I Think We Might Have To Reconsider Our Relationship

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #48
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

The editor’s note says this takes place before Blackest Night #6 – which is obviously supposed to be #5. How does an editor’s note have a mistake!! Come on DC! Anyways, this issue had Atrocitus and Larfleeze join up with the other Lanterns to take on the Black Lanterns. It was pretty good – but not really essential reading. Hal makes me fall asleep in ever panel he is in. The best parts were Larfleeze’s lines – they were pretty funny, including the one that this post was titled after.

Can’t Wait For More Gaggy!

Gotham City Sirens #6
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Guillem March

This was an AWESOME issue of this book. The story of Gaggy – one-time Joker sidekick is recounted to Harley Quinn and the sirens finally take on this little dwarf man. Every moment of this book shined, the art was fabulous and fit the tone of the story, Dini shows that he writes Harley and the Bat villains like no other once again in this issue. I love Harley’s final lines about Gaggy – and that Gaggy is shown to still be around after all. I can’t wait for more Gaggy!

Wonder Man?

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #38
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopresti

While this was better then last issue, I still can not say that this storyline excited me. I always like Wonder Woman outside of Themyscara then on the island, and this is a very Themyscaran story. It is great to see Donna Troy involved and Alkyone is a real bitch. I like that The Olympian – Achilles – is being set up as a sort of Wonder Man, even wearing a costume similar to Diana here. The cliffhanger ending was….interesting? I don’t really know what to make of it.

Forced Split

Justice Society of America #33
Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges
Art by Jesus Merino

The team splits into two teams this issue after defeating the villains who attacked and destroyed the Brownstone. I still feel the split is forced even though the JSA did fail at this mission. All-American Kid turns out to be the evil villain Kid Karnevil which was a cool twist. We still don’t know who was behind the attack from the villains or why Kid Karnevil wanted Obsidian in egg-form so this really wasn’t a conclusion, but it was a fun ride, even if the split seems forced. But the question still remains: where the fuck are Atom Smasher, Sandman, and Jakeem Thunder?!

The Return of Matter-Eater Lad

Superman #694
Written by James Robinson
Art by Javier Pina

This was pretty slow-paced compared to the break neck speed this book has been going story-wise before this. I can’t say that it’s a refreshing change of pace because I have been really liking how this book has been but that doesn’t mean this was a bad issue. I liked that it was Martha Kent who sewed the S into Mon-El’s costume and the revelation that Mon-El’s friend is actually Matter Eater Lad was pretty damn cool, even if you have no familiarity with the character like I don’t. He just is a hilarious character, and I like that Robinson came up with an extremely plausible use for his power. Good stuff but a little slow compared to what this book has been like.

The Brain Emperor

The Shield #3
Written by Eric Trautmann
Art by Marco Rudy
Co-Feature by Brandon Jerwa
Art by Greg Scott

The Shield’s first storyline comes to a close and it perfectly shows why already he is a better character then Magog in the last page alone. He is a hero – and Magog is a douche with horns. When I found out that the creepy tentacle-headed guy was called the Brain Emperor I looked it up and sure enough he was a villain from The Shield’s days at Archie Comics – I like that they are not only reintroducing the heroes but the villains and everything that comes with it. The Inferno back-up is decent, still not a fan of the art though.

More Ugly Art

Green Arrow & Black Canary #26
Written by Andrew Kreisberg
Art by Mike Norton and Renato Guedes

Not going to lie, I have no idea who those guys were at the end of this and why they are putting Everyman in as Green Arrow again or what not. Was it even Everyman? We never saw any proof of that. This storyline is already annoying and we are only one issue in. The art in this issue was just awful. Why can’t this book get good art? Both Norton and Guedes are better artists then this crap. This book has just gone down hill.

A Brilliant And Heroic Plan

Azrael (Volume 2) #2
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Ramon Bachs

I was happy to find the debut issue of this series to be engaging even thought I was unfamiliar with the new Azrael before this. I am also happy to report that this issue does nothing to change my opinion. This is a very interesting story and character. We are getting snippets of Michael’s past while at the same time we are seeing how this character thinks through his actions. His plan on saving the two kidnapped people in this issue was brilliant, and took not only faith that the White Ghost would do the right thing, but it also showed that the new Azrael is not quick to make judgments based on race or gender. He is a hero. Not to mention he has two really cool swords!

Some Questions About It All

Vigilante (Volume 3) #12
Written by Marv Wolfman
Art by Rick Leonardi

This is the final issue of this series and the ending kinda confused me. Did Dorian switch faces with someone and is not actually in jail? If not, who was the masked guy? What do they mean by not the end? I can’t imagine another series that this story could play out in. I did like the reveal of what exactly happened in Dorian’s past but I was also confused by that. Did he actually murder his wife or was he framed? If so, it is really hard to relate to a man who murdered his pregnant wife in a rage, even if he is trying to redeem himself. But maybe I just need to be more forigiving, I do not know. This overall was a good series but had no chance in the market. DC triec their best with the Titans crossover but in the end it didn’t work. Oh well. Wolfman is a great writer and DC Should put him on something else soon.

Quick Read

Superman/Batman #66
Written by Scott Kolins
Art by Kolins

As it turns out, Bizarro is much more interesting in Black Lantern emotional spectrum vision then he is without it. Haha. I like that he said he was full of rage when the Black Lantern saw love. Nice use of the opposite speech and twisting it to fit Blackest Night perfectly. It was also great to see Frankenstein and the Bride. This was good but a little rushed. It was a quick read.

An Old Goddess

The Warlord (Volume 4) #8
Written by Mike Grell
Art by Grell

So the woman that Morgan was talking to turned out to be an old Atlantean Goddess I think I am not sure. But I did like the discussion of religion and gods in this issue and the recap of the Warlord’s origin. Grell’s art is inconsistent and I think it is the inker – whoever that was. This series needs to have recaps of previous issues if it wants to bring in new readers or sustain the few it already has. I have said it before and I will keep saying it. I also kind of wish that there had been some connection to Aquaman with all the Atlantian stuff but Grell didn’t go in that direction. It would have been nice.

Batman and Manhunter Kissing In A Tree?

Batman: Streets of Gotham #6
Written by Christopher Yost
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Co-Feature by Marc Andreyko
Art by Jeremy Haun

This was a decent issue. I don’t really have much to say about it. Yost toned down the blood-thirstiness of the Huntress which was good. I like Man-Bat’s mentioning of being in Louisiana – acknowledging how he was in the Outsiders and this. Nice use of continuity and it shows how strong of an editor Marts is with the Batman line. The Manhunter Co-Feature wasn’t as fun as last issue and I don’t really like Dylan as a character so I am not excited to see him come back in Kate’s life. But I am interested to see how this Dick Grayson – Kate Spencer dating thing will pan out.

Blackest Night Descends Upon The Outsiders

Outsiders (Volume 4) #24
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin

The penultimate issue of Tomasi’s run may be the strongest issue of his run yet. That could be due to the strength of the Blackest Night concept or because Tomasi get the character of Terra – the evil girl who infiltrated the Teen Titans and betrayed them. She was not duped or drugged by Deathstroke – she was a bad person. It’s pure and simple. I love that Krul and Tomasi are acknowledging this as for a while DC seem to be heading in the direction of ignoring the intent of Marv Wolfman when he created her and pretending that she was this sweet girl who got corrupted. I love how Black Lantern Terra is just as manipulative as she was in life. She acts all sweet and kind to her brother even with that horrible zombie look – and he believes her! It was awesome. You know she is setting a trap for the Outsiders. It was great to see Katana and Halo’s close friendship acknowledged (Although she calls her Violet again ahh!) and Katana’s family who I hadn’t even predicted would show up as black lanterns.

Brought Back Too Soon

Adventure Comics #507
Written by Geoff Johns and Sterling Gates
Art by Jerry Ordway
Co-Feature by Johns and Michael Shoemaker
Art by Clayton Henry

If it weren’t for the fact that I know Johns is leaving this book after issue six, I would be okay with this Blackest Night interlude focusing on Superboy-Prime versus Black Lantern Alex Luthor but with this interlude, it means we are only getting one more issue of Superboy and that just sucks. Oh well. This was still good. It was great to see Earth-Prime comic shops and Superboy-Prime reading them to find out what happens next. And of course it was just awesome to see my  favorite Legion (The Legion of Earth-Prime) back! But I got to say that we just saw Superboy-Prime in Legion of Three Worlds and I think he is being brought back way too soon. The Legion back-up was probably the best it has been yet with a sweet story about Blok and White Witch.

The Trial of Reactron

Supergirl (Volume 5) #47
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Matt Camp

Supergirl bring Reactron to New Krypton and the trial doesn’t go so well. A lynch mob comes after him and in the fight Reactron is killed. I knew it wouldn’t be that easy and I was correct. Alura and Gor conspired to have him taken away and tortured for information about earth in secret. Alura feels horrible about what she is doing but sees it as necessary, but she knows her late husband or her daughter wouldn’t approve. This was a decent issue. I liked the insight into the character of Alura and her hardened exterior and it was great to see the flashbacks with her and Zor-El. I wish this was more of a Supergirl focused issue but that is okay. I am sure we will get to see more of her next issue.

Journey Into Devil’s Square

Batman #693
Written by Tony Daniel
Art by Daniel

Daniel once again shows he has what it takes to write Batman, there was more story to this issue then in all three issues of his Battle for the Cowl. It was good to see the Bat Family working together (Although I wish we could have seen Cassandra Cain!) during the party and we check in on everything that is going on in Gotham. I am dying to know who the Black Mask is. Is Devil’s Square a new concept? I don’t remember that area of Gotham being mentioned before or am I wrong? I am excited to see Riddler returning to his old criminal self. The Riddler as detective thing has been fun for a while but I mean who didn’t think he would be a villain again? And the way he switches back is so comic bookey I love it. I was excited to see the Barbara-Dick-Helena love triangle again. I forgot that he slept with Huntress back in the day. Plus, I may be in the minority here, but I have never bought the Dick and Barbara relationship. I always felt like they should be close friends and not lovers.

Deadshot History

Secret Six (Volume 3) #15
Written by John Ostrander
Art by J. Caliafore

This guest issue by the old Suicide Squad team was decent. It recapped the origins of Deadshot and his first meeting with Batman – things I didn’t know about the character. It always nice to learn about a character’s history. Caliafore’s art was good and was consistent with the art on this series usually. I think there were some things that were unclear about Deadshot’s family but all-in-all I’d say that this issue was a success.