BLACKEST NIGHT #5: Okay, so… Every time I trash Blackest Night, I get flamed, because clearly Blackest Night is the most important thing that’s happened in the history of forever. It heals the sick, causes the lame to walk, and separates those cats and dogs that are always sleeping together. It’s Christ risen in comic book form, so lets just all move past that, and call it what it is: a very silly action movie. I’m not saying this is necessarily in a bad thing. In the span of comics history, some of my favorite events are high-concept, broad brush strokes books that flit in, let Atlantis attack, and that’s pretty much it. The problem is, I expect more from Geoff Johns, and I think he’s starting to get pulled thin by the amount of work he has.

You’d think he’s concentrate the hardest on this title, as it is the biggest thing since sliced bread, but the writing is, as I stated earlier, just too broad, the action just a little too big, and we’re losing the characters in the middle of this. The surprising thing about this not quite working is that…

GREEN LANTERN #48: …Green Lantern is great. The clarity of focus Johns brings to this issue balances out the two-fisted action of Blackest Night perfectly, bringing creativity, good fights, and great pay-offs to character moments issue after issue. I’m trying not to get too caught up in labels here, but Green Lantern is the spine of this event, not Blackest Night. Which makes no sense. Anyway, one out of two ain’t bad.

SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGINS #3: Oh, except Johns has three books out this week, so there’s that. I wasn’t crazy about the first issue, especially coming so close on the heals of the fabulous Superboy story in Adventure Comics, which covered a lot of the same ground. The second issue did a bit to win me over, and I’m happy to say, I liked this issue quite a bit. Enough that I was a little bummed we’re just getting a greatest hits collection from Frank and Johns, rather than a total reboot of Superman, or something. Gary Frank continues to be the reason for this series existence, perfectly capturing Superman, Clark, and Lois, as well as iconic images of the rest of the Daily Planet staff. And Johns’ script harks back to the history of the character and the movies so seamlessly, that I’ve completely forgotten which was which. Anyway, best issue so far, pick ‘er up.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #39: I think what Blackest Night needs is more heroes standing around wondering what’s happening, and then seeing their dead relatives, and then freaking out about it. That would be nice. Sarcasm aside, it’s a thrill to see Mark Bagley drawing the JLA, and he’s the book for me on this book, at least until Robinson gets his team together, and us out of cross-over land. Oh, one other thing, and this drives me nuts: just because Dr. Light raped one person doesn’t mean all he likes to do is rape. I’m not saying sympathy for the rapist or anything, its just that there has to be other aspects of his character. I like to read comics, but it’s not like that’s all I talk ab– Oh wait.

ARKHAM REBORN #2: We’re certainly not breaking any new ground here (oh no! Arkham’s director is kind of crazy! oh no! a breakout at Arkham!), but David Hine turns in a solid enough script, and intriguing enough ideas that I’ll definitely be picking up the next issue to see where this all ends up.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #33: Really solid, fun, super big fight scene in this issue. But it all doesn’t amount to a whole lot in the end, and the splitting up of the JSA feels totally unearned. Though, it is nice to see a great Shadowpact villain back in the mix.

WONDER WOMAN #38: I love Gail Simone’s writing, and she’s perfect for WW, but I feel like maybe I need an annotated version of this book. Simone clearly has this well plotted, and is pushing Wondie to some new places, but I just can’t keep track of all of the characters, what their motivations are, or their relationship to each other. But hey, release a $3.99 version of Wonder Woman each month with footnotes, and I am so there.

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #6: Well, this is just delightful. Can we keep Paul Dini and Guillem March telling Harley Quinn stories forever? Thanks.

WORLD’S FINEST #2: Though I wasn’t in love with the first issue of this team-up series, I like Sterling Gates writing enough to tune in for the second issue, and I can confidently say I’m not in love with this one, either. As usual, Gates turns in a solid, tight script, but there’s something about it that’s just not grabbing me. I do really like than Ramon F. Bachs draws Damien as an actual little kid, though.

BATWOMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS #859: This title shows the potential of the comic storytelling medium as art, and that’s entirely due to J.H. Williams III’s spectacular art, along with Dave Stewart’s stunning colors. Greg Rucka’s script is also excellently paced and involving, as we learn more of Batwoman’s origin, but its the art that makes this one of the best titles of the year, if not the decade.

SUPERMAN #694: It’s nice that Javier Pina draws Mon-El differently than Connor Kent, because I feel it would be easy enough to draw both characters the same way. I wish I knew why everyone in Metropolis loves Mon-El so much, though.