It's been nearly a month since I've written anything, both here and elsewhere. The truth of it is that I've been going through some stuff (along a road that only poor mental health can take you) and, as a result, my desire to read any comics (or anything really) has dropped to an all time low.
That said, during the last week or so, I've made a more concerted effort to delve into some issues in the hope of 'rebooting' my love of reading. Whether this was a good plan, to force enjoyment back into me, is up for debate but it has really been one of those months and so I'd rather try than continue on the road I was on.
I started with the Aquaman 80th Anniversary #1 which, like the Green Arrow issue a couple of months back, saw a whole host of creative talent come together to celebrate all things Arthur Curry with eleven short stories in ninety nine pages of comic to honor the King of Atlantis and his friends (and some enemies) for his 80th birthday.
Now I enjoyed this anthology I thought it was a fun read. I didn't think it matched up to the previously mentioned Green Arrow issue but it was enjoyable nonetheless. While none of the stories cam across as stand out (maybe except the last two. The Becoming Prelude certainly made an impact, as did the art for Manta's story. Now that I think about any Manta story left its mark with me), I thought they were all solid work (although the early and later tales seemed better than those in the middle).
One thing I noticed though was how Aquaman sported an awful lot of hair through almost all of these stories. It does make me wonder if DC now have a rule in place whereby Aquaman must look more like Jason Momoa in order that people not be confused? Of course, this has little bearing on my enjoyment on the book and it was a good book, one I'm glad I bought (as I'm now using it to read a story at a time with my eldest and better convert him to the cause).
I recall being in two minds about this series when it was first announced because, while I'd loved Mirror Broken, Through the Mirror didn't impress me as much. However, with the setting for this one being predominantly Mirror Universe, I have to admit that I was intrigued. This feeling of intrigued continues to remain after reading this zero issue as I thought it sets up some very enticing notions about where it could go.
One thing this issue did really, really well was that it actually made me regret not buying Terra Incognito. This is because this zero issue contain a reference to it here which, while not imperative to the overall plot, did give that series a lot more of a connection that I had originally thought. While the story was very interesting in what it was setting up, I have to admit that I struggled with was the art. This isn't to say that it was bad, because I think it is in fact solid work (well, mostly). However, I feel that Mirror Broken spoiled me with J.K. Woodward's artwork and the lack of it here (and most likely in Through the Mirror) is really felt by me.
This zero issue did leave me with one question though and that is what is Smiley O'Brien doing doing on the Enterprise? Surely he should be way out in the Bajor system at this point being worked to death in ore processing on Terak Nor. Having read enough of their work at this point, I don't think that this is an accident by the Tipton's and it makes me wonder if this will tie into how this story. I suspect that this series is the end of the road for the crew of the Mirror TNG crew, but I sure am eager to see it now.
My final read for the week (and then some) was Lazarus: Risen #6, which saw the end of the Conclave War in sight for Forever and the Carlyle family as a clandestine meeting is set up between (some of) the family members and nemesis Jakob Hock. However, this is not the only thing on Forever's mind as she must also continue her plans to save Eight from her fate.
It has been some time since I'd last read a Lazarus issue (to which Greg Rucka points out in the letters pages) but I certainly remember thinking that we are in the home stretch. This issue continues to make me think this way as it moves into a quiet issue which not only feels like it is setting up the next to be introspective of the series as a whole but also that it reveal a lot of the Lazarus world's backstory. This issue continues to be a soft burn, much like the around 40 issues over three series which have come before it. However, this doesn't make it any less captivating to me as I still found myself as hooked now as I was looking at the lifeless, bullet riddled Forever Carlyle all those years ago.
The characters are still as complex and intriguing (but here with a few added wrinkles) and the Michael Lark's art is still as gorgeous as ever. The new digest format also continues to impress me thanks to the prose stories to flesh out the world, this time with Alex Segura giving us insight into the world of a CARINT agent, a different, more subtle enemy of Carlyle and how dealing with the devil can sometimes lead you to a greater dilemma.
By this point though, I'm really intrigued how Lazarus is going to end, even if I know full well that I will miss it when it's all done. My curiousity is piqued as to not only the plan to save Eight but also how, in the large scale chess match between Carlyle and Hock, is missing brother Jonah the key to Forever winning? Suffice to say, I really will be back for the next issue to find out (I just hope the wait between issues is less next time).
That was my week in a nutshell. Beyond that, I did very little else but I'm glad that I didn't overdo it as these three comics were great reads which felt more enjoyable with each subsequent read. There was one last book I did look at which was a copy of Previews as I consider picking up a few more comics in December. However, the decision making on that is still underway (although I'll have to try and make a decision by next week I guess).
For now though, I'm going to continue to ease back into reading, although I haven't decided whether next week that'll consist of the outstanding Fantastic Four-related issues I have, the Modern Frankenstein mini series or if I'll just start delving back into proper reviewing of some small press comics.
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