Dimithri’s Pick of the Week:

“Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #3” by Tim Sheridan w/art by Cian Tormey

GUEST-STARRING THE SPECTRE! As the trail of the person murdering people from Alan’s past goes cold, the Green Lantern finds himself teamed up with an unlikely ally: the Spectre. But will the Spectre uncover the secret Alan was hoping would stay hidden in the process?

I’d say that Alan Scott was never my favorite Green Lantern, but that kind of competition isn’t fair to Alan Scott. Although he may be the first Green Lantern, he was the Golden Age version, not even a member of the (Silver Age retcon) Green Lantern Corps. It isn’t his fault he has tacky old-timey costume. It also isn’t his fault I was a 90s kid, growing up reading about Kyle Rayner and watching John Stewart. The most interesting stories I’ve read about Alan Scott is in the pages of the Post-Crisis Justice Society comics, where he teams up with the older heroes and mentors the younger ones. Oh, and also the amazing “The Golden Age” by James Robinson & Paul Smith (see below).

Point is, I’ve never cared much about Alan Scott until now. This series jumps back and forth between 1936, before Alan got his ring and powers, and 1941, with Alan operating as Green Lantern in New York City but before he joins the JSA, and shows us his early years with a new layer: the life of a closeted self-hating gay man in 1940s America. This added layer, this nuance, is a retcon as of the last ten years and mostly recently brought into continuity with DC Comics’ Infinite Frontier (comic and initiative) in 2021, but it doesn’t feel tacked on. Instead, writer Tim Sheridan makes it feel like it’s always been. It also helps that as an “out queer writer” himself, the experiences of Alan Scott come from moments of truth from Sheridan and the real world.

It’s only issue #3 and I can already feel it earning it’s place in my shelf once the trade comes out!

Moments worth mentioning (spoiler alert):

• I remember first seeing Doiby Dickles in the Young Justice “Sins of Youth” event back in the day. I always forget he was Alan Scott’s valet. He’s great haha.
• Alan Scott meeting at a secret place for those on the down low, yet siding with the police and their raid tactics, is rough to see.
• “I get this one is personal for you”. Jay knows Alan is gay?
• Golden Age Spectre was so weird and overpowered, yet in this book, he’s given an actual personality and it’s refreshing.
• It’s awesome to see the Spectre do detective work. It’s an aspect of Jim Corrigan that’s often overlooked.
• Doiby needs to look at his passengers every once in a while and see if they’re a villain before driving them to Alan’s house.
• Spectre is an ally, and how he explains God’s love, is a new take on the character. “God’s retribution… belongs to those who judge them, hate them, and bring them harm. And belive me, sooner or later, that retribution will come.”
• You can’t read these  pages with the Spectre talking to Alan Scott and not feel something. It’s a deeply human moment between two heroes with the powers of gods.
• Did Spectre purposely clue Alan in with 42 officers vs. 41 officers?

This run is shaping up really well. We all could see the Johnny reveal coming, but I desperately need to know how and why. I can’t wait for more issues, and I can’t wait for this to come out in tpb/hc!

Other Comics I Read This Week:

(Reviewed comics don’t reflect my whole pull list, just ones I finished reading by submission deadline)

Immortal X-Men #18 by Kieron Gillne, art by Juan José Ryp

The Krakoan Age of X-Men is ending with this Fall of X era, and I am very disappointed. This issue is great, sure, most issues of Immortal X-Men are, but I need more of this. I don’t know where the stories are going and I’m worried.

But damn, the Sinister-related reveal at the end was glorious!

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #14 by Cody Ziglar, art by Federico Vicentini

Cody Ziglar is firing on all cylinders with this run of Miles, and even though he has to include crossover tie-ins, they are included seamlessly.

(This Gang War event hasn’t been half bad, to tell you the truth.)

I’m super invested in Miles and Uncle Aaron’s relationship. I can’t wait for what’s to come!

X-Force #47 by Benjamin Percy, art by Daniel Picciotto

The Krakoan Age is ending, and I’m distraught, but there’s a beauty in this issue where they are getting the band back together for one more fight in “Fall of the House of X”. X-Force has been great from the jump, a national defense for Krakoa, and I’m going to be sad to see them go.

Bad Beast is back though???

Titans #6 by Tom Taylor, art by Travis Moore

This issue ties in with Titans: Beast World, true, but spends most of it’s time exploring Starfire’s past and finally puts her face to face with Xand’r aka Brother Eternity.

 Detective Chimp makes an appearance in a Beast World tie-in? AWESOME.

Holy moley this art is amazing.

Also, looks like the DC Universe has their own animated version of Teen Titans (Go?) that kids watch haha.

Green Arrow #7 by Joshua Williamson, art by Carmine Di Giandomenico & Trevor Hairsine

Consider this my true Green Arrow #1. The first six issues were a weird time travel romp, complete with a villain reveal that came out of nowhere, but this issue is where this run shines.

Also is this the first time a character has come back from the “dead” and did a full universal analysis of whether they’re in the right plane of existence?

Also, sign me up for more Oliver/Connor stories!

The Flash #4 by Si Spurrier, art by Mike Deodato Jr.

Si Spurrier’s run of The Flash is so weird, yet so intriguing. There’s a realm outside of time and space, a realm of… concept? I’m curious to see where this cosmically weird take on Wally West goes, but I’m afraid it’s going to either hook me or lose me, no middle ground.

It’s also nice to see Jesse Quick and Thunderheart team up, though I hate the name Thunderheart, but also love it because it seems in character for Irey.

Justice Society of America #8 by Geoff Johns, art by Mikel Janín

This issue ties in eerily well with “Alan Scott: The Green Lantern”, and it makes so much sense.Ruby Sokov is the daughter of Johnny, the Golden Age Red Lantern that Alan is fighting back in 1941, essentially making Ruby the Jade equivalent to Johnny.

Alan drops that Red Lantern imploded into nothing back in 1948, but Helena Wayne says there have been sightings in her time, in the future.

Was Red Lantern’s death in 1948 where he was snatched from time? I guess we’ll see!

And what the hell is Ferro Lad doing in the past?

Predator vs. Wolverine #4 by Benjamin Percy w/art by Ken Lashley

This is the final issue in the 4 issue miniseries pitting 20th Century Studios’ Predator vs Marvel Comics’ Wolverine. There is enough violence in this to go around, but it has some nice Wolverine moments. It’s definitely more of a Wolverine book than a Predator one, which is to be expected.

Is this a must-read? No, but it is fun. It won’t hurt you to not read it either. If it sounds interesting, you’ll like it!

Titans: Beast World #3 by Tom Taylor w/art by Lucas Meyer

Not sure about the point of this “Beast World” crossover event is, but it’s here and it’s happening. There are cool moments, of course, and you get to see animal hybrids of your favorite characters, but I’m wondering what the meta-story is.

The Sensational She-Hulk #3 by Rainbow Rowell w/art by Andrés Genolet

This She-Hulk run seems a little slow, even more so than the previous run by Rainbow Rowell, but this series hinges on the likeability of the characters and the amazing art by Andrés Genolet.

Luckily the characters are lovable and the art is amazing, so it’s a win-win for me. I’m sticking with this one!

Power Girl #4 by Leah Williams w/art by Eduardo Pansica

Issue 4 is all about an “assimilated” Power Girl vs Superman, and doesn’t give us much else. I wouldn’t say this issue is boring per se, but I think it’s sole purpose was to introduce a new villain Symbio to fight Power Girl in a later issue.

Also, please just let that alien lion die in peace please.

Timless #1 (2023) by Jackson Lanzing w/art by Collin Kelly & Juann Cabal

Every year, Marvel releases a new issue of “Timeless” and each time it’s issue #1. I have a personal problem with the incessant need to have #1 issues on everything, but I digress: this issue was good!

Old Man Luke Cage is in the future, fighting against the champion of Khonshu, with more powers than he’s ever had before. Who is fighting on behalf of Khonshu? You’ll never guess!

Action Comics Annual (2023) by Phillip Kennedy Johnson w/art by Max Raynor

This issue ends Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s run, and it wasn’t half bad. Personally, his Warworld Saga is one of my favorite Superman stories ever told, so it’s been hard for any of his writing after that to compete.

But this story ends and it ends well, with an invasion by Earth Al Ghul. PKJ’s run will go down in history as one of the best Superman runs of all time, trust me.

Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu: Gang War #1 by Greg Pak w/art by Caio Majado

The “Gang War” event that’s going on over in the Marvel New York streets has been pretty interesting, and the idea that Shang-Chi is essentially a gangleader as he runs The Five Weapons Society is a novel idea. It’s been a pretty fun read…

and Spider-Man makes an appearance too!

Unfortunately didn’t get a chance to read much else this week, but what I did read, I liked a lot. Not a bad time to be a comic fan!