Six books on the pull-list for 2-16-11. Its been quite a few weeks since I’ve had such a big take. Lets see how they did.
Last, in 6th place:
Wonder Woman #607
Hmm. Wonder Woman. If I could effectively do it in this space I’d throw a text tantrum about how much I loved the Simone/Lopresti run only to have DC callously rip it away from me to appease J. Michael Straczynski or some thing like that.
To be fair, there are things I liked about this issue. Don Kramer’s art is one, minotaurs are the other. That’s about where it ends.
The additions of Artemis, Cheetah and Giganta are a nice touch, but they just make me miss real Wonder Woman stories.
I’m hoping the story wraps up better than its been going so far. As of issue #607, its just another bland step in the slow trek to its conclusion.
The best part of the book? The War of the Green Lanterns preview in the back.
In 5th place:
Green Lantern Corps #57
You know what’s awesome? When a character featured on the cover of a comic book actually has something to do with the story on the inside. I like Firestorm quite a bit. So to see on the cover that he was going to be paired up with my favorite space police, I was excited. Then I was let down when after the first couple pages of exposition of why he’s there, he really has no impact on the rest of the story.
So aside from Firestorm’s underused cameo, Tony Bedard did a good job wrapping up The Weaponer storyline. Where he’s really strong is writing Sinestro. He writes him as a badass which is what I expect from the character these days.
Overall it was a good story. And I’m going to assume the Weaponer will have some kind of role in War of the Green Lanterns. But when I get down to thinking about it, these felt like 2 filler arcs that we really didn’t need while leading up to War.
Peter Tomasi set the bar for Green Lantern Corps. Bedard and Co. are going to have to work a little harder to meet it.
Our 4th place finish:
Supergirl #61
I’m pretty sure James Peaty will be around as writer for a few issues after the quick entrance/exit of Nick Spencer. I’m not sure how the writing duties broke down between the two of them, but with just Peaty on the issue it stayed strong and flowed unimpeded from the previous issue.
Every time I see Damian Wayne, I’m unhappy. But oddly enough, I’ve kind of enjoyed his appearances when he’s written by someone other than Grant Morrison. Peaty plays Damian and Supergirl off each other well and I’m hoping he’ll be back for the next issue.
Bernard Chang stayed strong on art and continues the real-world Supergirl style that Sterling Gates did for so long.
A very solid issue if not a blow-you-away issue.
Finishing in 3rd:
Doom Patrol #19
There’s really something to be said in the comics industry for a creative team really investing their talents on a book for an extended period of time. And there’s even more to be said when that investment becomes a consistently good book month in and month out.
Granted, Doom Patrol is only on issue #19, so its not like they pulled a Bendis/Bagley on Ultimate Spider-Man, but in the world of artists and writers bouncing around (see Nick Spencer’s one issue run on Supergirl) its nice to be able to count on a consistently good comic book.
The Doom Patrol/Secret Six crossover brought together two of the most entertaining writers in the business: Gail Simone and Keith Giffen. You really get a sense that they had a really good time working together to write this story and it comes through in the story.
The two-part Suicide Roulette arc is just a fun comic book story. No special circumstances, no deaths or guest appearances, its just a good story. The reason we read comics.
Giffen and Simone make these misfit teams so likeable, more people should be giving these titles a chance. $oss gets tired of me hyping these books, but if you’re not getting Secret Six and Doom Patrol, you should try them out for an arc.
In 2nd place (I had this book projected for 1st!):
Green Lantern #62
A Geoff Johns’ penned Green Lantern issue is never disappointing. But the New Guardians arc has felt a little slow. Its taken a little too long to get to some meat and potatoes which is looking like Hal Jordan’s mental health according to this issue and the War of the Green Lanterns preview in this week's books.
Despite the slow story up to this point we get some real good character moments this issue. Some good one-liners from Hal and some good Hal/Bruce Wayne back and forth.
Doug Mahnke, along with some good dialogue makes Krona crazy, and creepy as hell. This is a great set-up issue for what’s coming in future stories.
And a beautiful cover by Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes with Randy Mayor.
And without rival, our 1st place finish:
Brightest Day #20
Gary Frank cover!
Before I get into this issue I want to rain praise upon the work of Gary Frank. I am really glad to have him working in the DC Universe. His work on the forthcoming Batman: Earth One graphic novel is sure to be outstanding. I can only hope that when that project is over, he’ll get back on a DC monthly. Keep up the outstanding work, Mr. Frank.
So, Brightest Day #20. Fuck. What a damn good comic book. Now, I’ve been around enough to know that an Aquaman ongoing just isn’t going to last. But if it were, Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis would be the ones to make it happen.
Johns writes him heroic, and Reis draws him iconic. They’ve made Mera her own intriguing character. And this storyline has been the engine powering Brightest Day.
From Black Manta to the new Aquagirl, each character has depth and purpose. Reis’s art makes me want to pour over every page and take in each detail.
Brightest Day is really ramping up for the home stretch.
-Gint
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