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Nice to see a comic review up. Keep'em coming.
Title: Action Comics #1
Written by: Grant Morrison
Art by: Rags Morales and Rick Bryant
Published by: DC Comics
Grade: A
DC’s oldest title carries a huge responsibility, and with Grant Morrison at the helm, it’s clear that the company takes it very seriously. Morrison’s considerable fan base and unabashed enthusiasm for the Man of Steel makes him the ideal choice for the job, and he doesn’t disappoint. Action Comics #1 has everything: train crashes, last-minute rescues, a strangely cocky Superman and some guy named Luthor scheming from the shadows. It’s six months after Superman has first appeared: he hasn’t got the costume quite worked out yet and TPTB in Metropolis still consider him a menace, but it’s not like they have anything that’s going to stop him.
Morrison borrows heavily from Spider-Man in his reimagining, with Clark Kent a nervous cub reporter (and competing with Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane, who work for a rival paper) and Supes the confident, ass-kicking go-getter he always wished he could be. It sets the perfect tone for a re-imagining: true to the spirit of the character while still finding fresh new wrinkles in the age-old story. The inaugural issue feels breathless and fast-paced, but never rushed. It conveys a breathtaking amount of material and information with excitement and flair, plunging us into this new Superman’s world without looking back. DC couldn’t have hope for better results, delivering all the imagination and creativity this relaunch promised. If this is a gimmick, they should have done it years ago.
Title: Batwing #1
Written by: Judd Winick
Art by: Ben Oliver
Published by: DC Comics
Grade: C-
Look, it’s not that I thought that Batman Inc. was a bad idea, it’s just that… well, I thought Batman Inc. was a bad idea. Grant Morrison aside, it smacked too heavily of cashing in on the character’s status rather than coming up with anything interest. Batwing, the continuation of that notion in the DC relaunch, does very little to alter that perception.
The title character fights crime in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a desk-bound policeman who dons some familiar-looking armor to do battle with the local miscreants. It’s a hard sell from the beginning, and while writer Judd Winick finds a credible mystery for his hero to pursue, we can’t delve into it without first learning more about the character. “He’s like Batman in Africa,” isn’t good enough, and too much of his backstory plays like reheated tough guy pastiche. The constant voice-over fails to generate a proper sense of character, and the action scenes (penned by Ben Oliver) are scattershot and confusing. Oliver’s emphasis on close-ups destroys the proper sense of space, and Batwing fails to capitalize on the possibilities of its unique setting. Winick shows a great deal of enthusiasm for the character and may yet be able to show us why he deserves his own title. We’re going to have to wait at least a month for it to show up.
Title: Green Arrow #1
Written by: J.T. Krul
Art by: Dan Jurgens and George Perez
Published by: DC Comics
Grade: B
Green Arrow arrives with a solid, well-written story that feels right in keeping with the spirit of the Emerald Archer. Indeed, the only real problem comes from the fact that it doesn’t feel like much of a reboot: just more of the same from Oliver Queen, who steps into his new issue #1 like he hasn’t missed a beat. We find him in Paris, dealing with a trio of super-powered miscreants while dodging the power plays back in the boardroom of Queen Industries. Writer J.T. Krul hits upon a creative notion for the bad guys – they’re YouTube celebrities who film their own mayhem and post it – as well as demonstrating that a guy like Oliver doesn’t need super powers to take down guys like this. His snappy patter carries an appreciably barbed wit, and the arrow shticks work just well enough to deliver a few surprises.
Krul also works in the corporate side of Oliver Queen, with a CEO who may cause considerable trouble in the future and a weapons designer who doesn’t care for designing weapons (which ironically is exactly what makes him so good). Dan Jurgens and George Pereze provide solid visuals and while the Arrow’s new look is a little scruffy for my tastes, it still provides a sense of distinction for one of DC’s stalwart characters.
I suppose one could take a “we ain’t gonna fix it ‘cause it clearly ain’t broke” approach to the issue, given that the new Green Arrow looks an awful lot like the old one. But it highlights one of the difficulties DC has presented itself with this relaunch. If this is such a big change, why do things feel very much the same? And if the old stuff was so good, why all the hype and hoopla over the reboot? Green Arrow isn’t less entertaining by highlighting the problem; it’s simply the clearest embodiment we’ve seen thus far.
Title: Swamp Thing #1
Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Yanick Paquette
Published by: DC Comics
Grade: B-
Any new writer on Swamp Thing has to contend with the specter of Alan Moore, who so profoundly changed the line during his run in the 1980s that every reboot of every superhero since has glanced over its shoulder at it. Writer Scott Snyder is profoundly aware of the debt, and approaches his revamped Swamp Thing with the utmost of care.
We return to Alec Holland, restored from the dead after an unknown period as Swamp Thing and now trying to regain the semblance of a normal life. But the Green isn’t done with him yet, and the rise of a new threat brings Swamp Thing back into his life in a devastating way. Snyder hits all the right notes, from his Moore-esque soliloquy about the “secret violence” of plant life to the monster du jour who expertly invokes the horror that the line needs. The conflict between Holland and the Thing – an admittedly old comic book trope – provides some distinctiveness for the reboot, and while Yanick Paquette’s artwork could be better, the pacing of the issue works considerably well.
Swamp Thing’s biggest problem is that it clearly acts as the set-up for bigger developments to come. It’s a tried and true comic book formula – always leave the audience wanting more – but while many other reboot issues provide a sense of self-containment, this one holds little interest as a stand-alone effort. In order to appreciate it more fully, we’re going to have to wait for the whole picture. The good news is that it promises to be a good one. The bad news is that it’s still competing with Alan Moore.
Title: Batgirl #1
Written by: Gail Simone
Art by: Ardian Syaf and Vincent Cifuentes
Published by: DC Comics
Grade: B+
And now we come to easily the most controversial decision in the entire DC reboot: getting Barbara Gordon out of her wheelchair and back into the cape and cowl. Barbara became even more popular after her shocking injury at the hands of the Joker, and the move away from her Oracle persona has not gone down well with the fans. Among other things, she portrayed handicapped individuals as strong and capable people, and in a medium where nothing is set in stone, the permanence of her injury struck a deep and abiding chord.
Luckily, writer Gail Simone is acutely aware of those concerns and incorporates them into the narrative. Her background on Birds of Prey makes her one of the few qualified writers to bring Barbara back this way, and she expertly combines the old with the new in a way that pays respect to both.
Barbara herself seems pretty excited about being back in the saddle as well. After three years as Oracle, she’s received an unnamed cure and once more prowls the night as Batgirl. But the trauma of the Joker’s injury still haunts her, and her bubbly persona is tempered by lingering fears about point-blank shots. Simone finds a pitch-perfect tone for her heroine’s voice, as well as some low-rent punks for her to thrash and a larger, scarier threat who seems to believe she should have died that night when she answered the door.
It’s a solid re-introduction to the character, and while I confess I’ll miss her as Oracle, it’s loads of fun seeing her flying high again. The few sour notes to the issue come when Simone adheres a little too closely to Frank Miller’s “lucky rookie” lines from Year One. But she’s on the right track and more importantly, so is her heroine: ready to kick a little butt and bring some joie de vivre back into Gotham City crime fighting.
Title: Detective Comics #1
Written by: Tony S. Daniel
Art by: Tony S. Daniel and Ryan Winn
Published by: DC Comics
Grade: B
Speaking of not fixing what ain’t broke, DC Comics’ most popular character enters the relaunch looking pretty much exactly like he always has. Writer/artist Tony S. Daniel sticks pretty much to the basics in his “new” take on the Caped Crusader, adding some wrinkles but otherwise leaving things exactly as they are.
That’s not a bad thing. The Joker’s on the loose and running up quite a body count, prompting Batman to tear the city apart in search of him. The dynamic is 70 years old and still works great here. We can’t fathom the Joker’s motives, but he’s up to something and if Batman can’t stop him in time, even more people will suffer. Daniel plays up the mystery while keeping us firmly planted in the Caped Crusader’s shoes. Batman knows what the stakes are and whatever his nemesis is up do, it’s bound to shock and horrify us.
That last aspect is key because otherwise, the issue runs the risk of becoming the same old thing. But nothing’s ever easy with the Joker, and unless he can stun us as readily as the citizens of Gotham, there’s really no point to the exercise. Daniel saves the big reveal for the final page, leading to a jaw-dropping cliffhanger and an almost desperate need to find out what happens next. None of it is new or different, and it doesn’t have to be. DC’s namesake title has all the right elements behind it; it only needs to give them room to shine.
Love the comic reviews....if only if wasn't just DC.
Of all this new 52 line, I've only got the JLA with Jim Lee since I love his art, story was ok, but I at least can admit the new way DC is taking their character is bold and fresh.
I'm no fan of Grant morrison so, haven't gotten anything from him in DC.
I'm going to give this a chance. It's not just a one or two title re-launch which is why I can't see them reverting back in a year of later.
I've picked up JLA 1, Action Comics, Detective Comics so far. The Batman is pretty straight forward. Action #1 I can't say I was too impressed but it is a first issue. Will give it about 5 more issues and see.
I'm looking forward to GL#1 and New Guardians. And most of the Batman books. I think i'm going to give the Titans a whirl too, I enjoyed following Red Robin.
The titles have been good so far Bryzarro. I don't think you'll be dissapointed. Newsarama is reporting that DC owned for last Wednesday's sales, which obviously isn't a surprise but I hope they can keep up the momentum.
I saw Batgirl #1 and I really wasn't impressed. During her first run as Batgirl Barbara was a B-list hero at best and semi-retired by the time she got shot, but as Oracle she moved to the top of the A-list. DCs first cyber-superhero, leader of the Birds of Prey, and tech-support to the hero elite while Cassandra Cain took up the Batgirl suit and took it higher than Barbara ever had. To my thinking putting Barbara back in the suit is a bit of a demotion for her. She was so much better as Oracle while her replacements were so much better as Batgirl.
Plus there's also the wheelchair. Rob Vaux was right (and I think I just physically hurt myself saying that) about her being a positive roll-model for the handicapped. Pulling her out of the wheelchair without any kind of explanation how was not only the epitamy of lazy writing but it also undermined Oracles accomplishments, and with so many heroes coming back from serious injury and death it's important to have someone around to show that "miracle cures" don't always happen. I'd give the grade a definite C- if that.
I'm hoping the Green Lantern relaunch will go okay, but I'm told they're keeping the whole multi-spectrum mess. I hope I heard wrong on that. The whole Red Lanterns and Blue Lanterns and Black Lanterns and Plaid Lanterns were just getting too messy.
thanks for putting up a comics review! another great read on this site. Maybe we can get a X-men regenesis review in the future??
I don't know why people bitch about the multii hue lanterns. Johns really expanded the mythology, before he took over and brought these concepts most writers were rehashing the same old same old. Why do you think they killed off all the Lanterns and brought in Kyle Rayner? They had to do something drastic to get people interested in the character and while the Kyle thing as good at the beginning it didn't last long. But the sales pretty much speak for themselves. John's Green Lantern work has been one of DC's only consistent best sellers since he took over. I imagine a lot of people agree about the spectrum providing more story possibilities. And yeah, not only are the multi-spectrum still around but they are getting they're own book in addition to the red lanterns getting their own as well.
I'll agree on Barbara Gordon only because oracle was one of those rare character evolutions (nightwing also comes to mind) that worked. On the other hand DC is basicly revamping their entire line and although they kept the Killing Joke storyline it will be interesting to see what Gail Simone does with the character that inspired her to write comics to begin with. When I started reading comics Barbara was long gone but she was obviously a huge part of the mythos as Batgirl. She was a great addition to the Batman animated Timverse but the comics never really reflected that. Hopefully this new series will bring her new life.
yay more reboots. give it a year at best then another reboot will be in the works.
Barbara was awesome back in the days of Batman Family Comics. Remember, Dick and her almost had a thing going. Hip college Dick Grayson drooling over Washington D.C. Barbara Gordon.
Haven't picked up my comics from last week yet, but you dismiss Static because you say he's a Peter Parker clone and then praise Morrison for borrowing heavily from Spider-man in the new Action Comics.
The only book of the 52 I got so far was from the previous week which was Justice League #1, and I was underwhelmed. I love Jim Lee's art, but the story seemed contrived and forced. It kind of felt like when you played with toys as a little kid... hey Batman I'm Green Lantern... yeah suck rocks Green Lantern (as Bats disarms him)... Hi I'm Superman and both of you guys are scrubs (as Superman knocks out both GL and Bats). The reason for them to band together and form the JL just doesn't seem pressing to me. Contrast this to the DCAU version of the formation of the Justice League where there was a global threat, and basically they came together because Martian Manhunter put out a pyschic call... it just worked a lot better than this incarnation so far. I don't think I'm the biggest Geoff Johns fan either so that probably doesn't help.