Week 4: Final week of ones1!

I am a little late on this one, but what is new. Again, like last week, I will be putting these in the order of my favorite to my least favorite.

Teen Titans: First up we have this. I was really hoping to like this book (I swear I'm not fooling myself here) and it turned out really well. It followed in the foot steps of Justice League by only really introducing some of the team, but I feel it did better because it intro-ed the most prominent cover characters and left the rest to cameo on a computer screen. So it at least gave you a little of each character. I really loved this book because it has my long time favorite character Tim Drake as Red Robin setting up this team, and I still have the smart kick ass Tim that had been developing for the last while in the old DCU. The only draw backs of the issue are that I don't like Kid Flashes cowl on the cover (does not make sense for arrow dynamics), how does Red Robin's wings stop 50 cal shells and protect his head and spine (it doesn't), and what is up with the fanboyish picture of Batman and robin he has? That stuff was just weird, easily fixed, or forgotten with coming issues. Over all though this was my kind of first issue, it gives you enough to get you invested, without giving so much that you are inundated.

All Star Western: Great western book, and I am a big fan of Jonah Hex. Great first issue It was a little on the pricey side, but I think it is worth it. My only gripe with the book it that Gotham is not a western city. It is east coast, maybe mid-west at best. I was strange seeing Hex team up with Arkham at first but his inner monologue about Hex was interesting enough, and I grew to like it and the book a great deal.

Justice League Dark: This is another one out of left field. When I read the title for the first time I immediately jumped to Dark Avengers in my mind, and I was not to far off. These are not bad guys in the role of the JL but magical alternates, but they are taking on a witch in the first ark, much like the first ark or Dark Avengers. Any who, this was a really cool book and it was an interesting first look at the big three together (Failing), since we have not seen them together in Justice League yet. The introduction to the Dark Leaguers has definitely got me interested and I think Superman said it best, "This smell is insane," because this book is crazy in a very good way. Sups being taken down by a hurricane of human molars, a bunch of mindless clones walking into traffic (Yea DC is stretching the T rating), and allusion to cows giving birth to machines (they didn't show that). While it was nice seeing the big three in this book, but it felt like they were just there and then beaten very quickly without any smooth transition from the other magics guys, it felt clunky. Needed though it was, it did not take away from the book and it made its way to the upper end of the week.

The Flash: I have been waiting for a flash book that is both good and is not weighted down with the like 50 years of back story and this did it. I have no qualms with the book at all it was just a good comic. The art was really great and the different shots in here were very cool, the splash page on 5 and 4, the falling on page 10, and the overhead shot on 21. These were very unique and well placed. I hope to see more issues like this.

Green Lantern New Guardians: I did not know what I was getting into with this book, and i kind of still do not know. Of all the Green Lantern books out this one does the best of explaining and or showing what is going on. It doesn't develop much of the story, but it has me intrigued with what will happen.

I, Vampire: This was a good book, but I am not much of a fan of vampires. I might check out the second issue just to see what is happens. I really liked the way this book played with the timeline of the story though.

Batman The Dark Knight: This was a sub par Batman book overall. A bad mirror image of Batman issue 1. The art was kind of weird on Bruce Wayne's face half the time, he looked like a duck in every other panel. It told the same stuff we already know from Batman 1 and it felt a Little over the top. Then you have the end with one-face?!

Superman: I am not a superman fan and this reminded me why. It was not very interesting and it was a very wordy book. Superman did not seem like he was the focus of this book and the villain he was fighting was as easily forgotten as he was easily beaten. the only redeeming part of the book was the final page of sad Clark leaving Lois and her boy friend in her apartment. I might only find this part enjoyable just because I don't really like Superman as a character.

Voodoo: This was a bad book. It is all talking and then a killing, and we don't really learn anything about anyone for sure. Its only redeeming quality was it was pretty to look at and it took place in a strip club the entire time (i guess that's redeeming).

The Fury of Firstorm The Nuclear Menmercs break into school looking for super science stuff that is defended by kids (kind of like home alone 3). Also the science if poorly explained and the nerd just happens to be super smart out of nowhere at the end.

Aquaman: I have never been a fan of Aquaman, and this book didn't turn that around. It was a long Aquaman joke and there was not real action.

The Savage Hawkman: I felt the same way about Hawkman coming in as I did Aquaman, and this did even worse than that. first Hawkman is pissed at his costume, so he sets it on fire then, in turn, it sets him on fire, and he wakes up later with the Hawkman (?) inside him.(Just think a rally lame Venom)

Black Hawks: Bad Jokes go: "Black Hawks? more like Lack Hawks", "Sweet, I didn't know DC got the rights to G.I. Joe", and "I don't always read bad comics, but when I do I make mine Black Hawks."

WEEK THREE!

Week three has been read, and I will try something new for the week three comics. Instead of posting in alphabetical order I will put them in order of best to worst, in my opinion. Here we go.

First we have Batman. This was not a far departure from the Batman we know and love. I am impressed with how the book starts off by not so much telling us, but showing us Batman's rouges as he kicks most of there asses. Some of them have been through changes and the new Blackmask looks pretty different, I hope they have also changed his story because I never really liked the whole 'just another crime boss' thing he had. I loved the interaction between Damian and Tim, priceless. Over all it was just another Batman book, but the best Damn Batman book out!!

Catwoman. That is right, the controversial book of the week. Though, I think I literally fell in love with it, more specifically Catwoman. I know what everyone is saying, but I think this book isn't as sexist as all that (just wait till I get to Redhood and the outlaws.) For one I feel like Catwoman is a well rounded character in this book and her sexuality that is portrayed was just a facet of her character. To say that the book is sexist is to not be looking at the book in its entirety. Yes, Catwoman is very sexual and she has your typical comic book female figure, but the other prominent woman in the book is not your typical comic book amazon. Lola the former show girl could have been just another piece of eye candy, but instead was a mature woman whose age showed. Second, Lets face it. Batman and Catwoman had to get it on sooner or later. And weather or not they are doing it in the last panel is questionable. On the cover, page 6, and 27 you can see that the zipper on her cat suit does not go low enough to facilitate coitus. I also loved that Cat's faces while she was leaping out of the building.

Green Lantern Corps: Much better than GL in my opinion. They made Guy seem like less of an jerk, and John was cool. This book also told you a lot of what you needed to know with out hitting you over the head with it.

Nightwing: I have wanted my Nightwing book back for so long now, and they didn't disappoint me with this one. This was a very well rounded book. It had a little introduction, a little exposition,and a little action. Dick going back to the circus is a little played out, but it helps new readers know his background and I wouldn't have gotten the best circus clown line in the book. "How do you think I've been...I'm a clown doin' a show in Gotham. Terrible."

Red Hood and the Outlaws: Despite the controversy, I really really want to see where this book is going. I also have no defence of what was going on with Star Fire. I guess she is just really easy in the DCnU now. To that point, I feel it is just very gratuitous what they seem to be doing with her. It would make a lot more sense if they gave her her own reasons instead of having Jason explain everything. They could have fixed her, in my mind, if they only had her say something like "On my planet BLAH BLAH BLAH free sexuality BLAH BLAH BLAH wanna do it?" and be done with it. You don't have to show the fan service and sexual aftermath. Despite all that they grabbed me. I like seeing good guys doing good the bad way, but they didn't tell me enough, in this one books, for me to even know that is actually going on. I'm hoping Roy and Jason are kind of scorned side kicks, doing what their respective teachers would not. I think the red bat symbol on Jason's chest is a big FU to Batman and Dick (the first robin.)

DC Universe Presents: Deadaman: Cool book. A Superhero quantum leap. I do not know how this will play out but I might check it out in the cheap bins later.

Wonder Woman: this was an interesting book, very creepy and kind of a horror book. It seems as though Wonder Woman is not on center stage of her own book now, but I think this could be the change up the book needs, seeing that Wonder Woman has been a low seller for years and years with her in the spot light. If they do it right and get a good balance of more mysticality and a little less Wonder Woman I think it could work.

Blue Beetle: Another alright book I thought I would dislike, but this was not all that bad. I like how they go with a classic origin story first issue, with the main guy getting his powers on the last page with setup for a potential villain. It was also good to see Fatale again, a ridiculous C list villain I first saw in Nightwing the original series.

Captain Atom: This book didn't really do much for me, and they seem to be changing Captain Atom into Doctor Manhattan.

Birds Of Prey: This is another book that did very little for me. This was just a very average book. You only see half the new team, and that half of a team we learn nothing about despite being introduced to them by a nosy reporter.

Legion of Superheroes: This book was just plain bad. Unless you now the Legion history and story lines already, do not pick up this book. You are introduced to like 6 main characters then like 15 more for about a split second each. It has a very unfocused story then the book just ends. I kept flipping past the back matter stuff expecting to find more story (for real!)

Supergirl: Last and actually least. Nothing of interest happens. She fights the same guys the entire issue and has inner monologue.

Review of second week of New 52 DC

Second week of books go!


Batman & Robin: This book seems to pick up where the other Batman and Robin left off, but with Bruce in the big bat costume. I myself am ok with this. I liked what was going on in the bat universe (as Morrisinian* as it was) and wanted it to continue. We get more interaction between Bruce and Damien which is cool and it seems they are trying to get the Batman character refocused, less on death more on feature. I guess this will be the new softer side of Batman. Over all I thought it was a cool issue, I would probably be lost if I came in cold though, but I am disappointed I wasn't able to see more Russian Batman.

Batwoman: This was a book I loved to just look at. The art was really good and also interestingly done, and I don't think you get the non-mainstream art much in a batbook. This is another book that seems to pick up where the old arc left off. We last saw Batwoman in a mini arc in Detective comics. Batwoman seems to be fighting some more supernatural creatures when I would much rather see her fighting normal humans. For some reason I felt like there was a lot of fan service in this book with the two changing scenes, not that it was graphic or anything, just that it was unnecessary. I want the next issue for the art and the first interaction between Batman and Batwoman.

Death Stroke: While reading this, I thought it was alright. Will I get the next issue? Probably not. It was described on CGS, very aptly in my opinion, as the first five minutes of an action movie. Its got the action but not a lot of the story.

Demon Knights: This was a book I expected not to like, but was pleasantly surprised. Fantasy Comics usually are not my cup of tea, but the set up of this got me. The way the cast comes together I am hoping this is a kind of middle ages super hero team, or the like. Again, aptly described by the CGS guys as a DC meets D&D

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E.: This was a book I expected not to like and it did not disappoint me there. It was not terrible, but the story was not very interesting and I did not like the art here. Similar to the art in Animalman but instead of look intentionally rough it just look rough. The story was just a big monster fight basically, with a lot of text on who what where when and why. I do not need another secret international superhuman police/assassin/hero/fireman team book.

Green Lantern: Alright book, art felt off to me some how. I would say the book was more than alright if it did not seem to dump you into the middle of a GL story completely unfamiliar to non gl readers. The art was good but the faces just did not look right to me, page 18 with Hal smiling at the bottom just looks creepy to me. Overall though, I would like to see where this story goes especially with Sinestro.

Grifter: This book has me intrigued and I want to see where it goes. Man is kidnapped drugged and now random people are tyring to kill him. I want to know why.

Legion Lost: This book was just confusing. I have never been a Legion fan and this book does not help. I do not know if it is me or what but I just found this book to be really rough. Kid alien guy in hospital explodes, kids fall out of portal from somewhere, they complain, girl vomits,people run away, people fly away, bug guy falls out another portal, people fly back, them we move onto page 6 and I do not know what is going on. I think they were just trying to tell to much story in this first book, and it suffered.

Mister Terrific: This was a book I was looking forward to. Now, I feel liek this is the book they had in mind when they said they were bringing diversity to the DCU. I mean this, in that they seem to go out of the way to tell you this is a "black" book. (staring a black man, with black people, on black subject, written with black ink, on black paper.) It isn't as bad as all that but in this first issue they make so many overt acknowledgements of race it just seems forced. I think I like the book though. I would like it more if it left the ham fisted acknowledgements of race out and toned down the Reed Richards/Hank Pym Marvel slant they have going for MrT. (He has his own dimension, that is straight out of marvel)

Red Lanterns: I didn't expect much, but it gave me a little more. still not very good. I didn't think you could make a book about a alternate lantern corp comprised of beings that are all so pissed they cannot speak. Apparently you can it just won't be any good.

Resurrection Man: As I was writing about this, before I deleted it, I realized this is almost exactly like grifter. Both men are being hunted by an unknown group, they both get thrown of air planes after fighting a deadly lady, and they are both on the run.

Suicide Squad: This was awesome. I want to read more. The way they introduce the characters and why they bring them together along with the twist towards the end. It was all great.

Superboy: This is not the Superboy I remember from the 90s, I will tell you that right now. That got old quick. This Superboy is more like the one from the Young Justice tv series, but more so. Very interesting.

This was a good week. The good books were really good and the bad books were not as back. So i would say this week was better than the first. My favorite book of the week would be Suicide Squad.

*Morrisinian: Adj. used to describe a story by Grant Morrison that is particularly confusing, and may draw on obscure, even, overlooked details of past history.

Review of First Week of the New 52 DC

Here is a quick review of what I thought about the first week of books to come out.

Action Comics: This was a cool book and I would recommend the read. I like this retro superman beginnings type thing. Instead of the big blue boyscout you have the big blue man of the people, sticking up for the little guy.

Animal Man: First thing that jumped out at me (after the full page of text) was the art. Some of the dudes at CGS didn't dig the art, but I thought it was cool. I like seeing something different in my comics, if it is all the same art it just would feel very plain to me. Even though I am not a big art guy when it comes to books, it still strikes me when its new. The story overall was cool, I like how it seems like Animal Man is going to not be so much the "Animal" as much as the "Man." Then the ending made me be like "huh what?" in a good way.

Detective Comics: Was just a cool Batman comic. I feel that if you were looking for a new Batman in this DC you are not gonna get that much. He is still the G** D*** Batman. Another good ending this time I went "WTF."

Batgirl: Another cool book. I like how they handled her walking retcon. Then how they have her dealing with the repercussions of that, mentally, add an interesting element. Art was cool and the ending makes me want more.

Batwing: This book in my mind came out of left field. I was expecting a cheap "Black Batman" knock off, but this book is actually REALLY GOOD. Art is a kind of photo realistic digitally painted thing, and the story is written well. This also isn't your typical generic "Africa" where we have the shots of plains animals and people living in huts. This feels like a glimpse into a real modern part of Africa, yea it has its serious problems, but still modern. Story goes you have a cop, chosen by batman, who wants to curb corruption and crime in his country. This is one thing in the United State, and then a completely different thing in a small African country.

Green Arrow: This was not that good to me. The art was ok, the story was meh, and the characters were forgettable. This is really more of your Smallville Green Arrow than anything.

Hawk & Dove: Another forgettable book. Again art was ok, the story was less than meh, and the characters were not doing much in the book.

Justice League International: This was a fast paces book. It quickly got the story behind the team introduced, it got the team introduced, then it got them on there first mission. I think i need to wait to make a judgment on this one. I liked it but I'm not sure if it is just because it didn't give me time to think about not liking it.


Men of War: Another book out of left field. I liked it a lot. Never new I was a war story comic guy till I read this. I went in thinking they were not going to overlap the super heroes with the heroes of this book, kind of that old DCU thinking, but with that element in play that can make for a really interesting book. The book is a little pricey, but what can you do.


Omac: This book I did not not like. It looks, feels, and SHIRKS retro. I was not feeling it. If you dug Kirby stuff from back in the day, you will love this. This one is not for me though.

Static Shock: This book was cool. It could have been better but it was cool. It still feels a lot like a static book, even with him out of Dakota. I love how they incorporated Hardware into this book and the little ploy he has going to keep Virgil's identity secret.  Though the villains could use some work, but maybe they will surprise me.

Stormwatch: With this book I had no idea what I was getting into, but I was happy I got into it. It was great. It told a multi layered story without stepping on its own toes, and it made me want to know more about these really interesting characters. I thought having J'onn on this team now would feel forced, but it actually felt pretty alright.

Swamp Thing: Another good book that made me go "WFT" at the end. This one jumped out from left field on me too. I might have to move forward with this book.


And there you have it. One mans opinions on the new DCU week one. Overall I would say it was a pretty good first week. Some titles were a bit weaker than I would have hoped DC put out in its first week, but other book more than made up for it in my mind.

Missed One Sorry: Sale at Worlds Greatest Comics, Westerville

Like I said before, I will be trying to post comic book sales in Columbus Ohio as I hear about them, but unfortunately I missed one. It was today at Worlds Greatest Comics in Westerville. They seem to have them on holidays so, you can probably expect the next one to be around Christmas time with the same deals they usually got: 10% off your final purchase and this is on top of your 50% off  select back issues and all trades plus the 50 cent books. Also remember Capital City Comics for there Christmas Sale. They got a tiered system where (don't quote me) dollar books are 50 cent, 2-5 dollar books are like a dollar, 5-10 are half off and so on. then they got deals on trades and sets. I am not quite sure on the system cause it has been a year but it is similar. Both of these places are great shops and you should check them out.

Jusice League 1

NEW 52 is here, and I am going to spoil it so here it goes


***Spoilers***








This was a cool first issue, with some of DC's best heroes up front, that is, Batman and Green Lantern. They do a team up type thing in this issue where GL swoops in as Batman is chasing a PARADEMON (That's right got it in one check 8/18/11 post where I called it). Hal is being really f--ing cocky while Batman is being Batman (>Badass). There interaction reminds me of the stuff that happened in All Star Batman & Robin Boy Wonder, except this time GL doesn't get is wind pipe caved in (I kinda wanted that to happen though). This is a flashback story and the heroes are relatively new to this world and also have not all met. Batman and GL deside they need to find the only other alien they know about, and that is Superman. It ends with the tag Batman VS Superman, and that I am always up for. I am defiantly in for the next issue.

Thus end my 30 day challenge

Its over, and I think I did alright. I missed a few day, but I made up for them. Overall I am happy with how I did.