DC Comics Thread

[megladon8]

They sure sculpted Superman's butt on the issue of #3. :lol:

[Ezee E]

Kind of surprised people aren't digging Batgirl a lot. Has the best "comic book" story as far as I'm concerned.

Falling behind on everything though... May need to commit to just a few comics.

[number8]

I'm digging Batgirl a lot. #3 was the best so far.

[ledfloyd]

was this an off week? i need to get caught up, i think i'm 3 or 4 weeks behind, i haven't got back to things since i was on vacation.

[number8]

Yeah, they don't release anything on a 5th week.

[number8]

The new Batman Odyssey came out though. That's always fun.

[number8]

Awesome.

http://www.abload.de/img/11reeqf.jpg

http://www.abload.de/img/12bmcp2.jpg

[Grouchy]

What the fuck is that?

[Sven]

What the fuck is that?

Neal Adams's Batman: Odyssey, one of the best comics coming out currently. The dude in the last panel is the evolved underground primate version of Batman. You see, below the surface of the Earth apparently resembles a cross section of a geode rock, the "crystals" creating enclosed regions of divergent evolution, resulting in the alternate Bat-Man and also in a lizard boy Robin, whom we just found out is the prince of a band of Raptor people.

It's crazy, but awesome. Crazy awesome.

[number8]

Also, every issue opens with a naked Bruce Wayne seducing you, the reader, over coffee.

[Grouchy]

The more you know then. I have to read that.

[megladon8]

IMO no one draws Batman better than Neal Adams.

I will definitely be buying the trade.

[number8]

Paul Cornell off Stormwatch after issue 6, replaced by Paul Jenkins. Bleh.

[Sven]

Paul Cornell off Stormwatch after issue 6, replaced by Paul Jenkins. Bleh.

What, nooooo. I mean, I like Jenkins, but Cornell's been juggling things terrifically, and is much better suited to writing the team's aloof attitude.

[sevenarts]

I'm starting to get really annoyed with DC's inability to keep a single creative team working on these books. The art on Action Comics has really suffered from their deadline pressure, and there have been an annoying number of shakeups like this. Jenkins? Well I guess I'm not reading Stormwatch anymore. A shame, it was pretty promising so far, if never quite there as a great book all the way through.

Maybe I'm alone, but I'd much rather the books be a few weeks late sometimes, or even often, than constantly get fill-in artists and replacements and situations like all the people "helping" Rags Morales and making the otherwise great Action look so inconsistent.

[number8]

It's part of their "be friendly to new readers" initiative, by getting books on a rigid schedule. So I think the idea is less about getting a book out on time and more about being approachable to people who don't go into comic shops often. They can just remember that Animal Man comes out on the first week of every month, Batman on the third, etc, rather than rely on a pull list. I can see the attraction of doing it that way, but that means being ruthless with the worker bees.

JH Williams has the luxury of having a year's worth of head start. I wonder how much Batwoman is going to suffer once the schedule catches up to him.

[Sven]

I do kind of like rotating creative teams, so it's tough to say. Sometimes fill-ins and switch-ups generate interesting new visual ideas, as has been the case with the illustrators on Morrison's Batman saga. And with things like Detective and Action that are so arc-based, it is to the title's benefit to feature stories of all kinds of styles and perspectives.

But a lot of the time, it does feel hurried and like a step down.

So to answer your question (errr, not really question), yes and no, though I think the art on Action has been okay. It's definitely well-sequenced, though this last issue did have its share of head-scratchers. And to be continued all the way at issue 7, so I wonder what the next issues hold in store.

[sevenarts]

JH Williams has the luxury of having a year's worth of head start. I wonder how much Batwoman is going to suffer once the schedule catches up to him.

JH Williams is going to be alternating arcs with Amy Reeder (who drew half of that Batwoman #0 teaser that came out before the reboot) so hopefully that will give him (and Reeder) enough cushion to keep on top of deadlines. Should be interesting to see how that works; I think Williams will still be writing or co-writing the Reeder issues.

In more New DC news, Animal Man and Swamp Thing continue to be great, and I love how they're steadily coming together in a shared narrative.

I thought this latest issue of Action Comics was pretty dire, I'm really disappointed not only in the shaky art but that Morrison hasn't been able to keep up the level of excitement from the first few issues at all. It started with such a sense of purpose and now issue #4 was just ridiculous. The new backup feature was really, really bad, too.

[number8]

One colored page from Batman Inc: Leviathan Strikes!

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvhhdzQGDh1qfd9cso1_500 .png

Wow, Cameron Stewart's art really stepped up. Or maybe it's the colorist.

[sevenarts]

I think Cameron Stewart's always really good. Seaguy is one of my favorite Morrison works.

Really looking forward to more Morrison Batman.

[number8]

I love this cover for #7.

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/files/2011/12/BM_Cv7_ajsdhf698721589582715.j pg

[number8]

Here's a good creative team change: Steve Pugh on Animal Man!

[Sven]

Here's a good creative team change: Steve Pugh on Animal Man!

Cool. I've been reading his Hotwire books recently, as well as finishing off the original AM series a few weeks ago, on which series I think he was the definite artistic highlight.

[Sven]

... and still no solicits of Batman: Leviathan.

[number8]

... and still no solicits of Batman: Leviathan.

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/09/19/batman-incorporated-leviathan-strikes-first-look/

[Sven]

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/09/19/batman-incorporated-leviathan-strikes-first-look/

I saw that one. I'm talking about this 2012 "event". If it's supposed to be 12 issues, then it's going to climax in 2013 at this point.

[Acapelli]

it's on diamond's upcoming releases list for the 21st

omgicantwait

[megladon8]

I know I've got it on my pull list.

[Sven]

Batwoman is, as has been, ravishing. A happy instance of the form elevating the material.

Demon Knights gets mega-props for flair and originality, and is a book that I will likely follow to its finish.

I'm pleased that the books with which I've opted to stick, ten in all, are of a superlative ilk. No settling.

[dreamdead]

I'm down to just Batwoman and Swamp Thing. Haven't read #4 of the latter yet, but I was pleased with how erotic Williams and Blackman managed to make the love scene between Maggie and Kate even as they avoided blatant lipstick lesbian action. And Flamingbird's inability to be ready for the battle poses a level of responsibility that, while cliched, will likely affect Kate's relationship from here on. I'm looking forward to seeing the wrap-up of this narrative next month.

I like the whole panels in Batwoman's cape double-spread. Cool. Cool cool cool.

[Sven]

I like the whole panels in Batwoman's cape double-spread. Cool. Cool cool cool.

My favorite spread this month is probably the title page, with just the two images of the assault aftermath and the climax. Effusive and downright effective.

[megladon8]

So my local comic shop screwed up my pull list again, as I didn't get my copy of "Demon Knights" #4 (which I pre-paid for).

I'm very, very strongly considering asking for my money back on all of the pre-paids I have coming up, and no longer shopping there.

[Sven]

So my local comic shop screwed up my pull list again, as I didn't get my copy of "Demon Knights" #4 (which I pre-paid for).

I'm very, very strongly considering asking for my money back on all of the pre-paids I have coming up, and no longer shopping there.

Sounds like more stress than it's worth (which is to cast no aspersions on the worthiness of Demon Knights, #4 in particular, being an excellent issue). I would just purchase from their shelves and ask them to special order issues that sell out. Don't know what distribution is like in Canada, though. Talking to the Canadians I get in my store (mostly from BC), I'd wager it's substantially weaker, so that may not be viable.

[megladon8]

Sounds like more stress than it's worth (which is to cast no aspersions on the worthiness of Demon Knights, #4 in particular, being an excellent issue). I would just purchase from their shelves and ask them to special order issues that sell out. Don't know what distribution is like in Canada, though. Talking to the Canadians I get in my store (mostly from BC), I'd wager it's substantially weaker, so that may not be viable.


Yeah, it's not too good. I'm considering just going digital, then buying the trades of the ones I really dig.

I spoke with John (the owner) on the phone last night about the problem, and he was very understanding and said that basically, other than him (he's owned the place for more than 10 years) the entire staff is new. As in, was hired within the last month. VERY new. So a lot of mistakes are being made and he has lost clientele because of it.

I still haven't received my copies of "Punisher" #3 and "Ultimate Spider-Man" #3. I have all the other issues except those two, which mysteriously disappeared from my bin.

So I can't really even read the ones I have. I'm not going to read 4 and up if I haven't read 3, you know what I mean?

[megladon8]

So I'm wanting to check out some more Gail Simone stuff beyond "Secret Six" and her current "Batgirl" stuff.

How were her "Birds of Prey" and "Wonder Woman" runs?

[EyesWideOpen]

I didn't really care for her Wonder Woman but Birds of Prey (not just her run the original Chuck Dixon stuff also) is one of my alltime favorite books.

[megladon8]

Cool! Duely noted. Thanks, EWO. Throwing them on my queue.

[number8]

I liked her WW enough, but if I remember right, she had to follow Allan Heinberg's stupid, late and unfinished status-quo changing storyline, and then got interrupted by the Amazons Attack crossover. BoP and SS are her best work because they're mostly left out of the big stuff and she could do whatever she wanted.

[Sven]

I'm pretty sure my mind is currently in the process of being destroyed by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham. Oh my goodness.

[Sven]

So Batman. Issue four here reveals that Bruce extensively investigated a possible Owl-related conspiracy link to the death of his parents when he was a kid. But in issue three, it's like the whole Owl thing and its relation to his family is brand new. Aggravatingly inconsistent. I'm all for slow, dramatic trickling in of relevant information, but this is preposterous. Which is a shame, because the big picture is still exciting.

[sevenarts]

I'm pretty sure my mind is currently in the process of being destroyed by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham. Oh my goodness.

Yeah this was really something. As usual with this super-dense and elliptical Morrison style, I got maybe half of it, if I'm lucky, on first read. Looking forward to seeing where this all goes.

Interesting that this issue was explicitly set before the New 52, which was necessary because it had the Stephanie Brown evil school stuff. I wonder if the whole rest of the saga will also be pre-New 52. That'd be interesting, a publisher putting out a story that has been written out of continuity before it even starts. Otherwise, though, thinking about the Morrison bat-saga starting in the old universe and wrapping up in the new one just gives me a headache.

[EyesWideOpen]

I liked her WW enough, but if I remember right, she had to follow Allan Heinberg's stupid, late and unfinished status-quo changing storyline, and then got interrupted by the Amazons Attack crossover. BoP and SS are her best work because they're mostly left out of the big stuff and she could do whatever she wanted.

Allen Heinberg only did the first four issues and Simone didn't take over until issue 13. They had Jodi Picoult and a couple other people on the book before Simone. And Amazons Attack was already done before she started on the book. I don't think the problems with her Wonder Woman was that she couldn't do what she wanted it just wasn't as good as her other stuff.

[number8]

Danny the Street is a member on the new Teen Titans?!! Why am I not reading this book.

[Acapelli]

well, regardless of what you think of scott lobdell, brett booth's art is hideous

[megladon8]

Wow, issue 1 of "Leviathan Strikes" is huge.

Why does the cover say it's a one-shot?

[number8]

Because it is...

[megladon8]

Because it is...


I thought this was supposed to be a 12 month run?

Weren't you and Sven talking about it just a few posts back? Sven pointed out that if it's a 12 month run just starting now / January, it'll be climaxing in 2013.

[Acapelli]

"leviathan strikes" is essentially just batman inc #9 and #10

"batman: leviathan" starts next year

[megladon8]

"leviathan strikes" is essentially just batman inc #9 and #10

"batman: leviathan" starts next year


Ah, see I didn't realize that "Leviathan" and "Leviathan Strikes" were two separate things.

I thought this issue called "Leviathan Strikes" was like a mega issue #1 for the "Leviathan" storyline.

Cool. Thanks for the clarification.

[Sven]

Progress report:

I'm getting progressively disheartened with the increasingly rushed look of Captain Atom. The first two issues were a grand step up for Williams II, but it looks like he needs longer than a month to refine the style he has developed. Thankfully Adam's still an intriguing character, and one can't quite predict where the narrative is going, which is always a plus.

Swamp Thing is cool, but with this and Batman 4, I'm starting to chafe against Snyder's shortcomings. He's super good with plot, but his expository bone is in dire need of setting. With artists Paquette, Capullo, and Rudy, he gets beautiful, dynamic pages that thankfully distract from the onslaught of clunky information, but I'm less enamored at this point.

Batman: Odyssey and Batman: Leviathan showcase many a great and crazy idea. I reread all of Batman Incorporated, practically poring over every panel, parsing out problems, puzzling over Morrison's piecemeal schematics. Immensely fun, but I've ended up with more questions than answers, damn the man. And Odyssey features a materialized Deadman whacking flesh-hungry subterranean trolls with a frying pan. Which is cool, but it's also interesting that Adams thrusts Batman into a war scenario and peers at the morality of killing even in battle situations.

[sevenarts]

Danny the Street is a member on the new Teen Titans?!! Why am I not reading this book.

I quickly got bored of all the Lobdell reboot books, but that sounds too weird to miss. Didn't expect to see that particular Morrison concept showing up in the New 52 universe.

After 4 issues of most books, I'm down to 18 New 52 titles that I'm still reading, and for the most part my favorites haven't changed. I have soured on Action Comics, though, to the point that I'm starting to think George Perez is writing the better Superman book. Never thought I'd say that. The art on Morrison's book is just all over the place, and the story is starting to stall too. Perez on the other hand is just doing a solid action book with some good characterization.

Batman and Robin doesn't seem to be getting much attention but it's great, just quietly telling its story and doing a really fine job of handling the character of Damien Wayne.

Also, now that the bat-sex controversy has passed, Catwoman continues to be a really good comic. Love the art.

[number8]

The mystery of the alien language. (http://www.csicon.org/a-new-dc-mystery/)

[number8]

First crossover event of the new 52 announced. "Night of the Owls" by Scott Snyder will span all the Bat-titles, with the build-up happening in Batman's backup stories starting in #8.

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/01/09/batman-8-to-introduce-back-ups-exploring-the-secret-history-of-the-court-of-owls-2/

[Acapelli]

am i the only one that doesn't really care for the whole owl storyline?

[Sven]

am i the only one that doesn't really care for the whole owl storyline?

Gigantic conspiracy of badass birdmen. Whats not to like? As I mentioned before, though, I am a little miffed at Snyder's poor exposition the last couple of issues.

[Acapelli]

i just kind of find yet another mystery surrounding the waynes' murder in crime alley to be a bit tiring, especially since the black glove stuff was fairly recent

but i guess in the context of the reboot, it makes sense to mine that territory for those newcomers, but it's boring me. and as you mentioned, it's overly-expository nature certainly isn't helping it win any points with me

it's a good book, but i was hoping that the owl stuff was going to be resolved quickly, not become the next big event

[Acapelli]

i think i'm just bitter because i'm positive that leviathan is going to be the more compelling event

[dreamdead]

Huh. Caught up on JL Dark #4, which remains a read that I purchase each month waiting for it to get damn good. I'm becoming more and more indifferent to it with each passing issue, so I'm hoping that Milligan ups the ante soon. It's still too jumpy and trying to balance character time to work as a team book, which is bothersome to me.

Williams's arc of Batwoman wraps up nicely in #5. I think the first page could have fruitfully been broken down to another page or two to better generate a sense of spatial time and detection, rather than the sudden epiphany that it presently is, and the Alice flashback doesn't quite work, but I'm intrigued with how Chase and Bones will play out in the next issue or so. And how Bette will feature. Questions, questions, and I'm actually excited to see how it evolves, even if I think the series could have developed some of these ideas out in this issue.

[number8]

In May, DC is cancelling 6 titles and replacing them with 6 new ones.

BLACKHAWKS
HAWK AND DOVE
MEN OF WAR
MISTER TERRIFIC
O.M.A.C.
STATIC SHOCK

will be replaced by:


BATMAN INCORPORATED – Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. The acclaimed ongoing writer of ACTION COMICS, Grant Morrison, presents a fresh take on BATMAN INCORPORATED, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat.

EARTH 2 – Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds.

WORLDS’ FINEST – Writer: Paul Levitz. Artists: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs.

DIAL H – Writer: China Miéville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from acclaimed novelist China Miéville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero.

G.I. COMBAT – Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams – including THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and THE HAUNTED TANK, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins.

THE RAVAGERS – Writer: Howard Mackie. Artist: Ian Churchill. Spinning off from TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY, this series finds four superpowered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains.

Sounds good to me, actually.

[Sven]

Sad to see OMAC go, but it has been getting weaker.

Haunted Tank w/Arcudi & Kolins sounds boss. And K likes Mieville, so that's cool.

[number8]

It's a pretty big coup for them to get Mieville to do his first ongoing. I've always liked the Dial H for Hero concept (which is why I gave Ben 10 a watch). Definitely trying that one out.

[Sven]

Would you recommend Ben 10? My interest is mostly that Joe Casey and Joe Kelly are creators, and they're easily two of my favorite comics people.

[number8]

Sure. A lot of people prefer the darker toned sequel, which was showrunnered by Dwayne McDuffie and aged the characters a bit older, but the first show was fun too. It's very Kirby influenced, which is why I think you'd like it. Ben's middle name is actually Kirby, to sign the homage.

[ledfloyd]

so wait, there's a batman incorporated series in-continuity now? running parallel to leviathan i'm assuming?

[Sven]

so wait, there's a batman incorporated series in-continuity now? running parallel to leviathan i'm assuming?

My guess is that it's the same thing.

[number8]

It is the same thing. They just retooled the Leviathan story to conform to the New 52, and I guess dropped the "Leviathan" from the title?

They tried to do the same to the Leviathan Strikes one-shot. Cameron Stewart almost redrew Steph's costume from Batgirl to Spoiler in his issue and Burnham changing his Dick to Nightwing, then they decided it wasn't worth it and just released it with the "These events take place before Flashpoint" disclaimer.

But for this one, they had enough time to change it. So now the Batman Inc story will be part of the New 52 continuity.

[number8]

By the way, OMAC is joining JLI, so he won't be gone.

[ledfloyd]

It is the same thing. They just retooled the Leviathan story to conform to the New 52, and I guess dropped the "Leviathan" from the title?

They tried to do the same to the Leviathan Strikes one-shot. Cameron Stewart almost redrew Steph's costume from Batgirl to Spoiler in his issue and Burnham changing his Dick to Nightwing, then they decided it wasn't worth it and just released it with the "These events take place before Flashpoint" disclaimer.

But for this one, they had enough time to change it. So now the Batman Inc story will be part of the New 52 continuity.
hmm, i wonder how that's going to effect the morrison batman continuity.

[Sven]

hmm, i wonder how that's going to effect the morrison batman continuity.

I think the continuity he maintained as essential has crossed over anyway. All you really need to know is there is Batman Inc, Talia is the mother of their son Damien who is Robin, and that she is "Leviathan", who is just about to lay the smack down domination-wise. He'd already more-or-less dropped most of the death/rebirth-thru-time stuff. Though I am aware that he does have a habit of recalling dormant minutia after letting it gestate a while.

How crazy would that be if Batman ends up as one of his Multiversity subjects?

[number8]

It's not like Morrison cares that much about the official Batman continuity anyway, and editorial seems to let him do whatever the fuck he wants. He wrote flashbacks to the original Batwoman Kathy Kane without so much as an explanation, even though she's been erased from canon for, what, a couple of decades?

[megladon8]

I will be getting "Batman Inc.", "Earth 2" and "Dial H" from that list.

[number8]

From Batman Inc #1. Chris Burnham's take on the New 52 costume.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/images/articles/1326376484.jpg

Interview (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36368)with Mike Marts that should clear some things up.

[number8]

You thought that the cancellation of HAWK AND DOVE means Rob Liefeld is out of work. Wrong! He's going to be joining DEATHSTROKE, SAVAGE HAWKMAN and GRIFTER.

lol:

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/files/2012/01/DStroke_Cvr_v7-674x1024.jpg

[number8]

Batman Odyssey continues to be FUCKING HILARIOUS.

A splash page of Dick Grayson freaking out about his dead parents while riding a giant bat in the air? Check.

Batman making a "yo mama" joke? Check.

Batman telling a hippo "You must be high!"? Check.

And then this happens.

http://pics.livejournal.com/icon_uk/pic/006sg3bx
http://pics.livejournal.com/icon_uk/pic/006shy89

[number8]

DC has officially changed their logo.

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/01/19/new-brand-identity/

[Ezee E]

That's awful.

[megladon8]

Will The Dark Knight Rises brandish the new logo?

[number8]

Well yeah, I don't see why it wouldn't.

[megladon8]

Well yeah, I don't see why it wouldn't.


Wasn't Batman Begins the first DC film to use the current "new logo"?

[megladon8]

Hey does anyone know anything about why the first "Batman: Odyssey" run has yet to be collected in trade format?

I mean, the trades for the new 52 titles (which are just starting to reach 6 issues) already have covers and release dates, but this title was finished months ago there's still no word on a trade.

[number8]

So... Nobody has anything to say about Batman #5, huh?

[Sven]

So... Nobody has anything to say about Batman #5, huh?

It was cool, and it belongs to Capullo. The script and editorial were recycled thrills, but Capullo's epic blocking turned the issue into an excellent comics spectacle.

[number8]

Yeah, it was definitely his A-game. The sequence with Thomas and Martha would not have worked as effective as it was without his creepy art.

[number8]

Also loving Wonder Woman #5. Poseidon looks sweet.

[Dukefrukem]

So... Nobody has anything to say about Batman #5, huh?

Switching to Batman now from Animal Man.

[sevenarts]

Also loving Wonder Woman #5. Poseidon looks sweet.

Didn't like the art in this very much, I really missed Cliff Chiang. He's visually defined these characters so well already that it just looks wrong to have a lesser artist filling in. The story and writing remains fantastic though.

Batman #5 was really cool. As Sven says, Snyder's story so far is hitting familiar beats, both from Morrison and his own previous Batman work, but this was the first issue where I was really swept up in it anyway, mainly because the art and layouts were so good. This Court of Owls stuff isn't as good as The Black Mirror, but it's still decent.

[Dukefrukem]

So... Nobody has anything to say about Batman #5, huh?

I want to make sure I'm starting the correct series. Scott Synder?

[sevenarts]

Yes, Snyder is writing the best current Batman series (which is up to 5 issues).

So far, it's good but not as good as Snyder's run on Detective Comics (#871-881, just before the reboot), which is one of THE great Batman stories.

Animal Man seems to be a real love-it-or-hate-it book. I just don't get its detractors' complaints at all.

[Dukefrukem]

Animal Man seems to be a real love-it-or-hate-it book. I just don't get its detractors' complaints at all.

Well for one, the first issue was totally cliched with him "saving the day". And how many times is he gonna pull that Rhino skin junk so bullets don't harm him? I dunno, it felt cheesey to me and the teaser at the end gave me no interest to buy #2.

[Ezee E]

I'm way behind on issues now. Read up to #3 on most. And then holidays came up... Which ones are still good besides Batman?

[Sven]

Animal Man seems to be a real love-it-or-hate-it book. I just don't get its detractors' complaints at all.

Similarly, detractors like myself think defenders are fooling themselves, drawing at straws. It's a real piece of junk, elevated by its macabre illustrations. :D

[Sven]

I'm way behind on issues now. Read up to #3 on most. And then holidays came up... Which ones are still good besides Batman?

The ones I'd recommend are: Justice League Dark, though it hasn't developed much heft outside of its nature as a darkly focused circumvention of traditional superhero team dynamics.

Better but maybe more esoteric is Red Lanterns, which is definitely one of the best titles I'm reading, DC and otherwise. It's graceful and aloof, threading together multiple perspectives which, when combined with its raging fury and Benes's none-too-subtle artwork, creates an uncanny window into the potent world of myth-as-pure-emotion.

Action Comics, particularly with the last issue (from the cosmic POV of baby Superman's rocketship), is intensely creative.

Demon Knights is getting weightier and more complex by the issue. It started out silly and light-footed, but has quickly become one of the more dramatically enticing titles.

[sevenarts]

I'm way behind on issues now. Read up to #3 on most. And then holidays came up... Which ones are still good besides Batman?

Others will disagree (obviously) but this is what I'm still reading, in rough order of enjoyment:

Animal Man, Batwoman, Wonder Woman, Swamp Thing, Batman, All-Star Western, Demon Knights, Batman and Robin, Justice League Dark, The Flash, Frankenstein, Action Comics, Catwoman, Justice League, Green Lantern, Superman, Batgirl

[number8]

The ones I'd recommend are: Justice League Dark, though it hasn't developed much heft outside of its nature as a darkly focused circumvention of traditional superhero team dynamics.

#5 was probably the best issue so far. That ending is a really creepy set-up for the next arc. Milligan's so good at those.

Gotta love the "In Egypt, the Sphinx forgot the answer to its own riddle and began eating tourists" bit. Morrison-esque in concept, but with a bit more logic and dark humor thrown in.

[Ezee E]

So have Batgirl and Batwoman gone down in quality?

[megladon8]

So have Batgirl and Batwoman gone down in quality?


Batgirl yes, Batwoman no.

[dreamdead]

#5 of Batwoman feels a bit rushed in its narrative arc, which wraps up the first story, but all of the art and characters remain engaging. I'd still recommend it, especially if you thought the first issue or so were good. I'm most intrigued to see how Amy Reeder blends her artistic style with Williams's experimental panel layout, which should be an entirely different animal in an interesting, more manga approach.

I'm predicting that Williams moves onto another project after completing the art to his second Batwoman arc, though...

[number8]

Batgirl has gone up in quality for me. The last two are much better than its beginning.

[Ezee E]

Guess I'll have to see for myself :)

[number8]

Uh... Wow, this is pretty huge news.

DC's Captain Mavel is no more in the New 52.


Nrama: Are you calling him Shazam now? Have you gotten rid of "Captain Marvel?"

Johns: Yeah, we're going to call him Shazam.

Nrama: Why the change?

Johns: Well, there are a lot of reasons for the change. One is that everybody thinks he's called Shazam already, outside of comics. It's also, for all sorts of reasons, calling him Shazam just made sense for us. And, you know, every comic book he's in right now has Shazam on the cover. So I think just by embracing that and calling him Shazam.

And you'll see it actually make sense in story, why he's called Shazam rather than Captain Marvel. That's just what he's going to be called for us from now on.

[Ezee E]

I figured it was cause Captain Marvel associates with Marvel Comics.

[number8]

Sven's not gonna be happy with this...

Lemire is taking over JLD from Milligan.

[Sven]

Sven's not gonna be happy with this...

Lemire is taking over JLD from Milligan.

Oof. On one hand, that'll be another title I can axe, which'll be just fine. And at least it's not Red Lanterns. On the other, that is a catastrophic plunge in talent, which is disheartening to witness. And Milligan writes Shade just so perfectly.

But I am comforted when I recall the impending Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, assuming it won't be dropped.

Re: Capt. Marvel, I wonder if that ties into or will confuse or further delay Multiversity, one of the few facts we know about it being a chapter about the Marvel family.

[Sven]

Also, it appears that M-town is simply shifting over to Stormwatch, a book I have been enjoying greatly and will now likely continue to do so. Faith restored.

[number8]

Re: Capt. Marvel, I wonder if that ties into or will confuse or further delay Multiversity, one of the few facts we know about it being a chapter about the Marvel family.

I don't even know what they'd be called. Shazam Jr and Mary Shazam? What's the wizard gonna be called? Shazam Classic?

[number8]

Also, it appears that M-town is simply shifting over to Stormwatch, a book I have been enjoying greatly and will now likely continue to do so. Faith restored.

Spectacular news. I was hoping I wouldn't have to drop Stormwatch.

[Dukefrukem]

How many are you guys reading?? And how do you keep up? Please tell me your secrets.

[Sven]

Also, Milligan has had a career-long focus of making malleable sexual definitions, so I'm interested to see what Milligan will do with Midnighter and Apollo. Cornell has only given that aspect a scant mention here and there.

Duke, I work at a comic book store, so I have job familiarity and personal interest motivating me, as well as easy access to the books with my discount and ability to borrow/read on lunches, etc.

[Ezee E]

Catching up:

Action Comics #3 -- pretty nerdy and dumb. Award shows on El... Feels like I've seen this story before in Spider-Man.

Animal Man #3 -- great artwork and story continue on here. The family victims are pretty simple, but everything going on in "The Red" is both intriguing and fascinating to look at.

Batwing #2 -- The "realistic" artwork is nice, and I like that nonlinear form it had. Two issues in, and this is one of the bigger surprises out of the "New 52" that I've read. Although I'm not sure of the superpowers that are going on in Africa, it's still a fun one to read.

Detective Comics #3 -- This reads like bad fanfiction. The Dollmaker is an awful villain. I'd kind of like to see how it ends, but that last panel with "The Jokers" confirms that I'll be asking you guys if there's a resolution, as I don't want to even pay $2 for the next issue.

Swamp Thing #3 - I remember I was thinking of giving up on this, but #3 might be my fave issue of the Swamp Thing series. The exposition is gone.

Batwoman #3 - Not as good as the first two issues, but whoever is in charge of the panel creation is a genius.

Alright. Time to buy some now...

[megladon8]

So... Nobody has anything to say about Batman #5, huh?


Just read it now, I've been falling behind.

Yeah, that was something else.

Loved the turning of the pages. Very evocative.

Also love the image of Batman with one eye torn from his mask. Eerie stuff.

[Dukefrukem]

So... Nobody has anything to say about Batman #5, huh?

Wow. That issue was so hard for me to read because it kept rotating and every time I adjusted my Fire, the screen would rotate it again… But yeh, great issue.

[number8]

Yeaaaahhhh, I heard that. I fully support digital comics, but when people do experimental stuff like this in comics (and that is a much milder form of what Alan Moore likes to do with the printed page) I have to wonder if digital readers are really missing out.

[Ezee E]

You are able to read it in "page" form as it was printed. But yeah, you're probably right in that degree.

[number8]

There was an issue of Promethea where you read it as a normal issue and it gives you one narrative, but you can take the pages apart and arrange them to form one large poster image which, read in that new order, will give you a second narrative, and then you flip the poster and there's a third narrative in the back. Only then you'd have the complete story of that issue.

[Ezee E]

There was an issue of Promethea where you read it as a normal issue and it gives you one narrative, but you can take the pages apart and arrange them to form one large poster image which, read in that new order, will give you a second narrative, and then you flip the poster and there's a third narrative in the back. Only then you'd have the complete story of that issue.
Neat. Plus, you can read the poster like a scroll as I imagine it's about 10 feet long.

[megladon8]

So with that "Promethea" issue I guess you pretty much lose out if you have it in any form other than the original issue.

[number8]

They printed miniature versions of the posters in the last pages of the trade just so you can see what they look like, and use it as a guide to flip back and read the text in that order.

But essentially, yes.

I believe when it came out, you could also buy a variant version of the issue printed as a poster.

[number8]

Yep. This dude bought the poster versions. You can probably still find these somewhere.

http://www.chrismclaren.com/blog/wp-content/images/2005/04/Hanging/PrometheaTimes2.jpg

[Sven]

Ay ay ay, Senor Benes... what's with the asses? *shakes head at all the asses*

Otherwise I think it was the best issue yet. Most Milligan-y. Reminded me of his Tangled Web issues, where Rhino becomes smart.

[megladon8]

Gotta say I'm not a huge fan of "Action Comics". The first few issues were great, but it has become confusing and obtuse, even by Morrison's standards.

[Thirdmango]

Sven gave me a whole bunch of issues 1s, and probably the one I've liked the most was Suicide Squad, so much so that I actually am thinking about seeking it out.

[Acapelli]

Sven gave me a whole bunch of issues 1s, and probably the one I've liked the most was Suicide Squad, so much so that I actually am thinking about seeking it out.
:|

edit: thought this was the comics discussion thread for a second

[Sven]

Sven gave me a whole bunch of issues 1s, and probably the one I've liked the most was Suicide Squad, so much so that I actually am thinking about seeking it out.

Cool. I've reread and still see excellence in the first issue, but unfortunately, by issue three the title had completely jumped King Shark... *sad trumpet* You may like it, though.

[Ezee E]

Cool. I've reread and still see excellence in the first issue, but unfortunately, by issue three the title had completely jumped King Shark... *sad trumpet* You may like it, though.
Doesn't take long does it?

What'd it do?

[megladon8]

Anyone else feel similar to me about Action Comics? Or is it pretty much universally loved?

[number8]

I loved the last issue. Really cool foreshadowing for future stories, which Morrison always does in his long runs, and very appropriate for a Legion of Superheroes appearance.

Also, best back-up story yet.

I did not find it confusing at all.

[megladon8]

I loved the last issue. Really cool foreshadowing for future stories, which Morrison always does in his long runs, and very appropriate for a Legion of Superheroes appearance.

Also, best back-up story yet.

I did not find it confusing at all.


I found the story about the people in Superman's head to be very confusing. I still don't really know what all happened. I found their discussions of kryptonite, the engine, etc. to be pretty hard to follow.

I'll have to read it again, for a third time.

[Ezee E]

Still at #3. Slowly catching up on everything.

Superman #3 was the worst of the three so far. Sort of a revisiting of the first two issues I guess.

[number8]

(E, don't read.)

Think of it as the conclusion to a future issue's time travel storyline that you get to see now, in chronological order. It's like this:

At some point 5 years in the future, a bunch of Superman's rogues band together and name themselves The Anti-Superman Army, in order to travel back in time to steal the Kryptonite engine from Baby Kal-El's rocket ship. They come back to Jeans-and-T-Shirt Superman's days because this is before Superman stores the rocket inside the Fortress of Solitude, which doesn't exist yet. The problem is that, at this point in time, the rocket is at The Collector's satellite helping Superman fight The Collector, as per its programming. Without the Kryptonite, the rocket will die, and The Collector will defeat Superman.

This was all explained in issue 5, the issue narrated by the rocket.

In the future, Collared Superman and the Legion of Superheroes are chasing the Anti-Superman Army through time and they, too, end up in the Jeans-and-T-Shirt days. Superman recognizes the satellite as the same one he used to go to mope, before he has a Fortress of Solitude, but he remembers going there for the first time after defeating The Collector and finding his rocket ship there with its engine intact. So how come this rocket is missing its engine? He realizes that that's what the Anti-Superman Army stole. Then they realize that the Anti-S Army are hiding in a special bullet (bigger on the inside) that was fired into Superman's head. Superman can't punch something inside him!

Then we see that inside Superman's head, the Anti-Superman Army are having negotiations with that evil little dude from the first issue, who offers each of them a piece of the Kryptonite. Presumably this was all the evil little dude's idea.

Saturn Girl probes Superman's memory (hence the flashbacks to the farm) to pinpoint where the Anti-S Army's hiding by tracing anomalies (the Kent farmhouse being red, then blue), then the Legion members shrink down and go into Superman's head to fight the Anti-S Army. During the fight, the Kryptonite shatters, poisoning Superman with radiation from inside his own head. But Superman realizes that he can use this radiation to power the rocket ship back up again.

After the rocket engine's back online and the Anti-S Army defeated, Superman and the Legion haul ass back to the future, leaving history unchanged.

Now in the next issue or so, Jeans-and-T-shirt Superman will defeat The Collector, go up to the satellite, find the rocket with the engine intact, and things proceed as normal the way Collared Superman remembered it happening.

This is just a side adventure, basically, that doesn't affect anything in the series' current timeline (which is the goal of Superman and the Legion's mission), but Morrison was using it to tease so many things that he has planned for the series, dropped here and there in the dialogue. For one thing, the members of the Anti-Superman Army are villains we haven't met yet, but now we know they're coming.

As far as foreshadowing go, I thought it was ingenious.

[number8]

Batman Inc #1 cover. Bitchin'.

http://wb.cdn.warnerbros.com/dcublog/files/2012/02/BMINC_Cv1.jpg

[number8]

Annuals announced.

Batman Annual #1 will be a Mr. Freeze-centric story about The Court of Owls by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, with art by Jay Fabok.

http://wb.cdn.warnerbros.com/dcublog/files/2012/02/BMANN_Cv1.jpg

Animal Man Annual #1 will be a meeting between Animal Man and Swamp Thing, serving as a prequel to the crossover of both titles, by Jeff Lemire and art by Timothy Green II.

http://wb.cdn.warnerbros.com/dcublog/files/2012/02/ANMAN_ANN_1.jpg

Sweet.

[megladon8]

Those are really nice.

"Animal Man" is a title I wish I had put on my pull list. I haven't read any of it yet, but Jen is in love with it.

I should have done that instead of "The Shade".

[Ezee E]

I'll return to that post later. Thanks for the warning.

Animal Man #4 - Wow. Loving this run. It apparently ends next issue, but I sure hope not.

Batgirl #4 - Kind of a lame end to the storyline after a very good first three issues.

Batman #3 - Every issue has sort of had the same approach to its storyline, but it's still a good read.

Batwing, Batwoman #3, #4 - Decent. Just got nothing to say about them.

Swamp Thing #4 - I knew I read about The Rot... I just swore it was Animal Man. Only a matter till these two overlap. That's a neat power about using the dead, which includes dead skin cells, etc.

[sevenarts]

Animal Man #4 - Wow. Loving this run. It apparently ends next issue, but I sure hope not.

It doesn't really end, though #6 is a bit of an interlude. But the larger Rot storyline seems like it's going to continue for a while, here and in Swamp Thing.

Speaking of which, Swamp Thing #6 was the best issue yet, it keeps getting better and has now approached the demented brilliance of Animal Man's first 5 issues.

And Travel Foreman's Swamp Thing on the cover to the AM Annual makes me wish that he was doing the interiors too.

[number8]

It was a weird interlude. I get that it's a reference back to the offhanded The Wrestler parody mentioned in the first issue, but I don't really understand why we needed to take a detour into an inconsequential movie universe for most of the issue. It's not even that interesting.

Oh well, pretty JP Leon art is pretty.

[sevenarts]

Yea, I enjoyed it well enough I guess but it was pretty clearly a filler issue, it seems like Lemire had to wait for Snyder to catch up over in Swamp Thing since the Rot stuff was really only fleshed out over there in #5-6.

In other New 52 news, I stopped reading Static Shock right after #1, but I still thought this was an interesting (and depressing) read from writer John Rozum, which sheds some light on why that book was so bad:

http://johnrozum.blogspot.com/2012/01/why-i-quit-static-shock.html

[number8]

I was just reading Scott McDaniel's rebuttal earlier today:

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/02/08/scott-mcdaniel-tells-his-side-of-static-shock-story/

[Sven]

Lesson: Rozum has an ego and McDaniel has no writing talent.

Though I have been backpedaling my trash-talking of McDaniel lately. I read the Detective run Impostors, that he drew with David Hine writing, and it was very crafty and imaginative. And I did think the first issue of Static Shock showed substantial potential on both writing and art fronts.

[sevenarts]

Batwoman #6 was real good, I'm glad to see that it hasn't dropped off at all with Amy Reeder taking over the art for this arc - the layouts aren't as wild as Williams', but it still looks great.

Batman & Robin has unexpectedly become a New 52 favorite of mine, while series that I liked more than it at the beginning of the rollout have dropped off my list. They're just doing such a good job with the Bruce/Damien dynamic.

Demon Knights is still killing it.

The Mike Choi art in Green Lantern #6 was so horrible. Just ugly as hell with all this digital blurring.

[number8]

And Travel Foreman's Swamp Thing on the cover to the AM Annual makes me wish that he was doing the interiors too.

His covers are great, but I actually haven't been a big fan of his interiors so far. They seem too sparse and static.

Which is why it's FANTASTIC news that he's stepping down to do just cover duties starting with #9, and is being replaced by Steve Pugh.

Because Steve Pugh!!!

[sevenarts]

I don't think that's fantastic news at all. I mean, Steve Pugh is cool, and I'm sure it'll still be a top-tier series, but Foreman has totally made that book what it is. He's been killing it. The sheer visual inventiveness he brings to every issue is a big reason why it's been so good. I find the sparseness and minimalism of his style really compelling. I'm not sure why they're transferring him to, of all books, Birds of Prey, I guess I'll have to start reading that again.

I'm really disappointed in general that DC is doing so much creative shuffling, it shows a real unwillingness to let creators build something more slowly.

[Acapelli]

and what bothers me most, regardless of pugh's talents, is that dc is choosing to go back to a tried and true creator, whose already made his mark on the character, instead of letting someone new have at it

[number8]

Foreman asked to be transfered. He said in a blog post that he wasn't enjoying working on the book and became really slow, which explained the filler issue by JP Leon and Steve Pugh filling in parts of issues 7 and 8. He said it's better to give it to Pugh full time than for him to keep dragging the book down.

[number8]

Found it.


The change on Animal Man boils down to the reason I was on the book to begin with, which was that I needed to take on a job after my mother died (to deal with the financial end of someone being sick for a while and then passing) and Animal Man was the only thing DC was going to let me do. Which in any other time frame would have been perfect.

But really the context of me dealing with the death of my mom and drawing the kind of content in Animal Man just burned me out sooner than I thought.

I had hoped to stay on the book until at least the spring so that the artist I wanted to replace me was free from his commitments, but I would have ultimately just dragged the book down if I did, because it was becoming harder and harder to concentrate on the work.

Steve was bending over backwards on his fill-ins to keep the book on schedule so you have to keep that in consideration. Really, he won't skip a beat once he's doing the book full time.

Thanks, everyone.

[sevenarts]

Oh, that makes sense - I imagine it's got to be tough drawing such death-obsessed imagery while trying to deal with the real-life death of a loved one.

[Sven]

Looks like Lemire is not including Shade in his JLD, and including Black Orchid and what looks like an I, Vampire character.

Also, loving the solicit descriptions on Action. They're getting crazier and crazier.

[number8]

Wonder Woman #6 - Best issue yet? Fuck yes.

[Dukefrukem]

What a surprise...Batman gathers the strength to kick ass. I guess that's a little less predictable than Robin helping him.

[Ezee E]

Action Comics #4 is a great action set piece, even if I think it's a little weird that they separate Steel's battle from the comic, yet it's still there. Least it's better then having five-six pages of something I don't care about.

[Ezee E]

Most of you didn't seem to like the batman background stuff in #4. I loved it. Looking forward to #5 in which the website even mentions that you should keep the issue "locked" to appreciate the panels fully for it's sideways and upside down panels.

[Dukefrukem]

Most of you didn't seem to like the batman background stuff in #4. I loved it. Looking forward to #5 in which the website even mentions that you should keep the issue "locked" to appreciate the panels fully for it's sideways and upside down panels.

Yes I had a hard time reading 5 on my Fire.

[Ezee E]

#5 is awesome indeed. Nice work there.

Superman #4... Too wordy. I liked it though, up until the "Noooooooo" at the end. Made me laugh actually.

Animal Man #5 was as good as the rest of 'em.

[EyesWideOpen]

Read through the first three issues of Batman today. The storyline is decent but the Capullo art is extremely lacking.

[megladon8]

Read through the first three issues of Batman today. The storyline is decent but the Capullo art is extremely lacking.


Stick with it. The art progresses. When I got to issue 5 my mind was blown.

[EyesWideOpen]

I just finished issue 4 and the artwork has now hit terrible levels. Capullo cannot draw a face to save his life. The middle of the issue is Bruce and Dick talking and every other face the characters are either cross-eyed or looking "derped out".

[EyesWideOpen]

Stick with it. The art progresses. When I got to issue 5 my mind was blown.

Well at least in issue 5 there aren't that many faces for him to mess up. Not sure how your mind was blown. I've read stories where the pages were read in different ways before. It's a nice gimmick that really didn't add anything to the story. I have up to issue 6 (I got a gift subscription last year) and I won't be going past that.

[number8]

Yeah, well, you also hate Frank Quitely and Igor Kordey, don't you?

[megladon8]

Well at least in issue 5 there aren't that many faces for him to mess up. Not sure how your mind was blown. I've read stories where the pages were read in different ways before. It's a nice gimmick that really didn't add anything to the story. I have up to issue 6 (I got a gift subscription last year) and I won't be going past that.


The page rotation was neat, but thats not what blew my mind.

I found the art reflecting Batman's descent into madness to be very impressive. Beginning with the haunting image of his bloodshot eye showing through his torn cowl, progressing to him becoming a full blown monster.

Awesome stuff.

[EyesWideOpen]

Yeah, well, you also hate Frank Quitely and Igor Kordey, don't you?

I don't hate either of them. I liked Quitely's Batman stuff along with his Allstar Superman and We3 work. I haven't seen anything of Kordey besides his New X-Men stuff and it was atrocious. I just didn't like their New X-Men stuff.

[Grouchy]

Yeah, based solely on New X-Men, I also used to hate Kordey. Now I know that he drew those issues really fast and I've seen better work by him.

Quitely is a genius.

[Ezee E]

I think it's far better then any of the other Batman comics. Good thing it also has the best story going for it too.

However, Animal Man is trumping everything in the art department

[dreamdead]

However, Animal Man is trumping everything in the art department

Even the J.H. Williams Batwoman art, or are you considering Reeder's more manga visual style?

[Ezee E]

Even the J.H. Williams Batwoman art, or are you considering Reeder's more manga visual style?
Batwoman is pretty great too. Probably second overall in what I read. I think Animal Man's been more consistent in the series though.

Batwoman #1 or #2 may be the best looking individual issue... I'd have to relook.

[Sven]

A few of the artists I think doing superior work that aren't getting as many props are Miguel Sepulveda, Ig Guara, Doug Mahnke, Andrea Sorrentino, and Freddie Williams II.

I imagine Burnham will stomp all over everyone.

[Acapelli]

ugh miguel sepulveda's work was awful for at least the 3 issues of his stormwatch that i read

and it seems like andrea sorrentino's quality of work is declining

[number8]

I am absolutely loving the idea that there's going to be a different Talon from a different decade showing up in each of the Bat-books.

[number8]

By the way, last day on the Justice League digital comics blowout sale.

[Sven]

Wrote a review of Red Lanterns. (http://www.zanaducomics.com/zanadu-comics/2012/2/27/zanadu-reviews.html) Need to fix a few grammatical/editorial errors this weekend when I have access.

[number8]

Hm. DC fired Amy Reeder off Batwoman. She's being replaced by Trevor McCarthy.

[bac0n]

Wow, that was quick.

Why can't they just keep JH Williams III doing the art? Is drawing and writing spreading him to thin? God I love his stuff.

[Sven]

Damn shame. I was skeptical, but her issue was my favorite one so far. Doesn't seem like McCarthy is a fitting yang to JH's yin.

[Acapelli]

Wow, that was quick.

Why can't they just keep JH Williams III doing the art? Is drawing and writing spreading him to thin? God I love his stuff.
he's a very slow illustrator, and dc doesn't want any late books (unless you happen to be geoff johns or jim lee working on the justice league)

[bac0n]

he's a very slow illustrator, and dc doesn't want any late books (unless you happen to be geoff johns or jim lee working on the justice league)

Shame, that. I for one would be willing to wait a few extra weeks if I were to get JHW3's amazing artwork and panel layouts as a reward for my patience.

[dreamdead]

Damn shame. I was skeptical, but her issue was my favorite one so far. Doesn't seem like McCarthy is a fitting yang to JH's yin.

'Tis a shame to see Reeder go. I would have liked that consistency of two artists swapping runs, but clearly there were issues. I thought her art in the #0 issue was more appropriate to the book, though that might be my inclination that her style more naturally reflects Kate (rather than Batwoman's) narrative.

I found the past issue lacking simply because it ended without anything being woven together. The jumps in narrative time yielded nothing since nothing had a chance to breathe. Hopefully this week's will be better on that front.

[number8]

I wish Rucka would come back.

[Sven]

I dreamed that Ann Nocenti died, which reminded me to read the new Green Arrow. The artwork is nice. And she's clearly a more interesting writer than Krul. Glad it was just a dream.

[number8]

And she's clearly a more interesting writer than Krul.

That's a given. Considering her own liberal activism, I thought it was a pretty obvious fit to give her that book. Is that evident yet?

[Sven]

Is that evident yet?

A little bit, with an aura of more to come.

[megladon8]

Unsure of how I feel about the first issue with the new creative team on "Superman".

The art is kind of pretty, but I find it's the colours that are impressing me more than the layouts or the pencil style.

Writing seems...fairly typical "Superman fights a bad guy" stuff. Which is by no means a bad thing, but similar to the art it doesn't seem to have much of a unique style or feel to it.

Seems like filler material.

[dreamdead]

I wish Rucka would come back.

Sorry; meant to reply to this back when it was posted and forgot.

Because you find Batwoman's narrative lagging and seemingly one-note now, or just that there's a precision and character detail that's missing without Rucka? I didn't think he was an especially great writer, but I found that precision in language and character was his key strength. I think this most recent narrative, with its atemporal framework, suffers without Rucka's style--it seems to not advance details enough each issue.

[bac0n]

Has anybody checked out the new DC Presents story arc, The Challengers of the Unknown? I got the first two, but they weren't doing it for me, so I dropped DC Presents from ye olde pull list.

[bac0n]

Another gem of a cover by our pal, Rob Liefeld

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120309234852/marvel_dc/images/thumb/c/c7/Hawk_and_Dove_Vol_5_7.jpg/324px-Hawk_and_Dove_Vol_5_7.jpg

1) What the hell is his left hand holding?

2) What's with the tippy toes on the right foot? Is THE HUNTER!! about to do a plié?

[Sven]

Ahhhhh, the New 52 thread. I think branding fatigue has kicked in. Now the DC books feel like all the others again.

I didn't pick up Challengers because of the DiDio factor. Been loving OMAC, but even the dialogue in that one still reads awkwardly. Too flat. Nothing going on underneath.

O Liefeld.

[number8]

I don't understand how the newly announced National Comics will be different from DC Universe Presents.

Also, the Jeff Lemire reboot of Kid Eternity sounds like Pushing Daisies.

[Acapelli]

I don't understand how the newly announced National Comics will be different from DC Universe Presents.

Also, the Jeff Lemire reboot of Kid Eternity sounds like Pushing Daisies.
to me it sounds like instead of multi-issue arcs, it's just single issues

[number8]

Rumor is that DC Universe Presents is getting canned since it's selling so poorly. So this is basically just a rebranding.

[megladon8]

What's with all the Lemire apathy/dislike 'round these parts?

Has no one here read "The Nobody"?

[Sven]

Everything I've read by Lemire has sucked. That's my beef with him.

[Acapelli]

love lemire

i find that snyder is the one that's been heavily overrated

[EyesWideOpen]

What's with all the Lemire apathy/dislike 'round these parts?

Has no one here read "The Nobody"?

His Essex County Trilogy and The Nobody are both incredible works. I think he's great.

[number8]

He's okay.

[Dukefrukem]

WTF was up with Batman #7? Was that just filler?

[number8]

Batman #8 is getting me so pumped.

[Sven]

Recently went on the slightly defensive for the reboot. You can read it here (http://earth616.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/5-reasons-why-the-new-52-is-not-so-bad/) if you're interested.

[sevenarts]

No surprise, since we seem to have different tastes, but I would come up with a very different list of the top New 52 stuff. Batman is unquestionably great, though, and even if Action Comics has been kind of uneven, it's still been fun and I expect that, like a lot of Morrison's work, it will read better in bigger chunks, when more of his overall vision can be taken in at once. Good to see someone sticking up for OMAC and Demon Knights, too: I admittedly lost interest in the former a couple issues before it ended, but it was an enjoyable Kirby homage with some really nice art and cool tributes to Kirby's restless inventiveness. I wouldn't call such an obvious copy "creative comics," though.

Just for fun, here's what I'd pick as the New 52's top 10 currently:

1. Wonder Woman (fantastic art, exciting storytelling and action, pure fun)
2. Swamp Thing (just keeps getting better)
3. Animal Man (I know we'll never agree on this one)
4. Batman
5. Batwoman (has fallen off a bit while Williams is taking a break from art chores, but it's still decent and will surely pick up again)
6. Action Comics
7. All Star Western
8. Demon Knights
9. The Flash (almost exclusively for the amazing art)
10. Batman and Robin

With honorable mentions for Justice League Dark and Catwoman. Not that different from how I called it after reading all the first issues, with the exception of Batman and Robin, which has gained points by focusing on solidly enjoyable character-based storytelling, not showy but consistently a good read month after month.

[Sven]

Flipping through Earth 2, it looks pretty spectacular. Someone should tell me if it's any good.

I guess same for Dial H, though I'm less interested in that. Mi esposa likes Mieville.

[number8]

Well yeah, Nicola Scott is a phenomenal artist, always been. Really wary about Robinson, though.

[Sven]

Really wary about Robinson, though.

In my admittedly limited experience, I've only been impressed. What of his gives you pause? (Other than JL: Cry for Justice or whatever it's called...)

[number8]

In my admittedly limited experience, I've only been impressed. What of his gives you pause? (Other than JL: Cry for Justice or whatever it's called...)

I can't think of another work of his I liked aside from Starman. His Superman, Batman and JLA works were subpar. I haven't read his JSA, though, and that's probably gonna give the biggest indication on Earth-2.

Did you know that he wrote the screenplay for LXG?

[Sven]

Did you know that he wrote the screenplay for LXG?

Whaaaaaat. Okay, now I'm skeptical.

[megladon8]

I stopped getting his "Shade" 12-part mini after 5 parts. It was dreadful.

Which is sad because I, too, really like "Starman". Like, a lot.


I'm looking forward to picking up my order this week. "Earth 2" and "Dial H" I am particularly anxious for.

[Grouchy]

His three sagas in Legends of the Dark Knight are all pretty awful. It's funny because all three have great premises, it's the execution which destroys them.

[number8]

Goddammit, I was all set to drop JLDark, but turns out Lemire's plan is to connect it to the rot storyline in Animal Man and Swamp Thing. Guess I'll at least see how it plays out.

[megladon8]

Whaaaat? Why would you drop "Justice League Dark"? It's easily one of the best titles in the new 52.

[number8]

Because Milligan just left.

[megladon8]

The "Rise of the Vampires" story line is something I wish I liked more than I did.

It felt too much like a fairly typical comic book-y arc, which ends with everything back to status quo.

I was expecting (and hoping for) some major changes in the lives of these characters. Instead, we have one character die then come back to life, and everyone else remains fairly unchanged.

It was too slight. I wanted more.

But boy oh boy, "Justice League Dark" has beautiful artwork.

[Sven]

Milligan's JLD's biggest strength is the insistence of its central narrative conceit: weird characters wandering through magical portals trying to figure out what the heck is going on. So much context, utterly upended. Supposedly DC wanted it to focus more on superheroics, at which Milligan balked.

I'm happy he's off the book; Stormwatch is supercool.

[number8]

Man, I can't believe DC okayed Action Comics #9, with that subtext.

[Sven]

Man, I can't believe DC okayed Action Comics #9, with that subtext.

Yeah, I mentioned in the other thread that it probably wouldn't've gotten published if it wasn't Morrison.

Seriously excellent issue, though. Wish Gene Ha had been doing it all.

[number8]

The fact that it was one issue probably helps too. Ennis tried to do something like that as an ongoing and DC showed him the door.

[Sven]

The fact that it was one issue probably helps too. Ennis tried to do something like that as an ongoing and DC showed him the door.

When was this?

[number8]

When was this?

That was why The Boys moved from Wildstorm to Dynamite. DC was uncomfortable with what he was saying in the book about their characters and the corporate overlords angle, so they cancelled the series despite it selling like gangbusters.

[Sven]

That was why The Boys moved from Wildstorm to Dynamite. DC was uncomfortable with what he was saying in the book about their characters and the corporate overlords angle, so they cancelled the series despite it selling like gangbusters.

I was wondering why that happened. Good on Dynamite.

[megladon8]

Yeah those were some strong words in "Action Comics" this month. Really exciting issue.

And I didn't realize Morrison loved Obama so much. Typically don't really pay attention to artists' political affiliations beyond the messages they present in their work.

[Grouchy]

Could someone spoil the Superman issue for me? I don't think I'll be reading for a while.

[Sven]

Dial H is a spectacular surprise. Gonna have to start picking that one up. Unfortunately I was kinda bored with Earth 2. Nice images here and there, but there are only so many energy beams and battle scenes I can take before my eyes start to glaze over.

[Sven]

Could someone spoil the Superman issue for me? I don't think I'll be reading for a while.

I tried writing a spoiler post for you, but it got too convoluted and confusing.

[megladon8]

Dial H is a spectacular surprise. Gonna have to start picking that one up. Unfortunately I was kinda bored with Earth 2. Nice images here and there, but there are only so many energy beams and battle scenes I can take before my eyes start to glaze over.


Yeah I thought it was pretty neat. I would have been able to tell without even reading the creator names that it was Mieville writing - and I've only read a small portion of his work. His voice is just so distinct.

I'm hoping it develops well.

[sevenarts]

I liked Dial H a lot, definitely a great start to the series. I love the idea and the writing, and it seems like it's going to be a monthly excuse for one great high-concept hero after another, which should be a blast.

Earth 2 was fairly mediocre, it seems like it's mostly concerned so far with just establishing the alternate universe concept in the New 52 rather than telling a substantial story - it feels like a continuity slog more than a compelling narrative. Maybe it'll get better when it focuses on some characters (like the Jay Garrick Flash next issue, apparently) who will be sticking around rather than all dying in the course of the issue. Surprisingly, World's Finest was much better, it was a fun book with some nice character beats along the way.

Didn't bother with GI Combat, JT Krul's name was enough to keep me away.

[number8]

Batman 9 was off the fucking hook, mang. I love the interconnectedness of the one night, too, down to the time! That's good crossover planning. I think I'm gonna actually buy all the Owls tie-ins. Damn.

[Acapelli]

i'm still totally meh on night of the owls

[ledfloyd]

caught up on action comics as #9 had my interest piqued. good stuff, the kubert issues are so obviously filler but i suppose they're serviceable enough. the first arc is great stuff and #9 lives up to the hype.

what next? batman perhaps.

[Acapelli]

wonder woman if you haven't already

[ledfloyd]

wonder woman if you haven't already
i'll get to it. action, batman, batwoman, swamp thing, animal man and wonder woman were the ones i was reading early on that i'm eager to catch up on. perhaps demon knights and all-star western as well.

[ledfloyd]

caught up on batman and batwoman. batman is really solid, which is nothing to scoff at given how dismal comics are capable of being, but i feel like it's lacking that something extra it takes to get me really excited about a book. when williams is on art batwoman has that in spades but it's noticeably lacking at the moment. i think part of it is that amy reeder tries to mimic his paneling (or perhaps he just writes it that way) and obviously comes up short. i also can't decide if williams' art boosts poor writing or reeder's art brings down good writing. it's always possible that this arc just isn't as well written as far as character beats and such. the jumbled chronology seems to disrupt more than it contributes.

wonder woman is next.

[ledfloyd]

caught up on wonder woman. wow, i really like what brian azzarello is doing here, tying everything to greek mythology. it's a lot of fun when someone like hades or hephaestus shows up. it has the sharp feminist edge it should and on top of all that the action is fun and engaging. i'm really impressed with cliff chiang and wondering why i've never heard his name before. it may have eclipsed batwoman as my favorite title of the reboot so far, but i'm not sure how long that will last with swamp thing and animal man next up on the docket.

editing to add this here to avoid a quadruple post: trevor mccarthy is a huuuge step up from amy reeder on batwoman. damn good stuff.

[ledfloyd]

caught up on swamp thing and animal man. both are excellent, i can't wait for the crossover.

to get in on the ranking discussion from the last page:

1. Wonder Woman - easily the most consistently excellent comic of this bunch.
2. Batwoman - it was dragging a bit when reeder was on art but mccarthy looks to be a huge step up and when williams gets back on art duties it's really going to sing.
3. Animal Man - disturbing, in a good way. perhaps stalling a bit and a bit weaker without foreman on art but still capable of leaving your jaw on the floor.
4. Swamp Thing - nearly as disturbing as animal man, if not quite as good with character. on a conceptual level it's pretty stunning though, which seperates it from every other snyder book i've read.
5. Action Comics - perhaps too early to see what morrison is building to, and hampered by inconsistent art, but there is enough here to keep me reading until everything comes into focus.
6. Batman - solid storytelling. purely classical (as sven noted) which may hurt it when compared to books like animal man and batwoman, or even morrison's work on the character. but still one of the better books out there.

the only other books i'm at all curious about are demon knights and all-star western, which seemed promising early on. not quite as eager to get caught up on them so i might let them stew awhile. lemire taking on JLD is also pretty intriguing.

also, i admire DC's dedication to getting these books out on time, but it feels kind of shortsighted. if any of these books prove to be great comics they're going to be read primarily in trades and while avoiding delays is nice in the present it feels like they're damaging the potential legacy of these books with inconsistent art in the long run.

[sevenarts]

Loved the first McCarthy Batwoman issue. Great stuff. And probably the sexiest this series has ever been. I don't think Reeder should have been trying so hard to ape Williams' panel layouts - I like her style otherwise, and that old promo Batwoman #0, in which Williams drew the action scenes and Reeder drew the "normal" pages, looked fantastic. They should've planned the arc to let her avoid drawing so many of the psuedo-Williams sprawling two-page spreads.

Demon Knights and All Star Western are both solid books, I enjoy them but wouldn't push anyone to catch up ASAP or anything. I also like The Flash (primarily for the amazing art) and Batman and Robin, which is if anything even *more* classical and straightforward than Snyder's Batman but is still a solid character-based book.

I agree that DC's constant creative shuffling and deadline pressure is a bad sign. Probably the book that's suffered the most is Action Comics, which I think I'd be enjoying much more if it had a consistent artist on it. I don't know if Rags Morales is just not my thing or if he's too rushed to be good on this series, but the art is all over the place and the constant assists and guests and squads of inkers have really marred that series. They should just put someone decent and quick on it and be done with it if they're going to be so anal about deadlines.

Marvel seems to handle this stuff much better. Daredevil, for instance, has had a ton of different artists in just 10 or so issues, but everyone they've managed to bring in has a complementary style and pretty much every issue has looked fantastic no matter who's drawing it.

[number8]

I still can't believe DC gave three books to Rob Liefeld for him to write.

[Dukefrukem]

So which DC character will come out of the closet?

[bac0n]

I still can't believe DC gave three books to Rob Liefeld for him to write.

And they're also advertising it...

[number8]

And they're also advertising it...

It seems they are quite proud of this move.

[Ezee E]

Who needs sales right now?

[number8]

Happy Batman Inc day!

[Sven]

So which DC character will come out of the closet?

Pretty sure it's gonna be Midnighter.

[number8]

Pretty sure it's gonna be Midnighter.

You sure? I think it's Apollo. :lol:

[megladon8]

Could it be...

Shazam?


They hinted at him at the end of Justice League #9, and I haven't noticed him yet in the new 52 (haven't come close to reading all the titles, though).

[number8]

"As of now I'm a vegetarian. And this is Bat-Cow."

Sublime.

[sevenarts]

"As of now I'm a vegetarian. And this is Bat-Cow."

Sublime.

I must've spent a good 5 minutes on that page. So awesome. Morrison better not kill Damien.

[number8]

Lemire's first issue of JLD is good, but woefully conventionally superheroey, which is exactly what I've heard DC's intention with the book's new direction was when they got rid of Milligan. I can't believe they really say the "Justice League Dark" name in the book. Come on, Jeff, couldn't we leave it as just a dumb marketing title?

I suspect Sven wouldn't like it much.

[Dukefrukem]

Why are we spoiling our guesses?

[number8]

Well, Sven and I were joking. I think meg just followed suit.

[megladon8]

I thought "Batman, Inc." #1 was great, and I don't really care how Morrison does or doesn't refer to the old 52, the new 52, or whatever. The writing is great, and that art. Oh, my.

The page with Batman and Robin swinging through the city, projected like movie scenes on the sides of buildings, was just awesome.

[megladon8]

While re-reading "Wonder Woman", I think I've decided it's in my top 5 of the new 52.

An awesome title in both its writing and art.

LOVE the look of Poseidon. So cool.

[ledfloyd]

i feel like wonder woman is easily the best.

[Sven]

i feel like wonder woman is easily the best.

How I feel about Red Lanterns.

[number8]

All right, gang, we have got to discuss the new Freeze retcon/origin. Like it? Hate it? Rejuvenating change or a bastardization of his character?

[Ezee E]

All right, gang, we have got to discuss the new Freeze retcon/origin. Like it? Hate it? Rejuvenating change or a bastardization of his character?
Ooh. I heard about this issue.

[Ezee E]

HATE this new layout DC did. Awful.

[Ezee E]

Catching up on what I had been following...

WTF is the point of Animal Man #6. I feel like I should get my money back as 3/4 of the issue is a "movie" being watched by Animal Man's kid. Stupid.