Summary
Of the four mini-series' that lead up to DC's mega event Infinite Crisis, the Rann-Thanagar War was the most promising. A massive, interstellar war written by the artist of Watchmen and creator of the the Originals? Needless to say, this was the mini I was looking forward to the most. That's what's so disappointing when you pick up this TPB and start reading, realizing just how much potential got wasted and lost in translation. Rann, the home planet of space hero Adam Strange, gets involved in a brutal war with Thanagar; home planet of heroes like Hawkman and Hawkgirl. In between all this is Strange, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern's Kyle Rayner and Kilowog; all of whom are trying to make sense of the whole thing, which you'll be doing too. What really kills Rann-Thanagar War is the convoluted storyline and weak dialogue, with the best moments coming in the concluding chapter, which sets the stage for Infinite Crisis. The book's saving grace is definitely the artwork by rising star Ivan Reis, which is excellent. Other than that though, unless you absolutely need every Infinite Crisis tie-in TPB, the Rann-Thanagar War is better left on the shelf.