the Squadron Supreme series, this is somewhat of a disappointment. It's just a fairly normative (albeit well-written) superhero comic. It's great to see the Squad again, and it's great to follow-up on the miniseries just a week later. The artwork is also quite nice here, primarily (I think) due to the coloring. But the character moments are few and far between and there's nothing here that couldn't have happened in the Avengers (or the JLA). Oh, and the problem really is solved by a big (little) deus ex machina [6+/10].