DC Comics March 30th 2011
Action Comics #899
The penultimate issue of Paul Cornell's black ring maxi-story. Again I feel I have trouble with the naming of the story as he doesnt get a black lantern ring, nor was that what he was intending to get all along.
Braniac was manipulating Luthor, but he anticipated it and is ready for it. Somehow he over powers him and snaps his neck. They then gather all the white spheres together, which releases tis big powerful monster that Mr. Mind was working for, so naturally he turns up in space to explain what and why. Luthor then turns robot Lois's nanites, that were once used to sway him onto going on this mission in the first place into a weapon to control the all powerful big bad from the other side of the white sphere dimension thing. Luthor then fuses with the big bad and it's in his control. So whatever happens in the giant size #900 sure is going to be epic!
Also I really love the regular artist and hate it when they have fill in artists. It just spoils it for me.
Detective Comics #875
Beautiful artwork and an amazing look to the story. The writing is great as we delve into a past case that Commissioner Gorden wants to end, that simultaneously helps him solve an old missing persons puzzle that his recently returned son was framed for. The noir feel with the characters works really great. There is so much detail and emotion that gives it an extra level of depth, that doesn't feel forced, as can often happen with too heavy a narration. The is a real feel of urgency and desperation with Gordon's effort to tie up the "Peter Pan killings" as well as wanting to believe his son is cured.
The artwork gets even better than last issue as we get treated to some amazing double splash pages with an unusual panel layout. I have to give this and end of month award, I just have to!
Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #8
Part three of War of the Green Lanterns. The Parallax flash reaches the centric characters of this book as Arisa is taken over and flies off to Oa. Kilowog and Guy fight it off only to have Kilowog captured by other returning Lanterns. Guy sets off and Rendezvous with Hal Jordan. After discussing options the same anger that got to John Stewart and Kyle Rayner gets to them too and a fight ensues.
They end up removing the rings and stopping it. Only to now be stranded in the middle of no-where on a remote ice planet. This book and indeed the whole War of the Green Lanterns epic has a very high tempo and has only taken a single issue of each book it crosses over into, to start the story rolling and set up each player and where they are driving towards. At this pace I honestly have no idea how much story will be fitted in over the following months.
Jimmy Olsen's Big Week: One Shot
This book is bound do do better than the similar Giant Size Atom one shot, that tied up the other main back up story. As this issue re-prints all of the previous installments making this a full story. The designer in me wishes that this huge issue should have been perfect bound (surely it's big enough to be?) so that it would be great for shelving.
Day one: A fabulous way of introducing the eccentricity of the Jimmy Olsen stories, have him rescued from a Genie bottle by Superman. Instantly every thing you need to know about him. Also an interesting premise as Chloe Sullivan makes her way into the DCU proper from the Smallville TV series (anyone protesting that move should know that Jimmy Olsen himself, made a similar introduction from the original Superman Radio series). Chloe is a web reporter who does a week with different celebrities. Currently after dumping Jimmy she is on weeks assignment with Jimmy's rival from Lexcorp. Thus starts a challenge as to who can have a more interesting week. Cue alien invasion.
Day 2:The Aliens turn out to not be invading, instead they have come here to party. After a little investigating by Jimmy and Chloe they find out that the aliens get drunk on oxygen. The party they plan to throw on Earth however, will not include keeping the planet in one piece. Hence why they pick a different planet each year. Genius and bonkers at the same time. I do like original ideas like this. So Jimmy starts a plan in motion, to convince the aliens that earth and Metropolis is boring and to go elsewhere.
Day 3: The plan works and Jimmy is stumped as to why Chloe doesn't like him again, now that he is back to his more interesting self. So Lois plans to get him a new girl friend.
Day 4:Cue bad sitcom trope of the charity date auction. Of course Chloe is bought by Jimmy's rival from Lexcorp and he isn't bid on at all, until a girl runs in and bids a million dollars. She turns out to be great until he asks her last name. Yep it's Maggie Mxyzptlk. She's from a dimension of chaos and wouldn't you know it, it's now somehow Jimmy and Maggie's wedding day. I actually wet myself at this point (and it wasn't urine). I do so love this book.
Day 5: In this world she created around him, he is Co-Superman
An ace reporter and god knows what else. He has an awesome life but she decides not to marry him and to show how that Chloe just wants him to fight for her. So she let's him free to leave and go back to his old life.
Day 6: He plans a big romantic gesture, so he has Steele's daughter convert the old Daily Planet news copter into a space ship so he can crash his rivals, space date with Chloe. She however is there to get some info on any kooky schemes he is up to while working for Luthor. He's bought Superman the game and put a massive virus in it! He sees Jimmy's ship coming and fires missiles at it.
Day 7: Left floating in space he uses the drunk aliens keys from before to call a second space ship and gets inside the space station, beats the game and Chloe has already beaten the bad guy by overpowering him. They agree to be pals and take things slow.
Good God I loved this book. I pics all the right parts out of Superman comics and uses them to advantage, in a deliberately cheesy but genius way. The art is amazing too, gives it the right feel and humour, yet with as much detail as required. I think I found my book of the month too. SERIOUSLY GO AND READ THIS NOW! I may have stuck the basic plot up but it is so rich with dialogue and brilliant moments it just needs to be read to soak it all in. Seriously hotels should put a copy of this next to the bible in those bedside draws!
The penultimate issue of Paul Cornell's black ring maxi-story. Again I feel I have trouble with the naming of the story as he doesnt get a black lantern ring, nor was that what he was intending to get all along.
Braniac was manipulating Luthor, but he anticipated it and is ready for it. Somehow he over powers him and snaps his neck. They then gather all the white spheres together, which releases tis big powerful monster that Mr. Mind was working for, so naturally he turns up in space to explain what and why. Luthor then turns robot Lois's nanites, that were once used to sway him onto going on this mission in the first place into a weapon to control the all powerful big bad from the other side of the white sphere dimension thing. Luthor then fuses with the big bad and it's in his control. So whatever happens in the giant size #900 sure is going to be epic!
Seriously make sure you pick it up!
Detective Comics #875
Beautiful artwork and an amazing look to the story. The writing is great as we delve into a past case that Commissioner Gorden wants to end, that simultaneously helps him solve an old missing persons puzzle that his recently returned son was framed for. The noir feel with the characters works really great. There is so much detail and emotion that gives it an extra level of depth, that doesn't feel forced, as can often happen with too heavy a narration. The is a real feel of urgency and desperation with Gordon's effort to tie up the "Peter Pan killings" as well as wanting to believe his son is cured.
As much of a double page spread as I could scan, but rest assured it looks amazing and the art alone is wort the cover price.
Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #8
Part three of War of the Green Lanterns. The Parallax flash reaches the centric characters of this book as Arisa is taken over and flies off to Oa. Kilowog and Guy fight it off only to have Kilowog captured by other returning Lanterns. Guy sets off and Rendezvous with Hal Jordan. After discussing options the same anger that got to John Stewart and Kyle Rayner gets to them too and a fight ensues.
The Second bizarre use of Lantern powers in two weeks. Who'd think to do this mid fight?
They end up removing the rings and stopping it. Only to now be stranded in the middle of no-where on a remote ice planet. This book and indeed the whole War of the Green Lanterns epic has a very high tempo and has only taken a single issue of each book it crosses over into, to start the story rolling and set up each player and where they are driving towards. At this pace I honestly have no idea how much story will be fitted in over the following months.
Jimmy Olsen's Big Week: One Shot
This book is bound do do better than the similar Giant Size Atom one shot, that tied up the other main back up story. As this issue re-prints all of the previous installments making this a full story. The designer in me wishes that this huge issue should have been perfect bound (surely it's big enough to be?) so that it would be great for shelving.
Day one: A fabulous way of introducing the eccentricity of the Jimmy Olsen stories, have him rescued from a Genie bottle by Superman. Instantly every thing you need to know about him. Also an interesting premise as Chloe Sullivan makes her way into the DCU proper from the Smallville TV series (anyone protesting that move should know that Jimmy Olsen himself, made a similar introduction from the original Superman Radio series). Chloe is a web reporter who does a week with different celebrities. Currently after dumping Jimmy she is on weeks assignment with Jimmy's rival from Lexcorp. Thus starts a challenge as to who can have a more interesting week. Cue alien invasion.
Day 2:The Aliens turn out to not be invading, instead they have come here to party. After a little investigating by Jimmy and Chloe they find out that the aliens get drunk on oxygen. The party they plan to throw on Earth however, will not include keeping the planet in one piece. Hence why they pick a different planet each year. Genius and bonkers at the same time. I do like original ideas like this. So Jimmy starts a plan in motion, to convince the aliens that earth and Metropolis is boring and to go elsewhere.
Day 3: The plan works and Jimmy is stumped as to why Chloe doesn't like him again, now that he is back to his more interesting self. So Lois plans to get him a new girl friend.
Day 4:Cue bad sitcom trope of the charity date auction. Of course Chloe is bought by Jimmy's rival from Lexcorp and he isn't bid on at all, until a girl runs in and bids a million dollars. She turns out to be great until he asks her last name. Yep it's Maggie Mxyzptlk. She's from a dimension of chaos and wouldn't you know it, it's now somehow Jimmy and Maggie's wedding day. I actually wet myself at this point (and it wasn't urine). I do so love this book.
Day 5: In this world she created around him, he is Co-Superman
WHY I LOVE THIS BOOK!
An ace reporter and god knows what else. He has an awesome life but she decides not to marry him and to show how that Chloe just wants him to fight for her. So she let's him free to leave and go back to his old life.
Day 6: He plans a big romantic gesture, so he has Steele's daughter convert the old Daily Planet news copter into a space ship so he can crash his rivals, space date with Chloe. She however is there to get some info on any kooky schemes he is up to while working for Luthor. He's bought Superman the game and put a massive virus in it! He sees Jimmy's ship coming and fires missiles at it.
Day 7: Left floating in space he uses the drunk aliens keys from before to call a second space ship and gets inside the space station, beats the game and Chloe has already beaten the bad guy by overpowering him. They agree to be pals and take things slow.
Good God I loved this book. I pics all the right parts out of Superman comics and uses them to advantage, in a deliberately cheesy but genius way. The art is amazing too, gives it the right feel and humour, yet with as much detail as required. I think I found my book of the month too. SERIOUSLY GO AND READ THIS NOW! I may have stuck the basic plot up but it is so rich with dialogue and brilliant moments it just needs to be read to soak it all in. Seriously hotels should put a copy of this next to the bible in those bedside draws!
DC Comics March 30th 2011
Reviewed by Matt
on
04:10:00
Rating:
Reviewed by Matt
on
04:10:00
Rating:
No comments: