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Last week I made a trip to the local library and checked out a butt load of books. I thought I’d share what I read, in the hopes that you’ll be inspired to do the same and maybe even help out your local librarian in getting more graphic novels on the shelves.

The first three books I read were JLA Lightning Saga, Green Lantern Wanted : Hal Jordan and Deadpool Invasion.

Justice League of America: The Lightning Saga

Writers: Brad Meltzer, Geoff Johns
Artists: Shane Davis, Fernando Pasarin, Ed Benes.
It was a good read but pushed me to edge of my DC knowledge since I haven’t read all of the Ultimate Infinite Final Crisis Infinite Legacy Crisis Earth Crisis Crisis books. But the artwork was good. Rather than just re-inventing the Legion from scratch the writers tie this story to the original “Lightning Saga” in Adventure Comics #312. It’s an introduction to Superman’s new history post-Infinite Crisis. The Legion of Super-Heroes befriended Superman as a boy and shared adventures with him, though he hasn’t seen them since Crisis on Infinite Earths. Karate Kid and Starman are in the present, Karate Kid having had a throw down with Batman… and lost, and are both known to have come from the future. Two teams are formed, the JSA and JLA as they search for the other lost Legion members and figure out just what the heck is going on here, since Superman is completely useless here in helping unravel the mystery.

Not for the casual reader of DC comics or those who aren’t up on the whole DC Crisis on Infinite Earths/Infinite Crisis/and the Final Crisis and Flash legacy story lines. It was a good read, but I have to mention that there’s a contrived effort to give Power Girl a little more depth as she and Batman discuss rare books, though it’s totally transparent.
Batman: “heard you found a first edition Vauban.”
Power Girl: “You should see it, Bruce. All twenty-nine engraved plates… barely any foxing… tight binding – - apparently, it’s the personal copy he prepared for Louis XIV right before he became his miltary engineer.”
B: “The one on siege warfare?”
PG: “Not for sale, Bruce. Don’t bother.”

Green Lantern: Wanted – Hal Jordan

Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Ivan Reis
Geoff Johns wrote this one as well as the previous JLA book. Johns is basically re-creating the foundation of the Green Lantern Corps mythos. Hal is on a rescue mission, after being shot down over Chechnya while on an Air Force mission with two other pilots. Though I enjoyed the story and loved the artwork, one major part bugged the hell out of me. For some reason, it’s not enough that Hal has one of the most powerful artifacts in the universe. No, he needs to prove to himself that he can even do one better than himself. How? By pretending that he doesn’t need his power ring, “what that silly thing? Pffft.” He goes on an Air Force mission leaving his, uncharged, power ring home, so that he can’t call it for help. I know this is Johns’ way of saying something like, “Hal is egotistical and is a wildman… Wildman I tell you, he left his ring home… see how crazy he is… that’s wild, he’s wild I tell you!” No, Hal’s just written to look like an idiot.

Apparently Johns’ never read Spider-Man and never learned the axiom, “With great responsibility.. blah blah blah.” Look, when you’re given, “GIVEN,” a super powerful Green Lantern ring, you’re also given a responsibility to help others. You are specifically put in a position to do the right thing with a tool that nobody else in the universe has, except all the GL Corps and all the other color Corps members, and the last thing you’re supposed to do is leave the gorramn thing in your locker, uncharged. What happens if some Skrulls or Klingons attack? What happens if tsunami hits Japan and their nuclear power plants melt down? What happens if some wackos from Saudi Arabia decide to attack our country?!!

“Green Lantern we NEED YOU NOW!”

“Sorry fellas, I’m too busy measuring the length of my phallus while I jump out of this plane without a parachute, so I left my power ring at home.”

“Well, just call it to you! We’re having a nuclear meltdown and aliens are attacking, thousands of people will needlessly die!”

“No-can-do fellas. I left that puppy completely drained. It’s a boat anchor. I can’t help you until I hitch a ride home and recharge it back up. Can you hold off a week or so? I’m almost done here anyway.”

Aside from this one ridiculous and artificial construct of the story, it was overall a great read with some really good art. The second story, “Mystery of the Star Sapphire,” was a decent read as well with Johns offering an alternate explanation for the Star Sapphires existance that makes sense.

Deadpool: Secret Invasion

Writer: Daniel Way
Illustrator(s): Paco Medina, Carlo Barberi (pencils), Juan Vlasco, Sandu Florea (inks), Marte Gracia, Raul Treviño (colours)

The Skrulls are invading Earth and and Deadpool is on the front line killing as many as he can while applying for a job. The dialogue between the two (or was it three) voices in Deadpool’s head is pretty funny and added to the story. Especially when they were whispering to each other and the reader can’t see what they’re saying; hilarious!!

Here are the other graphic novels I checked out from the library:

• Swampthing: Talk about an acid trip. This book was nuts. Lex Luthor is actually screwing his employees!! Can you believe it? All the free love, plant sex…. ick… just too much, so I only read it twice.
• Walking Dead Vol 11: An excellent read. Really good story with death and sickening concepts. Robert Kirkman really knows how to tap into the forbidden horror. I can’t wait to read more.
• Superman Last Son: When ever you have Zod you know it’s going to be entertaining. What made it really cool is seeing Mon-El. The whole 3D glasses thing isn’t really worth it though.
• Grendel: Archives was some horrible writing and art, but it was good learning the history of Hunter Rose. Devil Quest had an overdose of some of the ultra (and teeth grinding) violence. Love to see Grendel Prime in action, but you gotta ask, at what point does someone like Wagner rely on shock value to carry a story instead of a good story to carry a story? I’m still interested in reading more Grendel though
• Star Wars: Who can’t get enough Stormtroopers, Imperial Knights, viscous, backstabbing Sith and scantily clad female Jedi? Me! That’s who. God I love reading Star Wars. I can’t help it. When the hell are they going to make some more Star Wars offshoot movies? .. .without Lucas!
• And, finally, Shakespeare’s Macbeth Manga. I just had to see what this was about. I finally learned the story of Macbeth in less than 20 minutes.

Be sure to check with your local library to see what they have to check out. It’ll expose you to some great story lines that you would have otherwise missed out on. If they are lacking, be sure to let them know how they can get more on hand. If they go through Diamond they’ll have to commit to buying $500 a month, but they might be able to work something out with Diamond. Or, you can lead them to a discounter like CheapGraphicNovels.com, DeepDiscount.com, or DCBS.com. Be sure to let them know what your top graphic novels are as well.

- Ronando