Green Lantern #25

Wow! Geoff Johns really knows how to deliver. The true, great crossover event for 2007, "The Sinestro Corps Wars" finale did not disappoint. Both Ivan Reis and Ethan Van Sciver provide action packed art to this high velocity story. The story doesn't slow down for a panel, giving the reader a lot of twist and turns along the way. With the conclusion of this arc and the teaser for 2009, Johns has established "Green Lantern" as one of the top tier books in the DCU. I've enjoyed "Green Lantern" more over the last year than Superman.

One quick note, I have to commend Moose on his coloring. He does a fantastic job and I enjoy his work.

The TPBs for this story are coming out in 2008. If you missed out on the monthly version, you should definitely pick up the trade for it.

Comic Adventurer 2007 Year End Review: The Outstanding

In 2007, DC rolled out two very fun titles “The All-New Booster Gold” and “The Brave and the Bold”. Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz have done a fantastic job with brining back Booster Gold into the DCU. Booster was a star of “52” and DC has capitalized on the good will from that series. From the first issue through this week’s issue #5, “The All-New Booster Gold” has been a fun read. I enjoy sitting down each month and savoring this book. Artist Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund have provided great art to back up Johns and Katz’s action packed and funny stories.

Over in “The Brave and the Bold”, writer Mark Waid really shines with this team-up series. The first six issues set up the device that Waid uses to keep this series moving forward. One of my favorite all time artist, George Perez, is back in top form with this series and delivers every month. He draws the best Supergirl out there. I highly recommend that if you haven’t read the first six issues that you go out and get the hard cover collection that just came out this week. I enjoy this read immensely.

In “The Sinestro Corps Wars” Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, and Peter J. Tomasi delivered a galaxy spanning tour de force. I believe DC was caught off guard with how good (and popular) that this story was. From “The Sinestro Corp Wars” #1 right through to the epilogue in “Green Lantern Corps” #19, this story was engrossing, action packed, and, most of all, fun to read.

Finally, one writer has jumped up high in my top ten writers of all time. Robert Kirkman, writer of “Invincible” and “The Walking Dead”, captured my imagination. I didn’t jump onto either book until this year. Well, twelve TPBs later and hitting the monthlies this last month, I have definitely become a true Kirkman fan. If you haven’t tried out either of these Image titles by Kirkman, you should grab the first TPB of each and see what they are like. I highly recommend it.

Green Latern Corps #18

Part 10 of "The Sinestro Corps War" has Sodam "ION" Yat going toe to toe with Superman "Ultimate Fanboy" Prime. Of course, the fate of some of the players here have been spoiled over in "Countdown" which did reduce some of the dramatic tension. Writer Peter J.Tomasi does a fine job of interleaving a hard hitting fight scene with flashes back to Sodam's past. The flash backs really provide a good bit of character development on Sodam and show why he's so dedicated to the Corps. The art team does a great job of pulling together both the bloody fight scene and the flash backs.

While the outcome of this fight is truly spoiled over in "Countdown", I felt that Tomasi's story played out quite nicely with good art in support.

Countdown to Final Crisis #24

"Countdown" has received a facelift over the last few issues and has finally hit its stride as "Countdown to Final Crisis". Fresh off of his stint in the "Sinestro Corps War", Superman Prime makes an appearance here in a black suit reminiscent of Superman's post "Death of Superman/Return of Superman" uniform. Back in "Countdown to Final Crisis" #26, the story jumped to Earth-15 as a black clad individual grabbed a bald headed guy. Well, in the first few pages of this issue we see that it was Superman Prime grabbing Earth-15's Lex Luthor. For those keeping score, Earth-15 is the Earth where Zod is Superman. Prime works over this Earth keeping the same tone that Geoff John's established in the Sinestro Corps "Prime" one-shot. We also see story lines begin to merge as the Bludhaven/Firestorm intersects the Mary Marvel/Darkseid storyline. Both the Firestorm and Mary Marvel stories are handled quite well here.

Penciller Tom Derenick and inker Wayne Faucher's art is very good. I've never really heard of either of these guys, but they capture the action and present it in a dynamic manner. I'd like to see more from Derenick - if he can keep a monthly schedule.

I've gone from luke warm to warm on this series. Issue #26 was a good jumping on point for new readers. The last two issues have been good and the future is looking brighter.

Blue Beetle #20

"Blue Beetle" #20 is a "The Sinestro Corps Wars" tie in. If you are keeping up with this cross over event you don't need to read "Blue Beetle" #20. You really won't miss anything. However, if you are a Blue Beetle fan you need to read this as the events that unfold here impact both the Reach and Peacemaker story lines. The story suffers some because the lack of Jaime's supporting cast, but writer John Rogers brings the action as this book is one big slugfest. Rafael Albuquerque's art really fits this book well. Even in Blue Beetle's mask Albuquerque allows us to see Jaime's emotions. While this issue isn't the usual fun and funny Jaime, we get to see Blue Beetle in action and both Jaime and the Scarab working as a team. Rogers even gives a shout out to the Ted Kord fans. If you are a fan of old school Spider-man and I mean old school young kid gets new powers and has fun with them, then get this book.

Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman-Prime

I have been a big fan of "The Sinestro Corps War" crossover event in "Green Lantern" and "Green Lantern Corps". This crossover really caught DC flat footed as they didn't advertise it well, didn't have a marketing plan to speak of, and didn't understand the quality of the story at all. Playing catchup, DC put out a series of one-shots that have had some range of success in story telling. In this one shot focusing on the Superboy (yes I said Superboy) of the now gone Earth-Prime, Geoff Johns tackles all his inner demons as a geek fanboy using this comic to poke fun at all of the DC editorial decisions of the last few years. Johns lets Superman-Prime be the fanboy's voice on such matters as Firestorm, Aquaman, Bart Allen, Hal Jordan, etc. Many of the one liners regarding these characters could have come from any of the comic chat rooms on the net. The art by Pete Woods and Jerry Ordway is excellent bringing energy to the action sequences and emotion to the flashbacks. A highly recommended read!

Booster Gold #2

"Booster Gold" has rapidly shot up my first read list. Writers Geoff Johns & Jeff Katz have taken a joke character and really instilled a sense of purpose. Booster's supporting cast of Rip Hunter and Skeets also really shine in this book. The layouts by Booster Gold creator Dan Jurgens and finishes by Norm Rapmund are exceptional. While the main story of intercepting Sinestro so that Guy Gardner never becomes the Greatest Green Latern was executed quite well, the one page cut away to the original Blue Beetle intrigues me the most. I know at some point in the near future Booster will attempt to save Ted Kord (Blue Beetle II) from being killed. I am not a die hard Ted Kord fan, but there are a lot out on the internet ranting about his death. I'm looking forward to see Booster's story move forward as he meets other DC Universe characters and, just maybe, figuring out how to save Ted's life.

This book is fun. It brings a lot of what is missing from DC's bigger names and harkens back to a time when comics could be about adventure and being a hero, not grim, gritty, and reality.

Green Latern #23

Geoff Johns has done an outstanding job on "The Sinestro Coprs War". I have to say this one really snuck up on me. After an extended absence from buying comics monthly, this last year I decided to start vising my local comic shop and put together a pull list. My son is a big Flash, JSA, & JLA fan and those made my list. I was always a big Teen Titans and Superman fan and those and some other related books made the list. Green Latern kind of fell through the cracks. I picked up "The Sinestro Corps War" one shot thinking it might be a good read and was blown away. I immediately put both "Green Latern" and "Green Latern Corps" on my pull list. I also lucked out and my LCS had a back issue sale at $1/issue. My son and I quickly caught up on both titles.

The story in "Green Latern" #23 is action packed and fast paced. Johns' characterization of the various Green Laterns is excellent and you really feel the impending doom. Ivan Reis' pencils with Oclair Albert's inks really show off the differing Green Latern Corp and Sinestro Corp members. The art really adds scope and depth to Johns' star spanning story. The last frame alone is worth coming back for more.

I have to step back a moment to critcize DC's editorial/marketing team. Issue number one is that "The Sinestro Corps War" was not properly advertised. If it had been pushed as much as the lack luster "Amazons Attack" was, I believe DC would have more people reading this excellent saga. Secondly, the reveal of what happens to Parallax/Kyle Rayner is blown by the "Countdown" series and the "Search for Ray Palmer" series. Timing is everything and Johns' excellent galactic adventure has been lessened by having major plot points revealed in another series.

If you haven't jumped on "The Sinestro Corp War" then head down to your LCS and find some back issues. It is a great read.