Comic Book Reviews November 9, 2011
Green Lantern #3
Geoff Johns, Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy, Keith Champagne.
Geoff Johns may be my favorite comic book writer, of all time. There might be individual stories I like better and writers who influence me more, but none of them comes close to the level of consistency that Geoff Johns brings to the comic book medium.
Green Lantern # 3 continues the story of Hal Jordan and Sinestro as they journey to Sinestro’s Home planet to attempt to end the tyrannical end of the Yellow Lantern Corps.
In the world of literature Geoff Johns would be the equivalent of a popular fiction writer, Tom Clancy, and Michael Crichton spring to mind. Johns may never be held in the same circle of Comic book “legends” like the once successful Alan Moore, the continuously declining Frank Miller, or the overrated neo-idiot Grant Morrison, but that’s probably for the best. Johns is a different kind of master, he writes fun stories. All those other writers I mentioned seem to view comics as a world to be twisted and manipulated into their own unique viewpoint. Moore challenged the morality of the characters, Miller changed the worlds they inhabited, and Morrison who can write decent books (All Star Superman, 52) usually spews his neo-pagan-liberal beliefs into every character he writes, in subtle and blatant ways he inhabits characters with an attitude I can’t stand. Johns is the kind of writer who takes the established characters, their personalities, their worlds and their attitudes and puts them in fun interesting stories. I have enjoyed everything I have read that was written by Geoff Johns, without fail Geoff Johns delivers fun and often emotionally engaging stories, (see his Booster Gold run). Johns knows that overcoming tragedy is far superior to reacting to it. Cough, Moore and Miller, Cough.
Solid art by Doug Mahnke and co. Not an unused panel in the bunch.
Newcomers report: spend some time reading about the history of Hal Jordan on Wikipedia, or on a comic book related pedia website, and you’ll be able to catch up with the story and jump into the ongoing. Pick up issues 1 and 2 if you can. However Johns does a good job of recapping the situation presented in the books by fleshing out storylines and referencing prior plot points.
Story: 5 Art: 5 Overall: 5 Terrific Book do yourself a favor and read it.
Newcomer score 2.5 Not necessarily newbie friendly, but anytime is a good time to start reading Geoff Johns.
Legion Lost #3
Fabian Nicieza, Pete Woods
I enjoy this book. Unfortunately it will most likely be cancelled. Legion Lost started out rough but it seems to be coming into its own.
Members of the time traveling futuristic Legion of Superheroes are stuck in the present day. No way to get home, and with a genetics altering plague released by a criminal from the future, the stakes are getting higher and so is the quality of this book.
The legion of Superheroes is an indecipherable mess of continuity with way too many characters. The overall premise is solid, but years of fanboyism has rendered the series unreadable. That being said Legion Lost is legion done right, a compelling situation, and a contained cast of characters. The series started off a little rocky, the first issue failed to give adequate introductions to the characters, especially to new readers, but the premise was solid enough for me to admire and continue to read. Writer Fabian Nicieza continues to develop the personalities of the characters. Through subtle actions and dialogue, each characters displays their motivations and personalities.
The art is fantastic, Pete Woods is a fantastic artist and it boggles my mind that he is relegated to a second tier book while that hack Rags Morales joins fellow hack Grant Morrison in crapping all over the flagship title of DC (Action Comics). Woods’ art elevates this book from compelling to a must read. However there is one case of a duplicated panel, a minor quibble in an amazingly drawn book. (After looking at it I actually enjoyed the cop out enough to analyze the character’s expressions.)
Newcomer report. Legion fans beware, there be a standalone story here. Legion Lost is the perfect jumping on point for comic readers and newbies alike. However current issues must be read. The first issue established the situation, the second issue established the characterization, and the third continues both.
Story: 4 Art: 5 Overall: 4 Please buy this book so I can read it. Thanks.
Newcomer score: 2 Do yourself a favor and buy this book, but remember to get 1 and 2, as they are absolutely necessary to enjoyment of the series.
Demon Knights #3
Paul Cornell, Diogenes Neves, Oclair Albert.
Former Doctor Who scribe/novelist Paul Cornell weaves a web of a story about… well… it’s… it’s fantasy done right, fun, funny, and thrilling.
Demon Knights continues to be a great book, Set in the medieval period of the DCU, and using iconic characters’ like Jack Kirby’s Etrigan the Demon, Madame Xanadu and Vandal Savage. This book reads like a fantasy novel, but forgoes the usual banality about fate and choice and delves right into the action. Cornell is a decent writer, and this book shows his ability to take on any character and weave an interesting story. I’d like to see him get a longer run on some of the bigger DC characters. (kick Morrison off Superman before he ruins him forever!)
The art is solid, but average.
Newcomer report. Good jumping on point for experienced comic readers or fantasy lovers.
Story: 3.5 Art: 3 Overall: 3.5
Newcomer score: 3 anyone could read and enjoy this.
Spaceman #1
Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso
Eh, It costs a dollar.
An apocalyptic future? A monster? I can’t explain the story because I’m not sure what it is.
Brian Azzarello is also writing Wonder Woman, its better go read it instead. This book is probably a personal project for Azzarello, unfortunately personal projects don’t always equate to quality. Without the benefit of narration boxes we are set adrift to decipher the futuristic slang of a mysterious world. This could be an interesting story, but I have no clue because it can’t even be understood.
The art is mediocre, it tells the story I guess. I’m not a fan of the under-rendered bordering on surrealistic take on comic art. I prefer Jim Lee to Frank Miller, its as simple as that.
Newcomer report: Well it’s a first issue, if your willing to spend a dollar on it be my guest. But be warned it is really not very interesting.
Story: ? Art 2.5 Overall 2.5
Newcomer score: 3, it’s a first issue so it seems like a great jumping on point?
Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes #2
Chris Roberson, Jeffrey Moy, Phillip Moy
Its star trek and the legion of superheroes, what else needs to be said.
The two groups investigate their new surroundings.
IDW and Dc team up to grant us the ultimate of team ups, well not really but if this sounds like a good idea to you, you will probably enjoy it.
Newcomer report: You won’t miss anything by starting with this issue
Story: 3 Art: 4 overall: 3 Star Trek/Legion
Newcomer score: 4 Nothing will be missed by starting here
Ultimate Spiderman #4
Brian Michael Bendis, Sara Pichelli, Justin Ponsor.
Brian Michael Bendis is the Shakespeare of comics.
Miles Morales continues his journey to take over the mantle of Spiderman.
Outrageous claims aside, Brian Michael Bendis masterfully crafts a story that is equal parts funny, touching, and devastating entirely through his dialogue. (Shakespeare did the same.) I have an interesting relationship with Spiderman. As a child I watched and liked Spiderman the animated series, but as I grew older I realized that the Spiderman of that series and the Spiderman of everything else were two vastly different characters. In almost every other medium Peter Parker is an idiot, sure he is comic book “smart.” But he continually makes the wrong $%*^ing decisions. Ancient freaking Aunt dying? How about sell your marriage and essentially your soul to the devil in order to let her your OLD aunt hold on for a couple more miserable years. Faced with the idea of mandatory registration of super humans? Take off your mask on live t.v. and open yourself up to the consequences of fraud and being a freaking vigilante. Some of you might bemoan my position saying that I shouldn’t blame the character for the actions the writers choose for him, Idiots the character has always sucked! He always does stupid things. Always. Why would I want to read about a superhero making the wrong decisions? He is a grown man he has been for some time. Peter Parker needs to grow up.
Wow I ranted for a while there, back to the matter at hand. Ultimate Spiderman is awesome so far, Miles Morales, a child, has obtained great powers and must face the pressures of great responsibility. I never read Ultimate Spiderman when it was about Peter Parker, after reading about it online I am glad I didn’t, as it seems to be more of the same Peter Parker garbage as before. But now we have a fresh Spiderman, a young boy, who unless Bendis has no heart, won’t face the same kind of torturous problems as teenage Peter Parker. Wait a sec… Peter Parker was still a high schooler in Ultimate Comics, Screw you Marvel!
Sara Pichelli’s art is the apex of Marvel’s current brand of “realistic” artwork. Too bad Bendis’s script skipped over his first fight. (A huge mistake, but it doesn’t really take away from the overall story, and it adds some extra levity to a dramatic comic book.)
Newcomer’s report. This comic is great about recapping in the beginning of every issue. Jump on any time, preferably sooner rather than later.
Story: 5 Art: 4 overall: 5
Newcomer score: 5. Jump on in this issue and you’ll be just fine. However, if you want to see the complete journey of Miles Morales you’ll definitely want to check out the first three issues, as they are probably the best presentation of human storytelling in the history of marvel. They are that good.
Pick of the week
I love me some Geoff Johns, and I generally don’t care for Marvel. But this week’s pick has to be Ultimate Spiderman, Brian Michael Bendis’s decompressed storytelling somehow manages to make you feel like you read your money’s worth. Green Lantern is amazing though, hmm. Geoff Johns or a likable Spiderman? Why not choose both.
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