Brightest Day #17

“Homecoming” by Geoff Johns & Peter Tomasi and artists Ivan Reis, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark & Joe Prado, with beautiful variant cover treatments by Ivan Reis (Aquaman) and Gary Frank & Nathan Eyring (Firestorm) -Isn't that Finch, though?-

As we may have suspected, the universe did not end when Firestorm exploded; Ronnie and Jason were transported to the anti-matter universe, right in the middle of a cluster of Shadow Demons, and very close to Oa, where the pair goes after dealing with the Anti-Monitor’s minions.  My guess is that this ties in to Green Lantern Corps #57 where Firestorm will guest-star.

In Zamaron, Carol Ferris, the new Queen of the Star Sapphires and the Predator, the entity of love, help Hawkman and Hawkgirl break free from the gate that brought them to the distant planet and fight Khea, Chayara’s mother.  Unfortunately, the Predator is attracted to Khea’s heart which is devoided of love and possesses her, granting her all its power and causing even more problems for the Hawks and the Sapphire.

On Earth, Boston Brand a.k.a. Deadman is starting to find joy in life, first by going to third base with Dove and starting to build a relationship with her, and then by reconnecting with his grandfather and making him smile again.  It is at this moment that the white ring starts to slowly recharge, marking the beginning of the end for Brightest Day.  I found this to be a very exciting moment, and makes me happy to see that Boston is finally snapping out of it; let’s hope it’s not all for nothing.

The main act in this issue is the sequence in Zamaron.  While there is a connection between Zamaron and the Hawks (via the Violet battery), I don’t see the point in making this storyline even more convoluted than it already is.  The conflict between Carter, Shiera, and Khea should have been contained in Hawkworld, which was in itself a complex setting.  Might that be Hawkman’s real curse? Having the most confusing continuity in comics?  Ardian Syaf’s art, however, is amazing, and after Brightest Day he should be in an ongoing title (Red Lanterns, anyone?)

STOP IT WITH THE SPREADS! This issue alone had three splash pages and two double spreads.  While it is a showcase for the artists, I feel robbed because there is no story, and considering how slowly Hawkman’s plot is moving, page space is not something creators should be wasting in double spreads.  What the heck was that in pages 2-3?  Really?  This issue should have been a buck cheaper.

Overall “Homecoming” was an average issue; definitely moves forward Deadman’s storyline, and the art was great.  With nine issues left before the end, I hope the creators start cramming more on each chapter, or we’ll be left with one of those finales Marvel has been giving us the last few years where there is really no finale and it all ended up being just a  prologue to the next event.  Don’t do the same DC!