Archive for January, 2008

Justice Society Of America Vol. 1: The Next Age

January 14, 2008 | Trades

Justice Society Of America Vol. 1: The Next Age Geoff Johns, Dale Eaglesham, Art Thibert, Ruy Jose DC Comics $23.99/$19.99 US (Hardcover) **** (out of five) Nothing freshens up a classic franchise like a little new blood. The Justice Society Of America, a team with its roots in the Second World War and featuring several key DC Comics’ heroes from that era (don’t ask why they’re not old and wrinkled, it’s a long story), are facing an unprecedented crisis: Someone wants them, and every one of their blood relatives, dead. OK, so maybe that idea isn’t exactly new, but the problem is that this time the bad guys are actually succeeding and several descendents of classic costumed crusaders are wiped out before the JSA can even act. Fortunately, the Golden Age trio of The Flash, Green Lantern and Wildcat has been busy gathering allies and retooling this family unit at the heart of the DC Universe, featuring classic heroes like: Hawkman, Power Girl, Sandman, Stargirl and Hourman, along with all-new members Liberty Belle, Damage, Starman and Cyclone. The question is: Can even this great assemblage of heroism stop the bloodshed before the mysterious mastermind behind it all can wipe out the JSA’s legacy forever? Writer Geoff Johns once again displays his genius for creating compelling new characters and, aided impressively by outstanding Canadian artist Dale Eaglesham, has launched this new era of the JSA in stirring fashion.

Tech Jacket

January 14, 2008 | Trades

Tech Jacket Robert Kirkman, E.J. Su Image Comics $14.99 US (Paperback) *** (out of five) Once upon a time in the backwoods of Kentucky, there was a young comic book writer who released three new series. Two of them would go on to become critically acclaimed and commercially successful and lead the writer from obscurity to fame (such as it is in the comic book world), while the third would be euthanized after just six issues. The writer in question is Robert Kirkman, the successful titles are The Walking Dead and Invincible and the now-deceased series is Tech Jacket. When the three series are put side by side, it’s easy to say that this series is the one that deserved the axe. It’s not that this Iron-Man-meets-The-Last-Starfighter premise of a boy who becomes bonded with a suit of armour and is blasted into space to aid an alien race isn’t good, but it just doesn’t grab you the way Kirkman’s two surviving series do. It’s neither as gripping as The Walking Dead or as witty as Invincible. All that being said, the writer states in both his intro and in the included sketchbook that he’d like to return to this character one day and it would certainly be interesting to see what a more mature and self-assured Kirkman could do with this premise now. Only time will tell.

Welcome To Tranquility Book 1

January 14, 2008 | Trades

Welcome To Tranquility Book 1 Gail Simone, Neil Googe Wildstorm/DC Comics $23.99/$19.99 US (Paperback) *** 1/2 (out of five) They fought the good fight (or the bad fight in some cases), but now their time is done. So where do super-powered beings go when their days of battling evil are done? Why, Tranquility, of course. Somewhere in America is a small town called Tranquility where the battle between good and evil is put in the past and “special” people can settle down and raise a family. It’s as serene as it’s name promises until the gentlemanly detective, Mr. Articulate is run through with his own swordcane — in a diner full of people. Stranger still, nobody saw the crime committed, not even a news crew in town to film a feature. Now it’s up to the town’s sheriff, Thomasina Lindo, to solve the crime — even if it means turning over rocks on some very unpleasant business for some Tranquility residents. Writer Gail Simone brings one of her passion projects to print and the result is an entertaining whodunit full of vibrant characters that sets the stage nicely for the rest of this series to unfold.