Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities the all-new all-different FIRESTORM

I always did have weird taste. I'm glad you enjoyed the stories!

A couple of mildly amusing things:

1. Firestorm's origin involves an organization called the "Coalition to Resist Atomic Power"! I wonder who came up with that C.R.A.P. name!

2. Conway flirts a couple of times with Firestorm as a drunken hero. First Prof. Stein becomes an alcoholic, which also affect Firestorm when integrated, then another story is all about Firestorm becoming "intoxicated" by energy from the Atomic Skull!

This makes me miss good, old-fashioned retro reviews by EDE.

One of the series I’ve been looking forward to the most is The Fury of Firestorm, the Nuclear Man. It’s got a combination of so many things: a writer I love (Gail), an artist I’m really high on (Cinar) and a character I absolutely love (Ronnie – Firestorm). Reading issue #1, I found I liked the issue well enough but I wouldn’t call it exactly one of my favorites of the DCnU. There was a lot of good but also a lot that felt a little flat and disappointing. (Note though, I had pretty high hopes).

Firestorm is basically totally rebooted but I don’t mind it so much. I’m just glad to have Ronnie back, and I actually don’t mind Jason at all, as the kid grew on me in his last series. I do hope Professor Stein makes his way back to the series soon. Ethan Van Scriver redesigned the series but it isn’t too far from the original, classic (and perhaps last truly iconic) costume. Ronnie and Jason each having their own mirror image costume of one another is actually clever in an obvious way.

One of the highlights of the issue is the interaction between Jason and Ronnie, which opens the door for all kinds of teenage drama type scenarios. The entire premise of it is pretty good, but the execution was slightly lacking. I’m not sure if its Gail’s fault or what, but some of the dialogue and even basic gist of it felt a little forced, with Jason coming off as too much of a crybaby and jerk (which couldn’t have been intentional) and the racial tension being maybe a little too on the nose. But all of this may quickly change in the next few issues, so I am willing to give it all time.

The origin of Firestorm is very quick but obviously leaves the door open for many questions so I’m not worried about that. The usage of a team of mercenaries and / or terrorists is an element I don’t mind so much, although the over the top torture & violence they employ is a little over the top. I’m not sure it was all that necessary and actually kind of pulled me out of the comic.

So as you can see, the writing was a little bit of a mixed bag, though I did enjoy it more than dislike it. One thing that was not a mixed bag at all was the fantastic artwork by Yildiray Cinar, whom of course I fell in love with during his recent stint on Legion. Here he inks himself and really gives his all on every page, and it’s some really terrific, exciting stuff. His Firestorm(s) crackle with energy and power, while the scenes between Ronnie & Jason are more restrained yet crackle with an equal amount of energy, this time total teen angst and impatience. He’s an artist only getting better and better each month and it’s a pleasure to see.

Overall, I enjoyed it but there’s no denying there are some kinks that need to be worked out. I’m willing to give the series a chance to hopefully see that happen.

Cobie Comparison: did I enjoy as much as JL #1? About the same.

Well, if Rich Johnston is on the money there, I *will* be dropping Firestorm.

[snip]

I can agree with this much anyway. Thumbed through it at the CBS last Sunday and put it back with much reluctance based on the art. (Damn budget constraints.)

You know, I'm not so sure Gail leaving would be so bad. There was definitely something wrong with #1 regarding the writing. Something else else was NOT clicking. I think it was chemistry between here and Ethan Van Scriver.

Gail is a writer I know and like, so I'd prefer if it was her that remained on the series and not Ethan. But if #1 is any indication of what the two of them together will produce, I'd be willing to sample what one would do solo instead.

I liked # 1 and will stay onboard. That said, I can't help but feel very little of Gail in this book... it didn't FEEL like her writing, except for the hate-'em bad guys... Gail excels at creating bad guys you love to hate.

Issue #2 was a big mess... lots of talking... lots of violence... lots of "You may be smart, but I'm a varsity football player"... I think I'm going to bail out after next issue unless it's something spectacular...

1 1/2 fins up

Awful. I'm dropping this mess as of #2.

Gotta say I disagree. No, I don't like the Ronnie/Jason pairing, but...

In the context of the story that Gail and Ethan are telling, this thing worked. Cinar's art is effin' amazing except for two too much crosshatching scenes. the story, with a missing Martin doing something crazy to save the knowledge he discovered works in context with just how desperate and stupid politics, science and the information age works.

The re-imagining of Carmichael and the Hyena's... nice.

I'm liking it. One wasn't so great, but two really cracked it open for me.

Bleah, # 2 was terrible... depressing and awful. DROPPED.

Firestorm #2 was pretty weak IMO. It read like the comics I used to write when I was in middle school--complete with the teens now all being on the run and wanted for terrorism. Ew.

I'm really hoping something can pull this series out of the tailspin its in.

Joe Harris Replaces Simone on FoF

Newsarama puts the truth to Rich J's informed rumor. And I'm done... I'm just not liking this title, excepting for Yildiray's art.

Oh well, that's $2.99 saved.

I probably will drop as well. It's a shame because I've been waiting for a Firestorm book with Ronnie Raymond starring for a looooong time.