Comics are Awesome III

[andersonh1]

I bought the Neal-Adams mini-series "The Coming of the Supermen" #4 this week, but I haven't read 2 and 3 yet. Adams isn't really the artist he once was (though he draws a great Darkseid). It may be that his inkers helped him in the past, whereas here he's inking his own work. He's a far better and more creative storyteller than many modern artists though. Too bad he's not drawing Green Lantern instead of Billy Tan.

Green Lantern #52
It's pretty much Hal versus the Gray Agents, or as Trapper puts it, a lawman pretending to be a criminal versus criminals pretending to be lawmen. Hal talks tough, as Vendetti has had him do throughout this entire year-long story arc, and though the fight goes back and forth, in the end he wins and send the Agents running, though they promise to be after him. The fact that he faked becoming a renegade is restated, much to the amusement of his two traveling companions. In the end he sends them on their way, reasoning that he's just too dangerous to be associated with. He also continues to become the green energy the more he uses the gauntlet. I wonder if this won't set up the reason he has to return to using his power ring once Rebirth hits.

This is the one in-continuity series I have kept ever since the New 52 began, with the exception of the Third Army and First Lantern issues, because I was ready for a change from Geoff Johns at that point and did not care for those storylines at all. I don't think Vendetti has had the creative flair that Johns did, but it's been a decent run on the book, and I don't mind that he's sticking around. I appreciate that he remembers Hal has a family, and has brought them into the series on more than one occasion. Billy Tan has been a terrible artist for Hal, so I'm glad we're getting Van Sciver back. The main reason I kept this book was because it most resembles the old continuity that DC threw out with Flashpoint. Apart from Hal turning into an idiot for the first year of this series, the storylines and themes and character relationships have continued much as they were before the New 52 began. And since most of the storylines were out in space, there weren't a lot of reminders that the rest of the universe had changed.

Hal the Renegade has pretty much run its course though, and it'll be good to get back to him being a Green Lantern. Hard to believe it's been a year since this whole thing began. I hope we get an explanation about how the Corps got sent to the previous universe, where the Templar Guardians have been, and what Krona was up to... but I'm not holding my breath.

Batman/The Man from UNCLE #5
Jeff Parker has clearly had this sort of development in mind for a long time, ever since the "Arkham Institute" was introduced in Batman '66 along with "Dr. Hugo". I figured he was this continuity's version of Hugo Strange, and that's finally been revealed in this mini-series rather than the main series. He's basically the master villain behind everything, having spent time psychologically profiling Batman's rogues, as well as Batman, Robin and Batgirl. He wants to use UNCLE and THRUSH, along with the popular and respected heroes, to run the world from behind the scenes. Psychology is the key to everything, he says.

I always tend to think that humor is what makes this version of Batman work well. It's what distinguishes him from other iterations of the character. There's a lot of plot and little humor in this issue, though it still works well enough. Hugo attempts to psychoanalyze the characters and makes some good points, though characters as silly as these don't really stand up to much real scrutiny. In the end they escape, only to be attacked by a giant octupus... which had to happen, given the underwater base and the James Bond-style villainy of Dr. Hugo. Next issue will finish this story, to be followed by the Batman/Avengers (Steed and Mrs. Peel Avengers) mini-series, so we're not done with this version of Batman yet.

[andersonh1]

A couple of good columns extolling the virtues of two of my favorite DC characters, and the benefits of DC's legacy characters in general.

http://comicsbulletin.com/jay-garrick-i ... est-flash/

http://comicsbulletin.com/wally-west-is-the-best-flash/

[Dominic]

FCBD is today. Grabbed 2 Marvel comics and bought a 90s Daredevil figure (on sale).

Ain't read the comics yet. (Not doing the full pilgrimage this year, as I do not have the money on hand to make a day trip to multiple shops worth it. Free comics are good. But, I like to peruse compilations and action figure along the way.)

Daredevil: Good sculpt, and good-enough paint work. The figure uses the current articulation standard for Marvel figures. (The body is one piece, which costs articulation for minimal aesthetic benefit.) No thigh or shin swivels. The figure looks good at first gland.

The biggest visual problem is the arm/hand sculpt. 90s Daredevil had two tonfas, one on each arm. This figure is sculpted as having a tonfa mounted on the left arm, with the right arm tonfa being loose (as an accessory). Unfortunately, the right hand is sculpted to be "open" (able to hold the tonfa) and the left hand is a closed fist. It would have made more sense to have the right hand closed and the left hand open (or to reverse the placement of the tonfas).

Grade: B/C

A couple of good columns extolling the virtues of two of my favorite DC characters, and the benefits of DC's legacy characters in general.

http://comicsbulletin.com/jay-garrick-i ... est-flash/

http://comicsbulletin.com/wally-west-is-the-best-flash/

The problem with legacy characters in mainline comics is that they imply passage of time, which requires characters to age and die. Jay Garrick needs to retire or die if people really want to keep Wally on the board. (Actually, it is a little past time for Wally to retire and be replaced.) But, nobody wants to get rid of their favourite character (even if that character can still be used in past-tense stories). The result is that DC (and to a lesser degree Marvel) have a number of redundant, and anachronistic, characters. (Why the hell are there 3 or 4 Green Lanterns from Earth?)

In 2011, DC tried to solve the problem of legacy characters by tossing the legacy. They were clumsy in their execution. But, I can sympathize with the goal. (And, I say that as somebody who would prefer the "old characters age out and die" model.)

[Sparky Prime]

(Why the hell are there 3 or 4 Green Lanterns from Earth?)

More like 5 or 6: Hal, John, Guy, Kyle, Simon and Jessica... Although Kyle is still (currently) a White Lantern.

At least when there were just 4, there was somewhat of an explanation for it. Every Space Sector now has 2 Green Lanterns with Hal and John being Sector Partners of Sector 2814. While Guy and Kyle became members of the Honor Guard, an elite group of Green Lanterns stationed on Oa and not limited to a single sector. Although it's still uncanny there are so many human Green Lanterns when it's well established there are several other inhabited planets in sector 2814...

[andersonh1]

(Why the hell are there 3 or 4 Green Lanterns from Earth?)

More like 5 or 6: Hal, John, Guy, Kyle, Simon and Jessica... Although Kyle is still (currently) a White Lantern.

At least when there were just 4, there was somewhat of an explanation for it. Every Space Sector now has 2 Green Lanterns with Hal and John being Sector Partners of Sector 2814. While Guy and Kyle became members of the Honor Guard, an elite group of Green Lanterns stationed on Oa and not limited to a single sector. Although it's still uncanny there are so many human Green Lanterns when it's well established there are several other inhabited planets in sector 2814...

There really was no reason to create Simon, and Jessica Cruz is really redundant.

[Sparky Prime]

There really was no reason to create Simon, and Jessica Cruz is really redundant.

I'm pretty sure they were part of the editorial mandates to include more diverse characters in the line-up. Jessica I can understand, DC is a bit light on powerful female heroes. Simon I'd agree was unnecessary.

Just got back from Captain America: Civil War. Great film. No, Amazing film. Thoughts later in the movie thread....

[andersonh1]

I still think when we already had four human Green Lanterns that any new human Lantern was redundant. I'm sure Baz and Cruz only exist due to DC pushing "diversity", but they could have picked another property to diversify.

Preview pages for a few Rebirth books, including Green Lantern. That shot of a templar Guardian running from Dominator aliens looks great, and it's good to see Hal back in uniform.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/05/08/ ... n-rebirth/

[Sparky Prime]

I still think when we already had four human Green Lanterns that any new human Lantern was redundant. I'm sure Baz and Cruz only exist due to DC pushing "diversity", but they could have picked another property to diversify.

I dunno, while I'd agree having so many human Green Lanterns is redundant, I'd also say it's the easiest property to diversify, being space cops with literally thousands of members already. I'd say introducing a new character is better than changing an existing character just for the sake of diversity at least....

Preview pages for a few Rebirth books, including Green Lantern. That shot of a templar Guardian running from Dominator aliens looks great, and it's good to see Hal back in uniform.

Yeah, I saw that the other day on Newsarama. Hopefully they explain where the Templar Guardians have been all this time. And very curious to know what the story is being that box he's carrying. Looks like Hal merges Simon and Jessica's power batteries into one to force them to work together... Didn't know they could do that with the batteries...

[andersonh1]

I'd say introducing a new character is better than changing an existing character just for the sake of diversity at least....

I completely agree.

Yeah, I saw that the other day on Newsarama. Hopefully they explain where the Templar Guardians have been all this time. And very curious to know what the story is being that box he's carrying. Looks like Hal merges Simon and Jessica's power batteries into one to force them to work together... Didn't know they could do that with the batteries...

Yeah, I haven't seen that trick with the power batteries before either. I'm assuming that the Corps are back in the main universe when this takes place, since Simon is currently in "Edge of Oblivion" in the previous universe. Explanations are needed all around, particularly about where the Templar Guardians have been.

[andersonh1]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/artic ... reen-arrow

Looking at the variant cover for Superman, it occurs to me that while DC thinks they've improved his look by taking away the "undies", with those blue boots he now looks like he's wearing footie pajamas.

I eagerly await all the new Superman readers and sales DC has gained by changing his classic costume... wait, they did that five years ago. You mean it didn't help?