Chris and Reggie's Cosmic Treadmill ep. 117 - Action Comics Weekly: Green Lantern Part Four (1989)

The Ring's Not the Thing

Greetings, oh Keepers of the Flame! Today, calendar-scrutinizing comics fans Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) conclude their look at the Green Lantern stories contained in DC Comics' Action Comics Weekly, in this episode covering issues #636 to #642, plus Green Lantern Special #2 by James Owsley, Dan Raspler and M.D. Bright! They go through every bizarre beat of these books, lending their raspy voices where applicable. Later, our Sunday-to-Sunday fellas look at some of the fallout from this weekly series; what happened to Malvolio and Priest, and other weekly series DC Comics has put out over the years. Plus...an alternate ending? The episode is full of mysteries and and goofy stuff...mostly goofy stuff. You don't want to miss it!

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week: November 28, 2018

Mark Brooks - boy this is sweet

The Fifth Week of Bounty

Sorry I missed last week's installment of Best Covers, folks, I had a lot to get done before heading to my in-laws for Thanksgiving, and this list was one thing I could not get to. Let's just assume last week's covers were all terrible! Now we're in a fifth week, which normally results in a bunch of Annuals and a few special one-shots, and now a whole lot of covers to choose from. But this time, there's like a skillion, billion books! Not a lot of great covers, but I was able to squeeze out five, plus a bonus one you can gawk at right here!

Titans #30 Review and *SPOILERS*

Therapy Session

Written By: Dan Abnett
Art By: Minkyu Jung, John Dell, Scott Hanna, Adriano Lucas, Hi-Fi
Letters By: Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 28, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

I think I’m getting a kind of reputation for being really hard on any book that I read. I tore Batwoman to shreds and I’ve been really hard on The Flash and this book is unfortunately another series that I have been really tough on. However, I take no pleasure in this. I want these books to be good. Hell, I’m begging to really feel happy about these comics after reading the latest issue. The issue is that I’m still feeling disappointed and frustrated. However, as always, I come into every issue without expectations and try to review it fairly. So, lets just jump right in and see where it takes us.

Justice League Odyssey #3 Review

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artists: Philippe Briones, Jeromy Cox, Deron Bennett
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 28, 2018

Review by: Joey Casco

Please go check out Joey's awesome site TheWineStalker.net

Cyborg, Starfire, and Azrael have been lured into the Ghost Sector by Darkeseid and are now stranded there with the sector's Green Lantern sentry Jessica Cruz. With no way out, they have to survive the dangerous Ghost Sector and discover the mystery of why the people of these planets have been worshipping them for thousands of years.

The Flash #59 Review and *SPOILERS*

Fun with Portals

Written By: Joshua Williamson

Art By: Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Scott Hanna, Tomeu Morey
Letters By: Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 28, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

For those of you who haven’t read my previous review, I tore into this book pretty hard. I would argue that I did so with plenty of justification. Nevertheless, despite being so hard on the previous issue, I still consider myself to be a fan of this book. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next. The cover has me a bit perplexed but I’ll allow the book to deliver before I pass judgement on it. Where we left our hero, The Flash and Iris had just ran from Badhnisia to Gorilla City and found the gorillas there to be slaughtered. Now, we dive deeper into the mystery surrounding the city and The Flash continues his force quest. Let’s just jump right into this issue and see what it has in store for us.

The Terrifics #10 Review and **SPOILERS**

The Ties that Don’t Bind

Storytellers: Viktor Bogdanovic & Jeff Lemire 

Inks: Bogdanovic & Jonathan Glapion 

Colors: Michael Spicer 

Letters: Tom Napolitano 

Cover: Evan “Doc” Shaner 

Assistant Editor: Andrew Marino 

Editor: Paul Kaminski 

Group Editor: Marie Javins 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: November 28, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Alright, so everyone is free of their stupid dimensions, the Terrifics aren’t beholden to each other due to Dark Energy…so what’s the big to-do now? That Java is secretly Doctor Dread? I’d just leave him be and keep it moving, if I were any member of the Terrifics. I mean, he’s hung up on Sapphire Stagg, and aside from Rex Mason, I don’t see why the others should care. Find out why in my review of The Terrifics #10, maybe!

DC’s Nuclear Winter Special #1 Review and **SPOILERS**

The Weather Outside is Frightful

Cover: Yanick Panquette & Nathan Fairbairn 

Editors: Alex Antone & Dave Wielgosz 

Cover Price: $9.99 

On Sale Date: November 28, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Hey, it’s another seasonal anthology issue from DC Comics! Mind you, the last anthology came out only a month ago, but that was technically a different season! I normally like the idea of these more than the execution, but I’ll always be open to checking them out. Are you open to reading DC’s Nuclear Winter Special #1? Peep my review and find out!

Injustice Vs. Masters of the Universe #5 Review

Injustice Vs. Masters of the Universe #5

Writer: Tim Seeley
Art Team: Freddie E. Williams II, Jeremy Colwell, Wes Abbott

DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 28, 2018

By the Power of Darkseid ... I Have No Power! 

It's no secret that I for one have been enjoying Injustice Vs. MotU since the beginning and this penultimate issue is no exception. The main reason for all my excitement is that each issue I pick up and read results in whatever preconceived notions I have about the book being completely blown out the window.  Often there are just a few too many of the "Big 2" comics littering shelves that you can predict exactly where the book is headed from page one. It takes the suspense out of the title more times than not so this has been a breath of fresh air to my pull list.  With that being said lets get into this penultimate issue and see what twists and turns Tim Seeley and company have in store for us.

Batgirl #29 Review and **SPOILERS**

You Don’t Have to be So Grotesque, Ugly

Writer: Mairghread Scott 

Penciller: Paul Pelletier 

Inker: Norm Rapmund 

Colorist: Jordie Bellaire 

Letterer: Deron Bennett 

Main Cover Artists: Sean Murphy and Scott Hollingsworth 

Variant Cover Artist: Joshua Middleton 

Editor: Brittany Holzherr 

Group Editor: Jamie S. Rich 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: November 28, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

This will conclude the first arc of Batgirl by Scott and Pelletier, and it’s been pretty good! Find out if it closes strong in my review of Batgirl #29, as shown below!

Aquaman/Justice League: Drowned Earth #1 Review and **SPOILERS**

Say Hello to My Wiggle Friend

Writer: Scott Snyder 

Art: Francis Manapul, Howard Porter and Scott Godlewski 

Color: Hi-Fi and Manapul 

Letters: Tom Napolitano 

Cover: Manapul 

Variant Cover: Dale Keown and Jason Keith 

Assistant Editor: Andrew Marino 

Editors: Rebecca Taylor and Paul Kaminski 

Group Editor: Marie Javins 

Cover Price: $4.99 

On Sale Date: November 28, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Well, the Earth is drowned, so you can’t say the title of this mini-event was a lie. How big of a wet-vac are they gonna need to clean up all this gunk? Maybe Aquaman will get Topo to do it in Aquaman/Justice League: Drowned Earth #1, which I have reviewed right here!

Books of Magic #2 Review and **SPOILERS**

Magic Has Consequences

Written By: Kat Howard
Drawn By: Tom Fowler
Colors By: Jordan Boyd
Letters By: Todd Klein
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: November 28, 2018

If you've ever taken PSY101, you're probably familiar with the concept of transference.  To put it as simply as possible, it's when you assign attributes to a person because they remind you of somebody else.

It could lead to a lot of things that might strain a relationship, among them imposing unfair expectations on their behavior.

I am guilty of that here.

This book reminds me of Ultimate Spider-Man so much... both in overall aesthetics, and by the appearance of our main character, Tim Hunter.

Let's see if I can make it through this review without calling back to USM too much.

Old Lady Harley #2 Review

The Gross of Harley Future

Writer: Frank Tieri
Artist: Inaki Miranda
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: November 28, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

I really liked the first issue of Old Lady Harley and not just for the parody of the Old Man books over at Marvel, but because I actually laughed reading a Harley book.  Believe me, it's been months since that happened and I won't point fingers, but you know that I am not-so-secretly pointing fingers.  Does Frank Tieri keep tickling my funny bone and do I want him to stop?  The answer to the latter is no, but let's see about the former...

Batman Beyond #26 Review

Been There, Done That

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Andrew Dalhouse, Travis Lanham

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 28, 2018

The Joker is back, but can that save this series that has been pretty underwhelming since it started?  Yeah, that's a bit harsh, but I really expected a lot of this series that seems to be struggling with what it wants to be and with what continuity it wants to take since it got renumbered after Rebirth started.  Hopefully now that Matt McGinnis has become the new Robin and with the hype of a geriatric Joker, not to mention the new art team on the book this can become something that I've wanted for a long time now and can move away from the mediocre.  Let's jump into this issue and see if the Joker is able to play out his sequel to the Killing Joke since we left last issue with him pointing a gun at Barbara Gordon.  Let's check it out.

Action Comics #1005 Review

Partly Cloudy

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis

Art By: Ryan Sook, Brad Anderson, Josh Reed

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 28, 2018

Action Comics has been giving us a bit of the old slow burn when it comes to this secret syndicate, this invisible Illuminati, this concealed clique, but according to this issue's cover, it looks like we're finally going to get some forward momentum going in discovering who the Red Cloud is......... and hopefully once that's revealed, we'll get to the bottom of the rest.  Let's jump into this issue and see what Brian Michael Bendis gives us in this installment of Action Comics.

Raven: Daughter of Darkness #10 Review and **SPOILERS**

Raven Don't know much a-bout His-tor-y...
or France... or any of that.

Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist: Pop Mhan
Colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: November 28, 2018

*tap tap* Is this thing on?

Really?  Raven's still a thing that's coming out every month?  I'd have sworn it was just a collective nightmare... and, if we can all agree to that fact... we won't have to cover it anymore!

Ehhh, only two to go... let's get on with it!

Batman: Kings of Fear #4 Review

Tell Me About...Anything!

Writer: Scott Peterson
Artist: Kelley Jones
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: November 28, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

I really enjoyed the first issue of this series as an old-school feeling alternative to the current Bat-books on the shelves, but that feeling has gone away big time.  I still like Kelley Jones art a whole lot, but Scott Peterson's story is paper thin and not doing anything for me at all.  It's a shame because I love the Scarecrow and the idea of him analyzing Batman is intriguing in theory, but the reality of it here is another story.  We start the second half of the story here and I am hoping that Peterson went into halftime, adjusted his gameplan, gave an inspiring speech to his players and is ready to turn it all around.  Well, did he?  Let's find out...

Wonder Woman #59 Review

God of Bore

Writer: G. Willow Wilson
Artist: Cary Nord
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: November 28, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

I have gone on record saying I couldn't wait for G Willow Wilson to get her Wonder Woman run started and then that I was disappointed when it did.  Before you get angry at me, let me explain.  I thought the first issue was good when I expected great and while that's more on me, that's just how I feel.  So, did this issue kick it up a notch and give me the great I was expecting?  Let's find out...

Detective Comics #993 Review

 No. What is on Second Base

Writer: James Robinson
Artist: Carmine Giandomenico
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: November 28, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

I really gave this story a fair shake when James Robinson started his little run.  I liked the interactions between Batman and Jim Gordon and even fought with some people on Twitter saying this was an angle we used to get in Batman but hadn't in a long time.  I gave a thumbs up to Robinson for working some of the current Batman state of mind when other books were ignoring it and...well. I ended up looking like a damn fool!  Since the first issue, this arc has gone done the drain and since I don't want to mince words here...it has sucked.  However, hope springs eternal when we get to the finale and like a last-second buzzer beater, sometimes it all comes together and a writer can snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.  Does that happen here?  Let's find out...

Heroes in Crisis #3 Review and **SPOILERS**

The Never-Never Land of Make Believe

Writer: Tom King 

Artists: Clay Mann & Lee Weeks 

Colorist: Tomeu Morey 

Letters: Clayton Cowles 

Cover By: Clay Mann and Tomeu Morey 

Variant Covers By: Ryan Sook 

Associate Editor: Brittany Holzherr 

Editor: Jamie S. Rich 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: November 28, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Did Booster dunnit? Did Harley dunnit? Who the heck dunnit?? I have a feeling we’re not going to find out the full story this soon, but we might get some answers in Heroes in Crisis #3. Read my review, I’ll let you know the scoop!

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Ep 203: DC Comics, Batman, Broken Faces and Chemical Pie

Not a ton of books, but that's the way this crazy thing called life works, right?  If 4 hours isn't enough Eric for you, check out our Patreon (www.patreon.com/weirdscience) and for as little as $1 a month, you can help support the podcast and get a bunch of shows! This Week's Patreon Spotlight: Aquaman #42 & Justice League #12 

PREVIEW: Heroes in Crisis #3

Health Care is a Superhuman Right

Writer: Tom King 

Artists: Clay Mann & Lee Weeks 

Colorist: Tomeu Morey 

Letters: Clayton Cowles 

Cover By: Clay Mann and Tomeu Morey 

Variant Covers By: Ryan Sook 

Associate Editor: Brittany Holzherr 

Editor: Jamie S. Rich 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: November 28, 2018
 

-->Tragedies deepen as more secrets behind the “superhero hospital” called Sanctuary are revealed! What compelled Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman to create it in the first place? How was it built? And if the hospital truly is alive via A.I., who — or what — is the brain of “Sanctuary?” Another layer peeled back in the biggest mystery woven through the entire DC Universe.

Who? What? Where? Why? And most importantly: WHEN? Find out in the issue, get a clue in the preview pages, provided hence! 

PREVIEW: Aquaman/Justice League: Drowned Earth #1

I Wanna Be an Aquaman 

Writer: Scott Snyder 

Art: Francis Manapul, Howard Porter and Scott Godlewski 

Color: Hi-Fi and Manapul 

Letters: Tom Napolitano 

Cover: Manapul 

Variant Cover: Dale Keown and Jason Keith 

Assistant Editor: Andrew Marino 

Editors: Rebecca Taylor and Paul Kaminski 

Group Editor: Marie Javins 

Cover Price: $4.99

On Sale Date: November 28, 2018
 

“DROWNED EARTH” finale! Aquaman faces the truth behind Atlantis’ past and must find a way to reclaim the power of his birthright or watch the floodwaters drown everything he has ever loved! With the world at stake and the Justice League on their last sea legs in their battle against the Ocean Lords, Arthur makes the ultimate sacrifice to return balance to land and sea! 

Here's the soggy conclusion to "Drowned Earth!" You can look at some damp preview pages for now.

PREVIEW: Batgirl #29

Insert Art Pun Here

Writer: Mairghread Scott 

Penciller: Paul Pelletier 

Inker: Norm Rapmund 

Colorist: Jordie Bellaire 

Letterer: Deron Bennett 

Main Cover Artists: Sean Murphy and Scott Hollingsworth 

Variant Cover Artist: Joshua Middleton 

Editor: Brittany Holzherr 

Group Editor: Jamie S. Rich 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: November 28, 2018

-->In the finale of “Art of the Crime,” Batgirl may have uncovered Grotesque’s real plot, but that only means she knows the real danger that faces Jim Gordon and the GCPD! Can Barbara take down Grotesque before he pulls off a massive heist and ruins the GCPD’s rep in the process? Maybe, but it won’t be a paint-by-numbers job!

Wrapping up Scott and Pelletier's first arc on Batgirl, let's see if they can stick the landing! You can stick your eyeballs on some preview pages, linked below. 

PREVIEW: The Terrifics #10

The 'Riffics are At It Again

Storytellers: Viktor Bogdanovic & Jeff Lemire 

Inks: Bogdanovic & Jonathan Glapion 

Colors: Michael Spicer 

Letters: Tom Napolitano 

Cover: Evan “Doc” Shaner 

Assistant Editor: Andrew Marino 

Editor: Paul Kaminski 

Group Editor: Marie Javins 

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: November 28, 2018
 

-->Is there a totally titanic termination in store for the Terrifics? Mr. Terrific and company team with the Tom Strong family in a final battle against Doc Dread, who’s leveraging the power of a dark god to kill everyone in his path. With the fate of the Multiverse AND the Dark Multiverse hanging in the balance, it’ll take a team-up of Terrific proportions to save the day. Just don’t expect the group to escape unscathed when all is said and done…

Could the solicit copy be any more generic? Leer at some preview pages and maybe you can crack the code.