Electronic Ink: Mini-Edition 3

Normally, this week, there are significantly more comics. However, due to the fact there is a fifth week this month, the comics I normally purchase are more spread out throughout the month. So once again, this week’s edition of Electronic Ink is short. (You can almost hear my editor, Jenn, rejoicing through the screen, can’t you?)

The Flash #5

First up is  the newest edition  of Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul‘s run on “The Flash.”  This issue continues the story of Barry Allen‘s first case back since returning from the dead. The issue opens with the Flash speaking with the 25th Century version of classic Flash villain, The Top. In this case, the Top is a member of a future police force named the Renegades. They are basically an alternate version of the team of Flash villains, the Rogues. The Renegades have been sent back in time to arrest the Flash for the murder of their version of the Mirror Master, the Mirror Monarch. The catch is the crime hasn’t happened yet. As is revealed in this issue, the Renegades think that by pre-emptively arresting the Flash, they can prevent the murder.

Meanwhile, the Rogues have discovered that the original Mirror Master had created an item that could be used if the Flash ever returned. They are attempting to break the glass case surrounding the item but are being prevented by the remaining members of the renegades. The Top tells the Flash that the glass case is trapping beings called the Mirror Lords. One of the Mirror Lords will take control of the Flash’s fiancée, Iris, and cause her to become his greatest nemesis. The Flash and the Future Top arrive during the battle and try to calm the situation. Unfortunately, at that moment, Captain Boomerang‘s power goes crazy and he starts shooting boomerangs everywhere, breaking the glass in the process.  The issue ends with the revelation that the Top has not been completely honest and the Flash being hauled to the future to meet the Judge.

 Overall, the issue was enjoyable, although it seemed to be a deceptively quick read. As I was reading it, the issue seemed to fly by. However, after going by through it again for this post, there was a lot that happened. I am wondering if it was just information overload. I am torn on the art style as well. (You can check it out on the cover.) I think the looseness of the lines fits the fast nature of the book. But as a personal preference, I prefer a lot of detail in my comic art. So while I would never say the art is bad, it’s just not my cup of tea. Overall, I would rate the comic 3.5 out of 5. It was enjoyable but not something that I will want to read again.

Justice League: Generation Lost #10

Next  is an issue of Judd Winnick’s “Justice League: Generation Lost.”  In this issue, we learn that what was hinted at in the last issue is exactly where the series is going: the Kingdom Come future which involves Magog commanding a version of the Justice League that causes the destruction of Kansas via Captain Atom exploding.  Max Lord has a vision of that future thanks to the White Lantern that resurrected him. Although the mission that will keep him alive consists of him preventing that future, Max appears to be helping it come about by equipping Magog with a more powerful weapon.

Meanwhile, the team that is hunting Max (Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Fire, Ice, Rocket Red, and Skeets) are re-grouping after Max’s attempted invasion of their base last issue. We learn that when Max returned, he activated several Checkmate cells throughout the world. The team decides go and hunt these down.  Before they leave, Ice and Fire have a heart-to-heart, where Ice renews her commitment to the team and to her friendship with Fire. We also learn why other heroes still haven’t caught on that Max has returned from the dead.  Batman is shown noticing that something is up, but as he attempts to investigate, with Alfred and Power Girl backing him up, they all forget what they are doing midway through. The issue ends with the revelation of what else Max has been up to.

I, once again, really enjoyed this issue. The artist for this issue is Joe Bennett. His art style is good but not as enjoyable as Aaron Lopresti’s. I especially liked Bennett’s work on the conference room scene. Winnick’s script is great too, although his Batman was so nondescript it was hard to tell if it was Dick Grayson or Bruce Wayne. I enjoyed Fire and Ice’s reunion scene, but with recent announcements about the future of the comic, the scene takes on new meaning. It was recently announced that Ice would be undergoing a revamp and that a member of the team will die. This scene heavily foreshadows that person will be Fire. I’m a little tired of every comic storyline being spiced up with death, so I have to say it causes a cloud to hang over this issue. But judging it on its own merits, I would give it four out of five.

Justice League of America #49

The final issue I picked up this week was “Justice League of America”. This story is an interlude story, as writer James Robinson is in between story arcs. After a brief prologue showing some bonding between Dick Grayson and Supergirl, the story has a few brief scenes showing what the rest of the league is up to before switching to the main storyline of featuring Donna Troy and Jade. Robinson introduces new villain, The Bogeyman, who has the ability to force a victim to relieve their most traumatic moment so he leech power from it. He has a special spot for young girls (ew!). Predictably, they join forces and fight him off. The issue ends with an epilogue showcasing Dick Grayson Batman and Supergirl again.

I did not care for this issue. It could be the fact that I am having girls but I thought the villain was rather gross. It really took me out of the story. Honestly, I would have rather read about Batman and Supergirl’s adventures fighting the Murder Maestro. That sounded fun. This…this was boring. The only saving grace was the art by Pow Rodrix and Robson Rocha. They did a good job making each character look distinct. In the end I give this issue a 2 and that’s only because of the art.

Thus ends Electronic Ink Mini-Edition 3. Let’s hope this trend continues. Or I’ll have a very angry Juni.

Electronic Ink

Every Wednesday I head to Collector’s Ink, a comic shop in the town where I work. This is a relatively new experience for me. Before I started working in Chico, I was on a mail order system. This was great for the discount I received, but it also meant that I was always behind the Internet when it came to story reveals and plot points. By going every Wednesday, I find that my love of comics has increased, even if the loss of the discount decreased the number  of titles I pick up.

While I am not a prolific buyer of books (at least not now that I have two girls on the way), I try to be pretty consistent on which titles I buy. But there is a caveat: following my blog’s unofficial theme of having the story be king, I have developed a tendency to follow authors rather than characters. Having read comics off and on for 17 years, I have come to believe that a good author can make the most obscure character interesting, while a poor author can take Batman and make him…well I was going to say boring, but let’s not get crazy here.  As such, you’ll probably notice that some books disappear as soon as the author changes.

My plan for the Wednesday slot of this blog is to feature a few short reviews of whatever comics I pick that week. I’ll probably supplement it with occasional reviews of any graphic novels I may have picked up along the way. Come to think of it, I currently have 7 graphic novels on order from Amazon, so I’m going with a loose interpretation of “occasional.” Okay, let’s change that first sentence to say that Wednesdays will include at least a few words about whatever comics I picked up in addition to any graphic novels I may be reading.

Now that the stage has been set, let’s draw up the curtain and see what’s in my pullbox this week.

Action Comics #892

First up is Action Comics #892 or, as it says on the cover, “Lex Luthor‘s Action Comics”. The premise of this run, written by Paul Cornell and with art by Pete Woods and Pere Perez, is that Lex Luthor has discovered that there is a Black Lantern ring on Earth. Remembering his experience as an Orange Lantern during Blackest Night, Lex’s goal is to hunt down this ring and obtain the power it contains for himself. He is assisted by the Lois Lane robot he created to be his sounding board.

In this particular issue, he has hired Deathstoke the Terminator to protect him as he heads to the Arctic to analyze the Black Lantern energy that he has found there. While there, we learn that the energy pocket that they have found has been there for billions of years. When Luthor, Deathstroke, the Lois robot, and the team of scientists and bodyguards Luthor has brought along get near the site, the ring begins to effect their minds. What follows is the fight that is promised on the cover. 

This was very well-done issue. The story is progressing rapidly and Cornell is doing an excellent job of balancing exposition and action. The fight between Luthor and Deathstroke is portrayed very well, so kudos to Woods and Perez. Luthor’s contingency plan is a great sequence,  equalled by his mid-fight analysis of the energy’s effect on Deathstroke. It’s a touch of characterization that really makes this issue stand out for me.

The back-up* for this issue is an intro for the Superboy series that is set to debut later this year. The story begins, as most previews do, in the middle of a fight between Superboy and the Teen Titans against some sort of golem made out of the earth underneath Smallville. I really wanted to enjoy the issue as I have a fondness for this version of Superboy (except for the non-costume.) Jeff Lemire does an okay job of giving you what you need to know to follow the story, and the art by Pier Gallo is decent, although Raven’s costume seems a bit odd at points. Even though all the pieces were there, I was unable to get into the story. Nothing stood out enough to make me want to check out the Superboy book when it comes out.

Batman #702

Next up was the next chapter is Grant Morrison’s story of what happened in between R.I.P. and Final Crisis. Having recently read Final Crisis, this issue was an interesting look at what was going on behind the scenes. Using the narrative conceit of Batman’s recorder that was recovered after he was dispatched into time by Darkseid, this issue was less of a story but more of a director’s cut of the scenes presented in Final Crisis.

Grant Morrison’s writing is excellent, like always. He presents concepts which could be very hard to understand in such a way that explains them without ever losing the “wow” factor. Tony Daniel’s art is good, even great at certain points (such as the page where Batman is struck by the Omega Sanction). It mainly suffers from being compared to similar pages being presented in a superior fashion in the pages of Final Crisis.

Justice League: Generation Lost #8

The issues of the Justice League International are what drew me into comics. When they were at their peak, they combined action and humor into an entertaining cocktail that I eagerly drank up. Coming from that point of view, Justice League: Generation Lost was one of my favorite issues this week. Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Fire, Ice, Rocket Red, and Captain Atom are on the hunt for Max Lord, following him to the headquarters of Checkmate. This issue, their attempt to infiltrate the base using spare Rocket Red suits has failed. As things go from bad to worse, they end up exposing their identities, further pushing them into rogue status.

Judd Winick’s script, his first solo one for this series, is excellent. He gets a lot of flak online but none of the usual criticisms apply to this issue. Each character gets a his or her own moment to reveal bits about their personalities. Aaron Lopresti’s pencils are very good as well. One of the things I loved about the original series was the facial expressions drawn  by Kevin Maguire. Lopresti’s expressions, while not as detailed as Maguire’s, are still more expressive than most. Overall, this book is like a sweet piece of candy for the JLI fan.

Justice League of America #48

Justice League of America #48 is the conclusion of the Dark Things storyline that has crossed between this book and the Justice Society. The plot involves the Starheart, the source of the Golden Age Green Lantern’s power, returning to earth and corrupting not only the Green Lantern but his son, Obsidian, and daughter, Jade. The combined might of the JLA and JSA, plus the JSA All-Stars and Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, are required to take them down. In the back-up, Cyborg has been helping the Red Tornado adjust to his new body. Sentient A.I., The Construct, uses the momentary vulnerability to attempt to take over the Tornado’s body.

Both stories are scripted by James Robinson. I have read some good things about Robinson’s writing in the past. His recent scripts have come under fire, due to some controversial elements. This series, as well as his run on Superman, are the first I have read by him and I have to say, I am not that impressed. Robinson is very good at weaving in continuity but overall both stories feel…well, phoned in. Mark Bagely handles art on the main story and I followed his work in Ultimate Spider-Man. I was excited about his coming over DC but his work on this series is under-whelming. It could be the multiple inkers but his work seems really a lot less polished. Pow Rodrix’s art, by comparison, I enjoyed more but it could be because I didn’t have as high hopes.  As I write this, I am seriously considering dropping this book.

Time Master: Vanishing Point #2

Time Masters: Vanishing Point #2 was good continuation issue. It ties into the Return of Bruce Wayne storyline, following Green Lantern, Superman, Booster Gold, and especially Rip Hunter. Since Rip was revealed to be Booster’s father, Rip has become more interesting to me. However, as this issue separated him from the rest of the team, I realized that my interest was more in his relationship to Booster.  Dan Jurgens’ script and pencils, while good, do not stand out any more than his usual work. Since he is no longer working on the main Booster Gold book, it’s nice to see his version of Booster here. Overall, while enjoyable, this issue is not very memorable.

Wonder Woman #602

Finally, we have “The All-New Wonder Woman.” I had been collecting Wonder Woman a few years back, but after the story lost coherence due to multiple “series regular” writers, I ended up dropping the book. I came back on for the new direction that J. Michael Straczynski had initiated. Much has been made of the new status quo (not all positive) but I was intrigued enough by the initial issues to give it a try. This second full issue of his run continues the story of this new version of Wonder Woman trying to protect the remains of her tribe of Amazons. Not much to tell here, just more stage-setting. I enjoyed the earlier issue but this one did not give me the same sense of excitement I felt from the first issue.

Overall, this week was a good week of comics. I only had one that was less than stellar and most were really entertaining. One out of six for the week is a pretty good haul.

Sorry for the long post. Jenn made the suggestion that I only review the ones I enjoy. In looking back on this post, I think that’s what I may do. In the meantime, thank you for sticking through this post. I assure you that tomorrow’s won’t clock in at over 1600 words.

* Backup: a secondary story in a comic that is separate from the main feature.