Category: Comics

After two weeks of “The New 52”, I’m thoroughly addicted to the rebooted DC Universe. In fact, I picked up more comics this week than the previous two weeks. This time around I’ll be sharing my opinions on the first issues of Batman, Catwoman, Green Lantern Corps, Legion of Super-Heroes, Nightwing, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Supergirls, and Wonder Woman. Let’s get to it! (Minor spoilers ahead.)

Batman #1: This was easily the most complete book of the week. Greg Capullo’s art was fantastic. Scott Snyder’s writing was sharp. It worked as a standalone issue and the first chapter of a story arc. Snyder did a great job at portraying how Batman and Bruce Wayne try to serve Gotham in very different ways. Great stuff all around!

As a Nightwing mark, it was cool to see him make an appearance in this issue. Hell, it was cool to see some of Batman’s other “sons” (Tim Drake, Damian Wayne). My one minor criticism is that the Bat-tech is way out of hand. Yes, Batman has cool and technologically advanced gadgets, but he’s best as a ruthless hero with unmatched detective skills and a strategic mind that’s second to none. Using E.M.P. masks and contact lenses that can remotely access supercomputers takes away from that. Having said that, this is a great comic book.

Catwoman #1: I wasn’t planning to pick up this book, but then I saw that Judd Winick was writing it. I really dig his stuff from Green Lantern, The Outsiders, Titans, Batman, etc. He’s great at getting people to care about his characters and his books always have a fun vibe. Catwoman definitely shows off his strengths. Winick made the character cool and fun, but also vulnerable enough that you feel for her. Guillem March’s did a fantastic job at complementing Winick’s vibe by using a style with slick action and slight exaggeration.

The first issue of the book wasn’t as strong a standalone as Batman, but it was good for setting up the vibe of Winick’s version of Selina Kyle both in and out of the costume. The cliffhanger isn’t a traditional one, but it completely works. Instead of wondering what happens to Catwoman as she’s left in a life-threatening position, readers can look forward to issue #2 revealing what pillow talk between Batman and Catwoman is like the morning after.

Green Lantern Corps #1: Wow. The first few pages of the book were shocking. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all. Green Lantern action usually consists of big space explosions, elaborate energy constructs, and giant green boxing gloves. I was stunned by the brutality that kicked off this book. I definitely wasn’t expecting one character to get decapitated and another sliced in half. I suppose that’s the peril of being a nameless member of the GLC. It’s like being a nameless ensign that gets beamed down for a mission with Captain Kirk.

Meanwhile back on Earth, it was fun watching Guy Gardner and John Stewart try to work civilian jobs. Not having secret identities can be bad for leading a normal life. After both their ventures failed, it was time for them to resume being space cops…and they found one helluva case to solve. I’m intrigued by the mystery assailant. He hasn’t shown his face yet, but he’s proven to be brutal, cruel, twisted, and powerful. I’m anxious to see how the showdown develops!

Legion of Super-Heroes #1: This book is definitely not for everyone. Legion gets a bit wacky for most mainstream readers and there are too many characters to keep track of. That said, I’ve always enjoyed Legion, particularly Mark Waid’s version. I love the wide variety of characters. I think Durlans and Daxamites are cool. 31st-century slang amuses me (sprock it all to hell!!!). With that in mind, I enjoyed this book and am on the hook for at least a few more issues.

That said, this book will definitely be confusing to newcomers and those only vaguely familiar with Legion. Unless you can name 10 Legionnaires off the top of your head, the basic plot will get drowned out by the large cast. Additionally, there are also several new recruits and I found myself flipping back so I could get their powers straight. I can’t imagine going into this book blindly. It’s way too overwhelming and weird. If you’re not a Legion fan then I can’t recommend this book.

Nightwing #1: Most of you know that I’m a Nightwing homer. Of course I loved this book! It had Dick’s excellent acrobatic skills, a brush with his Circus-life past, a new villain, and new lady to further establish him as the biggest man-whore in the DC Universe. It was a strong start to what will definitely be one of my favorite series.

What was unusual about this book is that it wasn’t quite optimized for tablet reading. There were a few two-page spreads that featured a lot of small, diagonal panels. These spreads definitely work better for a physical comic book than a digital one. Everything I’ve read from the first two weeks of The New 52 looked perfect on my iPad 2. This was the first book with some awkward pages. Still…it’s Nightwing. He’s awesome.

Red Hood and the Outlaws: This was another book that I knew I was going to love. Tweener heroes — former sidekicks that aren’t yet the primary heroes — are my favorites.Ex-Robin Jason Todd is one of the most fascinating characters in the DCU. The same goes for former Green Arrow sidekick Arsenal. I’ve always had a crush on Starfire; aliens with golden skin and glowing green eyes are hot. This book had nice action, great humor, and sharp dialogue.

There were two things that bugged me about this issue. Similar to Nightwing, it had those diagonal panels that don’t work well on a tablet. I’m also not sure what to make of the new version of Starfire. Hopefully there’s something wrong with her or her sister is taking her place, because her characterization is weird. She’s being written as a sexually aggressive Tamaranian princess with no long-term memory. While it would be awesome to meet one of those in real life, she’s so different from the Koriand’r I’ve enjoyed over the years.

Supergirl #1: This was another book I was on the fence about. I’m not sure what pushed my over, but I’m glad I picked it up. It starts with Kara Zor-El crash landing on Earth. She has no idea where she is, doesn’t speak the language, holds no currency, and finds herself under attack. I enjoyed watching her deal with a crazy situation and discover that Earth’s yellow sun gives her powers.

Part of the reason I’m interested to see where this book goes is because the new Supergirl will help define the new Superman. Kal-El appears on the last page and it’s a killer hook for the next issue. I definitely want to find out what he knows about Kara and how she deals with him. What is their relationship going to be like? How the hell does Kal know how to speak Kryptonian? Why are they wearing traditional Kryptonian graduation outfits for superhero adventures?

Wonder Woman #1: I wasn’t looking forward to this issue, but felt obligated to pick it up. After all, Wonder Woman is one of the three pillars of the DCU along with Batman and Superman. When I found out that Brian Azzarello was writing it, I did a total 180. He’s a fantastically edgy writer and his first issue of Wonder Woman was boss.

Wonder Woman feels fresh again. It mixes Greek mythology with a modern, somewhat occult, twist. The art was really striking and surprisingly violent. Seeing a horse get decapitated, watching a god take an arrow in the gut, and seeing a Marilyn Manson-like take on centaurs really stuck in my head. Cliff Chiang’s art is very unique and stands out, but Azzarello’s edgy take on Wonder Woman is cool and I’m really looking forward to more.

My coverage of DC Comics “The New 52” continues! This week I picked up five comic books from DC’s universe-wide reboot: Green Lantern, Batman & Robin, Deathstroke, Grifter, and Mr. Terrific. Were these relaunches exciting and new (like Love Boat)? Or did they stray too far from the source material. Read on and find out! (Minor spoilers ahead.)

Green Lantern #1: Hal Jordan has been stripped of his power ring! Sinestro is now wielding it! That was a helluva cliffhanger at the end of the last GL series and a fantastic way to kick off this book. I really, really enjoyed watching both characters adjust to their new lives. Sinestro is unsure what to make of the Guardians of the Universe allowing him to serve in the Green Lantern Corps and has a most interesting confrontation with a member of the Sinestro Corps. Hal pretty much sucks as a civilian. He misinterprets a situation and tries to save a girl, but ends up in the slammer. His longtime on-again off-again girlfriend Carol Ferris thinks she’s getting a marriage proposal…but Hal asks her to co-sign a car lease with him. Bwahahahaha!!!

This was a fantstic start to what’s surely going to be a great book. More importantly, the strong writing and great art help erase that crap Green Lantern movie from my mind.

Batman and Robin #1: While Bruce Wayne was off traveling in time during a nonsensical Grant Morrison adventure, his sociopath of a son Damian (the latest Robin) was wreaking havoc with the rest of the “Bat Family”. I loved watching Damian interact with Nightwing and Red Robin. While this book was very good, the dynamic between father and son just isn’t there yet. It was more interesting watching Dick Grayson’s Batman interact with Robin. The father-and-son relationship doesn’t feel distinct. Damian acts like the annoying dick he has always been. Bruce comes off as being too soft and giving his son too long a leash. I suppose it’s tough being a single father that doubles as a vigilante. Then again, perhaps it just feels old. I’ve watched Bruce raise Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake. Hmmm, perhaps this makes Damian Problem Child.

As for as this particular storyline, I’m intrigued by the new villain and love how Bruce is changing the way he honors his parents. I see myself enjoying the rest of this run, but also getting annoyed at Bruce for not chucking a batarang at his son.

Deathstroke #1: This book begins with, “Deathstroke the Terminator–the scariest badass on the planet.” And that’s precisely what Slade Wilson is. He’s clearly a bad guy, but he’s so cool, calculating, harsh, and brutal that he’s fascinating. It was awesome watching him kick ass in this book. It was also awesome watching him work with upstart youngsters in the mercenary business. The book ended with people questioning whether Deathstroke still has the goods. That opens things up for all sorts of exciting possibilities…but I have to question the sanity of anyone that doubts Deathstroke. Just look at the panel below to see how wicked he is.

Objectively, this was probably my favorite book of the week (but I’m too much of a Green Lantern mark to really accept this). The writing, action, art, and dialogue were fantastic.

Grifter #1: Cole Cash was always my favorite member of the original WildC.A.T.s., so I thought I’d give his book a shot. It had some interesting panels, but there was too much setup and not enough of what makes Grifter cool. The plot has Grif captured by aliens and subjected to a malicious process. Before the procedure can be completed, he breaks out. The good news is that he can now detect the aliens. The bad news is that he constantly hears their voices in his head (which makes him the Randy Orton of the DC Universe). The worse news is that he’s the only human that can see the aliens; while he’s trying to kill the baddies, the rest of the world thinks he’s a murdering psychopath. The worst news is that the government has sent his brother in Spec-Ops, Max Cash, to bring him down.

Although I was mildly disappointed in this book, I’m probably going to give it another few issues. I love the Grifter character and hope there will be some cameos by other Cats in the future. Majestros and Zealot are cool.

Mister Terrific #1: The Michael Holt version of Mister Terrific was a wonderful modernization of one of DC’s most dated characters. This book makes him even more current. I love where writer Eric Wallace is going with this. Mister Terrific blends superhero action, one of DCU’s most eligible bachelors, and crazy science that almost seems mystical. It was fun jumping from Mister Terrific pounding a baddie to Michael Holt talking science to having a morning-after conversation with Karen Starr (Power Girl) to hosting a political fundraiser. It would be easy to dismiss Holt as an African-American Tony Stark, but he has a much different feel. So much of Mister Terrific is rooted in tragedy. Losing his wife at a young age impacts the lives of Michael Holt super scientist and Michael Holt as Mister Terrific.

If you’re going to take a chance on a character that hasn’t gone solo then I suggest Mister Terrific. Despite the goofy name and having the words “Fair” and “Play” tattooed on his arms, this is a cool book with a lot of soul (and no, I’m not saying that because he’s black!).

I picked up six issues of DC Comics’ “New 52” universe-wide reboot. I enjoyed the initial kick-off, Justice League #1, and was anxious to see what other changes would be made to the DCU. The six books I picked up on my iPad 2 (via the outstanding Comixology) were Action Comics #1, Animal Man #1, Batgirl #1, Detective Comics #1, Green Arrow #1, and Justice League International #1. Here are some random thoughts (not a review) on these six comic books. Light spoilers ahead!

Action Comics #1: I’m more of a story guy than an art guy, but I was totally captivated by Rags Morales’ artwork in this book. Grant Morrison’s writing is really hit or miss for me. He can be brilliant (New X-Men, Justice League) and he can be all over the place (Final Crisis, Batman R.I.P.). Action Comics is definitely the “good” Morrison. It’s a fresh take on a young Superman that’s just starting out. While Superman’s character development is going to take a few issues, the new Lex Luthor came off as a bad-ass through a handful of pages. There have been some awesome portrayals of Luthor over the years and I have a feeling that Morrison’s new Luthor will be one of the best ever.

Animal Man #1: This was one of my two favorite updates from this week’s batch. I absolutely love what Jeff Lemire is doing with this character. Animal Man is a reluctant, semi-retired superhero that’s trying to balance marriage, raising kids, being a superhero, and being a celebrity. Making AM a hero to liberals is a fresh and modern twist given the political climate in America today. I can totally see him being interviewed on The Rachel Maddow Show or being a frequent commentator on Morning Joe. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Animal Man juggles all of his responsibilities with his wants. Hmmmm, perhaps I’m projecting.

Batgirl #1: Gail Simone is one of my favorite writers (very underrated) and Adam Hughes is one of the best cover artists of all time. Also, redheads that can beat you up are sexy as hell. With that in mind, I knew I’d enjoy the new Batgirl. I’m completely lost as to how Barbara Gordon went from the wheelchair-bound Oracle back to the dynamic Batgirl, but I can’t wait to find out. I really enjoyed Babs’ inner monologue — her self doubt and flashbacks to getting shot in the spine by the Joker gave her an endearing sense of vulnerability. Plus…red hair and spandex!

Detective Comics #1: This was a good, but not great, start for the new Detective Comics. That said, I can see the first issue setting up a great arc. I loved the gritty feel of this book. Even though he’s the hero, I felt a little bit scared of Batman. The Joker felt revoltingly evil. It was cool seeing Batman’s relationship with the Gotham P.D. and how Jim Gordon seems to be coy about their  one-on-one dealings (despite his giant Bat Signal). This single issue didn’t blow me away, but I’m pretty sure the entire arc will.

Green Arrow #1: Similar to Animal Man, I love this modernization of Green Arrow. Imagine a young Steve Jobs that uses his technological prowess and connections to fight crime — that’s Green Arrow! He’s definitely similar to Marvel’s Tony Stark/Iron Man, but writer J.T. Krul is making the character and tech easier for real people to identify with. For example, Green Arrow’s alter ego Oliver Queen is the founder of Queen Industries, makers of the hugely popular Q-Phone and Q-Pad. *snicker* I’m really digging this fresh, modern, and relevant take on Green Arrow. I’m also pleased that the new version is not sporting that ridiculous Errol Flynn mustache.

Justice League International #1: This was the only book that disappointed me. It was definitely fun and entertaining, but I was expecting more. The original JLI is my favorite series of all time. While I knew this book wasn’t going to be all “Bwahahahaha!!!” and Martian Manhunter addicted to Oreos, I just wanted…something better. This is more of a straightforward action book featuring B- and C-listers. It’s fun and I dig the international aspect of JLI (it’s great watching Russia’s Rocket Red and China’s August General in Iron interact). I’m also intrigued by the horny nature of Britain’s Lady Godiva. I’m definitely going to keep reading this series and I’m sure that I’ll enjoy it in the long run, but I sincerely doubt I’ll love it as much as the original JLI.