Comic Book Review: Brightest Day #3

Written by Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi

Art by Ivan Reis, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark, Joe Prado

Inked by Vicente Cifuentes, David Beaty, Mark Irwin

Colored by MLT staff

Cover by David Finch, Scott Williams

Assistant Editor: Rex Ogle

Associate Editor: Adam Schlagam

Editor: Eddie Berganza

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

#3 is certainly a vast improvement in storytelling from what was presented two weeks ago.  The plot(s) seems to be pushing forward very nicely leaving us with a lot of mystery to swim around in our minds.  You can tell Geoff Johns has put a lot of work into this entire event, Blackest Night and Brightest Day combined that is.  But while we are only three issues into this series, and the different storylines are presenting new problems for the characters to deal with, there seems to be a lack of aggressive expansion within Brightest Day.

As I’m sure we all know, Aquaman is having issues with calling upon dead sea creatures instead of the living ones.  Likewise, Martian Manhunter is unable to locate a mysterious creature, Deadman still can’t figure out why his white ring is causing him so much confusion and frustration, and Ronnie and Jason are still at odds with one another.  While this is all great for creating tension and drama, I have to ask this one simple question…How is this different from the previous two chapters? 

The characters are dealing with these issues in new ways of course, but the problems they face have not built upon themselves and don’t give us anything new to work with.  The only thing new that helped to keep my interest was the skeletal portal the two hawks discovered and the relational development between the current and former Firestorms.  Other than that, absolutely nothing seems to lend itself to the momentum of the story.  The mystery was established in issue #1, and nothing more has been revealed since then.

This is mainly due to the complexity of the series.  The reason why Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher’s Batman films were as successful as they could have been is largely due to the multiple plot lines that never truly made sense, or were way over the top and never came together as one cohesive story.  The same thing is happening here as Johns and Tomasi are having to five completely separate story arcs into one comic bi-weekly story.  Perhaps this is why Blackest Night had separate character stories that were both apart of and segregated from the main title.  I’m sure both writers have an ultimate plan, but currently Brightest Day isn’t measuring up to its predecessor.

As I’m sure most of you know, my approval of toggling artists in the same comic has never been high, it just creates too many distractions for me.  However, DC has made some good choices in allowing their free lance artists some less stressful work assignments while keeping the art styles similar.  I actually didn’t realize that the styles were different until I finished the book and flipped to the front page and saw the multiple artists working on this issue.  If only this type of decision making could continue, I would be a happy camper.

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

The art is what’s winning me over here.  I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone except for those who appreciate good artwork.  Johns and Tomasi, I’m sure, are faced with writing this incredibly epic story while struggling with the decisions of the DC hierarchs.

Writing: 5

Themes: 0

Art: 10

Overall: 5 out of 10 

Comic Book Review: Brightest Day #2

Book Information

Written by Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi

Penciled by Scott Clark, Joe Prado

Colored by Aspen MLT

Inked by David Beaty

Lettered by Rob Clark Jr.

Cover by David Finch, Scott Williams

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

Thank you Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi, David Finch and Scott Clark for letting me know exactly who the focal point of this issue is.  I can only imagine what new realizations Aquaman will have about his unexplained connection with dead sea creatures.  Just look at that cover, it screams a mighty echo to its readers; it calls out to their notion of intrigue and excitement with the mystery revolving around Aquaman!  Oh what a joyful time, to know that DC has thought ahead so well that they know exactly how to make their loyal fans want more!  DC is a master at making covers that truly define the essence of a story and how it relates to the coming events. Let’s turn to the first page and find out what our King of the sea has to discover.

Let’s see, oh hears the first page…

Oh well, it’s just the start. Let’s see, hhmmm, oh yes here we go…

No, that wasn’t what I was looking for, hold on let’s keep looking, maybe here?

Damn, maybe if I continue on…

Ok, what the hell?  Where is the story involving Aquaman as the cover suggests?  Oh, here we go.

Wait…that’s it?

Yes indeed.  DC Comics brings us one of the best forms of false advertising.  All you have to do is stick a popular hero on the front cover of a highly anticipated comic that will excite readers about the story so much that they won’t be able to contain themselves!  The next step (and this is the best part) is to put that hero in only one panel of the book and call it good!  DC makes no mistakes right?

Ok, on a serious note, I do find it a little annoying when comics print a cover that has nothing to do with what’s inside.  The story focuses all of its energy on pushing forward with Martian Manhunter’s story (which seems to do very little in helping this issue’s over arching theme) and a mysteriously rampaging, murderous wife.  I understand the necessity of toggling back and forth to each character’s story, but I see no central focus.  Brightest Day seems to have taken a huge step backward into more of a bloody horror story than an intelligently written thriller comic like it started out as.  Is this what Johns is going for?  I’m not sure I approve.  I’ll keep following this series but I certainly hope we don’t get anymore Brightest Day’s like this one.

I love the art as a whole but would love to have Ivan Reis do everything.  The last two page spread of this issue is nothing short of spectacular.  As idiotic as I find having the Anti-Monitor back so soon, and in this story, I must say that is an impressive piece of work.  It only goes to show you that even a poorly written comic can still have its good points.

My Profoundly Climactic Conclusion

Maybe I’m being harsh and allowing my pre-conceived notions about Brightest Day to dictate my reaction to #2, but I’m having trouble accepting this issue as a satisfactory addition to the series.  Johns and Tomasi have set such an amazing precedent with Blackest Night that to have something like this really detracts from the story.  Everything was scrambled, unfocused and too concerned with bringing in that damned Anti-Monitor.  Ugh!

Ratings

Writing: 2

Themes: 1

Art: 9

Overall: 4 out of 10 stars

Comic Book Review: Brightest Day #1

Book Information

Written by Geoff Johns & Peter Tomasi

Penciled by Ivan Reis, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark, Joe Prado

Colored by Peter Steigerwald

Inked by Vicente Cifuentes, Mark Irwin, Oclair Albert, David Beaty

Cover by Ivan Reis

My All-Inspiring Opinion

If you were to try and decipher the differences between Blackest Night and Brightest Day, you might find the task a little more daunting than expected.  This first issue (well, 2^nd if you count issue #0) begins the latest chapter in the Green Lantern mythos.  Johns delves into the mystery involving the risen heroes and the mysterious white light that seems to be weighted down in its Lantern shape by some unknown force.  We also see the beginnings of conflicts that our featured heroes, Aquaman, Firestorm, the Hawks, and Martian Manhunter will face in the coming issues.  Each hero finds themselves faced with memories or events of a violent nature, riddled with violent stranglings…

Dead sea animals rising from the depths…

And cleavers slicing through men’s throats…

I would say that the title “Brightest Day” is quite deceiving in its uplifting and appealing connotation. 

In seeing the the 3^rd panel on the 5^th page of Hal Jordan attempting to lift the White Lantern from the ground, I was very close to tossing this book across the room.  But my frustrations were relinquished when Geoff Johns clearly wanted his audience to be aware of this aspect in the story’s plot development.  I was relieved that Johns wasn’t trying to hide the fact that this IS going to be the story of “The Sword in the Stone.”  This gives DC’s most popular writer the ability to shock and alarm his readers since he will most assuredly give Brightest Day an unexpected conclusion.  Will the “destined one” be a King Arthur type of figure, or a lowly man who has a deeper connection with life and death?

While Blackest Night had some of the most disturbing visuals I’ve ever seen in comics, Brightest Day gives us some fairly disturbing sequences of which play around with the mind much more.  Aquaman, despite having risen from the dead and being completely healthy with no Captain Hook arm, (Thank God!) he finds himself unable to call on the aid of living sea animals.  In addition, Firestorm, the Hawks, and Martian Manhunter are flooded with disturbing images and scenes that cause me to wonder just what emotional baggage do they unwillingly carry from the events of Blackest Night?  Just when you thought all your questions would be answered, Johns throws a monkey wrench into the story.

Aquaman and Mera seem to share a problem.  As stated, since being severed from the Black Ring’s power, Aquaman still finds himself connected with the dead, only able to contact a deceased, mauled Shark and giant squid.  Likewise, Mera still seems to have some connection with her brief, but intense relationship with the red ring of rage.  This theme of lingering connectivity with the emotional spectrum stuck out at me the most and I feel Johns could be going somewhere with this. 

As most of you who follow my blog, I’m sure you’ve already guessed my opinions on the artistic approach.  The entire team of artists on this book are great, but the toggling from artist to artist drives me nuts.  Ivan Reis does fantastic work, so why couldn’t DC just hire him to draw the whole friggin issue?!?!  He’s not doing anything right now!  I don’t get it!  I can’t justify ranking the art high when I become so distracted by the different art styles.  Although, Reis certainly gave us some amazing visuals…

My Profoundly Climactic Conclusion

Nothing more can be said except that this issue is great.  I don’t think it deserves any awards for greatest comic book ever, but it does start the mystery off well.

Ratings

Writing: 9

Themes: 9

Art: 6

Overall: 8 out of 10

Comic News: Birds of Prey and Brightest Day...no rhyme intended

I'm so happy to see that the new secret members that were cleverly hidden in shadow of the Birds of Prey was revealed at long last!  What's most interesting is the fact that it seems as if the Birds of Prey will induct a male into their ranks...go figure!  Gail Simone, as I'm sure everyone reading has figured out, is at the helm of this highly  anticipated title.  Her departure from Wonder Woman was a low blow to myself and many other Simone fans, but this new writing project she is taking on is a more than acceptable replacement for her.  The icing on the cake is that Ed Benes will be joining her as the artist!  My favorite comic writer and my favorite comic artist on the same book, it's almost like I've died and gone to Colorado...oh wait....

With this new revelation of Hawk and Dove joining the feathered females, I've also come to realize that Brightest Day will be playing into the first issue of Bird of Prey.  In addition, Johns revealed that the reasons for the rebirth of the dead heroes will become known in Brightest Day.  I had originally given Blackest Night #8 a rating of 7.5 merely based on the fact that so many question were left unresolved; that Brightest Day is simply a change in the title "Blackest Night" and the story won't be completed for a while yet.  But it is comforting to know that Johns has had a plan for this entire event from the beginning.

Now, with the return of these heroes, springs some new and revived titles.  Obviously Birds of Prey will be at the head of this "soon to come" titles, and The Flash (Barry) takes new strides with Geoff Johns managing the literary side of things.  The Justice League: International will also be returning to stores in April in a mini series called "Generation Lost," where Fire, Ice, Booster Gold and Captain Atom go on the hunt for Maxwell Lord. I'm wondering how long it will take before Aquaman gets his own title back as well as Firestorm.  And what of Deadman?  Why has he been given a chance at life once again?  Another mini series in the works possibly?  Only time will tell what DC is going to do.  One thing we can count on is Brightest Day is the ultimate remapping for the DC Universe that anyone could ask for.

Comic Retrival Project Update: Firestorm Galore!!!

I've made a HUGE dent in my comic retrival project today.  As I was searching around for more of the 1987 run of Superman, I happened upon a huge collection of the old Firestorm comics for 5 cents each!  This was a gold mine!  Now, the only issues I have left to finish up that part of my retrival project are as follows...

Firestorm: The Nuclear Man
1982 – 1 5
1983 – 8
1987 – 64 66
1988 – 67 73 74 75 76 77 78
1989 – 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
1990 – 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100


I know it's still a big chunk but these issues were not in the back issue section, otherwise I would have knocked this entire collection out!  If any would like to help a fellow comic book junkie out, it would be much appriciated...

Lego's Blackest Night!!!

This photos was just too awesome not to post.  I found this on another person's blog, Geek Orthadox.  It would be cool to have another Lego video game based on Blackest Night.  How twisted would that be?  What type of aspects of that type of game would you like to see?

There's a couple of hilarious aspects of this photo I find amusing..
1st - Batman is alive and kicking
2nd - Of course it's Power Girl who debuts the first set of Lego boobies. 
3rd - Is it just me, or is Black Hand grinding to nothing?
4th - I know they are Legos, but the zombies sure don't look scary!


Best photo of the year thus far!