Comic Book Reviews: The Night Goes Black, People Scream For JUSTICE!

I have been more of a casual reader of comic books than hardcore. I follow what's going on in the worlds of Marvel and DC for a short time and then move on. I tend to follow the animated television programs and films more religiously. With the comic book form, I'm always annoyed about the dumb new ideas of the editors and the constant deaths and resurrections of characters.

I'm currently in the mood right now due to the video review series by Linkara (Atop the Fourth Wall) and the hoopla for an event comic from DC Comics. I haven't followed an event comic since the Maximum Carnage arc for Spider-man in the 90's, and this one looks to be more interesting than all of the other crappy events since Marvel's Civil War. (p.s. I have been following more of Marvel than DC, so that statement goes towards the former)

Here's a couple of reviews for recent issues:

Green Lantern #43

This is probably one of the darkest single issues for a comic book series I have read. And it was great.

GREEN LANTERN #43 is a backstory for two separate plots. It shows the entire life of a former loser villain to the Green Lantern/future warmonger Black Hand and is one of the prologues of DC's new event "Blackest Night." With these two objectives, the issue has two narrators and it is handle well without confusing the reader. However, for the benefit, Black Hand is a very unreliable narrator; the flashbacks of his troubled upbringing don't match up with his reflections, causing him to be more deranged as the story continues. He also desires for his story to make himself sympathetic but the unrelenting violence and disturbing thoughts ruins his mission.

The issue entirely focuses on the element of death. Black Hand is shown to adore the aspects associated with it and literally hears the voice of Death as his savior. Black ink is used so frequently in the art, too much so for a color comic book. And then, there is the death montage. In the middle of his serenades in a cemetery, Black Hand mentions how he hears and sees the souls vanquished from the DC world and the reader sees all of the horrible deaths in multiple frames. This barrage brings true horror and despair to the comic book medium before the disturbing climax and ending.

This isn't an exploitation of violence like in many other comic books. The graphic violence is used to show how unhinged Black Hand is and his fascination with depravity and sadism. It makes him to be a great villain and makes the issue to be a fantastic start to "Blackest Night."

FINAL REVIEW: 5 / 5

Green Lantern Corps #38

Another prelude to the "Blackest Night" event, GREEN LANTERN CORPS #38 didn't seem a must buy and read for me. But I balked and listened to the comic websites to get it before the first event comic is released next week.

Chaos and ruthlessness surrounds the Green Lantern Corps and the planet Oa after a prison breakout. All of the prisoners are now being given an execution order by the powers that be, a harsh and unfair order for the Corps. Kyle Rayner and Guy Gardner then spend half of the issue trying to prevent the sentencing and beg for a return in the politics for the group.

While the issue is entertaining, the dialogue seems stilted in places and there is some dumb plot holes. Rayner shouts out how he believes in giving the prisoners a fair trial and preserving their lives. Then, a moment later after saving one of them, Rayner goes off on the prisoner saying that he is worthless. The Guardians also come off too much as generic corrupt leaders rather than their usual morally based characters. Of course, I haven't been following the recent stories so I might be wrong.


FINAL REVIEW: 3 / 5






Justice League: Cry For Justice #1

JUSTICE!

Oh, how you will hear that being said too much and used very stupidly in this book.

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE is a limited series being released and has some bad reputation preceding it due to constant delays. While I didn't hate it with a passion, it felt like I was ripped off considering it has higher price and a small plot line.

Green Lantern is sick and tired of the politics of the Justice League and wants JUSTICE! to be dealt. He leaves with best friend Green Arrow and has a pretty funny argument about their dramatic exit. Then the two Atoms beat up some guys before the Ray Palmer version expresses how he wants JUSTICE! Then one of the Starmans sees a dead boy, blows up a car and screams for JUSTICE! Then a golden-colored gorilla cries for his dead friends and shouts for JUSTICE!

That's it. That's the entire plot.

Sure, the dialogue is oddly entertaining and their is some funny lines and the art is good yet in a way Alex Ross-lite. However, the lack of advancement and the fact the team hasn't been made or entirely shown is very annoying. Also, having Hal Jordan a main character is problematic considering "Blackest Night" is about to start, so this story is either far behind and has to wait for the event to end to be canon.

FINAL REVIEW: 2 / 5

Gotham City Sirens #1

This is simply fluff, pure and simple. GOTHAM CITY SIRENS preys on the fanboys of the Batman animated series to bring a mediocre comedic piece.

Catwoman is still suffering from having her heart ripped out(?!) and is significantly weaker than normal. Before being defeated by a new D-list criminal, Poison Ivy deus ex machinas and then brings her to the Riddler's apartment, where Ivy and Harley Quinn are crashing. Then after a lot of talking, a pointless Zatanna cameo, and more talking, they engage in a badly made battle with the criminal again.

The art is fine and the dialogue is okay but the direction of this comic is just badly done. It may have some promise later but this debut is just stuck in neutral.

FINAL REVIEW: 2 / 5