ACTION COMICS #43: Picking up from last issue, Superman is punching out a cop. Only it isn’t really a cop, it’s this slimy shadow creature that is attacking everyone and everything until the police dispatches it with Superman’s help. The Mayor gets pictures of it, doesn’t like what she sees and orders Superman out of Metropolis. He and Jimmy head back to his apartment to find out it has been searched by the police and trashed, compete with GO HOME ALIEN spray painted on his floor. He meets with his neighbors and tells them they are all Superman now. Later, Officer Petruzelli meets with the Mayor to tell her side of what happened and it turns out that mayor’s aides are Shadow Creatures too. Luckily, Superman and the rest of the police arrive to try and save the day.
Greg Pak. Aaron Kuder. The most exciting Superman story in a long time. HARD TRUTH rolls on with a lot more questions than answers. This is great stuff and should absolutely be on the top of everyone’s reading list!
ALL STAR SECTION EIGHT #3: Beuno discovers that he needs to fight Sir Percival Orifice, Tape of the Wyrn for the honor and love of Guts. Meanwhile, Martian Manhunter finds it an honor and a privilege to join Section Eight, even though he believes that Baytor may be an ancient Martian god. J’onn and Six Pack have a long heart to heart, leading Six Pack to realize this IS his calling and he believes he can lead the team into action. Unfortunately, J’onn goes to the bathroom and seeing what is transpiring between Sir Percival, Beuno and Guts, he flees in absolute disgust.
This book is TRULY not for the faint of heart! It is disgusting on all levels from visual to low brow and foul humor. We have out favorite DC heroes swearing up a storm! We have J’onn going to the bathroom because he feels a great movement coming on! We have a mostly naked Beuno fighting a tapeworm for the honor of Guts. Garth Ennis and John McCrea have outdone themselves here. But, when HAVEN’T they?
AQUAMAN #43: We begin with a flashback where Aquaman tells her how this other civilization can be saved and her response is to brand him a traitor and the break-up begins! Aquaman goes to visit Poseidon for advise and gives Aquaman his powers to help in the battle to save Thule. Back in the present, the former sea king battles Garth, King Shark a team of elite Atlantean soldiers. But a giant creature from Thule forces them to work together and Aquaman gets to test out his new powers. The Atlanteans allow him to leave for now and we discover that Mera isn’t really Mera, but someone who is impersonating her and referring to her as her sister.
Oh how this title has drifted down from the greatness it was. Cullen Bunn’s story is too warped and confusing for me, with too many obligatory flashbacks cluttering it up. And the dynamic art duo of Trevor McCarthy with Jesus Merino just doesn’t fit with this book. Not to mention, when I have characters in the background that barely have faces on them, I find that a problem! Just a major bummer since CONVERGENCE.
BATGIRL #43: We begin with a tiger attack before jumping to Barbara helping Alysia with her wedding plans. Barbara learns of the tiger attack and heads to Foxtech to talk to Luke Fox. She runs an algorithm and finds out that Qadir let the tiger out, even though he denies it. Another tiger attack and Batgirl shows up to find Frankie there. After chewing her up, she runs off to a dress fitting with Alysia. Barbara gets called away again as Frankie has figured where the next tiger attack will occur. Batgirl arrives to save the day, but not before getting scratched in the process. Back home, she has a fight with Frankie, who later goes out dressed as Batgirl and meets with Qadir. We end finding out that Jo was responsible for releasing the tigers and then the real villain arrives.
Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher and Babs Tarr continue what has become known as the “Batgirling” of DC Comics. And, as I have said since this revamp started, this is NOT the Batgirl we fans want. Now, DC claims that this is to bring more girls into the comic shops but my comics loving daughter reads MY LITTLE PONY and BATMAN. Oh yeah…and classic Sixties comics like SUPERBOY and T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS. She CERTAINLY doesn’t read this. IS IT bringing in female readers? You’d have to ask a retailer.
BATMAN #43: Jim Gordon reveals himself as Batman to a bearded Bruce Wayne and asks for his help dealing with this mysterious Mr. Bloom, who says he is no longer the person he was and can’t help him. Meanwhile, Clark Kent meets with Alfred and learns the real secret of Bruce Wayne. It seems Bruce DID die but somehow was brought back to life by the Dionesium, which also changed the paths in his brain. The OLD Bruce no longer exists and he knows nothing of his career as Batman. Clark threatens to tell Bruce but Alfred reveals, as he whips out a Kryptonite ring, that telling Bruce that would do no good, as he no longer has any of the fighting skills he once had. He also gets shown the one thing he had been working on: a way to use his DNA to always make a 27 year old version of him, so there would ALWAYS be a Batman. The New Batman goes out after Mr. Bloom and gets involved in a fight where he uses his new Batarang gun and a shark to defeat his enemies. But he also falls into a trap that Julia can’t help him out of, as she herself has been taken out. But then again, it looks like Oswald Cobblepot and his associates have been taken out too!
Wow! And the hits just keep on coming courtesy of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. The most popular DC title continues to rock and shock! Bruce Wayne lives but has never remembered being Batman and can no longer have the skills he once had? And who is Mr. Bloom and why does he have it out for everyone? And just what is the continued connection between Bruce and Duke Thomas? This book just keep getting better and better with each issue!
BATMAN BEYOND #3: We find Tim Drake drugged in a chair in The Lodge so that Brother Eye can find the location of Neo Gotham. Alfred shocks Tim and this disables the chair long enough for him to get the drugs out of his system, leading him into a fight with Inque. It seems that Inque has sold herself out because Brother Eye had kidnapped her daughter, but soon discovers that Deanna has gotten free. So Tim saves Barbara and Inque and destroys the place. Unfortunately, Brother Eye has injected itself into the Batman suit and now The Veil has been compromised. Micron arrives and it seems that Tim has doomed Neo Gotham instead of saving it.
Okay, this book is getting a little on the silly side now. Not to mention that Dan Jurgens and Bernard Chang are giving us a supporting cast, with the exception of Tim and Barbara, that I really don’t have a loving connection with. Terry McGuiness’ brother is a jerk who seems to have it in for Tim because he didn’t get to be Johnny Bravo and wear the suit! The first issue really surprised me, but the quality of it has gone down increasingly since. C’mon guys: give me something to make me excited about.
BATMAN SUPERMAN #23: Superman goes underground to check out Ukur and finds an entire camp that is looking for light, not looking to conquer the Earth. In disguise as one of the Dawn Command, he saves one of the Upperworlder’s from attack and then gets the story. It appears that people have willingly left Gotham and other “unsafe” surface world cities to come down here an be protected by Ukur. Meanwhile, Gordon meets with Fox and wonders if Clark can be trusted. Then Gordon meets with Perry White, who is still hopping mad that he hired an alien. The Lois Lane, who is guarded by Metallo, meets with Gordon and suggests that although Clark will always do the right thing, his right thing may not always be everyone else’ idea of right. Down below, Ukur introduces his newest ally: Arthur of Atlantis.
TRUTH HURTS Part Three by Greg Pak and Adrian Syaf brings the relationship between Superman and his supporting cast to a whole new level of mistrust. Right from the start, Jim Gordon admits he’s NOT the old Batman. And it’s pretty clear that Perry White, who always saw Clark as an adopted son, is pretty pissed off at being lied to for so long. And Lois? We’re still not sure what led to her outing him in the first place but here she is acting the part of strong journalist with Metallo by her side. What we learn here is that Clark Kent WILL always do what’s right and in this case, it may be what’s right for the people living underground.
BAT-MITE #3: Damian Wayne is trying to retrieve the Batmoboile that Bat-Mite stole in issue #1 but gets into a battle with Gridlock, who paralyzes the Boy Wonder with just one touch. Meanwhile, Bat-Mite is becoming a bit of a bothersome house guest at the expense of Weed and Reagan, who apparently works for the government and wants to know everything they can about Bat-Mite. Gridlock announces that he has captured the Boy Wonder and Bat-Mite, armed with Bat Shark Repellent, pops into action to help. This doesn’t sit well with the Boy Wonder but, once Gridlock shows up, it’s time for a super-hero team-up. But Bat-Mite gets frozen by Gridlock’s touch allowing the bad guy to beat feet. Next up: it looks like Booster Gold is going to need Bat-Mite’s help.
Dan Jurgens and Colin Howell continue to make this the funniest book on the market. Bat-Mite is a cigar smoking, hard drinking little best trying his best to be a good superhero. Unfortunately, his good intentions aren’t always helpful. The art is cute, the stories are fun, and I just love this title. It’s a shame that it’s going to be a mini series only but what can you do? I now: ask for more!
BIZZARO #3: Chastity Hex is hunting for Jeremiah Blackhearse in the Ol' Gulch Ghost Town and that’s where she meets up with Jimmy and Bizzaro. In the process, the ghost of El Papagayo and his parrot Pepito arrive. And that means a battle with The Bizarro Kid. Unfortunately, El Papagayo possesses Bizarro. Jimmy goes to call Superman on his signal watch and it turns out that The Riddler stole it last issue so HE ends up with the Man of Steel in his house. Jimmy blows a bugle call and in comes the cavalry led by Jonah Hex himself. With things settled, Chastity, Jimmy and Bizarro are on the road to Branson Missouri where Zatanna, the Mistress of Magic is performing.
Heath Corson and Gustavo Duarte continue to deliver a funny book that is all about taking the serious characters of Jimmy Olsen and Bizarro and twisting them all over the place! This book is great, I wish it wasn’t a mini-series and with that…GO READ THIS THING!
BLACK CANARY #3: Dinah confronts her ex husband, who tells her that Ditto is in danger due to the creepy operatives from her world. We also find out that our government wants Ditto too. It seems that they used her genes to give Dinah her sonic scream. Hearing this, Ditto leaves and gets picked up by Bo Meave. Yeah…that can’t be good.
Short review for a great book! Brenden Fletcher and Annie Wu do a wonderful job telling the tale of a rock star who was a superhero. The art is a bit quirky, but it fits the book perfectly. This is one of the interesting and surprisingly good newcomers that have the “Batgirl style”, which apparently DC higher ups have now wanted toned down due to lagging sales. Hopefully, this one WON’T be affected!
CATWOMAN #43: While Selina is at a party, she tells Ward and Antonia that they are in charge as she has Catwoman business to do.Meanwhile, Black Mask visits the Hisagawa training facility to discuss business regarding the various Gotham families. While out on a training mission, Spoiler and the Eiko Catwoman find a wounded Lewis and realize that Sionis is after Selina, leading to him shooting Eiko Catwoman. Antonia meets with Cobblepot who insists she bring him the head of Selina Kyle. Selina, as Catwoman, runs into the new Batman, who can’t manage to apprehend her but lets her know that he will someday. Selina changes up and goes to the Fox Center for Gotham Youth, where she meets a bearded Bruce Wayne. In the end, Selina Catwoman meets with Antonia while Croc seemingly attempts to rescue Eiko.
Genevieve Valentine writes another great issue here with more twists and turns than a British mystery show. And while I’m not fond of David Messina’s, but the story is great! This isn’t a costumed adventure book anymore: it’s a crime drama with teeth. And it’s some of the best this title has exhibited in years!
CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER #3: In the past, Constantine, Gaz, Georgie and Veronica Delacroix are at a concert involving demons and a band known as The End of the World. In the present, John and Georgie are involved in the investigation of an orgy gone bad. This leads John to track down a Succubi responsible for the deaths. In actuality, the killer was an incubus and Georgie helps him dispatch it. John admits to Georgie that he needs help with his ghost issue. She also tells him that Veronica died three years ago and blames him for both her death and Gaz’. Maybe that explains the blood on his hands.
Ming Doyle and James Tynion IV are writing a really weird, non PC version of John Constantine. That having been said, this book just can’t seem to get out of the rut it is slowly putting itself into. We’re three issues in and we’re still messing around with this ghost issue that came into play in the first two issues. But this issue swerved away from the ghost chase to introduce some supporting cast that we may or may not see again. And John is still no closer to catching his ghosts. Doyle and Vanessa Del Rey handle the art, which seems to morph into something new with each issue. I had very high hopes for this title when it started, but it has slowly slipped downhill. I hope it gets better or it will last as long as the TV series did.
CYBORG #2: The Tekbreakers return home after their battle with the Technosapiens and being to talk about how they killed Cyborg in the Preview story from last May. Victor is troubled by a strange dream and then goes to S.T.A.R. Labs so they can test him against their newest cybernetic creations. Meanwhile, the protester from the first issue goes to an underground doctor and has surgery to have cybernetic prosthetics installed. Sebastian Cardona meets with Vic to let him know that his friend has had these cybernetics installed and Vic suffers from extreme pain as he realizes that "they" are coming. Of course, they have also come for Bobby
David Walker and Ivan Reis continues to tell the tale of the NEW Cyborg. Reis’ art is top notch, but Walker’s story is a bit confusing. Besides giving us a whole subplot with a guy from last issue who is getting illegal cybernetic upgrades, we get a reference to a story that appeared in CONVERGENCE: CRIME SYNDICATE #2. Now, in case you feel lost and didn’t read the CONVERGENCE mini-series (and that was most of the world as it BOMBED in sales allegedly was partially responsible for DC’s recently announced 2 million dollar loss), you can find it archived on line and download it for free from DC. So, can we guess that the other cyborg came from somewhere in the Multiverse? Again…confusing!
DEATHSTROKE #9: With Diana and Slade just back from last month’s annual, it’s right back into battle with Lapetus and his army, that is currently destroying the Amazons on Paradise Island. Slade follows Lapetus away from the battlefield for a fierce one on one. Unfortunately for Deathstroke, he and the Amazons are losing the battle. That’s when Superman arrives and attacks Deathstroke, thinking he is the cause and is responsible for his current sweetie being injured. Deathstoke uncorks the power of his sword and lets loose as the anti-hero and the Big Blue Boy Scout do battle. Eventually, Wonder Woman intervenes and explains to her boyfriend that Slade, as bad as he is, is actually here to help. It’s a good thing that they are all on the same page now as Lapetus comes back, stronger than ever and bearing a new toy of destruction.
When you thought to yourself “just how many issues can Tony S. Daniel keep up the one man attack and stay on track, what was your answer”. As we have noted over the past few months, it is less than nine issues…way less than nine issues. Tony S. Daniel has James Bonny by his side on the writing end and and Eduardo Pansica taking care of the art chores. The book looks fine as Pansica can ape Daniels’ work easily and, with all that blood and guts, can anyone really notice? The story is a bit on the weak side, as it gets divided between an Amazon battle, a one on one with the bad guy and then a one on one with the Man of Steel. The storyline ends next month and maybe we can get back to the whole “why isn’t Slade old anymore” plot.
DETECTIVE COMICS #43: Bullock and company find an exhausted Batman, who has stepped out of the Robo Batsuit and taken down the members of La Morte, but the power core that had been stolen is missing. While Gordon, Bullock and Montoya try to figure who has to core and what is going on with Yip, who Bullock believes is dirty, a member of La Morte visits the Joker’s Daughter, seeking her help. Bullock confronts Yip, who admits to giving out the seating information for the circus to some unknown person. The La Morte mercenaries get sprung, leading Batman into action. Unfortunately, it looks like he may be fighting a mecha bigger than he is in the form of a Jokerbot may!
Brian Buccellato remains for a little while, even though Francis Manapul has departed. I don’t know when Buccellato’s last issue is, but I hope he can finish this arc before he splits. I’m dying to know who is behind all of this, although it seems that it may be part of the Falcone Family. But is THIS who Yip has been talking to? Fernando Blanco handles the art in a nice way. Again, it’s not manapul, but I’ll take it. And while BATMAN is the book with more bite, I like where this is going and concentrating on G.C.P.D.
DOOMED #3: Three years ago, during a terrorist attack, Roman becomes the Alpha Centurion. In the now of course, Roman is Reiser’s roommate. Reiser goes off to see Jayne and let her know that he took off his suit, even though he won’t tell her about his side effects. Miles manages to get his hands on Oui Oui the dog, leading to Reiser’s transformation. The two battle and Miles is ready to dispatch our hero when he takes pity on him and leaves him be, telling him to lay low. Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, some folks have learned about the whole Doomed thing and have called in Wonder Girl, Power Girl and Flash Boy(AKA Kid Flash).
Uh…what? Scott Lobdell wrote it, Javier Fernandez drew it and I can’t believe I am still READING IT! Looks like it just became another excuse to tie in the Teen Titans.
DR. FATE #3: Khalid uses the Dr. Fate helmet to deal with the flooding in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Anubis is on a quest to find the vessel of Bastet, who died in the first issue. Khalid gets a visit from Nabu, who makes him don the helmet again and use his powers to save a helicopter in trouble. Oh yeah: he forgot to text his girlfriend Shaya goodnight the night before and realizes he is in BIG TROUBLE!
What? Paul Levitz and Sonny Liew: just what in the name of the Wide Wide World of Sports(sorry Mel Brooks-had to use it!) are you doing to this classic character? He’s more concerned about NOT TEXTING his girlfriend then why Nabu chose him? Oh brother-why bother!
EARTH 2: SOCIETY #3: Terry Sloan is trying to get his terraforming machine to remake the new Earth 2 with everything to old Earth 2 had by using the Source Vault. Power Girl flies through the machine, causing lightning bolts to shoot down, hit Sloan and making a mess out of the machine. This leads to a flashback to a year ago when Red Tornado was an outcast looking for a permanent home and helping a mother and daughter get reunited with their husband and father. Back in the present, Green Lantern shows up to stop the monsters coming forth from the damaged machine. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, Terry Sloan has been killed and the Source Vault has been stolen.
Do I really care? Earth 2 should have ended before CONVERGENCE. This is just silly! Daniel H. Wilson and Jorge Jimenez: I blame you both. A plague on BOTH your houses. Nah…that’s a little too harsh. Seriously: let off the world and let it go already!
FLASH #43: We begin with Professor Zoom talking with his collection of New Rogues and telling them that it’s about killing The Flash and tearing down the image of the icon. Barry finds his father and the rest of the escaped cons (except for Girder who’s been caught). After a brief hug, Henry tells Barry that he needs to stay away from this Flash like speedster and sends his son away. After a visit with his roommate, the former Pied Piper, he heads off to a school event where Wally races a sports car he designed. Iris and Wally are so happy to see him, even if he does flip out on the football coach. Later, The Flash takes on a hostage situation involving the convicts to discover the hostages are only mannequins and the hostage taker is his dad. Henery tells him to keep his son safe by killing Eobard Thawne, the real murderer of Barry’s mother. Before you know it, Henry if off to jail but gets sprung by Block, Roscoe and the Folding Man, sending Barry to the bottom of the sea.
And here is another book with a big thumbs up and a great WOW factor! Robert Venditti and Van Jensen have been writing an incredible run on this title and with Brett Booth handling the art, it has been a dram to read. The whole reveal, AT LAST, that Thawne is Nora’s killer was a long time coming, even if we all knew it was coming! This book tows an interesting line between comic book and television show, much like GREEN ARROW has been doing as of late. But I’m okay with that and reintroducing Iris and Wally is a great move!
GOTHAM ACADEMY #9: Olive, Maps, Colton and Kyle get to work finding out what attacked Tristan. Colton goes into an old RV that has a computer and a lab so he can analyze the DNA from the fur they found. They go to visit Pomeline and she gives them silver to protect them from what they believe is a werewolf. Olive finds Katherine in her room and she leaves behind Olive’s school admission papers. Olive’s mother was a villain named Calamity and Olive had been placed here so she could be watched over, not because she had been given a Wayne Scholarship. Tristan was also put here to be watched, as Milo was responsible for turning him into a Man Bat. As he and Olive speak, the werewolf bursts in and Tristan transforms to save her. The team captures the werewolf with a tranquilizing dart and it’s revealed that it is Coach Humphrey. In the end, Pomeline tries to reveal some key information about Calamity when the villain appears at a school play rehearsal and the room bursts into flame. At least, it appears to be Calamity’s fault.
Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher and Karl Kerschl do here so well what the other teen titles cannot. There is a lot of connection to the Batman mythos presented here They manage to give us a group of interesting characters, some with mysterious pasts, and bring them together into a modern day Scooby Gang. I love how their pasts are getting revealed one tiny piece at a time and not all at once. That alone keeps me reading, as does the whole Hogwarts vibe you get from the campus itself. This is just a fun ride!
GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT #8: While people in downtown Gotham suddenly begin attacking each other for no good reason, Kate Spencer meets with Detective Rook, who has enough bad information on the Midnight Shift to put them all away for a long time. And he is more than willing to spill his guts to the Grand Jury. Corrigan visits Drake in the hospital, where she is being treated for her wounds from the downtown Gotham attack. Corrigan goes to downtown and meets with Tarr and finds out there is massive psychic action going on and the GNN television broadcasts are to blame. They sneak into the GNN studios and find a mass of bloodshed. They also find that the broadcasters have made some sort of deal with Hell and, in the end, they become monsters and both die from consuming each other. Tarr notes that the strange black flowers have begun to grow where Corrigan had been sitting. They race back to their office to find Peyton and Rook waiting with search warrants.
Ray Fawkes Juan Ferreyra slam another one out of the park! This is the coolest single issue yet! While Peyton and Rook work behind the scenes to nail the Midnight Shift to the wall, Corrigan tries to keep the Spectre in check as Dr. Tarr faces the evil possessed broadcasters. This issue feels like THEY LIVE with a twisted Wes Craven( Rest in Peace) twist to it. The story moves along nicely as we still don’t know what the ultimate evil that is responsible truly is. And Ferreyra delivers nicely with the art. I love this book and where it’s going and it is far more satisfying than all the other books from the previous “dark” line combined.
GRAYSON #11: When last wqe saw Dick, he was getting ready to kill Agent 1, but it quickly becomes obvious that THIS isn’t really Dick as a second Dick arrives. He begins guessing who is masquerading as him, with failed guesses of Clayface and Killer Croc and that leads to a battle with Dick on Dick. The other Dick drops all sorts of clues to Grayson’s identity, showing that someone knows who Agent 37 REALLY is. The fake Dick even accuses him of sleeping with Agent 8, Agent 1’s lover, and accuses him of letting her die. Then the fake Dick hacks into Grayson’s hypnos and controls him, dropping all the puzzle pieces in place from the last few issues. With the whisper of a magic word "Tsuchigumo", Dick passes out. Agent 1 awakens and rips the hypnos out of his eyes to reveal Agent 8. Later, Agent 1 tells Helena that Maxwell Lord, head of Checkmate, was the spy killer. Agent 37 quits Spyral and heads back to Gotham to find Bruce. In the end, Agent 8 meets with Doctor Netz, who reveals she and Agent 0 are sisters.
Tom King, Tim Seeley and Mikel Janin have created the BEST BOOK featuring Dick Grayson in the last two decades. Forget Batman and Robin, forget Nightwing…even forget his turn as the Dark Knight himself. This book is a mind blower and where it goes from here is anyone’s guess! This is truly becoming a classic in the genre and is redefining the former Boy Wonder. Left hanging by the man who put him here, it'’ a study of things going sour real quick! And we get Max Lord and Checkmate brought into the DC You too! What an absolutely amazing ride, even with the occasional butt jokes!
GREEN ARROW #43: Oliver is still being held captive by self claimed Supremacist Zimm, who reveals himself to be disguising himself as a racist to attract followers. While searching for him by boat, Emiko and George run afoul of one of the robots and she manages to destroy it, with George rescuing her and dragging her onto shore. Zimm’s albino partner arrives, realizing that Zimm is only using the White Supremacy cause as a ruse and plans to eliminate him. But Zimm is one step ahead and has his robot rip the man to pieces. In the process, Ollie slips free, meeting up with Emiko and George in the woods. Together they attack an army of the robots but don’t get all the help they need, as Henry is busy in the bathroom. Luckily, he is able to hack into the system, causing the robots to explode. All but one, which Zimm has been tangled up in and dragged to the bottom of the ocean, where a hungry shark awaits him.
While Ben Percy and Patrick Zircher aren’t the team of Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino, this run so far has been fun, if not a bit on the gory side. We’ve had racist murders and now the racist gets torn to pieces. Percy’ story has just enough dark humor in it, like Henry sitting on the toilet when he needs to be hacking into the robot’s system. And George having to save Emiko. Of course, there is a convenient plot hole there as it just so happens that George brings her on shore on the island where Zimm is. Zircher’s art is top notch and possibly the best of his career. This does have a bit of the ARROW feel to it now, but it still is a worthwhile read.
GREEN LANTERN #43: With Hal having lost the Corps and Virgo having lost his home and his people, the pair now have a common bond. Hal steps out to talk to Relic and we discover there is a huge hole in the Source Wall, which was caused by the monster that burst free at the conclusion of GODHEAD. And those pieces of the Source Wall are probably causing the calcification that is happening through the universe. Back on the ship, Virgo tries on Krona's Gauntlet, which sends out a surge of green emotional energy and alerts Relic, who believes he is going to be attacked. It also knocks out Virgo and plays havoc with “Darlene”’s system, causing Hal to eventually reboot her so they escape. In the end, there is a new problem on the horizon in the form of the Gray Agents. Oh yeah: Black Lantern has lost his touch and is headed back to the Coast City Cemetery.
Robert Venditti continues his epic where Hal Jordan has long hair and dresses like The Spectre! I like this Hal because he has finally stopped whining about his life, even though he has lost his beloved Lantern Corps. It was real nice to see Ethan Van Sciver on art, as I’ve always been a fan of his work. His Black Lantern is just SO CREEPY looking!!! I would love to see him make this his regular gig. This book has elevated from what it was and is still a way from what it could be. Here’s hoping…
GREEN LANTERN: LOST ARMY #3: The misplaced Lanterns meet up with Relic from a time before Relic was the Relic trying to stop the Lanterns from using up all the light energy and destroying the universe. He tells them how the War of the Dwindling Light goes on and he is looking for a reservoir. John Stewart tells him that the Lanterns know where there is a reservoir and they can guide him to it. Of course, this gets Guy all in a snit because he has a problem with Stewart lying to Relic. The Light Pirates show up and the Lanterns attack, only some of them may not make it back.
Well, I must say this is the most excitement we have seen thus far in this book. Unfortunately, that all happened in the last five pages of the story. Before that it was a lot of Blah Blah Blah from Cullen Bunn. And Jesus Saiz art seemed to get an upgrade on those last five pages. Maybe that is where Cliff Richards jumped in to help. Oooh: I knew this title was going to be weak, but I didn’t think it would be THIS WEAK.
HARLEY QUINN #19: Things start badly, as the parents of some of Harley’s gang come home to find their girls’ missing. Meanwhile, Harley, Ivy and Tony head out to help the captured girls (and boy). She parachutes onto Horatio Strong’s boat and attacks, leading him to race off to the bathroom. Gnarly volunteers to check on him after Harvey chickens out. Elsewhere, The girls’ mom show up at the Coney Island headquarters and threatens Eggy, Tony and Ivy. Over in Brooklyn, someone is stealing expensive medical equipment and Sy Borg intervenes, promising to help get her out of her predicament. Back on the boat, a thong wearing Horatio emerges with strange powers and multiple references to his bowel movement, leading Harley to make multiple references to vomit. Just as things look grim, mom flies in and rescues the team, causing everyone to find out that the girls are only 14, not 19 as they made themselves off to be. Everyone gets invited home for lasagna as Harley has to deal with a team five persons lighter. In the end, Harleen meets with Sam and the woman who was stealing the medical equipment. It seems a Hollywood cult kidnapped her daughter and is going to kill her, so Harley takes the case!
So the team of Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti and Chad Hardin are at it again, filling the book with gratuitous sexy shots and sophomoric, grade school puns. Yes, tell me why we need 7 new ways to say I POOPED and 10 new ways to say UPCHUCK! That’s what I thought. This was a better than average issue when it comes to plot, but just another excuse to have Harley be the Deadpool with Breasts of the DC Universe.
HARLEY QUINN POWER GIRL #3: Harley and Power Girl, along with Groovicus, continue their trip to find Vartox and get themselves back to Earth. Arriving at the Lustox Moon, they discover a ton of naughty statues of Power Girl. After a brief space battle, they return to their ship to find a wasted Groovicus, which leads to a drug sequence featuring a modified Hunter S. Thompson and a familiar road trip. They finally get to Vartox, who attacks and seems to defeat Power Girl in a battle that could result in him killing her.
I would LOVE to say how much I like this book, but even the influence of Justin Gray cannot keep Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti to sinking below DEADPOOL humor as there are just way too many dick jokes (and I don’t mean Grayson!). To top it off, it takes three artists, Stephane Roux, Moritat, and Elliot Fernandez, to tell this tale. And let us not forget that the entire mini-series takes place between panels in an issue of HARLEY QUINN. Great concept but an overabundance of sophomoric toilet humor just ruins it.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #43: Steppenwolf gathers Kalbak and tells him that Darkseid needs him, as he plans on going to Earth to bring back Grail and Myrina Black. Superman and Lex Luthor get attacked on Apokolips and it comes to their realization that there is no yellow sun available and Superman is SERIOUSLY underpowered…so much so that he is bleeding. Lex drops Superman into a fire pit, which provides the solar energy he needs to power back up, but also inspires him to want to kill Lex. Meanwhile, on the Rock of Eternity, the Justice League listens to Batman, who sits upon what he refers to as HIS Mobius Chair and gets the history about Grail. The only question it can’t answer is who the Anti-Monitor is. Scot Free arrives and, after shackling Metron so he can’t get free, transports everyone away using a Boom Tube. They arrive to where Grail and the Anti-Monitor is, but she has created a blood spell that has called for her father and he has arrived with his army.
Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok absolutely blow the top off of this book as they have done with every issue of this run so far. We get great drama, cool dialogue, a creepy Batman (old school…the new guy ain’t here…yet), fantastic looking art and a roller coaster ride from page one to the end of the book. This book has again become THE Justice League title to read...well: along with the DeMatteis/Giffen/Porter future giggle fest.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #3: Hal and Flash are on Oa due to a wormhole Hal created. This wormhole has place them on 250,000 years ago. Flash spins about fast enough to get out of there, leaving Hal alone with Kryptonian warriors who wish to take him to meet their god Rao. Wonder Woman is on what is left of Olympus as an Oraculum explains how the gods all left and she is stuck there. The Infinity Corporation is now in 1961, where it is revealed that THEY pulled Flash off of Oa. Back on Earth, Rao continues to answer the prayers of the people and tells the U.N. that he'll do whatever he wants to make life better. In true fashion, Batman doesn’t trust him and plans on keeping a close eye on him, despite what Superman thinks.
Bryan Hitch writes a great, I’m assuming, out of continuity story here as we still have Hal as part of the Lanterns and Bruce Wayne in the Batsuit. The story is totally confusing, what with the multiple timelines and all, but the artwork is killer! I really don’t see this title lasting as a monthly, as it feels more like it should be a mini-series. That being said, the ride is interesting if not a little bumpy along the way.
JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001 #3: Over on Woodin Twelve as Starro Prime tells them he is doing an awesome job running the planet. So they head back to Camelot Nine, where Supergirl can't believe how much of a jerk her cousin has become. But he and Batman head out drinking on Takron -Galtos and Batman tells him how much he misses his old best friend. That’s when they get a visit from Sheriff Tariq, causing them both to split. Clark chases after a purse snatcher only to find the thief roughed up with a bloody Bat Symbol painted above him.Meanwhile, Ariel Masters/Lois Lane and Guy Gardner have a meeting and it is decided that Guy has to baby-sit the Starro Consciousness. Problems continue for the rest of the team as Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Fire and Ice, Flash and Hal Jordan have to deal with a Giant Turtle that turns out to be Jimmy Olsen. In the end, Lois wants out of Ariel’s body, Guy and Wonder Woman have “coffee talk” and Supergirl, now roomies with The Flash, BEGS to be sent 1,000 years into the future.
J.M. Dematteis, Keith Giffen and Howard Porter continue to give us the greatest Justice League book on the market today. Full of wit and whimsy, we get Guy having identity issues as a “smokin’ hot babe”, Clark and Bruce having issues with their friendship and Lois wanting to break free from the prison she put herself in. Oh…did I mention we get the return of Jimmy Olsen as Turtle Man? Yeah: old school comic fan GEEKING OUT HERE!!! Buy this book before DC looks at the sale figures and cans it! Seriously! It’s the most twisted thing since…well, since the LAST THING DeMatteis and Giffen worked on!
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #12: Poison Ivy, Mera, Equinox and Etrigan are still stuck in the blood and guts monster that we were introduced to and are trying to find Swamp Thing. Through their combined efforts, they get the creature off the ground and Etrigan uses the fires of Hell to destroy it. Swamp Thing is nothing besides a shriveled head, but Poison Ivy is going to do her best to nurse him back to health. Meanwhile, Alanna Strange visits with Dr. John Henry Irons to explain what is going on with system anomalies in the universe. Star Girl is in the Alps trying to explain all of this to the Doom Patrol, before heading to Burnside to let Batgirl know she is needed for the next mission.
I have so many mixed feelings about this book. The idea of a rotating team is a bit like the Suicide Squad meets Justice League Dark and that’s not what I’m looking for. Now, the old JLU team was okay, but also never bowled me over. This feels a wee bit like the Marvel Universe where you have more Avenger and X-teams than you can keep track of. I DO like Jeff Parker’s pacing and Travel Foreman’s extremely moody artwork. I also like the idea of reintroducing the Doom Patrol into this universe, as I don’t believe we have seen them since JUSTICE LEAGUE #30, where we found out the Niles Caulder was a bit more evil than the original DC Universe one. Which one will be here? Who knows. For that reason alone, I will still be reading this title. Better yet: give us a real DOOM PATROL title again!
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