Posted by
High Ball
Title: Revolt of the Alpha-Lanterns: Conclusion
Written by: Tony Bedard
Art by: Adrian Syaf
Cover by: ARDIAN SYAF & VICENTE CIFUENTES
Release Date: 22 September 2010
Official DC Comics Synopsis:
BRIGHTEST DAY continues as the final part of the "Revolt of the Alpha Lanterns" features a confrontation between Cyborg Superman and Ganthet! Will the villain finally get the eternal sleep he so desperately seeks?
REVIEW BY: Bob Tilley
Well here we are... the conclusion to Tony Bedards first Green Lantern Corps arc - Revolt of the Alpha-Lanterns. I really enjoyed this for two reasons. 1), Adrian Syaf's artwork is amazing, two Ganthet sort of gets his Yoda moment.
There are a few things that were wrong with this issue though. The cover is very misleading because it shows Ganthet and Cyborg-Superman ready to kill the crap out of each other and the cover teaser says 'Immortal combat', implying their going to have a massive showdown - they don't even come close. It's actually Boodikka who takes down Hank Henshaw after he transports his body to hers. The issue continues straight from #51 after John Stewart, Natu, Kyle and Hannu charge their rings on Boodikka's dying body. They end up saving Boodikka's soul and lead the Grendians up rising against Cyborg-Superman.
This issue ends up becoming the turning point for the Alpha Lanterns as Ganthet learns how to save their souls and repairs all the Alpha-Lanterns. Probably is the best bit is seeing Boodikka as her normal self inside her mind as she fights Henshaw.
SCORE: 3.5/5
Alternative Cover: Patrick Cleason
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Posted by
High Ball
Title: Last Will - Lie of the Mind
Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Fernando Pasarin
Cover by: RODOLFO MIGLIARI
Release Date: 15 September 2010
Corps Featured: Blue Lanterns, Red Lanterns
Official DC Comics Synopsis:
Don't miss this BRIGHTEST DAY tie-in as Guy Gardner continues his secret mission for Atrocitus! Just as he discovers the Red Lantern energy still has him in its grip, Guy must deal with Red Lantern Bleez as a new teammate, which only leads to dangerous agitation. Can Kilowog, Arisia and the others save Guy – or will they turn on him when they learn the secret of his sinister mission?
REVIEW BY: Bobby Tilley
Sometimes you get another title come along its just something to cash in on the popularity of a franchise while its hot, and when they announced Emerald Warriors I was excited on two fronts. 1), Peter Tomasi will continue to write Green Lantern Corp. stories and 2), I get less of a gap in my Green Lantern universe because there is another title to keep me happy. This new title has hit the mark two months in a row now and every time it ends I'm gutted!
Now nothing major actually happens during the issue other than following Guy on the beginning of his journey to the unknown sectors. We originally thought this was a solo mission but the Kilowog and Arisa will be joining guy (they don't realise its a secret mission with Ganthet). Sandwiched in between this plot is Arisa's continued guilt and loss of Sodam Yat in the Daxam red sun (not aware of his escape in issue one). There is a gruesome nightmare scene with Sodam melting in front of her!
We also start to see the plans unfold of the alien Zardor, who is kidnapping psychic aliens to build what looks like a giant cosmic eye.
Back to the trio and we see an amazing splash image of Guy, Arisa and Kilowog charging their rings.
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| GUY, ARISA AND KILOWOG PREPARE FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD |
A little bit of tension is seen between Guy and Kiliowog, when his confront him about his little detour to Odym the Blue Lantern planet because he is concerned about the Red blood his spitting up and want to purge it from his system. The issue ends with Guy getting attacked by Bleez sent by Atrocitus in #1.
The story is very well paced and the artwork clean, the coloring continues to elevate the artwork.
SCORE: 4.5
Alternative Cover: FELIPE MASSAFERA
Sunday, 19 September 2010
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High Ball
Title: A Change is Gonna Come
Written by: Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Ivan Reis, Scott Clark and Joe Prado
Cover by: David Finch
Release Date: 15 September 2010
Corps Featured: White Lanterns, Black Lantern
Official DC Comics Synopsis:
The resurrected have discovered their purpose for being back, but where will the knowledge lead them? Who is the new Aqualad? And what strange event is taking place around the White Power Battery in New Mexico?
REVIEW BY: Bob Tilley
Note - Because of the minimal cross overs with each segment this will be broken down by each key character.
Aquaman: There is a bit of a shift in Aquaman's attitude towards Mera in this issue because of the lies she has told him. They separate and we change scenes to Jackson and his father who is about to explain his origin. Its a great scene that oozes Superman and Pa Kent. When Jackson's Mother and Father were younger, Mera appeared to give them a young child she claimed his real parents we're not fit to raise their son and he would one day unit the land and the sea. Suddenly their both attacked by Black Manta who we know is Jackson's real father (Brightest Day #9). There is a great chase scene when Jackson's father is willing to sacrifice himself by driving off the cliff into the sea. Aqualad rescues his father and there is a great fight between him and Black Manta. This scene ends perfectly with Black Manta trying to kill Aqulad's surrogate father, who is then rescued by Aquman.
Firestorm: Finally at issues ten we start to get an understanding of the danger Firestorm poses the universe. Professor Stein continues to experiment on Ronald and Jason and explains that the Firestorm Matrix is going through it next stage of metamorphosis - the danger is that Ronald and Jason need to ensure they don't argue and cause a long overdue big bang. Stein goes onto explain about the original experiment that caused the creation of the Matrix and speculates he may have captured the original spake that started life itself.
When Jason and Ronald hear that they could end up as the only being in the universe if they continue to be at odds with each other, they hear the voice again... the voice of Deathstorm!
Fantastic ending because I've loved the Black Lantern Firestorm since his reveal in Blackest Night. You can now see that this might be the next avenue Neckron and the Lanterns will try and pursue to wipe all of existence. The other enjoyable aspect of this issue, was the focus on Aquman and the event with Manta and Aqulad, which is a well book marked by the Firestorm story with amazing artwork on this title.
SCORE: 4/5
Variant Cover: Ivan Reis
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Posted by
High Ball
Title: What Happens in Las Vegas Nevada
Written by: Geoff Johns
Art by: Doug Mahnke
Cover by: Doug Mahnke
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Release Date: 9 September 2010
Corps Featured: Star Sapphire, Larfleeze
Official DC Comics Synopsis:
BRIGHTEST DAY continues as what readers have been asking for finally arrives: a male Star Sapphire in the form of the Predator. But how is this entity unlike the others? And what does it want with Carol Ferris? Meanwhile, the White Lantern is defended by an unlikely hero…
REVIEW BY: Bob Tilley
Carrying straight off from Green Lantern #56, we see Green Lantern and Larfleeze trying to escape the entity possessed Hector Hammond. We learn that Ophidian and Larfleeze haven't had the best of relationships, in actual fact Ophidian wasn't able to corrupt Larfleeze and enslaved him in the Orange Lantern.
Note: It's strange to see the cover of Green Lantern #56 featuring in this issue with Hal creating a vice construct in Hammond's mouth.
As usual Hectors obsession with Carol Ferris starts off as a race to Las Vegas to reach her before the Ophidian Hector Orange Lantern does.
New developments are brought to light on Zamaron as the Sapphire light continues to fail without the Predator entity. Queen Aga'Po has been transfering her own energy over to the lantern, but each time she does this, she grows older. We know that Carol Ferris has been ordered to hunt down the Entity, which has taken her to Las Vagas. Brilliant moment in this issue is when we meet Abraham Pointe, who is stalking a Vagas casino worker called Lisa. What I loved about the rest of the issue is the motivations behind the Star Sapphire entity. It might look like the Queen Alien from Cameron's Aliens, but its not what corrupts the host, its the other way around. When combined with Abraham it becomes the deadly Predator. Carol and Hal also analyse some old ground when trying to defeat the possessed being, this is all going on in the Casino that Larfleeze has fallen in love with.
When Star Sapphire defeats the entity after revealing his try loves heart and that he's never been kissed. (Great panels with Hal's reaction to this course of action).
We end the issue with something I wasn't expecting. Star Sapphire manages to convince the rest of the Zameron's that they don't need to put the Predator back in the lantern (its not Parallax). Queen Aga'Po give the Lantern her last ounce of energy and give her last command by announcing Carol Ferris as Queen of the Star Sapphires.
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| Carol Ferris is crowned Queen of the Star Sapphires |
Another great issue which continues to explore each corner of the Lantern Corps. Again Larfleeze continues to make me laugh and I can't wait for the recently announced Christmas Special. I love Carol as the hero Star Sapphire instead of her evil persona to the point where I'd love to see her in a mini-series by herself. The only thing that's continues to let the Green Lantern title down is the inking... there just isn't enough lines and the art is relying on the coloring to much.
SCORE: 3.5/5
Variant Cover: RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN and JOEL GOMEZ
Title: Revolt of the Alpha-Lanterns: Conclusion
