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Malk reads (some of) The New 52 so you don't have to!
All right, last week we had the disappointing generic Justice League where barely anything happened. This week though, we got a whole lot more coming in with these sort of re-boots! Without further ado, let's get these quick reviews out of the way!
Swamp Thing: Swamp Thing is actually a pretty definitive character for DC, marking the character who really kicked off the Vertigo line with Alan Moore's run with the character. This picks up in Moore's story, moving to a pathos-strong biological horror story. It involves Dr. Holland getting a house call from Superman over the mysterious mass deaths of animals around the globe. It's a pretty good establishing issue for the character and has a nice creepy mood to it. Malk recommends it.
Batgirl: Oi, this is where things get confusing. See, this 'reboot' isn't actually one. it's set years after all the other #1s. While some of the others are too, this is the only one where it really matters. See, in the original continuity the Barbara Gordon Batgirl was shot and paralyzed to a wheelchair, then replaced by Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain who were both more interesting Batgirls just as Gordon was more interesting in her new role as the IT division of the Justice League, Oracle. This is set after the supposed melding of the reboot and normal continuity and now Batgirl can walk again, despite being paralyzed before. No, it doesn't explain how. Put your hand down. I wanted like this book because I wanted to have faith in Gail, but goddamn. The entire pathos is really plodding and I imagine would be pretty offensive to people who can't be rebooted to walk again, and the action and drama itself is completely joyless. Fuck this comic. Fuck it fuck it fuck it.
Detective Comics: "Hey Tony. We're running late. You've got twenty minutes to write a Batman story. it has to have detective work, some gritty crime stuff, and the Joker."
"Okay, sure. I've told that story five times before anyways."
Skip it. Wait for Snyder doing the proper Batman.
Action Comics: This comic makes me so happy. Now when people ask what I wanted out of Smallville I can just point to this. This features a young and brash Superman out to stand up for Truth, Justice, and The American way even and especially when the law won't. Morrison has long stated that he felt Superman was born out of a socialist mentality and this comic really makes that even more apparent. Superman focuses on punishing rich people who feel they're above the law and the poor who the government sees as beneath them. It's a pretty great way to put Superman at odds with the authority and it still keeps the important core of what makes Superman Superman intact. That said, this younger brash Superman isn't perfect. He fucks up pretty big through and it's a key part of what makes this Superman so interesting. His failures aren't coming out of despondency or wanting to be normal: this Superman makes mistakes by basically wanting to help.
As you can see, I loved it.
Animal Man: If Action Comics was my favorite this week, this is a close second. Covering the family man/superhero/animal rights activist Animal Man, this takes a pretty clear turn from Morrison's amazing metafictional run to more of a primal horror direction. One of the great things is that the story is absolutely perfect for new readers. The first page has an explanation of Animal Man's past, cleverly done as an interview, and gives a nice overview of the things he can do before getting into the proper mindfuckery. If you like Hellraiser or similar horror I really recommend checking this out.
Green Arrow: Not picking it up because Green Arrow looks like a jackass in the Smallville duds.
Angel and Faith: Not a DC Comic, but it was pretty awesome. Let's just hope it doesn't fizzle out like Season 8 did.
Swamp Thing: Swamp Thing is actually a pretty definitive character for DC, marking the character who really kicked off the Vertigo line with Alan Moore's run with the character. This picks up in Moore's story, moving to a pathos-strong biological horror story. It involves Dr. Holland getting a house call from Superman over the mysterious mass deaths of animals around the globe. It's a pretty good establishing issue for the character and has a nice creepy mood to it. Malk recommends it.
Batgirl: Oi, this is where things get confusing. See, this 'reboot' isn't actually one. it's set years after all the other #1s. While some of the others are too, this is the only one where it really matters. See, in the original continuity the Barbara Gordon Batgirl was shot and paralyzed to a wheelchair, then replaced by Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain who were both more interesting Batgirls just as Gordon was more interesting in her new role as the IT division of the Justice League, Oracle. This is set after the supposed melding of the reboot and normal continuity and now Batgirl can walk again, despite being paralyzed before. No, it doesn't explain how. Put your hand down. I wanted like this book because I wanted to have faith in Gail, but goddamn. The entire pathos is really plodding and I imagine would be pretty offensive to people who can't be rebooted to walk again, and the action and drama itself is completely joyless. Fuck this comic. Fuck it fuck it fuck it.
Detective Comics: "Hey Tony. We're running late. You've got twenty minutes to write a Batman story. it has to have detective work, some gritty crime stuff, and the Joker."
"Okay, sure. I've told that story five times before anyways."
Skip it. Wait for Snyder doing the proper Batman.
Action Comics: This comic makes me so happy. Now when people ask what I wanted out of Smallville I can just point to this. This features a young and brash Superman out to stand up for Truth, Justice, and The American way even and especially when the law won't. Morrison has long stated that he felt Superman was born out of a socialist mentality and this comic really makes that even more apparent. Superman focuses on punishing rich people who feel they're above the law and the poor who the government sees as beneath them. It's a pretty great way to put Superman at odds with the authority and it still keeps the important core of what makes Superman Superman intact. That said, this younger brash Superman isn't perfect. He fucks up pretty big through and it's a key part of what makes this Superman so interesting. His failures aren't coming out of despondency or wanting to be normal: this Superman makes mistakes by basically wanting to help.
As you can see, I loved it.
Animal Man: If Action Comics was my favorite this week, this is a close second. Covering the family man/superhero/animal rights activist Animal Man, this takes a pretty clear turn from Morrison's amazing metafictional run to more of a primal horror direction. One of the great things is that the story is absolutely perfect for new readers. The first page has an explanation of Animal Man's past, cleverly done as an interview, and gives a nice overview of the things he can do before getting into the proper mindfuckery. If you like Hellraiser or similar horror I really recommend checking this out.
Green Arrow: Not picking it up because Green Arrow looks like a jackass in the Smallville duds.
Angel and Faith: Not a DC Comic, but it was pretty awesome. Let's just hope it doesn't fizzle out like Season 8 did.
Comments
Justice League: Average, it was certainly readable and I love Jim Lee's artwork as I always do, but...I dunno it was just...average. Not exactly something that should be launching your new line.
Friendship over.
WELL GUESS WHAT THIS COMIC DID FUCKERS!
It's hardly a masterpiece, but it's one of the better pieces in this group.
Batwoman: FINALLY. This book is gorgeous, and the writing, while not up to the snuff of Greg Rucka's work with the character is still satisfyingly solid. One of the must-haves.
Frankenstein and the Agents of S.H.A.D.E: Definitely my favorite last week. The characters are funny and engaging and the goofy super-science meets Universal Horror is definitely an aspect that I find really engaging and the writing always threw me new loops.
Batman: One of the best so far. It gives a much better use of the Joker than Daniel's pathetic use and strikes at Batman as a character. It shows a character constantly working to save Gotham City on all fronts, and it shows Batman's connection to the city and his love for it. A must-read.
Oh, but the Riddler revamp is pretty dumb.
Wonder Woman:I'll probably have to reread it to give a real opinion, but so far it's decent. It feels like it's actually trying to give the character a sense of weight and it does a good job of presenting the character as mythic. Check it out I say.
Suicide Squad: DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE!