Sagas

Aquaman #12 (DC)
writer: Geoff Johns
artist: Ivan Reis

Chapter Six of "The Others," in which Johns explores a different kind of mythology for Aquaman, who has been marginalized in pop culture as "the dude who talks to fish."  Unlike other creators, Johns doesn't just see the character as a fish out of water or connected to undersea kingdoms, but in connection to an intricate mythology that embraces arch foe Black Manta as never before and creates a web of allies that redefines Aquaman's greater scope.  The Others (not to be confused with the good folks from Lost) are a network of world superheroes unrelated to the Justice League.  As of this issue, Manta has killed two of them now in his efforts to lay claim to a scepter, one of seven relics of an older world destined to be possessed by Aquaman, but instead claimed by Manta.  Aquaman has been avoiding both the Others and his Justice League pals, not to mention Mera, his mate.  He thinks it's safer for everyone if he finally puts Manta behind him on his own.  After this issue, maybe everyone will understand?

Green Lantern Corps #12 (DC)
writer: Peter J. Tomasi
artist: Fernando Pasarin

Green Lantern #12 (DC)
writer: Geoff Johns
artist: Renato Guedes, Jim Calafiore

Green Lantern: New Guardians #12 (DC)
writer: Tony Bedard
artist: Tyler Kirkham

Green Lantern Annual #1 (DC)
writer: Geoff Johns
artist: Ethan Van Sciver, Pete Woods

I had a recommendation that the twelfth issue of the Green Lantern books (which also include Red Lanterns) were worth checking out.  As they're soon to launch into "Rise of the Third Army" (which the Annual previews), chances are that they were at least reaching a boiling point.  In Tomasi's Corps, the Guardians are building Guy Gardner's confidence up, because a cocky Guy is a careless Guy.  Guy Gardner is already the cockiest Green Lantern, human or otherwise.  In this issue, he completes a rescue of John Stewart, whom the Guardians have destabilized by once again playing on his fears of inadequacy.  The obstacle is the Alpha Lanterns, whom the Guardians previously created as Manhunter versions of their Green Lanterns.  The Manhunters, by the way, were the First Army, the Lanterns the second.  The Alpha Corps has been a plague since Final Crisis, a huge hassle that has proven time and again to be more trouble than it's worth.  In Bedard's New Guardians, Kyle Rayner (the fourth human to hold a green ring from Oa) finally gets to the bottom of troubles his fledgling alliance of members from the Blue Lanterns, Red Lanterns, Sinestro Corps, Indigo Tribe, Star Sapphire, and crazy Larfleeze (easily the best creation of the Geoff Johns era) has been experiencing, and why Ganthet originally made him the torchbearer, because he alone can wield the power of the whole spectrum.

Johns as head writer of the franchise gets to write the big guns, Hal Jordan and Sinestro, the two most famous Green Lanterns, and the ones the Guardians absolutely need out of the way in order to enact their plans for a Third Army that will unquestionably and effectively obey them (removing free will, and thus making the Green Lantern Corps obsolete, as it is entirely powered by will).  Jordan and Sinestro have been trying to handle Black Hand, emissary of the Black Lanterns, a quirk that introduced the zombie craze to DC.  In both the ongoing series and annual, this proves increasingly complicated.  From the Book of the Black, it's revealed that Jordan is meant to become the greatest Black Lantern (that's the shock of Green Lantern #12).  The Guardians facilitate their plans by tapping into the power of the imprisoned First Lantern, and use Black Hand to apparently permanently eliminate Jordan and Sinestro (that's from Green Lantern Annual).  All in all, big things continue to develop in this franchise.

Justice League #12 (DC)
writer: Geoff Johns
artist: Jim Lee, Ivan Reis, David Finch

Closing out the saga of the mad David Graves has some great features to it.  For one, each member of the League is forced to confront some hard truths about their pasts, loved ones they would rather still have in their lives.  There's a twist that may seem like it guts this element, but it's still worthwhile.  For another, we learn that Steve Trevor is in fact not dead, but that doesn't simplify his relationship with Wonder Woman, though at least on her end there's finally a reckoning and resolution.  For a third, well, there's been a lot of media attention to Wonder Woman's other relationship from this issue, the bond she realizes exists with Superman.  It's on the cover and everything.  Another development, meanwhile, sees Hal Jordan (Green Lantern, in a continuity that exists outside of the Green Lantern books, it should be noted) leaves the team, realizing that from the public perception side of things, he's something of a problem, having sparked a fight among several members of the team and thus helped everyone question its continuing effectiveness.  I've been surprised at the tepid reception to this series, since it's been a favorite of mine since the launch of the New 52 last fall.  It's precisely Johns' ability to see the humans in the mythic team that I've enjoyed so much, something Brad Meltzer previously tried to do (succeeding with Red Tornado but overlooking everyone else).  The series has arguably done far better working with the characters than throwing Grant Morrison-level threats at them.  Maybe that's something of what fans have lamented.  But the main thing is, Johns has managed to do something with the team that no one else has, and that's something you want for any creator trying to leave a mark on something as big as the Justice League.

Saga #s 4-6 (Image)
writer: Brian K. Vaughan
artist: Fiona Staples

As you may or may not recall, I previously wrote about this series in a roundup of significantly hyped new series from established creators, and it was my pick for the best of them.  I didn't realize how much I loved what I'd read until I had the chance to read more of it.  Three additional issues of Saga is more than enough for me to establish my love for this book.  It's a little like Grant Morrison doing Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  In books like Seaguy and The Filth, Morrison has certainly come close.  But not as close as Saga.  Vaughan has previously done stellar work in Y: The Last Man and Ex Machina, and has now come up with a third totally distinctive world that's impossible to overlook.  The work of Staples should not be overlooked, either.  Her art is astounding, from the iconic covers to interior art that surprises with every panel.  There are a number of plotlines converging so far, from the relationship between Marko and Alana to The Will and Prince Robot IV, both of whom are looking for the fugitives, like a version of Farscape that isn't just a tad precious.  Constantly evolving, it's the best science fiction epic to come along in a while.  Considering that this is a genre that's (at least to my mind) notoriously hard to pull off in comics, that's saying something.

The Shade #11 (DC)
writer: James Robinson
artist: Frazer Irving

Featuring a main character who is entirely ambiguous, neither good nor evil (though he's been known as the latter in the past), this has been a rare opportunity for comics to be existential, and Robinson has embraced it wholeheartedly.  This is the last issue that attempts to pretend that there was ever any other point than simply exploring The Shade, wrapping up a quick struggle with Egyptian gods recruited by the descendant who tried to have him killed at the start of the series.  Proving that he's smarter than them, our protagonist does what he does best, talk himself out of a problem, using his powers less as a means to get something achieved than because he has them.

Velvet Garden #1 (RC)
writer: Ryan Davis
artist: Gunther Goltz

Not a fantastic book, but worth checking out.  Based on an arcade game that was notoriously pulled from the general public for its destructive effects (Polybius, for the record), it's a mystery adventure I bought on the strength that it's from some local creators.

Wasteland #39 (Oni)
writer: Antony Johnston
artist: Sandy Jarrell

A fascinating glimpse into the mythology of the series.  Ten years (instead of the usual hundred) after the apocalyptic event known as the Big Wet, we meet Michael, Marcus, and Mary as children wandering through territory already on the savage side.  Michael is the Ruin Runner who's been the main protagonist of the book, while Marcus runs Newbegin with an iron fist, and has recently gained Mary as an ally.  All three of them (along with Abbi, our other protagonist, who is currently searching for the mythic A-Ree-Yass-I with Michael) have special abilities, though they don't each have all the same gifts.  That's one of the things that becomes a problem in this formative trio, not to mention the fact that both Marcus and Michael have an interest in Mary, whom they think is dead by the end of the issue.  As always, one of the best books being published today.