Last Week's Reviews

I'm a little bit late with these, and I still haven't even gotten completely caught up yet. I feel as though life has been passing me by! Still, there was some very good stuff, and some slightly less good stuff from last week. Basically, it was the final hurrah of Old DC, before the last issue of Flashpoint, and the beginning of the new 52 Universe.

Green Arrow #15

Only made it to fifteen issues, and it will already be starting over. We get the finale to the story of Ollie teamed up with whatshername, fighting that...guy. The crazy one. They blow up quite a bit of Washington DC, but it's all ok, because they catch the bad guy, and Ollie gets to wax a bit philosophical before it all starts over. Not bad.


Retroactive: Green Lantern

This particular issue is the one from the '90's, so naturally it is by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks, featuring none other than Kyle Rayner, and dagnabit, it was fun. I'm not quite sure why Kyle thinks that painting a picture of the "One Punch" moment with Guy and Batman is going to impress Guy, but no one ever said that Kyle was a particularly deep thinker.

Anyway, Who should show up, attacking the satellite of love, but Effigy! And man, is he ever cranky. He even gives Kyle something of a run for his money, and the battle spills down to earth, and Kyle's running out of energy and has to scramble to recharge his battery, but the constructs...oh, the constructs. It was just FUN! And I've always liked Kyle's original outfit the best for some reason. So this was pretty great. I'm still pretty sure that Guy was less than enthused with that painting however.

Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #13

And speaking of Guy and Batman. Here they are teamed up together again. Guy is relaxing at a ball game, when he gets the word, that doings are a'transpiring, and heads up to a satellite, where he finds a body and Batman. Neither is particularly happy that the other is trespassing on their turf, but they manage to put their differences aside, and work together in a reasonably harmonious manner. Guy is interrogating the suspects on the space station, while Batman wanders around doing whatever it is that he does. Naturally when Bats announces that he's figured out who the killer is, the alarms all go off, not to mention the lasers, which Guy and Bats both take down.

The bad guy takes off in the super dooper space ship, with nefarious plans ready to be carried out, Batman is trying to get the rest of the crew to safety, and Guy has to head out after the villain, who is escaping, and does it...magnificently of course. In fact, he not only catches the bad guy, but he manages to save the space station which was going to fall on top of Opal City, AND save Bats and the crew. And he does it, as always with considerable panache. Then, when the villain is busy sneering, Batman does what he does best, and punches him in the face. Guy is impressed that All It Took Was One Punch.

Heh.

This was one of those books that got better each time that I read it. Not a bad way to go out at all...and a HUGE improvement over the abysmal Green Lantern Corps book from the week before.

Gotham City Sirens #26

Well, we all knew that this merry trio of bad girls would eventually end up at one another's throats. Ivy of course, is awfullly cranky, Selina is sarcastic, and Harley of all people, is the voice of reason. And naturally, they figure it is all Batman's fault. Again, a pretty decent ending to a pretty decent book. It's rather a shame that this little club is being broken up, because although I am quite fond of Selina, there is No Way that I am going to read Winick's sexy sexy sexy take on her. By the way...she's sexy. I can't quite picture Ivy in the Birds of Prey, and I loathe Harley's new outfit in Suicide Squad. I'm willing to give the latter two books chance. But only a chance.

Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #3

Oh Hal,you never ever change...not matter what alternate reality you find yourself in. Hal and Carol end up going up against the Amazons, in order to drop the Green Arrow weapon, which naturally, Hal does. In a spectacular fashion. Too bad that he blows himself up with it.

Dang.

Oh Hal.

Retroactive: Justice League of America

Ok, THIS was the book that I was waiting for, with none other than Giffen, DeMatteis and Maguire, revisiting my beloved JLI. We have J'onn, we have uncrazy Max, we have Ted as Blue Beetle, and Booster as Booster. We have Guy being a lunatic, and Fire and Ice, and look, Ice isn't swearing at ANYbody! Power Girl and her evil Cat! Oberon, and Scott and Barda! AND the Injustice League, and a bummed out Parademon who is bad at cards. Merriment and mayhem. It...it's all just so much goddamned fun, that I am practically in tears.

Buy this. Buy this and read it and enjoy it.

It is a bit sad that I have enjoyed all of the Retroactive books so VERY very much this month, because without exception they have All Been So Good.

Justice Society of America #54

And here is the JSA's swan song. Gotta love that Darwynn Cook cover. I have been quite depressed about the disappearance of the JSA, until I found out that Robinson and Nicola Scott are going to be doing a new JSA book. It's going to be on Earth Two, but I can LIVE with that, as long as I get my darling old farts. And I love Robinson and I love Nicola Scott, so I'll be happy.

This wasn't bad, if a bit rushed. The evil monster god thing is unleashed and feeding on all of their super energy, there is a bit of blame being passed around, not to mention guilt, Ted gets impaled, but lives through it, and Mister Terrific is back to being...well...terrific. Too bad about Alan though.

Wonder Woman #614

I don't know what I was expecting, but it turned out to be...pretty good actually. Diana defeats Nemesis, takes on her aspect, but manages to defeat it as well, and lo and behold, Themiscyra is back,and the Amazons and even Hippolyta. I LOVE Hippolyta! Diana is just so happy, and yet she knows that something is a little bit...off. I don't care, and neither does she. I am rather looking forward to the new Wonder Woman book, because the Azzarello and Chiang are also wonderful.

So... a pretty good week, all in all. Not a terrible way to go out. I am looking forward to the new books with anticipation and trepidation all at the same time.

Woohoo!

Aaaannd, we're back in business. Ok, that's it, I SWEAR this time, that nobody touches this fershlugginer computer but ME! Arrgghh!

We did manage to weather the Hurricane pretty well. Never lost power, which was nice, although my son and his bride DID, so they kept coming over and taking showers. On the other hand, he made us pancakes for breakfast, and he makes the best pancakes in the world. Lost a fair amount of tree branches and leaves all over the place, but we were very very lucky. Poor Vermont! They got it almost worst than the coast did! The Connecticut River is VERY high, and although we live right along the river, we again were lucky, and didn't have anything but very minor flooding. Too bad if you live on the coast however.

Man, I missed a LOT of stuff. Once I have a chance to get caught up, I'll do my reviews, and all that OTHER stuff, that it is that I apparently do. Hope that everyone ELSE made it through the Hurricane ok!

Gosh...I missed you all.

stupid computer!

Well, I don't know what I did, but obviously, I did something. Have to get it fixed.

Dammit!!!!

Ok, This IS Green

There were some calls of foul play, when I put up a picture of J'onn J'onnz, Martian Manhunter in all of his greenish glory...except that the picture by Chris Samnee was actually in black and white.

You would think that I would have noticed that. You would be wrong of course, it is uncanny how completely oblivious I can be sometimes.

But today...!



Why it's none other than Fire, and yes, she IS green. In fact I am sensing a theme here. There do seem to be a lot of comic book people either with Green in their name, or green skin, or green costumes, or...or something. Anyway, this is a beautiful picture of Bea, and I blush to confess that I don't know WHERE I scanned it, or I would give the proper credit. But still...very nice. Very nice indeed.

Tempus Fugit

Is it me, or is this month just flying by? Egad, the kids will be going back to school in a week! Well...not my kids, but MOST people's kids. Ah, those halcyon days of toasting the bus driver on the first day of school...the neighborhood moms were all smiling, and the dear dear children were sullen and surly.

But anyway.

I haven't a thing in my head today, other than it is an absolutely gorgeous day, especially for August. Sunny, clear, warm without being too hot, and not even humid. So, to celebrate, I give you someone who is green.

And NOT a Green Lantern! J'onn doesn't get enough love.



By Chris Samnee no less. DC really should snatch him right up.

Green Lantern Corps #63

Ummmm...you know that I love Green Lanterns, right? And I'm pretty easy-going when it comes to anything Green Lanternish. And I understand, that they are trying to wrap things up, prior to the big relaunch in a couple of weeks. But this issue was, quite frankly, a mess.

NOT written by Tony Bedard, or Peter Tomasi, or Geoff Johns, it was written by Scott Kolins. It just jumps around from Lantern to Lantern, and how they are still all falling to pieces emotionally after the Big Bad War. Boodikka is the first, and they show her as still being an Alpha, even though I'm pretty sure that she got cured or at least is LESS of an alpha a couple of issues back aways. Then Voz is having a conniption and wants to quit, so Salaak is all worried. Ry'jll is weeping, and there is a rumble in the cafeteria, with Turytt beating up Kyle of all people, because he's from Earth, and everyone knows that the Earth Lanterns are sooooooo full of themselves, and stuck up and who needs them anyway?

Whuh?

So there is a big pile-on Kyle, with everyone else joining in for some reason, because all of a sudden they hate Earth Lanterns, but Tomar Tu shows up and speaks up for Kyle, and they call him a Earth lover,but then Salaak announces an emergency and they suddenly all realize that they are LANTERNS, dammit, and fly off to deal with the problem.

That was...ridiculous. Why would they, in the first place, be pissed off at the Earth Lanterns? The Earth Lanterns are the ones who SAVE their sorry asses over and over. Hal is the one who killed Krona! If it weren't for Kyle, there wouldn't BE a Green Lantern Corps! Guy and John are Honor Guard! Sheesh!

I understand that the Guardians have gone from being slightly obnoxious, to out and out villainy lately, but that's no reason to have ALL of the Corps being assholes.

Bleh.

Thursdays Reviews of Wednesday's Comics

That...waws an unusually full week. I LIKE that it was a full week. And some interesting books were certainly out.

Flashpoint: Abin Sur #3

Well, it is comforting to know that the Guardians are douchebags in ANY universe. And that Sinestro turns against his bestest buddy and mentor, not to mention brother-in-law, and chops his hand off, and in any number of ways, proves to be A Bad Fellow. But not to worry, although the Guardians cut off Abin's Green Lantern powers, he has just enough to help out, then die, and then be reincarnated as the White Lantern. I don't fully understand how all of this is going to work, but I assume it will all make sense in the end. Which is approaching rapidly.

Batgirl #24

I don't usually pick this up, but heard good things about it, and the good things were TRUE! The story is fun, and the art is adorable. Stephanie confronts her no-goodnik father, aka the Cluemaster, who has been hiding in plain sight, in prison. He's taken up botany, and it turns out to be Black Mercies, which is NOT something that you want to play around with. Stephanie has some of the requisite hallucinations, but still manages to beat the fantasy, and the pictures of what she was experiencing are simply wonderful. The one with Barbara as a Green Lantern, Stephanie as a Blue Lantern, and Damien as a Red Lantern are my favorites...of course. But it's ALL good. I hope that Stephanie isn't going to go into comicbook limbo like so many other characters in the relaunch.

Batman: 80 Page Giant

Man, I just am such a sucker for an 80 page giant book. I don't even LIKE Batman that much, but still, this wasn't a bad book. Not every story works, but most of them do, and it has some nice artwork, and it's always fun to see stories from new people. Love that cover.

Fables #108

Well, the North Wind, has taken out the Big Baddie, at the cost of his own life, and now they are looking for a NEW North Wind...amongst Snow and Bigby's kids no less. Bigby's brothers aren't eligible, mainly because, as the little winds point out...they're just assholes apparently. There are some nice subplots brewing, with Rose Red, not to mention the former Mrs. Spratt. As always, Fables is an excellent read.

Retroactive: Flash

Wally! More Wally! It's always nice to see Wally. I like Barry, but I like Wally too. I'm also concerned that he's going to be disappearing shortly like so many OHTER characters. The story is a bit convoluted, and there are aliens, memory loss, Linda a Kil%gore, but what the heck. It's Wally!

Green Lantern Corps #63

More on this tomorrow.

Justice League of America #60

This was basically just everything wrapping up. They are all quitting and riding off into the sunset. Supergirl quits, Donna quits, Jade goes to hang out with dear old dad, Bill is headed back to Africa, where he's going to hang out with the myriad superheroes of all the various African countries, which I thought was a rather neat touch. Mikaal is fed up, and even Dick is hangin up his Bat Boots. Oh, and Jesse is pregnant. There is a lot of refrerences to stories that we never actually saw...but still, at least they all get some closure, which isn't a bad thing. So...not terrible.

Retroactive: Wonder Woman

Oh, God, I loved this book to death. Etta has a group of young teenaged girls, and she gets Diana to help out mentoring their club. She puts them through their paces, and they end up learning not to be so shallow, not to mention a lot of other valuable life lessons, and it is all done in a very charming manner. I LIKE this Diana. I like her a lot. they also end up saving a bunch of stinky BOYS! This was a hoot and a half, and I recommend it highly. In fact, I wish that I could read a Messner-Loebs Wonder Woman book each and every month.

At one point, Etta thinks that Diana is pushing the girls too hard, so Diana stops. and lets them do what they want, including playing with dolls. She picks up Ken and has him address Barbie, in my absolute favorite bit from the story.

"Ha! I Ken, am home from the masculine world of work. Wife, feed me while I ogle your bulbous femininity. Display for me your subservience for I am the Man."

One of the little girls points out that Diana is..."sooo terrible at playing house."

I just cracked up.

Tiny Titans #43

Yes, I've started getting this because it is just too cute for words. I do hope that DC isn't going to discontinue it either.

Journey Into Mystery #626

The lone Marvel entry on my list, but it is certainly pretty darned fabulous. Little Loki is still out trying to save Thor, and using his considerable skills and wiles, and I'm loving it. He fools Surter, he fools Odin, he fools EVERYONE! I love this version of Loki So Much.

So, a pretty decent week altogether.

Oh God, it's Tuesday

Ummmm...well, hello there, out there in happy happy blogging land. Welcome to another edition of "My Mind is a Complete Blank" Tuesday. And you know what we do when we find ourselves in this particular predicament?

Yes, you guessed it.



I SO stole this from Erin over at her "Exploring the Time Zone" blog, and she's also at Erin Starlight, and boy does she love Booster Gold. as all right thinking people do.

Anyhoo. It cracks me up.

I'm Confused

Not that being confused is an unusual thing for me. However...from reading the various blogs and message boards and such...it is my understanding that the new Justice League book, coming out next month, has Hal in it, and is therefore not in the "present" but actually takes place five years ago, when the JLA originally formed.

I'm not actually that thrilled with the thought that the entire DC Universe is actually only five years old, but I'll go along with the premise for the moment. However, I've also read, that due to Government distrust of the JLA, the Justice League International is formed...with Booster and guy, Rocket Red, Fire, Ice and Vixen, and Batman. This doesn't make a whole hell of a lot of sense to me. Is this incarnation of the JLI ALSO five years in the past?

If that is the case, then will Guy be written as a brain-dead thug again? Will the Rocket Red be Dmitri instead of Gavril? Shouldn't Ted Kord be ALIVE? Not to mention Scott and Barda, Ralph and Sue, and a plethora of OTHER Leaguers? Will Max Lord be a part of the League?

I'm having a bit of trouble reconciling the two things together. Is this new JLI taking place NOW, which is why Booster will have the new costume, not to mention the fact that he'll be the de facto leader, or do we just throw out EVERYTHING we know from before? Because...although I am pretty good at overlooking HUGE plot holes, this is a bit much for me to swallow.

For that matter, if the JLA is in the past, why the heck is everyone running about wearing the new costumes?

On the other hand, Ryan Choi is back. This is a good thing. A very very good thing. Which also makes me wonder why Ray Palmer isn't in the Justice League either. Or Hawkman. Or Martian Manhunter. Let's face it, I'm sure that Cyborg is a very nice boy, but really...I'm not sure that I see him fitting in the BIG Leagues.

But I'm beginning to regard this whole relaunch thing with a bit more trepidation that at first.

Sweet Sweet Anticipation

If you are a DC fan, then you know of course, that August is the month where all of our beloved...and not so beloved books...wind up their plot lines, some of them to be cancelled, some of them to be revamped, and some of them to continue in September's vaunted Relaunch of the entire DC Line. No fewer than 52 books are going to be coming out, and all of this has obviously been covered ad nauseum for quite a few weeks now.

And as sad as I am to see some books ending, not to mention my dismay at the way that some of them ARE ending...I cannot help but admit to a tiny feeling of...anticipation.

Anticipation is one of the things that Comics do so well. The cliffhanger ending. The wait of four weeks until NEXT months book, so that we can find out what happened. The gentle sweat of desire that fills our bosoms. And at the same time, the dread that perhaps it isn't going to be as GOOD as it should be...that somehow things will get screwed up, because let's face it, that happens. A LOT. But sometimes it doesn't, and there is always the hope that this month...yes, THIS month, we are going to read the Best Comic Book Ever.

I'm reminded of one of the single greatest sentences in the English language, written by William Faulkner of all people, in "Intruder in the Dust". Faulkner usually drives me insane, but this phrase about the Battle of Gettysburg is sheer genius.

"For evry Southern boy fourteen years old, not once but whenever he wants it, there is the instant when it's still not yet two o'clock on that July afternoon in 1865, the brigades are in position behind the rail fence, the guns are loaded and ready in the woods and the furled flags are already loosened to break out and Pickett himself with his long oiled ringlets and his hat in one hand probably and his sword in the other looking up the hill waiting for Longstreet to give the word and it's all in the balance, it hasn't happened yet, it hasn't even begun yet, it not only hasn't begun yet but there is still time for it not to begin against that position and those circumstances...yet it's going to begin, we all know that, we have come too far with too much at stake and that moment doesn't need even a fourteen-year old boy to think 'this time. maybe this time' with all this much to lose and all this much to gain: Pennsylvania, Maryland, the world, the golden dome of Washington itself to crown with desperate and unbelievable victory the desperate gamble, the cast made two years ago: or to anyone who ever sailed even a skiff under a quilt sail, the moment in 1492 when somebody thought 'This is it:' the absolute edge of no return, to turn back now and make home or sail irrevocably on and either find land or plunge over the world's soaring rim."

Whew!

I'm not quite sure that this is exactly what Dan Dideo and the rest of DC actually thinks, but it comes close, in my estimation. It hasn't happened yet, and perhaps it WILL be the greatest thing ever, or else it will all crash and burn...but burn magnificently.

Or maybe, it is just Friday afternoon, and I'm feeling a bit punchy because the blessed weekend is before me. Or because I really really want this Relaunch to work. I Want My Comics To Be...Good. I want everyone to buy them and read them, and pass them along to their children or their younger siblings, or to whomever, so that THEY become comic fans, and so that the whole tottering edifice continues to exist.

Please, God, don't let it suck.

Thursday's Reviews of Wednesday's Comics

Well! That...that was something of a let-down, to be completely honest. And I had been SO looking forward to some of these books. They weren't terrible...but they weren't as good as I had thought they were going to be.

Batman & Robin #26

I keep waiting for Tomasi and Gleason to be doing this, but is that even happening anymore? This issue just confused the heck out of me. Did I miss an issue or something? We have our dynamic duo fighting with some...guy in France, and a WHOLE lot of really really weird shit is going down. I can't even begin to figure out exactly what the heck is going on here, so I'm not going to try.


Booster Gold #47


Now this was actually pretty good. It's the last issue of Booster Gold (sob!) and I'm going to miss it terribly. I'm glad that Booster is going to be showing up in the new JLI, but I will miss Rip and Rani, and even Michelle. And Skeets. Definitely Skeets.

Booster does manage to defeat Doomsday...with a whole lotta help from Alex, the mysterious woman that he's hooked up with, who can channel other people's powers. Then it's off to find Barry West, who is the key to getting the whole megilla back to normal. Or at least close. What did confuse me, was that Booster seemed to know that it WAS Barry, and that Barry seemed to know who Booster was. I'm not sure that these two have ever actually...met. Barry hasn't really been back all that long, and they had the whole Blackest Night kerfuffle, so I'm not exactly sure when the two would have crossed paths...but presumably they have access to important intel on each other...or something.

Anyway. Somehow or another...it works, but poor Alex is apparently killed helping Booster. Dagnabit. Booster is back, but highly confused, and his uniform...his beautiful BEAUTIFUL uniform is in shreds. Which explains why he is in a new one in JLI I suppose. But a ghostly form of a woman...possibly Alex...shows up in Rip's time lab, and writes all those enigmatic clues on the board. A good issue, and a decent ending.

Retroactive: Green Lantern

Now this I liked of course. Len Wein and Joe Staton. I LOVE Joe Staton! I was particularly thrilled by the cover, which has Hal front and center, flanked by Guy and John, in their original costumes.

Well...it turns out to be a John Stewart story. And a darned GOOD John Stewart story...but I was expecting...well, Hal and Guy to be there too. Still, it tells how John was defeats the Shark, in a rather clever and spectacular fashion. Then he's cozying up to his girlfriend, Tawny, who just happens to be a television news reporter. After a few attempts and strike-outs, John tells her his true identity...because if you can't trust an ambitious reporter...then who CAN you trust?

Well, apparently John is a rotten judge of people, because Tawny immediately runs back to the newsroom, and reveals John's secret identity, his address, and practically everything else about him. John wakes up to the news blaring his identity to the world, reporters camped out on his doorstep, and all kinds of other exciting things. He is naturally a little bent out of shape, and confronts her, telling her that she's now made herself a target, but she doesn't care. And of course, Sonar, who wants to make a name for himself decides to kidnap her, and fights John. John can't believe that he's fighting a loser like Sonar, and naturally saves her. Then he goes on the air to inform everyone that she's NOT his girlfriend anymore, and if any of his enemies want to grab her...he won't care.

Heh. Actually, I loved this. Serves her right.

There is also a reprint of one of my favorite Hal stories...the one where he goes to the Guardians and DEMANDS to quit, because he's been in space for a year, and dammit...he wants some poontang. He goes back to earth to find Carol, and has a heart attack because she's kissing some other guy. Haw!

War of the Green Lanterns: Aftermath #2

Damn. I had such high hopes for this. It started out so well...but this issue more or less falls flat. ALL of the various Lanterns are behaving badly, apparently all suffering from some sort of delayed stress or shock or something. A bunch of them convince Soranik to join them in busting into the Guardians lair and killing Sinestro. And she goes along with it! Guy, Kyle and Kilowog are cleaning up, and Kyle is sulking because Soranik is being cold. Then Morro shows up in a snit, because the Guardians have ordered Salaak to inter Krona in the Crypt where all the Lanterns are...and he just won't have it. And really, who can blame him? So they all fly off and confront Salaak, who is having stress of his own.

Kyle stops the bunch that wants to kill Sinestro, and they accidentally break down the door, and there are the Guardians who are more or less torturing Sinestro in an attempt to get the ring off of his finger...except that it won't COME off. Meanwhile, St. Walker is trying to convince Ganthet to come home to Odym, where quite frankly, he would be a whole lot better off.

The Guardians do eventually show up and have one of their patented hissy fits. Everyone is on edge, and very very cranky. Basically they tell everyone to piss off and go back to their sectors, with the exception of the Honor Guard, headquarters staff and the Alphas. They show the Alpha lanterns, the way that they used to look, which confused me, because weren't they all put back more or less right a couple of issues ago? Also, R'amey Holl is shown, and she was all glowing and evolved and hanging out with Von Daggle in the Corpse. Methinks that perhaps the artists, Ransom Getty and Andy Smith should have done a little better research.

The Guardians even boot out Kyle, although they at least do him the honor of telling him that they aren't mad at him...they just want him away from Soranik and John for a while. Guy pulls him aside, and asks him to look for Hal...he's been trying to locate him, but his ring can't find him. It's nice that SOMEone is worried about Hal...naturally it would be Guy.

The various Lanterns also decide that they had better clean up all of the floating remnants of poor Mogo that are above, and they toss all of his parts into Oa's sun...which now glows with a Green Lantern symbol...which is rather nice really. And Ganthet fulfills his promise to Atrocitus, by taking Krona's corpse and delivering it to him. This probably won't end well. The Guardians then tell Ganthet that they want to see him, and he starts babbling that what he did was the only way to stop another Battle of Light. They reply that, that is not why they wanted him, and all you see is them closing in on Ganthet with hands outstretched and eyes glowing.

Stupid Guardians.

Actually, the story wasn't that bad, although it DOES make me want to just slap each and every one of the Guardians silly. But the art was pretty awful...at least in comparison to the superior quality of artwork that is usually lavished upon the Green Lantern books. We've been spoiled.

Retroactive: Superman

Terrible awful things are happening on earth, and poor Superman just can't seem to get a good night's sleep. Then an evil and immensely powerful alien shows up and is going to destroy earth, or else make everyone slaves. Destiny of the Endless shows up and tells Superman that he has only two choices, resist and everyone dies, or submit, and everyone will be happy zombies. Naturally, Superman isn't happy with the choice, and Destiny proceeds to show him the future, with Hal going Parallax on everyone, and Wonder Woman snapping Max's neck, and other little goodies. Superman STILL isn't buying it, and refuses to give in, and it all turns out to be a ruse by Harbinger and a Monitor. They are trying to recruit Superman against the Anti-Monitor and...and stuff. It's not great...but it's not bad either.

Birds of Prey #15

Well, this is it, for this bunch of Birds,and frankly, I wasn't that impressed. Andreyko's script is...adequate, but I didn't much like the artwork, and I'm getting a little tired of Nazis. Not that I am particularly looking forward to seeing Poison Ivy as a Bird of Prey, because that's just...wrong on so many levels. And I'm worried about what is going to happen to Zinda, because Zinda rocks.

So a rather mediocre week.

Where is...?

In all of the excitement over the new relauch DC is presenting next month, there have been any number of characters that are inexplicably...missing in action. It is quite possible that some of these people may be dead, and I just don't know about it. I can't read EVERYTHING after all.

But...what on earth has happened to Snapper Carr? I don't really know WHY I am asking this question, because I consider Snapper Carr to be one of the most useless and annoying characters out there...but still...I can't help but wonder. The last time I saw him, he was getting slapped by Batman. A very very satisfying moment, to be sure. And I THINK that he was supposed to be the one taking the picture of one of the more recent incarnations of the Justice League. Since they seem to have a new incarnation of the Justice League about once every month, I may have missed something.

Is Snapper being put on the shelf along with Wally, Connor Hawke, Mia, the entire Justice Society and Power Girl? Inquiring minds want to know!

And speaking of annoying characters...where on earth is G'Nort? Personally I like G'Nort. Yes, he's a bit hard to deal with, and the poodle bombs that he leaves at Warriors probably drove Guy up a tree...but darn it, he's a Green Lantern, and he should be around. Unless the Guardians banished him for being too powerful or something. I wouldn't put it past them.

Do YOU have any characters that you are wondering about?

Reviews!

I have to admit, this was a pretty decent week, for the first of the month.

We begin with Flashpoint #4. This hasn't been the most incredible mini-series/event/crossover that I've ever read...but it hasn't been bad either. Things are coming to a head...Barry is still losing his memories, Aquaman and Wonder Woman are beating the crap out of each other, Batman REALLY wants to change things, so that Bruce can live, and there are a whole lot of Captain Marvels running about. Oh, and Superman took off. Too bad that Diana just skewered an unarmed boy in the back. Oh, those wacky Amazons!

Still...I am looking forward to seeing how this all wraps up.

Retroactive: Flash

This on the other hand, was an unmitigated...delight. Oh Wally...I've missed you so. And your mother. And Chunk. Not to mention the Rogues. So, there is a certain young lady, who bored with her mudane existance dreams of being rescued by the Flash...and somehow convinces herself that she's his One True Love. To prove this, she goes around to all of the Rogues, and manages to take their weapons or powers, and stages robberies, all designed to draw Wally to her. The Rogues are, needless to say...quite surprised that she's kicking their collective asses. Golden Glider, and Piper are around the help out. Believe it or not, it actually ends happily, with the young lady, aka Alexis going off happily to be the new hero for Salamander Falls, New South Wales. She's a bit crazy, but it's ok, their first choice was Guy Gardner...whom she thinks is cute.

She's crazy, but she has good taste.

This is a joy.

Jonah Hex #70

Now this was also a joy. Somehow, Hex has been wounded, and keeps hallucinating, about how it was done and who did it. He's actually in the spirit world, sent there by Scalphunter, it looks like, with the help of Bat Lash and Tallulah Black. But various persons from his past, such as Jeb Turner, and others, not to mention the daughter that was killed that he never knew he had, and doesn't really believe in. It's all pretty darned good, and the art is pretty, and it's always nice to see Bat and Tallulah again.

Secret Six #36

Well...this is the end.

*sob*

Damn, but I'm going to miss this book. And these characters. They end up trapped and decide to go out like...well not like heroes exactly, because they really aren't heroes, but still...they do it together, because they are the only people on the earth that can actually STAND each other, and dang it...I've...I've got something in my eye!

Read it. Read it and treasure it. As one of the guys from my comic book store said...he had to get an extra copy, because of the tear stains on the first one.

SO good.

Retoactive: Wonder Woman

We've already had retro-Wonder Woman from the '70's...now we have Diana from the '80's, and it is also a whole lot of fun. This Wonder Woman is up against Dr. Psycho and the Silver Swan, and Steve Trevor,and dual identities, and invisible planes...and whooboy, it's good silly fun.

I like good silly fun.

Not a clunker in the bunch.

Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #12

Again, it took me a while, but this really was quite good.



Yes, this takes place after the conclusion of the War of the Green Lanterns, but other than showing us that Guy survives, it doesn't give anything away, so you can read it with impunity. And pleasure.

We begin with some Lanterns hanging out in their precinct house, one of whom is grousing about the boredom. Unfortunately for him...THAT doesn't last long. Eventually, it comes to the attention of the Guardians, that...Something is tearing through various precinct houses, and that Lanterns are disappearing. What is even stranger, is that their rings haven't gone on to chose a successor, which Salaak finds most peculiar. Furthermore, all of the destroyed precinct houses are in a direct line towards Oa.

After pointing out that they're smarter than Salaak (oh really?) the Guardians put their blue heads together and decide that Something Must Be Done about the terror that has been unleashed. So, naturaly, they go and get Guy Garnder. Because really, who else is there? Guy is trying to get some details out of the Guardians, but as usual, they are playing coy, just saying that the destructin of Mogo, lead to the demolishing of the ancient prison that held the ancient evil, and that perhaps something should be done about it. They don't want to get THEIR tiny blue hands dirty after all. So, Guy goes and rounds up some other Lanterns, mostly ones that seem to have a problem with authority or use of excessive force. Since excessive force is exactly what is called for, it seems like a good fit. Two of the Lanterns, Kruul and Squillic are particularly glad to go and punch things, which leads to my favorite quote from Guy..."Good. I like your misplaced enthusiasm."

Guy also grabs a Lantern named Theodoric, and Artois, who helps train the nite-lites in how to shoot straight. There are some nice small panels showing the continuing mayhem, as Guy puts his little group together, and they head out to face the Big Bad Guy. Everyone is tense, and eager for action...but once they actually confront it...Well, let's just say, that's one terrifying alien monster!

They're brave and fearless...and pretty much outmatched, since the Monster can become invisible, and their rings don't seem to be able to spot it either. It's picking them all off, one by one, until only Guy and Theodoric are left. Theodoric is stunned, that his comrades have all been eaten, but Guy realizes that they've been SWALLOWED, which may be all the difference, and the two of them get their shields up and blast right into the Monster's gullet.

Inside it's stomach, they are horrified to see all the bodies, their rings still on their fingers. They are alive, but only enough to feed the Creature...which is feeding off of the ring Energy. Theodoric wants to put them out of their misery, but Guy figures that they can do that...and destroy the Monster at the same time, by connecting to ALL of the rings, and feeding their power into them...thus blowing the Creature up from the inside!

That...that is a serious case of gas.

It works, and all of the rings are now free to go in search of new Lanterns. So...they destroyed an ancient Evil, and won the day...but Guy certainly isn't happy about it.

This...was a really good story. A nice "done-in-one" tale, just like last month, but very well written. Good stuff indeed.

Green Lantern Corps #62

Finally! I'm getting back to work here.



Yes indeed, it looks like there is trouble in paradise.

We begin with a bit of a flashback, to when Miri, my favorite Star Sapphire was fighting alongside Kyle and Soranik,and gave them each a peak into their heart's desire. It's a nice shot, because it shows off TWO Green Lantern behinds. Something for everyone! As you all recall, Soranik saw Kyle...and Kyle SAID that he saw Soranik. Next thing you know, she's spending the night and nature takes its course. When he gets killed by the Black Lanterns, it is Miri and Soranik's love that brings him back.

Lately however...true love has been not doing quite so well. Soranik first got miffed with Kyle, when he dragged Sinestro into coming to Qward to rescue her. Since Soranik really really loathes Sinestro, and since she felt that she didn't NEED saving, she wasn't particularly happy, and has been rather snippy to Kyle ever since.

Kyle and Tomar Tu are floating over the remains of Mogo, and Kyle is beating himself up for not coming up with a brilliant idea to save him. Tomar is a pretty good guy however, and manages to calm Kyle down, when suddenly the two of them are snatched away by some glowing pink light. Kyle is quite surprised by all of this, because it is strangely unlike Miri to be going bonkers. He's even more surprised to see Soranik, and to see Miri supposdly trashing some poor planet.

Looks can be deceiving however, and it turns out that there are no casualties, and the collateral damage is minimal. Apparently, Miri thought that bringing the two of them together to fight a common menace was the best way to reunite them. Kyle can't figure out WHY she feels the need to do this, but she replies that she brought them together, and it's her responsibility. Star Sapphires take this sort of thing quite seriously apparently.

So, they go through the motions, and save the place, and put Miri out of commission fairly gently all things considered. Kyle is even bleeding a bit, which softens Soranik up quite nicely. And then...Kyle opens his big fat mouth, and tells Miri that it wasn't even Soranik that he saw in the crystal...it was Jade.

Oops.



Oh Kyle.

Needless to say, Soranik is NOT amused. In fact, she's pretty much pissed as hell...and who can really blame her. She curtly addresses Kyle as Lantern 2814.4, and tells him to Never Talk To Her Again...and flies off, presumably to find a bubble bath and a giant tub of Haagen Daz. Poor Miri is confused, and Kyle realizes that he's managed to sabotage himself...again.

My initial thought was...Oh just great. Let's break up ANOTHER DC COUPLE! Sheesh! Granted, they hadn't been together all that long, but heck, I LIKE them together. Soranik was probably the smartest girlfriend that Kyle's ever had...with the possible exception of Alex. And the possibility of butting heads with Sinestro, over his dating his little girl offered up all kinds of delicious possibilities. Really, who's house WOULD they to to for Thanksgiving?

Well, that's all gone now. On the up side, at least Soranik has survived Kyle's notorious Kiss Of Death...at least so far. On the down side, he broke her heart, the yutz. Which means that he'll probably end up back with Jade...and I can't stand Jade.

I wasn't particularly happy with the way that sweet little Miri went bananas in this issue either...it was rather out of character for her to be pulling these sorts of shenanigans. I can understand her trying to get them reconciled...but not in the way that she did it. Oh well.

Still, it is Green Lantern soap opera, and if there is one thing that I love, it is Green Lantern soap opera.