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By Sam Christopher

Wrapping up last week’s comics we start with Brightest Day #5. Here we have Deadman trying to resurrect Hank Hall and we see where the Hawks went: Hawkworld. Also, Mera and Aquaman face some folks who appear to have Mera’s hard water powers, which leads to a rather shocking disclosure on her part. Still enjoying the series, although I sometimes think it’s a concept that’s getting away from the creators. One of the things they do here is try and make some kind of point about the BP oil leak—a point that only made me wonder yet again why, with all the great heroes from alien cultures they have, the DCU still uses oil at all. Just a thought. Someone at DC can feel free to steal it that way they stole my idea about spirituality for the backup story in the latest JLA (and, no, I don’t really think they stole it).

Then we have the Jeff Lemire-Mahmud Asrar story in the Brightest Day: The Atom Special #1. This was all right as the springboard to what I’m sure is a well-followed series beginning in Adventure Comics #515. It sets up a mystery and tells us the origin of the Atom at the same time, adding to his life history as it goes. Don’t know that I care enough about this character to read the series, but I am wondering if Palmer even knows what happened to the other Atom in the Titans: Villains for Hire Special of a month or so ago, not to mention whether or not his brother comes back to life so I’m sure I’ll start it anyway.

Next, we come to the new installment of the Bob Layton/Ron Lim creation in Hercules: Twilight of a God #2. Have to admit, I don’t understand what Galactus is thinking here. It would seem to me that having a very powerful herald—one that can challenge the Big G himself if they run to cross purposes—with a chip on his shoulder would be a bad thing. Even so, good to see the Prince of Power cutting loose for a change. I was very happy with Wonder Woman putting down the mad animal that Maxwell Lord had become, and if I’ve ever had any dispute with making comics more realistic it’s that there would be death and destruction strewn from one horizon to the other, especially when gods and ancient warriors are involved. Also, in the back of this ish is the preview for Shadowland, which is apparently going to show us the end of Daredevil’s fiefdom in Hell’s Kitchen (which I didn’t even know he had). My only question with this preview is one I asked at the beginning of the Dark Avengers thing—but had this concern quickly overshadowed by the Norman Osborn thing—which is: How is Bullseye still alive? Maybe it could be said that Matt Murdock just wasn’t that kind of guy but the DD they show us here doesn’t appear to have a problem doing what needs to be done. Just a thought.

And now we come the real god of the Marvel Universe, although not in his own title. First, we have the end of the adventure in Thor and the Warriors Four #4. I almost thought the kids were going to talk Loki out of his prize. It almost worked. But if they had we would have missed an even better ending. Ah, the Law of Unintended Consequences… our government could certainly learn it and the God of Mischief and Evil gets a crash course here. Also, we learn of a new person worthy to wield Mjolnir and witness a very funny, though brief, scene with Throg and “Thorse”. All of this and the end, too, of our backup story with Hercules telling the Power children of his twelve mighty labors. This was just a great, fun series written with just the right touch of humor and action by Alex Zalben with perfect artwork for this story by Gurihuru. If you haven’t read this series I highly recommend it in trade.

Finally, we have Thor: The Mighty Avenger #1. I admit when I got this—because I don’t look too closely at the comics section of Previews—I thought it was going to be some new story concerning Thor returning to the Avengers. I didn’t know it was going to be a complete reimagining of his origin. This… this is very, VERY good. Roger Langridge has crafted an interesting and fun new beginning for the character with a return to innocence of the best female character from Thor comics, Jane Foster (sorry, Sif). Here we meet a Jane Foster who has never been in love with the God of Thunder, one who’s not even a nurse. And this semi-amnesiac Thor… I just have to say that I enjoyed this ish so much. And I really thought it was going to suffer for having been read directly after the last Warriors Four book, because that ish was so good. This was fun, though, and a real must for Thor fans like me and anyone who wants to read a fun, different take on a famimliar character. Also, here we have the great art of Chris Samnee, who does an excellent job of matching his style with the story. These two men have created a wonderful brew here. Can’t wait til next month.

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