Post by ryokowerx on Aug 31, 2011 20:46:40 GMT -5
(cross-posted from my Facebook account. I hadn't originally intended on picking up all the new #1s but the 50% off deal at DCBS turned out to be too good to pass up. Feel free to discuss, agree or disagree)
So what the hell is this? I'm going to try to write a review of each of the new #1 issues put out by DC Comics. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, DC Comics (home of Superman, Batman, etc.) is completely restarting most* of the history they have established with their comic books since 1939. (* some continuity remains but all events that remain are considered to have happened within a five year span of time) If you're still confused, think of it as everything being set back to square one and all these superheroes are new things to show up rather than a given part of the world.
Anything I say from this point on is my opinion and reflects only my feelings. Please take your nerd rage elsewhere if you disagree or at least be civil in your disagreement.
NOTE: I have not read Flashpoint #5 which kicks off this new history so I'm going to try to approach these issues as if someone completely new to comics were picking them up for the first time. If you're interested in what I have to say, I'd encourage you to go to your local comic book shop (if you have one) or you can buy them digitally at Comixology (http://www.comixology.com).
PLOT SUMMARY:
So on with the show. The story starts off in Gotham City with the police SWAT team chasing Batman in heavily armed helicopters across the rooftops. Batman, in turn, is chasing a strange figure that has the ability to transform its body into a dog-like form and to breathe fire. Green Lantern Hal Jordan shows up, acts like he is the cock of the walk, and gets Batman into a firefight with the cops. The creature tries to blow them up and fails but not before leaving a strange alien device behind. Green Lantern gets it into his head that the person who would know what it is would be Superman. In the meantime, we are introduced to high school student Vic Stone who has some fatherly abandonment issues. Batman and Green Lantern go to Metropolis. Hal Jordan tries to grandstand and gets beat down and the issue ends with Batman and Superman facing off against each other.
THE ART:
Jim Lee is the artist. For long-time comic fans, you'll recognize the name and what you can expect. His art is in top-form here with detailed linework but the signature stiffness of his figures still being evident. This isn't a knock, it's just the way he draws. You'll either like it or hate it. I can speak a bit on the costume redesigns that Lee did. There really isn't much difference between the Batman and Green Lantern you're familiar with the looks of - the biggest change between these two being the high collars on the GL suit. Superman, on the other hand, is a complete and utter change. His costume is now more of a armored suit. I'm not sold on it yet and I really don't like the "wrist guards" that extend down to partially cover his hands. I'll have to see if it grows on me over time.
THE STORY:
I kind of expected a bit more from Geoff Jones. He sets out to give new readers the core personalities of the characters and does do that but the frame story is pretty sparse as to exactly what is going on. Anyone who has read DC Comics for any period of time will immediately know who the major villain of the story is going to be with a single sound effect. I can't say that I enjoyed the hard edge vibe they seem to be trying to establish for Superman but perhaps that will be explained in more detail in the upcoming Action Comics #1. The story does accomplish being a good starting point for the new comics reader at the expense of establishing a stronger story hook than what we're given.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
It is pricey at $3.99 for 42 pages (a good few of which are full-page ads for upcoming titles, sketchbook pages and a cover art gallery). However, you do get a code in the printed comic that gives you a free download of the issue as a digital file in case you want to read it on your computer, phone or tablet. If you want to buy it only as digital file, you're still going to pay $3.99 but I'd recommend waiting 30 days and then buying it from Comixology because they drop the price by $1 once it becomes a month old. The art is good. The story is sparse. Not in my opinion worth paying $4 for. Wait and get it cheaper later or hold out even longer and buy the trade paperback collected edition in six months or so from Amazon for a even bigger discount.
NEXT WEEK:
Action Comics #1, Animal Man #1, Batgirl #1, Batwing #1, Detective Comics #1, Green Arrow #1, Hawk and Dove #1, Justice League International #1, Men of War #1, O.M.A.C. #1, Static Shock #1, Stormwatch #1 and Swamp Thing #1.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #1
So what the hell is this? I'm going to try to write a review of each of the new #1 issues put out by DC Comics. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, DC Comics (home of Superman, Batman, etc.) is completely restarting most* of the history they have established with their comic books since 1939. (* some continuity remains but all events that remain are considered to have happened within a five year span of time) If you're still confused, think of it as everything being set back to square one and all these superheroes are new things to show up rather than a given part of the world.
Anything I say from this point on is my opinion and reflects only my feelings. Please take your nerd rage elsewhere if you disagree or at least be civil in your disagreement.
NOTE: I have not read Flashpoint #5 which kicks off this new history so I'm going to try to approach these issues as if someone completely new to comics were picking them up for the first time. If you're interested in what I have to say, I'd encourage you to go to your local comic book shop (if you have one) or you can buy them digitally at Comixology (http://www.comixology.com).
WARNING! SPOILERS OFF THE PORT BOW CAP'N
!PLOT SUMMARY:
So on with the show. The story starts off in Gotham City with the police SWAT team chasing Batman in heavily armed helicopters across the rooftops. Batman, in turn, is chasing a strange figure that has the ability to transform its body into a dog-like form and to breathe fire. Green Lantern Hal Jordan shows up, acts like he is the cock of the walk, and gets Batman into a firefight with the cops. The creature tries to blow them up and fails but not before leaving a strange alien device behind. Green Lantern gets it into his head that the person who would know what it is would be Superman. In the meantime, we are introduced to high school student Vic Stone who has some fatherly abandonment issues. Batman and Green Lantern go to Metropolis. Hal Jordan tries to grandstand and gets beat down and the issue ends with Batman and Superman facing off against each other.
THE ART:
Jim Lee is the artist. For long-time comic fans, you'll recognize the name and what you can expect. His art is in top-form here with detailed linework but the signature stiffness of his figures still being evident. This isn't a knock, it's just the way he draws. You'll either like it or hate it. I can speak a bit on the costume redesigns that Lee did. There really isn't much difference between the Batman and Green Lantern you're familiar with the looks of - the biggest change between these two being the high collars on the GL suit. Superman, on the other hand, is a complete and utter change. His costume is now more of a armored suit. I'm not sold on it yet and I really don't like the "wrist guards" that extend down to partially cover his hands. I'll have to see if it grows on me over time.
THE STORY:
I kind of expected a bit more from Geoff Jones. He sets out to give new readers the core personalities of the characters and does do that but the frame story is pretty sparse as to exactly what is going on. Anyone who has read DC Comics for any period of time will immediately know who the major villain of the story is going to be with a single sound effect. I can't say that I enjoyed the hard edge vibe they seem to be trying to establish for Superman but perhaps that will be explained in more detail in the upcoming Action Comics #1. The story does accomplish being a good starting point for the new comics reader at the expense of establishing a stronger story hook than what we're given.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
It is pricey at $3.99 for 42 pages (a good few of which are full-page ads for upcoming titles, sketchbook pages and a cover art gallery). However, you do get a code in the printed comic that gives you a free download of the issue as a digital file in case you want to read it on your computer, phone or tablet. If you want to buy it only as digital file, you're still going to pay $3.99 but I'd recommend waiting 30 days and then buying it from Comixology because they drop the price by $1 once it becomes a month old. The art is good. The story is sparse. Not in my opinion worth paying $4 for. Wait and get it cheaper later or hold out even longer and buy the trade paperback collected edition in six months or so from Amazon for a even bigger discount.
NEXT WEEK:
Action Comics #1, Animal Man #1, Batgirl #1, Batwing #1, Detective Comics #1, Green Arrow #1, Hawk and Dove #1, Justice League International #1, Men of War #1, O.M.A.C. #1, Static Shock #1, Stormwatch #1 and Swamp Thing #1.
