Post by ryokowerx on Sept 26, 2011 19:11:54 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:
A meteorite impacts in Kansas and burrows through the mantle of the planet until it surfaces in Siberia. It is tracked by a mysterious group, presumably the military but we're not told. As a bewildered Supergirl emerges from the crater, she believes she is having a dream. Armored soldiers attempt to capture her until the sun crests a nearby mountain range and then she begins to wipe the floor with her attackers. Then Superman shows up.
THE ART:
Mahmud Asrar does the artwork and his work here is very good. I'm a little unsure of some of the simplified figures (such as the face of the soldier inside the suit she rips open) but I expect I'll adjust over time. If there is one criticism that I could leverage against it, it's that the backgrounds are pretty lazy. I know they're in Siberia but there is obviously more to it than what we're shown.
THE STORY:
The story is written by both Michael Green and Mike Johnson. I'm not really sure why they needed two for this as the story itself if pretty minimal. It does act as a introduction to the character but we really don't get much personality beyond scared and confused. This whole thing is pretty much headed down a road anyone who has read comics before knows - heroine is confused. Heroine causes inadvertent trouble. Hero shows up. They fight.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
$2.99 will get you a copy of Supergirl and, beyond it being a good introduction to the character for new readers, its not anything special at all. I was really hoping for more out of this as I was a big fan of the previous series. Instead I got a mediocre story with above average artwork. I'm going to give this another one or two issues but I somehow just can't see me sticking with this one. Nothing is making it stand out from the crowd.
NEXT WEEK:
Birds of Prey #1, Blue Beetle #1, DC Universe Presents #1, Green Lantern Corps #1, Nightwing #1, and Wonder Woman #1.
SUPERGIRL #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:
A meteorite impacts in Kansas and burrows through the mantle of the planet until it surfaces in Siberia. It is tracked by a mysterious group, presumably the military but we're not told. As a bewildered Supergirl emerges from the crater, she believes she is having a dream. Armored soldiers attempt to capture her until the sun crests a nearby mountain range and then she begins to wipe the floor with her attackers. Then Superman shows up.
THE ART:
Mahmud Asrar does the artwork and his work here is very good. I'm a little unsure of some of the simplified figures (such as the face of the soldier inside the suit she rips open) but I expect I'll adjust over time. If there is one criticism that I could leverage against it, it's that the backgrounds are pretty lazy. I know they're in Siberia but there is obviously more to it than what we're shown.
THE STORY:
The story is written by both Michael Green and Mike Johnson. I'm not really sure why they needed two for this as the story itself if pretty minimal. It does act as a introduction to the character but we really don't get much personality beyond scared and confused. This whole thing is pretty much headed down a road anyone who has read comics before knows - heroine is confused. Heroine causes inadvertent trouble. Hero shows up. They fight.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
$2.99 will get you a copy of Supergirl and, beyond it being a good introduction to the character for new readers, its not anything special at all. I was really hoping for more out of this as I was a big fan of the previous series. Instead I got a mediocre story with above average artwork. I'm going to give this another one or two issues but I somehow just can't see me sticking with this one. Nothing is making it stand out from the crowd.
NEXT WEEK:
Birds of Prey #1, Blue Beetle #1, DC Universe Presents #1, Green Lantern Corps #1, Nightwing #1, and Wonder Woman #1.
