All I picked up this week was the Fury of Firestorm. It was decent, but a little confusing. I think they needed to explain a couple things a little better (who are the terrorists, why are there two firestorms, what is Fury). I am guessing we get those questions answered in the next few issues, but still I got a little lost.
In other books, if anyone got Justice League Dark let me know how it is because I was somewhat intrigued, but didn't pick it up. The same goes for Flash.
Lisa: Poor predicatble Bart, always picks rock Bart: Good ole rock, nothing beats that
Aquaman #1. Cons: It's a quickie 5 minute read. Pros: Everything else, including being a very good quickie 5 minute read. Geoff Johns lovingly establishes Aquaman with a wink; his first appearance in the book is stopping an armored car robbery like a real bad ass, even getting shot by a machine gun point blank and shrugging it off, while the cops and the robbers both mock him. "Do you need a glass of water?" It goes a little over the top when Aquaman visits a seafood restaurant his father took him to as a child (complete with flashbacks) as the patrons (including a Harry Knowles lookalike) annoy him with the famous "Don't you talk to fish?" assumption (No, and Aquaman clarifies exactly what he does). Then Aquaman gets really annoyed by a fanboy blogger {"You're nobody's favorite superhero!"), storms off, and in a scene with Mera, sets up the new paradigm that he no longer wishes to be King of Atlantis and will protect the seas from the shore. Meanwhile, grotesque, piranha-man looking creatures rise from the bottom of the ocean and attack a fishing boat. Good stuff.
Batman: The Dark Knight #1. This was fine. Good art, writing was fine, but, not in the league of Batman #1 last week. Also, it's confusing: it featured an Arkham riot by all the super villains incarcerated that Batman faces down, but is this the same riot as the one in Batman #1? Or was this another riot? It ends with Two Face revealed looking all jacked up as Bane, and... huh? The most interesting stuff was Bruce Wayne facing a Gotham Police internal affairs agent who ham fistedly demands Bruce tell him WHO in the force is aiding and abetting the Batman?! Uh, why don't you just use binoculars to watch the roof of Police HQ and see who turns on the Batsignal? There was also a new very hot potential love interest for Bruce Wayne, but whatever. This was just "more" Batman; didn't seem essential. And I think I'm Batman-ed out.
Flash #1. Flash Fact: I've never dug the Flash. Any Flash. Never really read him. Flash #1 didn't change that. I mean, I guess it was good. Good action, nice art, established Barry Allen as single and having dated Iris West, but avoids her when he has work to do. Introduced a (new?) old friend of Barry's and a mystery, but it just didn't do anything for me.
Superman #1. Didn't love it. The best stuff happened in the first few pages when the history of the Daily Planet is narrated before the building is blown up to make way for the brand spanking new Daily Planet skyscraper. (Why it needs four helipads is beyond me.) A black, bald, goateed, Avery Brooks-looking Morgan Edge's Galaxy Communications purchased the Daily Planet. Perry White is still editor, Clark Kent is a reporter (unlike in Action Comics when he worked for the Daily Star five years ago), and Jimmy Olsen has a new female partner named Miko who Tweets and hacks into security systems. Lois Lane (whom Edge, her boss, still calls "Miss Lane") was the local news anchor of GBS news but now she's Executive Vice President of New Media (hey, Shane McMahon's old job! Sort of.). Also GBS news renamed itself PGN - Planet Global Network. A stupid and redundant name. There's also some sort of creature in the Himalayas with a giant horn tying into Stormwatch #1. As for Superman, he's more or less how he should be, flying around with all his powers intact. Superman takes on a mysterious flame being in a prolonged action sequence as Lois coordinates the news effort to chronicle the story for RATINGZ!! Clark scores an interview with Superman for a front page scoop (not titled "I Spent The Night With Superman"), but discovers Lois has a new boyfriend. And it's all just okay. Not Super.
I, Vampire #1. Moody vampire love story DCU style. Not much happens, actually. Andrew Bennett is a vampire who hunts and kills other vampires. His eternal life mate, Mary Queen of Blood, is sick of being a fourth class citizen in a world with Kryptonians, aliens, Amazons and masked men running around. She has declared war on the human race, despite Andrew's objections. Rules of vampires in DCU were established: Sunlight only weakens them and nullifies most of their powers; otherwise they can do everything Gary Oldman could do in Bram Stoker's Dracula. The art is pretty great, if you like this sort of thing. I only felt a little gay for reading this.
Justice League Dark #1. Like Justice League #1, it's a set up first chapter of how this team comes together. Unlike Justice League #1, it at least features every member of the team in the issue. Why, it even features as many members of the JLA - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Cyborg guest star, showing them ill-equipped (especially Superman) and failing against a crazed Enchantress hexing the world. Meanwhile, Madam Xanadu has a vision of a team that could meet mystical threats. Zatanna, Shade the Changing Man, June Moon, Deadman, John Constantine are all here but not as a team yet. It's real light on characterizations and expects you to know who all these obscure characters are. The threat itself isn't particularly clever. But the art is spectacular. Though I liked what I saw, I think I'll wait for the trade to see this one through.
Teen Titans #1. This was a lot like Justice League #1. It was basically a Red Robin and Wonder Girl meet/get to know each other adventure that didn't feature the Teen Titans, per se. But before that, it's a lot like the start of Marvel's Civil War: Kid Flash is an egocentric glory hound who uses his superpowers in an idiotic way that creates a tragedy and gets innocents killed. It gets kind of interesting in a series of news reports citing the rapid influx of superpowered metahuman teenagers in the world (echos of Kingdom Come). Tim Drake is kind of the Ozymandias of the teenage heroes and decides it's time to act and put together a group. Then he's attacked by Agents of N.O.W.H.E.R.E., the same people who are experimenting on Superboy. I didn't like or hate Teen Titans. I did hate Red Robin's wings. He's basically Hawkboy.
And thus ends my month of comics. What did I learn? The New 52 is touch and go. There's a lot of garbage, which is to be expected with 52 books. I also am much more interested in the 5 years ago era of the New 52, the dawn of the superhero, and I think DC sorely miscalculated by only having two books, Action Comics and Justice League, servicing that era. How many months will it take for the Justice League to assemble in its own book? Meanwhile, the JLA of "today" pops up in other books and every appearance takes the wind out of the sails of the Justice League "coming together" story.
The same with Superman; as fun as I found Grant Morrison's retro-revision of Superman, we now see that ugly armor aside, he's pretty much the same as before. Lois having a new job and there being a new Daily Planet building aren't exactly the revolutionary changes to the mythos DC advertised. Will Lois Lane being EVP of New Media for PGN rake in new readers? No, of course not.
Hell, will most of these books rake in new readers a few months from now?
On a personal note, I had no idea who Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire were before The New 52 and now I love them and their Batman, Animal Man, and even Frankenstein something fierce. Without The New 52, I'd never have read their work. Call that a win, DC.
Even after this first month of books, reported massive spike in sales aside, it's too early to call this thing a success or a failure. But I'm reading comics again until further notice, so win. But honestly, a twelve year old reading comics is worth five of me. Did they get those new readers they wanted?
Overall, I sort of like this new DC Universe. I do think it's a cleaner palette (though "clean" maybe the wrong term in some corners, the ones Catwoman and Starfire's 38DDs occupy) to craft superhero stories. As ever, it's up to the creators' talents and the decisions of editorial and management to guide this ungainly new DCU behemoth they've wrought. I think, for a while, they'll be fine.
Until some jackass decides it's time for a Crisis.
(edited by John Orquiola on 30.9.11 0303) @BackoftheHead
I think, for me, this is my jumping off point in following comics. There's nothing I've read in the DCnU (or reviews) that's compelling enough to keep me going on.
The characters don't seem like the same characters I grew up with - I know they are, and I know there's been reboots in the past, but something just feels different now. Truth be told, I've been looking for a good exit point for a while now (I think I last jumped heavily into comics when someone mentioned Identity Crisis on this site).
I'm sure I'll pick up the occasional TPB, but I'm done for now. I'll fix up the longboxes somewhere nice until my one-year-old son's old enough to discover them. I do hope that everything works out with this reboot.
Originally posted by The GoonI think, for me, this is my jumping off point in following comics. There's nothing I've read in the DCnU (or reviews) that's compelling enough to keep me going on.
The characters don't seem like the same characters I grew up with - I know they are, and I know there's been reboots in the past, but something just feels different now. Truth be told, I've been looking for a good exit point for a while now (I think I last jumped heavily into comics when someone mentioned Identity Crisis on this site).
I'm sure I'll pick up the occasional TPB, but I'm done for now. I'll fix up the longboxes somewhere nice until my one-year-old son's old enough to discover them. I do hope that everything works out with this reboot.
I'm about in the same boat. I'm on several of the #1's, but will drop them as they disinterest me. Already off nearly everything Marvel (dropped Spidey after OMD, dropped Ultimate stuff after Ultimatum). I've been gradually selling off my collection and focusing on getting more pre-1980 stuff. Pretty much everything from the 90's and 00's is meaningless in the long run aside from the stray storyline or mini like Long Halloween.
Originally posted by The GoonI think, for me, this is my jumping off point in following comics. There's nothing I've read in the DCnU (or reviews) that's compelling enough to keep me going on.
The characters don't seem like the same characters I grew up with - I know they are, and I know there's been reboots in the past, but something just feels different now. Truth be told, I've been looking for a good exit point for a while now (I think I last jumped heavily into comics when someone mentioned Identity Crisis on this site).
I'm sure I'll pick up the occasional TPB, but I'm done for now. I'll fix up the longboxes somewhere nice until my one-year-old son's old enough to discover them. I do hope that everything works out with this reboot.
There are plenty of good comics out there that are not DC or even Marvel.
Originally posted by odessastepsThere are plenty of good comics out there that are not DC or even Marvel.
Ditto. I buy more trades from Image Comics than any other company. Invincible, Walking Dead, Chew, and Proof are basically on auto-pre-order when new trades come out.
Originally posted by Scottyflamingodropped Spidey after OMD
BAD IDEA. Sure, One More Day was a terrible idea and story, but that's no reason to ignore the best Spider-Man has been in a looong time. Suck it up and read the comic. For fun. Like it's supposed to be.
Lloyd: When I met Mary, I got that old fashioned romantic feeling, where I'd do anything to bone her. Harry: That's a special feeling.
Spiderman is about fun, but its also about Peter. Even though Bendis is trying to prove you don't need Peter anymore, its going to fail like it did with Ben Reily. If Spiderman refuses to grow up then it might as well be Archie.
The Wee Baby Sheamus.
Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
Firestorm – I loved this. The first couple of pages...whoa. The initial meeting of Jason and Ronnie and the parallel panels with the two of them at home were awesome. I’ll read (almost) anything that involves the LHC. This was going along so well, then it kinda fell off the rails at the end. I didn’t know what the hell was happening. I’ll re-read this though, cause I’m definitely continuing with it.
The Savage Hawkman – It seems I like this a lot more than most other people. I think that’s because I have the benefit of having never read Hawkman before. I know nothing about his origin (or origins). I know exactly everything about Nth metal that Carter Hall says he does in the first couple of pages. What I know for sure is that this is the beginning of a new chapter in Hawkman’s story, and that’s all I need. Maybe some missing pieces will be filled in later. In future issues, I’d like to see more of Hall doing his day job – that’s what attracted me to this in the first place.
Justice League Dark – John Constantine is the only main character I know anything about (and not very much). It’s a great introduction piece. It’s also dark and twisted – right up my alley.
I also liked Blackhawks and Aquaman (I can’t believe that Aquaman being a laughingstock is a central theme of this book). I might continue with these as well.
As for the other stuff...
Superman was OK. But it was so dense. On paper, it’s nice to have something that takes longer than two minutes to get through, but this was maybe too much...too much narration.
With something called Batman: The Dark Knight, I expected a darker story. Something like what was in Detective Comics. I’m limiting myself to two Batman titles (Batman and DC).
I liked The Flash, but I feel I’ve already exceeded my monthly comic limit. I might pass on this. (That’s what you get for coming out last.)
I had to do some research after I read Voodoo. Then I read it again. It wasn’t bad, but it was just...simple? Barebones?
I ended up buying the full combo pack of all of this week’s titles. I might read All-Star Western and I, Vampire. And Animal Man should be waiting for me in the mail when I get home today. So there’s that.
Well, there it is. I’m exactly what DC was looking for: a new (and returning) comics reader. We’ll see how long it lasts.
Originally posted by samoflangeDitto. I buy more trades from Image Comics than any other company. Invincible, Walking Dead, Chew, and Proof are basically on auto-pre-order when new trades come out.
Morning Glories (recommended by Damon Lindelof) is one of my favorite things I've read in a long time (comics or otherwise).
Originally posted by J. KyleIf the Fire has an interface that's half as annoying as Marve's Digital Comics then I'm in.
My Kindle Fire was preordered before I even learned of the DC 100. I'll definitely be adding Watchmen, Dark Knight Returns, Sandman. You know, the classics.
Originally posted by odessastepsThere are plenty of good comics out there that are not DC or even Marvel.
Ditto. I buy more trades from Image Comics than any other company. Invincible, Walking Dead, Chew, and Proof are basically on auto-pre-order when new trades come out.
Originally posted by Scottyflamingodropped Spidey after OMD
BAD IDEA. Sure, One More Day was a terrible idea and story, but that's no reason to ignore the best Spider-Man has been in a looong time. Suck it up and read the comic. For fun. Like it's supposed to be.
Sorry, not doing it. Spidey is basically meaningless to me now. I appreciate the writers trying to do something, but OMD was such a slap in the face I just don't care.
Plus it is yet another example of writer's turning a comic into what they read as a kid.
I checked the new release schedule of New 52s this week and I was shocked to find Justice League #2 is not coming out this week. JL#2 is not being released until October 19, a full seven weeks after #1. I think this is absurd - they can't keep a four week release schedule for their flagship book? Who's to say this delay won't continue to occur? How long until we see the Justice League finally formed in a story set FIVE YEARS AGO? It'll be even longer now.
Originally posted by odessastepsThere are plenty of good comics out there that are not DC or even Marvel.
Ditto. I buy more trades from Image Comics than any other company. Invincible, Walking Dead, Chew, and Proof are basically on auto-pre-order when new trades come out.
Originally posted by Scottyflamingodropped Spidey after OMD
BAD IDEA. Sure, One More Day was a terrible idea and story, but that's no reason to ignore the best Spider-Man has been in a looong time. Suck it up and read the comic. For fun. Like it's supposed to be.
Sorry, not doing it. Spidey is basically meaningless to me now. I appreciate the writers trying to do something, but OMD was such a slap in the face I just don't care.
Plus it is yet another example of writer's turning a comic into what they read as a kid.
I would be more likely to lay blame at editors or executives for anything as big as the spidey marriage or retcons or the reheat. Writers are increasingly now writing the stories the suits want to see.
In general, i would not begrudge a writer unless they take credit for it, like winick did with the catwoman stuff last month.
Originally posted by odessastepsThere are plenty of good comics out there that are not DC or even Marvel.
Ditto. I buy more trades from Image Comics than any other company. Invincible, Walking Dead, Chew, and Proof are basically on auto-pre-order when new trades come out.
Originally posted by Scottyflamingodropped Spidey after OMD
BAD IDEA. Sure, One More Day was a terrible idea and story, but that's no reason to ignore the best Spider-Man has been in a looong time. Suck it up and read the comic. For fun. Like it's supposed to be.
Sorry, not doing it. Spidey is basically meaningless to me now. I appreciate the writers trying to do something, but OMD was such a slap in the face I just don't care.
Plus it is yet another example of writer's turning a comic into what they read as a kid.
I would be more likely to lay blame at editors or executives for anything as big as the spidey marriage or retcons or the reheat. Writers are increasingly now writing the stories the suits want to see.
In general, i would not begrudge a writer unless they take credit for it, like winick did with the catwoman stuff last month.
I'm referring to guys like Johns who I like, but he basically is just making DC the way it was when he grew up at the expense of characters like Wally West and Kyle Rayner that a lot of writers worked hard to get over.
And while he is an editor Quesada is a writer too and basically used OMD to get back to "swingin single Spidey".
Theres pribably an argument to be made that the reheat and some of the marvel stuff is an attempt to take characters back to an archtypal state, as a way to try and bring back lapsed readers and a mainstream audience in things like movies and tv shows.
(Sounds like wwe, doesnt it)
But i agree about dc alienating the 20-something fan.
Originally posted by odessastepsTheres pribably an argument to be made that the reheat and some of the marvel stuff is an attempt to take characters back to an archtypal state, as a way to try and bring back lapsed readers and a mainstream audience in things like movies and tv shows.
(Sounds like wwe, doesnt it)
But i agree about dc alienating the 20-something fan.
Agreed that is part of their logic, but it isn't smart IMO. What are you supposed to do, write 60 years of stories with Lois Lane in a love triangle with Clark and Superman? Very redundant.
And if you move forward, it makes the old stories more important. I know that when I first got into comics, I heard that Spider-Man was married, so that made me want to see how that came about.
one of my friends has given up on DC and Marvel, mainly saying "are there really any new stories to tell with people like superman or batman or spider-man?"
my biggest issue is people who are now 3rd or 4th generation fanboys who are now in positions of power and their stories read like warmed over fan fiction. (colored lanterns for one)
$12.96 on Amazon.ca (The W at Amazon.ca). There's nothing stopping you from buying the bundle and just downloading the one book if that's all you want, but you can't just buy the one book, what with it being a bundle and all.
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