JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #31: Nightmare Nurse is gone and Alice Winter is left. Apparently, Alice Winter lived in the House of Mystery some 80 years ago and the person who we know as Nightmare Nurse was her elderly housekeeper Asa. Asa infected Alice with a disease and, when she was sick enough, Asa took over Alice’s body. It turns out that Asa is with John in The Between and they need to get her back into Alice’s body or they will both be trapped there forever. They break free but cannot convince Zatanna to help Asa back into Alice’s body. So Asa takes over Zatanna’s instead.
This is not one of the better issues of this title. J. M. DeMatteis and Andrea Guinaldo tell this tale of who Nightmare Nurse is, which is fine. Then we throw in John and Asa in The Between and the whole thing just stops cold. I understand that we need to give some background to what The between is and the importance of Constantine and Nightmare Nurse getting out. But to have then get free, fight with the Justice Leasgue Dark and have Zatanna possessed? This is just too convenient a plot device to be any good. Can we have Madame Xanadu back please?
JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #6: The League gets captured and imprisoned by Coeval while Locus mourns the fact that her dead Green Lantern is not the best piece of jewelry she could own. She visits Ariel masters and demands that she make her a new, improved boyfriend. When she leaves, we learn that Green Lantern is not dead and was merely faking it. Ariel warns him not to use his Green Energy as it has given him cancer and using it will only make the cancer spread faster. Coeval speaks to each of the captured team and seems to be able to convince Firestorm to join his cause. But it may be too late for any of that as Hal Jordan is prepared to fight the Five and save his teammates. Meanwhile, at Cadmus, the “Wonder Twins” try to come to an agreement on how to run things.
And again, Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis hit the target with this title. It’s a fun, roller coaster ride that is ruled by the premise that the Justice League is forever and someone always needs to take on the role of the heroes-even if it means overwriting someone’s DNA and killing the person in the process. Howard Porter’s art shines and makes this whole book feel weird and fun. I don’t know if this is the future in the NEW 52, because there are so many possible future’s right now that it is hard to tell. But either way, it’s a killer ride to a place that MIGHT exist someday.
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #1: Hawkman is battling Lobo to try to win his freedom and that of his fellow inmates while Alanna and the others escape. She takes out a Khundian guard and steals his weapon. She also hears Adam Strange's voice in her head. Meanwhile, what remains of the Justice League of America plus Animal Man are battling an alien giant. Martian Manhunter enters the creature’s mind and discovers it was a failed experiment that was only kept alive to protect the scientists that made it. The creature runs off with J’onn still inside, causing Stargirl to give pursuit. She flies inside the creature and uses the psychic connection between her and J’onn to pull him out. She uses her staff to change the creature to wood and J’onn destroys it. But it manages to pull itself back together and the team finds themselves transported to the planet Rann. Alanna sees Adam and runs into his arms. In actuality, he is Lord Byth in disguise. And he has been working on a project to make a child that will one day Ultra the Multi-Alien.
All we need is Geddy Lee, and Bob and Doug McKenzie and we have an SCTV sketch. This was just a nasty mess. Hawkman battles Lobo (sure hope the new Lobo series coming in October is better than this), J’onn mind melds with some alien that won’t stay dead, even when it’s turned into wood. And we top all of this off with a love story that is going bad. I liked the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA series. I do NOT like this one, however. I expected great things from Jeff Lemire and Mike McKone and this is not great by any stretch of the imagination. The plot is boring, the dialogue is surprisingly wooden, and McKone’s art looks totally uninspired. This has been a huge disappointment, even after only three issues.
NEW 52: FUTURE’S END #5-8: In issue #5, Michael Holt unveils the uSphere, which is designed to unite the people of both Earths. In Maryland, Cole Cash is given an offer he can’t refuse from King Faraday. And if he does refuse it, he will never walk again. On Cadmus Island, Cole's new partner uses her heat vision to blast Fury, before returning to the side of one Slade Wilson. In New York, Jason and Ronnie break up their friendship and their partnership. Jason meets with Dr. Yamakaze, who claims he has developed a transporter system. Meanwhile, John Constantine finds himself summoned to a crop circle in Kansas by a woman named Midge. It’s truly a killing field, as nine people were killed to create this.
In issue #6, Key, Plastique and Coil plan to steal the uSphere technology. Terry McGinnis listens in and can’t help but notice the similarity between Plastique and the cyborg that followed him here. Mister Terrific discovers that the homeless man is a match for the new Batman. Meanwhile, Frankenstein and the other Agents of S.H.A.D.E travel through the Phantom Zone to reach the Huron System and investigate what happened to Stormwatch. Among the prisoners they encounter inside the Zone is Black Adam. Back on Earth, Cal Corcoran throws a very drunk Ronnie Raymond out of his bar. Then Lois Lane, who is also in the bar, begins quizzing him about Red Robin. He has her leave and demands she never come back. As Lois leaves, Superman grabs King Faraday and warns him to stay away from her.
In issue #7, Black Adam demands revenge for being imprisoned in the Phantom Zone and he tears off Frankenstein’s arm while he attempts to keep the prisoner from attacking Ray Palmer and Amethyst. Frankenstein makes it through the portal, even if his arm doesn’t. Over in Metropolis, Madison Payne visits Lois Lane and wants to know why she thinks Cal is Red Robin. Lois also realizes that she testified against Madison’s father, who was dealing arms to the enemy during the war, forcing Madison to storm out of Lois’ office. Over at Colombia University, Dr. Yamakaze need help moving heavy equipment and suggests getting enlisting Ronnie. But he is in Pittsburgh at the war memorial, as it seems his mother was one of those who died here. On Cadmus Island, Deathstroke tells Cole that he will call for him when needed. Until then, Fifty Sue is his guide. Meanwhile, Coil, Plastique and Key continue to make their plans to steal the uSpheres. Donning his bat suit, Terry attacks Mister Terrific but is approached by Terrifitech security and flees, leaving the remains of the cyborg behind. This concerns both Holt AND the real Plastique.
In issue #8, Deathstroke and King Faraday discuss the role that Cole will play, while Cash finds himself tossed into the sea by Fifty Sue, who remains an enigma. In Metropolis Lois Lane learns that the numbers are map coordinates and charters a jet to the location. Over at Columbia University, Jason aid Doctor Yamakaze test teleportation device with heartbreaking results and he blames Jason for them. Later. Superman visits Jason and tells him how badly Firestorm is needed. In the Huron System, the S.H.A.D.E. team is still investigating the remains of the Stormwatch Carrier, having found all the bodies except for Apollo and The Engineer. Ray Palmer removes Hawkman's arm and sews it onto Frankenstein. In Southeast Asia, a cavern with a temple inside it has been revealed from the bombings during the war. Unfortunately, there is a God living there. Meanwhile, Constantine’s friend Midge was dreaming and speaking in Laotian. She tells him there is a great threat coming and he admits to knowing that and also knows he will need help to stop it.
So the mini-series that MAY lead to a major event next year rolls on. These four issues are written by Brian Azzarello, Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens, Jeff Lemire, with art by Jesus Merino, Dan Green, Patrick Zircher, Aaron Lopresti, Art Thibert and Scot Eaton. Personally, I like where this is going as there are so many unanswered questions at this point that it’s a fun trip. I know many people are complaining about how this series is a waste of time and money, as it will change nothing. I am STILL holding my breath about that because, as I have said, there is rumblings in fandom that this will all lead to some sort of “event” next year to celebrate the anniversary of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. And let’s think about how many comics you have read over the years that told tales that never happened. Gee: not that MARVEL didn’t do the whole DAYS OF FUTURE PAST thing. Wait: wasn’t that a MOVIE TOO!? Not an imaginary tale, but it may not be the future either. Stay tuned!
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #31: Lobo from the Magenta Timeline is monologuing his master plan to Roy on the ship Roy stole. Jason and Starfire arrive to help rescue him. Unfortunately, Lobo plans on helping his personal finances by taking it out on the planet Earth. Luckily Roy manages to out think the Main Man and has his Roybot tell Nanobots to transfer Lobo and company to somewhere in outer space. Lobo realizes that nanotech technology is pretty cool and sends the other aliens into the emptiness of space. Meanwhile, another Lobo is getting increasingly upset that someone is using his name.
So the team of Will Pfeifer, Rafa Sandoval and RB Silva brings this chapter to a close. All in all, it wasn’t that bad. The fact that we get the classic Bastich known as Lobo was great. And he’s a conniving as ever. One thing that really drove me nuts was the Metrosexual Lobo, who shows up at the end of this tale. DC promises that their rivalry will be resolved in a future issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED. Oh boy: can’t wait(yeah-that was sarcasm).
RED LANTERNS #31: The newest Red Lantern argues with and battles Atrocitus while Supergirl tears apart the container full of blood from Blood Lake and it rains down upon Atrocitus, Dex-Starr and the Judge. Atrocitus creates a whirling pillar of blood, which Kara sets fire to, casuing damage to the city below until Guy Gardner and company uses their energy to suck the flaming pillar into the sky. Atrocitus makes a deal that he will return Rankorr is Gardner allows him to leave with the Judge. He does so, even as the people of the planet beg the Red Lanterns to leave them in peace. Guy has a plan: go rescue Rankorr
Charles Soule wades through a lot of blood in this issue, thanks to the art skills of Allessandro Vitti. And again, I must bitch about the cover which has this epic battle between the Judge, Kara and Bleez. Once again-THIS DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE ISSUE! THAT having been said, the story was fun, the art rocked and I had a ball with the issue. I really want to see what side of the Lantern fence the Judge ends up on and where that will lead.
SECRET ORIGINS #2: In the first story, we learn that it was seventeen years ago that the Waynes, important pillars of the Gotham community, were killed during a mugging. The people of Gotham realized that money couldn’t buy them safety and their ideas about their lives were changed. Within four years of their deaths, Bruce had left Gotham and gone off to train while the city had been over run with terrorists. When he returned six years ago, he realized that he needed to transform into something to bring fear to the monsters that had taken over his city. So he became a bat. Soon, the Red Hood Gang and the Falcone Crime Family was gone: all thanks to the masked vigilante known as Batman.
In the second story, Atlanna rescued Tom Curry when he tried to rescue a man who fell overboard. They fell in love and had a child named Arthur. Eventually, Atlanna left and Arthur developed some of his mother’s “gifts”. So Tom enlisted Doctor Stephen Shin to help. On the day of Arthur's graduation from high school, Doctor Shin arrived with a reporter and decided to make his research public. Tom ordered Arthur to leave Amnesty Bay while he went to the Lighthouse, and destroyed the research. Sometime later, on his deathbed, Tom begged his son to find his mother and give her a message. But Arthur went after a thief who had been hired by Doctor Shin and had led to Tom’s condition worsening. He killed the man but soon discovered he accidentally killed the thief’s father. The thief was Black Manta. Eventually, Arthur went to Atlantis. Eventually he founded The Others and joined the Justice League. The story ends with him at last delivering his father’s message to his mother. Standing at her grave, he told her that Tom Curry had never stopped waiting for her and had never stopped loving her.
In the third story, Koriand'r and her sister Kommand'r are daughters in the first house of Tamaran. One day, Tamaran was attacked by the Citadel, who was working for the Dominators and the Psions. The king and queen is killed, Kommand'r was put in charge and Koriand'r was experimented on by Helspont. In the process, Kommand’r was forced to banish her sister, who was taken to Takron and imprisoned. She was eventually transferred as a slave on the S.S. Starfire, where she eventually led a rebellion and became captain of the ship, which she took as her own name.
I still haven not made up my mind about how I feel about this title. Sure, it gives you three tales a month at a cost of five bucks. But how much NEW BACKGROUND are we truly getting here. The Batman story by Ray Fawkes and Dustin Nguyen pretty much tells us what we already knew: Bruce’s parents were killed, he went off to train and brought justice to Gotham. The Aquaman tale by Jeff Parker and Paul Pelletier added a bunch of new material, especially how Doctor Shin betrayed Arthur and his father and was responsible for hiring Black manta, which ultimately led to Manta’s father’s death. The Starfire story by Scott Lobdell and Paulo Siquiera added one or two new pieces of information to her tale, but nothing that shock my world. So, this issue gets a 30% approval rating for me.
SINESTRO #2: Sinestro finds himself in battle with Arkillo and his newly created band of Yellow Lanterns. Sinestro gets Arkillo to say the words “I quit”, seemingly transferring command of the Sinestro Corps back to Sinestro. One of the Lanterns refuses to serve and Sinestro eliminates him, taking back the ring and destroying it too. He shows his daughter the Korugarians that he previously rescued and explains how he plans to give them a new home. He takes the rest of the Lanterns to the prison planet Necropolis. He has the Lanterns kill all the remaining prisoners, along with potential dissident Lanterns.
I am still not totally sold on this title yet. I love Cullen Bunn’s writing and equally enjoy the fact that Sinestro gets to tow the line between evil genius and savior of his people. Most of all, I love Dale Eaglesham’s artwork! It fits the book so well and has a beautiful feel and flow to it. I expect to give this one a few more months anyway to see where Bunn’s plot ends up.
SUPERMAN #31: Previously reviewed as part of the SUPERMAN DOOMED story arc
SWAMP THING #31: Alec learns Miki is a former Avatar of The Grey and has been using the Locum to survive all these years. Alec can also feel his life slipping away from within Pistil’s body. Miki shows Alec that the body she used to inhabit was male. Guarav transfers Alec out and Pistil, whose real name is Hans Leider reveals that he works for a research facility near Dresden. In Germany, the fake Sureen are experimenting on the plant body they stole. They have 40% of the earth's crops under their control and are ready to release a plague that will cause fields of grain die. Travelling through the Grey, Alec arrives in Germany and begins attacking the guards there, before he spies his body wrapped around a corpse. He warns them to escape prior to the building being torn down by giant fungi. Back in India, Guarav explains that a human host is needed to get Alec back into his true body. Alec wraps Miki up and uses her as the go-between to get him back. In the process, her human host decomposes and the anger of the Avatar of the Grey is unleashed. Meanwhile, in Louisiana, Aquaman arrives and demands to know who the Avatar of the Green is.
So, Swamp Thing is back to his old self, but must now find a way to shut down the Avatar of the Grey before she goes completely out of control. I will be the first to admit that this is not the SWAMP THING I grew up with, but is probably the closest thing I have seen to it in the last 20+ years. Charles Soule continues to write a great story while Jesus Saiz’ art gets better with each issue. This is a great fun read and one of my top picks every month when it come time to dig into the pile.
TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #11: Pandora and Marcus Severin are trying to stop a raid on supply truck carrying food and medicine following the Crime Syndicate’s actions. But S.H.A.D.E. Agent Kinkaid is disobeying orders and prepared to kill Pandora if needed. In the middle of all this, Vandal Savage enters the scene, driving an ambulance he commandeered in the last issue. Shot by Kinkaid with a weapon that prevents her from regenerating, Pandora demands answers as Kinkaid turns into a crow and flies away. Pandora casts a spell preventing Kinkaid from changing again and demands an answer. Kinkaid insists that Pandora is responsible for every atrocity in history while Pandora explains that her curse has been to WATCH each of these events occur. Vandal Savage appears and suggests that Kinkaid and Marcus get killed, as HE is the only true opponent for Pandora.
Boy, that Vandal Savage: he sure gets around! Actually, it’s nice to see the old bastard back in a book, since he’s been M.I.A. since DEMON KNIGHTS went to its’ comic grave. Ray Fawkes and Francis Portela are doing the best to wind this storyline up before this title comes to a rather quick end. But wait: there will be a NEW TRINITY OF SIN series coming soon featuring Pandora, The Phantom Stranger and The Question. So don’t feel sad that Pandora will be out of a gig: she’ll just be sharing one!
TRINITY OF SIN THE PHANTOM STRANGER #19: The Phantom Stranger and Terrance Thirteen are concerned the Zauriel is dying and they don’t know what to do. The Stranger leaves Thirteen in charge and goes off to visit Madame Xanadu. At her bookshop, Cassandra Craft has been possessed and it appears “The Crack in Creation” is growing wider. Xanadu decides that the only way to save the planet is to kill Casandra. Stranger agrees, but at the last minute knocks out Xanadu and take Craft in his arms, kissing her and draining the spells out of her body. Her life saved, The Spectre arrives and tell the Stranger that it is up to the two of them to save the world. Meanwhile, Sin Eater and his Master make their final plans and Zuriel dies.
It should be noted that, while he is not credited on the cover, the legendary Len Wein wrote this issue based on a story by J. M DeMatteis. It’s nice to see Madame Xanadu back again, even if she is used as a plot device to lead us to a possessed Cassandra Craft. Fernando Blanco and Norm Breyfogle provide us with the art and it’s nice to se Breyfogle’s work again, as it certainly cleans up Blanco’s lines. This title is also on it’s way to a quick end and will merge with the new TRINITY OF SIN title. But the biggest unanswered question is how much does Zauriel love the Stranger…and why?
WONDER WOMAN #31: Over in London, Hermes and Dionysus notice that the dead are walking and they travel to Hell to find answers. What they find is Cassandra feeding her son to the insatiable Cronus. Meanwhile, Diana prepares to become Queen of the Amazons and some of them have issues with the changes she is proposing. Artemis challenges Diana to fight her without her Bracelets of Submission, but the Goddess of War refuses. Zola wakes to find Zeke missing. Diana has Aleka form a search party but soon finds Dessa with Zeke at the edge of the cliffs, claiming she will sacrifice Zeke to protect their lifestyle. After minutes of discussion, Diana convinces Dessa to hand over Zeke, which she does. Then she leaps from the cliff, prompting Diana to dive after her. At the bottom of the cliff, they find Hephaestus, Eros, Aphrodite and the sons of Paradise Island. With the help of the gods, Diana has arranged for the males to return to their ancient home. Suddenly, a beaten Dionysus arrives saying Hermes can no longer protect Zola and Zeke. The First Born now rules Hell.
Brian Azzarello and Goran Sudzuka continue to shake up the mythology that is WONDER WOMAN. And now, they commit the greatest shake up of all: MEN ALLOWED ON PARADISE ISLAND? Sure, we’ve seen men TRY to reside there and we’ve seen Steve Trevor VISIT. But allowing the Sons of Paradise Island BACK onto the island? This is pretty much guaranteed to set the naysayers off on a tear! And, just to make things MORE interesting, The First Born rules Hell and the dead walk! This looks to be a bad time for everyone that will eventually have to lead to a final showdown. This books continues to be among my favorites!
WORLDS’ FINEST #23: Karen is in her lab, convinced that she will build a portal to get back to Earth 2. A blackout caused by a drain at the Seabrook Nuclear Plant in New Hampshire ends the experiment and also gets the attention of DeSaad. Power Girl heads to Seabrook to correct the problem she knows she caused. In the process, she gets hit by a shot from a tank and tells the soldiers attacking her that they need to check with Amanda Waller about her security clearance. Huntress is chasing a would-be terrorist across the Longfellow Bridge, when he crashes his car and takes one of Kara’s employees hostage. He gives Huntress a choice: jump of the bridge or he kills Tanya the employee.
So, although I am getting tired of the endless search to go home and wish they would just go already, I am enjoying the local touches in the story. Someone, specifically Paul Levitz or one of the DC Editors, has done their research. We have the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant in Seabrook New Hampshire, M.I.T. in Cambridge and even the Longfellow Bridge. If you are from the New England area, you have to appreciate these landmarks being tossed in to add a bit of realism to the book. Also, kudos to R. B Silva and Yindiray Cnar for some nice looking art, as usual.
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