Brightest Day Volume Two (Review)

Writers: Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi

Artists: Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Adrian Syaf, Scott Clark and Joe Prado

Publisher: DC Comics
Collects: Brightest Day #8-16

Previously on Brightest Day... Twelve dead characters (heroes and villains) were resurrected at the end of DC's last Event story, Blackest Night by an enigmatic white light. Now trying to put their lives back together, they discover that they may have been brought back for a purpose...

I felt that the first volume of this series was slow moving, and relied too much on dangling mysteries to string the reader along, rather than provide anything substantial in the present. Now that I have read Volume Two, I think I have a better idea of the overall story structure. We are now in the second act of this epic saga.

The Flash: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues (Review)

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artists: Francis Manapul (main story) and Scott Kolins

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: The Flash #1-7; The Flash: Secret Files and Origins 2010

I said in my last review, for The Return of Bruce Wayne, that Batman is the poster boy for the "grim and gritty" superhero archetype. If that's true, then the Flash is undoubtedly the best representative for the opposite, which, despite many protests, is just as plentiful in comics.

The Dastardly Death of the Rogues is an excellent example of just how much fun both the Flash and his series can be, without sacrificing gravitas. I usually dislike using the term "Silver Age-y" to describe stories like this (because they should not be seen as something long past) but this is like a Silver Age story for the modern day. An outlandish time-travel murder mystery wrapped around some not-too-heavy drama and lovable character moments.

Superman: Secret Origin (Review)

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Gary Frank

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Superman: Secret Origin #1-6

Many writers over the years have attempted to tinker with the Last Son of Krypton's well worn origin. From Grant Morrison's one-page summary in All-Star Superman to John Byrne's groundbreaking Man of Steel mini-series. Mark Waid tried to shake things up in the epic Birthright, as did J. Michael Straczynski with the more recent Superman: Earth One.

But the three greatest words a superhero fan can hear are, "Back. To. Basics." And that is a principle Geoff Johns excels at.

Anybody looking for a trendy new take on Superman best check elsewhere. Anybody looking for a brilliant and heartfelt story about a true legend, this is it.

Brightest Day Volume One (Review)

Writers: Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi

Artists: Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Fernando Pasarin, Adrian Syaf, Scott Clark and Joe Prado

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Brightest Day #0-7

Blackest Night concluded with twelve characters being resurrected from the dead by the enigmatic White Light of creation for some elusive purpose. Brightest Day follows these characters as they resume their ordinary lives, and slowly discover the reason behind their return.

"Slowly" being the operative word.

After the frenetic, action-packed Blackest Night, Brightest Day feels more along the lines of 52 or Batman: No Man's Land in terms of story pacing. We get the impression that there is something big unfolding here, it's just taking its time doing so.

Blackest Night (Classic Review)

Originally released earlier this year. I wrote this review for a different site when the trade came out and thought I'd repost it here.

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Ivan Reis

Publisher: DC Comics

Collects: Blackest Night #0-8; Blackest Night Director's Cut #1

DC's big Event story for this year comes out of Geoff Johns' run on Green Lantern. The dead are rising in the form of the Black Lanterns, and they are out to terrorise the living.

Like Larfleeze with his Power Battery, I could not put this book down. First of all, its visuals grab your attention and refuse to let go. I've never really been one for Ivan Reis' art – I don't hate it, it just never clicked with me – but Blackest Night completely won me over. Every single one of the eighty zillion characters that appears in this is stunning, with Reis capturing their beauty and/or power each time, whether they be in the back- or foreground.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!