Post by ryokowerx on Sept 16, 2011 14:10:46 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 Superboy floating in a tank while being studied by a group of scientists with the mysterious group, NOWHERE, who are convinced that the experiment to combine alien and human DNA is a failure because Superboy is non-responsive. The decision is made to terminate the experiment over the objection of one female scientist who is only identified as "Red." As they try to pump him full of cyanide, Superboy breaks loose and destroys everyone in the lab. One month later, Superboy is under the charge of the woman scientist who is running him through virtual reality simulations that he keeps on failing. In the meantime, Red has a talk with Rose Wilson and one of the scientists has a covert video call with Lois Lane. A surprise visit by a man named Templar puts Red on edge and he demands the release of Superboy into his care. He intends on using Superboy against the Teen Titans.
THE ART:
The art is done by R.B. Silva. I'm not familiar with his work but it reminds me favorably to Geof Darrow in regards to the extreme level of detail and thin lines. This is helped in part by the color work. This is not a style that you would normally associate with a Superboy comic but it really works here - probably due to the setting the comic starts off in. Art gets a big thumbs up.
THE STORY:
Scott Lobdell is the writer. I was a fan of the previous Superboy title and this borrows a bit from it, especially in the plot point that Superboy is a clone. However, while we knew in the old series that Lex Luthor was the provider of the human DNA, it is still a mystery here and I can't imagine that they'd keep it that predicable despite hints to the contrary. I do like the idea of Superboy starting out as a Titans villain and I expect that we haven't seen the last of Red or Rose. In short, a good opening story with enough hooks to keep the reader interested.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
Superboy will set you back $2.99 but it is worth your money. Both the art and the story is interesting and I want to see what happens when Superboy is let out of NOWHERE and exposed to the world, what Lois Lane knows and what happens to Red and Rose when things inevitably go south? I'll be back for issue #2. If you've been hesitant about buying a Superboy comic in the past, I'd recommend that you give this one a try.
NEXT WEEK:
Batman And Robin #1, Batwoman #1, Deathstroke #1, Demon Knights #1, Frankenstein: Agent Of Shade #1, Grifter #1, Mister Terrific #1, Resurrection Man #1, and Suicide Squad #1.
SUPERBOY #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 Superboy floating in a tank while being studied by a group of scientists with the mysterious group, NOWHERE, who are convinced that the experiment to combine alien and human DNA is a failure because Superboy is non-responsive. The decision is made to terminate the experiment over the objection of one female scientist who is only identified as "Red." As they try to pump him full of cyanide, Superboy breaks loose and destroys everyone in the lab. One month later, Superboy is under the charge of the woman scientist who is running him through virtual reality simulations that he keeps on failing. In the meantime, Red has a talk with Rose Wilson and one of the scientists has a covert video call with Lois Lane. A surprise visit by a man named Templar puts Red on edge and he demands the release of Superboy into his care. He intends on using Superboy against the Teen Titans.
THE ART:
The art is done by R.B. Silva. I'm not familiar with his work but it reminds me favorably to Geof Darrow in regards to the extreme level of detail and thin lines. This is helped in part by the color work. This is not a style that you would normally associate with a Superboy comic but it really works here - probably due to the setting the comic starts off in. Art gets a big thumbs up.
THE STORY:
Scott Lobdell is the writer. I was a fan of the previous Superboy title and this borrows a bit from it, especially in the plot point that Superboy is a clone. However, while we knew in the old series that Lex Luthor was the provider of the human DNA, it is still a mystery here and I can't imagine that they'd keep it that predicable despite hints to the contrary. I do like the idea of Superboy starting out as a Titans villain and I expect that we haven't seen the last of Red or Rose. In short, a good opening story with enough hooks to keep the reader interested.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
Superboy will set you back $2.99 but it is worth your money. Both the art and the story is interesting and I want to see what happens when Superboy is let out of NOWHERE and exposed to the world, what Lois Lane knows and what happens to Red and Rose when things inevitably go south? I'll be back for issue #2. If you've been hesitant about buying a Superboy comic in the past, I'd recommend that you give this one a try.
NEXT WEEK:
Batman And Robin #1, Batwoman #1, Deathstroke #1, Demon Knights #1, Frankenstein: Agent Of Shade #1, Grifter #1, Mister Terrific #1, Resurrection Man #1, and Suicide Squad #1.