Review: The Rann/Thanagar War #1

Surprisingly, I got me a copy of the first issue of The Rann/Thanagar War. A friend of mine picked it up (I think he's trying out all of the Countdown to Crisis series). It turns out that he didn't like it.

Lucky for me. Since it was the last available copy, he offered to sell it to me.

So I read it.

And...

I actually liked it!

I think the few issues of Adam Strange I have (#'s 1, 2 & 7) really prepared me for the plots and scenarios that were being put forth. Perhaps if my friend had read those issues (wonderfully written by Andy Diggle) he would have had a different disposition towards it.

Dave Gibbons does a remarkable job bridging the Adam Strange mini-series with DC Universe proper. There's a lot going on in the series and it's only the first issue!
I'm really looking forward to seeing Komand'r (Teen Titan Starfire's sister) next issue. Stuff is boiling!

Reis and Campos also do a fantastic job on art. The Hawks look great. They both appear just like what the definitive versions of the characters should be, in my opinion.
And Adam Strange's new outfit (brought over from Pascual Ferry's work on the previous mini-series) is very dynamic in their hands.

I must say that Reis and Campos did an excellent job on being very detailed without making the art look busy. Yes, there is a lot happening in the story and, yes, there is a lot of finely detailed characters and backgrounds but they balance it so well that it doesn't confuse the reader.

I thought The Rann/Thanagar War was everything that a summer blockbuster movie should be. And well worth the price of admission.

Looking at the latest Previews solicits for DC in August, I see that DC's putting out an Adam Strange trade paperback. I'm so relieved. I'd almost given up hope of getting the five issues I'm missing.

Both are Highly Reccomended.