"If I Just Ran A Little Faster..." - Professor Zoom Makes A Mess of Things in New 52 Prequel, The Flashpoint Pardox!

This is a bit of a tough sell for me.  In an effort to set up The New 52 continuity, DC Comics & writer Geoff Johns concocted the Flashpoint miniseries in which Professor Zoom (the reverse Flash) ran back in time & switched a few key events.  The Flash counter attacked by trying to set things right and what we were left with was The New 52.  Oh comic books, how I love your silliness.  Now The Flashpoint nonsense is the key subject matter of the latest Justice League direct-to-dvd movie.  The trailer really doesn't excite me, but I love the voice cast.  Kevin Conroy as Batman, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Ron Perlman as Deathstroke, Cary Elwes as Aquaman, C Thomas Howell as Reverse Flash, and Kevin McKidd as Flashpoint Batman.  And it's directed by Jay Oliver who helmed the utterly badass & brilliant Dark Knight Returns films.  So I'll check it out, but I don't think it's going to be a blind buy come July 30th.

Comic Review: Aquaman: The Trench

    Geoff Johns did a fine job of re-launching Green Lantern several years ago.  It seems like it’s gone a bit off the reservation with all the multi-colored rings and Sinestro being a Green.   But, when he started, it was pretty darned good.  And now he’s turned his pen to one of DC’s more…well, let’s say less cool characters.  Good old Aquaman.  The butt of so many jokes.

    I love that right out of the gate, Johns acknowledges his history as a B-list hero.  He shows up to save the day only to find local towns people scoff, and go on about talking to the fishes.  But in spite of all the jibes and hassle, he’s decided that he and his wife are going to live on the coast, and they’re going to serve as protectors.

    The first thing they face off against are some of Roger Corman’s Humanoids from the Deep (or going back a bit more, Lovecraft’s Deep Ones).  And this sparks a mystery that looks like it’s going to be a major upcoming story.  How did Atlantis sink, why, and who was behind it?

    This book is a lot of fun.  And it’s really nice to see a married couple who seem to have a strong bond.  The art isn’t bad and a lot of the design is good.  I love the look of the fish men.  The humor is balanced with the action and the horror.  And it seems like this could be a really interesting addition to the DC universe.  A weird one, but an interesting one.

Aquaman Volume 1: The Trench
Author: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ivan Reis
Publisher: DC Comics
ISBN: 978-1-4012-3551-2

-Matt

Geoff Johns & David Finch's Justice League of America!

Well this is an odd group.  Writer Geoff Johns and artist David Finch are teaming up for a brand new Justice League of America book set to launch in early 2013.  No Superman.  No Batman.  No Wonder Woman.  Instead we've got Martian Manhunter, Catwoman, Hawkman, Green Arrow, Star Girl, the new Green Lantern, Katana, Stargirl, and Vibe.  Yep, I don't know half of those guys either.

I've always been more of a Bats fan and less of a DC Comics guy, but the New 52 has reintroduced me to a lot of this stuff and I'm kinda interested in a JLA book that lacks the usual power trio.  And David Finch's art has always made me nostalgic for that Image era of the 90s.  I'll definitely pick up the book.

--Brad