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Final Crisis #6 [Review]

Posted on January 18, 2009 by Walt

How to Murder the Earth

Script: Grant Morrison
Art: JG Jones, Carlos Pacheco, Doug Mahnke, Marco Rudy, Christian Alamy, Jesus Merino
Colors: Alex Sinclair & Pete Pantazis
Lettering: Rob Clark Jr.
Assoc. Editor: Adam Schlagman
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover: JG Jones (sliver cover by Pacheco, Merino & Sinclair)
Publisher: DC Comics

This sixth issue opens with a scene featuring Superman and Brainiac 5…presumably our Legion of 3 Worlds link. Brainiac has something he needs Superman to see, and Superman’s concerned because he’s been beyond reality and has to get home (no mention of Lois). We then cut back to a gathering of heroes doing what they do, and the Supergirl/”Black Mary” battle (we find out who’s pulling Mary’s strings). Heroes find themselves facing friends and loved ones now under Darkseid’s thumb; the Flashes hatch a plan, and Batman breaks one of his personal rules in order to face Darseid. Finally, Superman enters the battle on Earth, bringing with him anger not often displayed.

The art jumped out at me for this issue–unfortunately, though, not a good thing. Rather than the fairly distinct JG Jones art alone, we have a number of other artists brought on to get this done, and so there is quite a bit of variance in the visuals throughout the issue–this looks like just another comic instead of a singular, special event/series. The art in and of itself isn’t all that bad–characters familiar to casual readers are familiar and recognizeable. The Tawky Tawny battle, though, was a bit hard to follow, and took me a bit beyond the battle itself before I even realized who won the fight. While I’m sure intended for dramatic effect, a key double-page shot toward the end looks almost comical (in a “ha, ha” sort of way) and seems almost out of place in this title given other events that have ocurred off-panel and been referred back to almost as an afterthought.

The story is far from wonderful, but it is serviceable, at least on the surface. We get a number of scene-jumps without much flow, just jumping from one scene to the next. One has to keep track visually of what and who is where as the Supergirl/Mary battle is cut with the Tawny battle, for example. The main Batman scene comes across like it’s supposed to be reminiscent of a certain speedster in a prior Crisis, and for this reader felt forced and overly predictable.

On the whole, due to one character’s fate apparently shown here, this issue is pretty important to DC continuity, at least for the moment. However, this is an issue I read more to seek a conclusion to Batman: RIP and in the hopes of staying somewhat current with the most major goings-on of the DCU than out of enjoyment. This is one of those comics that is probably going to wind up being pretty “essential” to the bigger picture in the DCU…though it lacks the feel I’d expect for something of its supposed enormity.

Recommended for its necessity in the DCU-to-come, but not for the story and art.

Story: 5/10
Art: 3/10
Whole: 4/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, DC, DC Universe, Final Crisis, Final Crisis (Event) | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Faces of Evil: Solomon Grundy #1 [Review]

Posted on January 18, 2009 by Walt

The Curse!

Writer: Geoff Johns & Scott Kolins
Artist: Scott Kolins
Colorist: Hi-FI
Letterer: John J. Hill
Editors: Adam Schlagman & Eddie Berganza
Cover: Shane Davis, Sandra Hope & Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics

This one shot focuses on the longtime DC character Solomon Grundy. After a bit of a flashback to the character’s in-continuity history, we come to the present where Grundy’s awoken once more after his latest death, but with a change. We follow him through a week of death and rebirth (and a fight with Killer Croc) until he’s confronted finally by a couple of faces familiar to him (and to us as readers) who propose fighting this curse he’s under while in a small window of opportunity to do so.

This is another well done one-shot worthy of the Faces of Evil “hype” and “event.” This is all about Grundy, offering us a look at the world from the character’s point of view while acknowledging the fact that he’s had a number of different incarnations in the last couple of decades at least, and building on that. As this is essentially set-up for a mini-series, one might be able to look at this as the tv-movie pilot for a special series coming soon.

The art fits the character and the story both quite well, and I enjoyed it. Kolins’ art seems to fit well with villain-centric stories, assuming I’m correct in recalling him as the artist on the Rogues’ Revenge mini from several months back.

This is a fairly decent one-shot; though as it is largely set-up for the upcoming mini-series, doesn’t feel complete: it feels more like a proglogue than a self-standing story.

If you’re interested in or curious about the character, it’s worthwhile–just be aware that it has a cliffhanger going toward the mini series.

Story: 8/10
Art: 9/10
Whole: 8.5/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, DC, DC Universe, Faces of Evil (Event), Faces of Evil (One Shots) | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Faces of Evil: Prometheus #1 [Review]

Posted on January 18, 2009 by Walt

Full review posted to comixtreme.com.

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, Faces of Evil (Event), Faces of Evil (One Shots) | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Green Lantern #36 [Review]

Posted on January 11, 2009 by Walt

Full review posted to comixtreme.com.

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, Green Lantern | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Justice League of America #28 [Review]

Posted on January 4, 2009 by Walt

Welcome to Sundown Town Chapter 2: Shadow and Act

Writer: Dwayne McDuffie
Penciller: Jose Luis
Inks: JP Mayer
Color: Pete Pantazis
Letters: Travis Lanham
Associate Editor: Adam Schlagman
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover: Ed Benes w/Hi-Fi
Publisher: DC Comics

I wasn’t gonna pick this up. I was gonna content myself with waiting for a collected volume, or just waiting for the Milestone characters to pop up in other books. But curiosity got the better of me, and so I picked this up after all.

There’s not much of a plot here–the bulk of the issue is a lengthy fight scene between the League and the Shadow Cabinet. However, toward the end of the issue theres a slight bit of a twist that both bucks cliche and yet manages to play right in familiar old cliche none the less.

I find myself much more interested in finding out more about the Milestone characters than I am about the Justice League, and so am possibly more disappointed in this issue than I should be. I would gladly (and with enthusiasm) picked up a mini-series re-introducing these characters that guest-starred members of the Justice League; as it is, the Milestone characters don’t get enough focus-time in this issue (though they get far more than in the previous one). I’m also quite interested in the Icon/Superman interaction(s).

The art here–while not Benes–is quite good, and similar enough to Benes’ work that I thought nothing of the art until I looked at the credits, and realized that sure enough, this wasn’t Benes. I was particularly impressed with the final page–which also has me sufficiently hooked as to pick up the next issue more than likely.

All in all, not a bad issue. Worth getting if you want to see the Milestone characters that are appearing in this arc.

Story: 7/10
Art: 8.5/10
Whole: 8/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, DC, DC Universe, Justice League of America | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Final Crisis: Secret Files [Review]

Posted on January 4, 2009 by Walt

Balancing Act!

Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Tony Shasten
Colorist: Alex Bleyaert
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Associate Editor: Adam Schlagman
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover: Frank Quitely (sliver cover by Jim Lee, Richard Friend & Randy Mayor)
Publisher: DC Comics

This issue introduces us to Libra. From his initial origin (with ties to the Ted Knight Starman) to how it is we have Libra in the Final Crisis story. The story shows us how the young man was impacted by events beyond his control as a child, and the home life he came from. We then see how he deals with it, and how he pulls himself up through the world to the point he was originally introduced at way back in the day, and the cost of actually achieving all that he seeks to do. We then find out how Darkseid came to have a “herald” or “prophet” Libra during the contemporary Final Crisis story.

I don’t recognize Shasten’s name, but the art here is quite good. It seems to fit the story well, and I have no real complaints. The story itself is fairly interesting, revealing the origin of Libra–not just as an obscure character from decades past, but as a character we see operating today.

As far as DC’s “Secret Files” specials go, this is certainly NOT what I expected. I should have been suspicious at the (relatively) small price point. Rather than character profiles and information about location and events that’ve unfolded in Final Crisis, this is simply another one-shot that fills us in on a character’s background and how they relate to Final Crisis. This should have been billed as a “Secret Origin issue, as the Secret Files title from DC has come to imply lengthy text/image pieces that go in-depth on bringing one up-to-speed on the current status of a number of characters related to the title.

As with other recent tie-ins, though…I enjoyed this a great deal more than I have the core series. When I saw Wein’s name on this, I was trying to place the name. I recognized the name, but didn’t think I’d seen it in awhile. This finally clicked for me when I saw a note in the credits that Libra was created by Wein. Given that, I find it quite cool that the character’s creator was brought on to reconcile past and present.

Simply as a one-shot that ties in to Final Crisis, this is a solid issue that–while it doesn’t move the Final Crisis story forward–goes a good way toward explaining a pretty major character related to that story.

I’ve had several times that by the time I’ve gotten to a comic store there’s been no choice BUT to get the “sliver cover” for a Final Crisis book. This was the first time that I found myself “stuck” with no choice but the full-cover image. Quitely’s art for the cover is not bad, and as I have yet to see the sliver image, I’m not gonna worry about it.

Story: 8/10
Art: 7/10
Whole: 7.5/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, DC, DC Universe, Final Crisis (Event), Final Crisis: Secret Files | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Final Crisis #5 [Review]

Posted on December 14, 2008 by Walt

Into Oblivion

Script: Grant Morrison
Art: J.G. Jones, Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy, Jesus Merino
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Lettering: Travis Lanham
Associate Editor: Adam Schlagman
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover: J.G. Jones (sliver by Pacheco, Merino & Sinclair)
Publisher: DC Comics

Green Lantern Hal Jordan is tried for apparent deicide, though it turns out someone has corrupted an Alpha Lantern–something that is not supposed to be able to happen. Meanwhile, as the dark gods revel in their victory and the nearly-awoken Darkseid, certain heroes band together to strike back as the world falls apart around them.

There’s a lot going on in this issue, which makes it feel somewhat choppy as we jump from point to point to point to point. This is going on, that’s also going on, this other thing’s happening, someone’s doing this other thing over here.

The art felt rather choppy as well with multiple artists covering different parts of the story. I’m hard-pressed to think offhand of an example of multiple artists detracting from a story for me, but this might be a first.

The story leaves me scratching my head–both for trying to get to an understanding of what’s actually going on in the bigger picture sense as well as the execution. As a “contained” story limited to just this mini and some tie-in minis, I don’t feel any great sense of urgency or crisis…this reads simply like some alternate unverse where Darkseid wins, and not the main DC Universe I’m supposed to actually care about.

This may read much better in a single volume when all the pieces are on the board to be read at once, and we actually see how events play out in the main DCU whenever the let this affect other books. Until then, it is a huge disappointment for me and is far less enjoyable than Rogues’ Revenge, Revelations, and Legion of 3 Worlds have been.

Worth getting if you’re following the event for the event’s sake, and if you’re enjoying this title thus far. If you’ve not been getting it so far, you’re probably better off catching up through wikipedia and if you’re so inclined, snag collected volume.

Story: 6/10
Art: 6/10
Whole: 6/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2008, DC, DC Universe, Final Crisis, Final Crisis (Event) | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Final Crisis: Revelations #4 [Review]

Posted on December 14, 2008 by Walt

Final Crisis: Revelations part four

Writer: Greg Rucka
Pencils: Philip Tan
Inks: Jonathan Glapion
Colors: Nei Ruffino
Lettering: John J. Hill
Associate Editor: Adam Schlagman
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Covers: Tan, Glapion & Ruffino
Publisher: DC Comics

Opening where the previous issue left off, we see a horribly wounded Spectre at Savage/Cain’s mercy, while the spirit of Mercy finds herself unable or unwilling to act, as Montoya and the Huntress seek just to survive this encounter. Retreating to a church to regroup, theology is debated as things spiral downhill for the heroes. The Spectre continues to be a powerful figure at the heart of this story’s conflict, with potentially vast repercussions to come as Savage/Cain makes his move.

I’m not entirely sure what to think on certain points in this issue. I can say that while it can be good to see some stuff brought up here–we don’t see characters discussing actual religion and theology all that often–I personally find a lot of faulty stuff here that–while it may work in context of the DCU–puts me off a bit.

It’s interesting to see the development of Mercy here; I’ve long been aware of and somewhat familiar with the Spectre; seeing a counterpart does make sense based on what I know of the Spectre character. At the same time, given the apparent scope of this story, it feels almost like THIS should have been the core book–this feels much more like some unverse-impacting crisis situation than what I’ve gotten out of the main Final Crisis book.

The art in this issue is quite good….I have no complaint with it. I like the way the Huntress and Question are portrayed here, and all the characters carry a certain detail that works quite well in giving visuals to the story.

All told, this is a nice, solid issue and as with some of the other tie-ins, I found this far more enjoyable and satisfying than the main title. Whether you’re reading Final Crisis itself or not, this is well worth picking up if you’re following the Spectre or Question characters, or have been following this series anyway.

Story: 8/10
Art: 8/10
Whole: 8/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2008, DC, DC Universe, Final Crisis (Event), Final Crisis: Revelations | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Green Lantern Corps #31 [Review]

Posted on December 14, 2008 by Walt

Sins of the Star Sapphire part three: Empty-Handed Heart

Story and Words: Peter J. Tomasi
Penciller: Patrick Gleason
Inker: Rebecca Buchman
Color: Randy Mayor
Letterer: Steve Wands
Editors: Eddie Berganza & Adam Schlagman
Cover: Gleason & Nei Rufino
Publisher: DC Comics

The Guardians approve a Third Law to add to the Book of Oa–banning physical relationships and love between Green Lanterns. We then shift scenes to the ongoing situation at least partially responsible for the enactment of this law, as several Lanterns are tracking a Sinestro agent who is killing off Green Lanterns to steal their babies. There are also checking-in-on’-em scenes with Mongul as well as the new “Sapphire Lantern” Corps. based on the love just banned for the GLs. At issue’s end, yet another victim seems ready to be claimed in the ongoing GL/Sinestro Corps. animosity.

I’ll be honest–I don’t “get” the Star Sapphire stuff. I don’t think I’d even heard of the character (?) prior to this story, and I just don’t have any interest in the character. I know this story is fleshing things out and showing another fledgling Lantern Corps as we head toward Blackest Night, but other than that element, I’m just not that engaged. The story is somewhat interesting–touching on the subject of an antagonist striking at heroes through families–seen here not as some potential threat but an active and ongoing actuality.

The art doesn’t thrill me….There’s something to it that just doesn’t really do it for me. It clearly shows the characters, yes, and it provides a decent look at some fairly alien characters (and a rather creepy main antagonist)…I’m just not a fan of the style. As tastes do indeed differ, I’d suggest peeking at the art before buying–if you’ve no obvious complaints with it, you’ll probably enjoy this with little trouble.

All in all not a bad issue, keeping things moving forward. I’ll be glad to see this arc conclude and hopefully move on to more interesting territory.

Story: 7/10
Art: 6/10
Whole: 6.5/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2008, DC, DC Universe, Green Lantern Corps | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

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