DC New 52 Week 3

Hello friends, last week’s reviews of week 3 of the new DCU was taken from me…taken from me by that most vile of fiends, the Orange Lantern. (see prior post)

Since I usually feel that nothing like this would ever happen to me as a resident of Earth Prime, I hadn’t backed up my reviews.  So, rather then spend all that time going over my rather lengthy rants, I’m instead going to give a line or to of my general response to each issue and if I’m still on board, then follow up with my reviews from Week 4.

Ready, ok here we go.

Batman #1
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Greg Capullo
Inker: Jonathan Glapion
Colors: FCO Plascencia
Price: $2.99

Yet another Arkham breakout foiled by The Batman within the first 5 pages with the help of an undercover Dick Grayson in the guise of The Joker.  Not a strong start, thank god this is accompanied by the words of a speech Bruce Wayne will give shortly after this event.  The topic to no surprise if the City of Gotham and its meaning to its residents. “Gotham Is” we learn is a column in the Gotham Gazette that residents answer using three words or less.  Bruce Wayne uses this in his speech to help set the stage for a fund raiser to help bring Gotham into the future.  With the help of the Wayne foundation and its contributors, it seems the Gotham of the future will be more like that of Batman Beyond in the years to come.  With Bruce Wayne’s lighter tone and goals to make Gotham a better place we’re seeing that the general overtone of all the Bat Books is less dark and angry and more of hope.

I’m not going to go into the story as much as I am about the state of the Bat Books in general.  If you’re a long time reader of Batman you won’t be in for much of a shock in this Post Flashpoint world.  Aside from Batman’s lighter attitude, much of the book is status quo.  My only issue as you know is this 5 years ago starting point for all heros DC has set.  Look at this image of Bruce Wayne and his family as they prepare for Gotham fundraiser.

We have Dick Grayson, the first Robin and short stand in for Batman the year he was missing.  Tim Drake, the Red Robin and Bruces’ 10 year old son Damian Wayne.  Nothing wrong with this image if its a family portrait but since we know each of these characters were Robin at one time (including Jason Todd who is absent in this image) this is where we start to have problems.  Five years and four robins?  We still don’t know if its still continuity that Spoiler was Robin for a short time as well so that would make five robins in five years.  Maybe i’m nitpicking but if you set this sort of timeline and refuse to dump A LOT of past history a character like Batman has with him a reboot, no matter how soft it is, becomes difficult.  In fact, its less a reboot and more of an attitude change.  Like I said, if you fan of Batman, there’s a great chance that isn’t going to change.

Birds of Prey #1
Writer: Duane Swierczynshi
Artist: Jesus Saiz
Colorist: Nei Ruffino
Letterer: Carlos Mangual
Price: $2.99

I’ve never read Birds of Prey prior to this reboot, all I knew is it was team of women protecting Gotham under the guidance of Oracle otherwise known as Barbara Gordon.  The art is this book is beautiful, the team is interesting and the ending enough of a surprise to keep me on board for this first arc.

Blue Beetle #1
Writer: Tony Bedard
Artist: IG Guara
Inker: Ruy Jose
Colorist: Pete Pantazis
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Price: $2.99

If you liked this version of the Blue Beetle over the last few years you won’t be disappointed.  DC brings us back to the beginning making a few minor changes to the character but keeping the initial elements of Jaime Reyes intact.  Worth another look so I’ll come back to this book next month.

Captain Atom #1
Writer: J.T. Krul
Artist: Freddie Williams II
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Colorist: Jose Villarrubia
Price: $ 2.99

Ever want to see Captain Atom portrayed like Doctor Manhattan from Watchmen?  Here you go.

Most comic readers know that Alan Moore intended on using the Charlton Characters in his epic mini series Watchmen but changed them to characters inspired by them instead.  Well, 20 plus years later, when DC has no idea what to do with Captain Atom after multiple attempts to reinterpret the character, looks like we get Doctor Manhattan.  Yippie.

The art was nice, the story was confusing.  Will I be coming back to this book next month.  Nope.

Catwoman #1
Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Guillem March
Colors: Tomeu Morey
Letters: Sal Cipriano
Price: $2.99

Controversy sells, at at least thats what I’ve heard.  Honestly it could be the only thing selling this book right now.  Judd Winick isn’t the greatest writer at DC so might as well stir the pot and have a controversial sex scene between Catwoman and Batman to get people talking.  But to be honest was it really that much of a big deal.

We all know Catwoman and Batman are an on and off again item.  Sure Bruce Wayne is a little less intense in the Post Flashpoint universe and more responsible with his family but the Cat – Bat affair remains intact.  This little controversy won’t support the book, so does the story outweigh this little bump?  Its a standard cat affair.  Selina Kyle is on the run, stealing and keeping ahead of the law, more of an anti hero then a villain.  Again, little has changed with the character from Pre Flashpoint so long time readers shouldn’t be caught too off guard on this title.

DC Universe Presents #1
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Art: Bernard Chang
Colorist: Blond
Letterer: David Sharpe
Price: $2.99

New reader friendly, the origin and motivating force behind the Deadman is given in the first four pages making it easy for new readers to get right into the action.  While at first it seems like its going to be a feel good sort of out of body romp like the old television show Quantum Leap but turns into something deeper along the way.  Its good to see Deadman in a title of his own again so I’ll be coming back to this book again next month.

Beware the Orange Light

Well, all my hard work on writing reviews on the September 21’st release of the New DCU was foiled by that most vile of villians.  The Orange Lantern.  Seems like someone out there wanted all I had written only for themselves leaving me out in the breeze. 

So, expect a double post this week of the last two weeks of the New DCU very soon and a wrap up of my thoughts on its success and failures. 

Hope to see you all soon.

Soon to be cannon in the DCNew

Don’t be surprised to see this become cannon

The First 52 – Week 2

Deathstroke #1
Writer: Kyle Higgins
Pencils: Joe Bennett
Inks: Art Thibert
Letters: Travis Lanham
Colors: Jason Wright
Price: 2.99

Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke returns once again to his own ongoing series in the wake of Post Flashpoint.  When I first heard this news I had mixed feelings.  Having grown up reading his exploits against the New Teen Titans throughout the 80’s and 90’s into his solo adventures in his own series in the 90’s, Deathstroke has grown into one of the DCU’s foremost villains, having graduated to alpha level after his fights against the Justice League of America over the last few years.  So with this long history how was I to expect DC to handle this relaunch.  Were they going to give me a Slade Wilson younger, hipper and with a new slick attitude?  No.  What Kyle Higgins gives us is Slade, just as old, and just as much a bad ass we’d expect in a book with a villain lead.  To be honest, as I was reading this first issue I was beginning to hate it by page 5 and was certain I’d finish the book hating it but Mr. Higgins surprised me with a story that not only was entertaining, but in my eyes. Was a small gesture towards us older fans.  Now I’m going to be giving a way a few things here so you may want to stop now.  There’s your chance.  Ok, still with me?  Why I ended up loving this book wasn’t because the story was new, it wasn’t because Deathstroke was teamed up with a cool team of teens with classy tag names and ipod playlists queued up for each mission.  No, it was because once the mission was done.  Once Slade had what he wanted and was paid to get, in what was turning out to be the quintenssential team bonding experience, the bastard kills his new “team” and turns ons his agent saying “They think I can’t do this anymore. They think I can’t cut it in the field any more.  Well then, we have a lot of work to do..”  In a nut shell, I took this as Higgins telling DC, we don’t need Q-phones, fancy lines in armor or a younger cast.  Lets stick to the basics, Deathstroke is a badass.  Now lets hope this carries the book.

Grifter #1
Writer: Nathan Edmonson
Pencils: Cafu
Inker: Jason Gorder
Letters: Wes Abbott
Colors: Andrew Dalhouse
Price: $2.99

I’ve never read Grifter when he was in Wildstorm so my knowledge of this character is non existent except for what I’ve seen in Flashpoint.  Nathan Edmonson gives us a typical origin issue and a typical missing time story that ends up with our resident con man realizing he can sense aliens in human form and its up to him to stop their invasion plans.  The art from Cafu (is that a first name?) while it feels like Gary Frank, lacks his energy.  Nothing feels new or exciting with this book.  Thankfully I’m in desperate need of material to cut from my DC buy list since there’s been enough I’ve liked so far and its only week two, so Grifter, I can say it was nice to meet you but…so long dude.

Superboy #1
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Penciller: R.B. Silva
Inker: Rob Leon
Letters: Carlos Mangual
Colorists: The Hories
Price: $2.99

Lets be clear here, Superboy isn’t Clark Kent.  Readers of last week’s Action Comics know that Clark didn’t start wearing the Red and Blue until his 20’s in Metropolis, so what we have here is a retelling of the origin of the clone that will be known as Superboy.  While in Pre Flashpoint, Superboy was the result of genetic tampering with Krypotion DNA after Superman died at the hands of Doomsday we have a Superboy that appears for reasons we as of yet don’t know.  Enter the standard mysterious organization, working with a budget big enough to hide an entire scientific complex underground and named N.O.W.H.E.R.E..  Now i’m guessing here but I’m sure it stands for North Oregon Warehouse for Heroes Ever Remaining Evenhanded.  Yea, makes no sense but neither does this issue.

I’m going to take a moment to point out a few things here.  First off, the cover makes no sense.  Superboy doesn’t appear to be bio mechanical at all at this point in his story so the almost cyborg looking arms and chest piece on the cover confuses me.  Then theres the legitimacy of this NOWHERE organization.  Honestly they seem like nothing but minions and henchmen in full bodysuits doing nothing but filling up space.  The art doesn’t carry this book and the story is a mess.  Thanks for making it easy for me to cut another book DC.  Superboy is out.  I’m sure I’ll get enough from him in Teen Titans or possibly Superman crossovers.

Legion Lost #1
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Artist: Pete Woods
Price: $2.99

Legion Lost brings us a small ragtag group of the 31st century Legion of Super-Heroes finding themselves stranded in the 20th century after tracking a bio terrorist intend on destroying the entire human race.  The art in this book is top notch and Fabian Nicieza gives us an interesting story right out of the gate.  By taking away much of the Legion’s future tech, the team has to rely on their natural powers and wit to get buy in a world they see as outdated and dangerous while attempting to track down a man named Alastor before he unleashes a pathogen into the atmosphere that could destroy the human race.  This book is staying on my by list for now.

Mister Terrific #1
Writer: Eric Wallace
Art: Glan Luca
Cover: J. G. Jones
Price: $2.99

A easy entry origin issue for new readers.  Mr. Terrific, millionaire, 3rd smartest person in the world, olympic level athlete, fights crime on the side of the good guys using good ol fair play inspired by the exploits of the Mr. Terrific of the 1940’s.  Oh, wait, thats his old origin.  Lets see, seems like everything in this incarnation is intact except for his source of inspiration for his super hero identify Mr. Terrific didn’t exist.  Ok, so he came up with it himself, I’ll go with that.  Hmmm…origin story now has great personal tragedy in the form of losing his family to a senseless accident.  So sad.  Does our hero hold his fist up to a thunder filled sky and pledge himself to a life of fighting injustice as lightning strikes ominously behind him?  Nope.  Michael Holt (aka Mr. Terrific) wants to kill himself only after completing his most important scientific breakthrough.  Something about energy gates, time travel and science tech talk that doesn’t matter.  Turns out in the moment of his intentionally overloading his equipment to kill himself, his unborn son from the future or perhaps an alternate earth (who knows..) shows up and tells him he’s destined for more, to not kill himself and go on teaching those that need it and helping those that can’t help themselves.  So thats it.  Thats why Holt paints a T on his face and fights crime in a leather vest and “T” balls.  yup…done with this title as well. NEXT!

Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE #1
Written: Jeff Lemire
Art: Alberto Ponticelii
Cover: J.G. Jones
Price: $2.99

Ever since Grant Morrison reintroduced the monster named for his creator Frankenstein to the DCU durning the Seven Soldiers event a few years back I’ve cringed whenever I’ve seen him make appearances afterwards.  Frankenstein is a very difficult character to get ahold on for comics.  The Monster is more often then not depicted as the Boris Karloff version and not the misunderstood and mistreated creation that fell into madness and murder in the Mary Shelly novel.  Morrison turned Frankenstein into a sword wielding monster hunter married to a four armed Bride of Frankenstein working for the secret group called SHADE.  Now, with this launch into his own title Post Flashpoint, Frankenstein is teamed up with his Bride and the newest incarnation of The Creature Commandos.  A squad of monsters fighting on the side of man, against the rising darkness.  Jeff Lemire spins an interesting story, introducing us to Frank, The Bride, and the new Creature Commandos while tossing them into a massive fight to save a small town on the verge of being consumed by a horde of monsters.  So far the weakest of the DC Dark line, I’ll keep this book on my list mainly because of my love for Creature Commando stories I read as a child in the pages of Weird War Tales and also to see if Jeff Lemire can salvage this version of Frankenstein Morrison left DC with in the wake of Seven Soldiers.

Batman and Robin #1
Writer: Peter Tomasi
Artist: Patrick Gleason and Mick Gary
Price: $2.99

It certainly looks like DC’s attempting to bring Batman down from his “man alone against the dark” attitude and more into the angry but easy to get along with Batman.  In fact, I’d say its looking like he’ll be as dark as Michael Keaton was in the first Batman movie, and I’m not dissing that film at all, its just that Keaton’s Batman wasn’t the most extreme version we’ve seen of Bats.  Hey, at least he’s not portrayed like the George Clooney’s version in Batman and Robin.

So in Batman and Robin we’re seeing the mentoring aspect of Bruce Wayne as he patrols the city streets with his ten year old son Damian as the newest Robin.  Damian, trained as a ninja by a secret society and now the bird boy of Gotham.  A bit of a jerk but willing to learn from his father.  I’m hoping this will be enough to carry the book and because of that I’m willing to give it another chance.  This book stays on my list for the time being…

Batwoman #1
Writer: J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman
Colors: Dave Stewart

Possibility the best DC book this week. J.H. Williams never fails in his ability to make every stroke of his pencil sing as he illustrates this title.  Coupled with the hauntingly beautiful coloring job by Dave Stewart, this title has me coming back again next month and if my suspicions are right, this may end up being the only Bat title I’ll end up keeping on my list when this month of number 1’s is all said and done.

Green Lantern #1
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Doug Mahnke
Inks: Christian Alamy

If you’ve been reading Green Lantern all along then you won’t be disappointed with Green Lantern #1.  Picking up in the aftermath of the War of the Green Lanterns, we have Hal Jordan expelled from the Corps and Sinestro, chosen by a Ring and not the Guardians to become a Green Lantern again.  Having Sinestro back in the Corps against everyones will but the RIng is the mystery unfolding before us and worth coming back to.  Fans of Green Lantern know that Geoff Johns has breathed so much life and backstory into Sinestro that the idea of him supporting a book on his own would actually be a great addition to the Lantern Line.  Lets hope something comes out of this that might lead into that sort of title.  God nows we don’t need the Red Lanterns Title.

Red Lanterns #1
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: Ed Benes
Inker: Rob Hunter
Colors: Nathan Eyring

I can’t bring myself to talk about this book.  It has a Red Lantern cat in it.
No reason for this title and I can’t see it lasting.
Another title off my buy list.

Suicide Squad #1
Writer: Adam Glass
Art: Marco Rudy
Cover: Ryan Benjamin
Price: $2.99

Nothing much has changed with this title for those of you familiar with the concept.  Government agency takes supercriminals on death row and implants them with a microbomb in their neck.  They go on suicide missions and if they survive, they extend their term and death sentence.  Changes made by the new DCU, Harley has a new outfit, King Shark looks a little weirder.  Deadshot has a cooler costume but kept the wrist gun and finally Amanda Waller got hot and thin.  I love how the Flash running really fast can somehow help a person with their diet.  This book stays on my list for now just to see how this all plays out.

Finally, Demon Knights and Resurrection Man.  Both of these titles where sold out by the time I got to the store on Wednesday so I won’t be able to comment on them yet but I plan on once I get a copy.

So all in all the selection of titles in the second week of the new 52 isn’t exactly what i’d call strong.  Of all thirteen titles I’m coming back to about six of them and some are still pending final approval after their first story arcs are done.    Still, I’m looking forward to next week and finally to September 28th and the release of Firestorm!  Gawd…that title’s going to be butchered…

 

UPDATE:

Resurrection Man #1
Writer: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Art: Fernando Dagnino
Cover: Ivan Reis and Joe Prado
Price: $2.99

A friend let me borrow his copy of Resurrection Man and had a chance to read it.  I’m calling it now, DC Dark is the way to go.  So far every title in this sub genre of the New DCU has been better then the most.  Resurrection Man doesn’t stray from this path of success.  The concept so far appears that the forces of heaven and hell seek the undying soul of our hero.  Give this book a try if you like the Dark line.  It’ll be on my buy list for sure!

 

Demon Knights #1
Writer: Paul Cornell
Art: Diogenes Neves and Oclair Albert
Cover: Tony Daniel
Price: $2.99

 

The New DCU – What we know

Here is a primer on the New DCU from information gathered from the first weeks release of comics.

Public knowledge of superheros first came out roughly five years ago.

The Justice League of America formed 5 years ago.  Members are Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern (Hal), Cyborg, Flash and Batman

During the five years since the appearances of Superheros the following has been eluded to.

– The Crisis happened

– Superman died

– Batman Inc happened

– Blackest Night happened

– Brightest Day happened (although i’m sure the maxwell lord story didn’t since Justice League International didn’t exist until this week.)

– Alex Holland died, the Swamp Thing appeared and much of his past history is mentioned as to have happened.

– the City of Dakoda and the Milestone Heroes are now part of the DCU.

– Superman has an “attitude” and in his younger days, liked to call bad guys “Rats”

– Superman wears some sort of armor.  I could be wrong on this, it looks like armor but hasn’t been mentioned as such.

– There was no Superboy

– Green Arrow still runs Queen Industries.  His products are referred to like Apple products are today.  Q-pad, Q-phone. etc…

– Batman has an “attitude” only towards criminals. He’s actually pretty friendly to his other superfriends.

– Animal Man is cool again, much of his history is intact, including his dumb ass time in space during 52.

– Batgirl is Barbara Gordon.  She was shot by the Joker and paralyzed for three years.  She’s better now.

– Everyone has new fancy lines in their costumes and chin guards.  Awesome…

Thats most of the major points I got out of this week.  More will be revealed in the next few weeks with the remainder of the 52 being released and I’ll add to this list each week.  As i’ve mentioned before, setting up the beginning of public appearances of superheros only 5 years ago and keeping so much backstory from the old DC will be a challenge for the editors to pull off.  I’m already thinking of problems with characters like Batgirl.  Batman makes his public appearance five years ago, Batgirl has been paralyzed for 3 years, so either she became Batgirl right out of the gate with Batman or only had maybe of year of experience before the Joker got to her.  As i was saying, lets wish those editors luck huh.

The New 52 – Week One

Its the first full week of the New DCU and I’ve had a chance to read everything DC had to offer us this week.  As a whole, I was pleased with what I saw, but rather then go into long reviews for 13 books, here are my initial thoughts and wether or not I’ll be on board for an issue two.

OMAC #1
Writer: Dan Didio
Artist: Keith Giffen
Inks: Scott Koblish
Lettering: Travis Lanham
Price: $2.99

What can I say, I loved this title.  This book is pure homage to a piece of the legacy Jack Kirby left DC back in the 70’s.  Didio and Giffen did the right thing and abandoned the nano army DC turned OMAC into over the last few years and brought him back to the unstoppable One Man Army Corps he should be.  A big blue mohawk wearing badass.  Giffen does his best to emulate the best of Kirby along with his own unique style of art.  This book was a visual pleasure for me and you can really feel the love these creators have for their source material.

If your fan of any of Kirby’s creations at DC you’ll love this book, with appearances from Cadmus Industries, Lord Mokkari, Dubbilex and the Build a Friends this title will stay on my buy list.

Static Shock #1

Story: Scott McDaniel and John Rozum
Pencils: Jonathan Glapion and Le Beau Underwood
Inks: Dezi Sienty
Letters: Guy Major
Price: $2.99

I’ve always been a fan of the Milestone Universe but Static Shock was the one character I never gave a chance.  Static make the leap from comics to his own cartoon, sustained enough popularity to be made a member of the Teen Titans and now has his own title again with the new 52.  While the I was impressed with the art and colors of this book the story itself left me a little unimpressed.  To be fair I’m going to give the title a re read before deciding if I’m going to pass on the second issue.  The art alone can’t carry this book for me right now, lets hope i get something more out of it the second time around.

Swamp Thing #1
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artitst: Yanick Paquette
Colors: Nathan Fairbairn
Letters: John Hill
Price: $2.99

I LOVED THIS ISSUE!  I was so so afraid that after that horrid Search for Swamp Thing follow up from his Brightest Day rebirth that this title was going to follow suit and be something pending the compost heap.  Thank god for Scott Snyder.  His grasp on the characters in the book along with the undertone of darkness that has been a part of the Swamp Thing story from the start makes this reintroduction of Swampy back to the DCU proper a great experience.

Snyder does something I wouldn’t have thought would have carried the first issue as well as it did.  Instead of getting an issue of Swamp Thing making an appearance right away, we spend the first issue getting to know Alex Holland again as he struggles with finding his place in this world he was returned to.  A world where he has memories of being the Swamp Thing when he truly wasn’t.  Snyder does a wonderful job of filling in new readers with enough information on Holland and the Swamp Thing to make this first issue easier to digest with the rich history of the character while giving long term fans everything they wanted.  My only complaint for this book is that Yanick Paquette won’t be a regular on the title.  I recently read an interview with the artist who was very up front on his inability to keep up with this book on a monthly basis so while he’ll be giving us covers and the first story arc, there will be back up artists in-between his stints on the book.  Other then that one item, I love this book and  I can’t wait for more!

Animal Man #1
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Travel Foreman
Inks: Travel Forman and Dan Green
Price: $2.99

If Swamp Thing and Animal Man are any indicator of whats to come from the DC Dark line I’m in all the way.  Animal Man returns to his own book the only way he can, hopeful, family oriented and full of dark intrigue with a vertigo vein that runs deep.  While you think this recipe wouldn’t mix, trust me, it does.  Jeff Lemire’s writing brings the character back from comic limbo instantly reacquainting us with the Baker family along with how Buddy has kept himself busy the last few years outside the superhero limelight. Fuel that with the beautiful pencils by Travel Foreman and this book has me fully onboard and eagerly looking forward to the next issue.

Men of War
Writer: Ivan Brandon
Artist: Tom Derenick
Colorist: Matt Wilson
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Price: $3.99

Modern Warfare comes to the DCU in the legacy of the Rock family.  Those of you who know DC history know that Sgt. Rock and the Easy Company was a mainstay in the warfare line of DC for years back in the 70s and 80’s.  While Sgt. Rock was set in WW2, Men of War brings us back home to modern times and the great grandson of Frank Rock on the front lines, finding his place in his family line along with this place in history.  While I find the concept interesting, the first issue left a lot to be desired.  Mostly a mission gone wrong as Rock and his team get dropped behind enemy lines only to have a Metahuman show up and mess things up.  I’ll check out he second issue only because I like Sgt. Rock and hope this book finds its footing in the next few issues.

Action Comics #1
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Rags Morales
Inker: Rick Bryant
Colorist: Brad Anderson
Price: $3.99

Grant Morrison and Rags Morales bring us the first appearances of Superman in the world set 5 years on the past.  I’ve many mixed feeling about this book just because it was Superman that brought me into DC after the Crisis and there’s a lot on the line here with the reinvention of this iconic character in the post Flashpoint Universe.  Because of that, i’m sitting on this for now and will follow up after this first story arc is finished with a more detailed review.  In the mean time, know that Morrison is consent with his writing and Rags Morales is still one of my favorite artists bringing his visual dynamics to one of DC’s flagship books.  I’ll be onboard this for at least the first five issues.  More to come.

Green Arrow #1
Writer: J.T. Krul
Artist: Dan Jurgens
Inker: George Perez.
Price: $2.99

Oliver Queen without his beard.  Younger and not so angry at the corporate world to have given up his fortune yet.  All I’m saying on this was boring and I’m done with this title.  GA shines as an anti establishment character and this isn’t him.  Nuff Said.

 

Justice League International
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Aaron Lopresti
Inks: Matt Ryan
Price: $2.99

Solid storytelling and team introduction in one issue.  Jurgens establishes the team in the first issues and already has them fighting a giant robot.  Superheroics at its best.  Only item here, for long term DC buffs, seems like this is the first incarnation of the Justice League International.  No reference of the Blue and Gold team of Booster and Beetle, and as of now at least, seems Ice and Guy aren’t an item.  And, while most fans remember the JLI as having a mix if action and humor that supported the book in its early years, its all action here.  We’ll see where this take us.  I’m on board for now.

Batwing #1
Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Ben Oliver
Colors: Brian Reber
Letters: Carlo’s Mangual

While Ben Oliver clearly a talented artist, his backgrounds are boring as hell.  Also, his action scenes don’t hold any dynamic elements that a book in the Batman Family should carry.  Winick offers up the same boring storys he usually tells and although the concept of the character appealed to me more then I thought it would after reading his background, Batwing needs a creative team change RIGHT NOW for it to survive in my eyes.  Pass on all future issues.

Detective Comics
Writer and Artist: Tony Daniel
Inks: Ryan Winn
Price: $2.99

Its a Batman book.  The character hasn’t changed all that much in the new DCU except he’s younger, a little more easy going but still driven and a creature of the night.  Criminals fear him for good reason and the police aren’t his friend.  This is the perfect stage in the Batman Mythos to retell old tales and create new ones.  If you liked Batman before, its pretty much more of the same except that he’s dropped that dumb ass headlight on his chest after his rebirth storyline Pre Flashpoint.  I’m not moving forward with this bat title mostly because I’m certain I’ll have enough Bats in Justice League and at least 3 other books he’s making appearances in this month.

Batgirl #1
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Ardian Syaf
Inker: Vicente Cifuentes
Price: $2.99

If DC had pulled anyone else besides Gail Simone to handle the reintroduction of Barbara Gordan as Batgirl it would have been an epic fail.  Instead, we have a book about a character attempting to reestablish herself in the wake of a horrible personal tragedy.  Batgirl was shot and paralyzed by the Joker but through what can only be called a miracle can not only walk again, but is eager to get back on the horse and fight some crime.  The art in this book strong and the initial mystery to our opening villain has me wanting more.  I’ll keep on with this book for now.

Hawk and Dove…

Thats all i’m saying about this book.  I gave it a try, I’m done.  Pass.

So thats it.  Aside from Stormwatch which I was able to read but don’t have a copy of to take notes from I feel the first wave of books has me interested enough to see where its going to go, or for the very least, how DC could possibly mess this up with their separate time lines going on.  And, I’ll be honest, it felt good again having more DC books in my by pile then Marvel, the last month as been lean man…real lean…

Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes # 5
Boom Studios

Writer: Daryl Gregory
Artist: Carlos Magno
Colorist: Nolan Woodard
Letter: Travis Lanham

Set thousands of years before the Charlton Heston Planet of the Apes Movie, this exciting take of the Apes mythos sets itself in an era where Apes and Humans are living in a tentative peace in a world where Apes are the ruling class and the working class humans are finding that more and more of their children are being born mute.  Issue five begins a new story arc and BOOM Studios is doing something we rarely see outside an issue zero or issue one debut by giving us a comic priced at only one dollar.  Its just one more reason to try this smartly written and beautifully rendered book.  If you haven’t given it a try nows the time, if your a fan of the Apes mythos I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do.

Flashpoint and The DCNew

“Stop telling yourself how ridiculous it is and start asking yourself if you think its going to work.  That’s why its called a leap of faith, Jack.”
* Ms. Hawking from Lost

After having suffered through August watching DC attempt to wrap everything up to make way for the release of the DCNew we’re finally here.  Flashpoint 5, where everything changes in a Flash!  So nice of the cover to signify this for me, we don’t get enough cover exposition anymore these days.

Now if you’ve been reading my blog, you know my mixed feelings about this DC relaunch, reboot, or whatever DC wants it officially known as.  My feelings where a mix of dread, doubt, excitement and wonder all rolled up in one.  You see, back when DC first attempted a restart of this scale it was durning the Crisis of Infinite Earths and although it had a lot of bumps and errors, the restart did a what it set out to do, bring in new readers and give new life to its characters.  But the story scale was truly epic in Crisis.  Earths were destroyed, long loved characters where either given heart felt send offs or became causalities in the war but left us in a heroic manner truly befitting their histories.  Supergirl, Superman, Wonder Woman and most of all The Flash, who’s selfless sacrifice left us during the Crisis only be be reborn when the last three remaining Universes reformed into one, setting DC on its One Earth, One Universe path that was true up until the last few years with the rebirth of the Multiverse and in my mind, the first steps to this Flashpoint event.

All in all I felt Flashpoint to be nowhere near the scale of Crisis of Infinite Earths.  In Flashpoint 1, we find Barry Allen waking up in a world different then he remembers.  Its a world where his mother is still alive and he never became The Flash.  A world where the Justice League never formed and where the League were friends, in this place of Flashpoint, our heroes are enemies, placing the entire planet in peril as they war among themselves.  Throughout the series Barry works towards regaining his abilities and reforming the Justice League in an attempt to find out what changed the timeline and help set it back on its correct path.

Ok, lets cover the good the bad and the ugly of Flashpoint now that its done.

Although written by one of DC’s best writers, Flashpoint fails to really show any sort of soul until we get to the few good scenes between Flash and his mother or Flash and Thomas Wayne.  When characters start to talk about family and sacrifice we begin to have some sort of soul show in the dialogue, Even in the little scene with the SHAZAM family as they talk about their pizza nights and if they don’t try to stop the superhero war they’ll lose the only good thing they all love.  Sadly, this doesn’t carry the title and in the mist of these few choice scenes we have to suffer though Barry Allen electrocuting himself twice, wonder endlessly on where the Reverse Flash is so he can stop him and finally where they can find Superman because if anyone other then Batman can stop this, Superman on their side would ensure victory.  Of course its a full five issues before we find The Reverse Flash and even see Superman make any sort f meaningful appearance.  Really, for the casual reader, Flashpoint 5 is all they need to read before jumping in on the new DCU because NOTHING happens in the first four issues!  And when things finally do start to happen in issue 5, we’re left seeing that it wasn’t The Reverse Flash who messed up history, it was Barry Allen himself.  Uggg…  So hows it fixed?  Glad you asked, Flash runs back in time and stops himself from doing it in the first place.  This event, along with the appearance of a mysterious woman who’s only job is to tell us readers what the base universes they use to reform this new timeline create the new DC.  Turns out the timelines are Vertigo, Wildstorm and the main DC Universe.  Jim Lee must be thrilled.  The world has been waiting with baited breath for more Wildcats.

So now its all said and done.  Barry Allen, revived from the Speed Force and reintegrated into the DCU turns out the be the cause of the newest world changing event.  Barry Allen, coming full circle and helping rebirth a new DCU, complete with crappy costume updates and stories aimed at a younger audience.  Lets hope it lives up to the hype.  Time for that leap of faith…

Note: It occurs to me that the Flashes classic winged earpieces look more like the nacelles of the Enterprise throughout this series, at least the new earth flash has them looking like wings again.

More Yelling Please

What the comic could have been….

Since I just posted a review on the new Bionic Man comic from Dynamite Comics I felt it would be fun to showcase some of the marketing we had from the television show back in the 70’s.  Experience the pure awesomeness of some of the toys we had as kids.

 

First, one of the villains.  I know I had this guy but for the life of me I forgot he came with these evil attachments.

Of course where we had Steve Austin The Six Million Dollar Man and his accessories like a jet sled, and villains for him to fight.  Jamie Summers had this incredible piece of equipment.