eat.sleep.geek.

Blackest Night has seen the dead of the DC Universe rise, and now it seems they are everywhere.  As the end of the year approaches, it feels like the dead are rising in every DC title, so it might be a good idea to throw out some quick recaps and give out some grades on DC’s latest blockbuster event in case you’re thinking of coming late to the party.  I’m going to start with the three issue collection of background stories Tales of the Corps before I dive into Blackest Night.

Tales of the Corps #1 Even though these three titles fell in the actual Blackest Night arc, they really belonged with the prelude stories. Each issue is a short story that gives readers some insight into the back stories of the various members of the various color corps.   First Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway give us Blue Lantern Saint Walker’s origin story, which is a decent read, it won’t blow your socks off but it’s at least interesting.  Peter Tomasi and Chris Samnee throw out a story about Mongul’s son next, this was my favorite story from #1 both in terms of story and art.  The story isn’t anything sends shockwaves through the DCU, but it certainly enriches the upcoming Mongul sub plot in Blackest Night, if you read and enjoyed the Green Lantern titles so far and skipped tales of the corps you might want to go back and check it out.  I loved the simplicity of the art in this story too, the art which is very basic and the bold coloring almost give the story the feel of a kids book; since the story is about a kid I thought it was a cool way to introduce atmosphere to this slightly fucked up story.  Finally #1 includes a story about the Indego Tribe that I freely admit I didn’t get.  I guess I’m not smart enough but I didn’t know what the hell was happening, but it was short and Rags Morales did the art so at least that was good.

Tale of the Corps #1 Mid Term Grade: B-

Tales of the Corps #2 More exciting snippets of the comings and goings throughout the various corps continue in the second issue, and it kicks off with a bang.  Geoff Johns gives readers a treat when he lay down Bleez’s origin, or at least why Bleez is a member of the Red Corps.  It was an interesting read, the art was solid if not spectacular, but the point Johns tries to make with this tale certainly isn’t subtle.  In similar fashion Johns bounces back in the second story with a look at how Carrol Ferris came to be the Star Saphire. ZZZzzzzzz.  Neither the art or the story is as good as the first one.  If you really mark out to the whole Green Lantern scene you’ll want to read this but it bored me silly.  Finally Peter Tomasi comes in and closes the book with Larfleez; that’s Agent Orange.  His story is anti-climactic as hell, and when I say the art is average I’m being generous.  If you want to check in and see what the agent of Avarice has got going on I suspect you’ll be left shaking your head, I know I was, but check it out if you won’t take my word for it

Tales of the Corps #2 Mid Term Grade: C-

Tales of the Corps #3: Despite only getting 2 short stories in the  third issue, this is clearly the best of the series.  Peter Tomasi pens both of the entries in this issue and they are two stories that you are going to love.  New Blood takes us back to Kilowog’s first day as a recruit in the GL Corps.  It’s nice to see somebody breaking that poozer’s hump for a change.  Hump busting aside though the story is great and will change the way you see the big pink meathead as Blackest Night unfolds.  If that’s not enough of an endorsement how about this: you’ll get the origin of the word poozer.  I just wanted to mention the art in this quickly as well.  I love it when the art and the writing are in sync in a comic and Chris Samnee and John Kalisz nail it down perfectly here.  The story has a Saturday morning cartoon feel to it and the art and the colors are the perfect compliment to the tone that Tomasi sets.  It’s a heavy story in places but to have it drawn that way wouldn’t work as well, so I wanted to tip my hat to the guys responsible for the visuals.  The other story in #3 is Arisia’s coming of age tale.  You’ll enjoy the story, and while the art dosn’t help tell the story quite as well here it’s still impressive at any rate you’ll enjoy the story and it will make it just that much cooler when some of the characters pop up in Blackest Night.   In lieu of a third story Johns throws readers a director’s cut look at Blackest Night #0 which is a-ok with me.  Anytime Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis want to give me some insight as to what they were thinking on anything they’ve done, I’m happy to read it.

Tales of the Corps #3 Mid Term Grade: A

Overall I would have to say that if you are going to skip one of the Blackest Night tie in series this is the one to pass up on,  the second issue well below average and even the first leaves a bit to be desired.  Despite my gripes though you could do an awful lot worse than these three issues.  So if you’re looking for some books to read that are going to convince you to follow Blackest Night these three are probably not the place to start.  If you’re totally bought in though I don’t think there’s much question that Tales of the Corps will provide some depth to you Blackest Night experience.

Well that’s it for Tales of the Corps, see you soon with a look at the Superman, Batman, and Teen Titan Blackest Night 3 issue mini-series.