Reviewer: Daron Kappauff
Story Title: Mad, Mad, Mad World
Quick Rating: Eh…ok.
Written by: Judd Winick
Pencils by: Dale Eaglesham
Inks by: Rodney Ramos
Colored by: Moose Bauman
Lettered by: Kurt Hathaway
Editor: Bob Schreck
Publisher: DC
This week the final part of yet another story in which Kyle finds that he has to step into some sort of feud between differing alien factions on an alien world. It seems like this is the only type of space story Winick knows how to tell. ‘Kyle goes into space to help bring peace to an alien world, only to find out the aliens he thinks are the aggressors are really the oppressed.’ Yeesh, I’m sick of this ridiculously over used plot device! Isn’t there some other space story that can be told?
There’s very little to no character development, or even interaction, between Kyle and Jade in this issue. I’m really wondering why she even came with him. Wouldn’t she have been a good choice to leave as Earth’s protector? And speaking of which, where is John Stewart? I thought the whole point of this was to give Kyle a rest and let some one else take over, but John’s only been in one issue since he was made a GL again.
This series for me is the ultimate, hanging on hoping it’s going to get better book. I love the GL concept and I actually like Kyle in the role, I just don’t think he’s been handled all that well. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we don’t have the rotating cast of girlfriends and the endless romantic drama that surrounded this title for way too long (I like a little drama, romantic or otherwise, as well as the next reader, but the crap Kyle went through for so long would have driven most men to switch teams.) I’m also glad Kyle isn’t the whining novice that he was for so long either, but it seems that without either of these plot devices Winick doesn’t know what to do with the character. I’m going to be glad when we get some new blood handling this title.
Speaking of creators who are leaving, Dale Eaglesham will be missed when he leaves this title and heads on to down to Florida to begin penciling Sigil. His work isn’t extravagant or outrageous, but he does a great job telling a story and has handled both the characters and their green gizmos and gadgets very well.
