Saga and Aquaman are the big winners this week, but only one of them offers no fill-in artist.
Fifth Place:
Justice League Dark #27
Ugh isn't this story over yet? We've been trying to defeat Blight and find Zatanna forEVER! I'm not even getting the Pandora or Phantom Stranger parts of the story and this seems overlong.
Its unfair to judge J.M. DeMatteis on this run so far. Since he took over he's been working on the Blight mess. But he's not doing anything to polish up this turd. Brian Wood put two Battle of the Atom issues in the middle of his X-Men run and those managed to be interesting. This is not. Everything seems wordy. But I can't tell if its wordy because DeMatteis writes to much, or because what he's writing is putting me to sleep.
Even the fantastic artwork of Mikel Janin can't save these last few issues. Please, Justice League Dark, get out of this crossover and just tell some good stories.
Fourth Place:
Green Lantern Corps Annual #2
If you're gonna buy a comic book for $4.99, it better be good. This issue was good, if not overwhelming.
Van Jensen and Robert Venditti stick with the (unofficial) current theme of DC books which is to team the heroes up with villains. Early in the post-Geoff Johns Green Lantern Universe a bunch of sciencell convicts escaped. They're back and decide working with the big bad of the arc, the Durlans, isn't going to cut it. The issue takes you through the convicts backstories and tries to paint them in a more sympathetic light as they team with the GLs.
The artwork of Neil Edwards and Tom Derenick goes a long way toward making this book more interesting. Each handles different parts, but both artists' work blends together well. Ultimately I'd like a little more from a $4.99 book, but such is being a comic fan.
Third Place:
The Flash #27
Brian Buccellato's time on the book is winding down, so this gives him a chance to write some shorter stories while staying away from big arcs. Its a chance to write some more traditional comic-type stories. He does a great job with this first issue which puts the Flash up against a homicidal ghost.
You heard that right. Police procedural... comic book style. Buccellato and Patrick Zircher give us a preview of what the CW Flash show could be, showing how Barry's time as the Flash leads to him being on a case as a CSI. The two ideas work hand in hand with each other to make a very enjoyable read.
Patrick Zircher's art is good, but his use of the same art for different panels, especially when the line-weight doesn't scale properly, is distracting in a couple places.
Second Place:
Aquaman #27
This would have been one hell of an issue if Paul Pelletier drew the whole thing. He gets help on a couple panels from Netho Diaz, whose work is just not the quality of Pelletier. But that's DC Comics for you.
Jeff Parker's story picks up with Aquaman mind-melding with the Karaquan, an ancient Atlantean monster that used to protect the city. Now its out of control in Iceland and Arthur needs to bring it down. Parker's writing and characterizations pick up seamlessly from where Geoff Johns left off. The tone of the story and dialog all just augment the world that was already built. Dan Jurgens, who will be writing Aquaman and the Others when it premieres has a tough job in front of him.
If only we could get one artist drawing a whole book these days we'd be in business.
First Place:
Saga #18
The worst thing about this issue is that it's the last issue before a months-long hiatus. Its a necessary evil since this is one of very few books that has the same creative team and quality in place every issue.
And quality isn't something Saga has been short on since it began. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples wrap up the third arc with our heroes escaping and our pursuers being scattered to the winds. It almost had an Empire Strikes Back-feel to it.
Super good book including a super creepy image of the usually loveable Lying Cat on the cover.
Panel of the Week:
Its not often you see Aquaman showing off his brute strength, so good on Paul Pelletier for reminding readers this guy is a badass, not just a fish talker.
-Gint
Green Lantern Corps Annual #2
If you're gonna buy a comic book for $4.99, it better be good. This issue was good, if not overwhelming.
Van Jensen and Robert Venditti stick with the (unofficial) current theme of DC books which is to team the heroes up with villains. Early in the post-Geoff Johns Green Lantern Universe a bunch of sciencell convicts escaped. They're back and decide working with the big bad of the arc, the Durlans, isn't going to cut it. The issue takes you through the convicts backstories and tries to paint them in a more sympathetic light as they team with the GLs.
The artwork of Neil Edwards and Tom Derenick goes a long way toward making this book more interesting. Each handles different parts, but both artists' work blends together well. Ultimately I'd like a little more from a $4.99 book, but such is being a comic fan.
The Flash #27
Brian Buccellato's time on the book is winding down, so this gives him a chance to write some shorter stories while staying away from big arcs. Its a chance to write some more traditional comic-type stories. He does a great job with this first issue which puts the Flash up against a homicidal ghost.
You heard that right. Police procedural... comic book style. Buccellato and Patrick Zircher give us a preview of what the CW Flash show could be, showing how Barry's time as the Flash leads to him being on a case as a CSI. The two ideas work hand in hand with each other to make a very enjoyable read.
Patrick Zircher's art is good, but his use of the same art for different panels, especially when the line-weight doesn't scale properly, is distracting in a couple places.
Aquaman #27
This would have been one hell of an issue if Paul Pelletier drew the whole thing. He gets help on a couple panels from Netho Diaz, whose work is just not the quality of Pelletier. But that's DC Comics for you.
Jeff Parker's story picks up with Aquaman mind-melding with the Karaquan, an ancient Atlantean monster that used to protect the city. Now its out of control in Iceland and Arthur needs to bring it down. Parker's writing and characterizations pick up seamlessly from where Geoff Johns left off. The tone of the story and dialog all just augment the world that was already built. Dan Jurgens, who will be writing Aquaman and the Others when it premieres has a tough job in front of him.
If only we could get one artist drawing a whole book these days we'd be in business.
Saga #18
The worst thing about this issue is that it's the last issue before a months-long hiatus. Its a necessary evil since this is one of very few books that has the same creative team and quality in place every issue.
And quality isn't something Saga has been short on since it began. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples wrap up the third arc with our heroes escaping and our pursuers being scattered to the winds. It almost had an Empire Strikes Back-feel to it.
Super good book including a super creepy image of the usually loveable Lying Cat on the cover.
Panel of the Week:
Its not often you see Aquaman showing off his brute strength, so good on Paul Pelletier for reminding readers this guy is a badass, not just a fish talker.
-Gint
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