Green Lantern: New Guardians Annual #1
I'd be lying if I said this issue wasn't a struggle to get through. Written by Keith Giffen (who I normally like) it was essentially a big ad for Threshold #1 due out next week. I thought in the New 52, the Annuals were supposed to be integral to the title they take place in. Apparently not. You can skip this silly story without missing a hint of a beat in New Guardians.
The art was mediocre. Between Andrei Bressan and Scott Kolins we were treating to barely passable work. Colorist Dave Curiel should pick up ANY Green Lantern book from the last eight years and see that Arkillo is kind of grey, not green. He's not the fucking space Hulk for christsakes.
The most aggravating part of the book is Keith Giffen's space talk. Using words like "dink" and "scut" and "chok b'damned" to, I guess, show us that there's an entirely different vernacular out in space. Well, it doesn't work. Its just distracting. It pulls you out of the story instead of immersing you in the alien environment. It even ruins his characterization of Carol Ferris (who even though is a Star Sapphire spends most of her time Earth) by having her use the ridiculous words. Carol isn't Carol in this issue. She's a vehicle to sell the story.
If this issue was supposed to drive people to buy Threshold when it comes out, they have an uphill climb. I was thinking about buying it but this issue convinced me that I shouldn't.
Star Wars #1
After Dark Horse inundated the internet with promos for this book and discussing it's potential with a friend of mine, I decided to roll the dice on it.
What I initially liked about it is that its all Original Trilogy material. It takes place between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, two months after Luke destroys the Death Star. It focuses on the Star Wars characters we love best with nary a hint of prequel filth attached to it. There's a scene at the end between Darth Vader and the Emperor that's written in such a way that you woudn't know the prequels even exist. Its very refreshing.
The writing and characterizations need a little work. Writer Brian Wood seems to have Han Solo down pat, but Luke and Leia still need a little work. Its hard to hear Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher's voices coming through those word balloons.
Carlos D'Anda's art impressed me. He could use some work on likenesses as they're not his strong suit, but the essence of the characters is there. He draws a sexy Princess Leia and a pretty badass Darth Vader.
This introductory issue gets us off to a slow start, but there's a lot of potential here. The feeling of "what if we wrote a Star Wars comic as if the Original Trilogy was our only source material" is prevalent. And after so much prequel material being shoved down our throats for the last thirteen years, this comic is a breath of fresh air.
Animal Man #16
Rotworld has finally taken a step forward. The last few issues have felt very plodding without much movement in the story. This issue Buddy and the crew finally make it to Arcane's castle.
Before they make it to Arcane's they dig out the Green Lantern of sector 2814, Medphyll. He's been assigned to Earth since he's a plant-based alien. Its an interesting concept, but they don't tell you what happened to the other five Earth GL's who are MORE than capable of fighting off the Rot so long as they don't get bit.
As expected, at the end, the Guardians of Arcane's Castle are Rotworld versions of at least two of the Justice League's members.
We're getting closer to the end, so maybe we'll finally see Buddy and Swamp Thing work together in Rotworld which they haven't done since the opening issue.
Swamp Thing #16
On one hand, this issue pulled me in and surprised me at the end. On the other hand I'm almost tired of people stroking off Batman.
Its only fair that this issue is kinda Batman-centric since Scott Snyder also writes Batman. But its a case of Morrison-esque "Batman can do anything." Once Swamp Thing reaches Gotham in the Rotworld he finds a Barbara Gordon who has turned into a Man-Bat to save her life. He also finds that before Bruce bit it, he constructed a hell of a deux ex machina to turn the tide of the fight.
The best part of this issue is Yanick Paquette's artwork. He's been fantastic through this entire Swamp Thing run and this issue may be his crowning achievement so far. From front to back, he doesn't miss a beat. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Nathan Fairbairn's perfect color.
Its a shame Snyder will be leaving the book because this has been a fantastic run.
Panel of the Week:
Carlos D'Anda doesn't shy away from drawing the hell out of some TIE Fighters.
-Gint
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