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LWIC: DC and Marvel Both Resurrect the Dead

Last Week In Comics:
A fresh take on 5 day-old comics.

Batman Streets of Gotham #8

Since Dick Grayson took over as Batman I have been impressed with the different identities, or distinct character traits, that the writers have created to featured in each of the Bat-Books. In Batman Streets of Gotham, the dark, dirty underbelly of Gotham is featured as Batman’s main nemesis and this issue stays on course with a guest writer at the helm. Last Week In Comics (LWIC):

Sometimes I hate reading other peoples reviews before writing my own, and in this comic’s case before I read it. People have been bashing this comic because of Batman seeming “OK” with the killing of criminals, as if he condones the killings. At first I thought that maybe Damian (Robin) was rubbing off on him with his opinion that the only way to stop crime is to stop it permanently. The more I read of this the more that I think that Batman is not condoning the killings, but instead it is a driving factor to understanding the criminals. I think the writer may be trying to get the readers emotionally involved by ticking them off only to have Batman stick with his “no killing” mantra in the end. I guess we will just have to wait until next month to see if I am right, or if Mr. Mike Benson ruins the character of Batman with poor characterization and writing. Until the end is relieved in the next issue, I am just going to remember that this particular series focuses on the darkness that falls over Gotham and Batman and enjoy the darker non “super-hero” aspect of Batman.

Blackest Night:

Back in the day when Abin Sur passed away and his Green Lantern ring and responsibilities were passed to Hal Jordan, he did so because of his findings about the prophecy of the “Blackest Night.” In the present, many different colors of Lantern Corps have formed, or have been found in the universe. Each color of Lantern Corps receives it’s power from emotion and each emotion is represented by a different color. The prophecy of the “Blackest Night” predicts the removal of all life and emotion from the universe by a corps of lifeless lanterns – the Black Lanterns. To remove the emotion and life from the universe, the Black Lantern Corps’ members are all formerly deceased creatures/heroes throughout the universe that prey on those they were close to. By raising the emotions of their prey the Black Lanterns energized, or recharged, their Power Battery. With the Power Battery fully charged the lord of the Black Lanterns Nekron rose from the darkness. Nekron reveals that he is the reason all of the heroes of the DCU were able to be resurrected in the past, he put himself between them and “everlasting death” so that he would have power over them whenever he decided to wage war against the Guardians of the Galaxy. The Guardian’s replicate one of each power ring and deputize new Lanterns to help the charge against Nekron: The Scarecrow (Yellow – fear), Wonder Woman (Violet – love), The Atom (Indigo – compassion), Barry Allen (Blue – hope), Mera (Red – rage), and Lex Luthor (Orange – greed). The only hope for the universe is a new alliance of multi-colored Lanterns working together to create the only thing that can destroy the Black Lanterns – pure white light.

Green Lantern Corps #44

During this whole Blackest Night fiasco Oa’s (home of the Guardians and the Green Lantern Corps) central battery has been under attack by the Black Lanterns. The central battery on Oa gives all of the Green Lanterns their power, so by taking out that battery, the folks over in the pages of “Blackest Night” will never be able to defeat Nekron. During the battle to protect the central battery, Kyle Rayner was thought to be dead and this sent his best friend Guy Gardner over the edge. The full of rage Guy became a Red Lantern wielding both a red and green power ring. LWIC:

I like how Mogo was used to “purge” all life from Oa and I especially like the way in which the Black Lanterns were destroyed upon arriving on the living planet. Normally I would feel cheated and disappointed by the speed in which this major battle was ended, but the logic was sound enough to for me to believe that in that fictional universe this was a realistic next step in the story. As for the Guy Gardner Red Lantern vs Kyle Rayner Green Lantern battle for next month… I will withhold judgement until I read it.

and

THE BEST COMIC OF LAST WEEK:

Amazing Spider-Man #618

DC’s Blackest Night does not hold a monopoly on people returning from the dead, AMS #618 features nine previously dead gangsters and one police officer among the living again. LWIC:

For over a month, the Spider-Man book has had a different villain featured along with “The Gauntlet” tagline and this month is no different. The comic reintroduces Mysterio as a major player in the Mafia storyline, but I am still trying to figure out how all of these stories tie together, other than they feature a prominent member of Spidey’s rouge gallery. I keep waiting for something of the magnitude of a ramped up Sinister Six, but until then, I guess I’ll just sit back and enjoy each individual storyline.

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Posted by Fred on January 25, 2010 @ 10:15 PM Under: Last Week In Comics
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