Aquaman #5

Issue: Aquaman 5
Arc: Lost (Part 1)
Released: 1/25/12
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ivan Reis

Rating: 100% (5 Positive 0 Negative)

Critical Consensus: With great art from Ivan Reis, the second arc of Aquaman starts out with a look at the mysteries of Atlantis.

Comic Vine: 5/5 (Fresh) Mat Elfring Super-awesome, amazing, fantastic, and other positive adjectives book! This book keeps getting better and better, and it's become one of my favorite on-going comic books from any company. I loved the story in this issue and how we get to see more of where Atlantis came from.


CBR 4/5 (Fresh) Doug Zawisza Plenty of mysteries and plot threads are started for the upcoming issues as the mystery of Atlantis continues to deepen. This title is a fun read with outrageous adventures that, as this issue proves, are unpredictable. Johns and company have found the way to make “Aquaman” a great title, and they’ve even done so without relying on any of Aquaman’s traditional foes.

IGN  8.5/10(Fresh) Erik Norris While I enjoyed the end of "The Trench" storyline, I will admit that the series lost a little bit of steam by the end of that story. Thankfully, Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis have managed to suck me back in with the start of their latest story arc. Aquaman #5 is an incredibly well drawn comic that sets up an sure-to-be epic storyline.

comicbookmovie.com 9/10 (Fresh) This issue is mainly a set-up for the larger story Johns is telling, and I'm certainly interested to see where the story will go. Although was a little disappointed with how Aquaman escapes his situation(he just gets rescued), its still a great survival issue featuring some nonlinear story-telling. Overall, this series continues to show great art from Reis, and Johns starts to reveal the scale of his story. 

My Humble Review (Fresh)  Readers will also find they are being smoothly bridged from one arc to the next as the mystery behind the sinking of Atlantis is introduced.  Great issue, and even better yet will be the next one when Mera goes solo!

Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint #1

Issue:Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint 1 (This World We Live In)
Arc: Flashpoint
Released:
Writer: Rex Ogle
Artist: Eduardo Francisco
Penciller: Paulo Siqueira
Inker: Roland Paris

Rating: 67% (4 Fresh 2 Rotten)

Critical Consensus: Obscure character Traci 13 gives a more human perspective on the Flashpoint Universe in this above average tie-in.

IGN 7/10 (Fresh) Jesse Schedeen The Flashpoint Universe is still a strange and unfamiliar place, but it's books like this that will help readers feel a little more at home in the setting as the event continues through the summer.

CBR 2/5 (Rotten) Doug Zawisza  The characters presented in this issue are less compelling than their “true” counterparts. I’m not sure what role Traci Thirteen is going to play in the resolution of this storyline, but given DC’s recent announcement of the ambitious relaunch of their entire line of superhero titles, I think it is safe to say that Traci doesn’t quite help put things back the way they once were. Where she puts them and how that affects everything else remains to be seen. Unfortunately, it doesn’t remain to be seen with any urgency.

Weekly Comic Book Review D (Rotten) Minhquan Nguyen Merely competent art can’t save a script riddled with forced emotions, thoughtless plotting, scant information, and shallow characterization.  This may be the tie-in intended to get you into other tie-ins, which may be the least valuable use of a comic book of all.

Sciencefiction.com (Fresh) Brian Tudor Of the four Flashpoint tie-ins out this week, The World of Flashpoint was the one I knew the least about, but was looking most forward to reading. I am happy to say I was not disappointed.

Acomicbookblog.com 90/100 (Fresh) Phillip Carson The title of the book does not disappoint.  Unlike some of the other mini’s, which seem to be more about telling What If stories set in the Flashpoint world, this book actually deal directly with the events of the main series, and promises to have an impact on it as well.

iFanboy 3.5/5 (Fresh) Daniel Hobson Funnily it’s turned out to be my favourite of the Flashpoint stories so far. I like the character of Traci and the dynamic with her father. I thought that this was set up pretty damn well.

Sorry, I could only find six reviews, and Comic Vine didn't have a staff review of this issue. Check the sidebar for earlier reviews and be on the lookout for the Aquaman and Deathstroke spinoffs soon.

Flashpoint #2

Issue: Flashpoint 2
Arc: Flashpoint
Publisher: DC
Released: June 1, 2011
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Andy Kubert
Inker: Sandra Hope
Colorist: Alex Sinclair

Rating: 70% (7 positive 3 negative

Critical Consensus: With the introduction of the new versions of Batman, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman, Flashpoint's suspense builds, or does it? Your mileage may vary.

Comic Vine 4.5/5 (Fresh) Tony Guerrero Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert keep you on the edge of your seat

with amazing visuals and kick ass dialogue. The best part is the interaction between Barry Allen and this world's version of Batman. If you've ever had an interest in DC Comics and plan on reading them, you really need to be here for this. With the little peeks at some of the other characters in this world, it does feel a little like a tease for the mini-series but there's no denying the feeling of reading a comic universe again for the first time.

IGN 8.5/10 (Fresh) Erik Norris By the time you reach the final page, you'll be begging for it to be next month. The cliffhanger of Flashpoint #2 hits like a wrecking ball, and fittingly, might tear down all your expectations for where this series is headed. I was disappointed with Flashpoint #1, but after issue #2, I'm onboard for the duration.

Furiousfanboys.com (Fresh) Jeremy Conrad Flashpoint will change the DCU forever, and while we do know some of the end result, the journey there is still great.

Acomicbookblog.com 85/100 (Fresh) John Barringer Overall, this issue is a bit of a disappointment given the last one.  It’s more about setting the stage for what’s to come and meeting characters we’ve heard about than it is actually doing anything.  Perhaps all this information reinforcement is a necessary evil, laying the foundations and such, but I’m hoping something really exciting happens next issue, and we don’t just keep treading water.

Major Spoilers 3/5 (Rotten) Matthew Peterson Unfortunately, even as it’s interesting, it serves to remind us of how ridiculous The Flash’s origin actually is, and even after the issue recovers from Steve’s exposition, we end with a quiet “OMG?” feeling.  The intent of these types of stories is always to disorient us, to put familiar faces in the wrong places, but then bring them back together at the end to prove your thesis.  We’re theoretically 40% of the way through the main story, and we’re just now getting to the action and the reveal of the strange new status quo of our heroes.  I think the greatest failing of the issue for me is the realization that you WILL have to read other supporting material to get a full story.

Too  Dangerous for a  Girl! (Fresh) Martin Gray This issue usefully adds meat to the bones of the story laid out last month. It's good to move around this changed world, and see villains Aquaman and Wonder Woman, rather than simply hear about them. And the Flash/Batman sub-story takes a very interesting turn once writer Geoff Johns quits indulging his taste for brutality.

Cosmicbooknews.com (Fresh) Chris Bushley This was a fun read that had interesting ideas and new concepts, ones that get you excited for not only the next issue but for the future of the DCU as well. See, you don't always need a reboot or "younger" characters to make a great book -- you just need a good story and an expertly talented artist! If you are not reading the core Flashpoint book, you are missing out on a great read. So get in line and be the next to ride the lightning into the world of Flashpoint!

Weekly Comic Book Review B- (Fresh) Minquan Nguyen Considering how quickly this storyline wants to move, it seems we’ve already hit the deadly Big Fat Middle of the plot, where things seem to slow down, despite obvious attempts to speed things up.

CBR 1.5/5 (Rotten) Greg McElhatton "Flashpoint" is going to end up being a curious footnote in DC Comics history. If it wasn't for September's reboot, I have a feeling that it would turn out to be a crossover that was largely forgotten like, say, "Genesis" or "Final Night." Now, it's going to serve as the end of an era. Sadly, it's heading more towards a whimper than a bang.

Comics Bulletin 3/5 (Rotten)  Chris Kiser For the past couple years, a steady decline has been evident in the quality of Johns-penned comics, and Flashpoint fits that bill as well. It’s good fun, but not great fun. Maybe-read, but not must-read. The core concept just isn’t brilliant enough for Johns to get away without having to do some heavier lifting.

Next: Spinoffs and minseries