It's time for a first here at The Next Level: A Double Feature! Today, we'll be reviewing last week's Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #8, as well as this week's Brightest Day #23 and Fear Itself #1. Each issue provided something different, yet wholly interesting, and I'm happy to review them for you.
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Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #8
This issue began with Guy, Arisia, and Kilowog recapping the events of the first arc of this book (described in Level 17), and disagreeing over the actions taken. Guy clearly states that he is the "go-to" Lantern when things get dirty. Hmm, interesting. Anyway, at this point, we get the now familiar *IMPURITY RESTORED* page, and Arisia falls under the sway of Krona. Arisia begins to fly to Oa, while Kilowog and Guy tried to stop her, until they encounter another group of cadet Lanterns who are also under Krona's sway. Kilowog rockets Guy toward a predetermined Safe House to find Hal Jordan, who may be one of the only free-minded Lanterns left.
At the meeting place, Hal and Guy recap the events of the first issue in the war, and correctly deduces their Parallax Resistance. However, when Hal asks how Krona could be controlling the Corps so completely with his Parallax plan, Guy reveals his earlier pact with Atrocitus and Ganthet, while also revealing that Krona had been stealing power from the Corps. Hal angrily asks why he wasn't informed, and Guy angrily states that he doesn't need to be informed of everything. They fight for a few pages, before realizing that the Parallax influence was subtly influencing their conflict. They remove their rings and stand together, wondering how to save the Corps.
Well... I don't know how to feel about this issue. I really enjoy this storyline, as it's really bringing everything from the Green Lantern universe to a head. But at the same time, I'm not getting the epic feel from it yet. Maybe it's a bit too early, but considering that the next issue of the war is supposed to be amazing, I'll reserve judgement.
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Brightest Day #23
The skies across the world have gone black. Planes have been grounded, storms are raging, and people are dying. The Dark Avatar has risen. The only place that's safe? The Star City Forest created by the White Light. Deadman stands with his ring raised at Firestorm, who explains that Firestorm, and the other people supposedly killed by the White Light were being used to defend the Earth. At this point, The Dark Avatar shows up at the forest, and begins to wreak havoc.
The ring blasts Firestorm, completely immolating him. However, clearly Firestorm is not dead. The White Ring summons the other "killed" heroes as Elementals (Firestorm = Fire, Martian Mainhunter = Earth, Hawkman and Hawkgirl = Air, Aquaman = Water). The Elementals attack the Dark Avatar, but are only able to slow it down. At this point, the main tree of the forest starts to glow with the White Light symbol, and the White Lantern is revealed.
Yes, I know, I'm not revealing who the White Lantern is. I decided that until the next issue hits, I'm going to let people pick up this issue and read it. I did enjoy this issue, despite some really corny writing, and I'll be sad when this series ends in two weeks.
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Fear Itself #1
This was the best book of the last two weeks, by FAR! The issue begins with a protest in Lower Manhattan (clearly meant to parallel the discontent over the proposed construction at Ground Zero), which devolves into a riot. Shortly thereafter, Sin enters the Fortress built in Antarctica to house the Hammer (as chronicled in The Book of the Skull). After revealing that she'd seen a vision of herself lifting the Hammer, she does so, becoming Skadi. Back in America, the Avengers announce a construction project to employ the people of Broxton to rebuild Asgard after the events of Siege.
Skadi swims to the bottom of the ocean, and uses the Hammer to kill some sort of Water Dragon (or maybe a Leviathan), and enter a prison with Asgardian Runes. The Hammer then frees an old man who claims to be the REAL All-Father. Feeling the release of the being that Odin calls the Serpent, Odin orders that all Asgardians should leave Earth. Thor disagrees, and in response, Odin attacks him, and bests him. Taking Thor prisoner, Odin and the other Asgardians use Yggdrasil to leave the Earth. Back in the Antarctic, The Serpent summons the Worthy (another group of Hammers falling to the Earth), and declares that he will make this world quake with fear before confronting his usurper.
Wow! This book was fantastic! The art was amazing, and the writing was top notch. Some really good points include a reporter, during the riot, asks Steve Rogers (who is otherwise occupied trying to stop people from killing each other) what side of the issue he falls down on, and Steve replies, "Are you kidding me?! I'm Anti-RIOT! Now go home!". I haven't been this excited for a Marvel event in a very very long time, and I cannot wait for the next issue.
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Thoughts? Questions? Feedback is always welcome. Leave a comment or email nextlevelstaff@gmail.com
I'm going to buy Fear Itself when I can!
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