Comic Reviews for the week of 12/10/07

From time-to-time (translated every week) I'll post reviews of comics. I get a few new ones every week. I think it's important that you know who I feel about them. I'll also do movie reviews if I see one that's worth reviewing. I might review other things like books, TV shows, cds and candy bars, you know cool stuff.

This week was a big week for comics, well for me anyways. I'll be reviewing 9 comics so bear with me. Maybe tomorrow we'll discuss import stuff like my life. (All this sarchasm is just a front, I really have no self esteem.) The rating system will be a *. The best will be five * and the worst of course is one *.

Countdown #20: Countdown is a weekly series and is described as the "spine" of the DC universe for this year. Basically it follows mostly 2nd or 3rd string characters through a year and touches on major events happening in the DC universe. I honestly can't remember what happened in this issue. Probably not a good sign. Most of the stories are coming along now. **

Astounding Wolf-man #4: This is by the creator of Invincible which is probably the best super hero comic being published today. Wolf-man is almost the same concept as Invincible. However, after four issues nothing has really been resolved. The fact I can't remember the main character's real name is a sign. There's been no character development. We seem to be getting the same scenerio each issue. It always ends with a cliff hanger but they always seem to be the same. **

Booster Gold #5: This is a great super hero title. This series follows Booster Gold, the jack @$$ of the DC universe. Little does every one know, Booster is actually the greatest hero ever. Each issue Booster, his Robot Skeets, and Time Master Rip Hunter travel through the timeline and fix errors. Booster is the reason that most of the big time heros are still around. Sure he isn't the brightest bulb but he gets the job done. This issue Booster goes back in time to save Batgirl from being crippled by the Joker. He fails. He tries again. He fails. And so. It was a lesson. The incident was supposed to happen and it wasn't supposed to be corrected. All Booster wants to do is go back in time and save his best friend, The Blue Beetle, from being murdered. This lesson was to prove to our hero that some things were destined to happen. However, the last page may prove to be different. This was a fun issue. Well, this is a fun series. ****

Ultimate Iron Man 2 #1: After almost 2 years we finally have the sequel to the origin of Ultimate Iron Man. For those of you who don't know, Ultimate is a line from Marvel Comics. It's a "re-imagining" of all of the Marvel Heroes to fit with the 21st century. This issue picks up right where the first series left off. This issue got the series off to a good start. The artist is new to the title but his style fits. We see a young Tony Stark and his friend, Jim Rhodes, suit up in their armor and go on a mission for the government to kill a terrorist cell. However, the government believes they are borrowing two robots. This was a good issue. It continues the mysterious from the first series. Hopefully after four issues there will be some resolution. ***1/2

Green Arrow & Black Canary #3: This issues we get an explanation of sort about Green Arrows kidnapping and faked death by the Amazons. After the resce mission is successful we are left with a major cliffhanger. This series so far has been ok at best. It has it's moments of fun. Writer, Judd Winnick has a good handle on the title characters. The art by Cliff Chiang is the perfect fit. As a result gives this issue ***

X-Factor #26 (Messiah CompleX chapter 7): The seventh chapter of the Messiah CompleX crosser is here. After years of not following X-men comics, I picked up the Messiah CompleX. This has been an exciting crossover that's covered in 4 different X-men titles. Each chapter is written and drawn by that title's regular creative time. The result is great story that moves seamlessly from chapter to chapter. A few years ago an event cut the world's mutant population down to 198, after a few deaths it's even less than that. The mutants now they're dying out. This is where Messiah CompleX comes in. A baby has been born, a mutant baby. The race is on between the good mutants, the bad mutants and the humans who want all mutants dead to get to the baby first. This issue has the x-men assessing the damage after an attack on the mansion. Wolverine and his new X-force team are on the trail of the baby. This issue was good and keeps developling the story and a break neck pace. However, you never feel like you're missing something. The highlight is Cyclops putting Professor X (who's been revealed over the past years to be a manipulative ....) in his place. ****

Ion #1: This is a one-shot tying into the Green Lantern crossover, the Sinestro Corps. This is a one-shot issue about the new bearer of the Ion enity, which is were the Green Lantern rings get their power from (I think this is correct). After some great one-shots involving the Sinestro Coprs, this is a let down. It's not completly horrible, the character development and interaction is good. The art is sloppy. I also found myself skimming this one too. **1/2

Green Lantern Corps #19: This takes place after the end of the Sinestro Corps arc that was taking place in the Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps and various one-shot tie-ins. This issue focuses on what the Green Lantern Corps does after the war with the Sinestro Corps. It also sets up the next story. Mostly good character development. ***

Book of the Week:
Green Lantern #25: After many months of the Sinestro Corps, the war is over. I was slightly peeved that this issue was $4.99. But it turned out to be totally worth it. I don't think I've ever read a more satisfying ending in a comic book as I did in this issue. After starting out the crossover full throttle this issue keeps it going. After having their butts handed to them, the Green Lantern Corps comes through, especially the four earth lanterns. This issue has nothing but action, yet there are great character moments. While this war is over, there is a lot left that there is more to come. Geoff Johns, is probably one of the best super hero writers out there. He really delivers with this story. I was out of breath after I read this issue. The art by Ivan Reiss is great, he does a lot of splash pages in this one. All are great. Probably, the best is the splash revealing the prophecy of a bunch of different lantern corps battling. *****

There you have it.