Brainiacs Two And Three

R.E.B.E.L.S. #10
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Andy Clarke

 

Okay I didn’t expect Vril Dox to get a Sinestro Corps ring at all! Bedard wove Blackest Night in with his own mega-story about Starro perfectly. Both people coming in for the Blackest Night stuff and previous readers will enjoy this issue. Clarke’s art is great to see again, let’s hope he stays around this time. I like that Vril’s son is now Brainiac 3. This was a good issue.

The Team Officially Forms

R.E.B.E.L.S. #9
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

Adam Strange and Captain Comet join the cast just as the team officially forms – nine issues in. Oh well it was a fun ride getting there. (Unlike say Meltzer’s six issues to build the Justice League in 2006). Aubin’s art is not as good as Clarke’s and it shows. I wish that Clarke could stay on this book for any substantial amount of time. The team is interesting if not a little big. I hope people continue to read this cause I want to see more of their adventure.

Thank You Magic Hand

Booster Gold (Volume 2) #14
Written by Rick Remender
Art by Pat Olliffe

The Magic Hand (Booster’s hand) taking away Mr. Freeze’s freeze gun was hilarious, I am not going to even try to explain it here because I won’t do it justice. This was a good issue. While still filler as we are waiting for Jurgerns to take (and I really miss his art on this book) it was a lot of fun. Starro is stopped of course but apparently at a price. I am glad that Remender did not have Booster find out that Rip is his son as that should be left for Jurgens to do. What happened to Booster’s sister, Goldstar? Wasn’t she in the last issue? Did I forget something? Great use of the DCU in this issue though.

Green Lantern Corps 13 – 30

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #13
Written by Dave Gibbons
Art by Patrick Gleason

I liked the whole Mogo’s infection thing and I liked how Bzzd basically saved the day. What an awesome character! The DCU needs more talking flies!

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #14
Written by Dave Gibbons
Art by Patrick Gleason

This is part 2 of the Sinestro Corps war and I enjoyed it. None of the Earth GL’s make an appearance so that may be why I did not enjoy it as much as the first part but I did like the idea of Sinestro tricking Natu into becoming a dictator of Korugar just as he was. I wonder where this will go.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #15
Written by Dave Gibbons
Art by Patrick Gleason and Angel Unzueta

In this action-packed issue, the Battle for Mogo begins as the Sinestro Corps attacks the planet Green Lantern. I never realized how important Mogo was to the Corps until this issue, with the revelation that it is Mogo who guides the rings to their new owners. This was good stuff, a little face-paced, but still good.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #16
Written by Dave Gibbons
Art by Patrick Gleason and Angel Unzueta

They finally save Mogo from the Sinestro Corps this issue and Sodam Yat, who is being set up to being some kind of prophetic hero, destroys Ranx. I like the idea that the Green Lanterns are allowed to kill now, as in this case, they really had no choice.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #17
Written by Dave Gibbons
Art by Patrick Gleason, Angel Unzueta, Dustin Nguyen, and Pascal Alixe

So Sodam Yat is the new Ion, while it is sad that Kyle is no longer the most powerful Lantern, at least he is back to being a regular Green Lantern and this guy is Ion. This issue was good, probably the best of the Sinestro Corps War in this title yet as they fight for Earth. I can’t wait to see Ion face Superboy-Prime (Whos is called Superman-Prime here before they got the Superboy-Prime name rights back)

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #18
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason and Jamal Igle

Peter Tomasi begins his run on this title this issue, and if his run is going to be anything like this issue,then I am happy. This was really good. Tomasi writes the battle between Ion and Superboy-Prime without making it just a boring battle. He flashes back to Sodam Yat’s life history, and his life on Daxam, bringing the character to life in a way Gibbons never did.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #19
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason

Tomasi knows how to write great character moments, his main plots are only okay, but he has these great down-time moments. This issue shows that he will be bringing that to this title as well, as there were great moments in this issue between Kyle and Guy and Guy and Ice. Seeing Kyle become a star of this book makes me so happy as he really needs to be in some title and I almost shed a tear as Guy reunited with Ice. Gibbons didn’t really explore these characters enough, he focused more on the battles then characterization. Tomasi will probably make me enjoy this title a lot more.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #20
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason and Carlos Magno

More great character moments this issue, as Kyle and Guy tell Hal and John they are moving to Oa to start up a new Warriors bar there. Tomasi has astronomically improved this book in just three issues. So Guy made Salaak look small with his ring? Does that mean that anytime we see a construct of a person talking they can make him or her look however they want? Haha if true I would have some fun with that.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #21
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Nelson

This little fill-in arc focuses on the newly christened Alpha-Lantern, Bodikka. We get some background on her relationship with her family and home planet as well as her now very unemotional state of an Alpha-Lantern. While a fill-in, this was very good. Who is Nelson though? Never heard of him.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #22
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Neslon

This concludes Gates’s fill-in arc with a fantastic cover! I love the look of the Alpga Corps members, especially Bodikka’s look. I like the idea that her sister will be forced to work with her now as I am sure that will make for some great stories in the future. Gates is a good writer and I look forward to his run on Supergirl.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #23
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason

You know I am not sure how exactly I feel about Gleason’s art…sometimes it just seems kinda odd, especially when it comes to faces. As for the story, it was pretty good but definitely the weakest of Tomasi’s run so far.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #24
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason

While this was better then Gibbons’s issues and I did like the update on Mongol, this wasn’t really that great. I mean I got kinda bored with it. If you like just action and no substance, you will like it but this wasn’t for me.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #25
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason

Now this is more like it! Mother Mercy explains her story and how she only wanted to relieve suffering but her children have been corrupted by Mongul to cause Suffering. Awesome retcon here makes Black Mercy not only sentient but also a creature that I really like. Tomasi returns to form with this issue. I also liked that Kyle is the one who decides to reason with Mother Mercy, because HE WOULD be the one to do that because he is the GREATEST GREEN LANTERN.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #26
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason

Awww poor Bzzd I really liked him. He will be missed. As for Mother Mercy becoming a Green Lanterns, that is a great idea! I hope she shows up again soon. This was a good arc, even though it dragged on a little long.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #27
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Luke Ross

In this rather disgusting issue, someone murders families of GL’s in and then rains the eyeballs of the deceased on the trainees. Pretty gruesome stuff. The art is much better then Gleason, it’s a shame Ross isn’t staying. As for the talk between Kyle and Guy as their new bar opened, that was easily the best part of the issue.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #28
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Luke Ross

The Quintent are pretty scary villains. I am not quite sure I understanding their powers? Are they really siblings? Clones? I don’t know I found this issue kind of confusing. The guy who can talk to the dead is a great addition to the Green Lantern Corps and I bet he will play a larger role in “Blackest Night”.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #29
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason

I love the concept of the different Corps, and the Star Sapphire Corps/Violet Corps is one that I am really interested in as Johns has said that even though they represent love, they are not good. Hmmmm I want to see how this could be? This story deals a lot with love…love between the widow who becomes a Star Sapphire and her late husband as well as the love between Guy and Ice, who can’t seem to make it work as they are leading two different lives. Guy acts immaturely when Ice tells him she can’t move in with him, which did make me think of his old JLI attitude. Very good issue.

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #30
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason

Okay….is it just me or do the Green Lanterns and Guardians come off as total assholes in this issue?I think the Zamarons have a good idea about the nature of love and how it can be found even in the evilest of hearts. But maybe I am just an optimist I do not know, but I think the Star Sapphire Corps is the coolest of the Corps we have met so far (Although the blood puking Red Lanterns are pretty damn cool as well). Kryb is just a creepy villain and visually appealing. Hats off to Gleason and Tomasi for that. This was a good issue. Oh and you know the Guardians’ proclamation at the end is bound to piss a few Green Lanterns off.

Brave and the Bold 5 and 6

Brave and the Bold #5
Written by Mark Waid
Art by George Pérez

This book is awesome! Waid hit another one out of the park with this issue. Batman punching Brainiac 5 was a total geek out moment. I love how Batman, a thousand years behind the Legion, can still outsmart them. I think we all know that is because Batman kicks ass. End of story. Really fun issue.

Brave and the Bold #6
Written by Mark Waid
Art by George Pérez

This was a suspenseful action-packed conclusion to the first story arc of this series. It was really good. I liked how Supergirl saw the future of the DCU but now doesn’t remember it. I liked the Challengers of the Unknown (although I know next to nothing about them) and I liked the time travel aspect to it. It was confusing but a lot of fun. Congrats to Waid and Perez for such a fantastic opening arc for this book.

2000 Klems On Supergirl

Brave and the Bold #4
Written by Mark Waid
Art by George Pérez

Brave and the Bold just keeps getting better. Does anyone else think Supergirl should keep that s her costume? I guess it is a little too nineties but anything is better than her current one. Lobo and Supergirl was surprisingly fun to watch interact. I love Lobo’s use of the word, Frak and Supergirl’s constant insulting of him…saying she needed microscopic vision to see his package was brilliant! I am not sure exactly what is going on, for example why the Legion have apparently come back in time to visit with Batman, who is now combined with a robot. Really! Anything can happen in this book! It’s great. Perez’s art evokes a simpler time in the DC Universe and I like that. The only complaint I have is that those Legion villain’s costumes are really dated. Let’s update them people.

JSA Classified 20 and 21

JSA Classified #20
Written by Scott Beatty
Art by Rags Morales and Michael Bair

This issue was really gross and gory, but ultimately very cool. It really shows how far people will go to be beautiful in our culture and how crazy it would be if we were a culture plus metahumans. I hope Endless Winter comes back someday because she is a compelling villain and this was a really great story. Oh and as always, Rags Morales’s art is amazing.

JSA Classified #21
Written by Walter Simonson
Art and cover by Simonson

Well, the art is kind of annoying in this story and I never got excited about anything having to do with the Rann-Thanagar War, but just like the last issue of Hawkgirl, this was pretty good surprisingly. So it looks like Hawkman has been on Rann for over a year now and the war is still kinda going on. Blackfire is still a bitch too lol. I wonder how she ends up getting a hold of his wings. It was cool to see the Absorbascon, makes you wonder why Hawkman does not use that more often. I also look forward to seeing his reuniting with Hawkgirl and I wonder how Hawkgirl is going to stay solo after he returns to earth. Or will she?