Post by ryokowerx on Oct 3, 2011 20:15:37 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 Kazakhstan, a mysterious group has taken control of the local airport and is holding hostages and they are armed with illegal weapons. The Blackhawks mission, which was to be covert, has gone all pear shaped. They prevail but not before the team suffers a few injuries including Kunoichi who winds up in the water. Later a U.N. delegate visits The Eyrie, the Blackhawk HQ. It seems that during the last mission, someone got a cell phone picture of the Blackhawk emblem on one of the helicopters and now pictures are all over the internet. In addition, Kunoichi is starting to exhibit strange symptoms after her dunk in the drink. In the meantime, one of the airport raiders is thrown in a supermax prison in Asia. It seems that he has been infected with nanocites (nanites basically) that preform specific functions and can communicate with a woman who claims to be their backer. She weaponizes the nanocites in his body and blows him up like a bomb. Back at The Eyrie, Kunoichi is getting weirder and she starts to smolder. She scans herself for nanocites and, presumably, finds them.
THE ART:
Graham Nolan and Ken Lashley do the artwork with Nolan doing the layouts and Lashley finishing them. Despite there being two artists, the art is only average and about what you'd expect to see in any military comic with a contrast between high tech and industrial grunge. This contrast is quite evident in enemies and environments being heavily shadowed while the heroes are much less so and more vibrant than their surroundings. It's all very G.I. Joe-ish. Basically, it's what you'd expect to get and nothing more.
THE STORY:
Mike Costa is the writer. I'm not familiar with any of his previous work but this is slightly above average of what I was expecting. I'm really not sure what to think of the whole nanocite angle on the story. It's uncomfortably similar to when they tried to give the original Blackhawks superpowers. The characters, as they stand now, are pretty broad. I'm hoping they get fleshed out a bit more than remain a codename. With all I've said about the nanocites, I do like the mysterious woman. It'll be interesting to see why they are funding and arming militant groups and if she is their leader or just a field commander. Not the best comic of the new titles but certainly not the worst as far as story goes.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
If you liked Men of War, you're probably going to like Blackhawks (and it's cheaper at only $2.99). It's certainly new reader friendly as there is no connection at all the any past history. The art is average and the story is better than average. It won't be making my monthly pull list but I'll certainly buy this in a trade paperback once the first story arc is collected. I just wonder if they've got enough of a plot to maintain a ongoing series for any amount of time before it falls into the nanocite villain of the month.
NEXT WEEK:
All Star Western #1, Batman The Dark Knight #1, Fury Of Firestorm #1, Green Lantern New Guardians #1, I Vampire #1, Justice League Dark #1, Superman #1, and Teen Titans #1.
BLACKHAWKS #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 Kazakhstan, a mysterious group has taken control of the local airport and is holding hostages and they are armed with illegal weapons. The Blackhawks mission, which was to be covert, has gone all pear shaped. They prevail but not before the team suffers a few injuries including Kunoichi who winds up in the water. Later a U.N. delegate visits The Eyrie, the Blackhawk HQ. It seems that during the last mission, someone got a cell phone picture of the Blackhawk emblem on one of the helicopters and now pictures are all over the internet. In addition, Kunoichi is starting to exhibit strange symptoms after her dunk in the drink. In the meantime, one of the airport raiders is thrown in a supermax prison in Asia. It seems that he has been infected with nanocites (nanites basically) that preform specific functions and can communicate with a woman who claims to be their backer. She weaponizes the nanocites in his body and blows him up like a bomb. Back at The Eyrie, Kunoichi is getting weirder and she starts to smolder. She scans herself for nanocites and, presumably, finds them.
THE ART:
Graham Nolan and Ken Lashley do the artwork with Nolan doing the layouts and Lashley finishing them. Despite there being two artists, the art is only average and about what you'd expect to see in any military comic with a contrast between high tech and industrial grunge. This contrast is quite evident in enemies and environments being heavily shadowed while the heroes are much less so and more vibrant than their surroundings. It's all very G.I. Joe-ish. Basically, it's what you'd expect to get and nothing more.
THE STORY:
Mike Costa is the writer. I'm not familiar with any of his previous work but this is slightly above average of what I was expecting. I'm really not sure what to think of the whole nanocite angle on the story. It's uncomfortably similar to when they tried to give the original Blackhawks superpowers. The characters, as they stand now, are pretty broad. I'm hoping they get fleshed out a bit more than remain a codename. With all I've said about the nanocites, I do like the mysterious woman. It'll be interesting to see why they are funding and arming militant groups and if she is their leader or just a field commander. Not the best comic of the new titles but certainly not the worst as far as story goes.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
If you liked Men of War, you're probably going to like Blackhawks (and it's cheaper at only $2.99). It's certainly new reader friendly as there is no connection at all the any past history. The art is average and the story is better than average. It won't be making my monthly pull list but I'll certainly buy this in a trade paperback once the first story arc is collected. I just wonder if they've got enough of a plot to maintain a ongoing series for any amount of time before it falls into the nanocite villain of the month.
NEXT WEEK:
All Star Western #1, Batman The Dark Knight #1, Fury Of Firestorm #1, Green Lantern New Guardians #1, I Vampire #1, Justice League Dark #1, Superman #1, and Teen Titans #1.