GREEN LANTERN #20
DC Comics
Written by Geoff Johns
Pencils by Doug Mahnke
Inks by Christian Alamy, Keith Champagne, Marc Deering, Mark Irwin, Wade Von Grawbadger, Tom Nguyen, and Doug Mahnke
Back-up art by Patrick Gleason, Cully Hamner, Aaron Kuder, Jerry Ordway, Ivan Reis, Ethan Van Sciver, Joe Prado, & Oclair Albert.

Whenever I see a rather expensive, oversized comic book I am always apprehensive about it. Very rarely are the inside pages worth the extra price. Sometimes there are reprints in the backup of the issue to “pad” it. You will be happy to hear that Green Lantern #20 is very much worth the price of admission, and I was extremely happy to find that out.

Geoff Johns began his work in the Green Lantern Universe nine years ago with Green Lantern: Rebirth. This issue marks the last issue of his long, epic run, and you really cannot speak about this issue without speaking about his run as a whole. In the last few years I had been very vocal of my dislike about the direction of the series. In my estimation I thought Johns hit his high point with the Sinestro Corps War and the book started becoming a mess by the conclusion of Blackest Night.

What I mean by this is that Johns became a victim of his own success and the huge mythology of the different color Corps overshadowed the characters appearing in the book. It often suffocated any possible growth from the characters. I thought this was rectified with the New52 relaunch which found Sinestro back as a Green Lantern partnered up with Hal Jordan. But before long the long story-arcs and inclusion of the dense mythology once again began to overshadow the characters.

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DAREDEVIL #25
Marvel Comics
Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated by Chris Samnee

The celebrated twenty-fifth issue of Mark Waid’s Daredevil run sheds further light on the mysterious villain that has plagued Matt Murdock since issue one. Someone has been conducting horrible experiments on people trying to replicate the accident that gave Matt his powers. Daredevil takes one of these victims to the place he said he escaped from, even though DD knows this is a trap. There he squares off against Ikari, a somewhat mirrored version of Matt himself.

I was worried when Waid decided to return Daredevil to the Silver Age/classic feel of the series, moving it back from the grim and gritty “street ninja” tales that have largely dominated the book since Frank Miller left his mark on the character. Waid did return more fun to the series, but everything you loved about the character is still there. Matt was still trained by Stick, he always rushes headlong into the fray without thinking it through, and the fights he partakes in match with some of DD’s best. What Waid did was take the series and make it more of the superhero book, and the change was a breath of fresh air.

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GI JOE: THE COBRA FILES #1
IDW
Written by Mike Costa
Illustrated by Antonio Fuso

I always loved the Cobra series from IDW, even when they revamped it over and over. Luckily for the readers, both Mike Costa and Antonio Fuso are still creating stories for us.

Chameleon is trying to adjust to her life as a former member of Cobra and current member of GI Joe. She is rectifying her personal life and work life, in addition to dealing with Tomax having a role to play on the Joe’s team as well. (He’s definitely playing both sides.)

What marks this issue as excellent is the way in which it not only caters to longtime readers like me, but how it makes the story accessible for new readers. This first issue is a great jump on point for the new series. The world of GI Joe and Cobra seems conflicted, complex, and utterly interesting in this series. It is a longtime staple of the Cobra series, and one of the reasons this book has been my favorite licensed property comic book series for years.

The art and story match up to give you a series that is a cross between the old GI Jos cartoons and the Bourne films. There are twists and turns and misplaced loyalties. I may still miss Chuckles, but this is my favorite iteration of GI Joe comics EVER.

FINAL WORD: This issue is perfect for new or longtime readers!

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I really loved this week’s batch of comics. Ultimate Comics X-Men #25 was excellent. I am only not reviewing that issue because I have reviewed that book quite a bit lately. Buy it. Read it. Love it. You’re welcome. Both Animal Man #19 and Swamp Thing #19 were promising new beginnings for their respective characters. Fairest #14 and Earth 2 #11 were also pretty good this week. I was a happy reader. So let’s look at the comics making the review cut:

GREEN ARROW #19
DC Comics
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art by Andrea Sorrentino

Not only is this the best issue of the series to date, but it is arguably the best comic this week. Oliver Queen is not having a good day. An archer named Komodo has targeted Arrow for termination. He is better than Ollie in every way. During the course of the story, as Ollie fights for his life, we learn that what Green Arrow thought about his life, mission, and his father was a lie. Questions are answered as others spring up, and Ollie has apparently not fulfilled his purpose as a hero.

This issue very much felt like a character statement. You could read it for what it is or as the “meta” statement Lemire and Sorrentino are making. This Oliver Queen is not worthy of the mantle he carries. The creators are breaking him down, and presumably, they are going to fashion him into a better character, a better hero. Lemire and Sorrentino do this by both giving readers a fantastic fight sequence, and by adding to Green Arrow’s mythology as they literally tear our hero down.

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YOUNG AVENGERS #3
Marvel Comics
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Jaime McKelvie

Miss America saves Wiccan, Hulkling, and Loki from Loki’s father. Their victory is short-lived as Maerica Chavez’s parents from an alternate reality show up to try to collect her. Loki transports them all to a nightclub and they discuss their “team-up”. We learn why the characters are connected (Loki claims its from trying to counter-act Wiccan’s spell to bring Hulkling’s “other mother” from another universe and it inadvertently connected them all together) just in time for the thing that looks like Hulkling’s mother to capture the lot of them.

I felt like this issue really connected the plot and characters in ways that hadn’t happened in the previous two issues and the story coupled with the dialogue had me grinning and laughing out loud at time. Volstagg’s comments on the first page were hilarious. Gillen’s writing and McKelvie’s gorgeous art makes this title a win/win. I know many readers love the current Avengers books, but they have left me cold. Young Avengers, however, has not. I really dig this book.

I love that the plot deals with real teenagers’ issues of having a life while dealing with their parents, and how that is flipped on its side by having said parents taken over by an alien entity. It feels genuine, is lots of fun, and really sets this book apart from other teenage superhero books.

FINAL WORD: This is my favorite Avengers title.

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There were many excellent comics to pick from this week. In fact, I would say it was one of the best weeks for comics in some time, and definitely for the month of March. Although it did not make my Top Three cut, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #21 brought that old magic back as Miles had a heart-to-heart conversation with Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane about symbiotes. This further adds to my point that if Miles had been Peter’s age or older, he would be a better replacement for Peter. He’s just too young. Daredevil #24 was also very good and had one of my favorite lines from Matt Murdock in it, “Oh my God. I think I’m in love with this woman.” Classic DD. So if they were so good, what made the cut?

CHEW #32
Image Comics
Written by John Layman
Art by Rob Guillory

Following the death of his sister, Agent Chu is throwing himself into his work. First his takes down some criminals who have their own Torta-Espadero, a new twist on food powers that had me laughing out loud, and then he attacks a gap in his personal life by asking his daughter Olive to dinner. Meanwhile, Agent Colby discovers Agent Cesar’s secret, and fists fly!

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It was an interesting week of comics to say the least. The Bat-books went all EMO on me, as Batman deals with the loss of his test-tube son Damian, with one book showcasing a silent, sad warrior and another with Batman breaking a young girl’s nose. Although I enjoyed both books for the most part, it feels oddly reminiscent to the aftermath of Jason Todd being killed. It might make for some interesting stories, but as a long time reader it feels too much like been there/done that. Plus, could Snyder be any more obvious that Harper Row will be the next Robin? For these transgressions, the Bat-books did not make my review this time, even with the brilliant Alex Maleev providing some art.

ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #24
Marvel Comics
Written by Brian Wood
Penciled by Mahmud Adrar
Inked by Juan Vlasco

I have been touting Wood’s Ultimate X-Men for quite some time now. With that being said, I am aware that the title has been a slow burn, slowly setting the new status quo up. The mutants have been given a cure. Most have taken it. Those that did not take the cure have been granted a “reservation” within the US by President Captain America to create a mutant nation.

Kitty Pryde is the leader of the X-Men. Early in her tenure at Utopia there was a split in leadership, and some of the team went off with Nomi Blume. As the new habitat grows, Kitty and Co are preparing for the mutant refugees heading their way. Psylocke and Warpath plot against Nomi and keep tabs on Wolverine. And as powers in Washington plan against the new mutant paradise, a familiar face plans on checking it out personally.

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ANIMAL MAN #18
DC Comics
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art by Steve Pugh

I wanted to review this issue, not just because it is the first issue of Animal Man I have reviewed in awhile, but also because The Rot storyline is finally coming to an end. Buddy Baker is expelled from the realm of The Rot and rushes to save his family from the agents that have been dogging him since issue #1.

Using all of his abilities Buddy fights the good fight. His daughter, the next avatar of The Red, also contributes to the fight. Nevertheless, it looks like another member of the Baker family has to pay the ultimate price.

Unlike many deaths in comics, this one could have real and lasting affects for the title. Killing a vital, but ultimately expendable costar in the book allows for the sense of finality that you don’t get with killing off a major character. Normally I would have thought this was an important moment in the series, but the problem I have with it is not the death, and instead it is the timeliness of it.

Buddy’s son Cliff has almost died multiple times since the relaunch. My biggest problem with the story in this issue is that it should have come at the latest by issue #12, and not with issue #18. I have skipped some issues in the last handful of months. The length of The Rot storyline was wearing me down. And I picked this one up to find out that we’re still following the same storyline since issue #1.

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HAWKEYE #8
Marvel Comics
Written by Matt Fraction
Art by David Aja
Full-page illustrations by Annie Wu

Although I do not think it has quite reached it yet, this series might be destined to surpass the last comic serial that Fraction and Aja did together: The Immortal Iron Fist. This creative team manages to always surpass my expectations, and they forever surprise me by taking the stories to unexpected places.

Clint finds himself helping the redhead girl who always manages to get herself into trouble. She asks for his help by kissing him…in front of Black Widow his ex-girlfriend, his ex-wife, and his current girlfriend Spider-Woman. Even as he asks himself how he gets into these situations he soon find himself helping said redhead, running a heist with her, and getting arrested (Can he be fired from the Avengers?). Meanwhile, quite the criminal element in the Marvel Universe meet to discuss dealing with Barton.

This issue has it all: a great story, funny character moments, action, sexy illustrations, a promise of even better stories on the way, and full-page illustrations designed to look like romance covers. Fraction includes a great story and sharp dialogue, Aja delivers some of the best comic book interiors I have seen in recent momory, and Wu helps the creative team out with delicious Clint Barton-in-a-romance-novel type of illustrations.

This really is one of my favorite reads every month, and well worth your time and effort. Hawkeye has never been more fun.

FINAL WORD: Best comic of the week!

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This review column will be a departure from my usual way of reviewing titles. I thought I would be a little more conversational this week because there are many titles I want to talk about without offering an outright review for. I usually only want to review books I really like or love, but there are some titles worth having a few words about that may not fall into either category.

Conan the Barbarian #13 continues the amazing job of making me care about what is happening to Conan. Brian Wood is currently writing so many great books that it is difficult to say which of his I like the best. With this issue Wood is joined by Mirko Colak on the art and we find both Conan and Belit dealing with their recent loss. Belit leaves the ship and disappears into her homeland. Conan follows and is soon forced to join an army sieging a city. The end has Conan finding his way, at least the way of a warrior, once again. Wonderfully crafted with great characterization. One of the best of the week!

I am going to get this out of the way right now: I liked Nova #1. I liked the set-up, the fact the new Nova will be the son of the original, the mystery with what happened to Sam’s father, and the fact that Ed McGuinness’ art never looked better. Jeph Loeb managed to turn in a great story as well. One complaint though. There was a visual gag referencing the Principal from Back to the Future. Mr. Loeb I appreciate you making a viable and fun young superhero book. But as you try an attract younger readers please keep in mind they will not get the references for a movie almost twenty years old. Ok? That aside, you guys should try this one.

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This week in comics was an interesting one. I enjoyed Uncanny X-Men #1, but I honestly cannot see what the point of the series is. I think Bendis could cover the same ground in his All-New X-Men (which is really good). I would say it is nice to flesh out his story more, but since both titles come out multiple times a month I am not sure they need that. It might suffer from overkill. There were many solid titles this week, though only one or two knock-it-out-of-the-park books. Here’s what did it for me this week:

BATMAN #17
DC Comics
Written by Scott Snyder
Pencils by Greg Capullo
Inks by Jonathan Clapion

The end of “Death of the Family” offers a brilliant conclusion while also leaving story threads that can be touched on later. The creative team gives us plenty of surprises and some interesting food for thought as well. I honestly am impressed how they managed to not only match the high expectations on this book, but surpass them as well.

Without revealing anything that will spoil this fantastic issue, I want to say that the story sells the reader on many aspects of the Bat-mythos. This includes the “real” reason Batman does not kill the Joker. Bruce’s confession to Alfred reveals more personality to our hero than we’ve had in years and that includes the confession we get about Bruce’s visit to Arkham years before. Bruce’s reasoning about why he does not kill the Joker is a bit superstitious and very human. It might be my favorite part about the resolution, if you can really call it that.

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SNAPSHOT #1
Image Comics
Written by Andy Diggle
Illustrated by Jock

This was without a doubt the best comic I read all week. This first issue of a four-issue mini-series finds Jake, a comic book store employee, finding a smartphone lying on the ground. He decides to check out the pictures on it and discovers photographs of a dead man. It only gets stranger from there.

As the events of the issue play out Jake finds himself on the run from the killer whose phone Jake found, meeting the dead man on the phone who is very much alive (for awhile anyway), watching something horrible happen to his friend, and being confronted with a surprising and excellent twist at the end.

The issue leaves the reader guessing, and even though I am still not sure what is going on by the end, I cannot wait to get my hands on the next issue to find out. I have always been a fan of Jock’s art, and it is even prettier in black and white than if it had been infused with color. I think it also help add to the atmosphere of the book. Diggle has written a hell of a first issue and it is the first thing of his I have read in some time that I really loved. I probably have not enjoyed his work this much since his fantastic Hellblazer run.

I love books that surprise me and that I do not expect to be good, but they rise above and beyond any expectations I could have had. This is one of the best first issues of any comic I have read lately. I really dig the mystery and I think most of you will too.

FINAL WORD: Best of the week!

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INVINCIBLE #100
Image Comics
Written by Robert Kirkman
Penciled by Ryan Ottley
Inks by Cliff Rathburn

I have often given Kirkman flak for resorting to shock storytelling. I thought we were getting more of that in the opening pages of Invincible #100. So you can imagine my surprise when the story took a turn and gave readers a wonderful introspection of just how far Mark has come as a hero.

It would have been easy for Kirkman to write an issue where the hero “died” or written an issue with plot twists and turns that changed everything Mark knew about the universe and his place in it. Instead, we find out that Dinosaurus faked Mark’s death to “free” him from his responsibilities, and it forces our hero to take a good look at where he is and to think about where he wants to be.

Dinosaurus’ intellectual conclusion about his future felt like a natural conclusion for his character. Cecil reuniting with Mark for a new arrangement also felt a little inevitable since their spheres of influence overlap. Even the surprise at the end of the issue read like an organic progression of this series as a whole.

The art by Ottley and Rathburn was still as good as it always is. Forget the violent carnage on the first page, one of the most affecting scenes in the issue is after Mark walks about of Dinosuarus’ lair covered in blood and just sits down. It speaks volumes about his character and what he has gone through in a hundred issues. He’s still alive and kicking, but he has suffered greatly along the way.

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YOUNG AVENGERS #1
Marvel (Now!) Comics
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Jamie McKelvie w/Mike Norton

This comic was every bit the book I was hoping it would be. Reuniting the creative team from Phonogram is just as awesome as it sounds. We are introduced to some returning members and some new ones, and for each and every introduction we get a brilliant burst of story. When Gillen and McKelvie get together their comics read like a song. It ebbs and flows and man are they playing my tune.

The entire opening few pages set the stage for what looks to be a fantastic story. Kate Bishop is shacking up with Marvel Boy (call him what you want, but Marvel Boy will always be his best alias) before the Skrulls attacks, Hulkling and the Wiccan have a heart-to-heart, Miss America Chavez and Kid Loki square off, and just like with every good adolescent story we end with some serious parental problems.

I loved how much fun this issue was. I enjoyed the promise of what is to come, and the truth that I cannot wait to read more. I laughed out loud a few times, enjoyed Kate Bishop being scandalous in space, Kid Loki being scandalous on Earth, and the fact that unlike say DC Comics, Marvel’s teenage heroes read like they weren’t written in 1997. (Cough, Teen Titans, Cough.) I thought it was a great introductory issue with some of the coolest visuals I have seen from Marvel Now.

FINAL WORD: Not the best book of the week, but without a doubt my favorite.

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CAPTAIN MARVEL #09
Marvel Comics
Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick
Art by Filipe Andrade

I have enjoyed this series since it began, but this is my favorite of the series yet. Carol Danvers has a busy day and Tony Stark makes it even busier for her. This “day in a life” episode works very well and makes the issue perfect for new readers. The new Captain Marvel balances her normal life and her superhero life as best she can. The result is oftentimes humorous and always fun. And then out of the blue we get a bombshell of a plot twist at the end that makes the reader want to pick up the next issue to discover what’s next for Carol moving forward.

I really loved this issue. The whole scene where Captain Marvel convinces the cab driver to take her cat to the vet was hilarious. I also loved the line, “Now, if you’ll excuse me…I need to go punch a dinosaur." Carol’s characterization was well on display, her interactions with the world at large – like Stark and Spider-Woman – were enjoyable. And there were some great superhero moments as well.

Filipe Andrade’s art was very welcome this issue. It is overtly stylized and very anime-like, but halfway through the issue I found myself really enjoying it nonetheless. (Not a big anime fan.) The action sequences had wonderful kinetic energy to them, and the little moments like Carol’s reaction to the bad news at the end of the issue were also well done.

If you are looking for a fun series with an interesting female protagonist you should look no further than this title here. It delivers on all aspects. And I cannot wait to see when DeConnick has in store for readers next.

FINAL WORD: A fun series and a great jump-on point issue!

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It was another great week for comics! Thor: God of Thunder #4, World’s Finest #8, Cable and X-Force #3, and Shadowman #3 were all great. Smallville #9 continues to be the best Superman book on the market and I love the redesigned Flash that appeared in that issue. But these were my picks of the week:

STAR WARS #1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Brian Wood
Art by Carlos D’Anda

Taking place after the original Star Wars and before the Empire Strikes Back, this new series shows readers the trails and tribulations of our favorite Star Wars characters as they continue their fight against the Empire. Even with the Rebel Alliance’s recent victory, they are short on money, supplies, and need a new location for their secret base. (I bet they find the planet Hoth. I just have a funny feeling.) Han is adjusting to his new role with the rebellion. Luke is still slowly following the ways of the force. And Leia, well she’s badass. Meanwhile, Darth Vader is dealing with both the fallout of the Emperor’s displeasure with the Deathstar being destroyed and his own discovery that another Skywalker exists.

This is a great series for both the original fans and those with only a working knowledge of Star Wars. Brian Wood continues to defy the odds and put out series after series that has some wonderful varied levels of storytelling to it. I love the ways he works in things like budgets and the realistic problems that comes with fighting a galactic war. I also enjoyed his characterization of Leia.

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