Blackest Night began to turn a major plot corner with three significant issues hitting stands last week. The yellow, violet, indigo and yellow rings joined together for in Green Lantern #47. Meanwhile, in other Blackest Night Titans #3, the Teen Titans' Dove exhibited an interesting new ability: snuffing out Black Lanterns while reclining. And, of course, in Blackest Night #4, the Flash played his traditional crisis role as the central rallying figure for the forces of good. In non-zombie news, Marvel Divas, mercifully, came to a close, while its counterpart, Gotham City Sirens, cranked up a new arc. Red She-Hulk delivered Red Hulk directly into the hands of Leonard Samson, and Reed Richards turned away from solving Everything and simply decided to Do Better.Here are some of the highlights. Click on the thumbnails for a full-page excerpt.

The Joker's Mild

Gotham City Sirens #5

Joker takes center stage in this issue, with writer Paul Dini pulling a deft doff-of-the-cap to Frank Miller's Dark Knight:

Joker: Steady, old man! It would be a bitter joke to break your own neck now! Heh!

Of course, that was also a little hint of the other surprise Dini had planned for the arc as he pulled off a little in-story retconning of the Joker he's been writing to make the character fit better with the more serious Joker that is appearing elsewhere in the DC Universe. See, the jokey Joker wasn't really the Joker after all, rather it was Gaggy, the Joker's original sidekick.

More importantly, Dini gave us a subtler look at the Joker/Harley relationship -- with Joker as an aging man trying to impress is much-younger paramour. Harley recounts Mr. J taking her to a warehouse see a bunch of his old gags, including the old Jokermobile:

Catwoman: How was the ride?
Harley: Fine, until some punks yelled, 'Hey, get a load of the Weinermobile!'" ... Heh. yeah. He shot them. I always felt kinda bad about that.

In case you get confused and think for a moment that Harley's pity falls towards the victims of Joker's wrath, artist Guillem March does an excellent job of drawing Joker behind the wheel of the old heap, hunched up, wizened and crotchety. This is not the young, joie-de-mort Joker. He's old, kinda frail, and somewhat past his prime. And being with Harley only makes that more obvious.

The Divas Take a Dive

Marvel Divas #4

In the opening pages of the final Divas, three of Our Heroes realize that the fourth member of their group is trapped in Hell as a result of making a deal with Daimon Hellstrom. Now, I've spoken before about how the dialogue in this book has been hackneyed and forced. And maybe I was off-base. Maybe I just don't get it. Maybe I was too hard on the writer.

Photon: Deal or no deal, we are not gonna take a powder while Patsy rots in some disco inferno.

Then again, maybe I wasn't hard enough.

I'm just thankful the sentence didn't end in ", girlfriend."

Meanwhile, I've been grappling with the idea of a non-Stephen Dr. Strange, and I've decided that I don't like Brother Doctor Voodoo in the Sorcerer Supreme role. Nope. Not one little bit. And I've been having a hard time putting my finger on it until the Divas approached him for help with their problem:

Voodoo: Wait a minute. Daimon, as in... Hellstrom?
Firestar: Yes.
Photon: Maybe. What difference would it make?
Voodoo: The difference is... Hellstrom's a bad-#%@. If I can avoid messing with that juju, I do.

See, the Dr. Strange that I know and love would never fail a comely trio of help-seekers. He would never back down from a fight. He isn't scared of a second-stringer like Daimon Hellstrom.

AND HE DOESN'T SAY 'JUJU!'

Enough of this. BRING BACK DR. STRANGE!

Do You See It?

Green Lantern #47

For the first time, I believe, four colors of the emotional spectrum have combined to defeat the Black Lanterns. Indigo, Green, Violet and Yellow all joined together to vanquish evil.

And if you were paying attention, you saw something very interesting happen in those panels. Maybe I shouldn't even point it out. But it was there. Right there for the discerning eye to pick up. I'll tell you what. I'm not even going to point it out. See for yourself. I'll show you the scene I'm talking about and you'll see it. I know you will. Heck, if you don't see it right away, click on the thumbnail and you'll get a larger version. I promise you'll see it in the larger version if you look hard enough. Go ahead. I'll wait.

WWLD?

Blackest Night #4

Meanwhile, in BN#4, we're given the answer to the question that's been on everyone's mind for the past few months: Where's Luthor? He's been strangely absent in the Blackest Night storyline. I've been expecting him to rise up and save the entire universe, gaining control of the Justice League of America in the process and installing a group of villains pretending to be JLAers.

I'm kidding, of course. That would be a blatant rip-off.

Aaaaaanyway, the answer to "WWLD?" Hole up in a bunker and quietly mess his Giorgio Armani slacks, evidently.

Luthor (to Calculator): Do you know how many people I've killed over the years? If the dead are rising, I'll have my own problems.

Lane Bryant Does Leather?

Hulk #16

Meanwhile, Deadpool, too, was reaping what he had sown -- although it looks as if the actual sewing was done by Fredericks of Hollywood. As he eyed the new Red She-Hulk, clad in a revealing, ripped, leather outfit, he went from Deadpool to deadpan in under ten seconds:

Deadpool: Love the outfit. It's so hard to find things in plus sizes that looks good on you big gals.

Red-She responds by demurely shish-ka-bobbing the merc-with-a-mouth with one of Electra's sword-thingies. Later, she leads the recently blinded Red Hulk away from the fray with a little war logic about how to respond to an opponent with whom you are evenly matched.

Red Hulk: You know Sun-Tzu.
Red She-Hulk: Bud Fox, actually.

Nu-World? Doesn't Sound So 'Nu' To Me...

Fantastic Four #572

Of course, the central thrust of the issue was that Reed Richards has decided that he doesn't want to Solve Everything. He just wants to Do Better. The other Reeds in the All-Reed Squad taunt him as he leaves: "You'll be back. You always come back!" Meanwhile, Johnny Storm and the Thing prepare for a vacation on Nu-World. Lessee...

Swimsuit?
Check.
Trashy novel?
Check.
Beach blankets?
Check.
Overwrought foreshortening...?

Thing: You sure it's okay for us to be goin' Sue -- 'cause you ain't gonna be able to reach us if you need us.

Check.

Sue: Go. have a good time. You deserve it.
Thing: All right, then... you heard the lady.
Johnny Storm: No way to be bothered --

Double-check.

-- and stuck on a world that has never known the love of one Johnny Storm...

Just imagine. An entire planet full of women you've never had sex with.

I've been there. It's not so hot.

Dove: 99.44% Awesome

Blackest Night Titans #3

Finally, I'll leave you with this striking visual. Dove has discovered that there's something inside her that makes the DC zombies pop like soap bubbles. I'd say Blackest Night is headed for Dawn.

Courtesy of Newsarama, here's a preview of new comics available in comic shops tomorrow.

DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #899: The Merc with lots and lots of monthly content is about to add another release to his already robust monthly stable of appearances. "Deadpool Team Up" #899, which is neither a monthly series, nor a factual #899 will see Wade Wilson partner with Hercules. The combo will likely prove disastrous for everyone involved, just the way readers like it. In addition to acting as a play on Marvel's numerous #600 issues of the past year, the special leads into the upcoming "Deadpool" #900, Marvel's star-studded parody meant to beat DC's "Action Comics" to its historic (and actual) 900th issue.

THE TORCH #3: Restored to life by the Thinker's genius and on the Thinker's terms, the Torch is now a weapon of mass destruction owned and controlled by A.I.M. And as A.I.M.'s scientists launch him on his murderous mission, the Thinker reveals the true scope of his insane ambition.

X-MEN ORIGINS: ICEMAN: The successful X-Men Origins series continues! In this one-shot, we see the origin of Bobby Drake, A.K.A. Iceman! See the small town beginnings that helped forge the coolest mutant of them all! Written by Roberto Aguirre Sacasa (Stephen King's "The Stand") with fan favorite artist Phil Noto! Don't miss it!

THE GREAT TEN #1: Part 1 of a 10-part miniseries! Join writer Tony Bedard (R.E.B.E.L.S.) and artist Scott McDaniel for an adventure exploring the extraordinary characters from the pages of 52 and Checkmate! At the dawn of the Chinese Century, the 10 official "super-functionaries" of the People's Republic face their greatest challenge as the gods of Ancient China return to destroy communist rule! Will the most populous nation on Earth drag the rest of the world down with it? Do its heroes even want to save a government that treats them like pawns? Don't miss this tale that redraws the map of the DCU and fleshes out the most exciting and mysterious new characters from the mind of Grant Morrison! Featuring a gorgeous cover by rising artist Stanley "Artgerm" Lau.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #610: Peter Parker's past collides with his future! Can Peter Parker save his family and himself?! Webhead stalwart Marc Guggenheim and rising star Marco Chechetto bring you the rollicking conclusion of "Who Was Ben Reilly?"

FATHOM #9: The world is literally falling down around the Hagia Sophia and the meeting of the world leaders and the Blue! With the Black's arrival and the all-out chaos that ensues, Aspen, Cannon, Siphon, and the Blue allies must make a stand for not only mankind, but the very fate of the planet. However, the combined might of Aspen, the Blue, and the humans may not be enough to stop the incoming force led by a surprise visitor in this thrilling penultimate issue! Brought to you by the same great creative team of artist Ale Garza, writer J.T. Krul, inker Sal Regla and colorist John Starr.

BLACK WIDOW: DEADLY ORIGIN #1: Before she steals the world's heart in Iron Man II, get caught in the wicked web of Marvel's sexiest and deadliest super-spy! She's been everything from a Russian espionage agent to a Champion to an Avenger, now a skeleton from Natalia Romanova's past is reaching out for those she's loved and lost...and the Black Widow has many victims to choose from! From the frozen streets of Moscow to the upper stratosphere, writer Paul Cornell and artists Tom Raney and John Paul Leon (The Winter Men) deliver a globe-hopping, bone-breaking, high-tech thriller that reveals how Natalia's shadowy past threatens all she now holds dear. Guest-starring the Winter Soldier and Wolverine!

DEATHLOK #1: Marvel's ultimate cyborg is back in this 7-issue Marvel Knights limited series written by Charlie Huston and breathtakingly illustrated by Lan Medina. In the not-too-distant future, war is a spectator sport, warriors die hard and live fast, and living larger than anyone is super-soldier Lieutenant Mike Travers. That is, until Travers hotdogs it on the battlefield and gets himself and his C.O., Luther Manning, blown to bits. The show must go on. Enter: Deathlok the Demolisher!

PSYLOCKE #1: Psylocke has returned to the X-Men! Following the defeat of Madelyne Pryor and her Sisterhood, Psylocke travels to Japan to re-inter her former body in its proper resting place. But when a swarm of Hand ninjas attack Psylocke and do the unspeakable under orders from Matsu'o"”the assassin originally responsible for transplanting Psylocke's mind into the body of an Asian ninja"”Psylocke determines that Matsu'o is one loose end that can no longer be left unresolved. It's a tale of carnage and revenge, brought to you by superstars Chris Yost and Harvey Tolibao!

ASTONISHING X-MEN #32: The X-Men have fought towering, mutant-slaying robot Sentinels before. But never one quite like this. Never a Sentinel made of meat and bone, wearing the skin of one of their own deceased teammates, every technological aspect given a biological solution. And as the X-Men fight for their lives, they're left to wonder: What could this monstrosity have to do with the Brood?

CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #4: Steve Rogers, the original Captain America - trapped in time! Bucky and Sharon Carter - in the hands of the enemy! As Dr. Doom and the Red Skull make a terrifying pact that could destroy what Captain America means forever! Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch bring you the penultimate issue of Marvel's event of the year!

X-MEN VS. AGENTS OF ATLAS #2: The brawl under San Francisco just gets bigger as more mutants arrive to face the Atlas Foundation! Then things take a turn for the weird as the original five X-Men face off with the 1950's Agents of Atlas! All the strangest heroes make for the strangest battle.

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #4 : Ultimate Spider-Man faces off with Mysterio! It's brutal, it's bloody and it's one of the biggest Spidey fights of the year! PLUS: Events in Kitty Pryde's life create a situation for Peter Parker that you have never ever ever seen in a Spidey title before!

...And from CBR...

GREEK STREET #5: In the shattering conclusion to "Blood Calls for Blood," our runaway hero Eddie finally comes face-to-face with Sandy and wonders (like the rest of us), can she really see the future or is she just crazy? One member of the cast may have to die for that question to be answered...

PROJECT SUPER POWERS: CHAPTER 2 #4: The Superpowers continue to battle one of their own in the continuing adventures of Dynamite's powerful superhero odyssey! Overseen by Alex Ross and written by Jim Krueger, artist Edgar Salazar continues to sizzle and issue #3 also features the painted - by Doug Klauba - origin sequence (2 BIG pages) of The Flame!

THE BOYS #36: Mother's Milk's story concludes with a bang, as we find out the nature of the debt he owes Butcher and see him bear witness to a great American tragedy. Hughie gets another view of The Boys' mission, one he hadn't considered before, in part two of Nothing Like It In The World.