On the trail of the kidnappers of Connor Hawke, Green Arrow and Black Canary are in Prague, undercover, posing as arms dealers. When the transaction doesn’t work out, the newlywed couple must escape for their lives and try to use the new intelligence about the kidnapping and the people who shot Hawke to rescue him. However, a wild goose chase on a shorefront may be the least surprising outcome for Green Arrow and Black Canary.
The shot of Green Arrow and Black Canary posing as criminals brought back some good memories of a similar scene in Mike Grell’s Green Arrow series when Black Canary was posing as a prostitute. It also brought back an important element to her character, her ability to go undercover to dig for information. That Green Arrow seems as adept is a good thing too. I think this series is an improvement over the last one also written by Judd Winick. What seems to be different? Well, he steers clear from controversy and ill built situations. He focuses on character building and adventure. He’s also capable of having both main characters play one against the other.
However, there is still missing in their chemistry and although Winick covers all the basics, this story is not very inspiring. There’s something missing, as if someone had hand coughed Winick and stop him short from exposing some of the most exuberant aspect of his writing skills. One can feel the effort Winick puts into making Black Canary’s Green Arrow’s equal, to the extent where the latter often looks less competent and more impulsive than the former. I don’t mind that Black Canary seems to be the more competent of the two, but that card has been played before.
Chiang is a good artist. His work is simple and he gives his characters solid and beautiful figures. However, his ligne Claire style may not be realistic enough and this series fails to stand out visually from all the others on the comic book stand.
Blood and Water
Vampire stories are all the rage these days. Most are silly teenage romances, but every once in a while a vampire tale comes along that doesn’t, um…suck.
Secret Six # 15
Deadshot tries to come to terms with his homicidal impulses.
Blackest Night #4 (of 8)
Barry Allen does his best to rally the heroes, but will they be able to stand against the arrival of Nekron?
Superman: World of New Krypton #9
Jemm storms New Krypton’s High Council Chamber demanding an audience, Kal-El and Zod meet, and the first murder on New Krypton is committed.
Madame Xanadu #16
The return of series artist Amy Reeder Hadley also marks the start of a new, creepy, and great Matt Wagner story.
Superman #693
General Lane makes Mon-El an offer he has to refuse, but an unlikely ally might just save Mon-El’s life.
The Brave and the Bold # 28
The Flash travels back in time to World War II where he joins forces with the fabled Blackhawks.
Northlanders #21
A settlement along The Volga River in Russia deals with the onslaught of a plague in the start of a new story arc.
Superman: Secret Origin #2 (of 6)
Young Clark Kent experiences a bit of a super identity crisis, but manages to get by with some help from his parents and some new friends…Long Live The Legion!
Superman/Batman #65
The Scarecrow takes Superman, The Batman, The Joker, and Lex Luthor on a fear gas induced Halloween nightmare ride.
Azrael #1
The new Azrael’s ongoing series debuts with the death of a major character…
Supergirl #46
The Metropolis Three finally capture Reactron, Thara and Kara make up, and some more light is shed on Lana’s mysterious condition…
Blackest Night: Superman #3 (of 3)
Superman, Superboy, Alura, and Supergirl kick some Black Lantern butt, and Ma Kent holds her own…with some help from Krypto.
