#IReadsYou Review: X-MEN GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS Extended Cut #1

X-MEN: GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS EXTENDED CUT #1 (OF 2)
MARVEL COMICS

STORY: Christopher Claremont
ART: Brent Eric Anderson
COLORS: Steve Oliff
LETTERS: Tom Orzechowski
EDITOR: Louise Jones (original); Jennifer Grunwald (extended cut)
EiC: Jim Shooter (original); Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski (extended cut)
COVER: Salvador Larroca with Guru-eFX
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Brent Anderson; Rod Reis; Giuseppe Camuncoli and Erick Arciniega
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (June 2020)

Rated T+

The X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team and franchise created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby.  In The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963), readers were introduced to a professor who was also team-leader to his students.  Each student had unique powers and abilities because he or she was a “mutant.”

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills (Marvel Graphic Novel #5) was an original graphic novel published in 1982 by Marvel Comics.  It was written by Christopher Claremont and illustrated by Brent Eric Anderson.  Colorist Steve Oliff and letterer Tom Orzechowski completed the graphic novel's creative team.  The story pits the X-Men and their longtime enemy, Magneto, against a fanatical religious leader bent on exterminating “mutantkind.”  The graphic novel went on to become one of the most popular and beloved X-Men stories of all time.  Elements of the God Loves, Man Kills were used in the 2003 X-Men, film, X2: X-Men United.

Back in 2020, Marvel republished X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills as a two-issue miniseries, entitled X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut.  The series divides the story in two parts and brackets it with a new ten-page framing sequence or story produced by the original story's creating team.  The first issue of this “extended cut” opens with five pages of the framing sequence and the second issue ends with the other five pages.

In this new sequence, the member of the X-Men known as Kitty Pryde and her pet dragon, Lockheed, are in southwest Texas.  There, Kitty visits a young woman named Kate who met Erik Lehnsherr a.k.a. “Magneto.”  Kitty has decided to tell the young woman the story that is X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut #1 opens in the “Gold Star Cafe,” somewhere in southwest Texas.  There, Kitty Pryde of the X-Men meets Kate, a friend of Magneto, and decides to tell her the story of a time when Kitty was new to the X-Men and was known by the code name, Ariel.

Once upon a time, there was a popular and fanatical religious leader named William Stryker who led a religious organization called the “Stryker Crusade.”  Under the guise of evangelical Christianity, Stryker hatched a plot to destroy all mutants on Earth.  To begin, Stryker targeted Charles Xavier a.k.a. Professor X, the lynch pin to his plot.

To get to Xavier, Stryker will have to go through the X-Men:  Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Kitty Pryde/Ariel.  To fight the X-Men, Stryker had a strike force, a form of armor-wearing men he called the “Purifiers.”

Professor X and his X-Men were unaware of the danger to their lives.  Colossus' younger sister, Illyana, was also living with the team.  After Professor X and two of his X-Men are captured, the X-Men begin to fight back, but they will find themselves needing help from the greatest enemy, Magneto.

THE LOWDOWN:  I read X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills several times in my youth, but prior to reading this reprint series, I don't think that I had read it in decades.  I didn't read the sequel to it that Chris Claremont wrote for his former X-Men comic book series, X-Treme X-Men (2001-04).  Entitled “God Love, Man Kills Part II, it ran from X-Treme X-Men #25 (July 2003) to X-Treme X-Men #30 (October 2003).  The entire story line was collected in the trade paperback, X-Treme X-Men Vol. 5: God Love, Man Kills (October 2003).

It turns out that I had forgotten quite a bit of “God Loves, Man Kills.”  That includes the action-packed final battle against the Purifiers and that final debate with William Stryker at the “Stryker Building.”  I also had forgotten that Claremont has Kitty Pryde use the term “nigger-lover” in anger at Stevie Hunter.  An African-America woman, Stevie was a recurring, non-mutant character, who mostly appeared in The Uncanny X-Men and New Mutants in the early 1980s.  Four decades later, I have to say that I don't like that scene very much and I'm not happy about the use of that term.  I'm not surprised that Marvel did not remove it, but I am sure that it would not be used today in a scene of a similar context.

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills is a pivotal point in the publication history of the X-Men.  I believe that the X-Men began as a group of costume adventurers and superheroes who were defined by the fact that they were mutants and who faced prejudice because of it.  However, the original X-Men comic book series also focused on the action and was essentially an adventure serial.

After the debut of the “new X-Men” in 1974, writer Chris Claremont wrote the X-Men comic book as a serialized soap opera, although the X-Men team of the time traveled around the world having adventures and facing one peril after another.  Under Claremont, the X-Men and mutants, in general, became outcasts because of their mutant status.  No matter what they did as superheroes, being a mutant overshadowed or defined their actions.

Eventually, the X-Men, which was eventually re-titled “Uncanny X-Men,” became a comic book in which the narrative focused on prejudice, bigotry, racism, and hate.  The X-Men's struggles were a metaphor for the struggles of persecuted and hated minority groups fighting to be accepted by the wider society.  What made them different did not make them “less human” was a recurring theme, even as the traveled around the world and off it.

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills was the point of no return.  Never again would the The Uncanny X-Men and its various spin-off series really be about adventure.  Past, present, and future – even future-past – would be about the mutant struggle and what forms the struggle would take.  Eventually, the X-Men would become a franchise that was insular and redundant.  I think that is why over time the Uncanny X-Men went from being a bestselling comic book franchise to being in the shadow of titles like Avengers, Batman, and Justice League, to name a few.

The mutant struggle became repetitive and tired and it began with a really memorable story, X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.  The X-Men were once mutants who really wanted to prove that they could be the kind of superheroes who protected both mutants and humans and fought to save a world upon which both shared.  Then, the X-Men became just mutants.

Apparently, individual issues of comic books that are reprints of other individual comic books have been popular with buyers for more than a decade.  That is the only reason to reprint X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut.  The X-Men are not as relevant as they once were, and the original X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills was rendered irrelevant by repetition of its themes long ago.

As for the new framing sequence:  there is a kernel of something relevant in Claremont's scenario.  And Brent Anderson's art reminds us that he is still an important artist in the history of X-Men publications despite his small output in the franchise.  If one of the themes of X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills was and still is “hope,” then, X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut, at least for me, suggests that there is hope for the X-Men  It is hope that the franchise can be more than what it is now – a consumer product, an intellectual property (IP), and for some, a fetish.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of the original X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills will want to give X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut a try.

[This comic book includes two interviews, one with Chris Claremont and one with Brent Anderson.]

A-
★★★½ out of 4 stars

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: RADIANT BLACK #2

RADIANT BLACK #2
IMAGE COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Kyle Higgins
ART: Marcelo Costa
COLORS: Marcelo Costa
LETTERS: Becca Carey
EDITOR/DESIGNER: Michael Busuttil
COVER: Marcelo Costa
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Diego Greco; Rod Reis
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (March 2021)

Rated “T+/Teen Plus”

“Better Off Red”

Radiant Black is a new superhero comic book series from writer Kyle Higgins and artist Marcelo Costa.  The series focuses on a failed writer who discovers a cosmic force that changes his life.  Letterer Becca Carey and designer Michael Busuttil complete the series' creative team.

Radiant Black introduces Nathan Burnett, who just turned thirty-years-old, and things are not going great.  A failed writer (thus far), Nathan leaves Los Angeles and returns home to Lockport, Illinois to live with his parents.  A night on the town with his old pal, Marshall, leads to Nathan unlocking an alien artifact that changes his life.  This new thing seems totally unique, but there is more to it than Nathan can imagine.

Radiant Black #2 (“Better Off Red”) opens the morning after Nathan found the alien artifact that has likely turned him into a superhero.  Today, however, Nathan's dad says he has to get a job, so Nathan returns to driving for the ride-share company, Drivr.  Nathan uses this as a chance to work in Chicago where someone who is wearing a suit just like Nathan's, except it is red, uses his alien powers to rob banks.  And Nathan needs to talk to him...

THE LOWDOWN:  Radiant Black may the first entry in a new “shared universe” of superhero titles from Image Comics, if what I read on the Internet is true.  That is what initially made me interested in Radiant Black, but now, I want to read it because it is a damn good read.

Marcelo Costa's art and colors in the first issue looked radiant, but in this second issue Costa's graphical storytelling focuses on character development and relationships and drama.  Yes, the inevitable fight scenes look great, but Radiant Black can get all dramatic and stuff.

I am still not sure what pace writer Kyle Higgins will use in revealing Radiant Black's secrets, but right now, Radiant Black is charming and sweet.  Radiant Black is just an excellent comic book to simply read.

I liked Radiant Black #1, but I did not give it a grade, although it seemed like something I should call “a perfect first issue.”  Radiant Black #2 is demanding a grade, and it is also the kind of comic book that makes you pine for the next issue.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans looking for something new with a touch of classic in superhero comic books will want to try Radiant Black.

8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#28DaysofBlack Review: Dwayne McDuffie and "Justice League of America: The Injustice League"

[Dwayne McDuffie (1962-2011) left behind a diverse body of work in American comic books, one that emphasized diversity and inclusion. He did so when "diversity" and "inclusion" were dirtier words than they may be to some, now. McDuffie continues to be an inspiration to new voices in American comic books and graphic novels.]

Get #28DaysofBlack review links here.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: THE INJUSTICE LEAGUE
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Dwayne McDuffie; Alan Burnett
PENCILS: Mike McKone; Joe Benitez; Ed Benes; Allan Jefferson
INKS: Andy Lanning; Victor Llamas; Sandra Hope; Allan Jefferson
COLORS: Pete Pantazis; Alex Sinclair
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
EDITOR: Brian Cunningham
COVER: Ian Churchill and Norm Rapmund with Alex Sinclair
MISC. ART: Ed Benes and Rod Reis with Alex Sinclair; Ian Churchill and Norm Rapmund with Alex Sinclair; Joe Benitez and Victor Llamas with Pete Pantazis
ISBN: 978-1-4012-2050-1; paperback (June 9, 2009)
144pp, Color, $17.99 U.S., $21.99 CAN

Justice League of America created by Gardner Fox

The Justice League of America is a DC Comics team of superheroes.  The team was conceived by writer Gardner Fox in the late 1950s as a then modern update of the 1940s superhero team, the Justice Society of America.  The Justice League of America's original line-up of superheroes was comprised of Superman (Clark Kent), Batman (Bruce Wayne), Wonder Woman (Diana Prince), The Flash (Barry Allen), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Aquaman (Arthur Curry), and the Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz).  This group first appeared together as the Justice League of America in the comic book, The Brave and the Bold #28 (cover dated: March 1960).

The team received its own comic book title entitled Justice League of America, beginning with a first issue cover dated November 1960.  Justice League of America #261 (cover dated: April 1987) was the series' final issue, and a new series, simply titled Justice League, began with a first issue cover dated May 1987.  The title, “Justice League of America,” would not be used for an ongoing comic book series for almost two decades.

After the events of the event miniseries, Infinite Crisis, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman reformed the Justice League of America as seen in Justice League #0 (cover dated: September 2006), the kickoff of a new Justice League of America ongoing comic book series under the guidance of writer Brad Meltzer and artist Ed Benes.

After the publication of Justice League of America #12, Dwayne McDuffie became the series new writer.  McDuffie's first story arc was entitled “Unlimited.”  The creative team was comprised of pencil artists: Mike McKone, Joe Benitez, and Ed Benes and inkers: Andy Lanning, Victor Llamas, and Sandra Hope; colorist Pete Pantazis; and letterer Rob Leigh.

The story arc began in the one-shot special, Justice League of America Wedding Special #1 (November 2007) and ran through Justice League of America issues #13 to #15 (November 2007 to January 2008).  Issue #16 (cover dated: February 2008) offered two related stories.  “A Brief Tangent” was written by McDuffie; drawn by Benitez (pencils) and Llamas (inks); colored by Pantazis; and lettered by Leigh.  “Tangent: Superman's Reign” was written by Alan Burnett; drawn by Allan Jefferson; colored by Pantazis; and lettered by Leigh.

The “Unlimited” story was collected in Justice League of America: The Injustice League, which reprints Justice League of America Wedding Special #1 and Justice League of America issue #13 to #16.  The collection was first published first in hardcover (June 2008), and then, as a trade paperback (June 2009).

The backdrop of “Unlimited” is the impending wedding of Oliver “Ollie” Queen, the retired superhero known as Green Arrow, and Dinah Lance known as the hero, Black Canary, the leader of the Justice League of America.  The male members of the League are holding a bachelor party for Ollie that is not going as well as expected.  The female members are holding a bachelorette party for Dinah.

Elsewhere, super-villains:  Lex Luthor, The Joker, and Cheetah are forming a new iteration of “The Injustice League,” the evil counterpart of the Justice League, but this version will have the largest roster of villains ever.  Meeting at the “Hall of Doom,” Luthor dubs this new team, “The Injustice League Unlimited,” and they start launching their first attacks against the Justice League.

Soon, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Greenwich Village in New York City, Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl are fighting the new Injustice League's members, Cheetah, Dr. Light, and Killer Frost, while Firestorm (Jason Rusch) is in a hospital bed, gravely injured from his battle with the villains.  Batman and Red Arrow (Roy Harper) find themselves ambushed by The Joker, Fatality, and the Shadow Thief, who have already taken out Geo-Force.

With members of the Justice League falling to its adversaries, the Justice League is outmatched, and its numbers are dwindling.  Lex Luthor, however, is focused on his main target, Superman, and Luthor promises that he has devised a way to finally destroy Superman.

THE LOWDOWN:  Dwayne Glenn McDuffie died on February 21, 2011, one day after his 49th birthday.  McDuffie was a comic book writer, and he was one of the founders of Milestone Media.  This pioneering minority-owned-and minority-operated company created comic books which featured superheroes and other characters that were either African-American or other minorities whose depictions were underrepresented in American comic books.

McDuffie also wrote and produced for television, specifically for animated TV series.  He was a writer-producer for one season of Cartoon Network's “Justice League” (2001-2004) and a writer-producer for its follow-up, “Justice League Unlimited” (2004-2006).  He wrote and/or produced for three iterations of Cartoon Network's “Ben 10” franchise.  McDuffie also wrote several episodes of the animated series, The WB's “Static Shock” (2000-04), which was based on the Milestone comic book series, Static, that McDuffie co-created and co-wrote.

McDuffie may have been one of the most under-utilized talents and under-appreciated and underrated writers during his three-decade career in the American comic book industry.  Since I don't owe anyone anything and because I don't care much about consequences, I can freely say that had Dwayne McDuffie been a white man instead of an African-American, his status as a comic book creator would have been the American comic book industry equivalent of “most favored nation.”

However, much of his creative output was for DC Comics, where the most powerful editorial positions, those that hand out the writing gigs, were held by bigots, racists, and a variety of sexual harassers and abusers.  During his time at Marvel, McDuffie would have encountered much of the same thing, and during the last decade of his life, Marvel editors mainly hired white guys whose work impressed them and their friends outside the job.

Yet, in spite of such obstacles, McDuffie carved out a career telling hugely entertaining stories in comic books.  McDuffie was a traditionalist and largely eschewed the more “adult” and “mature” storytelling modes that began to dominate American comic books in the 1970s.  Yes, McDuffie was a modern writer and his work did feature elements of realism, but he wrote classic fantasy stories of good and evil in which the shades of gray served the plot, characters, and settings.  McDuffie did not write “grim and gritty” for the sake of style or fad.

That can be seen in the comic book, Static, which is a modern and perhaps, “urban contemporary” take on Spider-Man.  Static was a black teen superhero facing typical teen problems, learning to understand his powers, and dealing with the struggle to learn how to be a superhero.  Thirty years before the debut of Static, a white teen, Peter Parker, lived similar experiences in the pages of Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man.

Justice League of America (Vol. 3): The Injustice League offers “Unlimited,” which is also classic in the sense that it recalls the original Justice League of America series.  By the time, McDuffie started writing Justice League of America, comic books featuring superhero teams were dark in tone, with characters involved in adult relationships and living complicated, messy lives.  “Unlimited” is straight-forward good guy vs. bad guy.  Yes, the characters have rivalries, conflicts, motivations, personality quirks, and goals, but the depiction of that purely serves the central plot.  And it is this: with their backs to the wall, how do the members of the Justice League of America come back from the ass-kicking Lex Luthor, The Joker, and Cheetah and company have given them?

McDuffie's storytelling is efficient and every panel on every page is consequential, and there is no “decompression” filler.  From the beginning of the story, there is enough tension to create anxiety in the reader for his heroes, and I certainly found myself racing towards the end, hoping that things would work out in the end.  Of course, the heroes always (sort of) win in the end, but the best writers of superhero comic books convince readers that this is it – the end of the line for the good guys.  And McDuffie did that in “Unlimited,” seemingly with ease.

“Unlimited's” plot is so engaging that I ignored the inconsistency of the graphical storytelling due to the shifting art teams.  Actually, the artists offer straight-forward storytelling.  Artists Ed Benes, Mike McKone, and Joe Benitez might not be the best comic book artists or draw the prettiest pictures, but they are quite good at superhero comic book storytelling.  In the end, their art tells a fine story with great characters, and comic book fans swear that is what they really want...

And if audiences and editors really wanted great-stories-characters, then, Dwayne McDuffie, teller of fine comic book stories filled with hugely attractive characters, would not have had to wait to the last half-decade of his life for an A-list assignment in comic books.  By the way, those outstanding editorial citizens fired McDuffie from Justice League of America less than two years into his run on the title.

But they could not kill his pride... nor our memories of his work.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Dwayne McDuffie will want to treat themselves to Justice League of America: The Injustice League.

A
9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: NEW MUTANTS #1

NEW MUTANTS No. 1 (2020)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Ed Brisson and Jonathan Hickman
ART: Rod Reis
COLORS: Rod Reis
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Jordan D. White
EiC: Akria Yoshida a.k.a. “C.B. Cebulski”
COVER: Rod Reis
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Nick Bradshaw with Morry Hollowell; Stanley “Artgerm” Lau; Mark Bagley and John Dell with Israel Silva; Tom Muller
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2020)

Rated T+

The X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby; New Mutants created by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod

“The Sextant”

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team and franchise created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby.  The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963) introduced readers to a professor and his students, all of whom had unique powers and abilities because they were “mutants.”

The New Mutants #1 (cover date:  March 1983) was the launch of the first ongoing spin-off series of the X-Men.  The New Mutants was a group of teenage mutants who were both students at Xavier's School for Gifted Children and superheroes-in-training.  The original team of New Mutants first appeared in Marvel Graphic Novel #4: The New Mutants (cover date:  December 1982).

This past summer (2019), writer Jonathan Hickman revamped, rebooted, and re-imagined the X-Men comic book franchise via a pair of six-issue comic book miniseries, House of X and Powers of X (pronounced “Powers of Ten”).  October 2019 welcomed “Dawn of X,” the launch of six new X-Men titles.  The new series were Excalibur, Fallen Angels, Marauders, X-Force, X-Men and the subject of this review, New Mutants.

New Mutants 2020 is written by Ed Brisson and Jonathan Hickman; drawn and colored by Rod Reis; and lettered by Travis Lanham.  This relaunch of the New Mutants goes in a science fiction direction and features classic New Mutants and new characters on an adventure in the deep reaches of space.

As New Mutants #1 (“The Sextant”) opens, Professor X and Storm welcome Rahne Sinclair, the mutant codenamed “Wolfsbane,” back into the world... into their new world:  Krakoa, the living island and mutant nation-state.  Rahne is reunited with a mixture of familiar New Mutants teammates (Sunspot, Mirage, Karma, Magik, and Cypher) and some new friends (Chamber and Mondo) for a new kind of adventure.

One original family member is missing, Sam Guthrie a.k.a. “Cannonball,” who is with his family in the outer space territory of the Shi'ar Empire.  Well, these New Mutants want their teammate back, so fortunately (or unfortunately) they are going to get a ride to somewhere near Shi'ar space aboard the space ship, “The Starjammer.”  However, its crew of pirates, “The Starjammers,” especially their captain, Corsair, is an unsavory group.  And a mission in space alongside the Starjammers is often bad news... the fact of which these young mutants seem oblivious.

What writers Ed Brisson and Jonathan Hickman offer in New Mutants #1 could develop into something quite entertaining.  Still, much of this first issue made me say, “meh.”

On the other hand, the art and coloring by Rod Reis, which recalls the work of classic New Mutants artist, Bill Sienkiewicz, made me want to keep reading.  It is beautiful enough to encourage me to come back for more... maybe.

I can say that the ending of New Mutants #1 is a good cliffhanger, so I raised my final grade from the grade (a “C”) that I was originally going to give this issue.

5.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.

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Review: DARTH MAUL #1

DARTH MAUL No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Cullen Bunn
ART: Luke Ross
COLORS: Nolan Woodard
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Rod Reis
VARIANT COVERS: Rafael Albuquerque; Mark Brooks; John Tyler Christopher; Terry Dodson; Rod Reis; Michael Turner; Ashley Witter
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (April 2017)

Rated “T”

Book 1, Part 1

Since he first appeared in the film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Darth Maul has been a favorite character of Star Wars fans.  Maul is a Sith Lord, an apprentice to Darth Sidious, and is seemingly killed in his film debut.  With striking facial tattoos, vestigial horns, and a double-bladed lightsaber, however, Maul proved too popular to stay dead.  The character returned in the canonical Star Wars animated series, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels.”

Now, Darth Maul gets his first Star Wars comic book from Marvel Comics.  [There were Darth Maul comic books from Dark Horse Comics, the previous license holder of Star Wars comic books].  Entitled, Darth Maul, this five-issue miniseries is written by Cullen Bunn; drawn by Luke Ross; colored by Nolan Woodard; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

Darth Maul #1 opens before the events depicted in The Phantom Menace.  The Sith Lord, Sidious, is not ready to reveal himself to his enemy, the Jedi.  However, his apprentice, Darth Maul, grows restless, and finds that hunting some of the galaxy's most dangerous creatures does not satisfy his blood lust.  Now, Sidious sends Maul on a mission that will unexpectedly yield just the kind of hunting that Maul really wants to undertake.

It is easy for me to be cynical every time Marvel Comics announces another Star Wars comic book, but I know I am going to read at least the first issue of each new series, and likely read miniseries in their entirety.  Sometimes, I am genuinely happy with what I read, which is the case with Darth Maul.

Writer Cullen Bunn completely sells the idea that Maul so chafes under Sidious that he would willingly tempt fate and go against his master's wishes just to feed his blood lust.  It is a side of Maul that writers of Star Wars animated television series and novels have either hinted at or fully depicted.  With his Darth Maul comic book, it seems that Bunn is going to use this to full effect, and he may actually take the character places others have not.

The art team of Luke Ross and Nolan Woodard are producing a visual and graphical style that is unlike other Star Wars comic books.  I don't know if Woodard is coloring the art directly from Ross' pencils, but the effect is striking – bold, rich colors over moody compositions.  I recommend.

[This issue includes the bonus story, “Probe Droid Problem” by Chris Eliopoulos and Jordie Bellaire.]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: DOCTOR APHRA #1

DOCTOR APHRA No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon. Visit the "Star Wars Central" review page is here.]

WRITER: Kieron Gillen
ART: Kev Walker; Salvador Larroca
COLORS: Antonio Fabela; Edgar Delgado
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Kamome Shirahama
VARIANT COVERS: Rod Reis; John Tyler Christopher; Salvador Larroca; Elsa Charretier; Jamie McKelvie; Rafael Albuquerque; Ashley Witter; Kamome Shirahama
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (February 2017)

Rated “T”

Aphra “Part 1”

Rogue archaeologist, Doctor Aphra, first appeared in Marvel Comics' Darth Vader #3.  She became Darth Vader's lackey and eventually his enemy.  Darth Vader the comic book recently ended, and its replacement is a new comic book, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Marvel Comics' first ongoing series starring an original Star Wars character created in the Star Wars comic books.  Doctor Aphra is written by Kieron Gillen; drawn by Kev Walker; colored by Antonio Fabela; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

Doctor Aphra #1 opens in the aftermath of Darth Vader #25.  Aphra barely escaped Darth Vader's clutches with her life, and she knows if he discovers that she is not dead, he will hunt her down.  Aphra returns to what she does best – search the galaxy for rare artifacts.  She is now locating and liberating rare archaeological treasures; her companions are the homicidal droids, 0-0-0 and BT-1 (who also debuted in Darth Vader #3) and the Wookiee warrior, Krrsantan.  Her latest artifact find will bring her nothing but trouble, as she discovers that everyone and no one wants it.

I really like the cover art for Doctor Aphra #1, which is drawn and colored by Kamome Shirahama.  It is not a particularly inventive visual design, but it is striking in its execution.  I also like the interior art by Kev Walker, whose graphic style reminds me of the work of Jamie Hewlett (the co-creator with Alan Martin of Tank Girl).  Walker and colorist Antonio Fabela's work on this first issue would been a good fit for the best days of the science fiction and fantasy anthology magazine, Heavy Metal.

In fact, I think that in some ways,this Doctor Aphra comic book will be as much like Tank Girl, Heavy Metal, and various British and European science fiction comics as it will be a Star Wars comic book.  This title may be something of a risk for Marvel, in terms of Star Wars comic books, but it is good to see that they are willing to be a bit adventurous with their Star Wars titles.  The prior license holder for Star Wars comic books, Dark Horse Comics, was quite adventurous in the kind of Star Wars titles that it produced for two decades.

As a nice extra, there is a back-up story featuring a younger Doctor Aphra, and it is produced by the Darth Vader creative team of Gillen; artist Salvador Larroca, and colorist Edgar Delgado.  This story assures me that Doctor Aphra is more likely than not to be a good Star Wars comic book.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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The New 52 Review: Constantine #1

CONSTANTINE #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Ray Fawkes and Jeff Lemire
ARTIST: Renato Guedes
COLORS: Marcelo Mailolo
LETTERER: Sal Cipriano
COVER: Ivan Reis and Joe Prado with Rod Reis
VARIANT COVER: Renato Guedes
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (May 2013)

Rated T+ (Teen Plus)

The Spark and the Flame Part 1: “The Price We Pay”

John Constantine: Hellblazer is dead? Long live Constantine?

After first appearing, in full, as a supporting character in The Saga of the Swamp Thing #37 (June 1985), John Constantine starred in his own comic book, Hellblazer. Twenty-six odd years later, that series came to an end with Hellblazer #300 (April 2013 cover date).

With Constantine #1 (May 2013 cover date), John Constantine is headed in a new direction. Once tempted by magic to the point of his near-destruction, Constantine seeks to “maintain balance and prevent anyone from becoming too powerful.” That is a direct quote taken from Constantine #1. The maintainer of balance: that’s John Constantine’s place in The New 52.

Constantine #1 opens in New York City where Constantine lives in a pet story, Dotty’s Pets. He already has a new mission – get Croydon’s Compass before his rivals, a group called “Cold Flame,” obtain it. You’d be surprised at the membership of Cold Flame, but I’ll say that Zatara is/was one of them. Dragging along a reluctant acquaintance, Chris, Constantine heads to Norway for a battle in which someone does pay a rather high price.

Same old John: knowing him always costs someone his or her life. What can I say about the new Constantine comic book? Well, the first issue lacks the occult detective, London-noir, street hustler, Richard Stark-vibe of Hellblazer. Constantine the comic book is colorful and slick, like the 2005 film, Constantine, but without Keanu Reeves’ sincere-thespian stiffness. Magic explodes as if it were a mutant power, with crackling bursts of energy. It’s a bit like Harry Potter without the wands.

Constantine is interesting. If you’re looking for the old thing – the way Hellblazer was – that’s gone. I like this new thing. I’m not in love with it, but I like it.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Albert Avilla Reviews: Green Lantern #13

Green Lantern #13
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Doug Mahnke
Inks: Christian Alamy, Mark Irwin, Tom Nguyen, Keith Champagne & Marc Deering
Colors: Alex Sinclair with Tony Avina
Cover: Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert, and Rod Reis

“Actions and Reactions” (Spoilers)
This is a “Rise of the Third Army” tie-in and the beginning of the Simon Baz Green Lantern era.

The president and Amanda Waller are discussing their concerns about Simon becoming a Green Lantern. Simon is out in the Florida Keys while the ring is mapping his neural pathways. Simon gets a conflicting message from Hal and Sinestro, but they do agree that the Guardians need to be stopped. The tattoo on Simon’s arm is glowing green and causing him pain.

Simon returns to Dearborn where his sister is being ostracized, because he is a suspected terrorist. Simon meets with his sister to enlist her help in his attempt to clear his name. Then, we get minions of the Guardians assimilating two truck drivers. Okay, they are not very discriminating. Simon is trying to avoid the cameras on a building when he gets sneaked. It’s the Justice League that sneaks him. What ever happened to honor? What about innocent before proven guilty?

We’ve been through the set-up process for two issues now. Now, it’s time for some fighting. I want to see what Mr. Baz brings to the table. Once the League is involved things should jump off nicely. I don’t want Simon talking his way out of this predicament. Drama has its place, but superhero fantasies are about earth shattering action. This is an emotional story, thus far; Johns has done a good job of making us sympathetic to Simon’s plight.

Good art, but it is not the kind of art that will bring that sense of awe. It doesn’t stand out from the crowd. Mahnke does a good job with the characters’ faces; that seems to be his strength.

I rate Green Lantern 13 Read a Friend’s Copy. #3 (of 5) on Al-O-Meter Ranking

I Reads You Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE #6

"The Jim Lee Project"
JUSTICE LEAGUE #6
DC COMICS

WRITER: Geoff Johns
PENCILS: Jim Lee
INKS: Scott Williams with Sandra Hope, Batt, and Mark Irwin
COLORS: Alex Sinclair with Tony Avina and Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Patrick Brosseau
COVER: Jim Lee and Scott Williams, with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVER: Ivan Reis and Joe Prado with Rod Reis
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

So two months after I read the fifth issue, I finally read Justice League #6 (entitled “Part Six” or Justice League Part Six”). This new Justice League comic book series, launched the last week of August 2011, is essentially the flagship title of “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero comic book line, which also began the last week of August 2011.

As the issue begins, seven superheroes: Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Cyborg, who are not part of a team and who are not all friends, have gathered to stop an alien invasion of Earth. Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Cyborg, in a united front, try to takedown the leader of this invasion, Darkseid. Meanwhile, on Darkseid’s world, Batman attempts to rescue Superman, who is being tortured by Desaad.

For this opening story arc of the new Justice League, writer Geoff John’s offers what is simply just one big battle that allows him to introduce his new version of the Justice League team lineup. It’s a fairly good story, but, it is also really a single-issue (at most, two-issue) story stretched to six issues i.e. trade paperback size.

To be honest with you, dear reader, I am following this series for Jim Lee’s art. When I review issues not drawn by Lee, you better believe that I got those as freebies. Back to Lee’s art: what glorious art it is! Lee summons his inner Jack Kirby by delivering pencil art full of super powers on display and super-beings in motion. Lee brings out the Kirby bat on such delicious splash pages and spreads as the one featuring Wonder Woman stabbing Darkseid in the eye, Superman flying into Darkseid’s midsection, and the Cyborg boom tube explosion. Ahhh, I think I need a cigarette.

A-

There is a Pandora back-up by Geoff Johns (writer), Carlos D’Anda (artist), Gabe Eltaeb (colors), and Sal Cipriano (letters).

The New 52 Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE #2

"Superman-handled"

JUSTICE LEAGUE #2
DC COMICS

WRITER: Geoff Johns
PENCILS: Jim Lee
INKS: Scott Williams
COLORS: Alex Sinclair
LETTERS: Patrick Brosseau
COVER: Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVER: Ivan Reis, Andy Lanning, and Rod Reis
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

DC Comics re-launched its superhero comic book line with 52 #1 issues – “The New 52,” back in September. The first new #1 was Justice League #1, written by Geoff Johns, penciled by Jim Lee, and inked by Scott Williams. Now that the introductions to the new JL have been made, it is time for the long haul. Is this series good?

Justice League #2 (“Part Two”) brings together the first members of what will become the world’s greatest super team, but this is an inauspicious beginning. Batman and Green Lantern made a mistake in the way they approached Superman in order to question him. Now, Superman is stomping their asses into the ground, and Flash comes to the rescue, but will he fare better? Meanwhile, S.T.A.R. Labs scientist, Silas Stone, and his son, Victor, find their family feud interrupted by an invasion.

I didn’t expect much of Justice League #1, but was pleasantly surprised. Suddenly, I had bigger expectations for #2, which I am happy to say were exceeded. Up to this point, I have been unimpressed with Geoff Johns, but he writes a Justice League that is funny, lively, energetic and fast paced. The characters work purely as superheroes; John’s focus seems to be to make them heroes – men of action rather than men of psychoanalysis. [Oh, I’m so dark and moody because my parents were shot right in front of me, I got a Jheri curl, and went to the Far East to learn magical kung fu.]

As for the art, I think this is the best work that Jim Lee has done, both in terms of being eye-candy and storytelling, since the 1990s. Scott William’s precision inking and Alex Sinclair’s gleaming colors make it even better. For me, at least, The New 52 is about superhero comic books that are fun to read, and Justice League exemplifies that.

A

The New 52 Review: GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #1

"Lord of the Rings"

GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Tony Bedard
PENCILS: Tyler Kirkham
INKS: Batt
COLORS: Nei Ruffino
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Tyler Kirkham, Batt, and Rod Reis
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Kyle Rayner first appeared in Green Lantern (Vol. 3) #48 (cover date January 1994). He replaced Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern (of Sector 2814) and held that position until the events of the miniseries, Green Lantern: Rebirth. Now, Rayner returns to Green Lantern status – Green Lantern of Sector 2814.4. With “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero line, Rayner headlines Green Lantern: New Guardians.

As Green Lantern: New Guardians #1 (“Part One”) opens, something bad has happened on Oa, and the Guardian, Ganthet, plans on making something good come of it. He chooses down-on-his-luck commercial artist, Kyle Rayner, as the latest member of the Green Lantern Corps. Meanwhile, power rings that tap into different portions of the emotional spectrum are decommissioning and abandoning their owner/wearers. So who is the replacement wearer for all these rings?

Apparently, Green Lantern: New Guardians is a team book starring Kyle Rayner (the Green Lantern of Sector 2814.4?) and representatives of each of the Corps that tap into a particular portion of the emotional spectrum. I can see this becoming my favorite Green Lantern series, even as much as I (thus far) like Green Lantern Corps. Series writer Tony Bedard injects humor, giving the portion of the Green Lantern mythos that he will direct a tweak without tearing it down to build something new.

Unlike the artists of Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps, New Guardians artist Tyler Kirkham is not trying to emulate Brian Bolland. Kirkham honed his skill in a Michael Turner mini-factory, and while his style still shows the influence of the late Mr. Turner, Kirkham can draw and has an imaginative sense of composition. There are a few very nice splash pages and double-page spreads, and also a way-cool body shot of the Star Sapphire known as Fatality.

Green Lantern: New Guardians essentially says that when it comes to Green Lantern comic books, three’s company – not a crowd.

B+

September 28th
AQUAMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/aquaman-1.html
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/batman-dark-knight-1.html
BLACKHAWKS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/blackhawks-1.html
FLASH #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/flash-1.html
I VAMPIRE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-vampire-1.html
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/justice-league-dark-1.html
SUPERMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/superman-1.html
TEEN TITANS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/teen-titans-1.html
VOODOO #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/voodoo-1.html

The New 52 Review: AQUAMAN #1

"Aquatease"

AQUAMAN #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Geoff Johns
PENCILS: Ivan Reis
INKS: Joe Prado
COLORS: Rod Reis
LETTERS: Nick J. Napolitano
32pp, Color, $2.99

Aquaman is a DC Comics superhero created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger. Aquaman debuted in More Fun Comics #73 (cover date November 1941) and, for the better part of two decades, was the star of backup features in DC’s anthology titles. Beginning in Adventure Comics #260 (cover date May 1959), the character was given an origin story, new powers, and a supporting cast.

With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” Aquaman returns in a new self-titled comic book series. In Aquaman #1 (“The Trench” Part One), Aquaman returns to the public eye, but people still consider him a joke and/or are very curious about him. Meanwhile, trouble rises from the ocean depths.

What can I say about Aquaman #1? It’s all tease and setup. The art is nice, although the coloring is a bit garish. Writer Geoff Johns spends most of this issue dealing with how fans perceive Aquaman, addressing that through peripheral characters who mock (cops, restaurant patrons) or question (the self-appointed journalist blogger) Aquaman. How Aquaman’s powers work or his status in Atlantis is really fanboy stuff. The real conflict and dramatic tension will come from the invasion, and that’s pushed off for another issue. Of course, that’s how it works in padded, write-for-the-trades land.  This is not a first issue; it's a "#0" issue.

C+

The New 52 Review: NIGHTWING #1

NIGHTWING #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Kyle Higgins
PENCILS: Eddy Barrows
INKS: JP Mayer
COLORS: Rod Reis
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Dick Grayson, Batman’s original Robin, first appeared in Detective Comics #38 (April 1940). Grayson would eventually retire as Robin and take on his own superhero identity, Nightwing, a character that first appeared in Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (July 1984). Grayson became the new Batman for a year (two years in publishing time), but as part of “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero comic book line, he is back as Nightwing.

Nightwing #1 (“Welcome to Gotham”) opens with Nightwing swinging over Gotham City. Dick Grayson has decided to live in the rougher section of town in order to be closer to the action, and he gets plenty of action. First, he visits Haly’s Circus, for whom his late parents were acrobats. Next, a vicious new villain is on the prowl to kill.

Nightwing #1 is a straightforward action and fight comic. The character stuff, such as the visit to Haly’s Circus, is empty and devoid of the emotions Kyle Higgins thought he was hitting, but the fights have, shall we say, kick. The art team of Eddy Barrows (pencils) and JP Mayer (inks) is good and features strong composition and solid drawing. I’ve never heard of Barrows, but I want to know more about him now.

I would describe Nightwing as currently being at the top of the middle of the pack, mainly because of the art.

B+

September 21st
BATMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-1.html
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-hood-and-outlaws-1.html
WONDER WOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/wonder-woman-1.html

The New 52 Review: RESURRECTION MAN #1

RESURRECTION MAN #1
DC COMICS

WRITERS: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
ART; Fernando Dagnino
COLORS: Santi Arcas
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, and Rod Reis

Resurrection Man is a DC Comics superhero created by Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett and Jackson Guice. The character had a comic book series that ran for 27 issues from 1997 to 1999. Resurrection Man is attorney Mitchell “Mitch” Shelley, who became the unwilling test subject in a nanotechnology experiment. The result rendered him immortal in an unusual way. Mitchell could still be killed, but the death would last only a few seconds or a few minutes. Then, Mitchell would be reborn with a superpower influenced by the way he was last killed.

The character returns in Resurrection Man #1, part of DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero comics line, “The New 52.” As the story (entitled “Pronounced Dead”) opens, Mitch has just come back to life, tasting everything metal in the morgue. Then, he’s off to Portland, Oregon on a flight where he meets Sue, who is not what she appears to be. Who are the Phantoms of the Afterlife, and why is Mitch’s soul so attractive to every entity from above and from below?

I remember Resurrection Man; I remember ignoring it. Now, the more I read about it the more it sounds like a really interesting concept, so I might go back-issue hunting. Meanwhile, this first issue of the new series is a very nice read. It seems more like a Vertigo title than a mainline DC Comics title, but DC’s superhero line really needs a horror comics side, so this will do.

I’m not familiar with the work of writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, but if first impressions are important, I’m impressed. Of course, artist Fernando Dagnino, whose style does much to make this look like a Vertigo comic book, contributes dark compositions which create the dark fantasy vibe that Resurrection Man #1 does so well.

B+

September 14th
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-and-robin-1.html
BATWOMAN #1 2.99
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batwoman-1.html
DEMON KNIGHTS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/demon-knights-1.html
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF SHADE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/frankenstein-agent-of-shade-1.html
GREEN LANTERN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/green-lantern-1.html
LEGION LOST #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/legion-lost-1.html
MISTER TERRIFIC #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/mister-terrific-1.html
RED LANTERNS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-lanterns-1.html
SUPERBOY #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/superboy-1.html

The New 52 Review: RED LANTERNS #1

RED LANTERNS #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Peter Milligan
PENCILS: Ed Benes
INKS: Rob Hunter
COLORS: Nathan Eyring
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
COVER: Ed Benes and Rob Hunter with Rod Reis
32pp, Color, $2.99

Part of “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero comics line, is the release of comic books starring characters that previously never had their own ongoing comic book series. The Red Lanterns, who are part of Green Lantern lore, are one such group of characters.

Red Lanterns #1 (“With Blood and Rage”) opens as the Red Lanterns lead an assault against marauders in Space Sector 666. However, Atrocitus, the leader and creator of the Red Lanterns, is just not feeling the rage and believes that he is just going through the motions. What is this malaise? Meanwhile, in Small Ockdon, United Kingdom, brothers Ray and John face a tragedy that brings out the rage.

Writer Peter Milligan fashions scenes and set pieces that convincingly convey what seems to be this series dominant theme, rage. There are also odd moments of poignancy in a few scenes, but the story reads cold, lacking the heat of the hotter emotions. The art by Ed Benes (who is from the chicken scratchy school of early Image Comics art) and Rob Hunter does nothing for me. It is flat and the emotions and feelings it suggests (rage, resentment, jealousy) come across as cartoonish and fake. I’m not interested in where this series is going, although I am usually curious about what Milligan is writing.

C

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
GREEN LANTERN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/green-lantern-1.html
SUPERBOY #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/superboy-1.html

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

I Reads You Review: FLASHPOINT #5

FLASHPOINT #5 (OF 5)
DC COMICS

WRITER: Geoff Johns
PENCILS: Andy Kubert
INKS: Sandra Hope and Jesse Delperdang
COLORS: Alex Sinclair
LETTERS: Rick J. Napolitano
COVER: Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope, and Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVER: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and Rod Reis
40pp, Color, $3.99

In the beginning, I enjoyed DC Comics’ crossover events and would read the entire core limited series and as many of the tie-in titles as I could. I read Crisis on Infinite Earth (1985-86) and most of the tie-in comic books. I read Legends (1986-87) and many of the tie-in issues. I read some of Millennium (1988) and a few of the tie-ins. By the time of Invasion (1988-89), I only felt like spending a little money on the whole event, so I only passively sampled it. Armageddon 2001 (1991) interested me for a few weeks. Since reading a few issues of DC One Million, I have entirely avoided DC’s comic book crossover story arcs, including just about anything that smacked of being an event.

Well, this is a big year for DC Comics, and I find myself coming in on the end of Flashpoint, the biggest comic book crossover event of 2011. For the past few decades, many crossover events have promised to change either Marvel or DC’s fictional universes forever, but Flashpoint seems to be the real deal. When Flashpoint ends, the DC Universe will reboot (DC’s bosses call it a re-launch), and from August 31 to September 28 2011, DC Comics will publish 52 number one issues – the first issues of 52 new comic book series. It’s known as “The New 52.”

Flashpoint, the core miniseries in a massive publishing event, is a five-issue series written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Andy Kubert. As I understand it: Barry Allen/Flash is among a handful of characters who realize that they have awakened in an altered timeline, vastly different from the regular one in which they live. This timeline is called Flashpoint.

As Flashpoint #5 begins, Reverse Flash/Eobard Thawne is triumphant, as everything Flash/Barry Allen tries seems to come up short. Batman/Thomas Wayne comes to the rescue, with Grifter and the Resistance close behind. But only Flash can fix the mess he made – with millions of lives hanging in the balance.

As crossover events go, Flashpoint offers the usual superhero/super-villain spectacle – skirmishes and big cast-of-thousands battles. There’s plenty of exposition in the form of recaps, explanations, back story, exclamations of triumph, premature ejaculation, etc. I think this is the first Geoff Johns scripted comic book that I have ever read… I think.

After reading this, I can understand why Johns’ comics might not be on my must-recall list. Still, the second half of this comic book has a few poignant scenes. Perhaps, these moments of character tenderness and bonding are what make Johns’ reputation with comic book fans.

The art is a mixed bag. I don’t think this kind of event comic, in which action scenes and characters are packed like sardines into small panels are Andy Kubert’s strength. Covers, double-page spreads, splash pages, and pages with big panels are where he thrives, and that is no more evident than here in Flashpoint #5. Kubert’s gorgeous pencil art for the cover shows that almost 20 years later, Jim Lee is still influencing Kubert.

Do you need to read Flashpoint before you start reading “The New 52?” No, you do not.

B-