Singing the praises of Peter Tomasi’s work is a regular feature in this blog, and the latest issue of Green Lantern Corps is no exception.

If I was to make one complaint, then it would be that this arc felt a bit short. After the mammoth ring quest arc, the quick capture of the quintet was slightly jarring, but since we’ve got the Star Saphire arc kicking off next month, I won’t complain.

In truth, I’m looking forward to this next arc a lot. I liked the changes Geoff Johns introduced in the Green Lantern arc and I’m pleased to see them being picked up again. Not to mention, it’ll be nice to have an issue where the Sinestro Corps take a back seat. If you consider how much of this book was spent putting in place things for the Sinestro Corps arc (like Ranx) and now dealing with the fallout, I’ll be glad to see other factions in the Blackest Night getting some focus. Especially since I’ve been really enjoying the Red Lantern buildup over in Green Lantern.

This title was still good fun. I like the character of Saarek, and can’t believe I didn’t twig to how he could play into the Blackest Night until he was approached by the scarred guardian. There’s something going on there and I imagine it’s not going to be good for Saarek.

Nice to see Tora turn up on Oa as well. Nice and unexpected since our focus had been on Guy counting the days till their date

So this week brings us the penultimate part of Secret Origin.

I’ve been very hot and cold on this arc. The initial issues didn’t really work for me, and it wasn’t until Sinestro turned up that I started getting into this story. This issue is another great part of the Sinestro/Hal story. We continue to see them bond as good friends, as Sinestro forces Hal to take a good look at himself. Leading to a poignant scene between Hal and Carol as Hal’s forced to admit he’s never been there for his family, and making piece with the memory of his Dad.

There’s some good comedic interplay between the two GLs as well. The power battery scene from the preview is a great laugh, and helps to build the respect these two have for each other.

The only real problem I had with this issue is when Hal manages to save Sinestro by overcoming the yellow impurity. I’m really unsure where Geoff Johns is going with this. I preferred the Parallax retcon when the idea was that it was just accepted there was a yellow weakness, and no one could overcome it. Given that Hal overcame it here, you’re left wondering why he never overcame it again and got closer to figuring out what it actually was. I’m inclined to think this was something best left as it was. I have to wonder if its meant as an analogue to Emerald Dawn’s scene where Hal absorb’s the power of the central battery. An indication of just how good a GL Hal will become.

The issue ends with Hal and Sinestro recalled to Oa, as Sinestro’s lingered in sector 2814 too long and must face disciplinary action. There’s been no hint as to what’s actually going on on Korugar, and I must admit, I hope that it doesn’t come up in the next part. Whereas Emerald Dawn II had Sinestro being discovered shortly after he meets Hal, given the new relationship between them, I think it’d be more fun to leave that part of the story for a follow-up. Let’s have Hal and Sinestro as comrades in arms for a few months. Potentially, it could play that Sinestro’s dictatorship of Korugar comes about as a result of his run in with Atrocious and the Blackest Night prophecy.

Overall, I suspect I’ve probably been a bit harsh on the early issues of this arc. I think that re-reading it, I’m going to enjoy it a lot more and that part of my bad reaction was that I felt that it was going to be too much of a diversion from the Blackest Night build up and I’d have preferred looking forward rather than back. Of course, as it turns out, this series is a key part of that build up, and I’m left a fairly silly-looking fanboy

Aint It Cool News has a great preview for next week’s GL #34 up here. I just love the interplay between Hal and Sinestro in this story arc. The dialog regarding power battery storage got a good laugh out of me

While this arc was a pretty slow start for me, its really picked up now. Can’t wait to pick up the issue next week.

Maintaining the Geoff Johns pet-project vibe, but with more of a direct tie to the Final Crisis events, this weeks brings us the second issue of Rogues Revenge.

Its a good excuse for Geoff Johns to revisit the Flash Rogues, a group of villains he’s successfully redefined through his Flash run into one of the premier sets of rogues in the DCU (second only to Batman’s I’d comfortably say), and also for him to tie up some of the dangling loose ends from Bart’s run as the Flash.

Picking up from last issue, we find the Rogues still gunning for Inertia, but aren’t pleased when they find their favourite tailor has been attacked. They quickly find out the culprits are the “New Rogues”, who are working for Libra, who needs the Rogues alive, despite them telling him to stuff off. He’s aware of the relationship Flashes share with Crises and has a plan to stop them.

This is a great issue and I’m really enjoying this series. While I may find the tie-in credentials of Legion dubious, there’s no doubt that Geoff Johns is bringing some of his best work to these Final Crisis titles. Here, we get to relish in the fact that he really gets these characters. Through his Flash run, Johns gave these Rogues a sense of family to match that of the Flashes, and that comes across well with the side scenes with Axel (who’s retaken the role of Trickster after James Jesse died in Countdown). You’re really given a feeling of the bond between this group, and when they encounter the New Rogues, who are using their stolen equipment, you can really feel the outrage at these pretenders, and you know it’ll end badly for them. And boy, does it.

If you’re a fan of the Rogues from Geoff’s Flash run, then this is a must-buy.

On a side note, reading Superman Beyond #1, I see Earth-51 is now the graveyard universe. Wonder what happened to Kamandi and all the animal-people…

Ok, I’ll get the negative stuff out of the way first.

For me, there’s a lot about this title I don’t like. I’m not a big fan of the Legion. I’ve seen them in various guest appearances, but they’ve never done anything for me. So why, I hear you ask, did you buy it?

Well, its got Superboy Prime in it for one. For another its hotly rumoured that Bart Allen will be getting resurrected in this story (at least, the lightning rod is due to be dealt with). As I like both of those characters, that’s two big draws.

Lastly, loath as I am to admit it, it does say “Final Crisis” on the front, and for my sins, I do find a tie-in hard to pass by.

So, I figured I’d check out the first issue at least.

However it does in many ways push a lot of the buttons for things I hate about tie-ins. For a start (and its a biggy), it doesn’t actually seem to tie in with Final Crisis at all.  From this first issue, I do have to think marketting it as a tie-in is a bit cheeky.  Giving DC the benefit of the doubt though, lets assume there is some kind of tie in in the upcoming issues (although I doubt it - seems to me that there’s enough story here without chucking the New Gods in as well).

Secondly if we assume that Bart does indeed get resurrected in this mini, then why?  Well, it gets Flash fans like myself to buy a Legion book, who might’ve otherwise avoided it.   But with Wally coming back in JLA, Barry in Final Crisis, and Bart coming back in Legion, you do have to kind of wander if anything big ever happens in The Flash book itself (at least Bart had the decency to die in it).

So, a tie-in that doesn’t tie-in, and using unrelated characters to pull in readers.  Not off to a great start.

(ok, I know Bart’s from the 31st century, and XS will be in this.   I’m also aware that I didn’t complain about Superman characters turning up as main villains in the Sinestro Corps War.  Its a fanboy rant, it doesn’t need to make sense )

But none-the-less, I enjoyed this book.  Its written by Geoff Johns, with art by George Perez, so you know you’re buying a quality book, and it does a good job of bringing everyone up-to-date with the Legion’s background.

For me, there was more than enough Superboy Prime action to keep me happy.  He’s been accused of being a two-dimensional character, but for my money, he’s at least entertaining to read here.  The stuff in the Superman museum worked well, and there’s a nice twist with Superboy-Prime being not quite the footnote he thought in history.

There’s also an interesting bit where Superman declares they must redeem Superboy Prime.  This raises a whole load of questions (chief among them, did Superman not read Countdown? ), but I’m choosing to take it as Superman seeing this as their only choice.   He knows Superboy Prime is nigh-on unbeatable.   He’s been captured and escaped before, and killing is obviously not an option.   So instead he’s choosing to reach out to that part of Prime that’s Kal-El, who’s the same as he is.   Its an interesting idea, that the only way to beat Prime is to make him realise what he’s become.  Although I don’t see how the character could ever be truely redeemed.   He’s just done too much to be forgiven for it.

So, despite the negatives, this book rises above them by being a good read.  I’m still onboard for the next issue, but for me, there’s still the thing of my not being a Legion fan.  In many ways I suspect this book would be an ideal trade-wait for me.  That way I could save money, and still read the Superboy Prime and Bart stuff (if Bart does come back - it could still be a twist).   However, there’s that part of me that wants to be there when Bart comes back.  And to see what happens to Superboy Prime.

Another enjoyable issue of Rann-Thanagar this month.

Lots of stuff from Captain Comet and the Weird as well, I must admit, it may just be me, but this issue felt almost like a follow up to Mystery in Space that the Space Team just happened to be in. Don’t know if that was just me or not.

However, we get a lot of our heroes taking a kicking from Deacon Dark and the newly resurrected Synnar. It doesn’t take Comet long to figure out that they don’t have a chance against the pair of them and a strategic withdrawal is required. Adam Strange however is determined to destroy the Deacon’s time manipulator first, before it can cause more havoc on Rann. Its here that the seemingly separate Bizarro storyline ties in nicely, as Adam learns of Bizarro’s prescence on Throneworld and immediately Zeta beams over there to nab him, to add a powerhouse to their team. Its a decision however that comes with a heavy price, as Starman needed Bizarro’s help with Lady Styx’s fleet, and with him gone, it provides Lady Styx’s forces enough time to decimate the Throneworld.

The destruction of Throneworld, and Adam’s part in it was a big shock. He’s forced to see that he was so blinkered about Rann’s problems that he was ignoring the rest of the picture. When his friends are taking a kicking from the Deacon’s forces he’s the one refusing Captain Comet’s call for a retreat. It’ll be interesting to see what direction they take with the character in the second half of the story.

This issue also sets up an Adam Strange special. While I’m happier picking up an Adam Strange Special than a Hawkman one (as I’m more invested in the character), I’m still not hugely pleased with this idea of launching tie-ins off of mini series. Heck, truth be told, I’m not convinced at all about DC’s tie-ins this year, but that’s probably going to be part of a post on the Legion of 3 Worlds (I cracked and bought issue 1, but I’ve not read it yet). I’m not great at budgeting, but still I would like to try and cut down the number of titles I buy.

However, to more balance my whinging about tie-ins, its worth me talking about Robin.

I wasn’t buying this title until a short time ago, where I got pulled in by the RIP logo on the top. Fabian Nicieza is a great writer. I loved his stuff on Cable/Deadpool so was interested to see what he would do with the character of Tim Drake. After 3 issues, I’m a convert.

Like Nightwing, I believe this title has struggled to find its feet over the last couple of years, and, like Nightwing, I get the impression that its in the hands of someone who really gets it. Ditching the RIP logo this month, we find Jason Todd stirring things up bigstyle in Gotham, as he unites various different gangs under his own leadership in an attempt to clean up Gotham in his own way (by running the place basically). Robin finds himself under threat from the Penguin, who isn’t pleased that his payment for helping Robin in the last story has gone missing, with evidence linking the theft back to Robin.

Meanwhile someone knew has entered the scene, wearing the Red Robin costume Jason Todd threw in a bin at the end of Countdown (and interesting to see someone picking up on a plot point from that series, rather than ignoring it, as most writers seem to be doing).

I really enjoyed this issue. Its very much a first issue for the new story arc, with various mysteries being put in place (Who is the new Red Robin? Why is Spoiler taking out a contract on Robin?), but there’s a strong feeling that Fabian knows each of these characters. His version of Jason Todd harks back to the Under the Hood storyline, which I’ve mentioned before is the characterisation they needed to get back to, so that’s a welcome development.

So there you have it, sometimes, getting suckered in by a tie-in can put you onto a title you really enjoy. So for all my whinging about tie-ins, its goes to show how little I know

I’m aware I’m sounding like a broken record when it comes to Peter Tomasi’s work on GLC, and I’m afraid its that time again

In fairness, its one of a number of titles that I usually find really solid and enjoyable (Green Lantern and Knights of the Old Republic are two that spring to mind), however this title jumps out at me, as before the change in writer, it just wasn’t grabbing me the way I’d hoped it would (at least, until the Sinestro Corps War issues, which were great).

Giving us some calm before the inevitable Blackest Night storm, Peter Tomasi again makes the most of a downtime issue, giving us some character focus before his next big arc. We get to see the opening of Guy’s new bar (which he refers to as the Big W, but since that’s another name for Woolworths over here, I’m going to be thinking of it as the new Warriors ;-)).
Peter Tomasi also takes the opportunity to further expand the mythology of the Corps, as we see Bzzd being buried in the crypts on Oa.  There’s some Blackest Night hints as well, in the form of Green Lantern Saarek who can talk to the dead.   It was nice to see Bzzd’s memorial, and it helped add depth  and impact to his death beyond the issue that it happened in.  A nice touch.

There’s a gruesome twist with the eyeballs on the cover.  As Kyle is off on a moon with Kilowog training rookies (and flirting with Soranik Natu) it starts to rain.  Kilowog’s initial joy at the thought of getting the rookies to run laps in the rain soon turns, as the “rain” is revealed to be eyeballs.   Specifically the eyeballs of Corps members families.   Including one of the rookies Kilowog was training.

Saarek turns up, having been led their by the voices of the dead, and uses his ring to retrieve an image of the killer.

I couldn’t comment on this issue without also mentioning guest artist Luke Ross’s pencils.  I’ve always enjoyed his stuff in the past, so it was nice to see him turning up here, even if it is only as a guest artist.
I really enjoyed his art, so I’m looking forward to more hopefully in the second part of this story.

Its already been touched upon in the comments section, but having read the full article on Newsarama here I’m really excited about this story.

So after the current Brainiac arc (which has been excellent.  Another good sign for this upcoming story), Superman will rescue the city of Kandor from Brainiac, and its population moves to Earth.   You just know that’s not going to end well.

The teaser image introduces things in a really dramatic way.  Suddenly Earth is going to find itself with 100,000 new inhabitants, all with the powers of Superman.   However, the real kicker is that some of those inhabitants are members of Zod’s army, who were in Kandor when it was taken.  You can bet they’re not going to be well pleased when they find out what happened to the General.

There’s also the relationship between Superman and Supergirl.  She’s going to be pretty happy to be around her own people once again, and you get bet Superman’s going to feel more isolated than he ever has, as his human upbringing will invariably bring him into conflict with the other Kryptonians.

There’s plenty to be excited about in the preview image alone with new Kryptonian versions of Nightwing, Flamebird and Superwoman.

Granted, this means that the Superman titles are going to become one long crossover again (such as during the 90s) but I like Geoff Johns response that they’re going to make people want to buy all the issues, rather than forcing them.  Certainly this story looks like it could do the job.

This interview with Ethan Van Sciver drops a few tantalising tid-bits about the upcoming Flash Rebirth and Blackest Night.

For me, the most interesting thing was something I’ve been expecting.  He confirms he’s designing a new costume for Wally West.  I figured it had to happen.  With Green Lantern, all the GLs had their own variations on the uniform, whereas Wally’s outfit has always been kept very similar to Barry’s.  I was assuming that if Wally was going to stay an active hero (really, he’s been the Flash for so long, it’d have caused real problems if he wasn’t still a part of the book) then he’d need a new look to differentiate him from Barry, so its nice to see that confirmed.  I just hope its not a rejig of his Kid Flash outfit.  I know it was popular, but I’ve never been a big fan of it.  Besides, it’d scream “Kid Flash”, and I think its safe to say Wally’s past that.  I hope its something completely new.

There’s also some tantalising hints about Blackest Night, with Ethan confirming that he’s redesigning a bunch of DCU characters as Black Lanterns.  With so many heroes returning from the grave recently, I wonder who’s turning up as a Black Lantern, and he confirms that there’s going to be least one major shock member.

Unsurprisingly, Ethan’s also designing the various new Corps.  With his stellar work designing Sinestro Corps members, I’m expecting him to produce some really great new characters.

Rann-Thanagar Holy War isn’t even an “event” mini-series. So how come its managed to spawn a tie-in one-shot?

Well, according to an interview with writer Jim Starlin, DC had decided that Hawkman as a character is broken and needed fixed. Now, I’m not a big Hawkman fan. He’s not a character I’m bothered about, but I’ve enjoyed his use in the Rann-Thanagar stuff as someone with ties to Thanagar who can see the bigger picture.

I know the basics of his origin as well. I know how Zero Hour had completely muddled his character and left him a confused mess until Geoff Johns sorted it all out in the JSA series, explaining that he’s the reincarnation of an Egyptian Pharaoh, with the memories of Katar Hol, a Thanagarian and the Silver Age Hawkman, due to the properties of the Nth metal used in Thanagarian technology (at least, I think that’s right). My perception of the character had been that Geoff Johns had pretty much managed to make the character usable again, so the announcement that he was again needing “fixed” struck me as odd.

Curiousity got the better of me. I’m not a big fan of tie-ins to non-event series. If I’m picking up an 8 issue mini, I expect to pick up 8 issues. But still, it was a quiet week, and I’ve enjoyed what Starlin’s been doing with Mystery in Space, and Rann-Thanagar Holy War.

Thank God I’m not a Hawkman fan. As I said above, I’m no expert, but it seems to me that this special has accomplished the exact opposite of “fixing” the character. All the Egyptian stuff was fake? The Nameless is calling him Katar Hol? Going by the reference to the multiverse, I can’t help but presume that this current Hawkman is going to be revealed as Katar Hol, with the Golden Age Carter Hall being worked back in as a separate character. However I can’t help but wonder that if they are planning on separating the two, then perhaps doing it the other way round would’ve made more sense. Leave this Carter Hall as the reincarnated Pharaoh, and bring back in Katar Hol through another route.

Needless to say, going from some of the online reaction I’ve read, Hawkman fans are up in arms. For myself, I enjoyed the story on its own merits, but even I could see that it was going to damage the character rather than help him.

The only hope I can take out of the story for Hawkman fans is that the Nameless is a guy with skulls for knee-pads. A sure-fire sign of evilness. Maybe its going to be revealed as him messing with Hawkman to try and take him out of the fight?