Comics are Awesome III

[Sparky Prime]

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #25
Learning of Romat-Ru's murder at the hands of a Green Lantern and having learned she was Sarko's mother (and branded Kyle with a Sinestro Corps symbol in the previous issue for it) has pushed Soranik Natu over an edge. She adopts her father's name and ends the alliance with the Green Lanterns. John offers to honor the truce with any Yellow Lanterns that sticks with it, which some do. A battle breaks out with the rest that side with Soranik. During the fight, the yellow rings are suddenly overridden, a safety feature that was built into the new yellow Central Battery. Soranik and her loyal Sinestro Corps leave Mogo. The next day, the Yellow battery is taken apart and the Yellows that chose to side with the Green Lanterns become Green Lanterns. Tomar-Tu is discharged for his crime and a new citizen from Xudar is selected. Meanwhile, Lyssa Drak and Sinestro are suddenly teleported into the Anti-Matter universe, where Sinestro is in rough shape, but his glowing ring indicates he is still alive.

Again, I just have to say it feels like this is such wasted potential. Rather than really exploring the alliance between Green and Yellow, it's already over just as it barely had begun. Also, while I get why Soranik would be so pissed at Kyle for not telling her about their son, does she not realize that now that she's chosen not to rejoin the Green Lanterns, he will never be born in the first place.

[andersonh1]

Having missed two weeks and going to the shop to get caught up today, I remembered why I go to the comic book shop every week: it hurts the wallet less when I buy the books a few at a time! I've got two issues of GLC to catch up on, as well as Superman, Action Comics, Aquaman and Titans. I'll be doing a bit of reading this evening!!

Again, I just have to say it feels like this is such wasted potential. Rather than really exploring the alliance between Green and Yellow, it's already over just as it barely had begun.

That does seem like a very abrupt end to the alliance storyline, I have to agree. I'll post some thoughts when I'm caught up with reading.

[andersonh1]

Three weeks worth of comics to catch up on:

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps 24 and 25 - the split between the Green and Yellow Lanterns ultimately works for me, if for no other reason than the situation divides the yellows, so it's down to each individual member as to how they react. Tomar Tu's relief at being caught and his willingness to submit to the law and face punishment is admirable. What really doesn't work for me is Soranik's turn to the dark side. I'd be willing to accept down the road that the yellow ring had an effect on her, but she's spent all this time fighting Sinestro's worse impulses, and suddenly she embraces them? I can't buy it. There are a lot of good moments in the book, such as Guy and Arkillo's mutual unwillingness to strike first, and John's contingency plan in case of a rupture between the Corps. I appreciate that none of these stories linger, and that Vendetti doesn't seem to be "writing for the trade". A lot happens, very quickly, and events keep moving. Van Sciver does a great job with the art for both issues as well. Not everything works for me, but in the end I enjoyed this storyline.

Superman 27 - I don't normally like "preachy" stories, but this one hit a lot of the right notes. After everything that's happened to Clark, Lois and Jon, they need a vacation. They rent a RV and each pick some places they'd like to go, and end up taking a tour of sites related to United States history, from a WW1 memorial in New York to Indpendence Hall in Philadelphia to the gravesite of a woman who disguised herself as a man and fought in the Revolutionary War. One of my interests over the last few years has been preservation of historic monuments, so when Superman and family see grafitti on the WW1 monument and have a discussion about it, it definitely hit the right buttons for me. And a whole issue about United States history also aligns with my interests, so I'm calling this one a winner.

Aquaman 26 - More great art and more of Aquaman as a fugitive in the lower regions of Atlantis and he and Dolphin hide from new king Corum Rath"s guards. Mera attacks the Crown of Thorns around the city, and a number of people note just how powerful she is, but they're convinced the thorn wall will keep even Mera out. Aquaman shelters among the mutants who are the outcasts of society, like Dolphin, and several people become aware that the former king isn't as dead as he's been made out to be. This book has turned from superheroics and modern day political thriller to fantasy and politics, and the change in tone really does work well. The book is monthly now, so it's gone up a dollar in price.

Action Comics 982-983 - the Revenge squad storyline concludes and a new one begins as Superman's friends and family taken on Cyborg Superman's "revenge squad" at the Fortress of Solitude. A lot of things happen, but the gist of the story is that by releasing Zod, Cyborg Superman bit off more than he can chew as Zod takes charge and really takes control of the situation. He wants the Phantom Zone projector from the fortress, not to free his army, but to free his wife and son. The various villains end up disposed of in one way or another, Zod has his family, and Luthor knows about the Fortress, which despite his current status as an ally, can't be a good thing. Mr. Oz speaks to Jon and helps him operate the Kryptonian battle suit to fend off Zod. There are a lot of characters juggled in this storyline, and Jurgens handles them all well.

Titans #13 - The main takeaway from this book is that Wally West has a new power as the Flash, apparently. He seems to have suffered heart damage during the fight with Deathstroke, but rather than a problem, he seems to be able to either stop time temporarily, or move so fast that it appears time has stopped. He literally operates between the ticks of a second, as Mark Waid used to say. The Titans are attempting to recover Karen Duncan's memories from HIVE, but someone is one step ahead of them. In the end, Nightwing accuses Omen. I'm mainly reading this book because Wally West is in it, so any issue that focuses on him suits me fine.

[Sparky Prime]

What really doesn't work for me is Soranik's turn to the dark side. I'd be willing to accept down the road that the yellow ring had an effect on her, but she's spent all this time fighting Sinestro's worse impulses, and suddenly she embraces them? I can't buy it.

Yeah, that really didn't work for me either. She grew up on a Korugar under Sinestro's control. She's seen and fought against him and his Corps as a Green Lantern. She's been working to remake the Sinestro Corps after Sinestro forcefully made her join his Corps. She knows better than anyone that Sinestro's idea of "order" doesn't work. I get she's pissed at Kyle, and probably being influenced by the Yellow ring, but it really doesn't make sense for her to turn around and say Sinestro was right.

[Sparky Prime]

Green Lanterns #28
The first seven Green Lanterns arrive on Earth, where they get a message from Rami explaining he sent them to Earth because the Life Entity's energy will shield them from being detected by Volthoom. He explains Volthoom has been driven mad by his ring and will destroy the universe if they do not stop him, but cautions their own rings are untested and could be dangerous. Not all of the new Lanterns are interested in helping however, and wonder why there are 9 gathered rather than 7 as Rami stated. Demanding answers, they are all shocked when Jessica makes a construct to calm things down and offers to train them, but most of them still want to use their rings for their own purposes rather than saving the universe and start to fight among themselves. Jan-Al's ring begins to overload, and having no safety features, it incinerates her. Shocked by the Kryptonian's death, the remaining 6 Lanterns agree to be trained by Simon and Jessica.
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I find it strange Rami would send the first 7 Lanterns to Earth, when basically all he tells them is not to delay in saving them from Volthoom. What's the point for the pit stop? Sure it allows them some time to get used to the rings, but Rami doesn't know Simon and Jessica are there to assist them with that. And Rami really didn't tell them much about the rings or what they can do beyond that it uses their will and courage. I'm also curious where exactly Krona's Gauntlet is supposed to fit in here. It had been established as a prototype to the Green Lantern rings and battery, but this story glosses over all of that. This makes Rami out to be the master mind behind all of the Lantern technology, with no mention of Krona's work we'd previously seen. We don't see Jan-Al's ring fly off to choose another to replace her, so I'm assuming it was destroyed when it overloaded.

[Sparky Prime]

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #26
Lantern Graf has a dream which he realizes is a prophecy about giant metal men being created on Old Genesis, which he has to inform someone about. Meanwhile, Kyle and Hal are sent to investigate a large gravitational disturbance only to find an entire system has been destroyed. Shortly after, Orion arrives and asks for their help, especially the one who has access to the Source, the White Lantern. After explaining that's be a problem as Kyle isn't the White Lantern anymore, Orion is hit by Omega Beams. They take him to Salaak's homeworld which is nearby but after Orion is revived he tells them they shouldn't have taken him to a city, when one of the Metal Giants appears.
I'm starting to get the feeling the creators are just going to completely ignore that Kyle made several other White Lanterns in order to split up the Life Equation. This is the second time it seems like Kyle should have mentioned there are other White Lanterns, yet doesn't. I guess it'd make some sense if he'd decided to keep their existence a secret, but why wouldn't he tell Ganthet and Sayd about them? Or Hal and Orion? They are among his closest allies and friends.

[andersonh1]

Superman #29
Children have been disappearing every night for two weeks, and Superman and the police are scouring Metropolis for them. When Superman finally figures out how to track them, based on encountering the original victim on the street at night, he thinks it's Sinestro behind the disappearances. It turns out to be Parallax, not bonded with any host but wanting very much to possess and control Superman, which he does at issue's end when Superman allows it rather than allow Parallax to kill the children. While Parallax is gloating about how powerful he is now, Sinestro turns up to reclaim the fear entity. I'm not sure how this fits in with Sinestro's treatment of Parallax in the early issues of HJ&TGLC, but hopefully that will be covered next issue.

Aquaman #28
The crab-mutant Atlantean crime lord (say that five times fast) Krush has Aquaman and Dolphin, and he's determined to find out for sure if Aquaman is the former king, and if he can use him as insurance against King Rath turning against him. There's lots of political intrigue as Krush plots against Rath, Mera goes to Garth in Titans Tower to help in breaching the Crown of Thorns around Atlantis, and the Widowhood plot to overthrow Rath and set Mera up as Queen. It's a fun mix of plot and counterplot, and Aquaman saves Mera from being eaten by a creature from the depths that's Krush's pet, sicing the thing on Krush and his men instead. Krush sends his sorceror that captured Aquaman last issue after him, and the issue ends with the two going for a rematch.

[Sparky Prime]

Green Lanterns #29
Simon and Jessica begin to train the remaining 6 Lanterns, and it's slow to progress but they begin to learn how to use their rings. However, they're still more interested in their own needs for the rings than fighting Volthoom. Simon is getting frustrated when Z'Kran, the White Martian, tells him he can see his ability to overcome Fear. Inspired, Simon taps into the ring fragments embedded in his arm and has an "Emerald Sight" experience showing him a vision of Volthoom going to planet Zoron, and destroying it as a means to force the Guardians out. Simon tells them trained or not, they have to go. When they arrive at Zoron however, the planet is already completely destroyed. Seeing what Volthoom is capable of, the Lanterns finally agree they need to stop him.
It's nice to see Jessica relating what she learned during her training just a few issues ago, probably even establishing some of the things she'd learned as a pre-destination paradox sort of a thing. Otherwise, this issue doesn't really move the plot along much. Just establishes the new Lanterns getting some training and establishing a reason for them to work together to fight Volthoom.

Spider-Men #1 & 2
Basically the premise of this mini-series is to answer the question of who the 616 universe's Miles Morales is, which was teased at the end of the last mini-series with Peter doing a Google search and is surprised at what he found. Only, I feel that Bendis is cheating a bit, as Peter reveals in the second issue, he didn't find any one else named Miles Morales at all. Then why did Peter react with such shock and surprise? Maybe Peter lied? But that's quickly disproved after asking Jessica Jones to do some investigating when Miles hears Taskmaster say his name, she finds no evidence of any other Miles Morales, even SHIELD is only aware of one. As we see though, there is a 616 Miles Morales, who is an adult and has a few scars on his face. After seeing some security footage revealing Ultimate Miles' face, he says he wants Taskmaster to kill both of the Spider-Men, saying this is something he's tried to avoid his whole life.

[Sparky Prime]

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps # 27
The metal golem continues to attack, trying to kill Orion, while Hal tries to fight it off. Orion says it only went away the first time because his heart stopped, he has to die for it to leave. The doctor that restarted his heart has a blueprint for an artificial heart, which Kyle makes with his ring, and Orion stabs himself in the chest for the doctor to remove his heart. With that, the golem leaves. With Orion comatose, the Lanterns have a telepath search his mind to find out about the golem. They were created from Nth Metal by Yuga Khan, ruler of the Old Gods, should the New Gods ever unseat him from his throne. They eventually did and imprisoned him in the Source Wall, but the army remained dormant... until now for reasons yet unknown. John wants to talk to Highfather, which the telepath reports only the word Lightray, which John knows is the New Gods fastest flyer, probably keeping Highfather ahead of the golems.
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Pettey standard in-between issue with a lot of action and not a lot of plot progression. It is interesting to learn the origins to these golems though. Probably have some connection to this Metal mini-series DC is doing right now that has to do with Nth Metal.

[andersonh1]

I'd be interested in reading Metal if the issues weren't $5 each. I know I paid that for the Manhunter special below, but that was a one-shot. A mini-series of $5.00 issues isn't worth it.

Action Comics #986
The fill-in artist and writer are a bit clunkier than what I'm used to with Dan Jurgens, but a lot of important plot progression happens, making this an important storyline despite the disposable villain. Luthor is under the control of the Machinist, who pits him against Superman, pushing Luthor to kill him by controlling Luthor through the Apokalips armor that he's been wearing. Luthor starts to take on Darkseid's appearance, with Superman warning him that the more he uses the armor, the more he'll become like Darkseid, seemingly fulfilling the future prophecy from the Godslayer storyline a number of issues back, though Superman is able to help Luthor fight off Machinist's control and capture him.

The end of the issue is what really stands out, as Mr. Oz shows up and confronts Luthor, destroying the S symbol on his armor and berating him for being "only human". And more to the point, Oz appears to have heat vision just like Superman. The next storyline in the book promises to finally tell us who Oz is, and rumors are that he's Jor-El. I'll be glad to see this particular storyline finally get some closure. It's been going on since Rebirth began, if not before.

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #27
An all-action issue with Hal fighting the giant golem, a soldier of Yuga Khan, one of the old Gods that came before the New Gods, and is trying to kill them. Orion rips out his own heart to fake his death and send the golem away, and Kyle and one of Salaak's people keep Orion on life support using a construct of the alien's life support device. Hal was having absolutely zero success fighting the thing, so the desperate measure seems to have been the only way to stop it. Back on Mogo, John has one of the former Sinestro Corps members read Orion's mind to learn what the Golem is, and if there's any way to fight it. Good issue, though it feels like the Corps is stuck in the middle of a conflict that's far too big for them to handle.

Manhunter #1
This is one of the Jack Kirby special one-shots that DC is publishing, and while I think it's great that they're recognizing Kirby, these books are pretty expensive at $4.99 each. It's got a lot in it though, the main feature being the 1940s Manhunter, Paul Kirk, former big game hunter turned masked vigilante, guest-starring Sandman and Sandy. I always enjoy the Golden Age characters, though here they're not written with a Golden Age style at all. They feel very modern. Manhunter is hunting down some crooks, and his fairly brutal style of fisticuffs has attracted the attention of the Sandman (in his gold and yellow costume rather than the gas mask and suit) who attempts to reason with Manhunter and get him to be less brutal and more inspiring. The two have a real slugfest of a fight, both with fists and with verbal jabs, and it's kind of disappointing that the story falls the "heroes get into a fight" cliche. A team-up between both of these Kirby-drawn characters would have been a lot more enjoyable. In the end it's a draw, with Manhunter diving into the bay to escape, wondering if Sandman was right, before hearing an assault nearby and going to help the victim, with the story implying that he'll continue acting as he has been.

The rest of the book is a collection of short stories. There's a Jason Blood/Demon story (this character has always seemed to me to be cut from the same cloth as the Hulk, with a man trying to get rid of the monster he turns into), a story drawn by Kirby , "The Face Behind the Mask," from Tales of the Unexpected #13, "Rocket Lanes of Tomorrow," from Real Facts Comics #1 and "A World of Thinking Machines," from Real Facts Comics #2. It isn't just a comic featuring old school characters, it's essentially an old school anthology title.