Weekly Comic Book Reviews for November 13, 2008

Green Lantern Corps #30
Creative Team
Writer: Peter Tomasi
Artist: Patrick Gleason
Inker: Rebecca Buchman
Colorist: Randy Mayor

Issue Rating
Story: 8/10
Art: 7.3/10
Overall: 7.65/10

Review: Green Lantern Corps #30 was a great improvement from the previous installment to "Sin of the Sapphire" arc. The last issue suffered from not seeming to accomplish much even for an intro to a new arc. But this issue, while mostly talking heads issue, gives the reader some insight on two sides of the upcoming war with each side (The Guardians and Zamaronians) arguing which side is right and which side is doomed to failure. With each appearance the Guardians are showing how dictatorial they are becoming with the Green Lanterns. First it was creating a new version of the Manhunters with the Alpha Lanterns and now declaring that no Green Lantern can have a relationship as long as they serve the Green Lantern Corps.

The scarred Guardian, who is working two sides, continues to be the most interesting of the Guardians. It seems that this one Guardian has a lot more pull within the Guardians and she is leading the Guardians to their current mind set. Also it seems she is trying, and from the looks of it succeeding in corruption Ion. It will be interesting to see were Tomasi takes this development especially once she betrays the other Guardians and were that takes Ion.

The Sinestro Corp member that is abducting babies and that is being Kyle and crew gives a nice little side track that adds some action to all the "talking" that is done in this issue. And hopefully in the next issue we will see more action than these past two issues have provided. This being a Green Lantern title at times it doesn't feel right that we go two issue with little action happening.

Patrick Gleason's was average in this issue and his biggest problem is drawing character faces. The faces of all the chracters, outside the Guardians and Zamaronians, are just to squarred and inconsistent at times. Still Gleason's background especially the Zamorian homeworld are some impressive designs.

Nightwing #150
Creative Team
Writer: Peter Tomasi
Artist: Don Kramer
Inkers: Jay Leisten and Rodney Ramos
Colorist: Hi-Fi

Issue Rating
Story: 9.8/10
Art: 8.8/10
Overall: 9.25/10

Review: Even with the knowledge that Nightwing, along with Robin and Birds of Prey, is being canceled that did not stop me from enjoying the end of this Nightwing vs Two-Face story. Again the strength of Tomasi's run on this Nightwing continues to be his characterization of Dick Grayson. While some may hate the fact that Tomasi has floded his run on Nightwing with guest stars I think it is a smart move showing how Dick has connections with almost the whole DCU from the JLA to the JSA to the Bat-family. And the latest guest star to show up in this issue is Barbara. It was nice to see Barbara show up in Nightwing since she and Dick haven't really interacted since the failed engagement (read Nightwing Annual #2). While I have never really choosen a side in the Dick-Starfire and Dick-Barbara pairing I do enjoy seeing Dick joking around with one someone in the Bat-family especially with Barbara since it shows that while the Titans may be his closest friends, and peer group, in the DCU his true family will always be Bruce, Alfred, Tim, and Barbara.

Also the opening pages were we are shown all the scars on Dick's body and Barbara pointing out his change of voice when talking about his Two-Face case it is obvious that Tomasi may have been brought on to this title to give all the Batman fans a reason why Dick is the rightful heir to the Batman mantle. And if Bruce ever retired and chose someone to take up his mantle it would be Dick. While many Batfans can make a good cases for Tim or Jason to pick up the mantle but I think when it comes to choosing one of these three characters it is only the logical thing that Dick pick up the mantle and not just as a placeholder (ala "Prodigal Son" arc), but as a permanent replacement. I could continue to write about this topic but I am actually waiting to see for the conclusion of "Batman RIP" to write a post talking about a proper replacement for Batman.

A story is only as good as the villain that the hero has to face and I like how Tomasi wrote Two-Face and his split personality. With this story Tomasi presented the idea that Two-Face is to Nightwing what Joker is to Batman. It seems that many writers forget that out of all of Batman's rogues Two-Face is probably the one with the most history with Nightwing. Two-Face represents Dick's first true loss as a superhero. And I like that Tomasi wrote Two-Face as having two distinct personalities and this is the first time that I can remember that the Harvey Dent and Two-Face personas have an arguement with one another. The fight that Nightwing and Two-Face have at the end of the issue was a great bloody battle that was a good way to end this story.

Don Kramer provided some great art and I love how Kramer draws Two-Face. The fight scene that ended this story was nicely choregraphed and Kramer added to Tomasi's Nightwing vs Two-Face story.

Wolverine #69
Creative Team
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Steve McNiven
Inker: Dexter Vines
Colorist: Morry Hollowell

Issue Rating
Story: 7.4/10
Art: 9/10
Overall: 8.2/10

Review: After a delay we finally get the next part and it hurts this issue and the flow of this story. Wolverine #69 acts as the end of act II of "Old Man Logan" and transitions into act III were we are going to learn about what happened to Logan during and after the great war. In these last four parts of "Old Man Logan" we have been shown short flashback scenes of what happened that caused Logan to be the way he was and we are finally going to get the whole story. Also from what Logan and Hawkeye were talking about during there drive through the mid-west their may be hope two other fallen heroes may help Logan and Hawkeye and give hope this world can become better.

I continue to enjoy how Millar is writing Logan. As Logan says he is at a point in his life were he has finally found some happiness with the life he has build with his wife and kids even though the world isn't the bright and happy world he would like to live. I like that one of Logan's greatest fears is turning back into his Wolverine persona and as seen in the short flashback scene were Logan stands over the bodies of Lady Deathstrike, Omega Red, and Mr. Sinister it seems that Logan did something that even he thought hewould never do. While some might find these short flashback scenes I have actually enjoyed these brief glimpses into the past and can't wait to finally hear the whole story.

I also have been enjoying how Millar has been writing Hawkeye and I hope that Bendis and the other Marvel writers take a cue from Millar in that Hawkeye caan and should be one of the most badass characters in the Marvel Universe. I like that even after taking so many lives Hawkeye says that his greatest joy was seeing Ashley's birth and how said he is seeing how she turned out. "Old Man Logan" is as much as a redemption story for Logan as it has become for Hawkeye and I hope that Millar doesn't go the obvious route and kill Hawkeye at the end of the story in order for Logan to turn into Wolverine again.

Steve McNiven's artwork really helps out Millar story a lot and keeps this issue from being an average read. McNiven's artwork gives this story the big event feel with all the scenery and the little things like Loki's dead body laying over the Baxter Building and the Venom Symbiote hanging on a hill in South Dakota shows how much time has passed in this world and history there is. The Mount Rushmore spread is really a well drawn scene giving the issue a grand scope of things to come.