6 Autobots
allhailgrimlock

Grimlock ♥ Ultra Magnus

I'm a well read grad student who's bluntly honest about all things, although I try to be most honest about myself.   

Currently reading

Separate Orbits
Yael Mermelstein
Progress: 119/427pages
BATMAN #53 ((Regular Cover)) - DC Comics - 2018 - 1st Printing
LeeWeeksBatman53, TomKingBatman53
BATMAN #54 ((Regular Cover)) - DC Comics - 2018 - 1st Printing
MattWagnerBatman54, TomKingBatman54
BATMAN #52 ((DC REBIRTH)) ((Regular Cover)) - DC Comics - 2018 - 1st Printing
LeeWeeksBatman52, TomKingBatman52
BATMAN #51 ((DC REBIRTH)) ((Regular Cover)) - DC Comics - 2018 - 1st Printing
LeeWeeksBatman51, TomKingBatman51
Infinity Wars: Iron Hammer (2018) #1 (of 2)
Al Ewing, Humberto Ramos
Champions (2019-) #4
Jim Zub, Jacinto Benavente
SUICIDE SQUAD #46 ((Regular Cover)) - DC Comics - 2018 - 1st Printing
JosLuisSS46, RobWilliamsSS46
SUICIDE SQUAD #45 ((SINK ATLANTIS)) ((DC REBIRTH )) ((Regular Cover)) - DC Comics - 2018 - 1st Printing
JosLuisSuicideSquad45, RobWilliamsSuicideSquad45
Champions (2019-) #3
Jim Zub, Jacinto Benavente

Struggled with this story

Green Arrow (2011-2016) #47 - Benjamin Percy, Gabe Eltaeb, Joe Bennett, Jack Jadson, Fabrizio Fiorentino, Federico Dallocchio

Green Arrow is best when he's dealing with street level issues: crime, poverty, drugs, and even corporate evils.   Things that affect those on the street, things that aren't extinction level threats, things that allow him to get closer to those on the street.   It means that he can easily reflect real life, and deal with what is effecting the readers in a real time manner.

 

This issue incorporates a larger, mystical storyline along with gangs: the Jefe, who Oliver/Arrow is going up against, has the forces of an old god of death at his beck and call - so long as he keeps making sacrifices.   The reason he's called upon this god in the first place is to save his son.   It's love. 

 

It also happens at a time when Oliver has been betrayed by the woman he loves, although he notes he knew he couldn't trust a woman called Tarantula.  (Note to Oliver: if giant robots that turn into animals invade earth, this is a good rule.   Do not trust Tarantulas.)

 

So Jefe's storyline speaks to Oliver's storyline and it's all actually quite clever.   I loved a lot about this storyline, and while I recognize that Oliver works well with the Justice League, I didn't enjoy the mystical aspects.   I feel like it overshadowed the connection the writer was making between Oliver and Jefe's storylines.   It also meant that the storyline was focused on either Jefe's backstory or Oliver dealing with his own issues, mostly solo.   There was no connection to the community, and no real feeling that Oliver was doing this for the community, which made me feel disconnected. 

 

The best street level hero storylines deal with or struggle with that hero's connection to the city, or town, he lives in, and this had an excellent villain which could have forced Oliver to deal with how Jefe and his crew were poisoning the city - and didn't.   The best thing about Oliver was not in this issue at all. 

 

And I still struggle with this.   At some point, George, a dog, makes an appearance and Oliver basically says he doesn't know what they're up against - but he'll need love to get through it.   Even a hero like Oliver needs self-care.  Maybe especially since they're so immersed in the place in which they live, and so involved in its well being. 

 

But, self-care doesn't mean you ignore the fact that you have a connection to the place.  One could argue that Oliver has to preserve his life, and his sanity, to serve his community - but even a nod to that argument wasn't made. 

 

It might not be a problem for others, but I struggled with what I liked most about this type of series being gone from this issue.  And I struggled with the fact that I actually enjoyed so many of the aspects when I was trying to decide how to rate this.   

 

Bottom line: I'd try this author again.   I'm expanding into DC territory and finding I'm liking it more than I thought I would.   And on a final, unrelated note, I read this two days ago along with like six other books.   Going to review those, update my comic book bingo and then get ready for Thanksgiving. 

 

Also, I've been distracted by how nice my new shampoo is.   My hair is shiny and smooth and soft and I keep feeling it, which you think wouldn't distract from reading - but you'd be wrong.