Posted in Comics, DC Comics: The New 52
The New DC Universe: Week 12 Reviews
We have reached the end of month 3 and for me the end of the weekly blogs. I will read the issues this week and make my final cuts (I will tell which ones I am keeping on Friday). From here on out I will be returning to my geeking out column to keep you informed with my deep and abiding love of comics. Let’s hope the last week is a good one. (Here are the previous weeks reviews).
All Star Western #3
Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI; Art by MORITAT and JORDI BERNET; Cover by MORITAT
I have mixed feelings about this book. I really don’t like the back-up story at all. This bothers me because I have to pay the extra $1 for something which leaves me cold. Add in the fact that the book is getting steadily worse. The first issue was fantastic. I loved the combination of western and mystery. Since then it has become a steady stream of silly violence with a story which is losing its momentum. I still enjoyed it but it better turn around soon. 8 out of 10.
Aquaman #3
Written by GEOFF JOHNS; Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
I am not going to lie I miss the humor of the first issue a little. I kind of feel like they teased me with it and then snatched it away. Don’t get me wrong, I still think this is a great book but I am not quite sure why they made the first issue so light but then took it all away. The art is still fantastic and the story very engaging. The monsters from the deep have been my absolute favorite baddies from any of the DC books. I can’t wait for the next issue as Aquaman has finally hit the water. 9 out of 10.
Batman: The Dark Knight #3
Written by PAUL JENKINS; Art by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND with JAY FABOK; Cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
Part of the problem with this book is that there is too much Batman out there and this book is just average compared to the main Batman book. The story is average. The villains are average. I do like the art but not enough to keep going with this story. I love Batman but a lot of his books right now feel exactly the same. Except, of course, Batman and Robin which is actually worse because of how ridiculous Robin is. There is nothing particularly wrong with this book other than I have no time for books that are not great. 7 out of 10.
The Flash #3
Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
Something is just not quite hitting it with this book. I am not digging the main story much but I kind of like the slow introduction to Flash and his powers. Some pages I hate the art and then there will be a page which makes me go “cool”. One of the problems I am having is the Flash in Justice League seemed so much more interesting. The pacing is all over the place and I am not sure it knows what kind of book it wants to be yet. Ultimately, this isn’t a terrible book but it is a disappointment. I love the Flash but I do not love this book. 7.5 out of 10.
I, Vampire #3
Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV; Art by ANDREA SORRENTINO; Cover by JENNY FRISON
I think it is interesting that the two best vampire stories going right now are both comic books being published by DC (American Vampire being the other). I can’t get enough of this book. The writing continues to impress the hell out of me. The art is solid and the entertainment factor is sky-high. I admit I have been worried all along how this book was going to be incorporated into the DC Universe and I have not changed my mind there. It looks like next issue we find out. I am crossing my fingers it doesn’t crash and burn for it has become the biggest surprise of the New 52 for me. 9.5 out of 10.
Justice League Dark #3
Written by PETER MILLIGAN; Art by MIKEL JANIN; Cover by RYAN SOOK
Have I mentioned how much I love Peter Milligan lately? There just isn’t enough supernatural in the Marvel and DC worlds. When they do add in a bit of magic it often comes off silly. Not the case with this book. It isn’t quite a vertigo comic but it has been good every issue. It has also managed to bring John Constantine (minus a lot of swear words) back into the DC Universe without looking silly. I love the art and the story has been top of the line. Everything you can hope for when you put together a bunch of rejected freaks and call them a team. 9.5 out of 10.
The Savage Hawkman #3
Written by TONY S. DANIEL; Art and cover by PHILIP TAN
Hawkman is one of the coolest looking characters in the DC Universe. It’s too bad this comic isn’t capturing all that cool. I love the look of Hawkman and yet in this book the art makes him way too plain. No dynamic fight scenes. No awesome full-page splashes. There is nothing wrong with this book other than its large quantities of average. At this point average is just not going to cut it but it will get it cut from my list. I hope somewhere down the road they turn this book over to a set of creators who can do something special with the character. Until them I am out. 7 out of 10.
Superman #3
Written by GEORGE PÈREZ; Breakdowns and cover by GEORGE PÈREZ; Art by JESUS MERINO
I thought it was a little slow this month. A lot of talking and several bursts of action. This comic still feels like a throwback Superman book. While Action Comics feels like the vibrant upstart. If I was forced to choose only one, Action would win. I don’t think number three will be enough to make me drop it but I am a little worried about how inconsistent the book feels right now. I want to like it more but mostly I have felt it is only slightly above average (except for the art which I enjoyed). 7.5 out of 10.
Teen Titans #3
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL; Art and cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
I am so glad I am enjoying this comic. I have always loved the Teen Titans and would have been sad if another one of my old favorites didn’t cut it. This book has taken the same approach as Justice League did, introducing new members each issue. It has worked really well. DC has tried to come off young and hip in a lot of the new books and failed miserably but not with the Teen Titans. For me this is the one true teen hit of the new 52. I can’t wait to see how they bring in their next new character. It is a mystery which will tie a few comics together. My favorite issue of this series so far. 8.5 out of 10.
Voodoo #3
Written by RON MARZ; Art by SAMI BASRI and HENDRY PRASETYA; Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
I will say this book has improved from the first issue but I don’t think it is going to be enough. The story is barely holding together for me. Then you throw in a fairly useless Green Lantern cameo and I am not sure what the point of this book is. For me this book needs to be stronger. It is already working an uphill battle to get noticed (hence the Green Lantern cameo). It isn’t “suck the life out of you” bad, like the first issue was but it isn’t anything I am really interested in either. 7 out of 10
—-DC Power Rankings
1) Wonder Woman – Not leaving this top spot anytime soon I imagine. This is turning into my favorite run of Wonder Woman ever.
2) Animal Man – Staying strong but not quite ready to bump Wonder Woman out of the top spot.
3) Justice League Dark – A slight bump up because the Deadman story wasn’t weird this issue. Still one of my favorites.
4) Batman – Jumps up a few spots. Snyder is handling Batman as good as anyone before him.
5) Swamp Thing – I was a tiny bit worried after the first issue but this book is just getting better and better. Another large jump.
6) Red Lanterns – Trying to do something I have never seen in a mainstream DC book. Explore hatred and pain. May end up being the only Lantern book I keep buying.
7) Aquaman – I wish it would bring a little of the funny back but still solid.
8 ) Action Comics – I liked this issue better than number two. Grant Morrison continues to make Superman interesting to me. A major feat considering how uninterested I was.
9) I, Vampire –For a book as good as this one. I am still worried it could be in for a large fall when the heroes show up.
10) Batwoman – Staying a very strong comic. It has also had the most consistent artwork in the new DC universe.
11) Justice League – This comic has been steadily climbing up the ranks since the first issue. I expect it will be in the top ten before long.
12) Grifter – Had it’s first drop in ratings this week. Hopefully, this is not a trend.
13) Batgirl – The appearance of Nightwing worked well. Batgirl’s journey is going to be a hard one. No change in rankings this week.
14) All Star Western – One of the few books in the top twenty I am actually wondering if I want to keep. We’ll see where it goes.
15) Stormwatch – Continues to tumble-down. It needs to stay in the top twenty for me to keep reading it. Not sure it is going to make it.
16) Teen Titans – Might have been the best issue yet. Hope it keeps getting better.
17) Superboy – A slight bump up. Right now the best book with super in the title.
18) Batwing – Jumps another ten spots up and climbs into the top twenty. Not sure how many more than twenty I am keeping but amazingly this book looks like it may make the cut now.
19) Supergirl – This book has been pretty steady. I was planning on only keeping 20 comics but if it somehow falls out of the top 20 I am still keeping it.
20) Legion of Super-Heroes – Jumps back into the top 20 but I am a complete sucker for Legion. Like Supergirl safe for another issue.
21) Superman – Just outside of the top twenty. Twenty was my cut off point for drops but I might have to keep this one.
22) Resurrection Man – No change in placement but very close to the line in the sand I will be drawing. Right on the bubble of being cut.
23) Frankenstien, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. – This book is in the land of books which could be cut but it has caught my interest. Will last another month.
24) Deathstroke – This book has sunk straight down. If I were a betting man it is not going to survive my next cut.
25) Green Lantern – I might end up buying the next book just to see where it goes but otherwise this book was probably heading to cutsville.
26) Flash – I want to like this book more than I do.
27) Catwoman – I hate to say it but I am probably going to give this book one more issue. Issue 3 was a step in the right direction.
28) Men of War – Another book which can’t stop its tumble downward. A great first issue but I won’t be reading it much longer.
29) Detective Comics – Not sure how much longer I will keep buying this book. There are other Batman family books that are far more enjoyable.
30) Captain Atom – This book is intriguing. I like what it is trying to do but I am not sure it is enough to save it for me.
31) Demon Knights –Not nearly as good as I hoped it would be.
32) Nightwing – I never dreamed this would be a book which would be an easy drop but it is. It will not survive the next round of cuts.
33) The Savage Hawkman- A fairly average book. It doesn’t bring any wow to the table.
34) Batman: The Dark Knight – Better than Batman & Robin but that isn’t saying much.
35) Justice League International – Eliminated
36) Suicide Squad –Really bad issue dooms it to be cut. I will try again if they pick up interesting creators.
37) Green Lantern Corps – Eliminated
38) Green Lantern: New Guardians – Eliminated
39) Blue Beetle – Eliminated
40) Green Arrow – This book is now dropped until a new creative team comes on. I am very disappointed.
41) Legion Lost- Eliminated
42) Batman & Robin – Eliminated
43) DC Universe Presents – This book will be back on my buy list when Deadman and this creative team leave. Until then it is gone.
44) Voodoo – Climbed out of the cellar but it won’t save it.
45) Mister Terrific – Eliminated
46) O.M.A.C. – Eliminated
47) ) Birds of Prey – Actually moved up a blip but it is not enough. This book is gone off my pull list.
48) Blackhawks – Eliminated
49) The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men – Eliminated
50) Hawk & Dove – Eliminated
51) Red Hood and the Outlaws – Eliminated
52) Static Shock – Eliminated
