Grades [writing/art] … Generations 2 #4 (of 4) (DC) – John Byrne, over the past few years, has done much better working in his own little worlds than in interfacing…
Grades [writing/art] …
Generations 2 #4 (of 4) (DC) – John Byrne, over the past few years, has done much better working in his own little worlds than in interfacing with the “real” universes of Marvel and DC. His retake on Spidey’s origins were soundly lambasted (though they were no more radical than Bendis’ Ultimate Spider-man). His Marvel Forgotten Years and X-Men Forgotten Years (or whatever they were called), though, were fine efforts, and proof that the man knows as much about his Marvel trivia as, say, Mark Waid. Generations 2 was a follow-up to his earlier Generations series, which posits a DC universe in which everyone aged normally, starting with the appearance of Superman and Batman in the mid-30s. Thus we get multiple generations of their descendents, as well as others who pop up along the way. This last issue of the second series deals with the years 2008 and 2019. It’s good story-telling, and Byrne’s art is always better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. [B+/A-]
The Spectre #12 (DC) – J.M. DeMatteis has been doing a fascinating job of dealing with Hal Jordan, erstwhile Green Lantern, silver age hero, and then cosmic-powered villain, having been given the job of serving as God’s Wrath Personified, the Spectre. Along the way, he’s been hitting on a raft of metaphysical themes, questions of redemption, hope, evil, good, vengeance and punishment. This time out he encounters Saint Nick and a concept of Charles Dickens, not to mention Scrooge. The result is both more hopeful than the title sometimes allows, but also somehow less satisfying. Ryan Sook does a fine Mignola riff, with enough of his own personality added in to keep it from being dull. [B+/A-]
Powers #15 (Image) – What happens when a highly visible, highly successful — and highly profitable — super-team breaks up, acrimoniously. Think about the hassles when major rock groups disintegrate, then add super-powers and apparent murder. Walker and Pilgrim discover the mess is bigger than just the body in the bathroom. Bendis is doing great stuff here, and Oeming’s odd, cartoony style works perfectly. A “Top Ten” comic, IMO. [A/A-]
The new Specter — I just gag on the idea of Hal Jordan, mass murderer of his friends and colleagues, being God’s anything. Satan’s enema hose, maybe. If God has a designated Wrath-bearer, wouldn’t that Wrath apply to such a scumbag as Jordan? Do they just gloss it over or what?
Actually, no, they have touched on it, and not just in the “well, he died saving the world, so it’s all okay now” sense (ironic, compared to the Dark Phoenix saga reffed in the next post). Jordan, as murderer, has had to deal with that irony — and thus with the concept of God’s mercy as well.
I’m hoping they collect some of these books. Them’s good readin’.
The new Specter — I just gag on the idea of Hal Jordan, mass murderer of his friends and colleagues, being God’s anything. Satan’s enema hose, maybe. If God has a designated Wrath-bearer, wouldn’t that Wrath apply to such a scumbag as Jordan? Do they just gloss it over or what?
Actually, no, they have touched on it, and not just in the “well, he died saving the world, so it’s all okay now” sense (ironic, compared to the Dark Phoenix saga reffed in the next post). Jordan, as murderer, has had to deal with that irony — and thus with the concept of God’s mercy as well.
I’m hoping they collect some of these books. Them’s good readin’.