Monday, December 14, 2009

12/9 comics.

Adventure Comics #5 the second part of the Superboy-Prime Blackest Night saga. The most funny part was Superboy-Prime flying through the DC offices. I would not take what happened to him seriously once he put the black ring on since it was an alternate earth. The ending of thee story was weird with Laurie wearing a black ring saying hope. The Superboy co-feature was confusing given that he is a "living" Black Lantern in the Blackest Night main book.

Booster Gold #27 Featured Booster and Blue Bettle Jamie Reyes taking on a Black Lantern Ted Kord. While the use of Light gun was cool to generate the green light to help defeat the Black Lantern. The most powerful images came after Booster and Jamie put Kord to rest again so Booster never forgets his friend and Jamie knows the legacy of his powers while being the best Jamie he can be.

R.E.B.E.L.S. #11 While most of the story and characters skip my mind Vril Dox with a Sinestro Corps ring and his group battle Black Lanterns Stealth and Harbinger. While how they made their green light is given a scientific explanation. The biggest thing at the end of issue was that Vril was stripped of the ring for insubordination I guess that was a feature in how Sinestro made his rings.

Doom Patrol #5 It just didn't seem like there was any conclusion for this Blackest Night tie in?

2009 DC Holiday special. Just a bunch of extremely short stories on how peeople in the DCU spend the Holidays. Just two quick comments. That remark by Wally with Linda holding up the sleepwear was confusing to me. Also do Christians get upset when there are so many Jewish/Hanukah references in a Superman story?

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Blackest Night: The Flash #1 review

Review by Eric W. Ridgeway

Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Scott Kolins
Color: Michael Atiyeh
Cover: Kolins w/Atiyeh
Variant: Francis Manapul w/ Brain Buccellato
Letter: Travis Lanham
Editor: Adam Schlagman
Published by DC Comics

Now that the second set of Blackest Night miniseries has started my first question was where would they start in relation to the rise of Nekron? Well, if Blackest Night: The Flash is any indication they will mostly take place after the Black Lanterns have charged the Black Central Power Battery to one hundred percent. This issue, much like Flash Rebirth focuses on Barry Allen.

Written by Geoff Johns this issue has many scenes with Barry coming face to face with Black Lantern Professor Zoom and a Black Lantern Solovar. The issue does a great job of recapping Barry’s friendship with Solovar to the point where Barry would show him stuff he would not allow Batman to review. I had no idea Barry had a deep friendship with Solovar or that a Flash can see the border to Gorilla City. If there is anything to complain about it would be that Barry was seen twice in so called Black Lantern vision and this far into Blackest Night he would know to keep his emotions in check. The majority of this issue is written in Barry’s point of view which can be boring to the readers.

The cover was an excellent homage to Flash Rebirth. Scott Kolins art is great but at the same time no panel or images really got me cheering. My favorite interior panel was Barry getting rid of a Black Lantern Professor Zoom for the time being. I really like the way Kolins drew Barry in this book with the lightning trailing behind him as he is running. It seems like a nice middle ground especially for how much lightning is used around Barry in Rebirth and Blackest Night. If the art lacks anywhere in this book it is that Wally West just appears in one panel and I had to double check to make sure it was him. Also the variant cover by Francis Manapul doesn’t appear into the story. Overall this issue was kind of a letdown because it didn’t fill me with excitement like Blackest Night #5. I would love to have seen more Wally but maybe he will get more attention in the next few issues of this book or in Blackest Night.

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10 (Above Average)

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

12/3 Comics

Blackest Night: The Flash will be its own post once the review at thecomicaddiction.com is posted

Blackest Night Wonder Woman. Ok since when does Wonder Woman carry around a battle ax like Thor? Also I had a problem with her hair see battles like black Lanterns of war veterans as well as Maxwell Lord. I just remembered this issue was pushed back because of the ring promotion that's why it matches up with the end of Blackest Night #4 and not #5

Red Tornado #4 kind of read like Flash Rebirth #5 with no real advancement in the story other than Tornado and Torpedo now have a sleeping Inferno with them after Torpedo knocked him out while trying to convince Volanco lied to him about them causing his parents death. Art was good I will still pick #5 but the story better improve!!!

11/25 comics

Sorry for the late post, just being lazy.

First Green Lantern #48 Boy how quickly has Larfleeze changed to comic relief compared to how he was portrayed from the Agent Orange storyline. Also a Green stop sign construct by Hal was a bit weird. Why does Larfleeze want his own guardian because I think once Blackest Night is all said and done the various corps leaders become the new guardians meaninbg Larfleeze would be a guardian himself and he could recruit a real Orange Lantern Corps.

Blackest Night #5 picks up where Green Lantern #48 left off with a splash page gave me a powers rangers moment when the various corps leader charging up/oath saying. I thought Larfleeze had an oath. I am thankful Flash Rebirth #5 came out a week before not to spoil Wally's new costume. I had to do a double take on the panel with Bart asking good or bad news to tell Wally from Barry so that will become a colorist problem maybe until time ends. The issue could have ended with the Black Lantern Batman splash and still be great. I think the guardians are finished no matter what. Some comic podcast have speculated about Nekron turning out to be a good guy. I mixed on that but it would help get rid of the guardians. For the heroes that got turned into like "living" black lanterns I believe will be fine at the end of Blackest Night. Bart Allen has his upcoming
Kid Flash series.

Superman Secret Origin #3 sees the miniseries change from a Smallville type background to the movies setting as we are introduced to Perry White, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. Clark finds himself in metropolis appartently under Lex's rule and after a quick introduction of the classic Superman characters. Lois and Clark(Ha!) team up (with Clark unaware) to sneak into a Lex press conference because he has banned the rundown daily planet from attending all. Lex introduces Metallo in robot form without a source/host. It ends with Clark as Superman saving Lois falling from the building with a helicopter falling as well. Clark this he made a mistake revealing himself too soon. Writing and art are excellent.

Teen Titans #77 Is Deathstorke the same as Slade from the animated series?

Justice League of America #39features Vixen, Red Tornado, Zantanna, and a disfigured Plastic Man and a couple of others facing Black Lanterns. Zantanna fights a Black Lantern version of her father. While a Black Lantern Vibe shows up to battle the others inside the Hall of Justice. A Dr Light Black Lantern battles them in JLA #40.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Flash Rebirth #5 review

Review by Eric Ridgeway

Mother, May I

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ethan Van Sciver
Letters: Rob Leigh
Colors: Brian Miller of Hi-Fi
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Published by DC Comics

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a so many heroes undergo a costume change in such unique fashion. Yet in Flash Rebirth #5 we get new costumes for Wally West, his daughter Irey and Jessie Quick in a huge two page splash. Although I could not figure out which one of the girls was mentioned in the preview when they referred to “a new speedster in old boots.” Were they referring to Irey as Impulse since Jessie quickly falls out of the lime light? There is also a lot of information and changes that happen quickly in this issue that can be fairly confusing; especially if you are a fairly new Flash reader like me.



Except for a couple pages in the West home, this issue completely focuses on the battle between the Flash family and Professor Zoom. During their fight Zoom reveals that he has been the cause for almost every little mishap in Barry’s youth no matter how petty. He is responsible for everything from Barry falling down some stairs and breaking his arm to the death of his dog. Time travel in the wrong hands proves to be disastrous. Before turning the page to the reveal of Zoom biggest crime I found myself screaming in my mind, “Get him Barry!” However Zoom’s masterstroke against Barry is yet to come and also serves as the cliff hanger to the issue!

I found Geoff Johns’ writing to be pretty good except for the explanation for Iris West’s youth. It seems like simple answer for a question that has been bothering Flash fans since the premiere issue of the series. Did we really have to wait five issues for that simple answer? Ethan Van Sciver’s art was middle of the road, not his best work but also not his worst. Except for the big splash page revealing some of the new costumes everything else was pretty average. Nothing else in this issue had me screaming “yes” but one thing really bugged me. The white eyes Wally has from his mask. Call it a pet peeve but I just don’t think it works. I really enjoyed the writing (to a degree) and the art was good enough to enjoy. This issue was not worth the delay and overall it was step back from the previous issue but it is still good.

Overall rating 8 out of 10 (On Its Way to Greatness)

Sunday, November 22, 2009

11/18 comics

First off my Flash Rebirth #5 thoughts/review will be posted later as its own entry. It was meant as a review for thecomicaddiction.com but one of the editors beat me too it. I sent them my review anyway to hopefully edit and posted there if they want. I will still post it here anyway when its as perfect as possible.

These are all blackest night tie ins so enjoy

Adventure Comic #4 features Superboy prime rather than regular Superboy(Connor Kent) who is in the Blackest Night storyline. This story is kind of weird Superboy Prime is actually reading the Blackest Night titles. I guess he's on Adventure Comics #4. (LOL!!!) and says "OH-NO." He makes his parents take him to the comic shop so he could buy Adventure Comics #5 so he can find out what happens to him. In his life people have hated him as he is caaught being a hero or a villian. Also his parents are afraid of him. Black Lantern Alexander Luthor shows up to trigger an emotional response. During the fight he saves his parents convinced they love him. As some other Black Lanterns invade it is teased he will die in #5. Overall the story was good and fun. The art was good as I have no complaints.

Superman/Batman #66 spun off the Solomon Grundy miniseries by Scott Kolins who will do Blackest Night: the Flash beginning next month. The story features Grundy, Bizarro and Man-Bat. The Man-Bat's wife is looking for a permanet cure to get him back to normal but before he can get the cure Bizarro kidnaps him. When Bizarro speaks he actually means the reverse. Man-Bat and Bizarro run into Black Lantern Grundy and a fight ensues. Man-Bat somehow makes back to his wife and looks confused between accepting the cure and helping Bizarro deal with Grundy. Just like Bizarro is dumbfounded as to why his friend is attacking him. The story is good as it looks like the two "good guys" are each dealing with some internal conflict. Kolins doing the art on this book made it even better since he knew Grundy and Bizarro from the miniseries. Man-Bat looks ok.

Outsiders #24 took Black Lantern Terra from the Blackest Night Titans mini and put her at the headquarters for the outsiders to find her brother Geo-Force alongside Metamorpho, Black Lightning and Owlman(who I have only seen depicted as a villian s this was a bit odd) Terra says she is tired of being a black lantern after battling the Titans and Beast Boy. They try to cut the ring but it circle around and regenerates the finger it was on. Terra story is had is swallow she is probably acting to get an emotionail response. The second half of the issue I feel I can't comment on since the characters were all new to me. No problems with the story and art.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Comics from 11/4 and 11/11

So on 11/4 I picked up Red Tornado #3 and Doom Patrol #4(Blackest Night tie-in).

Red Tornado #3 the story continues to be fine it is taking Red Tornado in a new direction. The cover made no sense it features Tornado, Torpedo and Inferno when Inferno doesn't meet the the other two in the issue.

I really have no concrete thoughts on Doom Patrol #4 I just got it for the yellow ring.

For 11/11
Green Lantern Corps #42 The devour will new command for the Black Lantern got old real quick. The death at the end was stunning I want him back as I think he has an interesting storyline ahead.

Booster Gold #26 pretty much same thing as Doom Patrol got it for a ring. Except I know them from DCAU.

Rebels #10 Its interesting that the Sinestro Corps showed up in this story. The conclusion was even more interesting a yellow ring fell to the main character of the book. This will be strange next issue.

Friday, October 30, 2009

10/28 Comics

This week I pick up Blackest Night #4, Green Lantrern #47, Blasckest Night Titans #3 and Superman Secret Origin #2.

In Blackest Night #4 quite simply it was Barry Allen in charge. With Hal Jordan busy trying to unify the various corps leader its up to Barry,Mera and Atom to evacuate the Earth as the Black Lanterns power levels near 100%. I didn't know things the Atom touches can shrink. I found it amazing The Atom got Barry and Mera to travel through a phone line to the phone company. Once there Flash tells the other two until the JLA is alltogether they need to act like Superman and Wonder Woman with a little pep talk. Mera and Atom join the JSA for the fight while Barry gets the word out about the situation until the plan changes and goesd to Coast city just in time to see Nekron rise. The art was good and simple with blurs around Barry and Bart Allen it may not be as detailed as Ethan Van Sciver in Flash Rebirth also it was nice to see Wonder Woman lone panel have action.

In Green Lantern #47 Hal and Sinestro take on Black Lanterns versions of Abin and Arin Sur. Abin sur believes Hal hasn't lived up to his legacy as a Green Lantern. While Arin Sur says she loves Sinestro. Combined with Carol Ferris, the Star Sapphire and Indigo-1 they defeat the Sur siblings. I liked how this issue ended with Atrocius and Larflezze. I want to see how they interact with each other. Story and art are good.

In Blackest Night Titans #3 the focus seemed to be on Donna Troy as the titans are battling their dead friends. Donna Troy dealing with her family and Beast Boy with. The struggle continues until all the Black Lanterns decide to attack Dove and simply vanish becase they can't read any emotion on Dove just a white scribble and has a talk with Don Hall the original Dove with felt like a flashback due to the background color change it confused. Donna tells Dove to stay by her as she feels she is a main target of the Black Lanterns as thy prepare for the main fight. Story and art are good.

Superman secret origins #2 has Superboy meetinng the futurastic Legion of Super Heroes. He also kind of pushes Lana away something that I thought would be relsoved in the issue after a Legion member asks him if he has a girlfriend. The art is fantastic especially for drawing Clark like Christopher Revee. its simply amazing. Good short story for retelling his beginning bit by bit.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

10/21 Comics

The new comics I picked up were Blackest Night: Superman #3 and Brave and the Bold #28.

First Blackest Night: Superman #3 was kind of a let down because where was the Krypto-Dex Starr Fight? It is anyone's guess where that will take place now. How was Connor Kent able to generate light from the Medusa Mask? The art was good but the story not so much.

Brave and the Bold #28 The Flash(Barry Allen) and the Blackhawks. Flash travels back in time to World War II suffers a broken leg and meets the Blackhawks who for some reason are grounded. During his time in WWII Barry was given a gun which forces Barry to think is it ever OK to kill? The Blackhawks see it as a matter of survival given the circumstances. So there is an ideological conflict to this story. Barry returns to the present once healed up. The story was good, different but not great. The art was lacking with blank eyes in the mask that look may work for T. V. I don't know about comics though.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Flash thoughts(literally)

Ok, now Flash Rebirth #5 has been push back another week to November 11th(most likely available November 12th due to Veterans day). The delay is fine because I no longer have to stress about going to the comic shop from the train station for the issue(the yellow ring maybe another story.)

Two things

1. Geoff Johns seems to indicate on CBR that Wally's West new costume will debut in Flash Rebirth #5 not #6 as previously stated by the Rebirth artist Ethan Van Sciver.

2. Blackest Night: Flash #2 partial solict is out.

The partial solict of Blackest Night Flash #2 tells me right now DC is not planning a delay of the miniseries. If Wally new costume's was coming in #6, given #5 has been redalayed for a full month who knew when Blackest Night Flash would start to avoid costume spoiling.