Well, I'm packing stuff to move, so I haven't had as much time to blog. I finally have a little bit of time, although it will be back to packing again tomorrow and for the next couple of weeks as I try to get everything together to move back home to Louisiana.
Anyway, this week, I thought I would return to Catwoman and Red Hood and the Outlaws. These are two series that I wrote scathing reviews on for their first issues. I stand by those reviews today. I will say that the series have improved for the most part since those issues.
Catwoman has not only improved, but I think has become a more mature title without debasing itself with paltry sex scenes as it did in the first issue. The strength shown in Catwoman by the end of the third issue is the strength that the writer (Judd Winick) should have conveyed in that first issue. Catwoman has grown from someone that I felt had been turned into a bimbo in the first issue back to the character I always thought of her as. She still seems to have a thing for the Bat, but she now uses her wiles to trick him as much as knowing that inside she feels something for him, something that she knows can never truly work out between the two of them.
At the beginning of this issue, we see a Catwoman who has been pummeled unmercilessly by a mob figure who didn't like her stealing his stuff. This is after the aforementioned mobster has killed Selina's seemingly only friend and fence in cold blood and left the body for Catwoman to find at the end of issue 2. It doesn't take long before you see the true Catwoman finally come to the surface at this point. The scene is gorgeously set as the boss leaves and tells his thugs to finish Catwoman off painfully, and even more so, when she says nothing to them as they begin to beat her again (a beating that they intend to end in her death). The silence is deafening as each panel slowly reveals to us that Selina is looking at something and then that what she is looking at is the body of her friend. Finally, when one of the thugs hits her so hard it knocks over the chair she is tied to we hear her speak...and what she says is louder than the next few moments she spends beating the thugs senseless.
Even better is the final scene when the mob boss is begging for his life and apologizing to Selina about how he over-reacted over things and shouldn't have gotten so emotional. As Catwoman pulls out a baseball bat and commences to explain to him how it was ridiculous that he killed her friend over things, we see the true Catwoman we all love finally revealed. This is a woman who values friendship and love more than things, which is why she has no qualms with her cat burglary lifestyle. In some ways, it is a statement to us, the readers, that we should value people more than we value things. In time, all things will pass from this world, but friendship is forever, the writer seems to tell us. Obviously, we shouldn't take it to Catwoman's extreme of whatever I can lay my hands on belongs to me until someone else takes it from me, but the sentiment is there.
If this book continues in this vein, I recommend Catwoman to those who like Catwoman. If Winick returns to the use of unnecessary sex visuals to sell his book, my opinion to skip it will quickly return.
Red Hood and the Outlaws is a book that has grown on me as well. I still am not in agreement with the way Lobdel portrays Starfire as someone who doesn't remember her loves and those she was once passionate about, but Lobdel's portrayal of former Robin, Jason Todd (Red Hood), is definitely worth the read at this point. I also am not enamored of the new origin and character of Roy Harper (Arsenal) to put him where he is in this series, but maybe we'll get more on these two later as well that will make me like what Lobdel has done.
In this latest issue, Lobdel shows us the heart of Jason Todd in the DCnU. He is a former Robin turned outlaw after being murdered by the Joker and resurrected from the dead, and we learn that he is not completely immuned to the time he spent with Bruce Wayne/Batman. His heart still exists despite his death and return and despite the training that Talia Al'Ghul gave him to turn him against Batman. We see in this issue that his most cherished memory is a time when Bruce Wayne stayed home with him from patrol when he was too sick to go out with Batman. At first the memory makes it seem like Jason is being punished until we see Batman walk in with his cowl pulled back to select a "sick day" movie for the two of them to watch while Jason gets some rest. Granted, it is a memory that Jason Todd gives up easily at the end of the issue, but it still shows that inside of him is still the man he could have been if his life had not previously been cut short by the Joker. I hope Lobdel continues to use this type of storytelling and reveals further insight into Starfire and why he is now portraying her as a shallow nympho whether than the strong woman who had a caring and loving heart despite her time as a slave in the future. We do get a brief glimpse into some of the origin areas of both Starfire and Arsenal, and I definitely want to see more of Starfire's as it seems like it might explain better the changes we see in her now. With Arsenal, I just hope Lobdel matures him in the book before I write in and ask for him to kill him off because right now I'm tired of his high school antics attitude in all that he does.
Thanks for reading!
These are my opinions of the omniverse. The omniverse includes many comic book multiverses, some MMO universes, and our own real universe (or at least mine - maybe yours is different). If you like comic book reviews, MMO's, Christian views, political opinions (these will be minimal but will happen from time to time), or just musings on society, you might like my blog. If you don't, you probably won't, but give it a try, you never know.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
New 52 Month 2 and into Month 3
Sorry, long time, no blog. I've been really busy with work among other things.
Well, month 2 of DC's New 52 ended with last week's new comics. When DC made the announcement for the New 52 and the relaunch of a new DC Universe, I was skeptical. My thoughts went back to Heroes Reborn by Marvel in the nineties, or even Heroes Return, both of which were, to say the least less than impressive. The New 52 has been the exact opposite of that though; not only have I enjoyed the relaunch overall, but I've even found myself checking out new characters and series that I really thought I was going to not buy at all.
After two months, here's my rundown of the entire 52:
Justice League: This book rocks. The current arc is set 5 years before the current events of all of the other books of the New 52. It is a pivotal book as it is the establishing book for how the Justice League is formed and comes together. Darkseid is coming and if you're not reading to find out how it all happens, you're missing out. I even have to say the Superman vs. Batman "fight" of the 2nd issue while several nay-sayers were criticizing it before it ever happened was fresh and new - Superman won, not Batman and in the way you would expect - Batman expended his utility belt on him and Superman asked him what else he had. The fact that Geoff Johns is writing and Jim Lee is pencilling is just icing on the cake for this series. Read this book no matter who you are!!!
Justice League International: The Justice League International is a PR stunt by the UN, but with the people you're familiar with from the old JLI. I'm not overly impressed with the book, but it's not a horrible read. One of my problems with it is that other than being a fan of some of the characters and enjoying the direction they seem to be taking Booster Gold as a leader, I don't really know what the book is about yet, other than having been an opportunity to put the JLI back together again. If you're a fan of the characters (Booster Gold, Rocket Red, Fire, August General in Iron, Ice, Vixen, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Batman) I'd say try the book and you'll probably like it. If you're a fan of the old JLI, I'd say pick it up for sure. If you're neither of those, you're probably going to have to make up your mind. I'm going to see it through this first arc and hope there's a payoff because I like the characters and that development, but story-wise, I think something is missing.
Aquaman: He does not talk to fish as he so eloquently put it in the first issue. This is not your father's Aquaman or for that matter even my Aquaman. This is Aquaman as he always should have been. He has always had the strength to withstand the depths of the Marianas Trench and this relaunch of this character shows that power. This book shows why Aquaman is and should be a member of the Justice League, go buy it - he makes Namor, the Sub-Mariner, look like a flying fish from here on out. Even if you've never been a fan of Aquaman, I recommend this book as it will make you a fan of Aquaman.
Wonder Woman: Alright, I'm ticked off that they went back to the shorts for Wonder Woman instead of leaving her in the pants from the last arc of the previous series, "Odyssey". This book is still a good read - Wonder Woman is back in the mythos of her origins in this book and I love it. Wonder Woman is still the ultimate heroine of all superhero books, and she never stops proving it no matter how many times they relaunch her title. Now go out there and buy her book, she deserves your respect and a read.
The Flash: Barry from the beginning. Barry Allen has and always will be The Fastest Man Alive even if you are a Wally West Flash fan, you know Barry Allen deserves to be the Scarlet Speedster. This book starts not quite at the beginnig again, but it is definitely a book where Barry is still figuring out his powers including that if he lets the speed force (the power that Barry and almost every DC speedster gets their speed from) work on his brain as well, then he can think at a level no one else can because his brain will process information so quickly. The bad guy in this book is still a mystery; yes, there are the clones known as Mob Rules who appear to be the bad guys, but I'm not sure they're the real threat here. If you're a fan of any Flash, read this book and get in on the ground floor of all DC speedsters.
The Furty of Firstorm: This is a series that I had not planned on reading. I've never been a fan of the character, but Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone are writing a tale that has pulled me in. The characterization is amazing from the typical jock nature of Jason Rusch who actually is more than that to the nerdist talking down to people he thinks are stupid in Ronnie Raymond - what you think is stereotypical in these characters, you quickly learn like for most of us in high school is the surface that everyone else sees and not who these two young men truly are. If you like a book with characters worth getting to know and a fresh perspective on an old DC character that I don't think ever got his fair shake, pick up this book. It's definitely worth the read.
Captain Atom: Captain Atom is another series that I didn't plan on picking up. I'm still reading it for the moment only because I want to see what they're doing with Captain Atom. Overall, other than development of the character, I'm not liking the series so far though. I think part of the problem is that we're at the beginning for Captain Atom though, and I'm struggling with enjoying watching him figure out his powers as slowly as he seems to be in the series so far. I like J.T. Krul as a writer, but I really hope he picks up the speed on this book soon. I'm going to keep going through the first arc, but it better be where I need it to be when it gets there. I'd say if you're a fan of the character, the writer (J.T. Krul), the artist (Freddie Williams II), or you don't know the previous version of this character, pick up the book; otherwise, I think you may be bored with the book.
Green Arrow: Another book by J.T. Krul, and while similar in its semi-origins aspect as Captain Atom, it's not as slow. The book picked up quickly and has some interesting back story going on in the corporate side of Oliver Queen's life as much as the action taking place in the Green Arrow side of Ollie's life. The first issue made me think I was going to hate this book because it seemed like they had made Green Arrow more of Batman with a bow, but that's also what hooked me at the end as well. Green Arrow has always been Batman with a bow, and it's that bow that makes the significant difference. He may just be a guy who can shoot a bow, but he's got a conscience and a moral code that drives him to heights even Superman may at times be struggling with in the DCnU. The book also takes a stab at the evils of technology and our own social worship of "trending" items on You Tube, etc. It's about time someone showed us the problem with us giving a video of someone getting injured in a You Tube video getting millions of hits. Pick up this book, it's definitely worth the read, and I think it will only get better.
The Savage Hawkman: All I can say is Carter Hall is a brute and this series shows Hawkman for the fighter he is. Even when he's losing the fight from the end of the first issue and into the beginning of the second issue, you see why Carter Hall is a hero. This is one of the bloodier and grittier books of the DCnU, so I don't recommend it for younger children, but for teens and adults as indicated, it's a great book, go pick it up. I should also mention that this is a book that I had only planned on picking up the first issue of, but I am definitely hooked as long as Tony S. Daniels is writing it at this level.
DC Universe Presents: This series is billed as a series to highlight those heroes who do not have their own books (yet...possibly). The first arc concentrates on Deadman and how and why he is who he is. So far, I like this book. Deadman doesn't comprehend why he's helping a bunch of people and being left with portions of their memories...the goddess who made him this way explains it to him, but he's not buying what she's selling and sets out on his own quest to figure it out. It's definitely a new angle on this old hero and it's about time he got a little bit of credit. If you're a Deadman fan, you should be reading this book right now.
Mister Terrific: So, this was the temporary replacement for the Justice Society until their relaunch next year it seems. Although the new JSA will be firmly placed on Earth 2 and not here on Earth Prime. While I like what they've done with the character, the story hasn't grabbed me yet after two issues. Mister Terrific is more pompous than ever and that he is missing the fact that Karen Star (aka Power Girl in another life) wants to have a real relationship with him despite his pining over his long dead wife just adds to my problems with the story. If you're a fan of the character, you might like this series; if you're not, I'd pass on it.
Action Comics: Like Justice League, this is a foundation book as it is set 5 years before current continuity and shows how Superman becomes Superman and the hero of Metropolis. Grant Morrison is doing a spectacular job on this book, and if you're not reading it, you have only yourself to blame for what you're missing. This is a Superman you can sympathize with and the sequence in issue 2 of him looking for his baby blanket (his cape; you knew that's where it came from right) for sentimental reasons brings that home more than anything. Although the scene of him using it for an actual blanket at the beginning of issue 3 adds to that human-ness in the character. This is a Superman that no one needs to invent a Doomsday to fight. Go buy it and read it already.
Superman: Okay, so I'm not a big Superman fan because he's Superman. I mean, what can stop Superman other than a Kryptonite mickey and Doomsday (the villain created specifically to highlight that Superman needs special villains). George Perez shows me why we should still love Superman though: Clark Kent. Much like the human side of Superman that Morrison is showing us in Action Comics, while this book belongs to Superman, Perez's snippets of Clark Kent show us the human side of the Man of Steel, and why Kal-El is as much a scared young man trying to fit into a world not completely his. I had an original complaint abou the fact that Lois and Clark were no longer Lois and Clark, but it highlights even more the loneliness of Superman's situation. I recommend this book even if I'm not a Superman fan.
Supergirl: Love the book, but fix the boots on the costume already. Kara Zor-El is Kal-El's (Superman) much older cousin. She used to babysit him when he was a baby on Krypton and she was a teenage. Little Kal is all grown up now and Kara remembers he was a baby yesterday when she last saw him. She doesn't know Krypton is destroyed until Superman tells her and her teenage attitude comes into play quickly in dealing with all of this. This is a great book and, so far, a fun read as well. It's definitely one of the titles I can' wait for each month, so I can find out how she ended up where she is to see if it's the same as either of the last two origins or not.
Superboy: Scott Lobdell is doing an awesome job on this book as he redesigns the origins of this clone of Superman (and Lex Luthor, though they haven't stated that yet in this series). Superboy before the end of the old DCU was a clone of those two, but we never really saw the origin from the beginning. This time we see him as he emerges from the test tube for the first time after what I have decided is definitely the evil organization N.O.W.H.E.R.E. created him. If you're a fan of young heroes who haven't yet figured out they're supposed to be heroes, read this book. Superboy is definitely a young man who needs to find his place in the world, but to do so he has to get out from under his "mom" and "dad"; both of whom are not loving parents.
Batman: While the Bat-books are some of the few to not have drastic changes in them, they are definitely relaunched in the DCnU. Batman is back to his roots dealing with the craziness of Gotham. No high tech evil like Darkseid in these books. Batman is down in the streets searching for a serial killer who is using the worst villains of Arkham to slow down the Bat. Pick up this book no matter what, but especially if you're a fan of classic Batman.
Detective Comics: Everything I said about Batman above goes double for this book. Okay, so of the DC's characters, Batman is my favorite, but isn't he most people's. This book shows why we have come to love Batman. He's a street level hero, the average joe (well, okay, so he's a billionaire) who has trained his body and his mind to be at the peak of its very human ability, but yet he'll still walk into a trap knowing it's a trap to be the hero that Gotham needs as he so eloquently puts it at the end of the movie, "Dark Knight".
Batwoman: Okay, so I'm not sure why we have Batwoman now that we have Batgirl back, but the stories are definitely a darker side of Gotham and the Bat books that we don't see in Batgirl. And to say that a Bat-book shows you the darker side of Gotham means it's really dark here. Batwoman reads more as a horror story with a superhero trying to figure it out than a gritty, street level superhero book like most Bat-books. If you like dark, gothic horror with a superhero twist, check this book out. Do be advised that you may have to answer why Batwoman's alter ego dates other women for younger children though.
Batman: The Dark Knight: Like Batman and Detective Comics, this book brings Batman back to his roots even if it is emphasizing the newly formed Batman, Inc. unlike the other books. The fight scene in number 2 between Bruce Wayne and his assassin show why Batman is who he is. His knowledge of Gotham is why this is his city and why the villains of Gotham know that he should be respected if not feared.
Batman and Robin: No, not that Robin, this is Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al'Ghul and he's got all the attitude and bloodthirstiness to prove it. Batman has to learn to trust his son to work with him and be the hero he knows he can be if he tries, but does Bruce Wayne really know how to be a father even though he's raised two young boys to young adults as Robin. It seems that Bruce and Damian as well as Batman and Robin have a lot to learn in this book. I recommend this book especially if you want to see why Bruce Wayne should have never had children much less had children with the daughter of his arch-enemy.
Batwing: The Batman of Africa leaves something to be desired, maybe because we already have Batman in four of his own books, two proteges in the form of Nightwing and Red Robin in two other books, and two female versions of Batman (Batwoman and Batgirl), so I wonder if we really needed a Batman of Africa. The writing is good as is the artwork in this book. The hero is sponsored by Batman, Inc. and was trained by Batman to carry the mantle of the Bat in Africa. The story is even intriguing although I'm more interested in the background story that isn't fully being revealed yet then in the main story at this point. It seems that Batwing may not be or at least was not always the altruistic hero he appears to be on the surface. I do like this book, but in the myriad of the other Bat-books, I think it is my least favorite and I will probably stop reading after this first arc.
Batgirl: The one true Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, not Cassandra Cain or Stephanie Brown, but the real Batgirl is back in this series. Having regained the use of her legs a few years after her shooting and paralysis by the Joker, Barbara Gordon returns to her Batgirl identity. This is one of the Bat-books that is as much fun as it is gritty. Barbara Gordon exalts in the freedom of being Batgirl and she is not weighed by the tragedy that Bruce Wayne has gone through or even the tragedy that Dick Grayson (Nightwing/original Robin) has had. This book is a fun read and is as much about the character as it is about her smashing bad guys in the face. Gail Simone (writer) does a wonderful job on this book and with this character and it's easy to see that she loves this character.
Nightwing: I have always been a fan of the former boy wonder in his new identity as Nightwing ever since he changed from being Robin to Nightwing in the pages of the Teen Titans. This book takes him back to his roots as a carnie when Haley's Circus returns to Gotham and Nightwing becomes embroiled in the secret life of this circus that meant so much to who Dick Grayson was and would become despite the death of his parents unlike the man Bruce Wayne became after the death of his parents. I recommend this book to really get to know this former Boy Wonder and hero in his own right.
Catwoman: Judd Winick is spinning an interesting tale with Catwoman. Though are some issues that I have with the way the book started in the first issue, but the book seems to be finding its stride now and just did a poor job I think of depicting the human need for companionship even between strong solo characters like Batman and Catwoman to start with. By the end of the second issue, I definitely see promise in the series and I'm going to continue to give this book a chance. If you're a woman, you may not like Winnick's first issue, and it's possible it will offend you even if you're a man and a fan of Catwoman (it did me). The story has definitely gotten better as we moved through issue 2, and I really want issue 3 to come out now, so I can find out where it goes next.
Birds of Prey: I love this new team even with Oracle missing; she went back to being Batgirl after all. The team is now made up of Black Canary (still), Starling, Katana, and recent addition Poison Ivy. These ladies know how to bring a fight to the bad guys and how to deal with it if it gets brought to their doorstep. Duane Swiercznski is doing an excellent job of writing 3 of these 4 ladies (Poison Ivy just showed up at the end of issue 2, but I have confidence) and introducing us to the new incarnations of Canary, Ivy, and Katana and I really like the new character (maybe she's an old DC character that I'm just not familiar with) of Starling - so much like Lady Blackhawk was in the previous series, but very different at the same time. I love this book!!
Red Hood and the Outlaws: I hate what Scot Lobdell has done with Arsenal/Speedy/Red Arrow/Roy Harper in this book. He's turned him into a 15 year old in a grown man's body and I really hate it. I also hate the way he's depicting Starfire, although his interview makes it seem like that was just a poor method of trying to depict something; I'm not completely buying it though, and I think he's just backpedaling after all of the bad critiques on what he did with her. I do like what he's done with Jason Todd/Red Hood; it makes more sense to see a former sidekick of Batman proving that he didn't just convert to evil because he had a bad day when Joker killed him. The story from issue 2 is good, while issue 1 highlighted way too much of what I didn't like about the book. Hopefully, issue 2 is what this book will really be about and we can kind of forget the false start of issue 2.
Green Lantern: The only problem with this book is I'm not sure why it got a relaunch. The story continues from where it ended with the previous series, and it's still great. Sinestro is a Green Lantern again because the Guardians don't know how to stop him from being one since they can't get the green ring off his finger. Hal Jordan is no longer a green lantern until Sinestro gives him a green lantern ring with a twist - it's completely under Sinestro's control. Geoff Johns continues to twist and turn the Green Lantern series with every issue, and unless you absolutely hate Green Lantern or Johns, you should read this book.
Green Lantern Corps: So far, I've got no idea what this book is about other than Guy Gardner and John Stewart, green lanterns .3 and .4. The writing is good, and the villain is definitely a major threat, but sometimes I think the Green Lantern Corps should be about the other green lanters (the non-Earth ones) and not always center on the ones from Earth. I would much whether see Arissa leading a team of green lanterns to stop some major threat than Guy Gardner and John Stewart. If you're a fan of the Corps, pick up the book, otherwise just stick to the main Green Lantern title.
Green Lantern: New Guardians: So far, I like the direction that I think this book is going in. The problem with this book is I'm not sure where it's going yet though, so I'm just making all kinds of assumptions so far. The book is good because of that though, Kyle Rayner (Green Lantern .2) suddenly has a ring from all 7 corps wanting to be on his finger, which has made the various other corps none too happy with him. It also seems to have greatly aggravated the current guardians, which I think is the point. I think the new guardians are about to usurp the guardians and their citadel on Oa and I think the new guardians will be made up of one member from each corps as designated by Kyle Rayner. Get in on the ground floor with this book because I think this is going to be a game change for how the various Lantern Corps work.
Red Lanterns: This book is a strange read so far. Atrocitus, leader of the Red Lanterns, is out to change his corps of rage and slaughter into a corps of rage and vengeful justice. In his eyes, rage's purpose should be to avenge those who have been wronged and spurred into rage and not just to rage against everything. His new lieutenant Bleez has been given her intelligence back to set about achieving this very specific goal, although she seems to have some more subtle and possibly ulterior motives at heart. I'm recommending this book although I originally wasn't going to even pick it up.
Justice League Dark: What happens when a powerful sorceress goes absolutely insane? What happens when the person you think is helping to assemble a group to stop that insane sorceress proves to be assembling the other supernatural heroes to be slaughtered by the insane sorceress? Read this book and find out because I've been surprised in both issues so far. Peter Milligan is writing this series that stars Zatanna, Shade, Deadman, and John Constantine as they fight against Enchantress (and now, Madame Xanadu). The interesting take is that as the story progresses you learn that all those who seem to be a part of the supernatural powers of the DCnU are all just a little insane and slightly broken inside. I recommend this book, especially if you like something just south of the superhero genre in darkness and powersets.
Swamp Thing: Alec Holland has yet to become the Swamp Thing, the previous Swamp Thing that everyone thought was Holland was just a simulacrum based on Holland. The time is quickly coming though where Alec Holland needs to become the Swamp Thing, the strongest knight of the Green ever or the Rot will take over our world and everything will die. Another of the books highlighting the darker corners of the DCnU, and well worth the read - remember to pick up Animal Man as well though as these two books appear to go together as the 3 sides of a war with the Green and the Red on one side against the Rot on the other side.
Animal Man: Buddy Baker used to think his powers came from an alien race who gave him the ability to touch the morphogenic field (the energy field of all life), but he was wrong. Buddy's powers actually come from the Red and all has been orchestrated by them up to this point. And the main character isn't Buddy Baker, but his daughter Maxine who is destined to be an avatar of the Red in their battle against the Rot. I wasn't going to buy this book, but it hooked me in the first issue. This is Animal Man in a way you've never seen him before with a new origin and mythos being written before our eyes, go start reading it before you have to wait for a trade paperback that's already been spoiled by me in this blog.
Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.: So far, this book is just a fun read. After all, who can resist a comic book about monsters fighting monsters more evil than you thought they were. Frankenstein and The Bride; 3 science projects reminiscent of a vampire, werewolf, and the creature from the Black Lagoon; and a mummy fight Cthulhu level monsters in this book to defend the world. It's reminiscent of BRPD, but with a cast of characters you already know from the beginning. Did I mention that their leader is what apppears to be a fourteen year old girl? If you just want a fun book to read, read this one. It gets a little dark at times, but when dealing with the supernatural that's to be expected.
I, Vampire: I am lost in the normal routine of this book. Vampirella does it better. If you want to read a book about vampires who don't sparkle set in the DCnU, read it. Otherwise, save your money.
Resurrection Man: I like the main character in this book, but I have yet to see a common story thread running through the book. I'm slightly confused even though they have already revealed that Heaven and Hell are both out to capture Mitch Shelly (Resurrection Man). I'm sticking with the title just to see where it goes, but I don't recommend it at this point.
Demon Knights: The DC Universe goes to the dark ages in this series. Etrigan the Demon and his team of Madame Xanadu, Vandal Savage (yes, that Vandal Savage), and Zauriel the Shining Knight among others fight against Morganna and Mordred for the remains of Camelot in this series. Sometimes not by choice. The series is a fun read even if it's billed as being part of the darker side of the DCnU. Paul Cornell is an excellent writer and this book really shows it. It helps that he's British and the book is set in the olden days of his homeland. I recommend this book for fans of Etrigan or fantasy comics and anyone else who wants a fun read that isn't completely superhero.
Stormwatch: One of the three titles to cross over from the Wildstorm comics of old and doing an awesome job of integrating itself in the DC Universe. If the Justice League is the team to fight against the threats no one else can deal with alone, then Stormwatch is the team to fight against the threats we didn't even know existed including probably themselves at some point. This book is darker and grittier than the main line of DC comics, but it is definitely a part of the universe as a whole. i can't wait for the Stormwatch vs. Justice League arc. If you were a fan of Wildstorm previously and if you've ever been a fan of DC comics, you should try this book.
Voodoo: The second of the three titles crossing over from the Wildstorm line. Priss is bene upgraded and is no longer half Kherubim/half Daemonite but is fully alien. She's an alien shapeshifter (possibly full Daemonite, but the Grifter series puts this into serious doubt) here for some unknown reason and our government wants her brought in for interrogation and experimentation to figure out why. Voodoo got an upgrade with telepathy in this series and doesn't just possess people anymore, but reads their minds and changes her form to match theirs. If you were a fan of Voodoo from WildC.A.T.S. before, you'll like her here to; she's better than ever. This book is more mature than the normal superhero line though, so I don't recommend it for the younger children, but I do recommend it for everyone else.
Grifter: The third of the three series originally from Wildstorm. Cole Cash is a grifter and con man extraordinaire until he's kidnapped by aliens who possess humans for some ulterior motives. Now he's been left with the ability to hear and see these aliens, so he's the only that can fight against them. Sounds like a raw deal for a street hustler until you find out that he used to be Army special ops. This book is Grifter in a whole new way, but still fighting the good fight against the Daemonites who are completely different in the DCnU. Highly recommended.
Suicide Squad: Take a bunch of death row inmates with superpowers, put tiny bombs in their heads to control them and kill them with if they get out of line and then make them do whatever you want and you've got the Suicide Squad. Some of your favorite villains work for the government in clandestine operations against their will and if that's not enough for you, see how psychotic Harley Quinn really is...all this time, you thought proximity to the Joker made her insane, but in this series, you'll learn very quickly that she may be the one that cranks Joker's insanity to new levels. Bloody in the extreme, so not for the younger kids, but definitely a book worth reading especially if you have ever wondered about the validity of conspiracy nuts.
Deathstroke: Deathstroke is the best mercenary in the DCU; supposedly he always has been. This series looks at what happens when people decide that Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke has past his prime and quickly shows us that not only has he not passed his prime, but he's even more brutal than ever. I'm not a fan of the villain comic book although I read my fair share in the nineties, but if you like that sort of book and lots of blood and mayhem, then you'll like this book.
All-Star Western: Jonah Hex is invited to Gotham City 100 years before Batman roams its streets and what he learns may leave him and pioneer crimin psychologist, Arkham Asylum, dead on arrival. If me telling you that this book is set in the Gotham City of the old west and that Jonah Hex was in it, you probably shouldn't read this book. This is the old Gotham City depicted in the limited series, The Gates of Gotham, and it sets down roots very quickly for why Gotham City is as corrupt as it is even in the modern era. Jonah Hex is just the man needed to bring justice to this town until Batman is born if he can survive his first visit.
O.M.A.C.: O.M.A.C. stands for One Man Army Corps or at least it used to. I rarely say this about a comic book because the writers and artists do things that I can't do, but I hate this book. I read the first issue and it didn't impress me and I never picked up the second issue. I never read any of the previous incarnations of O.M.A.C. as a comic book although I saw what Brother Eye and his O.M.A.C. soldiers did under the control of Maxwell Lord before Wonder Woman killed him in the last DCU and I wasn't a fan. I didn't like the writing in this book or the artwork, so I don't recommend it at all.
Men of War: I liked the backup story in this comic in the first issue, but liked both stories for the second issue. This is definitely a very specific genre of story and I'm not sure how it exactly fits into the greater DCnU yet. I'm going to give it a little while before I rule it out completely especially since I liked the back-up story, but if you don't like stories about soldiers in war even if they are fighting against super menaces, you won't like this story. Even if you do, the slow start from issue 1 may turn you off on this series as well.
Blackhawks: The first issue set the stage, but the second issue definitely shows you where this comic is going. Blackhawks is a covert paramilitary force under the control of the UN for fighting against threats that normal military forces cannot. They have state of the art hardware, but we quickly learn that as with any war, the other side may have already advanced beyond your own hardware. I really like this book after two issues, there's just the right mix of the fantastic with a real human story to keep me reading. If you liked the old Checkmate series from DC or even the old SHIELD series of the '70s and '80s from Marvel, then you should check out this book. It doesn't have all the WWII drama left over like the SHIELD books, but its definitely in that vein of high tech vs. high tech.
Teen Titans: These aren't the sidekick heroes making up their own team. In fact, Red Robin is the only one that has ever been a sidekick. The rest of them are just teens who developed superpowers and got on the radar of the organization known as N.O.W.H.E.R.E. from Superboy. Red Robin is using the training that Bruce Wayne gave him when he was Robin to help these young men and women survive and possibly even take the fight back to this new enemy. If you're a fan of teen aged superheroics or were ever a fan of the Teen Titans, then you should pick up this book. Scott Lobdell is doing an excellent, if slow at times, job of developing these characters with fresh perspectives. Although, if you're looking for Raven, she's not here and I find myself not that upset by her absence.
Static Shock: All I can say is I read the first issue and I still don't like this character or his book. :( My recommendation is to save your money here unless you're a fan of the character.
Hawk and Dove: After two issues, I'm still not enamored of this book. It's an okay read, but I want to make sure that I understand that the first bad guy(s) are Hawk and Dove in a different color? Okay, so that's not quite right, but it's pretty much the gist of what's going on so far. Hawk and Dove are the avatars of war and peace and their first real confrontation is with another pair of avatars Condor and something (sorry, that's how much I didn't like it) who are avatars of something else. I don't really recommend the book unless you're a fan of the characters. The shame of it is that the development of Dawn Granger's (Dove) character in her secret identity is a better story than the main story so far.
Blue Beetle: This is a book to read whether you've ever read Blue Beetle in the past or not. Fresh perspectives on his origin with similarities to the past incarnation and good characterization by Tony Bedford so far. I really like this character even though I never read any of his series before even though they were recommended to me on several occasions. Blue Beetle gets his powers from a parasitic (maybe symbiotic) alien scarab and he got them by accident and his scarab is damaged otherwise it would have set him on a path of conquering Earth. I can't wait to see what happens when the scarabs real owners consisting of other hosts converted by their beetle scarabs get to Earth to see what's going on.
Legion Lost: I still want to like this book, but so far, I'm having a tough time of it. I like the characters from the Legion of Super-Heroes that are here and the writing by Fabian Nicieza is good. My problem is the setting and I still don't understand how we got here completely and what the lost Legionnaires are going to do about everything. If you don't understand that, the premise of the story is that a virus that will alter human DNA to give anyone it comes into contact with some kind of super power, which may or may not ultimately kill them, has been released into present day earth by a nut job from the future. The Legionnaires who are now lost in our era due to their time machine being damaged failed to stop this from happening and are now trying to deal with it; so far, they're batting a losing streak on that just like with stopping the virus from being released to begin with. It's a very depressing tale so far, which I'm really not used to from Nicieza. I have no recommendation as I think some might actually like this sort of series, and I'm not sure it's bad as much as it just doesn't seem to be for me.
Legion of Super-Heroes: In the thirty first century of Earth, tweens from all of the universe have been inspired by the Heroic age and especially the exploits of Superman. Due to the philanthropic nature of an alien named R.J. Brande who's life 3 of them saved, they have been funded and become a legion of super-heroes who fight against the evils of their century on Earth and throughout the United Planets. This series picks up where the last series left off with some minor events having happened in between. They are cut off from time travel to the past though by the Flashpoint barrier, which is why they cannot mount a rescue of the Legionnaires from the previous title. Now they are trying to move forward after the loss of key members and the incorporation of their last class of trainees. This is still the Legion of Super-Heroes and if you've ever been a fan of the book, then you should pick up this series too. It's a good read.
Well, that's more than enough for today. Have fun and thanks for reading.
Well, month 2 of DC's New 52 ended with last week's new comics. When DC made the announcement for the New 52 and the relaunch of a new DC Universe, I was skeptical. My thoughts went back to Heroes Reborn by Marvel in the nineties, or even Heroes Return, both of which were, to say the least less than impressive. The New 52 has been the exact opposite of that though; not only have I enjoyed the relaunch overall, but I've even found myself checking out new characters and series that I really thought I was going to not buy at all.
After two months, here's my rundown of the entire 52:
Justice League: This book rocks. The current arc is set 5 years before the current events of all of the other books of the New 52. It is a pivotal book as it is the establishing book for how the Justice League is formed and comes together. Darkseid is coming and if you're not reading to find out how it all happens, you're missing out. I even have to say the Superman vs. Batman "fight" of the 2nd issue while several nay-sayers were criticizing it before it ever happened was fresh and new - Superman won, not Batman and in the way you would expect - Batman expended his utility belt on him and Superman asked him what else he had. The fact that Geoff Johns is writing and Jim Lee is pencilling is just icing on the cake for this series. Read this book no matter who you are!!!
Justice League International: The Justice League International is a PR stunt by the UN, but with the people you're familiar with from the old JLI. I'm not overly impressed with the book, but it's not a horrible read. One of my problems with it is that other than being a fan of some of the characters and enjoying the direction they seem to be taking Booster Gold as a leader, I don't really know what the book is about yet, other than having been an opportunity to put the JLI back together again. If you're a fan of the characters (Booster Gold, Rocket Red, Fire, August General in Iron, Ice, Vixen, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Batman) I'd say try the book and you'll probably like it. If you're a fan of the old JLI, I'd say pick it up for sure. If you're neither of those, you're probably going to have to make up your mind. I'm going to see it through this first arc and hope there's a payoff because I like the characters and that development, but story-wise, I think something is missing.
Aquaman: He does not talk to fish as he so eloquently put it in the first issue. This is not your father's Aquaman or for that matter even my Aquaman. This is Aquaman as he always should have been. He has always had the strength to withstand the depths of the Marianas Trench and this relaunch of this character shows that power. This book shows why Aquaman is and should be a member of the Justice League, go buy it - he makes Namor, the Sub-Mariner, look like a flying fish from here on out. Even if you've never been a fan of Aquaman, I recommend this book as it will make you a fan of Aquaman.
Wonder Woman: Alright, I'm ticked off that they went back to the shorts for Wonder Woman instead of leaving her in the pants from the last arc of the previous series, "Odyssey". This book is still a good read - Wonder Woman is back in the mythos of her origins in this book and I love it. Wonder Woman is still the ultimate heroine of all superhero books, and she never stops proving it no matter how many times they relaunch her title. Now go out there and buy her book, she deserves your respect and a read.
The Flash: Barry from the beginning. Barry Allen has and always will be The Fastest Man Alive even if you are a Wally West Flash fan, you know Barry Allen deserves to be the Scarlet Speedster. This book starts not quite at the beginnig again, but it is definitely a book where Barry is still figuring out his powers including that if he lets the speed force (the power that Barry and almost every DC speedster gets their speed from) work on his brain as well, then he can think at a level no one else can because his brain will process information so quickly. The bad guy in this book is still a mystery; yes, there are the clones known as Mob Rules who appear to be the bad guys, but I'm not sure they're the real threat here. If you're a fan of any Flash, read this book and get in on the ground floor of all DC speedsters.
The Furty of Firstorm: This is a series that I had not planned on reading. I've never been a fan of the character, but Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone are writing a tale that has pulled me in. The characterization is amazing from the typical jock nature of Jason Rusch who actually is more than that to the nerdist talking down to people he thinks are stupid in Ronnie Raymond - what you think is stereotypical in these characters, you quickly learn like for most of us in high school is the surface that everyone else sees and not who these two young men truly are. If you like a book with characters worth getting to know and a fresh perspective on an old DC character that I don't think ever got his fair shake, pick up this book. It's definitely worth the read.
Captain Atom: Captain Atom is another series that I didn't plan on picking up. I'm still reading it for the moment only because I want to see what they're doing with Captain Atom. Overall, other than development of the character, I'm not liking the series so far though. I think part of the problem is that we're at the beginning for Captain Atom though, and I'm struggling with enjoying watching him figure out his powers as slowly as he seems to be in the series so far. I like J.T. Krul as a writer, but I really hope he picks up the speed on this book soon. I'm going to keep going through the first arc, but it better be where I need it to be when it gets there. I'd say if you're a fan of the character, the writer (J.T. Krul), the artist (Freddie Williams II), or you don't know the previous version of this character, pick up the book; otherwise, I think you may be bored with the book.
Green Arrow: Another book by J.T. Krul, and while similar in its semi-origins aspect as Captain Atom, it's not as slow. The book picked up quickly and has some interesting back story going on in the corporate side of Oliver Queen's life as much as the action taking place in the Green Arrow side of Ollie's life. The first issue made me think I was going to hate this book because it seemed like they had made Green Arrow more of Batman with a bow, but that's also what hooked me at the end as well. Green Arrow has always been Batman with a bow, and it's that bow that makes the significant difference. He may just be a guy who can shoot a bow, but he's got a conscience and a moral code that drives him to heights even Superman may at times be struggling with in the DCnU. The book also takes a stab at the evils of technology and our own social worship of "trending" items on You Tube, etc. It's about time someone showed us the problem with us giving a video of someone getting injured in a You Tube video getting millions of hits. Pick up this book, it's definitely worth the read, and I think it will only get better.
The Savage Hawkman: All I can say is Carter Hall is a brute and this series shows Hawkman for the fighter he is. Even when he's losing the fight from the end of the first issue and into the beginning of the second issue, you see why Carter Hall is a hero. This is one of the bloodier and grittier books of the DCnU, so I don't recommend it for younger children, but for teens and adults as indicated, it's a great book, go pick it up. I should also mention that this is a book that I had only planned on picking up the first issue of, but I am definitely hooked as long as Tony S. Daniels is writing it at this level.
DC Universe Presents: This series is billed as a series to highlight those heroes who do not have their own books (yet...possibly). The first arc concentrates on Deadman and how and why he is who he is. So far, I like this book. Deadman doesn't comprehend why he's helping a bunch of people and being left with portions of their memories...the goddess who made him this way explains it to him, but he's not buying what she's selling and sets out on his own quest to figure it out. It's definitely a new angle on this old hero and it's about time he got a little bit of credit. If you're a Deadman fan, you should be reading this book right now.
Mister Terrific: So, this was the temporary replacement for the Justice Society until their relaunch next year it seems. Although the new JSA will be firmly placed on Earth 2 and not here on Earth Prime. While I like what they've done with the character, the story hasn't grabbed me yet after two issues. Mister Terrific is more pompous than ever and that he is missing the fact that Karen Star (aka Power Girl in another life) wants to have a real relationship with him despite his pining over his long dead wife just adds to my problems with the story. If you're a fan of the character, you might like this series; if you're not, I'd pass on it.
Action Comics: Like Justice League, this is a foundation book as it is set 5 years before current continuity and shows how Superman becomes Superman and the hero of Metropolis. Grant Morrison is doing a spectacular job on this book, and if you're not reading it, you have only yourself to blame for what you're missing. This is a Superman you can sympathize with and the sequence in issue 2 of him looking for his baby blanket (his cape; you knew that's where it came from right) for sentimental reasons brings that home more than anything. Although the scene of him using it for an actual blanket at the beginning of issue 3 adds to that human-ness in the character. This is a Superman that no one needs to invent a Doomsday to fight. Go buy it and read it already.
Superman: Okay, so I'm not a big Superman fan because he's Superman. I mean, what can stop Superman other than a Kryptonite mickey and Doomsday (the villain created specifically to highlight that Superman needs special villains). George Perez shows me why we should still love Superman though: Clark Kent. Much like the human side of Superman that Morrison is showing us in Action Comics, while this book belongs to Superman, Perez's snippets of Clark Kent show us the human side of the Man of Steel, and why Kal-El is as much a scared young man trying to fit into a world not completely his. I had an original complaint abou the fact that Lois and Clark were no longer Lois and Clark, but it highlights even more the loneliness of Superman's situation. I recommend this book even if I'm not a Superman fan.
Supergirl: Love the book, but fix the boots on the costume already. Kara Zor-El is Kal-El's (Superman) much older cousin. She used to babysit him when he was a baby on Krypton and she was a teenage. Little Kal is all grown up now and Kara remembers he was a baby yesterday when she last saw him. She doesn't know Krypton is destroyed until Superman tells her and her teenage attitude comes into play quickly in dealing with all of this. This is a great book and, so far, a fun read as well. It's definitely one of the titles I can' wait for each month, so I can find out how she ended up where she is to see if it's the same as either of the last two origins or not.
Superboy: Scott Lobdell is doing an awesome job on this book as he redesigns the origins of this clone of Superman (and Lex Luthor, though they haven't stated that yet in this series). Superboy before the end of the old DCU was a clone of those two, but we never really saw the origin from the beginning. This time we see him as he emerges from the test tube for the first time after what I have decided is definitely the evil organization N.O.W.H.E.R.E. created him. If you're a fan of young heroes who haven't yet figured out they're supposed to be heroes, read this book. Superboy is definitely a young man who needs to find his place in the world, but to do so he has to get out from under his "mom" and "dad"; both of whom are not loving parents.
Batman: While the Bat-books are some of the few to not have drastic changes in them, they are definitely relaunched in the DCnU. Batman is back to his roots dealing with the craziness of Gotham. No high tech evil like Darkseid in these books. Batman is down in the streets searching for a serial killer who is using the worst villains of Arkham to slow down the Bat. Pick up this book no matter what, but especially if you're a fan of classic Batman.
Detective Comics: Everything I said about Batman above goes double for this book. Okay, so of the DC's characters, Batman is my favorite, but isn't he most people's. This book shows why we have come to love Batman. He's a street level hero, the average joe (well, okay, so he's a billionaire) who has trained his body and his mind to be at the peak of its very human ability, but yet he'll still walk into a trap knowing it's a trap to be the hero that Gotham needs as he so eloquently puts it at the end of the movie, "Dark Knight".
Batwoman: Okay, so I'm not sure why we have Batwoman now that we have Batgirl back, but the stories are definitely a darker side of Gotham and the Bat books that we don't see in Batgirl. And to say that a Bat-book shows you the darker side of Gotham means it's really dark here. Batwoman reads more as a horror story with a superhero trying to figure it out than a gritty, street level superhero book like most Bat-books. If you like dark, gothic horror with a superhero twist, check this book out. Do be advised that you may have to answer why Batwoman's alter ego dates other women for younger children though.
Batman: The Dark Knight: Like Batman and Detective Comics, this book brings Batman back to his roots even if it is emphasizing the newly formed Batman, Inc. unlike the other books. The fight scene in number 2 between Bruce Wayne and his assassin show why Batman is who he is. His knowledge of Gotham is why this is his city and why the villains of Gotham know that he should be respected if not feared.
Batman and Robin: No, not that Robin, this is Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al'Ghul and he's got all the attitude and bloodthirstiness to prove it. Batman has to learn to trust his son to work with him and be the hero he knows he can be if he tries, but does Bruce Wayne really know how to be a father even though he's raised two young boys to young adults as Robin. It seems that Bruce and Damian as well as Batman and Robin have a lot to learn in this book. I recommend this book especially if you want to see why Bruce Wayne should have never had children much less had children with the daughter of his arch-enemy.
Batwing: The Batman of Africa leaves something to be desired, maybe because we already have Batman in four of his own books, two proteges in the form of Nightwing and Red Robin in two other books, and two female versions of Batman (Batwoman and Batgirl), so I wonder if we really needed a Batman of Africa. The writing is good as is the artwork in this book. The hero is sponsored by Batman, Inc. and was trained by Batman to carry the mantle of the Bat in Africa. The story is even intriguing although I'm more interested in the background story that isn't fully being revealed yet then in the main story at this point. It seems that Batwing may not be or at least was not always the altruistic hero he appears to be on the surface. I do like this book, but in the myriad of the other Bat-books, I think it is my least favorite and I will probably stop reading after this first arc.
Batgirl: The one true Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, not Cassandra Cain or Stephanie Brown, but the real Batgirl is back in this series. Having regained the use of her legs a few years after her shooting and paralysis by the Joker, Barbara Gordon returns to her Batgirl identity. This is one of the Bat-books that is as much fun as it is gritty. Barbara Gordon exalts in the freedom of being Batgirl and she is not weighed by the tragedy that Bruce Wayne has gone through or even the tragedy that Dick Grayson (Nightwing/original Robin) has had. This book is a fun read and is as much about the character as it is about her smashing bad guys in the face. Gail Simone (writer) does a wonderful job on this book and with this character and it's easy to see that she loves this character.
Nightwing: I have always been a fan of the former boy wonder in his new identity as Nightwing ever since he changed from being Robin to Nightwing in the pages of the Teen Titans. This book takes him back to his roots as a carnie when Haley's Circus returns to Gotham and Nightwing becomes embroiled in the secret life of this circus that meant so much to who Dick Grayson was and would become despite the death of his parents unlike the man Bruce Wayne became after the death of his parents. I recommend this book to really get to know this former Boy Wonder and hero in his own right.
Catwoman: Judd Winick is spinning an interesting tale with Catwoman. Though are some issues that I have with the way the book started in the first issue, but the book seems to be finding its stride now and just did a poor job I think of depicting the human need for companionship even between strong solo characters like Batman and Catwoman to start with. By the end of the second issue, I definitely see promise in the series and I'm going to continue to give this book a chance. If you're a woman, you may not like Winnick's first issue, and it's possible it will offend you even if you're a man and a fan of Catwoman (it did me). The story has definitely gotten better as we moved through issue 2, and I really want issue 3 to come out now, so I can find out where it goes next.
Birds of Prey: I love this new team even with Oracle missing; she went back to being Batgirl after all. The team is now made up of Black Canary (still), Starling, Katana, and recent addition Poison Ivy. These ladies know how to bring a fight to the bad guys and how to deal with it if it gets brought to their doorstep. Duane Swiercznski is doing an excellent job of writing 3 of these 4 ladies (Poison Ivy just showed up at the end of issue 2, but I have confidence) and introducing us to the new incarnations of Canary, Ivy, and Katana and I really like the new character (maybe she's an old DC character that I'm just not familiar with) of Starling - so much like Lady Blackhawk was in the previous series, but very different at the same time. I love this book!!
Red Hood and the Outlaws: I hate what Scot Lobdell has done with Arsenal/Speedy/Red Arrow/Roy Harper in this book. He's turned him into a 15 year old in a grown man's body and I really hate it. I also hate the way he's depicting Starfire, although his interview makes it seem like that was just a poor method of trying to depict something; I'm not completely buying it though, and I think he's just backpedaling after all of the bad critiques on what he did with her. I do like what he's done with Jason Todd/Red Hood; it makes more sense to see a former sidekick of Batman proving that he didn't just convert to evil because he had a bad day when Joker killed him. The story from issue 2 is good, while issue 1 highlighted way too much of what I didn't like about the book. Hopefully, issue 2 is what this book will really be about and we can kind of forget the false start of issue 2.
Green Lantern: The only problem with this book is I'm not sure why it got a relaunch. The story continues from where it ended with the previous series, and it's still great. Sinestro is a Green Lantern again because the Guardians don't know how to stop him from being one since they can't get the green ring off his finger. Hal Jordan is no longer a green lantern until Sinestro gives him a green lantern ring with a twist - it's completely under Sinestro's control. Geoff Johns continues to twist and turn the Green Lantern series with every issue, and unless you absolutely hate Green Lantern or Johns, you should read this book.
Green Lantern Corps: So far, I've got no idea what this book is about other than Guy Gardner and John Stewart, green lanterns .3 and .4. The writing is good, and the villain is definitely a major threat, but sometimes I think the Green Lantern Corps should be about the other green lanters (the non-Earth ones) and not always center on the ones from Earth. I would much whether see Arissa leading a team of green lanterns to stop some major threat than Guy Gardner and John Stewart. If you're a fan of the Corps, pick up the book, otherwise just stick to the main Green Lantern title.
Green Lantern: New Guardians: So far, I like the direction that I think this book is going in. The problem with this book is I'm not sure where it's going yet though, so I'm just making all kinds of assumptions so far. The book is good because of that though, Kyle Rayner (Green Lantern .2) suddenly has a ring from all 7 corps wanting to be on his finger, which has made the various other corps none too happy with him. It also seems to have greatly aggravated the current guardians, which I think is the point. I think the new guardians are about to usurp the guardians and their citadel on Oa and I think the new guardians will be made up of one member from each corps as designated by Kyle Rayner. Get in on the ground floor with this book because I think this is going to be a game change for how the various Lantern Corps work.
Red Lanterns: This book is a strange read so far. Atrocitus, leader of the Red Lanterns, is out to change his corps of rage and slaughter into a corps of rage and vengeful justice. In his eyes, rage's purpose should be to avenge those who have been wronged and spurred into rage and not just to rage against everything. His new lieutenant Bleez has been given her intelligence back to set about achieving this very specific goal, although she seems to have some more subtle and possibly ulterior motives at heart. I'm recommending this book although I originally wasn't going to even pick it up.
Justice League Dark: What happens when a powerful sorceress goes absolutely insane? What happens when the person you think is helping to assemble a group to stop that insane sorceress proves to be assembling the other supernatural heroes to be slaughtered by the insane sorceress? Read this book and find out because I've been surprised in both issues so far. Peter Milligan is writing this series that stars Zatanna, Shade, Deadman, and John Constantine as they fight against Enchantress (and now, Madame Xanadu). The interesting take is that as the story progresses you learn that all those who seem to be a part of the supernatural powers of the DCnU are all just a little insane and slightly broken inside. I recommend this book, especially if you like something just south of the superhero genre in darkness and powersets.
Swamp Thing: Alec Holland has yet to become the Swamp Thing, the previous Swamp Thing that everyone thought was Holland was just a simulacrum based on Holland. The time is quickly coming though where Alec Holland needs to become the Swamp Thing, the strongest knight of the Green ever or the Rot will take over our world and everything will die. Another of the books highlighting the darker corners of the DCnU, and well worth the read - remember to pick up Animal Man as well though as these two books appear to go together as the 3 sides of a war with the Green and the Red on one side against the Rot on the other side.
Animal Man: Buddy Baker used to think his powers came from an alien race who gave him the ability to touch the morphogenic field (the energy field of all life), but he was wrong. Buddy's powers actually come from the Red and all has been orchestrated by them up to this point. And the main character isn't Buddy Baker, but his daughter Maxine who is destined to be an avatar of the Red in their battle against the Rot. I wasn't going to buy this book, but it hooked me in the first issue. This is Animal Man in a way you've never seen him before with a new origin and mythos being written before our eyes, go start reading it before you have to wait for a trade paperback that's already been spoiled by me in this blog.
Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.: So far, this book is just a fun read. After all, who can resist a comic book about monsters fighting monsters more evil than you thought they were. Frankenstein and The Bride; 3 science projects reminiscent of a vampire, werewolf, and the creature from the Black Lagoon; and a mummy fight Cthulhu level monsters in this book to defend the world. It's reminiscent of BRPD, but with a cast of characters you already know from the beginning. Did I mention that their leader is what apppears to be a fourteen year old girl? If you just want a fun book to read, read this one. It gets a little dark at times, but when dealing with the supernatural that's to be expected.
I, Vampire: I am lost in the normal routine of this book. Vampirella does it better. If you want to read a book about vampires who don't sparkle set in the DCnU, read it. Otherwise, save your money.
Resurrection Man: I like the main character in this book, but I have yet to see a common story thread running through the book. I'm slightly confused even though they have already revealed that Heaven and Hell are both out to capture Mitch Shelly (Resurrection Man). I'm sticking with the title just to see where it goes, but I don't recommend it at this point.
Demon Knights: The DC Universe goes to the dark ages in this series. Etrigan the Demon and his team of Madame Xanadu, Vandal Savage (yes, that Vandal Savage), and Zauriel the Shining Knight among others fight against Morganna and Mordred for the remains of Camelot in this series. Sometimes not by choice. The series is a fun read even if it's billed as being part of the darker side of the DCnU. Paul Cornell is an excellent writer and this book really shows it. It helps that he's British and the book is set in the olden days of his homeland. I recommend this book for fans of Etrigan or fantasy comics and anyone else who wants a fun read that isn't completely superhero.
Stormwatch: One of the three titles to cross over from the Wildstorm comics of old and doing an awesome job of integrating itself in the DC Universe. If the Justice League is the team to fight against the threats no one else can deal with alone, then Stormwatch is the team to fight against the threats we didn't even know existed including probably themselves at some point. This book is darker and grittier than the main line of DC comics, but it is definitely a part of the universe as a whole. i can't wait for the Stormwatch vs. Justice League arc. If you were a fan of Wildstorm previously and if you've ever been a fan of DC comics, you should try this book.
Voodoo: The second of the three titles crossing over from the Wildstorm line. Priss is bene upgraded and is no longer half Kherubim/half Daemonite but is fully alien. She's an alien shapeshifter (possibly full Daemonite, but the Grifter series puts this into serious doubt) here for some unknown reason and our government wants her brought in for interrogation and experimentation to figure out why. Voodoo got an upgrade with telepathy in this series and doesn't just possess people anymore, but reads their minds and changes her form to match theirs. If you were a fan of Voodoo from WildC.A.T.S. before, you'll like her here to; she's better than ever. This book is more mature than the normal superhero line though, so I don't recommend it for the younger children, but I do recommend it for everyone else.
Grifter: The third of the three series originally from Wildstorm. Cole Cash is a grifter and con man extraordinaire until he's kidnapped by aliens who possess humans for some ulterior motives. Now he's been left with the ability to hear and see these aliens, so he's the only that can fight against them. Sounds like a raw deal for a street hustler until you find out that he used to be Army special ops. This book is Grifter in a whole new way, but still fighting the good fight against the Daemonites who are completely different in the DCnU. Highly recommended.
Suicide Squad: Take a bunch of death row inmates with superpowers, put tiny bombs in their heads to control them and kill them with if they get out of line and then make them do whatever you want and you've got the Suicide Squad. Some of your favorite villains work for the government in clandestine operations against their will and if that's not enough for you, see how psychotic Harley Quinn really is...all this time, you thought proximity to the Joker made her insane, but in this series, you'll learn very quickly that she may be the one that cranks Joker's insanity to new levels. Bloody in the extreme, so not for the younger kids, but definitely a book worth reading especially if you have ever wondered about the validity of conspiracy nuts.
Deathstroke: Deathstroke is the best mercenary in the DCU; supposedly he always has been. This series looks at what happens when people decide that Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke has past his prime and quickly shows us that not only has he not passed his prime, but he's even more brutal than ever. I'm not a fan of the villain comic book although I read my fair share in the nineties, but if you like that sort of book and lots of blood and mayhem, then you'll like this book.
All-Star Western: Jonah Hex is invited to Gotham City 100 years before Batman roams its streets and what he learns may leave him and pioneer crimin psychologist, Arkham Asylum, dead on arrival. If me telling you that this book is set in the Gotham City of the old west and that Jonah Hex was in it, you probably shouldn't read this book. This is the old Gotham City depicted in the limited series, The Gates of Gotham, and it sets down roots very quickly for why Gotham City is as corrupt as it is even in the modern era. Jonah Hex is just the man needed to bring justice to this town until Batman is born if he can survive his first visit.
O.M.A.C.: O.M.A.C. stands for One Man Army Corps or at least it used to. I rarely say this about a comic book because the writers and artists do things that I can't do, but I hate this book. I read the first issue and it didn't impress me and I never picked up the second issue. I never read any of the previous incarnations of O.M.A.C. as a comic book although I saw what Brother Eye and his O.M.A.C. soldiers did under the control of Maxwell Lord before Wonder Woman killed him in the last DCU and I wasn't a fan. I didn't like the writing in this book or the artwork, so I don't recommend it at all.
Men of War: I liked the backup story in this comic in the first issue, but liked both stories for the second issue. This is definitely a very specific genre of story and I'm not sure how it exactly fits into the greater DCnU yet. I'm going to give it a little while before I rule it out completely especially since I liked the back-up story, but if you don't like stories about soldiers in war even if they are fighting against super menaces, you won't like this story. Even if you do, the slow start from issue 1 may turn you off on this series as well.
Blackhawks: The first issue set the stage, but the second issue definitely shows you where this comic is going. Blackhawks is a covert paramilitary force under the control of the UN for fighting against threats that normal military forces cannot. They have state of the art hardware, but we quickly learn that as with any war, the other side may have already advanced beyond your own hardware. I really like this book after two issues, there's just the right mix of the fantastic with a real human story to keep me reading. If you liked the old Checkmate series from DC or even the old SHIELD series of the '70s and '80s from Marvel, then you should check out this book. It doesn't have all the WWII drama left over like the SHIELD books, but its definitely in that vein of high tech vs. high tech.
Teen Titans: These aren't the sidekick heroes making up their own team. In fact, Red Robin is the only one that has ever been a sidekick. The rest of them are just teens who developed superpowers and got on the radar of the organization known as N.O.W.H.E.R.E. from Superboy. Red Robin is using the training that Bruce Wayne gave him when he was Robin to help these young men and women survive and possibly even take the fight back to this new enemy. If you're a fan of teen aged superheroics or were ever a fan of the Teen Titans, then you should pick up this book. Scott Lobdell is doing an excellent, if slow at times, job of developing these characters with fresh perspectives. Although, if you're looking for Raven, she's not here and I find myself not that upset by her absence.
Static Shock: All I can say is I read the first issue and I still don't like this character or his book. :( My recommendation is to save your money here unless you're a fan of the character.
Hawk and Dove: After two issues, I'm still not enamored of this book. It's an okay read, but I want to make sure that I understand that the first bad guy(s) are Hawk and Dove in a different color? Okay, so that's not quite right, but it's pretty much the gist of what's going on so far. Hawk and Dove are the avatars of war and peace and their first real confrontation is with another pair of avatars Condor and something (sorry, that's how much I didn't like it) who are avatars of something else. I don't really recommend the book unless you're a fan of the characters. The shame of it is that the development of Dawn Granger's (Dove) character in her secret identity is a better story than the main story so far.
Blue Beetle: This is a book to read whether you've ever read Blue Beetle in the past or not. Fresh perspectives on his origin with similarities to the past incarnation and good characterization by Tony Bedford so far. I really like this character even though I never read any of his series before even though they were recommended to me on several occasions. Blue Beetle gets his powers from a parasitic (maybe symbiotic) alien scarab and he got them by accident and his scarab is damaged otherwise it would have set him on a path of conquering Earth. I can't wait to see what happens when the scarabs real owners consisting of other hosts converted by their beetle scarabs get to Earth to see what's going on.
Legion Lost: I still want to like this book, but so far, I'm having a tough time of it. I like the characters from the Legion of Super-Heroes that are here and the writing by Fabian Nicieza is good. My problem is the setting and I still don't understand how we got here completely and what the lost Legionnaires are going to do about everything. If you don't understand that, the premise of the story is that a virus that will alter human DNA to give anyone it comes into contact with some kind of super power, which may or may not ultimately kill them, has been released into present day earth by a nut job from the future. The Legionnaires who are now lost in our era due to their time machine being damaged failed to stop this from happening and are now trying to deal with it; so far, they're batting a losing streak on that just like with stopping the virus from being released to begin with. It's a very depressing tale so far, which I'm really not used to from Nicieza. I have no recommendation as I think some might actually like this sort of series, and I'm not sure it's bad as much as it just doesn't seem to be for me.
Legion of Super-Heroes: In the thirty first century of Earth, tweens from all of the universe have been inspired by the Heroic age and especially the exploits of Superman. Due to the philanthropic nature of an alien named R.J. Brande who's life 3 of them saved, they have been funded and become a legion of super-heroes who fight against the evils of their century on Earth and throughout the United Planets. This series picks up where the last series left off with some minor events having happened in between. They are cut off from time travel to the past though by the Flashpoint barrier, which is why they cannot mount a rescue of the Legionnaires from the previous title. Now they are trying to move forward after the loss of key members and the incorporation of their last class of trainees. This is still the Legion of Super-Heroes and if you've ever been a fan of the book, then you should pick up this series too. It's a good read.
Well, that's more than enough for today. Have fun and thanks for reading.
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