Short Reviews

The third week of the New 52 – the second full schedule – continues the prior pattern of some good, some bad. The overall quality is quite high and even the stuff I don’t like is well produced and professionally done. It’s increasingly clear that the Batman franchise has been almost untouched by the reboot. Batwoman in particular spends it entire first issue catching-up with itself.

Batman and Robin (vol. 2) #1 — The last series was Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne, now its Bruce Wayne and Daiman – father and son. Damian is the same little snot as ever and Bruce is the same hardass, despite allowing himself a smile when going into action with Damian for the first time. However, the situation rapidly falls apart for them. Tomasi is a great writer and he instantly captures the best parts of each character. Gleason’s art is strong and has a Doug Manhke quality that suits this title. — ★★★½.

Batwoman #1 — This one has been a long time in the making, but it is without its original writer. You can tell that Rucka isn’t here, but Williams and Blackman nevertheless do a damn good job. The number of plot points that are touched upon reminds you that this is one of those books that has retained its continuity and just how strong that history has become in only a few years. Great first issue, but the pressure is really on to maintain the quality of the writing without Rucka. The return of Agent Chase gives it that extra .5 score — ★★★★½

Deathstroke (vol. 2) #1 — Slade Wilson is back. Like many books this is a refresh rather than a reboot, but the set-up is quite clever. Deathstroke’s reputation is shot so he’s got to establish himself – major excuse for badass displays. That said, the first issue didn’t quite live up to the hype. It has made us a promise that it will be interesting to see if future issues can deliver. Unfortunately that sword makes him look like something out of a Japanese RPG. — ★★½..

Demon Knights #1 — Shares a certain high concept zing with Frankenstein, but is rather more controlled. Equal parts old and new make for an interesting roster and Neves’s art illustrates them beautifully. I’m a sucker for Arthuriania so I was always going to like this book. I especially like the bit where Xanadu dives off of Arthur’s funeral barge rather than spend the rest of eternity hanging around Avalon. Nice to see the characterization carried over from her Vertigo series. — ★★★★.

Frankenstein Agent of Shade #1 — It’s Frankenstein’s monster, his wife, the Creature Commandos, Ray Palmer is the science advisor, their headquarters is larger on the inside, and their boss has been reincarnated in the body of a small Japanese schoolgirl. The title lies somewhere between Morrison and Abnett/Lanning in terms of ideas. Its brilliant and more than a little bonkers. — ★★★½.

Grifter #1 — I was only previously aware of Wildstorm’s Grifter as a gun toting wise-ass in various inter-company crossovers so this book was quite new for me. The set up of a lone gunman/conman who is the only person to see the aliens could be a strong TV series and the entire thing seems like a setup for a essentialist 1970s/80s TV show. A very solid entertaining story which could go either way as it develops. — ★★★½.

Green Lantern #1 (vol. 5) — Same artist, same writer, and same continuity, but different Lantern. Sinestro is now GL and Hal is out of a job. Nothing was broken with this title so, almost uniquely in this line up, they haven’t tried to fix it. I would liked to have concentrated just on Sinestro, but there is time for that in upcoming issues. — ★★★½.

Legion Lost (vol. 2) #1 — A time lost Legion of Superheroes splinter group has been tried before, but the idea nearly always requires you knowing who the Legion are. That’s true here, but Nicieza works hard to establish the characters and almost gets away with it. Personally I’d like so have seen something a little more fun and less bloody. — ★★★..

Mister Terrific #1 — This has bee completely divorced from the Justice Society and thus is missing the weigh and pathos that made the original Michael Holt an interesting character. He is meant to be the worlds (Third) Smartest Man, but he just sprouts an insane amount of technobabble. This Mister T could be the new DCU’s Doc Savage, but they need to pull back from the dodgy technobabble and ground the main character a little bit more. Oh, and bring back his jacket. — ★★½..

Red Lanterns #1 — Turning this crew into an ongoing book requires writer Peter Milligan to do some deft work repositioning the red as more rage than hate. The result is to turn Atrocities into somebody with a Spectre like agenda. It could work, but this issue spends so long explaining how-it-all works that the reader is still unsure at the end if it actually does. — ★★★..

Resurrection Man (vol. 2) #1 — This is a strange one. Unlike, say Grifter, this is a continuation of the old character rather than a do over. Thus Mitch Shelley is in full possession of his powers and rather than having to explore them. It may make for a steeper learning curve for the new reader, but it allows for a great start and a new take on the forces who don’t like a man who won’t stay dead. Classic Resurrection Man — ★★★½.

Suicide Squad (vol. 3) #1 — DC has done some really good villain books in its time, but this isn’t one of them. I know a book called Suicide isn’t going to be light and fluffy, but this is just shallow and nasty. — ★★...

Superboy (vol. 5) #1 — Superboy’s secret origin was recently revisited in the Young Justice cartoon so the template of this story is still fresh in people’s minds. Where Lobdell departs from the original is to have the Superboy reach full term before awakening. He isn’t rescued and is willingly working for his shady creators. It’s a fresh twist that is able assisted by Silva’s clean and expressive artwork. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the new Teen Titans franchise, bit this is a good start. — ★★★½.

I’ve thought the dividing line of 3 and 3.5 was probably where I’d draw the line on by final pull list, but its hard to tell just from these single issues. Red Lanterns, Legion Lost, and Grifter could all have been above or below that divide.

What strikes me immediately about this week’s offerings is how diverse and strong the art is on these books. Morales on Action invokes that a Firstwave look and Oliver on Batwing goes for a distinctive painted look. However, a lot of the books felt like they’re playing it safe. The scripts are solid, the art is good, but I’m concerned that so few of the are truly compelling.

Action Comics (vol. 2) #1 — A surprisingly timeless story, not an origin of the character so much as an origin of his classic status quo. Strong well matched art by Morales and a refreshingly paired back script by Morrison. Leaving out flight means this is one grounded Superman which actually works. — ★★★★½

Animal Man (vol. 2) #1 — Opens with a striking interview that acknowledges Buddy’s past and new position as a hipster icon, but it swiftly twists into a rock solid old school Vertigo horror tale. Nice use of colour in the dream sequence. — ★★★..

Batgirl (vol. 4) #1 — Keeps continuity with the Killing Joke and Oracle, but Barbara’s return to Batgirl after that juncture gives a fresh feeling. She’s back, but not without baggage and not yet at the top of her game. Simone’s script is packed, but never heavy and Syaf’s art keeps pace with it. I’m not sure I like the over busy costume, but the purple is a nice touch. — ★★★★.

Batwing #1 — Winick plays his trademark games with order and pacing, but holds off on the broad banter/humour that’s often a signature of his work. This new character, one of the few new properties in the 52, is a more serious affair and hints at a larger African tapesty that hasn’t really been explored before. — ★★★..

Detective Comics (vol. 2) #1 — Bruce Wayne is back as Batman and he’s hunting the Joker again. Tony Daniel has really upped his game for this issue and brings a suitable level of mystery to the detective title. The episode wraps nicely in one issue, but exits with one of the creepiest images we’ve possibly ever seen from the Joker. Gotham once again feels oppressive. — ★★★★.

Green Arrow (vol. 6) #1 — Krul’s script leaves behind the fourty-something Arrow of yore and gives us a character closer to Smallville’s twenty-something archer mixed with a hint of Tony Stark and a dash of Steve Jobs. This is potentially the most traditional superhero fare in this week’s batch of DC titles and that feeling is heightened by Dan Jurgens classic pencils. The result is polished and entertaining, but it potentially lacks the heart and weight of old school Oliver Queen.  — ★★★..

Hawk and Dove (vol. 3) #1  — The twin avatars of War and Peace are one of DC’s hardest properties to get right without descending into parody of one or both of the world views. There is baggage here with Dawn’s relationship with Deadman, Brightest Day era captions, and references to Don Hall. Is it just Rob Liefeld’s art alone that makes this feel like a 1990s title or is Sterling Gates slipping into pastiche? — ★★...

Justice League International (vol. 3) #1 — The measure of a JLI comic is in its pacing and dialogue. JLI v1 had it, Generation Lost had it, but this volume doesn’t quite hit the mark. I’ll post a fuller review on this one went I get the chance. However I do think this will be one of the books that is going to take a while to get into its stride. — ★★★..

Men of War (vol. 2) #1 — I was surprised by this title as I wasn’t expecting to like a war book. However, the lead feature by Brandon and Derenick is well written and captures some of the old Sgt Rock. I’m not sure if mixing in super-humans is wise, but we’ll see how that plays out. The second feature by Vankin and Winslade was more grounded in reality, but didn’t feel as compelling as the lead. — Lead: ★★★½.; back-up: ★★★..

O.M.A.C. (vol. 3) #1 — I think Didio and Giffen may have found their perfect title. I wasn’t a fan of their Outsiders work, but this book mixes the quirkiness of Giffen’s Doom Patrol with a liberal dose of Kirby. Plus the Cadmus Project and Dubbilex make a welcome return. I hope people give this book a chance as it made me grin like a fool. — ★★★½.

Static Shock #1 — Static is a character that I only really knew from his cartoon, but I must say that his high IQ and tendency to narrate his superpowered feats do feel at home in the DCU. Milestone fans will be glad that Dakota is referenced and Hardware features so prominently. McDaniel’s bold art style fits the tone of the title, but I felt that there was a lot to take in for a first issue. They may also have to lighten up on the techbabble.  — ★★★..

Stormwatch #1 — Stormwatch is an odd collision of DC and Wildstorm and Torchwood. I was pleased by the reference to the Martian Manhunter having been a Justice League member and Midnighters introduction was suitable showy. Ideas whisked past almost as quickly as in Knight and Squire. You get the feeling that Stormwatch could be a cornerstone book in terms of grand plans for the new DCU and naming the first arc “the dark side” is just asking for assumptions to be made about where that plan is heading. — ★★★½.

Swamp Thing (vol. 5) #1 — A beautifully draw book that seeks to continue the storyline from Brightest Day. The superhero connection is maintained with a guest appearance from Superman who is checking up David Banner’s flight from this monstrous green alter ego. Sorry did I say David Banner, I meant Alex Holland. I like the setup, but I’m unsure at what point this becomes a Swamp Thing story and not an Alex Holland story. — ★★★★.

Personally, if I had narrow down which books to keep on my pull list, I’d draw a line at the 3.5/5 boundary. That leaves Action, Batgirl, Detective, OMAC, Stormwatch, and Swamp Thing. I’d also add in JLI just because this is a Justice League blog and I think it shows real potential. However, I’m down as with my LCS as getting the first three months so we’ll see how these book play out in later issues.