Green Lantern No. 1
Issue One: The Musings of a Grumpy Old Man
“Am I getting old or are things really getting worse?� That’s what I was asking myself as I read through the first issue of the new Green Lantern series last night. Call me crazy, but when I pay $4.75 for a comic book (nearly four times as much as I paid for my last issue of The Green Lantern Corps eighteen years ago), I expect a complete story at the very least, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask that it be a good story as well. Instead, what I got was several pages of backstory, a few pages of mildly intriguing action, a few more pages of melodrama, followed by a conclusion that felt like it was chosen at random from a reject pile of B movie sub-plots.
I’m sorry if I sound like somewhat of a curmudgeon (I know what you’re thinking, “Somewhat?!�), but I’ve worn a hole in my head from scratching it so much. Who the heck is approving these storylines? This is the launch of a major new series for DC, and this is the best they could come up with? Youch! Who's in charge of hiring writers over there? Please sign me up!
My experience reading this issue wasn't completely negative though. In fact, it compelled me to pull out my complete collection of Who’s Who last night and start flipping through it in search of some overlooked DC heroes and villains that I could bring together in an exciting new series or graphic novel. I’m too late for this year’s ComicCon in San Diego, but I can promise you that I’ll be there next year, script in hand, ready to make my pitch.
Perhaps that $4.75 wasn't such a waste after all....
“Am I getting old or are things really getting worse?� That’s what I was asking myself as I read through the first issue of the new Green Lantern series last night. Call me crazy, but when I pay $4.75 for a comic book (nearly four times as much as I paid for my last issue of The Green Lantern Corps eighteen years ago), I expect a complete story at the very least, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask that it be a good story as well. Instead, what I got was several pages of backstory, a few pages of mildly intriguing action, a few more pages of melodrama, followed by a conclusion that felt like it was chosen at random from a reject pile of B movie sub-plots.
I’m sorry if I sound like somewhat of a curmudgeon (I know what you’re thinking, “Somewhat?!�), but I’ve worn a hole in my head from scratching it so much. Who the heck is approving these storylines? This is the launch of a major new series for DC, and this is the best they could come up with? Youch! Who's in charge of hiring writers over there? Please sign me up!
My experience reading this issue wasn't completely negative though. In fact, it compelled me to pull out my complete collection of Who’s Who last night and start flipping through it in search of some overlooked DC heroes and villains that I could bring together in an exciting new series or graphic novel. I’m too late for this year’s ComicCon in San Diego, but I can promise you that I’ll be there next year, script in hand, ready to make my pitch.
Perhaps that $4.75 wasn't such a waste after all....
6 Comments:
HI GUYS!! Hi Kevin! It's me again, after a good few weeks' hiatus!!
It's Liz K.!! Folks!!
SORRY about my unannounced absence! I've never forgotten about you guys, since your site and your personalities first knocked me for six... (as we British do say!)
SORRY if you e-mailed me asking me where I was and I didn't reply! I don't know if I got mailed by you or Maurice yet... See, I've now got 3 mailboxes, and they're all full! I have to unsubscribe from certain automatic mailing functions!
I recently joined another (US Democrat) forum, ITT (In These Times), which has some pretty good articles, each one of which is followed by an open forum in really teeny writing - I think I've wrecked my eyes on it - hopefully I won't need glasses, because I've never yet worn them (except for one thing: reading music!!)
Everything else is holding up not too badly.. My health is not bad, maybe better than expected - yours too I hope?
Anyway, the thing about this ITT is, that if you post one thing in one forum - and they have dozens - you immediately get something in your e-mail box whenever anyone posts anything on there! And to stop it, you have to go back and click links on virtually EVERY e-mail... and my box has filled up with dozens/hundreds, just in a few days... if I want to find any of your e-mails, I'm going to have to use the "Advanced Search" function.
Not to worry. I'm going to have to give ITT a rest anyway, because on there I have found a horrible "Libertarian" troll, who is an atheist and worships Ayn Rand or somebody. Anyway, he slurs and insults everybody, under a large array of pseudonyms... which however are all eventually obvious, as to the poster's identity!
I think I've found out who he is in real life, too.
Sorry - but I couldn't resist a bit of REAL fighting (I do so love to fight! Though I prefer friendship as it happens) and a bit of detective work as to "WHO IS THAT TROLL"??
And I found out! So I'm happy, so I'm back here again.
I haven't yet been to see "Batman Begins", though I fully intend to very soon. (I actually wanted to post something about it before, so that I could be proved right about a certain prediction I made about it - but that actually was in an "article" I wrote to myself a while back on my other computer... the one that I can't access right now bcos it won't boot up. Great, eh.)
Otherwise I would have put it up. I don't want to see the review of it yet, though, BEFORE I have seen the movie. (It has been in my part of Britain since Friday.) Perhaps there would be a way to quickly access your review and leave a few lines and then leave before seeing the plot spoilers! (I know, you WOULDN'T!!)
If you want to e-mail me, do it at the address beginning ekonline, now!
Annoying fact about "Batman Begins": I see on UK Yahoo News, that in the UK at least - although BB hasn't done badly, it hasn't exactly soared - and "Madagascar" is at present healthily outdoing it!!!
See you again SOON!!!!!!!
I agree: I am thoroughly annoyed that Madagascar is making boatloads of money and Batman is barely doing respectable business for a summer, comic-based blockbuster. Then again, Kingdom of Heaven tanked, too, so what does that tell you? People just don't know a good thing when they see it.
Oh, BTW, everybody, happy summer solstice! (June 21 this year, but it does differ; I'm still learning all about pagan moveable feasts!)
Happy Midsummer's Day!
(Which is today, June 24, and it began with thunder and lightning here in Cornwall!)
I'd love to go one year to Glastonbury, and Stonehenge, to welcome in the solstice (though I don't really worship big stones.)
Hopefully, one summer soon, I shall!!
Glastonbury, which of course is on the same trail, is a great place if you're into Christian-meets-pagan mythology, Grail legends, etc etc etc.
I'd LOVE it, I know!
someone woke up on the wrong side of the critic's bed.
i just read this issue (mostly because you had such a strong reaction. i thought this book was okay, pricey, but okay. (and i would have found a way to blame you for my $4.75 if i had hated it.) these days, any title that i'm interested in i give six issues (or the first story arc) so that i can see where it's going.
i bet if you re-read it, you'll have a better take on the book.
I know, Maurice, I was a little hard on old Mr. Johns here, and I regret that. But the story was just so painfully mediocre, not innovative in the least. I have read the second issue, and it is mildly better. I'll add to this review once I've completed the first three issues. And I will definitely strive for a "glass half-full" approach. You've been instrumental in helping me approach comic books (and films) more from that perspective.
LOL, Kevin!
I just happened to be looking through this index and found your site. "Musings of a Grumpy Old Man" happens to be the title on mine! The subject matter is vastly different though. Check out the book section on mine: EASIN' ON -- The Confessions of an American Outlaw. It should be an improvement on that comic book. (Grin)
You'll find it at howlinmad.net
Tom
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