Post by ryokowerx on Sept 25, 2011 17:30:32 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).
WARNING! SPOILERS OFF THE PORT BOW CAP'N!
PLOT SUMMARY:
The issue opens with Batman beating the crap out of the residents of Arkham Asylum. The Joker then jumps into the fight to help Batman. We cut to Batman talking to Jim Gordon informing him that one of the guards at Arkham sold out and, as Batman went into Arkham to get him, the guard sprung the cell doors so he could escape. We then shift scenes to Bruce Wayne in the Batcave revealing to Dick Grayson (who is wearing a EMP mask to look like The Joker) his new optic interface with the Batcave computers. They leave the cave to meet up with Tim Drake and Damian as they are ready to go out to a fundraiser for Wayne Industries in which Bruce announces that he will be donating most of his fortune to rebuilding the poorer sections of Gotham City and implores the other rich and elite to support him. After the speech he manages to eavesdrop on a phone call to Jim Gordon about a stabbing. Batman meets up with Detective Harvey Bullock and they view the crime scene where the victim has been crucified against a wall with ancient throwing knives. A message that Bruce Wayne is to die is put on the wall with paint thinner. Batman gets a DNA sample from underneath the victim's fingernails and the Batcave computers identify it as belonging to Dick Grayson.
THE ART:
Greg Capullo handles the artwork and you really couldn't ask for a better artist to get put on a Batman title. The pencil work, complimented perfectly by Jonathan Glapion's strong and dark inks, is just superb. Batman is one of DC's flagship titles and, as befitting it's popularity, it gets assigned some of the biggest talent. The comic is almost worth the price of admission alone just for the artwork.
THE STORY:
The story is done by Scott Snyder and, while nothing really groundbreaking is done to the Batman mythos outside of some new tech toys, the mystery of Dick Grayson possibly being a murderer is a intriguing one. The reader knows that it can't be true but the mystery is still intriguing including the use of the ancient knives and the death threat against Wayne and what will happen when the police also get back their own DNA results. Color me intrigued.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
Batman is $2.99 and, if you are a fan of Batman but don't want to (or your budget won't allow) the purchase of Batman and Robin and Detective Comics, this is the title to pick up to get the best bang for your buck in regards to story and art. The others ain't no slouch but this is the big one. I'm not the biggest Batman fan (more of a Superman guy myself) but I'm loving what they're doing with this. I'll grab this one in trade paperback once it is collected.
NEXT WEEK:
Birds of Prey #1, Blue Beetle #1, Captain Atom #1, Catwoman #1, DC Universe Presents #1, Green Lantern Corps #1, Legion of Super-Heroes #1, Nightwing #1, Red Hood and The Outlaws #1, Supergirl #1 and Wonder Woman #1.
BATMAN #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 Batman beating the crap out of the residents of Arkham Asylum. The Joker then jumps into the fight to help Batman. We cut to Batman talking to Jim Gordon informing him that one of the guards at Arkham sold out and, as Batman went into Arkham to get him, the guard sprung the cell doors so he could escape. We then shift scenes to Bruce Wayne in the Batcave revealing to Dick Grayson (who is wearing a EMP mask to look like The Joker) his new optic interface with the Batcave computers. They leave the cave to meet up with Tim Drake and Damian as they are ready to go out to a fundraiser for Wayne Industries in which Bruce announces that he will be donating most of his fortune to rebuilding the poorer sections of Gotham City and implores the other rich and elite to support him. After the speech he manages to eavesdrop on a phone call to Jim Gordon about a stabbing. Batman meets up with Detective Harvey Bullock and they view the crime scene where the victim has been crucified against a wall with ancient throwing knives. A message that Bruce Wayne is to die is put on the wall with paint thinner. Batman gets a DNA sample from underneath the victim's fingernails and the Batcave computers identify it as belonging to Dick Grayson.
THE ART:
Greg Capullo handles the artwork and you really couldn't ask for a better artist to get put on a Batman title. The pencil work, complimented perfectly by Jonathan Glapion's strong and dark inks, is just superb. Batman is one of DC's flagship titles and, as befitting it's popularity, it gets assigned some of the biggest talent. The comic is almost worth the price of admission alone just for the artwork.
THE STORY:
The story is done by Scott Snyder and, while nothing really groundbreaking is done to the Batman mythos outside of some new tech toys, the mystery of Dick Grayson possibly being a murderer is a intriguing one. The reader knows that it can't be true but the mystery is still intriguing including the use of the ancient knives and the death threat against Wayne and what will happen when the police also get back their own DNA results. Color me intrigued.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
Batman is $2.99 and, if you are a fan of Batman but don't want to (or your budget won't allow) the purchase of Batman and Robin and Detective Comics, this is the title to pick up to get the best bang for your buck in regards to story and art. The others ain't no slouch but this is the big one. I'm not the biggest Batman fan (more of a Superman guy myself) but I'm loving what they're doing with this. I'll grab this one in trade paperback once it is collected.
NEXT WEEK:
Birds of Prey #1, Blue Beetle #1, Captain Atom #1, Catwoman #1, DC Universe Presents #1, Green Lantern Corps #1, Legion of Super-Heroes #1, Nightwing #1, Red Hood and The Outlaws #1, Supergirl #1 and Wonder Woman #1.