Lobo Clones

R.E.B.E.L.S. #26
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin and Daniel HDR

 

I am also sad that this series will be ending in may but at least it gets to go out on a great arc. I initially thought bringing back Starro was too soon but he is the villain you would want to conclude the series with. I loved the flashback to Lobo’s origin here and the scene with Adam Strange’s daughter. The Starros would be great to see in live action and creepy now that I think about it. I wonder if we will get to see the Lobo clones unleashed? I sure hope so.

R.E.B.E.L.S. 24 and 25

R.E.B.E.L.S. #24
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

Starro attacks in this fantastic issue where Vril Dox and Blackfire have a romantic dinner and Lobo is thwarted by Astrild. Well I was annoyed that they were bringing back Starro so soon I am actually kind of excited about it now. Hey a man can change his mind right?

R.E.B.E.L.S. #25
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

So is Astrild Storm-Daughter a Czarnian or not? I mean they were cloning Lobo and not her right? Why does she look so much like one? I guess that is a mystery and think are getting good as it looks like Rann is screwed and they are going to need Blackfire’s help.

Too Soon

R.E.B.E.L.S. #23
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

It was great to see Kyle Rayner show up as that was unexpected! And the fact that the Green Lanterns defeated Dox’s scheme was cool too. But I really think it is too soon for Starro to come back. I know I am in the minority here but I think this series got a lot better Post-Starro and I don’t look forward to another 14 issues of the R.E.B.E.L.S. versus Starro. Oh well.

Psion Misogyny

R.E.B.E.L.S. #22
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin and Kevin Sharpe

 

Starfire joins up with the Green Lantern Psion to take out the Psions who have apparently kept their females imprisoned and used only for breeding. It makes sense that Starfire would be so disgusted by this she would be driven to kill so it didn’t really both me that she did. Dox even listen to Starfire when she tells him not have a contract with the Psion homeworld. I wonder why? That doesn’t seem to be in character for Dox – does he see Kory as too important a member of R.E.B.E.L.S to lose? I don’t know.

Regular Everyday Bastiches Ending Lantern Supremacy

R.E.B.E.L.S. #21
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

The title of this post is what Lobo says the R.E.B.E.L.S. stand for in this issue as Vril Dox humiliates the Lantern Corps on international televison. This was a good issue…but I want to see more of the rest of the team. I get that Lobo is a huge selling point, but he has dominated this book the last couple of issues and I want to see what everyone else is up to.

The Main Man

R.E.B.E.L.S. #20
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

Brainiac is defeated in an interesting way hear when he tries to download all of Vril’s mind…he gets Vril’s emotions and must leave. Never would have thought of that! Lobo is involved as well and it was great to see he still has his red lantern ring – love that use of continuity! The only bad thing about this issue was the R.E.B.E.L.S. team didn’t make an appearence! I miss them!

Dysfunctional Family

R.E.B.E.L.S. #19
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

The Battle between the three Brainiacs results in a lot of destruction for the planet Colu in this issue. I wish that there was more of the rest of the R.E.B.E.L.S. team but all we get is a quick scene with Captain Comet and Amon Hakk (Although Khundian Porn is hilarious) and the entire issue focuses on the Brainiacs with a surprise guest-star at the end! I look forward to Lobo joining the team – as it has been announced. I wonder how he will get along with someone like Stafire?

Mystical Victory

Zatanna (Volume 2) #3
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Stephane Roux

 

Zatanna defeats Brother Night rather brilliantly by freeing the sould that empower him. I didn’t expect this to happen so quickly but we all know Brother Night will be back. I loved this issue as Dini continues to come up with clever ways for Zatanna to use her powers and I was glad John Zatara wasn’t under Brother Night’s control for too long. Fuseli is a great character and I hope he comes back before too long. I was hoping he would become Zatanna’s reluctant sidekick but it doesn’t look like that will happen. Good stuff.

Green Lantern 54 and 55

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #54
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

 

The funny thing about this book is it is supposed to star Hal Jordan but Hal Jordan is so boring that Johns mainly focuses on the supporting cast. Atrocitius really shines in this issue and his fun cat. Lobo showing up was a surprise too. I liked this issue a lot and I wonder who is kidnapping the entities and what this has to do with those ressurected by the white light. Mahnke’s art is as beautiful as ever too.

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #55
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

 

It turns out Atrocitus hired Lobo himself to attack him so that GL, Sinestro, and Carol would side with him. I wonder why? The best part of this issue though had to be fantastic origin of Dek-Star the Red Lantern Cat. As a cat owner myself, it really warmed my heart but was so sad too. He is full of rage because his owner was murdered. Great little story. I hope he sticks around.

Evil Alphas

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #49
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Ardian Sayaf

John Stewart is captured by the Alpha-Lanterns who have gone rogue and are now working for Cyborg Superman. The Alpha Lanterns have been a pain ever since their creation I wonder if they will be decommissioned after this storyline. John’s retconned Marine thing is really being shoved down our throats and it kind of annoys me but I suppose I am getting used to it. Kyle and Soranik are still going strong although their is tention over Jade – I hope they stay together I like them as a couple. The new creative team continues to make this the best GL comic being published now.

Starfire And Captain Comet Romance?

R.E.B.E.L.S. #16
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

This book has only gotten better since the fantastic Starro War arc ended in my opinion. I like that the R.E.B.E.L.S. is the name of the core metahuman team of L.E.G.I.O.N. It allows for them to keep the same title of this book while also have Dox bring back his peacekeeping force. Stafire and Captain Comet sitting in a tree…I can already see the sparks. I hope that it works out considering it is time for Kory to get over Dick and I would like some more characterization out of Captain Comet. The two new Green Lanterns – despite making the cover – are the least interesting part of this issue. I love all the main characters, I hope this book lasts for a long time to come!

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.

Blue Beetle 16 – 32

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #16
Written by John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

“Batman’s file on you is Eclipso Power: Sucking” Best line ever! This was a decent issue. I still am not a fan of the art in this series. I liked the Sue Dibny stuff though. Very powerful.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #17
Written by John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

Now this was more like it! Jaime really thinks like a superhero here especially with the calling Bruce Wayne stuff. Very good issue.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #18

Written by John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque, David Balden, and Dan Davis

Haha well the art was distracting at first, but I got over it because this was a fun issue where Blue Beetle meets the Teen Titans. I love how Brenda calls them the Belly-Shirt Brigade and the comments about how they wear skirts. Just fantastic. Rogers writes a good Miss Martian too…I liked her one-liners.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #19
Written by John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

This was an entertaining dealing with Brenda’s discovery of her aunt’s criminal side, and Blue Beetle fighting Giganta through her pressure points. Good stuff.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #20
Written by John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

So is the Peacemaker dead? Looks like it since he ripped the Scarab out of his spine. This crossover with the Sinestro Corps War was good but extremely overrated in the blogosphere. It only mildly entertained me.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #21
Written by Justin Peniston
Art by Andy Kuhn

This Spectre filler issue was good as it dealt with themes of the death penalty and forgiveness. Very good stuff from a writer I have never heard of. The art didn’t seem different at all.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #22
Written by John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

Rogers is a fantastic writer. He has been putting little clues into this series since the beginning. Jaime also shows his brilliance as a hero in this story. He is not a stupid kid by any means. Tovar’s story was very sad, and it makes you think about if all your memories were a lie as well. Best issue in a while.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #23
Written by John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

Everything is going crazy and Rogers winds down his run and Blue Beetle comes face to face with the Reach. This stuff has been two years in the making and it is really exciting. I know for a fact that Jaime’s family is not dead, but I still felt for Jaime in this issue. And jeeze, having a scarab pulled out of your spine has got to hurt!

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #24
Written by John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

Even more shit hits the fan in this action-packed issue. I loved Blue Beetle’s make shift powerless costume and how it resembles Ted Kord’s old costume. Nice touch. This was an amazing issue. Probably the best of the entire series this far.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #25
Written by John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

John Rogers has not only created a legacy for the Blue Beetle but created a great character and supporting cast that will go down as classic. Twenty-five issue of build up and it was all worth. Jaime finally defeats the Reach in this issue and it is fantastic. Read it – everything in the last twenty-five issues is build up to this, even things you thought were meaningless. I am going to miss him on this title but at least he went out on top. Brenda and Paco kiss and the scarab speaks English! Kaji Da!

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #26
Written by Jai Nitz
Art by Mike Norton

What a good/cute story. In this all-spanish issue (which I had translated) Blue Beetle has a family reunion and fights the Parasite. In the end, he takes his Grandma for a flight.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #27
Written by Will Pfeiffer
Art by David Baldeon

This issue has Blue Beetle fighting a demon summoned by some dorky teenagers who find a spell book. Good stuff, and I like when Beetle works with Traci 13. Nothing really to write home about though.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #28
Written by Will Pfeiffer
Art by David Baldeon

This was another good story featuring a villain from the original Blue Beetle’s days named Doctor Mestopheles, and I love when this series does the legacy thing. Baldeon’s art is good and I wish he would stay on the series.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #29
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

This issue deals with illegal immigration. A topic that I am surprised it took twenty-nine issues for a series set in El Paso, Texas to get to. But I am glad it is being dealt with. Sturges begins his run with an intriguing story and it seems like he really gets the characters. In fact, I think I liked his pacing a little more then John Rogers’s pacing.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #30
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

Haha I loved the opening of this issue with Jaime trying to go all Dark Knight on La Dama. This was a fantastic second issue for Sturges’s run. He even has Jaime and friends go to a superhero mini-golf place. Oh to live in the DCU…..

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #31
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Andre Coelho

Having Blue Beetle be conned into representing El Paso’s border patrol was genius storytelling as it will allow for some political commentary in this series. I am a liberal and I do believe that people who are anti-immigration are racist, it’s pure and simple. So I really liked this story. Doctor Mid-Nite’s appearence was perfect and not arbitrary at all. So far Sturges’s run has been really good. And Dr. Polaris’s appearence I bet will excite a certain blogger over at Title Undetermined.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #32
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Andre Coelho

This exciting issue explains the origin of the new Dr. Polaris, who I think was only created because some editor forgot he was dead and had him appear somewhere. I hate editors who don’t do their job, but at least we get a new character! I like that he comes from corporate America which makes him perfect for this storyline. A lot of great moments. People, you need to be buying this series!

Teen Titans 50 – 63

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #50 Written by Sean McKeever, Geoff Johns, Marv Wolfman, and Todd DeZago Art by Randy, Mike McKone, George Perez, and Todd Nauck

This was a fantastic anniversary issue and a real treat to any fans of the Titans. We look back at different era of the titans history as well as reminisce on the life of Bart Allen, all along setting up the new arc and the return of the Titans of Tommorrow…John’s best arc on this book. So I am glad they are coming back. McKeever’s run has started off with a bang! Don’t you just love that cover!

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #51
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Ale Garza

Not sure what to think of this…it’s not bad and I like the hints to the future of the Teen Titans…and the idea that Bart and Connor will be alive in the future. But I think the art makes it less enjoyable….I really miss McKone and Tony Daniel’s work on this title.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #52
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Jamal Igle

Awesome ending spread there…it is fun to see these glimpses of possible future titans. This is actually the second time I have read this arc and I must say it reads much better this time around. Not to mention Igle’s art is fantastic this issue.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #53
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Eddy Barrows

The Titans Army is pretty bad ass….I love that Cassandra Cain is the Batwoman of the future and that Misfit is Huntress (and still yelling Dark Vengeance!) but the coloring was quite off on her hair, along with Aquawoman’s. Anyways, there have been way too many artists on this one arc.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #54
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Eddy Barrows, Joe Prado, and Greg Tocchini

Okay who else is really looking forward to a Miss Martian/Robin romance. Much better then Wonder Girl and Robin which seems kindve incestuous to me and it would parallel the relationship between Starfire and Nightwing. Anyways, this was a nice ending to this issue. I like that Blue Beetle, Supergirl, and the Ravager are the ones who will one day oppose the Titans Army. I have to say this arc was not as good as John’s Titans of Tomorrow arc….but it was still well-written and fun.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #55

Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Jamal Igle

I liked this in-between story. Robin and Wonder Girl end their romance….thank God. And Supergirl leaves the team, sad because I was actually liking her on the team. Poor Kid Devil is treated like crap throughout this issue…even by Robin. I wish Ingle was the regular artist on this title.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #56
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Eddy Barrows

Okay I don’t know why Robin and everyone are being so mean to Kid Devil…it seems kinda out of character. I am intrigued by the Terror Titans and this issue had a lot of funny moments, especailly when Kid Devil throws the party at the tower. McKeever’s run on this title is seriously underrated.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #57
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Eddy Barrows

I like that Ravager is worried about Kid Devil….but Wonder Girl really comes off as a bitch in this issue. I mean she has a right to not completely trust Rose but come on. The ending was pretty crazy….I am not sure what happened to the tower.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #58
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Carlos Rodriguez

I really liked the art this issue but why the hell can’t Eddy Barrows stay for more then a couple issues! This story was great because it features mostly Miss Martian who really deserves more attention as she is a great character. She has the battling her dark side aspect of Raven and the naivety of Starfire that makes her the perfect fit for the Titans. Good issue.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #59
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Eddy Barrows

Clock King is pretty scary and the Dark Side Club is just as so. This issue was good but I feel this arc is a little long altogether. I think Barrows’s art reached an all-time high with this issue. Very nice stuff.
Teen Titans (Volume 3) #60
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Eddy Barrows

Looks like Ravager is leaving the team…no thanks to Wonder Girl’s bitchiness….although the more I think about it the more I realize I would be hesitant about having a known killer on the team as well. This Terror Titans arc was good and it’s always fun to see new villains introduced for the Titans but it ran a little long.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #61
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Carlos Rodriguez

This was a sweet issue highlighting the relationship between Blue Beetle and welll….Red Devil. Kid Devil switches his name to Red Devil in this issue. I am not sure that I like the name…Kid Devil just flows better but I can deal with it. I like the bond formed between the two reluctant team mates. Good stuff.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #57
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Eddy Barrows

Okay that was just fucking incredibly disturbing!!! I expected a sweet story about a cute god instead I got that before he transformed and slaughtered Wendy and Marvin. Not going to lie, I was pissed after reading this the first time. Miss Martian leaves the team and Wendy and Marvin who have been totally underused are now killed. What the hell right?! This seems like a Dan Didio idea to me. But on the second read-through, it’s actually pretty good and I am hoping McKeever has a good reason for killing off Wendy and Marvin, if they are in fact dead.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #63
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Eddy Barrows and Allan Goldman

This issue was very decompressed…I don’t feel like much happened accept Bombshell fought the military and the Teen Titans and Wonder Girl has a headache. What the hell! I am glad to see that Wendy is alive, I wish I could say the same for Marvin though. I have the feeling they are setting Wendy up to become a metahuman/hero. I am not sure. Miss Martian is on the cover for some reason despite not being o nthe team anymore.

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.

Superman/Batman 31 – 35

Superman/Batman #31
Written by Mark Verheiden
Art by Matthew Clark

Well, that was crazy. I must say I really do not enjoy Matthew Clark’s arc. Not on the Outsiders and not here. But I do like the idea of all earth’s alien being brainwashed to kill the humans and I do love it whenever Plastic Man makes an appearance in any comic so I am torn on this. Anyways, why is Lex acting like a businessman in this issue again? Isn’t Lana the CEO of LexCorp now while Lex is in hiding? Verheiden should keep up with continuity.

Superman/Batman #32 Written by Mark Verheiden
Art by Matthew Clark

I liked the idea that Superman is taken out of his trance by his love for Lois. I liked that Batman was forced to put the black rock on in order to survive…but this issue falls flat. First, because of the continuity issues. Why is Hawkgirl even there? She is not an alien. And second because I feel like it could be soo much better than it is.

Superman/Batman #33 Written by Mark Verheiden
Art by Matthew Clark

This arc comes to a nice tidy conclusion. Superman convinces the Armada that earth has some good people and shouldn’t be destroyed. I liked how the battle was won through words and diplomacy and not through violence. But I can’t help but feel this whole storyline was a failure. It took too long to come out and had too many continuity mistake. Hawkgirl had red hair in this issue like the old thanagarian Hawkwoman! What the hell!

Superman/Batman #34 Written by Mark Verheiden
Art and Cover by Pat Lee

First time around, I was completely bored with this issue. I have no experience with the Metal Men (accept for 52) and did not care. Second time around, I definitely enjoyed it more and paid attention better. It is a decent story so far, I don’t know if it is consistent with Metal Men continuity or not but I liked the parts where Bruce realizes he should do better to protect the guards of Wayne Enterprises.

Superman/Batman #35

Written by Mark Verheiden and Marc Guggenheim
Art by Pat Lee

Now this was a strong issue. I don’t know about anyone else, but I was not expecting THAT ending. The OMAC Project! Wow, I look forward to seeing how this all plays out next issue. I don’t know if it was Guggenheim, but I liked this better than all previous issues of Verheiden’s run. The teamwork between Batman and Superman was prefect. I loved their conversation about “Super-Brain”. That made a nice use of continuity, I don’t think anyone has acknowledged the “Super-Brain” thing since that first OYL story arc. Great issue. This arc is definitely picking up.

The Bat and The Beetle

Brave and the Bold #3
Written by Mark Waid
Art by George Pérez and Bob Wiacek

Waid and Perez pound out another fantastic issue this time around. Suprisingly, I have found that the Batman and Blue Beetle team-up has been favorite yet. These two characters (outside of Infinite Crisis) have not really gotten the chance to team-up before and that is what makes it all the more interesting. Watching Blue Beetle, a fairly new supehero, admiring the accomplished veteran hero that is Batman was really fun. Waid makes nice use of Blue Beetle’s powers, I think even better than John Rogers has done over in Jaime’s own series. The part with Supergirl and Lobo was also really fun and I can’t wait to see what goes on with them next month. I am not familiar with the fatal five, Waid probably could have done a better job explaining them (Although I guess that is what Wikipedia is for now-and-days.). This was a lot of fun.