DC THE NEW 52: WEEK 4

WEEK FOUR

BATMAN

So far, almost every great book that has come out of the DC relaunch has been a little “underground”, for lack of a better term. The B-level, or lesser known, characters have been given to the writers that are a little more out there, or aren’t afraid to take chances. These are the books that have surprised us, and usually for the better. The “names”, though, seem to have been handed to writers and artists who come closer to toeing the company line. It makes sense. Keeping things mainstream keeps it successful, and keeping things successful usually means keeping it mainstream. But for the first time, even more so than Action Comics, we have the best of both worlds.

 

This is the book that I have been anticipating the most, mostly due to writer Scott Snyder, who so far has tackled Swamp Thing, one of the best books of the relaunch. In the Swamp Thing review, I talked about how his past life as a novelist helps him, where it can usually damn a lot of writers, as their stories become much too wordy and complicated. Here, much like in Swamp Thing, Snyder excels more than anyone else at the “thought bubbles”, those old-fashioned, uber-comicy ways of getting inside a character’s head. Snyder takes them from cheesedick to invaluable.

 

There is a breakout in Arkham, which at this point seems to happen at least a couple times a day. Luckily, Batman is ready for it, as he always is, because he had a man on the inside. No spoilers, because there are two awesome reveals there. He saves the day and makes it home in time to host a fundraiser for Gotham City, and by that, I mean the entire city. Bruce Wayne is going to rebuild the whole damn hellhole. At the party, he reads Commissioner Gordan’s lips (is there anything this man can’t do?) and finds out there’s been a murder. He goes to investigate, and spoiler spoiler spoiler read it.

 

The one thing that DC has always struggled with, where Marvel has always excelled, is juggling their character’s dual identities. You never forget that Peter Parker or Steve Rogers are in those suits, but with DC, they might as well be different people. In face, the human versions of DC heroes are typically downright boring. Here, Snyder hasn’t just made Bruce Wayne an interesting, developed person, but he has made him the SAME person as Batman. Instead of wondering when Batman is going to be back in the story, I instead feel like I’m watching Bruce Wayne when Bruce is dressed as Batman. Same guy, same goals, different suits. That’s something your precious Christopher Nolan couldn’t even do. It’s difficult enough, writing a growling badass who shows no emotion, much less also writing that same person as someone who occasionally prances around as a rich boy debutante. Snyder moves each of the sides closer together, all the while giving them the same brain. It seems easy. It’s not. High five, Snyder. – RH

RATING:

CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ISSUE

I’LL READ IT IF I CAN FIND THE TIME

FUCK IT. COULDN’T CARE LESS

 

BIRDS OF PREY

As deluged as we’ve been over the past couple weeks with origin stories, “getting the team together” stories have been just prevalent. Nature of the beast, I guess, when you release 52 first issues in a single month. Typically, I love these issues. Each member of the forming team gets a page or two to show what their lives were like before they inevitably run into the scout/general manager of the team that’s being set-up. Then they say they don’t want to do it. Then they change their minds at the last second/join the team just in time to save the team’s collective ass from Badguy X, who is usually the reason for the team forming, and is usually defeated in that issue. In Bird of Prey #1, by Duane Swierczynski and Jesus Saiz, however, we get just enough changes to the formula to make it interesting, if not awesome, something that I never thought I would say about anything that is A) a show that used to be on the WB, and B) about a group of girls who at no point take off their clothes. Impressive. The writer, whose last name I will not be typing again, juggles the timeline around perfectly, with the artist picking up the pieces to remove any confusion. They also figure out ways to get us to know the team and the members while still telling a story with a cliffhanger that has got me coming back next month, another thing I did not expect to say about Birds of Prey. Not the best book of the DcnU, but one of the most surprising. – RH

RATING:

CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ISSUE

I’LL READ IT IF I CAN FIND THE TIME

FUCK IT. COULDN’T CARE LESS

 

BLUE BEETLE

Blue Beetle is another check in the origin stories column of the reboot. We get a prologue of a Blue Beetle absolutely decimating an entire planet, apparently under coercion of the scarab suit he’s wearing. Some random alien tells him they’re going to be taking over other worlds, and we see several scarabs flying through space. A Green Lantern stops one, but one slips by him and lands in what looks like the Mayan age. We flash forward to modern times where we meet Joey, a seemingly awkward and bullied kid who isn’t allowed to go to the Quinceanera of his crush. Aren’t those only for Mexican girls? Why would a white girl have one….not important I guess, but seriously I focused on that way more then the attempts at drama this book offered up. They hint that the girl’s aunt is involved in some shady shit, and Joey’s family know about it so he can’t go. They just never hammer home why we should care about this dweeby kid, he isn’t shown to have any likeable traits- unless you love whining. Turns out the girl’s aunt IS into shady dealings and has hired a super villain team to steal ‘something’ from another team of villains. The kid and his friend get caught in the battle on their way to the forbidden Mexican coming of age party, and the ‘something’ turns out to be- surprise surprise- the scarab that landed on Earth forever ago. It attaches to Joey, and he transforms in panels that look like a Venom rip-off. Meh. Moral of the story: Listen to your parents, or you’ll be taken over by some wack alien shit. -MG

RATING:

CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ISSUE

I’LL READ IT IF I CAN FIND THE TIME

FUCK IT. COULDN’T CARE LESS

 

 

CAPTAIN ATOM

Does anyone ever pay attention to the words that are bold in comic books? I don’t mean bold, like said by a brave superhero. I mean bold. Some comics have them everywhere. It seems to be the mark of a bad comic, or at least an unsure writer. Can you even imagine what it would be like if all writing was done like that!?!?!?!?!? It would get annoying. I heard one time that Christopher Walken will only read scripts that had all the punctuation, intonation, and capitalization taken out first. If the writer’s work was good, it would stand alone with out telling him exactly how to deliver the lines. That might be a little extreme, but if he was to read this comic, his head would probably explode. J.T. Krul has been the whipping boy of DC, and of comic writers in general, over the past couple of years, so I’m going to lay off of him. But he sucks. Not good at his job. One of the forty or so writers of the DCnU, and couldn’t write his way around a swinging cat. So let’s focus on the art, drawn by Freddie Williams II. I thought I would be confused, having never seen Freddie Williams I, but it all made sense. It was loose, a little sketchy. I like to be reminded sometimes that these guys use pencils, instead of just putting a paint effect over pictures they took of their friends. So in conclusion, come for the art, stay to try and remember why you came. – RH

RATING:

CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ISSUE

I’LL READ IT IF I CAN FIND THE TIME

FUCK IT. COULDN’T CARE LESS

 

CATWOMAN

Judd Winick was never a guy I was that in to until this year’s Justice League: Generation Lost, which was good enough to make me pick up what ever title Winick was assigned to this month. Catwoman usually doesn’t wear clothes, and fucks everything that moves, and I am lonely enough to pick up her title no matter who was writing it. Boy, how the stars have aligned, when I can pick up one book and satisfy both me and my ‘lil Winick. Catwoman #1 isn’t anything out of the ordinary for a Catwoman book, at least from what I can remember: some badguys try to kill her, she goes and tries to steal some shit, she has sex with Batman, both in full costume (Don’t worry — this book is rated T for Teen, so you have to be at least 13 to see Catwoman take off Batman’s utility belt. I’m guessing the pouch with the condoms in it just happens to be empty.) I like Selina Kyle and Judd Winick enough to keep going with this one, but its leash is shorter than I expected it to be. – RH

RATING:

CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ISSUE

I’LL READ IT IF I CAN FIND THE TIME

FUCK IT. COULDN’T CARE LESS

 

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS

This initial endeavor of DCU Presents introduces us to the story of Deadman. If they follow the old way of this book, we’ll be introduced to a different lesser-known character every issue. It’s sort of DC’s minor league; if fans like the character enough, we’ll be shown more. It’s odd they picked Deadman, since he’s a fairly established character- not an A-lister, but certainly not an unknown factor. Even before reading this issue, I knew he was a dead dude who helps people by possessing them into making the right choices. Sort of fucked up, don’tchya think? What do you learn about life from someone else making the choices for you? Especially when that someone was a huge prick in life, and is only doing the heroic gig so he can learn how to not be such a selfish bastard. I don’t want someone who fucked up their own life telling me how to, let alone forcing me to change mine. And his origin story is basically what if Robin’s dad was a huge dick and then turned into a ghost. Couldn’t they have rebooted him with an original idea? I did like the panels of Deadman jumping from body to body trying to get an old acquaintance to help him, and that when she finally believed she told him to fuck off because how terrible he was in life. That’s a real life consequence for you. The last panel was the most interesting by far, and was one of the few moments that took this from a never read again rating, to if I have the time. I like the thought of a ‘hero’ driven enough to threaten suicide/homicide to get the attention of the god who forced him into his situation. Shows gumption.-MG

RATING:

CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ISSUE

I’LL READ IT IF I CAN FIND THE TIME

FUCK IT. COULDN’T CARE LESS

 

 

GREEN LANTERN CORPS

Truth be told, I’m a little Green Lanterned out, and have been for awhile. One of the reasons I was looking forward to this reboot is to start fresh with the whole line, which at last count contains 650 different titles. It’s now abundantly clear, mostly because DC just straight up told us, that little to no change will be happening in the reboot. It’s much more like a renumbering than most of the other titles. This is a bummer, and a little baffling, because it seems like this would be the perfect time to start over, almost “Ultimize” it, coming off the 42^nd biggest hit of the summer. Alas, we jump in to the lives of two former Green Lantern “primes” and current supporting Green Lanterns/existential-crisis-having buds Guy Gardner (who has never hosted The Daily Show) and John Stewart (same). They are trying to cope with what it’s like to live normal lives and also be a Green Lantern, while finding out that someone stole all the water off a planet made of water, which is pretty hard to do, especially in this economy. Green Lantern books are typically where you can find writer Peter J. Tomasi at his best, which doesn’t necessarily mean good. His other book of the relaunch is Batman and Robin, which he doesn’t have as firm of a grip on. Heroes don’t get more different than the low-concept Batman (just a rich detective with a cape) and Green Lantern (space cop who has a ring he can will to do anything), and if you need more evidence of that, see Justice League #1. Tomasi struggles with trying to figure out how to high-concept up Batman, where he seems to know when and how to give us those little breather moments with the Green Lanterns, which in this book include Guy applying for a job and Guy and John sitting on a satellite shooting the shit. Not great, but closer to regular old Green Lantern action than the eponymous Geoff Johns title right now. – RH

RATING:

CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ISSUE

I’LL READ IT IF I CAN FIND THE TIME

FUCK IT. COULDN’T CARE LESS

 

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES

This first sentence was written before I even glanced at the cover. This book is going to suck. There’s no chance of it not sucking. If you read last week’s DC coverage, you know my feelings about the Legion. They’re the fucking worst, with names like Colossal Boy, Dream Girl, Chameleon Boy and Star Lad; how could they not be terrible? Ok, just read it. I wish I could apologize and say say how it exceeded my expectations, and this book is going to be awesome. But no- I was arrogantly and totally right. All of these characters’ powers are just rip offs of others- both Marvel and DC based. Too many characters are flung in the story at once to care about any of them, and the emotions and drama seem forced. The book reads like an eight year old kid’s try at Hamlet. Just screaming to let you know this is probably meaningful. -MG

RATING:

CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ISSUE

I’LL READ IT IF I CAN FIND THE TIME

FUCK IT. COULDN’T CARE LESS

 

NIGHTWING

 

Man, I hope I’m not biased for my love of the Bat-family in comparing all of the different issues, but this book was pretty sweet. Throughout the whole issue they built Grayson’s character in almost every panel. From differences between himself and Bruce, effects from spending time as Batman, hints at his disliking being in the Bat’s shadow, dealing with his circus past- a lot of information was given in this book, and weaved almost flawlessly through the actual pacing of the plot. Sure, there were a couple of times it was a little heavy handed, but for the most part it worked well. What sets Nightwing apart from Batman is his obvious zest for life, and I’ll always love the character for that. He’ll fight bad guys, see brutal events, but is generally a well-grounded human being instead of a revenge driven fiend for justice. The only thing that bugged me about him in this issue was how blasé he was after two cops got their throats slit right in front of him- though that was a sick panel. I like this new, darker DCU probably too much. This is the first book of the reboot that I’ve noticed do the action shots of characters by having their faded poses fly through the air- for whatever reason I’m a sucker for that. I’m also a sucker for the hero getting his ass handed to him, and by ending with that and a hint that someone thinks Dick Grayson is a murderer, I’m on board.-MG

RATING:

CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ISSUE

I’LL READ IT IF I CAN FIND THE TIME

FUCK IT. COULDN’T CARE LESS

 

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS

The timeline of this whole shebang is starting to fuck with me. Jason Todd is adult, already reformed version of Red Hood. Already come back from the dead. There’s no way there is only a five year gap between Justice League and all of the books, there has to be another decade at least. Especially since the original Teen Titans were briefly mentioned. So confusing! And distracting. Even though this was a decent book, I was trying to figure out the timeline the whole er….time. The book itself looks like it’s going to be fun. That’s really not a word I use too often, there are usually better options out there. But three pretty immoral heroes, all tied to dark pasts, but still quipping it up the whole time while having casual sex- that’s just good ol’ fashion fun! I’m honestly pretty sucked into watching Red Hood and Speedy attempt to do their version of what’s right, and Starfire just sort of hang out and kick ass when need be. The new take on her barely registering people as individuals is interesting, too often the aliens are just human who look a little different- it’s nice to see ones who view life in an alternate way. I expected nothing from this book and was pleasantly surprised. -MG

RATING:

CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ISSUE

I’LL READ IT IF I CAN FIND THE TIME

FUCK IT. COULDN’T CARE LESS

 

 

SUPERGIRL

Here’s an origin I’m sick to death of. I feel like Supergirl is re-started, or re-imagined more than anyone else in the DCU. I don’t need to see her learn about the planet and her powers- a version of that comes out every five years. That being said, her powers slowly turning on during the fight while the sun rises, causing her to increasingly kick the asses of the dudes in the metal robot suits was pretty epic. A couple of interesting hints were dropped for both Kara’s past and Clark’s future-: Zod was mentioned, and Kara shows up in uniform, saying it’s related to a graduation of some kind. I dug the art in this book, there was a slightly surreal edge to the whole thing which lent to the atmosphere of Kara assuming she was dreaming. We’ll see how the updated, more bad ass Superman deals with his wayward cousin.-MG

RATING:

CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ISSUE

I’LL READ IT IF I CAN FIND THE TIME

FUCK IT. COULDN’T CARE LESS

 

WONDER WOMAN

Superman is flying around the city when he sees Wonder Woman lying in her backyard, naked. He decides to fly down, bang her out real quick, and then fly away. After he leaves, Wonder Woman looks around and says “What was that?” The Invisible Man looks down at her and says, “I don’t know, but my ass hurts all of a sudden.”

Aside from turning Superman in to a rapist, this “joke” was the only thing I knew about Wonder Woman before reading this book. Never even considered buying a comic. The whole premise seems stupid, not to mention I’m sexist as shit. But Bryan Azzarello and Cliff Chiang could write and draw a book called “Reasons Why Women Should Be Allowed to Vote”, and I’d still buy it. Good for me. And Bryan and Cliff.

A girl who lives in what appears to be a house made of gigantic Lincoln Logs (or she is a very small girl) finds an intruder in her living room/only room. She is then transported into naked Wonder Woman’s bedroom (watch out for Superman!), and then the two of them are transported back to her cabin, where they fight some centaurs, who were created by…there’s no way I can do either of these creators justice with no art and my stupid words. This thing is batshit crazy in the best way possible, and not despite the main character, but in part because of the main character. I now officially find a character with a name like Wonder Woman compelling. What magical tricks will DC perform next (no, they can’t get me to like Legion of Super Heroes. Don’t even ask.) – RH

RATING:

CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ISSUE

I’LL READ IT IF I CAN FIND THE TIME

FUCK IT. COULDN’T CARE LESS