Todd Klein's Blog, page 367

And Then I Read: BRIGHTEST DAY 4-5

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

With issue 4 of this event's main title, we finally start to advance some of the many storylines into new territory. Hawkman and Hawkwoman travel through a dimensional gate made of bones from their past lives, some of which play out around them as they do, and emerge in a cool looking world with giant flying islands. I love those. Deadman runs into Hawk and Dove, and Hawk thinks Deadman's white ring might be useful to bring back another long-dead person. There are snippets of other stories, but those are the main ones, both interesting and well-told.

In issue 5 we learn, thanks to the cover copy, that the flying island world is Hawkworld. I read the series about it years ago, but don't recall the details. In addition to flying islands and half-man half-hawk characters, there are tiger men. I love tiger men. There's also something evil inside Hawkman threatening to spoil the fun parts of their story, as does the capture of Hawkwoman. Aquaman and Mera encounter undersea warriors trying to kill or capture them, and there's a good bit of action-filled story for them, too, with a surprising reveal for Mera at the end. Deadman, Hawk and Dove's story gets a bit farther, just enough to reveal who Hawk wants to resurrect.

Why is this event working for me, when Blackest Night failed? First, it's much less predictable. Second, it's delving into origins and back-stories to bring out new information and nuances for the characters, almost all of which have been around for decades. Third, it's about solving puzzles and mysteries more than about fighting. All good things. Recommended.

And Then I Read: THE FLASH 3

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

This still seems the freshest and most fun to read of the Brightest Day titles I'm covering, with little Brightest Day involvement that I can see, other than the reborn original Captain Boomerang, one of the characters returned at the end of Blackest Night. He seems in the dark about it all, but has gained some new powers, and is smart enough to use them to get out of prison in the opening sequence. The story switches to Barry Allen, first taking a dressing down from his new boss in police forensics, then with Iris trying to puzzle out an old crime. The Rogues from the future burst in on them and The Flash is once again their target. These Rogues are police from their era, trying to arrest Flash for murder in a somewhat confusing time-travel side plot, but the action-filled battle works well, and just when Flash seems caught…well, you'll see. Another fun thing in this book is the return of the Julie Schwartz era one-page feature "Flash Facts." The art by Francis Manapul continues to delight me. Highly recommended.

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN CORPS 49

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

The Alpha-Lanterns were supposed to be an elite group inside the Corps to police from within, and they apparently have their power batteries inserted into their chests, and are otherwise rather robotic. I kind of wasn't paying attention when they first showed up, and am somewhat dismayed to see that The Green Man, the Corps member I co-created with Dave Gibbons is one of these characters who are now apparently in revolt and trying to capture other Corps members and force them to undergo the Alpha-Lantern conversion. John Stewart is spearheading a GLC task force to investigate and oppose them, but the Alpha's powers seem much too strong for regular GLs to do more than annoy them on their base on Grenda. Things seem to be going downhill fast, and even reinforcements aren't helping. Finally, there's a mastermind behind things, revealed on the last page, that surprised me. There's a brief Brightest Day tie in, but even without that this story is getting pretty complex. Not bad, though. Recommended.

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN 55

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

Green Lantern and the GL Corps are the main reason I'm willing to read the Brightest Day crossover, or at least some of it. This cover, featuring two characters I don't like much, Atrocitus and Lobo, might have caused me to pass on the issue normally, and much of it is fairly mindless and univolving fighting between them, plus Hal Jordan, Sinestro and Star Sapphire. The postscript about Atrocitus' Red Lantern cat, and how he became so, is actually the most involving part of the story for me, though I don't care for any of the Red Lantern idea. The cat does have a good moment defeating Lobo's dog, but otherwise there's not much for me here. Very mildly recommended for GL fans.

And Then I Read: BRIGHTEST DAY 3

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

In an effort to catch up with reviewing the Brightest Day titles I'm reading, I'm going to review two per day for a while, and dispense with the interior art scans to save time.

This issue continues several storylines from #2, beginning with Deadman, no longer dead of course, in the antimatter universe of Qward, where he's goaded into confronting the Anti-Monitor (from that past crossover event CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS) by his new white power ring. An interesting episode, though one which doesn't seem to go anywhere much, so far. The various people intermingled in the character Firestorm are having lots of problems both personal and atomic. Having not followed the character in many years, I don't find this storyline very interesting. Aquaman and Mera's is more compelling, with Aquaman apparently still involved with the power of the Black Lanterns somehow, and Mera seeming to be hiding a dark secret from him. J'onn J'onzz continues to investigate his past and is on the trail of another Martian, a violent and deadly one. Hawkman and Hawkwoman are closing in on a sinister gateway fueled by their own past lives, leaving them an interesting exit from this world, ready to be explored next time.

Still enjoying this overall, recommended.

Incoming: ABSOLUTE PROMETHEA BOOK 2

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

I've had such a busy week I forgot until today that I received my copies of this last Friday. Another magnificent printing job, making the oversize art and rainbow of colors just breathtaking. As JH said about the first volume, this is what we all hoped it would look like, what it looked like in our heads. What's new is the covers, slipcase art, endpapers, chapter breaks, and a large new cover and commission gallery. Expensive, but if you like JH's art, this is the best version of it, and the story ain't bad either…

And Then I Read: BRIGHTEST DAY 2

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

As before, this book is following a number of storylines, some of which interest me more than others. The Firestorm/Atom one is confusing, with too many people speaking telepathically and not enough explanation. J'onn J'onzz is exploring the origins of his coming to Earth, and another Martian he never knew about, I like that one. I like the Hawks' investigation of their own background and past lives, too. Despite Aquaman being on the cover, he only appears for one panel with no dialogue. A disconnect there. Deadman has the final scene, and it's a good one.

Once again, and perhaps for the entire series, I don't know, this book has five pencillers and five inkers. I can only assume they're each assigned to particular storylines, but the art doesn't show it, it flows smoothly, an interesting achievement. There are the beginnings of some nasty business here, too, which is bound to be the case, but in general I like the way this series is developing, as a compendium of puzzles for each of the main characters. Recommended.

Kittens no more…

…now we are CATS! Tigger and Leo's first birthday is today.

Tigger at the window, Leo in the sun.

Investigating a new toy.

Still pals.

And Then I Read: THE FLASH 2

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

This is my favorite of the Brightest Day titles I'm reading, possibly because it's telling a much simpler and more direct story for the most part. The focus is on Barry Allen, returned from the dead and trying to pick up the pieces of his life after umpty-odd years. Geoff Johns writes him with the kind of optimism and cleverness I remember from the FLASH comics of my youth, but within a modern environment that at times creates problems for Barry, but so far he always finds a way to speed past them. My favorite segment in this issue is when the villainous Rogues' Gallery from the future that is trying to arrest Flash accidentally causes a small residential building to collapse. Flash uses his speed to rescue everyone, but instead of being grateful, they all seem devastated at the loss of their home. What does he do? He rebuilds it at super-speed for them. Now, that's the kind of thing Flash ought to be using his powers for! I bet Julius Schwartz would approve.

The future villains turned cops do add some complications to the story, but not in the kind of overwhelming way that things get complicated in the other Brightest Day titles I'm reading, so I'm okay with it. And I'm continuing to enjoy the art by Francis Manapul, both the loose gray wash rendering and the storytelling are a pleasure to view. Recommended.

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN CORPS 48

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

There are some interesting storylines developing here, allowing me to overlook the involvement of Atrocitus in the opening sequence. Ganthet, one of those little blue Guardians, gives up his place of power to become a Green Lantern himself, an idea that seems fresh, and I particularly liked that he has to create a new power battery and ring for himself, not by mental magic alone, but physically:

Okay, maybe a bit melodramatic, but a cool idea. Meanwhile, the Alpha Lanterns have apparently gone rogue, taking over a planet and making more Alpha Lanterns in secret. John Stewart leads a team to investigate that situation. I like the mix of familiar and new characters being used in this book better than the mix before Blackest Night, and am enjoying it more than the main Green Lantern title for now. Recommended.