Everyone has been commenting on DC's post Flashpoint reboot, also known as the new 52.
Instead of posting on all the individual threads that already exist, I thought I would just post my opinions of the titles I actually bought and read in one general thread not because I am more important than any other comic book reader or critic, but just because it's more convenient this way.
Ready?
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There are a couple of different time lines within the new continuity, so I thought it prudent to begin with the two titles that are supposed to be telling the back story of this new DC.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #1
This title and the Action Comics revival are set five years before the majority of the new series, at least for their first story arcs, although Justice League is a tad later within the continuity. I base this upon the reveal of Superman's new uniform, compared to his current state in Action #1.
There are a lot of unanswered question with the first issue, with no clear indication exactly how much time has passed to establish key facts in this issue like how long Batman has been active in Gotham or Hal Jordan a Green Lantern. Obviously both have been active for a while at the start of this story, and each is aware of the existence of Superman, although apparently there have been no team ups before now.
Green Lantern is cocky and confident while Batman is... Batman.
Darkseid will apparently be the catalyst for forming the new League, but why a lot of humans have an anti-superhero stance at the moment has yet to be revealed either.
Overall, it is a typical first issue. A lot of action and promise, with a tease of things to come.
ACTION COMICS #1
This first issue harkens back to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's early efforts with their original/early Action Comics stories.
Superman is more down to Earth (no pun intended). No where near as power as he might/will be and a hero of the people.
Lex Luthor and General Sam Lane are in their classic positions/attitudes within a more modernistic take on the back story approach.
Unless I misread it somehow, personally, I think there was a glitch in the dialogue between the last panel of page 3 and page 4. Otherwise, Grant Morrison has a promising opening installment in the never ending saga.
There is definitely at least a homage to, if not influence from the past in Rags Morales pencils; and given the Fourth World angle hinted at in Justice League #1, I am willing to lay even money that we have not seen the last of the "innocent" bystander from pages 2-3.
Overall, these first issues have met all their original intentions by serving as a jumping on point for any reader: new or old.
More to come.
BATGIRL #1
This was next on my list because of the "controversy" (note quotes) involved.
I like Gail Simone's work and trust her abilities as a writer, but the idea of Barbara Gordon being Batgirl again did raise some concerns in the post The Killing Joke world that begat Oracle and the Birds of Prey.
The first issue of the new series does acknowledge the past, but doesn't dwell on it too much, although I have no idea what miracle Babs is referring to because when the new DC 52 was first announced, I was finishing the issues involved in The Blackest Night.
(Yes, being a professional writer myself does not leave one much "spare" time for leisure reading, but I'm digressing.)
So having yet to read anything involving Brightest Day or Flashpoint, I have come into the new DC like the company hopes a lot of new readers will: starting fresh with a new batch of first issues.
The Bat-mythos is well enough known outside of comics so even the causal reader has enough knowledge to at least know of Barbara Gordon, and Simone recaps things enough so we can enjoy Babs newfound mobility and root for her to enjoy life.
But whether or not she should have resumed/resurrected her Batgirl career remains to be seen after the ending of issue one.
GREEN LANTERN #1
While some new fans may be up on everything they need to know after seeing the summer movie, it seems more to me like Geoff Johns basically just picked up where he left off at the end of the last issue of the previous series.
Sinestro having a shout a redemption is an interesting idea, but so far he's behaving as one might expect.
Hal is seriously down on his luck again and apparently out of the Corps at the moment, since I have not read any installments of War of the Green Lanterns*.
Overall an enjoyable first issue and the start of another great story arc, but it didn't seem to quite get the concept of starting fresh in my humble opinion.
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
A very interesting look into the private moments of Guy Gardner and John Stewart, but all my comments in regards to Green Lantern #1 can be applied to this issue too.
I know more than likely it was in a story line I haven't read yet, but when did the Lantern count increase to two per sector?
(*see above about my reading status going into the new 52's debut).
CATWOMAN #1
Not sure how Gotham City Sirens ended yet, but Catwoman is back in her classic "villainess" mode. Not exactly on the side of the angels, but not quite as bad as you would think.
Obviously the clock has been set back a bit on the Catwoman/Batman relationship if she doesn't know his secret identity in the new DC U, but what a surprise ending!
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
Quite a change in attitude at the beginning with Bruce wanting to look more positively at things, at least when he can do so privately. After all, Batman still has to be Batman.
Damian still has his attitude though, though hopefully that might soften in time.
Interesting cliffhanger. Is that supposed to lead into the upcoming Batman, Inc.: Leviathan mini that will pick up where that series ended?
And is the mysterious lady on page 17, panel 4 the same one from Justice League #1 and Flashpoint #5 that everyone else has mentioned? If so, what was she doing there?
BATWOMAN #1
The series that was supposed to start in this past Spring was held back until now so it could be part of the new 52.
Story line continues from the Issue Zero preview special from earlier this year, although a totally new reader would be unaware of that, but will realize that there is some back story involved with the series.
NIGHTWING #1
A promising start to Dick Grayson as a solo act again. But who would want to bump him off and not Nightwing? But did Dick get his new costume from the same place as Batwoman, or did he have a dream of the Batman Beyond future?
BATMAN #1
As mentioned elsewhere, all this title and Detective Comics did was switch writers to kick off the new DC U. But that doesn't diminish the quality of Scott Synder or Tony Daniel's work.
So Batman is on the outs with at least some of the higher Gotham City officials. Oh well, isn't the first time that happened. But I am sorry to see all the goodwill Dick built up in his time as Batman disappear.
Interesting opening gambit, but I'm not buying the prime suspect for who wants to kill Bruce Wayne at the end of the story.
DETECTIVE COMICS #1
The Joker is a high profile character who is always at risk of being overused, but Daniels handles him well. However, it's this mysterious new "Dollmaker" that worries me more.
Overall, for the Bat-titles, promising starts, but two caveats.
1. I thought this relaunch was supposed to be a jumping on point for new readers. As pointed out in my review about Batgirl # 1, while the Batman mythos is spread out amongst a lot of other media, all these titles (except Catwoman) are just continuing past events to some extent. Granted, you don't need to know everything that has happened before now to enjoy these issues, but still, some knowledge of the background details are necessary.
2. The apparent lack of coordination seems to be continuing amongst the Bat-titles in the "new" DC U. Out of every Bat-title I have read and reviewed thus far, Batman appears in everything except Nightwing and Batgirl, and is directly involved in three (Batman, Catwoman, and Batwoman) of the "To Be Continued" endings.
Shouldn't DC be worried about spreading the character out too thinly, or am I making a Bat-mountain out of a mole hill?
They haven't worried about it before. Why start now?
WONDER WOMAN #1
Other than the Jim Lee redesign on the costume and wondering (no pun intended) why Diana is in London, this was just the first issue of a story by a new creative team on the title for me.
With that said, it was a good first story by Azzarello and Chang.
Emerkeith:
I have a new thread going where a response to that request is more appropriate.
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