DC you had me at hello
Or not so much actually. I was very leery of this new re-boot of DC's. I mean really? Re-numbering venerable titles like Action Comics and Detective Comics? I understand, don't get me wrong, I know it's all about market share and how Marvel gets it with it's big event number one launches (I'm looking at you X-Men number one midnight release party) It just seems so wrong, but whatever, I'm not the one in charge.
So, here's what I think of the number ones I've read so far. I'm not reading all the titles, only the characters I like. Bear in mind I have not read any of the Flashpoint stuff (except for what crossed into titles like Booster Gold and the Green Arrow Flashpoint one-shot) (I'm not a fan of any Flash but Bart Allen and he's over in Teen Titans.) So I don't know what may have happened with that whole thing. (it is on my to read list now though. One of my regular customers talked me into picking it up)
Oh, um, spoilers. Obviously. (also, this is my opinion. I'm sure yours varies wildly)
Detective Comics (written by Tony Daniel) Honestly, I'm not sure. It has the feel of the Nolan movies with all the dark grittiness. I could come to like a Batman who is still finding his way. At first I was all, 'wait! my Batman knows what he's doing! What the hell are ya'll trying to pull?' Then I remembered this was a re-boot *sheepish*. Surprisingly I liked Gordon way better than Bats. He actually had character and Bats came off as wooden. My biggest problem is for whatever reason the book comes across as a horror comic. Now, I like horror comics. Hell, I even like a good elseworlds horror Batman. But one of my main Batman titles should not be a horror comic. I'll give it a couple more issues and I may actually drop it.
Justice League (written by Geoff Johns) Great action! This is what I want outta comics. Is that Hal Jordan as Green Lantern? (I don't read Green Lantern and Hal is the worst Green Lantern outta them all imho) Anyway, the Green Lantern is hilarious. I love how he talks about himself in the third person. I like how they introduced Vic Stone though it tugs my heart strings, his dad not showing up at his games and knowing what happens to him eventually to make him Cyborg. I think I prefer this version of Batman over the Detective version. It's a very formulaic set-up for a team book, but whatever works.
Justice League International (written by Dan Jurgens) First off, I'm only getting this book because it has Booster Gold in it. So far I'm not disappointed by his characterization. I liked that Batman stood up for him to Guy. Makes me wonder if there's some kind of bleed of the memories of the previous universe where Batman knew Booster was a real hero. Also, was that Rip Hunter as a protester? Kinda looked like him to me. I don't know much of anything about any of the other characters on the team but the writer gave enough little tidbits of each to make them interesting and I want to get to know them. I'm looking forward to the next issue.
Stormwatch (written by Paul Cornell) Oh no. I'm not sure about this book. I really wanna like it because Apollo and The Midnighter are in it, but I'm feeling very lukewarm on it. The final panel was it's saving grace. I'll give it a couple more issues to see where it goes. Tho unless it really begins to suck and Apollo and The Midnighters characters are totally hashed I'll most likely keep buying it.
Static Shock (written by Scott McDaniel) I didn't read his previous title with Milestone Comics so all I know about him is from the cartoon and his stint on the Teen Titans, but this looks good. I'm hoping we get some Gear/Richie and that we get a nice dose of his regular non-superhero life. That was something I really enjoyed in the cartoon. We did get some family interaction and it was good, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Green Arrow (written by JT Krul) Oh yeah. That's what I was looking for. Frankly, I love Ollie and I like the way Krul writes him. Although, it seems JT has been reading a little too much Iron Man what with the phoning in the board meeting while out doing vigilantism. Still, I love Iron Man too, so I'll forgive it. This Ollie looks to be a cross between Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark anyway. Besides, in a way it's going back to his roots, he's always been called a poor imitation of Batman. (even though I do believe his character pre-dates Bats by a year or two.) His support team looks interesting, but I'm really gonna miss Conner and Mia. I wonder if they'll show up anywhere in the new universe.
And that is the first six number ones I've read. I've got Suicide Squad, Batman & Robin, Superboy, Grifter and Batwoman from this week to read. Not to mention Buffy Season 9 #1, Angel & Faith #1 (dark horse has it now and it's apparently going to be set firmly in the same universe as Buffy) and the new Ultimate Spiderman. This weeks pull was almost all number ones seems like.
But anyway, I'm going to try to make a post like this once or twice a week. I already spew music all over the place, I might as well get my other hobby in on here too. :D
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So, here's what I think of the number ones I've read so far. I'm not reading all the titles, only the characters I like. Bear in mind I have not read any of the Flashpoint stuff (except for what crossed into titles like Booster Gold and the Green Arrow Flashpoint one-shot) (I'm not a fan of any Flash but Bart Allen and he's over in Teen Titans.) So I don't know what may have happened with that whole thing. (it is on my to read list now though. One of my regular customers talked me into picking it up)
Oh, um, spoilers. Obviously. (also, this is my opinion. I'm sure yours varies wildly)
Detective Comics (written by Tony Daniel) Honestly, I'm not sure. It has the feel of the Nolan movies with all the dark grittiness. I could come to like a Batman who is still finding his way. At first I was all, 'wait! my Batman knows what he's doing! What the hell are ya'll trying to pull?' Then I remembered this was a re-boot *sheepish*. Surprisingly I liked Gordon way better than Bats. He actually had character and Bats came off as wooden. My biggest problem is for whatever reason the book comes across as a horror comic. Now, I like horror comics. Hell, I even like a good elseworlds horror Batman. But one of my main Batman titles should not be a horror comic. I'll give it a couple more issues and I may actually drop it.
Justice League (written by Geoff Johns) Great action! This is what I want outta comics. Is that Hal Jordan as Green Lantern? (I don't read Green Lantern and Hal is the worst Green Lantern outta them all imho) Anyway, the Green Lantern is hilarious. I love how he talks about himself in the third person. I like how they introduced Vic Stone though it tugs my heart strings, his dad not showing up at his games and knowing what happens to him eventually to make him Cyborg. I think I prefer this version of Batman over the Detective version. It's a very formulaic set-up for a team book, but whatever works.
Justice League International (written by Dan Jurgens) First off, I'm only getting this book because it has Booster Gold in it. So far I'm not disappointed by his characterization. I liked that Batman stood up for him to Guy. Makes me wonder if there's some kind of bleed of the memories of the previous universe where Batman knew Booster was a real hero. Also, was that Rip Hunter as a protester? Kinda looked like him to me. I don't know much of anything about any of the other characters on the team but the writer gave enough little tidbits of each to make them interesting and I want to get to know them. I'm looking forward to the next issue.
Stormwatch (written by Paul Cornell) Oh no. I'm not sure about this book. I really wanna like it because Apollo and The Midnighter are in it, but I'm feeling very lukewarm on it. The final panel was it's saving grace. I'll give it a couple more issues to see where it goes. Tho unless it really begins to suck and Apollo and The Midnighters characters are totally hashed I'll most likely keep buying it.
Static Shock (written by Scott McDaniel) I didn't read his previous title with Milestone Comics so all I know about him is from the cartoon and his stint on the Teen Titans, but this looks good. I'm hoping we get some Gear/Richie and that we get a nice dose of his regular non-superhero life. That was something I really enjoyed in the cartoon. We did get some family interaction and it was good, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Green Arrow (written by JT Krul) Oh yeah. That's what I was looking for. Frankly, I love Ollie and I like the way Krul writes him. Although, it seems JT has been reading a little too much Iron Man what with the phoning in the board meeting while out doing vigilantism. Still, I love Iron Man too, so I'll forgive it. This Ollie looks to be a cross between Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark anyway. Besides, in a way it's going back to his roots, he's always been called a poor imitation of Batman. (even though I do believe his character pre-dates Bats by a year or two.) His support team looks interesting, but I'm really gonna miss Conner and Mia. I wonder if they'll show up anywhere in the new universe.
And that is the first six number ones I've read. I've got Suicide Squad, Batman & Robin, Superboy, Grifter and Batwoman from this week to read. Not to mention Buffy Season 9 #1, Angel & Faith #1 (dark horse has it now and it's apparently going to be set firmly in the same universe as Buffy) and the new Ultimate Spiderman. This weeks pull was almost all number ones seems like.
But anyway, I'm going to try to make a post like this once or twice a week. I already spew music all over the place, I might as well get my other hobby in on here too. :D
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