Reviews of graphic novels and comic book collections every Tuesday and Thursday.


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Legend of the Green Flame by Neil Gaiman
While in Seattle a few weeks ago, I found a Neil Gaiman comic I didn't know existed, Legend of the Green Flame (2000, DC Comics). Ironically, the script by Gaiman was lost for a number of years. He wrote a Green Lantern and Superman script that couldn't be published because it didn't fit the continuity of the DC Universe at the time. The script was lost, but once found years later was thought worthy of publication. Illustrated by a host of artists (Frank Miller, Mike Allred, Terry Austin, Mark Buckingham, John Totleben, Matt Wagner, Eric Shanower, Art Adams, Jim Aparo, Kevin Nowlan, and Jason Little), it was published as a sort-of alternate universe tale in a prestige format.

Not being a fan of the DCU, Superman, or Green Lantern, the draw for me was the Gaiman script, which is good, but not great. For some reason, the story, dealing with big mystical themes that make the Sandman such a great read, falls short when forced to deal with these superhero characters. Perhaps DC fans will get more out of it than me.

Legend of the Green Flame 2.5 stars (out of 5)
posted by Sean McGurr at 8:00 AM