Green Lantern Corps #34
Creative Team
Writer: Peter Tomasi
Artist: Patrick Gleason
Inkers: Rebecca Buchman & Christian Alamy
Colorist: Randy Mayor
Story – Emerald Eclipse Part 2
Review
After being promised a fight between Mongul and Arkillo Tomasi and Gleason do not disappoint. Just as Tomasi did in his run over in Nightwing he knows when it dialogue is need and when his artist, in this case Gleason, to tell the story of a fight between two or more characters. Gleason did a fantastic job showing just how brutal the fight between these two goliaths was as everything around both fighters became a weapon: buldings, statues, and even the Daxam citizens. No one was safe in this fight and I can’t wait to see how those loyal to Sinestro will handle Mongul supposed takeover of the Sinestro Corps.
Outside of the battle in Daxam all of the other stories were nicely done. The dialogue between Sodam and his mom was properly cringe inducing as Sodam really let his mom have it. It felt like an arguement that I would sometimes have with my friends and parents as it was one character telling the harsh truth with the other not accepting it. Seeing as Sodam sent his mom to Oa to keep her safe it should make for some funny moments as Sodam’s mom gets a culture shock from the various Green Lanterns from other planets she is bound to discover.
Also the build up of the secret relationship between Kyle and Soranik. It will be interesting to see how long they can both keep their secret relationship a secret as the it is hard to keep secrets from the Guardians especially once they continue to introduce the new laws that have yet to be revealed.
And it is good to see that Tomasi is allowed to use other Lantern Corps and not just reduced to two Corps as we see scenes involving the Green, Red, Yellow, and Violet Lanterns that should have affects in this and the Green Lantern title.
Issue Rating
Story: 9/10 – Tomasi continues to do an excellent job using all the unused storylines from Green Lantern and make them just as an important story as the one being told by Geoff Johns.
Art: 8.3/10 – Gleason did a fantasitic job with the brutal fight between Mongul and Arkillo and that artwork was present throughout the issue.
Overall: 8.65/10 – Green Lantern Corps continues to prove to be just as an important title as Green Lantern as we inch closer to Blackest Night and if you have yet to give this title a try I urge you do as it is able to stand alone even if you are not reading Green Lantern.
Guardians of the Galaxy #11
Creative Team
Writers: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Artist: Wes Craig
Colorist: Wil Quintana
Story – Welcome to Oblivion
Review
It may be because all of the work DnA have been doing with War of Kings, the tie-ins, and Nova but it seems that with all their workload may have gotten to them. Though the mentioned titles are still great reads it looks like because of that workload Guardians of the Galaxy is the title that is left to suffer. For the first time in this young titles run we get an issue that was disappointing from the writing to the art. The problem with this issue is that unlike the previous story arc this issue was only focused on Quasar and Drax’s adveture in a purgatory-type setting. It just seems this issue would have been much better left off if it also focused on the Adam Warlock and Gamora plotline that has also only been shortly seen in the previous story arc.
Issue Rating
Story: 4/10 – This was the first issue of Guardians of the Galaxy that I found to be just a boring read as none of the dialogue from DnA was very compelling.
Art: 5/10 – Craig’s cartoon-type artwork just isn’t a proper fit for a cosmic title like GOTG.
Overall: 4.5/10 – With so many compelling things going on in Marvel’s cosmic corner this issue failed to live up to previous issues of GOTG and the only good thing is this is only a two-part story arc.
Superman/Batman #56
Creative Team
Writers: Michael Green & Mike Johnson
Artist: Rags Morales
Inkers: John Dell, Drew Geraci & Derek Fridoles
Colorist: Nei Ruffino
Story – Super/Bat: Conclusion
Review
Though Super/Bat has had its interesting moments the story has still felt like a been there, done that as the story of two characters exchanging powers has been done to death. This issue is basically one big fight sequence between a Superman powered Batman and the JLA with Superman and Zatanna finding an moment of weakness in Batman for Superman to get back his powers.
The one thing I will say about this story is that Green and Johnson did a good job making this storyline new reader friendly which is what Superman/Batman should be. Just like the team titles a reader who can’t get titles for all their favorite characters should be able to look at a team title and get a good solid read. And who are fans of Batman and Superman this a nice read that should entertain any reader looking to get into comics.
And just like always Rags Morales provides some great artwork. The fight scene between Batman and the JLA was nicely illustrated though the inker by committee was noticeable during certain points in the issue.
Issue Rating
Story: 6.2/10 – Green and Johnson do a nice job ending this storyline though it is nothing surprising.
Art: 8/10 – Morales provides plenty of eye candy for the reader and I hope we see his artwork soon in this or another title.
Overall: 7.1/10 – Though this storyline may not be for longtime comic book readers Super/Bat is a nice storyline that I would recommend for new readers who are a fan of one or both characters.