Doomsday is still reigning. This is one of those, "has this storyline been going on for decades," types stories. But this issue was at least somewhat entertaining. I'm not sure why. It just was.
My excitement for Kenneth Rocafort drawing this book was really short lived. He did about 3 panels before new artist took over. This month's artist is Axel Giménez. His work is solid and certain angles even hint of Rocafort's work. BUT he has no inker. No matter how dark your pencils are, when you don't have inks it just looks in complete.
What stood out about this issue was when Superboy, Supergirl and Steel are each out fighting a Doomsday, Superman is in S.T.A.R. Labs waiting for Dr. Light to give her some info he can, "take into the fight." I can't believe Superman would just sit around while others are fighting no matter what the reason.
One more issue of Reign of the Doomsdays to go and then we can set our sights on better things to come (hopefully) from Grant Morrison and George Pérez.
Well we finally get some answers and to what the hell happened in the beginning of this long long arc to give Wonder Woman a new timeline. And its kind of cool. Its just a shame it took so damn long to get here because now, I don't really care. AND there's still one more issue to go. Had we had this resolution 3 issues ago, it may still have been a salvageable story. Oh well.
Don Kramer is again helped out on art. This time by Travis Moore, whose style I really liked. Wouldn't mind seeing more of this guy.
I haven't read anything about it in all of the DC press about The New 52. But I'd like to hear someone say DC is really going to work on trying to eliminate fill-in artists and writers.
Nice crisp work on the cover by Lee Garbett, Dave Meikis & Paul Mounts.
This issue wins for quick, streamlined storytelling if not for art. I feel like I blew through this book in about 30 seconds. What's strange about it is that for being so quick, it covers what seems to be about a week in Flashpoint-time.
The Amazons have taken to using dragons in their fight for terrorism and Hal and Carol fend one off of Coast City in apparently what became known as The Battle for Coast City. But you don't get the feeling the fight was a battle for a city. It was more, "fuck, there's a dragon at Ferris, we better get rid of it.
The more I think about it, this was a weird issue.
And ANOTHER issue without INKS! And probably the most questionable of the art this week too. Sorry, Cliff Richards (the artist in question). Sometimes he draws Hal as Ryan Reynolds... sometimes he's Luke Perry. His Obama is pretty spot-on though.
In spite of its moments of exposition, this issue really moved along at a good pace while being more entertaining than #1. Part of that was the art of Gianluca Gugliotta. If there were inks, I couldn't tell. Some soft lines surrounded the art, but it was still good art. He draws a really creepy Etrigan. Kind of slimmer with a neck. Good stuff.
This was the first time I ever read a story with Grifter in it. And I'm unimpressed. He seems like, "insert standard hero here" to me. But he's a Jim Lee creation and Jim Lee does whatever the fuck Jim Lee wants now so I guess we're stuck with him.
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are writing a solid story, but unless issue #3 blows my mind that's all this tie-in is going to be: solid.
I'm not particularly crazy about Lowell Francis' artwork, but he does a great job telling the story. His characters' "acting" sells some emotions that may be lost by another artist.
This is the only work I've read by Snyder and I like it. Superman has crashed to Earth and has been picked up by the US government. The only person that truly cares for him is Sam Lane. Its a cool change up to see Sam Lane depicted as somewhat of a good father since in the regular DCU, he's always a bad guy.
This story, unlike Kid Flash Lost is bitter and sad. But in a good way. Snyder has made the readers connect with the characters. Looking forward to #3.
This issue loses points on page 3 with the asterisk, "This takes place after War of the Green Lanterns Aftermath #2," a book that isn't even out yet. This kind of thing drives me nuts, but I guess sometimes I can't be avoided.
As for the issue, it felt like a fill-in issue which it essentially is until the reboot. Star Sapphire Miri puts together a plan to save Kyle and Soranik Natu's love. The art was good and the color was great, but it was really a story that could have been summed up in an explanation from Kyle in another book.
Regardless of that, it was an entertaining story and Tony Bedard does a good job writing the characters in the book. Maybe its been Tyler Kirkham's art that's been off-putting on this book because with Daniel HDR on pencils, I like Tony Bedard just fine.
I'm almost tempted to get Sterling Gates New 52 Hawk & Dove book. Almost.
Sterling Gates' handling of Kid Flash makes me long for the character. He writes him as he should be written: young and impetuous but also determined to prove himself.
This has been one of the more fun books out of the Flashpoint tie ins. Bart gets send into a dystopian future ruled by Brainiac and has to save it before he himself disappears because he's a time anomaly. It's great superhero action adventure and Oliver Nome is handling the art beautifully.
This has been a nice surprise out of the Flashpoint books.
Fast paced action. No ties to other stories. Just a good solid comic book. The first issue by James Patrick and Agustin Padilla went the same way and I'm grateful for it. With so many events and crossovers going on now, its refreshing to just get a good superhero story. This is what a Green Arrow book is supposed to be. Shame they only get one more issue to keep up the good work.
Well if we're getting anything good out of the wind-down to the reboot, its some good, quick comic books. Some books like Action Comics and Wonder Woman are still bad. But other books like Green Arrow and Emerald Warriors have allowed good stories to be told without a tether to something else.
Emerald Warriors #12 is another good example. I read a review somewhere that was hating on Pete Tomasi's writing of Guy Gardner and wondering why he's the lead in a book. The reason is because Tomasi writes him well. Guy Gardner is fairly one dimensional, but its an entertaining one dimension.
The art of Chris Batista also fits into the GL Universe like a glove. There's a certain way the Green Lantern Universe should be drawn. I can't really explain it, I just know it to see it. And Batista does it well.
Panel of the Week:
The entire art team on Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors did an amazing job making this thing creepy as hell. That's a Green Lantern sticking out of its mouth by the way. Eeuugh.
-Gint
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