DC's Relaunch Analisis, Recommendations, and The New 52 Purge

It's been a while since I posted about comics, or posted at all for that matter, and there are few reasons for that that maybe I'll elaborate on at some point in another post, but today I'm going to scratch my comic itch. The six month mark for me is the sort of marking port for the beginning of my DC Comics New 52 purge.

I've had mixed feelings about the New 52 marketing campaign that DC started seven months ago now. For those that don't know what it means, the New 52 means that DC is restarted its entire line of comics with 52 all new series starting with a new #1 issue. The idea is that it would be a jumping on point, and, while I don't agree with relaunching Action Comics and Detective Comics, both of which have been in print and have been consistently numbered since the 1930s (for those of you who don't know DC was once called National Publications, took on the DC branding as the initials for Detective Comics, it's oldest running comic), I do think that jumping on points are good thing. Most of DC's history (more commonly referred to by comics fans as "continuity") was restarted, however some of their titles got what they refer to as a "soft reboot", basically allowing what were considered to be successful story lines to continue in the relaunch. This sort of thing can be a bit confusing, especially if your the kind of person who wants to connect all the dots and try to make sense of the larger reality in comics. It doesn't personally bother me as I've seen a number of "continuity" shifts over the years and you have to have an appreciation of suspension of disbelief when it comes to reading ongoing stories about superheroes, some of which have been in constant publication since 1938.

I'm more traditionally a Marvel Comics superhero fan. Marvel is the company that publishes characters like Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, The X-Men, and The Fantastic Four. I started collecting Marvel Comics first, particularly Spider-Man who was a character I could relate to and whose stories helped me survive the more traumatic experiences of my childhood. The Marvel Universe felt more familiar to me, it felt more grounded and yet more fun at the same time. But in the 1990s the quality at Marvel fell and a lot of the hype driven trends made it very difficult for me to enjoy Marvel Comics, which is the time that I started really getting into independent comics, particularly ones outside of the superhero genre. Now, since the 1990s have ended, a lot of really amazing comics have been produced by Marvel. But there is still a sense that I have at times that their continuity has advanced so far that I don't recognize many of the characters I used to enjoy, there are way too many events that make it hard for me to enjoy a single title and, while there are a few Marvel titles that I think are out of this world amazing (Winter Soldier and Daredevil are two I would strongly recommend), I have a really hard time jumping onto Marvel titles.

Despite my connection to Marvel with the comics, DC's superheroes were my introduction to superheroes with Superfriends, the Superman movies, and the Batman and Robin TV show. DC's heroes, particularly Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, are icons. And I think that DC has done a relatively good job in comparison to Marvel in treating it's characters like icons. There are a lot of things about the New 52 relaunch I really like. For example, I'm glad that Superman isn't married to Lois Lane now because part of the fun in comics is that soap opera element and if the characters have all settled, it's hard to build the same kind of romantic tension. There is that danger of going to the other extreme from where Marvel is at, where the characters play so much of tribute to themselves that it's hard to tell interesting stories with them anymore. No matter what you do you are going to upset someone. But what DC has done is very brave. The problems I have with it are specific and involve particular trends that don't appeal to me, many of which reminds of me that period in the 1990s that drove me away from superhero comics. But what DC has provided are icons that I recognize and a place where I can jump on, and enough diversity within their books that even though there is a lot I don't like, what I do like I really really like and can enjoy and feel comfortable jumping into without being bogged down by bloated continuity.

But as I've said, my New 52 purge has began and the most simple reason for this is that I have limited income. I'm a single dad whose kids live with him more than half of the time, I have lots of bills, I have other interests, and there are other comics I enjoy, not all of which involve superheroes and some of which are being published in deluxe formats that cost a lot of money. I checked out more titles from DC's New 52 than I normally would because I wanted to sample what looked good to me. And now that I have, there are some books that I love love love, some that I think are really good, some that I think are pretty good, some that I want to like more, and some that really aren't working for me. I also find that there are certain titles that I have fallen behind in reading and I only have so much time and so many things I've been meaning to get to. I also feel, as I often do with big business which has a tendency to pat themselves on the back too much, that it's important to remind DC not to take us for granted.

So what I'm going to do now is give a brief summary of the DC books I've been reading since the relaunch, and whether I recommend them or whether they're part of my purge. I'm going to be clear, most of the books I'm not recommending are not bad books. In fact, most of them are good books. But comics cost between $2.99 and $3.99, and that's the better part of a five dollar bill. My presumption is that you work hard for yoru money, that you don't have an unlimited budget, and you have other interests, so that anything short of awesome isn't worth me pushing on you. Also, keep in mind that these are only the titles that I've been following.


Action Comics
Action's first issue had the strongest start of the New 52 books and taking Superman back to his earliest roots where he had a bit more bravado and was a champion for the disenfranchised, really felt relevant in the modern world where business seems to have a parasitic relationship with both their employees and customers and cronyism and manipulators seems to run our government. But then the book just seemed to drift and explore more of the "fantastic" qualities of Superman rather than the populism that was in the first issue. I'm not purging this book yet, but now that he's in that awful costume that is so out of date, it's hard to remain enthusiastic for this book when it hasn't gone anywhere for a while. Not Purged, but Not Recommended, at this time at least.

All Star Western
I love Jonah Hex. I think Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray have done a great job with him since day one. This is a good book. Sometimes it's a great book. But I find myself falling behind in reading it. If westerns are your main thing you should check it out, but I've got it scheduled to be Purged after it's Court of Owls back stories. Still, I might pick these up as back issues down the road...

Aquaman
Geoff Johns has applied the magic that revived Green Lantern to Aquaman to tell straight forward superhero stories that make character relatable and cool. Recommended

Batgirl
One of the things I was excited about was the return of the real Batgirl, whom I consider an icon. Unfortunately the costume redesign loses everything that made Batgirl's costume both sexy and cool. Sometimes I think artists get so hung up in what they think is modern that they forget that marrying the modern with what is retro has been an enduring formula. The story is fine, but not strong enough to pull me in. Purged

Batman
This is DC's best book right now, and that's not just my opinion. Scott Snyder, who has made a name for himself on a comic called American Vampire, really gets what makes Batman work. Everyone LOVES this book. The Court of Owls storyline that is the next classic Batman story. And even though events from this storyline will spill into other titles, the story itself is complete within this title. MUST READ!!!

Batwoman
The draw for this book is J.H. Williams art. When he is the artist it's one of the most beautiful books DC produces. But with shakeups on the alternate art team, which didn't excite me that much in the first place, I'd much rather get this book bimonthly, than pay good money for filler. I do like the character so I suggest you Cherry Pick this one. Get the collected stories that Williams did with Greg Rucka in book form and then do the same when the first book collecting this new series comes out.

Catwoman
I truly believe that Guillem March is going to turn out to be one of the master artists in comics, but there is so much that makes me feel uncomfortable with this title. When sex and violence are combined in a graphic way, it disturbs me. I don't really like seeing corpses with a t-shirt so tight that their huge boobs are pushing out while having a bullet hole in their head. It makes me feel sick, and I'm a guy who would probably like the woman in that t-shirt in any other situation (even if I don't admit it out loud). If the story didn't drag on so much I'd try to get past it because I think Guillem March is more than he is usually dismissed as. Unfortunately I don't think that the stories in Catwoman are going to be the place where he's going to get to prove that.
Purged

Detective
The talk in my comic shop hasn't been favorable to this one but I'm not sure how many of those people are actually reading it. I actually like this one. It's the other side of Batman than what's shown in Batman. However, while I think Batman is a book that would appeal even to people who aren't normally into Batman, this one is I would say that if you already like Batman, I recommend this one. As far as my purge, I'm currently On The Fence with this one.

Flash
I think that Francis Manapul is showing what an artist can bring to storytelling when he's also the writer. It's a good book. But I'm finding myself falling behind reading it which means it's due to be Purged at the end of the current storyline.

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
I loved the first storyline and I found myself going from not being into the internal art to being absorbed by it. Unfortunately there was a filler team up issue after that first story but it doesn't hurt it enough for me to Recommend it.

Green Lantern
Geoff Johns continues to do his Green Lantern magic and the interaction between Sinestro and Hal Jordan has been key to refueling this title. Unfortunately that while I enjoy reading it when I do, I'm still falling behind which means I'm just not as enthusiastic enough to spend money. Due to be Purged at the end of the current storyline.

I, Vampire
I like this one so far and I dig vampires so I'm Recommending it.

Justice League
The biggest disappointment of the DC relaunch. I am excited about the Shazam back up feature and with a new main storyline I'm hopeful that Geoff Johns will start to bring his A-game, but I'll be waiting for the trade for the Shazam feature because this one is already Purged.

Justice League Dark
The only thing I can say about this book is that the art looks great and everything else I've read by Peter Milligan has been fantastic, unfortunately while I've bought this book I'm yet to read the first issue which means that it's going to get Purged after it's coming crossover with I, Vampire. Now when I finally sit down and read it, maybe I'll absolutely love it. But I can't continue to spend money on something if I keep passing it up for other things.

Swamp Thing
Again, we get to see how amazing of a writer Scott Snyder is and with amazing art by Yanick Paquette, this one is Highly Recommended.

Wonder Woman
This isn't the Wonder Woman I wanted, but it is a Wonder Woman comic that sucked me in and that I love reading every month. Highly Recommended

DC New 52 Review: Batman #1-5

Batman #1-5
Written by Scott Snyder
Pencils by Greg Capullo
Inks by Jonathan Glapion
Cover Price: $2.99 Each

In a nutshell:
Scott Snyder tells a new classic Batman story an adds another iconic element to the Batman mythos.

Synopsis:
Batman discovers a secret society called The Court of Owls that claims to have been in place since the beginning of Gotham City centuries ago. The Owls have their own parallels to the history of Bruce Wayne's family and they claim to be running Gotham from the shadows. It is unknown who is a member of the group but it is implied that there are many high up in society. Batman is resistant to the idea. When he was younger he was obsessed with his parents deaths and he refused to believe that it could have been a random act of violence and he started investigating (even as a boy) the existence of a secret society. The conclusion that he came up with as a boy was that the evidence showed that there wasn't a court of owls. And as an adult he seems to be having a hard time accepting that he could have been wrong about that, perhaps because the "unknown assassin" of his parents kept him from finding resolution which feeds his need to be Batman. Perhaps it is because he has obsessive control issues and has a need to be on top of everything, to not be wrong. Regardless, this case affects Batman in a very personal way.

Why did I pick it up?
I didn't pick this book up when it first came out. I didn't know who Scott Snyder was yet and I had a kind of prejudice against Greg Capullo because I associated him with Todd McFarlane's Spawn and some early issues of X-Force, none of which impressed me much. But the word of mouth at the comic shop praising this book got so loud I couldn't ignore it and by the time the third issue was released I was caught up.

The Good:
This is one of those Batman stories like Year One, Long Halloween, The Killing Joke, and Hush, that not only will be remembered as a classic Batman story, but is bound to add something iconic to the mythos that will stick. The Court of Owls' assassin, The Talon, is an intriguing villain (villains?) and very visually cool. The relationship between Bats and Owls offers interesting parallels to the story and the connection to the Wayne family history is also intriguing. I keep coming up with ideas of what the connection is, did the Court kill his parents? My favorite but most far fetched theory is that the court killed the original Bruce Wayne at birth and replaced him with the Bruce Wayne we know who is actually a sleeper "Talon" programmed to be an assassin for them. Regardless, this is a story that gets you wondering what's really going on here which really enjoying the ride. And after reading an issue, and prejudice I had about Greg Capullo's art is gone. Story and art, this story stands right up there with all the other classic iconic Batman stories.

The latest issue, #6, follows a disorientated Batman and the way the art is placed on the pages plays with the experience Batman is going through. It's touches like this that add something special to what is already a great book.

The Bad:
In the coming months DC will be raising the price of the book to $3.99. Now, they are adding a 10 page backup story so you're actually paying less for those ten additional pages than you did for the 20 pages of the main story at $2.99. But in general I'm not a big fan of backup stories. They're generally disposable and I hate the idea of paying extra for them. That said, Snyder is writing the backup stories and they're said to relate to the main story so they might be more relevant to what's going on in the comic, but I'd still rather the full story be contained in the main story and the bigger issue I have with this is that an extra dollar per comic means I can only afford to buy less comics per month with a tighter budget than I had ten years ago.

Is it worth it?
Even with the upcoming price hike, this is one of those Batman stories you should be reading if you have any interest in the character at all. If you don't want to read it as single issues then I highly recommend buying the collected story when it's eventually released as a softcover or hardcover. Personally, this is one I wouldn't want to wait for. Recommended for comic collectors and for people who don't read comics but have an interest in the characters.


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DC New 52 Review: Justice League #3-4

I don't think I've written a scathing review yet. I've been more than fair to most of the titles I've reviewed. Well, I have to say, I've really given this book the benefit of the doubt so far and I think I have to lay it out there...


Justice League #3-4
Written by Geoff Johns
Pencils by Jim Lee
Inks by Scott Williams
Cover Price: $3.99 Each

In a nutshell:
Each issue another hero joins in on the action. "Hey, lets team up!", (insert some childish comment from green lantern here) Big Action, Big Action... Next issue, another hero joins in on the action... "Hey, lets team up!", (insert some childish comment from green lantern here)...

Synopsis:
By the end of the fourth issue you realize that there hasn't been a breath since first panel of the first issue, and that's not a good thing. The story started in issue one with Batman and Green Lantern in action and each issue another character has joined in on the action in an implausible way, and there is almost no story besides the action. The story that is there seems stuffed in in an unnatural way. In fact, nothing in this comic feels natural (Cyborg gets one of the most bizarrely rushed origins I ever read). Geoff Johns has written some of the best stories by DC Comics in the last decade. This is not one of them. I remember listening to Jeff Loeb being interviewed on WordBalloon once and he spoke of how he tailors his stories for his artist and I can't help but feel that that is what Johns is trying to do here because nothing here feels like a Geoff Johns story. The difference is that when Loeb did Hush with Jim Lee he actually had a story with all the bells and whistles. The dialog in this story seems like it's trying to be Brian Michael Bendis but reads more like Tiny Titans. The characters don't even seem to have the same personality that they do in the other books that Geoff Johns is writing that features them. Now come on, be honest, Johns didn't really write this, did he?

Why did I pick it up?
Because this is the series that has gotten the most media attention, I'm committed to seeing this story arc through.

The Good:
In the third issue we finally get Wonder Woman although she seems to have the bubbly naive personality Starfire had in the classic New Teen Titans stories. And the story really gives props to Aquaman who comes off as a major badass in this story. But the draw of the book is getting to see Jim Lee draw all the major icons, even if their appearance is some what less iconic because of the ridiculously out of date costume modifications by Jim Lee. And by issue four Lee's art finally is starting to look like what we expect from the superstar and I have to say Jim Lee can make even the lame look pretty spectacular.

The Bad:
I'm going to use this space on a little commentary about Cyborg's new look. In the 20th century we had this vision of what the 21st century would be like that was "big". The future was expected to be huge and metallic, and blasting off. But the reality is that the trend of the 21st century has been the opposite. Everything is becoming more subtle. Instead of bigger, it's been smaller. Instead of in your face graphic design, we get "classic". So if Cyborg was added to this team because he's the character that DC feels represents the 21st Century, why is his new design anything but? Don't get me wrong, Jim Lee does cool machines as well as anyone, but I don't think that's 21st Century. How about making Cyborg look a little more like an iPhone, sleek, classic, subtle, with a whole lot of surprises packed inside...

Is it worth it?
This book is a dollar more than the other DC titles and the extras aren't interesting at all. The appeal is the art and for some people that's enough. But it wasn't enough to keep Image Comics on top in the 90s and this is the weakest story I've ever seen Geoff Johns write. I'm still holding out a little hope that the story will really pull together, but this feels like an improve session that so far just goes on and on and on...

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DC New 52 Review: Catwoman #2

Catwoman #2
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Guillem March
Cover Price: $2.99

In a nutshell:
Too much artistic talent to waste on this kind of misfire!

Synopsis:
I remember reading an interview some years back with an artist whom I had a great deal of admiration for (I'm thinking it was Steve Rude, but don't quote me on that), and he said that he doesn't draw gruesome gore because it was unattractive what you showed off panel, sometime in shadow or by implication in the story telling, usually had more emotional impact than what you showed because it left the reader to ponder what was happening. Because every reader might have a different idea of what was horrifying, it could deliver the same emotional impact by allowing the readers to come to different conclusions. And that doesn't just apply to horrific and frightening scenes, it can also apply to what is sexual and sensual. This Catwoman comic is throwing it all out right in front of you, and with the violence I find myself grossed out, but not shocked. There is very little that I can find shocking anymore when everything is thrown out right in front of you. And it's not that I'm offended by it. I'm unimpressed. It seems childish to me.

The first three pages of this comic basically recap the Batman/Catwoman sex scene from the end of last issue. It doesn't really give us much new to it except to say, hey, don't forget that sensationalist moment from last issue" and to imply that there is some violence in the way they "make love". It stops the story in an unnecessary way. And the main problem with this comic is that it feels like it's overplaying these scenes to yell out, "look at me, I'm provocative and audacious", and that's just too hollow without more meat in the book.

The biggest question I have is a branding question. I like the idea that there are Batman stories and cartoons geared towards my kids and I like the idea that there are movies and comics geared towards adults like myself. And I'm not a prude. I'm cool with unauthorized pornographic parodies floating around. But when DC has a licensed character that is marketed to a younger audience and you mix sex and violence in the context of masochism and fetishism, I'd think that DC would want to be more careful with their brand.

Why did I pick it up?
I believe that Guillem March has the potential to be one of the greats and Catwoman is a perfect vehicle for his career.

The Good:
My fear is that substance Guillem March's talents are going to be glossed over by his over sexualized artwork. Truth be told, I have no problem with the sexuality of his work, Catwoman is supposed to be a sexy and provocative character, but it's overused and often mixed in with graphic violence which make me feel very uneasy when viewing it. The true talent is in his expressions and characterization. There is definitely a European quality to his artwork that has elements of Moebius and Manara.

The Bad:
At the end of the story, Catwoman finds her friend dead. Never mind that we just met this friend last issue who apparently is supposed to be one of her closest friends, the body is displayed in her over tight t-shirt pushing her breasts outward with a bullet hold in her forehead and blood all over the floor. The scene feels like it's enjoying itself too much and the mix of really grotesque gore with with obvious sexuality is much too close to the disgusting trash that Avatar publishes. Catwoman is then beat up in a way that displays her skin tight costume with graphic use of blood and on the last panel the villain asks "is this the irritating woman who has stealing from me?", to which Catwoman whimpers the quip and a bit of a smirk, "That's me...", as if implying "hit me again, I like it!" There is something really masochistic about this scene. When Batman and Catwoman are finished having sex earlier in the book it's described as violent sex which will leave bruises. It's not that I don't believe there are people with these fetishes, but the implication that Catwoman likes it rough and enjoys being beaten, it does make me wonder if there is some misogynistic fetish being worked out here (and I normally hate to throw that word around because I think it's often abused).

The other real problem I have with this book is the way Bruce Wayne approaches Catwoman later in the book, whom doesn't know that he's Batman (despite them getting it on together in masks earlier that day). He tells her to stop texting and it comes off like some girl's jealous and controlling obnoxious college boyfriend. There's nothing charming about this Bruce Wayne, he has no class, and a woman with class wouldn't give him the time of day no matter how rich and handsome he was. His dialog sounds like comic shop fanboy talk. It's just not believable, especially for this character.

Is it worth it?
I seriously believe that Guillem March will be a name to watch if he can manage this own brand, but I can't recommend this comic. The things it has going for it, which are really strong, just get too buried in what feels like exploitive and distasteful hype. At the same time I really want this comic to work so I will continue to follow it for now and I will leave my updated reviews as further issues

DC New 52 Review: Justice League #2

Justice League #2
Written by Geoff Johns
Pencils by Jim Lee
Inks by Scott Williams
Cover Price: $3.99


In a nutshell:
Still moving the story way too slowly!

Synopsis:
This chapter basically begins with a classic Marvel style misunderstanding where the heroes fight each other for no apparent reason, basically to show that Superman can take on everyone (I can't help but think that this display is really a setup to establish Wonder Woman's power in a future issue by having her be the only one who can match Superman). This story adds in the Flash to the mix whom apparently already has a close relationship with Green Lantern. Batman is the cool headed one here which is refreshing considering that he's often been portrayed as an arrogant jerk in a lot of modern comics. Green Lantern refers to Batman in the comic as "a tool", but really, it's Green Lantern who seems like a teenage fanboy internet troll and I can't help but feel that these guys talking not just like guys in their early 20s, but immature reality show rejects, just isn't that appealing to read about. The story ends with us getting a little bit more about pre-Cyborg Victor Stone in which we learn about his father's relationship with him and we get the setup for his origin.

Why did I pick it up?
Because this is the series that has gotten the most media attention, I'm committed to seeing this story arc through.

The Good:
By the end of the comic I'm actually interested in the Victor Stone storyline. I think there is nuance in his relationship with his father who obviously sees the big picture very clearly, but misses a lot of the personal stuff. I'm also glad to see a Batman that is level headed and not brooding.

The Bad:
Have I mentioned how much I hate Superman's costume design? The fight between the characters makes them seem like arrogant jerks and the catty dialog really isn't appealing. This is the second issue and we still don't have any setup for Wonder Woman, who not only is one of there big icons that DC has, but is also the only female member of the team and because this is the book that DC has been pushing as the face of their big relaunch, it seems like a really miss to not offer something for female readers to relate to. The story is moving way too slowly and the and there is so much action that the story feels like it doesn't have room to breathe. It feels like a setup to get the characters together and I just don't feel like we're getting natural introductions to these characters.

Is it worth it?
This issue is an improvement from the last issue, but I still can't recommend it in this format. I'm as of yet undecided and open to being surprised by this story, but I would recommend at this point to hold off and wait until the story is done and then get the book sized collection when that's released if the story seems to come together.

DC New 52 Review: Detective Comics #1-2

Detective Comics #1-2
Written & Drawn by Tony Daniels
Inks by Ryan Winn
Cover Price: $2.99 each

In a nutshell:
A new villain, a new love interest, and the Joker loses his face.

Synopsis:
Batman takes on the Joker and a new threat whom calls himself the Dollmaker, while as Bruce Wayne we get to see the more charming and witty side of the character that has been absent in the comics for quite a few years. Bruce is dating journalist Charlotte Rivers. The first issue has a cliffhanger where it appears that the Joker's face has been surgically removed by the Dollmaker who appears only in shadow. In the second issue we don't see the Joker again yet but Batman's ally commissioner Gordon is kidnapped by the Dollmaker and when it reappears at the end it appears that his face has been seamed together which leads you to believe that we might have a plot similar to the 1990s movie, "Face Off" and that this might be The Joker taking the Commisioner's place.

Why did I pick it up?
Batman is one of my favorite comic characters and an icon. I generally avoid the more cluttered stories where the iconic qualities take a back seat to dense continuity, which I feel dates the stories when you look back at them, but I'm always hopeful when there is a clear starting point that there might be a possibility for a starting point. The comic shop buzz I've heard is that Tony Daniels is a good artist for Batman, but a weak writer, so I wasn't intending to pick the book up but that last page cliffhanger where the Joker's face is removed gave the hope that we might get a fascinating story twist out of this, despite the grotesqueness of the image (I will give them credit for not actually showing the operation which made that last scene all the more powerful).

The Good:
I'm glad to see Bruce Wayne doing something else beside sulking around and my favorite part of these first two parts of the story seeing him playful in the workplace and flirting with his new love interest. I'd read a story just about Bruce Wayne when he's not in Batman mode, if this is the version of him that we'd get. The art is attractive and displays the story well.

The Bad:
Some of the dialog is cliched and over the top in the first issue, but I can usually dismiss such things and not get caught up on it. What bothers me the most is that Detective Comics, a series that has had an uninterrupted run since it started in 1937 (and which DC Comics gets its name from), is being relaunched with a new #1 issue just so it can fit into the formula of this DC marketing event. It seems like a really short sided way to muddy the legendary status of this book. The name Detective Comics only has meaning to established comic fans because it is the oldest running Batman book and you have to think that if the point is to bring in new readers it's not the best title for the book. While it's likely that DC will eventually return to the old numbering letting the new series fill in the gaps so that Detective Comics will reach it's 1000th issue for DC to market, there is something swarmy and illegitimate about this and it really muddies the indexing of the title. That's not a condemnation of the story itself but as a collector I'm really put off by shortsighted marketing scams that break down the traditions that have kept me collecting for the sake of the hype machine driving a few months of increased sales.

Is it worth it?
I'm undecided so far if this story will be fulfilling. The story that's coming could play out in a fresh way but it could also play out as a really bad cliche. The the writer-side storytelling isn't so bad that I'll ditch it before it plays out and it does feel like we might have the possibility of a modern classic Joker story here, but it isn't so good that it'll be worth the ride if the destination isn't a good one.

DC New 52 Review: Catwoman #1

Catwoman #1
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Guillem March
Cover Price: $2.99

In a nutshell:
Provocative sensationalism distracts from a decent story.

Synopsis:
This is one of the comics this month that has gotten a lot of internet coverage due to the provocative sexuality in the story and art. The story starts when Catwoman apartment is invaded and then blown up (it's unclear if the perpetrators are going to be important to the story or if they're just another random group of criminals that she ripped off doing their usual business). But Selena finds herself without a place to live and without cash so she connects with her friend Lola who sets her up with a place to squat as well as a thieving gig. While undercover as a waitress spying on the Russian mob, Selena spots a man named Renald who killed once shot and killed a woman important to Selena (it's not clear what the relation is at this point) in front of her when she was young. She starts to seduce Renald in the ladies room and then starts to beat and claw him in a very bloody and grotesque scene. She escapes the mob, returns to the penthouse she's squatting at, and gets it on with Batman, at which it's stated that they do this from time to time but they don't know who they are.

Why did I pick it up?
Catwoman is one of those characters that I really enjoy when she's done right. The cover design was seductive enough to get my attention. When paging through the interiors I was put off by some things but curious enough that I felt it was worth checking out the first issue.

The Good:
While there is a lot here that exploits the sexuality of the character (and by exploit, I mean uses it in a way that is only provocative and doesn't serve the story and/or characters), I did enjoy the story. It's not a totally new Catwoman story but it's a good template story that tells you what the character is all about. I spent a little bit of time trying to figure out if Guillem March was just another 90s/Image style clone or if I really liked his stuff and there is something stylistic about it that separates his art from most of the artists who draw in a similar style, and he looks to have the potential to become even better if he continues to evolve as both a designer and an illustrator.

The Bad:
There is nothing vague about the sexuality in this comic which is apparent from the cover which shows Catwoman lying on her back holding a little sack of jewels, which resembles a used condom, with white pearls pouring out of it and onto her cleavage, breasts, and body. I don't have the most conservative taste and I admit that there are "adult only" entertainments that I enjoy, but wouldn't let my daughters read this comic, which isn't a condemnation in itself because the 1980s Catwoman mini-series was a much darker comic that would probably be even less appropriate for children under ten, but I do ask the question (while not coming to an absolute conclusion myself), when a character or title has iconic status as something that is marketed towards kids, how far should we be willing to take a more adult orientated version of the character? I think it's a safe bet to assume that we won't see a DC comics character in licensed porn, at least for a few years yet. But there was a time in comics when DC had the label, "DC comics aren't just for kids anymore". Now it seems like the label might read, "DC comics aren't for kids at all", and I do wonder when the official continuity of characters we grew up reading is primarily for older teens and adults, did we perhaps take these characters with us to the point of leaving nothing left for the kids who once were the primary audience? Truthfully, as an adult I like more mature stories. The problem is that the kind of provocative sexuality and violence feels contrived and reads more like B-rated cheese than the HBO style shows I think it's trying to emulate and I think that works against the story instead of serving it. I do admit that despite being a bit overly exaggerated and beyond the usual "good girl" cheesecake that I usually find appealing in comic art, there is something about March's style in drawing hotties that makes it more seductive than most of the exaggerated artists in comics whose girls don't have a sense of reality or weight to their anatomy. What I had the biggest problem with in the comic is a very graphic and bloody scene. Nothing turns me off more than when you mix sex, which is something at the core of us, and graphic violence which turns it into something difficult to stomach. And I am a strong believer that when it comes to violent scenes what you imply in shadow or off panel can have a stronger emotional impact than graphic displays of celebratory blood and guts which just seem to enjoy itself more than I am comfortable with.

Is it worth it?
Despite my reservations I liked the comic enough that I will buy the next issue, however, we need to get a little more focus on the story in the second issue. I don't have a problem with Batman and Catwoman having a sexual relationship, but I think that being so graphic about it, as opposed to implying it, is a distraction that draws away from the story and makes it more difficult to escape into believing. If this comic forms the formula of the gratuitous T&A scene of the month, I'll get bored fast because lets face it, if I just want something tantalizing, there are a lot more material I can find that will be a lot more satisfying.

DC New 52 Review: Justice League #1

Since DC has relaunched their line this month with new #1 issues of their mainline titles as well as a (partial) restart to the history of their characters, I've been searching for reviews that could give me the scoop on the books I haven't been checking out. In doing so I found very few reviews of the ones that I have been checking out that have matched my own feelings on those books or the feedback from other fans at the comic shop I do work for. So I've decided to review the books that I had enough initial interest to pick up. This is the first of those reviews.


Justice League #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Pencils by Jim Lee
Inks by Scott Williams
Cover Price: $3.99


In a nutshell:
Where's the beef?

Synopsis:
My main problem with this comic is that I feel like I've read it already. I get that this book is supposed to appeal to new readers, but that doesn't mean there aren't new ways to introduce characters in comics and team them up so that the story will be fresh. The story structure is very similar to the first issue of All Star Batman and Robin and the changes seem to be for the sake of being more provocative but really, these ones are kind of tired cliches at this point, not just in comics but other popular media as well. The majority of the story is about Green Lantern meeting Batman, we get a glimpse of pre-origin Cyborg, and most of the characters in the comic aren't in it. We see that Batman is an outlaw, but we've seen that before so it's not really a shocking start and the dialog feels contrived. Besides the dialog, it's not that the story is bad, it's that it feels like half an episode and doesn't really give us an idea of what the Justice League is about and why we should care. Since the story starts with the captions explaining that it is five years in the past, perhaps what it could have used is a scene preceding what is now the opening scene that shows the entire team in an actions sequence in the present time so we get to see the characters on the cover that haven't made an appearance yet (which is almost all of them) and we get a sense that something actually happened in the comic.


Why did I pick it up?
Curiosity, primarily. The advance images with the costumes really put me off but Jim Lee and Geoff Johns are top talent. While I'm not a hard core DC fan, I do feel a connection with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman and the other "Super Friends" that I grew up with. So having really mixed expectations, I decided to take a risk on the chance that it might end up being an iconic story after all.

The Good:
This isn't Jim Lee's best art, but it's still Jim Lee with Scott WIlliams on inks (the under-appreciated member of that art team).

The Bad:
The costumes look dated, they seem to follow the trends of the 1990s with the only addition from the current trends in comics being a ridiculous amount of seams in patterns that don't make much sense. Superman has armor now for a costume and a ridiculous looking collar that reminds me of alternative versions of him we saw in 90s stories like Armageddon 2001 and the DC Year 1,000,000 Annuals. Of the DC trinity, only Batman has any story time, Superman doesn't show up until the last panel, and Wonder Woman isn't even in it which really doesn't give anything for the female reader who might be checking out the comic. The characters just seem in general to be snarky, confrontational, and pissy (kind of like fanboy posturing on internet message boards) which I don't find offensive but isn't interesting and has sort of become a cliche in modern comics. The cover is a week design, the character renderings on it and strange poses and angles are not examples of Lee's talent and the orange background cover and weak logo don't help. The characters that are supposed to be in a normal non-superhero setting looks like they're posed like superheroes and they are tensed up for battle, which might mean those kind of scenes are Lee's "Achilles Heal" as an artist (and perhaps one of the reasons Hush looked so awesome is because no other writer focuses on tailoring their stories to their artist like Jeff Loeb does). Geoff Johns has done so many amazing stories that were just home runs for me. Both him and Lee are A caliber talent. But they didn't bring their A game to this issue!


Is it worth it?
For $4 in today's economy, when most of the other books are selling at $3 with a story that feels incomplete, not at all! Which doesn't mean the complete story won't be good, but for a first chapter this really doesn't hook you. If the rest of the story arc delivers perhaps the trade would be worth it. But this single issue is not!