Golden Ring

Robert Venditti, Ethan Van Sciver, & Rafa Sandoval “Hal Jordan & the Green Lanterns Corp, Volume 1: Sinestro’s Law” (DC Comics, 2017)

Wow. There’s a LOT going on here. The Green Lantern Corp has disappeared, Hal Jordan has some sort of proto-ring, and Sinestro and the Yellow Lanterns are running the universe. And that’s just the big picture.

And that’s the problem.  This book has so many characters, and so much going on, that it really feels overstuffed.

And for a Rebirth book, that is supposed to be attractive to new or lapsed readers, this is a huge problem.  Because I felt like I had no idea what the hell was going on. Of the various Rebirth books that I’ve read to date, this one felt like there was the strongest need to know deep continuity.

And yet somehow as it built towards Hal Jordan vs Sinestro, I felt like it was tired and in need of some fresh ideas.

The art was once again subpar. It’s a shame that on a book with such a cosmic scope they can’t put on some artists who can really bring the wonder.

I would say that this one is for serious GL fans only.

Are They Trying To Do Anything Beyond Filling Pages?

Ann Nocenti & Rafa Sandoval “Catwoman Vol. 3: Death of the Family” (DC Comics, 2013)

I don’t think that I’ve ever read a solo Catwoman title before.  Sure, like everyone else I’m familiar with the character from her appearances in various Bat titles over the years.  She’s an intriguing character, and I think that she could carry a compelling title.

Unfortunately, this is not that title.  

This volume of the new 52 version of Catwoman seems to be adrift.  Just what kind of stories are the creators interested in telling?  I’ve read the book, and I’m not sure.  Is Catwoman’s book gritty and gruesome?  Is it a feminist heist book?  Is it Capes and the City?  There are some elements of all of these here.  And unfortunately none of these directions are successful, perhaps because the commitment to each one is so haphazard.  Without an overall vision of what the title should be, it ends up being not much more than a collection of scenes of Catwoman changing clothes.  

Really?  That’s the best they could come up with?