Comic Books of the Week (8/24/11) part 1

Final big week of books before the end of it all. Let's get to the Flashpoint titles from the week first:

Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #3 (of 3) - so we ended last time with Hal prepping to drop a "Green Arrow" nuke (how fitting) on the Amazons in hopes to ending the war. Clearly this world's Hal fears one thing - commitment. Why he can't admit his love for Carol in person is a shame. This whole version of Hal is a shame. This is not the Hal Jordan I grew up with. Yes, he is a hero in the end - a sacrificial one (thanks to Flashpoint #4 spoiling that one three weeks ago) - but clearly he is shown here as flawed. Sigh.

Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #3 (of 3) - while Lois does a lot in this issue, she still takes the backseat to the supers. Last month it was Grifter. This month it is Britannia. I wasn't thrilled with the art on this final issue either. Very disappointed with the way this mini played out, but I should have expected it. It tied to close to the Wonder Woman and Aquaman minis, and those two were disappointments thanks to the choppy story-flow each issue. Lois deserved better than this.

Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #3 (of 3) - the art was a bit uneven with two pencilers but I liked that we at least got to see a bit more of the Flash family through this final issue. The first two issues were slow but this one made up for it. It is kind of sad though what happened to this world's Max, Jay and Wally. They all deserved better. But Bart at least is able to come out a hero - another sacrifice this week but at least his is worth something (as opposed to Hal and Lois). Will Bart's actions be enough to jump-start the new universe? Most likely. Barry has been pretty much running into too many walls up to this point. He needs something to reignite things. Bart gave him the extra push.

Comic Books of the Week (6/29/11)

Flashpoint: the Canterbury Cricket #1 - this one shot was really there to introduce a new character who then joins up with the Resistance against the Amazons in the UK. Will he stick around after Flashpoint ends for the new DCU? Probably so. Why else give him a one-shot like this? It was good to see the Demon and Godiva (though the later was poorly drawn, IMHO). Worth picking up? Only if you think the Cricket will be the newest breakout character. I am thinking not.

Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries #1 - this one-shot really worked for me. Ollie as a weapons-seller, the use of villain-tech, the social commentary on big corporations destroying Main Street America - it all worked for me. Best book of the week.

Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #1 (of 3) - except for the Amazon/Atlantean war this read exactly like Hal's Green Lantern origin and the first fifteen minutes of the recent GL film. Yawn. Been here, done that. Give us something new, folks? Sigh.

Justice Society of America #52 - the mystery of the door beneath Monument Point continues. But, I couldn't get into it. Yes, we have some nice-to-see guest stars with the Challengers of the Unknown, but how can I get excited for a story that I know has just two issues to wrap up? And there is no sign of the JSA in the relaunch come September. Spinning our wheels here, people. Sad.