Well, that was a lot to get through this week. Honestly, Marvel, next time "Final Crisis" drops, do us all a favor and don't flood the market with top titles. Sure, you get your money anyway, but I just have too much to read before getting on here to post.
The Marvel book I was most looking forward to this week was Captain America #39, a story which I really thought might be the issue of the year, seeing as Bucky was going to come face-to-face with impostor Rogers. I was very wrong.
It's not that this issue is bad -- far from it -- it just doesn't stand out from Ed Brubaker's magnificent run. And, it doesn't help that Rob De La Torre was filling in on art this month. All in all, this is just another issue moving the story along, mixed in with a very cool scene featuring Agent 13. The only major problem I had with it was, Brubaker kind of wastes that big face-to-face moment I mentioned here, opting to plunk it right down on the last page of the issue instead of spending some time on it and hitting the right emotional beats. Oh well, issue #40 should be stellar, at least.
The Marvel book that really dropped my jaw this week was X-Men Legacy #213, featuring Mr. Sinister wreaking some post-humonous havoc. All those puzzle pieces leading to Nathaniel Essex come together in this issue, and they equate to a very intriguing prospect for Sinister's possible resurrection. I don't want to spoil it here, but the function by which dead Sinister is looking to accomplish the feat is completely original and really shows that Mike Carey has a strong grasp on how the different characters in the X-Universe think. 'Ole Chuck sure is taking a beating in this series!
Unfortunately, Uncanny X-Men #499 was nowhere near as good, a story that felt utterly rushed in order to fit the ending into the time-frame leading up to the big milestone next month. I was actually really enjoying this book, due to both the light-hearted story and the strong art over the past few months since "Messiah CompleX," but the story came to an all-too quick blink and you miss it resolution here, and the art (in the San Francisco portions at least) was sub-par.
But, all that rushing does set us up for the big issue #500 next month, in which we get to see what this grand new direction for the X-Men is going to be... you know, again.
From DC, Green Lantern #32 was an issue to remember, featuring Hal Jordan's first meeting with Sinestro. And, though it continues in that "Secret Origin" arc so many have questioned the need for, this is one issue that feels completely fresh and entirely of Geoff Johns' influence. While there is plenty to love here, from the Hector Hammond sections, to the Carol Ferris character moments, to Sinestro's just plain cold coolness, I think what I enjoyed most in the issue was the voice Geoff Johns put in Hal Jordan's mouth. This is a very different character than the Hal we know now. He's cocky, and brash, and a know-it-all ... only back then he really had no right to be. Sinestro gives him a good old fashioned lesson in humility here, and it only makes me more stoked for next month's installment.
Teen Titans #60 wrapped up the "Terror Titans" arc well enough, and as expected, the good guys came out on top. That said, I was really unhappy with Sean McKeever's writing here. Over the last few issues, he's shown Ravager to be more than a team player, he's shown her to be a powerhouse of a good guy, who has really turned her evil ways around. And, over the last year or so, her teammates have taken notice. So, why then did the story end as it does here with -- SPOILER ALERT -- Cassie and Robin agreeing Rose needed to be kicked off the team and Rose running away after overhearing that? Hell, she was the main character keeping my interest in the book, after Cassie and Tim have gone and gotten very boring of late.
And yes, I know she is going to star in the "Terror Titans" mini-series coming up, but it all just feels so fake and forced. I don't know, this book just isn't as fun as it has been in the good old recent days of Johns' writing. And if it's not going to at least be fun, then it can at least make sense. Right now, the stories are just so-so in both regards. Hopefully Ravager will get her due in the new mini.
Finally, a quick note on Trinity #4... Our heroes are still dealing with Konvict, and he seems as powerful as ever. I don't feel like anything has happened in this book since the mid-part of the second issue. I said it last week and my fears are only growing... is this book's story going to be horribly decompressed to stretch over 52 issues?
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