Gint's 3-4-15 Pull-List Review

I learned two things this week: there's no hope for Green Lantern while Robert Venditti is writing it, and Star Wars is the weakest of the new Marvel Star Wars line.

Fifth Place:

Green Lantern #40

I understand that to keep a character growing, you need to try new things. You need to be able to take chances and think outside the box. That's what Robert Venditti is doing with Hal Jordan, and while I appreciate that in theory, I don't like the results.

Post Convergence (DC's big spring event), Hal will be traveling the universe alone as the universe's most wanted. The universe hates the Green Lantern Corps, and Hal has taken it upon himself to be the face of that. If he leaves, he removes the cancer and the Corps will be loved again. Sounds great but for a couple things: 1. He left his ring and is using a backpack and glove called Krona's Gauntlet for willpower. So, the ring, the thing that makes a Green Lantern a Green Lantern, has been left behind. 2. This decision couldn't feel more out of character. Even for a hothead like Hal the decision seems rash and more an excuse to further Venditti's story than something that would happen naturally.

I think this is it. This is when I finally quit Green Lantern until a new creative team is in place. The problem is, Venditti comes SO CLOSE to getting it right, but ultimately gets it wrong.

Fourth Place:

Detective Comics #40

Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato finish up their second arc on Detective. Its been infinitely more interesting than their first arc, but still not as overall-good as their run on The Flash.

Harvey Bullock is the centerpiece of their run. The pairing of Batman and Harvey, two characters that don't like each other, allows the story to take some new turns. It also allows Harvey to develop as a character. For the first time, Harvey is getting some of his story and personality brought to the forefront and I couldn't be happier about how Manapul and Buccellato are doing it.

I would like to see some more interesting villains. Anarky and the Mad Hatter just aren't getting it done. Its time to let Manapul and Buccellato spread their bat-wings and use some heavy hitters. The way they can tell a sentimental story makes me want to see Mr. Freeze sooner than later.

Third Place:

Futures End #44

Batman and the Atom are coming from one side, and Superman is coming from the other to finally knock Brainiac on his ass. The pacing of this issue between those two A-storylines couldn't have been better. Throw in a couple B-plots and we're good to go.

I'm not sure how this is going to tie in to Convergence. With Brainiac down for the count, we still have four issues to go. My best guess is Brother Eye will be the big bad for these last four, somehow assuming control of Brianiac's tech. I assume Brainiac's skull ship will be split open and BOOM – Convergence.

The biggest art issue this week is the inks. Some panels are super heavy on the thick blacks, others are nice and tight with thin detailed lines. I suppose this has been a minor issue throughout Futures End, but this week it was really blatant.

Second Place:

Saga #26

There's something about this arc that isn't quite as good as the others. Maybe its keeping Marko and Alana split up. The quiet truce between Price Robot and Marko should be more interesting than it has been. Though I do think the giant salamanders are really cool.

I get the feeling we're only in the middle of this saga... no pun intended. I expect Saga to run about 60 issues. So here at #26, I shouldn't be surprised if there's a lull. Maybe since we've already seen 26 issues of wacky stuff, novelty of new characters and locations has worn off.

Still, this is a really good book. Fiona Staples is a rockstar. I would probably follow her to whatever she does once Saga wraps.

First Place:
Princess Leia #1

What I've learned from Princess Leia #1, and the two issues of Darth Vader, is that Star Wars sucks. When Marvel announced relaunching new Star Wars books, I openly scoffed at Princess Leia and Darth Vader. Boy was I wrong. These books have run circles around Star Wars which feel much less inspired in light of these two others.

Mark Waid, who is a comics rockstar in his own right, brings his A-game. Jason Aaron on Star Wars seemed to just throw some dialog from the movies in with some new dialog that doesn't really gel. Waid's dialog this issue feels very deliberate. From word selection to grammar, the dialog reads like George Lucas could have written it. Words we've never heard come out of Luke Skywalker's mouth sound more than natural.

I prefer my Star Wars artists to draw the characters like their actor counter parts. Leia should look like Carrie Fisher and so on. Terry and Rachel Dodson don't really do that, but hey come extremely close while keeping in their style. Most importantly, they really seem to get the tone of each character right. Leia's size and weight, and the "acting" of the art really sells her as Carrie Fisher, even if she's not a photo reference.

I doubted this book needed made, but now I couldn't be more excited to get issue #2.

Panel of the Week:

Terry and Rachel Dodson's Leia makes a very Leia head motion.

-Gint