STORMWATCH #22

[ FIGHT FOR YOUR BARGAINS ] 

Now you've already seen what happens when heroes fight? Right? It's not a very nice experience, is it? Yet have you ever wondered who would win out of a battle between Lobo and Apollo? Hmmm? Let see, shall we? In this fairly amazing adventure created by our very own, Jim Starlin, and Yvel Guichet; Published by DC Comics, in June, 2013.

Using GENERAL terms, answer the following 4 questions about this STORY entitled 'Unforeseen'.

• WHAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS TALE: Due to the Kollective's cosmic shenanigans, Lobo has suddenly gone nova, and now it's up to Stormwatch to stop everything from going tits up.
• ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED: No. I'm not saying anything. Anything except that things don't turn out like you'd expect them to.
• ANYTHING ELSE HAPPEN: Lobo joins the team. Yahoooo (tm).  
• HOW DOES THIS STORY END: With a rather unexpected twist thanks to the one and only, Jenny Soul.

All in all, what is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

I'm not entirely sure if this was deliberate or not, but I did find it strangely humorous when Jenny Soul told the Weird to 'get behind her', so she could defend him from an imminent attack.

Well, it isn't everyday you hear a little girl say something like this to a bug-eyed man wrapped in bandages! Especially on a Wednesday! Ha!

What are the BEST bits about this issue?

(+) Damn you, Jim Starlin. You've made me so excited by adding Lobo to this title, I think that I'm actually going to pee my own pants. Napkin please!!!!!

(+) So Midnighter and Apollo are two orphans created by parties unknown, huh? Hmm. That's new. Back in the day it was Henry Bendix who created them. Though I can't help but wonder if he still did.

(+) I'm afraid to say that I'm sitting on the fence where Yvel Guichet's artwork is concerned. A part of me would have much rather preferred Jim to take over the art duties. Whilst another part of me wants to give Yvel a chance to prove that we've seen nothing yet. Fingers crossed.  Here's hoping.

(+) The unanswered questions strewn throughout this yarn did prop it up a notch or two in my own estimations. It's as though these 'little winks' -- like Forcasters role in the scheme of things, or the Hellstrike revelation -- makes this book a little more tantalising and suspenseful by default. Know what I mean?

(+) As much as I will gripe about certain events that happened throughout this story, in the same breath, I kind of admire its audacity as well. I mean, sometimes changing something, to produce something new, can be slightly alarming at first. Giving the reader that 'What the f*ck just happened?' attitude about it. In this case though, well, I'm 50 / 50 if truth be told. I enjoyed the newness of it, but...

What are the WORST bits about this issue?

(-) Now there were a number of scenarios that transpired in this book I wasn't too happy about. You see, without giving too much away, in essence this yarn depicted Stormwatch as an inept and brash team, which kind of bumbled their way into victory by accident. Hey! Don't get the wrong idea. I don't mind this sort of thing on occasion. Yet, for the life of me, there was something very tonally off in this case. Not in concept. But in execution. Bestowing the overall narrative with that 'doesn't quite feel right' vibe.   

Choose TWO CHARACTERS out of this comic book, and then compare them to SOMETHING YOU CAN BUY ON EBAY .

A FIREPLACE AS LOBO: Yes. You read correctly, folks. I said 'fireplace'. Mainly because for the majority of this issue, Lobo stood around and let off 'hot air'.

A SET OF BATH TOWELS AS THE WEIRD: Hey! Let's face it. This strange looking sod does look like a set of bath towel's brought to life, doesn't he?

What QUOTE would be appropriate to sum-up this story?

'God is not a cosmic bellboy for whom we can press a button to get things' -- Harry Emerson Fosdick

What SONG, THEME-TUNE, or MELODY, would complement this tale, as well as add and extra dimension to it by default?

'THIS WHEELS ON FIRE' BY JULIE DRISCOLL, BRIAN AUGER, AND THE TRINITY:  If you click on the video provided, I'm sure you'll know nigh on straight away why I've compared this tune to this tale. They're both cosmic. They're both surreal. Plus they're both strangely unsettling too. Peace out!

ANYTHING Else?

Picture the scene. You've just been recruited into Stormwatch, and as you gaze around the room, looking at your colleagues, you decide to give each of them a nickname so you can remember them by. You know. Something like...

• Midnighter -- Captain S&M (Well, if the chin-strap fits?)
• Apollo -- Richard Gere (Come off it. He does look a bit like him)
• Lobo -- Psycho (And I'm not talking about the Alfred Hitchcock film)
• Hellstrike -- How Green Is My Valley (hint: very green)
• The Shadow Lord -- Will Smith (i.e. Man in Black)
• The Weird -- Doesn't need a nickname (fact)
• Jenny Soul -- Toys R Us (What?)
• The Forecaster -- Heavy Gambler (Yeah. That's what I would be if I was in his shoes)

OK. That's enough of my cr*p for this month, folks. All I have left to say is that this issue of 'Stormwatch' was a pretty so-so affair. The artwork was hit and miss. The story was mumbled yet shocking. And the only thing that propped it up a notch was the overall daringness of its tone.

 Let's hope that next month things settle down a bit, huh? Nuff said.