New 52

Stormwatch #6

/ / Comics

stormwatch-6-coverPicking up where last month’s issue left off the Stormwatch team finds themselves leaderless, betrayed by the Eminence of Blades, with their ship tearing itself apart above Earth. How these individual obstacles are overcome isn’t nearly as exciting, or fun, as it should be.

Six issues in the team, and the book, still feels directionless. When they’ve got a big nasty to fight the problems in the writing can be hidden, but in a story centered around character and plot the cracks are starting to show.

There are some good moments. I like that the Engineer takes command of the team, but I still want more Jenny Quantum (who has hardly been used at all), and the military discovering the existence of a covert force such as Stormwatch opens several possibilities .

However, we also get Jack Hawksmoor talking to the city soul of the ship which is as awkward as it is stupid, I don’t need yet another speech by the Martian Manhunter as to why the Justice League is stupid, and Midnighter and Apollo‘s relationship is being handled with all the care of Twilight fan fiction. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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Justice League #5

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justice-league-new-52-5-coverWow. This was just… Wow. If you could sum up the trainwreck DC’s New 52 has become in a single issue you might choose Justice League #5 as a prime example.

Writer Geoff Johns delivers more of Hal Jordan being brave but completely useless and Batman doing maybe the craziest thing the Dark Knight has ever done (and that’s saying something from a guy who trained a street kid with no scruples to become a lethal fighter and let a mentally unstable assassin for God run around in the Batsuit for the better part of a year).

Batman, in the middle of the battle takes off his cowl, exposing himself to Green Lantern, proceeds to tell Hal his life story… and then runs away.

Seroiously DC, WTF? I know Geoff Johns is capable of writing better dialogue and stories than this. However, I’m growing less and less sure that “artist” Jim Lee (and I use that term loosely) is capable of putting a panel of the Justice League together that doesn’t look completely half-assed and photoshopped. An early contender for worst comic of the year – Pass.

[DC, $3.99]

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The Flash #5

/ / Comics

the-flash-new-52-5-coverThe Mob Rule story arc ends, although it looks like the character is going to stick around the New 52, as the Flash is able to stop Darwin Ellis‘ out of control experiment, to solve Mob Rule’s degeneration problem, from exploding and taking an entire Central City block with it.

Although the Flash is able to save the day none of Mob Rule survive leaving Manuel to blame the hero for their deaths. I was hoping the arc would end the character’s involvement in the series but it appears he’s going to be sticking around, and with an ax to grind.

The issue also sees the Flash save Iris West from the prison break at Iron Heights and learn Ellias’ terrifying theory about the Speed Force which could mean the end of the Flash for good.

Once again Francis Manapul delivers another terrific looking comic. I’m glad to see the end of the Mob Rule story arc and the chance to see the Flash deal with a problem with the Speed Force and the return of his Rogues Gallery in the next couple of issues. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Red Hood and the Outlaws #5

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red-hood-and-the-outlaws-5-coverThe latest issue of Red Hood and the Outlaws gives us not one but two battle scenes as the Red Hood battles the Untitled and Arsenal and Starfire take down the crocodile-Man-Bat-thing known as Crux. It’s not a great story, and (as has been the case for this comic) some of the writing may illicit unplanned groans or giggles from the reader, but (unlike a vast majority of the New 52) it is fun.

This issue puts Jason Todd on a path. It’s a murderous path to be sure, but at least we now know where writer Scott Lobdell is planning to take the Red Hood and the rest of the team. I’m confused by the blood blades and the reasoning why Starfire didn’t loose her powers, but let’s be honest – logic has never been this comic’s strong suit.

Even though I’ve stopped reading many of the New 52 titles I’m going to stay with Red Hood and the Outlaws for at least awhile longer. It’s never quite what I expect, and its not the direction I would take the characters, but I’m still intrigued by what Lobdell has planned for this motley crew he’s assembled. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Nightwing #5

/ / Comics

nightwing-new-52-5-coverEven Nightwing comments on what an odd single issue adventure he finds himself in when Haley’s Circus comes to New Orleans. What’s so odd? I’m glad you asked. We get a lovesick clown, a voodoo priestess, the summoning of a sonnet-speaking demon, and a sacrificial rite performed (for love) in a New Orleans graveyard.

This certainly isn’t the kind of Nightwing story I want every month, but it works well enough as an unexpected change of pace. It’s also good to show how well Nightwing can think on his feet when presented with a situation he’s not only unprepared for but has very little experience with.

The comic ends with a reveal I won’t spoil here about the true motives of one of the comic’s supporting characters. I’m not sure if its meant to be shocking, but it doesn’t come off as well as I’m sure writer Kyle Higgins planned. There’s simply no shock value turning a character so soon after they have been introduced. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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