With Convergence right around the corner, we saw a couple books wrap their stories, and one closing its doors for sure.
Sixth Place:
Nova #28
Nova once again gets pulled into Marvel crossover shenanigans. Its really a testament to Gerry Duggan's skill to be able to navigate all the crossover waters this book seems to get tied up in every couple months. This one however, had nothing to do with what Duggan has been working on.
The book opens with Sam transporting the Black Vortex (which is an evil mirror that gives you evil powers) to the Guardians of the Galaxy, but he can't find them. He makes a pit stop at home where the Collector (looking every bit Benicio Del Toro) finds him. Sam ditches him and the Black Vortex falls into the hands of the real bad guy. I don't know who that is because I'm not reading the other Black Vortex books.
If I was following the Black Vortex X-Men/Guardians of the Galaxy crossover, this would be a pretty cool issue. But since I'm not, I'm eager to get back to our regularly scheduled Nova.
Fifth Place:
Futures End #47
Almost at the end, folks. Time travel plays a huge role in the finale of this story. So much so that by the end of the issue, I was pretty confused. Hopefully #48 next week will clear everything up.
Tim Drake, now Batman Beyond, has to travel back to his own world, but he lies and goes back to before the E2 war started, to nip everything in the bud. I think. Like I said, the end of the issue was confusing. Instead he ends up in the woods in a cliffhanger page that really leaves us hanging to see where Tim is.
From what I've heard about post-Convergence, Terry McGinnis will no longer be the Batman in Batman Beyond. Looks like according to this book here, its going to be Tim Drake. If the New 52-rebooted Tim Drake was anything like the old one, I may consider picking that book up. But DC has pretty much made Tim irreparable at this point.
Fourth Place:
Wytches #5
My biggest problem with this story has been the messy-on-purpose artwork. Its really not my style. Its made the story more confusing than it has to be. This issue cleaned some things up. Even the super sloppy pages in the lair of the wytches are more digestible.
A highlight of this issue, and a testament to Scott Snyder's writing, is the creepy as all fuck police officer. Turns out he and the whole town are in cahoots with the wytches and Snyder writes him as terrifying. He feels like a great Stephen King character that is so reprehensible he makes your skin crawl. Kudos to Jock as well for the visuals and acting chops.
By issue's end the shit is really hitting the fan. Charlie and Sailor are in the belly of the beast, and I can't imagine how they get out. Being a finite story, there no rule that says either has to make it out alive. And Scott Snyder, for as nice a guy as he seems, is a pretty fucked up writer.
Third Place:
Batman and Robin #40
This week we say goodbye to yet another Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason opus. This book closed up shop this week and won't be back after Convergence. Its a real shame because this has been the best Batman book since the New 52 launched. Yes, even better than Batman which has bounced between amazing and meandering.
This last arc gave Damian Wayne superpowers for a few days. Ultimately I scoffed when it was introduced, but as always, I've learned to trust Tomasi and Gleason. Damian uses his powers in a fight alongside the Justice League that turns out to be a ruse by Batman to get him to burn his powers out. Turns out they were only residual. So by issue's end, Damian is back to being a normal kid... or as normal as Damian Wayne can be.
Post-Convergence, Gleason will be writing and drawing Damian Ways: Son of Batman. Peter Tomasi will stay on Superman/Wonder Woman. I wish these two the best of luck. Between Green Lantern Corps and this book, they've been responsible for some of my most enjoyable comics over the last almost decade. I guess its unrealistic that these two would stay together forever, so I'll just keep my fingers crossed their paths will cross again in the future.
Second Place:
He-Man: The Eternity War #4
Finally! Skeletor! We've been waiting a long time for Skeletor and his minions to make an appearance. Outside the original story that Keith Giffen started years ago, we haven't seen much of Skeletor. Well, this issue they show up in a big way.
We get our first glimpse at Hordak last issue and this issue he whoops She-Ra's ass. So much so, she should probably be dead. That's when Skeletor, Evil-Lyn, Beast Man and Trap Jaw appear. They seemingly have plans for She-Ra and the Eyes of Grayskull. You can't help but like the classic villains, so its a smart move on Dan Abnett's part making Hordak the big bad. No one ever really liked Hordak anyway. He never had that Skeletor charm.
There's not much more to say about this book than it keeps getting better. Abnett and Pop Mhan seem truly committed to making this a great book. Seriously, guys. If you love He-Man you should be buying this book.
First Place:
Aquaman #40
This book wraps my favorite run of Aquaman. When people ask, I'll tell them the Geoff Johns/Jeff Parker New 52 run. This book lasted longer than other New 52 highlights like Animal Man and I, Vampire, but after Convergence it'll be written by Cullen Bunn and seemingly go in a new direction.
Parker leaves a lot on the Aquaman board for Bunn or other writers to play with, but I can't imagine anyone using them the way Parker did. Parker took the character Johns built and expanded on that keeping the tone and character the same. Parker didn't need to put his own spin on something that was already successful.
And allow me to say I was honored to read monthly Paul Pelletier art again. I'm not sure where he's going to end up. He's not in any of DC's June solicitations so I'll quietly hope he's got something in the hopper.
Great run on this book and easily the Aquaman I've always wanted.
Panel of the Week:
I will assume Jock knew these would be facing spreads and purposely made them symmetrical.
-Gint
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