Comics Review - w/c Wednesday 2nd October 2013

**Spoilers**      **Spoilers**      **Spoilers**

After finally achieving success in conquering my comic backlog, in terms of the monthlies anyway, I can now focus on a weekly summary blog where I go over a few titles I have read over the last seven days.

This week’s titles:

Earth 2 #16

James Robinson – Writer

Nicola Scott – Art

And so ends James Robinson’s run on Earth 2.

As with most recent DC departures, his exit seems oddly timed, not to mention clouded in mystery. Whilst it is good news that artist Nicola Scott is staying with the title, this goes against DC’s habit of a whole new creative team and indicates something went awry with DC / Robinson relations. I won’t harp on this topic for too long as that is a blog in its own right, however DC could learn a lot from Marvel and Image in how to keep their writers happy.

The main coverage of the issue is very much based on the World Army and it heroes attacking Steppenwolf's foces in Dherain. Scott's art in this issue is off the charts in the amount of detail that is placed into each battle scene, in particular the double-spreads. The title is far better for her staying on. Despite this, the focus will be on the conclusion as Brutal, one of Steppenwolf’s charges, kills his leader, only then to reveal his true identity. The revelation plays to the Darkseid villain’s month issue and results in one rather large cliffhanger.

I have stuck with Earth 2 as I feel it will eventually lead to having a major impact on the DC Universe and signs of this are starting to show. Whilst Forever Evil is taking centre stage, I do think there is a large multi-universe, Darkseid event looming somewhere down the line.

I wish new writer Tom Taylor well, however he may have wished for an easier time to join Earth #2 as it seems it is all about to hit the fan for the World Army.

Rating: 4/5

 

Forever Evil #2

Geoff Johns – Writer

David Finch - Art

Forever Evil continues after last month’s introduction and highlights the Crime Syndicate from Earth 3 settling into their new home and causing general carnage. The Justice League are still presumed dead and Earth’s saviour takes the unlikely form of Lex Luthor as he unveils a half-complete, half-dead, part-kryptonian 'thing' to lead the fight.

Other than raising questions over the identity of the father of Superwoman’s child and the initial signs of some dissention within the Syndicate, this issue didn’t really do much for me this month. It seems very ‘by the numbers’ and, even though the ending, indicating the Justice League are maybe not so dead as initially thought, was well done, it was to be expected.

The combination of Johns / Finch is one I struggle to appreciate as I think their styles contrast too much. The shaded, almost stressed, approach by Finch doesn’t seem to fit well with the tone of such a mainstream title.

On a side note, I don’t personally read Teen Titans however, if I did, I would be somewhat annoyed at how easily they get brushed off in an all-too-brief encounter with Evil-Flash.

At the moment, this lagging behind when compared to Infinity and Battle of the Atom.

 

Rating: 2/5

 

Green Arrow #24

Jeff Lemire – Writer

Andrea Sorrentino – Art

I have enjoyed Green Arrow since Jeff Lemire has taken over writing duties and this issue sees Oliver return to Seattle only to find Count Vertigo has followed him all the way from Vlatava. After Vertigo’s issue in Villains month, I expected this to be the start of a multi-issue arc however it all seems to wrap itself up by the end of the issue. If this has made anything apparent, it is that Green Arrow does not have any major historical villains that can be used for a long storyline.

We do see the first character from the Arrow tv series, Diggle, make an appearance although it is debatable what similarities the two will have.

Green Arrow continues to be a title very much left to its own devices which is no bad thing. Oliver may also be in the JLA, however this solo title has a distinctly unique feel to it, in no small way down to Sorrentino’s art which gives it an indie feel.

On a separate matter, I do wish they would make Oliver look older. Whilst all DC characters have all been re-booted with the New 52, Queen looks especially young and can occasionally look like a pissed-off teenager which diminishes the overall quality of the comic at times.

Rating: 3/5