Hello again GEN readers! It’s Jill a.k.a. The Nerdy Bird back with this week’s installment of DoubleDCoverage. This week I picked up one title purely for it’s writer and another purely for it’s second feature. I’ve discovered that’s not always the smartest plan. Reviews for The Atom and Hawkman #46 and Teen Titans #79 are ahead. Also, check out my star ratings for my other pulls from last week!
THE ATOM AND HAWKMAN #46
I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t have picked up this book if it wasn’t written by Geoff Johns. It’s another one of DC Comics’ resurrected titles and not one I’ve ever read so otherwise I would have just saved myself the money. So, was The Atom and Hawkman all I hoped it would be? Sorta.
Going into this issue you have to know two things. Number one, any and all Hawkmans are dead and now flying around as Black Lanterns. Number two, Ray Palmer has been inducted into the Indigo Tribe, the Corps that deals in compassion. For all intents and purposes, this book is Ray’s alone. Though, if you don’t know anything about him Johns gives you a brief recap of his adventurous life. His childhood studying science, his marriage to and divorce from Jean Loring, his time spent with a miniature race in the jungle (where he fell in love a second time) and his discovery of Jean’s awful act against Sue Dibney. Unbelievably Ray still has empathy for his ex-wife and is therefore called to the Indigo Tribe. His first act is going up against a couple he always thought epitomized love, the Hawks.
Indigo-1, the leader of the Indigo Tribe gives Ray a brief tutorial on how to utilize their unique powers and then throws him into the fire while she tries to send a message to the rest of her Corps. The first emotion he winds up calling on is avarice. He makes orange constructs of Hawkman and Hawkgirl to fight their Black Lantern counterparts and then that’s it for Hawkman’s part in this story. The rest focuses on Ray and Black Lantern Jean’s troubled relationship. She infects Indigo-1’s ring and Ray must shrink down after her to fix it. Of course, once inside it’s like a twisted funhouse of his past. Somehow Ray manages to overcome all the emotions about Jean swimming around his head and finally put her to rest by using willpower. Indigo-1 is able to send out her message and Ray asks for one thing in return – he wants her to help him bring back Hawkman and Hawkgirl.
Was this issue exactly what I was expecting it to be? No. Was it enjoyable? Yes. After thinking about it for a while I realized having Hawkman in the entire issue would not only have been hard but probably a bit boring since it would have just been him and Ray fighting the entire time. Johns made it more about the example Hawkman left for Ray about love and friendship and obviously about Ray’s own journey to fight his way back from depression. This issue wasn’t absolutely pertinent to the overall Blackest Night storyline but it does serve as a good lead-in to Blackest Night #7 and Ryan Sook’s art is definitely something worth picking this one up for as well.
TEEN TITANS #79
I shouldn’t have wasted my money on this book. The last few issues written by J.T. Krul featuring Deathstroke and family were great but now we’re back to Felicia D. Henderson and run-of-the-mill Titans Tower drama and it’s annoying as ever.
It was downhill from page one. Cassie travels all the way to visit Cyborg and ask his advice about leading the team, then proceeds to cut him off when he’s giving her his answer. Not only that, she basically finishes her sentence for him like she knew exactly what she was going to say anyway. I don’t even know why she bothered. The rest of the Titans are having a good workout back at headquarters when Jaime gets caught staring at Aquagirls’ butt. She tells him he better not be and calls him a freak. This of course after weeks of practically humping him in front of his girlfriend. Strange. Static walks in and announces a virus has hit his hometown in Dakota, asks if anyone would like to help him but doesn’t allow time for an answer before leaving on his own with no one stopping him. These are just the quirks in the first three pages folks.
Static visits his sister first, who actually has come down with the virus in question. She’s angry and upset that he’s been missing for months and hasn’t told her why. It’s the same once he sees his parents. I’m not sure if they’re aware of his powers or not. If not, they should really be calling the police and not allowing him to leave the house seeing as how he’s a teenager and all but no, they just cry and hug and let him do his own thing. He discovers people are stealing the vaccine and heads out to fight some bad guys. For some reason he goes back to his sisters apartment so she can yell at him some more and that’s followed by an even more awkward scene back at the Tower where Cassie orders the team into a meeting to discuss the obvious, that she is their leader. Bombshell is the only one who seems to have any sense saying, “I object to us discussing this any further.” Thank you! Oh wait, there’s another awkward scene to decide who’s flying the jet to Dakota where Cassie abdicates after insisting on driving and Miss Martian informs us she has a migraine. Good to know.
This may be one of the most awkwardly paced and plotted issues I’ve ever read. The only reason I picked up this title was for the Ravager second feature but even that may not be enough to keep me coming back. And even that story has been dragging on for a bit too long. I’m legitimately torn. This team book is having just as many problems keeping a team together as the Justice League of America. People are getting shifted around left and right. Just pick one and go with it already! I’m really confused with what Henderson is doing with these characters though, especially Static. Everything thing he did this issue was nonsensical and jumpy. I understand these characters are all teenagers but they’re still people and no one acts like this.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #7 – Dick is using a Lazarus pit to resurrect someone who most certainly isn’t Batman. At least he’s doing it around British heroes who can say “Blimey!” when it happens.
BLACKEST NIGHT: JSA #2 (OF 3) – These Black Lanterns deserve an Academy Award they’re so talented.
DETECTIVE COMICS #861 – In case you didn’t catch it, the Batman and Batwoman stories are during two different timelines. That’s actually Bruce in the past and Kate in the present.
GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #8 – Very, very cool Poison Ivy story with the other ladies helping her out. Of course just when you think Ivy is *ahem* turning a new leaf, she shows her true colors once again.
GREEN LANTERN #50 – Doug Mahnke has outdone himself on the art for this issue. Fantastic interactions with the newest Corps members. If Mera and Atrocitus got together, what would it be like to kiss him?
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41 – This book is flailing in the wind. I wish they had just put it on hold until Cry for Justice was over.
JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #6 (OF 7) – Finally all the things we’ve been hearing about in other DC books happens here. Prometheus demolishes everyone but to me it seems unlikely he could have.
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #35 – The new Doctor Fate finally pulls his weight and the rest of the team face peculiar challenges. My personal favorite was Wildcat’s of course.
SUPERGIRL #49 – Oh no, not bugs. Please don’t tell me Lana is going to turn into you-know-who again. I’m really digging how Matt Camp draws Kara though.
SUPERMAN #696 – Oh good god, General Lane had the gorilla play with Mon-El’s naughty bits. Scarred for life much?
SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #4 (OF 6) – Wow, a secret origin of Parasite I never expected to see. Lots of good stuff this issue including Jimmy’s first Superman picture.
WONDER WOMAN #40 – Creepy children are always creepy.
WORLD’S FINEST #4 (OF 4) – The very first Superman/new Batman team-up. Although after this, I’m hoping for a Supergirl/Batgirl mini.
My pull list for this week:
BLACKEST NIGHT: WONDER WOMAN #3 (OF 3)
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA ANNUAL #2
THE QUESTION #37 (Resurrected title, one issue only!)
RED ROBIN #9
SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #12 (OF 12)
Which two should I review for DoubleDCoverage #45?
