JSA: Strange Adventures #4

November 15, 2004

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: All in Color For a Dime

His offer to humanity rejected, Lord Dynamo attacks!

Writer: Kevin J. Anderson
Breakdowns: Barry Kitson
Finishes: Gary Erskine
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Rob Leigh
Editor: Peter J. Tomasi
Cover Art: John Watson
Publisher: DC Comics

Lord Dynamo had a simple offer to mankind – medicine, technology, art, music… enough to advance the human race immeasurably. And all he wanted in return was Green Lantern’s ring and Starman’s cosmic rod. Mankind was ready to give it, too, until Johnny Thunder made an impassioned plea to save his friends. He won. He convinced them.

But Lord Dynamo doesn’t take rejection very well.

I’ve really enjoyed this series. The Justice Society of America in World War II is one of the most fertile storytelling environments in comics and Kevin J. Anderson has done a fine job with these characters. He knows them, he understands them, and he’s doing interesting things with them.

This is clearly Johnny Thunder’s series, with the book focusing on him and his job as the JSA historian and his aspirations to be a writer. If there’s one flaw in this issue, it’s how Anderson sets up a lot of the drama around the fate of a certain character. Look, this story takes place in the past and it’s not an Elseworlds. We know the fate of these characters already. There’s not that much drama to be had there.

Kitson and Erskine do pretty good work on the artwork, although not quite as strong as Kitson does when he does full pencils himself instead of just breakdowns. John Watson’s cover, however, is simply beautiful. He captures all of the characters in a dark moment for them. I’d hang this cover on a wall.

I’m really digging this title. I can’t wait to see where it goes. And I hope Anderson has a few more classic JSA stories in his future.

Rating: 8/10

Green Lantern (1990) #179

July 25, 2004

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Homecoming? Part Four

It’s Green Lantern versus Green Lantern!

Writer: Ron Marz
Pencils: Luke Ross
Inks: Rodney Ramos
Colors: Moose Baumann
Letters: Jared Fletcher
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Cover Art: Brandon Peterson
Publisher: DC Comics

Kyle Rayner’s swansong continues, and as much as I’ve enjoyed this title for the most part, I have to admit to feeling slightly let down by the clichéd nature of this issue. In part three of “Homecoming?” Kyle found out that his old enemy, Major Force, is the one who sicced the Green Lantern-killer called Fatality on him. This issue, Kyle goes after him, only to find he has an unexpected protector – John Stewart.

The circumstances around John’s allegiance are a bit strained and seem like little more than an excuse to bring up the stereotypical hero versus hero battle. As far as the battle itself goes, there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s actually done quite well and basically in-character. It just feels forced. On the other hand, Marz gets points for finally making the John Stewart/“Daily Show” joke that you know writers have been aching to do in the Green Lantern titles for several years now.

I’m still very impressed by Ross and Ramos on art, though. If you’re gonna do a comic book about Green Lanterns fighting each other, than the quality of the ring-constructs is of the utmost importance. This art team does a great battle scene, with both GLs slinging around pretty imaginative weapons and proxies to fight out their battles for them.

These two are great, classic-style superhero artists. Not weighed down with anime-style detail, not so simple as to look like a cartoon, but solid storytellers with a good line and a great style. Ross is one of those highly underrated artists that doesn’t generate the buzz he deserves.

This isn’t a bad issue by any stretch of the imagination. It’s solid, it works. But it feels like a filler issue, something that could have been fit into a few pages of another issue, but got dragged out to help the storyline reach the requisite six issues that every storyline seems to need these days. Two issues left – I think things will pick up again next issue.

Rating: 7/10

JSA #60

April 12, 2004

Quick Rating: Excellent
Title: Redemption Lost Part One

An old evil returns, a Spectre wrestles with his own demons, and all heroes tackle matters of faith.

Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Don Kramer & Tom Mandrake
Inks: Keith Champagne & Tom Mandrake
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Rob Leigh
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Cover Art: Ethan Van Sciver
Publisher: DC Comics

Geoff Johns jumps into some surprisingly weighty issues in this issue. Dr. Mid-Nite, Mr. Terrific and even the staunchly scienfitic Atom (who seems to be a part-time member of the JSA considering how often he’s popped up here lately) all wind up talking rather openly about prayer, religion, faith and redemption. Dr. Mid-Nite is struggling to solve the murder of one of his many operatives while Terrific and the Atom search the timestream for the lost Hourman. It’s a strong story that doesn’t shy away from very frank discussions of religion, and it is to Johns credit that he discusses all sides of the debate without maligning characters who believe in the Church or chilling those who don’t. It is, simply put, a story that is very respectful of different philosophies, and that’s something that is sadly rare.

That said, it’s still a superhero comic and we still get plenty of action. The first Hourman seems to be throwing himself back into the superhero game to keep from having to think of his time-lost and possibly dying son or the wife that believes he is already dead. The Spectre, for his part, is in real trouble, something that isn’t easy to do with a character that powerful, and it is his story that propels this first issue of a new story arc.

Kramer and Champagne do a very good job on the artwork. In some of his earlier issues, Kramer’s work was kind of sketchy and struggled to fit the characters. He seems to have overcome those hurtles. A big plus in the art side, however, is the three-page prologue featuring the original Spectre and Mr. Terrific, drawn by Tom Mandrake, perhaps the best Spectre artist ever. When I saw the green ghoul’s entrance on page two, I had to flip ahead to the credits to make sure it was him. It was a welcome surprise and made this issue even more fun.

It isn’t easy to weigh action and spandex with discussions of God and the afterlife, but Geoff Johns does it beautifully. Month in and month out, this is the best superhero comic book on the stands. This month is no exception.

Rating: 10/10

The Flash (1987 Series) #209

April 24, 2004

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Fast Friends

The Justice League wants to know who tampered with their memories and why, but the Flash isn’t sure he’s ready to tell them.

Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Howard Porter
Inks: Livesay
Colors: James Sinclair
Letters: Rob Leigh
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Cover Art: Michael Turner
Publisher: DC Comics

I find it remarkable that nine issues have passed since the Spectre eliminated the knowledge of Wally West’s double identity from the minds of the world, but Geoff Johns still seems to have plenty of room to mine that simple concept for great stories. This issue Justice League members past and present, specifically those who knew Barry Allen, Wally’s predecessor, confront him to find out why they can no longer remember either of them they way they know they should. Wally, however, just wants to get away to track down his missing wife, Linda. The result is the latest in the classic line of Flash/Superman races. For the first time, however, the race needs to cheap gimmick to pit the two of them against each other, it’s a basic story of a man trying to help his friend and that friend refusing help.

This is a slow paced issue, ironic considering the title character, but Johns does a great job with all of the various heroes depicted herein. Green Arrow is angry, but justified, Firestorm is impatient and we get a surprising insight into John Stewart (the current Green Lantern, not the guy from The Daily Show). Even the eternal admiration for the late Barry is tempered with good character bits. Johns may spend a little too much time on what amounts to an extended roll call, but that’s coming from someone intimately familiar with all of these characters. A less rabid reader than myself may find it helpful.

Howard Porter became a comic book superstar drawing the JLA, and he’s still got it. Any “racing” issue, even one that is built so solidly upon characterization, needs strong art to make it work. You’ve got two men moving at almost the speed of light for most of the book, and Porter makes it work with a blend of classic super-speed images – speed lines, multiple images, bolts of lightning. It’s a fine looking issue.

Next issue we are promised a meeting between the Flash and the man who has, off and on, been his best friend since they were teenagers. It’s a pairing I always find entertaining, and I can’t wait to see what Johns has in store.

Rating: 8/10

Green Lantern Corps (2006 Series) #58

April 2, 2011

Title: War of the Green Lanterns Part Two
Writer: Tony Bedard
Pencils: Tyler Kirkham
Inks: Batt with Rob Hunter
Colorist: Nei Ruffino
Letterer: Steve Wands
Cover: Tyler Kirkham
Editor: Brian Cunningham, Adam Schlagman & Eddie Berganza
Publisher: DC Comics

Things are looking bad for the Green Lantern Corps. In part one of War of the Green Lanterns, Krona unleashed an all-out assault on Oa, using the Guardians as hosts of the Entities he’s been collecting and placing the Yellow entity, Parallax, back inside the main power battery, where he was trapped for millennia. This time, though, the battery isn’t a prison, it’s a conduit to power. Parallax seizes the minds of the entire Green Lantern Corps, except for those few Lanterns who have, however briefly, played host to him before. Although Kyle Rayner and John Stewart both manage to ward off his control, the fear and paranoia he creates begins to seep in, and it’s Lantern against Lantern.

The danger behind War of the Green Lanterns is that the whole premise seems to be anchored in that old chestnut  of brainwashed heroes being forced to fight those that aren’t brainwashed. The fact that the “free” Lanterns are greatly outnumbered makes the story more interesting, but there’s still only so much mileage one can get out of that concept. This issue perhaps takes it a bit farther than it needs to, with most of the book focusing on Kyle and John’s battle, with Ganthet trapped in the middle. It’s an intense fight, although (appropriately enough) the intensity comes more out of the emotion that’s spilled on the page than any of the actual action scenes. There’s little fear that either of these two will actually die (not until later in the crossover, at least) so having them hurl rather hateful, painful statements at each other really is more effective. Superheroes can come back from the dead by next issue. Kyle ripping open John’s emotional scars over the death of Katma Tui, or John comparing Kyle to scared, stupid grunts who get their friends killed? Those are the sort of wounds that take time even for superheroes to heal. It’s good, but it’s a bit much. This issue needed something else, a b-plot to break it up a little bit.

Tyler Kirkham’s artwork is solid, with great action scenes and lots of wild outer space elements. The cover is particularly nice, with John’s ring-constructs eating up most of the art space.

This is a good issue, but not great. Hopefully, the rest of the crossover will improve.

Rating: 7/10

Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #7

March 1, 2011

Title: Last Will: Seeing Red
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils: Fernando Pasarin
Inks: Cam Smith, Oclair Albert & Fernando Pasarin
Colorist: Randy Mayor
Letterer: Steve Wands
Cover: Rodolfo Migliari
Editor: Adam Schlagman
Publisher: DC Comics

Guy Gardner, Ganthet, and Bleez are left to battle Zardor, the rest of the Green Lantern’s having left him behind after the truth of his mission was revealed. Guy could use a little help, though – former Ion-avatar Sodom Yat is back, and he’s got a mad-on for the Guardians and the Green Lantern Corps. It’s good to see just how events of the past year or two have been planned out. Guy’s temporary reversion to a Red Lantern comes back into play this issue, as does everything that happened to Sodom Yat during the time he was the host for Ion. Kilowog and Arisia’s anger at Guy is understandable and palpable. Fernando Pasarin is even more impressive this issue than he’s been in the past, with really exciting, energizing battle sequences, cool looking monsters and aliens, and real anger on Guy Gardner’s face. This book is part of the run-up to War of the Green Lanterns, of course, and it’s been incredibly exciting for that. I’m more excited than ever for that storyline to unfold.

Rating: 8/10

Justice League: Generation Lost #19

February 20, 2011

Title: And the Lord Taketh Away

Writer: Judd Winick
Pencils: Fernando Dagnino
Inks: Raul Fernandez
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Steve Wands
Cover: Dustin Nguyen
Editor: Brian Cunningham & Rex Ogle
Publisher: DC Comics

Maxwell Lord has the Blue Beetle in his clutches. Power Girl has broken free from Max’s hold, but she races off to try to wake up the rest of the DCU’s heroes, and the Justice League International races to save one of their own… but, if the cover isn’t too much of a spoiler, they may be too late.

Okay, screw the spoiler warning. DC’s been “hinting” about this for a few months now, and this issue seems to end with Maxwell Lord killing the Blue Beetle – for the second time – with a bullet to the head. And I’ve got to be frank with you guys… I’m not buying it. I just can’t imagine that DC editorial would allow a writer kill off a second Beetle the same way so callously. I can’t imagine that they’d kill off a character that they’ve been giving such a big push in other media. And there hasn’t been even the slightest reaction to the death since the issue came out. Even Kyle Rayner’s “death” during Blackest Night got a few interviews online, and he was back in the next issue. With five issues left in this series, I’m just not banking on Jaime Reyes being dead at the end of it.

Okay, with that out of my system, the issue was really great. Watching the JLI acting like real heroes, true heroes, is everything you want out of this series.  Winick has taken the old group, mixed in a few new members that truly belong, and given us one of the most solid superhero comics being published right now. It’s a shame that this story is so close to the end, and I really hope that DC has plans in motion to keep these characters together after the end of Brightest Day.

Rating: 8/10

Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2 TPB

February 20, 2011

Writers: Jack C. Harris, Todd Klein, Joey Cavalieri, Len Wein, Paul Kupperberg, Kurt Busiek, Mike Baron & Alan Moore
Art: Jerome K. Moore, Sal Trapani, Dave Gibbons, Gil Kane, Don Newton, Kevin O’Neill, Don Heck, Marshall Rodgers
Cover: Brian Bolland
Editor: Bob Joy
Publisher: DC Comics

Back in the 80s, following an excellent Tales of the Green Lantern Corps miniseries, DC began running stories about the Lanterns of different worlds as back-up stories in the main Green Lantern title. This second trade paperback of stories from that run includes some truly excellent, memorable stories, including early work by Kurt Busiek, a few stories by legendary letterer Todd Klein, and an epic tale by Alan Moore, among others.

The wonderful thing about these stories is that most of them are utterly timeless. Lysandra, the Green Lantern who could not leave her world, or the sword-and-sorcery world of Deeter, could be Green Lanterns that exist today or thousands of years ago with virtually no changes. Only a few stories are locked to a specific time – the sad story of Yron, for example, includes the funeral for a Lantern that died in that first Tales miniseries, and the final story features a group of the most popular Lanterns of the 80s with references to very time-specific things. Those references, though, aren’t necessarily vital to understanding the stories, and people who may not be familiar with the background of those tales will still understand what they read with no trouble at all.

Perhaps the centerpiece of this book would be the classic “Mogo Doesn’t Socialize,” the Alan Moore story that introduced one of the most interesting members of the Corps. Ironically, it’s one of the few stories that doesn’t hold up quite that well, although that’s not really the fault of Moore. The story is build on a twist ending that was probably fantastic when it first was published, but as the true nature of Mogo is now basic knowledge, the story loses some of its punch.

Doesn’t make the book less worthwhile, though. If you’re a fan of the Green Lantern Corps, you’ve got to get this book.

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

PVP (2003 Series) #9

October 8, 2004

Quick Rating: Good

Skull winds up in a science lab – can Brent and Cole spring him?

Writer: Scott Kurtz
Art: Scott Kurtz
Letters: Scott Kurtz
Cover Art: Scott Kurtz
Publisher: Image Comics

When Skull the troll comes down with a tummyache (he ate a whole box of urinal cakes), Brent Sienna takes him in for some medical attention. Mistaking Skull for a gorilla, though, the doctor sends him to a research laboratory and Brent to prison.

This latest collection of Scott Kurtz’s wickedly funny online comic strip isn’t quiet as sharp as the usual fare. PVP really has two kinds of stories they tell: satires of society and pop culture or silly situation comedies. This is one of the latter, and while it’s still funny, it’s not quite as funny as the more satirical stuff.

As always, the book includes two more stories, and these are both stronger than the cover. In the second segment, slackers Robbie and Jase are horrified to learn that Francis has never seen the movie “Animal House,” and decide to indoctrinate him in the ways of the frat boy. They have several attacks in mind, from stupid attempts at hazing to a panty raid gone horribly, horrible wrong. The result is considerably funny than the first storyline. Kurtz finishes off the book with a few quickies about a sleeping Skull imagining himself as various superheroes. Funny for a comic fan – probably not so much if you’re not.

As usual, the artwork on this issue is pretty good. The characters may not be the most detailed in all of comic books, but the designs are clever and amusing. It’s particularly fun to see Skull and the crew dressed like Green Lantern, Superman or the Fantastic Four.

While it may not be the sharpest issue of PVP to date, it’s still an amusing one, and fans will walk away with a smile on their faces.

Rating: 7/10