The Motor City Comic Con is not a newcomer on the convention scene, but I can’t help but feel it’s a late-bloomer still unsure how things are meant to run.

The 2012 convention was held in Detroit, Michigan, last month and turnout this year appeared much higher than the rain-plagued 2011 event. Walking through the comics side of the Suburban Collection Showplace proved difficult as crowds clamored around the various comic and collectible vendors. Big name artists like Ethan Van Sciver and Talent Caldwell were almost always seen talking with fans or busy working on sketches.

But conventions like this are also a good place for smaller, local talents to find a wider audience. I Love Lightning Bugs, a band heralding from Royal Oak, Michigan, had a booth showcasing both their music and a new comic book illustrated by local artist Mindy McPeak featuring the band members adventures into the paranormal. First looks suggest a Gorillaz-esque alternative reality but with protagonists based on real people.

Green Lantern hits theaters this weekend, but there’s still time to catch up on Hal Jordan’s adventures and all the numerous characters that inhabit his corner of the DC Universe before you see the film, which stars Ryan Reynolds in the title role.

Since the creation of the second Green Lantern in 1959, he’s gone on numerous adventures, died, been reborn, been replaced by three other characters, and fought Sinestro more than a few times. However, many of you may have never read any stories with him before, as I had until a few years ago. Where’s the best place to catch up, you may be asking. Well, here are four collections of Green Lantern stories that I recommend reading before you see the movie.

Joker’s Asylum II: The Riddler
One-Shot
Written by: Peter Calloway
Art by: Clayton Henry
Cover by: Ethan Van Sciver
DC Comics
Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 3, 2010

As comic reader, a lot of times we get fed tons of these useless one-shots and we write them off as the big publishers trying to rake in more money. Well, every once in a while there is a gem mixed in amongst these one-shots that goes under the radar and that is what I’ve brought to the table now. Joker’s Asylum II: The Riddler is a story about the Riddler, obviously, as told by the Joker while he is seemingly incarcerated in Arkham Asylum. Of course, any story told by the Joker will be insanely interesting, no pun intended.

Peter Calloway seems to capture the essence of both the Joker, through his narration, and the Riddler, through his actions in the story. The Joker has just enough crazy to pull off the story making his own riddles along the way, leaving you guessing throughout the entire story. Can the Riddler actually love? That’s the crux of the story and it is definitely interesting to explore the riddle of love. My favorite part is the open-ended completion of the story by the Joker.