Pants the Monkey

I really enjoyed the portrayal of Namor in this debut issue. I used to love him back in the 80's when he was a bit pompous and enjoyed screaming 'Imperious Rex' before diving headlong into battle alongside his fellow Avengers, only to insult and squabble his 'surface dweller' team mates afterwards.

I was thrilled when he got his own series by John Byrne in 90's but quickly became disillusioned when the storyline led to his personality becoming more well-adjusted and personable.

In more recent years, he seems to be getting back to his roots and this series looks like it should maintain that status quo.

Forget Aquaman. He's got nothing on this Avenging Son of Atlantis!

I have really enjoyed this series. I new very little about Will Eisner's character The Spirit other than his historical impact on comics in general. I picked up the first couple of issues of this new series on a whim and must say I have been more than satisfied.

This particular issue is the first issue that hasn't been written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke, and I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be as enjoyable.

The first story, written by Walter Simonson with art by Sprouse and Story seemed a little less 'fun' than previous issues, but was still enjoyable.

The second, by Palmiotti and Jordi Bernet, however, was great! It was just as fun and charming visually as any of the Cooke issues has been. Palmiotti wrote a very nice little story with a nice end full of irony.

In the last story, by Kyle Baker, explores the darker side of the world The Spirit inhabits with significantly less subtlety than I'm accustomed to in this book, but Baker's art really sets the tone for it from the start so it isn't too jarring.

As a side note, I have to say Kyle Baker never ceases to surprise me. No matter what kind of story he decides to write, this guys art always seems to fit it perfectly.

All said and done, Will Eisner's The Spirit is a fantastically fun read that can be picked up from any issue without having to worry about knowing any back-story. There really should be more comics out there like this.

This book did not move me much in any way. No hate, no love, just eh.

I guess it fulfilled it's purpose by setting the stage, but the whole idea of what it's setting the stage for worries me.

A cross-over summer event told in 8-page backup stories? Seriously?

I am doing my best to reserve judgment until the individual parts start coming out.

One thing I sorta liked was the art style. When I first opened the book, I immediately thought that Scot Eaton's art was similar to Steve Epting's style in Captain America, which really fit the feel of the book. Of course all that served to do was make me wish Steve Epting had done the art for this book.

The Guardians of the Universe are too arrogant for their own good...

The Corps is caught off-guard by a deadly threat...

Hal Jordan refuses the offered help of his fellow heroes...

A madman threatens the universe to forward his own twisted beliefs of what is right...

Kyle Rayner gets the shaft...

So what's new, right?

Well, having one of the best writers DC Comics has to offer, Geoff Johns, as well as one of the best artists in Ethan Van Sciver (anyone remember Cyberfrog?) on a Green Lantern story is certainly not new; but having them both appear to be at the very top of their game while on a GL story is, I think.

It's not often I'm motivated to go back and flip through a comic again immediately just to look at the imagery, but reading this special was one of those times. Often books that are set on a cosmic stage tend to bore me visually, but Van Sciver's backgrounds are gorgeously detailed. And if someone can pay that much attention to the stuff that's in the background, just imagine what he can do with the action in the foreground. And he does.

Characterization is great as well. Johns makes Sinestro a very interesting character and continues to move him away from the usual evil villain cookie-cutter shape into a very convincing man with a mission.

So did I close the book with a satisfied sigh and a smile? No way dude. I was seriously pissed. I'm not gonna say exactly why since I'd rather you read the book yourself, but the last 8 or 9 pages were terribly disturbing to me.

So why give it four stars? Because I was moved enough to be angry about the events happening there on the page. Evidence that this book is a product of two masters of their craft putting the best they have onto paper.

Can't say say I'm convinced this entire event will be as good as it's beginning, but boy what a beginning.