New 52

Batman #9

/ / Comics

batman-9-coverThe Night of Owls continues as Batman fights off an army of Talons inside the Batcave while dressed in an armored Bat-suit designed for the most hostile and alien places on Earth, and armed with a pet dinosaur and an army of bats that come in the nick of time.

Most of the issue deals with the fight in the cave but I do wonder why so many Talons were sent after Bruce Wayne (who they didn’t yet know was Batman) when the other targets didn’t garner so much attention.

The back-up story features Alfred‘s father Jarvis in his final days of service for the Wayne family and his attempts to leave Wayne Manor and make it back home only to be stopped by a member of the Court of Owls.

I wish the last few pages had dealt with the Night of Owls other than a mostly forgetable back-up story. I’m also not thrilled with writer Scott Snyder’s attempt to rope Alfred’s family into the seemingly all-encompassing Court of Owls arc. Worth a look

[DC, $2.99]

Batman #9 Read More »

Green Lantern #9

/ / Comics

The secret of the Indigo Tribe is finally revealed as Hal Jordan tracks down Natromo, Keeper of the Indigo Light. Jordan learns that years ago Abin Sur freed the world of Nok from invaders who had subjugated the tribe and turned them into slaves.

For a comic with this much monologue, Green Lantern #9 moves at a pretty good pace. The discovery of an Indigo Light which could bring out compassion and remorse in even the most vile creature lead Sur and Natromo to create an army out of the worst killers and sadists in the known universe to fight the biggest threat the universe has ever known – the Guardians of the Universe.

I would have liked to have gotten the Indigo Tribe backstory a couple of issues back (or even way back when the group was first introduced well before the New 52 reboot). The introduction of the Guardians as the universe’s greatest threat opens up several new possibilities and alliances. The idea of making a remorseful army of the worst creatures in the galaxy is an intriguing one. However, it has one major flaw which Hal Jordan stares both Hal and Sinestro down in the comic’s final panel. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

Green Lantern #9 Read More »

Earth 2 #1

/ / Comics

earth-2-new-52-1-coverI like Earth-2. I like James Robinson. I love the art of Nicola Scott. And to be honest, even with the odd costume designs for the characters (really, did they have to get New 52‘d too?), I liked aspects of this first issue. What’s troubling me is that everything I enjoyed in this issue is the set-up and the characters who won’t be appearing in the rest of the series.

The story opens with Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, and Robin (Helena Wayne), battling an army of Parademons who have overrun the Earth, slayed the Amazons, and killed millions. It’s unclear, in what we’re shown, if these are the only five heroes on the planet, or if all the heroes are dead (or have yet to be born).

Although Batman’s plan to save the world from Darkseid‘s minions is a success, the cost is high. Earth-2’s big three all fall and Supergirl and Robin find themselves sent into a parallel Earth. This part of the story works well enough; my problem begins with the last few pages as Robinson and Scott begin introducing the heroes who will showcased in the comic going forward.

…

Earth 2 #1Read More »

Earth 2 #1 Read More »

The Flash #8

/ / Comics

the-flash-new-52-8-coverFollowing the events of the last issue the Flash finds himself in the void of the Speed Force. Unable to find Iris or the other people plucked out of time, the Flash’s only companion is Turbine, an insane WWII pilot who has been trapped in the void for 70 years.

Although the idea of Turbine is an intriguing one, how writers Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato play out the tale leaves something to be desired. We do get an explanation for the time rifts and how the Flash is connected to the Speed Force. However, everything feels rushed and not quite as well thought-out as I’d like. It doesn’t quite stumble, but this is definitely the weakest issue of the title so far.

That doesn’t mean the comic doesn’t have its bright spots. Manapul’s art is again terrific, and even if the ideas aren’t as well fleshed-out as I’d like they do open the doors for further discovery down the line. I’m less pleased with the new Grodd and New 52 version of Gorilla City both of which were going to get plenty of in next month’s issue. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

The Flash #8 Read More »

What If… Bruce Timm Designed the New 52?

/ / Top Tens & Lists

I think we can all agree DC Comics New 52 has been a mixed success, at best. There are several reasons for this including the choice of characters and titles not included in the reboot, the vast difference in how much of each character’s history was rebooted compared to others, and odd yearning to recapture the style and gritty feel of the 1990’s.

No one is more responsible (or more to blame, depending on your perspective) than artist Jim Lee. Lee’s redesign of each member of the Justice League set the standard for the style of the New 52. But what if DC had decided to go in a different direction? What if, instead of Lee’s 90’s-inspired grittiness, DC had decided to allow Bruce Timm (the man largely responsible for the look of DC Animation for the better part of two decades) to redesign the DCU? Here’s what that much more vibrant, joyous, sultry, and kick-ass DCU might have looked like. I give you Bruce Timm’s New 32.

…

What If… Bruce Timm Designed the New 52?Read More »

What If… Bruce Timm Designed the New 52? Read More »