Gint's 12-26-12 Pull-List Review

Two great reads this week. A week to state, "this is why I read comics."

Second Place:
Justice League #15

Its the calm before the storm and its Geoff Johns at his best.

Johns can craft an exciting, big screen, big action spectacle but where he really shines is when he opens the door on who the Justice League is behind the capes and cowls. He has a great understanding of their interpersonal relationships with thier families and with each other.

This issue is the setup before Aquaman's brother Orm attacks the surface world. Its the first strike in the Atlantean war plan that Aquaman himself constructed while he was leading Atlantis.

Ivan Reis and his team take over the book from Jim Lee and it doesn't miss a beat. As far as comic creator "power couples" go, Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis have a solid spot on that list. And Reis and company's work is outstanding. A couple of the later issues of the Aquaman run dropped off a little bit, but the enthusiasm seems to be back for Justice League and that's good for us readers.

Johns and Gary Frank's Shazam backup is just as good getting into the meat and potatoes of the story. I love seeing Frank's work, but at the same time I'd like to see this story get folded into the main book and use the full breadth of the book for the Justice League story. BUT, that would mean losing Frank's art and that's unacceptable.

First Place:
Aquaman #15

For as great as Justice League #15 was, Aquaman ekes it out for the top spot this week.

Picking up right after the events in Justice League, the League prepares for Orm's attack on the surface world. No matter why Orm is attacking, the League has determined Arthur needs to bring him is as a criminal, not as the King of Atlantis. I always though Aquaman had potential to be a great character, and Geoff Johns is giving me the character I always wanted him to be.

Paul Pelletier takes over art duties for Ivan Reis who is now on Justice League. Pelletier does a great job. I was a big fan of his work on Nova and Guardians of the Galaxy and I'm thrilled that he's over at DC. His style is very similar to Reis though a little more stylized. This is going to be a great looking book when its collected.

Panel of the Week:

A look at what Paul Pelletier is bringing to Aquaman.

-Gint