52 #16

August 23, 2006

Quick Rating: Great
Title: Uhebbuki & The Origin of Black Adam

The Marvels unite at last, as Renee and the Question chase a tragedy in the making.

Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka & Mark Waid
Breakdowns: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Joe Bennett
Inks: Ruy Jose
Origin of Black Adam Art: J.G. Jones
Colors: David Baron & Alex Sinclair
Letters: Pat Brosseau & Nick J. Napolitano
Editor: Stephen Wacker & Harvey Richards
Cover Art: J.G. Jones
Publisher: DC Comics

I suppose I shouldn’t be, but I’m pretty surprised that the Black Adam storyline of 52 has honestly turned into my favorite in the series – and this issue is a big one. Adam and Isis are planning a very special event with some very special guests – the Captain Marvel family. Billy is (apparently) feeling better since the last time we saw him, and Isis is acclimating nicely to her role in Khandaq. In fact, her very presence seems to be changing Adam for the better.

As their ceremony begins, though, Renee and the Question – fresh out of Black Adam’s prison — undertake a frantic chase of their own. The search that brought them to Khandaq in the first place has led them to a bomber, and if they can’t find it soon, the ceremony may well turn into a bloodbath.

This issue is a fantastic mix of these two related but separate stories. The writers shift seamlessly from the more quiet, tranquil story of Adam and Isis to the fast-paced search sequences. We also get a brief glimpse at one of the other ongoing storylines, one that’s been somewhat arrested lately, but this issue things really take off. I’m expecting it to really go places soon.

Joe Bennett’s artwork (over Keith Giffen’s breakdowns, of course), is just fine. There were a few scenes with such facial expressions (particularly on Mary Marvel) that I had to check to make sure Kevin Maguire wasn’t handling the issue. The issue is broken and choreographed very well, and Bennett has a nice, light touch on the faces that works very well.

To go with the lead story, this issue’s origin backup is Black Adam himself, with art by cover artist J.G. Jones. Like all of the “origin” back-ups, Mark Waid has done a really good job of distilling the character’s basics down to two pages, with a handy recommended reading list at the end for new fans who want to check in on his major storylines.

The best issue of 52 yet? Well, that’s arguable. But this is definitely in the running for my personal favorite.

Rating: 9/10

52 #14

August 9, 2006

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Sand and Rust

As Renee and the Question head to Kahndaq, John Henry comes from hiding.

Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka & Mark Waid
Pencils: Dale Eaglesham
Inks: Art Thibert
Origin Story Art: Eric Powell
Colors: Alex Sinclair, Trish Mulvihill
Letters: Travis Lanham, Nick J. Napolitano
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Cover Art: J.G. Jones
Publisher: DC Comics

This is one of those quieter issues of 52 that has drawn scorn from readers who don’t seem to appreciate that they’re reading a chapter of a novel at a time – it’s low on the earth-shattering moments, but it does advance several of the ongoing plots, most notably the Montoya/Question storyline. As Renee and “Charlie” go to Kahndaq to investigate Black Adam’s possible ties to Intergang, they see firsthand what the rule of a god on Earth has done to the country, and it isn’t exactly what they expected. This is the first time two of our ongoing storylines have really converged like this (although the principal characters from the two still haven’t met), and I’m very interested to see what’s going to happen to these two next… and especially interested in the cryptic comments “Charlie” keeps making about Renee.

We also check in on John Henry Irons this week – the former Steel has been mostly absent since his niece joined up with Lex Luthor and he himself began a transformation into a creature of living metal. This issue we see what he’s been doing, and it’s clear he is reaching his limit as surely as Ralph Dibney did last week. This story really feels like we’re watching a metamorphosis, watching John Henry change from one kind of hero to something else. As he’s one of my favorite DC characters, I’m keeping my fingers crossed as to what form that transformation takes.

The series was initially discussed as involving six principal characters and/or storylines, but as Montoya and the Question immediately came together, we saw two storylines rush in to fill the gap – that of the missing space heroes and that of Will Magnus, who gets some spotlight time here. He’s working on rebuilding his greatest creations, the Metal Men, when he gets some unwanted pressure. As he makes his regular trip to visit his mentor, the mad scientist T.O. Morrow, he gets another surprise altogether. I find that the mystery of the missing scientists, which has been part of this book since the outset, is just as intriguing to me as everything else.

I didn’t check the credits to see who this week’s artist is at first, and it’s a credit to how popular Dale Eaglesham has become since Villains United that I recognized his style about halfway through the book. He brings that same style here, and although he doesn’t have as much action to work with, he does just fine.

The “Origin” back ups in this series have been a vast improvement over the disappointing “History of the DC Universe” storyline, and this issue’s spotlight on Metamorpho is no exception. Mark Waid, as always, manages to encapsulate the character’s story and abilities in a taught two pages, illustrated nicely by Eric Powell. It works.

This is an issue of 52 for people who appreciate development in their stories. You get it here in spades.

Rating: 8/10

Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1

June 28, 2007

Quick Rating: Excellent
Title: The Second Rebirth

The greatest threat to the Green Lantern Corps rises!

Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Ethan Van Sciver & Dave Gibbons
Colors: Moose Baumann
Letters: Rob Leigh
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Cover Art: Ethan Van Sciver
Publisher: DC Comics

For months now, a mysterious force has been going throughout the universe, recruiting beings with the ability to create great fear. In this exemplary special, the full power of the Sinestro Corps is known, and the DC Universe knows fear like never before.

While on Earth, the Justice League rounds up members of the Society to inquire about Sinestro’s whereabouts, in outer space, Kyle Rayner and a pair of fellow GLs encounter Sinestro rings spinning through the universe. The rings are only the first salvo, though, and before the book is halfway over it is clear that the Green Lantern Corps is in for perhaps the deadliest war it has ever known.

Geoff Johns does what he does best here – he pulls together disparate continuity threads to tell his story. It’s clear, reading this issue, that he has been planning this epic for a long time, as he picks up on story threads from his own Green Lantern: Rebirth, Infinite Crisis and 52, as well as several tales written by other writers (Ion, for instance), to create a story with a universal threat, but that is singularly unique to the Green Lantern titles. This is a story about fear – that’s Sinestro’s weapon. And to have any chance at victory, he has to find a way to create fear in a warrior class specifically chosen for its fearlessness.

And he does it.

Johns re-teams with his Rebirth partner Ethan Van Sciver on the artwork, and Van Sciver again proves just how good he is. His designs for the disparate aliens that make up the Sinestro Corps are the stuff of nightmares, and it’s easy to see on the faces of our heroes just how much hell they’ve been put through. They look like heroes who have already come through a war, and this is a war that’s just beginning.

Johns and Dave Gibbons team up for a back-up tale as well, re-telling Sinestro’s origin from his own particularly biased point of view. This works well as a nice primer for a newer fan who may not quite recognize Sinestro or understand what makes him such a threat.

If you haven’t read Green Lantern in a while, this is the book to come back for. Johns and Van Sciver have made magic together more than once in the past, and it’s a blast to see them doing it again.

Rating: 10

52 #8

June 29, 2006

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Thief

A new hero appears, old heroes reunite and John Henry Irons begins a chilling transformation.

Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid & Dan Jurgens
Breakdowns: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Eddy Barrows & Dan Jurgens
Inks: Rob Stull & Andy Lanning
Colors: Alex Sinclair, Jeromy Cox & Guy Major
Letters: Travis Lanham & Nick J. Napolitano
Editors: Stephen Wacker, Eddie Berganza, Ivan Cohen & Jeanine Schaefer
Cover Art: J.G. Jones & Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics

Review: There’s an awful lot going on in this week’s issue of 52, and as much of it involves Steel, that makes me a very happy camper. John Henry Irons is beginning to exhibit symptoms of a very bizarre transformation, and a checkup at S.T.A.R. Labs proves his worst fears realized. At the same time his niece, Natasha, fed up with trying to build her own armor to replace the one John Henry took from her, begins to ponder Lex Luthor’s metagene project.

Meanwhile, Ralph Dibney recruits an old friend to help his investigation into the Cult of Conner, Booster Gold defends himself to the media, a new superhero appears in Metropolis and the space trio of Adam Strange, Animal Man and Starfire run across a new threat. It’s hard to imagine how any comic could pack more story into such a relatively short page length.

The Steel stuff continues to be my favorite aspect of 52. John Henry is one of my favorite DC characters, and seeing him face off against Lex Luthor in Superman’s absence is immensely satisfying. Natasha’s “teenage rebellion” story arc is working as well, and between the two of them it seems like Steel’s corner of Superman’s universe is in for some major changes.

Ralph’s storyline this issue also gives us a lot to go on, as we see the planting of some of one of the best “One Year Later” storylines so far. The new hero that arrives this issue only makes a quick, mysterious appearance that helps build up the drama surrounding him.

Eddy Barrows’s pencils this issue are quite an improvement over the last couple of issues – while Keith Giffen’s layouts help this book maintain a consistent look no matter who the penciller is, some will invariably be better than others, and I like what Barrows does here.

As for Dan Jurgens’s “History of the DC Universe” segment… well… I’m a Jurgens fan from way back, but I just can’t wring any enjoyment out of this feature. It’s just treading water, going over stuff that long-time readers already know and new readers will just be confused by. It’s wasted potential all around. I’m just glad there are only three weeks left before we finish it off and move on to the origin stories that will make up the rest of this title’s run.

Rating: 8/10

Superman/Batman #34

April 20, 2007
Superman/Batman #34 (DC Comics)
By Mark Verheiden & Pat Lee

The Metal Men are back, and the break-in at a Waynetech Research Facility sends them crossing paths with the World’s Finest. The Metal Men are one of those favorite B-list properties that haven’t had a chance to shine in the last few years, but with the word that there’s a movie in the works, that’s due to change. I really like Pat Lee‘s redesign of the characters, and the introduction of a new Metal Man (technically, a second Metal Woman) in Copper works fairly organically. The two big problems I have with this issue are — first, Lee‘s art. This is as true today as it was when he was doing TransFormers. He does great robots, but his humans just don’t look very good at all. Second, I know this title is only loosely anchored in continuity at best, but I really don’t care for the idea of reintroducing the Metal Men here as if they were brand new characters. They may be B-list, but they’ve been around for decades and have a lot of history with our two leads. Giving them a reboot just as they’re being used wonderfully in 52 and gearing up for a movie? It just doesn’t seem necessary to me.
Rating: 6/10

52 #33

December 21, 2006

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Nightwing brings Batwoman a gift, Luthor plays Santa, and Ralph spends Christmas on memory lane.

Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid
Breakdowns: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Joe Prado, Tom Derenick
Inks: Jay Leisten, Rodney Ramos
Colors: David Baron
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Origin Art: Tom Mandrake
Editors: Stephen Wacker & Michael Siglain
Cover Art: J.G. Jones
Publisher: DC Comics

It’s Christmas in the DC Universe’s missing year, and this week the 52 crew is taking the time to touch base with most of our ongoing storylines. As Batwoman holds her vigil over Gotham City, Nightwing pays her a visit and gives her a very important gift. Back in Kate Kane’s apartment, Renee Montoya is keeping a quiet vigil over her friend Charlie (alias The Question), whose cancer is quickly eating away at him.
Ralph Dibney, meanwhile, has elected to spend the holidays in Central City, visiting the Flash Museum’s Elongated Man exhibit. Ralph is on a mission here, but the way we see him makes on worry exactly what path he’s headed down. Back in Metropolis, Lex Luthor has Christmas gifts for the members of his Infinity, Inc. team. One of the team is down, though, and in him Luthor may find the key to unlocking the Everyman project for everyone. Meanwhile, the Black Marvel family makes a gesture to prove Black Adam’s change of heart to the world.

It’s rare for an issue of 52 to touch upon so many of the ongoing storylines in one issue, but this issue balances things very well. None of the scenes feel superfluous and, in fact, each of our many storylines contains genuine development for the plot. The writers even manage to work in a quick two-page montage demonstrating what other characters from across the DCU are doing on this Christmas.

This week’s origin two-pager is the Martian Manhunter, with art by Tom Mandrake (whom longtime DC fans will remember was the regular artist on J’onn’s last chance at a solo ongoing series). As usual, the origin is a neat, concise summation of the character. On the bad side, this issue confirms for me that it isn’t just the Martian Manhunter artist’s rendition of J’onn’s new look that I don’t like – if it doesn’t look good with Tom Mandrake drawing it, I doubt any artist could get me to like it.

Rating: 8/10

52 #25

October 26, 2006

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Liminal Times

Halloween in the One Year Gap!

Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid
Layouts: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Joe Bennett, Dale Eaglesham, Phil Jimenez, Patrick Oliffe, George Perez
Inks: Ruy Jose, Art Thibert, Andy Lanning, Drew Geraci
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Phil Balsman
Editor: Steven Wacker
Cover Art: J.G. Jones
Publisher: DC Comics

Like every issue of 52 thus far, there’s a ton of stuff going on, and it’s all to the good. In Gotham City, Bruno “Ugly” Mannheim is cementing Intergang’s hold on the city with a crime summit. The demonic Sabbac attacks Boston, sending both Marvel families into action, Ralph Dibney encounters an old Justice League foe in a very unforgiving environment, the new Infinity, Inc. heads out against some veteran villains, Alan Scott makes Mr. Terrific an intriguing offer (GASP) and on Oolong Island, Will Magnus learns more about why he’s been brought there.

This is an issue where the “realtime” gimmick of 52 really works to the book’s advantage – showing the Marvels’ first meeting with their “Black Marvel” counterparts in the middle of a crowded riot of trick-or-treaters was a nice touch. The Ralph Dibney scenes, however, really stole the book. With a dash of DC history (and some beautiful artwork), Ralph descends into the depths of Hell.

What really amazes me about this title is how it’s possible, week to week, to keep track of all the various storylines. It’s clear that 52 now features far more than the originally-advertised six stories, but even with the half-dozen intersecting plots here, there’s no trouble telling who’s doing what, where, and with whom. You don’t need a scorecard for this. Maybe it would be hard if I was waiting month to month for each chapter, but for a one-month gap, there’s no trouble at all.

The artwork is a bit more troublesome to me. It took 25 chapters, but we finally hit something of a “jam” issue, with multiple art teams handling different aspects of the story. For this issue, it worked pretty well – Jimenez on the Ralph scenes, Oliffe on Infinity, Inc. and Mr. Terrific… each segment had its own distinct flavor, and I was okay with that. I don’t know if I’d like every issue to be that way, however. Although I suppose ultimately, once the series is read as a whole, it will have that feeling regardless.

For this week’s origin story, Mark Waid tackles Nightwing, with art by George Perez. Like all the origin stories, it’s a nice, two-page capsule of the character. Unlike most other origin stories, though, we also get something of a glimpse into the future of the regular series. Not the far future, but we do see a little further than the most recent issue of Nightwing brought us, and that’s quite interesting.

All in all, Halloween in the one-year gap turned out pretty well.

Rating: 8/10

52 #6

June 14, 2006

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: China Syndrome

The Green Lanterns meet the protectors of China, and Booster Gold seeks out a fellow time-traveler.

Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Dan Jurgens
Breakdowns: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Joe Bennett, Dan Jurgens
Inks: Ruy Jose, Andy Lanning
Colors: Alex Sinclair, Guy Major & Jeromy Cox
Letters: Nick J. Napolitano
Editors: Stephen Wacker, Eddie Berganza & Jeanine Schaeffer
Cover Art: J.G. Jones & Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics

When the Green Lanterns pursue their old enemy Evilstar into China, a group of eastern superheroes face off against them, standing side-by-side with Black Adam. Meanwhile, Booster Gold tracks down the lost Rip Hunter, master of time, and sets out to get some answers about his own twisted perceptions.

After last issue’s knockout punch, this issue is slightly subdued. The bulk of the issue is the Black Adam/Green Lantern story, which is notable for introducing the Great Ten, but more importantly, begins to establish the new political landscape of the DC Universe. We begin to see how different nations react to the superhero community and where the alliances lie. As for the new heroes themselves, you can feel Grant Morrison’s fingerprints all over them – with some really bizarre powers and unusual names that reflect their culture of origin. Names like “August General in Iron” and “Mother of Champions” are no doubt literal translations of names that sound better if you speak Chinese, which ads a touch of realism.

The Booster Gold story is more intriguing, at least to a hardcore DC fan. He uncovers something pretty disturbing this issue that, like last issue’s revelations, has the feel of laying groundwork for the series as a whole. The visit to Rip Hunter’s lair is a particular treat – the two-page spread in this issue is full of clues and Easter Eggs that no doubt have the longtime DC reader salivating in anticipation. Will all of these tidbits come to fruition? Probably not, but man, it’s going to be a lot of fun to speculate.

I’m sorry to say that the “History of the DC Universe” series, chapter five of which is included this issue, remains the weak point for 52. Unlike the original series (which followed up the original Crisis on Infinite Earths), this series so far has been little more than a learned by rote recitation of DC history as we already knew it, not really shedding any new light on how the “new” Earth’s history was pieced together. For longtime fans, it’s redundant. If the intent, on the other hand, is to help new readers find a gateway into the universe, the chapters are too short and don’t give enough information.

I hate to say it, but I’ll be glad when the “History” series will end and be replaced by the two-page origin stories we’ve been promised. 52 has been a fantastic read in the first six weeks, but the back-up has failed to live up to the immensely satisfying main content.

Rating: 8/10

52 #2

May 17, 2006

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Looking Back at Tomorrow

A new question for Booster, a new path for Renee and a new mystery for Ralph!

Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid & Dan Jurgens
Breakdowns: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Joe Bennett & Dan Jurgens
Inks: Jack Jadson & Art Thibert
Colors: Alex Sinclair, Guy Major & Jeromy Cox
Letters: Travis Lanham & Nick J. Napolitano
Editors: Stephen Wacker, Eddie Berganza, Ivan Cohen & Jeanine Schaefer
Cover Art: J.G. Jones & Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics

After a first issue that was, by necessity, mostly set-up, this issue the story of 52 really begins in earnest. Booster Gold seeks help to help repair Skeets, his robot from the future whose records of the present seem to be faulty. Renee Montoya, even as she spirals further downward, is given a new purpose. And someone has left a mystery for Ralph Dibney, the former Elongated Man.

Although Booster gets the cover, Ralph gets the meatiest story this week. Starting at the grave of his wife (slain in the book that launched a thousand issues, Identity Crisis), Ralph finds a clue to a new mystery. Any fears that this book would just be a year-long epilogue to Infinite Crisis should be allayed – although it’s clearly built on that foundation, the stories that begin this issue really are independent. They aren’t just tying up loose ends, they’re unraveling threads and weaving something new.

It’s clear this issue that the six “stars” of this title won’t be equal in every issue – two of the six don’t even appear this week – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Not every character appears in every episode of an ensemble television show either, and with only seven days between issues it’s not like fans are going to have to wait another month for their Steel fix. As long as each of them has their moments in the sun, their storylines, it’s not too big a burden if they fall by the wayside for one issue.

I’m intrigued by the story, but Joe Bennett and Jack Jadson could use some tightening up. Keith Giffen’s layouts are fine (and for longtime fans it’s clearly his work), but the characters look a bit stiff at times. It even took me a second look to realize I was seeing Ralph Dibney’s infamous nose-wiggle that shows he’s on the trail of a mystery.

This issue also begins the ten-part “History of the DC Universe” by Dan Jurgens and Art Thibert, and it’s a little on the light side. With only four pages in the first installment, you don’t expect it to go too far, but you also don’t expect the first two pages to be spent on Donna Troy trying to decide if she even wants to hear the history. We know she’s going to, after all. Like last issue, this is a necessary introduction and I expect the story to get better now that they can get to the meat.

All in all this is a solid issue, and the few problems I had are things that will be naturally addressed as this unique project continues its rotation. With two down and fifty to go, this definitely feels like a worthwhile project for me.

Rating: 8/10