Green Lantern No. 2
Sometimes in life, all you need is a good mentor. Unfortunately, Hal Jordan can't be so lucky. No, Jordan's condescending, ring-wielding instructor, Sinestro, makes it very clear that if Jordan's going to rock his righteous ring once more he's going to have to walk a very dangerous line.
Not so long, long ago in a galaxy not so far away, Sinestro ruled the Yellow Lantern roost, mastering the power of fear and unleashing amber hell across the universe. These days, though, Sinestro much prefers the company of the emerald ring bearers. The series finally comes full circle, as the Jordan / Sinestro pair will either annihilate the amber assailants or let their bad blood boil them alive.
With Geoff Johns crafting this DC staple there's little chance the series won't be an absolutely enthralling arc, and even with just a taste from these first two issues, it's safe to say Johns is clearly in control. Exploring the dynamic between Hal Jordan and the Korugar commando has always made for interesting source material, and Johns and DC's master craftsman will certainly seek to continue this trend.
As Sinestro assumes the role of Benedict Arnold of the universe and Hal Jordan continues his path to true emotional fortitude, there's much to be done in the world of the Lantern Corps. With Johns at the helm of this ship, the series is shipping out on a smooth voyage.
X-Men Regenesis
When most couples break up, there's hurt feelings, broken hearts and – in a worst case scenario – someone's TV get's thrown out a window. But when Cyclops' and Wolverine's tepid bromance came to a crushing conclusion, hearts weren't the only things to get broken.
Lines in the sand have been drawn. Scott Summers will continue to lead the X-Men in the protection of the innocents using any means necessary, while his grittier companion is en route to start school back from Summer(s). While Wolverine educating the next class of mutants sounds like a promising endeavor, the whole operation is on shaky ground without a unified front.
The issue itself seeks to illustrate the fierce fallout through a thinly veiled analogy of a classic caveman brawl. While the analogy serves the purpose writer Kieron Gillen envisioned, the whole issue instead comes off as cliché and lacks the same gravity that the issue could've had sans this prehistoric bout. Gillen, and in turn artist Billy Tan, does well to run the gamut of mutants, each aligning themselves with either Summers' or Logan's cause.
The magnitude of the issue's theme is immense, and instead of leaving readers feeling like they've read the literal dissolution of the X-Men, the comic is merely setting the stage for future events. Regretfully, for a costly $3.99, reader's money is better spent on the series' back issues than Gillen's inept attempt at serious stakes.
Ghostbusters No. 2
With Ghostbusters 3 more of a distant hope than a concrete release, this Halloween season was feeling a little bland without the ghost-rustling, slime-busting crew. Thankfully, IDW had our backs.
Venkman, Egon, Stantz and crew are back, ready to put the Stay Puft incident behind them and get back to doing what they do best: hilarious dialogue. But with a greater threat looming in the ectoplasm-trapping troops' future, there's a little less to laugh about.
The transition from the second movie to this pen and panel iteration is flawless. While there's some digressions about what would have happened after the events of the two films, the team at IDW collectively decided to keep the crew together for the long haul, even though duty probably should have called the characters elsewhere. Conversations are fluid and believable and given enough time with the source material, even sound like the '90s dream team.
There is a lot to love about the series' ink-soaked reboot, and while the point can be made that a movie is long overdue, this comic intends to prove that the trilogy's completion will be worth the wait.
As the weather starts to slink back to the familiar frigid Buffalo air and college's night of debauchery is right around the corner, there's nothing more comforting than reminiscing with the ghost(busters) of Halloweens past.
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