Panels Of The Week - Week Of 11/02/11

Another week has passed, and it's once again that time where we spotlight our favorite panels. From crime fighting via slim jims to a well placed Spinal Tap reference, there were plenty of fun panels to be found in last week's comics. Here are our 10 favorites:

10. Action Comics #3

If she's not actually Mxyzptlk I will be so disappointed.

9. New Mutants #33

"What every new reader thinks about the Summers/Grey line"

8. Swamp Thing #3

I will never look at those fish the same way again.

7. Uncanny X-Men #1

Scott would actually be a pretty great supervillain.

6. Uncanny X-Men #1

....these go to 11.

5. Stormwatch #3

Midnighter won't belong to any club that would have him as a leader~

4. The Strange Talent of Luther Strode #2

Yeah, I hate it when my robbery attempts get foiled by a superhero wielding Slim Jims too.

3. Spider-Island: Cloak and Dagger #3

Always a good excuse. It's a very Buffy line. And man, is that art gorgeous.

2. Animal Man #1

Priorities, Ellen!

1. Amazing Spider-Man #637

Apparently, the best way to beat out Animal Man for the Panel of the Week is to use a pantless Herc.

By Marceline with No comments

The 52 Review Show: Pilot Episode

Eric Holodnak (Electric Nerd) and Bobbinette Carey decided to start doing a show for the 52 Review site. We pick two books each and review them, then pick a topic.

On the pilot episode we go over Hawk and Dove, Action Comics, Green Lantern: New Guardians and Batgirl. And the topic at the end is the new DC universe's attempt to be grittier and more adult, and is it actually being immature or are they handling it correctly?

Give it a watch and let us know what you think. What can we add? What books would you like us to review? Have an idea for a topic? Is my girth slightly unsettling to your children? Or do you just disagree with what one of us has to say? Let us know. Anyways, here's the pilot. We're still waiting on the mics but we wanted to practice the format. Enjoy.

By Electric Nerd with 5 comments

Panels Of The Week - Week Of 10/05/11

It's the start of a new comics week, which means it's time to spotlight the best panels of the week before. For me, there's nothing this week that tops the two page spreads in Animal Man and Swamp Thing, but there were still plenty of terrific standalone panels. From indestructible baby blankets to getting blamed for the moon, here are our top 5 panels of the week.

5. Penguin: Pain and Prejudice #1

Don't even *think* about accidentally messin' with the Penguin. The way Szymon Kudranksi draws Penguin walking is what really sells this for me. Destroying lives is just part of a regular day.

4. Action Comics #2

I'm pretty sure this takes the crown for the most badass baby blanket of all time. All those bullets and it doesn't even look wrinkled. 

3. O.M.A.C. #2

I'm a sucker for goofy editor's notes. Every time I look at this one I start giggling. It's a great callback to issue one and fits in nicely with the book's retro pastiche.

2. Stormwatch #2

This one might not work out of context, but it context, it was the funniest moment of the week. The expression on Booster Gold's face is what takes it from hilarious to downright hysterical. 

1. Animal Man #1

For the second month in a row, Animal Man has our favorite panel of the week. I was creepy enough as a kid to have found reanimated animal corpses cute too. I love that Ellen's primary concern is the milk spilling on the table. 

By Marceline with No comments

Top 10 Comic Book Quotes- Week of 9/7/11

Before we get to appreciating (and not appreciating) the next round of DC number ones, here's one last look at this week's comics. In no particular order, here are the top 10 comic book quotes of the week.

1. "I--I'm sorry, Daddy. I just wanted a pet of my own."-- Maxine Baker, Animal Man

2. "I told Batman that a man dressed as a bat will not instill fear in the average criminal in Africa. They have seen too much. He told me, "You just have to sell it.""-- David Zavimbe, Batwing

3. "Hey! Is that -- Green Lantern?" -- Random civilian on Booster Gold, Justice League International

4. "We used to have laws in this town. Like gravity. You remember gravity, right?" -- Detective Blake, Action Comics

5. "Jenny Q., out of all the Century Babies, I want you to know-- you're in my top eighteen." -- Adam One, Stormwatch

6. "Behold. I give you Superman. Stay in touch." -- Lex Luthor, Action Comics

7. "I know that my father, he was telling the truth. Because plants can scream. For me, they're screaming all the time." -- Alec Holland, Swamp Thing

8. "Not only do they get the handsome, brilliant, über-genius Virgil Hawkins...they also get the not-so-mild-mannered, super-cool, and fiercely awesome Static." -- Static, Static Shock

9. "I grab my favorite "Action Hero" cocktail of animal abilities...strength of an elephant, reflexes of a fly, speed of a cheetah...and the bark of a dog. That one always freaks them out." -- Animal Man, Animal Man

10. "What I want is your complete attention and for you to understand that your life is now mine. I am BROTHER EYE. And you and eye have much to talk about. But first, call your girlfriend, she's worried about you." -- Brother Eye, O.M.A.C.

By Marceline with 1 comment

Panels of the Week - Week of 9/7/11

A new week of comics is almost upon us, but before that starts, here's a countdown of this week's 5 best panels. A lot of this week's best moments took up an entire page, but DC put out so many enjoyable books this week it was still easy to come up with a list of single panels. So, without further ado, here are DC's Top 5 Panels of the Week!

5. Static Shock

This is a pretty simple panel, but there's really a lot going on here. Not only does this give new readers some Hardware backstory without breaking up the story, but it gives them a feel for both character's personalities and what their relationship is like. In a first issue, it's easy to spend too much time on exposition, and I appreciate any panel that tells readers what they need to know in a fun and streamlined way.

4. Stormwatch

This entire page, in which media manipulator The Projectionist searches the internet for mentions of Apollo, is terrific, but this panel is my favorite. The concept of photoshopped superhero fights feels so authentic, and I love that fans were given a look at a fantasy throwdown that will probably never be. Just being reminded that the two characters now exist in the same universe is pretty exciting for me. An honorable mention goes out to the panel just above this one, which discusses Apollo slash fiction.

3. O.M.A.C.

Not only does this panel showcase the kind of wacky, imaginative action that made the first issue of O.M.A.C. great, it's a direct reference to the first page of Jack Kirby's original O.M.A.C tale! For me, Build-A-Friend was the highlight of a wonderfully fun comic, and this panel in particular really made me smile. Also, as far as onomatopoeias go, FFRRAATZZ is a pretty terrific one. Something I could easily see coming out of the mouth of a Pokemon.

2. Action Comics

I love everything about this panel. The people of Metropolis fighting to protect their Superman, the reference to "leap tall buildings in a single bound", and just the sense of playfulness and curiosity about his own powers that this version of Superman has. I loved Action Comics from start to finish, but if I had to show people a single panel to sell them on the issue, it'd be this one.

1. Animal Man

This is why Buddy is great. This is why Ellen is great. This is why marriage in comics is great. I love that a story about a man who takes on the abilities of animals can be so down to earth and relatable, and nothing showcases that better than this panel. Animal Man's family is an essential part of his character, and in this one moment, new readers get that as much as long time fans of the character do. And that makes this my panel of the week.

By Marceline with No comments

Action Comics #1 or "A working class superhero is something to be"

Grant Morrison is the reason I read comics in the 21st Century. I hadn't picked up a funny book in 12 or so years, and then I discovered his Batman. Everything about his take on the character was what I wanted in a comic book. His was not the "Dark Knight" Batman that we'd been given for what seemed like forever. No, this was a Batman that was colorful, that had room for Bat-Mite, the Bat-Radia and all the weird, colorful aspects from the character's past. When Dick Grayson eventually adopted the mantle we had a more human, less angst filled Batman. A Batman, who, for me, was far more engaging and enjoyable than Bruce ever was. But...this review isn't about Batman, and I appear to have already gotten lost on a tangent in the first paragraph of my first review. Sorry. Time to reset.

Ok.

This is a piece about Superman, someone who Morrison has written the hell out of in the past. All-Star Superman is perhaps the finest work ever done with the character. No matter how many thousand Secret Origins they give him, none will ever match the simple elegance of what Morrison and Quitely did in 4 frames on the opening page. His work in Superman Beyond and Final Crisis was nothing less than a deconstruction and examination of both Superman and storytelling itself. It's Morrison at his metaphysical best. So I was just a little bit excited when DC announced that he would be the writer on the relaunch of Action Comics. The New 52 is not a concept I've been particularly big on. Honestly, I find it to be simultaneously a gross cash grab for new fans and an insult to the loyal readers who have been giving them money all along. That being said, the thought of Morrison doing a run on a Superman title was almost enough to make me forget the distaste I had for the whole shebang.

Then Morrison explained what his book was going to be, and I got a little worried. A "socialist Superman"? If it went well it could be a refreshing take on the most iconic and established of characters, if it didn't, it would come off as corny and contrived. As of one issue, it's all the former and none of the latter. With a different character and in the hands of a lesser writer this might not work. Superman has always seen the potential in humanity, and Morrison understands this. The world is filled with young idealists, but what if one of them was the most powerful man on the planet? This is not the white bread, benign figure that Superman has traditionally been, this a young, angry Superman who wants to change the world for the better. He's more Che Guevara than Richie Cunningham.

Morrison takes this concept and lays it on thick. Superman is in full Golden Age "screw you" mode here. The book begins with Supes intimidating corporate fat cat (and Donald Sutherland lookalike) Mr. Glenmorgan into admitting he "...used cheap labor...(with) no safety standards", later Luthor and the Army lure him into battle by demolishing a lower class apartment building with the tenants still in it. The whole thing is so straightforward (and unconfusing), that I almost couldn't believe Morrison penned it. The Supermen of the Multiverse this isn't. In the climax of the issue Supes must save a runaway subway train (described by Luthor as " the world's biggest bullet"). Essentially, he has to be both faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive. Very cute, Grant.

Rags Morales is an artist I've been impressed with since first encountering his work on "Identity Crisis". His art is pretty much exactly how I want my superhero comic book's to look: not overly stylized, with clean lines and a great sense of movement. In this era of the 4 dollar comic, it's rare for me to read a multi-page, dialogue free action sequence and not feel somehow like I'm being ripped off. Morales' work here, in the aforementioned train sequence, is the exception. He draws the action with such flow and energy, that it takes on an almost animated quality. I'm elated that we're getting a monthly dose of his stuff.

As an intro into Superman's world this issue hit's all the necessary notes. It's established that: Superman fights for the little guy, "the Man" (aka rich dude's, the police and government) doesn't like this, General Lane and the Army have contracted Lex Luthor to help capture Superman, Clark and Lois work for rival papers, and also Clark and Jimmy Olsen are best friends. Is it odd that it's that last part that excites me the most? I pray to Jack Kirby's spirit that we get some insane Jimmy Olsen adventures, or that we get a revamped, Morrison penned "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen" ongoing. We need to see Don Rickles' return to the DC Universe. Make it happen Didio, it's what the kids want!

By JoshD with 2 comments

Review: Action Comics #1

Every once in a while, I finish a comic and am filled with a surge of happiness. It's that feeling that's kept me reading comics for so many years, and that gets me through event fatigue and ill-advised storylines. I love comics, always, but sometimes I need to be reminded of how magic they can be when an issue hits all the right buttons, from plot and promise to visual storytelling and character. Action Comics #1 is one of those comics.

"In Morrison we trust" is essentially my motto, and my expectations for this book were high. But at the same time, I was concerned. I'm a huge fan of Superman- big blue boyscout, aw-shucks farmboy Superman- and I was afraid of losing that Superman forever. After reading this issue, all my fears melted away.

This issue is filled with moments that longtime fans will point to and cry out "That's not my Superman!". He's cocky and reckless. He uses Batman-esque interrogation techniques. And here's the thing: those fans are right. He's not their Superman, and he's not the character that so many post-crisis fans have grown to love. Not yet.

What makes Superman such an inspiration is that he chooses to be who he is. He has incredible power, but he makes the choice to be good, to work to help people. The roots of that Superman are all here in this issue, but he's not there yet. He's young, he's learning, and he'll have to grow and change to become the Superman that so many of us admire so much. And to me, that makes Superman even more inspirational. In my day to day life, I often try to be a little more like Superman. I can't fly or even leap tall buildings in a single bound, but I can do my best to emulate his kindness and his love for other people. Seeing him make that same effort makes being Superman feel attainable me, and hopefully it'll do the same for many other readers, new and old.

Much like Morrison originally described it, the issue starts at a breakneck pace and never really lets up. The story moves like the Superman blur we see on the very first page, and is filled with details that are easy to miss in a single read-through. This is something I've always loved about Morrison comics, as it gives me a reason to re-read the issue almost immediately, but if you're not a fan of that style, you may find that that aspect of the comic offputting.

Superman's idealism in this issue is almost painfully relatable to me. If I somehow wound up with near demi-god powers, my first instincts would absolutely be to help people in what might not necessarily be the wisest ways, from forcing tycoons to admit their corrupt ways to throwing wifebeaters into bodies of water. I can't wait to see him in action as a crusader for the little people, and can't wait to see him grow into a crusader for the entire world.

Superman has this sense of playfulness throughout most of the issue, and it makes me joyful in a way I can't accurately describe. He seems so unburdened by his powers, seeing only their possibilities and never their problems. I want to be incredible, benevolent Superman, but I want to be this Superman too.

Rags Morales' visual storytelling skills are showcased on every page of the issue, and when you look at his work it's easy to imagine what it might be like to have Superman's now toned down powers. He keeps up with Morrison at every turn and transitions from scene to scene seamlessly.

Those of you who were concerned by the cover of Action Comics #3 will be relieved to see that the people Metropolis still love and appreciate Superman. This is the feeling that was missing in the recent Superman storyline Grounded, and it's great to have that back. But not everyone in the City of Tomorrow appreciates Superman, nor should they.

I just really loved this line.

Superman's laundry line transition into Clark Kent may not be iconic in the way jumping into a phonebooth is, but it's visually interesting and keeps the story flowing smoothly. It also makes me appreciate the simplicity of the t-shirt and jeans get-up. It may have just arrived, but I'm really going to miss it when it's gone.

I wasn't expecting to see Lois and Jimmy in this issue, but I'm thrilled that I did. Morrison writes them both wonderfully, from Lois' playful dialogue and love of a good story to Jimmy's obvious adoration of Clark. I realize that this feeling is mostly based on Morales' art, but I'm sort of getting the sense that they're the Ron and Hermione to Clark's Harry.

The Kryptonian who lived.

What I was struck with, especially during this scene, is that I felt more like I was watching the issue than reading it. Both the story's pacing and artwork are so fluid, and have this kinetic energy that makes the pages feel as though they're animated. That made certain moments of the issue all the more brutal and intense, and I had goosebumps by the final page.

Anyone who's read All-Star Superman knows that Morrison writes a great Luthor, and he continued the trend in this issue. What makes Luthor so great is that he isn't just evil for the sake of being evil, he's not some disgruntled guy who lost his job at the vat factory. He truly believes that he is doing what is best for the people of Earth, and there is truth in everything he says. Lex may be ruthless, and he may lack any kind of empathy, but he's incredibly intelligent and incredibly logical. That he makes so much sense makes him a much more powerful villain.

I especially loved that, in spite of all the story crammed into this issue, there were still seeds laid for stories yet to come. I can't be the only one who thought of Braniac as soon as I saw this panel.

This is the rare comic that I would recommend everyone give a chance to. Not everyone is going to love it like I did, and some people won't even like it, but I think it's an important comic, and not just because it's Action Comics #1. Superman is a cultural icon, and I really believe that this issue is going to shape the way that future generations perceive the character. He's a character that people who've never touched a comic in their lives feel they have an understanding of, and the work Morrison is doing here has both the power to challenge those notions and to cast them in a different light.

It's going to be a long wait until next month, readers. Until then, remember that it's not about where you were born, or what powers you have, or what you wear on your chest. It's about what you do. It's about action.

By Marceline with 6 comments

A New Reader's Guide to the DC Relaunch

If, like me, you spend way too much time reading about comics on the internet, you probably see a lot of repeat questions. And, because the DC relaunch is dominating comics news as of late, most of them have something to do with that. The ones I'm most interested in are the ones from new readers. While the reboot is designed to be new reader friendly, there are a few issues that seem to be tripping people up, and I'm going to my best give answers to all of those questions. Whether you want to know why so many books have batsymbols on them or whether you should read Superman or Action Comics, this is your guide to the DC relaunch!

Batman

There are four titles starring the eminent Bruce Wayne, a point that seems to have confused many a perspective new reader. People aren't sure what title they should read, or if they need to read all of them. Luckily, this has a simple solution: pick whatever book looks the best, and stick with that. All of the books have different creative teams and will be telling their own separate stories. If you need help deciding which title to choose, here's a guide:

Written by Scott Snyder with art by Greg Capullo, Batman is the closest thing there is to a "main" Batman book. It's also the book that I'd recommend to anyone trying to choose a Batman title. Scott Snyder just finished up a fantastic run on Detective Comics, and has a lot of great ideas for the stories he'll tell in this one. Snyder looks to be using new villains along with many old ones, and this should be a great primer to the world of Gotham. Readers can expect plenty of mystery, plenty of great fights, and lots of Bruce just being generally badass- all things that make a great Batman comic. Artist Greg Capullo is best known for his work on Spawn, but he's already shown off some stunning preview pages, and I really think readers are in for a treat. I'd especially recommend this title to fans of the Arkham Asylum video game and to those who have read a few of the better known Batman titles, like Hush and The Long Halloween. All in all, I expect this to be a great comic that most new readers can easily enjoy.

The primary difference between Batman and Detective Comics is that it sometimes focuses on characters other than Batman. Robin, Commissioner Gordon, and Batwoman have all been the primary character in Detective Comics at one point or another. However, I suspect that it will be focusing solely on Bruce for the time being, which makes the creative team the primary difference between this and Batman. Detective Comics is written by former Batman writer Tony Daniel, who is sharing art duties on the book with Ryan Winn. Daniel's work isn't to my personal taste, but his Batman run sold well, and he isn't someone I'd tell readers to avoid. Daniel is planning on introducing several new characters, including multiple villains and a love interest for Bruce Wayne. If you're not interested in villains past and want something brand new, I'd suggest checking this out, and this should sate the urges of anyone who can't get enough of Batsy. For those of you who are only looking to pick up one Batman title, I'd suggest going with regular old Batman.

The Dark Knight is largely a showcase for David Finch, a popular Batman artist. In the past, this book was plagued by delays, but Finch now has assistance from artists Richard Friend and Jay Fabok, while Paul Jenkins will have completely taken over the books writing duties by issue three. In the past, The Dark Knight has had a supernatural focus, but early solicits give me the impression that this run of the book will be a little more focused on reality. The biggest reason to buy this book is for the art, and if your top priority in a Batman comic is having really great looking pictures of Batman, this may be the title you want to go with. With Batman going up against villainess The White Rabbit, this may also be a good title for readers who want a little cheesecake alongside their action scenes. For his first tale, Finch will be building off the events of several recent Batman stories, which means this book may be slightly less new reader friendly than the other Batman books. In spite of that, I still expect this book to pretty accessible, and those of you who like Finch's artwork should give it a look.

Batman and Robin focuses on the relationship between Bruce and his son, Damian Wayne. While this may sound intimidating to new readers who had no idea Batman even had a son, Damian serving as the Robin to Bruce's Batman is actually brand new, and this should be an easy jumping on point for anyone who wants an introduction to the character. Currently, this is the only title Damian will be appearing in, and I expect him to get as much screentime as Bruce in most issues, if not more. Because of this, I'd rule this title out for readers who only want to read one title on Batman. However, Damian is a great character, and this is a strong choice for anyone looking for a second Batman title. It'll provide readers with a different perspective of Batman, and will feature some nice looking art from Patrick Gleason. The main villain for the first arc of this story will be a new character called "NoBody", and the tale will delve into the personal life of Bruce Wayne as well as secrets about his past.





But what about all those other comics with Batsymbols on them?
New readers, here is a secret: people really like to buy any comics that have Batman and Wolverine on them. Because of this, publishers try to use the popularity of those characters to sell readers on other, newer ones. The titles with Batsymbols on them are part of what's commonly referred to as the Batfamily. This means that the one or more of the characters in the title has some kind of connection to Batman. For example, Nightwing stars Dick Grayson, a former Robin who was once Batman himself, while Batwing stars an African hero who received funding from Bruce Wayne. While several of these titles look like they're going to be great comics, they're all pretty separate from Batman, and you don't need to bother with them unless they interest you. If you are interested in checking out a few of these comics, I'd suggest Batwoman and Red Hood and the Outlaws.

Superman

There are very few Superman titles in comparison to Batman ones, which makes his books a little easier for new readers to navigate. However, deciding between Superman and Action Comics can be tricky, so here's an idea of what you can expect from these two books.

Action Comics will begin in the past, and will serve as an introduction to the new, mostly rebooted Superman. The title will be written by Grant Morrison, who also wrote the hugely popular All-Star Superman. Morrison has promised an action packed tale and has even talked about doing an issue without a single cutaway. Morrison is known from pulling from the long forgotten history of characters, and Action Comics looks to be no exception. However, I expect this to be an added treat for observant older readers, rather than a hurdle to new ones. This title will feature art by the very talented Rags Morales, but I think there's a high chance of him being replaced on future issues, and I'd suggest against buying this title for the art alone. Overall, Action Comics is the ideal comic for new readers or readers who are just new to this take on Superman. It seems designed to give readers a strong understanding of the character and his motivations, and will give new readers an introduction to supporting characters like Steel. As an added bonus for Justice League readers, this comic will also show how Supes gets his Kryptionian armor.

Superman will be set in the present, and will feature many of the more well known Superman supporting characters, such as Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. While I can't give this as glowing a recommendation as I did Action Comics, I still expect it to be a very good book. It's written by George Perez, who had one of the all-time best runs on Wonder Woman. He's got strong characterization skills and is especially good at effectively utilizing supporting casts. For that reason, I'd suggest this title to those of you with a strong interest in the going ons of the Daily Planet, or for anyone who's interested in the Lois/Clark/Superman love triangle. While you won't get the backstory provided by Action Comics, this should still be an easy tale to jump into, and anything essential for readers to know should be mentioned in both comics. The art for the comic will be provided by Jesus Merino, but Perez is an artist himself and is still storyboarding the look of the comic. This should allow Perez to do some really interesting visual storytelling, and hopefully the comic will take full advantage of that.



What about Superboy and Supergirl?
I think that Superboy will be completely separate from Superman from a good long time. While Superboy is a clone made using Superman's DNA, any crossover action he has should be appearing in the Teen Titans title. Superman will be making an appearance in Supergirl's second issue, but I suspect his interactions with her will largely be confined to her comic, and it's nothing you need to read in order to follow Supes himself. Both books look promising, though, and if you like teen characters, you should give them a look.

Green Lantern

The Green Lantern titles are keeping more of their status quo than any other DC titles, which makes them a little trickier for new readers. All of the titles should be fine as a jumping on point, but they'll still be reliant on what came before, and readers may come away with some questions about the universe. Fortunately, the differences between the four books are easily explained, so here's a quick overview of the Green Lantern titles. 

The first issue of Green Lantern will pick where Green Lantern #67 left off, making this the most continuity heavy Green Lantern title. Fortunately, this title will also be written by Geoff Johns, who has succeeded in making comics like this accessible to new readers in the past. The current success of the franchise is largely because of his title Green Lantern: Rebirth, which provided a quick, simple summation of Green Lantern history before moving forward with new stories. Those wary of any continuity should stay away from the title, but those who just want a story they can understand shouldn't have problems. The focal character of the title will be Sinestro, who some of you may recognize from the Green Lantern film. He only recently became a Green Lantern again, and his return to the ring has made him many enemies. This title will be action-packed and will feature high-energy art from Doug Mahnke. This wouldn't be my number one choice for someone looking to get into Green Lantern, but it's a solid pick.

If you're looking to get a feel for the entire Green Lantern universe, Green Lantern Corps is your best bet. Many aspects of the Green Lantern mythos will be utilized here, and the title will introduce many lesser known Green Lantern characters. I will warn readers that the title features a large cast of characters, and new characters may show up on a semi-regular basis. While this series will also use some of what came before, it's getting a fresher start than Green Lantern, and overall, it'll be a good place for many to start. It's being written by Peter Tomasi, who's done a good job with this characters in the past, and is primarily drawn by Scott Hanna. Those of you planning on reading Justice League International may also want to give this book a look, as Guy Gardner will be a primary character in both titles. Fans of John Stewart, the Green Lantern seen in the Justice League cartoon, or any incarnation of Kilowog will also want to give this comic a chance. I expect this title to be the one with the most similarities to the upcoming Green Lantern animated series.

Want to know more about those colored rings you see people with? Give New Guardians a go. In the Green Lantern universe, there are also Red Lanterns, Blue Lanterns, and more, and this is the book that will showcase them. Several of the major players in this book are either brand new or recently introduced characters, and readers should have plenty of time to get to know them. In later issues, readers will also be introduced to Larfleeze, a wildly entertaining character I think most people will enjoy. This title will be written by Tony Bedard, a great writer who I think is hugely underrated. While you can expect plenty of action, you should also expect some humor and strong characterization. While this won't provide as solid an introduction to the Green Lantern universe as Corps, it'll be a great way to learn about the other rings, and I'd suggest taking a look at both titles to anyone who doesn't mind reading multiple books.

Are you filled with rage? Do you want a comic full of blood and anger and revenge? Then the comic for you, my friend, is Red Lanterns. Red Lantern rings are powered entirely by rage, and  every issue should show the characters taking that anger out on the enemies in their way. Like New Guardians, many of the characters in this comic are new, and readers should get a strong introduction to them. Peter Milligan, a talented writer known mostly for his work on Vertigo titles, will be creating the comic's story, while Ed Benes and Rob Hunter will be providing the art. Red Lanterns is a brand new title, and I've gotten the impression that it'll be fairly separate from the rest of the Green Lantern universe. This makes it a great pick for new readers just looking for something cool to read, but not the best choice for anyone hoping to use the relaunch to get into Green Lantern.







But what about the guy in the Justice League?
The first arc of Justice League is set in the past, and Hal Jordan is no longer a Green Lantern in the present. This will be dealt with in the first issue of Green Lantern, and should also be explained once Justice League's first arc concludes.

Justice League

The three Justice League titles share a name only, and the primary thing that they have in common is that they're all team books. Here's an idea of what you can expect from each one. 

Justice League is the flagship title of the DCnU, and was already released on August 31st. If you haven't had a chance to read the book yet, you can check out my review of the title here. While this is the place to read about DC's most well known characters, later arcs will also introduce readers to new or lesser known heroes like Element Woman and Firestorm. Having read the first issue, I can confirm that this should be very easy for new readers to follow, and it's a great choice for anyone who wants to get into the main characters of the DCU.  Readers can expect solid art, an easy to follow story, and a strong introduction to the entire team of characters. If you haven't started the series yet and don't mind waiting, I'd suggest jumping into the series after the first arc has concluded. You should be able to get a trade paperback of the arc for a good price, or buy all the previous issues at a discounted price via Comixology, and I think the story will read better when you take it in all at once.

While Justice League International should mostly be pretty separate from the main Justice League title, a quick glance at the cover should show you the one thing they have in common. So why is Batman in both titles? Aside from the "Batman sells" rule I mentioned before, the Justice League International is a team put together by the United Nations, and Batman will serve as the Justice League's representative. If your knowledge of DC comes primarily from cartoons and video games, and you'd like to get to know lesser known characters, this title is ideal. From Booster Gold to Plastic Man to August General in Iron, this title is the best way to familiarize yourself with DC's B and C list roster, many of whom are terrific characters. In the past Justice League International has been a humor filled title, and while I expect this to be a little more serious than JLI past, it should have plenty of laughs and should be a good, fun read overall.

Justice League Dark is title that focuses on the supernatural side of the DC universe, and is the showcase book for magic using characters. Magic has always been something that DC has done well, and like Justice League International, this is a great way to get to know some lesser known characters. A few of the book's characters, such as Zatanna and Constantine, may be somewhat familiar to new comic readers, but unrecognizable in their current incarnations. This is a brand new title and new readers should have no issues jumping right in. The title is written by Peter Milligan, who has done great work with several of these characters in the past, and features beautiful art by Mikel Janin, who is fairly new to the comics world. While you may see a few Justice League characters in that preview page, I don't expect the two titles to cross over at all, and you shouldn't worry about following both comics unless you're interested in them. All in all, this should be a cool read with something different to offer than the other two Justice League titles.





What about all the other comics? What if I want to read Wonder Woman or Demon Knights?
You're in luck! New readers should be able to jump into any of the new titles with very little difficulty. For a look at what titles I recommend, check out my 10 most anticipated DCnU Comics.

TL;DR! TL;DR!
Read Batman, Action Comics, Green Lantern Corps, or whatever other comics strike your fancy. Most titles will be very accessible to new readers, even ones who don't like reading gigantic blog posts. ;)

By Marceline with 1 comment

The 10 Best Covers of the DCnU (So Far)

We may not have any comics to review just yet, but we've got covers. Three months worth of covers. Some of them are not so great, but some of them are awesome, and they're the ones I'm here to talk about today.

First up, an honorable mention, because my favorite cover of the DCnU is not actually a cover.

For whatever reason, DC decided not to use Rags Morales' update of the classic Action Comics #1 cover for the series' second first issue. In spite of that, it's become a symbol of the reboot, and I really hope it's released as a variant. This image will someday hang on my bedroom wall. Now, onto the list!

10. Batman #3, by Greg Capullo 

I have to admit that I wasn't a huge fan of the first two solicited Batman covers. Greg Capullo's a talented artist, to be sure, but the covers didn't seem to fit Snyder's style and made me miss the beautiful covers that Jock had created for Snyder's run on Detective Comics. Seeing this cover, however, put all my fears to rest. It's eyecatching and manages to showcase an action-packed pose while still remaining pretty minimalistic. When I look from Batman cover to Batman cover, I can see Capullo's Batman been drawn deeper and deeper into a strange and different world, and I really like the idea in that. This is a Batman comic and shouldn't have any trouble drawing in new readers, but a great cover like this shouldn't hurt.






9. Red Hood and the Outlaws #1, by Kenneth Rocafort

I'm a huge fan of Rocafort's art, and I've really enjoyed all the covers we've seen from him so far, even the fanservice laden cover for issue number 2. What really pushed this one to the top for me was how well it sold the overall feel of the book. Anyone looking at this cover and the book's title should be able to get a general feel for what this comic is supposed to be. That's something that any number one issue should be trying to pull off, and I hope it garners this series some readers. I also really like the use of color and the way it showcases Rocafort's sketchy style. The cover for issue number 3 of the series, which showcases the main cast fighting their past selves against a surreal backdrop, was a very close second.






8. Deathstroke #3, by Simon Bisley

I'm not a huge fan of Deathstroke's redesign, or even Deathstroke himself, but Simon Bisley has been killing it on these covers. They're all great, but the bright colors and the awesome, dynamic pose on this one pushes it to the head of the pack. It's the sort of cover I can easily see drawing in a new reader and getting them to give the book a chance. Going by the solicits, this seems like it might even be the start of a new storyline, making this cover even more perfectly placed. Sadly, Bisley's not doing Deathstroke's interiors, but the preview pages from Joe Bennett and Art Thibert look solid, and shouldn't disappoint those who do pick up this comic on the cover alone. I'm not very familiar with the book's writer, Kyle Higgins, but here's hoping he can sell me on Deathstroke as much as this cover is.






7. Batwoman #2, by JH Williams III

Batwoman's spent most of her superhero career being drawn by JH Williams III, which means almost every piece of art associated with her is stunning. Making a Batwoman cover that stands out among many so other beautiful Batwoman covers is a feat in itself, and it's one this cover pulls off flawlessly. A lot of her Detective Comics covers used this same split effect, and it's always effective. I especially love the bleeding colors of the bat symbol and the little details of the fish swimming around the skeleton. The water motif also fits perfectly with the preview pages I've seen, which involve a waterlogged ghost known "The Weeping Woman". Because Batwoman was held back for the relaunch, I actually saw this cover for the first time more than half a year ago. It's still just as stunning, and I can't wait to see it in person.






6. The Shade #1, by Tony Harris

James Robinson's The Shade mini was one of the biggest surprises of the relaunch, or at least it was for me. The announcement of series beyond the original 52 was a bit of a game changer, and the incredibly line-up of artists this boasted (Cully Hamner, Darwyn Cooke, and Frazer Irving, just to name a few) didn't hurt. This issue will come out in October, and I can't imagine a more perfect cover for the month of Halloween. This cover is simple enough at first glance, but there's so much detail that I keep coming back to look at it over again. Sometimes I see a great cover solicited and then wince a little, knowing that some of the detail that makes it great will be obscured once the logo is added, but this seems specifically designed to counteract that. Here's hoping that the finished product remains every bit as wonderful to look at. I'm really looking forward at seeing this series' future covers.





5. Wonder Woman #3, by Cliff Chiang 

I'm a huge fan of Cliff Chiang's art, but I hadn't really been sold by the covers that preceded this one. They looked great, in spite of the pants/no pants shenanigans, but nothing was sucking me in and telling me that this was a comic I wanted to read until this cover. It perfectly backs up Azzarello's claims that his Wonder Woman will be a "horror comic", and it's just a stunning image all on its own. I'm not a fan of the Wonder Woman logo, and it's a shame that the visual impact of this cover will be dampened a little bit by having that atop it. Still, I think that this is a strong enough cover to overcome a tacky looking logo, and I hope it gets some readers to give Wonder Woman a chance. If nothing else, a cover in which Wonder Woman's costume isn't up for discussion is a welcome break.






4. Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #3, by J.G. Jones

I love Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers, think Lemire's Flashpoint Frankenstein tie-in is pretty great, and was generally looking forward to reading this. Seeing this cover, however, pushed this series from "should be awesome" to "OH MY GOD I MUST READ THIS NOW" in my mind. It sells Frankenstein as the DC universe's answer to Hellboy and B.R.P.D., and it sells it pretty darn well. J.G. Jones has been doing a lot of great covers for the DC relaunch, but I think this is his best work hands down. There's just so much going on in this cover without it feeling cluttered or over the top, and I think the blue is really going to look nice when the issue's on comic shop shelves. Thanks to Sweet Tooth and his run on Superboy, Lemire's mostly proven himself to me, and I have faith he can live up to all the awesomeness that this cover promises.




3. Animal Man #1, by Travel Foreman

For whatever reason, covers that are predominately yellow are considered to be a poor choice in the publishing business. Marketing research says that they tend to sell poorly when compared to covers of other colors, and as thus, you don't see a lot of bright yellow in comic book covers. Maybe it's because of that that a cover with as much yellow as this one has pops so much. The insane detail levels of Travel Foreman's art don't hurt. I really like how much about Animal Man you can get just by looking at the cover. You get The Red and his connection to it. You get a feeling for his powers, and you get the feeling that this book is maybe a little creepy and not your standard superhero book. The only thing it's really missing is his family. I hope this cover defies the commonly accepted wisdom about yellow covers and sells a lot of readers on Animal Man, because I really think they're in for a treat if they give it a chance.




2. The Flash #3, by Francis Manapul

Francis Manapul's beautiful Flash interiors had me completely sold on this comic from the moment I saw them, but I was disappointed that his covers weren't really showing off what he could do. Then this was solicited. This actually isn't the issue's final cover, but it's so striking and seems so destined to become an iconic Flash image that I couldn't help but put it on this list. Not only does it completely sell the concept of a speed-powered superhero to new readers, but it showcases everything wonderful about Manapul's art. Even the use of negative space on this cover is perfect, and I really hope it doesn't go through too many changes before it hits stands. This issue is actually going to feature two different variant covers, but I can't imagine anyone wanting to buy them when the real deal looks this good.






1. Men of War #2, by Viktor Kalvachev

I frequently struggle with the top rankings of lists like these, but this was effortless. For me, this is hands down the best cover of the new 52. With one image, Men of War went from being "Call of Duty: The Comic" to being a modern day version of The Odyssey. Taken by itself, this cover is absolutely gorgeous, but in context, it's a complete game changer. Military versus metahumans is the kind of concept I've been wanting to see in comics for a long time, and this cover put Men of War on the map for me. Viktor Kalvachev's work here is the reason this is one of my most anticipated comics. I can easily see this image catching the eye of someone who'd never even consider reading DC or Marvel normally, and that's incredibly exciting to me. All of Men of War's covers have been wonderful, but this one is truly something special.

By Marceline with 2 comments