New 52

SHAZAM! Guess who’s coming back to the DCU!

Although he’s not getting his own book, Captain Marvel (the real one – accept no substitutes!) will be making his first appearance in the back-up story of Justice League #5 in January. Now word yet on if any other members of the Marvel Family may make future appearances. C’mon, can’t we give Tawky Tawny and Hoppy the Marvel Bunny a little love, too?

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Batman and Robin #2

batman-and-robin-new-52-2-coverThe second issue continues to focus on the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Damian, but (like most of the New 52 titles) it is a step up from the first issue. We see Batman’s concern over his son’s past and the violence within him but also a proud moment where he sees Damian able to control his fury in taking down some gun-toting thugs on the streets of Gotham.

The issue also continues to give us a little more insight into the deadly vigilante known as NoBody who appears to be someone from Bruce Wayne’s past. I do have some concerns with the first villain out of the gate being someone who knows Bruce Wayne is Batman, but that’s second to my concern over the casual mention of Ducard.

For those who don’t remember, Ducard was the character played Liam Neeson in Batman Begins (before he was shown to be Ra’s al Ghul in one of the most disappointing reveals ever). Although I understand the reasoning for bringing in a character fans of the movie will recognize, I’m very concerned how much this might effect Bruce Wayne’s early history in this new DCU.

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Justice League International #2

jli-new-52-2-coverThe new Justice League International gets their first big test when a giant robot rises out of the ground in Peru and leaving destruction in its wake. Let’s just say things could have gone better.

The team, ill-equipped for the situation, having no experience together functioning as a team, and with no intel on the threat, quickly gets their butts handed to them. They can’t even agree at making a necessary hasty retreat to regroup. And that’s before they learn the robot has some buddies.

A solid second issue from writer Dan Jurgens. I’d still like it to be a little more fun but we do get a couple of fun moments include Andre Briggs‘ attempt to throw Batman off the team and Booster Gold getting some unexpected support in his early days as leader of the team.

It’s an improvement from the first issue, but the comic is still missing a little of the fun from Justice League: Generation Lost. If Booster is going to be the more serious version we’re seeing here I think the book needs a little more youthful energy which someone like Blue Beetle could provide. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Stormwatch #2

stormwatch-2-coverMy biggest complaint with the first issue of the series was the terribly rushed art by Miguel Angel Sepulveda. The art of the second issue is a definite improvement and the series introduces more members of the team (including their leader Adam One) and further explains the role of Stormwatch in the DC Universe.

Once the Martian Manhunter has calmed down Apollo and Midnigther the team starts to look into the problem of the moon where The Eminence of Blades has come across a hostile alien lifeform.

To keep the Justice League from getting in their way of actually solving the problem, Stormwatch uses the powers of the Projectionist and the Martian Manhunter to suggest a random supervillain is responsible for the moon’s attack of the Earth leaving the team to settle matters quietly on their own. It’s actually a hilarious idea, even if it is a low-blow to the JLA.

The second issue works well (even with the unsubtle entendres between Apollo and Midnighter). Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Animal Man #2

animal-man-2-coverWriter Jeff Lemire continues to take Buddy Baker down an odd road as Animal Man grabs his young daughter, who has tapped into the source of his own power, and begins a journey to discover what that means. Their journey will take them deep into “The Red” (the mystical morphogenetic field created by all living creatures).

Of all of DC’s New 52 this is the one that feels most like a Vertigo title in DC clothing. It’s bizarre, more of a horror comic than a super-hero tale, and at times fairly creepy. Yeah, very Vertigo. It’s also very well done.

Even though I’m not the biggest fan of this type of story, and I’ll probably move on from the comic before this storyline is finished, I’m interested to see where Lemire and artist Travel Foreman end up taking the character, and how big a role the young Maxine will have in her father’s use and understanding of his powers. And given the early glimpses we’ve seen here, the exploration of The Red is going to be a trippy experience. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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