Comic Book Review: Brightest Day #13

Literary & Artistic Credits

Writer: Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi

Penciller: Ardian Syaf, Ivan Reis, & Joe Prado

Colorist: Peter Steigerwald, John Starr & Ray Dillon

Letterer: Rob Clark Jr.

Cover Art: David Finch, Ryan Winn & Steigerwald

Editor: Eddie Berganza

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

I haven’t completely given up on Brightest Day as of yet, it’s still keeping my interests going.  But as of late, I’ve been moving closer and closer to dropping this title completely.  I want to remain loyal to Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi, but the lack lustering feel of this series has left me very unimpressed.  #13 however brings us a much more solid storyline, focusing almost solely on the Hawks and not jumping around from different story to story that doesn’t seem connected in the least.

Both Hawkman and Hawkgirl are at their wits end!  Hawkman brings in an army of Lionmanes and Lizardkons to save his beloved Shiera whose tied up to the gate which has been the bane of both heroes existence since they first become lovers.  But Shiera is not your typical damsel in distress; hands tied and completely hindered, she was still able to crack the neck of Hath-set, theoretically ending the curse that plagues the Hawks.  But now Hawkgirl’s mother has taken her daughter and Hawkman, chained up, to the Star Sapphire’s home planet, where her dreams could very well become a reality.

I’m really not sure how Hawkman and Hawkgirl’s story connects with Brightest Day, but in and of itself, this issue is the best Brightest Day installment thus far.  It was smart on Johns and Tomasi’s part to single out one story and lay the other plots to rest for two weeks.  This particular story with the Hawks has been one of the more confusing story additions to this series and needed to be fleshed out a little more.

With Hath-Set dead now, the big question now remains, is the curse actually broken?  This could be a great lead-in to a new Hawkman solo series huh?

I’m not sure what Hawkgirl’s mother hopes to accomplish on Zamaron.  The planet is full Star Sapphires and the entity is right there, ready to protect everyone.  Sure, she’s powerful, but can she fight an entire corps of Violet Lanterns?

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you already know my feelings on the art right?  With that in mind, it isn’t anywhere NEAR as bad as it has been.  I don’t know who’s consistently penciling everything out, but it was nice to have the bulk of this issue maintained by one artist.  Plus, it seems like this issue used artists whose style’s mimic each other a little better and more consistently.

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

Half way through the series and things are still as confusing as ever.  But now there seems to be a real conscious effort in trying to wrap up the individual stories to help make sense of this whole ordeal.  I’m not sure what I think of Batman being a possible candidate for the chosen one, but I doubt anything will be truly revealed at this point as far as who the White Lantern will be.

Rating: 7.33 out of 10

Writing: 7

Art: 7

Themes: 8