Hey everybody! It’s that time of the week again, another batch of some DC reviews. This week I’ve got a nice batch for you guys. There’s the fourth part to a great mini-series, the Flash and Green Arrow both start to heat up as the action increases, the sirens have a big fight ahead of themsleves, and Larfleeze doesn’t share well with others.
Minor spoilers ahead!
Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne #4
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artists: Georges Jeanty and Walden Wong
Cover Artist: Andy Kubert
Publisher: DC
Bruce Wayne’s journey home continues in the fourth issue of this six issue mini-series. This issue starts off with some action as the Van Derm ranch is being attacked and robbed by a bunch of hooligans. Bruce arrives in time to go after the men who have kidnapped Catherine, and an important box bearing the symbol of the bat. Just as he rescues the gal and retrieves the box, Jonah Hex appears with his own debt to settle. The first thing I have to say about this issue is that the artwork was a tad distracting; there were moments when it felt that I had missed something as a result of the artwork. That being said, the story still continues to be strong. Morrison’s ability to weave characters in an out of the story makes for an excellent read. With only two more issues to go, Morrison’s story, involving generations of Waynes and mystery, continues to become more intricate and more interesting as the story continues. 4/5
The Flash #4
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Francis Manapul and Scott Kolins
Cover Artists: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
Publisher: DC
Things aren’t looking so good for Barry Allen. Captain Boomerang, and his new powers, has broken out of prison and is on the rampage, while the Rogues of the future are still attempting to arrest Barry. Fortunately for the Flash, Top, from the Renegades, decides to tell him everything that will eventually lead to the death of Mirror Monarch. Unfortunately for Top, that is a crime punishable by death. Barry decides to try and work with the Renegades to stop the Rogues, who have arrived to clear the city of the impostors. Overall, I thought this was the best issue of the series yet. The issue answered some previous questions while maintaining a level of mystery for future issues. The artwork continues to look great and continues to enhance the overall reading. 4/5
Gotham City Sirens #14
Writer: Tony Bedard
Artists: Andres Guinaldo and Lorenzo Ruggiero
Cover Artist: Guillem March
Publisher: DC
Coming off a battle with an angel, Catwoman and Harley must now prepare for an even bigger challenge, Poison Ivy. Ivy began working for S.T.A.R. Labs in an effort to gain access to a program meant to accelerate the growth period for plants. In her efforts to gain knowledge, Ivy encountered an extraterrestrial plant. Manipulated by the chemicals the alien is releasing, Ivy has begun transformation into a creature that must be stopped. It has been a while since this series was at the top of its game. That being said, this was overall a pretty interesting concept. While the story looks like it is going to be interesting, the art is questionable. The art was inconsistent and the artist seems to have a preference for drawing very masculine females. Artwork aside, this issue is a good start into what will hopefully be a great arc. 3/5
Green Arrow #2
Writer: JT Krul
Artists: Diogenes Neves and Vicente Cifuentes
Cover Artist: Mauro Cascioli
Publisher: DC
A forest has appeared overnight in Star City and is now home to Green Arrow. This issue starts off with a glimpse of a man roaming the forest in the likeness of Robin Hood. Meanwhile, Green Lantern Hal Jordan, whose ring has stopped working since entering the forest, has come to check up on his buddy Ollie. After a good deal of talking, the two are attacked by Star City’s new hired guns, courtesy of Queen Industry’s new owner who is looking to get rid of Oliver Queen for good. JT Krul did a good job of picking up the pace in this issue. Getting Ollie and Hal back together again was great, even if it was just for an issue. This being the second issue naturally means there are still mysteries to be solved, but this issue had some nice plot twists and plot setups. Eventually the White Lantern symbol in the forest will tie this title into Brightest Day, but until then there’s enough mystery to maintain a strong series. 4/5
Green Lantern #56
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy, Tom Nguyen, and Keith Champagne
Cover Artists: Dough Mahnke, Hi-Fi, and Art-Germ
Publisher: DC
Thanks to Atrocitus, word is out that the entities are being targeted by an unknown assailant. Hal Jordan, who is now attempting to save the entities, goes to Larfleeze in the hopes that Larfleeze will teach Hal how he was able to trap the Avarice entity in the Orange Lantern. Unfortunately, before he is able to do so, Larfleeze is attacked by Hector Hammond, who was released by the unknown assailant. In the midst of the battle, Hammond eats the Orange Lantern and unleashes the entity known as Ophidian. Meanwhile, the remaining entities, Parallax and Ion, have already been captured, and are all displayed in their current locations. Larfleeze, as a character, intrigues me, especially because of just how powerful he is while appearing not so bright. The search for the entities is an interesting plot, and because of how different the emotions are it is likely that the story won’t feel repetitive. Even though the series is called Green Lantern, it is enjoyable having the other lanterns appear both as a main plot interest and as a sub plot interest. 4/5
Arnab Pradhan
arnab@comicattack.net
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The ending to Green Arrow made me go, “BWUH-HUH!?”
Haha. For some reason Scooby Doo just popped into my head.
My theory is that someone is trying out to be his new sidekick.
Green Lantern has been a consistantly great title for the past few years now but I do wonder when things will calm down a bit and shift the focus to Hal. I’ve actually felt like the title should just be ‘The Lanterns’.
Green Arrow looks/sounds great!
@Billy- Green Arrow is great. I like the direction the story is going in and the art is just great. I think JT Krul’s a great writer and if you aren’t reading it I recommend it.
@Infinite Speech- I’m a more recent Green Lantern fan and I kinda like that it’s been a mixture of the lanterns. While I do think calling it “The Lanterns,” or at least starting a new title called “The Lanterns” would be more appropriate, I don’t think I’d pick up a title based solely on Hal.
@Arnab- I actually started picking up the GL titles consistently during the Sinestro Corps War and have basically stuck with them since then. Hal is like my fourth or fifth fav GL but it’s great that the huge character base of the GLs has been expanded on again and to such a degree with these great stories. But I’m sure I would tire of a ‘Hal only’ series after 10 issues lol
@InfiniteSpeech- The GL’s have had some great stories and that’s great for them. I hadn’t really been a big GL fan growing up. And Kyle was always my favorite Gl. I can’t even list off any of the recurring villains in Green Lantern, other than Sinestro. I’d probably get through the first arc of a Hal only story. For now though, the story has a great supporting cast.