-
5 (7) 4 (11) 3 (9) 2 (3) 1 (1) 3.8 starsAverage score of 30 user reviews
-
Slow and Steady, More of the Same 1
Geoff Johns does enjoy taking his time. Seeing as how other books of the New 52 are already wrapping up their first story arcs and Justice League has just now assembled all of its members and revealed the main villain in issue #4, one can't help but feel that this story is being stretched out unnecessarily.The plot of this issue is very thin and the characters don't really move from where they were last issue. I'm not quite sure how I feel about Cyborg just yet, but his story is the only thing o...
4 out of 6 found this review helpful. -
The Portions are Off 0
(This review contains minor spoilers.)People hate aliens. This time around, the citizens of Metropolis aren't very comfortable with their new savior's other-worldly origins.We get a taste of Krypton at the beginning of the issue. The exact cause of the planet's destruction appears to have been changed; it's only hinted at and while I'm in favor of changes to the status quo, this is the first alteration Morrison's made that I find questionable.This is Clark's issue. The last two installments were...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
For the Bible Tells Me So 0
More information is given to us this issue on the nature of the secret society responsible for the murders of prostitutes in Gotham City. They revere the same Crime Bible that certain contemporary villains have built a religion around, which creates a nice sense of history in the DC Universe.There was a lot less action and character development this issue, most likely a result of the El Diablo back up feature. I know literally nothing about El Diablo and while I am intrigued to find out more, I ...
0 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
In the Trench 2
Geoff Johns wants to remind us that Aquaman is actually cool. This issue had more meta commentary on the lack of respect Arthur gets. At one point, a character fails to recognize him because he's not wearing his orange shirt; Aquaman corrects him, saying it's actually scale armor. Johns might want to cool it a little with these zingers. The first issue got the point across just fine that Aquaman is worth our respect.There isn't an awful lot that happens in this issue. We've now been properly int...
2 out of 2 found this review helpful. -
See No Evil 0
This issue manages to offer a credible threat for the Man of Steel without having it feel too contrived. He battles a monster that is invisible to all of his senses, but everyone else can see. From the people of Metropolis' perspective, it seems like Superman is just getting his ass handed to him. The citizens of the city play an important role in Superman's triumph over the villain and it's a great metaphor for Superman's relation to the public: without them, he's not the powerful symbol that h...
2 out of 2 found this review helpful. -
It Doesn't Even Take Three Days 0
This is yet another book that I never would have been exposed to if not for the New 52 initiative. When I read the solicitation I was intrigued, so I checked it out. I was not disappointed. I knew absolutely nothing about the character but the issue told me everything I needed to know without feeling like my hand was being held.I know this is one of the most obscure characters DC has to offer and I'm sure this series will be cancelled relatively quick, but I don't feel like I'm wasting my time. ...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
A Cure for the Sun 0
I love this comic. It's one of my favorite of the New 52. I've never read anything prior about Frankenstein, but this idea is so absurd that it kind of cycles back and becomes ingenious again. Everything feels way over the top, similar to an exploitation movie or the work of Quentin Tarantino and it really, really works well.The idea that their headquarters is miniaturized using Atom's technology inside of an orb that floats above New York City is what made me knew I was going to love this book....
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Justice League Medieval 0
There is something about this book that really pleases me, but I'm not sure what it is. It ends up reading like Justice League: Medieval, with a group of individuals thrown together to combat evil. I know a little about Etrigan, but I've never read anything depicting him in the past like this. It really works for him; he doesn't feel as ridiculous as he does in the present day.There is very little decompression in this issue and things get moving very quickly. I like that it doesn't drag its fee...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Go Stroke Yourself 0
Why are we so addicted to bad-assery? Does it fulfill our quiet bloodlust? Or do we just enjoy someone who does whatever he wants without caring about the consequences?I picked up Deathstroke on a whim. I have no previous experience with the character, really; I figured it was worth a shot. If I was Slade Wilson I'd probably think it was worth several dozen shots. He likes to shoot guns. That's what I took from this issue. When it was over I felt like I hadn't even read anything. It wasn't bad b...
0 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Skirt Around the Issue 0
Kara Zor-El is not one of my favorite characters. I enjoy it when Superman is the last survivor of Krypton. I found the previous incarnation of Supergirl to be annoying. This issue introduces us to yet another Kara in a long line of Supergirls and this time she seems worth my time.This Kara is capable and intelligent; watching her piece together what's going on from observing her surroundings was very enjoyable. Her costume is a little ridiculous (why armor the top and leave the legs exposed lik...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Am I Blue? 0
The original Blue Beetle series that spun out of Infinite Crisis was excellent. Unfortunately, I'm one of the many people who did not buy the original run when it was out (I caught up with trades), resulting in the series cancellation. Jaime is one of few Hispanic superheroes in mainstream comics and one of the only heroes in history to gain powers and instantly inform his friends and family. His powers are interesting and the back story behind the scarab is something I was eager to find more ou...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Out With the Old 0
There is a theme running throughout this issue: destroying the past to pave the way for the future. The old Daily Planet is gone, replaced with a new and shiny building that symbolically reflects exactly what is happening in the New 52. Time marches on and it's very meta for this to be happening in the pages of Superman.This is the current Superman, which is to say, this story is happening "now." It's interesting to see how he's come along since what we've seen in Action Comics. He's not as bras...
1 out of 2 found this review helpful. -
Bat's More Like It 0
Terrible pun of the title aside, this is Batman as he should be. The Batman who appears in Detective Comics does not feel like a proper Batman to me, but here he absolutely shines. Detective has always been considered the more prestigious Batbook, so it seems odd they would put Snyder on this title instead. The Dark Knight does way more detective work in this issue than he does in the actual detective comics.There is a lot to like in this issue. I think the most brilliant touch was Bruce's retin...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Deja Vu 0
With Bruce Wayne in place of Dick Grayson, the Batman and Robin title is relaunched with a father-son dynamic that was missing before. However, Damian's characterization feels off this time around. He and Dick worked together before and he started out very aggressive before mellowing out under Dick's tutelage. Perhaps now he's childishly rebelling against his father to test the limits of their relationship, but if so it's not made explicit. It's almost as if they want to tell the story of Damian...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Pallor Never Looked so Good 0
The New 52 offers another comic that picks up exactly where the older one left off. If you have not read Batwoman: Elegy, this will be a fairly confusing read. It's easier to catch on than with most because Batwoman has not accrued as much baggage as other characters, but it's yet another time I'm left wondering why such a choice was made when the intention of the new initiative is to offer a fresh start for new readers.The art in this issue is the real selling point. Each page is brilliant, wit...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Dicking Around 0
When Dick Grayson became Batman, we all knew it would be temporary and now he returns to his Nightwing persona, for which he is much better suited. It may have been interesting to keep Dick as a Batman (which would help justify the appearance of Batman in so many other books other than his own), but Nightwing is an important concept. It shows how Dick has matured into his own man.However, putting him back in Gotham seems counter intuitive. How can he leave Bruce's shadow while remaining in his c...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Government Sanctioned Justice 0
If you were disappointed by Justice League #1's limited roster, look no further than Justice League International: the first issue introduces the entire team and sends them out on their first mission without it feeling rushed at all. Within a few pages we know who each character is and what they're like.Booster Gold lost his own title, but it looks like this book will give him plenty of opportunities to shine. Apart from his disastrous redesign, it seems that the new developments to his personal...
0 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
I'm Lost, Too 0
Everyone knows the Legion of Superheroes are impenetrable to the uninitiated; I can never keep track of which reality the Legion I happen to be reading about actually belongs to. With the New 52, I thought I would be able to finally jump in and learn from the bottom up. But, I was disappointed by this issue; I had very little idea what was going on and my tangential knowledge of the team was of very little help. I can't imagine how this could be targeted to new readers. Renumbering this book was...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Q and A 0
Green Arrow has always been the poor man's Batman, but this reinterpretation of the character reduces him even further. It's as if they set out to make him less exciting than he already was. His design borrows way too heavily from Smallville and the slight stubble on his goatee make him look like more of an ass than when he actually had the beard.Now, he has a team made up of Whiny and Spunky, responsible for his weaponry and gadgets. They also seem to assist him in the field. Ollie can afford a...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Girly Warfare 0
Barbara Gordon's return to the role of Batgirl is one of the most controversial moves of the New 52. After years of working as Oracle and being what was essentially the center of information for the entire superhero community, having her put on the tights again feels like a step backward. Especially when someone who has proven herself to be so capable is once again saddled with the term 'girl' in her name.However, this issue reads pretty well. Gail Simone knows the character and if anyone was go...
0 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Where's My Compass? 0
The exact location of Gotham City is rarely explicitly stated, but one thing that's almost universally agreed on is that it's somewhere on the east coast. Choosing this setting for a story taking place in All-Star WESTERN is odd, but I am totally willing to ignore that because this comic is so good.We have a murder mystery based on Arthur Conan Doyle's formula with Jonah Hex in the role of Sherlock Holmes and Amadeus Arkham being the narrating Watson. Arkham shares Watson's amazement toward Holm...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
He Doesn't Talk to Them, But He Does Sleep With Them 1
It's become somewhat vogue to be an Aquaman apologist. I grew up thinking he was a tool (I grew up in the '90s), but over the years, once I found out about his actual power set - it's not just swimming and telepathy - I became intrigued. When Johns announced he'd be taking over, I felt relief. I may disagree with some of his decisions, but one thing he knows is how to get a character back on track.Aquaman has a Golden Age pedigree and deserves more respect than he tends to get. This is pretty mu...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Flash in the Pan 0
Barry Allen and Iris West are not married. They are not even dating. This is an important part of the issue - especially for the Flash who was being berated by Iris for most of his adult life. I understand that the new initiative hopes to rope in younger readers, but not every hero needs to be Spider-man.I bring this up because of questions it raises for Wally West. If he hasn't been wiped out of continuity altogether, is he still married? Does he have kids? Are we to understand that Kid Flash g...
0 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Red Alert 0
When is a superhero not a superhero? When he is an Animal Man.In an age where marriages are written out of continuity or characters are de-aged to appeal to readers, it's great to see a character who is not only married but father of two children. People don't put down books because they don't like someone's wife; they quit books because the writing is bad and the story sucks. To paraphrase Field of Dreams, if you tell a good story they will come.As someone who is not a huge Animal Man fan (one ...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
No Moore 0
Swamp Thing was recently resurrected in Brightest Day, or was it Alec Holland? Is Alec Holland Swamp Thing or is Swamp Thing some other entity? Alan Moore wrote some radical things with ol' Swampy, a lot of which I'm only tangentially familiar. I didn't really read the comics, but I recall the two movies and watched the animated series as a child.As someone who is not a huge fan of the character, but has a fondness for the idea: the issue wasn't impenetrable, but I still felt like I didn't have ...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Green with Envy 0
Green Lantern has become one of the central figures of the DCU since Geoff Johns resurrected Hal Jordan in '05. The popularity of the series has exploded, building strength with the Sinestro Corps War and culminating in Blackest Night, an event that was being foreshadowed for years before it happened. The Rainbow Corps (as they've been called) offered a lot of story-telling opportunities, but it always felt that the emotional spectrum worked better in theory than execution. The additional lanter...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Wonderland 0
Wonder Woman is one of the DCU's heavy hitters. She makes up a third of their Holy Trinity of characters with Superman and Batman, but she has never really gotten the respect that such a distinction demands. This issue sets her up in a world where she can really be herself as a character. Azzarello does not try to make her out-superhero her male Trinity counterparts - he places her in situations that Batman and Superman would not work properly in.Azzarello has described his intended mission for ...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Hard to Face 0
Batman is back, sans underpants and predictably fighting the Joker. Some might say the cliff-hanger of this issue is worth admission price, but I have to disagree. Along with his underpants, Batman seems to have lost a lot of his experience and logical reasoning. Throughout the issue he makes questionable decisions and he seems to be a lot less 'Batman' than when he appears in the Batman title.This is a confusing issue; it feels as if it should be taking place in the past, but every source I see...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Living Up to the Name 0
If All-Star Superman was Grant Morrison's love letter to the silver age, Action Comics is his commentary on the original, golden age Man of Steel.I am personally biased here; I absolutely love the GA Superman (I have a t-shirt and everything); I'm a big fan of the Fleisher shorts and I love when the character is a little rough around the edges. Morrison's ideas for the character fit so perfectly with my own it's like he set out to please me, specifically.We are treated to a Superman who is young...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Little League 0
DC puts its best foot forward with Justice League #1, a collaboration of two of the biggest names in comics: Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. As the first interaction with the new 52, it promises much but delivers little.The main complaint with this issue is obvious: only three members of the league show up (four if you count Vic) and one of them only appears on the last page. Supposedly, the new initiative of DC is to move away from decompression and "writing for the trade," so it's somewhat dishearten...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful.
Use your keyboard!
- ESC
Log in to comment