Godhead Act 3

GREEN LANTERN #37: GODHEAD ACT 3, PART 1 We begin with Sinestro, John Stewart, Kilowog and a lot of the Lantern Corps stuck in the Multiversal Prison of the New Gods and trying to find their way out. Sinestro even unleashes Parallax to no avail. Meanwhile, Hal Jordan is stuck under the Big Top with Black Hand and his resurrected souls, including Hal’s father. Hal explains that if the New Gods get the Life Equation weaponized, everything ends and that convinces Black Hand to lend a hand. So they head to the Source Wall and discover that Sinestro is not there to meet them as planned. Orion and his allies arrive but Black Hand brought along the spirits of the fallen Green Lantern to battle with them. As the battle progresses, Black Hand takes great joy to discover the Source Wall is a mass grave.

Welcome to the first part of the final act in the GODHEAD Saga. Robert Venditti and Francis Portela gives us a ton of action, a really awesome sequence in the Black Hand’s Circus from hell, complete with Hal’s reuniting with his dad, and a revelation at the end leads to one of the better GL issues. I seriously hope this momentum doesn’t get lost when this arc ends and the next one begins.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #37: GODHEAD ACT 3, PART 2: Highfather and the New Gods continue to defeat Lanterns and imprison them in their Multiversal Prison. As Highfather is about to blast Sinestro and John Stewart with the power of his White Lantern powered scepter, Malhedron jumps in front and saves them. Injured, he creates a Boom Tube that allows Stewart, Sinestro, and Saint Walker to get away and design a plan to defeat the New Gods. Stewart convinces Malhedron to arrange transportation for them and stay out of the fight and he reluctantly agrees. Stewart heads back just in time to save Kilowog and defeat Uggha in a battle.

There were only two things I enjoyed about this issue. First, we get to see Malhedron do the right thing and join the good guys. I happen to like his character from previous installments of this saga and would like to see him in his own book. Van Jensen’s story was just okay and the art by Bernard Chang and Mirko Colak is way too stylistic for my taste. The second thing I liked? If you were lucky enough to score a Darwyn Cooke variant cover (yeah-Cooke was the artist on the variants this month and many of them, specifically this one and the one for TEEN TITANS, were spectacular!)

GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #37: GODHEAD ACT 3, PART 3: Kyle and Carol are stuck on Old Genesis without their rings when Metron shows up. He blasts a hole in the rubble of Old Genesis, revealing an old Mother Box and suggests they might want to use it to help their cause. Meanwhile, Malhedron leaves John Stewart and Saint Walker to go and rescue Guy Gardner and Simon Baz. Not longer after, Kyle and Carol arrive, much to Saint Walker’s joy. Some of Highfather’s Divine Guard shows up and Kyle unleashes all of his pent-up emotions on them. But two of the Guard capture Carol and Saint Walker and, just when things look grim for them, John Stewart arrives to save the day. Taking on Highfather, Kyle gets his ring back and finds out that the power is now within Highfather’s scepter. Using the Life Equation, he dispatches Carol, John, Kyle and Saint Walker to a place unknown.

Part 3 of the final act is in the books and it makes me further understand why I don’t read this title and why it is getting cancelled. Justin Jordan, Diogenes Neves and Rodney Buchemi give us a nice looking issue with not a lot of substance. Kyle and Carol are just annoying and the rest of the book just plods along. The only major plot point we get is that the Life Equation has left the white ring and now the star of the book is powerless. Yeah-nothing for me here to keep me interested.

RED LANTERNS #37: GODHEAD ACT 3, PART 4 Guy Gardner and Simon Baz break out of their Miracle Cell only to be visited by Malhedron. He explains that he believes Highfather has lost his way and has jumped to the side of the Lanterns. The bad news is that Hyalt, Highfather’s weaponsmith, has the various Lantern rings and is studying them. Simon goes after Hyalt which gives Guy time to get his hands on the rings and join in the fight. Meanwhile, the team of Carol, Kyle, John and Saint Walker arrive somewhere on New genesis after having been sent here by Highfather. The Templar Guardians arrive and explain that it will take all of them, Guardians and Lanterns, to save them.

Charles Soule and J. Calafiore create a great issue here! This epic story could probably have been told in a four issue mini-series as opposed to being stretched out across five monthlies for three months PLUS an opening and closing one shot. However, this issue gives us lots of action, some wonderfully snappy dialogue by Soule and the always reliable art of Calafiore. By the way, something I forgot to mention earlier. To honor ‘The King’, all the issues in this month’s arc features tribute covers based on classic Kirby DC covers. Represented are THE DEMON, OMAC, KAMANDI, MISTER MIRACLE, SUPER POWERS and this book’s homage to OUR FIGHTING FORCES #156.

SINESTRO #8: GODHEAD ACT 3, PART 5 Sinestro is on New Genesis and gets his hand on a member of the Divine Guard. Convinced he needs a Mother Box, he turns Parallax loose on the poor guy so he can examine the Box. What he discovers it that it links to a central battery. As he looks for it, he sees a Star Sapphire ring that leads him straight to Carol Ferris, John Stewart, Kyle Rayner and Saint Walker. He heads to Highfather’s war room and battle him with a Yellow Ring constructed Darkseid. Defeated, Sinestro has Despotellis activate a Mother Box which in turn activates a Boom Tube, taking Sinestro to Earth. The plan: Highfather and the New Gods head to Earth.

Cullen Bunn and Martin Coccolo bring us the final regular chapter in the saga and it’s…a big letdown. Well, it IS and it ISN’T. I mean, we get to see Sinestro turn Parallax loose and the Lanterns look ready for business. But we also get to see the big bad Yellow Lantern get his tail handed to him by Highfather. And loses his little buddy Despotellis it the process. So all of this leads into the finale in…

GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #3: GODHEAD FINALE We begin with Hal Jordan and Black Hand at the Source Wall that leads to a four page spread of Lantern resurrecting everyone on the Source Wall, including Relic. A boom tub opens and Sinestro appears, much to the dismay of Highfather who thought he was going to Earth. The battle begins and spills over onto New Genesis where Guy, Simon, and John free the rest of the Lanterns. Kyle pitches in by having a battle of wills with Highfather to gain control of the White Light once more. Hal explains to Highfather that he is taking Free Will and becoming Darkseid. That is when he finally understands that he has crossed the line and relinquishes the power of the White Light to Kyle who once again becomes the White Lantern. The resurrected beings from the Source Wall leave and Highfather destroys the scepter  Saint Walker puts his ring back on, finally comes out of his depression and helps Hal Jordan save New Genesis, which was rapidly dropping out of the sky. Despite Orion wanting to continue the war, Highfather has the soldiers of New Genesis stand down and apologizes to the Lanterns. In the end, the Lanterns rejoice and Mogo gets his ring back, meaning all is lush and green again. But wait! There’s trouble brewing at the Source Wall!

Robert Venditti and Billy Tan come together for the extra length epic that settles everything between the Lanterns and the New Gods. So, we have 17 chapters and it all comes down to Hal Jordan telling Highfather that he is becoming the man he wants to defeat. Really? We killed how many trees to tell this tale? And the fact the Hal turns the other cheek and accepts Highfather’s apology after so much chaos and death may mean that Sinestro sometimes DOES have the right idea. It won’t go down as a true classic tale but it was a fun few months and got readers to pick up a bunch of titles which are getting the axe in March anyway. Oh, by the way, although this IS the end, don’t forget to read my review of INFINTY MAN AND THE FOREVER PEOPLE, as it has a cross over to this last Act. It was not a big enough deal to make me drop it in here, so you will find it in my regular title reviews.

MULTVERSITY: THUNDERWORLD ADVENTURES #1

In the Rock of Eternity, the Wizard Shazam notices a new day, Sivanaday, stuck between Thursday and Friday - "Sivanaday" before he gets attacked by a mechanical version of the Rock. Inside of it, Sivana has his children shout his name and they become costumed super-villains. He looks at a copy of CONQUERORS OF THE COUNTER-WORLD and realizes that he can win if all the Sivanas of all the different universes work together. He decides that he can use suspendium to create an empire by selling time. He created the eighth day by using the supendium he received from his other world counterparts. In Fawcett City, Whiz Media reporter Billy Batson is reporting on the timequakes when a a second Billy Batson, from the future, appears telling him to "look at the clock" because Captain Marvel is in danger. The Sivanas arrive as Billy becomes Captain Marvel and calls for his and Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr. arrive to take on and defeat Theodore, Jr. and Georgia. Magnificus tells the heroes that the Monster Society is on their way but the Lieutenant Marvels arrive, allowing Captain Marvel to head to the Artificial Rock of Eternity, where he is attacked by robots. Sivana explains to his alternates how he created Sivanaday. Captain Marvel defeats the robots and arrives just as Sivana becomes Black Sivana. Turning back into Billy, he sees the crystal his future self, now him, had been holding and gives the warning to his past self before being turned back into Captain Marvel by Black Sivana. Thinking he has won, Sivana is told that Sivanaday only had enough suspendium for eight hours and he turns back to normal. All the alternate Sivanas get away with the last one, covered in blood, saying he will be back for Mary. In Fawcett City, Captain Marvel explains that Sivana got the idea from the last issue of SOCIETY OF SUPER-HEROES. Inside is a message stating "I'LL GET OUT AND DESTROY EVERYTHING!" He crumples up the book and he, Mary and Jr. fly away.

Once again, Grant Morrison is right on target with this great piece! Cameron Stewart provides the art and if you are a fan of the original or, like me, grew up with DC’s 70’s rebirth of this classic band of heroes, you will find this a major treat! The Big Red Cheese, as he was known, had one of the strangest bunches of villains and co-stars and this books makes use of all of that. This is such the perfect take on these characters that I want them back, corny as all hell. This is NOT the smart-ass Billy Batson from the NEW 52 origin of ‘Shazam’(still can’t get used to that!). This is such a tribute to C.C. Beck that it will make you wish for the good old days!

NEW 52 Month 36, Part 2

JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #11: Terry has returned from Camelot Nine and had to cut a deal with Ariel Masters making him neutralize their implants or he will be forced to stay on Camelot Nine permanently. Ariel Masters decides to use Camelot Nine as the team’s new headquarters and Bruce thinks it needs a butler. Terry put together the Injustice League that consists of reborn versions of Bane, Captain Cold, Sinestro, Zeus and Lois Lane. Meanwhile, on the prison planet formerly known as Earth, a construction crew that is excavating the ocean finds two bodies that have been cryogenically frozen. Welcome to the future, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle.

Yay! We go through an entire issue without too much boring stuff to make out way to the final page and… Booster and Beetle. This is so awesome! Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis and Howard Porter turn the plot loose and gives us a wild issue. I so love this book because it is totally unpredictable. Luckily, this title hasn’t gotten onto the cancellation list because I so love it. Buy this book!

JUSTICE LEAGUE #36: Metropolis is under quarantine and meta-human powers are manifesting in many of the infected. Batman and Superman search for Patient Zero while
Lex Luthor is watching over the rest of the infected Justice Leaguers who he figures will die within the next 24 hours. They all became infected because they refused to leaves the city until it was evacuated. Lex admits he created the Amazo virus to stop metahuman criminals. It only affects humans, which leave Wonder Woman and Superman immune. Stage One gives people flu-like symptoms. Stage Two randomly gives out metahuman powers. During Stage Three, the cells break down and they die. And, as Lex wonders who wanted to kill him, that person hires another assassin to do the deed.

So…is Lex a good guy or is all of this his own fault and he has set this up from the beginning. That is the real mystery here, not who is going to live or die. Did Lex’ sister set this in motion? Anything is possible as Luthor has a boatload of enemies. Geoff Johns and new series artist Jason Fabok continue to set things in motion and keep us guessing. Another great mystery in what has become one of the flagship titles of the NEW 52 Universe.

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #36: The team learns that they have been sent to the end of time and are standing on the last piece of the Earth. Nightmare Nurse casts a stabilizing enchantment so they can survive. While Bennett scouts ahead, a creature resembling Felix Faust attacks the rest before promising to give them air to breath as long as Nightmare Nurse returns him back to his true form. While he spent most of his life searching for the Book of Tithonus and finally was able to achieve immortality. But, with Earth gone, he finds himself lonely and says the only reason he tried to eat them was because he wanted companions. He sends them to a single rose that restores Alec, as it is the last of the Green in existence. A second Felix Faust, the real one, attacks them but is too late, as Nightmare Nurse makes a ship out of magic and they float away as the last piece of Earth dissolves. Meanwhile, Zatanna is stuck in an illusion world based on her past. Deadman, Black Orchid and Madame Xanadu are also here, trying to find everyone else.
 
Can we just get these people back home? I am slowly tiring of this storyline and I know that DC won’t be canceling this book anytime soon as…gee whiz: there’s a movie coming in the future. J. M. DeMatteis and Andres Guinaldo provide another lackluster issue, except we get to see two Felix Fausts instead of one and they are both pretty messed up! Not my favorite issue of this title and it seriously needs a bit of a creative shot in the arm before CONVERGENCE.

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #6: While most of the team, with the help of many of the Legion of Super-Heroes, battles The Cadre, Miiyahbin is watching over Ultra. The cadre is here to make sure Ultra turns into Infinitus. While Brainiac 5 predicts victory, Black Mass grabs Equinox and Ultra and heads to the moon of Ryngor where Byth tells Supergirl she is too late to stop Infinitus and Green Arrow battles a brainwashed Hawkman. Byth convinces Ultra into for the Infinity Wraiths. Supergirl gets sent back to Earth where she explains what has happened to the Legionnaires and the rest of the team. While they can’t get back to Ryngor, Brainiac 5 has sent the Legion Lost to help out.

Okay, so Jeff Lemire and Neil Edwards have not only brought back the Legion of Super-Heroes but now we are about to get Legion lost besides? OH BOY! I sure as heck it reads better than either of their individual series did, because they were pretty dismal. Lemire’s story is fun and Edwards art is nice. But I want to get to the point of all of this and move on to the next story. There is something about this superhero team that strikes me as a third rate team that shouldn’t even have the Justice League name. Can we cancel them after CONVERGENCE and send these characters into the 31st century?

KLARION #2: Rasp gets into a fight with Klarion because Klarion is making moves on his girlfriend Zell. They finish their fight and make up, going back to school. Later, Later, Klarion and Zell have Dark Arts Training and get a bit romantic with each other while Rasp gets to meet a Buddybot creation of Coal and Necrot.

THANK GOD THIS THING GETS CANCELLED WITH ISSUE #6 BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING HERE! This is like a bad teen Romance title that doesn’t even qualify for that. I read this silly thing three times and what you got for my synopsis is about all I got out of it. It’s time for Ann Nocenti and Trevor McCarthy to take their act on the road and away from this title. .

LOBO #2: Lobo battles the Grunt Brothers and kills them before emerging from a Port-A-John at an amusement park. That is where he meets his new partners: Rave, Luna, and Emily. They all head to Shanghai where he takes out the next target: a robot wearing human skin. Unfortunately, a contagion has been released and that means Lobo and his new allies need to go out to battle zombies. They win the fight, even without Rave’s help.

Cullen Bunn, Reilly Brown, Nelson DeCastro and Alisson Borges: shame on all of you for taking paychecks for this piece of trash! This isn’t my Lobo and I just wish he had not been the last of his kind. He should have died with the rest of them! Why this title isn’t getting the axe with the other batch of titles getting the boot in March I have no idea!

NEW 52: FUTURE’S END #26-30: In issue #26, Michael Holt has Key and Coil follow Bruce Wayne. At Columbia University, Dr. Yamazake throws Jason out of his lab because he has deduced he is Firestorm. Jason discovers the text messages he has been receiving is from Ronnie Raymond while Ronnie insists he was getting them from Jason. Batman arrives, tells them that Green Arrow is NOT dead and the world needs Firestorm. Terry and Plastique go to see Tim Drake for help. Since there is no record of Tim in the future, he is not alive in the future, that means Brother Eye hasn’t cataloged his DNA. On Cadmus Island, Fifty Sue tells Brother Eye she is building a team to fight it. Brother Eye responds by showing everything it knows about her and that Slade is ready to betray her. Meanwhile, Cole tells Lana he knows she has romantic feelings for Slade. Madison arrives at Yamazake’ lab and, realizing who her father is, attacks her with plans to make her part of his next experiment.

In issue #27, Green Arrow and company leave their island in search of Cadmus Island and their mission to free the Earth 2 refugees. They find that the island is protected by an army of OMACs. On Cadmus Island , Mister Miracle is spotted by The Huntress, who is still under Brother Eye’s control and forces him to hide In Metropolis, Lois Lane returns home to find Cal waiting for her. He explains that Madison has gone missing and needs her help. She shows him the mystery box. The matchbox sent her to him while the pyramid showed her a prison. The red arrow represents Red Arrow, who apparently wants him to go to the coordinates she had been given. He won’t go until he finds Madison, so he suggests Lois go. Lois flies back to the coordinates and parachutes into what seems to be open sea. Meanwhile, Terry and Plastique prepare to search Tim’s apartment when Batman attacks him. Suddenly an explosive comes through the window, catching the pair within the blast.

In issue #28, Lois lands on an island and is immediately spotted by an OMAC, causing her to hide in the woods where she discovers a badly damaged Red Tornado. In Las Vegas, Frank Rock criticizes Faraday for being unable to protect Cadmus from Brother Eye. Fifty Sue arrives demanding revenge on Slade, who has aligned himself with Brother Eye. Voodoo arrives, surprised that the person she has been hired to kill is meeting with Faraday and Rock. In New York City, Tim’s bar is on fire thanks to the explosive that Plastique threw, allowing him to escape from Batman’s clutches. Meanwhile, Ronnie finds Cal sitting on his front steps and the two agree to team up to find Madison. Jason goes to speak to Dr. Yamazake and finds him watching the video of the attack that killed his wife. He has Madison in his new teleportation device and plans to use her as part of his experiment.

In issue #29, Cal and Ronnie get into a tussle with Cadmus security that reveals Cal’s talents as the former Red Robin. Jason Rusch is being held by Cadmus Security but manages to grab a keycard and run towards the lab. Cal, Ronnie and Jason all converge into the lab. Ronnie pulls Madison out but is struck by the energy bolts. Jason tries to join hands with Ronnie who dematerializes causing Jason to touch Madison. Ronnie apologizes to Jason for what he did and then explodes. Madison and Jason are now united and he is part of the Firestorm Matrix again. Cal finds a burned and dying Ronnie and remembers how he saw all his friends in the Teen Titans die.

In issue #30, Red Tornado tells Lois how she was taken prisoner on the island. Team Arrow has arrived at the island and are forced to battle OMACs and inmates. Emiko and the Outsiders battle them as they become one giant OMAC. Deathstroke prepares to kill Green Arrow forcing Lana to hit him with a rock and for her and Cole to try to escape. They get to Green Arrow, but so does Deathstroke who gets his head ripped off his shoulders by Fury. Barda is happy to see that Scott is with Fury while Green Arrow sends Red Arrow and the wounded back to the boat. Green Arrow, Scott, Fury, and Barda head into the main facility and are attacked by Power Girl. Barda holds her back, allowing the others to escape. Red Tornado warns Lois to save herself and she races to the beach, where she sees Oliver. As the boat leaves the island, Barda defeats Brother Eye's control of Power Girl, resulting in a huge explosion which probably killed them both. Brother Eye survives by infecting Lois' phone

Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, and Keith Giffen combine with Scot Eaton, Aaron Lopresti, Andy MacDonald, Patrick Zircher, and Tom Raney for the next five chapters in this epic. We all know this ends in march, right before CONVERGENCE. And we also have been told that the final pages with tie together with everything else in the present day. With that kind of teaser, is it not a surprise that I totally can’t wait for this title to race to its’ conclusion.

NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #4: Vic Sage demands the Secretary of Defence allows him to be able to control the Suicide Squad’s nano-bombs. The Secretary refuses and so does the President. He and Amanda get into it and he tries to punch her out when Amanda turns the tables opn him and reminds him they are on closed circuit television. Meanwhile, Deathstroke is torturing Deadshot for sheer pleasure when he learns that Harley Quinn and Black Manta have arrived to rescue Floyd. Miraculously, Deadshot gets a shot off and hits Deathstroke in the chest, allowing all to escape and look for Joker's Daughter. Later, Anatoli gets a hospital visit from a man offering to help improve himself at M.A.R.S. Systems.

So here’s my bet/guess: Sage is the man. Just saying! What we have here is another fun issue from Sean Ryan and Tom Derenick and, with a movie on the way, you will be seeing this book around, or at least a book bearing this title, for some time.

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #36: Last issue, Jason injected himself with a dose of Venom that is leading him to kill the terrorists he is fighting. Starfire caused Roy to be badly burned by her space leap and has taken him to the hospital so he can be treated. When Jason finally comes down from the Venom and tracks down Roy, it leads to a confrontation between Oliver Queen and him. Devastated by what she has done, Kori ends up in Poland where she acquires a mysterious drug that makes her dream of Tamaran. Essence arrives at the hospital and heals Roy, leaving him in the capable hands of his former mentor. Jason heads off to find Kori, who he believes is searching for Crux.
 
So, in the NEW 52, we have Kori as the drug addict instead of Roy. Wish I had thought of that. Thanks to Scott Lobdell and RB Silva for giving us a lackluster issue with average art. No really: thanks for nothing as this book continues its’ very uneven roller coaster ride that makes me sometimes wonder how this book stays in production.

RED LANTERN #36: Previously reviewed as part of GODHEAD ACT 2.

SECRET ORIGINS #7: In the first story, we see Barry Allen visiting his father at Iron Heights. Barry recalls how the last time he saw his mom alive was when she put him on the bus one day when he was worried about a race that he had to run at school. When he got home, he found his mother dead in a pool of blood and his father being taken away in handcuffs. He promised that he would find the real killer and eventually got a job with the Central City Police Department as a forensics expert. One night, he gets struck by a blot of lightning while working in his lab and is covered in chemicals. Once he had healed, he found he had a new ability that allowed him to fight crime. His father begs Barry to stop coming to see him. But Barry insists he won’t stop trying to set him free.

In the second story, set five years before the Apokoliptian invasion, we see Helena Wayne training with her mother, Catwoman. Some time later, Selina began to consider letting Helena out on her own. She designed a costume based on her hero Robin Hood. One night, the alarm in the Batcave went off, found she was too late to save her mother, and went after the killers on her own. Supergirl saved her and they became best friends. During the invasion, they leapt into a Boom Tube that sent them to our Earth as opposed to Apokolips. Helena discovered this Earth’s Selina Kyle was not at all like her own. She designed a new uniform for herself and began her own crime fighting war as The Huntress.

In the third story,  Kon-El has come to S.T.A.R. Labs to learn about himself. Following the lead of Caitlin Fairchild and Rose Wilson, he tried to make a name for himself. He met the Teen Titans and became a hero. He was a hero for a while, even after meeting Superman and not totally getting a nod of approval from him. At one point, he fought Jon Lane Kent who came from the future to destroy all metahumans. Even before he gets the test results from the doctor, he knows he is Superboy. As he leaves, we learn that he may be half human and half Kryptonian, but 10% of his DNA is from an unknown source.

So, we all know that this title bites the dust in March and I’m not surprised. It truly tried to tap into a classic title and never really succeeded, especially at five bucks and issue. Well, the first story by Robert Venditti, Van Jensen with art by Miguel Sepulveda gives us the “secret origin of Barry Allen and, the only thing new was his being in a race and the whole thing with his bow tie. The second story by Paul Levitz and Jonboy Meyers was nice, with some warm “fuzzy” moments between Selina and Helena. The third story by Frank J. Barbiere and Robson Rocha left me confused. If you are 50% human and 50% Kryptonian, how do you get another 10% in you? Oh yeah: we always hear about giving 110%. That explains it!

SINESTRO #7: Previously reviewed as part of GODHEAD ACT 2.

STAR SPANGLED WAR STORIES #4: Carmen’s helicopter is shot down and leaves her as the only survivor. But it’s only a dream as she is still undercover with a scientist from the terrorist group. “Tiffany” and head to the Rinaldi Spa and Retreat before they are taken down 20 sub-levels to meet with a man named Forrest for dinner. He has found out that the chemical attack was a success and orders more of the chemical be made. Meanwhile, G.I. Zombie has directed the terrorist missile to Sutterville, Tennessee, where it has caused a zombie outbreak. A nearby jet firebombs the town, seemingly ending the crisis. The CDC arrives to clean up and assist any survivors. Also arriving is Gravedigger with word that the infection is not airborne.

Yes, I totally love this comic and yes I will be totally bummed out when it goes away in March. When you start with a killer cover by Darwyn Cooke and then dive into a fun, roller coaster ride of a story by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and Scott Hampton, how can you lose? Unfortunately, even four issues in, it has not been able to capture an audience. So, I guess it’s time for DC to pack in their “war” titles as every one to date, BLACKHAWKS, MEN OF WAR, G.I. COMBAT, and now this, have all had short runs. Well, I guess there is still room for OUR FIGHTING FORCES, OUR ARMY AT WAR and THE LOSERS.

SUPERMAN #36: Ulysses has taken to the airwaves saying that the Fourth Dimension is the place to be and offering the chance for six million humans to join him in the Fourth Dimension. Superman finds Ulysses and demands to know what is going on. He explains that he is offering humanity a chance and ends the conversation quickly. Neil’s parents decide they will go with him as they agree with their son’s decision. Crowds begin to form around the ship and fights break out as people want to be the first on board.The Fourth Dimensioners warn that violence is unacceptable and bans any who have fought from getting on board. Ulysses meets with Klerik in prison, then goes to his parents, and forbids them from coming along, saying that he is trying to protect them. Superman arrives and demands answers, leading to him being attacked by Ulysses. He says there is only one way to have perfect world and Earth needs to pay the cost.

Well, that can’t be too good! Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr. turn up the heat and it looks like Ulysses may not be the nice guy he led Superman to believe he was. And what is the deal with Klerik? Neil meets with him and all of a sudden, his demeanor changes and he and the Man of Steel are brawling? That must have been one intense conversation! I love where this title is going with the new creative team and cannot wait to see what they have for us next month.

SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #9: We begin years ago with Jedidiah Colder threatening Martha Kent and feeling the wrath of a very young Clark Kent. He knew then that he could be a powerful weapon if he wanted to be and now, Lex Luthor reminds him that he IS a weapon. Lex has equipped Superman with a syringe containing solar fuel. The idea is that he will explode with a two-hundred megaton blast that will wipe out the incoming invasion. Lois hugs him and thanks him for everything as he prepares to face the armada alone. As he heads into space, it becomes obvious that Wraith’s attack is taking out computers all over the planet. Wraith appears, grabs the syringe from a weakened Superman and injects himself with it, exploding and destroying all of his people. Several days later, Lois tells Clark he needs to take risks with his career not knowing that a little boy once took a great leap from a corn silo to learn to fly.

Scott Snyder, Jim Lee and Dustin Nguyen end the longest running mini-series in history. Well, not really but it sure seems that way. This title was announced at the 2012 New York Comic Con and came out in June of 2013. It was designed to be an ongoing series to coincide with the MAN OF STEEL movie. Then it turned into a limited series that was going to end in April. And then it was delayed. And cancelled. And resolicited. And finally…the end. Not with a bang but truly with a whimper. It looks nice, it reads wonderfully, although the book was truly more character driven than action oriented. If you didn’t buy the series, look for cheap back issues or buy the TPB. The highlight was the double-sized fold-out poster page from issue #1.

SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #13: We begin five years in the past as Superman and Wonder Woman fought the Parademons. She was headstrong, he was concerned about innocent lives, and to say they didn’t really hit it off would be an understatement. Today, the pair are involved in a relationship and are heading out on a date when the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant gets attacked by the Atomic Skull and Major Disaster. They are trying to get inside so the Skull can feed on the power core rods. With their date going from bad to worse, Clark and Diana had to the power plant, where Atomic Skull attacks Superman with radioactive vomit while Major Disaster takes down Wonder Woman. But, before they can escape, Wonderstar arrives and threatens to kill the bad guys.

I so love Peter Tomasi’s writing and have always been a big fan of Doug Mahnke’s work starting with the under-appreciated MAJOR BUMMER. But this is the longest comic book with nothing happening that I have read all month. Well, things happen: Diana complains, Clark complains, they go on a date and complain some more. Then they go fight the bad guys. And who the heck is Wonderstar? Sorry…is my nap over yet? This is NOT the way to start a new creative team on their way.

SWAMP THING #36: The Metal has begun burning The Grove. Capucine cuts her way through the fire and saves Brother Jonah. Alec begins to attack the machines, destroying A Calculus in the process. He reopens the Grove long enough to check on Capucine and Jonah, before sealing it again and heading to The Rot. He meets with Abby and, although she believes that Anton Arcane has returned, he has come to warn her of the Metal. They agree to form an alliance. Meanwhile, the Calculi argue about the need for an avatar for the Metal. And they decide on Lady Weeds.

That was an interesting turn of events, even though I am a little confused. Didn’t we see the end of Capucine LAST MONTH in SWAMP THING ANNUAL? So, once again, DC can’t keep their continuity straight! This is the most annoying part lately with comics, be it DC OR Marvel. We have continuity issues all over the place with things happening before or after events in other titles. Whatever happened to the days when editors were so continuity conscious that there were copious notes devoted to it? Charles Soule and Jesús Saíz do an amazing job nonetheless as their collective run on this title slowly comes to an end as does the title in March with issue #40.

TEEN TITANS #4: When we left off last issue, Red Robin was about to meet his end at the wrong end of a robot named Algorithm. Luckily, he has a few tricks up his sleeve and manages to escape. So he sends out a distress call to the other Titans, who are in the middle of  dealing with a gang of Wonder girl fans who are bothering Cassie’s mom. Algorithm gives chase and catches Tim but, before she can finish him off,  Manchester Black  tells her not to harm him. Then he arranges to have her teleported to his chamber where he knows Tim will come and rescue him by destroying her, which he does. By the time the rest of the team arrives, Red Robin is convinced that Manchester Black is on the side of right and they should all team up with the fine folks at S.T.A.R. Labs.

Yeah, like I did not see a Manchester Black “face turn” evident. In case you might have forgotten, Manchester Black, in the old DC Universe, Manchester Black was the vigilante who The Elite. This guy once gave Superman a stroke…literally! He was an anti-hero who served time with the Suicide Squad and eventually commits suicide when he realizes he is truly a villain. So, in the NEW 52, can we expect less? I look forward to what Will Pfeifer and Kenneth Rocafort do with him, although I am getting rather puzzled by the whole Wonder Girl Fan Club thing going on. Can we just give Tim Drake/Cal Corcoran his own book and put this team thing to bed?
 
TRINITY OF SIN #2: Nimraa, Servant of the Shadow sends Pandora and The Phantom Stranger to The Shadowlands. On Earth, the Question is troubled by his past and sends him to the Shadowlands too. They all are transported to the Rock of Eternity and Nimraa uses the Trinity’s artifacts to open a portal that covers the Earth in darkness.

I didn’t think combining the Trinity of Sin into ONE book(with the addition of The Question) instead of two lackluster books would suck as bad as this. But when I am wrong, I AM WRONG! Three characters that I don’t care about(well-Pandora DID have her moments once she figured out her all thing) are shoved into a comic book courtesy of  J. M. DeMatteis and Yvel Guichet. Is it any wonder that this book is mercifully put to sleep in March?

WONDER WOMAN #36: The Amazons are not all happy about Wonder Woman’s decision to allow the Sons of Themyscira to live on “Paradise Island”. Diana is called to meet with the Justice League because a number of villages around the world have become havens of vegetation only, with all human life disappearing. She goes to Thailand and attacks Swamp Thing, blaming him for causing this. Aquaman arrives to break it up and she admits to being under a lot of pressure as Queen of the Amazons, chief peacekeeper and trying to handle Superman’s recent issues. She returns home to discover that the rains have caused the clay statue of Hippolyta to crumble.

With great fanfare we bid farewell to Azzarello and Chang and we get…THIS? Okay, so David Finch has some beautiful art, although this is not his best work. But letting his wife Meredith write this? BIG MISTAKE. First, we have a plot about the vegetation thing that gets dropped mid-way through the book so Diana can crawl onto the psychiatrist’s couch and vent. Then, she goes home and finds mom is dead. Too many plots are introduced throughout this issue with not a one of them showing any signs of potential resolution any time soon. And what DID happen to those villages? We’ll never know because you can bet that won'’ ever get addressed in JUSTICE LEAGUE. A semi-beautiful mess.

WORLDS’ FINEST #28: As the secret history of Superman and batman continues, Wonder Woman becomes involved. The great oracle tells her she must get involved in saving the lives of a young Clark and Bruce. We see Bruce at the zoo with his father when a man attacks. The attack is interrupted by Jarvis the butler, but Diana eventually has to intercede to save the young Wayne’s life. At another time and place, Intri of Apokolips, who promises to take him to his parents, visits Clark. Again, Princess Diana intercedes to save his life, even as he eventually saves that of his mother. Coincidentally, the gods once visited Lois Lane and told of a future that she would eventually remember-once she had been reborn as a robot.

Paul Levitz gives us the second part of a story that should be in SECRET ORIGINS. But, since the girls he has written in this title since issue #1 are no longer the stars of the book, you have to go with something else. Using Lois Lane as the narrator is a cool device that works awesomely! And Jed Dougherty’s art, very much in a George Perez/Phil Jimenez style, is top notch. I am totally enjoying this story arc.

DC's NEW 52, Month 36, Part 1

ACTION COMICS #36: While the people of Metropolis clean up the city following the recent events, Lana Lang is still suffering the pain of losing her parents. She keeps having this dream where her parents haunt her. Lana insists on staying in Smallville with John Henry. When a fog rolls in along with a hearse, which she and John follows to the graveyard. There, the sheriff tells her that her parents' graves have been dug up. Superman arrives and sees the dense fog. But when he tries to fly through it, it transports him miles away. He puts a call into Hiro Okamura to use satellites to see what this fog is. But Hiro can’t find Smallville at all. In the fog, the sheriff moves through the cemetery while Lana’s dead parents accuse her of allowing them to die. Superman flies back and realizes that the fog is alive. Superman knocks the creature out and, as the fog fades, he sees the sheriff is dead and the corpses of Lana’s parents are on the ground. Clark promises to figure out what happened, but she pushes him away and asks for time apart to forgive him. Clark finds himself trapped in the fog and, when he attempts to fly out, he just keeps getting teleported. At the barbershop, the regulars say that Superman is going to find out what is going on and they are worried about that.

Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder deliver another outstanding issue here. This is one of the most improved titles of 2014 and I can’t say enough about it. Suffice it to say that Pak’s writing is top notch and Kuder’s art has never looked better. This should be on your pull list every month-it’s that damned good!

AQUAMAN #36: We begin with Aquaman breaking Vulko out of his prison cell and taking him to Atlanna’s empty tomb. He has also brought Martian Manhunter with him as he wants him to examine the murder scene from long ago. Vulko explains that Orvax, who had a mean moments, made a lot of enemies and that led to his assassination. Not long after, she had planned to leave Atlantis and Vulko had arranged passage to the surface world. During a theater performance, a prop exploded near the Royal Box, killing Atlanna. Martian Manhunter uses his powers to read what truly happened. Atlanna was made aware of the assassination attempt by one of her loyal followers and this allowed a corpse to be planted in her place. Aquaman has Koah open a sealed door which releases a creature that possesses J’onn. After a battle, Aquaman uses fire to subdue his friend and drive away the madness. Later, J’onn reveals that he saw a portal within the memories of the event and that leads all to believe Atlanna is alive…somewhere.

Jeff Parker and Paul Pelletier combine to bring us the second chapter in the Maelstrom storyline and it takes what we knew of Aquaman’s mythos and turns it sideways. Orvax, Atlanna’s first husband (you know-that’s how Orm got here) was an abusive husband and Atlanna faked her own death. Is this how she made her way to the surface world? And where is she now? I guess we’ll know next month when the third chapter rolls in.

AQUAMAN AND THE OTHERS #7: Over in Tehran, Sayeh visits her family when she receives a vision calling her and Ya’Wara away. In New York, Vostok is making the save on teammate Cole as the KGBeast is on a rampage. He is in the process of grabbing a very important flash drive, causing Vostok and the Beast to battle. That is when Cheshire arrives, as does Aquaman. When things look grim for the bad guys, they call on Maelstrom to help them make their getaway. Although he cannot remember, it seems that Vostok and the Beast may have trained together. Over in Pennsylvania, Torrez tells Gary’s widow how he died at the hands of the KGBeast  But Torrez finds that maybe a false memory. Sayeh and Ya’Wara arrive to tell him that The Operative killed Gary Korec. Later, on the moon, Cheshire and company relish that the flash drive has launch codes and they now control a Soviet satellite filled with nukes.

Too many subplots…head exploding…must stop! Oh for crying aloud: someone make Dan Jurgens stop writing these characters. Actually, I still like Jurgens’ work. It is these CHARACTERS THAT I HATE! On the art side of the ledger: I like Lan Medina’s art, but I’m not too fond of Allen Martinez’ inks. Another average issue here-no worse than some and better than most that came before. Read it now because it ends in March.

ARKHAM MANOR #2: Posing as Jack Shaw, Batman is now an inmate at Arkham Manor as he tries to solve a double murder. In group therapy, he listens to the tale of Seth Wickham, who suffers from a fear of falling after the collapse of Arkham. Then words comes out that Zsasz is missing. Later, Shaw is painting the manor’s walls when he spies Eric Border pushing the wheelchair of a mute John Doe inmate. He examines the man and believes he knows who he might be. Shaw makes his way to Dr. Arkham's office, where he calls Eric Border to warn about the mute inmate. Back in his cell, he sees that Seth is the newest victim. He sees that he has had a power drill driven through his head when the killer attacks him, trying to finish off Seth. They fight and Shaw attempts to unmask the killer but is clubbed by one of the guards. He tells Border that the killer is still in the room, but all they find is Seth’s body.

Gerry Duggan and Shawn Crystal deliver another oddball issue that leaves me with mixed emotions. I like the idea of Batman being undercover in his own home, but I’m not a fan of Wayne Manor being turned into Arkham in the first place. Duggan’s writing is crisp and fun and I find myself adjusting to Crystal’s art. So, the jury is still out on this one for me. For now, I’ll stick with it, as DC has already cancelled this title as of March.

BATGIRL #36: Babs is out shopping with Frankie and Dinah. The next day, she meets Jeremy, who shows her to her new office as she begins crushing on him. Jeremy will be sharing the office with her and her research assistant, Nadimah. She borrows a portable drive from Nadimah's brother Qadir and corrects a formula on his whiteboard. Meanwhile, someone has stolen two special motorcycles. Back at her office, she hears  them being used to terrorize students and races into action. But they have swords and she is far from ready for them. Later, Babs asks Frankie about an old Anime called Atomina. Without revealing to Frankie, it is because one episode featured twin assassins on motorbikes. The following day, she hits up an otaku shop who points out two huge fans of the show are Yuri and Yuki Katsura. That night, Batgirl, sneaks into Qadir's lab and asks for his help. Using the GPS on the bikes, she tracks them to the Factory District. There she encounters the twins and uses her brand new grappling gun to knock them off their bikes. Jumping on one of the bikes, Batgirl engages in a game of chicken with the pair, which she wins. As they are being tied up, they tell her they received texts from Batgirl giving them half a million dollars for killing her-to prove they were real Jawbreakers. Later, Barbara presents her thesis data to Jeremy and Nadimah, but are interrupted by Qadir. He is thrilled that Batgirl returned the stolen bikes. Frankie shows up for lunch and says that Jeremy must be the guy Bab’s is crushing on. Guess who’s embarrassed now?

OMG Babs: let’s go to the mall and shop for cool clothes while we talk about Anime. THIS IS BATGIRL NOW? She is an Anime fan, a genius when it comes to formulas, a superhero, a student and everything else a teen girl would want to read in a superhero. Someone please tell Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher that most teen girls would throw up after reading this! And the simplistic art by Babs Tarr and  Stewart doesn’t help either. Somewhere, Gail Simone is laughing…loudly! And personally: I’D PAY someone half a million to knock this shadow of a heroine off! If it turns out Black Canary is the fake Batgirl, I will scream so loud DC will hear me in their new WEST COAST OFFICES!

BATMAN #36: Superman, totally under the control of Joker Venom, is ready to kill Batman when the Dark Knight tries to fight back. So Superman collapses a building on him before taking him high above Gotham and tearing off his Batsuit. Batman spits in the Man of Steel’s eye with the liquid from some Kryptonite gum, causing Superman to pass out and drop them both into the ocean. Back in the Batcave, Batman discovers that each Justice League member was infected by Joker Venom specifically designed for them. He goes to the ruins of Arkham to search for clues. He steps into what was The Joker’s cell and is greeted by Eric Border, who shuts the cell door and locks it shut. He announces that Eric Border means "Eternal Prince Jester.” Eric Border is now and has been the Joker. He unleashes a paralyzing gas from his old face and crows that Batman will not be able to stop his plans. He pulls out a gun and fires.

So here is the problem with multiple titles running at different timelines. In ARKHAM MANOR, we see Eric Border as Eric border. Now we all know he is really The Joker. So, that kind of ruins the surprise of who is bumping off people at Arkham! And where did he get his old face? The Joker’s Daughter is wearing it. Or, when she ended up in Arkham after the most recent Suicide Squad mission, did he take it back? Or did he just buy the DC Limited Edition DEATH OF THE FAMILY that came WITH THE MASK? Either way, this story arc by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo continues to make this a must read DC title!

BATMAN AND ROBIN #36: Batman has finally gotten his hands on Glorious Godfrey and wants to know who Kalibak is and where Damien is. He is told that Kalibak is Darkseid's son and he is using Damian’s body to power the Chaos Cannon. Batman knocks him out and heads out to find his son. Kalibak is getting ready to test the cannon when he is informed Batman is en route and sends Parademons to stop him. The Bat Family have arrived on Apokolips and barely survived a confrontation with the Lowlies. They find Batman standing on the Parademons he has defeated and head towards Kalibak who is getting ready to fire the cannon. Batman attacks Darkseid’s son while Titus finds Damian as Cyborg learns of a far greater threat.

How will this all end? I’m guessing it won’t end well for the Bat Family or at least some of them. Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason continue their awesome run on this title. It reads great and looks better. There is no question in my mind that the Bat books are among the best being published by DC today.

BATMAN ETERNAL #31-34: In issue #31, we see Alfred being saved by Bane from the collapse of Arkham. Alfred leads Bane through the tunnels for a ways until Bane insists on taking the lead. They meet Deacon Blackfire's cult and manage to take them all out before Alfred leads them to a wall where a code word emits a knock out gas and opens a portal to a hidden Batcave.  Meanwhile, Joker's Daughter tries to trigger her explosive vest, but the detonator fails. Julia tells Batman that many of the most dangerous inmates are attempting to escape and he goes about subduing most of them. That’s when he finds that the GCPD is waiting for him and is ready to take him out, leading him to use the Batplane to help get him out of this mess. At the same time, Vicki Vale sees The Spoiler on her motorcycle are taken out by a GCPD sharpshooter. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, it places her right at the feet of Hush.

In issue #32, Stephanie sprays mace into Hush’ eyes but he strikes her with his pistol and prepares to kill her. Just then, Batman comes to her rescue, allowing her to jump on her bike and tries to run Hush down. He tosses a grenade at her and it takes Batman to save her yet again. When the smokes clears, Hush is gone. He leaves her and heads to Arkham to rescue Batwing, picks up Alfred and returns to the Batcave. Batman learns that someone has gotten into the database lists all the bunkers and weapon sites. Meanwhile, Bard meets with Hush on the roof of the GCPD before going to visit Vicki Vale, where he informs her of all of Batman’s secret hideaways. He also informs her that they have been paid for and built by Wayne Enterprises. Later that night, a military vehicle is destroyed by Hush, using an explosive he stole from one of Batman’s hideaways.

In issue #33, Julia tries to convince Batman to make a statement saying he is not responsible for the explosion that ended the last issue. He says that the first priority is to take back the weapons sites from Hush. He explains to Julia that they must be careful as a wrong move could trigger an explosion in any of the sites. Once they get inside the sites, they just need to pull down a lever that will cause an acid shower and it will destroy all weapons there. Meanwhile, Bard confronts Hush about allowing his officers to be injured by the blast. Hush tells Bard to speak with an officer named Gilpatrick who has a plan. Later, while Batman and Julia are working at one of the sites, Gilpatrick arrives and ties to trap the Dark Knight in quick-hardening foam. Unfortunately, Batman turns the tables on him and Gilpatrick ends up in the foam. Julia goes to her first site alone and Hush arrives, wanting to know who she is. At Wayne Enterprises, Lucius Fox is forced to deal with the news that the company funded Batman.

In issue #34, Hush taunts Julia until she shoots him in the arm with a grappling gun. He cuts the cable and shoots her, while setting off an explosive. When Batman gets there, he discovers a hole melted through the floor and Julia at its bottom; wounded but alive. Meanwhile, Mayor Hady grills Lucius about where Bruce Wayne has disappeared to and wants the folks connected with Wayne to find a way to stop the attacks against Gotham. In the Batcave, the computers signal that Hush is at the Martha Wayne Foundation Hospital. There, Batman finds Hush sitting on a throne made all of the weapons he had found there. He then puts on one of Bruce's armored Batsuits and attacks. Batman head butts him, causing him to drop the detonator he carried. He tears the bandages off Tommy’s face and shows him his reflection in a mirror. As Batman brings Hush back to the Batcave,  Lucius calls a press conference to announce that Bruce has been removed from his function as Chief Operating and that this is the end of Wayne Enterprises. Batman also realizes that Hush was not the mastermind after all-he was just a pawn.

Four more issues that weave this great story. This tale is racing towards an end, but not yet. The book will end in March, but expect it to be resurrected after CONVERGENCE. Thank you Ray Fawkes, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Kyle Higgins, and Tim Seeley for this multi-layered tale. And thanks to Fernando Pasarin, Jason Fabok, and Álvaro Martínez for bringing it to visual life!

BATMAN SUPERMAN #16: While Superman, Supergirl, Steel and Krypto are rescuing some Orca whales, an unseen attack occurs, injuring three of the team and killing a whale. At the same time, a Superman impersonator entertaining in a kid’s ward at Metropolis City Center Hospital is killed by an unknown assassin’s bullet. He calls Batman in to help with the investigation and the Dark knight decides that there is someone out there who is Superman’s “Joker”: an arch enemy willing to do anything to hurt the Man of Steel. As the try to figure who it could be, three people across the world, including Lex Luthor, taken shots from an unknown assailant. And Superman hasn’t been fast enough to stop it.

He may be faster than a speeding bullet but I guess he is not fast enough to save three lives. Who will he choose? My guess is it is going to be Lex Luthor because, hey-he IS in the Justice League now! This is just another great example of Greg Pak’s writing that puts him at the top of his game. And Adrian Syaf art shines too! This book has great moments and just okay ones. This is looking to be one of the great ones!

BATWOMAN #36: We begin with a ritual sacrifice gone bad and a whole bunch of people burned to a crisp by magic energy. Meanwhile, Batwoman finds herself standing over a pair of teens she had been threatening to kill for vandalism. She finds the remains of the burned bodies but can’t figure out what happened. When Maggie Sawyer arrives, she gives Batwoman the cold shoulder, especially when Kate wants to ask about Maggie’s current personal life. She orders her off the crime scene. As the lone survivor is rushed to the hospital, he awakens and says that a woman must be brought back. Back at her apartment, Natalia Mitternacht, greets Kate, kisses her and tells her that she belongs to her. Later, Kate removes the band-aid off her neck and, when she touches the bite marks, she sees herself kissing Nocturna while bathing in blood. Over at the Rags 'n Tatters antique shop, Rory Regan buys a Celtic amulet that is the one used in the ritual that opened the issue. At the Gotham International Airport, Beth Kane returns minus luggage. And Dr. Jason Blood slips on the bathroom floor in his apartment and crawls out, where he sees Etrigan standing over him.

It’s a shame this book is being canceled in March because Marc Andreyko and Georges Jeanty have just introduced a whole batch of characters into the story, including a new one in the NEW 52 mythos. For the younger fans, Rory Regan first appeared in DC Comics in 1976 and was created by legends Bob Kanigher and Joe Kubert. Rory was secretly the “Jewish superhero” Ragman. And since we see him running his Rags ‘n’ Tatters antique shop, can Ragman be far behind? Oh yeah: and we have a modern Jason Blood who gets surprised by Etrigan, who I am sure he knows NOTHING ABOUT.  And just how many women can Kate be involved with. Man-this book is starting to get good again and now it'’ soon to be gone. Bummer!

CATWOMAN #36: Catwoman rescues a Calabrese Family messenger from Bone before she makes her way to the rooftops where she watches Selina Kyle visit the various Gotham crime families. Detective Alvarez is watching her too, although he has been told to stay off this case. Later, Selina and Antonia tell Nick and Ward how their meetings went and Nick warns her that the Hasigawa Family will let them run guns, as long as they also agree to distribute heroin. Selina is against the idea, but keeps it to herself and tells Ward she will do what is safest for Gotham City-meaning she will allow the drug distribution. She also has suspicions about Nick’s ability and loyalty but is assured by Anotonia that all is well. After a meeting of the families, Ward hands Selina a her a newspaper that came straight from Alvarez' desk. Nick warns Antonia, who knows he is feeding information to Alvarez, to stay away from the deal at the docks. That night, Nick meets with Alvarez and tells him about the deal. He makes Alvarez promise that no harm will come to Antonia. As they part, someone grabs Nick who wakes to find himself alone with Bone. At the same time, Selina goes to the roof and fights with Catwoman, who turns out to be Eiko Hasigawa. Defeating her, Selina tells her that, in her current role, she can do more for the city than she ever could as Catwoman.

Novelist Genevieve Valentine and FIVE GHOSTS artist Garry Brown continue their run on this title. Now that Selina Kyle is out of the business of Spandex and leather costumes to run the Gotham Crime Families, can we change the title? Should we? I mean, Catwoman, with the exception of a fake one, does not appear in the book any longer. Selina Kyle wears pantsuits now! And what about her supporting cast? Who wants to make a bet that nick is going to end up sleeping with the fishes? While this is no longer a Catwoman action adventure book, I love the look and the feel of it. And at least we don’t have any more dumb “race issues”(not that kind of race!) 

CONSTANTINE #19: Constantine is in another universe and it is in complete chaos. He knows he needs to find this world’s version of him, so he heads off to Liverpool. On the drive, he comes across a faerie ring of mushrooms which represents a portal to somewhere else. But he can’t risk using it because of the presence of his other self. Later, his car gets hit my a meteor and he is knocked unconscious. While dreaming, a voice tells him to hurry to Liverpool so they can meet. When he wakes, he hot wires the car and heads off, stopping to help a family he had seen earlier. The parents have been murdered and the girl he had seen in the back seat of the car is missing. He casts a spell to find that the girl has been cut to pieces, so he instructs the murderer to shoot himself in the head. He gets to Liverpool and heads to where he knows his double is. What he finds is that this is his old house. He knocks on the door and his father answers it-a father he knows is dead.

Okay-when did John Constantine become a nice guy? This is the guy who is only out for Number One, right? But he stops to help a family and then takes out revenge on the guy responsible for killing them and cutting up their daughter. This is pretty sick stuff! Ray Fawkes and Jeremy Haun do a great job retooling this magic man who is now a stranger in a strange land. This book hasn’t been this much fun in ages!

DEATHSTROKE #2: Slade Wilson has found out that the I-Ching has turned back the hands of time and made him young again. Someone who calls himself Red Fury greets Slade and tells him that his next target is someone named Odysseus. Red Fury claims he had hired Slade before but had Slade's memory erased in exchange for 25 million in gold. They get attacked by a team of swordsmen who represent Odysseus and apparently thinks Deathstroke can make him into a god. Meanwhile, Lady Shiva tells Bronze Tiger that he needs to lead the League of Assassins and hunt down Deathstroke. Deathstroke is in eastern Europe and he samples the truth serum he was given and immediately sees him trying to fight his way towards his son, Jericho.

Tony S. Daniel continues to do his take on the lethal assassin. His story telling ability is good, but I miss his work on THE TENTH(can someone resurrect that series?). His art rocks like always and I have always been a huge fan of Daniel’s work. This book should NEVER have been cancelled and, knowing fickle fans, this one will take a powder early. I do recommend getting it and riding the wave of action!

DETECTIVE COMICS #36: With Gotham International under quarantine and Magnus Magnuson withholding the cure, an infected Batman has eight hours to solve the mystery. He puts a call into Dick Grayson looking for help, who finds out Magnuson is dating a woman who runs a disco named Club Hell. At Club Hell, she tells Dick that Magnuson is at Gotham International Airport and he is the vaccine. Meanwhile, the CDC gets involved and makes a mess of everything. Batman sneaks into the Air Traffic Control tower and knocks out the CDC agent threatening Ed. Batman explains that he thinks the coffin with a soldier in it is the source of the outbreak. Ed tells him he can’t help because of the cancer he got during the Gulf War and asks to be sent to Hawaii to die surrounded by white sand and hula girls. Agent Tusk and his companion find patient zero. But the companion reveals himself to be Magnuson, tears off Tusk’s protective mask and shoves him into the coffin. Batman arrives and uses his gauntlets to shock Magnuson into unconsciousness. Taking a blood sample, he is able to make a vaccine and administer it to the airport. Ed Boar wakes in a hospital bed to find a plane ticket to Hawaii in an envelope.

This story started out great and just kind of fizzled in the end. Don’t get me wrong: I still found this book better than a good chunk of titles on the racks today. Nice writing and plotting from Benjamin Percy, who provides some nice dialogue (and what is with Dick Grayson getting laid so much? Become a spy and BAM!?). John Paul Leon gives us some really moody art and makes us remember that his style was cool even before the recent minimalist movement that started with DAREDEVIL and HAWKEYE.

EARTH 2 #28: We are told the story of a woman on Czarnia who listened to her friend Lobo, got caught doing a crime and went to prison. While in prison, her parents die and she is told that she is immune to the virus that is on the planet, but she is a carrier. They ask her to go to Apokolips and bring the virus to the one responsible for it-Darkseid. In exchange, her family would get the medicine and be spared. Although she knew it was a lie, she agreed. Arriving on Apokolips, she is immediately recruited by DeSaad to serve Apokolips. She became the Fury of Pentilence. On Warworld a slave of Mongul is recruited by Steppenwolf  to serve Apokolips and become a Fury. She agreed and became the Fury of Famine. Elsewhere, a Tamaranean spaceship crashes on Armaghetto. Barda & Kazana, find the lone survivor, K'li and was trained to be a warrior of Apokolips, becoming best friends with a girl named Eila. When they grew up, they were asked to prove their devotion to Darkseid and K'li killed Eila and then Kazana. Darkseid made her his Fury of War. On Mars, the forces of Apokolips came and, as friends and family died, a healer did not. She was brought to Darkseid who convinced her to be with him. She lay down with him and, when she arose, she was the Fury of Death.

This is what I would call a fill-in issue as we prepare for the repercussion from this month’s WORLD’S END book in next month’s issue. Marguerite Bennett Tom Taylor bring us the stories of the origins  of the Furies of Apokolips while the art is by Alisson Borges, Andy Smith, Javier Fernandez, and Diogenes Neves. Again, a fill-in issue that does a nice job of giving us the back stories on these all-important characters. Join us next month as all hell breaks loose on Earth 2.

EARTH 2 WORLD’S END #5-8: In issue #5, the Green forces Alan Scott and Solomon Grundy to strike a truce in order to save Earth 2. They must go seek out the other colors of the Avatars of the Earth. Meanwhile, Aquawoman defends her kingdom and goes to meet with the eater of worlds. Below Amazonia, Jimmy Olson converses with the Mother Box and is told that this is the day he dies. On the surface, Mr. Terrific gathers his team together within his Boom Spheres and prepares to assault Apokolips. In London, Flash, Hawkgirl and Dr. Fate battle Famine. Beneath the firepit in Geneva, Val, Lois, Kara and Batman seek out the kidnapped Huntress when they come across Clark’s body

In issue #6, Dr. Fate defeats Famine, but not well enough as the effects are being felt in London and beyond as the plague reaches out to Amazonia. Mister Miracle activates his Mother Box, which is in the possession of Jimmy Olsen. Just as Dr. Fate arrives, Jimmy is suffering the effects of that Mother Box. In Atlantis, Aquawoman offers herself to the eater of worlds and promises to free it to save her people. At the World Army Stronghold, Barbara Grayson and her deputies try to quell an uprising and find some help in the form of Ted Grant. In Geneva, we learn that Clark is actually a clone and that there are many, many more clones in stasis tubes here. As Desaad prepares to do his worst to Helena Wayne, Batman, Val, Kara and Lois find his cloning facility and Thomas Wayne prepares to rescue Helena. But he will have to do it without Miraclo, as Val destroys it so Thomas will have a clear head when he attacks. Alan Scott and Solomon Grundy head to China in search of the Avatar of the White. They end up at Sam’s chateau where Alan finds the wedding ring that was meant for him. That is when he is interrupted by the Avatar of the White-Sam Zhao.

In issue #7, the furies of Apokolips gather and prepare to attack the Avatars and the Parliament. In Geneva, Desaad makes his final plans to convert Helena while her rescue team battles failed clones. In China, Alan and the former Sam Zhao have a reunion before they all go in search of the Avatar of the Blue. Below Amazonia, Dr. Fate merges his helmet with the Mother Box and Jimmy Olsen is transformed into a god. In London, the John Constantine of our Earth transports himself to the Arkham World Army Base where he finds an army of super powered people at the ready. In space, as Mister Miracle and his team head towards Apokolips, they discover that they don’t have far to go-Apokolips is here.

In issue #8, Alan Scott is desperately trying to keep parts of the exploded moon from hitting planet Earth while Fury and Barda land on Apokolips to begin their mission. In Amazonia, Jimmy Olsen uses his new powers to restore a dying Dr. Fate while Commander Sato lays down the law to Chancellor Hagen. In China, the Furies of Apokolips make their presence known by spreading war, pestilence, and death. Grundy and the Avatar of the White arrive. Grundy is cut in half and Sam begs for the Avatar of the Green to come and help. In the labyrinths of Desaad, the team finds part of Clark’s uniform. They also discover that Helena’s monitor has flatlines, meaning she is dead. In the World Army Stronghold, Ted, Dick and Barbara fight for their lives as a virus has turned the people there into madmen and is causing the dead to rise. Then the camp is hit by a meteor shower that lands near Barbara’s position. At the Arkham World Army Base, Constantine has assembled a team made of Brain Wave, Obsidian, Jonni Thunder and Karnevil. But Karnevil has a problem with working with Obsidian because he is black, so John kills Karnevil. Flash races to New York to save his mother. Unfortunately, a possessed Hawkgirl is now ready to kill him.

Here we have four more action packed issues that all seem to be directing Earth 2 to its’ ultimate doom. 80 pages of fun (I especially like that classic JSA hero Ted Grant shows up!) courtesy of Daniel H. Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, and Mike Johnson. The art is by Tyler Kirkham, Eduardo Panacia, Eddy Barrows, Jorge Jimenez, Eduardo Panacia, Robson Rocha, Stephen Segovia, and the legendary Jan Duursema. Overall, although we know this title ends when CONVERGENCE begins, this is required reading-especially since there will be a final crossover point between this and FUTURE’S END in the final issue of each. Stay tuned!

THE FLASH #36: The Flash is trapped somewhere with a bunch of robot dinosaurs. He gets rescued by a masked man known as Selkirk. Figuring they are within the Speed Force, Barry explains how he needs to get home and is told this is their home now. Meanwhile, the future Barry is in our present and has de-aged, so he can take Barry’s place, leading to him taking up with Patty Spivot. At work, he sees Wally West waiting for him.He gives him a tour of the police garage and leaves him with the mechanic. Back in the lab, Barry, who has forgotten how much Director Singh hates him, invites him on a double date. Later, Barry shows Wally how he uses the police database to track criminals. When he returns Wally to Iris after lunch, he gives her a scoop that could make her career. That night, while Patty sleeps, Barry chases down Kyle Korot. He hasn’t done anything wrong yet, but will one day become a killer. Knowing the future, Barry has decided to track down murderers and killing each one of them.

Robert Venditti, Van Jensen and Brett Booth turn in another great episode in the tale of two Flashes. A captivating story coupled with dynamite art makes this book a major winner! It is almost on par with the previous creative team and we all know how awesome that was. This title should be on your “must read list”.

GOTHAM ACADEMY #2: Olive Silverlock reads Millie Jane Cobblepot’s diary when she sees the Bat-Signal in the sky. Looking outside, she sees Batman staring back at her. The next day, the students are all talking about the ghost haunting the North Hall. Professor MacPherson makes Olive and Pomeline Fritch partners in their Gotham History projects. During lunch, Olive notices a boy sketching her friend Maps. Later, Olive and Pomeline work on their project separately and Mr. Scarlett hands Olive a note with the name of a book he thinks will help them. As Olive searches for the book, which is the DIARY OF MILLIE JANE COBBLEPOT, she notices a handsome but strange young man. But this copy has handwritten notes in it along with a map of the cemetery behind North Hall. Pomeline texts Heathcliff and takes the book. After a scare during Chemistry class, Olive hides under the bleachers and watches her ex-boyfriend practice tennis serves. Ms. MacPherson sits with her and gives advice while her dog digs up a very large bone. Back in her room, Olive and Maps decide to go check out the map from the diary and head to the old cemetery. They find the door to the Cobblepot crypt and it’s been opened. They hear chanting inside and go down where they see three cloaked and masked figures chanting over an alter. Olive sees the diary on the altar and grabs it. Pomeline says she has no idea what she is doing taking the book. Olive says says Pomeline has no idea who she's dealing with. Flames surround her and she says she is her mother's daughter.

Who is Olive’s mother? I don’t really care! I still haven’t figured out who this book is aimed at. If they are shooting for the pre-teen/teen girl, they are all reading Manga or Tween titles on the bookshelf, if they are reading books at all. The adult female reader is going to balk at this nightmare and the male comics’ fan? I cannot even believe one of them would even admit to reading this. All but me, that is. This book didn’t get the axe in DC’s recently announced cancellations but it sure should. Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher and Karl Kerschl need a new gig.

GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT #1: The book begins with Sergeant Rook being assigned to Precinct Thirteen by Internal Affairs so he can report what Precinct Thirteen does. This is the home of “the Midnight Shift”. It is the Gotham City Police Department's Detailed Case Task Force. Lieutenant Weaver explains that they handle the unusual cases. The team includes Dr. Szandor Tarr, a forensic scientist, Sister Justine, a nun and Detective Jim Corrigan, who is absent at the moment. He is with Detective Lisa Drake, who warns him that Internal Affairs is getting involved with The Midnight Shift’s business. Jim arrives at The Midnight Shift with news of their case. It’s a kidnapping at Gotham Heights and he invites Rook to ride along with he and Drake. They quiz the parents of the missing Atwood girls and are told that the girls did come home. But Julie and Francine are speaking in what Jim believes is a made up language and insists that they be seen by Sister Justine. Based on a mark they had seen on the front step, they head to Slaughter Swamp. En route, Jim says he knew that someday someone would come to investigate the Midnight Shift. Rook admits he is ready to shut the Shift down and is prepared to order psych evaluations for the whole team. They stop in front of an old schoolhouse and begin to feel dread. As they move closer approach to it, Julie and Francine scream at the sight of Sister Justine and Lisa can feel the presence of death. Jim opens the door of the classroom, and finds the desks of a class being taught by a ghost nun.

Okay, here is my prediction for this series: gone in 8 months. While the story by Ray Fawkes is weird and gives Jim Corrigan to hang his hat every month (SANTA-I WANT A SPECTRE SERIES FOR CHRISTMAS!), I don’t think there is enough reader interest in these characters. And you either love Ben Templesmith’s art or you absolutely hate it. There is no in-between. Personally, I like it, but I think most of the DC readers will turn thumbs down to it. Too bad: this title has potential.

GRAYSON #4: Mr. Minos assigns Dick and Helena to infiltrate Checkmate to retrieve a hard drive. While they go off on their mission, a bunch of girl’s have a bit of a party when one of them comes in with photos of Dick with his shirt off. Lotti thinks it’s a good idea to go check out his room. When Dick returns, he checks in with Batman when he hears the girls outside of his room. He lets them know he has seen them and lures them away from the area. While he is gone, Helena sneaks into his room as Minos has charged her with finding out where a detected signal came from. The girls continue to give chase, stopping only when they see Helena is behind Dick. She orders the girls back to their room and has Dick go to see Mr. Minos. Because he has been outed by the girls, he orders Dick to teach two classes of acrobatics per week. His new cover story is that he is a gay former French gymnast. When he leaves, Helena tells Minos she found hidden cameras that Lotti has placed to spy. Later, Dick wakes to find Helena sitting next to him. She tells him she knows he was once Nightwing and he came here to let the world believe he is still dead. Then she challenges him to chase her across the campus. In Dubai, Midnighter is searching for body parts from the Paragon Project. Apollo interrupts him from his torturing of a man. He is told it is time to come back to both Stormwatch and his boyfriend. His answer is to drop the man off the tall building, causing Apollo to give chase.

This is another one of the new titles that I am not sure if I like, love or hate. The idea of Dick Grayson as a super spy doesn’t do a thing for me. But Tim Seeley, Tom King and Mikel Janín make this so much fun I have to convince myself this guy is ANYONE but Dick Grayson. Maybe he’s a beefy 21st Century version of John Steel and Helena is Emma Peel. Yeah-I can get behind that. This is a fun read and it looks great. But Dick-he’s getting more action, in many ways, since he became a super spy. Maybe Tony Stark will get jealous…

GREEN ARROW #36: A pair of homeless teens run into three men who have been after them for some time. The girl, Mia, tosses her friend Trevor into the tasers of their attacker and runs. A fourth man shows up and shoots down the other three, saying he can get her to safety and that he knew her mother. Meanwhile, Felicity Smoak admits to Green Arrow that she was hired to kill him but didn’t know a superhero was the target and offers to help him. But she doesn’t know who hired her because they hired her anonymously through World of Warcraft. He doesn’t trust her but convinces him she is one of the best hackers around. Mr. King is questioned by a reporter about his meeting with Carmine Falcone and he later tells one of his men to have the reporter killed. It was King that hired Felicity and ios looking to kill Mia Dearden. Felicity hacks into the network to discover the middleman is Garret Diamond. They break into Garret’s house and find him killed by an arrow. Felicity hacks into his computer and realizes there is a connection to Mia. Oliver and John go searching for her and Felicity locates her by satellite-she is with Mack Morgan. His car gets run off the road by King’s men but Green Arrow catches up with the men and they turn their guns on him. One of King’s men tosses her into a trunk and drives off, but is saved by Oliver before the car crashes and falls from the bridge. Mack says he has enough evidence to put King away but is killed by an arrow before he can give it to her.

Ben Sokolowski, Andrew Kreisberg with art by Daniel Sampere continue the new direction for the Emerald Archer. As I mentioned last time, I am not quite certain if I like this or not. But you have to understand that Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino set the bar ridiculously high and you would pretty much have to be Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams to cross the bar. So, I continue to be amused and intrigued and note that is truly along the lines of the ARROW show. We shall see how this all plays as we head towards CONVERGENCE.

GREEN LANTERN #36: Previously reviewed as part of GODHEAD ACT 2.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #36: Previously reviewed as part of GODHEAD ACT 2.

GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #36: Previously reviewed as part of
GODHEAD ACT 2
 
HARLEY QUINN #12: Power Girl and Harley get into a fight with Sportsmaster and The Clock King at the mall, but fall through a teleportation ring the Clock king has put out. The girls, along with an accountant sent by the Clock King, find themselves surrounded by alien soldiers. Before the accountant can tell the alien queen that Harley is not a hero, she disintegrates him, which upsets the queen because he was her lover. The Queen’s husband, a giant pug dog, sits on Harley and demands they all stop the violence. Then, after an argument about the accountant lover, he eats the Queen. He then tells them to get home they need another teleportation ring and it is owned by Manos, Ruler of the Infinity Rings. The pair fly to Manos’ home where they are greeted by a giant alien that looks like a slice of pizza. It refuses, forcing Harley to destroy it. Manos agrees to let them use the ring after they get him to cosmic cubicle from Elder-7. Power Girl refuses as Harley steals his rings and destroys him with it. They destroy the cosmic organ and his children show them how to use the teleportation ring, if they return the other rings. They come back through the Clock King's ring and he pushes them through it again. Seconds later, although it is two weeks in our time, they return  after escaping from a forced marriage to Vartox.

Manos? Certainly not MANOS THE HANDS OF FATE?! No, we all know this is Thanos and he has an Infinity Gauntlet and is looking for the Cosmic Cube! Terrific stuff! Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti and artists John Timms and Chad Hardin crank out yet another humorous issue that makes HARLEY QUINN DC’s answer to DEADPOOL!

INFINITY MAN AND THE FOREVER PEOPLE #5: The issue begins with the end of the Old Gods signaled by Darkseid murdering his father. Meanwhile, Guy Gardner and the Forever People spent the next 11 pages battling each other. Defeated, he gets lucky as the Green Lanterns currently watching over Earth, arrive to save him.

I would say this was a complete waste of three bucks except Tom Grummett did the art and I can think of no one else I would rather see draw and 11 page fight sequence except maybe George Perez. Other than that, this was a big stinky diaper! Shame on Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen for delivering this to us. Maybe they got the world that they had been cancelled and lost interest. Maybe they didn’t want to deal with the whole New Gods thing appearing in the Green Lantern titles and just kind of wrote this thing. Either way, thanks for nothing!

GODHEAD ACT 2

GREEN LANTERN #36: GODHEAD ACT 2, PART 1: Orion and Highfather get into an argument about the way Orion has been used and abused in the ongoing battle with the Lanterns, causing Orion to storm out. Meanwhile, Sinestro joins up with Hal Jordan and the Green Lanterns as they learn that Kyle is still alive and that Highfather plans to turn him into the ultimate weapon. While Hal tries to find a way to save his friend, he and Sinestro get into a fight which eventually leads to a temporary truce between the two. On Earth, Black Hand is running his own circus, complete with the dead bodies of Dick Grayson’s parents.  Hal arrives to ask for the Black Lantern’s help.

I have to say that I didn’t see that coming! Robert Venditti and Francis Portella turn in a super issue here with some great action, not too much corny dialogue and some of Portella’s best art yet! Just the whole Black Lantern circus is worth the price of admission to this book. This is probably one of the best issues of GREEN LANTERN I have read in a while.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #36: GODHEAD ACT 2, PART 2: Sinestro informs Jon Stewart and the Green Lantern Corps that Hal is enlisting the Black Hand in the fight against the New Gods. Stewart visits The Weaponer, who makes him a sword that may be strong enough to take down the Gods. Later, Jon and Soranik discuss his feelings for the Star Sapphires and how he plans to get his revenge upon them. The Star Sapphires are attacked by the New Gods and Jon and the Corps, as much as it pains him, come to their aid. Lady Shadowfall from New Genesis traps our heroes. They can only manage an escape when a dying Star Sapphire, Sister Gnell, apologizes for deceiving Jon and her ring goes to him, making him a Star Sapphire.

Van Jensen and Bernard Chang deliver the next chapter in this saga and it just goes to show me how Jon Stewart is a far cry from the strong character he used to be. I normally don’t read this title and, after March, no one else will as DC is canceling the book. The story is okay, the art is typical Bernard Chang and there is way too much PINK in it! This is a Green lantern book, not a Star Sapphire one. Sigh-see what happens next in…

GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #36: GODHEAD ACT 2, PART 3: Highfather, Kyle and Carol arrive on New Genesis where Kyle gives up his ring and Highfather gloats that the Life Equation is where it belongs. Kyle and carol realize that Highfather do not intend to return the other Lantern rings and they battle him with disastrous results. With Kyle and carol stranded somewhere on new genesis without their powers, Highfather goes to the city of Muz to test his new power, converting the entire population into White Lanterns. Sinestro is told that the ring is now in Highfather’s possession and it is too late to save the universe.

Uh oh: things look bad in Green Lantern land! Justin Jordan and Diogenes Neves. Present the next chapter in this saga. I hope that everything gets wrapped up by March, as CONVERGENCE is coming and this title is going! I have never gotten used to Kyle and Carol being together like I haven’t gotten used to Clark and Lois NOT being together. I know: it’s a comic-deal with it. Anyway, the story is okay and so is the art. And come April, this loving couple will be looking for somewhere else to hang out besides this title!

RED LANTERN #36: GODHEAD ACT 2, PART 4: As Simon Baz tells Guy about what is going on with the New Gods, Guy fills Simon in on the trials and tribulations HE has had to endure as part of the Red Lanterns. On New Genesis, Highfather demonstrates his power to Malhedron, who is concerned about the balance in the conflict between Darkseid and Highfather being upset by these developments. Back on Earth, Guy convinces Cyborg to send he and Simon to New Genesis via a Boom Tube, leaving B’dg to monitor Earth. Reluctantly agreeing, Cyborg sends the pair packing and they end up in Malhedron and Dia’s bedroom. A fight occurs and that ends up with our heroes being locked in a cell by Highfather’s orders.

I have been saying for months how much I will miss Charles Soule’s work on this title. Well, come March, I’ll miss the whole title. And that really sucks because I love J. Calafiore’s art! This was a fun issue but, anytime you let Guy loose is ALWAYS a fun issue! My biggest gripe is seeing Guy pop Malhedron in the mouth on the cover, which kind of spoils the surprise coming at the end of the book.

SINESTRO #7: GODHEAD ACT 2, PART 5: Sinestro battles some warriors of New Genesis and the space pirates they control and defeats them. Then we learn it is all in Sinestro’s head as he walks with Jon Stewart and doesn’t bother to listen to him. The two teams, Corps and yellow, are forced to team up although they really don’t get along with each other. As the teams begin their mission, we see Sinestro offering Bekka of New genesis, one of the warriors he “battled” before, a yellow ring. Soon the team is betrayed by Indigo-1 and find themselves surrounded by Orion and his warriors.

I have a question for Cullen Bunn about these Sinestro/Bekka sequences. Are they real or are they dream? Because I am starting to think that Sinestro has HAD this happen already and this is just a flashback in his misshapen pink head. Either way, the book reads well and all. But the highlight is the art by Ethan Van Sciver, with inks by Geraldo Borges and colors by Jason Wright. The images literally fly off the pages. This is also the most fun I have had with a copy of SINESTRO since the first issue. I look forward to seeing where the next chapter, next month in GREEN LANTERN #37, takes us.

THE MULIVERSITY: PAX AMERICANA #1

Set in 1974, we see comic creator Vince Harley, in his guise as vigilante Yellowjacket, sneaking back into his own house and getting accidentally shot and killed by his son. Many years later, he was visited by Captain Atom, who gave him an idea and his blessing. Later, we see Blue Beetle and The Question catching a drug dealer, with The Question making him swallow a bag of heroin and overdose. Moving ahead to 2005, Harley had become a governor in the George W. Bush administration. America had developed a super soldier to protect the country. When terrorists broke into the White House, The Peacemaker was called by Harley to kill them. Some time later, he visited with the newest superhuman, Allen Adam. Harley explained how, over the years, he uses an algorithm to predict events. He told Allen the future solution was in Major Comics MAJOR MAX MEETS JANUS THE EVERYDAY MAN.

In 2008, Harley was elected President and created a government run team called Pax Americana that consisted of Blue Beetle, The Question, The Peacemaker, and Captain Atom. It turns out that the Vice-President was corrupt and The Question, still using his street level tactics of interrogation and justice, discovered that Sargeant Steel was involved and there was a plan to kill Captain Atom. Meanwhile, Peacemaker and his girlfriend Vincent Harley's last comic book work, MAJOR MAX MEETS JANUS THE EVERYDAY MAN. He challenged her to find the secret of Algorithm 8 within the next two years, when Harley would win the 2015 election. In January of 2015, Captain Atom was in a particle accelerator reading the cursed Ultra Comics when he revealed to the scientists there that he knew of their plan to destroy him. They activated the particle accelerator that created an artificial black hole in his head and apparently destroyed him. At this point, Sergeant Steel shot each of the scientists and eliminated those loose ends.

Harley reveals that he would have to be assassinated for there to be world peace, but he needed Captain Atom to return so he could bring him back. Peacemaker revealed that he would assassinate the president for the sake of world peace. In November, The Question began investigating Nora’s murder. She was beaten to death with a Janus-head sculpture.
The Question gets pursued by his old friend Blue Beetle, but is able to trap him. He then encounters Nightshade, defeating her too. President Harley was assassinated by Peacemaker, making the manipulative Eden the new President of the United States. Later, Chris told Eden he had killed the President to save the world from Eden. Finally, at Vincent Harley's grave, Captain Atom appeared to deliver Algorithm 8 to the 23-year-old Harley. This is an event that would happen over and over again.

If you haven’t figured this out my now, this is Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s vision of  that classic Charlton Comics characters. In other words: this is GRANT MORRISON’S WATCHMEN! And, if you can’t see those characters presented here, then you really don’t know Watchmen. Especially when you see that Blue beetle IS OWLMAN and The Question IS RORSCHACH. This is a wonderful book and may be the best of the MULTIVERSITY titles yet. Great story and fantastic art by Quitely. Of special note is the way that ALL STAR SUPERMAN and JLA: EARTH-2, by the team of Morrison and Quietly, find their way into this comic. who both worked on this issue. Once again, Grant Morrison shows us that he is a genius!

Some quick looks at some Marvel books:

DEATHLOK: I must be out of the loop because I know who Luther Manning is and I know who Michael Collins is, but this new guy….Henry Hayes? Apparently he was a combat medic who got fixed up by Biotek. He goes into war zones working for Medics Without Broders. Actually, even though he doesn’t know it, he is working for a covert organization as Deathlok, going off killing as a soldier of fortune. In his spare time, he’s a single father trying hard to raise he teenage daughter. Honestly, we have great looking art by Mike Perkins and the usual catchy writing by Nathan Edmonson. But this character does nothing for me and I have less of an attachment than I do with the Deathlok of the TV show. Read the first two issues…thanks: I’m good with that.

THE WEAPON X PROGRAM: So, Wolverine is dead and now a whole bunch of people who were subjected to the experiments of Dr. Abraham Cornelius seem to be set up to become a new super team. Oh yeah: one of them may be Wolverine. I wasn’t a big fan of the mini-series that ended the life of the most popular mutant because we all knew he was coming back in the end. So, despite an impressive story from Charles Soule and killer art from the always dependable Salvador Larroca, I’ll be giving this book a pass. When he gets his old self back, call me. Until then, they can keep it.

By the way, this will lead into a WEEKLY WOLVERINES series in January by Soule, Ray Fawkes, Nick Bradshaw and Juan Doe. And I won’t be reading that either!

ALL-NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA: So it seems that Steve Rodgers had his Super Soldier Serum drained by some bad guy called the Iron Nail. Steve is now old and can’t cut it anymore. In the meantime, Sharon Carter and Arnim Zola’s son, who Steve raised while he was stuck in Dimension Z, arrive back in our time and space and Ian is all grown up. So Steve decides to settle down with Sharon and Ian becomes Nomad and partners up with the new captain America: Sam Wilson. So now the New Captain America takes on crime and the Rogue’s Gallery of old Cap villains in a swanky new costume, accompanied by his ever true sidekick Redwing the falcon. Rick Remender and Stuart Immonen serve up politically correct superheroes and politically incorrect villains(do we really need Batroc to return and then throw anti-American fat jokes around?). I didn’t read the LAST Cap series because the whole Dimension Z thing aggravated the heck out of me. I won’t be reading this one either.

ALL-NEW INVADERS: Jim Hammond, the original Human Torhc, is working for S.H.I.E.L.D. now. Along the way, he has joined up with Captain America, the Winter Soldier, Toro, Namor and new hero Radiance to fight evil. Along the way, we get Deathloks, a Martian invasion, Killraven and a whole host of goodies to make a fan like me smile. James Robinson and Steve Push have done wonders with this series. UNFORTUNATELY, Marvel is ending this title soon so look for the back issues or keep your fingers crossed for a TPB. This was a treat and I’m sorry to see it go.

AVENGERS/X-MEN AXIS: So, Charles Xavier is dead and the Red Skull ended up with his brain and thus became Red Onslaught. The Avengers and the X-Men came together to stop him but failed. Eventually, Doctor Doom and the Scarlet Witch used their magic to put a spell over Genosha. That stopped the Red Onslaught BUT the Avengers who were on Genosha have put most of the remaining heroes in the world in jail. Apocalypse has arrived to lead the X-Men and has declared war on mankind. And, if that wasn’t enough, any villain who was on Genosha are now behaving as heroes. And Tony Stark has turned out to be more concerned with making money off a new unstable app version of Extremis. This is Marvel’s newest blockbuster by Rick Remender and Adam Kubert, Terry Dodson, Leinil Francis Yu and others. In a nutshell, heroes have become villains and vice versa. Does it work? I enjoyed the first arc, but the follow-ups, where the actual swticheroo has happened, have left me cold. I can’t wait for this to end and see what the repercussions of it are. Every time there is an “event” there are repercussions that change the “Marvel Universe forever”. Let’s see what happens. If you can wait long enough, get it as a TPB. Realize that it’s four bucks an issue and they’ve been dropping about three issues each month.

SUPERIOR IRON MAN: Did you hear the one about Tony Stark and how he really isn’t the natural born child of Howard and Maria Stark? It’s true! Tony was adopted and the REAL child that Maria Stark gave birth to is Arno Stark, who was affected by the experiments of Rigellian Recorder 451. Anyway, he has done some time with the Guardians and worked with his brother to build the city of tomorrow. And now, with his mind being somewhat scrambled during AXIS, he has gone off the deep end. The person that the OLD Tony Stark once was, the irresponsible playboy and egotistic alcoholic, has appeared again. He has moved to San Francisco, built some new cool blue and white armor and has given the citizens of the city by the Bay Extremis 3.0. It offered anyone who downloaded it beauty, health or immortality…for free. But then our boy ended the free trial and began charging users a daily fee, making people desperate and making Stark richer than before. I went into this title expecting I would hate it but found myself pleasantly surprised. Tom Taylor gives us a great story and Yildiray Cinar’s art, with great looking colors from Guru-eFX, sucked me right in. It looks like Pepper is going to play a major role and, since he IS in San Francisco, a certain red headed lawyer/superhero is sure to be involved. This looks to be a real winner!

CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE MIGHTY AVENGERS: Spinning out of the events that have been occurring in AXIS, the NEW Captain America and Luke Cage are working with a little more attitude than before. A violent attitude. An attitude that means neither one cares if criminals die along the way. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, Tony Stark is getting involved and there is a plan afoot to take out the existing Mighty Avengers because they are threats. Interesting concept that will work fine until this whole AXIS thing ends and then what? Al Ewing and Luke Ross combine for a rough and tumble, ultra violent team of superheroes who just don’t care as long as their will is done. Again, this looks and feels really nice now…let’s see how it plays out down the road.
 
IRON FIST-THE LIVING WEAPON: I don’t want to say too much about this book. All I want to say is that you have to pick it up and read Kaare Kyle Andrews’ one-man show. History is slightly rewritten, the past collides with the present, the story keeps you turning page after page and the idea that flashback are presented as an old, folded comic book, colored dots and all, makes me just totally love where this book goes. This is not the Iron Fist I grew up with and is not the guy who ran around with Luke cage in Heroes for hire. This is a conflicted hero, much the way Matt Murdock is. But Andrews work is the real star here and this title is sure to elevate his status to the next level and cause comic fans to go scrounging through the back issue boxes looking for his earlier work.
 
BUCKY BARNES: THE WINTER SOLDIER: Spoiler time-The Watcher is dead, Nick Fury is the “new Watcher” and Fury’s old job as the “Man on the Wall”, where he is responsible for stopping intergalactic threats before they happen. The whole ORIGINAL SIN story just bothered me no end, especially killing the Watcher, removing his eyes and everything that came with it, including retconning a bunch of Marvel stories and characters. This picks up where that left off, only Bucky has a team helping him and the whole book, illustrated by Marco Rudy, looks like a bad drug induced dream. Actually, it would probably read better too as Ales Kot’s story is overly wordy and boring. Bye bye Bucky: liked you better when you were a distant WWII memory.

THOR: Hey-have you heard that Odin is back and is ruling Asgard, which is now called Asgardia? Did you know that Odin’s wife was rulling Asgardia in his absence and she’s not thrilled that the old man is back? Did you know that Thor has forgotten to take his Wheaties after Nick Fury whispered sweet nothings into his ear and now he can’t lift Mighty Mjolnir anymore from where it sits on the moon? Did you know that the only person of lifting it is some blonde woman in a silver helmet with mask? You know what: this was a big deal on news boards and even TV! I don’t care! I read the first issue by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman and was blown away by Dauterman’s art. But the whole story left me weak and to see Thor reducing to a whiny version of Hal Jordan left me angry and disappointed. For crying out loud, you could have given us Beta Ray Bill and it would have sat better with me than this? How many female Asgardians are crawling out of the woodwork? First we have this and then there…

ANGELA ASGARD’S ASSASSIN: yeah, from Todd McFarlane and company comes the story of the lost sibling to Thor and Loki. She popped up in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and now she has become a staple of the Marvel Universe. The main tale in issue #1 by Kieron Gillen and Phil Jimenez LOOKS AMAZING, although it looks NOTHING like Phil Jimenez’s normal style(he of the years worth of “George Perez clone” jokes).As far as the story goes: sure-reads well. BUT I’M NOT INTERESTED in a female version of The Punisher. Asgard’s Assassin? Really, Marvel: that’s the best you can give me? The back-up story, by Gillen, Marguerite Bennett and Stephanie Hans, is also very nice. But I also don’t care about that either. Bottom line: I personally don’t need this character in my Marvel Universe. And Marvel doesn’t need my money. I’m sure, if she’s a hit, they can work her into the next Guardians or Thor flick! 

GUARDIANS 3000: Well, here’s a novel concept: let’s bring back the ORIGINAL GUARDIAN OF THE GALAXY in a NEW book for NEW readers. Yeah: I’m liking that! We have Vance Astro and Yondu and Martinex and Charlie-27 and Starhawk and they’re hear to fight the big, bad Badoon. I loved their adventures as a kid and then Marvel decide to completely change the origins and throw this team together that are film stars but not MY Guardians! Well, this IS my Guardians! Dan Abnett and Gerardo Sandoval throw an action adventure at us that totally sizzles! This is MY GUARDIANS! And there are plot twists throughout. This is THE book to jump on to now before everyone else catches up with the curve. Us old timers always knew these were the cool team. Let’s hope sales on the book are good enough to support it.

And then there’s THE SPIDER-VERSE. This has to be one of the dumbest concepts I have ever seen thrown at the comic reading consumer. Well, maybe not THE dumbest, but it ranks up there. It seems there is this nasty family called The Inheritors that are traveling throughout the Multiverse, killing off members of the Spider Totem and draining their life energies. Name the Earth and there is a Spider man for it. This is Marvel’s way of pulling together all of the various Spider Men we have seen over the years, in stand alone tales, in issues of What if, as back-ups in Annuals…even with their own series. So, among the various Spiders running around are the 1930’s Spider Noir guy, Peter Porker Spider Ham, Kaine, Jessica Drew, Mayday Parker, etc. They have even figured a way to drop Doc Ock Peter Parker into the mix as he ended up in the Spider-Verse during a time when he was still in control, so now we have a new timeline. There have been specials, one shots and the new series: SPIDER-VERSE TEAM-UP, SPIDER-VERSE, SPIDER-WOMAN, SCARLET SPIDERS and SPIDER MAN 2099. I’m sorry: this is just a way to sell comics and make a total mockery of the Spider Man legacy. I was never to keen with the whole Spider Totem idea when it got introduced but I dealt with it and let it go. I DESPISED the wiping out of so much history by Mary Jane making a deal with Mephisto and making their happy life go away to save Aunt May. I TOTALLY HATED Doc Ock Parker, but new our boy would return one day. This…this is going WAY TOO FAR. I can only hope that the crossover with the AMAZING SPIDER MAN title lasts a little longer and we go back to a normal storyline.

If this is how you cross-market your characters, get a new marketing genius!