New 52

Teen Titans #1

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teen-titans-new-52-1-coverThis isn’t the first time I’ve said this about DC’s Reboot (and it probably won’t be the last), but I’m confused. Writer Scott Lobdell gives us the first issue of the Teen Titans featuring Red Robin (redesigned to look like the Falcon‘s sidekick), Wonder Girl (Cassie wearing a red version of Donna Troy‘s costume) and Kid Flash (who is probably Bart Allen, but never actually named).

In a world where super-hero youngsters are hard to control and potential targets for the secret government agency known as N.O.W.H.E.R.E. it appears Tim Drake has taken it on himself to form into a team. What’s unclear, however, is if the former Teen Titans (Nightwing, Starfire, Speedy, Beast Boy, etc.) ever existed in this version of the DCU. Is this the first time a team like this has been put together or is Drake just borrowing on the experiences of his predecessor?

Teen Titans #1 isn’t an awful first issue (the opening of Kid Flash aside), but for someone who was never a big Titans fan to begin with there’s very little here to bring me back for a second issue. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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The Savage Hawkman #1

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savage-hawkman-1-coverIn terms of convoluted history there are few who can stand toe-to-toe with Hawkman. The character has been rebooted so many times, each adding a unique spin from everything from a reincarnated Egyptian pharaoh to a space cop, it would be almost impossible to add anything new to the mix that would make less sense. And yet, writer Tony S. Daniel finds a way.

This issue is a mess in every sense of the word. We begin with a distraught Carter Hall actually shooting his costume with a gun in the middle of the forest in an attempt to kill his alter-ego. And that makes far more sense that what follows as Hall seems to become possessed by the Nth metal which generates from his body when he’s attacked by an alien artifact.

Artist Philip Tan gives us a couple of beautiful panels, including a nice reveal of Hawman, but for the most part the art is as jumbled as the story.

If you’ve always wanted Hawkman to be more like Witchblade then this is your comic. For everyone else, however, it’s a huge disappointment. Pass.

[DC, $2.99]

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The Flash #1

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flash-new-52-1-coverThe newest relaunch of The Flash is one of the DC Reboot’s better first issues. Although the main plot involving the death of an old friend of Barry Allen‘s isn’t as engaging as I’d like writer and artist Francis Manapul does a good job reintroducing the character of the Flash with a couple of the character’s Silver Age trademark trappings (including storing his suit in his Flash ring).

Despite a so-so first adventure Manapaul does get the feel of Barry Allen right. There are nice early moments including the Flash’s guilt over the loss of his friend, a terrific opening splash panel, and a humorous conversation between Iris West and the Flash after he’s saved the day.

Yes, I say Iris West because in DC’s New 52 it appears Barry and Iris aren’t married (and maybe haven’t ever dated). I’ve got to say this change was shocking to me as Barry’s relationship to Iris is one of the defining pieces of his character. DC is really starting him back at square one (which is the exact opposite choice they made for Hal Jordan, who appears to gone through his entire DC history in a condensed time period).

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Captain Atom #1

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captain-atom-1-coverI’ve been a fan of Captain Atom since the late 80’s reboot of the character and his subsequant runs on Justice League Europe and recently Justice League: Generation Lost. He’s had more than a few ups-and-downs in his career including his unfortunate role as Monarch, that awful golden and red look, and that time he got lost in the WildStorm Universe.

The latest reinterpretation of the Charlton Comics character by writer J.T. Krul is a new version of the character far more like the Watchmen‘s Dr. Manhattan (who was coincidentally created from the Charlton version of Captain Atom) than we’ve seen before.

In the comic Captain Atom’s powers are expanding as he discovers the ability to manipulate molecules outside of himself. Our hero is informed by Dr. Heinrich Megala, the scientist in charge of the project that transformed Nathaniel Adam into a nuclear-powered super-hero, that this ability, which in turn effects his own molecules, could end up killing him.

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Batman #1

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batman-v2-1-coverIn the final issues of the old DC writer Scott Snyder was working on an impressive storyline in Detective Comics. Now after the reboot the writer continues to tell stories of Gotham’s Dark Knight Detective in the new volume of Batman.

The issue begins with Batman stopping a break-out in Arkham Asylum with the apparent assistance of the Joker (don’t worry, it will be explained). From there we are reintroduced to Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne at a party where Bruce unveils his new plan for Gotham City.

The issue also includes an appearance by Commissioner Gordon and a nice on-the-job conversation between Harvey Bullock and Batman. Not only am I glad to see Bullock has survived the reboot, I rather like seeing that he’s the one who notices Batman has gone back to his old method of hiding in the shadows.

This one’s an easy recommendation, and a solid read (even if the final panel is an obvious red herring). Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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