“A Penny For Your Thoughts, A Dollar For Your Destiny”
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artists: Norm Breyfogle(p), Sal Buscema(i), Tony Avina(c)
“Feel Something”
Writer: Martin Pasko
Artists: Scott McDaniel(p), Andy Owens(i), Tony Avina(c)
Publisher: DC
Plot:
This issue contains two stories that both use the same idea, portrayed on the cover, as a starting point. A tool that the late great editor Julie Schwartz, to whom this issue is a tribute, used to help his writers when they’d fallen into creative slumps. The cover is a redone version of the classic Green Lantern #31. Green Lantern is selling Power Rings for only a dollar apiece…writers, crack those knuckles, ready those pens, sit down at those keyboards…and go!
Comments:
As you have no doubt guessed, this issue is not a monthly book or mini-series as much as it is simply DC showing respect for their longtime editor Julius Schwartz. And for that fact alone you have to give them respect. It is very nice to see that DC does respect its history and the people that helped make it the company that it is today.
As for the comic itself, it has a very charming cover drawn by Brian Bolland that takes you back to the days of yore. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a comic cover with a word balloon on it. And you know what? It is rather catchy. I mean, even if this wasn’t a special ‘DC Presents’ issue or anything, and just a normal issue of Green Lantern, the cover with its hook alone would be enough for me to pick it up and browse through it. Funny that...an intriguing cover and it isn't even drawn by Lee or Turner.
The issue offers up two tales, first we have a really amusing retro-tale penned by the crazy %$@$#& himself, Brian Azzarello. I’m a big fan of this guy’s from his work on 100 Bullets, and I was looking forward to seeing what he would do here. I was very surprised. This is nothing at all like the Azzarello I know. Then again, maybe it is. Check out that title! Pure silver age. His issue is fun retro all the way. He took the concept presented on the cover and ran with it. Green Lantern is selling rings, but why? Turns out Gorilla Grodd is involved, and we get an appearance from the JLA -- minus one member, this leads to a good joke at Aquaman’s expense.
Azzarello’s story is very tongue-in-cheek, and it works. It caused me to chuckle quite a few times and really brought back that old silver-age feel, while at the same time a sense of modern winking and nudging; he also manages to get through the whole thing without dropping the F-bomb…sort of. We even end on a good old sitcom-style group laugh. I don’t want to spoil the jokes, but let’s just say that the story is funnier then most comedy books out there. And surprisingly, we get an interesting introspective into the minds of the JLA when they each wonder how they would deal with having Power Rings of their own. To think…what would happen if Superman could have his every thought come true? Wonder Woman? Batman? …
The art is nice and fits the tone of the story well. However, I would have preferred for the artist (Breyfogle) to have gone with a more retro style. Not only would it have fit the writing, but it would have made the comedy in the issue even funnier.
The first story in the issue is great fun and I wish there was more of it.
Next we have the second story, “Feel Something”. Unfortunately while you understand what writer Martin Pasko was trying to do, it isn’t really very interesting. Or necessary for that matter. In fact, something that bothered me about his story is how he abandons the ‘use the cover as a starting point’ idea entirely. Sure, he does start the story with the Green Lantern selling rings, but then two panels in he diverges to a completely different path. It’s as if he already had a story in mind and ended up being forced to tack on the ‘rings for sale’ beginning. It’s not a very pleasant turn after the cover-related chuckle-fest that Azzarello offered.
Basically Pasko’s story deals with some repressed feelings on the part of Hal Jordan. His father was mean. Some bad guy is exploiting kids in sweatshops. The Green Arrow shows up. Blah. Not very interesting and while you have to appreciate the fact that Pasko is trying to explore interesting aspects of Hal Jordan as a character, it doesn’t work very well and there is little compelling you to read on. It is nice to see Ollie Queen though.
The art in the second story is alright; rather simple and a bit cartoony. Sort of reminiscent of Phil Hester’s work on Green Arrow but more detailed. There’s nothing great about the art, but it gets the job done.
On the inside cover we get a reprint of Green Lantern #31 - nice inclusion. Finally we end the issue with a 2-page obituary written by science fiction great, Harlan Ellison. He writes of how he first met Julie Schwartz and gives us a glimpse at what the man was like. It is interesting to note that Schwartz served as editor (in a minor capacity) to both Robert A. Heinlein and H.P. Lovecraft. In addition, he helped both Alfred Bester and Ray Bradbury when they were just green kids trying to make it in the industry. That’s one damn impressive resume. Ellison’s note is a touching account of the historic editor and comic pillar that was Julius Schwartz, and I am glad to have read it.
Final Words:
While I wish they’d just given the whole thing to Azzarello, I am pleased with this issue overall. I would recommend picking it up, if only because it is something you rarely see from a comic book company: respect. It is touching to see that DC is doing its best to honor a man that helped create the company, and the worlds and characters we have all come to know and love. Ellison writes: He was a Living Legend. He told me so himself. And how could I doubt anyone I loved so much?
Good-bye Julie, and thanks!
What did you think of this book?
Have your say at the Line of Fire Forum!