I didn’t pay a lot of attention when Marvel announced their “Point One” Initiative, or at least that’s what I’m assuming since I clearly didn’t understand how it all works. Starting in February, a series of issues with a “.1” appended to the previous issue number started appearing and I thought these were simply special editions of the regular book. In other words, I was under the impression that Amazing Spider-Man #654.1 was the same story as Amazing Spider-Man #654 with additional pages to attract and inform new readers. It turns out the “Point One” issues are new stand alone stories produced specifically to fit into current continuity as well as bring new readers up to speed on where titles currently stand and where they’re headed. Thankfully, I became aware of all this because this week’s Uncanny X-Men #534.1 may be the best issue of Uncanny X-Men I’ve read in years.

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The penultimate issue of DC’s year long series, Brightest Day, arrived in stores today preceded by a monster spoiler for the issue hitting the Internet last night. There’s no way to discuss this issue in any meaningful way without discussing that spoiler so be warned. We were kind of down on the series after seeing it cut from 26 to 24 issues with no satisfying resolution in sight. Issue #23 may have changed all that as it finally brought everything happening throughout the series together and unleashed some huge surprises. There’s plenty to talk about, but the question remains: after what amounted to a shaky flight, can Geoff Johns and crew stick the landing?

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Forget about April Fools posts, it’s kind of a big day for Philadelphia sports. The surprisingly competent 76ers take on the New Jersey Nets tonight at 7PM and can clinch a playoff spot with a win. A Charlotte loss gets them in as well and while I’m not expecting much in the postseason, this team did beat San Antonio, Chicago and Boston this season. They were even able to hang with Miami until the Heat decided they wanted to win that game. That’s just the tip of the Philly Sports iceberg though.

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We wrap up MLD’s Green Lantern Thursday with the title with the longest name and the issue with the most words, Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #8. This series focuses on another Green Lantern replacement for Hal Jordan, namely Guy Gardner. Gardner is probably the character I least care for among the Green Lanterns from Earth, but this issue actually makes some strides toward changing that. Again the issue begins by focusing on what’s been happening previously in this title, but it concludes with by converging with what’s happening in Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps.

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It’s Green Lantern Thursday here at MLD as we’re breaking down the current War of the Green Lanterns crossover running through Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern, Tony Bedard’s Green Lantern Corps, and Pete Tomasi’s Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors. I’m not terribly familiar with these books and on the surface it seems like one Green Lantern title would be sufficient. After reading this issue, I can see why page time is being given to Green Lanterns Kyle Raynor and John Stewart. They debuted as replacements for Hal Jordan and while he eventually returned these characters are strong enough to endure.

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