Blackest Night No. 3

[madmarva]

If you've been waiting for a DC event to work, this is your book. Blackest Night works overtime on every level. Plot, Character, Oh my gosh moments, continuity, everything.

And the center spread in No. 3 gets down to business of explaining what's going on and what's at stake.

If you didn't like Final Crisis, this book might be for you because Johns spoons out the crux of what's going on in a straight-forward and entertaining manner and it dates back to the dawn of time. Any loose end is most likely there for a purpose.

Yes, this page confirms some of what folks have been guessing, but that doesn't ruin the tale by any means. Really the transparency enhances the story because it make this grand myth make sense on a universal and scientific level.

The art by Ivan Reis is fantastic, and Johns serves up some great character moments for Hal, Barry, Ray Palmer and the newer Firestorm named Jason.

And the 2 page of the Book of Black text piece is creepy and revealing, particularly about the Spectre.

Blackes Night is a fine piece of super hero story telling. If you've ever liked DC heroes, particularly the ones who laid the foundation for the silver-age, this series will make you happy.

[BlackKnight]

... But,.. But it's too Scary,.. & my Super Hero's Are Zombies ?.

[jwyblejr]

I've been wondering,has Tula shown up yet? There's someone you would think they would have brought back from the dead.

[The Toyroom]

Aaaarrrggghhhh! I can't wait to read this! You make it sound soooooo cool! Based on Issues #1 and 2 and the start of the cross-overs I say that this is the mini-series that Final Crisis SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

This one is hitting on all cylinders for me....Johns is weaving such a compelling story that the fact our heroes are "zombies" is secondary. What's at the forefront so far is the relationships these people have/had with each other and how everything is being turned around.

If you haven't geeked out an any of the confrontations between the good guys and the dearly departed who used-to-be good guys, then you're not a DC fan. How cool was it to see the Elongated Man and Sue Dibny acting like they should while ripping out Hawkman and Hawkgirl's hearts at the same time? Or Aquaman and his brood taunting Mera? Or J'onn J'onzz lamenting that people have forgotten he's as powerful as Superman?

Johns knows what is at the core of these characters and what makes them tick. And thankfully he does...it seems as though everyone has forgotten over the last several years what makes each of these characters great. Instead subjecting us to reboots and restarts with others wearing their mantle (I'm looking at YOU Jamie Reyes- Blue Beetle!).

People say that characters like the Ray Palmer Atom, Hawkman, Aquaman, etc. can't carry a book anymore....but I guarantee if Johns was spear-heading the project these titles would be stellar. It's not the characters that are bad.....it's poor writers and lazy writers that handle the characters badly.

[The Toyroom]

I've been wondering,has Tula shown up yet? There's someone you would think they would have brought back from the dead.

Issue #2....Tula, Dolphin and Aquaman try to take Mera and Aqualad (sorry, he's Aqualad to me, not Tempest...Tempest is the guy from the Doom Patrol OR the Atari Force ).....they're partially successful.

[madmarva]

Oh, if you think Black Lantern Sue and Ralph were fun in the last two issues, wait for Black Lantern Ronnie Raymond. Absolutely nasty.

We learn what the Indigo Tribe is all about.

Just a great, great conversation between Barry and Hal. Look at the way Reis drew Barry's eyes in this scene. You can see the fear on the face of a man who has outran death.

Yeah, this book makes feel like a 12-years-old again and soaking up Claremont and Byrne's X-Men, or Englehart's issues of JLA or Detective, just really cool stuff.

Johns has put a lot of heart into this book and your can really feel his love for these characters, even though he's running them through the wringer.

[The Toyroom]

Johns has put a lot of heart into this book and your can really feel his love for these characters, even though he's running them through the wringer.

The irony....considering our good heroes are getting their hearts ripped out....literally

[The Bat]

I'm TOTALLY hooked on this story!! I'm now buying all the Blackest Night Books except Superman.

[BlackKnight]

^^^ The 1st issue of the Superman Book imo, was greater than the Batman book was.

[The Bat]

^^^ The 1st issue of the Superman Book imo, was greater than the Batman book was.

Damm...you would have say that...now I've got to buy it!

[madmarva]

^^^ The 1st issue of the Superman Book imo, was greater than the Batman book was.

I agree. Robinson's work in that issue is the best Superman story he's written on his own since beginning to work on the character. I like the combination of Robinson and Rucka on World of Krypton, but the Superman title is the weakest book in the Superman line right now.


I honestly think I'd rather read about Lois Lane than Mon-El, and his Guardian doesn't do anything for me either.

Really only World of Krypton and Supergirl are that interesting. Looking forward to Superman Secret Origins next week to get a true Superman fix.

[BlackKnight]

I wanna read Superman Origin,... However, what keeps me from really wanting to buy the book,.. from the previews I read, it just seems like the Show Smallville come to comicbook form,.. & I really am not interest.

I really liked the Supergirl book, when they were running the Superwoman saga..., gotta say, the book has been lack luster for me the last 2 issues,.. & now with the every 3 month lets have a cross over in the Superman books going on,.. I am kinda bummed,.. because I don't seem to be getting all the Story, so I have no Idea what is going on anymore.

[The Toyroom]

I was enjoying the Supergirl book too during the Superwoman arc but now it's official....ALL of the Superman titles suck...with the exception of Blackest Night:Superman.

Robinson has been dragging down the Superman franchise with his interest in Guardian, Mon-El, Jimmy Olsen, Atlas.....cripes, everybody BUT The Man of Steel himself. Of course it doesn't help that Superman was taken off the stage in Superman and Action and the titles were given to supporting cast who have no business being supporting cast.

I agree that Lois Lane would make more sense than Mon-El....I'd rather read about Jimmy Olsen (maybe the brightest spot of Robinson's run so far) too. And the New Nightwing and Flamebird are bleech to me also. In fact ALL of this whole Kryptonians Unleashed angle is wearing thin.

The whole appeal of Superman is he's the last of his race....for the most part....I guess Supergirl and Krypto are OK.....but when there's this many Kryptonians running around and then you've got people (i.e. Superwoman) PRETENDING to be Kryptonians and then a Daxamite running around, it gets to be a bit too much IMO.

I'm sure this won't be status quo indefinitely.....they'll have to get rid of them eventually....shrink 'em back down and bottle 'em up or something. But in the meantime I can't justify buying books I now longer care about waiting for Superman to return to prominence in his own books (ala Batman).

That's why I'm looking forward to Secret Origin.....yeah for the most part we already now this story but it should be interesting to see what tweaks and spins Geoff Johns and Gary Frank put on the legend. Especially in light of the fact that the recent Birthright origin from a few years back has already been knocked out of continuity.

from the previews I read, it just seems like the Show Smallville come to comicbook form

If anything, I think this will be more in line with Superman: The Movie.....at least that seems the direction Johns was heading in on Action Comics before he got yanked from the book to do other stuff. And restoring Superboy/man to the Legion legend as well as Lex Luthor's relationship with Clark Kent seems to be a priority too.

[aquatroy]

Ivan Reis is the AWESOME SAUCE WITH EXTRA SAUCE AND DOUBLE THE AWESOME!

However, the explanation of how the various ring corp need to come together to stop the Black Lanterns was something I was hoping wouldn't happen. Prepare yourselves for the Corp Bear Stare!

[BlackKnight]

If anything, I think this will be more in line with Superman: The Movie.....at least that seems the direction Johns was heading in on Action Comics before he got yanked from the book to do other stuff. And restoring Superboy/man to the Legion legend as well as Lex Luthor's relationship with Clark Kent seems to be a priority too.

I just don't feel like dropping coin on another Smallville story staring Clark Kent, before the Cape. If those are just some sorta Flash back scenes,.. then I'm down,.. but that Direction for the character has no interest left for me. I wanna see some Timmi-verse style stories,.. like on his toon. .. Been reading some back issue lately of the Loeb/McGuinness arc,.. very much entertaining reads for me.

I love Gary Frank,.. so who knows, I might buy anyways.