Legacy Shorts: Comic Book Reviews for 5/27/09

Missed out on reviewing last weeks books but the Legacy Short Reviews are back. Just as a quick mention be sure to read my review for Guardians of the Galaxy #14 and reviews for last weeks comic book cartoons (shameless plug:) ) over at the Rokk's Comic Book Revolution. Alright enough talk time to review the rest of the weeks comics.

Green Lantern #41

Creative Team
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Philip Tan & Eddy Barrows
Inkers: Jonathan Nathan, Ruy Jose' & Julio Ferreira
Colorists: HI-FI & Rod Reis

Story - Agent Orange: Part Three

Review
Over the past few issues I have been enjoying Green Lantern less and less and have made no secret about that I am enjoying Green Lantern Corps much more than this title. This issue of Green Lantern felt like Johns is only stalling for time until Blackest Night starts as the only things that actually happen in this issue is that Fatality appears to save John Stewart, which was only one page, and second Hal gets his hand ripped off by Agent Orange.

Most of this issue was filled with a senseless origin of Agent Orange that doesn't reveal anything to the reader that is very informative and could have easily been told in a back-up like the last issue instead of being part of the main story. Also having Sinestro appear for a page was very random and did not make sense in context to the story especially since he is involved in Emerald Twilight over on Green Lantern Corps. It just seemed that Johns wanted to address him forgetting about Sinestro and it would have been better if Johns just left Sinestro to GLC under Tomasi who is doing a great job handling the character.

Also it did not help Johns cause that the artwork was all over the place with two artists (Tan & Barrows) and three inkers (Nathan, Jose, & Ferreira). While both Tan and Barrows are both talented artist and some of the pages they did looked great their was a lot of inconsistencies page from page as it seemed that they alternated pages. With the inconsistent art it only made Johns thin story to be much more dull than if this issue would have stuck to one artist.

Issue Rating
Story: 5.3/10 - This was probably one of the worst issues of Green Lantern that Johns has produced and does not live up to the high quality this title is known for.
Art: 5/10 - While I like Tan & Barrows artwork separately they just did not mesh and the rushed artwork only makes this issue feel like Johns and DC wanted this issue out that they did not care about keeping consistency with the issue.
Overall: 5.15/10 - Green Lantern #41 was a very disappointing read that only makes it look like Johns is stalling until Blackest Night starts. Hopefully the next issue of Green Lantern wont be as thin of a read as this one and Johns bring back some of the fun this title used to be during Sinestro Corps War.

Nova #25

Creative Team
Writer: Dan Abnnett & Andy Lanning
Artist: Kevin Sharpe
Inkers: Jefferey Huet & Nelson Pereira
Colorist: Bruno Hang

Story - Empire of the Mind

Review
Unlike Guardians of the Galaxy, that directly ties into War of Kings, DnA have used the war between the Shi'ar and the Inhumans/Kree as a backdrop to continue the overall story they have been telling on this title since the first issue. And I am fine with this approach since it would not feel right that Nova become all about War of Kings since the hero of this title, Richard Rider, still has/had to regain his powers before fully being emersed in War of Kings.

While it is great to see Richard back as Nova Prime as of this issue my favorite part of this issue was how DnA showed the difference between being a Nova Corps member and being Quasar. The most direct comparison I can make is that with as Nova Richard only used brute force with firing energy beams and using shields, similar to how Hal Jordan uses his Green Lantern ring, while the Quasar powers made Richard have to think outside the box and think more like a artist, similar to Kyle Rayner. It was a nice way to show the difference between the Nova and Quasar powers especially for readers who are just getting into Marvel's cosmic characters.

Now with Richard's return as Nova Prime and a new personality for Worldmind the next few issues of Nova should tie into War of Kings much more directly. Also with the introduction of a much mentioned former Nova Corps member it will be interesting to see some crazy cosmic fighting between the Nova Corps and the Shi'ar Imperial Guard.

Issue Rating
Story: 8.8/10 - DnA continue to have a great handle of Nova. Now that Richard is back to being Nova Prime it is going to be interesting to see how they work the new dynamic between Richard and the new Worldmind personality.
Art: 7.5/10 - Kevin Sharpe provides some solid artwork though it was inconsistent at times. I just wish that Nova would get an artist that could stick around for longer than one or two story arcs.
Overall: 8.15/10 - Nova #25 was another good issue of Nova and now with everything back to "normal" we should see the full affect of War of Kings on this title and maybe even have some Nova Corps members appear in the main event.

Teen Titans #71

Creative Team
Writer: Sean McKeever
Artist: Yildiray Cinar
Colorist: Julio Ferreira & Rod Reis

Story - Homecoming

Review
Wouldn't you know it that the first issue of McKeever's run I find to be a massive improvement over what he has been giving us in the past year on Teen Titans that it is also his last issue as the main writer on the series. While I know McKeever is going to be writing the Ravager back-up for this title it is kind of shame as it feels now that he doesn't have to work off the work of his predecessors or a crossover and now has an actual team in place that he was getting ready to tell his own stories. Oh well!

As for this issue, Teen Titans #71 just reaffirms why Ravager is the best Teen Titan of this new group as she is easily my favorite character on this title. Even though we have the Ravager wanna be in Bombshell this title just is not the same as it is when Ravager is part of the team. I think it would have been interesting to see the dynamic she would share with Miss Martian, Aquagirl, Static, and Blue Beetle but I think I am fine with her striking out on her own.

Another thing this issue reaffirms is that I continue to dislike Wonder Girl more and more each issue. Ever since Tim left it just seems that the bitchy side of Cassie's character is rising up more. I am kind of hoping that even though Connor is back that he does not return to Teen Titans as that may hinder her character even more and she needs some time to be on her own as she has yet to proven to be a good leader though she has potential to be one.

Issue Rating
Story: 7.6/10 - McKeever writing is at its best when he is writing Ravager's dialogue which is probably why this issue was the best one he has writing so far as it was Ravager-centric.
Art: 7.6/10 - Yildiray Cinar provide some solid artwork and it would be a good thing if he was the ongoing artist for this title as his art style fits this title.
Overall: 7.6/10 - Teen Titans #71 was a solid issue and hopefully this is a sign of this title returning to the form it was a few years ago.

Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk #6

Creative Team
Writer: Damon Lindelof
Artist: Leinil Francis Yu
Colorist: Dave McCaig

Story - Part 6 of 6

Review
Well we finally reach the end of a story that has literally took 3 years to tell over 6 issues and it was clear that there wasn't enough material to stretch 6 issues, maybe more like 4. I have stated with my previous reviews for this mini-series that Lindelof made the title to self-aware of the delay problems, which I am not sure how it will translate in trade form, so I am not going to get into that more as I've beaten that problem to death even though it continues here.

Maybe my biggest problem now that we have the last issue is that this mini-series lack what I, and many others, expected: some fighting between Wolverine and Hulk. Outside of the first issue there was not really any fighting outside of Wolverine vs a Panda and what may or may not have been a sex scene between Hulk and She-Hulk. It is to bad since Yu's artwork was much better than his previous work and it would have been cool to see him draw a Wolverine vs Hulk fight after the first issue.

Issue Rating
Story: 5/10 - Lindelof did a serviceable job with this story though he did not deliver the Hulk vs Wolverine action that a reader looks forward to when these two characters meet.
Art: 7.8/10 - Yu's artwork has never been better. It is to bad he wasn't given much action to draw during this series.
Overall: 6.4/10 - In the end Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk ended up being a dud of a mini-series. Still if anyone looking for a good Wolverine vs Hulk story I recommended buying the highly entertaining Hulk vs. DVD.

Wolverine #72

Creative Team
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Steve McNiven
Inkers: Dexter Vines & Jay Leisten
Colorists: Morry Hollowell, Nathan Faribairn, & Paul Mounts

Story - Old Man Logan: Part 7

Review
Say what you will about the delays to this story but for me the delays are worth it when we get some excellent artwork from Steve McNiven. McNiven is one of those artist that I am willing to wait to get one of his books as his art is just breathtaking with how much life he gives each page.

As for the story Millar continues to impress me with Old Man Logan how layered he is making this story. Even though a lot of what is happening in this story is predictable Millar is still able to give a lot of wait to the story and make the reader become emotionally invested with what is happening to Logan.

Logan vs. Red Skull while short was just a brutal fight and it was cool to see that instead of using his claws Logan used Captain America's shield that the Red Skull keep in his trophy case to finish of the Red Skull. It provided a nice poetic justice that Red Skull would be killed by his greatest enemies weapon. And by Logan not using his claws during the fight it made the ending were he did pop his claws as he arrives home to see his family murdered by the Hulk Gang even more powerful.

Issue Rating
Story: 8.5/10 - Millar continues to write a vary layered story and understands that Logan is one of those characters that at the end of his life should be alone as that is who he is. And I can't wait to see how Millar ends Old Man Logan.
Art: 10/10 - McNiven's artwork is just spectacular and a lot of his artwork in this issue was breathtaking.
Overall: 9.25/10 - Old Man Logan continues to be an excellent Wolverine story and if you have yet to read this story than I highly recommend buying this story when it comes out in trade paperback as it will probably read even better in trade.