Posted in Comics, DC Comics: The New 52
The New DC Universe: Week 6 Reviews
The first week of the number 2 issues showed some drop off for books I liked. This week I was hoping some comics I had high hopes for would pick it up considerably. I am also wondering if there is anyway I will ever like Damien as Robin (I doubt it) or be able to figure out the Batman time line (probably not). DC had better hope this Batman time line problem doesn’t linger in too many people’s heads because it is the type of thing which can lead people to throw up their hands and walk away from a story. Even for new readers there is going to be some questions.
Batman & Robin #2
Written by PETER J. TOMASI; Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON
I am sure the point of this book is to show Batman as a father. To humanize him in some way. I imagine the story arc will be rather Shakespearian with Damian emerging from behind the dark clouds for us all to admire his transformation. I have no doubt there is a plan but I must say, I don’t care. I don’t care about this book. I don’t care about Damien. I am probably not going to be willing to stick around to see the transformation. 6 out of 10.
Batgirl #2
Written by GAIL SIMONE; Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES; Cover by ADAM HUGHES
I liked the first issue of Batgirl. I think I liked it even more on the second read through. They are trying to do something really different here. A hero with a psychological issue which makes her less effective. Barbara is clearly still struggling from her crippling at the hands of the Joker. The second issue was even better for me. I thought the action was great and the story felt less like it was trying to explain the new universe and more letting it happen. This book is going to be one of my favorites, even if it means I have lost Oracle. 9 out of 10.
Batwoman #2
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN; Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
I am still completely in love with the art of this book. So much so that some of the story details which didn’t completely work for me didn’t kill the book. Not enough Batwoman in this issue. I also don’t really like the whole dating storyline. It is such a cliché. You can see where the story is going from a mile away. It is still a good book. For me this one wasn’t quite as enjoyable as the first but almost. 8.5 out of 10.
Deathstroke #2
Written by KYLE HIGGINS; Art by JOE BENNETT and ART THIBERT; Cover by SIMON BISLEY
This book was one of the big surprises for me the first round. Not so much with this issue. The violence was ratcheted up a few more notches and all the humor was sucked out of the book. I have no idea where the story is going and now I am not sure I care. Not enough to drop but a very worrisome bump. If this is the direction the book will ultimately take then they should return Deathstoke to be a villain for the Teen Titans. 7 out of 10.
Demon Knights #2
Written by PAUL CORNELL; Art by DIOGENES NEVES and OCLAIR ALBERT; Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
This book is still all over the place. Some of it is really good and some of it made me groan. It was already going to be a difficult book to sell over the long haul and I am not sure I think they are pulling it off. Demon is still a kick and luckily he is front and center but the story makes very little sense right now. I enjoyed the art and parts of it made me chuckle, so I am not going to kill it but it is a slight drop this week. 7 out of 10.
Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #2
Written by JEFF LEMIRE; Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI; Cover by J.G. JONES
The story in this issue was considerably better. It hooked me in and I am very interested to see where it goes next. There is however still a rather large elephant in the room. I don’t think the art is nearly good enough for the words it is trying to represent. Some of the panels were fantastic. Some left me completely bewildered about how the same man could have drawn it. If the art doesn’t get better I might still have to bail, I found it distracting. The rating this week would have been higher if the art had been better. 8 out of 10.
Green Lantern #2
Written by GEOFF JOHNS; Art and cover by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY
It’s starting to look like the unexpected Green Lantern love I felt in the first month is wearing off. I don’t like the direction the story is going and frankly I was a little bored with this issue. Okay, maybe a lot bored. The art was okay but as far as I am concerned this was just another very average superhero book. I guess I should be really thankful that Red Lanterns is still kicking butt. A few more issues like this and I am certain this will be one of my drops. 7 out of 10.
Grifter #2
Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON; Art and cover by CAFU and JASON GORDER
Still enjoying this one. I like the mystery and because I knew nothing about the character before hand I have no preconceived notions about where it might be going. The book looks like it is going to take its time unwrapping the story (which I don’t mind as long as it stays good). The art was good and I am definitely still on board. 8.5 out of 10.
Legion Lost #2
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA; Art and cover by PETE WOODS
I am not digging this book. Time travel is already a tricky enough type of story and this book is not pulling it off. I admit losing some of my favorite Legion characters to this story is not helping my mood either. As far as I am concerned they can end this book really quickly and stick with one good Legion book. The story isn’t interesting. The art isn’t interesting. If I wasn’t reviewing these issues for my blog this would be an easy drop. 6.0 out of 10.
Mister Terrific #2
Written by ERIC WALLACE; Art by GIANLUCA GUGLIOTTA; Cover by J.G. JONES
I can sum this up fairly quickly, yawn. The only thing I thought was marginally interesting in the first book they turned into a storyline which has been used a thousand times before. The book was loaded with dialog which felt like comic book writing 101. It’s a character I think I could like in the right hands but this book actually got worse for its average start. I was hoping the ending of issue one would give us an upswing but it was not to be. 6 out of 10.
Resurrection Man #2
Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING; Art by FERNANDO DAGNINO; Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
I am starting to feel cranky. Maybe I wasn’t in the mood to read comics today. This was one of my favorite books of the first week and I did not think it held up this week. I still think the powers this character has are amongst the best of any hero and I have hope this was only a blip but I didn’t really like this issue as much. The whole “I have forgotten everything story” wears thin fairly quick. The two ladies masquerading as bad guys (but mostly seem to be there to draw women) are suppose to be comic relief but I found them annoying. I hope the next issue bounces back. 7 out of 10.
Shade #1 of 12
Written by JAMES ROBINSON; Art by CULLY HAMNER; Cover by TONY HARRIS; 1:10 Variant cover by CULLY HAMNER
Not one of the new 52 (so I won’t be putting it in the power rankings) but like Huntress last week a book I knew I had to buy. I loved Starman by James Robinson. One of the things I loved best about it was Shade. I couldn’t be more excited Robinson is returning to Opal City and giving us a Shade story. The comic started out a little slow and I am not entirely sure how I feel about the art. It seemed to fit in some places but not others. The character of Shade is a winner and once the story got rolling it sucked me in. The ending was awesome and I am thinking this is going to be a mini-series I will really enjoy. 8 out of 10.
Suicide Squad #2
Written by ADAM GLASS; Art by MARCO RUDY; Cover by RYAN BENJAMIN
This issue was a little better. I might have even rated it a little higher but some of the gore and violence really put me off. There was one scene in particular I wasn’t a real big fan of. Having said that I did laugh out loud a few times and generally enjoyed the characters interaction. Plus, you know zombies. 7.5 out of 10.
Superboy #2
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL; Art by RB SILVA and ROB LEAN; Cover by ERIC CANETE
I might have to get glasses or something. In what is proving to be a reoccurring theme I thought the art got worse for this issue. I found it distracting and pulled me away from the story. Speaking of story it was a little slow for round two. Not so much the action but laying out all the problems for our young Superboy. I am still in for a few more issues but I do hope all the things which I liked about the first book returns real soon. Mr. Cranky Pants out. 7.5 out of 10.
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DC Power Rankings
1) Wonder Woman –
2) Animal Man – A slight drop off but nothing which has me worried. Still can’t wait to see where it goes.
3) Justice League Dark –
4) Red Lanterns – This one moved up a few spots for me. It has been consistent and enjoyable.
5) Action Comics – Dropped a few spots in the power rankings. Didn’t like this issue as much. Might drop some more as other second issues come out.
6) Batman –
7) Aquaman –
8 ) Batwoman – No change in Batwoman’s ranking this week. The art alone makes this book worth buying.
9) Swamp Thing – The big mover of the week. Issue two really got the story rolling and left me wanting more.
10) Stormwatch – Took a little bit of a tumble. I have a feeling as other issues come out it will tumble out of the top ten. Still a good book.
11) All Star Western –
12) I, Vampire –
13) Grifter – Grifter stayed a strong book for me and jumped up a little in the rankings.
14) Batgirl – A jump up in the rankings. I have a feeling it won’t be the last jump it makes. Much stronger second book.
15) Supergirl –
16) Teen Titans –
17) Legion of Super-Heroes –
18) Superboy – One of a slew of books which had a slight drop off from the first issue.
19) Resurrection Man – I was a little sad this book had a dip. I liked the first issue a lot.
20) Deathstroke – If I was going to take a wild guess this won’t be the last drop for this book. Feels like a one trick pony and they used the trick already.
21) Green Lantern – Another book that wouldn’t surprise me if it continued to drop. Also not really sure how they thought this story would bring in new fans.
22) Men of War – Dropped out of the really good to above average. I worry this might not be the end of the tumble-down. Good start hopefully it will pick back up.
23) Flash –
24) Justice League –
25) Superman –
26) Frankenstien, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. – Climbed this week because of the story. Still don’t like the art.
27) Batwing – A big improvement over the first issue. I hope it continues.
28) Captain Atom –
29) Catwoman –
30) Detective Comics – A slight improvement but for reasons I don’t quite get this book isn’t connecting with me.
31) Demon Knights – This book perplexes me. Have no idea what audience they are shooting for.
32) Suicide Squad – An improvement over the first issue. They should stick with the funny. It works in his book.
33) Nightwing –
34) The Savage Hawkman
35) Batman: The Dark Knight –
36) Justice League International – This book has been done before and better.
37) Green Arrow – This book just disappoints the heck out of me. Hopefully, the writing change ahead will pump some life into it.
38) Green Lantern Corps –
39) Green Lantern: New Guardians –
40) Blue Beetle –
41) Blackhawks –
42) Legion Lost– I dislike this book on many fronts. Still hoping they cancel it and give Legion back their lost heroes.
43) Batman & Robin – Is it too late to vote Damien out of the new DC Universe. Seriously, annoying.
44) Mister Terrific – This book took a step back. It’s a step which will leave it off my pull list when I start eliminating books.
45) O.M.A.C. – Not a good book. I hope it drops even lower in coming weeks (do you hear me Birds of Prey & Firestorm).
46) DC Universe Presents –
47) Birds of Prey –
48) The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men –
49) Hawk & Dove – Made me laugh this week. It wasn’t trying to. I am now hoping DC kills this book and lets them rejoin Teen Titans.
50) Static Shock – Story was better but for me this book is just not cutting it. Although, I could see it jumping ahead of a few books above it next month.
51) Voodoo –
52) Red Hood and the Outlaws –
