Post by ryokowerx on Sept 27, 2011 15:42:56 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:
In Gotham City, Report Charlie Keen enters a church for a secret meeting with a source about the group of women criminals named the Birds of Prey. Just as Charlie is in a phone conversation with his source, a car busts into the church as Black Canary and Starling leap into action, attacking people in stealth suits who are in the church but were invisible. We get a flashback to Dinah Lance meeting Barbara Gordon for suggestions on who else to recruit for the team and a woman named Katana is recommended. We cut back to the fight just in time for the Birds to make a getaway in their car. They explain that they were using Keen to flush these guys out of hiding and that he wasn't the bait - they were. They book him on a flight out of Gotham to protect him but, while in the airport, he looks at his phone, starts bleeding from his face and then explodes.
THE ART:
Jesus Saiz is the man responsible for the art. I'm not sure if he was the artist on the previous Birds of Prey series but his work does look very similar and familiar. The biggest letdown of the comic was the inking especially in regards to shadows. It's just overdone and, in other areas where you'd expect there to be lots of shadows (like a church at night) there is practically none. Coloring if fine if a bit unimaginative and slightly drab. And, as a aside, the new Black Canary costume is hideous.
THE STORY:
Duane Swierczynski had some pretty big boots to step into after Gail Simone's run as writer of the previous Birds of Prey comic and he doesn't quite fit the bill. There isn't anything really wrong with the story per se but there's isn't anything to make it stand out either. They beat up a bunch of assassins and we aren't even given a hint as to why they attacked or who organized them. The Reporter really just kind of seems a wasted plot device that serves no real purpose other than to blow up at the end. I'm probably being overly judgmental given that I haven't seen the whole team together and interacting but the story didn't get me excited to read more of it either.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
$2.99 will net you a copy of the comic. I'm not prepared just yet to say that I don't like it but it certainly isn't off to a rousing start either. Much like Supergirl, I'll give it another few issues before making the final decision on this title but it is definitely on the bubble for me.
NEXT WEEK:
Blue Beetle #1, DC Universe Presents #1, Green Lantern Corps #1, and Nightwing #1
BIRDS OF PREY #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:
In Gotham City, Report Charlie Keen enters a church for a secret meeting with a source about the group of women criminals named the Birds of Prey. Just as Charlie is in a phone conversation with his source, a car busts into the church as Black Canary and Starling leap into action, attacking people in stealth suits who are in the church but were invisible. We get a flashback to Dinah Lance meeting Barbara Gordon for suggestions on who else to recruit for the team and a woman named Katana is recommended. We cut back to the fight just in time for the Birds to make a getaway in their car. They explain that they were using Keen to flush these guys out of hiding and that he wasn't the bait - they were. They book him on a flight out of Gotham to protect him but, while in the airport, he looks at his phone, starts bleeding from his face and then explodes.
THE ART:
Jesus Saiz is the man responsible for the art. I'm not sure if he was the artist on the previous Birds of Prey series but his work does look very similar and familiar. The biggest letdown of the comic was the inking especially in regards to shadows. It's just overdone and, in other areas where you'd expect there to be lots of shadows (like a church at night) there is practically none. Coloring if fine if a bit unimaginative and slightly drab. And, as a aside, the new Black Canary costume is hideous.
THE STORY:
Duane Swierczynski had some pretty big boots to step into after Gail Simone's run as writer of the previous Birds of Prey comic and he doesn't quite fit the bill. There isn't anything really wrong with the story per se but there's isn't anything to make it stand out either. They beat up a bunch of assassins and we aren't even given a hint as to why they attacked or who organized them. The Reporter really just kind of seems a wasted plot device that serves no real purpose other than to blow up at the end. I'm probably being overly judgmental given that I haven't seen the whole team together and interacting but the story didn't get me excited to read more of it either.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
$2.99 will net you a copy of the comic. I'm not prepared just yet to say that I don't like it but it certainly isn't off to a rousing start either. Much like Supergirl, I'll give it another few issues before making the final decision on this title but it is definitely on the bubble for me.
NEXT WEEK:
Blue Beetle #1, DC Universe Presents #1, Green Lantern Corps #1, and Nightwing #1