Green Hornet

• Title: Green Hornet #8
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Ronilson Freire

Moving on from the opening arc and the Green Hornet‘s battle with the Voice and Nazis, writer Mark Waid and artist Ronilson Freire offer up this more lighthearted one-shot (a rarity in the current period of comics where every 4-7 issue arc is being written for an eventual trade paperback release) featuring the tale of how the Hornet found some of the most loyal members of his underground network.

Green Hornet #8 offers an Oliver Twist-style tale as we learn about a group of homeless children working and stealing for an overweight tyrant calling himself the Green Hornet. When one of the kids happens across the real Green Hornet and Kato, the vigilante is alerted to the impostor and takes appropriate measures.

Although there’s no mention of Christmas, the story fits well as a holiday-themed one-shot. It’s also a nice break from the series’ long opening arc (and I would love to see more single issue adventures in the months to come). Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

• Title: Green Hornet #7
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Ronilson Freire

Reunited with Kato, the Green Hornet makes a discovery that the wealthy industrialists behind The Voice weren’t working alone as the Hornet finds a way to keep his cover and save the life of a FBI agent while uncovering the fact that the group are receiving orders from a mysterious voice on the other end of the radio. The real villain? Nazis!

As the Hornet gets back to business as usual, big changes are in store for Britt Reid who opens his new radio station and woos Lenore Case away from The Sentinel into joining him not only in that venture but his late night activities with Kato as well.

Personally I’m hoping the radio adventure is short-lived as there’s just something about the character that fits the mold of a newspaper man and the series, in the early issues, have used The Sentinel well by establishing it as another character. Case being introduced to her boss’ secrets begins to widen the network the vigilante can rely on while also laying the groundwork of possible romance down the line. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

• Title: Green Hornet #6
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Daniel Indro

Reunited once more with the Green Hornet, Kato discovers how his friend has kept busy in the six weeks since their falling out. After hitting up various low-rent locales for protection money and information, the pair final turn their attention the the people actually behind The Voice and the various bombings around town.

Writer Mark Waid continues to play on the subterfuge the Green Hornet creates while masquerading as the city’s most notorious crime boss. Although Kato is still not sure about the lengths Britt Reid is willing to go to in order to sell the charade, he must admit his admiratation with the network the Hornet has been able to put together in such a short time.

The final sequences gives us the Green Hornet and Kato finally confronting the businessmen behind the bombings (featuring a great splash page by artist Daniel Indro), and the comic ends on a cliffhanger as we will soon see just how far Reid is willing to go to sell the Hornet’s act when he is tasked with killing and FBI agent. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

• Title: Green Hornet #5
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Daniel Indro

Rather than wallow in the public failure of both himself and his green-clad alter ego caused by The Voice, Britt Reid decides to pick-up the pieces of his shattered ego and begin to fight back. His first step is to find and reconcile with Kato, which, as first steps go, turns out to be harder than he planned.

After the events of last issue where Reid was publicly disgraced by his former partner, his mayoral campaign left in the dust, and the with the real possibility of his newspaper being taken away from him, I had serious concerns about where the comic was heading. Thankfully, writer Mark Waid decides to go in an entirely different direction and by the end of the issue has found a way to put the team of the Green Hornet and Kato back together.

Rather than become a broken man the Hornet becomes one possessed with finding the truth. Although he’s been humbled this doesn’t mean the man’s massive ego has been put in check, as Reid still believes on shadowy streets the Green Hornet is infallible. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

• Title: Green Hornet #4
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Daniel Indro

With the city within his grasp Britt Reid‘s world comes tumbling down. What started last issue with Kato abandoning their partnership and The Sentinel accusing and old family friend of being the terrorist known as “The Voice” continues here as Reid’s mayoral campaign goes down in flames before it ever gets started when Kato proves Winston Mills isn’t The Voice after all.

Although the issue continues to deal with the ramifications of the Green Hornet’s recent actions I’m not sure I want to see Reid sued and broke anymore than I’d want to see that same story with Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark. I trust writer Mark Waid knows where he’s going, but things are obviously going to get worse for the character before they get better.

Even if I have issues with where the arc is heading, I’ll admit this might be the kind of story that could appeal more to new readers of the the Green Hornet rather than those of us carrying decades of the character’s history with us. For fans.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]