Review: Green Lantern - Rise of the Third Army

After careful planning, the Guardians unleash their dreaded Third Army on an unsuspecting universe. With most of the Green Lantern Corps caught unaware, it’s up to the rookie Simon Baz and a ring-less Guy Gardner to lead the assault on Oa to stop the Guardians. Meanwhile, John Stewart and his former enemy Fatality must work together in order to re-assemble the planet Mogo.

Green Lantern: Rise of the Third Army collects issues 13-16 of Green Lantern, 13-16 of Green Lantern Corps, 13-16 of Red Lanterns, 13-16 of Green Lanterns: New Guardians, and Green Lantern Corps Annual 1. It features writing by Geoff Johns, Tony Bedard, Peter Milligan and Peter J. Tomasi.

Rise of the Third Army is the first large-scale Green Lantern-centric crossover from the New 52, which revolves around the introduction of the titular Third Army and new Lantern Simon Baz. It’s an expansive story that stretches across all of the Green Lantern titles that were being published by DC Comics at the time. As such, it’s not the most accessible crossover in the world. Readers are required to have a working knowledge of the Green Lantern mythos, as well as the material that immediately preceded this arc by Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi. If that weren’t enough, not all of the titles are written evenly. The issues from Red Lanterns and Green Lanterns: New Guardians are significantly weaker than those from Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps. Of course, the problem with New Guardians is that it continues to attempt to present Kyle Rayner as some kind of one-dimensional messianic figure.

Interestingly, Geoff Johns comes fairly close to Kyle Rayner levels of Gary Stuishness with Simon Baz. The idea that Simon is capable of pulling off things Hal Jordan was never capable of is not my favourite development in the world, but Johns makes me root for Simon regardless. He’s got his share of flaws and his introduction allows for Johns to explore the discrimination Muslims face in America. It also helps that, unlike Kyle, we’re not seeing him bed every attractive female that crosses his path. Simon also has one of the coolest Green Lantern designs we’ve seen in a very long time.

Rise of the Third Army’s premise is terrifying in that it exemplifies how far the Guardians are willing to go in order to “protect” the universe. They have such a skewed mentality of right and wrong that they have now come to see independent thought and free will as something to be eradicated. The seemingly unstoppable Third Army makes for eerie henchmen, assimilating just about everything that crosses their path. Given how much the characters are built up, we care about them and want to see them succeed in defeating the Guardians. This tension builds with each chapter in this saga. Unfortunately, it follows the Trinity War formula in that it’s merely a crossover that’s meant to lead into a bigger, more important storyline. This leaves the reader with little payoff, especially since the big fight against the Guardians is jammed into the final pages of this collection.

Rise of the Third Army is strictly for Green Lantern fans. It does a great job of building upon the mythology surrounding the Corps and allows for some interesting character progression. Simon Baz and Guy Gardner are the real runaway stars of this crossover, with the former making a pretty big splash for a then-new character. It’s not likely to be easy to follow for newer readers or those less indoctrinated in the world of Green Lantern. Hal Jordan and Sinestro’s absence is also felt within this collection, especially after how electric their chemistry had been in Geoff Johns’ preceding arcs. Ultimately, it is the transitory nature of the narrative that cheats the readers out of a great crossover. Still, it’s worth a read – if only for the Geoff Johns-penned issues featuring Simon Baz.

RATING: B-

Review: Mighty Avengers Volume 1 - No Single Hero

While the Avengers are off-world, Thanos sends one of his generals – Proxima Midnight – to conquer Earth. Though Proxima expects an easy victory, she soon finds opposition in the form of Luke Cage and his Heroes for Hire. With help from heavyweights like Spectrum and the Superior Spider-Man, these heroes prove that Proxima has her work cut out for her.

Mighty Avengers Volume 1: No Single Hero collects Mighty Avengers #1-5, written by Al Ewing and illustrated by Greg Land.

There have been many Avengers spin-offs since Marvel unleashed their cinematic universe onto the world, but none have been as inclusive or as dynamic as Ewing and Land’s Mighty Avengers. With a roster consisting of Luke Cage, White Tiger, Power Man, Spider-Man and Spectrum (my personal favourite), Ewing delivers an incredibly powerful iteration of the Avengers and immediately sets to work proving just how badass they are. He does so by setting up a threat that proves their worth, mirroring the beloved Avengers movie by having our heroes face off against an alien menace. He treats the characters seriously and never once underestimates their strengths, which is refreshing particularly considering his cast is comprised of characters that are all too often relegated to the background (save Spider-Man, of course). I’m especially glad to see Spectrum treated as the most powerful member of the group and that her leadership experience is recognized. Ewing also writes in a rather clever Janet Jackson reference when he refers to Spectrum, framing her even more in the narrative as worthy of being acknowledged as the fierce diva that she truly is.

Despite a few hiccups here and there, Mighty Avengers is a relatively accessible title that emphasizes dialogue and action over continuity. The narrative does owe a lot to both the “Infinity” and “Inhumanity” crossovers, which is a given considering the title is a tie-in to both. As such, readers will be required to have at least a working knowledge of these events in order to fully grasp the references made. Regardless, Ewing does a fantastic job providing action that is easy to follow and engages with the audience. The battle against Shuma Gorath is pretty snazzy, while the brawl between Spider-Man and both Luke Cage and Jessica Jones is rather amusing. Furthermore, Ewing is able to capture the distinctive tones of his characters. From Spider-Man’s arrogance to Jessica Jones’ trucker mouth, the dialogue really runs the gamut to provide the book with a wide range of voices.

The weakest link in Mighty Avengers is its artist Greg Land. Often reviled within the comic book fandom for his tendency to sexualize women’s facial expressions (and bodies) and the rumored likelihood of his work being traced, Land is a controversial choice for any title. His art is naturally very glossy and attempts realism, though his porn-like proportions gives his work a less mainstream appearance. This undermines Ewing’s clear attempt to legitimize his band of Avengers.

Mighty Avengers Vol. 1: No Single Hero is a refreshing and endlessly entertaining start to one of Marvel’s more original spin-off offerings of their iconic super team. With its incredible cast and nonstop action, it’s a title that offers readers an opportunity to become invested in this team and to keep them wanting more.

RATING: B+

Review: Justice League United - The Infinitus Saga

With the galaxy in turmoil as a result of the menace known as Infinitus, the Legion of Super-Heroes travel 100 years into the past in order to prevent him from ever coming into being. There’s just one thing standing in their way – the newly formed Justice League led by Martian Manhunter. He and his teammates are unwilling to accept that an innocent life should be snuffed out due to the possibility of it turning evil later on. Thus begins a battle of wills between the Martian hero and the Legion’s Brainiac 5.

Justice League United Volume 2: The Infinitus Saga collects Justice League United #6-10, Justice League United Annual #1, Justice League United: Futures End #1 and Justice League: Futures End #1. It is written by Jeff Lemire, with art by Jay Leisten and Neil Edwards.

As a whole Justice League United has all the right components to be a successful book. It’s colourful, action-packed, and full of punchy dialogue. It also has arguably the most creative line-up for a Justice League splinter team Post-Flashpoint. From DC Comics’ beloved archer Green Arrow to the new heroine on the block Equinox, the roster is really unique. Of course, it certainly helps that writer Jeff Lemire develops tangible relationships between the characters. Animal Man and Stargirl act like siblings, while the latter forms a father-daughter type of bond with Martian Manhunter. There’s also a slight banter that exists between Green Arrow and Animal Man (unsurprising given the fact that Lemire has written both of their solo series).

The scale of The Infinitus Saga is grand enough to give this book a sense of gravitas. In other words, the events feel like they have substance and consequences. The Justice League aren’t just saving a city or even Earth, they’re saving the universe and the future. I can really appreciate this as too many comics these days get caught up in trying to be trendy or cute or funny to really give its protagonists a conflict that highlights their importance as heroes. Here, our protagonists duke it out on Earth and in space, as they battle against the Legion, Byth and (eventually) Infinitus. The conflict is very real and the stakes are high.

Where The Infinitus Saga falters is in its massive over-sized cast, which is largely due to the presence of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Now, I’m actually a fan of the Legion and think that as a whole they’re a fascinating section of the DC Universe. However, there are so many of them that Lemire himself has to write in jokes to acknowledge this. Their presence in the narrative clutters the flow and distracts from the main characters, which is a shame since the protagonists are truly worthy of further development. My biggest issue, and this is not directly solely at Lemire but at Legion stories in general, is that the Legion of Super-Heroes all too often seem like an amorphous blob of colourful heroes who are defined exclusively by their powers.  Because there are so many of them, there’s literally no way of distinguishing their personalities and developing them equally or even in a hierarchy. In The Infinitus Saga, Brainiac 5 is clearly the star. He’s the most fleshed out member of his team and has a distinct personality. Dream Girl and Wildfire are also given opportunities to shine. Other characters have moments (particularly showing off their powers), but this book will leave those unfamiliar with the Legion lost when it comes to understanding who these characters are.

At its core, Justice League United: The Infinitus Saga is a great sci fi adventure featuring a team-up between a rookie team of fan-favourites and the Legion of Super-Heroes. There’s tons of great action and funny dialogue to keep any reader engaged. This collection has its shortcomings, but it has heart. I can appreciate what Lemire was doing with this book, especially since it captures the optimism, spirit and overall do-right attitude necessary for any incarnation of the Justice League. It’s a solid effort that’s worth a read.

RATING: B

Review: Animal Man by Jeff Lemire

When DC Comics announced its controversial New 52 initiative back in 2011, Canadian writer Jeff Lemire was tasked with helming a new Animal Man series. This book would become one of the most unique offerings from the company at that time, whose everyman hero and family-centric drama proved to be an engaging read. For 29 issues (and a 0 issue), Lemire crafted an encompassing epic that followed the personal struggles of Animal Man as he dealt with the Earthly invasion of the Rot and the machinations of Brother Blood.

Having previously read Grant Morrison’s Animal Man run from the ‘80s, I had become indoctrinated to the character via a metafictional and self-aware narrative that sought to analyze the medium of comic books. While Lemire does give the occasional nod to Morrison’s work, he takes a different tact here. One which I feel is more organic and more relatable. From the onset, we meet Buddy Baker on the upswing. His adventures as Animal Man have earned him some notoriety and he’s recently become an actor via a critically-acclaimed Indie film called Tights. Then he discovers that his daughter Maxine has superhuman abilities and is able to commune with the animal world. This leads to the bombshell that Buddy is in fact an agent of the Red, an otherworldly place that links all animal life together, and that Maxine is to be an omnipotent avatar for the Red. If that weren’t enough, Buddy must also protect Maxine and the Red from the monstrous invaders known as the Rot. Then, he must fend off Brother Blood when he makes a play for control of the Red.

I’m a big fan of Jeff Lemire. His Green Arrow run was flawless and his Justice League Dark tenure was impressive, so it’s no surprise to me that I enjoyed Animal Man as thoroughly as I did. With the help of artist Travel Foreman, Lemire crafts this truly unique and distinctive world for Animal Man to operate in. Where his Green Arrow run was grounded, Animal Man features a Guillermo Del Toro-style aesthetic and tone. It’s dark, gritty, horrific, quirky and fantastical. However, it is also deeply rooted in relationships and the importance of family. The Baker family is the nucleus of Lemire’s run, which further extends to Maxine’s feline guardian Socks and the humanoid goat Shepherd.

The cast is complex and relatable. Each member of the Baker family feels real, like we know each one of them in our real lives. From the phone-addicted Cliff to the spunky Maxine, these characters are lovable in their own way. The titular hero in particular is remarkably easy to root for and the reader no doubt finds him or herself relating to him. He’s a flawed hero who makes mistakes, but is constantly looking out for his family. That said, the show is constantly and consistently stolen by Socks and Shepherd. These two are a hoot, especially Socks as this avatar-turned-cat acts as the Luna to Maxine’s Sailor Moon. On the flipside, there are some characters that aren’t the most likeable – specifically Buddy’s wife Ellen. Though it’s not difficult to understand where she’s coming from, she comes across as naïve and wholly ignorant of the reality of her daughter possessing powers. Though she eventually comes around, her actions lead to some painful moments for Buddy and for feelings of alienation from Maxine.

The action unfolds chapter by chapter as an epic that continues to build on the preceding events. Much like Brian Azzarello’s run on Wonder Woman, Animal Man is best read in its entirety. The Rotworld saga that occurs during the mid-point of the series is imaginative and offers a rather interesting alternate future for our world, where the Rot has overtaken the Red and the Green. The action is top-notch and the visuals alone are breathtakingly distinct. Lemire even uses the storyline as an opportunity to bring in Black Orchid, Constantine and Frankenstein, all characters he’d been writing in Justice League Dark and Frakenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. The aftermath of this arc is gut-wrenching and emotional, as it deals with the loss of a major character. Things simmer as our titular hero struggles with this loss, but he’s then thrust into the closing conflict against Brother Blood. The decision to bring in a classic Teen Titans villain, reinvent his motivations and redesign his look is nothing short of brilliant.

Along with Lemire’s run on Green Arrow, Animal Man is a must-read. It is an engrossing series that creates a unique world around its characters. It’s also cohesive in its tone and themes, which gives the book a sense of completion when it concludes. Its characters and story are exceptionally well-written, while the art is expressive and whimsically grim. Animal Man is an accessible title as well, which makes it an easy read for newer readers to comic books.

RATING: A-