Brightest Day #24

Release Date: April 27, 2011
Cover Date: Late June 2011

Story: Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi
Pencils: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Patrick Gleason, Ardian Syaf, and Scott Clark
Inks: Norm Rapmund, Vicente Cifuentes, Oclair Albert, Tom Nguyen, Mick Gray, Mark Irwin, and David Beaty
Cover: Gary Frank
1:10 Variant Cover: Ivan Reis and Joe Prado

As the Elementals try to hold back the evil Swamp Thing, the Entity explains that the mindless beast once thought it was Alec Holland, but now it thinks it’s Nekron, due to the latter’s damage to the planet. Alec himself never was Swamp Thing, and has no memory past his death in the swamp. Boston Brand is unwittingly killed by Captain Boomerang, and he becomes Deadman once more. The Entity resurrects Alec, and along with the power of the Elementals, he becomes a new Swamp Thing that destroys the corrupted one. The Elementals are returned to their normal forms, except for Hawkgirl, who has apparently become one with the air. Swamp Thing purges the rest of Nekron’s corruption from the planet, and the Entity disappears. Everyone else goes back to their lives, but after Swamp Thing later kills a group of corrupt businessmen, an old friend comes calling: John Constantine.

First, let’s talk about the art. All of the artists who worked on the series worked on this issue, but sometimes it felt very disjointed. The art teams originally handled specific character arcs, but having them draw all of the different characters together and switching up page by page just didn’t seem to work all that well. Still, the splash pages of the Swamp Thing battles looked great, as well as the final shot of Constantine.

As for the story, the concept of the dark avatar being leftover corruption from Nekron actually makes perfect sense. I was worried that it was just going to be waved away as “evil Swamp Thing,” but this brief explanation made things much more believable.

The epilogues were probably the best part of the issue, to be honest. They can set up future ongoing series (or miniseries), but at the same time, they give enough leeway in case those series never come to fruition. Even Firestorm, who’s supposed to explode in just shy of ninety days, gets a break; ninety days in comic book time can be years in realtime. That’s a lot of space for writers to figure out an exit.

The end to Brightest Day did present some notable problems. For example, the Entity had claimed it was dying, but instead…it just disappeared. Is Swamp Thing the “new” Entity now? I doubt it, because then if Swamp Thing gets hurt, every other living thing in the universe feels it. And if he dies…well, take a wild guess. Meanwhile, Hawk failed his mission…but it seemed to have no consequence. Everyone else got their “life returned” for completing their specific tasks, but Hawk’s still alive and didn’t have to do shit.

These and many other nitpicks, as well as my thoughts on Brightest Day as a whole, will be explored further next week in an aptly-titled wrapup post.

Green Lantern Corps (Vol. 2) #59

Release Date: April 20, 2011
Cover Date: June 2011

Story: Tony Bedard
Pencils: Tyler Kirkham
Inks: Matt “Batt” Banning
Cover: Aaron Lopresti
1:10 Variant Cover: George Pérez

Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner, Guy Gardner, and John Stewart are trying to figure out how to use their new rings when they’re attacked be a contingent of corrupted Green Lanterns. Kyle’s Blue Lantern ring accidentally charges the enemy’s rings, but Hal pulls them all away so they can locate Ganthet. The Guardian’s fighting off Green Lanterns himself, and he’s none too pleased that the four Earth Lanterns have chosen other colors. As more Green Lanterns attack, the group faces a much more potent threat: a corrupted Mogo.

The opening scene of this issue was by far the best part: our heroes trying their damnedest to get their new rings to work, as if they were rookies all over again. I also liked that Ganthet chewed out our heroes, especially Hal, for wearing rings that do not suit them. We know that these changes aren’t permanent, but I’m hoping that there will be some lasting ramifications when all is said and done.

Of course, this does beg the question: why are these guys having so much trouble? They’re all veteran power ring wielders. The color Corps deputies in Blackest Night managed to learn how to use their rings in a matter of minutes, and none of them had any previous experience (except for Ganthet).

Hal wonders what else Kyle can do, since he needs active Green Lanterns around him for his ring to work properly. This isn’t entirely accurate — Blue Lantern rings worked without the presence of Green Lanterns in Blackest Night: The Flash and more recently in Justice League of America (Vol. 2) #55 — but Hal wouldn’t know that. Kyle admits that Ganthet’s pep talk convinced him to go for the blue ring, and even though Ganthet disagreed with his choice, it does seem that Kyle’s getting a handle on the ring quickly. He’d better, because Mogo is a big enough problem right now without being supercharged. Speaking of Mogo, I’m sure the Death Star is what first came to mind for most, but I couldn’t help but think of Sinestro’s Yellow Lantern remote weapon from Green Lantern: First Flight.

We got a better look at John’s sniper rifle in this issue, and we discover…that it’s his indigo staff. Dumb. Seriously, it looks laughably awful, not to mention that it makes absolutely no sense. First of all, the staff is the Indigo Tribe equivalent of a power battery, not a weapon. Secondly, since no one else got power batteries…why would John get one?

If the checklists are to be believed, then we’re halfway through “War of the Green Lanterns.” The next installment is Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #9, due out this week. You’ll have to wait until next Monday for the review, though, as the conclusion to Brightest Day is also due this week, and that’ll be Friday’s big review.

Green Lantern (Vol. 4) #65

Release Date: April 20, 2011
Cover Date: June 2011

Story: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Doug Mahnke
Inks: Keith Champagne, Christian Alamy, Mark Irwin, and Tom Nguyen
Cover: Doug Mahnke and Keith Champagne
1:10 Variant Cover: George Pérez

Kilowog is finally forced into submission by Krona, while Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner head for Oa in a secret spacecraft. Upon their arrival, a corrupted Kilowog attacks their ship, forcing the two Lanterns to bail out. They locate Kyle Rayner and John Stewart in the tunnels beneath Oa, and Hal has them wield the rings of the Corps representatives trapped in the Book of the Black.

This issue wasn’t bad, but I’m really getting tired of these “action figure plots.” That is, stories wherein the ultimate goal is to sell more action figures and collectibles. What, you don’t think our four Earthmen donned new rings just to fight Krona, did you? There’s already a Red Lantern Guy Gardner figure on the way, but you can bet your ass we’ll see Blue Lantern Kyle Rayner, Indigo Tribe John Stewart, and a wide release of the former convention exclusive Sinestro Corps Hal Jordan. And only one of those actually requires a new sculpt! DC Direct saves money…but sure as hell won’t pass the savings on to collectors.

Enough grumbling about that; let’s move on to the actual story. I’m sure we all expected our heroes to sport different rings, since they can’t use their green ones right now. It should also be noted that the other power rings aren’t the usual mass-produced ones; they’re the exact rings that belonged to each Corps’ leader. Whether this has any unique effects on the new wearers remains to be seen.

The new ring matchups were mostly accurate, especially in the case of Hal and Guy. Kyle’s always been hopeful, I guess, but John as a member of the Indigo Tribe? He’s a compassionate hero, sure, but since his new outfit is that of a military grunt…it doesn’t quite jibe. John was a United States Marine Corps sniper, and they need to be emotionless and detached. They can’t let something like compassion interfere with getting the job done. Then again, I suppose it was just a process of elimination; John did pick orange first, but Hal told him how bad of an idea that would be. And outside of the Predator possessing a man, we’ll never see male Star Sapphires. (Gotta keep up that sexism, you know.)

Speaking of which, I’ll admit that it was amusing when Guy complained that he didn’t want to wear a “crystal thong”…and then mumbling under his breath that “pink ain’t [his] color.” The rest of the dialogue in this issue was pretty good, especially between Hal and Guy in the cockpit, and Kilowog telling Krona to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.

One last thing about the rings: it used to be that power rings chose their wielders very specifically, but now, anyone can use one just by expressing emotion. Both of these points were specifically addressed in this issue, but it’s still rather ridiculous. However, we all know exactly why “anyone can wield a ring” has become the standard: the Green Lantern movie. The primary thrust of the marketing campaign for the film’s toys and other merchandise aimed at kids is that anyone can become a Green Lantern. That’s why the action figures include power rings, after all. I may not like how this has affected comic book canon, but at least I can understand it.

“War of the Green Lanterns” continues in Green Lantern Corps (Vol. 2) #59…and my review will be up bright and early Monday morning. Do you think you can hold out until then?

Power ring collecting, part 3

(Don’t forget to check out part one and part two of this series!)

You’ve seen some cool power rings this week, and now it’s time for even more! No resin or plastic this time — this latest batch is metal! (Just like me.) Without further ado…

As usual, please pardon my shitty photography.

First up, a silver Green Lantern ring I bought off of eBay. The emblem is sculpted in relief, with either green paint or enamel coloring in the background. (I can’t tell, and I’m certainly not going to give it a scratch test.) You may notice that the face, especially the background, has a distinct “rough” quality to it. I don’t know if that was an aesthetic decision, or just cutting corners on the sculpt. Unlike my other rings, this one also has a hollow back:

This gives the ring a bit of a looser fit; I wear a mens’ size 10, but I had a jeweler check the ring after I received it, and it’s closer to a 10¼ or 10½. (A ring guard will easily solve that problem.)

And here’s another silver Green Lantern ring, also purchased on eBay. The area around the symbol is fully filled in with green enamel, and it’s considerably brighter in color. The face is also a bit larger than the previous ring, though it also has a hollow back.

I suspect that this ring and the one above it may be clones of Arroba Silver rings, as they’re very similar to some of their designs but considerably less expensive. As they’re still sterling silver, it’s a minor quirk. Since these two rings are a bit smaller and lower-profile than many others, I may wear one on a daily basis.

Last but not least, the official DC Direct Green Lantern Honor Guard Power Ring Prop Replica. (Say that five times fast.) This one was originally solicited for a June 2010 release, but then it kept getting pushed back week by week, until it was quietly cancelled. It was eventually resolicited a few months back, and after nearly a year of waiting, it has finally arrived.

Unlike the previous two rings, this one is not made of silver. Instead, it seems to be made of machined aluminum, as it’s incredibly light. When you pick up the box, it almost seems empty! The face and sides are highly polished, and despite the light weight, it’s a big ring. It’s only available in a mens’ size 11, though, and “not meant to be worn.” Well, yeah, because if it’s constructed out of aluminum as I suspect, that thing will get dented and scuffed rather easily.

Ribbed for her pleasure.

No clue what “s10″ means; it’s certainly not the ring size.

I hate to say it, but unless you’re a diehard collector, the Honor Guard ring’s really not worth the hefty $35 price tag. If you want to save some coin and still nab a large metal ring, go for the recently reissued Kyle Rayner ring from Hot Topic. At nearly half of the Honor Guard ring’s MSRP, that one is even available in various sizes so you’ll get a proper fit. I also think it’s made out of stainless steel rather than aluminum, as it’s definitely heavier and feels more solid.

That’s all for now, but don’t worry; I’ll be posting a fourth installment of my power ring collecting series sometime in June. That one will be dedicated to the Green Lantern film, as I hope to compare and contrast six — count ‘em, six — different versions of the movie ring. There’s even more than that slated for release, but it all depends on how many I can get my grubby hands on. Stay tuned!

EXCLUSIVE: Batjeepster’s Green Lantern movie-inspired power ring

I’ve been getting a lot of comments lately on a certain topic, but I’ve screened them as not to spoil the surprise. Well, the time has finally come to lift the curtain. Behold: the latest piece of art from master power ring craftsman Batjeepster!

This is the final version of his power ring replica inspired by the upcoming Green Lantern film. Batjeepster has granted me exclusive access to this ring, jokingly referred to as “version 2814.” Since it’s a first-run prototype, it’s the first and only one of its kind!

(Full disclosure: Batjeepster normally sells his creations, but this ring was provided free of charge for review purposes. I owe him a beer.)

This new movie ring is the culmination of countless prototypes and experimentation, ever since the first artwork and trailer for Green Lantern were released. Batjeepster feels that his creation is the finest movie ring replica available, so let’s dive right in and see if he’s right!

The ring is constructed from impact-resistant resin, making it much lighter than it appears. Even the metallic band is resin! To achieve this, Batjeepster layers the inside of the mold using special silver powder. During the casting process, the powder fuses to the black resin used for the band, giving it a rough appearance. Some edges are then sanded down to further enhance the texture and allow some of the black to be visible. For the production run of this ring, Batjeepster does plan to offer both resin and .930 argentium sterling silver bands, though the latter will naturally come at a higher price. Still, silver’s the way to go!

You may also notice that the ring lacks the heavy nicks, dents, and scratches seen in the film and other replicas. The reason for their absence is clear: this is meant to be a new ring, fresh from the forges of Oa.

The central jewel is handmade out of a special resin. I’m not sure what kind of soul thrashing black sorcery Batjeepster used to craft it, but it looks fantastic. Pictures really don’t do it justice; the way light plays off of the jewel from different angles must be seen to be believed. (That, and my “photography studio” is a point-and-shoot digital camera and my kitchen table.) The best I can do is an extreme closeup using a flash.

Finally, the ring is waterproof. That may not seem like a big deal, but even a little bit of moisture can screw with the wrong type of adhesives and sometimes even the resin itself. For example, the jewel in the center can get “cloudy.” Batjeepster told me that his first few attempts ended this way. He’s clearly perfected the process since then, so if you’re playing Green Lantern in a downpour, you’ll be just fine.

I did mention that this ring is Batjeepster’s first-run prototype, and even though it’s his final design, there will be a few very minor differences in the full production run. The tiny fine lines and grooves (which are barely visible as it is) will be smoothed out. With silver bands, the base will be approximately 2% smaller as part of the casting process. As you can see, these “differences” are all just the result of the full production process, not aesthetic choices. If you order this ring, what you see is what you get. Fear not!

Now for the grand finale, and arguably the most important consideration for many collectors…how does the ring look when worn?

Results not typical. Neither Batjeepster nor liquidcross make any guarantees regarding the wearer’s induction into any intergalactic police force.

I think we can safely say that this new movie ring is a winner. The final prices have not yet been decided, but Batjeepster’s rings are rarely bank breakers. The precise sculpting, top quality materials, and attention to detail make this a piece that belongs in every power ring collectors’ display.

I should also mention that Batjeepster worked on this movie ring while sick with a mushroom allergy…in between trips to the goddamned hospital. How’s that for dedication?

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Batjeepster has been working on custom power rings since early 2010. He started by modifying a Green Lantern: Mosaic promotional ring, then worked his way up to resin casting, metal/resin hybrids, and even silver designs. (I own one of his original Green Lantern: First Flight resin rings, which you can see here.)

Be sure to check out his fan page on Facebook; you can see all of the various rings he’s created, plus tons of of fan and celebrity photos. If you want to get in touch with him and acquire a ring for yourself, that’s the best way to do it!

Alternatively, you can find Batjeepster’s work on eBay. Bids tend to get pretty high for his work, but you might just find some rare pieces there.

Before we leave, Batjeepster himself does want to offer a few shout-outs:

“My designs and concepts could not be made possible without the help and patience of GreentotheCorps from the Green Lantern Corps Message Board, and also my secret weapon from Oregon (who shall remain nameless). Thanks to my personal jeweler Deborah Lee, and thanks to Shane9mm; without him, there would be no Batjeepster! And, of course, thanks to everyone on the various Green Lantern message boards who have stuck by me and have encouraged me through this year-and-a-half journey from modified Mosaic promo rings to the rings of here and now…and the future!”

Thanks again to Batjeepster for this exclusive opportunity!