Hello again GEN readers! It’s Jill a.k.a. The Nerdy Bird back with this week’s installment of DoubleDCoverage. Ok, so I’m one day late. Sue me. I was at the San Diego Comic Con last week and while ridiculously fun, it took it’s toll. Today we learn a bit about three Lantern Corps members and get to the heart of Supergirl. Reviews for Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #2 and Supergirl #43 are ahead, also, check out my star ratings for my other pulls from last Wednesday!

BLACKEST NIGHT: TALES OF THE CORPS #2 (OF 3)

Tales of the Corps is not your average book. It’s a chance for readers to get to know the story behind a select few Lantern Corps members while Blackest Night is unfolding. The first issue featured Blue Lantern Saint Walker, Sinestro Corps member Mongul and the anonymous leader of the Indigo Tribe. The second issue delves into the beginnings of Red Lantern Bleeze, Carol Ferris’ journey back to the Star Sapphires and Orange Lantern Blume.

I remember seeing Bleez in the group shot of Red Lanterns from Blackest Night #0. She used to look quite different. She hails from the plane Havania whose beauty rivals her own. She’s a creature with beautiful wings who has little more to worry about than her countless suitors. She’d like to be known for more than her looks but her mother insists she meet her latest admirer. He’s a Sinestro Corps member. The simple like she knew is quickly snatched away as she’s taken to Ranx as a slave. She gains her ring when he destroys her wings and kisses her, her rage boiling to the surface. Blume is a very different story. Before Larfleeze takes him for his Corps, he called himself the God of Hunger. His hunger for all things valuable could not be satisfied. Traveling from galaxy to galaxy he would digest all he could. As long as a planet willingly gave him all they had of value, he’d leave them be. One planet’s most treasured possessions were their children which the reluctantly offered. He took the children but was “merciful” enough to set them free. Stumbling across Larfleeze’s base on Okaara was his biggest mistake. Sure, there is much of value there, but Larfleeze does not share.

My favorite of the three stories was the one about Carol Ferris. She’s been a Star Sapphire before so it’s refreshing that when the ring calls to her again her response is, “Oh, come on. Not again.” The cool thing is, this time around, the ring can’t just take her, she has to accept it. Seeing as how we’ve already seen her as a SS in other titles, what in the world would possess her to take the ring voluntarily? Love, obviously. The ring informs her the Zamarons have refined them and takes her on a brief trip down memory lane from her first meeting with Hal to her fathers slow death. The ring won’t forcibly take her but that doesn’t mean it won’t lay one heavy guilt trip on her either. It shows her a possible future where Hal needs her help and she accepts. Not only is she going to be a Star Sapphire but it seems she’ll be the one leading them into battle as well.

Artists Eddie Barrows, Gene Ha and Tom Mandrake all do exceptional jobs with the sometimes-hectic space action and Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi continue their solid writing duties. Tales of the Corps is not an entirely necessary addition to the Blackest Night saga but does give some interesting background. These are stories I’d absolutely love to know but that would take up too much space in the main books and slow things down entirely too much. For those of you who like detail and backstory this is an excellent read. That being said, you’re not missing anything terribly important if you don’t pick it up. However, there is an extra article in the back written by Ethan Van Sciver explaining the origins and designs of all the Corps symbols that I think is particularly noteworthy.

SUPERGIRL #43

Kara looks like an angel on the cover of this issue so it’s appropriate she spends the entirety of it talking to her dead father. Well, not so much talking as writing. A lot has happened to her in recent months, not the least of which was his death. Being on New Krypton and ignored by her mother she feels somewhat comforted venting to him through a letter.

Kara is writing on the day she must choose a Guild. It just so happens it’s her birthday as well. No age is actually given so I don’t know if she’s finally getting to grow up a bit or if this is just a generic birthday. She’s thinking back on the last few weeks. Every night Kara listens to her mother crying in the next room at the same time and every morning she’s woken up and sent on another errand or chore for her. During the course of this she winds up spending a little time with each Guild. Not all of them are to her liking. She’s embarrassed while working with the Labor Guild but surprised when she’s sent to see an old friend of her father’s, Zal-Tel, from the Artists Guild. He’s been building a statue and a tomb to honor him at the request of Alura.

The mystery as to how Lucy Lane lived on New Krypton posing as a Kryptonian is still under investigation. Kal and his military team help Kara search the apartment they discovered she’d been living in. It belongs to Kryn Kel-Ur who hasn’t been seen since. One night Kara has had enough and follows Alura to her father’s tomb. As she confronts her, Alura has her usual spaz-out moment and then pulls a complete 180. She explains she’s been trying to help Kara with her choice, seeing as how she’s been away from Kryptonian society for so long. It’s her “gift” to Kara. Gee, thanks mom. You know, I hear iPhones are pretty cool these days. Despite Alura’s crazy behavior Kara finally does make a choice that winds up surprising even herself. She chooses her mother’s Science Guild over her father’s Artist Guild in the vain attempt to understand her better. Good luck with that.

Despite being low on action, this issue is my favorite in recent history. Sterling Gates pours emotion onto each page as Kara speaks to her father. It’s so heartbreaking thinking of how happy she was just a little while ago when her and her parents were reunited and how bad things have gotten since then. I’ll admit, I got a little choked up by the last three panels. Jamal Ingle really looks like he had fun on this issue. I thoroughly enjoyed the picture of Kara and Cassie in the “Best Friends Forever” frame and her time with the Labor Guild looks every bit as miserable as it’s supposed to be. It will be interesting to see how Kara adapts to being in a Guild compared to how her cousin Kal has adjusted to his new role in the military.

FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #5 (OF 5) – Ohh, they’re clever. They’re really clever. Perez’s hand must be REALLY tired.

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #2 – Still not doing it for me unfortunately. And I can’t believe I’m saying this but a few less ass shots would be nice.

GREEN LANTERN #44 – Oh crap. J’onn still has his mental powers as a Black Lantern.

THE OUTSIDERS #20 – The Outsiders chase off the Insiders with the help of Ra’s Al Ghul and Vandal Savage. Then both of them escape too. Kind of anti-climactic if you ask me.

POWER GIRL #3 – PG takes down Ultra-Humanite and saves NY with an assist from Terra but leaves him looking like a hairless Chihuahua. It’s actually really gross.

WEDNESDAY COMICS #3 (OF 12) – Batman and Flash were pretty good, Teen Titans and Wonder Woman continue to be really bad.

My pull list for next week:

BLACKEST NIGHT: TALES OF THE CORPS #3 (OF 3)
DETECTIVE COMICS #855
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #35
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #29
SUPERMAN #690
TEEN TITANS #73
WEDNESDAY COMICS #4 (OF 12)
WONDER WOMAN #34

Which two should I review for DoubleDCoverage #19?

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