Creators Tease Upcoming Changes at the ‘Dark Edge’ of DC Comics at Comic-Con 2012

Tag: Amanda waller

Review – Green Lantern #13

Oct. 04 Comic Books, Reviews 2 comments

Green Lantern #13… no Hal Jordan, no Sinestro, no John, no Guy and no Kyle. So who do we have instead? Simon Baz, the newest member of the Green Lantern Corps. Simon Baz is in a lot of trouble. So much trouble in fact, I doubt even Simon himself knows just how much trouble he’s in at the moment.

I will admit that when I first heard that there would be yet another Green Lantern from Earth, I was a little annoyed. My initial thoughts were that we would be introduced to this new Green Lantern for one of two reasons. First it would be to replace a Lantern who would ultimately die at some point during the story arc. Or two, for him to be a source of conflict and would ultimately sacrifice himself for the Corps. So now we have Mr. Baz wielding a power ring, supposedly to replace Sinestro who for all intents and purposes is dead…or so everyone thinks.

But it appears that Simon is around for a unique purpose and I have a feeling that most Green Lantern fans aren’t going to like it. We know that his role as a GL will come into conflict with the Justice League, who by the way…SPOILER ALERT…make an appearance at the end of the issue. As I read through the issue, I became more and more tolerant of Simon as he was made interesting enough to me to warrant giving him the benefit of the doubt. So okay, he can stay for now. But five Earth-bound Lanterns is more than enough…hint, hint to you Geoff Johns.

The Guardians are setting their plans in motion to destroy the Green Lanterns and replace them with their “Third Army,” led by the First Lantern which will most likely involve Simon at some point. His introduction in Green Lantern #0 was enough to get this story moving along at a gratifying pace. He’s being hunted by the police, the government, his family, and we soon find out by the Justice League.

Geoff Johns is weaving another intricate storyline that is bound to shake up the status quo in the New 52. But the beginnings of it reminds me of Blackest Night a bit and I am hoping that even though it promises to be epic, it’s not on too large a scale.

What I found enjoyable about this issue was in the beginning we see Amanda Waller briefing the President of the United States, who resembles Barack Obama quite a bit, about what she knows of the current Green Lanterns on Earth. To me this gives the story a real world point of reference that most comics seem to lack these days. The resemblance to Obama I thought was an especially nice touch rather than making him some random guy who happens to be President. It is quite clear that the government fears what a Green Lantern is capable of… and that there are four currently operating on the planet. Now that Simon Baz, as suspected terrorist has a power ring, the situation becomes even more unstable.

Simon doesn’t know what to make of his situation or even how and why the ring chose him. Add to that, the ring isn’t functioning properly and now you know why Simon is in a lot of trouble. He is going up against my beloved Justice League and you already know where my allegiance lies with that. I am however sympathetic with his situation and the fact he is going to be forced to take sides in a conflict he has no business being involved with.

Geoff Johns again leaves us with some lingering questions, like where are Hal Jordan and Sinestro? They aren’t quite dead but they aren’t quite alive either. How are John Stewart, Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner going to fit into all this? And finally, how is the Justice League going to react?

I have to say that in spite of my initial objections and preconceived notion that I was going to dislike this issue, I now stand corrected. I enjoyed the hell out of this issue. It definitely moved the overall arc along thanks to Geoff Johns and coupled with the art of Doug Mahnke. There are some really great pages in this issue that not only show off Mahnke’s superb talent, they even make Baz’s costume a little less corny looking. The image of Baz after the ring constructs his mask is so completely amazing. Top it ALL off with the amazing cover by Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert and Rod Reis and you could almost call this issue perfect.

Green Lantern #13 was a great read and extraordinarily fun, another element that has been missing from this series for a few months. But this issue has me excited about what’s to come in this story arc and a hope that Simon Baz sticks around a little while longer.

Tags: Amanda waller, DC Comics, Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, rise of the third army, Simon Baz, Sinestro, The Nerd, The New 52

Creators Tease Upcoming Changes at the ‘Dark Edge’ of DC Comics at Comic-Con 2012

Jul. 13 Comic Books no comments

Amethyst will guest-star in Justice League Dark, Frankenstein’s joining it, Jonah Hex will go clown hunting, and Animal Man fans will get a retelling of his origin in his own book.

Those are just some of the news and tidbits DC Comics creators shared with eager fans during the “DC Comics: Tales from the Dark and the Edge” panel Thursday morning at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Bob Wayne, DC’s senior vice president of sales, moderated the panel for fans of the company’s mystical, western, and horror comics.

According to Animal Man series writer Jeff Lemire, August’s issue #12 starts a Rotworld storyline that will crossover with Swamp Thing, and Animal Man #0 covers Buddy Baker’s origin.

Lemire said that he and Swamp Thing series writer Scott Snyder are excited about the huge storyline they’ve got coming, which they aren’t finished writing yet.

“I think people will be surprised at the scope of the story. It’s a lot bigger than just Animal Man and Swamp Thing. It encompasses a lot of the DC Universe and a lot of characters you wouldn’t expect to see in the ‘dark’ books.”

And one of those unexpected heroes is Hawkman, who appeared mutated in a preview image on-screen fighting Animal Man. “Poor, poor Hawkman,” Lemire joked. “(Series artist) Steve Pugh did terrible things to him and other characters.”

Frankenstein will be a player in Rotworld story and will join Justice League Dark in the series’ upcoming annual. Speaking of Justice League Dark, Lemire said that a secret in Black Orchid’s origin will be revealed, and now that the Books of Magic are in the New 52, Timothy Hunter will appear as well.

“The secret of Black Orchid’s identity, this version of Black Orchid, is something I’m purposely keeping a mystery for now. Her origin is going to actually tie into Animal Man and Swamp Thing and things we’re doing there,” Lemire said.

In Deathstroke #0, writer-artist Rob Liefeld’s delving into Slade Wilson’s military origins and how losing the woman he loved scarred him. Grifter #0 will give the titular hero his own “Yoda, or his sensei character,” as Liefeld put it.

“These zeroes are just great because we get to really tell you guys stuff that has not been revealed in terms of the personalities and what motivates these characters, and Grifter has been a little bit of a lost soul and he really figures it out in issue #0,” Liefeld said.

Voodoo’s showing up for a story arc as well, and Liefeld said jokingly, (or perhaps not jokingly, that one-by-one the WildC.A.T.S. characters are coming together.

Jimmy Palmiotti said that he and All-Star Western co-writer Justin Gray would retell Jonah Hex’s origin in issue #0, and then, as a preview image of Hex fighting a clown popped up, Palmiotti said, to much laughter, that Hex will shoot crazy clowns in old Gotham.

“The circus comes to Gotham, and not only are the clowns evil, but a lot of people who are semi-clowns become more evil,” he said.

Artist Brent Anderson, who’s illustrating an upcoming Phantom Stranger series with DC Comics co-publisher Dan DiDio, said he joined the series after DiDio asked him what he liked to draw.

“I said, ‘Yeah. I like drawing hats,’” Anderson joked. DiDio spoke to the artist later to have him draw the series.

We reported a little while back that Amethyst would return in Sword of Sorcery #0, and series editor Rachel Gluckstern said the book will have a lead feature, starring Amethyst herself, and a back-up feature.

Team 7, written by Justin Jordan, takes place earlier in the New 52 continuity and will feature a black ops sort of team comprising Deathstroke, Black Canary, Grifter, Amanda Waller, Steve Trevor, and others.

No one revealed series details, but I, Vampire writer Joshua Fialkov praised Jordan’s work on the series. “He is a genius. He’s amazingly talented, and he’s one of those great young voices.”

Suicide Squad writer Adam Glass promised that issue #0 will begin an exploration into Amanda Waller’s character and how kick ass and vicious she is. Waller, who’s “one of the baddest mamas in the DC Universe right now,” will become less of the mystery.

Fialkov revealed that future I, Vampire issues will feature the vampires fighting zombies, and it’s been the most fun thing he’s written in a while. Readers will go back centuries and see the origin of Cain, and the status quo of the book will change after issue #0.

“I am constantly amazed that DC is letting me do the ridiculously crazy things we’re doing starting next year,” Fialkov said.

In the audience question-and-answer portion, Liefeld said that Hawkman #0 will have a huge event that will make Hawkman wanted across the universe; Lemire’s trying his best to write a de-aged John Constantine with the same essence he had before the relaunch; Fialkov said Jack Hawksmoor from Stormwatch will show up in I, Vampire #12; and Gluckstern said that Amethyst would appear in Justice League Dark.

Wayne ended the panel with a We Can Be Heroes promotional video urging people to help end hunger in Africa.