Blackest Night. By Geoff Johns

Now that I've finished the Blackest Night and have had a little time to digest it, I think I'm ready to give me thoughts.  Going into this book I was extremely excited.  This was the book that I was recommended that actually got me to purchase my first graphic novel. (Green Lantern: Secret Origin)  But since I had heard such glowing reviews I wanted to get some background and place this story in the context of the Green Lantern Universe. I really, really, really wanted to LOVE this book, but it did not capture the same excitement that the Sinestro Corps Wars did for me.  I mean this had all the makings of a book that I should have loved.  It had the Green Lantern, Hal Jordan and the Flash, Barry Allen as the central figures, both of whom I really like.  It had all the color spectrum corps coming together to fight off a universe destroying Black Lantern Corp.  And the thing that should have had me hook, line, and sink was stinking superhero ZOMBIES!!!  The black lantern corp is death.  Black had the power to reanimate the dead and control them.  It didn't bring them back to life, which the book specifically explains.  Now this still was a very good story.  I loved the fact that the Flash played a central roll.  I did like the zombie superhero element, that was really cool.  I think because this is the central story to a whole lot of tie in stories(Superman, Batman, Wonder Women, Green Lantern, and Green Lantern Corps), it seems a little disjointed.  For example, we know that Hal Jordan has to go recruit the other lantern corps to help defeat the black lanterns.  So Hal leaves and a little later he is back with the other six corps.  In the context of this book, it just seemed too easy and too convenient.  There are another six books that make up the full detailed story...so I've been told.    The next book is Blackest Night: Green Lantern which is supposed to go into detail on Hal's journey to recruit the the other corps.  Another thing that bothered me about his particular book was that unlike the Sinestro Corps Wars, the Black Lanterns though we mentally know they are extremely powerful, I never really felt that the good guys were totally helpless and in dyer straights and were fighting for dear life.  Maybe it was because I knew things were eventually going to work out and the Black Lanterns would be defeated.  The Black Hand never felt that intimidating.  Some of the facts were never explained like why all the corps fighting together couldn't make a dent, or why Dove could dissolve the black lanterns.  Several Blackest Night prophecies were fulfilled but it were never really talked about or emphasized.  Even with all those negatives, it still was a good book.  Many characters that have been dead in the DC Universe have been truly brought back to life. (you'll see why in the book) It would seem to help setup the New 52 reboot. I'd give it a 4 our of 5 as a stand alone.  Now on to the other supporting books.  Hopefully they fill in all the gaps and make this a much more rounded story.

Making Sense of Wine. By Matt Kramer

Over the past several years Crystal and I have really started enjoying wine. At first it was really only sweet wines like Riesling.  But the more we drank, the more we have seen our palates change and expand.  We then ventured on to other whites and reds.  Now we will pretty much try anything.  But isn't that the point?  Well last year for my birthday, one of the books Crystal bought me was Making Sense of Wine by Matt Kramer.  At the time I though, "oh, this could be interesting"  not really giving the book much though.  Since I had received a number of other books, I just put this one on the shelf.  A couple of weeks ago, after I finished Good to Great, I picked this book back up.  I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, maybe talking about specific wines or how to taste and what to look for, though it had some of that, it was so much more.  This book is basically a history of wine.  Matt talks about everything thing from how varietals are native to regions, how the wine making process has changes over hundreds of years, to how bottling, shipping, and distribution has changed.  Even from a business stand point it was very interesting.  He talks about how over the last 50 or 60 years, America has really changed the wine landscape.  How traditionally native grapes have been pulled up only to be replaced by more popular varietals.  He wraps up the book concluding that there is no wrong or right about wine, whether it be serving temp, wine glass selection, or specific winery.  It all comes back to your personal palate and that wine was meant to be enjoyed with food.  This is an excellent book for those that want to increase their knowledge of wine quickly and well.  Even if you don't drink wine, but enjoy history and culture, this is a very worth while read.

Green Lantern: Agent Orange. By Geoff Johns

Green Lantern: Agent Orange is just ok.  The actual story was very short, so DC tried to make up for it by putting some more summary stuff at the end of it for the prelude to Blackest Night.  It was info we already knew and didn't really introduce anything new.  In Agent Orange we learn more about the orange emotional light of avarice, or greed.  Agent Orange, aka Larfleeze, is the only physical member of the Orange Lantern Corp.  Because of the inherent nature of greed, an orange lantern kills its victim and steals the being, identity and all. Agent orange can then use the identity of its victims to build an exact replica constructs to do its bidding.  The indigo lantern corp is referenced as the indigo tribe of compassion, but nothing more is revealed about them. The art was good, but I like Ethan Van Sciver better.  I wish I could recommend this book, but I didn't feel it was worth the money.  It wasn't even critical to read for back story to the Blackest Night. I'd say pass on it unless you really want to have all back story knowledge available before moving on.  Now on to the main event... BLACKEST NIGHT.

Forgotten God. By Francis Chan

Forgotten God is a book by Francis Chan that specifically talks about the Holy Spirit.  So many times in the christian culture we completely forget or don't recognize the Holy Spirit.  I'm not talking about not knowing the Holy Spirit exists or denying that He is God, but forgetting that he is there, dwelling with in us.  God the Father, and God the Son seem to get all the attention.  God the Father created the world, or God the Son, Jesus, died on the cross for my sins.  And then there is God the Holy Spirit, umm.....oh yeah, the one that dwells in us.  Even this past Sunday at our church, many people were getting baptized and giving their testimony of salvation, one teenage girl in particular made me chuckle to myself when she thanked God and Jesus.  Normally I really wouldn't have thought twice about it, but because I was reading a book about the Holy Spirit, I was much more aware of the absence of mentioning the Holy Spirit.  I don't fault her for it at all.  I am public offender number one when it comes to forgetting about the Holy Spirit.  This is not a book that beats you over the head for constantly forgetting that the Holy Spirit dwells in you, nor is it a book about lifting your hands, speaking in tongues, and flailing on the floor because you are so filled with the Spirit.  This book is about God in the form of the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, (For those of us who are Christians) listening to his guidance, and living our life for God, not just inviting God to live life with us.  Francis gave some really good examples about actually following Christ through the Holy Spirit.  One example that he gave that really stood out was this:  when you truly want to be like someone (in our case it should be Christ) do you just try and do what they do, or do you actually follow them and mirror their life?  Francis takes seven chapters to cover the following topics regarding the Holy Spirit:

• The role of the Holy Spirit as Jesus' promised gift
• Fears and concerns about the Holy Spirit
• How theology about the Holy Spirit has more to do with how a person lives than what they say they believe
• Motivations around the Holy Spirit and his power
• What a relationship with the Holy Spirit can really be like
• Letting go of manipulation and control by trusting the Holy Spirit
• Living in true community with the Holy Spirit and with others

One of the things that I really appreciated about this book was at the end of each chapter he wrote a small biography on a person who was living out and demonstrating that aspect of the Holy Spirit in their life.  Francis doesn't just give you a bunch of useful information, but he gives Christians a call to action. This is definitely a worth while read for any Christian, no matter where they are on their spiritual walk.

Green Lantern: Rage of the Red Lanterns. By Geoff Johns

Now that the Sinestro Corps War is over, and we have a established all the facts about the emotional color spectrum, on to introducing all of the emotional color corps/factions to lead up to the Blackest Night.   We know that the Green Lantern Corps is built around the color green that is the power of will.  The Sinestro Corps is built around the color yellow that is the power of fear.  And the Star Sapphire Corps is built around the color violet that is the power of love. (Que Huey Lewis and the News)  We are now introduced to two more factions is the color spectrum.  We have the Red Lantern Corps that is built around the color red that is the power of rage, and we have the Blue Lantern Corps that is build around the color blue that is the power of hope.  The Red Lantern Corps is started by Atrocitus, the same guy who killed Abin Sur that gave Hal Jordan his ring.  While building up hate and rage while being imprisoned on Ysmault, he was able to tap into the red spectrum to craft a red power battery and thus rings.  The Blue Lantern Corps I actually found pretty cool.  The Blue Lantern Corps were founded by the two expelled Guardians of the Universe, Ganthet and Sayd. They were able to create a blue power ring out of their mutual hope for the future.  The thing that I found most interesting about them is that though they are a separate corp, they were made to aid and assist other emotional spectrum ring holders, not replace them.  Our first run it with them, they help Hal Jordan.  Being two X-Guardians, and still caring for the Green Lantern Corp which they helped start, the Blue Lanterns really are the support forces for the front line Green Lanterns.  Towards the end of this book, we are given hints about the orange spectrum and we will find out more in the next book. (Green Lantern: Agent Orange) We do already know that orange is the power of avarice, also known as greed, and that indigo is the power of compassion.  I can't remember if we have been properly introduced to the indigo color and those who wield it, but maybe we will find out in the next book?
During the Sinestro Corps Wars, after Ganthet and Sayd are expelled from the Guardians of the Universe, the Guardians make changes to the Book of Oa.  They wrote in 10 new laws. We already know that lethal force is authorized against the Sinestro Corps.  But in this book we find out that the second new law is that lethal force is authorized against all enemies of the Green Lantern Corps.  I'm not sure why they would have two laws that basically state the same thing.  Probably more of a writers issue.  They probably haven't even figured out what all the new 10 laws will be.  Anyways, most of this book was slow but got a little better towards the end.  I wouldn't pick this one up unless you are wanting to complete the series up to the Blackest Night.  Other then the introductions to the two new Corps and the revelation of the second new law, there didn't seem to be anything that was earth shattering.

Superman: Secret Origin. By Geoff Johns

Upon completion of Superman: Secret Origin I can now see why Superman is the grand daddy of all comic book characters.  For being an alien from another planet, there is something naively human about him.  A young Clark Kent struggles and desperately wants nothing more then to be a normally accepted human.  For someone with unique super powers, he wants to be average.  I can't tell you how many times going up all I wanted to do was feel normal and fit in.  (I only wish it was because I had superpowers and the ability to fly)  For as extraordinary as Clark Kent was, he had all the same fears and nerves as every other human does.  As the title states, this is a retelling of the superman origin story.  It is kinda cool to see the contrasts that are used in the story.  Clark Kent growing up in Smallville, KS only to move to Metropolis. (small country town America vs. New York City.)  You can't get any more different then those two.  You have Clark Kent, after realizing that he has power, stops playing sports or doing anything with other guys because he MIGHT hurt someone, and Lex Luther who will take advantage of anyone.  You people that believe and have a faith in superman, yet Lex Luther is a man of science and hold to his belief that everything is because of science, there are no such things as miracles.  You have superman who's sole purpose in life is to help people, and you have Lex Luther who's sole purpose is to help himself, at the cost of anyone or anything. Superman is inclusive, Lex is exclusive. Fitting in with society vs. standing out uniquely from society. The art in this comic was great.  Gary Frank really creates a Christopher Reeves looking Superman, which is actually pretty cool.  We are introduced to all the main characters like Lois Lane, and a couple of the villains.  Both Parasite and Metallo are in the story, but what kind of put me off was how easily superman dealt with them.  I know he is superman and all but short of being caught off guard, it didn't' really seem like superman had to break a sweat to win.  But that is miner.  The whole reading experience was very enjoyable and would recommend to anyone looking to get into Superman comics.

The Flash:Rebirth. By Geoff Johns

A couple of weeks back, I went to Las Vegas for a work conference.  So before I left, I picked up a couple of comic books to read.  Because at that point Green Lantern was the only thing I had read, I decided to pick up something different as well.  Again, not having any real background knowledge of comic book characters, I decided to pickup something written by Geoff Johns.  After reading this there was a whole lot I was introduced to.  The main purpose of this book was to bring back Barry Allen, the Flash who died saving the universe 25 years ago, just like Green Lantern: Rebirth brought back Hal Jordan.  Not to mention the same two guys that did Green Lantern: Rebirth did this book as well.  There are a lot of similarities to the Green Lantern.  Barry Allen isn't the only Flash.  There is also Jay Garrick, Wally West, and Bart Allen, Barry's grandson.  Both Barry and Hal have to adjust to the changing world, but is cool to see how both approach the issue. Both had a parent die when they were young and both do things according to their own convictions, even if the other Justice League members disagree. The story establishes that Barry Allen didn't tap into the Speed Force (the force that all speedsters use), but he actually created it.  With this, it solidifies Barry Allen as the primary figure for the Flash franchise.  This book recounts the story of his mothers murder, the catalysis for Barry entering the Police force.  The main antagonist is the Reverse Flash.  I have to say, the more I start to read comics, I think bad versions of good characters (ie.  Cyborg-Superman, Superman Prime, Reverse Flash, Red Dart...) always seems kind of easy cop outs to me.  I like distinctive and unique bad guys like Joker to Batman.  But regardless of that this was an entertaining read and continues to expand on my knowledge of the DC comics universe.

Green Lantern: Tales of the Sinestro Corps. By Geoff Johns

Well, I finished Green Lantern: Tales of the Sinestro Corps last weekend.  It was pretty good.  It gave a TON of back ground info everything in the Green Lantern Universe.  It listed all the Green Lanterns in the Corp, all members of the Sinestro Corp and a breif bio on each of them.  It is basically an encyclopedia of all things Green Lantern.  Like the title suggests, the bulk of this book is tales of the Sinestro Corps.  During the Sinestro Corp Wars, there are a number of Yellow Lanterns that have major parts in the War. This book gives some back ground origin stories and historical events leading up to their roles in the war. We already know how Amon Sur gets to be in the Sinestro Corp, so he isn't covered in there, but the rest are.  Though I liked most of the content, this book did not have as much continuity as other books.  It was more of a greatest hits album of the Sinestro Coprs.  I felt that the content would have been better placed somewhere else.  Maybe in a  large omnibus like edition that put this in with the Sinestro Corps War.  Though the content is valuable in the building to the richness the Green Lantern Universe, it is not a must have unless you can't get enough of the Green Lantern Corps or are a person that just has to compete a set.

Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corp Wars. By Geoff Johns

I am officially hooked.  This story arc was fantastic.  During this book I was finally able to figure out why I like and have gravitated towards the Green Lantern character so much.  For those of you that really know me, you know that I am a SPACE nut.  If a movie takes place in space, I have seen it and most likely like it.  Green Lantern operates in space, which makes Hal Jordan is an intergalactic space cop.  Right up my alley. In this book Hal Jordan's former mentor and fallen Green Lantern, Sinestro, has finally had enough of the Green Lantern Corps and forms his own, all that bear rings that grant them with the power of the yellow light of fear. Sinestro declares all out war on the Green Lantern Corps, and the choices made will alter the future of the Green Lantern.  Though haven't read them yet, this story combines story arcs from the Green Lantern Corps books as well to produce a magnificent space opera on a massive scale.  The action and suspense are great, the revelations are fantastic that will lead up to the blackest night series.  The fights are amazing and the locations are vast and beautiful.  It is full of action and drama.   I found some particularly entertaining points in some of the humor and artistry.  There are a couple of easter eggs in the frames that have the Michigan block M in them, and there is a reference to Red Dawn in it that actually made my wife laugh.  (she has a soft spot in her heart for the movie Red Dawn.)  This story couldn't have been more tailor made for me.  I think I finally understand why comic books have been around for so long and why they are still around.  For as many that might be cheesy or bland, when you get a story like this, it can prove that there is still a lot that comic books have to offer. A must read for comic book fans.

Green Lantern: Wanted - Hal Jordan. By Geoff Johns

Green Lantern: Wanted - Hal Jordan starts off with the capture of Hal and two of his fellow pilots by terrorist where they are tortured for over three months prior to escaping.  (Hal never really likes to fly with his ring, thus the reason they were stuck for three months.)  When the terrorists are located again, Hal goes in to rescue a recaptured pilot when an unexpected twist happens and he ends up being branded an international criminal. The ride ultimately leads Hal Jordan to his rings previous owners son as well as events that play a huge part in his imminent future.
The second story arc features the return of the Star Sapphire.  This is where I found out there are more then just a green rings in the universe and this gives a good look in to what the future holds.  Both stories seem to just stand up on their own but they are a build up to coming events.  At the time I read it I didn't understand how these fit into the story line, but I understand now. :)  For me it isn't my favorite book, but still a worthy read to prep for the Sinestro Corps Wars.

Green Lantern: Revenge of the Green Lanterns. By Geoff Johns

Green Lantern: Revenge of the Green Lanterns isn't so much of a single story as it is more a collection of 3 story arcs.  It starts off with Hal Jordan reconnecting with his old life and teaming up with his best friend Oliver Queen, AKA Green Arrow, against the children of Mongul who want to destroy the earth.  The story then shifts to a team up of Hal and Batman.  It is a story of two heroes who have fallen out of favor with each other since Hal has come back.  I have to say I kind of like the way Johns portrays Batman in this story.  He kind of makes him look like a jerk, not caring what anyone else thinks.  Batman is going to do things they way he thinks they should be, no matter what the rest of the Justice League thinks.  After that we get to the meat of the story when Hal finds out that some of the Lanterns that were though to have been killed by him when he became Paralax are said to still exist.  Which leads up to another team up with Guy Gardner, as the two lanterns head to uncharted regions (against the orders of the guardians) and battle Manhunters, as well as the mastermind behind it all.  There is nothing really spectacular about this story, but does setup some character that will be used in future Green Lantern issues.  All in all, a good continuation of Geoff Johns take on Green Lantern.

Green Lantern: No Fear. By Geoff Johns

In Green Lantern: No Fear Hal Jordan has been resurrected and restored as a member of the Green Lantern Corps with fellow Green Lanterns John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, Guy Gardner, and Kilowog in space training new recruits. Now that Hal is back, his origins are retraced from when he is first entrusted with the ring, to the present day as he is once again an air force pilot trying to reclaim the life that he had lost. No Fear begins with Hal on the trail of a murderous renegade Manhunter, and seeks out information from long time adversary Hector Hammond. There's plenty of other appearances from the Green Lantern rogue gallery as well, and this book wonderfully done homages to the Green Lantern stories of yesteryear are fantastic. There is a lot of character building in this novel mainly revolving around Hal Jordan. No Fear is an excellent re-launching of the new ongoing Green Lantern series, and an even more exiting return of one of the most iconic figures of the DC Universe. 

Green Lantern: Rebirth. By Geoff Johns

Well, you're going to be seeing a lot of Green Lantern posts over the next couple of weeks because I've been doing some comic book reading.  After I finished reading Green Lantern: Secret Origins and actually really enjoyed it, I did some research to figure out what is the best order to read Geoff Johns Green Lanterns in.  In this story Hal Jordan is brought back into the Green Lantern Universe. (After all in superhero comics, no one ever really dies)  The information I didn't know that I had to go find out was that in 1994 DC comics decided to kill off Hal Jordan.  Hal Jordan had gone insane, murdered his fellow Green Lanterns because he was infected by and became the all-powerful villain Parallax (the pure embodiment of fear), and then finally being transformed into the latest embodiment of the spirit of vengeance, the Spectre.  In this book, all the surviving Green Lanterns play a role including Kyle Rayner, John Steward, Killowog (slowly becoming one of my favorite Green Lanterns) and even Guy Gardner. Hal's return isn't exactly smooth or easy.  Batman, from the Justice League of America, remembers too well that Jordan is responsible for the horrible chaos in the past, and is very reluctant to trust him as are many others are.  This book helps flush out some of the secrets behind Spectre/Parallax/Jordan,  and even has some startling revelations about the history of the Guardians, the power rings, Sinestro, and the source of the impurity.  There are a lot of new characters introduced to me here.  Some of them I had to do a quick google search to see how they fit into the Green Lantern Universe, but still I enjoyed this.  I know many other Green Lantern fans absolutely loved this, mainly because they have a history with the Green Lantern, and I did too, just maybe not to the extent that they did.

Good to Great. By Jim Collins

I always find it kind of humorous when I read business books and actually enjoy them.  I find it funny some of the things I find interesting and entertaining.  This book was very informative and entertaining at the same time.  I actually enjoy the process of learning something new that I had not known before or deepening my knowledge on a subject I am already familiar with.  I as continue in my career, I strive to become a better employee and leader so that is why I frequently read books on leadership and business in general.  Although Good to Great is the book that followed Jim Collins best seller Built to Last, the contents of this book are more of a prequel to Built to Last.  Good to Great sets out to answer the question "Can a good company become a great company and if so, how?"  The main conclusions and observations were:

• The CEOs were already apart of the company.  They were not outside hired guns.  They were individuals  who combined personal humility and professional will to focus on making the company great.
• Get rid of the wrong people, and hire the right ones and then put the right people in the right jobs. Then establish a culture of putting out extraordinary effort
• Face the brutal facts.  Spend most of the time staring and thinking about the hardest facts about the company's situation.
• Develop the simple concept of constantly improving performance.
• Establish and maintain a corporate culture of discipline built around commitments, with freedom about how to meet those promises.
• Use technology to accelerate progress when it fits the company's concept of who it wants to be.  Technology is never a catalyst to progress or success, only an accelerant or amplifier.
• Build momentum from consistent effort.  No company had sustained greatness starting from a single event.  All of them slowly, steadily, moved their companies to where they wanted to be one step at a time.  Slow and steady wins the race.

Some of these points go against common business practice but make sense.  Definitely a business book worth reading.