DC Universe: Last Will and Testament #1

August 30, 2008

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Conversions

What would you do the night before the end of the world?

Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Adam Kubert
Inks: John Dell & Joe Kubert
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Rob Leigh
Editors: Eddie Berganza & Dan Didio
Cover Art: Adam Kubert, Joe Kubert & Nei Rufino (Cover A); Adam Kubert, John Dell & Laura Martin (Cover B)
Publisher: DC Comics

Since Brad Meltzer is the one who started the DC Universe in its current direction way back in Identity Crisis, it’s only fitting that he come back to make his case as line reaches the end of that road with Final Crisis. It’s the night before the last battle, the night before the heroes of the DC Universe expect the world to end, and everyone is preparing in their own way. What they do, who they choose to be with, how they spend their final night… these are the choices who make the characters who they are.

Much of the book is made up of short vignettes. Powerful father-son moments with Clark and Jonathan Kent and Batman and his two true sons, sister moments with Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl, and tender moments between husbands and wives are plentiful, and are to be expected. There are unexpected moments, too. A villain almost chooses to be a hero, a hero almost chooses to be a villain. Those heroes who seek spiritual guidance find it in a surprising but highly satisfying place. One hero spends the night pining for a lost love, while others spend it with their soul mates.

The core of the book, however, is Geo-Force. In his Justice League of America run, Meltzer established Geo-Force’s drive to get revenge against Deathstroke for the death of his sister. On his last night on Earth, he chooses to make good on that vow. Even at the height of the Outsiders’ popularity, Geo-Force has never been more than a B-list hero, but this issue he’s a B-lister who steps up and delivers a powerful, emotional punch that even the top heroes in the DC Universe would have trouble matching.

Adam Kubert’s pencils are good as well, and John Dell’s inks compliment them very well. The real shocker on this book, however, comes in when several of the pages (as well as the variant over) are inked by the legendary Joe Kubert. His pages have a wonderfully classic look to them, as though they fell right out of the war comics of the silver age… and for a book like this one, a war story look feels wonderfully appropriate.

It’s not entirely clear why this isn’t specifically labeled as a Final Crisis crossover. Although they don’t specifically refer to the events of that book, the thumbprint of the series is obvious. I can only think of two real reasons the book is marketed the way it was. First off, there’s a clear effort in the company to make DC Universe a brand in and of itself (as evidenced by the zero issue from a few months ago, the several reprint specials we’ve seen, and the upcoming Decisions miniseries). Second, although the book clearly deals with the Crisis, you don’t really need any knowledge of that larger crossover to understand, appreciate, and get absorbed by this wonderfully emotional story. It’s part of something larger – something that goes back to Identity Crisis itself – but it stands on its own. And it’s well worth the read.

Rating: 8/10

Teen Titans Go! #11

September 27, 2004

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Countdown

Terra is part of the team now… but will that protect them from Slade?

Writer: J. Torres
Pencils: Todd Nauck
Inks: Lary Stucker
Colors: Heroic Age
Letters: Phil Balsman
Editor: Tom Palmer Jr.
Cover Art: Dave Bullock
Publisher: DC Comics/Johnny DC

This was a pretty good issue of Teen Titans Go!, something that ties directly into recent events of the TV show. It may have done with a little note informing the readers that it takes place before recent episodes – mainly for the benefit of particularly young readers (of which I know there are many). Still, with a little help from their parents, it should be easy to figure out where this story fits in.

The Titans, with their newest member Terra, engage in a fun-filled game of “Capture the Flag.” What the viewer/reader knows that the Titans don’t though, is that Terra is a double agent, working for their enemy Slade (the TV version of the DCU’s Deathstroke). The team gets led into a dust-up with some of Slade’s forces, and Terra’s loyalties are clearly divided.

By necessity, this is an issue that can’t really show much change or growth of the characters. The story, after all, has to be able to fit seamlessly between episodes of the TV show. However, it can give a little insight into the characters, particularly Terra and Beast Boy, and it does very good in that respect.

Todd Nauck, as usual, is quite well suited to the art on this book. He doesn’t have to adapt his own style very much to match the style of the show – each of these characters is perfectly on-model, and for a cartoon show adaptation, that’s really the best you can say.

Although I’m still not a fan of some of the sillier Anime-style elements this property has, I’ve warmed up both to the TV show and the comic. It’s definitely got its place, especially among younger fans who may not yet appreciate the more sophisticated storytelling of Justice League Unlimited.

Rating: 7/10

DC Universe Online Legends #1

February 5, 2011

Title: Legendary

Writer: Marv Wolfman & Tony Bedard
Art: Howard Porter, Livesay, Adriana Melo & Norman Lee
Colorist: Carrie Strachan
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Cover: Ed Benes & Randy Mayor
Editor: Ben Abernathy
Publisher: DC Comics

I’ve been enjoying the hell out of playing the new DC Universe Online video game, so I didn’t have any problem picking up the first issue of the biweekly maxiseries tying in to the adventure. This first issue, at least, seems to be all prequel. Using the opening movie that starts the game as its basis, we see as a future Lex Luthor finally succeeds in his long-time goal of destroying Superman and his allies. As he does so, though, his ally Brainiac turns on him, taking advantage of the power vacuum among Earth’s superhumans to launch an invasion. In minutes, Lex goes from world-conqueror to the leader of the rebellion.

The book is split between two timelines. In the future, we watch as Lex assembles the remaining heroes and villains to take a stand against Brainiac. In the present, we see Lex forging that alliance in the first place. Being a player of the game, I’m intrigued, but a bit confused. The game begins with this “future Lex” coming back to the present to warn the Justice League against the danger presented by his younger self. The dual timelines, though, make for a strange narrative. I can’t really tell what the thrust of this series is going to be – today or tomorrow? With luck, the next issue will make that clear.

The artwork is okay here. Porter and Livesay handle the scenes in the future, and the devastation left behind by Luthor’s war comes across really well. In the present, Melo and Lee don’t have as much action to illustrate, but their depiction of modern-day Luthor looks very nice. The Ed Benes cover is strong, except for (oddly enough) his Wonder Woman. It may just be the angle, but her face looks a bit off to me.

It’s not a bad way to kick off the series, but I hope it solidifies itself soon.

Rating: 7/10

Identity Crisis #3

August 13, 2004

Quick Rating: Great
Title: Serial Killer

The Justice League fights Deathstroke – and more answers are found.

Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Rags Morales
Inks: Michael Bair
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Kenny Lopez
Editor: Mike Carlin
Cover Art: Michael Turner
Publisher: DC Comics

One of the greatest mysteries ever to hit the DC Universe continues as the members of the satellite-era Justice League try to bring in the man they believe murdered Sue Dibney. But Dr. Light has hired some muscle of his own… Deathstroke.

The fight with Deathstroke is pretty intense, and will most certainly serve as fodder for arena debates for years to come, but that isn’t nearly as great as what comes afterwards. Green Arrow, apparently our viewpoint character for much of this series, explains to the younger heroes the lengths the old guard went to in order to protect their identities and, by proxy, their loved ones… and what made Dr. Light’s case so unique. We also spend a little time with a washed up supervillain and the family and friends of some of our heroes, capping off the book with and ending that left my jaw on the floor.

This issue, while still a fantastic mystery, wasn’t quite flawless – we get another focus on Tim Drake and his father which, like the segment in issue #1, does not fit anywhere in continuity with the current state of the Batman titles. (And before anyone starts espousing that this may be a clue of some sort, Robin writer Bill Willingham has already stated on his website that this is an editorial blunder). The scene is just two pages long, but it’s so starkly different from the “real” timeline it gets distracting to those of us who are following the regular Robin series.

Rags Morales steps up to the plate again with this issue – he does a fantastic fight scene between Deathstroke and the JLA, including some pretty brutal, violent images. This is definitely a grown-up superhero book, not something you’re going to want to show the kiddies… of course, it appeals mostly to long-time fans anyway.

If there’s any flaw in Morales’s artwork, it’s that he honestly doesn’t do a very good Superman. It isn’t terrible, but there’s something off about his face, something very distracting. Fortunately, big blue is just a peripheral character in this series (so far, at least), and it doesn’t distract you for very long.

Minor flaws aside, the impact of each issue of this title builds exponentially. It just gets better and better as the full impact of what we’re reading starts to hit us. As intense as the first issue was, there was much more to the story than met the eye. And it’s not even half over yet.

Rating: 9/10

Teen Titans (2003 Series) #9

March 13, 2004

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: First Blood

Rule of the Road #1: Don’t let Kid Flash behind the wheel!

Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Mike McKone
Inks: Marlo Alquiza & Norm Rapmund
Colors: Jeromy Cox
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover Art: Mike McKone
Publisher: DC Comics

When the Titans get a distress call from the doctor that saved Kid Flash, four of them head out to save the day – and the best way to get around San Francisco? With the west coast Batmobile, of course. Back at the tower, Superboy has stayed behind to take care of his homework, but taking care of Krypto sends him headlong into a discovery about one of his teammates.

Geoff Johns runs three storylines throughout this issue – the main storyline is mainly played for laughs, but also shows how Kid Flash’s transformation is an ongoing process, not an instantaneous ones. It also gives us a real understanding of his estimation of some of his teammates, especially Wonder Girl. Superboy’s storyline has some chuckles as well, but mainly gives us a chance to follow him as he interacts with a Titan he hasn’t really bonded with as of yet.

The third storyline follows our villains, Deathstroke and Ravager as well as the lost Titan Raven. This storyline builds during the issue, ultimately setting up the cliffhanger at the end very well and charging into the main story very well. Johns has as great a handle on these characters as I’ve seen, and each issue is a treat.

Mike McKone returns to the pencils this issue after a couple of wonderful issues from Tom Grummett, and he returns in style. He handles the nighttime scenes (along with Jeromy Cox’s colors) very well, and has a good handle on some light physical comedy and tech drawing. He even handles one of the toughest tasks in comics with true aplomb – he draws Krypto without making him look silly.

Teen Titans is one of those books I look forward to every month and with good reason: a great writer, a great artist and great characters. It all adds up to a great read.

Rating: 8/10