TF Views

andersonh1 wrote:And as I said, even in-story it makes no sense that they've never heard of Green Lanterns before considering how long the Corps has been in existence.

I've really been looking forward to this Godhead story arc. I'll be going to the CBS next week but to my understanding, for the most part the New 52 New Gods haven't concerned themselves much with the mortals on the lower plains of existence of the multiverse (with a few notable exceptions) which is why they don't know much about who or what the Green Lanterns are. It took Kyle obtaining the Life Equation to really get their attention.

Sparky Prime wrote:

andersonh1 wrote:And as I said, even in-story it makes no sense that they've never heard of Green Lanterns before considering how long the Corps has been in existence.

I've really been looking forward to this Godhead story arc. I'll be going to the CBS next week but to my understanding, for the most part the New 52 New Gods haven't concerned themselves much with the mortals on the lower plains of existence of the multiverse (with a few notable exceptions) which is why they don't know much about who or what the Green Lanterns are. But Kyle obtaining the Life Equation really got their attention.

That's a possibility, certainly. It's a good issue, character revisionism aside, and it follows up nicely on the events of Lights Out, so we're still building on what came before.

And, interestingly, it's said to have been a year since Kyle "died" (and Hal still thinks he's dead). It has been a year in real time, but are we actually dropping the whole comic book time now?

I've really been looking forward to this Godhead story arc. I'll be going to the CBS next week but to my understanding, for the most part the New 52 New Gods haven't concerned themselves much with the mortals on the lower plains of existence of the multiverse (with a few notable exceptions) which is why they don't know much about who or what the Green Lanterns are. It took Kyle obtaining the Life Equation to really get their attention.

That is the most likely reasoning. Figure that their success rate has been pretty high (having irreversibly damaged Earth 2 and a half dozen others), we would have to assume that if they had made incursions (sorry Marvel) in to the numbered universes, they would have won long ago.

And once again we have to pretend that these are new characters and that they've never met the Green Lanterns before when we know they have.

This is the same thing that happened in 1985/86. DC purged out a significant amount of back-story. Why is that so hard to buy in on?

The New Gods effectively are new characters. But, who cares if the comic itself works?



This is a "no comics day" week for me. Between finding a place for a stray kitten and not wanting to take money out of the bank for comics, I am not buying anything until tomorrow. Likely going to start with the first compilation of "Injustice: Year 2".

The "Earth 2: World's End" weekly started this week. It shipped alongside the latest issues of "Earth 2" and "Worlds' Finest" (why the hell is Levitz still on that book?!?!?) *and* "Future's End" just got auto-added to my pull-file. (Objectively, the auto-add is a benefit of the pull-file, as it means that subscribers do not miss related books. But, ......)


So, one week in, and I have 4 books to buy. Committing to a weekly book, let alone arguably 2 weekly books (that are likely to converge), is significant in terms of money and space. I like the idea of a weekly book, and am conceptually fine with buying more than one book a week. But, when the book is going to be primarily event driven ("Earth 2" has never been more than a ride, albeit a fun one at times) with an ending that is more or less predictable (defeating the "anything can happen" high concept of the series as a whole), *and* the book it is following from has been....less than spectacular for a bit more than a year, I am wary of signing on.

I will give "World's End" until Thanksgiving to impress me. But, something has to go to make room for "Superior Iron Man" next month. And, it is either going to be "Earth 2" (and the related books) or the two main "Transformers" books from IDW.

Dominic wrote:This is the same thing that happened in 1985/86. DC purged out a significant amount of back-story. Why is that so hard to buy in on?

You know that's been one of my major gripes for the last three years, the "characters in name only" that we're stuck with, in addition to lots of stories being tossed out with regard to current continuity. I wasn't reading when Crisis happened, so I don't care that to a lesser degree the same thing happened then. So what? It's happened now, and it's a constant annoyance when we get these "first" meetings that are nothing of the sort.

A lot more stuff still counted after Crisis. They screwed up Hawkman, and both Superman and Wonder Woman started from scratch, but Batman kept his history. Green Lantern kept his. So did the Flash. A lot more was kept than was thrown out after the Crisis. There was no need to guess what counted and what didn't. There was no blank "five year gap" where some things happened and some didn't, and neither the readers nor the writers really know exactly what was what. The execution was far better then than it has been now.

For the most part, Green Lantern has been a book that allowed me to ignore that it's taking place in a new continuity, meeting with Supergirl aside. That's one of the reasons it's the only New 52 book I'm buying regularly, along with the fact that it's a genuinely good book. But it's not as though I'm not going to notice when elements of revisionism show up. Don't ask me how Cosmic Odyssey is supposed to have played out at this point. John Stewart still has the destruction of Xanshi in his history, which occurred during that storyline. But the New Gods also played a big role in that story, only now that's impossible. Don't ask me to figure out how that's supposed to work. And that's just one example.

The exact same thing happened in '85. There was a hard reset, some stuff got blown away. Some stuff did not. If anythign, DC was even less clear about what counted. About 6 months after CoIE ended, most of the book (including stuff established as happening/counting after the reset) was over-written. There was plenty of feckless editing the 80s. But, there was no internet echo-chamber for people to complain in to, so even comic fans had to get over it.


This time next year, it will not matter anyway, as DC's next reset will have already happened and been resolved. (I wonder how new readers drawn in by New 52 will react? Part of me thinks it is just the old timers who need comics to be the way comics were 30 years ago.)

Dominic wrote:The exact same thing happened in '85. There was a hard reset, some stuff got blown away. Some stuff did not. If anythign, DC was even less clear about what counted.

It was the exact opposite. They were a lot more clear about what counted. Superman reset, so he was starting over. Wonder Woman was the same. Hawkman was fine until Hawkworld did well and DC decided to make that current continuity, several years after Silver/Bronze Age Hawkman had been established post-Crisis. Superman #18 where Superman returns to Krypton had Katar and Shayera fly him there, and that was over two years after Crisis ended. Batman had a few things changed with Year One and Jason's revised origin, but most of his history still counted, broadly speaking. Black Canary replaced Wonder Woman in the JLA history, while Batman and Superman were removed entirely. Wally West still had his entire history intact. So did the Teen Titans. I could go on and on. There were some continuity snarls, such as Power Girl's origin, but by and large readers at least knew what was meant to have happened. It's nothing like it is now. The problem came more with writer retcons than with an overall mandate to keep things vague like we have now.

I grant you this: I'm looking at it in hindsight. I didn't start reading until 1988, which isn't that far after the Crisis, but I don't remember a lot of confusion at the time. Then again, all we had were letters pages and magazines, but no internet. I knew whatever I could learn from the comic shop guys and other fans. Maybe there was more confusion going on than I knew, but it wasn't apparent to me at the time.

On to the rest of this week's comics:

Green Lantern #35
Godhead part 2
Mogo's in trouble without his ring, and since he's the mobile headquarters of the Corps, they're in trouble too. Meanwhile, Metron and Orion and some troops are at the source wall trying to figure out why combining the rings didn't produce the effect they expected. Metron uses Mogo's stolen ring to access the Corps' database, and when Hal figures that out, he reverses the trick and takes a squad out to retrieve the stolen ring and apprehend the thieves, all the while wondering why they're trying to find out information about Kyle. When they arrive, Hal tries to incapacitate the New Gods and arrest them, but they don't even flinch at the ring powered assault, and there's a very one-sided fight in which the Lanterns get beaten rather handily. Hal apparently decides that it's time to look for help and heads out to find Sinestro.

Despite my dissatisfaction with the changes to the New Gods, I appreciate how amped up their power is. They hardly seem any stronger than the standard superhero in many past instances, so if nothing else the power boost seems appropriate. It also presents a major problem for Hal and the Corps since the New Gods are now gunning for every last ring wearer out there.

Batman 66 meets the Green Hornet #5
This was an improvement over last issue, though I'm forming the opinion that this series is one issue too long. There wasn't quite enough plot to fill out six issues without some repetition. Batman and Robin escape from last issue's death trap by the most silly means possible, and Robin promises to pay more attention in organic chemistry class, a joke that makes the whole setup worth it IMO. And then there's this exchange, which nails Adam West and Burt Ward's delivery:

Batman: Never confuse justice with revenge Robin. In order to keep a clear head, we need to try not to take their attempted murder of us so personally.
Robin: Gosh, that won't be easy, but I"ll sure try Batman.

And then, finally, the four characters team up to go after the Joker and General Gumm. We get a fill in artist for the second half of the book who is a bit more dynamic than Ty Templeton, and the issue ends on one last cliffhanger as the Joker drops a bomb towards Gotham central park, and Batman is determined to shoot it down with the Green Hornet helping spot. I thought the humor was better this time around, and the pace picked up nicely after a very slow fourth issue. Who would have thought we'd have one 60s Batman comic in 2014, let alone two? I'm enjoying both quite a bit.

Justice League 3000 #10
The Camelot War
Are Beetle and Booster here yet? No... a few more issues to go.

The future Justice League arrive at King Arthur's castle. I think this may be the Camelot 3000 that Mike Barr and Brian Bolland created way back when (and which I've never read), but don't hold me to that. They end up in a fight with "The Five", some nigh-omnipotent beings that the League beat due to the fact that the five have all the emotional maturity of five year olds. But in a Justice League book by Giffen and DeMatteis, you can expect a lot of that from everyone. It's not quite to the level of fun that JLI was back in the day, but it's lighter fare than most of DC's current output. The plot is pretty much fighting and banter, so there's not much to sum up. Bring on the blue and the gold and I'll see if I want to keep hanging around and reading.

Future’s End #23
I haven’t been following this series for a number of reasons. The free comic book day first chapter was bad, and basically ripped off the plot of Terminator with Brother Eye taking the place of Skynet. And the series itself is like Brightest Day, in that there are so many plot strands and stories that the pacing of the story feels glacial. It reads well all in one go, I suspect, but in weekly instalments it feels like nothing happens.

And then there’s the coarser nature of the DC characters, I still get disagreement when I assert that DC’s characters have all changed for the worse, but this series should help put that argument to rest. During the character introductions, the narration literally describes the Atom as “miniaturized badass”, and Hawkman as “winged a-hole”. Don’t tell me DC isn’t taking the low road with their characters and their universe. Clearly, having decided that noble and heroic characters are passé, DC has gone the opposite direction.

What has me interested to some degree in this series, 23 issues in, are the cover images and rumors about an appearance by pre-Crisis Brainiac. And we do see some Brainiac avatars that look like the old skull-faced robot from the Bronze Age, but the actual Brainiac, the one in charge, is a new design altogether. He’s a giant, and apparently a collector of “specimens” from all around the multiverse. He’s interested in Hawkman, the Atom and Frankenstein. If I had to guess, I would say all of this is leading into next year’s mini-series featuring pre-52 versions of various characters, because the premise is being laid down right here: a super-intelligent, super powerful form of Brainiac harvesting specimens from every reality.

The other plotlines are far less interesting. There’s some soap opera stuff with Tim Drake and an ex-girlfriend, and a scene with King Faraday and a bunch of characters I don’t recognize. And the end of the issue features Brother Eye and Mr. Terrific talking, with Brother Eye revealing that he knows Terry McGinnis went back in time to destroy him, and revealing (I am not making this up) that he’s captured Batman, and fused his head with the Joker’s head.

Someone put this story out of its misery now. The Brainiac plot could lead somewhere fun, but the rest of it isn’t worth much, in my view.

Godhead #1
Nice one-shot issue that introduces us to the New Gods and what they're all about. Poor Arkillo, this is the second time his ring finger has been cut off. Found it a little too easy how others had their rings taken. Saint Walker I can understand since he has refused to wear it since Lights Out, but others have them swipped right off their hand. And I always thought Mogo could talk and control his surface without the ring. What's the point of being a living planet if he's dormate without it? Anyway, turns out the New Gods mistake combining the individual rings abilities, and their experiment to use them to turn a planet into an army like themselves goes wrong.
Overall, I really enjoyed this issue. Nice set up for the characters and background. Should be interesting to see how this story develops.

Green Lantern #35
The Corps is in trouble with Mogo dormat, and they also know something is wrong on that planet Aydin. John takes a team when Metron hacks their system to find Kyle. Hal takes a team but is easily beaten and get a glimpse of their army as they boomtube away. Realizing how badly outmatched they are, Hal realizes they need help and goes to talk to Sinestro.
Not much new going on in this issue, although we get a better sense of just how much more powerful the New Gods are than the GL Corps as their constructs are completely ineffective.

Green Lantern Corps #35
John and his team are baffled to find Aydin empty when it was once so populated, but are soon attacked by the creatures their rings identify as evolved versions of the former population - the result of the New Gods weapon made from the stollen rings. They soon encounter Uggha, who is killing them to put them out of their misery. Meanwhile, Hyalt has had enough time to determine the rings don't chanel the Life Equation and Metron informs Highfather they have found Kyle. Back on Aydin, John and his team put up a fight but soon realize they can't win. As they regroup, Indigo-1 teleports in telling them the war has just begun before teleporting them out.
So we have the Green Lanterns starting to team up with Yellow and Indigo already. I think part of the point of this issue is to show that together the collective powers of the Corps are much more powerful than alone, possibly giving them a way to fight against the New Gods. And that's another thing, for as powerful as the New Gods are, they're cocky. They know the forces on Earth managed to repel Darkseid's army, yet they seem to refuse to believe such mere mortals could ever stand up to them. It'll be nice to see when/if the tables turn.

Green Lantern New Guardians #35
Kyle and Carol are pissed at the Guardians who have just revealed the attacks on the Corps and that they haven't been completely honest with everything. Thinking they're no better than the original Guardians, the two try to leave to help the Corps but the Guardians try to forcibly remove the Life Equation from Kyle. However, it causes Kyle to loose control over it. Highfather arrives and helps him reign it back in and sends the Guardians away via boomtube. Highfather explains it's only a matter of time until Kyle looses control again, but he can place the Life Equation "where it belongs" if Kyle chooses to go with him. He tells them he only attacked the Corps because he didn't think they would just hand over the rings if he'd just asked. Carol still doesn't trust him but they both know this power is out of Kyle's control and thus they follow Highfather to New Genesis.
Interesting to see even the Guardians are no match for a New God. However, they seem to know all about the New Gods, telling Highfather they knew who he is and recognized the motherbox a few issues ago. I feel that reinforces the idea Highfather hasn't really paid much attention to these universes until now. Kinda wish Kyle and Carol weren't so quick to judge the Guardians but then again, can't blame them either.

Future’s End #24
I didn’t have any other books in my pull file this week, so I bought FE #24. We only get a few pages of the Brainiac storyline this time around, though he makes the cover again, and once again older versions of DC’s characters appear in the red clouds on the cover. I spotted Wonder Woman in her invisible jet, Captain Marvel, Batman with his yellow oval bat symbol, New Teen Titans version of Cyborg in his original outfit, and others. I’m more interested in where this series could lead with regard to pre-52 DC characters than where it currently is. Other plotlines include a long scene with Fury and Mr. Miracle on Cadmus Island, more of the Tim Drake and girlfriend storyline, and something with Constantine in Africa. A bearded, shirtless and (sigh) fiery red eyed Superman shows up on the last page to fight some robot I don’t recognize that was attacking Constantine’s associates. I don’t get Constantine’s appeal… I didn’t like him in Trinity War and I don’t like him here either.

I guess that’s the downside of a series like this: the plotline or character you’re interested in may or may not get much focus, considering how many running storylines apparently make up this book.

andersonh1 wrote:A bearded, shirtless and (sigh) fiery red eyed Superman shows up on the last page to fight some robot I don’t recognize

"Hey kids, look, Superman's all extreme and cool! He's totally not a lame boy scout anymore! Do you like Superman yet?"

I don’t get Constantine’s appeal… I didn’t like him in Trinity War and I don’t like him here either.

People liked the old Vertigo series and there's a new TV show to push, so.

I guess that’s the downside of a series like this: the plotline or character you’re interested in may or may not get much focus, considering how many running storylines apparently make up this book.

Ever since the success of "52", DC's been trying to bottle that lightning again with weekly series, and they've never quite managed it the same.

anderson, might I suggest you check out 'Trinity' sometime? It was a weekly series by DC several years back (pre-New-52) that focused on Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, and really dove into their roles within the DCU and as characters that complimented and acted as foils to each other, and how that had them work in-fiction. It kinda dragged in places, but had some really good bits, and seemed to 'get' the characters as a concept. It's also the sole reason I have any affection for Despero.

BWprowl wrote:anderson, might I suggest you check out 'Trinity' sometime? It was a weekly series by DC several years back (pre-New-52) that focused on Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, and really dove into their roles within the DCU and as characters that complimented and acted as foils to each other, and how that had them work in-fiction. It kinda dragged in places, but had some really good bits, and seemed to 'get' the characters as a concept. It's also the sole reason I have any affection for Despero.

Thanks for the suggestion. It sounds promising, and I'll have to check it out.