Ed Brubaker’s latest Criminal TPB – Lawless – gets looked at by James, there’s some scary news about the future of Buffy Season 8, a tip about one of comics’ up-and-coming artist offering cut-price commissions, some speculation about just what’s going on with the GL Corps’ new rivals and a little more about Morrison’s Batman.

If you’ll excuse the self-promotion, I thought I should bring to everyone’s attention a review I did of Brubaker’s Criminal Vol. 2: Lawless for Den of Geek. I’m not a huge fan of crime comics, but it turned out to be fantastic. Couldn’t get enough of it. It’s not enough to make me a monthly Criminal reader, but if all the other TPBs are this good, I’ll certainly be looking into them. (JH)

In a CBR article discussing Buffy #12, the schedule of Buffy writers for the remainder of Season 8 has been noted down, with one worrying new piece of information: #20 Jeph Loeb. I don’t like to knock things down before they’re built but the question must be asked: Is it too much to hope that this is the one comic in 2008 that Loeb doesn’t screw up? We’ll have to wait until November to find out, but god help me, I’m not looking forward to it. (JH)

And in further not-so-fun upcoming comics news, John Rogers has announced that he’s leaving Blue Beetle when the current storyline is finished. It may only be temporary, but it’s still a shame – nobody really gave him much thought when he came onboard, but both with and without Keith Giffen as co-writer, he’s turned the series into one of the best things DC has put out in years. It’s only to be hoped that his successor, whoever they turn out to be in the long-term, can keep up the momentum of smart, character-driven action comedy that the book has built up so well over the last two years. (SP)

Up-and-coming artist Jamie McKelvie, the man behind (and sometimes in) Suburban Glamour currently has a sale on commissions going. I bought one of his prints once and if we were to use the eBay scale, it would be graded “AAAA+++++++ would buy again” Visit his Livejournal for details. If you’re unsure what to go for, can I suggest that a John Byrne-style 6-Fingered Invisible Woman? Get ‘em now before he becomes really famous, and secure yourself an investment in the future! After all, comic artists can’t be allowed to snap up all the sports cars. (JH)

I’ve always been more of a fan of the idea of Green Lantern, and the GL Corps, more than any actual GL comics themselves (remind me, though, to tell you one day about my idea for a GL Corps TV series). So I tend to keep my eye on what’s going on with the concept, without ever being that bothered about reading the titles, as it’s rare that creators I like ever end up on them. I am aware, though, that it’s one of the more ludicrous-sounding names and concepts to describe to people less au fait with comics – and so, surely, one of the crucial ways of approaching the series is to try to minimise the “silly” factor. Sadly, that’s a memo that Geoff Johns appears not to have got. Having already introduced the yellow, fear-powered Sinestro Corps – an idea that at least has some roots in the series’ mythology – he’s now going the whole hog, introducing an entire spectrum of differently-coloured ring bearers. Red Lanterns powered by rage? Kind of makes sense. But… Indigo Lanterns? Violet Lanterns? All that’s making me think of now is “Brown Lantern? That’s a little too close to Shit Lantern…” (SP)

Newsarama have printed the final part of a quite excellent interview with Grant Morrison. Some good nuggets in there, including news on the final three issues of the magnificent All-Star Superman (and a possible continuation thereafter), the long-awaited sequel to Seaguy, the progress of the We3 movie, Flex Mentallo, Superman and marriage, and a lot more. Part two of the chat also includes some good material on his Batman run, and is well worth checking out – it’s particularly interesting that, although the run that will culminate in “Batman RIP” will take the form of one big story, he’s still considering sticking around after that to do a more “conventional” run. Well worth a read, anyway – and it’s interesting to see him speaking positively about a Millar book… (SP)