The New "52"

[cinderblock]

For those of you who don't know, the DC universe is being rebooted with new number 1 issues for their classic titles. It is an attempt to modernize the DCU and bring characters up to date with new backgrounds and representations while remaining true to their roles. I've read a few of the issues that are out and by and large my reactions have been underwhelming. Here are my quick capsule reviews for the ones I've seen so far:

Action Comics-The new Superman. One word...blah. It bored me and Supes was kind of bland. Since it was written by Grant Morrison I had high hopes but, no.
Detective Comics-Batman is supposed to be a younger stronger presence. Just comes off as arrogant. And the reveal at the end made me angry. Won't spoil it but not happy about this book.
Green Arrow-hmm how does hipster crime fighter with influences of "Entourage" sound? Another disappointment.
Justice League-Pretty standard super hero how they come together story. No real wow moment, no real dramatic tension. Its okay.

And the surprise win-

Animal Man! This book actually gabbed me. From the cover picture to the story to the page renderings this book was great. Loved it. Now I was not familiar with the character before except as a support character in other books but wow I liked this one.

I'll post more up as I read them. Anyone else check these out?

[Sir Ironside]

Renumbering has never really bothered me (Alternate covers bothered me more) except companies do it because it does increase circulation (albeit temporarily) so the decision is really made by the consumer.

That being said, numbering never bothered me, until now. Action Comics and Detective Comics where both so tantalizing close to to issue #1000 I was looking forward to that day. This en mass renumbering seems an unwise decision for short-term gain. I'm still not very sure even why all the books were renumbered. I guess getting a lot of press was the idea, but from what I read, leading up to the relaunch, it was mostly negative. It'll be interesting to see the numbers of issues sold.

[tylermo]

Due to divorce, etc. I've been out of comics for slightly over a year. Mostly marvel, a few DC, and a couple of other issues(G.I. Joe, KOTD, etc.). When I have more time, I'll express my disdain for Marvel selling multiple issues of certain titles each month. They've done it some in the past, and now it seems to be exploding. When you're trying to keep your list under a dozen books(with some variety)this makes it virtually impossible. I'll rant soon.

[cinderblock]

For the new 52, I didn't want to read all of them because I just don't like every character but I wanted enough of a cross-section to give them a fair shake. Anyway heres a couple more:

Hawk and Dove-not bad. A lot of background jammed into one issue though. I've read several other reviews that hated it but I didn't have a problem with the story.

Justice League International- the most traditional comic book team-up so far. I enjoyed it. Gave a quick run down of how they got together, who the members are, and got them into a conflict. One nitpick though, there is a panel that introduces a possible terrorist plotline that broke the tone of the rest of the book. Not sure where they are gonna go with that.

[Lord Dynel]

I had never picked up a DC comic before Wednesday. I picked up the new Detective Comics. I agree with cinderblock a little but I want to see where it's going, and I don't feel one comic is enough yet (at least in my opinion). I subbed for all the Batman titles, with the rest coming in the next few weeks.

[cinderblock]

I'm gonna give it a couple more issues myself. I wanna give it a fair shake. Hopefully it goes somewhere amazing and I'll be pleasantly surprised. Heres to hoping anyway.

[Lord Dynel]

Well, I'm picking up all four Batman titles (Detective Comics, Dark Knight, Batman, Batman & Robin), three of which aren't out yet. I'll give them all a couple of months - I figure that if I'm not hooked my the end of the year, then I'll drop them.

[Ancalagon]

DC's New "52 is a gimmick. Renumbering was not necessary. I'll continue with the books I read before the gimmick was enacted and try a few more but, IMO, more compelling stories and art will go a long way rather than yet another reboot to the universe.

[Sir Ironside]

I decided to pick-up all 52 issues of the new 52 (I guess their little plan kind'a worked.) just to see for myself. A few things to note. I haven't read comics, really, since the mid 90's. I'm not going to review any comics, really. I'm just going to do 4 groups of my impressions (Capped at 5 comics each.) and anything I don't mention either falls into the middle ground or was entertaining enough to warrant further review. (Each grouping is not in any particular order.) I will give my first over-all impression of the new 52, after the lists. Of course these are my opinions YMMV and all that.

Most promising

Animal Man
Action Comics
Detective Comics
Suicide Squad
Wonder Woman

Surprisingly good

OMAC
Batwing
Red Lanterns
Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
Justice League Dark

Meh...

I, Vampire
Swamp Thing
Catwoman
Blue Beetle
Voodoo

The Worst

Hawk & Dove
Blackhawks
Static Shock
Mister Terrific
Men at War

Impressions

First I'll address the concern of, all the Batman titles. Yes there are a lot. But I think that DC has done a good job of not just making it one sweeping Bat-books surrounding Batman. Each Bat-book pretty much stands on its own (Not talking about the four Bat, bat books, Detective, Batman, Batman & Robin and The Dark Knight.) and are distanced enough from Batman to not make it a Batman book spin-off. I will say that there was really no need to make 4 Bat, bat books. The Dark Night was not necessary even Batman and Robin kind of stretches things. The real Bat fatigue is the fact that Batman is central to so many other books. Like all the Justice Leagues books. I hope that this is addressed, in the future. The other book I felt unnecessary was Batgirl. I was not around for Barbara Gordon, in a wheelchair as Oracle, so I'm not up-in-arms about it. But from what I have read of Batgirl and The Birds of Prey, I'd say they probably should have kept the Oracle angle. There is not much difference between Batgirl and Batwoman (Batwoman being the better of the two.) and IMO they could've just done one.

Lots of Super-books. Not as many Superman books, but like the Bat-books they have done a good job at making these comics stand-alone books that don't need Superman to carry them. (I particularly like how they are handling Superboy.)

Every book has to do with the DC universe in some way. That is right, Men at War, I, Vampire, Demon Knights, Blackhawks, All Star Western, are all part of the DC Universe. In the case of Demon Knights and All Star Western they deal with the DC Universe past. I don't know why, but this just didn't sit with me well. It just seemed like over-kill. An obvious attempt at making a cross-over without it being a cross-over. Gotta get them all! Men at War just wasn't right. I maybe a old fogie but I happened to like the old Sgt. Rock comics and found it unnecessary to update it to recent times that didn't include Sgt. Rock but some descendant. Each of the books I mentioned could easily just be stand-alone books that have nothing to do with the DC Universe. But, I don't make the big bucks so I could be way off with fan reaction.

I'm just gonna say that Static Shock, Mr. Terrific and Hawk & Dove easily are the three worst, with Hawk & Dove being the worst with both art and writing. Something hard to achieve with 52 comics in release. It really is that bad. I've never been a Rob Liefeld basher, but by this work he either mailed it in or he should really hang-up the pencils.

From the old days I always had an affinity with OMAC, Swamp Thing and Animal Man. Of the three I really, really thought DC's upgrade of OMAC would lose all the charm of the original OMAC. I can confidently say that they have done a good job at balancing the two. Especially the art which is a homage to Jack Kirby... which is awesome! Animal Man is in good hands but Swamp Thing... I dunno the 1st issue was kind'a weak, but it is Swamp Thing so I'll keep giving it a try.

A shout-out to DC Comics Presents. It didn't make any of my lists but is not that far out of the most promising. I didn't include it because it is an anthology book, but that is what it makes it such a good book. I like the fact that they have given a book that allows them to give stories to the second tier characters. Deadman, so far, has been a good start. ( I'm guessing that not all story arcs will be the same quality, some good, some bad, which makes it hard to rate.)

As far as I can tell they have done a good job of incorporating the Wildstorm Universe with the DC Universe. But, I really have no idea what the split was like, the books are just meshed well with the DC Universe so that I can't tell that they were never part of it.

All of the 52 really does cross many types of comic writing, which is good. There are your typical hero books (Makes up the majority.) but there is enough drama, disturbing (Detective, Suicide Squad) and rock-em sock-em (See OMAC and Red Lanterns) to satisfy most palates. The only thing really lacking is any kind of good sustainable humour... across the board everything seems either so serious or just bad attempts at humour (Static Shock).

Like I noted above some of the comics deal with different times of the DC Universe (Legion being the future obviously.) but there are some books that deal with the recent past (Like Action Comics and I think Legion Lost, but I'm kind of lost on that one... haha.) where it is said that super people started to appear at around this time. This seems like the reset of the DC Universe but it is hard to really make a judgement until you see how future issues play with it.

I'll admit some of the over-reaching megaplots escaped me and was a little hard to sort out. I blame that mostly on the fact that I have no idea what the DC Universe was like between 1995 and 2011. But, over-all I'll say this is a good start for anyone that is first reading DC comics. (No offense given to any Marvel lovers, but I took a peek at the Marvel website and it is confusing as hell, turned me off right away. It certainly is not new reader friendly.)

Renumbering aside, tightening up the DC Universe seemed to pretty well done. I'm not shackled by past DC events so I have nothing to be upset about. This is all from fresh eyes.

[Frost]

So I'm not a huge comic book guy, but did read them a good bit back in the day.

At the moment, I'm most curious about Wonder Woman because my daughters (7 and 4) are interested in the character. Am I right in thinking that the new comic is still too "mature" for them? Unfortunately (and ironically) the kiddie look of the various Justice League comics put them off from those.

[Sir Ironside]

At the moment, I'm most curious about Wonder Woman because my daughters (7 and 4) are interested in the character. Am I right in thinking that the new comic is still too "mature" for them? Unfortunately (and ironically) the kiddie look of the various Justice League comics put them off from those.

Yes, very much too mature. Wonder Woman is one of the most violent of the new 52.

[Wasgo]

In general, none of the new 52 are really kid appropriate. They're about the same as what you'd get on prime time TV with a bit more violence.

[Frost]

Just wish DC would release some kid-level comics that aren't in the "Word Girl" style. Marvel has comics like that, but not really any female characters that interest my girls.

[Sir Ironside]

In general, none of the new 52 are really kid appropriate. They're about the same as what you'd get on prime time TV with a bit more violence.

Mr. Terrific and Static Shock pretty much falls under this category. Though they both make my worst list. Maybe it is just me not grokking the kid friendly aspect.