Green Lantern (vol.4) #1 (July, 2005)
"Airborne"
Writer - Geoff Johns
Art - Carlos Pacheco, Ethan Van Sciver & Jesus Merino
Colors - Moose Baumann
Letters - Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards
Editor - Peter Tomasi
Cover Price: $3.50
Last week, we took a look at the first issue of Green Lantern in The New-52!, and I was pretty surprised to discover that he hadn't already covered this Green Lantern #1. Could'a sworn we had.
I was actually hoping to cover all of the Green Lantern #1's... but, we won't be able to cover vol.3's... for obvious reasons. You can probably do some Googling if you're unaware.
Anyhoo... who's ready for a "Cooler than Most" Hal Jordan?
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We open in the way back when, where we meet Hal Jordan of Ferris Aircraft. A couple of pilots are discussing some stunt he'd pulled... and how it's pretty clear that Carol Ferris has the hots for him. Also, they don't think Hal will ever be cleared to fly again. Little do they know that he's about to be zapped by an emerald beam... and delivered deep into the desert. As he is nyoinked, a voice tells him that the Brightest Day will become the Blackest Night. Hmm...
We know where this is headed, right? Hal is plunked down right before a dying Abin Sur, who offers him the gig... and he takes it. I feel like I've gotta mention, Hal comes across as almost too cool during the post-Green Lantern: Rebirth retelling of his origin. This was one of the bigger criticisms at the time, though, I'm sure those arguments have been lost in the digital sands by now.
We jump back to the present, and join a five-card dogfight between Hal and his buddy Shane. This whole thing seems like the absolute worst way to play a hand of cards... but remember, this Hal is too cool for school.
We jump ahead a bit, and join Hal and Shane at a bar inside Edwards Air Force Base. They catch up a bit, Hal learns that Shane's done some "adulting" since their last visit... got married, started a family, ya know... that sort of stuff. Shane mentions that they'd all thought Hal perished during the decimation of Coast City... which is, probably the best way to casually write off Hal's disappearance.
Later on, Hal retrieves his ring from his locker... just as John Stewart is attempting to get a hold of him. Apparently, there's an abandoned spacecraft lingering in orbit, and so Hal decides to join him to check it out.
With Hal away, we head over to Barstow, where a Private is hauling a covered load. A waitress playfully inquires about what's under the tarp... and it's one'a those "If I tell ya, I'd have to kill ya" sort of propositions. The waitress's meathead fiance, Chris (no relation) butts in to make sure the flirting ceases.
Back outside, the Private checks in with an associate named Johnson, who is trying to get a peek at the cargo himself. He claims that there's a "moaning" sound coming from it. The Private pulls the ol' "If I tell ya, I'd have to kill ya" once again... and they leave.
We rejoin Hal (with John) deep in space. They discuss such matters as restarting the Green Lantern Corps. Hal thinks it's a silly idea, considering there are only five Green Lanterns left (Hal, John, Guy, Kyle, and Kilowog... if I'm remembering right). Eventually they come across the abandoned spacecraft... and it's completely yellow. Hal posits that whoever it is didn't realize the yellow impurity was a thing of the past.
The Lanterns bust in, and discover... nothing. Just blackness. Not even a seat to sit in. Hal checks the fuel cells... and they're empty. Looks like whoever used this rig was only planning on it being a one-way trip.
Back in Barstow, the waitress and her meathead fiance get into an argument. Eh, I guess they're not actually engaged... more like, engaged-to-be-engaged... which sounds kinda "high school" to me. Anyhoo, they are approached by... a strange-looking fella, who kills them both! Kills the dude first, probably because he doesn't want to be accused of "fridging".
Next stop, Coast City... which is in the middle of it's grand rebuild. Hal's narration clues us in that there are big government incentives to live there... but, not so many people have taken the bait. Really can't blame 'em, considering. Also, there's gotta be some radiation still lingering, right? Not all of us have Power Rings to protect us.
Hal heads inside his apartment, and is greeted by his brother, Jim. They have a touching, though contentious, reunion. They talk about their parents, as well as the all-new Coast City. Jim ain't keen on moving the family back to town... which, again... can't blame him!
Suddenly, a low-flying plane produces a sonic boom that shatters all of the windows. Hal scurries off to Lantern-up and check out
what's goin' on.
Hal takes off, and catches up to the damaged aircraft. Upon getting a closer look, he deduces that the engine on this rig is clearly of extradimensional origin.
After helping it to land safely, we meet the pilot... Captain Jillian Pearlman, otherwise known as "Cowgirl". They flirt for a bit, because that's kinda what Hal does.
We wrap up back with that tarped load coming out of Barstow. From under the cover, we can see a glowing-red eye. Then, we hear it... "No Man Escapes--" Oh dammit.
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Alright... not a bad start to the new volume!
Gotta get it out of the way. It's been said, and it's certainly true, Hal does come across a little "too cool" here. He doesn't seem like a dude who goofs up from time to time... a guy who second-guesses himself, which I guess works in that it makes him a more fitting Green Lantern candidate... but, it also causes him to become a little less relatable. This is the "Fonzie" Hal Jordan, less a guy you'd wanna have a drink with, and more the dude you mutter under your breath about anytime he walks by.
Even in our opening pages, we've got a couple of pilots coming across as very jealous of Hal... his ability, courage, and how much it seems that Carol has a "thing" for him. I mean, I don't need Hal to be a complete boob... but, this feels like something of an over-correction.
I'm guessing that much of this has to do with undoing Emerald Dawn... ya know, the whole drunk-driving incident. That's fair enough, I suppose. I wasn't around when that series came out, so I couldn't say how it was received, at least initially. Not sure how the Hal-Faithful cottoned to the idea that he'd nearly killed a bunch of folks while driving drunk. I'd imagine it'd be at least somewhat divisive.
I'm somewhere in between, I guess. On one hand, I don't mind heroes having flaws... but on the other, actually driving drunk is a choice one has to make. It's such a stupid thing to do... and I could totally see people coming away from that miniseries with some pretty hard feelings toward Hal. Especially those affected by some jackass who chose to drive drunk.
So, while I'm a big "lore" guy... and a proponent of "everything matters", I get why that story might be a problem for some/many. I suppose at the end of the day, I don't have much of an issue with them wiping that bit away.
Hal's disappearance after the decimation of Coast City is handled about as well as it could be here. Basically, after the event in question, Hal just "hit the road". It's an easy enough excuse, that sorta fits with his character. I mean, old Hal was something of a roaming vagabond from time to time, right?
This issue does a great job of setting the table for what's to come. I mean, there's a mention of Blackest Night... a story that wouldn't actually happen for nearly a half-decade. Bits and pieces of Hal's "Secret Origin" are dropped... which is a story that would be fleshed out like 2-3 years later too! I mean, there's just so much planning going on here... which, to me, is a great thing!
What's never so great is... the Manhunters! Now, we've discussed these goofy robots a whole lot here over the years... but, I don't think we've ever looked at them under Johns' watch. I look forward to revisiting this era, to see how he handled them.
Overall, despite some of my misgivings about Hal's "coolness", this was a really good issue. It's been collected in Green Lantern: No Fear, and is available digitally (for 99-cents!).
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All Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder #2 (November, 2005)
"Episode Two"
Writer - Frank Miller
Penciller - Jim Lee
Inker - Scott Williams
Colorist - Alex Sinclair
Letterer - Jared K. Fletcher
Assistant Editor - Brandon Montclare
Editor - Bob Schreck
Cover Price: $2.99
After reading the first issue of this series yesterday, I sez to myself "Self... if you're going to cover All Star Batman and Robin, you're gonna have to talk about that Gee-Dee issue."
And so, here we are...
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We pick up shortly after we left off last issue... Batman has nyoinked Dick Grayson into the Batmobile... and is trying to, get this... put him to sleep with knockout gas. Elsewhere, Alfred is attending to Vicki Vale's injuries... apparently they were in a wreck? I don't recall seeing this happen last issue... but, whattayagonna do? Vicki remembers everything that went down... and we get the first few "Gee-Dee"s of the issue.
She flashes back to The Flying Graysons being murdered at the circus... the youngest Grayson being swept away by the Gotham City Police... then, the poor tot being kidnapped by the Batman.
Then... she passes out, in the most melodramatic way possible.
Back to the Batmobile... where Batman is surprised to learn that this kid actually shrugged off the kayo-gas.
Dick asks what's going on... and just who the hell this Bat-dressed-man might be. Batman... smiles a creepy smile, and refers to Dick as both a "punk" and "my ward". This really isn't a good look. This Batman is a complete psychopath.
Then... we get that panel. You're welcome (and, I'm sorry).
As Batman informs Dick that he's... either the best friend he'd ever hope to have... or the worst enemy he could ever imagine. Wanna remind you that Dick is a twelve-year old boy, who just hours earlier witnessed the murder of both of his parents.
Then... the GCPD catches up. Dick suggests maybe they pull over... but, Batman ain't havin' none of it. Instead, he starts... laughing like a madman!
Still laughing, Batman spins the Batmobile around... and runs it off a jump directly on top of the police cruisers.
Then... the Batmobile sprouts wings and takes to the air. I'll say one thing, this is giving Jim Lee a lot of opportunity to draw cool stuff!
Dick, naturally, starts freaking out. I mean, what the hell, right? Then... he thinks back to his parents, and completely loses it. Batman's reaction? He backhands the mourning pre-teen.
Batman's narration reveals that he feels bad for what he's doing to the boy... but, he has to keep him "mad" so he can join his "war". If he lets Dick deal with his emotions, he'll grieve... which will lead to acceptance, and finally forgiveness. Can't have none'a that!
He then drops some knowledge on Dick regarding the corrupt Gotham City Police. He tells him that cops are mostly pretty great... except for those who work in Gotham City. Those'll "kill you as soon as look at you".
Batman then invites Dick to join him in Crime Fighting... and asks the twelve-year old boy to be brave. I gotta say, if you're a twelve-year old child... and a strange man in a leather outfit asks you to "be brave", just run away as fast as your feet'll take you. Dick, instead says "Yes, sir."
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Okay... you all know me, I try to veer away from the "hive mind" as much as possible... but, this is one'a those books that just... I dunno, defies explanation. I mean, how does a book like this go to press?
I mean, I know how it went to press... I'm pretty sure Frank Miller and Jim Lee could've photographed their used tissues, and DC would've published it... and, ya know what... that might've made a bit more sense than what we just experienced here.
Let's start with the very first bit... Batman has his hand covering Dick's mouth... and, while admiring the lad tries to kayo him with some gas. I'm struggling to think of a way where this scene doesn't look predatory. It's really insane to me how this was okayed.
Then... just the way Batman speaks to the boy. I mean, what the hell did we just read?! He threatens to put Dick "through holy hell"... ehhhh? Wait, make that "Holy hell, or the next best thing." What in all frigs does that mean?! Then... he refers to him as both a "punk" and "my ward". Whaaaaa?
Now, we learned last issue that Bruce Wayne had been keeping an eye on Dick Grayson for quite some time, right? Did he always have an eye toward adopting him?! Was he (Bruce) behind the murders of the elder Graysons? I mean, how else would this be moving so quickly? I'm so confused.
It's really saying something when the "Gee Dee Batman" panel is among the tamest of the issue. After finally seeing it in context... I gotta say, it almost seems like the most normal panel in the book! We've got Batman literally abusing the boy... emotionally, psychologically... even physically in this issue! Sure, we get a bit of Batman's internal monologue where even he asks himself if he's gone too far... but, that doesn't excuse or undo any of it!
I'm really grasping for more to say about this... but at this point, I'm just babbling. I will say, Jim Lee's art really shines here. Miller's bat-stuff insane script afforded him plenty of opportunity to draw some cool stuff.
Is this worth a read? Absolutely. It's not every day you get to bear witness to something this flat-out insane. You're either gonna hate it... or love it for all the wrong reasons, but... I couldn't suggest anyone not read it. It's the kind of issue that comes once in a generation... and really needs to be seen to be believed.
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Outsiders (vol.3) #21 (April, 2005)
"Silent Partner"
Story - Judd Winick
Art - Carlos D'Anda
Colors - Guy Major
Letters - Nick J. Napolitano
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50
After finishing up the America's Most Wanted tie-in story arc yesterday, I was interested in seeing if there would be any follow-up in the pages of the next issue of Outsiders. What I found was a romance story featuring Indigo and Shift.
I can't say that I was terribly interested in any of that... however, toward the end of the issue, there was a bit of a reveal. Optitron, the company that has been funding the Outsiders... is owned by... Bruce Wayne.
Well, this really ticked Dick off... and that's where we begin today. You know I'm always a sucker for Bat-Family drama... here's hoping this one delivers!
Also, how ya like that DYMO label on top of our Outsiders logo? Something awfully familiar about that...
... eh, I'm sure it's just a coincidence.
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We open with a quick and dirty introduction on Optitron... which, for those just joining us, ends with the reveal that Optitron is a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises... and also the wild spoiler that the owner of Wayne Enterprises, Bruce Wayne is actually... Batman! In the present, Nightwing is positively fuming... he's upset that Batman didn't believe in him enough to consider that he could maintain this team without his interference.
And as if that wasn't bad enough, Roy drops the other shoe. Ya see, he's known that Batman was in charge the whole time, and has even gotten intel reports from him. Dick charges out of the room... and it's becoming pretty clear from the dialogue (over the past few days) that Winick's idea of "maturing up" language is adding a bunch of G-D's.
We shoot over to Wayne Manor where Nightwing demands an audience with the master of the house. He heads down to the Batcave and starts reading Batman the riot act. Batman just stands there and lets him run wild.
When Dick runs out of steam, Batman finally speaks. Yes, he's funding the team... but he's only doing so because he believes in Dick. Teams need money... he's got money, so what's the big deal, right?
When asked why he's been lying to him all this time, all Batman can do is... apologize. He suggests Dick not place that much faith in him... or anybody, for that matter.
Dick realizes that something's definitely up... and presses Batman for some answers. Batman doesn't really have any, however... he actually sort of spaces out. There's a single-panel flashback to... something. I know Winick was also writing Batman at this point, but I'll level with ya... Winick writing Batman led to my no longer reading Batman... so, I haven't the foggiest idea what he might be referring to.
Dick begins to come around... and since the intel he's been feeding Roy has been so helpful, he sees no reason why that shouldn't continue. At this point, Batman reveals that he hasn't seen nor spoken to Arsenal in over a year! Uh-oh.
It just so happens, at that very moment Arsenal is speaking to... Batman?! He reveals to his informant that the news is out... he told Nightwing and Starfire about their clandestine meetings. Then, Roy's communicator begins to buzz.
It's Dick... duh... who is pretty surprised to learn that they're both standing next to Batman!
Well, that's because... clearly, one of them isn't. The Batman with Roy proceeds to beat the hell out of our favorite Dorito-chinned archer. Unfortunately none of his strikes are strong enough to knock that damned crumb off his chin.
We close out with that Batman unmasking... revealing himself to be, Slade Wilson... Deathstroke!
--
Ehh.
I think my expectations always shoot up a bit too high when we brush up against good ol' Bat-Family Drama... and this one more or less fell flat for me.
It really just feels like an advertisement for Winick's Batman work. We're left here with "Why is Batman acting so weird? Maybe I should check out his book.", when really... Batman should be doing what it can to prop this book up! This could've (and perhaps should've) very easily been an issue of Batman... and I'd bet it would've drawn its fair-share of new eyes to the Outsiders book!
Though, checking the Comichron numbers for this month... Batman didn't really outsell this book by all that much. Just over 10,000 copies. I guess I wasn't the only one to "check out" when Winick took over Batman!
Oh well.
Keeping with Winick for a bit... his dialogue is pretty weak, and I tire of the overuse of G-D. I mean, I'm not known (offline anyway) for watching my language, but this just feels like a silly attempt to make the book feel more "mature". I'll never understand how a concept like "mature" has morphed into cursing and gore. I certainly don't feel more mature for having read this!
I thought the Deathstroke reveal at the end was pretty neat... though, does this mean that he knows some things he shouldn't about Batman? I mean, he'd have to know that Wayne Enterprises owned Optitron, right? And he would only dress as Batman to trick Roy if he already knew Bruce Wayne was Batman, right? Maybe I'm thinking too hard... or maybe I just missed something. Wouldn't be the first time!
Overall... not a bad issue, but also not likely to be one that'll rock your socks.
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