Todd Klein's Blog, page 244

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN CORPS 31

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

I’m not generally a fan of big battle stories, but there’s a lot I like in “Uprising.” First, writer Van Jensen (and others on the sister titles) continue to weave together the Legion of Super-Heroes mythos with the Green Lantern one in ways that I’m enjoying. Since both take place across our galaxy, it seems a good idea. The cast of Green Lanterns is large, but a handy chart on the opening spread puts names to them all, another good idea borrowed from the Legion. There are more good ideas in the plot and entertaining dialogue to go with it. The art by Bernard Chang is excellent. Really nothing to dislike here, and lots to praise. For the first time in a while I’m looking forward to more of this crossover.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: THE ROYALS 4

Image © Rob Williams & Simon Coleby.

I’m finding precious little fun in this series now. In a world where only royal families have super powers, we’ve seen three from England, plus some from Germany, Japan and now Russia. World War Two is happening, so there’s death and destruction on all sides, and of the royals, only Prince Henry of England and his sister Rose seem to have any desire to try to make things better. So far they haven’t done much good, only drawn in other royals to increase the bloodshed. It’s kind of a piling-on story, each issue adding more horrors with little to feel good about. The art by Coleby and Erskine is fine, though some of the faces seem inconsistent and/or blurry at times. Really, blurring out all the gore and cruelty would only be merciful at this point, but that’s there in loving detail. I’ll read it all, but not with much enthusiasm. Can’t see how I could end up feeling positive about any of these characters.

Mildly recommended.

And Then I Read: AQUAMAN 31

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

It’s a battle of the elements: earth versus water, sort of. Reminded me a little of the old fights between The Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner. Not quite as exciting as that, but not bad. Some nice moves on both sides, but kind of a silly fight, as these things often are. In another plot thread, Mera travels to a deep and little-known area of Atlantis, an impressive one visually, where she finds enemies on all sides. And in a lab, scientists are creating more trouble. Pretty good issue, interesting crossover, nice art.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: THE FLASH 31

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

THE FLASH is jumping between two so far unconnected timelines. In the present we have Barry Allen trying to get back into his police scientist job while still fighting crime in his alter ego. Then we have a future Flash, and it’s a very bleak future, planning to use his powers to go into the past and change his wreck of a life. Meanwhile, he’s still fighting characters like Mirror Master. A side plot in the present involves Wally West, the nephew of Iris West, Barry’s reporter friend. I can’t help feeling much of this has been done before, and recently, in the Geoff Johns and Manapul/Buccellato issues, and I’m not really enjoying the writing much. The art also does not appeal to me, it has the highly rendered but stiff and doll-like figure work that I associate with the less appealing aspects of the Image Comics books of the 1990s. The characters have lost the charm and humanity they had in Francis Manapul’s hands that really made them work for me. I think this will be my last issue of THE FLASH for now.

Not recommended.

A Little Brown Bat

Never know what I’ll find in our woodland home. Opening the garage door this morning I found what seemed to be a dead Little Brown Bat, wet from last night’s rain. I picked it up on a dustpan and found it WASN’T dead, but very weak, just enough energy to raise it’s head and hiss at me. It must be ill, and there’s nothing I can do for it. I put it in the woods where it crawled under some leaves.

And Then I Read: JUSTICE LEAGUE 30

 

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

Lex Luthor has played the hero before, but this time he does so by turning on his fellow villains. And he goes to great lengths to ingratiate himself with Earth’s top heroes, even submitting to questioning under the sway of Wonder Woman’s truth-enforcing golden lasso (with a really nice lettering effect by Dezi Sienty). One can only suspect Luthor is playing them, and they do, but with gifts in hand like a new satellite headquarters, it’s hard not to accept his help. Writer Geoff Johns writes Luthor and the others very convincingly, and it made this the most fun-to-read issue of JL in a while. The art by Reis, Mahnke and Hanna is excellent, as usual.

Recommended.

 

 

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS 31

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

This issue features something rare in the Green Lantern books: a solo adventure, and it’s not one featuring the character front and center on the cover, if that matters. Kyle Rayner has been somehow sent far away from his friends to a dead world, one that seems filled with old buildings and old memories. As he digs deeper, things begin slowly to change, and not in a good way. It’s a quiet but effectively creepy story that I liked very much, and it does have an interesting link to another Green Lantern. Well written by Justin Jordan, nice art by Neves and Deering.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: AQUAMAN AND THE OTHERS 2

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

Writer Dan Jurgens and artists Medina and Martinez are bringing solid team adventure stories to this title. It doesn’t seem to connect much to the main Aquaman book, but that’s okay with me. Nor is it focused primarily on ocean stories. There is a “treasures of Atlantis” element, but lots of other things going on too. Each of the characters is quite different from the others, and their back stories, abilities, and special knowledge seem to be meshing well. There’s plenty of action here and the mysterious villains are becoming clearer by this issue’s end. Having a good time so far.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: DARK HORSE PRESENTS 29 & 30

Images © Dark Horse Comics and the respective copyright holders.

This title is full of varied and interesting reading. I’m just commenting on the ones that appealed to me here.

Not sure what to think of “The Silver Angel” by David Lapham. I like the art, the story is kind of unclear in places, purposely perhaps, as the former wrestling champ fades in and out of his hallucinatory memories while fighting zombies, but generally well done.

“Alone” is another obscure Edgar Allan Poe work adapted with gusto by Richard Corben. Liked it, even though it’s not very Poeish.

“Alabaster: Boxcar Tales” by Kiernan and Lieber continues with a meandering storyline and good dialogue.

“Into the Past,” the Nexus story continues, and while I enjoyed it, it’s almost beginning to feel like a parody of itself. The extreme characters and events used to be balanced by more realistic down-to-earth moments, but the latter are largely missing in this story.

The “Trekker” tale by Ron Randall concludes in 29, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. Great art, fine writing. Solid comics storytelling.

“Dark Stearn,” the Mr. Monster story by Michael T. Gilbert also concludes in these issues with lots of frenetic action. The art is so energetic is almost seems to jump off the pages in some places. Fun stuff.

“Saint George” is a new fantasy-historical series pitting Roman legions against a godlike Egyptian pharaoh. There’s clearly a dragon involved, too. Good so far.

A short one by Stan Sakai in #30, not a Yusagi Yojimbo story, is always welcome and fun to read.

Both issues, and the anthology in general, are recommended.

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN 31

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

The allied enemies of the Green Lantern Corps, led by The Khund and The Durlans, are finally bringing the battle to Mogo, the new headquarters of the Corps. Hal Jordan’s leadership abilities have been tested, found wanting, and improved upon by him, and he’s now looking like a pretty capable leader, directing various parts of the Corps to tasks they’re suited for. The big showdown in space has Hal trying to make peace, but that effort is spoiled by the Durlans, I’ll say no more about that, and the battle is joined. I’m not a big fan of these epic battles, so I’ll see how it goes, but the issue in hand is interesting and capably done.

Recommended.