Batman #1 – Easily one of the best
issues of the DCnU so far. Snyder has a knack for writing Batman and
created the absolutely most elegant method for introducing the
Bat-family possible. Capullo's art is perfect for Batman—except that
character's faces are a bit cartoony and Dick Grayson seems a bit
young to have passed as the Dark Knight over the last year.
Simultaneously gives new readers a starting point and sets up a
mystery that will intrigue established readers.
Birds of Prey #1 – A bit of a mess,
but saved by Jesus Saiz' art. Like Justice League, this is a team
book that features only two members of the final roster. There's a
couple of things going on that feel like they should be connected but
never really add up. Black Canary is wanted for murder, and the new
Birds of Prey are a covert ops-style superhero squad. Yet, those
seem to mutually exclusive. They keep getting tossed around by
characters, but no one ever really connects the two threads. They
are not covert because Dinah needs to hide underground, but rather
because that is what the Birds of Prey team are apparently supposed
to be. Regardless, a fun first issue—Canary kicking ninja butt,
Starling being a fictional-hottie, and Saiz's cleanly drawn lines
really helped.
DCU Presents #1 – An anthology
series, this time starring DC's favorite ghost—Deadman. A little
wordy, but a pretty interesting issue. Takes time to establish
Boston Brand's origin story and set up a greater mystery. I'm kind
of on the fence about this one. I like Deadman as a character and
the art is fine, but the issue was kind of uninteresting. Also, I'm not
saying superheroes cannot change their moods, but I prefer the joking,
gruff Brand to the kind of mopey version of
DCU Presents #1.
Green Lantern Corp #1 – A solid
first issue that establishes John Stewart and Guy Gardener for new
readers while setting the stage for a confrontation with an
interesting mystery villain. I get the feeling that since John is
one of the DCU's most high profile African-American heroes, the
company feels that he needs to be at the forefront of the book.
That's fine with me. Honestly, when I read John Stewart I hear the
great Phil Lamarr's version of the character in my head. One of the
things I loved about the pre-relaunch Green Lantern Corp series was
that it was filled with awesome extraterrestrial Corpsmen.
Thankfully, it looks like while Guy and John will carry the book,
there will be appearances made by fan-favorites like Kilowog and
Isamot. I miss Gleason's art on the series, but Fernando Pasarin does a
solid job and fluctuates from solid to awesome.
Supergirl #1 – This was perhaps the
biggest surprise of all the books I have read. There are plenty of
books that are better, but I expected them to be good. I had low
expectations for Supergirl and I was completely surprised. It was a
fun issue with good art and a character reboot that distinguishes her
from the rest of the Super Family. It unfolds that the story a bit
slowly, but its obvious that Green and Johnson had a specific place
they wanted to end the first issue.
Supergirl #1 is just a solid
superhero-centric book.
Wonder Woman #1 – Between Chaing's
art and Azzarello's script,
Wonder Woman is easily one of the
best books, if not the top book, of the New 52. Diana, a character
that writers seem to struggle to get a handle on, is portrayed as a
strong but feminine character. Azzarello takes advantage of the
character's mythological origins to inform her world. A violent book
that never verges on gratuitous,
Wonder Woman repackages Diana
in a way that is true to her origins as a compassionate ambassador of
peace and a fearless warrior.
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