Tyler Parker's Comic Reviews

Reviewer For: IGN Reviews: 32
7.0Avg. Review Rating

Joe Bennett pulls art duties for this issue and pleases once again (last seen in issue #2). Bennett's art combined with some timely humor helped save this issue's center portion. Justice League: Generation Lost is definitely worth a look, and has the potential to be one of the more robust Brightest Day offerings.

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Overall, yes, the crossover is a success and has been a decently enjoyable read. Lamentably, that success is due more to the recent failures of prior x-events. It seems low expectations can indeed lend a helping hand.

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"Shed" was a pleasure to read and makes for a fine addition to the current run of ASM. If you missed out on this one, I suggest you find it on trade. This was not a typical tale of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

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Brightest Day is simply golden if you're a DC fanboy, but what's more impressive is its accessibility. Even if this is your first foray into DC material, Johns and Tomasi are crafting some riveting and compelling story arcs that will, no doubt, come full circle by the end of the series' run. I have a feeling you won't regret being a part of the experience.

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If you've never dipped into the cosmic realm of Marvel, now is a perfect time. Abnett and Lanning are producing another fine outing for their cosmic heroes, and this time they have Thanos in tow.

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The art change is my biggest gripe and the strengths of the issue far outweigh the weaknesses. Wells and Bachalo are putting together another memorable stint on Spider-Man and the conclusion will easily be one of my most anticipated titles when it hits.

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I was fairly confused by the end of the issue, but I'm not sure I care anymore. At one point I thought this mini-series might be worth a look in the trade department, but I'm not sure about that anymore either. There's always a possibility that Maberry and Eaton can put together an entertaining conclusion to DoomWar, but there's no changing the fact that the middle portion of the story has been fatally squandered.

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Second Coming has been fairly consistent thus far, but it'll need a solid concluding chapter to make it truly memorable. As far as I'm concerned, they haven't dropped the ball, but I'm yet to be completely astonished.

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There are definitely important reveals in this issue but, as always, Morison only plays a few of the cards in his hand. There is still plenty of mystery and intrigue to anticipate in the coming issues, including the arrival of El Penitente in Gotham City. I wouldn't miss it if I were you.

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This series has the propensity to deliver a ridiculously over-the-top story that can be enjoyable when it's self-aware - unfortunately, none of that is found in this issue and my faith that a worthwhile story can be delivered is dwindling. I can't make you not buy it, but don't say I didn't warn you. Despite my own inclinations, I'll stick with purely to see how absurdly bad it can get.

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All minor complaints aside, this is really shaping up to be a formidable conclusion to The Last Stand of New Krypton. Robinson had a rough time setting the players in motion, but he's doing a hell of a job letting the momentum kick in towards the end of the story. Let's hope he rides this hot streak through the final chapter of Last Stand.

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Look, this isn't the best concluding chapter I've read recently. It's not even the best book on the stands this week, but it is a darn enjoyable read if you've been following the Superman universe. I really have to give credit to the creative team for salvaging what I once believed to be a sinking ship. Despite some minor inconsistencies and nuisances, the conclusion of Last Stand comes together as a fun and entertaining read.

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I can definitely recommend waiting for the trade on this one. I have no doubts that the creative team can put together a satisfying conclusion to DoomWar, but it's unnecessary to drag it out six issues at the expense of the story and pacing. Hopefully the concluding half can make up for the slogging pace in the middle.

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This is another strong outing for Hal Jordan and company. The story makes several disjointed jumps and dips a bit in the middle, but Johns is clearly maneuvering pieces in preparation for what's to come and it's a lot of fun to watch. Brightest Day has yet to truly reveal itself, but I still can't help but enjoy the initial offerings of the series and hope that it lives up to its potential.

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One quick note of caution is that we are only 3 issues into a pretty long crossover. There is plenty of room left to go wrong - the remaining chapters of the event could fail to deliver on the promise of the first three installments, and the series might never reach a rewarding climax. This is still no reason to avoid giving the book a chance. Even if you aren't an X-fan, you shouldn't necessarily be running away from this series. It's offering some good thrills and, more importantly, it has paced itself well, leaving room for a potentially golden pay-off as the story closes.

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It really does seem like DC has no idea what to do with this book now that Geoff Johns has exited. They're currently trying as hard as they can to fill up 40 pages to help flesh out happenings from a mediocre event book. If this is the most the book has to offer, then I would rather it was cancelled. It's not painstakingly terrible to read, but it is banally pointless. Let's hope they have impending plans of a cohesive direction for this title once The Last Stand of New Krypton wraps up.

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I've harped on the issue enough. It has a few decent character beats that mostly involve Congo Bill (who has taken on the comedic relief role). It's still, however, hard to crack a smile in the middle of a devastatingly banal comic. If you're a hardcore JLA fan then I can't stop you from grabbing the issue, but this definitely shouldn't be added to any pull lists.

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I really hope that Krul can start telling fresh Arsenal and Green Arrow tales, but it doesn't appear that it will be happening in this mini-series. I'll continue to give it a chance, but if Roy goes back to being a full-fledged drug abuser then count me out. Even of you are an enthusiast of the emerald archer family, I'd steer clear and try the new Green Arrow ongoing instead.

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The story and art were both solid for this tie-in. If you're a fan of either Thor or Siege, there's no reason to miss this book. It's a welcome supplement to the core Siege event.

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I have a feeling that these three issues will feel like something of a waste after all is said and done. It's really a no win situation for the reader. If you picked up the book for the Siege elements, then you quickly realize that there is no sense of urgency or weight to the story. Norman has already been taken down (in the events of Siege #3) and a new, greater threat has emerged in the form of Sentry. Who cares about the Thunderbolts fighting the Mighty Avengers? On the other hand, if you were looking for a great Thunderbolts story, you were robbed of a potentially interesting story and instead given a run-of-the mill tie-in issue bordering on tedium.

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Overall, I was impressed with the issue. While it wasn't the most critical issue to hit the stands this week, it sure turned out to be a lot of fun… in a deranged and murderous kind of way.

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All in all, the issue is a bit of a mixed package. I can't necessarily recommend the book, as I'm still not sure what it's about. At the same time, I can't denounce it either – it potentially holds a lot of promise. Let's hope that the next issue will show its true colors and we can decide for good whether or not we want to be a part of DoomWar.

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There are a few elements that work in this book, including a great (albeit predictable) Superman moment. The short length of the mini-series will work in favor of the narrative as well, as evident by this first issue. The action and characters have to move the plot along rather quickly as compared to the pace of WONK. Trust me, you shouldn't lose any sleep at night if you're missing this "event," just make sure you wake back up in time for JMS to tackle Big Blue in a few months.

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Overall, I was perfectly happy with this installment of Ultimate Spider-Man, and frequently found myself smiling at certain panels – I just hope the book gets back to focusing on Spidey rather than his sometimes distracting, one-dimensional friends. After all, I am reading the book for Peter Parker, not his counterparts.

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Overall, it's incredibly disappointing to see that Adventure Comics has already gone south, being relegated to a vehicle for prologues of upcoming events - especially considering the bright start that Johns and Manapul gave the series. If you've been rigorously following the events of the Superman books, then feel free to grab this issue for the sake of completion, just bear in mind that it's completely unnecessary. Honestly, this book should have been offered as a freebie on free comic book day – it's definitely not worth the $4 price it's demanding.

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The book is expertly constructed and paced, but it only has a chance to tease the story and certain characters before wrapping up with a cliffhanger. If there's one flaw to the book, it's that it isn't able to deliver more in the first issue. It almost feels unfair to give it a rating on the first issue alone, as the sum of the parts will probably end up creating a much more impactful experience. It really gives rise to the great debate about reading comics in trade form versus reading monthly, on an issue-to-issue basis. I have a feeling this story will come together to create a better read in trade form, but if you're searching for something new to add your pull list, look no further – First Wave is quality story-telling and a fine addition to DC's roster.

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It's always nice to be surprised by a book in a good way. Hopefully Krul can make a habit out of writing engaging Green Arrow tales and help move Ollie back up the sales charts. By no means is the issue perfect, but if you're a Green Arrow fan then it should give you your fill of both Ollie and Blackest Night. If nothing else, it has me excited to see this creative team back on the book next month for the start of a new arc.

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All complaints seem fairly miniscule as the issue comes to close, and you realize how impressive the creative team has been over the course of Blackest Night. Tomasi and Gleason have really embraced the zany (Sapphire tether construct anyone?), over-the-top nature of the series and twisted it into something insanely enjoyable. As Blackest Night draws closer to its finale, expect the different stories across the multiple titles to converge - this issue concludes with an awesome setup for the final leg of the Blackest Night event. The next two months should prove to be exhilarating for Green Lantern fans, and Green Lantern Corps will be an integral part of the experience.

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All in all, it's tough to recommend the series more. Just when you think you've seen everything the Batman universe has to offer, Morrison is able to inject fresh and unique story arcs into the Batman mythos. If you jumped off the bandwagon after Final Crisis and R.I.P, then you are really missing the entire scope of Morrison's plans for the Batman legacy.

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These are really just minor complaints in light of the big picture. In reality, Ellis and Kurth executed an original and self-contained take on Ultimate Tony Stark in the span of just 4 issues. Beyond that, the series has gorgeous art, exceptional dialogue, and an appealing premise. If you're a fan of Tony Stark, this is right up your alley.

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Not everything works here, however, and even Rucka can't help elevate the material to something more than trivial. Nothing new and fresh is added to the Blackest Night experience – this deficiency has bogged down the other tie-ins as well. The overall experience is too fractured and haphazard for the reader to really develop an emotional investment in the story. The result is a decently enjoyable extension of the Blackest Night books - even if it isn't a memorable one.

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It is worth noting the contributions by Art Adams who has a distinctly detailed style. The pencils are incredibly sharp and help to bump up the quality of an otherwise bland first issue. Adams' pencils certainly breathe more life into the characters than the story and dialogue do. While the jury is still out on the series, it isn't off to a very promising start. Without an intriguing premise or deeper characters, the book is destined to lose interest fast. Hopefully the next issue will be able to offer the reader something more in the way of premise and characterization.

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