The New 52 Pick-Up: Week Five! Superman! Teen Titans! The Flash!
We did it, everybody!!! We launched a new universe! And at least a quarter of it is really, really cool! This week we met the new Superman (same as the old Superman). We saw the rise of a bright new writer in superstar artist Francis Manapul on The Flash and dark new arm of the Justice League that’s every bit as Vertigo angsty as Stormwatch is Wildstorm extreme. Plus we found out that Geoff Johns promise for an awesome, epic new reinvigoration of Aquaman was not just a hilarious joke cooked up during a Drambuie and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. trade-fueled bender. Be on the lookout next week for our final thoughts on DC’s grand experiment as well as what books we’re sticking with in the upcoming months.
But for now, let’s see if the Distinguished Competition stuck the landing:
Superman
Frank Angones- Geekscape Managing Editor
So we’ve been waiting around all month to get some insight into current day Superman; not JLA Superman, not angry young teenage Superman, but status quo Superman. And guess what. He feels just like Superman. We shouldn’t be too surprised, as this book comes from the pen of George Perez, who’s about as old school as you can get in the DCU these days; he remembers the LAST linewide reboot.
If Morrison’s Action Comics is set up to be the “big idea” book, the Ultimate Spider-Man of Superman comics, then this book looks to be the status quo book. You got Clark, Lois, Jimmy, Perry White, and the Daily Planet, although a Daily Planet in transition towards being a new media conglomerate under the watchful eye of Morgan Edge, formerly of Intergang fame. For everyone worried about the be-jeaned social crusader puttering around in that other Superman book, here we have the seeming return of the omnipotent, flying, Big Blue Boy Scout who saves Metropolis by lifting increasingly heavy objects and chucking them into space. The more things change, huh?
I’m glad this book is around to help flesh out the world and the DCU as a whole. George Perez has always known how to cram a ton of story into a single book, and this is no exception. Other writers would have been content to, say, introduce Lois’ new role as head of the Planet’s new broadcasting arm and be done with it. This book introduces that, shows us her entire first big story, the aftermath of that story, and introduces her new boytoy ALL IN ONE ISSUE, “writing for the trade” be damned. And I’m damned well happy to have it. This is a book that gives you your money’s worth in terms of story, action (albeit with a somewhat generic fire monster), world-building, character establishment, and a SELF-CONTAINED STORY! Heaven forfend! The artwork, with layouts by Perez and finishes by Jesus Merino is dynamic, iconic, and expressive, even if Superman’s age sometimes seems to fluctuate between 18 and 35. I’ll admit, I was definitely ready to dismiss this as the disposable Superman book, but in a linewide relaunch that sees four separate Batman books that offer up pretty much the same flavor to varying degrees of quality, this Super-fan is glad to have two Superman books that are entirely distinct yet both wholly enjoyable.
Batman: The Dark Knight
Jonathan London- Foolishly Left Frank in Charge While He’s Out of Town
I’m a fan of David Finch’s art. I didn’t think this was a point of contention until I started to realize that people aren’t fans of his work. To me, he’s what Rob Liefeld’s art aspires to be, as if Rob spent a year having Jim Lee beat on him with his own Jim Lee style. I was even a fan of the short, David Finch drawn and scripted, pre-DCnU Dark Knight book that preceded this Batman: Dark Knight title (which is not a continuation).
Paul Jenkins scripts the book now with the two co-plotting and I think it’s for the better. Even though some of the writing can feel almost Frank Miller-heavy, it feels tighter than Finch’s solo work. The issue gets right to the dichotomy of Bruce Wayne and Batman with the introduction of a Gotham P.D. internal affairs agent named Forbes investigating Wayne’s possible founding of the vigilante Batman and a possible romantic interest in the self-assured Jaina Hudson, whose father had history with Bruce’s father.
Really, the reason to get this book hinges on whether or not your a fan of Finch’s art. There’s a solid splash page of a few rogues escaping from Arkham, featuring Clayface and Mr. Freeze. Is this the same Arkham escape that ties into the Batman book from last week that also featured escaped inmates? It’d be bad for Arkham’s rep if it wasn’t but are the DC titles that tied together at this point? It’d be nice if they were. Also, the introduction to the DCnU’s Two-Face is something you’ll want to pick the book up for if only to say “wait, did they really just take a major plot point from the game Arkham Asylum and attribute it to Harvey Dent?” I’ll at least wait until next month before making a final decision on the book. I like the artwork a lot but it’ll take more than that to justify buying this many Batbooks a month.
Aquaman
Daniel Campozano- Thinks This Frank Guy Has Some Bright Ideas
Disclaimer: I’ve never read anything Aquaman, at all. I’ve seen him here and there in older JLA books, but nothing that fleshed him out as a character. Just a body.
Geoff Johns perfectly handled a reintroduction to the character, and even poked fun at the misconceptions of his lame powers, which are far from lame. But what I’ve heard was that he’s been powered up, but who cares? It’s the DCnU. We see Arthur wanting to give up his mantle of king of Atlantis and get down and dirty with the humans and enjoy some fish and chips, lol. While Arthur makes his choice of being on land with Mera we see a new threat is coming up from the depths of the ocean. I’m definitely going to follow this book through at least the first arc. Art wise this book was beautiful, but I’m partial towards Ivan Reis art.
Frank Angones- Is Currently Measuring Jonathan’s Office to Have An F-Shaped Desk Put In
Geoff Johns’ Aquaman reboot seems to have a lot in common with Geoff Johns’ Booster Gold reboot. Once again, Johns has taken a character that was widely considered a joke and sought to humanize/ennoble/embiggen him. Trouble here is Booster was considered a laughingstock in DCU continuity. Aquaman was only the subject of derision to a mass media who finds the irresistible combination of orange scaly shirts and hanging out with mackerel to be hilarious. In the DCU, though, he was always seen as the fearsome and mighty defender of the seas. Hell, a month ago he was the most dangerous threat facing the entire European continent, albeit a Flashpointy one. While Johns makes it a point to specify that Aquaman is in fact incredibly capable and that the misconceptions about his lameitude are strictly limited to ill-informed cops and slack-jawed hecklers, I’m sure this new approach can’t be going over too well with the tried and true Arthur Curry fans.
Having always preferred the silly superfriend to the drop-dead serious harpoon-hand of the recent books, though, I have to say I really enjoyed Johns’ take here. He can have a light touch when he wants to, and at his best, he can balance humor with pathos to result in a really impactful and engaging narrative. The unbelievably gorgeous art by Ivan Reis doesn’t hurt either; if you want to make a fishy dolphin rider seem like a badass, show him an armored car over with a fucking trident. All in all, it looks like Johns is looking to make the relaunched Aquaman book a rip-roaring redemption story. Only problem is it might not appeal much to the readers who think he doesn’t need redeeming.
Rachel Vine- Has Never Read This Or Any Other Comic
(This is what Rachel believed this book was about based on the cover. It was too adorable not to include.)
Aquaman is a watery sort. He wears a facemask and is friends with the Snorks. He lives in a pineapple under the sea. He hordes lots of human items and hides them from his tyrannical father. Oddly enough, he has a cat who loves to swim. One night he was swimming, and Tom Hanks CAUGHT HIM using a JUMBO SPEAR. But the spear couldn’t penetrate his rubbery suit. But it did get entangled in his long flowing locks. He inspired a third wave ska band called the Aquabats, and his archnemesis is… Fireboy? Also, he’s always a little bit chilly. And he envies the land dwellers for their smooth hands. He always has raisin fingers. Years ago, someone tried to flush his kitten down a toilet and succeeded. It made its way through the pipes where, due to the high level of toxins, it developed the ability to breathe underwater. Aquaman calls him Gilneck. And that was the story of Aquacat.
Note: Rachel has a 37-arc story bible written up for Gilneck The Aquacat. CALL HER, DC!
The Flash
Mark Bovenzi- Could Be Swayed to Frank’s Cause, If the Price Were Right
I have always loved The Flash character, from all the different incarnations from Jay Garrick in the Justice Society of America, to Barry Allen and Wally West (Impulse we don’t speak of). But he’s always been one of my favorites and as soon as Geoff Johns took the book over with Flash #164 in 2000 i was hooked for life. The character has had his ups and downs but one constant: we always had for a good stretch of years was Geoff Johns writing the character. When DC announced the creative team for the new Flash book i thought, Francis Manapul, the guy who drew a fantastic run on the book is going to be writing and drawing? Well, this should be interesting to say the least, and let’s just say that Francis delivered and completely blew me away. Geoff who? It really felt like with Francis’ writing and with the help of Brian Buccellato, this is the book that we all wished had kept going before Flashpoint. I would also like to throw it out there that i did not read Flashpoint, so if i seem to skip over any of the events in Flashpoint in regards to The Flash, please excuse me. The book begins with Barry and Patty at what seems to be a science exhibit or fundraiser and the party comes to a screeching halt when it is crashed by a group of mercenaries. Barry sneaks away to change into The Flash and fights them off. The real shocker of this story is that one of mercenaries who was killed upon taking off his mask, is revealed to be one of Barry’s old college friends Manuel. After some research and flashblack sequences Manuel finds Barry asking him to help run away. I won’t spoil the end but it’s interesting and I’m very interested to see where it will be going.
The main highlight of this book was the art. Manapul has this style that’s hard to put my finger on; it has a lot of Manga influence in there. But what works the best for him is the colorist. His art looks very watercolorish and just blends so well with the book. Along with his panel layouts, this is some of the best use of a page and panels i have seen in so long. It’s one of the reasons why i loved his and Johns run so much (although i do miss Scott Kolins). I cannot recommend this book enough. Next to Animal Man, this was my favorite DC Relaunch book. Will i continue to pick it up? Absolutely.
The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men
Scott Alminiana- Has Started Making Sandwiches for the Pro-Frank/Anti-Jonathan Rally
Just like the title states, there is fury to be found in this book, and it was caused by having spent $2.99 on it! Writers Gail Simone and Ethan Van Sciver are usually brilliant, but this time around, I just didn’t care for their flavor of Kool-aid.
The art from Yildiray Cinar felt haphazardly thrown together and rushed, although he does draw a decent Firestorm. Well, technically in this issue, he draws 3 decent Firestorms, but I won’t get into that. There was one scene that particularly bothered me. In it, we see a high school football team practicing on the field, but the players are oddly proportioned in comparison to the field. It’s as if they were giants practicing on a field made for The Lollipop Guild. It irked me to no end.
As for the story, it felt like some crappy pilot episode you’d find on The CW. It has your typical, melodramatic, high school setting with characters that are in no way, shape, or form fresh and original. For example, you have Ronnie Raymond, who is your generic, misunderstood star quarterback with a heart of gold. Then you have Jason Rusch, who is more of the nerdy type, also with a heart of gold, and happens to be in possession of a Firestorm Matrix. There’s an international conspiracy afoot and these two students somehow get pulled into it. Once the bad guys show up, it’s time for some Firestorm action…if your idea of action is an adolescent meltdown. Instead we are left scratching our heads asking, “What exactly is going on, and how did this book even get made in the first place?” Maybe this was meant to be a replacement for Smallville? That would have actually made more sense.
Sadly, I will not be checking out the next issue. If you read this issue and dislike it, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
The Savage Hawkman
Scott Alminiana- Almost Can’t Remember the Horrible Days When Jonathan Still Ran Things
This is the type of first issue that I’m talking about! Writer Tony S. Daniel and artist Philip Tan hit it out of the park with this one. This is a true #1 and a perfect introduction to Carter Hall, better known as Hawkman.
Tony S. Daniel does a fantastic job of laying the groundwork for the future of Hawkman and the direction of the book. This issue was like Indiana Jones to the Nth degree (get it? Oh, just read the book already!). The story starts off with Carter Hall attempting to destroy the Hawkman armor only to have it blow up in his face, literally. From there the story switches gears and introduces the supporting characters and the archeological aspect of the book as well as a creepy new villain for Hawkman to face. The last panel is truly a cliffhanger and left me anxious to read the next issue. If this series is going to be Indiana Jones with wings and a bad ass, yet slightly bondage inspired costume, then sign me up!
Philip Tan also does an impressive job with his slightly gritty artwork. He’s a perfect fit for the book and his art helps convey who Hawkman is as a character, as well as helping to set the mood and tone of the series.
The Savage Hawkman is firing on all cylinders and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Check it out. If you don’t dig it, then you’ve got problems. That is all.
Voodoo
Heidi Hilliker- Eagerly Supports Our Glorious New Leader
Well, I now know which title I won’t be picking up an issue #2 of. Listen, I’m perfectly keen on the idea of blatant sexual exploitation of women…men…whoever, but I just think this whole stripper/alien scenario is so dated and boring. I never read the WildStorm series but when I looked up the history of the “Voodoo” title I found that it originated in 1992. Boy does this idea reek of the early 90s. I mean I like the movie Species but I don’t have any desire to watch it again or any of its direct-to-video sequels. I will say this about Voodoo, all of the artwork (pencils, inks and colors) is gorgeous! That alone made watching Priscilla’s exotic dance routine for the first 5 pages of the book worth it. Turns out that I have very little to say about this book. That is probably because it made me feel very little. I reviewed 5 of the New 52 titles this month and this is really the only one I won’t spend money on next month. All and all, I think those are pretty impressive statistics. Get it, DC!?
I, Vampire
Eugene Ramos- Viva Tomorrow! Viva Frank Angones!
At first glance, “I, Vampire” seems like an odd choice for a new 52 reboot. After all, fan favorites like the JSA, Power Girl, and Zatanna didn’t get books of their own. There also wasn’t much clamor for an “I, Vampire” re-launch. And its announcement was greeted more with head scratching than with fist pumps. But I do understand DC’s (and Warner’s) desire to have a vampire series as a part of the new 52. Vampires these days do buco bucks.
I have to admit that I’m not very familiar with the “I, Vampire” stories created by J.M. DeMatteis and Tim Sutton for the horror anthology “House of Mystery” in the early ‘80s. So unfortunately I don’t have much of a point of comparison. But since it appears that most current readers are also unfamiliar with the original, I think it’s fair to approach the reboot without making overt comparisons to the ‘80s version. (So I won’t be nitpicking over why Mary’s costume – or lack thereof – is different from her original one).
“I, Vampire” – given its origins in the “House of Mystery” – feels like a better fit for Vertigo, and I wondered just how vampires would fit in the new DC universe. Heck, the first page begins in what appears to be a post-Apocalyptic Boston that’s been overrun by vampires. So I assumed “I, Vampire” had its own, separate continuity.
The opening story in Boston intercuts with a flashback to a conversation between Andrew – the vampire hero driven by good intentions – and Mary – Andrew’s lover, progeny, and series antagonist. It’s a wonderful juxtaposition. In the past Mary tries to convince Andrew to join her in her quest to usher in a vampire takeover of the world. Andrew wants nothing to do with her plan. He simply wants to cure her. In the present Andrew has failed and the vampires have seemingly won.
But something weird happens in the middle of the issue. In the midst of the flashback, Andrew tells Mary, “And you think you and your ‘army’ stand a chance against Superman and a half-dozen Green Lanterns and Wonder Woman and –.” The line completely took me out of the story. I was perfectly happy reading a comic book about a vampire Apocalypse and our hero’s journey to make things right. Why get Superman involved? However, that potentially story-wrecking moment also offers up an intriguing mystery. How (and where) does this series fit in with the other 51 reboots? How did the vampires take over the world … or at least Boston?
I have to say I enjoyed the first issue of “I, Vampire” very much, more so than the few DC titles I’ve picked up over the last month. Joshua Hale Fialkov’s script is well written, giving us more than enough story to justify the $3 price tag and leaving us with a mystery that will keep many coming back for more. Andrea Sorrentino’s art is beautiful and appropriately moody. It reminds me of Jae Lee’s wonderful work on Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower.” Plus, there are no sparkly vampires. Just good, old-fashioned vampires who can transform into wolves and bats and who want to do very bad things. This is a series I can follow for awhile … at least until Superman shows up and ruins things.
All-Star Western
Frank Angones- Is Drunk With Power. And Drambuie.
One of the great things about DC editorial’s opening salvo on this relaunch has been their surprising willingness to go with some more unconventional concepts (although they also greenlit a Hawk and Dove book by Rob Liefeld, so…) All-Star Western looks to be a continuation of Gray and Palmiotti’s excellent run on Jonah Hex, a book that stood out for it’s gritty, pulpy Spaghetti Western feel and typically done-in-one storylines. Looks like they’re trading that in for a more expansive mystery as Jonah Hex teams up with Dr. Amadeus Arkham- who looks a lot like Vincent Price- to solve a serial killer (killers?) stalking the streets of 1800s Gotham City.
The whole thing has a sort of Clint Eastwood meets Sherlock Holmes Victorian vibe, with Arkham providing probing and shockingly elegant analysis of the marauding bounty hunter. I usually cringe at “psych evals” in comics as they usually read as terribly superficial, but Gray and Palmiotti make it sing thanks to a distinct voice that sounds positively Dickensian. They also incorporate several elements of DC continuity- I’m happy to see Mayor Cobblepot and the notorious Gates family from Scott Snyder’s excellent Gates of Gotham mini this year survived the Flashpoint leap.
I have to make particular mention of Moritat’s artwork on this book. His broad outlines and stylized, almost caricature work here may turn off some folks looking for a more “realistic” approach to the material, but the whole thing really clicks for me. It’s reminiscent of the kinds of poster artwork one would find in that period that helps sell the overall vibe. There’s one particularly beautifully rendered panel of Hex and Arkham at a Gotham saloon that looks like it could be an advertisement for the old Moulin Rouge. I’m glad to see DC taking some risks on all fronts with All-Star Western (even if Gotham is technically on the East Coast), and I’ll definitely be following this book for as long as they have the balls to publish it.
Teen Titans
Stephen Prescott- Doesn’t Really See the Appeal of Frank
So I guess my theory about Superboy leading into Teen Titans was wrong….
At this point I’m actually tired of complaining about the changes in the New 52. I’m defeated and beat down. I don’t know why it was necessary to reboot the characters they chose to reboot, but I’m just going to try to go with it.
Essentially this is Tim Drake/Red Robin’s book, he’s the only one who knows what is going on (certainly knows more than I do) and he is the man with the plan so to speak. Taking a page out of “Justice League #1” we are only beginning to see the formation of the Teen Titans. A point of contention and criticism from me with that book. I can only hope that the team formation happens quickly because it is the team dynamic and the sense of family that makes the Titans so important. Without those things there is nothing and right now there really is nothing aside from a lot of questions.
Still though, this is a beginning. The characters are solidly Tim, Bart and Cassie. There were other team members lurking on Tim’s computer screen and I’m intrigued as to what is going to happen next. I wish the book had gotten off to a faster start, but as a died in the wool Teen Titans fan I’ll certainly be sticking around for the next few issues as the team assembles and we hopefully find out what exactly N.O.W.H.E.R.E. is up to.
Justice League Dark
Martin Scherer- Has Been Dispatched To Eliminate Stephen Prescott
Every now and then you read a book, and when your done you either read it again, or decide you can’t read any more comics for the day, because the bar has been set so high. To me, Justice League Dark is one of these books.
I haven’t read many of the new DCU books yet, but this has been by far the best book that I’ve read. Peter Milligan is an established writer that I’ve always found to be either great, or passable. With this book he is more than great, he is amazing. The art by Mikel Janin and colours by Ulises Arreola shine, and compliment the script with the tone and atmosphere that they create.
What I really want to highlight here though is how well Milligan crafted what is essentially an introduction/gathering of the team issue. Unlike Justice League were we saw only four of the characters, and only two really interact, we are introduced to every character who will have a significant role in this first arc. This book in a single issue not only gives us a taste for the whole cast, but also clearly establishes the mysterious threat, hints at the stakes, and explains why the Justice League proper can’t handle this threat.
True, like that first issue of Justice League we never see the whole team together in this issue, and I have a feeling we will rarely ever see the team together. But unlike the League, Dark gives each character their space and in the couple of pages we learn a lot about who they are. Shade is a lonely man who can and does shape reality to fit his needs. Xanadu can see the present and future, and is understandably having trouble dealing with this. Deadman is well, dead. Constantine is younger than the man Milligan writes in Hellblazer, but is hinted at being the cunning bastard we love. Finally, Zantana is the connection between this group of magical beings and the superhero community; she straddles the line between the light and the dark.
If you like Hellblazer, team books or miss the darker elements of the DCU then this book is for you. If you want to try something unlike many of the books on the market, this book is for you.
If you love comics, this book is for you.
Green Lantern: New Guardians
Daniel Campozano- Has Managed to Restrain the Tyrant Frank
I think this is the only book that felt to me like I could pick up and just start fresh, assuming you read the other Green Lantern books of the DCnU. I enjoyed the Kyle Rayner’s origin story, I liked him as the hippie Green Lantern with artsy constructs. The other storyline in the book shows us one of each Lantern of the spectrum having their rings being decommissioned and losing their powers at the most unfortunate moment for each of them. This doesn’t go unnoticed as other members of their respective Lantern Corps chase the rings down to see who “stole” them. As Kyle is having fun in his new role of Green Lantern and saving lives, he is greeted by 5 more rings accepting him to the corps along with corps members of the respective rings ready to kick his ass for the theft. I think the story was great and the art was tight; frankly, it was my favorite of the Green Lantern issues. I have no real history With Kyle except for knowing that his girlfriend was murdered and stuffed into a refrigerator. So I’m looking forward to a fresh look on the character and his importance to the Green Lantern Corps.
Blackhawks
Frank Angones- Would Really Appreciate It If None Of This Got Back To Jonathan
Ok, this is getting ridiculous. Birds of Prey, Stormwatch, Suicide Squad, Red Hood and the Outlaws, and now Blackhawks. How many teams of covert badasses does the DCnU need? Blackhawks, though competently written and drawn, has the distinct disadvantage of coming at the tail end of these books and without a marquis character to its name- I suppose Lady Blackhawk would be the biggest name in recent years? Not that you need a necessarily big name to carry a book, but you do have to give me something beyond another well-funded group of badasses fighting superhumans to get me engaged.
I will say that book opens with one of the best action sequences of any of these merc books, dealing in the kind of bombastic pseudorealism that reminds me of Andy Diggle’s Losers book from Vertigo a couple years back. But by the end I’m not given an enticing enough mystery or dilemma to guarantee my money in the long term, but I’ll probably check out the next issue, if for no other reason than to keep up with my DCnU Spontaneous Human Combustion Drinking Game. Seriously. A lot of people blew up this month.
