Welcome to the second Double Feature of The Next Level. This entry will review:
- X-Men: Prelude to Schism #2
- Ultimate Spider-Man #158
- Green Lantern #66
- Green Lantern Corps #60
- Green Lantern Corps #10
X-Men: Prelude to Schism #2
Back during Level 22, I reviewed the first issue of this book with a simple question: What the hell is going on? Unfortunately, after reading the second issue, I have the same question. Essentially, the entire issue is a backdrop for Magneto to tell his life story to Cyclops in preparation of some disaster that is about to hit Utopia. That's as much as I could figure out. This book better pick up soon, or Schism will fail.-----------------
Ultimate Spider-Man #158
This issue is what Spider-Man is all about: Self-Sacrifice. It begins a short time after Spider-Man is shot. He wakes up, alone, on the street bleeding to death. After trying to remember what happened to the big Ultimates vs Avengers fight (see the Ultimates vs Avengers miniseries for that), he decides he must go to a hospital, and uses his webbing to temporarily patch the bullet wound. At the same time, the Sinister Six find the Tinkerer and armour up in preparation for their assault on the Parker house. They fly over Spider-Man, and in a silent moment, Spider-Man takes off after them.Returning to the Parker house after a double date gone awry, Iceman and the Human Torch find a note left from Aunt May warning them to leave the house immediately. They are then confronted by the Sinister Six. Sandman smothers the Human Torch to prevent him from using his flame powers, and Electro uses the water base of ice to conduct electricity back to Iceman, incapacitating him. At this moment, Vulture sees the silhouette of Spider-Man, and flies toward him angry. Spider-Man webs the Vulture and throws him to the side, and is then seen holding his gunshot wound asking, "Who's next?"
I said it before, and I'll say it again: This issue is what Spider-Man's all about. The scene where Spider-Man sees the Sinister Six fly over him is easily the most powerful scene in the book because of the lack of dialogue. He's dying and he knows it, but he doesn't even contemplate attempting to save himself before the others. If Peter Parker dies as a result of this storyline, I'll actually be okay with it, for the sole reason that this arc has captured what Spider-Man is supposed to be about: Self-Sacrifice.
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Green Lantern #66
The issue begins where the last one left off: Sinestro Corpsman Hal Jordan and Red Lanter Guy Gardner battling the Emotional Entity possessed Guardians. After a short battle, Hal decides that they should attempt to escape and free Parallax, to restore the Corps. Unfortunately, the possessed Guardians are wiping the floor with Hal and Guy, so Guy decides to activate Krona's Power Gauntlet. Once he does however, both he and Hal are struck down by Krona.The scene then shifts to within the Book of the Black, where after a brief pseudo-flashback sequence, Sinestro awakens and realizes where he is being held captive. After ripping through the other New Guardian's origin stories, he nearly succeeds in breaking loose of the book, only to be stopped by Krona. Krona claims that his ultimate plan is to create a new set of Guardians of the Universe, beings who can feel the full range of emotion. He has selected the four human Green Lanterns to stand alongside him as Guardians.
I really enjoyed this issue. I was very glad that Hal and Guy didn't beat down the Guardians, as they should have so much more power than two rogue Green Lanterns. I was intrigued by the powering up of the Gauntlet, but understood why it could not be used yet. Finally, I was happy that we've played up the "Sinestro-is-a-badass" theme from earlier books, by showing that he was the only New Guardian able to regain himself within the Book of the Black.
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Green Lantern Corps #60
Running parallel to the above issue is the story of Blue Lantern Kyle Rayner and Indigo Lantern John Stewart. The issue begins with the two Lanterns attempting to stop the release of Green Rings from Mogo, as the Central Power Battery is still infected with Parallax. After a mildly successfully attempt at containing the rings, they break free and scatter across the universe. As a result, Kyle has the idea of using the Blue Ring's power on Mogo to bring him back to his senses, but they realize they'll need to be close to Mogo's brain to do it. They head to Mogo's core, but are attacked by Parallax-controlled Green Lanterns.
After escaping them, Kyle uses his Blue Ring to create a Blue Lantern construct of Bzzd, Mogo's fallen partner. The construct begins to work, but suddenly Black energy is released from Mogo's core. John realizes that when Mogo absorbed all the Black Lanterns during the Siege of Oa (see Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps for more details), the Black energy remained, and was now being released. John attempts to use the Green energy of Mogo, but is contacted by Krona, who shows how the Parallax-controlled Green Lantern army was growing in number, stating that a "wave of murder" will sweep across of the universe. With this information, John uses the Indigo ring to do what it does best: absorb and repurpose the energy of other Lanterns nearby.
SPOILER ALERT
He uses the ring to absorb the energy of the Black Lanterns, and uses the energy to create a create a rifle. Over the protests of Kyle, John fires, destroying Mogo.
END SPOILER ALERT
I refuse to comment on this issue until my next entry to avoid this spoiler from being spread.
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Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #10
The issue begins with a direct continuation of Green Lantern #66, seeing Hal and Guy strung up by Krona. However, Krona and all the possessed Guardians are incapacitated by (*SPOILER ALERT*) the immense energy discharge caused by the death of Mogo. Kyle and John argue over the destruction of Mogo, (*END SPOILERS*) but John grabs Kyle and teleports them back to Hal and Guy. Hal and Guy realize what has happened after they make their escape, and free Ganthet in order to remove Parallax from the Central Power Battery.
Ganthet tells the Four Rogue Lanterns to use all seven rings to force Parallax out of the Central Power Battery. Hal wears the Orange Ring and Guy puts on the Violet ring in order to use all of the rings. The initial burst works, but Parallax remained in the battery. Ganthet tells Guy Gardner that since he wears both of the extreme rings, he holds the key to releasing Parallax. With a heartfelt cry of "I love the Corps", Guy forces Parallax from the Central Power Battery. The Four Rogue Lanterns reclaim their Green Lantern rings, and join with the newly freed Green Lanterns who then turn to face Krona, the Entity-possessed Guardians, and Parallax in the final conflict of the war.
Despite the Spoiler that I'm avoiding discussing, this issue was very well done. The war is turning out a LOT better than I was expected after the midway point, and now I'm eagerly anticipating the finale.
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