A busy weekend at WV Pop Con didn't stop me from reading some goddamn comics.
Green Lantern: Lost Army #3
I really want to like this book, but I think I'm flaming out. There's so much holdover from the Robert Venditti run that I greatly dislike, that its hard to get on board. I can only take so much comfort in Guy Gardner not looking like an asshole anymore.
Jesus Saiz is one of my favorite current artists. And he does everything right. Its just that he has to draw dumb characters like Relic. I'd be much happier if he were drawing Hector Hammond or a real Star Sapphire with most of her skin showing. Instead we get Relic and the "Light Pirates." Ugh.
And Cullen Bunn is pulling his weight as well. Guy Gardner and John Stewart sound like themselves. Kilowog, though egregiously underused, is still Kilowog. But like Saiz, he's too talented a writer to have to work this hard to make me care about a Green Lantern universe that I genuinely dislike.
Superman Wonder Woman #20
I'm the kind of comic fan that likes seeing characters just sit around and talk. When its done right, like it is here, its incredibly enjoyable. Superman has long talks with Steve Trevor and pseudo-Obama about why the government has arrested his friends and taken the Kent farm. Parasite is forced to attack to give the book some action, but its unnecessary.
While Supes is with Trevor and Obama, Wonder Woman breaks into the government facility where Lois, Jimmy, et al are being held to speed up the questioning process via magic lasso. Reading each of Tomasi's breakdowns about how characters felt when they learned Superman was Clark was one of the best parts of the book.
A super hero comic doesn't need to be all punching and action. Tomasi and Mahnke know that lesson well.
Martian Manhunter #3
Rob Williams is taking this story to some bizarre places. I was disappointed when I found out the White Martians were the bad guys (they're always the bad guys), but its what Williams is doing with J'onn that's flipped the whole book on its head. Let me see if I can explain this...
J'onn has atomized his body, but projected different aspects of his consciousness into three different beings on Earth to prevent himself from being some kind of weapon for the White Martians. Super different concept, right? And without the knowledge of being mentally invaded by J'onn, Williams has already made Pearl, Mr. Biscuits and Agent Wessel (the invadees) plenty interesting on their own.
I'm sure Williams has a plan, but so far this could have been done without the White Martians. Its not just that they've been used before. Its that I've never liked them. Unlike Superman, it was always more poignant that J'onn was the last of his people. It played into his introspective character. Still this has been my personal breakout hit of DCYou launch.
Star Wars #8
Holy shit does a new artist make a difference. Stuart Immonen takes over the pencils from John Cassaday an it is fucking amazing! Immonen's likenesses are spot on. And photo-reference be damned, he makes it look like he doesn't use any. Aside from that, all of his panels are just gorgeous. HUGE kudos to inker Wade von Grawbadger and colorist Justin Ponsor. This is now one of the best looking books on the shelves.
And bonus? It makes the silliness of some of the story more digestible. The whole Sana Solo (Han's wife) business is still silly, but when Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher are in the scene, it really give it a sense of "I guess this could have happened."
Luke gets himself into some deep shit, but manages to get out a little too easily. Though he loses his lightsaber in the process, so I guess there's that.
Immonen, von Grawbadger and Ponsor... slow clap, gentlemen. You earned it. Oh, Jason Aaron does a nice job with the script too.
Justice League #43
If I could clone ten more Geoff Johns' and put him on each DC book, I would. OR if I could make a Geoff Johns that was a hardass and busted current writers' balls for deviating from his work and writing dumb shit, I'd do that too. This dude just gets it. And he and Jason Fabok continue to get it this issue.
Between Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor facing off on Earth, and Superman and Lex stuck on Apokolips, this issue is expertly crafted. The slow build and narration from Wonder Woman that weaves the issue together is seamless. It really paints the picture that as powerful as the Justice League is, like Luke Skywalker in the review above, they're in some deep shit.
And after gushing over the art on Star Wars #8, its only right to gush about Jason Fabok and colorist Brad Anderson on Justice League. Issue in, issue out... panel in, panel out, this book is HIGH QUALITY. There are some stories where you just know you'll get the Absolute edition when its released. This is one of those books.
Also, there's a brilliant exchange between Lex and Superman this issue that gave me chills. Great book.
Panel of the Week:
I fucking LOVE this panel.
-Gint
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