The Lone Ranger/Green Hornet #1

Writer – Michael Uslan
Artist – Giovanni Timpano
Colours – Pete Pantazis
Letters – Troy Peteri

An interesting new saga begins starring two properties under the Dynamite banner and while at first they could not seem further apart, Michael Uslan manages to weave a tale that brings them together and it manages to work quite well. The story takes place in 1936, the age of the Green Hornet, though as of yet said hero does not exist. There is a hero that does though, one who has been retired for many years and one who relives his glory days by telling the tales of his youth as the gun-slinging hero The Lone Ranger. At this time, Britt Reid is just a young playboy, a man who is lost, one with no direction and he is unsure of just what his future might hold. A culmination of events spiral into the lives of these two men, bringing them together and changing their futures forevermore, signalling the birth of one hero and the return of another. Uslan, having written many stories starring many heroes of the golden age for Dynamite before, returns with his best one yet and he takes these heroes who are at opposite ends of the spectrum in their life and creates a scenario for them to meet and team up. It is a little different to say the least, most of the stories that find these various characters teaming up sees them already established in their careers and personas. What Uslan does here is unique and to put it mildly, intriguing and a little exciting. While you cannot expect the greatest of action scenes with John Reid climbing back in the saddle, his mentoring of Britt will make for a very thrilling story. One thing that can be said of this book is that the artwork by Giovanni Timpano is quite solid, whether during the flashback scenes that saw the Lone Ranger and Tonto in their prime or during the present as he is newly enlisted into a war that needs him once again. It is a good thing that Timpano delivers as well, with Dynamite often being hit or miss in the art department. More often than not, the promise of a new book from Dynamite being any good is fifty-fifty. Suffice it to say, this one at the very least, pleasantly delivered on all fronts.

4 out of 5

Aquaman #2

Writer – Dan Abnett
Artist – Scot Eaton
Inker – Wayne Faucher
Colours – Gabe Eltaeb
Letters – Pat Brosseau

It has happened in the past and it is sure to happen again, but without dragging things over a half dozen issues and instead getting right down to business, Dan Abnett and Scot Eaton give us yet another slugfest between Black Manta and Aquaman. On this occasion, it will be the very last one, at least as far as Black Manta is concerned. After Arthur killed his father, he has had only one thing on his mind and it is to deliver retribution in kind. It is the only thing that keeps him going when he gets up in the morning and what consumes him going to bed at night. The battle is a ferocious one, Black Manta not holding anything back and not caring who gets caught in the crossfire. Arthur on the other hand holds back, knowing that he cannot let go of in case he puts the innocent people within Spindrift Station in danger. Mera tries to help as best she can, keeping out of Arthur’s way and aiding the civilians along with a helping hand from Joanna Stubbs, a new supporting cast member who looks like she is going to be a part of the series due to the amount of focus on her. Abnett does a good job of keeping the pace up from the first issue, even if it is a somewhat repetitive story, mainly in the fact that this is the umpteenth time the two have come to blows. The best thing about it all is that Abnett has framed it among his newer plot lines, namely that of the Atlantean Embassy and Aquaman’s new found dealings with the surface world. What is quite novel about the battle and all is how it ended. It was completely unexpected and leaves things hanging, open to another confrontation at some point in the future. As of this moment, the series is off to an all right start. It is all fairly status quo and hardly exciting and when compared to other Rebirth titles, this one hardly makes it to the top of the pile. Hopefully things pick up and Abnett has some surprises in store, but for now, Aquaman is just a decent read and nothing more.

3 out of 5