In Green Arrow and Black Canary #4, Ollie and company race back from Themyscira with an injured Connor Hawke (the Green Arrow’s son, for all you newbies). A pickup from Superman helps Connor get back to U.S. soil quicker, where Hal Jordan goes to work in the operating room. Unfortunately, the bullet that hit Connor last issue was laced with a nerve agent that has rendered the young hero brain-dead. Connor Hawke is in an apparently terminal coma.
This is an odd compromise for a comic book writer: a character’s only sort of dead, but not quite. Ever since Frank Miller first offed Elektra (only to bring his lucrative heroine back to life a few years later), death has become an obnoxious staple of the comic book world. At a loss for genuine drama? Unable to craft complex characters? Kill somebody. It always helps sales, as it did when Ed Brubaker killed Captain America last year. Judd Winick already tugged at the cheaper heartstrings when he killed Jason Todd three years ago (the second time Todd died). In this issue of Green Arrow/Black Canary, he renders Connor Hawke a vegetable, so at least the character isn’t dead. It’s a step up from the kill-’em-off school of thought, I guess, but it still feels a little cheap.
Cliff Chiang’s art, mixed with Trish Mulvihill’s colors, are too bright and appealing for the story. Mulvihill’s vibrant palette, combined with Chiang’s draftsmanship, makes the characters look a little too much like American Girls dolls, and not enough like superheroes. Given this, I find it odd that the pair’s rendition of Batman (who gets a two page cameo) is gripping and convincing. Their Oliver Queen may look too pretty-boy, but their Dark Knight is appropriately gothic.
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.