Full review posted to comixtreme.com
Story: 4/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: Blackest Night, Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC | Tagged: Adam Schlagman, Alex Sinclair, black lantern, Blackest Night, Comic Reviews, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Comics, dead will rise, Eddie Berganza, FCBD, Free Comic Book Day, Free Comic Day, Geoff Johns, Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, Ivan Reis, Lantern Corps, Nick Napolitano, Oclair Albert, Rob Hunter | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Story: 4/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, Green Lantern | Tagged: Adam Schlagman, Agent Orange, Blackest Night, Comic Reviews, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Comics, Eddie Berganza, Geoff Johns, Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Guardians, Jonathan Glapion, Nei Ruffino, Orange Lanterns, Philip Tan, Prelude to Blackest Night, Rafael Albuquerque, Rob Leigh, Tales of the Orange Lanterns, Weed Killer | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Story: 4.5/5
Art: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
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Filed under: cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, Final Crisis (Event), Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds | Tagged: Adam Schlagman, Bart, Bart Allen, Brainiac 5, Comic Reviews, Connor Kent, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Comics, Eddie Berganza, Final Crisis, Flash, Geoff Johns, George Perez, Hi-Fi, Kid Flash, Legion, Legion of 3 Worlds, Legion of Super-Heroes, Legion of Three Worlds, Nick Napolitano, Scott Koblish, Superboy, Superboy Prime, Time Trapper, Tom Smith | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Story: 4/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, Green Lantern | Tagged: Adam Schlagman, Comic Reviews, DC, DC Comics, Eddie Berganza, Gabe Eltaeb, Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Jonathan Glapion, Nei Ruffino, Oclair Albert, Philip Tan, Randy Mayor, Rob Leigh | Leave a comment »
Lightning Strikes Twice
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ethan Van Sciver
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor: Chris Conroy
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Cover: Ethan Van Sciver, Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics
We open with a mystery in this issue, as someone with a tie to or fixation on the Flashes attacks and kills people in the Central City crime lab. As other police storm the lab, the killer–who was gathering certain chemicals–seems to reenact the accident that gave Barry Allen his powers. We then move to a “welcome back!” parade being held in honor of the recently-returned Barry Allen; while those closest to him also revel in the hero’s return. Barry resists the attention and importance placed on his return. When an old foe returns, Barry is onhand to deal with the foe–though what he gets is far from what he expected.
The art for this issue is quite good…but somehow for me fails to hold up to my expectations for how much I enjoyed the art on the OTHER Rebirth mini. Very solid stuff here, and you’d be hard-pressed to find much better, though!
I’m quite underwhelmed with the story so far. With the exception of a handful of my grandfather’s old comics more than a decade ago, the only instances I’ve ever had reading Barry have been few and far between, with him making brief appearances in Wally’s life…so I don’t know how the characterization holds up (ore doesn’t) by comparison. At the moment, I’m really not interested in Barry, even after this issue, and while the issue’s end leaves me curious as to what’s caused what happened, I can’t help but wonder if it’ll come across more cliched than not.
It was Johns’ focus issue on Zoom a few years back that first really drew me into the world of the Flash, and it’s Johns’ Flash that developed any interest I really have in the character–so I’m holding out hope that my interest will develop a lot more as this series progresses.
Probably the main drawback of this issue as a whole is that it feels–more than a lot of comics–like it IS a story chopped into segments. If you ReallyHaveToKnowRightNowAsItUnfolds what’s going on, jump on this issue. If you’re just looking for what’s hopefully going to be one of THE Flash stories with great art, I suspect you’ll be better off waiting for the collected volume.
Story: 7/10
Art: 8.5/10
Whole: 7.5/10
Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, DC, DC Universe, Flash: Rebirth | Tagged: Alex Sinclair, Barry Allen, Bart Allen, Chris Conroy, Comic Reviews, DC, DC Comics, Ethan Van Sciver, Flash, Flash: Rebirth, Geoff Johns, Jay Garrick, Joey Cavalieri, Lightning Strikes Twice, Rebirth, Rob Leigh, The Flash, The Flash: Rebirth, Wally West | Leave a comment »
Black Adam & Isis part three: Family Feuds
Story: Geoff Johns, Jerry Ordway
Pencil art: Jerry Ordway
Ink art: Bob Wiacek & Jerry Ordway
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Michael Siglain
Cover: Alex Ross (variant by Jerry Ordway)
Publisher: DC Comics
We resume the story with “Black Mary” asserting influence on Billy–creating “Black Billy” and illustrating an interesting point of the nature of the Marvel Family’s use of the power that flows through them. While the Marvels clash with the JSA, Jay Garrick accompanies Billy’s father as things race toward pivotal “Marvel family” events.
The art on this issue is fantastic, and for me works perfectly with this story. In addition to being high quality art, the fact that it is Ordway–who has more than just passing familiarity to the Marvel family–is icing on the cake.
The story itself is accessible to me as a reader who never paid much attention to any of the Marvel family characters until relatively recently, and yet it is so obvious that this draws on continuity put down over the past couple decades (Ordway’s involvement is testament to that!)
As part three of an only four or five-chapter story, this isn’t the best point to simply jump in exactly, but as a whole if you’ve any interest in the Marvel family, this is a story you ought to be reading. And if you’re looking for a crash course or playing some wikipedia-catchup and the cover intrigues you, give this a shot!
Highly recommended.
Story: 9/10
Art: 9/10
Whole: 9/10
Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, DC, DC Universe, Justice Society of America | Tagged: Black Adam, Black Marvel Family, Bob Wiacek, Comic Reviews, DC, DC Comics, Family Feuds, Geoff Johns, Harvey RIchards, Hi-Fi, Isis, Jerry Ordway, JSA, Justice Society, Justice Society of America, Marvel Family, Marvels, Michael Siglain, Rob Leigh | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, Green Lantern | Tagged: Adam Schlagman, Blackest Night, Comic Reviews, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Comics, Eddie Berganza, Geoff Johns, Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, Ivan Reis, Nei Ruffino, Oclir Albert, Omens, Origins, Origins & Omens, Rage of the Red Lanterns, Red Lantern, Rob Leigh, Sandra Hope, Scar, Shane Davis, Sinestro, War of Light | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, Final Crisis (Event), Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds | Tagged: Adam Schlagman, Brainiac 5, Comic Reviews 2008, cxPulp.com, Dave McCaig, DC, DC Comics, Eddie Berganza, Final Crisis, Geoff Johns, George Perez, Hi-Fi, Kid Flash, Legion of 3 Worlds, Legion of Super-Heroes, Legion of Three Worlds, Nick Napolitano, Scott Koblish | Leave a comment »
Between a Rock and a Hard Place part one: The Power of Shazam
Story: Geoff Johns & Jerry Ordway
Pencil art: Jerry Ordway
Ink art: Bob Wiacek
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Michael Siglain
Cover: Alex Ross (variant by Jerry Ordway)
Publisher: DC Comics
Having survived the Gog ordeal, the team finds itself picking up the pieces left behind. We see Hawkman reprimanded for initiating a divide in the team, as well as seeing where several of the characters are at present, post-Gog. The latter part of the issue focuses on the Marvel family in its current incarnation, and sees Isis returned to her husband a changed woman, and the stage set for much trouble to come.
Given the emphasis on the Marvel family, it’s great to see Ordway involved with the writing alongside regular series writer Johns. Together, they compose a story that is quite compelling and interesting–and despite coming off a year-long saga, this issue is fresh and interesting, dealing with ramifications while also ramping up the new story in a great blend of the two points. Though I’ve not read The Trials of Shazam nor The Power of Shazam, I have no real trouble following along–and am actually interested just from this issue in tracking those down to read.
The art is quite good…I enjoy it in and of itself, as well as for the fact that Ordway’s had a significant hand in the Marvel family in earlier stories and thus is a very appropriate artist to take things on now.
As the first issue in a new arc, this is a great point to jump on to check this series out…and honestly, if you’re not reading this series, you should be. If you enjoyed Black Adam in 52 or elsewhere the last few years, and have any interest in the character, this is not an issue to skip.
Story: 9/10
Art: 9/10
Whole: 9/10
Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, DC, Justice Society of America | Tagged: Alex Ross, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Black Adam, Bob Wiacek, Captain Marvel, Comic Reviews 2008, DC, DC Comics, Faces of Evil, Geoff Johns, Harvey RIchards, Hi-Fi, Jerry Ordway, JSA, Justice Society, Justice Society of America, Marvel Family, Michael Siglain, Power of Shazam, Rob Leigh, Shazam | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, Faces of Evil (Event), Green Lantern | Tagged: Adam Schlagman, Blue Lanterns, Comic Reviews 2008, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Comics, Eddie Berganza, Faces of Evil, Geoff Johns, Green Lantern, Ivan Reis, Julio Ferreira, Laira, Nei Ruffino, Oclair Albert, Rage of the Red Lanterns, Red Lanterns, Rob Leigh, Sandra Hope, Shane Davis | Leave a comment »
Comic Reviews by Walt 