Post by ryokowerx on Sept 14, 2011 10:09:20 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:
The issue opens with a villain named The Mirror drowning a old man with a water hose. The scene cuts to Batgirl beating up a group of home invaders and murderers. The next scene is the next morning with Barbara Gordon telling her father that she needs to move out and get her own place. She goes in on a cheap apartment with a roommate. As she is moving in, Barbara hears over her police scanner that someone (The Mirror) is going after one of the home invaders who is in the hospital. Two detectives are guarding him and both are shot, one fatally, before Batgirl arrives. As The Mirror points a gun at her, Barbara freezes, allowing The Mirror to push the man's hospital bed out the window (with him still in it). The issue ends with the wounded detective holding Batgirl at gunpoint and accusing her of allowing murder to happen.
THE ART:
I just love Ardian Syaf's art for Batgirl. It's just detailed enough to satisfy my appreciation of detailed artwork without pushing it into the boundary of being too busy. A special kudos also needs to go to Ulises Arreola for his coloring that really makes the artwork pop.
THE STORY:
First of all, I'm biased here. I'm a big fan of Gail Simone's writing and I've followed her from Birds of Prey to Wonder Woman to Secret Six and back to Birds again. When it was originally announced that the previous Batgirl, Stephanie Brown, would be replaced, I was not a fan of the idea. I liked Stephanie so Barbara coming back had a strike against her. I'm still not happy but I'm a little more accepting of the idea and have to hope that Stephanie shows back up in some fashion in the future. With that said, the story is good and I'll certainly give this one a few issues to develop. I know Gail does wonderful character development and I'm willing to give Batgirl the time it needs to mature.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
Is it worth $2.99? Absolutely. If you're a fan of the Batman family of comics, you really owe it to yourself to pick this one up. Gail does a slow burn with her characters and you'll kick yourself when everything falls into place later for not getting in on the ground floor.
NEXT WEEK:
Batman And Robin #1, Batwoman #1, Deathstroke #1, Demon Knights #1, Frankenstein: Agent Of Shade #1, Green Lantern #1,Grifter #1, Legion Lost #1, Mister Terrific #1, Red Lanterns #1, Resurrection Man #1, Suicide Squad #1, and Superboy #1.
BATGIRL #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:
The issue opens with a villain named The Mirror drowning a old man with a water hose. The scene cuts to Batgirl beating up a group of home invaders and murderers. The next scene is the next morning with Barbara Gordon telling her father that she needs to move out and get her own place. She goes in on a cheap apartment with a roommate. As she is moving in, Barbara hears over her police scanner that someone (The Mirror) is going after one of the home invaders who is in the hospital. Two detectives are guarding him and both are shot, one fatally, before Batgirl arrives. As The Mirror points a gun at her, Barbara freezes, allowing The Mirror to push the man's hospital bed out the window (with him still in it). The issue ends with the wounded detective holding Batgirl at gunpoint and accusing her of allowing murder to happen.
THE ART:
I just love Ardian Syaf's art for Batgirl. It's just detailed enough to satisfy my appreciation of detailed artwork without pushing it into the boundary of being too busy. A special kudos also needs to go to Ulises Arreola for his coloring that really makes the artwork pop.
THE STORY:
First of all, I'm biased here. I'm a big fan of Gail Simone's writing and I've followed her from Birds of Prey to Wonder Woman to Secret Six and back to Birds again. When it was originally announced that the previous Batgirl, Stephanie Brown, would be replaced, I was not a fan of the idea. I liked Stephanie so Barbara coming back had a strike against her. I'm still not happy but I'm a little more accepting of the idea and have to hope that Stephanie shows back up in some fashion in the future. With that said, the story is good and I'll certainly give this one a few issues to develop. I know Gail does wonderful character development and I'm willing to give Batgirl the time it needs to mature.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
Is it worth $2.99? Absolutely. If you're a fan of the Batman family of comics, you really owe it to yourself to pick this one up. Gail does a slow burn with her characters and you'll kick yourself when everything falls into place later for not getting in on the ground floor.
NEXT WEEK:
Batman And Robin #1, Batwoman #1, Deathstroke #1, Demon Knights #1, Frankenstein: Agent Of Shade #1, Green Lantern #1,Grifter #1, Legion Lost #1, Mister Terrific #1, Red Lanterns #1, Resurrection Man #1, Suicide Squad #1, and Superboy #1.
