Green Lantern: Blackest Night By Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke Publishing information: Hardback; 272 Pages Publisher: DC Comics; 13 July 2010 ISBN 10: 9781401227869 ISBN 13: 978-1401227869 Series Copy: Out of pocket Reviewer: Tyson
Synopsis:"Comics hottest writer Geoff Johns (GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS WAR, THE FLASH, ACTION COMICS, JSA) and superstar artist Doug Mahnke (JLA, BATMAN, SUPERMAN) raise the dead in this must-read tie-in to the most anticipated comics event of the year, BLACKEST NIGHT. This hardcover collection starring Hal Jordan expands on the War of the Light as the evil Black Lanterns descend on all of the Corps throughout the universe, explains villain Black Hand's connection to death and the Black Lantern corps and features key plot points that are essential to enjoying the storyline to it's fullest.
For those of you that don't know there is not just the Green Lantern Corps., there are eight other colored rings. One of them happens to be Black, which gains its power through death. The Black Lantern Corps. wants to kill every living thing in the universe. It is up to the Green Lanterns and the other colored Corps. to remove the threat the Black Lanterns bring to the universe. Following on the heels of DC's Final Crisis series the Black Lanterns have drafted nearly every dead character in the DC Universe: Martian Manhunter, Batman, and a host of others.
The problem with Blackest Night is that as each issue comes to a close it feels as if a panel or two is missing to bridge the story together for the next chapter. While not difficult to piece things together it does interrupt the story a little bit. However, that said the story is interesting and anyone who loves Hal Jordan will enjoy this installment. There are only a few key players and I would have liked to have seen some of the other Earth Lanterns but Hal is a favorite for most GL fans so he takes stage front and center. Jon Stewart does play a part but Kyle and Guy are not seen which is disappointing. The ending is also not that satisfactory and there are a few plot holes, but with comic books you know that those holes are intentional and will come up in later issues.
The artwork is fantastic and with all the different colored rings in the story there are a lot of colors used in nearly every panel. While not my favorite Green Lantern story arc. Blackest Night is a major turning point in the mythos that is Green Lantern and the DC Universe. Any fan of Green Lantern needs to know about the events that took place and this is one of the easiest ways to read about it. With a sequel to the movie Green Lantern on its way you never know if some of the plot points to this arc may show up in future installments of the movie series. Recommended.
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness Publishing information: Paperback; 160 pages Publisher: DC Comics; 1 April 2005 ISBN 10: 1401202209 ISBN 13: 978-1401202200 Series/ story arc Copy: Out of Pocket Reviewer: Tyson
Synopsis:"In Public Enemies, a huge remnant of Superman's home planet, Krypton, menaces Earth. Lex Luthor, U.S. president in current Superman stories, accuses the Man of Steel of complicity in the threat and commissions a squadron of superheroes to bring him in."
I am a fan of Jeph Loeb's work, he tends to write a compelling story for the few graphic novels that have featured his writing. In this case we have to iconic superheroes, Superman and Batman. They both have the same goal to bring the guilty to justice. Superman the boy scout and Batman the ruthless detective team up when the President of the United States, Lex Luthor, accuses Superman of being the vanguard from Krypton who are planning to attack and enslave the Earth.
The only issue I really had with the concept was that Superman was a fairly well established hero at this time and why he would now change his stripes made very little sense to me but again it is a comic book so, some suspension of disbelief is required. On top of the impending invasion there is also a very large Kryptonian meteor heading on a collision course with Earth which is weakening Superman. With Luthor putting a price on Superman's head, Batman steps in to work along side the Man of Steel.
The best thing about the graphic novel is that through out story arc are the thoughts of both Batman and Superman and while their methods may be completely opposite there is an understanding between then and it shows how well they work together. Superman the most powerful being on the planet and Batman, the World's Greatest Detective create a fairly powerful team, even if their methods vary greatly.
Knowing that Superman is a tough adversary, Luthor puts together his own super powered bounty hunters which are charged with bringing in Superman and anyone else that is harboring or associate with him. The team plays to win and again we see how well Superman and Batman work together. There are some unexpected surprises along the storyline as well as a lot of cameos. It makes for a exciting read and as I said before a fun storyline.
Ed McGuinness' artwork is colorful and bold. It has his own style and flair while doing its best to show of the classical images we associate with Superheroes. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (Vol.1) is a highly charged graphic novel with a lot to look forward to as you read it. It packs a lot of adventure in only a few pages. Recommended.
Synopsis:"Superman's origins have been imagined and reimagined over the years. Here is a new take on the character's roots. Superman: Birthright retells the early chapters of Superman's story, from escape as an infant from the doomed planet Krypton to arrival as reporter Clark Kent at the Daily Planet and his first public exploits. Writer Waid puts his own spin on the legend, rethinking nearly every aspect of the venerable character while remaining respectful of his established history. Waid wisely integrates ideas from the popular TV series smallville but doesn't slavishly follow its innovations; for instance, a young Lex Luthor befriends Clark in high school, but unlike in the series, his sinister nature is clear even then. Waid similarly tweaks the rest of the well-known cast, from Lois Lane and Clark's other Planet colleagues to Ma and Pa Kent. Ironically, though he updates the character, Waid evokes Superman's pre-World War II incarnation, whom his Depression-reared creators kept engaged in righting society's ills. Leinil Francis Yu's stylized artwork is expressively dynamic to the point of caricature, but this larger-than-life visual approach befits the retelling of a myth."
Superman has been re-invisioned many times, but coming of the tails of the successful television series Smallville DC must have wanted an updated version. There are a few changes. Befriending Lex Luthor during his time as a teenager is new; However, Lex is an evil genius even then. I did like some of the dynamic presented. It showed Clark as a helpful person even then, but he was rather naive as he still had not figured out that Kryptonite could weaken and possibly kill him. Even though Lex had figured it out within seconds. I know that as a teenager Clark is suppose to not know much about the world but he should also be a fairly good student with the ability to quickly think things through and act even quicker. Many of the other characters were also present and they all had slight re-imaginings but nothing really stood out. I was surprised that Waid did not take advantage of adding Chloe or Pete, but then again Lana Lang played a very small role and if I recall only had one or two panels dedicated to her. The overall story arc is the beginning of Clark's rise to become Superman and Lex Luthor's nemesis.
The artwork is impressive. It has a touch of the Superman of old, while also keeping it closer to the present. Overall Superman: Birthright is a great read and earns its spot on the shelf as a retelling of Superman's origins. Birthright does not shock the readers with anything drastic and plays well to those who are super fans. It updates without deviating too far from what we are use to. It would have been nice to see something new to add to the legend it decided to play it very straight laced. While not necessary to read to gain anything new or insightful about Superman or Lex Luthor it is a great story arc and features some nice artwork.
It's Superman by Tom De Haven Publishing Information: Paperback; 432 pages Publisher: Ballantine Books; 29 August 2006 ISBN 10: 0345493923 ISBN 13: 978-0345493927 Standalone Copy: Out of Pocket Reviewer: Tyson
Back of the Book: "Coming of age in rural 1930s America with X-ray vision, the power to stop bullets, and the ability to fly isn’t exactly every boy’s story. So just how did Clark Kent, a shy farmer’s son, grow up to be the Man of Steel? Follow young Clark’s whirlwind journey from Kansas to New York City’s Daily Planet–by way Hollywood. This ace reporter is not the only person leading a double life in a teeming metropolis, just the only one able to leap tall buildings in a single bound–a skill that comes in handy when battling powerful criminal masterminds like scheming Lex Luthor and fascist robots. But can Clark’s Midwestern charm save the day and win the heart of stunning, seen-it-all newspaperwoman Lois Lane? Or is it a job for Superman? Look deep into the soul of a pop-culture legend brilliantly reimagined in this novel, which is as inventive and thrilling as it is touching and wise."
Not sure how this book got past my radar when it initially was released but It's Superman is yet another spin on the most famous superhero of them all. Since I missed it when it first came out, I can only imagine that it was released along side the popularity of Smallville. The difference is that Smallville centers on a present day Clark Kent where It's Superman takes us back to the 1930's.
In this origins story we find Clark and his family with no knowledge of his Kryptonian past and that was a minor complaint. Clark and those that encounter his abilities simply assume that he is gifted that he is somehow an anomaly. That the good lord smiled upon him and that is how his powers came to be. I was hoping for some insight into his heritage and came to find that his spacecraft was destroyed upon landing. It was a minor issue but I looking forward to his arrival on earth. Clark and his adopted family cannot explain his gifts and as the novel progresses he adjusts to them in his own way. De Haven also allows Clark to have a much looser moral compass. Throughout It's Superman Clark is constantly going against what we normally see in previous installments of his origin. Clark Kent and his family are ahead of their time when it comes to race issues but Clark is not going to sit idly by and watch racist actions. He uses his heat vision to destroy private property and while he has an anger management issue he knows he is in the wrong but still feels good about his actions. I like the idea of Clark having a troubled past but then again it bothered me as his luck at finding the Kents as his parents were the reason he grew up with such a strong moral compass in the first place and that seemed to get lost in this retelling.
De Haven does a great job of nailing the 1930's. There are a lot of famous events and people that are brought up and intertwined into the story. Lex Luthor is Superman's nemesis in this book and we gain a lot of insight into his beginnings. Instead of having a multi billionaire father this Lex Luthor does everything he can to separate himself from his humble past and make a name for himself by playing both sides of the street. He has political ambitions and uses his ill-gotten gains from his various criminal enterprises to help him politically. While the majority of the book dealt with Clark Kent, Luthor really steals the show as he is constantly juggling both of his personas and still steering towards his future goals. He is seen as cunning, ruthless, and maniacal which made his portions of the book much more enjoyable to read.
Lois Lane is also slightly changed. She is very progressive and she is a very determined individual. There were a few things I did not care fore as far as her new personality. She smokes and drinks and has more than a few men walk through her door. I know that Lois is suppose to be a worldly woman but I had a problem with some of her actions on a personal level. When it came to showing Lois as a reporter was where she really shined. She was all business and very level headed which was how I like to see her portrayed.
It's Superman is interesting since it is told from the 30's so there is a lot more going on besides Clark growing into the man and superhero that he will become. When Lex decides to build robots for every home in the world it quickly becomes obvious that Superman will have to face the mechanical menace before the book reaches it's conclusion. The fight really started out very good but then ended a little to quickly and I would have liked to have seen more of the altercation. Even though the build up was getting there it failed to deliver but the final confrontation between Lex and Superman was well worth the wait.
It's Superman is a slightly different origins story that is not that cut and dry. There is a bit of moral ambiguity built into its story. It was both frustrating and refreshing. There were times when I found myself saying that is not in the spirit of Superman on several occasions and then I would just relax and enjoy this new interpretation. There is not much of Superman until the very end of the story but it is a very well done building up to the final confrontation and it is left open for a sequel if De Haven desired to do so. It's Superman is a more mature look at the Man of Steel and on a fluke I picked it up and I am glad I did. Recommended for Superman fans and those that want a slightly grittier origins story.
I would also like to point out the cover of the novel. I really liked the look of it as it is quite subtle and also nostalgic.
If you haven't heard yet. Most of your beloved comic book characters are being relaunched in the coming months. Many of the story lines from the past couple of decades are being erased and yet somehow continued. In a word, its a mess.
A couple of examples:
1. Batman has only been working for a few years (3-5 years). Yet, he has trained Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake. Not to mention had a love child with Talia Al'Ghul and has his son as the current Robin. That is a short amount of time to completely train that many sidekicks. Also, his son is really young to be fighting crime.
2. Batman, Inc. still exists and is running at full steam yet, Bruce Wayne is back in the cowl.
3. The Rainbow Coalition that is the various lanterns has occurred. So has the Final Crisis. Although the implications have yet to be told or more than likely ironed out.
4. The Killing Joke occurred and the paralyzed Barbara Gordon has miraculously been healed and is the current Batgirl.
5. The marriage between Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane never happened.
6. Action Comics will reboot Superman in the Golden Age and he will be the first, and what looks like, only superhero (for a short while at least).
I am not sure exactly what all this means for die hard DC fans as the current story lines may or may not continue with the relaunch. From what I have read so far many will end before their conclusion.
Some characters look to be going backwards where others seem to be going into an entirely new direction which may or may not be what fans want. The only good thing that I can think of is that new readers will have a chance to read at the beginning of their favorite hero or heroine. Either way you look at it, it should be an interesting time for comic book fans and DC Comics.
For a limited time (90 days) you can get your hands on a free eBook from Vera Nazarian.
Nebula Award-Nominated author Vera Nazarian is offering her novel Dreams of the Compass Rose as a free download for a limited time! The title is available now, and will be for 90 days, in its entirety, as a free download, in various e-book formats from Smashwords, and other online retailers. After the initial free download period (ending September 15, 2010), the title will be available for sale at the regular retail price. Copies downloaded during the free period will remain yours permanently -- completely free-of-charge, without any DRM restrictions, to be enjoyed on your various reading devices. (Since this is a copyrighted work, they ask that you kindly not to share your complimentary copy.)
What is Dreams of the Compass Rose about you ask?
The Compass Rose universe -- an ancient milieu where places have no names, cities spring forth like bouquets in the desert, gods and dreams walk the scorching sands in the South, ice floats like mirror shards upon the Northern sea, islands that do not exist are found in the East, death chases a thief on the rooftops of a Western city, immortal love spans time, and directions are intertwined into one road we all travel....You come to this place when you wonder, and sometimes, only when you dream.
Joe Abercrombie
According to Mr. Abercrombie himself the release date of his eagerly awaited new book The Heroes has been postponed. As of right now The UK release date is is set for a 20 January 2011 and the US release date is still holding at 7 March 2011. This is very disappointing but at the same time was are getting a Abercrombie release for 2011. With that in mind we can't really complain. I am really looking forward to this release as I have with all of his work.
Any of you who’ve spent time waiting for books to appear will know that the world of publishing can be a fickle business, and that publication dates are … let us say …malleable. Writing is not a precise science. There can be unforeseen problems. Revisions can take longer than expected. And that’s before you get into the whole arena of commercial considerations, of the time required for production, and distribution, and enthusing a sales force, and preparing an eager public, and yada yada yada. Until you have the book in your hands it’s wise not to take anything for granted.
So it is with great regret I have to inform you that, following a meeting with my editor and various whip-and-sword-wielding figures at Orion made from fire and shadow, we have decided, reluctantly, that we have to move the publication date of The Heroes.
But do not weep a river of tears quite yet, my friends, for the publication date is coming forward. Yes, indeed, the UK hardcover of The Heroes will now be available on January 20th 2011, and not a moment before. If any among you were minded to pre-order what will undoubtedly be THE fantasy release of that day, you could do so here.
The US hardcover release is still currently scheduled for March 7th, but I’ll let you know if that changes in the light of these developments. Bear in mind that the management take no responsibility for any future disappointing delays in publication dates, as publication is a fickle business, and etc. etc.
Book Giveaway
Gail Z. Martin
SFFSignals is giving away two signed books from Gail Z. Martin. Head on over and enter to win Dark Haven and Dark Lady's Chosen. Giveaway deadline is 20 June 2010.
Dark Haven- With his wedding weeks away, Tris must address the trials and executions of those responsible for the atrocities against Margolan's people. Jonmarc Vahanian, the new Lord of Dark Haven, and one of Tris's allies, faces trouble with the Blood Council, where there is defiance against the prospect of a mortal lord. And beneath Dark Haven, the Flow, the vast river of power damaged when Arontala wrested the Soulcatcher from Dark Haven's foundation, is becoming unstable, threatening the balance of magic itself, and the future of the Winter Kingdoms.
Dark Lady's Chosen- Treachery and blood magic threaten King Martris Drayke's hold on the throne he risked everything to win. As the battle against a traitor lord comes to its final days, war, plague and betrayal bring Margolan to the brink of destruction. Civil war looms in Isencroft. Finally, in Dark Haven, Lord Jonmarc Vahanian has bargained his soul for vengeance as he leads the vayash moru against a dangerous rogue who would usher in a future drenched in blood.
T.V. NEWS
HBO - Winter is Coming
The Trailer for the HBO series A Game of Thrones has been released. It is a teaser trailer but has got me all excited.
Voltron
It appears that Voltron will be making it to the big screen soon, but in order to garner support and a larger fan base Voltron will be returning with an all new animated series.
Voltron is coming back as a revamped animated series. This time it will air on Nicktoons, and they're calling it Voltron Force. World Event Productions and Classic Media are developing this, with Kickstart Productions, makers of Wolverine and the X-Men, co-producing.
Voltron Force sure sounds like a hip, modern revamp of the old Voltron: Defender of the Universe, butVariety reports that the new series will actually stay faithful to the original. Voltron was a giant robot who formed when five individual robot lions joined together. Because sometimes a team of five individual robot lions just isn't enough to get the job done.
Nicktoons will air 26 half-hour shows starting next year. Mattel will produce a new toy line to go along with it, so a new crop of kids and buy all the lions that make up Voltron. World Event Productions president Ted Koplar told Variety it's really all about the toys.
"What paramount is getting the toys right," Koplar said. "They're pretty involved toys that have to transform and fit together. It's an exciting way to introduce the brand to a generation that isn't familiar with Voltron."
Well, cool toys came with a cool cartoon in 1984, so they can do it again. World Event Productions and Classic Media were going to try a big-screen movie, but they've gone with the animated series instead.
Movie News
Green Lantern
While the Green Lantern movie is still in the production, it has not stopped Warner Brothers and DC Comics from already preparing for the second installment in the series. Since Green Lantern is one of my favorite DC characters I am really excited for this movie and its sequel. The first Green Lantern movie is beaming into theaters 17 June 2011.
Green Lantern won't hit theaters until June 17—that's June 17, 2011, more than a year from now—but Warner Brothers is so sure it will be a hit that they've already started work on the sequel.
Greg Berlanti, Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim—all of whom worked on the first installment in what the studio hopes will be a Green Lantern franchise—have been hired to write a treatment for the second movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
And not only that, but the team has also been asked to write the treatment for a big-screen adaptation of The Flash, though the trio's new deal doesn't indicate which of the two projects they're going to tackle first.
Who are these guys? Berlanti created Everwood and is an executive producer on Brothers and Sisters. Guggenheim co-created Eli Stone with Berlanti and is executive producer and co-creator of the upcoming ABC superhero drama No Ordinary Family. And Green worked with Berlanti on Everwoodand created NBC's Kings.
Starting work on a sequel so far out from a movie's release is rare, indicating the studio's confidence that green will turn out to be gold.
So Warner Brothers is clearly excited about its Green Lantern movie. But how about you?
Transformers/Michael Bay
Michael Bay and his production team have announced plans to kill off some of the Transformers from the second movie in the franchise, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. I personally do not have high hopes for this one as Bay has stated that Shockwave will be planning to take over Megatron's spot as leader of the Decepticons. Depending on which series you like comics or cartoon, he was either a trusted right-hand man where Starscream was the treacherous 2nd in command. Or a cold calculating military advisor waiting to take wrestle power from Megatron. However, I do love Shockwave and hope to see more of him in the third movie. No title for the third movie has been announced, the movie will open to audiences in 2011.
From SciFi Wire: Okay, he didn't EXACTLY say that, but it seems like director Michael Bay and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura are really, truly going to off some of our beloved Autobots, based on what we learned from a new Transformers 3 article in USA Today.
Here's what the piece had to say:
"While Optimus Prime, Megatron and even Sam all have died and been resurrected, di Bonaventura says this film will have no do-overs: Die,and that's it. Bay hints that there may be a lot of that. "As a trilogy, it really ends," he says. "It could be rebooted again, but I think it has a really killer ending."
There are other changes afoot for the third Transformers flick, which is filming now for a summer 2011 release. Bay and di Bonaventura acknowledge that there were problems with last year's Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen, which was blasted by critics and even some fans despite earning $836 million worldwide—second last year only to Avatar.
Bay says it was "very hard" to put the second movie together quickly after the Hollywood writers' strike of late 2007 and early 2008, with di Bonaventura adding, "We tried to do too many things in the second movie, which didn't give enough time in any one of them. We were constantly jumping to the next piece of information, the next place."
So what's different? Well, for one thing, Bay reveals that they're getting rid of "the dorky comedy," meaning that Fallen's tacky and racially insensitive twin robots are "basically gone." Even better, there's a new villain in town: Shockwave, the laser-cannon-wielding Transformer from the original series who is obsessed with overthrowing Megatron and leading the Decepticons in a takeover of the universe.
Perhaps the movie's most spectacular new special effect will be model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who will play a new love interest for human hero Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) following the departureof Megan Fox from the series.
As for the plot, USA Today says it has something to do with the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, and how the Transformers may have played a secret and dangerous part in it. Bay: "The movie is more of a mystery. It ties in what we know as history growing up as kids with what really happened."
Finally, and perhaps not surprisingly, Transformers 3 will be in 3-D, although it's likely that the movie will be converted in post-production and is not being filmed that way.
Will all these changes make for a better movie? Does this make you psyched for Transformers 3? Let the debate start now!
