by Leckomaniac on Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:48 pm
Green Lantern #39 -Blackest Night is surely going to be a massive event. That much seems certain. However, the build up to that event has begun to seem never ending. It has engulfed both Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps for months now and the event won't even start until July. That is three more months of build up. That said, reviewing an individual issue becomes difficult because they are not complete by any means, but one chapter in a massive story. Now, I get why Johns is doing this. He has a particular story to tell and he is letting it unfold. But the thing I most enjoyed about the Sinestro Corps storyline was how it didn't overwhelm the main series until the actual arc. The plot points that built up to it were seeded throughout the stories Johns told. The book still focused on Hal Jordan being a super hero, but you felt something brewing in the background. Currently, all we can look forward to in the book is another Corps being introduced, more cryptic reference to prophesies, etc. How in the world is Hal Jordan in the JLA and protecting Earth when he is off in space dealing with all of this? I am excited for Blackest Night, but I kind of miss those days when Green Lantern had a life on Earth and did Super-Hero things. And I hope Johns returns to that once all of this has been sorted out. Let Hal have relationships. Refocus on the supporting cast that we have seemingly abandoned.
As for the issue itself, the Orange Lantern seems more interesting than Atroticus. Perhaps that is due to the amazing pencils of Phillip Tan. That guy is a real talent and a great get for DC. His work here is so different from his work on Revelations, but it looks just as wonderful. I hope he gets a monthly gig soon. 3.5/5
Titans #12 - I recently came to the conclusion that I have a serious thing for teen stories. I just love the angst, the drama, the fun, the insecurities, etc that come with telling those kind of stories. In a bid to better understand the teen heroes of the DCU I have recently began reading the New Teen Titans (Wolfman/Perez era) and Young Justice. The thing that strikes me the most about these stories is that even at their darkest, there was always strong character work and a real sense of family. Furthermore, there was never a lack of fun. That just seems to be missing from the Teen Titans and Titans series. Johns had done great work making Jericho a better character. Winnick and editorial (via McKeever) seem intent to destroy that good will. That McKeever was forced off the TT proves my worst fears. That is, that editorial (namely, Dan Didio) has their hand firmly on the tiller and are steering the group into much darker territory. I just wish Didio would look at his much championed Blue Beetle series for an understanding of how the TT should read. Or similarly, David's Young Justice. The stakes were high in those books, but it was never as macabre as the TT has been. Marvin being mauled, Kid Devil being tortured and crucified, etc. Lets bring the fun back people!
Anyway, this is all prelude to my thoughts on the recent issue of Titans, which serves as the first chapter in the "Death Trap" crossover which will ensnare this title, TT, and Vigilante. Once more, Jericho is out to kill and maim, at the behest of his father, and so the Titans are out to stop him. Yawn. While McKeever does well with showcasing the various relationships involved in the team the plotting is just awful. By all accounts, this a pointless story. There is not really any outcome that will be satisfactory. Either Jericho dies, which will only cement his character assassination, he'll be thwarted but live, making him a permanent villain, or he will be somehow redeemed, which is entirely unnecessary since Johns had already done that until it was reversed by Judd "I'm a shit writer" Winnick. 2/5
Infinite Horizon #1-4 - I don't recall ever reviewing the first three issues of this series even though I bought them all upon release, but since issue #4 only JUST came out I figured I would do a catch all review. For those unfamiliar, this is a re-telling of The Odyssey in a near future setting. It puts The Captain in Afghanistan, after the war consumed all the oil, and follows his attempts to cross the globe and get him to his Penelope. There really is not enough praise I can offer this book. Image has really done a stellar job of putting out quality product as of late. Between this, Invincible, Walking Dead, I Kill Giants, Bad Dog, and the Hickman books I am ready to believe once more in the supremacy of Image. You would be hard pressed to name a publisher offering better material. Unfortunately, this book got a bit off track shipping wise and the wait between #3 and #4 was an epic poem in and of itself. Still, it was worth it. Going back and reading all four books in one sitting was a real treat. This is wonderful storytelling and the art is just beautiful. The colors absolutely leap off the page. Issue #5 is SCHEDULED to ship next month, which one can only hope is the case because I can't wait for this to conclude. 4.5/5
I Kill Giants #1-7 - Joe Kelly has been creeping steadily up my list of favorite writers. I enjoyed his mixed bag of a run on Supergirl. I think his two annuals for Superman/Batman are excellent. But it is his work for Image recently that has him solidifying himself as a "Must Read" writer. The cornerstone of my love for Joe Kelly is this mini-series: I Kill Giants. It is so many things, all wonderful. The story is will tear your guts out in the end and then have you smiling through tears. It has the best qualities of those "kids" stories that I love. Essentially, the story is about a little girl named Barbara who is a giant killer. Part of the charm of this book is trying to figure out if this is real or the fantasy of a young girl. I won't spoil it, but the "answers" are elusive, although totally satisfying. The art is done in almost manga style and in brilliant B&W. It can be frustrating at times, but overall it is a superb looking book. I honestly could not recommend this book more. If you enjoy things like Where The Wild Things Are or Never Ending Story...check out I Kill Giants. You will not be disappointed. 5/5
