Exiled in Geeksville

Click here to see what was the Exile’s Read of the Week – BATMAN 80 Page Giant

The Pull List

Is it me, or is anyone else suffering from Blackest Night fatigue? I am still enjoying the main book, and the Green Lantern issues, but some of these tie ins (REBELS anyone?) are not doing it for me so much. OK – on to the stack…

Green Lantern Corps #43

Blackest Night tie in
DC
Story: Peter J Tomasi
Art: Pat Gleason and Rebecca Buchman
Green Lantern Kyle Rayner is dead! And Guy Gardner is mad as hell about it. So mad in fact, that a stray Red Lantern ring decides that he has what it takes to puke fire and blood as part of the Red Lantern Corps. Silly Guy, haven’t you read enough of these stories to know anyone who dies at the very last page (especially one of the main characters) will probably make a miraculous recovery? I was actually let down by the easy return of Kyle to the land of the living, not surprised, just let down.
- Grade B

Justice League of America #40

Blackest Night tie in
DC
Story: James Robinson
Art: Mark Bagley
I was much more intrigued with the Battle of the Dr. Light’s, than I was with the return of JL Detroit team. I was also let down that so much of Zatanna’s battle with her father’s resurrected form took place off panel. Kimiyo’s trauma at the hands of Arthur Light trigger her most powerful display I have seen in some time. I will be disappointed if she does not step up in the months to come, both in Blackest Night, and also in upcoming issues of Justice League.
- Grade B

Batman #694

DC
Story: Tony Daniel
Art: Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea
What? A book not tying in to Blackest Night? Unheard of! Tony Daniel continues to run Dick Grayson through both the physical and emotional wringer. Who is yelling at Black Mask’s skull? What is Falcone’s up to? Wasn’t the Riddler in this story? And what is going on with the Huntress? Not her kiss with Dick, with his ex Barbara Gordon watching… I mean what is up with that motor cycle helmet?
- Grade B-

The Outsiders #25

Blackest Night Tie In
DC
Story: Peter J, Tomasi
Art: Fernando Pasarin and Jay Leisten
Another part 2. And more heroes have to rally to stop from losing their hearts. This story almost parallels the Justice League story too much. With Dr. Light and Halo playing the same part. Although I was surprised when Violet suddenly disappeared at the end. This is another book that is going to go through a big shake up post BN.
- Grade C+

Superman Batman #67

Blackest Night tie in
DC
Story: Scott Kollins
Art: Scott Kollins
OK, this was one tie in that was enjoyable. Man-Bat, Bizarro, Black Lantern Solomon Grundy, Frankenstien and the Bride. Characters that have not been featured much in other places. Scott Kollins touching tale of lost, love and the undead may just be my favorite of the stand alone 2 part BN tie ins. I didn’t get the Solomon Grundy miniseries Scot Kollins did earlier this year. I may have to rectify that soon.
- Grade A-

Power Girl #7

DC
Story: Jimmy Palmotti and Justin Grey
Art: Amanda Conner
Vartox is a old friend of Superman, or he was back in the late Silver Age. (This issue’s cover is homage to his first appearance in Superman #281 in 1974) While one of my favorite things about this book is the humor, it can be over done. I look forward to more great stories from Power Girl, but this one is not one of my favorites. Valtrox comes to Earth to woo Power Girl, because all the women of Valeron have been made sterile by a “contraception bomb”. Well that is fine for him, but what about the rest of his people?
- Grade B-

Fabels #91

DC/Vertigo
Story: Bill Willingham
Art: Mark Buckingham
This book is chugging right along. It’s seems like I was just reading about Rose Red’s murder. Now, 90 issue’s later, it shows no sign of ending. In part 5 of 5 of Witches Gepetto makes the Fables an offer, Ozma gets all the magic users to give her their spare power, and Bufkin the monkey’s battle with Baba Yaga reaches a head.
- Grade B

Doctor Who #6

IDW Comics
Story: Tony Lee
Art: Matthew Dow Smith
Draconians, Ogrons, Sontarans, Judoon, Krillitanes all in one issue (actually 2 issues since we saw all these characters last month. I would love to see what someone like Neil Gaiman, Warren Ellis, or Grant Morrison would do with this modern Doctor in Comic form. Not that Tony Lee is not good, he’s great. But come on, you know that it would be huge! Matthew Dow Smith,however, well sometimes I really enjoy his style, His alien characters look good. (I love his Krillitane on page two.) But I didn’t like his Mr. Finch at all, and his Sontarans were ok. On the inside cover there is a great likeness of David Tennant from one of IDW’s Doctor Who One shots (I am not sure which)
- Grade B

The Last Resort #5

IDW Comics
Story: Jimmy Palmotti and Justin Gray
Art: Giancarlo Caracuzzo
This started out as a pretty wild Zombie apocalypse comedy. It ended the way all these things end. Which was kinda a let down. I really thought there was going to be a wild left turn at the end. Something new. Oh well. It was still well paced and looked great.
- Grade B-

IN THE SPOTLIGHT -

Farscape: #2

Boom Studios
Story: Rockne S. O’Bannon, Keith R.A. DeCandido
Art: Wil Sliney
It’s great to be back in the Uncharted Territories, it’s been too long. O’Bannon, DeCandido and Sliney (and the rest of the fine folks working on this book) are putting out a product that looks great and is a fun read. It almost makes up for the fact that the webseries that was announced 3 years ago has not happened yet. I really think this book should carry a “Season 5″ title (Like Buffy’s season 8.) John, Aeryn, Chiana, and the rest of Moya’s crew find themselves much as they did for 4 seasons of the TV show (Translation – FRELLED!)
Sliney has done a great job at catching the likeness of our favorite characters. Though sometimes it seems a little too static. This book should ooze the sex appeal seen on page 8. (Now if someone will just let him restore Sikozu to the way she looked in season 4, it could go a long way to getting there)
This licensed property is perhaps my second favorite only to Doctor Who.
Grade – B+

What? After all that you want more? Ok, here’s the
Random Pick Up of the Week

Incorruptible #1

Boom Studios
Story: Mark Waid
Art: Jean Diaz
When the world’s greatest hero becomes its most horrible villain. What’s it’s most dangerous super villain to do? Go straight. Max Damage has been missing since the Plutonian began his rampage. Now he’s returned, and he wants to step up. Even if he is still the FBI’s 2nd most wanted man in the world. Is his conversion real? Can he be trusted? Only time can and Mark Waid can tell.
Grade – B+

I also picked up a Marvel Adventures Spiderman/Power Pack digest for my 5 year old nephew, Maybe I can get him to tell us about it next week.