Post by ryokowerx on Sept 12, 2011 14:26:22 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:
Alexander Quirk is a science terrorist and is threatening to bring down the government. He has hijacked a small cargo plane to do something with it. We then cut to see Hawk inside the plane beating up the guards while Dove tries to bring the damaged plane under control. A techno-zombie wakes and joins the fight before getting tossed from the plane. They land the plane but not before clipping the Washington Monument. They blow off the special agent who meets them on the ground with a offer to cooperate. Hawk goes home to brood and complain to his father about Dove and why his brother, the former Dove, was better. Dove goes out with Deadman to confess a secret to him. The issue ends with the zombie that had been thrown from the plane coming out of a pool and then getting attacked by some guy in a brown costume who looks like Hawk.
THE ART:
Where, oh where, do I begin? I'll just cut to the chase and just say that the art is crap. It's Rob Liefeld. Anatomy be damned and everyone is squinty-eyed and screams. A lot.
THE STORY:
Somebody a DC really hates Sterling Gates to pair him with Liefeld. I loved his previous work and he is known for writing strong female characters. I was really looking forward to the expansion of the relationship developed between Dove and Deadman during Brightest Day and I have no doubt that he could have done it and it would have been great.However, the story at hand in #1 is a bit straight forward. The action merely a framing tool to point out that Hawk and Dove really have trust issues that are compromising their ability to work as a team and that it could have repercussions down the road. Nothing groundbreaking but it wasn't bad.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
As much as I love the characters, I can't justify spending $2.99 to read it. I love the writer. He bought a lot of slack from me from his run on Supergirl but the art just makes me feel tainted. It's not just bad - it's arrogantly bad. I won't be getting #2. I might buy the trade paperback later but that'll be if I have nothing better to spend money on. A completely missed opportunity with some beloved characters.
NEXT WEEK:
Batgirl #1, Green Arrow #1, Justice League International #1, and Men of War #1.
HAWK & DOVE #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:
Alexander Quirk is a science terrorist and is threatening to bring down the government. He has hijacked a small cargo plane to do something with it. We then cut to see Hawk inside the plane beating up the guards while Dove tries to bring the damaged plane under control. A techno-zombie wakes and joins the fight before getting tossed from the plane. They land the plane but not before clipping the Washington Monument. They blow off the special agent who meets them on the ground with a offer to cooperate. Hawk goes home to brood and complain to his father about Dove and why his brother, the former Dove, was better. Dove goes out with Deadman to confess a secret to him. The issue ends with the zombie that had been thrown from the plane coming out of a pool and then getting attacked by some guy in a brown costume who looks like Hawk.
THE ART:
Where, oh where, do I begin? I'll just cut to the chase and just say that the art is crap. It's Rob Liefeld. Anatomy be damned and everyone is squinty-eyed and screams. A lot.
THE STORY:
Somebody a DC really hates Sterling Gates to pair him with Liefeld. I loved his previous work and he is known for writing strong female characters. I was really looking forward to the expansion of the relationship developed between Dove and Deadman during Brightest Day and I have no doubt that he could have done it and it would have been great.However, the story at hand in #1 is a bit straight forward. The action merely a framing tool to point out that Hawk and Dove really have trust issues that are compromising their ability to work as a team and that it could have repercussions down the road. Nothing groundbreaking but it wasn't bad.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
As much as I love the characters, I can't justify spending $2.99 to read it. I love the writer. He bought a lot of slack from me from his run on Supergirl but the art just makes me feel tainted. It's not just bad - it's arrogantly bad. I won't be getting #2. I might buy the trade paperback later but that'll be if I have nothing better to spend money on. A completely missed opportunity with some beloved characters.
NEXT WEEK:
Batgirl #1, Green Arrow #1, Justice League International #1, and Men of War #1.