DC Comics Review: Blackest Night #4
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics
Rating: ***
I’m a bit disappointed in this issue. After the first three issues blew me away and I proclaimed that this series was a future classic in the making, writer Geoff Johns stumbles a bit with this month’s issue of Blackest Night. For me, some of Black Lantern Firestorm’s dialogue was written poorly in the opening pages. We also jump to Gotham City for no reason other to see Jean Paul Valley aka Azrael resurrected as a Black Lantern while The Scarecrow whines about admiring the fear that the Black Lanterns are able to invoke (he can’t get scared because he’s used too much of his fear gas). Poor baby. He does have one fear of course - The Batman (cue dramatic Batman music).
This issue mostly focuses on Barry Allen - the Flash and his quest to take the reigns and try to “hold down the fort” here on Earth against the Black Lanterns. He’s with the Atom and Mera of Atlantis and he gives them a good pep talk to try to get them to step up and fight back against the Black Lanterns. The Flash then runs across the Earth continuing his pep talk and informing the other heroes of the situation. He tells them that Green Lantern is off trying to destroy the source of the Black Lanterns’ power and they have to keep fighting until that happens.
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: Blackest Night #4
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DC Comics Review: Justice Society of America #31
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics
Rating: *** 1/2*
A big improvement from the previous issue. Our story continues with the aftermath of a rogue group of B-level super villains attacking the Justice Society of America. The group was designed by a still unseen leader who hired specific super-villains capable of matching up against each member of the JSA . Also, the All-American Kid was taken over by a mysterious force that made him stab Mr. Terrific. Angered by the situation at hand, Magog and WildCat go at each other and we start from there.
The fight is broken up by the new Dr. Fate and he informs the team that blood is needed to save Mr. Terrific’s life. Everyone is to donate as Fate will change everyone’s blood to match that of Terrific’s blood. The All-American kid is interrogated by several JSAers. The kid swears that he didn’t do it even though a video shows him doing it.
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: Justice Society of America #31
DC Comics Review: Justice Society of America #30
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics
Rating: ** 1/2*
We pick up from where we left off with last month’s issue with the Justice Society of America (JSA) all defeated except Stargirl and The Flash Jay Garrick. For whatever reason, Stargirl must not be harmed. The group of miscellaneous stand ready to take out Jay Garrick when he runs away. He runs to go get help in the form of the new Dr. Fate. A while back there were a series of one-shots called the Helmet of Fate as well as the mini-series Countdown to Mystery that saw the return of an all new Dr. Fate. This Dr. Fate is a legacy character named Kent V Nelson and he is the grandnephew of the original Dr. Fate, Kent Nelson. This was all new to me as I wasn’t aware that a new Dr. Fate was chosen. This Dr. Fate is able to fool the villains into thinking he’s the real deal as far being able to use his powers as well as his predecessor’s.
Fate, Stargirl, and Flash hold off the villains long enough as it gives the other JSAers enough time to recover and regroup. The villains see that the tide has turned on them and run off. Magog wants to run after them. Wildcat wants to retreat as Liberty Belle is hurt and they can’t seem to contact Mister Terrific. Power Girl agrees with Magog, but appeases Wildcat and splits the team up with some heading back to headquarters, while others head after the villains. Magog is portrayed as being more aggressive here. He’s looking at this from a military perspective and wants to stomp out the enemy for good. Something doesn’t seem right with him.
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: Justice Society of America #30
DC Comics Review: The Flash: Rebirth #4
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics
Rating: ***
After almost three months, The Flash: Rebirth series continues. I’ve liked this series so far, but this issue was very confusing. It reminded me of some comic book stories I read in the 90s where the story was very exciting, but I had no idea what was going on. I kind of felt that way here with this issue as I had to go over and re-read certain things to get a better grasp of what was going on - and as of right now, I’m still not 100% sure what’s going on or how to explain it. However confusing the story may be, the action is intense and non-stop in this issue and with the action being presented by artist extraordinaire Ethan Van Sciver, you don’t mind it as page after page showcase some amazing artwork.
In our last issue, the main villain of our story stood revealed and to no surprise it was Eobard Thawne the Reverse Flash, Professor Zoom. Okay. So from what I can understand, Thawne is responsible for infecting Barry with his current affliction of hurting speedsters. According to Thawne, he has created a negative Speed Force. It seems that when Barry was hit by lightning he created the Speed Force at that moment and now Thawne has created the negative Speed Force and it’s the cause of Barry’s disorder.
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: The Flash: Rebirth #4
DC Comics Review: Blackest Night #2
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics
Rating: *** 1/2*
Non-stop action. Great artwork. A great story. The Blackest Night mini-series continues this week with another great issue by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. In the last issue we saw the murder of Hawkman and Hawkgirl and their resurrection as Black Lanterns. In this issue, more of the dead rise to become Black Lanterns as we see Aquaman’s body rise to become a Black Lantern along with Aquagirl and Dolphin. They battle Aquman’s wife Mera and the former Aqualad Tempest (worst super-hero name ever!). In another shocking turn of events, Tempest gets killed and becomes a Black Lantern. I’m curious to see how all of these dead heroes will be resurrected as I assume Tempest, Hawkman, Hawgirl, and anyone else who gets turned into a Black Lantern won’t stay dead by the end of the series.
In an interesting twist, the super-hero Boston Brand aka Deadman, sees his body become a Black Lantern, but his spirit form is not effected. His story continues in Blackest Night: Batman which also comes out this week. Some members of the DC magic community: Spectre, Zatanna, Blue Devil, and the Phantom Stranger, become interested in what has happened to Brand and come to investigate his grave. They are greeted by none other than Pariah of Crisis on Infinite Earths who is now a Black Lantern. From his body bursts numerous Black Lantern rings. They do not effect any of them except the Spectre as the ring turns Crispus Allen the current host of the Spectre into a Black Lantern. In a stunning splash page by Reis, we see the Spectre as a giant Black Lantern screaming that he wants Hal Jordan back. Very cool.
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: Blackest Night #2
DC Comics Review: Justice Society of America #29
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics
Rating: ***
I have given Geoff Johns a lot of praise in numerous posts over the past few months. So I won’t go into that here. I mentioned before how I was disappointed that he’d be leaving the Justice Society of America and hoped that the new writers would do well because I love these characters. After a two-issue guest stint by Jerry Ordway, the new writing team of Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges begins here in issue #29. Jesus Merino is the new artist for the title and begins his run here as well. I liked his work here. It’s strong and it reminds me a bit of the work that was done by the previous artist, Dale Eaglesham. Willingham and Sturges do a good job, but they didn’t knock my socks off with their first issue in control.
The two writers are best known for their critically acclaimed work on the Vertigo title Jack of Fables a spin-off of the Vertigo title Fables which is also written by Willingham. I’ve never read these titles, so this is the first time I’ve been introduced to their work. The story here was okay. It revolves around two things that may be connected somehow by the end of the story arc. Flash discovers a black orb in the JSA headquarters. It’s a mysterious orb and the team doesn’t know what it is or where it came from. After some investigating, the team discovers that the orb is in fact their teammate Obsidian. Somehow his body has transformed into this orb and Mister. Terrific takes it upon himself to investigate why this has happened.
A smaller side plot is also intertwined between the two major events that occur in this issue. In this issue we see two new junior members join the team. One is a sidekick to the current Mister America. Evidently the Golden Age Mister America had a sidekick called the All-American Kid. I did some research and I didn’t find a reference to the character on Wikipedia so this might be a retcon. The original Kid was killed during World War II and the new one is the great-nephew to the original. The second is a young boy named King Chimera. He is the son of a Golden Age character named King Standish. A little known character who didn’t show up immediately after a Google search. He’s arrogant and has the power to create illusions.
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: Justice Society of America #29
DC Comics Review: Green Lantern #44
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics
Rating: ***
Blackest Night continues in this week’s issue of Green Lantern #44. I liked this issue. It wasn’t as good as last week’s first issue of the Blackest Night mini-series, but it was still a good read. Geoff Johns is also the writer here as he continues his run on the main Green Lantern title. Doug Mahnke who many know from his work on Batman, provides the artwork here and does a great job. Some very cool splash pages. I think his work is better here than it was over in Batman.
The story picks up from Blackest Night #1 as we saw the Martian Manhunter, J’onn J’onnzz is now a Black Lantern and he confronts Hal Jordan and Barry Allen. In a very cool scene we see when the black ring found the body of the Martian Manhunter as the Oreo cookie that Batman left on his coffin falls to the ground and crumbles as he bursts out of the coffin and flies off. J’onn keeps talking about how both Barry and Hal should be dead. I wonder if their resurrections have anything to do with the prophecy behind the rise of the Black Lanterns and the war that will take place among the various colored lanterns.
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: Green Lantern #44
DC Comics Review: The Flash: Rebirth #3
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics
Rating: ***
Barry Allen is back from the dead. He’s returned to his old life as the Flash, but just as he begins his new life, strange things have begun happening. In the last two issues we’ve seen that when ever Barry touches a speedster, they either die or are hit with excruciating pain. At the end of issue two, Barry has become the new Black Flash which is a sort of angel of death for the speedsters of the DC Universe. And that’s where we are right now in the story of “The Flash: Rebirth”.
I’m enjoying this series so far. It’s not been the best Flash storyline I’ve ever read, but its a good story by Geoff Johns and amazing artwork by Ethan Van Sciver. I like that Johns is bringing in just about everything that has to do with the Flash. I love the Flash’s history and think he has one of the best rogues gallery in comics. This issue opens up with a mysterious assailant going after the Flash villain Abra Kadabra. We don’t see the assailant, but he or she says to Kadabra that, “There isn’t room in this century for the both of us.” The assailant then yells the phrase abra kadabra and then proceeds to burn Abra Kadabra himself.
We then see Liberty Belle and Hourman at the JSA headquarters discussing her parents Johnny Quick and the original Liberty Belle. An explosion happens and we see Johnny Quick calling out to Barry not to hurt Jesse (the current Liberty Belle). Why? Johnny is dead and was absorbed into the Speed Force. Does he think Barry will hurt Jesse and the others on purpose?
We then go to Barry who is being held in a containment field while the JLA and JSA try to help him. The Black Flash entity is taking over Barry and he asks Green Lantern to take him away from everyone as it seems that he can’t control it. Barry decides to then give up and run back to the Speed Force to save everyone from himself. As he runs away we get the return of the classic plot line of the Superman/Flash race as Superman runs after Barry to try and convince him to stick around so they can help him. But Barry proves himself to be the fastest man alive and out runs Superman as he begins racing through time.
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: The Flash: Rebirth #3
DC Comics Review: Justice Society of America #27
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics
This month’s issue of the “Justice Society of America” (JSA) is the first issue of the post-Geoff Johns era. Comic book veteran Jerry Ordway is writing and penciling a two-part story prior to the new writing team of Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges come on board in July. Many fans of this title were sad to hear the news of Geoff Johns exit and I’ve been hesitant to continue collecting this title as many times when a popular writer leaves a book, the quality of that title drops. Geoff Johns work on “Teen Titans” was great and that book hasn’t been the same since he left.
I’ve just finished reading this month’s issue and I’m happy to say that at least with what Ordway has done with this here, the quality of writing for this book has not gone down. The story finds founding JSA members Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Flash (Jay Garrick), and Wildcat along with fellow member Liberty Belle trapped within the JSA headquarters at the hands of Alan Scott’s son Obsidian. Has Obsidian gone insane once again or is truly doing this to protect the members of the JSA.
Lets find out…
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: Justice Society of America #27
DC Comics Review: The Flash: Rebirth #2
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics
Rating: *** 1/2*
This week we have the release of issue two of Geoff John’s Flash mini-series Rebirth. The story picks up where we left off in the first issue with Savitar death at the hands of Barry Allen and all of the other Earth’s speedsters suffering from some sort of shock. Savitar was able to escape the Speed Force through Barry’s body, but as Barry ran and caught him, Savitar turned to dust. Before he died, he made reference to Barry being the beginning and the ending. Why did Savitar incinerate when he touched Barry and why the other speedsters where affected as well is our big mystery.
Ethan Van Sciver once again provides the art work for this series. Van Sciver is quickly becoming one of the best in the business and DC is lucky to have him under contract. I loved his work on the Green Lantern Rebirth series and he hits it out of the ball park here as well.
Barry Allen has returned to the DC universe as the Flash, but his secret identity has also resurfaced in the world. To the world, Barry Allen died. We discover that when Barry returned, Wonder Woman was able to use government connections to create a back story where Barry faked his death went into the witness protection program. I think that’s a cool idea; simple and believable. We also get a retelling of Barry’s origin here in this issue and how Barry was obsessed with proving his father’s innocence for the murder of his mother. His father unfortunately died in prison. Geoff also shows us some flashbacks prior to Barry becoming the Flash with his first meeting of his future wife Iris West. We also see how he first started using the bow-tie. I don’t know much about Barry’s history so whether this is all new or a retelling is unknown to me. One of these days I’ll go back and look at the reprints.
The real story however is what’s happening to Barry.
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: The Flash: Rebirth #2
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