Re: Not Bizarro-Ray's 4th Unofficial DCU Minithread - No OOMPH Here!!!
Okay, time to start reviews! Booster and GL were fantastic as usual - both are five star books. I really enjoyed Simon Dark, and Captain Carrot is fun, if...an acquired taste.
Re: Not Bizarro-Ray's 4th Unofficial DCU Minithread - No OOMPH Here!!!
DC Universe Reviews:
Countdown #39 - ***1/2
It's hard to review this issue, because there were a few things I really disliked about it. But it's hard to deny that this was one of the most visually exciting and action-packed installments yet. We open with the Challengers of the Beyond finding themselves captured on a new world - the world controlled by Lord Havok and the Extremists, a creepy group of tyrants. I didn't see anything of these guys to make me think they can carry a mini, but they're creepy enough to make good bad guys. Meanwhile, evil Monitor(who looks exactly like Bob, which is one of my problems with this issue) is hunting the Challengers and tracks them to this world. Meanwhile, Jimmy Olsen is found in the sewers by the Newsboy Legion, in a story that really continues to go nowhere. Surprisingly, this time the Holly and the Amazons story carries its own, as Holly and Harley are forced to battle sea monsters to get to shore in a tense and funny action segment. Trickster and Piper's story finds them with Double Down, discussing the sudden disappearance of major villains from around the world, just as whoever's taking them closes in on this group. Mary Marvel and Eclipso toy with a group of poor farmers in a creepy segment that shows just how far gone she really is. I don't like this story, but this is one of the first times the mood has really worked. In Karate Kid's story, he faces off against Brother Eye, who's gone more than a little bit crazy since being downloaded into this lair. And the episode ends where it begins, with Evil Monitor confronting The Challengers in Lord Havok's world. In the process, Jokester was killed, which pissed me off more than a little. What was the point of letting McKeever make him one of the best new characters of the year to kill him off next issue? At this point, Monarch appears and offers to let the Extremists join his army. Another scattered issue, but a lot more tense and packed than most. And the art really helped this time.
Green Lantern #24 - *****(Book of the Week)
Oh, yes. Finally. The Sinestro Corps story, for the first time, is truly living up to the spectacular premiere. It's always been great, but this issue is above and beyond. We open with a brutal assault on Earth, as Sinestro brings his entire army and heralds to wage war. Meanwhile, Parallax is in Coast City to finish off the rest of Kyle's family. Seeing Hal really take it to Parallax is awesome, and it makes it even more shocking when Hal....loses? He's reabsorbed into Parallax, and seemingly defeated. John and Guy are used better here than they have been in a while, although one of John's lines seemed a bit over the top for me. The two-page spread of the entire GLC ambushing the Sinestro Corps just may be the best thing Reis has ever drawn. Super"man" Prime and Cyborg Superman get some great moments in this issue, too. But the best scene is when Guy uses the painting by Kyle's mother to help awaken him. Hal and Kyle, both trapped within Parallax, join forces to repel the demon. It's probably one of the best Hal scenes ever written, and proves to any skeptics that Johns can write Kyle. Parallax is divided and trapped by Ganthet and Sayd, who then present Kyle with the last Green Lantern Ring given by them, telling him his destiny lies not with Ion but with the ring. As the four GLs power up together, the Anti-Monitor prepares to join the fray. This is going to kick ass.
Booster Gold #3 - *****
Tight one between GL and Booster, but GL was more epic. This is another fantastic issue, though. We open with a funny segment involving Booster and Daniel, and the robbery of the Supernova suit. This is interrupted by the arrival of Rose, Daniel's future wife, and Booster and Rip have to run to keep from disrupting time. Back in the timestream(with YJ cameo!), Booster and Rip investigate the death certificate for Superman. The new anomaly involves an attempt to assassinate the doctor who delivered Jonathan Kent's great-grandfather, thus keeping Jonathan from ever being born and ensuring that Superman is found by Lionel Luthor and raised as the brother of Lex Luthor - who kills him when he discovers the secret! This takes them back to the Wild West, where Booster runs into Jonah Hex(very different from the one from the solo title. Think of this as the War Journal variant). Booster, in wild west gear, winds up getting into a drinking contest with Jonah to earn his trust, and a clearly inebriated Booster goes to save the day. There's a strange flashback to IC, where Jaime Reyes first got his powers, but I'm not sure how that fits in. A hysterical wild-west superhero battle between Booster and the evil Supernova ensues. It involves Supernova attempting to drop buffalos on the guy. That is all. Back in the timestream, a drunk booster attempts to drive....and crashes into Barry Allen and Wally West, Kid Flash! Time travel comics don't get better than this.
Green Arrow/Black Canary #1 - ***
Well, this is an inauspicious start. I haven't seen the death of a major hero treated so casually by his fellow heroes since the "When does he come back?" funeral for Aquaman. The Cliff Chiang art is truly amazing, but it doesn't do much to hide a rather bland script. Here's what you need to know: A month after Black Canary killed Green Arrow(and no one seems to have a word to say about her using lethal force, BTW), she's still in denial, despite all tests showing that it was Ollie she killed. Ollie's body is still in a cryo-chamber, and everyone's trying to get her to move on. Connor is written pretty well, and Hal has the best scene of the issue as someone finally shows real emotion over Ollie's death. But then, Deus Ex Batman shows up to confirm Dinah's suspicions in short order. After some not-very-well-explained tests, it's confirmed that the Ollie she killed was actually....Deus Ex Everyman. And to no surprise, we end the issue with it revealed that Ollie has been kidnapped and is being held captive by Athena and the New Amazons. Because really, everyone wanted this title to open with an Amazons Attack follow-up.
Superman #668 - **
Ugh. It's like everything that sucks about the Johns/Donner Action migrated over here all of a sudden. It doesn't help that Carlos Pacheco has been replaced on art by the far blander Rick Leonardi, or that the bulk of the issue focuses on the irritating Chris Kent and Superman's attempt to get him used to human life. After Chris expresses his difficulty with fitting in at school and keeping his powers secret, Superman takes him to the Batcave to develop a Red-sun watch that will keep his powers supressed to make it easier for him to hide them. Robin is written well, but it just serves to illustrate how much cooler he is than Chris Kent. Meanwhile, Batman seems to have reverted to uberdick mode for this issue. There's a mystery villain hunting Earth's Kryptonians, somehow tied to the Auctioneer. Overall, it's just a mediocre issue. But I reserve the largest hate for the ending. The third Kryptonian is revealed as, apparently, a woman who lives alone in the Mountains. A woman with the name K. Wells. As in Kristen Wells, the Silver Age Superwoman. Do we really need this? What the fuck is she going to add to the Superman mythos? At this point, Superman is really becoming diluted.
Simon Dark #1 - ****
A very pleasant surprise. I know a lot of people didn't have high hopes for this series, but I really enjoyed the first issue. It's a moody, creepy horror story that fits perfectly into Gotham City and introduces a new character who I can actually see sticking around. Simon Dark is a mysterious young vigilante, stitched together by a mystery man from dead parts and wearing a horror movie mask. He kills his criminal victims by cutting their heads off with wire. Meanwhile, a Medical Examiner digs into the myth of the creepy protector who children sing about in rhymes, and a father and daughter who move to Gotham have a close encounter with Simon. It's a quiet first issue, but a very intriguing one. As for Simon himself? He's a surprisingly likable and gentle character. There's a good deal of Edward Scissorhands in him, much more than the horror movie slashers his look evokes. He comes across as surprisingly innocent for a killer vigilante, and I like that. The villains in this issue don't make all that much of an impression, but I hope to see Simon Dark around the DCU for years to come, even if this title is cancelled.
Captain Carrot and the Final Ark #1 - ****
Probably one of the smartest, most jam-packed all-ages comics any company has put out in some time. This title is really an acquired taste, as it focuses rather heavily on Slapstick and puns. But it's a lot of fun when you get past references to "Quail Simone" and "Beneduck Arnold", and surprisingly, it's a rather meaty story. This is technically a tale of the DC Multiverse, as Captain Carrot exists within it. It also takes place in the context of the short Zoo Crew story from Teen Titans two years ago. The Zoo Crew, a happy-go-lucky band of animal superheroes, have fallen on hard times. Ever since the murder of Little Cheese by traitor Alley-Kat-abra, they've disbanded, and a new President has instituted registration laws and is sensitive to the marine animal lobby. In many ways, this issue is a parody of post-Civil War Marvel, but surprisingly, it also stands on its own as a fun read that blends the slapstick of many all-ages books with the adventure of superhero books. It may be just a bit too heavy in places for the littlest readers, though, but I highly recommend it. There won't be another comic like this any time soon.
Black Adam #3 - ****
And with this issue, the best villains' comic in years turns from a horror title into a high adventure quest, without losing any of its momentum. It also brings Adam face to face with one of the top heroes for the first time since his rampage. Told that the only way to bring Isis back is to restore her Amulet, so she'll be whole, Adam uses his new powers(drained from Isis' corpse) to search the world for the fragments that Mary Marvel dispersed after the war. The first stop brings him to St. Roch, where his attempt to steal the fragment from the museum brings him into conflict with his former ally Hawkman. Tomasi does a fantastic job of conveying Adam's power and menace, and Hawkman's rage at his former friend. And Mahnke continues to turn in career-making work, delivering one of the most brutal fight scenes in comics recently. Meanwhile, Talia gets involved when she gets word that one of the Lazarus Pits has been used, and the heroes of the DCU step up their efforts to find Adam before someone else does. But they may be too late, as Adam is seemingly gunned down at the end of the issue. Tense, haunting, and brutal. Exactly what a Black Adam book should be.
Wonder Woman #13 - ***
This is apparently the last bookend to Amazons Attack, focusing on the fallout regarding Wonder Girl. Poor, poor Wonder Girl. She's heckled by demonstraters. The museum where her mom works may be shutting down. And all she did to deserve this was down Air Force One. In all honesty, this isn't a bad issue, just tainted by the tripe that preceded it. Cassie and her mother are actually written fairly well here, and Cassie is finally called to account for some of her idiotic behavior in the past year. The art's pretty good, especially the opening segmen. Wonder Woman does a bit too much speechifying for my tastes, and the segments involving Nemesis and Sarge Steel are inane, to no one's surprise. There are a few good segments involving the recovery efforts after the war, and Wonder Woman discovering that she's apparently been locked out of Themysrica. However, the idea that Helena Sandsmark now has Cassie's old powers if she needs them....fail. This also takes place before the Wonder Girl mini, which will be reviewed next. A mediocre bookend, before Gail jumps on.
Wonder Girl #2 - **1/2
I didn't think it was possible to write Hercules worse than he was in Heinberg's run, but Torres managed. Here he's essentially a comic-relief idiot. Wonder Girl's Power Boy, if you will. Following her around in a variety of different disguises. Now, overall, this issue isn't terrible, but this whole mini feels sort of unnecessary. Wonder Girl's whole undercover status isn't going to last long, likely. And I love Hercules' "I got out" approach to explaining how he escaped his state at the end of the Annual. The monsters continue to look cool, but the protesters are cartoon characters. There's a Cissie and Anita cameo(unfortunately, no Greta), but they look absolutely nothing like Cissie and Anita. Wonder Girl does debut a new costume this issue, and I must admit it is pretty good. Definitely an improvement over her Jeans outfit. The intro of the Female Furies with next issue promises to step things up a bit. This mini has never been agressively bad, but it's living down to expectations. There's a lot of interesting stuff to be mined with this character, but it's not being done yet.
Suicide Squad: Raise the Flag #2 - ***
Wow, another full issue set with the old squad. Actually, the old squad doesn't even appear in this issue. It's all about Rick Flag and his partner/rival Rustam, who find themselves struggling to survive in a mysterious land populated by dinosaurs. The art is pretty impressive this issue, and the interaction between the two leads is very well done. For those who like espionage comics, this is probably going to be a very enjoyable book. But I really think DC missed the boat here. We've been hyped up for the new heavy-hitter Squad for a while, and we're apparently not getting to see them until issue three! Amanda Waller and Wade Eiling's conflict is intriguing, but I want to get past this and get to the heavy hitters.
Bonus Reviews:
JLA Classified #44 - **
This storyarc was fun for the first two issues, but as time goes on, it gets more and more predictable. I like the idea of an arc getting into the mind of J'onn J'onnz, but this isn't it. As J'onn relives the various incarnations of the League while being taunted by Malefic, the timelines start to get wonky. Supposedly this is a story element, but really, it's just confusing. The Superman and Green Arrow-centric issues were far superior. This isn't bad, it's just....disappointing.
Batman: Confidential #10 - *
Batman hired a gang to beat the Joker to death. That's really all I've got for you there. Batman hired a gang to do his dirty work. Because Batman's never lost anyone before, and if his casual girlfriend was killed, his first reaction would be to hire a fucking hitman. Then yeah, yeah, Joker falls in a vat of chemicals after a prolonged beating. Then he laughs at the moon.
Tied with the current JSA Classified arc for worst comic of the year.
Re: Not Bizarro-Ray's 4th Unofficial DCU Minithread - No OOMPH Here!!!
Originally Posted by Crazy Ray
I have all the respect for Waid as a creator, but sometimes you've just got to know when it's time to admit that a take on a character has been a failure.
Oh don't get me wrong, I like Waid. I think he's a mighty fine writer. But every once in a while even the best writer is going to birth a steaming pile of shit.
Re: Not Bizarro-Ray's 4th Unofficial DCU Minithread - No OOMPH Here!!!
Originally Posted by Crazy Ray
Green Arrow/Black Canary #1 - ***
Well, this is an inauspicious start. I haven't seen the death of a major hero treated so casually by his fellow heroes since the "When does he come back?" funeral for Aquaman. The Cliff Chiang art is truly amazing, but it doesn't do much to hide a rather bland script. Here's what you need to know: A month after Black Canary killed Green Arrow(and no one seems to have a word to say about her using lethal force, BTW), she's still in denial, despite all tests showing that it was Ollie she killed. Ollie's body is still in a cryo-chamber, and everyone's trying to get her to move on. Connor is written pretty well, and Hal has the best scene of the issue as someone finally shows real emotion over Ollie's death. But then, Deus Ex Batman shows up to confirm Dinah's suspicions in short order. After some not-very-well-explained tests, it's confirmed that the Ollie she killed was actually....Deus Ex Everyman. And to no surprise, we end the issue with it revealed that Ollie has been kidnapped and is being held captive by Athena and the New Amazons. Because really, everyone wanted this title to open with an Amazons Attack follow-up.
Originally Posted by DJizzle
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of the KTT Illuminati
In all honesty, this isn't a bad issue, just tainted by the tripe that preceded it. Cassie and her mother are actually written fairly well here, and Cassie is finally called to account for some of her idiotic behavior in the past year. The art's pretty good, especially the opening segmen. Wonder Woman does a bit too much speechifying for my tastes, and the segments involving Nemesis and Sarge Steel are inane, to no one's surprise. There are a few good segments involving the recovery efforts after the war, and Wonder Woman discovering that she's apparently been locked out of Themysrica. However, the idea that Helena Sandsmark now has Cassie's old powers if she needs them....fail. This also takes place before the Wonder Girl mini, which will be reviewed next. A mediocre bookend, before Gail jumps on. 
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