Yet another issue of Leah Williams’ Power Girl with no Power in it. Seriously, the titular character is so dispirited and woeful it’s a shame to read as a longtime fan of the character. The issue is a wordy mess with way too much pages devoted to Omen in the beginning. Power Girl fans do not care about Omen, their friendship is rooted in trauma bonding and none of the characters act right for their friendship to seem genuine. The main plot this issue is Power Girl self-loathing and relating to a lion, it’s incredibly sluggish. Tie it in with the off characterization, it’s just not fun to read. This is a misery comic, Williams tries to use Omen as a comedic character, but the jokes don’t land. Superman is snide towards Power Girl, which just adds another character that’s mischaracterized. Williams was not the right choice for a Power Girl series. Leah Williams time on Power Girl has been a waste of utterly pointless changes to the character. No character here is recognizable, the main story is nondescript. Money is better spent elsewhere for this issue, this comic is a waste.

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The writing is not bad but this is not Alan Scott. How can you explain Molly and Alan's children?

I liked some parts of this issue, but it’s essentially just Gay / Transgender trauma porn that felt irrelevant to what was introduced in the first issue. Alan’s stint in Arkham added nothing to the character that wasn’t there before. The time frames in this comic continue to be disorderly and there’s a lack of action. Positives are that Sheridan and the artists capture the vintage 40s vibes perfectly. The train surrounded by flames was ravishing to look at, just an awesome splash page. Alan opening up to his friend was cool too, and some landmark Gotham locations were drawn well. more

If the first issue had been promising, the second one fails to live up to expectations. In effect, the story here is an extended flashback littered with retcons that does not move the story forward in any capacity -- the present day part of the comic is entirely static, and focused on Alan telling Doiby his story. I'm a great enjoyer of character studies but even I'd go as far as to say that this is one of the big no-no's in a six-issue miniseries; there's simply not enough space to be able to afford this kind of departure from the actual plot.

Structural issues aside, the flashback itself could tell a touching story if the Starheart's prophecy hadn't been so fundamentally altered, now having brought nothing but misfortune even during the 'life' prophecy. It seems odd to me that the original Billings had had a happy ending in every version of this tale, but Billie is granted a thoroughly horrific fate instead. For longtime readers, it may be a step too far from the morally neutral all-powerful force Mart Nodell & Bill Finger had written about all the way back in All-American Comics #16. Jimmy Henton being a stand-in for Johnny Ladd also rather cheapens the story that had been told in the Green Lantern 80th Anniversary or DC Pride 2021. more

This should be an Elseworlds series: "DC Elseworlds: Persecution of Green Lantern as Gay Man." Would rate this a 7 as an Elseworlds story, but 3 (to be generous) as DC Comics canon story. But this is not an Elseworlds story, althought there is no reason this could not have been an Elseworlds publication, as done to address other persecution of people (e.g., "Red Son.") I believe Tim Sheridan has a good comics-based narrative on USA abuses against gay and transexual individuals in 1930s-40s, and certainly no honest person could state that such persecution is over even today in 2023. Such persecution against gays is unquestionably cruel, sick, and really "obscene." But that is not why people went to buy the latest issue of "Green Lantern Alan Scott." Be upfront about topic and Elseworlds to be fair to customers, e.g., "DC Elseworlds: Persecution of Green Lantern as Gay Man."

Some specifics. In issue #1, in May 1941, Hoover is threating Green Lantern to join JSA. But in DC canon GL Alan Scott appeared with JSA in March 1941 (really December 1940), and GL Alan Scott had nationwide, anti-Nazi mission with JSA in April 1941, in All-Star Comics #3 and #4, respectively. (All BEFORE Tim Sheridan's version of GL's talk with Hoover.)

GL Alan Scott joined military in 1942 (Green Lantern #4), and was not blue discharged "blue ticketed" out in 1939/40, per this GL issue #2 by Tim Sheridan. Tim also has not done his history research (again). The real focus of the USA military blue discharge against gays in the USA military was the result of a policy in 1944 (not 1939/40). Those USA military gays persecuted with blue discharge definitely were not allowed to rejoin military, in fact they were even prevented from gaining veteran's benefits. So this major retcon of GL Alan Scott no longer has him joining the Army in 1942, fighting the Nazis, etc., which were all part of the FOUNDATION of the Green Lantern character and especially the JSA's history. (And rewrites USA history while its at it.)

Alan Scott was a railway engineer BEFORE (not AFTER) the military, which Tim tries to reverse to throw some semplance of consistency in the retcon. But it is absolutely a retcon of GL Alan Scott's GL character. As everyone knows, Alan Scott went on to be a radio engineer, after his railroad days. His radio engineering skills were a KEY part of Alan Scott's ability to fight the Nazis during WWII. (On radio engineer, think "computer engineer" as relevant comparison).

Tim Sheridan rightly wants to point out the horrific abuses to gay and transexual human beings in USA during this timeframe, and I agree with doing that 1000%. When he wants to create an Elseworlds GL story for that, I am good with that. But just randomly rewriting GL Alan Scott's origin for canon is absolutely not necesssary to do that. And it is counterproductive in other ways. Let us also be clear, as obscene as USA medical acts against gays were, they were not literally marching them to the gas chambers like Nazi Germany. So GL and JSA's fight against Nazis is also a really essential part of the DC Comics hero history.

I think the new story is moving, sad, important, necessary to be read. Also **NOT** a "Green Lantern" story. We need to hear about this and other (continuing) abuses by USA. Writers need a freedom like DC Elseworlds to tell those stories. We should not have to chose between Bill Finger/ Martin Nodell's Green Lantern origin or Tim Sheridan's Green Lantern origin. Tim should have a platform to tell his story as part of DC Elseworlds.


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It's disappointing that we continue to get broken Batman, the same status quo it's been for the past 5 years. Not interested in seeing him continue his descent past rock bottom.

In Batman, writers now write revised stories by revising the stories of past writers. This is getting very boring, I don't know if it's the author himself or the editors, but they need to stop this repetition. And again Joker, isn't that enough? We need something new in Batman and in Detective Comics!

There is no bright idea or anything new in this story. It's been going bad since Failsafe and repeating past stories. God!.. Batman jumped from space to earth without any extra protective gear and fell to his knees safe. A human hero did this in DC Comics. Does DC want to make our non-superhuman hero Batman, a superhero? Batman is one of the rare human characters in DC Comics who does not have superpowers, and let's leave it that way. Stop it now and try something new. more

The art is good and the plot isn’t so egregious that I get eye strain from rolling them. But I did not follow the Gotham War because I didn’t have the time or money. Well, I had the time, and to be fair Tupperware money. What I didn’t have was the patience for a story built on a false premise.

So I am totally unfamiliar with the current status quo. Apparently Bruce has alienated his family so much that they let him live alone on a fake identity. He has a small apartment and turns off the lights and talks to the toaster. He is hunting for the Joker and eventually finds him. They tussle and we see Zur An Rah. Bruce’s psyche battles against itself, again.

This recent arc seems like a distillation of 40 years of Miller Batman, and man I am tired of it. The Batman family apparently abandons Bruce. There is no intervention, Clark and et all don’t help. Bruce’s magic hand plays no role in anything.

DC keeps writing stories that should have massive consequences for Batman and D C at large, but everything slips back to “normal” again and the cycle repeats. It’s boring and thanks to trades and internet sites with the full history of Batman available, it becomes obvious.

DC has decided to skip the hard work of writing original stories in some sort of “dark” homage to the cult of Frank Miller. I am tired of it.

But I could be wrong. Batman is their cash cow. His books are their top sellers. Telling them to write to my tastes would be financial suicide in a diminishing comics market. Grr. You kids stay off my lawn. more

They basically hate The Batman character. Let's be clear. This was really a zero rating.
And this was NOT ONLY a Tini Howard story, also a Chip Zdarsky story.
And let us really NOT FORGET Teflon editor Ben Abernathy. Ben has been involved in one train wreck after another with Batman. And DC Comics expects fans just to fork out more cash endlessly.
If you are TIRED of the DC Comics' Batman hate - STOP BUYING THEM.
Don't give DC Comics another dollar for 6 months. THAT is only thing that will get their attention. more

Es de esas cosas tan malas que agradeces aún que sea esta conclusión tan mediocre. En un momento determinado se vio venir soluciones fáciles para la unión de la familia sí pudieron tener buenos puntos para un buen drama todo esto fue echado a la basura y un sinsentido total con un punto de vista totalmente irracional y estúpido Tal como lo ha sido por este evento. Por otro lado el arte es horroroso por dónde lo miro no encuentro ni la construcción de personajes ni el respeto hacia ellos un elimina buena historia nada, Es una escultura completamente vacía y los bienes haciendo desde hace más de un año more

I really would like to know how some of reviews of this is 10 out of 10 because there was nothing literally nothing right with this issue it didnot answer a single question Bruce bailed on everyone and well said the batfamily responsibility is no longer on me and well guess what he is gonna be isolated because he wanted it himself great just great thus issue really doesn't deserve more than a 1

The entire event sucked. 2 stars for it being over, nothing else.

I am giving this a 1, only because I can't give it a negative number. You can be a member of, advocate, and ally to the LGBTQ community without reducing gay superheroes to gay stick figures. Retcon of Green Lantern Alan Scott as a victim and of JSA as propaganda for FBI, using "Elseworlds" style story for new DC canon. Total retcon of GL Alan Scott from All-American Comics #16, intended to introduce a Soviet Green Lantern. The retcon then refers you to "DC Pride through the Years" on Alan Scott "Past Prologue" ($9 on Amazon digital) also from Tim Sheridan (June 2023), where Tim Sheridan started his retcon story.

In Green Scott Alan Scott's original origin story, All-American Comics #16 had Alan Scott as a train engineer, which was on a train that crashed off of a bridge due to a criminal engineer Albert Dekker competing for the job, who blew up the Dekker Bridge. His colleague "Jimmy," was killed. In this retcon, Alan Scott is a Navy engineer (remember when everyone didn't work for the U.S. Government?), capturing a "Crimson Flame," that results in Alan's lover "Johnny Ladd" being killed. The rest of Alan Scott's origin retcon is not yet described, but the end is Alan Scott strapped down for electric shock therapy.

Imagine Superman origin retcon not from Krypton, but bitten by radioactive dog. Imagine Batman origin retcon not from Crime Alley and murder of parents, but getting power ring from an alien. If not "Elseworlds," your natural reaction would be WTH?

But with GL Alan Scott, his character as a courageous superhero does not matter, rather than just using him today for LGBTQ advocacy. Since this is no longer about superheroes, but only about advocacy. But here is what Tim Sheridan misses (and it is MAJOR), it is not "advocacy" when you reduce Alan Scott to a gay caricature, rather than as a human being with diverse values and goals in fighting for Justice for society.

To be CLEAR and candid, I am writing this as a gay man, and YES it none of your business. But since this is an advocacy comic, not a hero comic, I want to be up front about that. And Alan Scott was more than a cardboard cut-out for his sexuality. He was a selfless hero for people of all kinds. Because Alan Scott believed in JUSTICE.

I agree with Tim Sheridan that it is good to see a gay major superhero. But Mr. Sheridan could have done that WITHOUT the total retcon of GL Alan Scott, and by also not forgetting the "superhero" part of "gay superhero." It does a disservice to the courage of those who stood against persecution and were inspired by GL Alan Scott and JSA during the days in literal war against fascism. If you don't know the 1930s/1940s era, then you should not be writing about it. The reason WHY there was growth of the "mystery man" character in 1930s was the growth of organized crime. Mr. Sheridan either does not care, or does not know this, in his focus on sci-fi comics and political advocacy. He doesn't know what he is writing about.

The idea that gay human beings are parody figures is insulting. That if you are gay you can't answer the door with clothes on. That if you are gay, all that matters is your sexuality above all other aspects of Justice and society. Whether it is 1936 or 2023, it is wrong to make gay human beings as a caricature, simply for the purpose of advocacy. Since we are no longer discussing a "superhero" comic, but an advocacy comic, let's be clear, it is insulting to be a caricature. It is degrading and disrespectful to the diversity that people really have as human beings. But political activism does not care about any of that. It is the diversity in human beings that keeps us actually fighting for JUSTICE. Because the victim of persecutors and oppression are not just one identity group; they could be ANY of our identity groups. And it is the battle and campaign for JUSTICE which is the lead in comics on heroes and heroines.

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Great story if you have never heard of Wonder Woman and have no idea who she is. If you are the rest of the world, at least the good side is it is boring, which is probably the best you will get from CIA's Tom King.

So this was a character shattering and terribly written plot. Tini clearly no longer cares.

Start off with Batman. Who thought it was a good idea to have him act like an overly hormonal 12 year old? He starts off crying on a roof top and needs to be comforted by Catwoman and is deeply upset that they might be enemies. You might argue, well he is being controlled by zur en arrh, but Zur doesnt really do that. Zur is crazy, unhinged, not a whimpering child. This is not Batman. This is some lame character that I dont want to read about. Also he makes out what Lady Clayface looking like Catwoman? Did I read that right? He couldn't tell the difference when he was making out with her? (The same Catwoman who makes out with Batman runs non-stop to Savages location, and is beheaded as Clayface, so its the same person unless there is something super indicating they swapped out). Batman is written like a fool.

Also, while I did laugh at it, Batman giving Jason Todd a piggy back is hilarious in the bad way. Like did the artist not care at all or were they told to do it that way? Who would have him carry him out of rubble that way? It honestly feels like we are at the point where I cant tell when Chip, Tini and the artists are just trolling/dont give a crap, or if they really are bad at what they do. Shame.

As for Catwoman herself. She is written as some plot armour, all knowing OP character. She somehow knows of Savages plot, even though she never directly heard it from him (Remember the Catwoman who heard it, was Clayface), so unless Savage just let Clayface run away and tell Catwoman (making him really out of character dumb), she shouldnt know this. She just 'knows'.

This issue has no flow, action for the sake of action, and non-stop plot holes.

This event in its entity is a very low point for the Bat family. I have no idea how long the damage it has done will lasts. more

This is the third time Selina has seen Bruce break down in front of her and only this time does she display any sort of care or empathy. The difference between now and the previous times is that the plot finally allows for her to react as her character is supposed to react, rather than in an unnatural way that serves solely to move a poorly constructed storyline forward.

Fight scene with Scandal was pathetic, art is meh, dialogue/prose is subpar. Not the worst issue of this event but still bad. The Bat editors need to be fired for allowing this pathetic excuse of a storyline and such gross mishandling of characters to exist. more

🤢

It's a dumb story. The worst part is that it is not close to being done. They are going to drag this nonsense on forever. So find something else to read, and there is some good Batman fanfic out there... or make up your own Batman fanfic and graphics. The heck with DC's nonsense. Make your own stories and your own Batman graphics. You really don't need them anymore, let them get a job doing something more relevant to their talents. I am sure there is a horror comic or WWE comic that needs Tini Howard's "writing skills." Stop paying her. more

Let me be clear, I am part of LGBTQ community. Let's be clear and say what no else has the HONESTY to say, you can be queer and still realize this is absolutely ridiculous. Being gay does not give you some unassailable "right" to write ridiculous, bad, out-of-context, and not even fanfic worthy stories. In other series, we have Nightwing joining the pro-crime crowd. There is no "right to be dumb" part of being gay. This story is STILL absurd. The cover is STILL ridiculous. DC has stopped writing anything remotely about Justice and only wants soap opera romance, sci-fi, and horror. It is as though DC Comics HQ has literally been abandoned, and any random person that wanders in gets to write stories about IP that they have had for 80+ years. Maybe "Anarchy Comics" at this point? more

Somehow this comic won the Eisner over Daredevil.

Art is fabulous. Writing, eh. Robert Venditti is massaging the Sandman character to fit his plot, not his plot to fit the Sandman character. To those who love the Sandman Wesley Dodds, the overall story concept is interesting, but massaging the Sandman character to make the plot fit is jarring. The idea about using sleep gas to put masses of foreign military troops is ludicrous. It just is, and not just because the Colonel character says so. Sandman Wesley Dodds was not a pacifist by any means, but actually joined the U.S. Navy and was an expert machine gunner killing Axis forces. One of the co-creators of the Sandman Allen Bert Christman was gunned down by Axis forces, joining the U.S. Navy in 1939 (before this Venditti story takes place), and part of the Navy’s “Neutrality Patrol” in 1939, then joining the American Volunteer Group's "Flying Tigers." Both in All-Star Comics and in Adventure Comics, Sandman Wesley Dodds had no qualms about killing foreign enemy soldiers, as was well-documented, and anyone can see for themselves. But Vendetti wants to create a sloppy Wesley Dodds, willing to leave his home and secrets involving life and death, readily unguarded. Wesley Dodds may not have been Bruce Wayne, but he was a LOT more prepared and lot more thoughtful than that. I guess we will see the next issue. Venditti is riding off of fan love of Sandman Wesley Dodds for 80 years. He needs to start doing his homework. more

Halala... action, surprises, emotion, it's all there... but it doesn't fit. Because...by trying to deconstruct Batman (again), there's not much left of DC's great, ultra-capable hero. He's in pieces (again). You'd think it was a contest. Or it's in the brief. Who can best scuttle Batman's psyche (again)? Chip Zdarksy sure can, but why? There was a time when Batman was there to serve the story. Now, he's the story! all the time. At once the narrator, the villain, the victim, the reason, the cause, the consequence, the center of it all. There's no more hero serving his city in the shadows, no more genius. There's an ogre with shaky sanity (again and again) who is the alpha and omega of all storytelling. If you look closely, there's no story. Or so little, it's sad.

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Poor writing and bad characterization - a Howard default - continues full force in this feature. It hurts to have Selina's character destroyed in this way in this event. Faced with issues like this, I understand why people stop reading comic books.

There's an interesting story wrapped up in the predictable Tom King go to tropes. Once again another story seemingly born of his participation in Iraq with the CIA. Once again another ludicrously over the top incident takes place and we're left with the fall out. Side not I'm not sure why Amanda Waller and the Suicide Squad aren't part of the teams gathering the Amazon's seems like better choices.

I'll still with it for a bit, but I'm skeptical he can stick the landing. more

I just threw up in my mouth a little when I thought this but.....I miss Cloonrad. How is Tom King considered a top writer??? This could have been decent if he had some editors to rein him in but we all know modern comics don't think editors are useful. This entire issue was one giant eye roll. Once again I'll be Dianaless until King finishes his run cause I ain't reading this.