Dasquian Belargic
Sep 18th, 2011, 07:55:02 AM
Well at the (sort of) request of Capt Untouchable, here's my thoughts on The New 52. I'll let Wikipedia explain what The New 52 is:
"The New 52" is the name given by DC Comics to a substantive relaunching of their fictional setting, the DC Universe, and with it a renumbering of 52 titles from #1 again. Touted as a large publishing event following the conclusion of the Flashpoint crossover storyline, DC's relaunch entails changes to both the publishing format and fictional universe to entice new readers.
Publishing changes include same day release of physical comics with digital platforms, all DC Universe titles being cancelled or restarted at a new issue 1, the former Wildstorm imprint being absorbed into the greater DC Universe, and new titles being released to bring the number of ongoing series being published on a monthly basis up to 52. A number of in universe changes are intended to make characters more modern and accessible, though the scope of the changes varies from character to character.
I'll preface my thoughts by saying my exposure to some of these characters before reading The New 52 was limited. Generally the only series I buy on an issue by issue basis is Invincible by Image Comics (which is still my favourite!). I have plenty of collected editions, though my bookshelf carries a lot more Marvel, IDW and Dark Horse than it does DC. However, like any good geek I'm aware of the 'mythology' surrounding the various characters. The 52 new titles are grouped roughly together by their shared characters / story arcs. Again, Wikipedia has a full list showing which titles relate to which: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_52#Titles
There are still plenty of #1s to be sold, and my list below doesn't contain all of them since I haven't bought everything - but here's what I think so far.
(to avoid losing what I've written so far, I'm going to post this thread as incomplete and edit in the rest of my thoughts!)
Justice League
Justice League
Justice League International
Green Arrow - undecided
Batman
Batgirl - won't buy again
Batman and Robin - undecided
Batwing - will buy again
Detective Comics - will buy again
There's been a lot of hoohah about Batgirl in particular. During The Killing Joke, Barbara Gordon took a bullet that left her in a wheelchair and became Oracle. Now, she is back to being Batgirl. I didn't ever have the attachment to Oracle that has lead many fans to shun the newest incarnation of Batgirl, but Batgirl #1 didn't really do anything for me either way.
So far, Batman and Robin seems to be mostly focused on the relationship between Bruce and Damian Wayne. It's acknowledged that there have been other Robin's before - which seems odd, given that Batman is only supposed to have been operating in secret for a couple of years before Superman's public debut - but whatevs. The whole issue is a little confusing if you aren't already familiar with the fact that there are multiple Batman's and the history behind Damian Wayne. The one thing that I did like about this issue was that Crime Alley, where Bruce's parents died, is being bulldozed. Bruce takes Damian there as a final act of mourning, so apparently from now on-wards there will be no more angsting about his dead parents! Also, the villain used (who doesn't appear to be from the Gotham rogues gallery) was kinda cool.
Batwing is like.. if Batman were a franchise, I guess. Batwing is a hero based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, though we are apparently going to see him fighting international enemies too. Batman makes a couple of cameos, confirming the fact that Batwing is an officially sanctioned... Batman franchise, aided by Bruce Wayne. The art is great and the issue ends with a pretty good cliffhanger. I'm not completely sold on Batwing yet, but I will buy the 2nd issue because the story has potential - and it doesn't seem fair to write off a new character before he and his villains have had time to establish themselves.
Detective Comics is where Batman really shines, IMO. Batman of the New 52 is a relatively new superhero, hunted by Gotham City police. Right off the bat (ehem) the Joker is introduced as the story's main foil. The art and tone remind me of The Dark Knight. It's dark, it's violent, it's Batman! :D Without spoiling the surprise, Detective Comics #1 ends on a great cliffhanger.
The Dark
Animal Man - will buy again
Demon Knights - will buy again
Swamp Thing - will buy again
This is probably my favorite subsection of the New 52! All of these characters were basically completely new to me.
Green Lantern
Green Lantern - undecided
Red Lanterns - undecided
I am kind of a Lantern virgin. I know what the Lanterns are, but my first proper exposure to them was reading the prelude to the New 52 (Flashpoint). For that reason, I can't possibly say whether the new Lantern is better or worse than any Lanterns that game before him, however I have read that the new Green Lantern, Sinestro, is basically like the archenemy of Hal Jordan and the entire Green Lantern Corps.
Half of Green Lantern #1 was focused on Sinestro and half on Hal Jordan. As I've mentioned already, Hal is a member of the JLA - but that storyline is 5 years before this one, which is pretty damn confusing. The topic of Hal getting his ring back is brought up a couple of times, and the next issue is called something like "A Devil With The Devil" - so you can probably guess where the storyline is going!
Red Lanterns - for a book that is supposed to be about the galaxies most pissed off Lanterns - had a lot of talking (or at least inner-monologuing) in it. It felt more like a prologue than a first chapter for whatever story is to come, with Red Lantern leader Atrocitus wondering whether he still possesses the necessary rage to lead and control the Red Lanterns. There were a lot of background characters in this issue that got no introduction, who would presumably be familiar to fans of the Lantern-verse, but who just looked like a bunch of monsters and villains to me! I think I will probably get the 2nd issue here, just to give the other Red Lanterns a chance to be fleshed out, but I am not entirely sold on the concept.
Young Justice
Hawk and Dove won't buy again
Hawk is an aggressive meathead, Dove is a pacifist. Together, they fight crime! Yaaaawn. There was nothing about this issue, aside from the fact that I'd paid for it, that made me want to read on. It felt like a bit of a political mouthpiece, especially given the colours of Hawk and Doves uniforms (red and blue respectively.) Add to that the fact that everyone in Hawk and Dove sounds like they're reading from a handbook of cliches and cheesy dialogue, this is definitely not a title I will be buying in the future.
The Edge
Suicide Squad - undecided
The Suicide Squad is a neat concept: a bunch of super-villains running black-ops missions for the US government! Included in the line-up of the squad are Harley Quinn, Deadshot and the hilariously goofy King Shark. Given the collection of characters that are assembled here, however, the first issue feels a little.. tame? I guess the dynamic between the villains (or anti heroes even) will be what makes or breaks this title for me. I am tempted to come back for more Harley Quinn, even if her new costume is a bit.. iffy.
"The New 52" is the name given by DC Comics to a substantive relaunching of their fictional setting, the DC Universe, and with it a renumbering of 52 titles from #1 again. Touted as a large publishing event following the conclusion of the Flashpoint crossover storyline, DC's relaunch entails changes to both the publishing format and fictional universe to entice new readers.
Publishing changes include same day release of physical comics with digital platforms, all DC Universe titles being cancelled or restarted at a new issue 1, the former Wildstorm imprint being absorbed into the greater DC Universe, and new titles being released to bring the number of ongoing series being published on a monthly basis up to 52. A number of in universe changes are intended to make characters more modern and accessible, though the scope of the changes varies from character to character.
I'll preface my thoughts by saying my exposure to some of these characters before reading The New 52 was limited. Generally the only series I buy on an issue by issue basis is Invincible by Image Comics (which is still my favourite!). I have plenty of collected editions, though my bookshelf carries a lot more Marvel, IDW and Dark Horse than it does DC. However, like any good geek I'm aware of the 'mythology' surrounding the various characters. The 52 new titles are grouped roughly together by their shared characters / story arcs. Again, Wikipedia has a full list showing which titles relate to which: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_52#Titles
There are still plenty of #1s to be sold, and my list below doesn't contain all of them since I haven't bought everything - but here's what I think so far.
(to avoid losing what I've written so far, I'm going to post this thread as incomplete and edit in the rest of my thoughts!)
Justice League
Justice League
Justice League International
Green Arrow - undecided
Batman
Batgirl - won't buy again
Batman and Robin - undecided
Batwing - will buy again
Detective Comics - will buy again
There's been a lot of hoohah about Batgirl in particular. During The Killing Joke, Barbara Gordon took a bullet that left her in a wheelchair and became Oracle. Now, she is back to being Batgirl. I didn't ever have the attachment to Oracle that has lead many fans to shun the newest incarnation of Batgirl, but Batgirl #1 didn't really do anything for me either way.
So far, Batman and Robin seems to be mostly focused on the relationship between Bruce and Damian Wayne. It's acknowledged that there have been other Robin's before - which seems odd, given that Batman is only supposed to have been operating in secret for a couple of years before Superman's public debut - but whatevs. The whole issue is a little confusing if you aren't already familiar with the fact that there are multiple Batman's and the history behind Damian Wayne. The one thing that I did like about this issue was that Crime Alley, where Bruce's parents died, is being bulldozed. Bruce takes Damian there as a final act of mourning, so apparently from now on-wards there will be no more angsting about his dead parents! Also, the villain used (who doesn't appear to be from the Gotham rogues gallery) was kinda cool.
Batwing is like.. if Batman were a franchise, I guess. Batwing is a hero based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, though we are apparently going to see him fighting international enemies too. Batman makes a couple of cameos, confirming the fact that Batwing is an officially sanctioned... Batman franchise, aided by Bruce Wayne. The art is great and the issue ends with a pretty good cliffhanger. I'm not completely sold on Batwing yet, but I will buy the 2nd issue because the story has potential - and it doesn't seem fair to write off a new character before he and his villains have had time to establish themselves.
Detective Comics is where Batman really shines, IMO. Batman of the New 52 is a relatively new superhero, hunted by Gotham City police. Right off the bat (ehem) the Joker is introduced as the story's main foil. The art and tone remind me of The Dark Knight. It's dark, it's violent, it's Batman! :D Without spoiling the surprise, Detective Comics #1 ends on a great cliffhanger.
The Dark
Animal Man - will buy again
Demon Knights - will buy again
Swamp Thing - will buy again
This is probably my favorite subsection of the New 52! All of these characters were basically completely new to me.
Green Lantern
Green Lantern - undecided
Red Lanterns - undecided
I am kind of a Lantern virgin. I know what the Lanterns are, but my first proper exposure to them was reading the prelude to the New 52 (Flashpoint). For that reason, I can't possibly say whether the new Lantern is better or worse than any Lanterns that game before him, however I have read that the new Green Lantern, Sinestro, is basically like the archenemy of Hal Jordan and the entire Green Lantern Corps.
Half of Green Lantern #1 was focused on Sinestro and half on Hal Jordan. As I've mentioned already, Hal is a member of the JLA - but that storyline is 5 years before this one, which is pretty damn confusing. The topic of Hal getting his ring back is brought up a couple of times, and the next issue is called something like "A Devil With The Devil" - so you can probably guess where the storyline is going!
Red Lanterns - for a book that is supposed to be about the galaxies most pissed off Lanterns - had a lot of talking (or at least inner-monologuing) in it. It felt more like a prologue than a first chapter for whatever story is to come, with Red Lantern leader Atrocitus wondering whether he still possesses the necessary rage to lead and control the Red Lanterns. There were a lot of background characters in this issue that got no introduction, who would presumably be familiar to fans of the Lantern-verse, but who just looked like a bunch of monsters and villains to me! I think I will probably get the 2nd issue here, just to give the other Red Lanterns a chance to be fleshed out, but I am not entirely sold on the concept.
Young Justice
Hawk and Dove won't buy again
Hawk is an aggressive meathead, Dove is a pacifist. Together, they fight crime! Yaaaawn. There was nothing about this issue, aside from the fact that I'd paid for it, that made me want to read on. It felt like a bit of a political mouthpiece, especially given the colours of Hawk and Doves uniforms (red and blue respectively.) Add to that the fact that everyone in Hawk and Dove sounds like they're reading from a handbook of cliches and cheesy dialogue, this is definitely not a title I will be buying in the future.
The Edge
Suicide Squad - undecided
The Suicide Squad is a neat concept: a bunch of super-villains running black-ops missions for the US government! Included in the line-up of the squad are Harley Quinn, Deadshot and the hilariously goofy King Shark. Given the collection of characters that are assembled here, however, the first issue feels a little.. tame? I guess the dynamic between the villains (or anti heroes even) will be what makes or breaks this title for me. I am tempted to come back for more Harley Quinn, even if her new costume is a bit.. iffy.