Blackest Night
I have no idea why I didn't like this one when I re-read it last time. Of course I skipped a few tie in issues that time, but it still makes no sense because Blackest Night is an awesome crossover event! :D
Everything about this is really really good. The plot is great, and there's been so much build up leading to it, and it is a fascinating take on death and resurrection in the DC universe. Because lately there's been a revolving door with death (with the obvious exception of Ted Kord... Sorry, I was reading a Booster Gold issue this morning and started actually crying. Just give him back his best friend assholes!).
Anyway, um. The art is amazing. And as much as there's a lot of dead bodies running around, and there's blood and dismemberment. The most disgusting panel is always going to be Black Hand licking Bruce Wayne's skull. Eeewww.
I'm still a bit resentful of Barry (it's irrational, it's not his fault that he came back to life and benched my Wally. My one true Flash forever and ever... Ehum. sorry) and I generally don't care for Hal (though it's becoming actual dislike. Every time someone says how great he is I dislike him a little bit more), it makes sense for them to be the main characters. Mainly because Barry was the latest to return (though so many returned in that time span it's difficult to tell really), and Hal and Barry have a history of being friends. Flashes and Lanterns do tend to get along. I enjoyed the opening with them talking about how people have died... That's an odd way of phrasing it. But you get what I mean. Anyway, I didn't mind that we followed them as the main characters on Earth because ZOMBIES! That was enough of a distraction. Also Wally is in this story, albeit very little.
At one point Wally says something along the lines of "we don't have a Flash Corps" and I said "Well, you should have." Because they should. Wally, Bart, Barry and Jay should just form the Flash Corps. They time travel so they can get more members from that long line of descendants Wally was going to have before someone fucked up and Wally and his whole family were erased from continuity. They can travel around in time super fast and saving the earth from threats whenever in time they happen. ... Wow, I really want this now.
Sorry, I got distracted thinking about Flashes and time travel, which led to me thinking about Booster and then I had an emotional breakdown because I just love Booster so much!
...
Sorry, I had a second emotional breakdown. I'm all okay now. Where were we? Oh right. ZOMBIES! The idea of... Wait. I have more thoughts on the Flashes and time travel.
It doesn't have to be that Wally and the others travel in the future, well it could be that too, but it could just be like every now and again down the line of history there will be several speedsters operating at the same time and they would join up and beat crime together. So we could get story lines with different groups of Flashes at different points in the future, and occasionally maybe they would all have to team up. And occasionally Wally or the others would show up. But it would mainly be a rotating cast of different groups at different points in the future. And basically it would be a book sort of about time travel but at the same time not, but it would be all about the future and no traveling back in time... I really want this now.
Okay, so I completely derailed the first attempt at talking about this, then I took a break. I'm not... It's been really difficult to write anything. My head is a mess, but okay. Let's try this again.
I really think this is a great crossover event. It probably would have sucked reading it as it was being published, but in one go over the span of two days? Perfect. There's a reasonable number of tie in issues, and unless they actually have the Blackest Night part of the title (such as Batman, Superman, The Flash and Wonder Woman) most other tie ins can be skipped, but why would you want to?
(Actually skip the Green Arrow one. I realized that my whole opinion on Oliver Queen had been based on that single issue alone, and its possible that it's unfair to him since most of it is retconning stuff anyway)
Gods, it's so much fun reading this event when I've actually been familiarizing myself with the past 16 years of DC comic books. I'm not entirely up to date on everything, there's a lot I haven't read all of that, but. I am more emotionally connected to most of these characters now. So that was a lot of fun.
When all the black lantern rings start to go after the heroes who have come back from the dead, there's one of those narration boxes that say its going for Buddy Baker, I feel that they missed an opportunity to have a tie in issue of his comic book as well, since there were all the other resurrected books. Although I actually spotted him once they all became white lanterns, so at least that's a good thing. ;p Speaking of being more familiar with them all, I never knew him last time and wouldn't have spotted him at all.
Something that's always been awesome though are the Green Lantern Corps issues. I mean, come on. Kyle sacrificing himself that brave heroic self sacrificing bastard. Guy's complete fucking breakdown because of his death. I had forgotten just how painful it was to watch, because that's his best friend dead, and I gods. Babies!
Also once Guy is a red lantern and goes on a rampage, and Kyle is better from being dead for like half an issue, his first reaction is that they have to save Guy from the fucking ring (BFFs!!!). But someone, I can't remember who, stops him, saying that they should let Guy continue the rampage because he's taking down all the enemies, but does Kyle listen to him? No. He has to save his best friend! My heart.
I had completely forgotten the bit where Mogo had to hold Guy down and show him all the bad and good things and Guy was struggling, and Kyle was all "we have to help him" (recurring thing clearly... I LOVE THEM BOTH AND THEIR FRIENDSHIP SO MUCH LET ME JUST LIE HERE WITH MY FEELS) and Mogo's all "no he has to do this himself" but then they don't listen to that either because they are the Green Lantern Corps and they don't listen to anyone telling them what to do don't let other members fight battles alone!
I have so much fucking love for these space cops it's ridiculous.
And then. And then. And then. HUG! I love the hug so much.
Yeah, these are probably my favorite tie ins, but that's just. Emotions. Remembering reading these the very first time. The fact that these were basically my introduction to DC comics. There is a lot more to why I love them.
But, as I was saying I had more characters I was familiar with this time, and that meant more tie ins making sense. Such as reading the three part with the Secret Six! :D First part being in the resurrected for one issue Suicide Squad and then the two following parts in Secret Six. I still haven't made a post about Secret Six have I? Damn. Anyway. Short story, these were really good now that I knew what the fuck was going on with these characters! (Okay, so I'm not really familiar with Suicide Squad but at least I knew Secret Six this time and that helped a lot)
So many really good moments, so much Deadshot. So awesome when they basically told Amanda Waller to fuck off. That was a great moment. Really liked all of it.
And then we come to Booster. And Ted. Blue and Gold. No strike that. Black and Gold. Fuuuuuuck these hurt. Like really painful this time around because I've read 25 issues of Booster being sad about Ted. And then to have his corps come back (let's not talk about that continuity error), with all of Ted's memories and some basic personality traits. Damn, poor poor Booster. He needs a hug. He needs many hugs. All the hugs. Please hug Booster! And give him back his Ted!
Have I mentioned by the way how little Batman there is in this crossover? Besides the obvious three issue tie ins Dick, Damian and Tim doesn't really get involved that much. Nor does Superman and Superboy. Wonder Woman is in it a bit more what with her becoming first a black lantern and later a violet lantern (which is so awesome). I love all the deputy lanterns, yes even Luthor, because it was so hilarious.
(Personally I really wanted to see Wally temporarily join the star sapphires. He totally would be in a corps based on love. How many times has his and Linda's love saved the day? So many that I've lost count)
All in all, I really loved this crossover again. It's a lot of fun... And also sometimes there's disturbing art of a guy licking a skull. But you know, besides that. And besides all the death and heartbreak. It's fun. I really need to use another word than fun. It was great, really, really great. I don't forgive you Geoff Johns, but at least this was a hit, for which I am grateful.
Have been reading a bunch of other comics while not finishing writing this post. So I will get around to writing down my thoughts on those. Especially the Secret Six thoughts.
I only have a few Red Robin issues left to read and then next up is Flashpoint. I don't really want to read it, and it's not entirely because I'm not ready for the reboot, but because it just sounds boring when I read about it. We'll see though.
Everything about this is really really good. The plot is great, and there's been so much build up leading to it, and it is a fascinating take on death and resurrection in the DC universe. Because lately there's been a revolving door with death (with the obvious exception of Ted Kord... Sorry, I was reading a Booster Gold issue this morning and started actually crying. Just give him back his best friend assholes!).
Anyway, um. The art is amazing. And as much as there's a lot of dead bodies running around, and there's blood and dismemberment. The most disgusting panel is always going to be Black Hand licking Bruce Wayne's skull. Eeewww.
I'm still a bit resentful of Barry (it's irrational, it's not his fault that he came back to life and benched my Wally. My one true Flash forever and ever... Ehum. sorry) and I generally don't care for Hal (though it's becoming actual dislike. Every time someone says how great he is I dislike him a little bit more), it makes sense for them to be the main characters. Mainly because Barry was the latest to return (though so many returned in that time span it's difficult to tell really), and Hal and Barry have a history of being friends. Flashes and Lanterns do tend to get along. I enjoyed the opening with them talking about how people have died... That's an odd way of phrasing it. But you get what I mean. Anyway, I didn't mind that we followed them as the main characters on Earth because ZOMBIES! That was enough of a distraction. Also Wally is in this story, albeit very little.
At one point Wally says something along the lines of "we don't have a Flash Corps" and I said "Well, you should have." Because they should. Wally, Bart, Barry and Jay should just form the Flash Corps. They time travel so they can get more members from that long line of descendants Wally was going to have before someone fucked up and Wally and his whole family were erased from continuity. They can travel around in time super fast and saving the earth from threats whenever in time they happen. ... Wow, I really want this now.
Sorry, I got distracted thinking about Flashes and time travel, which led to me thinking about Booster and then I had an emotional breakdown because I just love Booster so much!
...
Sorry, I had a second emotional breakdown. I'm all okay now. Where were we? Oh right. ZOMBIES! The idea of... Wait. I have more thoughts on the Flashes and time travel.
It doesn't have to be that Wally and the others travel in the future, well it could be that too, but it could just be like every now and again down the line of history there will be several speedsters operating at the same time and they would join up and beat crime together. So we could get story lines with different groups of Flashes at different points in the future, and occasionally maybe they would all have to team up. And occasionally Wally or the others would show up. But it would mainly be a rotating cast of different groups at different points in the future. And basically it would be a book sort of about time travel but at the same time not, but it would be all about the future and no traveling back in time... I really want this now.
Okay, so I completely derailed the first attempt at talking about this, then I took a break. I'm not... It's been really difficult to write anything. My head is a mess, but okay. Let's try this again.
I really think this is a great crossover event. It probably would have sucked reading it as it was being published, but in one go over the span of two days? Perfect. There's a reasonable number of tie in issues, and unless they actually have the Blackest Night part of the title (such as Batman, Superman, The Flash and Wonder Woman) most other tie ins can be skipped, but why would you want to?
(Actually skip the Green Arrow one. I realized that my whole opinion on Oliver Queen had been based on that single issue alone, and its possible that it's unfair to him since most of it is retconning stuff anyway)
Gods, it's so much fun reading this event when I've actually been familiarizing myself with the past 16 years of DC comic books. I'm not entirely up to date on everything, there's a lot I haven't read all of that, but. I am more emotionally connected to most of these characters now. So that was a lot of fun.
When all the black lantern rings start to go after the heroes who have come back from the dead, there's one of those narration boxes that say its going for Buddy Baker, I feel that they missed an opportunity to have a tie in issue of his comic book as well, since there were all the other resurrected books. Although I actually spotted him once they all became white lanterns, so at least that's a good thing. ;p Speaking of being more familiar with them all, I never knew him last time and wouldn't have spotted him at all.
Something that's always been awesome though are the Green Lantern Corps issues. I mean, come on. Kyle sacrificing himself that brave heroic self sacrificing bastard. Guy's complete fucking breakdown because of his death. I had forgotten just how painful it was to watch, because that's his best friend dead, and I gods. Babies!
Also once Guy is a red lantern and goes on a rampage, and Kyle is better from being dead for like half an issue, his first reaction is that they have to save Guy from the fucking ring (BFFs!!!). But someone, I can't remember who, stops him, saying that they should let Guy continue the rampage because he's taking down all the enemies, but does Kyle listen to him? No. He has to save his best friend! My heart.
I had completely forgotten the bit where Mogo had to hold Guy down and show him all the bad and good things and Guy was struggling, and Kyle was all "we have to help him" (recurring thing clearly... I LOVE THEM BOTH AND THEIR FRIENDSHIP SO MUCH LET ME JUST LIE HERE WITH MY FEELS) and Mogo's all "no he has to do this himself" but then they don't listen to that either because they are the Green Lantern Corps and they don't listen to anyone telling them what to do don't let other members fight battles alone!
I have so much fucking love for these space cops it's ridiculous.
And then. And then. And then. HUG! I love the hug so much.
Yeah, these are probably my favorite tie ins, but that's just. Emotions. Remembering reading these the very first time. The fact that these were basically my introduction to DC comics. There is a lot more to why I love them.
But, as I was saying I had more characters I was familiar with this time, and that meant more tie ins making sense. Such as reading the three part with the Secret Six! :D First part being in the resurrected for one issue Suicide Squad and then the two following parts in Secret Six. I still haven't made a post about Secret Six have I? Damn. Anyway. Short story, these were really good now that I knew what the fuck was going on with these characters! (Okay, so I'm not really familiar with Suicide Squad but at least I knew Secret Six this time and that helped a lot)
So many really good moments, so much Deadshot. So awesome when they basically told Amanda Waller to fuck off. That was a great moment. Really liked all of it.
And then we come to Booster. And Ted. Blue and Gold. No strike that. Black and Gold. Fuuuuuuck these hurt. Like really painful this time around because I've read 25 issues of Booster being sad about Ted. And then to have his corps come back (let's not talk about that continuity error), with all of Ted's memories and some basic personality traits. Damn, poor poor Booster. He needs a hug. He needs many hugs. All the hugs. Please hug Booster! And give him back his Ted!
Have I mentioned by the way how little Batman there is in this crossover? Besides the obvious three issue tie ins Dick, Damian and Tim doesn't really get involved that much. Nor does Superman and Superboy. Wonder Woman is in it a bit more what with her becoming first a black lantern and later a violet lantern (which is so awesome). I love all the deputy lanterns, yes even Luthor, because it was so hilarious.
(Personally I really wanted to see Wally temporarily join the star sapphires. He totally would be in a corps based on love. How many times has his and Linda's love saved the day? So many that I've lost count)
All in all, I really loved this crossover again. It's a lot of fun... And also sometimes there's disturbing art of a guy licking a skull. But you know, besides that. And besides all the death and heartbreak. It's fun. I really need to use another word than fun. It was great, really, really great. I don't forgive you Geoff Johns, but at least this was a hit, for which I am grateful.
Have been reading a bunch of other comics while not finishing writing this post. So I will get around to writing down my thoughts on those. Especially the Secret Six thoughts.
I only have a few Red Robin issues left to read and then next up is Flashpoint. I don't really want to read it, and it's not entirely because I'm not ready for the reboot, but because it just sounds boring when I read about it. We'll see though.