Hawkgirl Flys Solo

Hawkgirl #50
Written by Walter Simonson
Art and Cover by Howard Chaykin

I enjoyed this book. It was decent; nothing great and nothing bad. I like the feel of it and I think setting the Hawk-characters in Louisiana was a great idea. I don’t know why I am just realizing this now fifty issues in but St. Roch, Lousiana is just perfect for them. I mean it has got that sort of historical/modern/mystical type of feel to it and I think that is what the Hawks are really about. I think the ending is cool because I mean, anytime there is a secret passageway under any building it is going to be cool. It reminds me of Indiana Jones and the temple of doom a little bit. Indiana Jones is actually probably the closest in style to this book than anything else. One thing though that was a little off-putting was Hawkgirl constantly talking to herself and explaining her actions. It just seemed out of place, very silver agey. But I don’t think it really takes much away from the book. The art was hard to get used to at first but I think that it will get better with time.

Can’t Wait For Mark Verheiden

Superman/Batman #24
Written by Jeph Loeb
Art and cover by Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines

I have not been reading the last few issues of this series for a few reasons. First off, they are incredibly late and while I understand that Jeph’s son died so that has got to be hard but still, it’s his job. Unless of course it’s the artist. Second, this series has become trash. Ever since the Supergirl Arc about ten issues ago it has only been about Batman and Superman traveling to crazy alternate worlds and just garbage. I guess it would be okay if the writing is good, but its terrible and hokey. And why does Jeph Loeb insist on having Bizarro talk like that ALL THE TIME! It is extremely confusing to read. As you can tell, I really have a low opinion of Loeb and have not liked much he has written since Hush. He has no respect for Cassandra Cain, one of my all-time favorite characters (he deliberately left her out of Hush and had Supergirl meet a fake Barabara Gordon Batgirl in this title instead of Cassie), and much like Alex Ross, he mind seems to be stuck in the silver age. And well, the silver age sucked. Period. Maybe it is because I was born in the eighties and therefore missed it but still, I have read the back issues. It sucked. I just think Jeph has decided to write about these fantastical alternate versions of characters because he just can’t write any real characters anymore. The only part that I liked in this book was when we see all the other Supergirls. This worries me though, as the Linda Danvers Supergirl is shown and I really do not want her in Jeph Loeb’s hands. I hope to god he does not retcon her out of existence or something so he could make his Supergirl the only one. This is the only reason I will be picking up #25, I am worried about Linda. When Mark Verheiden starts his run in a few months I will be jumping for joy.

Another Reason Why Geoff Johns Rules!

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #10
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Ivan Reis and Marc Campos
Cover by Simone Bianchi

This ended up being a pretty good issue. It has less action than this title usually does but it has great moments to make up for that. I don’t mind when there is not a lot of action though so I am kind of biased on that point. I like how they are finally truly adressing Hal’s past mass murder of Green Lanterns when he was infected by Parallax. This is probably what is indirectly responsible for the bounty hunters coming after him in this issue. Also, the appearence of the rocket reds seems very retro but apporopriate even though the soviet union is no longer. I think the most interesting thing about this issue has nothing to do with Hal but with the introduction of this freedom of power treaty that has been adopted by the UN. Apparently American metahumans are not allowed to enter nations that have adopted this treaty. This probably relates to Dan Didio’s comments about how the world begins to fear how many metahumans America has. This is an interesting concept because it is almost prejudice and dehumanizing towards metahumans, treating them like they are weapons and not people. I loved the scene where Ollie and Hal speak because it is almost like there roles have switched, Ollie is now telling Hal not to break the rules. I think this goes to show how both of them have changed so much since there hard-traveling heroes. This was a nice touch. Oh and the sinestro Corps just sounds like such an awesome concept! I really liked this book.

Oliver Queen, The Emerald Archer……. and The Mayor

Green Arrow (Volume 3) #60
Written by Judd Winick
Art and Cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

So Green Arrow has made the jump one year later and he is the mayor of Star City now. I think this is totally in character as Oliver Queen has always been a political guy. Some people are complaining that it is stupid that nobody would realize the mayor and Green Arrow are one and the same because of his facial hair. Yes, it is unrealistic, but everyone would notice that Clark Kent and Superman are the same in real life but this is comics so get over it. Not that comics shouldn’t have some realism in it. Star City seems to be in a similar place as New Orleans is right now and segregation in the city is also commonplace in real life. I like how Judd is dealing with these type of issues here and in Outsiders. Green Arrow is the perfect place to make social commentary in because well he’s Green Arrow, that’s what he’s known for. So now that I think of it, this is probably one of the best fits for Judd Winick. I would like to see where this goes with Oliver Queen as mayor, there are so many possibilities. So I think all in all, this is not the best OYL title but its pretty good. Oh, and I dig the new Green Arrow Costume even though its never shown in the interior of the book!

Has Anybody Seen the Man of Steel?

Superman (Volume One) #650
Written by Geoff Johns and Kurt Busiek
Art by Pete Woods
Cover by Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson

So it’s one year later in Metropolis and Superman has been gone for a year (a similar situation has occured in Gotham with another caped man) and Supergirl has become Metropolis’s replacement. This issue truly blew me away. It was well-written, engaging, and I loved the art! I really loved everything about it. I have never really read a Superman comic that I truly could say I loved. I haven’t read that many in fact…. but this, this was good. I liked the introduction of the new villain, Kryptonite Man. It was so silver-agey but it had a modern sensibility about it. Did I mention I loved the art? I mean Metropolis really comes alive in this issue. Much like every other one year later comic, this also leaves us with questions. Why does Clark no longer have his powers? What is Lex Luthor planning? And more. Oh and I loved the art.

There’s A New Beetle In Town

Blue Beetle (Volume Six) #1
Written by Keith Giffen and John Rogers
Art and Cover by Cully Hamner

It has been about 15 or so years since a Blue Beetle has had its own series and I think it is about time. The Blue Beetle, whether it be Dan Garret, Ted Kord, or now Jaime Reyes, is always an interesting character and visually appealing (at least to me). Ted Kord’s death last year did not piss me off like it did some people and I think that it was worth it because his death brought about one of the greatest storylines DC has ever come up with. This first issue left me with a lot of questions though. When does this take place, they jumped backwards and forewards so much it got a little confusing. Is he fighting Guy Gardener one year later or right after Infinite Crisis? I am not sure. I guess maybe we will know in the next issues. Why is the suit so different from when Dan Garret had the scarab? And why do the Superheroes apparently hate Jaime? These questions are good I guess because they leave me craving for more. I also think people looking for Bwa-ha-ha and were upset when Giffen said this would not be a bwa-ha-ha type series should still give this series a try. There are some funny moments in it and it is almost what you would call a dramedy. Me not being Spanish, I did find the jokes hard to get as I really don’t know what the insults that Jaime’s friend kept spitting out meant. All in all, I think this was a good read. And the new Blue Beetle suit is just,well, sweet!

Cassandra Cain Lives (:

Robin #148
Written by Adam Beechen
Art by Karl Kerschl
Cover by Ed McGuinness and Dexter Vines

This issue was a pleasent surprise for me. I thought this would be the one year later comic that I would totally hate, it ended up being my favorite of the bunch! Adam Beechen is a new writer to me, I do not believe I have ever read anything he has written, but now I am a Adam Beechen fan! This book was great and filled with lots of changes. Tim Drake is now living with Bruce Wayne (albiet in his own part of the manor) and has gotten a completely new costume, that surprisingly I am starting to get used to. And despite what some of the previews made it seem, Cassandra Cain is alive! That is enough to just buy the book for me, Cassandra Cain aka Batgirl is one of my all time favorite characters and I was sad to see her series go. I am glad that DC has decided not to kill off this great character that has so much potential if only writers would respect her more. Anyway, get this book!

Bat-Baby Begins?

As you probably have noticed by now I decided to have each post have only a single review so I can link back to it later. I don’t know I figure it’ll be easier if I do it this way. So I may have several posts a day with different reviews not just one big post. Just FYI.

Catwoman (Volume Three) #53
Written by Will Pfeifer
Art by David Lopez and Alvaro Lopez
Cover by Adam Hughes

I think this title brought about one of the more shocking changes that one year later has to offer. Selina Kyle aka Catwoman has a baby. Not only that, but it is probably Batman’s baby too. I read another review where the guy swore that this issue implied it was not Batman’s kid but I don’t see that at all. The baby’s name is Helena and the earth-2 child of Batman and Catwoman’s name was Helena. Batman does not make it seem like it is not his child (nor does he act like it his child) so I think it is still a possibility that this is a bat-baby. This development is just fascinating to me and something I never would have predicted DC would do. Besides the baby stuff, I don’t know if I like Holly enough as a character or really know enough about her to really say if I like her as the new Catwoman. I think it fits in with Selina’s character though, if Selina had to choose a sucessor to her Catwoman persona it would definitely be Holly that she would choose. I would like to see where they go with this whole thing. This altogether is a good start for Catwoman one year later.

1,001 Years Later

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #16
Written by Mark Waid
Art and Cover by Barry Kitson and Mick Gray

I really don’t think that that this book should have jumped forward one year later. They could’ve had the title change without jumping one year later because it does not seem that much has changed in the legion in the last year. I mean there new headquarters is still not even built yet. What were the construction workers doing for the whole year! The legion seems to have gotten a little cocky in the last year too, calling the adults stupid and just looking down on them. I do not know if I like this development, its like the legion is acting like the adults when they should be better than them. I liked how they introduced Supergirl though, I got goosebumps when the legion see the S-symbol in the big meteor-like thing. It is also kind of cool that in the thirty-first century the Super-people are considered myths and to not have actually existed. It makes you wonder how many other people in our world considered myths today did actually exist. The final page was definitely a shocker and I really can’t predict what Supergirl means or what is even going to happen next, thats a good cliffhanger!

My favorite psychotic munchkin returns!

Manhunter #20
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Fernando Blanco
Cover by Jesus Saiz

I have to say, any book featuring Dr. Psycho at any point is going to be a great read. I mean he is just the creepiest little villain ever. I am glad he has been getting so much exposure lately. I hope that Allan Heinberg will use him in the new Wonder Woman series this summer. Now putting Dr. Psycho aside, this one year later issue leaves us with more one year later questions. Who is this woman Peter has married? How did Cameron and Dylan hook up? And what was Kate talking about when she said there was some kind of big event in Metropolis. I wonder if this event will occur in the forthcoming 52 or in the final issues of Infinite Crisis. I liked this issue because I felt the last few issues have been kind of dull and now I am interested in Kate’s life once again. I also liked how she finally has come to terms with the fact that she is a superhero and not some kind of wannabe.