Post by ryokowerx on Sept 11, 2011 11:54:58 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:
Right. Here we go. The story starts off with a young Superman (some might say Superboy) threatening a corrupt businessman as the police, lead by a Detective Blake, charge in. Naturally they can't do anything and Superman jumps off the building and lets the man fall only to catch him before he becomes street pizza. Scared to the point of almost making puddles the politician spills his guts. In a separate scene, Lex Luthor and General Sam Lane discuss Luthor's efforts to capture Superman for the military to study. Luthor lures Superman into a section of town scheduled for redevelopment as he tries to wrecking ball a building that still has transients in it. Superman stops the ball only to be ambushed by two tanks who put a hurting on him before he can disable them. Clark returns to his low-rent apartment only to have to come out as Superman again as he can't get Jimmy Olsen on the phone to warn him not to take the shoddily constructed trains (what the businessman spilled his guts about). Too late. Superman has to stop the speeding train before everyone on it gets killed. General Lane flips out as his daughter, Lois Lane, was on the train and gets really mad at Luthor for endangering her but Luthor blows him off and the comic ends with a scene of a unconscious Superman wedged between the train wreckage and a wall as the police close in on him.
THE ART:
Rags Morales handles the art chores and it was a inspired choice. The one thing that I have always admired about Morales is his ability to make his characters extremely expressive and the full gamut of emotions is portrayed here. A lot of people have had problems with his costume in the comic with it basically being a pair of jeans, boots, t-shirt and a cape. I happen to really like it. This is Superman at his early days in Metropolis. He's busy, poor and, as superheroes are a new thing with himself being the first, the idea of a super-suit is not something he would consider. Given the choice, I'll take the street clothes over the armored suit that we saw in Justice League #1 any day. I'd also like to put in a footnote complimenting Rick Bryant for his inking. There is some wonderful work done with shadows and enhancing linework in here.
THE STORY:
I have a love-hate relationship with Grant Morrison. When he's good, he's very good (All-Star Superman) but, when he's bad, he's really bad (Final Crisis). Happily he's running on the very good side here. Morrison has taken Superman back to his original concept from back in 1939 as a social crusader out to bust organized crime, corrupt politicians and shady businessmen and his concept of law and justice is a bit looser than what is considered acceptable. Kinda fits the times I'd say. I was not a fan of the undoing of the Clark and Lois marriage but,if it means that we can skip most of the silly efforts to hide his identity for hundreds of issues and have a believable relationship develop, I'm alright with it.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
I'm not a fan of Action being priced at $3.99. It's a great story and great art but almost $4 for something that I can read in ten to fifteen minutes is painful. Thank goodness for online discounters. Still, if this issue is anything to go by, if you had to pay full price, this one would probably be the closest out of the few that I've read so far that could justify the cover price. This is a nice, fresh look at Superman back when he wasn't a complete modern god and I look forward to seeing his development. Action Comics is going on my definite buy list.
NEXT WEEK:
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.
ACTION COMICS #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:
Right. Here we go. The story starts off with a young Superman (some might say Superboy) threatening a corrupt businessman as the police, lead by a Detective Blake, charge in. Naturally they can't do anything and Superman jumps off the building and lets the man fall only to catch him before he becomes street pizza. Scared to the point of almost making puddles the politician spills his guts. In a separate scene, Lex Luthor and General Sam Lane discuss Luthor's efforts to capture Superman for the military to study. Luthor lures Superman into a section of town scheduled for redevelopment as he tries to wrecking ball a building that still has transients in it. Superman stops the ball only to be ambushed by two tanks who put a hurting on him before he can disable them. Clark returns to his low-rent apartment only to have to come out as Superman again as he can't get Jimmy Olsen on the phone to warn him not to take the shoddily constructed trains (what the businessman spilled his guts about). Too late. Superman has to stop the speeding train before everyone on it gets killed. General Lane flips out as his daughter, Lois Lane, was on the train and gets really mad at Luthor for endangering her but Luthor blows him off and the comic ends with a scene of a unconscious Superman wedged between the train wreckage and a wall as the police close in on him.
THE ART:
Rags Morales handles the art chores and it was a inspired choice. The one thing that I have always admired about Morales is his ability to make his characters extremely expressive and the full gamut of emotions is portrayed here. A lot of people have had problems with his costume in the comic with it basically being a pair of jeans, boots, t-shirt and a cape. I happen to really like it. This is Superman at his early days in Metropolis. He's busy, poor and, as superheroes are a new thing with himself being the first, the idea of a super-suit is not something he would consider. Given the choice, I'll take the street clothes over the armored suit that we saw in Justice League #1 any day. I'd also like to put in a footnote complimenting Rick Bryant for his inking. There is some wonderful work done with shadows and enhancing linework in here.
THE STORY:
I have a love-hate relationship with Grant Morrison. When he's good, he's very good (All-Star Superman) but, when he's bad, he's really bad (Final Crisis). Happily he's running on the very good side here. Morrison has taken Superman back to his original concept from back in 1939 as a social crusader out to bust organized crime, corrupt politicians and shady businessmen and his concept of law and justice is a bit looser than what is considered acceptable. Kinda fits the times I'd say. I was not a fan of the undoing of the Clark and Lois marriage but,if it means that we can skip most of the silly efforts to hide his identity for hundreds of issues and have a believable relationship develop, I'm alright with it.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
I'm not a fan of Action being priced at $3.99. It's a great story and great art but almost $4 for something that I can read in ten to fifteen minutes is painful. Thank goodness for online discounters. Still, if this issue is anything to go by, if you had to pay full price, this one would probably be the closest out of the few that I've read so far that could justify the cover price. This is a nice, fresh look at Superman back when he wasn't a complete modern god and I look forward to seeing his development. Action Comics is going on my definite buy list.
NEXT WEEK:
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.
