Welcome to the Christmas Edition of Gint's Pull-List Review. There's nothing really Christmas-ey about these books, so I at least changed some colors for you.
On the Fourth Day of Comic Book Day...
Green Lantern Corps #4
This issue we learn that the big bads in this first arc hail from the hidden dimension where the Lanterns keep their lanterns. As usual the Guardians know something about these dudes but haven't divulged to the Corps yet.
We even get a surprise visit from Stormwatch member Martian Manhunter. Unfortunately, the DCnU J'onn is different than the one we know. He doesn't know Guy Gardner and vice versa. He's also cold and doesn't like the Green Lanterns and apparently blames the Corps for not saving Mars. That's really a fair point considering it happened on Sinestro's watch. And he's supposed to be the greatest Lantern ever.
Fernando Pasarin's art looks fantastic as always. Its nice getting a full issue of Pasarin without a fill-in artist. Scott Hanna also does a nice job on inks though some pages look a little rougher than other.
Ultimately if I'm going to find something wrong about this book its going to be nitpicking. Peter Tomasi writes these characters better than almost anyone. Especially b-list Lanterns like Isamot Kol and Salaak.
On the Third Day of Comic Book Day...
Justice League: #4
Maybe the expectations for this book were too high? Chemistry isn't a given. It happens frequently on hockey teams where one team acquires one star player in hopes that he'll have chemistry with another star player. Then it doesn't work out. That's what's happening on this book.
A book written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Jim Lee should be instant chemistry and comic gold. While Justice League has been far from bad, its just not making me jump out of my seat with excitement every month.
And don't get me started on Hal Jordan. I know this is 5 years ago, and Hal is supposed to be younger and more brash than the current Hal in his own title. But its too much of a change of personality. I get what Johns is doing trying to show a progression of his maturation, but its almost like the Star Wars prequels and the Original Trilogy... it just doesn't match up.
Its a great looking book and the action is fast and furious. But I'm almost more looking forward to the epilogue when Darkseid is defeated and our heroes are left to answer the question, "what do we do now?" THAT's the story I want to read.
On the Second Day of Comic Book Day...
Supergirl #4
Mahmud Asrar does some great work on this book. His pencils are akin to the pencils I would like to draw had I had the talent to draw an actual comic book. There's a certain design-y element to his work along side the smooth lines and definition. There's also a Leniel Yu quality this issue that I really like.
A talent Asrar has, even better than Jamal Igle, is drawing Supergirl like the teenager she's supposed to be. Too many artists like to get their hands on her and draw her as a supermodel and lose the fact that she's just a girl. Asrar's work also makes me want to see a Supergirl movie where they could actually cast a teenager in the role. Good good stuff.
Michael Green and Mike Johnson continue to write a very interesting story introducing a whole new world and cast of characters just as well-fitting and entertaining as anything that has been or is coming from DC these days.
On the First Day of Comic Book Day:
Wonder Woman #4
Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang continue to helm the wheel of one of the best ships out of DC's fleet of New 52 books. Forgive the sailing reference it really has nothing to do with anything.
Slowly, but with deliberate steps each issue, Wonder Woman builds itself up to what looks like a war between the Gods and Diana. The Gods we've met so far are untrustworthy (save Hermes) and dangerous. Hera is a crazy bitch. But each character has its own nuance that really makes them shine.
If anything has been missing from Wonder Woman so far its the lack of any contact with the rest of the DCnU. I'm sure this is Azzarello's plan, making Wonder Woman really stand on its own. But in a shared universe like DC has been promoting, I'd love to see some other characters from the ol' DCnU show up.
Great story. Great art. Damn fine book.
Panel (Image) of the Week:
While I really enjoyed the art of each book this week, I wanted to get into the spirit of Christmas and offer up some classic Alex Ross.
Merry Christmas from Mc$oss!
-Gint
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