New 52 Third Wave Pitch: Department of Extranormal Operations

Over the next few weeks, I am going to try and post a few proposals for DC's eventual New 52: Third Wave. Mostly, they are the dream comics I would like to see, but have very little chance of actually happening.


This week: D.E.O.

FIGcast - Episode 49 - "Youth of a Nation"

Sometimes our episode titles come from the unrecorded pre-show. Those are the times when they're only amusing to us (which makes them identical to all of the other times).

FIGcast - Episode 49 - "Youth of a Nation"

Shownotes:

• (00:01:05) Darren took in a few shows, and pimps BitCasa
• (00:10:55) Trey is still working on The Annotated Sandman, but also picked up The Goon Volume 0
• (00:23:35) Tripp was boring this week, but he did get caught up on Fringe
• (00:29:40) Blu Rays: (Real Steel...Paranormal Activity 3...Godzilla...50/50)
• (00:34:25) Coming Attractions: (The Grey...Man On A Ledge...One For The Money)
• (00:38:00) Box Office:  (Kate Beckinsale wins!!!)
• (00:42:25) Quick mention of the Oscar nominations
• (00:48:00) Keith talks about the Watchmen prequel, and so do we
• (01:00:35) We each try to pick the top 5 grossing movies of 2012
• (01:19:40) We finally get around to talking about the first New 52 cancellations
• (01:49:45) What Would Darren Read
• (02:02:55) Trey's Pullbox:  (All-Star Western...Aquaman...The Flash...New Guardians...Justice League...Justice League Dark...Legion: Secret Origin)

Don't forget, you can email us at FullyIntegratedGeeks@gmail.com, you can follow us on Twitter with @theFIGcast, or you can look for us on Facebook or the iTunes Store.

Comic Mini-Reviews Week of December 7th, 2011

Action Comics #4 – Few comics have encapsulated their own inherent flaws so completely as Action Comics #4. With this issue, Grant Morrison's Superman story is joined by a Sholly Fisch penned backup feature starring John Henry Irons, a.k.a. Steel. Aside from an editorial note that served to draw attention to an awkward storytelling choice that would have been glossed over otherwise, the two scripts are adequate. Yet, the Steel story was drawn by Brad Walker, whose sheer competence put Rags Morales to shame. I realize that this is Rags' fourth issue in a row and Walker has literally had months to prepare, but it exaggerated the lackluster art that Morrison's Action Comics has been saddled with. On the writing side of things, the series has been solid but not spectacular. As always, I have faith Morrison is taking this in a particular direction that will pay off.

Animal Man #4 – Every month, it seems that Animal Man and Swamp Thing leapfrog each other for the top spot of the DCnU quality list. Really, their only competition is the stellar Wonder Woman series and Batman and Batwoman vying for a distant fourth. This month, it was Animal Man's turn to take the number one position as Jeff Lemire continues to freak me the hell out. I really hope that Travel Foreman is either mentally resilient or has a good therapist because drawing the creepy stuff from Lemire's head must be a frightening task. I said last month that I thought Animal Man and Swamp Thing were headed for a crossover, and I am even more certain of it now since Alec Holland is mentioned within the pages of issue four.

Defenders #1 – It's difficult to not compare Defenders with Justice League Dark thanks to a somewhat similar team agenda. Thankfully, the rosters of the teams in question are quite different. Different, also, it seems, are the writers desired styles. Matt Fraction takes on a much more traditional comic book narrative style than we have seen from Milligan's JLD. Yet, there are still hints of Fraction's deeper stylistic choices. In last week's podcast, I mentioned that there are little notes written at the bottom of the issue's pages that were almost more fun to search for than the issues actual plot. As usual, the Dodson's art is nice and smooth, giving all of the characters a particular charm.

StormWatch #4 – Before the Relaunch, I was certain that StormWatch was going to be one of the best books of the New 52. While it has improved monthly, it has never reached that potential. With news that Paul Cornell will be replaced by Paul Jenkins as scripter, I doubt I will continue to pick this series up. For now, the story is fine but underwhelming, and the art is kind of mushy. We finally get to see Midnighter and Apollo flex some muscles, but few of the other characters really make an impact, emotionally or otherwise. I used the term “mushy” to describe the art, but it actually fits the entire book. The mass of uninteresting and ill-defined characters and the meandering plot make for a disappointing read.

Swamp Thing #4 – It is no coincidence that Swamp Thing, Animal Man, Action Comics and StormWatch are released in the first week of each month. I am fairly certain that when DC was making the schedule they wanted to really wow readers with some of their strongest (on paper, at least) new titles. Thankfully, this strategy has worked pretty well, so far. Swamp Thing and Animal Man are two of the best and Action Comics is perfectly adequate—meaning that three of the four are essentially successes. Marco Ruby does an admirable job filling in for Yannick Paquette this month. Scott Snyder continues to wind a narrative that mixes the old canon with new to strong effect.

DCnU Mini-reviews Week of October 5th, 2011

Action Comics #2 – So far, so good. Grant Morrison's revamp of Superman and his early days in Metropolis might be one of the most interesting things done with the character since Mark Millar's Red Son. Superman acting like a brash young man with an activist leaning might not be what we are used to, but it is a take that makes him a much more dynamic character. It also stays true to the earliest Superman stories. There's something else to this re-imagination—Action Comics is set early in Superman's career. I am sure that stories set later will attempt to make Superman a more rounded character than he was in the Old DCU, but the impulsive, some-what angry Superman of Action Comics is part of a story-arc. He will grow as the story goes on. The biggest problem with the series remains the art. Rags Morales and Brent Anderson just are not giving the book a good look. Morales can be solid when given time, but it is obvious that the month-to-month grind is too much for him. Bottomline is that the art detracts from a story that has been solid so far.

Animal Man #2 – Jeff Lemire knows what he is doing. After finishing issue 1 with a creepy reveal, issue 2 continues to mix family drama with horrifying superheroics. Buddy Baker, one of the little known guys of the DCU, is confronted with events that hold frightening implications. Suddenly manifesting a series of abilities that outstrip her father's, Maxine Baker leads the Buddy on a classic hero's journey. The Hunters Three are creepy, the family drama seems real, and the plot is fascinating. Travel Foreman's art is great—sharp lines, expressive faces, and scary monsters.

StormWatch #2 – I am still not sure about this book, but I know that I enjoyed issue #2 more than the first issue. It is still kind of frantically paced. There are tons of characters being introduced and I am not sure just how well that process is going. While most of the characters are interesting, drawing a bead on where the new characters stand is kind of difficult. That might be on purpose, but it seems a bit ambiguous. Sepulveda's art seems a bit more confident in this issue than it did in the first. Even having read StormWatch 1 and 2 and Superman 1 I am not entirely sure how the three books are connected. If I can't figure it out, I doubt new readers can.

Swamp Thing #2 – For the second month in a row, Snyder tricked me. Like issue 1, issue 2 begins with a ton of exposition and dialogue that is not terribly compelling, but then hits the ground running in the second half. The creepy stuff from last month's issue returns with a vengeance and turns the scary up to 11. The relationship between Swamp Thing and Alec Holland is still somewhat in question. Apparently, there have been other Swamp Thing entities in the past? My knowledge of Swampy continuity is pretty limited. Yanick Paquette continues to draw one of the best looking books of the New 52. The attack of the creepiness, expansion of the Green and Red lore, and a cool reveal at the end of the issue make this book at least as good as the stellar first issue.

FIGcast - Episode 37 - "SIRI-sly?"

Siri = Skynet?  You decide!

FIGcast - Episode 37 - "SIRI-sly?"

Shownotes:

• (01:00) Darren evaded death in Baltimore
• (05:40) Trey sucks at fantasy football and read Hellboy: The Troll Witch and Others
• (12:05) Tripp watched Community: Season 2 and is intrigued by Ex Comm
• (17:45) Blu-Rays (The Lion King, Scream 4, Fast Five)
• (21:30) Coming Attractions (Real Steel, The Ides of March)
• (22:20) Box Office (Dolphin Tale wins...it's a dark time for movies)
• (27:10) More than you probably wanted to know about Apple's new iPhone 4S
• (50:55) What Would Darren Read! (with a snappy new intro by Trey)
• (71:50) Trey's take on the DCnU week 6

Don't forget, you can email us at FullyIntegratedGeeks@gmail.com, you can follow us on Twitter with @theFIGcast, or you can look for us on Facebook or the iTunes Store.

Action Comics #2 Annotations

As I was reading Action Comics issue #2, I noticed a ton of continuity and DCU references interwoven into the narrative by Grant Morrison.  I decided to jot them down and post them on the blog. I am by no means a Superman scholar, so I may have missed some important stuff.  This is a page by page breakdown of the things I took note of in Action Comics #2.

Page 1:  Superman, captured at the end of issue #1, is strapped to an electric chair.  I am unaware if this is a specific reference to a Golden Age Superman story, but based on Morrison's tendency to mine the past and the electric chair's old looking design, I would not be surprised if it was.

Page 2-3: Lex's refusal to acknowledge Superman as anything other than "it" is a great character touch.  Superman's abilities referred to so far: electricity resistance, x-ray opaque skin.  The second surely is a reference to invulnerability.

Page 4: The Doctor Irons Luthor refers to is almost certainly John Henry Irons, formerly known as the replacement Superman--Steel.  The Sergeant Corben is most likely John Corben one of the men who has been known as the villain Metallo. Irons seems to be a contractor working for the military, which fits with his regular DCU status and history.  Corben, on the other hand, has obviously been re-imagined as a career military man instead of his original journalist alter-ego.  Irons shows that he is a hero-in-waiting by being outraged at Luthor's treatment of Superman, while Corben seems nonplussed.
Update: Apparently Geoff Johns made Corben a military man in the recent Secret Origin miniseries.

Page 5:  The sequence where the scientist tries to take a blood sample is surely an allusion to 1939's Superman #1 where a similar, much more consensual situation takes place.

Luthor mentions a "Steel Soldier program"--this could be an allusion to either Irons' or Corben's eventual alter-egos.  The General Lane referred to is Lois Lane's father.

Page 6:  The military is wasting money trying to destroy Superman's cape.  An unnamed soldier mentions a rocket that was similarly indestructible.  This ties into older continuity--where stuff from Krypton was just as tough as the Man of Steel.  General Lane knows his daughter's nose for a story.

Page 7:  Lois is wearing a Keystone City shirt.  This is the home of the original Flash, Jay Garrick, and the third Flash, Wally West--hello, shared universe!

Page 8:  Another reference to needles being unable to pierce Superman's skin. Powers update: Survived Sarin Gas for FIVE minutes! Also, x-ray vision.  Luthor asks Superman about Krypton, this is the first mention of Superman's home world in the DCnU as far as I am aware.  There is no indication that Superman knows anything about the planet.  Or perhaps his answer of "noble gas...number...36..." could have been a new-playful-Superman answer.  Luthor seems to be under the impression that Superman is a shape-shifting alien.

Page 9: I am embarrassed to say that I have no idea what that corpse is. As far as I know, there was never a Goaty the Super-goat.  Regardless, Luthor thinks that Superman's regular form is four-legged. Lex Luthor does not like being laughed at.  Superpower update: Microwave vision...perhaps a more scientifically up-to-date explanation for heat-vision?

Page 10: Lois and John Corben obviously had some sort of romantic relationship in the past. Continuity alert! John Corben once shaved off his mustache! You heard it here first!  Another allusion to "steel soldier" which I have to believe is connected to either a new version of Metallo or Steel.

Page 11:  Superpower update: The ability to absorb electricity?  New Lex seems to be a bit of a wuss.  I don't see him being the kind of guy that would be willing to dawn a purple and green powersuit and throw punches.  Perhaps that will be part of his ongoing DCnU arc--Superman driving him to be more physical.

Page 12:  Superman threatens to kill Lex. Who knows if he would actually go through with it, but that's something new.  Actually it's something old, Superman was much more gruff and physical in his early days.

Page 13:  Superman finds his cape?  I am guessing that the importance ascribed to the cape is a return to a canonical significance.  Perhaps it is the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby.

Page 14:  First appearance of the Kryptonian baby-ship.  It obviously reacts to Superman's presence and touch.  First mentions of Superman's Kryptonian name, Kal-el, his Kryptonian parents,Jor-el, Lara-Lor-Van-Vax-El and one of Krypton's gods, Rao.  I am assuming the Vax in Lara's name is some sort of Kryptonian marital hyphenation. (I could wrong, I have no idea.)  Perhaps the ship has some sort of built in AI, because Superman promises it that he'll come back for it.  Then again, he could just be talking to it for fun...I mean I talk to my Ms. Butterworth bottle, so who knows?  Superpower update: Heat-vision.

Page 15-16:  More of young Superman's Super-confidence.

Page 17: Lois must have used her reporters skills to steal John Corben's pass key. She sees Superman just in time for him to leap away.

Page 18: After the resignation of Doctor Irons, a Professor Vale has been put in charge of the "steel soldier" project. I am assuming this is Emmet Vale--the scientist that put post-Crisis version of John Corben's brain in Metallo.  Corben's unrequited love for Lois seems to be driving him to try some sort of new and untested technology.  I don't know, could it be leading to...him turning into Metallo? Probably.

Page 19: Luthor is on the phone with an unnamed person.  Apparently, whoever is on the other end of the line was his source for knowing about the word Krypton.  As he talkes, we are shown something floating in space, implying the involvement of a certain green skinned Superman villain.

If you notice any glaring things I missed, feel free to let me know!

DCnU Week 5 Mini-reviews:

All Star Western #1 – Palmiotti and Grey have such an incredible grasp on Jonah Hex. Issue one of All Star Western makes it pretty clear why they were able to keep a cowboy/western-themed comic going for so long pre-relaunch. All Star is a great first issue. Jonah Hex and Jeremiah Arkham might be my new favorite odd couple in the DCU. Palmiotti and Grey found a perfect way to introduce new readers to Hex by having Arkham psycho-analyze him as they search for Gotham's version of Jack the Ripper. Moritat's art is downright incredible. All Star shows that he is a new talent to be reckoned with in the future. This book definitely is among my favorite books of the DC Relaunch.

Aquaman #1 – What a surprise! After the let down of Justice League and the solid but unspectacular Green Lantern, I was worried that I had bet on the wrong horse. Yet, Geoff Johns once again proves why he is one of the best classical superhero storytellers. He is one of the few writers (Johns, Waid, Morrison, maybe Bendis) that can distill the essence of a character into an exciting and kinetic package. It is obvious that Johns made addressing the conceptions and misconceptions of Aquaman a high priority. There's literally a scene in the middle of the comic where the hero is being peppered with questions by nerd stereotypes (including a cameo by aintitcool.com's Harry Knowles). The thing is...that sounds boring...but it works! Johns, with legitimately great art from Ivan Reis, presents an Aqua-

man that is a serious badass and an interesting character. After one issue,

this is one of the most exciting books of the New 52.

Firestorm, the Nuclear Men #1 – What a mess. Firestorm was the first legitimate debacle I have read of the DCnU. Granted, I have only read about half of the books, but I would argue that Gail Simone and Ethan Van Sciver's first issue was very close to horrible. The characters are transparent, the story is laughable, and the dialogue is just plain bad. They attempt to set up conflict between Ronnie Raymond and Jason Rusch, but it just falls flat. I know that Simone tends to walk a fine line between great and goofy, but in Firestorm the line disappears. I am sure that the entirety of the blame does not rest on her. EVS' plot must not have given her much to work with. The art is passable.

Flash #1 – When I made my pull list of 15 DCnU books, Flash was the book that would have been number 16. I have obviously not stuck to my original plans, so it should be no surprise that Manapul and Bucellato's first issue ended up in my hands at checkout. The only unanswered question was whether the artists had the writing chops to carry the book. So far, they've been solid. The nice thing is that art is so gorgeous that it can carry just about an story. (Side-note: An interesting thought experiment might be to think about how bad a story Manapul's art could make look good.) Thankfully his and Bucellato's first issue's script is plenty solid.

Green Lantern: The New Guardians #1 – There's a reason that Green Lantern is one of the least changed of the New 52. The pre-relaunch status quo was already solid. Maybe my opinion is skewed because he was the only Green Lantern for much of my childhood, but Kyle Rayner is just so likable. This issue suffers from a good deal of repetitiveness, but it kind of makes sense. It might have been slow for established readers, but it was a pretty smooth introduction to what the other corps are all about for new readers. A fine issue with very little to be excited about or frustrated with.

Justice League Dark #1 – A solid first issue. I really enjoy when the formation of a superhero team feels organic. It's also fun to see some of the characters that have been in the Vertigo universe working alongside DC's more traditional heroes. As Timothy Callahan pointed out, Superman, Wonder Woman, andCyborg's appearance was reminiscent of the early Vertigo days beforethe wall of separation was built between the two imprints. Janin's art is perfect for the book. The magical heroes look so natural in the world he creates, while the normal heroes look staid and out of place.

Superman #1 – Superman is the antithesis of what the relaunch should have been. Look, I have little problem with change--especially when it comes to Superman.  He's an important character that should not be allowed to stagnate. My complaint is that giving the book to Perez seems like a backwards move.  The relaunch should be an opportunity to freshen the formula and incorporate new talent.  For all the perceived modernization taking place in with Lois, the Daily Planet and Clark Kent in Superman #1, the issue feels old and tired--especially compared to Wonder Woman #1 and Batman #1.  The art is fine...it's hard to make chicken salad out of chicken poop.

Charting the DCnU: A Graph of the 27 Titles Reviewed by FIG

Working on a few charts for a DCnU: Month One retrospective.  Here's a preview.  I guess it is also a preview of my DCnU Week 5 Mini-reviews...so, uh, spoiler alert.  Feel free to click for a closer look.

FIGcast - Episode 36 - "Sometimes the Costumes Stay On"

From the title we can infer that most of the time the costumes come off.

FIGcast - Episode 36 - "Sometimes the Costumes Stay On"

Shownotes:

• (00:55) Prayer vigil for Darren
• (02:15) Trey takes over Fort Gwinn's crappy fantasy football team
• (06:05) Keith declares that Chicago should be burned to the ground
• (06:45) Keith starts his big boy job
• (09:10) Shaunie boy is finishing thesis, read Wanted, getting married
• (13:35) Tripp is forced to watch football
• (20:01) Shaun and Keith like Mimic
• (28:05) "Southern Fried Michael Bay"
• (37:10) We are all racist for The Help being knocked out of the top 5
• (37:50) Fall TV shows!
• (40:30) Keith talks about James Caviezel's lips a lot
• (53:50) Trey hates on the Sixers from Terra Nova
• (73:50) We guess What Darren Would Read!

Don't forget, you can email us at FullyIntegratedGeeks@gmail.com, you can follow us on Twitter with @theFIGcast, or you can look for us on Facebook or the iTunes Store.

DCnU Week 4 Mini-reviews:

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.

FIGcast - Episode 35 - "There Is No Pudding"

Help us Bill Cosby, you're our only hope.

FIGcast - Episode 35 - "There Is No Pudding"

Shownotes:

• (02:54) Darren had an Emmy soiree and is going to Baltimore next week
• (09:57) Trey played Madden NFL 12 for Wii and failed to stick to his comic list
• (17:57) Keith is an official member of IO9 and had his ACT score posted on the Internet without his consent (turns out Tripp and Darren did too)
• (28:05) Tripp got the Star Wars blu-rays, and his geekness was stifled by football season
• (29:11) Blu-Rays (Bridesmaids, Dumbo 70th Anniversary Edition, Breakfast at Tiffany's 50th Anniversary Edition)
• (32:35) Coming Attractions (Moneyball, Killer Elite, Dolphin Tale, Abduction)
• (38:25) Box Office Results (The Lion King: 3D wins! The Help is in the top 5 for the 6th week in a row)
• (44:22) Tripp gives us a brief run down of notable Emmy wins for genre TV and some comments on the new shows
• (53:10) "What Would Darren Read" continues with more compelling voiceovers by Trey-- will Darren pick conservatively or will he throw caution to the wind?
• (76:22) Trey's take on the DCnU week 4 (including some spoilers).

Don't forget, you can email us at FullyIntegratedGeeks@gmail.com, you can follow us on Twitter with @theFIGcast, or you can look for us on Facebook or the iTunes Store.

FIGcast - Episode 34 - "BFFs With Amazon"

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

FIGcast - Episode 34 - "BFFs With Amazon"

Shownotes:

• (01:56) Darren saw Contagion and sucked at fantasy football
• (12:37) Trey hung out with friend-of-the-show Shaun and watched Breaking Bad
• (16:06) Keith played NHL 12 and debunked Michelle Bachman's HPV freakout
• (21:02) Tripp was gonna rant about Amazon, but was foiled, and watched the oldest player in college football history kick an extra point
• (29:42) Blu-Rays (Star Wars Collection, Thor, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, The Frighteners, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural: S6, Camelot)
• (45:23) Coming Attractions (Drive, Straw Dogs, The Lion King: 3D, I Don't Know How She Does It)
• (49:05) Box Office Results (Contagion wins! The Help is in the top 5 for the 5th week in a row and is one of the top 15 grossing films of the year)
• (57:36) What Would Darren Read week 2 with some compelling voiceovers by Trey-- can you predict what he will pick?
• (70:10) Trey's take on the DCnU week 3 (including some spoilers).

Don't forget, you can email us at FullyIntegratedGeeks@gmail.com, you can follow us on Twitter with @theFIGcast, or you can look for us on Facebook or the iTunes Store.

DCnU Week 2 Mini-reviews:

Action Comics:  Classic Morrison beginning to a story. A few interesting revamped details--Jimmy Olsen and Clark Kent are the same age, Lois Lane and Clark work at rival papers. Lex Luthor's appearance was pitch perfect and his strategy for capturing Superman was clever.  Superman has been written so stoic in recent years, it is nice to see a feisty and young take on the character.

Animal Man:  A well pitched first issue.  I especially liked The Believer pastiche on the first page.  It looks like the book will be an interesting mixture of family drama and horror.  It is a compelling story takes advantage of underutilized characters like his Buddy Baker's children, Maxine and Cliff, and his wife, Ellen.  Foreman's art has a rough-hewn quality to it that is perfect for the atmosphere that Lemire is creating.





Batgirl:  Simone crafted the first issue very carefully. She has an obvious love for the character coupled with a reverence for the Oracle years.  Killing Joke plays a much bigger part in the story that I expected.  The (mysterious) Mirror is a very Simone-esque villain--silly but she makes it work.  A solid issue that wont convert all of the most strident doubters, but took significant strides.



Green Arrow:  The new status quo is...interesting is too strong of a word....it's...it's something.  Green Arrow's been de-aged (no real shock there, I guess.) Krul is definitely trying to build a supporting cast, which is nice since DC has systematically drained the characters surrounding Ollie out of continuity over the last couple of years.  It's too bad that the new supporting cast is essentially a Lucius Fox ripoff and an Oracle knock-off. Perhaps this was the point, but the villains were some of the dumbest I've since the '90s were in full swing.  The idea that Oliver Queen's company is going to be DC-equivalent of Apple is already annoying--Qphone just doesn't roll off the tongue.  One nice thing: A modernized take on trick arrows.

Static Shock:  Virgil's moved to New York and interns at S.T.A.R. Labs...as a 16 year old.  Ok, ok..it's comic book logic, just go with it. Nothing real special about this issue, just solid superheroics.  McDaniel's art has a nice finished look to it that it hasn't had in the past.  I've always been a fan, but I would begrudgingly say it's an improvement.  I'm not sure but it seems like Static is being stalked by Power Rangers on motorcycles being bossed around by a fish-man. The issue ends with kind of a fun cliffhanger.



StormWatch:  A solid first issue. Interesting Martian Manhunter retcon that makes you reexamine decades of Justice League history.  Compared to Justice League #1, it was nice to jump into a team book without having to worry with origins.  Being dropped into the middle of a story is one thing, but being dropped into a comic that references an event that wont be published for two weeks is another.  Not great planning there, DC.  Definitely an issue that is building toward something, it will be interesting to see how it all pays off.


Swamp Thing:  Perhaps the best issue of the DC Relaunch so far.  It was interesting to see extended interactions between Alec Holland and Superman--welcome back to the DCU, Swamp Thing!  A couple of intriguing mysteries were were established: What is going on with the animals of earth and how will the Swamp Thing/Alec Holland story pan out?

15 DCnU Books to Watch: "Grab Bag Edition"

Look, even to a DC Comics Zombie, the company's September relaunch can seem intimidating. The information is almost overwhelming—52 brand new books, a smattering of new characters interjected into the publisher's traditional roster, and completely new creative teams on almost every book. On top of that, the chances of all 52 (or even a high percentage) being worth buying is minuscule. So, for you gentle reader, I have taken the time to separate the wheat from the chaff, to isolate the cream of the crop, and to highlight the must-haves of the DCnU. Once a week, between now and the end of August, I will attempt to explain and justify my choices for the 15 most important books of DC's upcoming relaunch.

This week, the Grab Bag Edition: Animal Man, Stormwatch, and All Star Western

Animal Man (Jeff Lemire, Travel Foreman, and Dan Green)

     One of the tightropes that the powers-that-be-at-DC have to walk is that they must maintain a reverence for established readers and the things they like while re-branding their line in an effort to attract new readers. None of the New 52 exemplifies that more than Animal Man. On the one hand, Animal Man is a strange choice. He's a character of extremely limited history, starring in only one or two famous storylines total. Heck, at one point his greatest achievement was gracing the roster of a group called the Forgotten Heroes. Granted, that was before Grant Morrison left his mark on the character, but still, that should give you an idea of how limited Animal Man's involvement in the greater DCU continuity is. On the other hand, Animal Man is a fan favorite, thanks mostly to a late 1980s and early 1990s revamp and a starring role in DC's 52 both written by the aforementioned Morrison. What Animal Man lacks in name recognition outside of the realm of comic book shops, he makes up for with his limited but beloved status within those comic-dungeons. Still, it should go without saying that editorial at DC is banking on this new Animal Man series garnering a more widespread following than other attempts in the past.

     Now that I think about it, they may be on to something. While much of the focus among the nerds (ie: me) has been to examine and dissect the characters, creative teams, and continuity changes of the DC Relaunch, a largely ignored part of the entire enterprise is the shift to day-and-date releases. Brand new DC comics will now be sold digitally on the same day they hit store shelves. Some of the sales figures I've seen from digital comic book sales indicate that consumers that buy their comics online tend to buy comics of the more independent and Vertigo-style stripe. (Admittedly, this information may be out of date. After all, I am no comic industry insider.) So in Animal Man, DC has a character that was famously one of the founding members of Vertigo written by current Vertigo wunderkind Jeff Lemire (Sweettooth). Those in the know at DC have mentioned that they want their new 52 to encompass a broader segment of comic book readership and Animal Man is definitely one of their forays down paths that only Vertigo used to travel.

     As I have said before, Lemire is a rising star. He has received critical recognition for his short run on Superboy and his creator owned Sweettooth and Essex County Trilogy. The artistic side of Animal Man will be handled by Travel Foreman who is fairly new to comics, and has mostly worked for MARVEL since breaking into the industry. If the previews are any indication, Foreman's work will fit well with the story Lemire wants to tell. Jeff has said that he sees Animal Man “very much a horror/superhero hybrid. As such, I’m able to take it in some very dark places.” Its an interesting direction to take Buddy Baker and his animal-themed alter-ego, but one that could give new life to a character that has not had a starring turn since the early 1990s.

Stormwatch (Paul Cornell and Miguel Sepulveda)

     A couple of weeks ago, (in a cold-medicine-addled fog) I mentioned that my limited funds were forcing me to choose one Paul Cornell and one Peter Milligan penned book. Since I chose Justice League Dark for my Milligan book, that left Stormwatch as the obvious choice for Cornell. (Anyone that's listened to our podcast's discussions about Game of Thrones knows that I can only take so much fantasy. Sorry Demonknights!) Add to that the fact that one of my all time favorite characters—Martian Manhunter—is now a member of Stormwatch and I'm sold.

     The premise of Stormwatch—a secret group of superpowered people who quietly save the world—is one of those ideas that seems obviously clever but is surprisingly hard to get right. In spirit, the team has been around since the early 90s but only a few creators have been able to write comics that live up to the premise. Of all the writers (other than Grant Morrison) working at DC right now, Cornell seems like the obvious choice to head a revival of Stormwatch. Cornell has packed a lot of solid superhero comic book writing into a fairly short about of time. His recent run on Action Comics starring Lex Luthor lost much of its steam toward the end, but was still a solid story overall. A Dr. Who alumnus, Cornell has shown that he is able to mix imaginative premises with compelling threats. Word coming out of the DC camp is that the villain of the first Stormwatch story-arch will be the Moon. Having read some of Cornell's work at DC, that seems about right.

     Stormwatch is a book with a monstrous amount of potential. The premise and characters are solid, Cornell has a knack for writing interesting comics, and the art (handled by Miguel Sepulveda) looks spectacular so far. Hopefully, it will bear a stronger resemblance to the crisp storytelling of Cornell's early issues on Lex Luthor and not the less intriguing, by-the-book later issues.

All Star Western (Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Moritat)

     I'll make this easy: Buy All Star Western. It's strange that I, a comic book collector that literally owns only one western-themed comic book, can say that. But, without a doubt ASW will be one of the most consistently great comics being released by DC in the New 52. How can I know that? Well, the writing team of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray were able to orchestrate a seventy(!) issue on DC's most recent western book, Jonah Hex, which ran from 2006 until last month. The only way a comic book based in the old west could survive at the Big 2 in today's market is if the writers wrote its brains out. I am sure that they will bring those same energies and sensibilities to ASW.

     No longer confined to just Jonah Hex and his cast of characters, Palmiotti and Gray now have the entire DC Western roster to play with. At least at first, each issue will feature a story starring Hex with a backup featuring other characters. Series-artist Moritat grabbed readers attention with his recent run on The Spirit. His work was perfect for the urban settings of that comic's Central City, but it will be interesting to see how it translates to the wild west. Of course, it may help that apparently ASW is taking place in the Gothic-inspired wild west version of Gotham. He's a talented artist that gives a sense of place and atmosphere to his work, which should serve a period piece comic well.

     Here's the thing: I missed out on Jonah Hex. When it first came out, I decided I wasn't interested in a western comic. Then Palmiotti and Grey quietly built up one of the strongest comic book runs in recent memory while I was wasn't paying attention. This time around, I'm determined to be along for the entire ride of this brand new western series.

FIGcast - Episode 32 - "The Good Kind of Heart Attack"

Doughnut-induced heart attacks are the best.

FIGcast - Episode 32 - "The Good Kind of Heart Attack"

Shownotes:

• (00:42) Darren went to Austin and started watching Mad Men
• (04:55) Trey read the books he bought last week, re-read Checkmate and ate some horse doughnuts
• (08:34) Keith took 24 hours off, played Deus Ex and started some fantasy hockey
• (12:36) Tripp read 1001 Nights of Snowfall, is reading Peter & Max, and played some Madden NFL 12
• (17:14) Blu-Rays (Sons of Anarchy: S3, The Vampire Diaries: S2, Counting Crows: August and Everything After [for Darren])
• (20:01) Coming Attractions (Apollo 18, Shark Night 3D, The Debt)
• (22:31) Box Office Results (The Help wins again!  That's right, it opened two weeks ago.)
• (26:20) Tripp saw some movies (Conan the Barbarian and Don't Be Afraid of the Dark)
• (36:10) Our in-depth thoughts on Justice League #1
• (64:47) Deadman is gonna be on TV, and that's a good thing

Don't forget, you can email us at FullyIntegratedGeeks@gmail.com, you can follow us on Twitter with @theFIGcast, or you can look for us on Facebook or the iTunes Store.

DCnU Review: Justice League #1

Hi, this is Justice League #1, the first issue of the DC's New 52.

    At first glance it may look like the new book starring the Justice League. After all, that's what the title certainly implies. But guess what, it's not. No, this book certainly stars some of the League's core members, but it is far from being a book about the team at this point. Rather, Justice League #1 is this: an introduction to the DC Universe.

     If you are a long time comic book reader, you might have felt a nagging feeling of familiarity with Justice League #1. In spirit the first issue of the brand new series bears a closer resemblance to DC's classic Brave and the Bold series than any of the past Justice League relaunches. A re-imagining of the Justice League's origin, the majority of the issue revolves around just two of the future roster (unsurprisingly Batman and Green Lantern). While a couple of other heroes eventually show up, neither are given much page-time. Superman and Vic Stone both make appearances but the former is only on one page while the latter is still in his pre-Cyborg form. The result is that Justice League #1 feels more like a Batman/Green Lantern team-up than anything else.

     If issue one is any indication, the series will act as a mixture of origin and crash-course of who's-who in the DCU. The team's formation will be explored with the gradual addition of characters. Each character will be given time to shine and a moment to exhibit their characterization beats. From a comic book geek's perspective, this is a funny choice. The last decade and a half has seen at least two revamps to the Justice League's origin story and, while we expected relaunch-inspired tweaks, few of us guessed how much emphasis would be placed on the new origins.

     This leads to a very important distinction: Justice League #1 is not for us. Comic book junkies were going to buy it anyways. Geoff Johns and Jim Lee were enough to spark the interest of anyone already comfortable within the realm of comic books. No, Justice League #1 and its plotting, art, dialogue, characters, and characterizations was designed specifically for the much coveted new reader audience. So, when the story begins with Batman (DC's most popular character) and adds Green Lantern (DC's hottest character, failed summer blockbuster aside), it is obvious what they are doing. They are taking the characters that the general public is most familiar with and using them to open the door for new readers. The months that follow will surely see superheroes added in ways that act like introductions to the individual characters for the uninitiated reader.

     While this may seem remedial to long-time collectors, it is an absolutely essential part of DC's plan. The fact that Justice League is the first (and only) book being released in the first week of the relaunch should tell you that it will be the engine that powers the DCnU. If that's the case, then the book needs to be at its most new reader friendly. Perhaps later story-arcs will take a more traditional tone but, if the first issue is any indication, Justice League #1 looks like it will read more like an introduction than anything else.

     Even the apparent villain of the first story-arc will be something of an introduction for new readers. Johns is not messing around with lesser baddies. While other Justice League origins have not usually included any of DC's “big bads”, this new retelling certainly goes for the gusto with one of the company's biggest. As non-traditional comic book fans read Justice League they will be shown who one of the real evil forces in the DCU is.

     Overall, it was a somewhat disappointing first issue. I'm never a fan of re-telling origins, not immediately at least. Yet, on an academic level, I understand why they are doing what they are doing. New readers are the goal and this book is DC 101. That's fine. Hopefully, once the newbies are hooked and all the pieces are in place, old and new readers alike can get the stories Johns is capable of. For now, though, we will just have to wait and see how things develop.

15 DCnU Books to Watch: “The Best of the Ancillary Bat-books!"

Look, even to a DC Comics Zombie, the company's September relaunch can seem intimidating. The information is almost overwhelming—52 brand new books, a smattering of new characters interjected into the publisher's traditional roster, and completely new creative teams on almost every book. On top of that, the chances of all 52 (or even a high percentage) being worth buying is minuscule. So, for you gentle reader, I have taken the time to separate the wheat from the chaff, to isolate the cream of the crop, and to highlight the must-haves of the DCnU. Once a week, between now and the end of August, I will attempt to explain and justify my choices for the 15 most important books of DC's upcoming relaunch.

This week, the The Best of the Ancillary Bat-books: Batgirl, Batwoman, and Batman and Robin!

Batgirl (Gail Simone and Ardian Syaf)

     Last month, as DC was revealing the books that would make up their New 52 relaunch, Tripp and I attempted to guess what books would be on the list. To me, a Batgirl book seemed like a no-brainer. After all, Brian Q. Miller's run on the book was making Stephanie Brown the most popular iteration of the character since the original Barbara Gordon character. While early indications implied that September would see a mixture of relaunch, re-branding and reboot, I was certain Batgirl would be one of the least changed. Steph was a fan favorite and Barbara Gordon was one of those rare characters that had transitioned successfully to a new persona in Oracle. Early revelations (and logic) implied that characters and books that worked well would be returning in the DCnU. As we have seen, Batman and Green Lantern are barely being touched. Then, when the first cover of new Batgirl was released with Barbara Gordon's rust colored hair instead of Steph's blonde, the comic book community went kerplooey. Because of Miller's recent run and Bab's beloved status as both Batgirl and Oracle, the new book is, without a doubt, the comic that has caused the most press of the DC Relaunch. Fittingly, it is also one of the books with the greatest potential.

     The evolution of Barbara Gordon is a fascinating story. Like Jimmy Olsen and Perry White before her, Babs' origins are based in a separate medium from comic books. Her first appearance coincided with the third season of the popular Adam West Batman television series. Played by the lovely Yvonne Craig, she sported the iconic dark purple batsuit with long hair flowing out from under her cowl. Once Batgirl made her first appearance within the DCU proper, she became one of the company's most popular heroines. In the late 1980s Alan Moore had Joker paralyze her in the Killing Joke. (Spoiler alert, for those of you that have not read a comic book that is over twenty years old by this point, I guess.) Later creators would take Barbara and transform her into Oracle, the digital eyes and ears of the DCU. Way back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Babs was capable of stuff Anonymous can only dreams about. Dennis O'Neil and Chuck Dixon would transition Oracle into her most famous roles—as one of Batman's biggest allies and the leader of The Birds of Prey, respectively.

     While Oracle's role in the greater DCU has won many people over, it was not without its controversy. Gail Simone famously included Barbara on her list of Women in Refrigerators. The name refers to Alex Dewitt who was shoved into a fridge by Major Force as way to taunt her boyfriend Green Lantern Kyle Rayner. The Women in Refrigerators list catalogs female characters who were injured, depowered or otherwise came to violent ends. Simone was later given an opportunity to remedy the situation when she wrote Birds of Prey. She helped build Barbara/Oracle into one of the most powerful, respected, and popular members of the DC pantheon. As one of a very limited number of disabled characters in superhero comics, Oracle gained a very unique place in comic books. The idea of Barbara returning to her Batgirl role and DC's seeming plan to erase her Oracle years, has not sat well with many Babs fans.

     Personally, I think the choice to return Barbara to her Batgirl role is a perplexing one. The powers-that-be-at-DC have stated that they wanted to return some of their characters to their most iconic versions—a decision I understand to an extent. Yet, it opens all kinds of weird questions. Is Barbara's most iconic persona Batgirl at this point? As a child of the 90s, to me, Barbara is Oracle. I was vaguely aware she was once Batgirl, but Oracle was much cooler and interesting. On top of that, there are an extremely limited number of characters that writers have been able to transition from one role to another as successfully as Barbara went from Batgirl to Oracle. Plus, Miller's pre-relaunch run on Batgirl was well received and had laid the groundwork from Stephanie Brown's rise to prominence. In my opinion, Batgirl is one of the few books where DC missed the point of their own relaunch.

     Complicating things is the fact that Batgirl is going to be a good book. Taking the helm is none other than Gail Simone, one of the writers who had a hand in making Barbara Gordon's Oracle alter-ego so popular. If there is anyone that understands what makes Barbara an interesting character it is Simone. She has stated that she identifies with the character and all indications point to her requesting the assignment. Simone is as close to a cult-favorite I can think of within the comic book industry. Her run on Secret Six did not exactly sell like hotcakes, but the comic was consistently called the best book published by DC. (Incidentally, S6's disappearance in the DCnU is another perplexing choice on DC's part, but that's for a different post.) Over the last five years, Simone also had fan-favorite runs on Birds of Prey and Atom. Relative newcomer Ardian Syaf is slated to handle artistic duties on Batgirl. Since 2008, Syaf has been pretty prolific, mostly working for DC. His work has a nice finished look, smooth but detailed and he knows how to arrange pages well. Though it was very limited, they have worked together in the past—Syaf penciled issue 7 of Simone's Birds of Prey.

     Bottom-line: Simone is well aware of the various sides of the Batgirl controversy. She will handle the character and her transition better than anyone else could. Few writers understand Barbara Gordon like Simone and she will treat the character with care. In the end, I hope she is able to please many of the fans of Oracle and Batgirl, and Babs and Steph.

Batwoman (J.H. Williams III, Haden W. Blackman, and Amy Reeder)

     I think few people were surprised by Batwoman's inclusion in the DCnU. Rarely has a new character done so little and been so popular. First appearing in the 2006 year-long event 52, the new Batwoman was mostly famous for being a high-profile lesbian superhero...and little else. After appearing in several issues of 52, Kate Kane was relegated to guest-star status for a couple of years. It was not until 2009 that the new Batwoman was given a starring role in Detective Comics. In a now legendary run, Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III took Batwoman and turned her into one of the most fascinating and exciting characters at DC. Adapting the original, somewhat one note, high-profile-lesbian premise and adding depth to it, Rucka and Williams created a series of comics that expanded the boundaries of comic books as an art-form. The issues were filled with Williams' gorgeous visual storytelling and the scripts were infused with a weight that only Rucka and a few other writers can achieve. With such a stellar creative team in charge, Batwoman seemed destined to have a meteoric rise within the DC family of characters.

     Unfortunately, Batwoman's rise was not to be. Rucka and DC parted ways leaving a large part of the already planned story untold. Her run as the star of 'Tec ended in May 2010 and she was suddenly relegated back to guest-star status. Thankfully, a hope yet remained. Near the end of 2010 Batwoman #0 was released co-written and co-drawn by J. H. Williams III with Haden W. Blackman and Amy Reeder, respectively. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the book was that Williams drew the segments were Kate was Batwoman and Reeder drew her civilian life making for a beautiful mixture of visuals.

     Sadly, the ongoing Batwoman title by Williams, Blackman and Reeder was seemingly delayed into oblivion. That is until September, when it will be resurrected as part of the DCnU. The creative team remains the same. Williams III is easily one of the best, if not the best, superhero comic artists working today. His early work resembled Tony Harris' 1990s style but has evolved into something wholly unique. His page layouts are spectacular—panels and pages flow into each other naturally. Reading a comic book drawn by Williams III is sometimes like reading a beautiful wall-filling mural. Reeder, while not quite as spectacular, fits the high-flying life style that Kate Kane lives in her daily life. Blackman who has made a name for himself writing Star Wars books for Dark Horse will keep the stories and scripting grounded (for lack of a better word). If you've listened to the podcast you may have heard me make a few snide remarks about artists turned writers, but Williams is not without scripting experience. He co-wrote a short-lived gem in the late 1990s titled Chase that was canceled before its time. Written in the deeply continuity-connected Starman mold, it featured a strong female character holding her own in the male dominated DCU. This bodes well for Batwoman. In the end, Batwoman will be the best drawn book of the DC Relaunch. It may lack the Detective Comics run's Greg Rucka punch, but it's scripting will be solid enough to not detract from it gorgeous presentation.

Batman and Robin (Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason)

     Batman and Robin is the one book of the DC Relaunch that I am buying entirely for myself. That's not to say that I do not think it will be one of the better books of the DCnU. Rather that it is a book that I am buying completely because I want it. Sure, I am excited to read all of the books I am purchasing, but several of them are books that I have chosen very carefully because I think they will be important or particularly good. Batman and Robin is not one of those books. Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt it will be solid. Spectacular? ...eh, maybe.

     The thing is, Batman and Robin has a pretty strong lineage. Originally, started back during Morrison's run as the main Bat-writer, it was a place to showcase Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne as a crime-fighting duo. Written by Morrison with art from a string of high profile artists, it was one of the best books DC published over the last few years. So, it's no surprise that Batman and Robin is one of the books that will be reintroduced in the DCnU.

     With the advent of the New 52, the book is shifting to the writer artist team of Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason. As a pair, they had a long run on Green Lantern Corps, the secondary Green Lantern franchise book. Personally, I think GLC was a stronger comic than the main series—thanks mostly to the way the two books were plotted. Geoff John's Green Lantern was the book that had to deal with the major ongoing plot points, while Tomasi was allowed to explore the lives and events surrounding the Green Lanterns without having to move the main arch forward. He was able to play around with secondary characters and ideas that first appeared in Green Lantern without having to explain or introduce them. This made room for deeper character explorations and a more interesting cast of characters.

     This could be a good sign. After all, the main Bat-book is Scott Snyder's Batman. Tomasi and Gleason will be able to tell stories on the outskirts of major stories. While Snyder handles the overarching Batman stories of the DCnU, Batman and Robin will most likely tell short but interesting stories starring Bruce and Damian Wayne. The other Bat-books will probably effect the book peripherally but, for the most part, I predict that B&R will be mostly self contained.

     The thing is, Batman and Robin is positioned to be the second best Batman book of the DCnU. (At least until Batman Inc starts coming out again.) I know I harp on Daniel and Finch too much, but Tomasi's scripting is streets ahead of anything they can write. Meanwhile, Gleason is one of the best monthly artists in the industry. His art fit the alien worlds of DC's universe perfectly, and it should translate well to the grotesque world of Gotham. Gleason is the real selling point of B&R, in my opinion, but that does not mean Tomasi is not capable of writing spectacular comic books. His run on GLC and his Black Adam miniseries were very, very good. The bottom-line is this: Batman and Robin will be the second best Batman book published by DC for the foreseeable future. If you want self-contained, solid Batman stories, this is the place to get them. Add to that Gleason's art and a healthy dose of Damian Wayne and you have a book with a ton of potential.