George and Lennie
Written by: Scott LobdellArt by: Mirko Colak, Tom Derenick, Veronica Gandini and Taylor Esposito
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: February 8, 2017
I have been a huge supporter of this book and I really do think it is one of the best Rebirth titles out there. However, I did think the first arc went an issue too long and I couldn't wait to get the Dark Trinity together and on the road. Well. that time is now as they are off to find the Bow of Ra and hopefully a ton of adventure as well. So, is this issue the start of what I've been waiting for all along? Let's find out...
The issue opens up with Jason telling Black Mask's piece of crap goons to get out of Gotham while the getting is good. Of course, those types never listen to reason and when they pull their guns out, things get fun! If you thought Red Hood and Bizarro sound like a great team, this opener will prove you are a smart cookie. It's so much fun seeing the two beat the crap out of the mooks and when Killer Croc shows up...awesome!!! Things aren't exactly what they seem which only adds to the enjoyment. Of course, there is the thing with Bizarro going a bot too far, but...
We then head back to the Outlaw Lair where Artemis has been trying to track down her bow, but also looking into the Lexcorp project that created Bizarro. The interaction between Jason and Artemis has been a highlight of this book and it continues here. It also piles on the doubts that Jason has been having about Bizarro even being around and what he could eventually do. By this part, I was expecting Jason to start telling Bizarro about the farm they planned on building, but that kind of comes later.
Jason takes his worries to the Batcave and after a really great conversation with Alfred that mirrors his relationship with Bizarro, he grabs a "contingency plan" and heads out. Head out to a really messed up scene. I won't go into it (even though the cover spoils it), but it's one of those moments that may come back to haunt Jason later, but I'm so glad it went the way it did. Sure, it would have been better if George shot Lennie at the beginning of "Of Mice and Men", but we can all hope Bizarro is better than that, right?
There is not much else to say about this issue except that it flew by and I loved every minute of it. It's all about Jason trying to figure out if he can trust Bizarro not to kill everyone including Artemis and himself and in the end, I think he made the right decision. Scott Lobdell continues showing how Jason's past is not only still on his mind, but a driving force on his current day decision making. Again, I loved this issue.
Mirko Colak's art is good, it's just not as good as Dexter Soy's has been on this book. I really didn't like Jason's look outside the Red Hood mask, but put the mask on and it looks fantastic.
Bits and Pieces:
This a quick and awesome read that solidifies this book as one of my favorites of Rebirth. Artemis makes an appearance, but this issue is all about Jason and Bizarro. The story is surprisingly touching and while I prefer Dexter Soy's art on this book, Mirko Colak does a decent job. I can't recommend this book enough.
9.0/10
Great Issue, and some small reveals. Bizzaro actually has Some of Clarks Memories, Artemis isn't a Dumb Disney Princess Version of an Amazon and can Actually function using technology, Jason Set Up a new Base under Ma Guns. This issues main Purpose is to show if Jason can Trust Bizzaro as well as himself should Bizzaro ever becomes the weapon of mass destruction he was created to be.
ReplyDeleteI imagine Next issue we get some Artemis and Jason bonding before we start this Mission for the Bow of Ra. Does anyone know if Dexter Soy is off this Book or Simply taking a Break? This art wasn't horrible but Dexters is still way Better.
9/10. Well put Jim
He's returning in April.
DeleteThank you. I guess this art will do until April. But I think I've become Spoiled, because now everyone's art is failing by comparison.
DeleteMy only objection is why Bizzaro and not Kon-El. I mean Lobdell has written him in TT and Superboy series so it seems logical to add him to the outlaws in the future. Bizzaro has limited potential and will get boring after some time. Kon-El is the definition of outlaw.
ReplyDeleteI actually understand why, if Superman, Action and Super Sons go a certain way. Jons Powers are going to be a problem and they'll probably be life threatening because human & kryptonian dna don't mix well. That's the whole point of N52 Conner Kent/Kon-el, his DNA is the perfect amount of Human to Kryptonian. So I see him possibly showing up in any of those series.
DeleteThis explanation doesn't clarify why Lobdell didn't choose Kon-El to be part of Rebirth Rhato team from the start. It's lame to have Kon wandering about with Harvest doing nothing. I'd love to see the friction and tension between Jason and Kon around the direction and aim of the group. Jon ''Smith'' Kent has no place in all of this talk between Bizzaro and Kon who are clones, but Kon is a more interesting clone and I hope Jason kills Bizzaro given another chance. Lobdell has to bring Kon back he is the one who can understand him best.
DeleteI definitely think Kon is better choice than Bizzaro, but that doesn't change the fact that Kon's purpose for being created is to Stabilize Jons deteriorating body because his powers will get to strong for his human body. But I ain't complaining, Bizzaro is definitely still worth the read. It hasn't been clarified yet but I think this Bizzaro is a of B-Zero, from the forever evil story. Which I also liked as well.
DeleteBecause we haven't seen Kon-El in Rebirth and I'm sure they have other plans for him, if any at all.
DeleteIt may be him that they hint at in this week's Supergirl
I think this is actually the first issue of RHaO that I didn't really love. I didn't hate it, but it came off to me as stuff that would be in an Annual. There's some small info tucked in there but no real suspense and it just came off as a little pointless to me. Didn't hate it, but I can't say I really liked it all that much.
ReplyDeleteLobdell continues to pleasantly surprise me. He seems to have morphed into a better writer with Rebirth. I applaud him for focusing on genuinely character driven stories. This particular story dragged a bit and perhaps did not require a full issue to get its point across, but it reads well and the art is good too. This title remains, in my view, the biggest surprise of Rebirth and arguably most under-appreciated.
ReplyDelete