Green Arrow Sounds of Violence Review.

Sounds of Violence is the sequel to the previous ten issue story arc Quiver. Writer Kevin Smith follows up his critical and popular success that resurrected the legendary hero. This next chapter is a harrowing tale with a brand new villain. It is the second and final part of Smith's run on Green Arrow with art again by Phil Hester and Ande Parks. Oliver Queen/Green Arrow is adjusting to his new life and his focus is his family. new bizarre serial killer stalks the streets hunting costumed heroes. Collects Green Arrow #11-15.

After the massive story that revived the original Green Arrow, re-establishing him as a more popular character. Smith had one more story to tell, that of a serial killer known as Onomatopoeia that is stalking costumed heroes, just as Oliver adapts to his new life with his family, his son Conor Hawke, his ex-girlfriend Dinah Lance and his new ward Mia Dearden are now his focus in his new life. He is getting to know his son Connor better and attempts to patch things up with Dinah Lance/Black Canary while Mia fantasies and wants to become Green Arrow's new sidekick, the new Speedy but Oliver's has deep reservations. He explains how things are so much more different in the old days when most superhero's had teenage sidekicks. His reluctance mirrors the upcoming threat.

Oliver and his closet loved ones are a potential targets for a enigmatic serial killer stalking non super-powered costumed heroes. Keeping consistent with the Mike Grell days, when his family is threatened, Green Arrow responds with equivalent force. New character Onomatopoeia quickly establishes himself as a lethal adversary. He is a creepy and unsettling villain. He is as mysterious throughout the story as he first meet him, Smith never reveals much about he character. It maintains the focus on Oliver and his family. The villain later returned as a adversary for Batman in both Smith's limited series Batman: Cacophony and its sequel Batman: The Widening Gyre. The original painted covers by Matt Wagner from the series are featured here in all their glory. While the last volume featured a miniature cover gallery on back few pages this book features each cover of the collected issues on a full page.The Kevin Smith 15 issue Green Arrow run has recently been released in as a Absolute Edition, a larger over-sized volume with bonus material.

Both Quiver and The Sounds of Violence were the ­final Green Arrow book's I was interested in, getting into the classic Green Arrow stories of the last few decades before or if I ever make the move to modern New 52 Green Arrow stories. I'm a huge fan of the Arrow TV series as a contemporary telling of stories featuring the Emerald Archer.

Sounds of Violence second Green Arrow Kevin Smith back into print that's a shorter read but is still an exciting story of Smith's acclaimed work on the character that's a bit more open and an accessible story. Green Arrow has seen a resurgence in popularity in last few years and Smith's is one of the many great runs on the character's long history. Smith revived Green Arrow in 2001 in the Quiver story line and this follow up puts new focus to what Oliver Queen's new life is all about family. This establishing of the family theme carried onto the next story arc when thriller novelist Brad Meltzer took over the series for a story that involved a member of Oliver's family that was absent in this story, his first ward Roy Harper/Arsenal spending time on together on road trip in the story Archer's Quest.

Sounds of Violence is less heavy on the dialogue than the Quiver story arc and it maintains the same tone and has more action. Its more adult than a lot of superhero comics with its darker themes and emotional and intense moments of drama breaking the usual mold in many ways. Sounds of Violence is a great story and follow up to Quiver, sharp, funny and chilling and with moments of tremendous tension at times.

Green Arrow Quiver Review.

Green Arrow Quiver was the phenomenal first story arc by acclaimed filmmaker Kevin Smith that re-launched the series after its cancellation. Oliver Queen was brought back from the dead and made Green Arrow once again. This collection features the first ten issues of best selling series by Smith with art by Phil Hester and Inker Ande Parks. This new edition was released after the Deluxe Edition of Smith's 15 issue run which was due for release last year was cancelled. Both story arcs have been re-released in trade paperback format with Sounds of Violence next on my reading list. Quiver is regarded as one of the best Green Arrow stories, a classic and thankfully now back in print since April.

Way back in Green Arrow #101 of October 1995,

Oliver Queen had died saving Metropolis from a terrorist attack and his son and Connor Hawke had taken over the mantle and remained so until the series was cancelled in 1998. Then in 2001, Oliver Queen was revived and was Green Arrow once more, but it wasn't all as it appeared. Oliver was back, taking down bad guys and protecting Star City but the mystery surrounding his return and apparent demise is what garners most attention from his Justice League colleagues and intrigue for the story.

The opening issue is a prelude of events to come and predominantly features the loved ones of Green Arrow, remembering what Oliver meant to his ex-sidekick and adopted son Roy Harper/Arsenal, ex-girlfriend Dinah Lance/Black Canary and his son Connor Hawke. All reminisce about him and what they meant to them, this exposition fills the reader in on some of history and interactions with each of them, recounting moments from their past that informs the reader about the character without him being present on the page. Green Arrow Oliver Queen makes his triumphant return as Star City's protector taking down corrupt city officials and drug dealers and his on the hunt for the Star City Slayer, a child killer and later he goes further down to path to discovery of what happened to him. It's a interesting and great read, Oliver has no recollection of the past decade, his last memory is the infamous road trip he and Hal Jordan/Green Lantern had undertaken. The interesting premise of his memory lapse adds more depth and weight as Oliver has no recollection of what good and harm he's caused in his past to his loved ones and who is gonna break it to him that his best friend Hal is dead. It even restores his personality to that of the old fashioned view of the character had decades ago. His Justice League colleagues are in shock and amazement of his return, Batman is less sentimental, taking a direct role into the mystery of Oliver's return. The serial killer subplot runs in the background without Oliver's influence as he goes further down to road to discovering what's going on with him, but ultimately both elements tie together near the end story. Both the main story and subplot do feature elements of the supernatural, its a both nice addition and surprise to story, due to the theme of resurrection of a character in a series starring non super powered and realistic hero. Mia Dearden is a new character to the series and DC Universe, this marks here first appearance and is introduced as a teenage prostitute who Green Arrow saves on his earliest ventures actions into resuming his role as protector of Star City. She's a character that's notable in the Green Arrow mythos of this age. 

The story does acknowledge several events in the DC Universe but the important ones are explained in this book, as they are part of the story. The opening of the book features two key moments that start off the story a discussion between Superman and Batman on the rooftop of the Daily Planet during the events of Final Night, where earth's sun was extinguished by the Sun Eater, an extraterrestrial being and the event of Zero Hour in which Hal Jordan /Green Lantern had gone insane and possessed vowing to destroying the Universe in which the Emerald Archer played a key role. The art that I enjoyed so much when I first read Green Arrow Vol. 3 The Archer's Quest is still great here. Hester and Parks work is a light cartoon style that balances the dark story. Its a humorous and enjoyable story, Smith does a good job to get a few laughs. There is some great action panels in between the dialogue heavy story that's both complex and interesting, a character piece just as much as its a comic book action adventure story about second chances.

The ten issue story arc sold over a million copies back in 2001 - 2002 and became a number one selling tittle, a testament to how great the story is, Smith's tale paid homage to other Green Arrow creators of the past. It revived the old fashioned approach to Green Arrow, his amnesia reverted his personality back to a more classic iteration along with his classic trick arrows. Smiths writing is humorous and in the right moments somewhat self aware of the absurdity of some scenes.The book that I wanted since I got into the character but had been out of print and almost released last year only to be cancelled. Green Arrow Quiver lives up to the hype and reputation, a fresh spin on the character on that's been revived in a great story for a new series. Batman has a supporting role in the story and almost steals the show at some points, Smith writes the Dark Knight so well and went on to do later in career writing two limited series. I knew I'd enjoy the story to some degree been such a huge fan of Smith's previous comic book tenure Daredevil: Guardian Devil, but Quiver is a great comic book story that does what all great resurrection stories do reviving the character while touching on their long history.

Quiver rightfully held in high regard in a great story with some fantastic characterization and great dialogue makes it all a highly enjoyable read. Its arguably one of the best written stories in DC Comics history and managed to propel Green Arrow to the number one selling title for the company at the time. It goes beyond the standard revival story of and old hero, it tells a well thought out and plotted story without a retcon to continuity returning Oliver Queen back to the DC Universe.

The Flash: The Road to Flashpoint Review

The Flash Volume 2: The Road to Flashpoint is the second and last collection of the short lived 2010 series by Geoff Johns. The last five issues of the run are collected; The Flash #8 – 12 with art by Francis Manapul and Scot Kolins. A prologue to the events leading up to Flashpoint, the upcoming event that was first teased in the previous Flash story arc of the series. The time anomaly that will change everything. Hot Pursuit, police officer of the speed force is tracking down the perpetrator responsible that will destructively affect the time stream. Meanwhile the recently returned Flash, Barry Allen is investigating mysterious deaths of rapidly aged victims. The events of Flashpoint are put in motion, setting The Road to Flashpoint continues to build the Flash up as one of the pillars of the DC Universe.

This volume starts off begins opens with how the preceding collection ended concluded with a Rouge profile issue, this time its ultimate Flash nemesis Eobard Thawne/The Reverse Flash. The villain who played such a big part in The Flash Rebirth story and Barry’s own life. Thawne’s new back story is told here, it’s a good and interesting look into the villain's 

time in the 25th century idolizing the Flash and his legacy.

With issue #9 begins The Road to Flashpoint story arc, picking up from the tease at the end first story of the series, Vol. 1 The Dastardly Death of The Rouges. Hot Pursuit equipped with his speed force powered motorcycle is seeking out the time anomaly that may be connected to Barry’s own mysterious case. The series keeps in with its C.S.I. tone as Barry investigates his latest case and as the Flash he begins to discover a disturbance of the speed force When he meets Hot Pursuit he warns the Flash of the threat citing it "single greatest time anomaly to ever threaten reality." I felt it would be very repetitive if this new character was also from the future like the Renegades of the previous last story that involved time travelling, thankfully Hot Pursuit is from somewhere different. Patty Spivot makes her return to Central City and its crime lab, a forensic blood analyst and former assistant to Barry Allen whom she harbors feeling for.

The story also deals with Barry’s personal life being somewhat detached from his family and too heavily involved in his work. The events of the last story weigh heavily on his mind, convincing and moving scenes as Barry is preoccupied and unable to attend family get-togethers, the revelation that he feels indirectly responsible for the death of his mother. The greatest tragedy in his life is something he feels responsible for. The story has its fair share of action and is emotionally complex, the art is wonderful and Francis Manapul’s illustrations are beautiful old fashioned but modern that's featured for the majority of the issues. In a particular scene showcases his artistic talents, the colour bleeds out from the panel around Barry, signifying how alone he really is. The art is so good, it’s a new favourite and I’m highly likely to get the first few volumes of New 52 Flash.

Geoff Johns hasn’t just revived the Flash, he putting the character back as one of the main characters of the DC Universe, back to his former glory. The final issue is an exciting end to the story that leads into Flashpoint, it holds back many big developments for the Flash-centric event that leads into changes for the DC Universe that becomes the New 52 relaunch in 2011. The story concludes in a matter of the calm before the storm type of effect, it builds a level of excitement for the next big epic in the DC Universe. it's the only crossover event featuring Barry Allen as the central character. This tale is the prelude to the events that will become one of the biggest stories of the DC Universe. At this point I’ve already read and hugely enjoyed the time altering epic that is Flashpoint. The massive event that went on to include several tie-ins featuring various characters in this altered timeline

It’s a good story as the Flash is involved with another speed force connected story, setting the wheels turning for what’s to become one of the greatest Flash stories. It’s not as big as previous Flash stories by Johns but is a smaller more intricate. In terms of action, scale and story it’s a tip of the iceberg, teasing a much bigger event to come. It’s the continuation Geoff Johns revival of Barry Allen as the Flash, a short lived but great series of the Fastest Man Alive before he before he's has to face what's next. It’s a smaller story, not as big or eventful of those that had preceded it but there is enough mystery to keep the reader intrigued in preparation for the upcoming story. If you’re like me and already read the limited series, the Road to Flashpoint gives new meaning to the story and Barry’s motivations.

The Flash and Aquaman Earth One announced at Comic Con 2015

With my recent review of Batman Earth One Vol. 2 I'm sharing the news that the Earth One series continues to grow with two more of DC's greatest heroes.

At Comic-Con, Jim Lee and Dan Didio announced during their "DC Entertainment: Meet the Co-Publishers" panel that both Flash and Aquaman will be getting Earth One graphic novels in 2016.

The Flash: Earth One will be written by J. Michael Straczynski, an artist has yet to be named. Straczynski previously wrote the three Superman: Earth One graphic novels.

Aquaman: Earth One will be both written and illustrated by Francis Manapul.

Both characters are will soon be part of the big screen with Justice League movies and as well as their own solo movies and The Flash TV series being such a massive success, these characters are growing in popularity its their time to get the Earth One treatment of a modernized and realistic setting.

Other characters such in the series are still in production, Wonder Woman: Earth One by is next to released by Grant Morrison and artist Yanick Paquette and Volume 3 of Batman: Earth One by Geoff Johns and art by Gary Frank will follow sometime after. Both titles are out in 2016.

Batman Earth One Volume 2 Graphic Novel Review

The second volume of Batman Earth One returns to the grounded and more realistic world for a Batman story. It isn’t the Dark Knight we know…. and it’s all the better for it. The Earth One graphic novels takes familiar elements of the characters and makes a story feel fresh and exciting by putting a clever twist to familiar elements. The long-awaited follow up of Batman: Earth One by Writer Geoff Johns and Artist Gary Frank follows Bruce Wayne as he slowly becomes the intelligent, fearsome Dark Knight we all know and love, now tasked with bringing down the remaining players of the corrupt Mayor’s criminal organisation as well as a new enemy with a secret agenda behind his seemingly random attacks.

Earth One is a series of graphic novels that re-imagine the origins of various DC characters. The stories take place in a new continuity allowing writers and artists to build brand new beginnings for DC’s most beloved heroes. Since the launch in 2010 we’ve seen three parts of Superman’s story, the first volume of Teen Titans and Batman Earth One Vol. 1 in 2012. Batman’s new origin featured a rough around the edges Bruce Wayne, Oswald Cobblepot as the corrupt the Mayor of Gotham City, Alfred as former head of security at Wayne Manor and a fresh faced plucky Harvey Bullock. Everything that transpired in the first story has lead Gotham to become increasingly dangerous,, at the end of the first volume all Bruce wanted to do was to catch his parents killer and now realizes he has to go beyond that and his mission can not just be about him. Batman Earth One preserves many aspects of the mythology, Batman is still billionaire Bruce Wayne and he’s still assisted by Alfred Pennyworth and Jim Gordon against familiar villains, the changes that Johns and Frank bring the stories are subtle but still manage to be profound and innovative. 

The second volume picks up six months later with Gotham still coming to terms with the events and revelations of the corrupt Mayor and the emergence of the Batman. This sequel is very closely linked to the events of Volume 1, twins Jessica and Harvey Dent that were introduced in the last story are now main characters in this sequel, Mayor Dent and her D.A. brother Harvey are clearing out corruption and as the city grows with a new found feeling of optimism, but reports of a half-man, half-crocodile killer in the sewers and a new criminal responsible for attacking the city, killing Gotham’s citizen’s threaten to disrupt the city's progress from darker times. Batman has been operating in Gotham for past six months and improving at being a vigilante as he chases down petty thugs and criminals. When we first see Batman it’s in a scene that echoes of the opening of the first book, instead of failing to catch his suspect this time he is more successful but still needs some fine tuning, he’s not yet the Dark Knight legend, he makes mistakes, loses fights and loses control. Bruce hasn’t spent years travelling the world learning martial arts and other disciplines, he has only been the Batman for less than a year and only became a costumed vigilante to chase down a lead on the murder of his parents. Batman is on his way to becoming a legend, forging his partnership with Gordon whilst still remaining an urban legend to the public and media.

The original established the tone of these books and this follow up shows the role of Batman expanding, putting him through his paces with Bruce becoming a detective rather than just a vigilante. The arrival of the Riddler challenges Batman in a way he hasn’t been before, he is more of a modern day terrorist than a brilliant and obsessed criminal that isn’t playing any games, he’s serious with no gimmicks. It motivates Batman to become a hero not just to serve justice but to stop him from killing people. It’s a more threatening and dangerous interpretation of the character without the sense of honour we’ve seen in the classic Riddler, that’s suited to the grounded and more realistic world of Earth One.

One thing that stands out in these books are the clever twists of what we expect certain characters to be, the standout in the first book was Alfred, no longer the English butler but a hard edged former solider who’s a lot tougher on Bruce. The stand out this time is Killer Croc, the interpretation is a new twist on the character that’s fresh while still retaining some of his own traits. Former T.V. Detective Harvey Bullock is continuing his descent due to the horrors he witnessed in the last story and Jim Gordon is now on a better path and continues his partnership with a rookie Batman, it subverts the usual Gordon/Batman tropes that builds an unlikely bond between the two.There is more of a human element to these stories, Bruce Wayne is more central, there is more about the man than his vigilante persona. His humanity is more on display than before, the design of Batman’s cowl allows you to see his eyes, it’s a window to his emotions that can add new weight to moments in the story. It’s more of a character driven story, Batman has more humanity than we’re used to and new motivation to stop the terrorist acts of The Riddler, you can really see how it affects him.

The theme of the story is identity; Who is Batman? That question that means different things to different characters, for Bruce it’s a matter of deciding what he wants to accomplish and what he wants Batman to symbolize. He's still new to being a vigilante and inexperienced, it makes the action scenes a lot more suspenseful and gripping due to the lack of confidence that he’ll succeed, but when he does its thrilling. The story is exciting and suspenseful as we don't know what to expect from this new Batman and his villains. It's one of those books you wanna tell your friends about and its a great series for the more casual readers to get into that still has plenty of excitement and ideas to keep long time fans intrigued. It's plot and events make it another massive hit for its creators, Batman and the Earth One series. 

This new book continues all the things that made the first one so great. It’s a completely fresh start and continuity for Batman stories. If you enjoyed the first one as much as I did you won’t be disappointed to the return of Batman Earth One. Johns and Frank continue to make a brilliant story, it has a large cinematic feel to it with great action spreads and thrilling and exciting scenes. The book and this new universe is great, for long-time fans it takes the expected usual tropes and put its own clever twists on it, with a turn of a page readers are introduced to some new and inventive twists. Of the three series to debut in DC's slowly growing Earth One line so far, Batman: Earth One is easily the most successful. It presented a more grounded take on the Caped Crusader and Gotham City, as well as one with a number of clever twists to the usual formula. Volume 1 set up the tone and world in this new re-imaging of Batman, Volume 2 allows both writer and hero to explore inventive and creative adventures for the new Batman. Geoff Johns has always been one of the best writers and his Batman Earth One series are truly something special. 

The second chapter of his and Frank's alternate take on Batman revisits their more grounded realistic take on Batman, able to explore and create a different path for the Dark Knight free from a predetermined continuity making a solid and exciting Batman story full of surprises for one of comics most enduring characters. Volume 2 sets up some enticing plot threads that will get develop into future adventures that Johns has confirmed that Volume 3 will be available as soon as next year.

The Flash: The Dastardly Death of the Rouges Review

Barry Allen is back as The Flash in the first collection from the ongoing series after his eventful return in The Flash: Rebirth. The Dastardly Death of the Rouges is the first story arc of The Flash 2010 series by Writer Geoff Johns and illustrated by Francis Manapul and Scott Kolins. When one of the Rouges turn ups dead on the streets of Central City it’s not just Barry Allen The Flash that’s out to find the killer, but also The Renegades, the time travelling police force from the future that resemble the Rouges arrive to arrest The Fastest Man Alive for the murder that he’s yet to commit. The story arc is tied in into the Brightest Day event. Collects The Flash #1 – 7 and Secret Files and Origins 2010.

After the completion of both The Flash; Rebirth and Blackest Night, Geoff Johns would return to write a new Flash ongoing series in 2011. The opening arc would be launched under the Brightest Day banner, a line wide aftermath story that followed the outcome conclusion of Blackest Night. Johns had been writing The Flash for a few years with former sidekick Kid Flash/Wally West had taken over the role as The Flash after Barry’s death years ago. Barry Allen has returned and this series puts the icon and best known Flash back as the main speedster in the DC Universe.

Barry Allen is still adjusting to his day to day life in his hometown Central City as Forensic Scientist for the Central City Police Department and stopping criminals as The Flash. Barry has returned to the role of the greatest of all the speedsters. The first case since his return is the murder of Mirror Master on the streets of Central City. He might not have to look far for the suspect as arrival of The Renegades have come to arrest him for the crime. Johns tells his next story for The Flash as a mystery thriller. This story is mostly fixed within a CSI tone, much like the TV series and does so without detracting from its super hero core. It has fun and charm especially in between its bigger moments. It’s a simpler approach to the story than that of the settings of the previous tale. Rebirth required some prior knowledge of The Flash universe, this is a cleaner simpler story that makes for an enjoyable read wonderfully beautifully drawn and full of fantastic super heroics and saves. It has the right mix of fun, exhilaration and excitement. It’s a very creative story and imaginative tale, whether it’s the exciting action scenes or the creation of The Renegades, time travelling futuristic versions of the Rogues .The police force from the 25th century is the most intriguing element of the story. They are modeled after the Rogues as enemies of the Flash, as they are meant to counter the evil Reverse-Flash. The action scenes are fun and innovative, the creative team know how to have fun with the abilities of The Fastest Man Alive in various situations. They have a talent for showing Barry's powers in visually interesting and fun ways. 

The Rouges had only had a minor appearance in the story Rebirth, this follow up and new series bring them back with the best known Flash, their original adversary. They have had a contingency plan in place for The Flash's return that was revealed in the final pages of the Rebirth story. A new series would imply a fresh start and slightly self-contained story for its begging, under the banner of Brightest Day that adds an outside element into the mix, but as far as outside influences aspects go it’s a pretty simple one. Captain Boomerang/ Digger Harkness died some time ago and after the events of Blackest Night he returned to life. Brightest Day follows those that were resurrected and must fulfill task to retain their new lives. Flash #7 Is a Rouge Profile issue starring Captain Boomerang that showcases his back story as he attempts a prison break for an inmate of Iron Heights Penitentiary.

Even though Barry Allen had been brought back to life at the start of the previous story in the limited series The Flash: Rebirth.This series only ran for 12 issues before writer Geoff Johns created the Flash-centric event; Flashpoint, that altered the timeline continuity that became known as The New 52. The Flash Rebirth was a celebratory and epic story of Barry Allen’s return, it acknowledged his history, influence and legacy and featured his most psychotic and dangerous foe. The Dastardly Death of the Rouges is more of a straight forward story, simpler that features The Flash’s main villains the Rouges as the main antagonists and their futuristic counterparts. Barry Allen gets back to his normal life after the mysteries that surrounded his return. The new series that was sandwiched in between two massive events told in the limited series; The Flash Rebirth and Flashpoint. It’s a great mystery and Flash story There is a few bonus as well the Secret Files and Origins 2010 issue that was a prelude to this new series and the Flash Facts backup stories. 

The Dastardly Death of the Rouges is in the first in the short lived series before DC relaunched its titles with The New 52. Rebirth was a large event story with lots of appearances form earths heroes and other iterations of the Scarlet Speedster, a massive story that re-invented the Flash. This murder mystery is a simpler story that’s a great and that’s good for new readers and new fans. It connects as part of the Brightest Day event somewhat loosely so it’s easy to follow and enjoy without having read the connected stories events. The Flash: The Dastardly Death of the Rouges is a fun and exciting story with Barry Allen back as main Flash in a new series by Johns and some wonderful art by Manapul. Rebirth was a Flash story very much invested concerned with Barry’s past while Death of the Dastardly Rouges is a new series going forward to a new big new event Flashpoint that’ll see the change of the entire DC Universe.