Tag: Jose Luis

Earth-Prime (2022) #3

Ep3

I can only assume the cast getting teleported away at the end of the feature story will matter in later Earth-Prime issues. Maybe they’re doing the Arrowverse version of the Beyonder.

While I’ve been aware of the series (an “in-continuity” comic story for the CW Arrowverse shows, which are all now mostly canceled), I didn’t have any plans on reading any of it until “Legends of Tomorrow” got canceled. They shared a preview of the story, and the nostalgia twangs hit right, with the comic starting with Ray and Nora. He’s the Atom, she’s a fairy godmother and former villain, they’re cute enough together, though on the show it’s cuter because the actors are married.

The art’s fine—Paul Pelletier pencils, Andrew Hennessy inks—but it’s not photo-realistic for the characters. Broad strokes. They also avoid distinguishing characteristics, particularly when Dominic Purcell’s Mick Rory shows up. Ray goes to get help from Jax, who used to be Firestorm, and finds the Hawkpeople there. These characters left the show at least a season before it was canceled (the credits identify the team as “Ex-Legends”), so it’s a nice trip down memory lane with departed cast members. Mona shows up. It’s definitely targeted at regular viewers, and writers Lauren Fields and Daniel Park clearly enjoy running the reunion story. The Hawkpeople disappeared for most of the series, so having them interact with the more developed cast’s interesting. Also, Fields and Park aren’t above acknowledging some of the show’s first season bumpiness.

It’s a good feature. If you’re a “Legends” fan. And it’s not too bittersweet; it’s a “the adventure never ends” type deal, something the show never got to do.

But then there’s a back-up, which reveals what series finale guest star Donald Faison was doing during some of that episode, including more cameos. The script’s from Fields and Park again (it makes Faison’s character more likable than the show did), with art by Jose Luis and Jonas Trindade. It’s fine. But it’s intended to get readers excited for a never arriving new season of the show.

It’s a bummer. It’s bittersweet in the right ways and—through no fault of the creators—a bummer in the wrong ways.

The Terrifics (2018) #2

T2

I wish The Terrifics were terrific but it’s not. It’s perfectly fine. It’s gorgeous DC superhero stuff. Reis’s art doesn’t particularly invite dwelling, but if you decide to dwell, you get reasonably rewarded. As for the story, it’s very much part two of the series opener.

Oh, and Tom Strong is a red herring. Let’s just get it out of the way. After the cliffhanger “resolution” with him, it’s backstory on Phantom Girl. Then it’s action, action, action, quick romance (I mean, Rex and Sapphire have to kiss, don’t they), then a little more action. The last bits of action aren’t particularly exciting, as they’re expository action. Reis and Lemire pulling them off so (relatively) well showcase that rare quality of the superhero comic book–it lends itself to expository action.

The cliffhanger involves why the team is now a team.

Good writing. Plastic Man is starting to grate. But only slightly. Lemire’s writing for him seems like a series of postscript quips to scenes. Too many of them. Though Plastic Man’s not wrong about Mr. Terrific being a bit of a dick (but not too much of one, Lemire keeps everyone affable).

We’ll see. So far, it’s totally solid DC superhero stuff. Might even end up being worth reading.

The Terrifics #2 (May 2018)

The Terrifics #2I wish The Terrifics were terrific but it’s not. It’s perfectly fine. It’s gorgeous DC superhero stuff. Reis’s art doesn’t particularly invite dwelling, but if you decide to dwell, you get reasonably rewarded. As for the story, it’s very much part two of the series opener.

Oh, and Tom Strong is a red herring. Let’s just get it out of the way. After the cliffhanger “resolution” with him, it’s backstory on Phantom Girl. Then it’s action, action, action, quick romance (I mean, Rex and Sapphire have to kiss, don’t they), then a little more action. The last bits of action aren’t particularly exciting, as they’re expository action. Reis and Lemire pulling them off so (relatively) well showcase that rare quality of the superhero comic book–it lends itself to expository action.

The cliffhanger involves why the team is now a team.

Good writing. Plastic Man is starting to grate. But only slightly. Lemire’s writing for him seems like a series of postscript quips to scenes. Too many of them. Though Plastic Man’s not wrong about Mr. Terrific being a bit of a dick (but not too much of one, Lemire keeps everyone affable).

We’ll see. So far, it’s totally solid DC superhero stuff. Might even end up being worth reading.

CREDITS

Meet the Terrifics, Part 2 of 3; writer, Jeff Lemire; pencillers, Ivan Reis and Jose Luis; inkers, Vicente Cifuentes and Jordi Tarragona; colorist, Marcelo Maiolo; letterer, Tom Napolitano; editor, Jessica Chen and Paul Kaminski; publisher, DC Comics.