Post by ryokowerx on Sept 12, 2011 13:31:11 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:
We meet Jody Robbins who works at Cadmus Industries. She is at work trying to find her boyfriend Kevin while being harassed by Tony Jay. Security bursts in and tells everyone to evacuate just as OMAC busts into the room and takes out the guards. A voice from a nearby computer gives him instructions to go down and OMAC begins to fight his way down into the lower levels of the building. In the meantime, we are introduced to Lord Mokkari, the head scientist of the lower levels and his bodyguard. OMAC fights his way past Dubbilex, the head of security, and destroys the bodyguard before being set upon by genetic creatures called gobblers. Defeating them, he rips open the Cadmus mainframe, acquires their files and teleports out. Kevin Kho wakes up far away from Cadmus to the sound of his phone ringing and he ends up having a conversation with a orbiting satellite called Brother Eye.
THE ART:
Keith Giffen is the artist doing his best to channel the spirit of Jack Kirby. It works... sorta. You can see it during the action scenes where Kirby's tried and true poses are faithfully reproduced. They worked back then and still do now but the art style falters during non-action moments as if Giffen was unsure what to do.
THE STORY:
Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen co-wrote the story what there is of one. "Girl tries to find guy. OMAC busts in and wrecks the place. Guy wakes up to find he is now controlled by satellite." The vast bulk of the comic is nothing but pure destruction which, don't get me wrong, can be a lot of fun but it isn't something that you can base a ongoing series around. At some point, story plots and character development is going to have to happen and I'm not sure I see it from what I got here.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
$2.99 is too much to pay for this. It is, at its core, a slug-fest - lots of mayhem and nifty visuals trying to mask that there is a pretty weak story underneath. Perhaps it will prove me wrong and something cool will come of this but I doubt it. I won't be getting #2.
NEXT WEEK:
Batgirl #1, Green Arrow #1, Hawk and Dove #1, Justice League International #1, and Men of War #1.
OMAC #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:
We meet Jody Robbins who works at Cadmus Industries. She is at work trying to find her boyfriend Kevin while being harassed by Tony Jay. Security bursts in and tells everyone to evacuate just as OMAC busts into the room and takes out the guards. A voice from a nearby computer gives him instructions to go down and OMAC begins to fight his way down into the lower levels of the building. In the meantime, we are introduced to Lord Mokkari, the head scientist of the lower levels and his bodyguard. OMAC fights his way past Dubbilex, the head of security, and destroys the bodyguard before being set upon by genetic creatures called gobblers. Defeating them, he rips open the Cadmus mainframe, acquires their files and teleports out. Kevin Kho wakes up far away from Cadmus to the sound of his phone ringing and he ends up having a conversation with a orbiting satellite called Brother Eye.
THE ART:
Keith Giffen is the artist doing his best to channel the spirit of Jack Kirby. It works... sorta. You can see it during the action scenes where Kirby's tried and true poses are faithfully reproduced. They worked back then and still do now but the art style falters during non-action moments as if Giffen was unsure what to do.
THE STORY:
Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen co-wrote the story what there is of one. "Girl tries to find guy. OMAC busts in and wrecks the place. Guy wakes up to find he is now controlled by satellite." The vast bulk of the comic is nothing but pure destruction which, don't get me wrong, can be a lot of fun but it isn't something that you can base a ongoing series around. At some point, story plots and character development is going to have to happen and I'm not sure I see it from what I got here.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
$2.99 is too much to pay for this. It is, at its core, a slug-fest - lots of mayhem and nifty visuals trying to mask that there is a pretty weak story underneath. Perhaps it will prove me wrong and something cool will come of this but I doubt it. I won't be getting #2.
NEXT WEEK:
Batgirl #1, Green Arrow #1, Hawk and Dove #1, Justice League International #1, and Men of War #1.