Last comics before Flashpoint
You know, this is one those rare books when even though there are several changes of writers it nothing is really derailed. Booster's on a pretty steady character development train and in fact settles quite nicely into his new role after a while, and there's never any instance where he falls back into his previous role.
Also it's not until Flashpoint ruins it, that it feels like the writers got to tell the stories. There's very little set up that feels like it was left like a loose thread. Flashpoint completely ruins it though because they were definitely setting up something with Rani that I guess we'll never get around to now.
Also, there's a very consistent tone through the whole book. There's always humor, but it's mixed with a large dose of seriousness and some angst. But there are such amazingly heartwarming moments, especially Booster and Rani, but also between Booster and his sister.
All in all I really, really loved every single issue of this book. No seriously, everything was awesome. There's maybe one one-shot story that's less memorable, but in general everything was amazing. In particular I really enjoyed Giffen and DeMatteis run as writers, I'm just sad it was cut short.
I want all the trades. I am unsure if all of it has been collected though, and even less sure they are all available. But Seriously, I am so willing to pay money for this one. Please let me.
It's difficult to say which one I loved more, this book or Booster Gold. It's possible that it's a tie. ;p
I'm still so surprised that I fell so hard for a team of villains, and how it totally goes against my general feeling of "stop paying so much attention to your villains DC. Your protagonists are more interesting" Oh, well, I guess I'm wrong. Or it could just be Gail Simone being magic.
I love every single character. Gail made me even love Bane! It was super fascinating to watch Bane and Scandal develop this really dysfunctional and yet more functional than her actual father-daughter relationship. I loved every single storyline though I am particularly fond of the first one and the one called Cats in the Cradle. But really, everything is just magical. I also liked all the times John Ostrander stepped in as guest writer.
Nicola Scott does amazing art for the first half of the book's issues. The art isn't as great later on but it's not bad. Also, also, issue #9 should be read if only because of a completely amazing page (the whole thing is actually really, really great)... Yeah, I'm super shallow but she drew the perfect page of Dick Grayson showing off his butt. Seriously. Anyway, she's an amazing artist I want more comics with art by her.
I ship Deadshot and Catman. There is no fic... At least there was some. Like five fics. I've been finding a lot of rare to non existent pairings lately...
Anyway, this book is amazing. Gail is magical. There's so much great stuff in it!
I really liked this one, yeah it's mostly just because I really loved how it let Booster show off his character development without actually having him telling everyone what he's been up to. He just sort of naturally ended up in a leader role because he has changed that much. It also had him doubting it and feeling that he shouldn't be the one in charge and the delicious angst. Gods Booster I can't even deal with my feelings for you.
I have two complaints about it though, both regarding Tora aka Ice. The first one is the clumsy way the writer went about to sink the Guy/Tora ship, which was a completely pointless scene. I'm not sure I ship them, but I also feel that it was a really badly written way to try and sink it.
Also her ret-conned back story just comes off as deeply offensive and baffling in how badly it was written and researched and everything. Just, so bad.
Besides those problems I really liked it. Max is a very interesting villain because of all the emotional connections. I mean, sure, I've never read any Justice League International, but I still get the impression that him being this villain suddenly makes no sense and is in fact a character assassination (a deliberate one at that, pretty sure they rolled a dice trying to decide which character should be the villain in Countdown to Infinite Crisis). But he's a well written villain who shares the emotional connection in their shared history, but still isn't really Max Lord... If that makes sense.
I found it slightly annoying that it ended with a teaser about how it would continue, and sure it kinda did? But at the same time, it's not the same thing because next up is Flashpoint and everything is going to be rewritten and I just. Thinking about it makes me upset. Let me just have this.
Okay, so post Blackest Night Green Lantern Corps. I loved issue 47 because it's a Blackest Night aftermath issue, and I love aftermath stuff. Also it has Arisia punching one of the blue smurfs. X) So awesome. Also Guy's reaction to the bad being destroyed. Poor Guy.
After that however, there was a writer change and I felt that this title sort of lost some of the magic. I'm not sure why I felt that way, if it was the new writer, the lack of Guy (and by extension my favorite friendship), or if there was something else.
Also, I felt that Soranik's character was reduced to simply being Kyle's girlfriend, which I have to object to. There's one story in which an alpha lantern is dying, and she's experiencing feelings again (also she got better but anyway), and in narration boxes she's commenting on those who are present. When she gets to Soranik all she thinks is "Rayner's consort, Soranik Natu, of Korugar I know least of all" which had me rage quit reading and forced to take a break to calm down. What the hell. I can't believe we're reducing her character to being Kyle's girlfriend. What the fuck? If you don't know her well, then you sure as hell don't even know them well enough to know they were dating! It wasn't exactly common fucking knowledge even after the third law was taken out.
Soranik is known as a surgeon, that's what she is. She is a really fucking brilliant one at that. When Kyle's mother was dying and Guy promised to help, the first thing he did was bring Soranik to earth BECAUSE SHE IS A BRILLIANT DOCTOR. That is what this alpha lantern should be focusing on in her narration, the fact that Soranik is a surgeon, but she can't help because the alpha lanterns have been turned into more machine than anything organic.
The more I thought about this, the angrier I got as well. Not only is she after she became a green lantern the most fascinating combination of being both a warrior (For some reason that seems to fit more than cops) and a healer, which I find really intriguing. It should be explored more is all I'm saying. Also her relationship to her home planet, because it and her people have a culture that's been deeply affected by the lanterns, and still is!
Lastly she's the daughter of Sinestro, and she rejects him (which is awesome).
All of these factors make her a super fascinating character how she deals with everything, she's a complex interesting character who should get her own stories (and why don't we get to see more of her and Princess Iolande, after all they are sector partners, and how they both relate to their people on their respective planets?), and not be reduced to "Kyle Rayner's consort" and fuck that word by the way. She also should not be kidnapped because she is Sinestro's daughter, and she should not have to be saved by Sinestro, and Kyle should not be a dumbass who tries to get Sinestro to save her. Fuck that story line so much.
Right, so while this one no longer was my favorite another Green Lantern related title became my new favorite (yeah, I think the lack of Guy and it no longer being written by Tomasi was a huge reason why the Corps title lost my love for it)
GUY GUY GUY GUY!
Okay, so the first issue starts with him dressed only in boxers standing on a balcony... I... I have no complaints.
The first seven issues were so great. Guy gearing up to go on a mission that he knows will put him in a bad light. When he goes to the hall of lanterns and looks at all the four earth lanterns. I had all the feelings. And how he thinks about how he's going to be remembered. Fuck Guy you're not supposed to be giving me all these feelings!
This one also has Kilowog and Arisia, Arisia quickly becoming my favorite, and Kilowog always being a favorite of mine. The three of them going off on the mission together was awesome.
The Sodam Yat bits felt like it was cut short? Either by the crossover event or the reboot. Not sure which.
Other than that, I loved this.
Not enough Kyle and Guy. Besides that, I actually surprised myself by enjoying this crossover event.
Guy being a red lantern again, but having a little bit more control this time. Kyle being a blue lantern felt very natural, as did Hal being a yellow one. All of which just further made it clear that John is a green lantern through and through.
I really enjoyed this piece of meta about Guy and his rage and love: http://tramstrams.tumblr.com/post/110458108921/
I also came across another piece of meta about how everything Guy ever loves is taken away from him, or he loses it, and that's why he's reluctant to even wear a violet ring, because love's always led to him being hurt in one way. Also he's more familiar with being angry, even though he hates being angry.
I love Guy a lot...
John having to kill Mogo was painful as hell though. Living sentient planet being killed. Nooooo! Very, very sad moment.
I, am not sure what I feel about the aftermath issues... They were a bit all over the place. Though nice to see Soranik be pissed off at being reduced to Kyle's love interest.
Also, will the lantern canon continue even after the reboot? Because otherwise it seems completely pointless to have Hal Jordan losing his ring.
Had nothing to say about the last three corps issues. Anyway. While the beginning of the emerald warriors seemed to want to take a serious character study of Guy, these seemed a bit reversing any development that may happen. Especially the first one.
I liked the third one the most, because Guy teaming up with Batman is just hilarious.
These three were a bit weaker on the whole in quality (though they weren't really that bad). I do like self contained one issue stories though.
All in all though, Emerald Warriors was good. Wish it had continued and there was no reboot. Tomasi writes a really great Guy Gardner, and there's still so much you can explore with this character.
I am not entirely sure there was a point with this miniseries? I mean, yes, I liked all the Rip Hunter back story with him and an older Booster (Rip's dad! :D), but for a tie in to the story of Bruce's return... There's not a lot of Bruce Wayne. O_o
Also, Hal Jordan is a fucking dick. No, seriously, all the other characters in the DC universe likes to make comments about Booster being a glory hound and only being in it for the money and it crushes my heart and makes me sad every time I have to look at Booster's face falling and he looks sad. In any case, most characters leave it after one comment. With Hal though, it's just vicious non-stop bullying.
I mean, I am not a fan of Hal, but I think every time he's appeared in a Booster comic he's been written in such a way that I will have him a little bit more. Some of those times Hal is even written by Geoff Johns! I don't even know. This however was written by Dan Jurgens... Who I suspect don't like Hal Jordan very much, I just remembered that this writer also wrote Zero Hour.
Anyway, for all its pointlessness, and confusing stuff, and Hal being a horrible bully, It was nice to read something with Booster and Rip. Even though I wish Flashpoint wouldn't come and ruin any sort of continuation of these characters. Booster doesn't even fucking know that Rip is his future son! (though that was not likely to be revealed anyway)
Oh, this started out good and then it just went into free fall. The Collision story line is pretty good. It has great moments, such as Tim and Steph fighting crime together. Conner and Tim hugging! HUGS! :D It has Tim outsmarting Ra's al Ghul, which is nice. If a little unbelievable. It has Dick rescuing Tim, that's pretty much all I wanted.
After that it sort of got frustrating, and I still can't stand Damian. Also Tim is becoming 1. a jerk and 2. more and more like Bruce. After a while it just gets sad and I miss my Tim.
The whole ünternet plot was confusing... But I liked the alternate costume Tim wore.
At some point I completely lost interest though, and the final issues I didn't care anymore. The only good thing was the art. Marcus To draws the pretties and most beautiful Tim I've ever seen.
Right then, let's read flashpoint then... I don't wanna. Not only will it result in the reboot, but it looks boring.