Comic Reviews 6/18/11

REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by That's Entertainment management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.


Title: FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN
Issue Number: 1 (of 3)
Title Arc: Flashpoint
Publisher: DC
Aquaman created by Paul Norris
Writer: Tony Bedard
Artist: Ardian Syaf
Inker: Vincente Cifuentes
Colors: Kyle Ritter
Letters: Jared K. Fletcher
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: Now On Sale
Genre: Super Hero



The world of Flashpoint has been established as a world at war. Everything seems
to revolve around waging the war or trying to stop it. So naturally the mini-
series about one of the two leaders of that war is a story you might not want to
miss if you are sampling the various titles. It opens rather grimly as we see
Aquaman swimming among the bodies high above the now sunken city of Rome. When I
first heard that half of Europe was sunken in this alternate timeline I wondered
how it was accomplished. The weapon used is revealed in this issue and not only
was I surprised but also thought it was clever. That was eight months ago. Today
Wonder Woman's Amazons in New Themyscira are elevated on a pillar of stone that
is well above the flooded lands but so far invulnerable to the Geo-Pulse weapon
that sank Western Europe. Why that is so is also revealed. The story this issue
is how Aquaman with the help of Mera obtained the weapon and it leads up to what
he is planning to do next. I found this plot fascinating. Seeing one of the
pillars of the DC pantheon waging global war with another is something that
seems impossible to reconcile amicably. Right now it seems like more destruction
is on the way with many doubting if mankind can survive. The art is superb in
layout and detail. There are some really interesting visuals to go with a strong
story. While the main title, FLASHPOINT, deals with a few people trying to get
the world back the way it was. This one gives us the reality of the way it is
right now and what it might become very soon. It is a perfect compliment and a
must read.

Title: FLASHPOINT: ABIN SUR-THE GREEN LANTERN
Issue Number: 1 (of 3)
Title Story: Emerald Isolation
Title Arc: Flashpoint
Publisher: DC
Writer: Adam Schlagman
Artist: Felipe Massafera
Colors: Rod Reis
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



Another mini-series connected with the FLASHPOINT event concerns the Green
Lantern Corp of this alternate timeline. Because the timeline was changed in the
past the current GL of sector 2814 is Abin Sur. The first issue of this book
tells some of his story and as fate would have it has him crash landing on
Earth. As it opens he is fighting a Manhunter when Sinestro, his brother-in-law,
visits him. A war is going on against the Black Lanterns and Sinestro wants Abin
Sur to stop them as they have already consumed over 200 space sectors. But the
Guardians have a more important mission for him. They have been watching Earth
and see a world in a self-destructive mode. But Earth is the protective home of
the White Entity (see BLACKEST NIGHT and BRIGHTEST DAY for more on that) and
they want Abin to retrieve the entity as it is the most important being in the
universe. This Abin Sur has a strong imperative to save all life so he is
determined to prioritize the saving of Earth rather than the entity. This issue
explores his relationship with Sinestro and his dead sister. The story will move
forward as he heads to Earth and Sinestro seeks out information from another
familiar character. While this storyline may not be as critical to the main book
as EMPEROR AQUAMAN is it is still interesting and entertaining. The art is
executed well. With all the various tie-in titles in this event there is
something for everyone. GL fans will definitely go for this one.

Title: 15-LOVE
Issue Number: 1 (of 3)
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Andi Watson
Artist: Tommy Ohtsuka
Colors: Guru eFX
Letters: Rus Wooton
Cover Artist: Sho Murase
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Teen Drama




This is not a title I would normally buy but it is different from my usual
reading material so it deserves a look and a review. The setting is the Wayne
Tennis Academy where Millie Collins is at the bottom of the class and currently
getting her butt whipped in the final match of the month by Maya Benjamin, the
star of the academy. Each girl has her own personal coach and right away we get
to see that Millie's is more absorbed in finding a better player than helping
his current charge. On the other side Maya's coach shows more emotion about the
one point Millie scored than in the fact that Maya wiped her out in straight
sets - she demands perfection. Her Aunt who is footing the bill forced Millie's
coach, Dean, on her. Naturally Dean tells the aunt that Millie's failure is from
lack of work, not his zero coaching skills. At this juncture Millie is on the
verge of being cut from the school and she needs to convince the Principal and
her staff that she needs to remain, that she can win. She is given one last
chance. It is at this point that a has been coach named Walt appears promising
he can change her fate and make her a better player. The story has a lot of
humor and teen angst. It flows pretty smoothly and does not end the chapter the
way you think it might. The art has a Manga style to it that is executed in good
fashion. It is rated for all ages and should appeal to younger readers,
especially younger females. But I think anyone who likes well-done comics can
appreciate the craftsmanship in story and art that this one brings to the racks.


Title: SCREAMLAND
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creator: Harold Sipe & Hector Casanova
Writer: Harold Sipe & Christopher Sebela
Artist: Lee Leslie & Kevin Mellon
Colors: Buster Moody
Letters: Christopher Sebela
Cover Artist: Hector Casanova
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror/Comedy




This comic deals with the famous monsters of film land. The twist is these
favorites of the silver screen are not actors in heavy makeup and prosthetics
but actual monsters. The main characters in the drama are a werewolf named Carl
and a has-been science fiction actor named Travis. They are pondering the
headline detailing the death of a friend, Devil Fish, who looks like the
Creature from the Black Lagoon. Carl has just done a direct to video called "Dr.
Wolfman and Travis was relegated to a cameo in the remake of his famous series
that sounds similar to Star Trek. They are not the only ones down on their luck.
The book is filled with other bygone stars like the Invisible Man, The Mass - a
Blob type creature - and Tempest an aging lady vampire. There is a loose thread
of a plot as the Invisible Man is threatening to release a monster sex tape.
Travis and Carl round up their monster friends to try and stop him but somebody
beat them to it. The best thing about this one is the art, which is not
spectacular but kind of reminds me of Sergio Arragones in a way. There is
nothing laugh aloud funny and the plot meanders about through the book. I think
it has limited appeal but your mileage may differ.

Title: MYSTERY MEN
Issue Number: 1 (OF 5)
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: David Liss
Artist: Patrick Zircher
Colors: Andy Troy
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Noir/Horror





The story is set in New York during the depression. A period Robin Hood type
known as the Operative secretly robs from the very rich to give to the poor. He
is the charming Dennis Piper and he is seeing the rising star of Broadway, Alice
Starr. But Alice has another admirer whose appearance is somehow magically
masked. We see him as a grotesquely wrinkled old man but those in the comic only
see a young military man and then forget him altogether. We know he took her to
a boat for nefarious purposes. Imagine Piper's surprise when he reads of her
death in the newspaper. He barely escapes the crooked cops who want to frame him
for the murder and when he tries to hook up with a private eye he can trust
another victim is murdered. Before the peeper died he led Dennis to Alice's
friend and the circle keeps getting tighter. Lucky for Dennis there is a masked
vigilante known as the Revenant watching out for him. The tale is fast paced and
the art is very stylish in the appropriate manor. The mysterious general who
killed Alice has connections with the supernatural alluding to a plan with
larger motives. I found it entertaining fiction that held my interest
throughout. The creators promise this series is firmly planted in the Marvel
Universe so we may see characters from those early years later in the story. If
you like crime fiction with a splash of the occult mixed in this one is for you.

Title: GREEN LANTERN MOVIE PREQUEL: KILOWOG
Issue Number: ONE-SHOT
Title Story: To Build a Better Lantern
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Carlos Ferreira
Inker: Silvio Spotti
Colors: Nathan Eyring
Letters: Rob Leigh
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero




The other Green Lantern book I picked to review this week is one of the sequels
to the GREEN LANTERN movie just hitting the theaters. As with most comic-based
movies this one will have slightly different continuity and so the comics
related to the movies should not be taken as within normal DC continuity. This
prequel takes a look at the Corp rather than the characters based on Earth.
Obviously the lead character is Kilowog, the trainer of the new Green Lanterns.
The story is pretty straightforward. There is a class of newly selected GLs and
it is his job to see that they learn how to use the most powerful weapon in the
universe as well as have the right judgment to do the job placed in their hands.
They have to get past him to become a full-fledged Green Lanterns. It is an
interesting batch of recruits with their own personalities and motivations. As
another part of the story there is another Green Lantern, Atey, who has a
natural ability to see the future. Though her vision is not clear she has never
had such intense visions of impending doom over such a short time. No doubt this
alludes to the main plot of the movie so it is integral to this being a prequel.
The issue ends with news reaching OA of Abin Sur's death and for the first time
a Green Lantern has been selected from the planet Earth. But most of the book
involves Kilowog training the rookies and putting them through a series of
tests. One in particular is very cleverly devised to teach them the importance
of following orders. The script is just right and does not get bogged down in
anything to fill space. The art is up to snuff as well. It is not essential to
read this comic before seeing the movie. For those who have never read a Green
Lantern comic it might aid their understanding when they do see the movie. I
think it is a good comic on its own.

***** TRIVIA CONTEST!!!! WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!

If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only. Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
According to a survey conducted by Esquire Magazine in 1965, which two superheroes were ranked by college radicals - alongside Malcolm X, Bob Dylan, and Che Guevara - as their favorite revolutionary icons?

The survey showed the favorite revolutionaries among super heroes were Spider-
Man and the Hulk. The winner by the dice is Mauricio Carvalho.

Here was your no prize question:
What animal has the highest blood pressure?

The blood pressure of a giraffe is the highest of all animals. The giraffe's
blood pressure is higher than ours because the giraffe's heart has to pump blood
up a neck seven feet long to reach his brain.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Which creator was instrumental in eventually getting compensation and renewed creator credit for Siegel & Schuster from DC?

Here is your no prize question:
What is the only state with no National Park Service Park, monument or other site?

Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.