Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The New 52 Review: GREEN LANTERN #1

GREEN LANTERN #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Geoff Johns
PENCILS: Doug Mahnke
INKS: Christian Alamy with Tom Nguyen
COLORS: David Baron
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
COVER: Ivan Reis and Joe Prado with Rod Reis (Variant cover by Greg Capullo)
32pp, Color, $2.99

The best known Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, first appeared in Showcase #22 (September-October 1959). Like other Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern of Sector 2814 (which includes Earth), wields a power ring, one of the most powerful weapons in universe. But times have changed.

There have been other Green Lanterns of 2814, and with the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” there is a new Green Lantern. Now, Hal Jordan’s nemesis, Thaal Sinestro, who first appeared in Green Lantern #7 (July-August 1961), replaces Jordan. Sinestro shares the spotlight with Jordan and apparently takes the lead in the new version of the flagship Green Lantern title.

As Green Lantern #1 opens, Thaal Sinestro faces the Guardians of the Universe on his way to being the new Green Lantern (of Sector 2814). Sinestro’s first stop is his home world, Korugar, which is besieged by Sinestro’s own Yellow Lanterns. Meanwhile, Hal Jordan seems to be having every kind of life crisis he can have but then, help is offered…

Once upon a time, in a rural home far, far away, I was a Green Lantern fan, but the character mostly bores me now. I didn’t read anything in this new Green Lantern to make me become a big fan again, but this is a good comic book, for the most part. The juxtaposition of Sinestro’s ascendance and Hal Jordan’s collapse gives the book some dramatic tension. The Yellow Lanterns and Guardians sequences did not appeal to me, so I see them as problems in an otherwise good comic book.

I must also commend penciller Doug Mahnke and inker Christian Alamy for creating some of the best Brian Bolland-clone art I’ve seen in a long time. I might come back for more that.

B

September 14th

BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-and-robin-1.html
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF SHADE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/frankenstein-agent-of-shade-1.html
SUPERBOY #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/superboy-1.html

The New 52 Review: GREEN ARROW #1

GREEN ARROW #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: J.T. Krul
PENCILS: Dan Jurgens
INKS: George Perez
COLORS: David Baron
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Dave Wilkins
32pp, Color, $2.99

Green Arrow is a superhero appearing in DC Comics publications. His secret identity is billionaire Oliver “Ollie” Queen. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 (cover date November 1941). Green Arrow dresses like Robin Hood, and he was originally an archer who invented trick arrows with various special functions, such as net arrows, explosive arrows, boxing-glove arrows, etc. The various series writers have toned down the trick arrows over the last few decades.

With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” a younger Green Arrow is back. Green Arrow #1 (entitled “Living a Life of Privilege”) re-introduces billionaire Oliver “Ollie” Queen, who is also the green-garbed archer and superhero, Green Arrow. He tracks celebrity criminals and has targeted three in Paris: Supercharge, Dynamix, and Doppelganger. Back at Queen Industries, the CEO is demanding that Queen spend more time in board meetings, while Green Arrow’s weapons designer, Jax, is having second thoughts about his career.

Thanks to the art by Dan Jurgens and George Perez, Green Arrow looks like a traditional superhero comic book that could have been published in the 1980s. On the opposite side of that, writer J.T. Krul immerses the series in corporate boardroom melodrama and international intrigue, or at least the superhero version of it. Green Arrow is a modern superhero who relies on technology and communication as he does on his paranormal physical and mental skills – traditional and new.

I’m curious to see where this goes, especially because Green Arrow seems to have a fascistic streak or at least a penchant for acting like Big Brother or Dick Cheney. Hopefully, Krul explores the dark side of Green Arrow, while the Jurgens/Perez team keeps churning out neo-soul art.

B+

August 31st
FLASHPOINT #5
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/flashpoint-5.html
JUSTICE LEAGUE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/justice-league-1.html

September 7th
ACTION COMICS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/action-comics-1.html
ANIMAL MAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/animal-man-1.html
BATGIRL #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batgirl-1.html
BATWING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batwing-1.html
DETECTIVE COMICS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/detective-comics-1-2011.html
HAWK AND DOVE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/hawk-dove-1.html
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/justice-league-international-1.html
MEN OF WAR #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/men-of-war-1.html
OMAC #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/omac-1.html
STATIC SHOCK #1 2.99
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/static-shock-1.html
STORMWATCH #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/stormwatch-1.html
SWAMP THING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/swamp-thing-1.html

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 21 2011

DC COMICS

JUL110206 BATMAN #1 $2.99

JUL110216 BIRDS OF PREY #1 $2.99

JUL110242 BLUE BEETLE #1 $2.99

JUL110195 CAPTAIN ATOM #1 $2.99

JUL110215 CATWOMAN #1 $2.99

JUL110200 DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1 $2.99

JUL110289 DMZ #69 (MR) $2.99

JUL110286 FABLES #109 (MR) $2.99

JUL110220 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1 $2.99

NOV100300 GREEN LANTERN VS SINESTRO MINI STATUE $125.00

JUL110287 HELLBLAZER #283 $2.99

JUL118139 JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 2ND PTG $3.99

JUL118177 JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 3RD PTG $3.99

MAY110247 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA OMEGA HC $24.99

JUL110243 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #1 $2.99

MAY110190 NEW TEEN TITANS GAMES HC (RES) $24.99

JUN110351 NEW YORK FIVE TP (MR) $14.99

JUL110214 NIGHTWING #1 $2.99

JUL110293 NORTHLANDERS #44 (MR) $2.99

JUL110217 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1 $2.99

JUN110281 SHOWCASE PRESENTS ALL STAR COMICS TP VOL 01 $19.99

JUL110205 SUPERGIRL #1 $2.99

JUL110271 TINY TITANS #44 $2.99

FEB110279 WOMEN OF THE DCU SER 3 SUPERGIRL BUST $60.00

JUL110192 WONDER WOMAN #1 $2.99

JUL110272 YOUNG JUSTICE #8 $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 21 2011

MARVEL COMICS

JUL118035 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #669 AMAZING FANTASY VAR PI

JUL118034 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #669 CARDS COMICS COLLECTIBLES VAR PI

JUL118036 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #669 FLYING COLORS VAR PI

JUN110711 ANITA BLAKE CIRCUS DAMNED SCOUNDREL #1 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99

JUL110578 AVENGERS #17 FEAR $3.99

JUN110634 AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #7 (OF 9) $3.99

JUL110637 CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 $3.99

JUL110640 CAPTAIN AMERICA CORPS #4 (OF 5) $2.99

JUL110652 DAREDEVIL #4 $2.99

JUL110736 DRACULA GN TP $16.99

JUL110767 ESSENTIAL SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 04 NEW ED $19.99

JUL118039 FEAR ITSELF #4 (OF 7) 2ND PTG VAR (PP #985) $3.99

JUL110597 FEAR ITSELF FEARSOME FOUR #4 (OF 4) FEAR $2.99

JUL110592 FEAR ITSELF HOME FRONT #6 (OF 7) FEAR $3.99

JUL110603 FEAR ITSELF UNCANNY X-FORCE #3 (OF 3) FEAR $2.99

JUL110591 FEAR ITSELF YOUTH IN REVOLT #5 (OF 6) FEAR $2.99

JUL110680 GENERATION HOPE #11 SCHISM $2.99

JUL110741 HALO FALL OF REACH TP BOOT CAMP (MR) $16.99

JUL110666 HEROES FOR HIRE #12 $2.99

JUL110650 HULK #41 $2.99

JUL110586 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #508 FEAR $3.99

JUL110673 KA-ZAR #4 (OF 5) $2.99

JUL110737 MARVEL GHOST STORIES GN TP $19.99

JUL110675 MARVEL UNIVERSE VS WOLVERINE #4 (OF 4) $3.99

JUL118028 MOON KNIGHT #1 3RD PTG VAR (PP #985) $3.99

JUL118029 MOON KNIGHT #2 2ND PTG VAR (PP #985) $3.99

JUL118027 MOON KNIGHT #3 2ND PTG VAR (PP #985) $3.99

JUL110755 NEW MUTANTS TP VOL 03 FALL OF NEW MUTANTS $19.99

JUL110743 RUSE TP VICTORIAN GUIDE TO MURDER $14.99

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JUL118069 SPIDER-ISLAND CLOAK AND DAGGER #1 (OF 3) 2ND PTG CHOI VAR $2.99

JUL110624 SPIDER-ISLAND CLOAK AND DAGGER #2 (OF 3) SPI $2.99

JUL118068 SPIDER-ISLAND DEADLY FOES #1 2ND PTG CASELLI VAR $4.99

JUL110627 SPIDER-ISLAND SPIDER-WOMAN #1 SPI $2.99

JUL110757 SPIDER-MAN VENGEANCE OF VENOM TP $34.99

JUL110674 THOR GOES HOLLYWOOD #1 $3.99

JUL110672 THUNDERBOLTS #163 POINT ONE $2.99

JUL110611 ULTIMATE COMICS HAWKEYE #2 (OF 4) $3.99

JUL110747 ULTIMATE COMICS THOR TP $15.99

JUL110608 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #1 $3.99

JUL110600 UNCANNY X-MEN #543 FEAR $3.99

JUL110667 VENGEANCE #3 (OF 6) $3.99

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JUL110698 X-FACTOR #225 $2.99

JUL110684 X-MEN #18 $3.99

JUL110733 X-MEN FIRST TO LAST PREM HC $19.99

JUL110759 X-MEN ORIGINS II TP $19.99

JUL110678 X-MEN SCHISM #4 (OF 5) $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamon Distributors for September 21 2011

IDW PUBLISHING

JUL118163 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ONGOING #2 $3.99

MAR110490 ARCHIES JOKE BOOK HC VOL 01 BOB MONTANA $29.99

JUL110372 ART OF METAL GEAR SOLID HC $24.99

JUL110330 COBRA ONGOING #5 $3.99

JUL110392 DONE TO DEATH GN $19.99

JUL110337 GI JOE COBRA CIVIL WAR 100 PG SPECTACULAR $7.99

JUL110340 GI JOE DISAVOWED TP VOL 04 $19.99

JUL110352 GODZILLA KINGDOM OF MONSTERS TP VOL 01 $17.99

JUL110386 LOVE AND CAPES TP VOL 03 WAKE UP WHERE YOU ARE $19.99

JUN110470 MNEMOVORE HC (IDW) $24.99

JUL110390 POUND GN $19.99

JUL110308 STAR TREK ONGOING #1 $3.99

JUL110348 TRANSFORMERS ONGOING #26 $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 21 2011

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN110045 ART OF COMIC BOOK INKING TP VOL 01 NEW PTG $29.99

JUL110025 BPRD HELL ON EARTH RUSSIA #1 $3.50

JUN110064 CLASSIC MARVEL CHARACTERS #1 SPIDER-MAN $49.95

JUL110051 CONAN ROAD OF KINGS #8 (OF 8) $3.50

JUN110046 CREEPY ARCHIVES HC VOL 11 $49.99

JUL110034 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #4 FIONA STAPLES CVR $7.99

JUL110035 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #4 GEOF DARROW VAR CVR $7.99

MAY110067 DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES CHARACTERS #1 DONALD DUCK $49.95

DEC100078 EVELYN EVELYN HC (RES) $24.99

JUN110014 HELLBOY TP VOL 11 BRIDE OF HELL & OTHERS $19.99

MAY118259 HELLBOY TP VOL 11 BRIDE OF HELL & OTHERS $19.99

JUN110029 MASS EFFECT TP VOL 02 EVOLUTION $16.99

MAY118029 PENNY ARCADE TP VOL 05 THE CASE OF THE MUMMYS GOLD $12.99

JUL110044 STAR WARS JEDI DARK SIDE #5 (OF 5) $2.99

JUL110045 STAR WARS KNIGHT ERRANT DELUGE #2 (OF 5) $3.50

JUN110027 STAR WARS OMNIBUS EPISODES I-VI COMP SAGA TP $24.99

MAY118260 STAR WARS OMNIBUS EPISODES I-VI COMP SAGA TP $24.99

JUL110030 THE GUILD CLARA CHAYKIN CVR (ONE SHOT) $3.50

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 21 2011

IMAGE COMICS

JUL110510 ALL NIGHTER #4 (OF 5) $2.99

APR110500 ARTIFACTS #6 (OF 13) C2E2 EXCLUSIVE VAR CVR $10.00

FEB110491 ARTIFACTS TP VOL 02 $14.99

MAY110447 CHEW TP VOL 04 FLAMBE (MR) $12.99

MAR110578 DARKNESS #90 ECCC VAR CVR (MR) $10.00

MAR110577 DARKNESS #93 $2.99

JUL110468 GREEN WAKE TP VOL 01 (MR) $16.99

JUL118081 INFINITE #2 CVR K JAY COMPANY FOIL EXC $2.99

JUN110483 MORNING GLORIES TP VOL 02 $12.99

JUL110537 MYSTERIOUS WAYS #3 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99

JUL110404 NEAR DEATH #1 $2.99

JUL110539 RED WING #3 (OF 4) $3.50

JUL110541 SAMURAIS BLOOD #4 (OF 6) $2.99

JUL110434 TEEN WOLF BITE ME #1 (OF 3) $3.99

JUL110552 WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #38 (MR) $2.99

JUN110568 WITCH DOCTOR #3 (OF 4) $2.99