C.S. Daley's Blog, page 12

The New DC Universe: Week 5 Reviews

Will month two start off with a bang or begin the long whimper of disinterest? I still have a lot of high hopes for DC and am hoping some books get better while others stay at the high level of excellence. DC had a great first month of sales but now they have to keep them. If they don't then it was all for nothing. One good month does not save your company. I think the sales will still be high this month but you will see some drop offs. This is where DC gets to start deciding who survives.  If you missed the first few weeks of reviews here is a link (Weeks 0-4)

Action Comics #2

Written by GRANT MORRISON; Art by RAGS MORALES and RICK BRYANT; Cover by RAGS MORALES

This book was one of my surprise picks of the first month. I absolutely loved it. The second issue didn't quite hold up to the first. I still basically liked the story and writing (although, there was some silly military stuff that I don't understand why writers do it. A complete cliché to keep story moving). I think the thing which surprised me most about this second issue was I didn't like the art nearly as much. It felt a little rushed and the lines weren't as crisp. I went back to the first issue to see if I was making it up and I wasn't. The art was simply nowhere near as good. I am still on board but it did drop. 8 out of 10.

Animal Man #2

Written by JEFF LEMIRE; Art and cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN

Still loving this series although continuing with the trend from Action I felt the art was a little rough this time. The art in this book is already way different and I feel it fits the book but some of it didn't translate as well this time. In particular some of the pictures of Buddy were tough to look at. It wasn't all the way through but I am hoping this is not something I will be seeing in all the 2nd issues. Still a solid story and I am completely hooked into it. Can't wait to see where it is going. 9 out of 10.

Batwing #2

Written by JUDD WINICK; Art and cover by BEN OLIVER

First of all I have to give the book credit because it was the first book I read this month where I thought the art had stayed on par with the first issue. I also thought the story moved at a better clip for the second issue. I could find myself getting a little sucked into the book. If I have a complaint, it is that the dialog is still a little off for me. It comes off a little forced and clunky in a few spots. I still thought this book was an improvement over the first issue. 8 out of 10.

Detective Comics #2

Written by TONY S. DANIEL; Art by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN; Cover by TONY S. DANIEL

This book is leaving me puzzled. I have some friends who are totally digging it but now I am into the second issue and I am still not feeling the Batman love. It isn't a terrible book but everything about it just screams average Batman. Except for the ends. Second straight issue with a cool end. I thought the last half of the book was better than the first half. I also thought the whole book was slightly better than the first. I want to love it. I am a huge Batman fan but so far I am on the fence. 7.5 out of 10.

Green Arrow #2

Written by J.T. KRUL; Art by DAN JURGENS and GEORGE PEREZ; Cover by DAVE WILKINS

I like the art in the book. Green Arrow always looks cool but I am not enjoying the story. I am not really liking the new version of Green Arrow and I hate his sidekicks. The dialog was rough for me. I am not sure what market it is aiming for. New young high schoolers or adults. I think it missed the mark for both. I know this book will be getting a new writer in a couple of issues. I hope it turns around because I love Green Arrow and hate that I am not enjoying this book. 6.5 out of 10.

Hawk & Dove #2

Written by STERLING GATES; Art and cover by ROB LIEFELD

I really like Hawk and Dove the characters. I really don't like this comic. I actually laughed out loud when they introduced the new super villains who would be opposing them. I don't think I was supposed to laugh out loud. This book is just a "connect the dots" comic. You know every move it is going to make. I don't think it is destined to stick around after the excitement of the new 52 dies down. 6 out of 10.

The Huntress #1 of 6

Written by PAUL LEVITZ; Art by MARCUS TO and JOHN DELL; Cover by GUILLEM MARCH

DC does not list this book as part of the New 52 but it does take place in that universe. I decided to pick it up because I have liked Huntress in the past. I won't put it into the power rankings but I thought some people might have an interest. I enjoyed this book. It was good old fashion butt kicking by Huntress. I liked the story and appreciated how strong of a character Huntress is. I have a feeling this is a tryout book. If it sells well it might replace a book that doesn't. If I have a quibble it is the way Huntress' mask is drawn sometimes, it is a little wonky. Can't quite put my finger on it but there were a few times I thought, "that looks weird." 8 out of 10.

Justice League International #2

Written by DAN JURGENS; Art by AARON LOPRESTI and MATT RYAN; Cover by AARON LOPRESTI

Another book I want to like more than I am. It was slightly better than the first one but only slightly. The humor is still pretty unsophisticated and juvenile. I still hate Batman in the book. I know they are trying to give off a funny and silly vibe but I am not buying it. The sex jokes were full of fail. They have waited way too long to get Guy Gardner and Booster Gold to mix it up. Not terrible but not great. 7 out of 10.

Men of War #2

Written by IVAN BRANDON and JONATHAN VANKIN; Art by TOM DERENICK and PHIL WINSLADE; Cover by VIKTOR KALVACHEV

I liked the first issue's main story but not the backup. It made Men of War one of my surprises of the first month. I have to be honest, I thought this issue was a big step back. The story was all over the place and felt a little preachy in spots. I really appreciate that this comic is trying to do something different but it didn't connect with me on the second round. The back up story was a little better but overall this was probably one of my bigger disappointments of this week's comics. I was looking forward to seeing where it went. Where it went was some half-naked woman dropping men from space. 7 out of 10.

O.M.A.C. #2

Written by DAN DIDIO and KEITH GIFFEN; Art and cover by KEITH GIFFEN and SCOTT KOBLISH

Nothing has changed for me here. I feel like I am reading a special effect heavy modernization of the 70′s Hulk TV show. Only the 70′s Hulk TV show was interesting. There were a couple of nice touches but mostly this story is not going anywhere I care about. Even the surprise character introduction at the end didn't do anything for me (maybe because I assumed he would be along eventually). The first book barely registered for me and I actually thought this one was worse. I don't know when I am going to start dropping books off my DC island but this book better get good soon. 6 out of 10.

Red Lanterns #2

Written by PETER MILLIGAN; Art and cover by ED BENES and ROB HUNTER

A lot of comics through the years have tried to tackle the consequences of war and violence. This one is doing it in a way I find very interesting. This book was so far off my radar when the new 52 was announced I probably couldn't have found it with a map. Certainly not the case anymore. I love the art and something about the way the story is unfolding has completely sucked me in. This book may end up being one of the biggest surprises of the new 52 for me. I am still loving it. I finished the comic and immediately wished I could read the next book. 9 out of 10.

Static Shock #2

Written by SCOTT McDANIEL and JOHN ROZUM; Art by SCOTT McDANIEL and ANDY OWENS; Cover by CHRIS BRUNNER

I really didn't like this book's first issue. This one was better and worse. I actually thought the art in the first issue was better. The story in this one was much better than the first. Not great but at least I wasn't cringing. I still think it comes off as a watered down Ultimate Spider-Man (which is doing the teen thing a whole lot better right now). Since I am more of a story guy than an art guy the book rating will go up but this is a book I would not be buying if not for reviewing all the issues. 6 out of 10.

Stormwatch #2

Written by PAUL CORNELL; Art by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA and AL BARRIONUEVO; Cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA

This issue was not quite as good as the first one. I think they took a bit long with the recruitment process. Made the story feel like it was dragging out. Martian Manhunter was not nearly as badass as the first one. Still liked it but I hope the pacing improves with the next one. I do have a fear that this book could get a little muddled over time. It seems like there is a lot of story in the background the writer wants to share. These things can sometimes spiral out of control. It hasn't, but the thought did pop into my mind. 8 out of 10.

Swamp Thing #2

Written by SCOTT SNYDER; Art and cover by YANICK PAQUETTE

Wow, this issue was much better and the first one wasn't bad. The art was a little cleaner and the story really moved (especially the end). There was a couple of spots where I still felt like they were explaining the world too much but by the end the book was rocking out with creepiness and suspense. I loved the end so much my brain started trying to guess where the third book was going. 9.5 out of 10.

—-

DC Power Rankings

1) Wonder Woman -

2) Animal Man – A slight drop off but nothing which has me worried. Still can't wait to see where it goes.

3) Justice League Dark –

4) Red Lanterns – This one moved up a few spots for me. It has been consistent and enjoyable.

5) Action Comics – Dropped a few spots in the power rankings. Didn't like this issue as much. Might drop some more as other second issues come out.

6) Batman -

7) Aquaman -  

8 ) Batwoman -

9) Swamp Thing – The big mover of the week. Issue two really got the story rolling and left me wanting more.

10) Stormwatch – Took a little bit of a tumble. I have a feeling as other issues come out it will tumble out of the top ten. Still a good book.

11) All Star Western -

12) I, Vampire –

13) Grifter -

14) Resurrection Man -

15) Deathstroke -

16) Supergirl -

17) Batgirl -

18) Green Lantern -

19) Teen Titans -

20) Superboy -

21) Legion of Super-Heroes -

22) Men of War – Dropped out of the really good to above average. I worry this might not be the end of the tumble-down. Good start hopefully it will pick back up.

23) Flash -

24) Justice League -

25) Superman -

26) Batwing – A big improvement over the first issue. I hope it continues.

27) Captain Atom -

28) Demon Knights -

29) Catwoman -

30) Detective Comics – A slight improvement but for reasons I don't quite get this book isn't connecting with me.

31) Frankenstien, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. -

32) Nightwing -

33) The Savage Hawkman

34) Batman: The Dark Knight - 

35) Justice League International – This book has been done before and better.

36) Mister Terrific -

37) Suicide Squad -

38) Green Arrow – This book just disappoints the heck out of me. Hopefully the writing change ahead will pump some life into it.

39) Green Lantern Corps -

40) Green Lantern: New Guardians -

41) Blue Beetle -

42) Blackhawks -

43) Legion Lost-

44) Batman & Robin -

45) O.M.A.C. – Not a good book. I hope it drops even lower in coming weeks (do you hear me Birds of Prey & Firestorm).

46) DC Universe Presents -

47) Birds of Prey -

48) The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men - 

49) Hawk & Dove – Made me laugh this week. It wasn't trying to. I am now hoping DC kills this book and lets them rejoin Teen Titans.

50) Static Shock – Story was better but for me this book is just not cutting it. Although, I could see it jumping ahead of a few books above it next month.

51) Voodoo -

52) Red Hood and the Outlaws -

The New DC Universe: Month 1 Thoughts

So this week starts the second round of issues for the new DC Universe reboot (click here for reviews). I plan to keep on reviewing this month and wonder what kind of movement I will get in my power rankings. I think on the whole the month was a success. There were a lot of new books I have never read before which I picked up and thoroughly enjoyed. A few of them I will now keep buying until they give me a reason not to. I loved the day and date digital release and haven't felt this connected to the comic industry in a couple of decades. I am glad to see Marvel and Image are following DC's lead.

There was, of course, the controversy over Catwoman (which I did not completely agree with), Starfire, and Voodoo (the last two which I did agree with and still hurt my head to think about). Many fans thought Catwoman lacked story and was bad fan fiction. Just an excuse to draw T & A. The thing is I have always felt Catwoman walked the fine line of objectifying women. I didn't think it was a spectacular story but I didn't feel like a sexist for enjoying it (which I was accused of). On the other hand they ruined Starfire in the Red Hood comic. While I don't think you should be basing Starfire of the Teen Titans cartoon, making her an amnesic and a sex toy was offensive. Borderline ridiculous (although, not as ridiculous as her costume) and bad story telling. I don't care if you plan on taking her through an arc where she comes out complete on the other end. Voodoo was just a reason to draw strippers for 22 pages. Ugh.

This fired quite a few people up. Many who said they would never buy a DC Comic. Certainly, one choice. Not one I agree with. I think that is like boycotting a network because one of their shows is crap. If I did that I would have missed out on the Big Bang Theory because of the piece of dung known as Two and a Half Men (I know some of my readers may not agree with my assessment of said piece of dung but you are welcome to call me names in the comments). I actually think a better way to send DC the message is to buy the comics that are done right (and there were many). I loved Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batwoman, and Batgirl. I have high hopes for all of those books. If they see strong female leads are outselling the drivel, you will get more strong female leads. Speaking with your wallet always gets heard, I love superhero books and want them to survive and thrive.

The biggest surprises for me this month were Justice League Dark (which I thought sounded like a train wreck waiting to happen), Red Lanterns (because, frankly, I have disliked all the lantern books over the last decade), and Aquaman (when the high point of your comic career is Superfriends and a running joke on Entourage low expectations are expected). Biggest disappointments were Fury of Firestorm (I thought the story was not good), Birds of Prey (one of my favorite comics before the reboot), and Batman and Robin (why did they keep Damien? Oh, the pain).

For DC to keep this ball rolling they need to keep the writing strong. They need to replace some artists (some of the books had terrible art. It was distracting and ruined some perfectly fine stories). They need to label the books which are happening early in the reboot history. It wasn't always obvious and made it confusing for anyone who read a lot of the books. Speaking of confusing, the Batman time line is a mess. 3 Robins in 5 years. How does Damien even exist in this time line (I know I hate the kid. Color me guilty)? They also should start discounting the older books digitally. The more readers you bring in, the healthier the industry is. Round 2 should show which books are for real.

DC Power Rankings

1) Animal Man – I was hoping this book would be great in Lemire's hands and it was. The art was creepy and gave power to the excellent story.

2) Wonder Woman – A complete winner for me. Took my love of mythology and mixed it right in perfectly. Plus, it really handled the story well for any new readers.

3) Action Comics – A complete shock to me. Even with Morrison on board I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did.

4) Justice League Dark – Way better than I had any right to expect. Peter Milligan can be all over the place as a writer but he delivered two of my favorite reboot books.

5) Batman – I really enjoyed this book. The art was fantastic and Snyder can flat-out write. I think this book is going to only get better.

6) Stormwatch – Exciting story and everything I had hoped the first Justice League would be. Left me wishing I had the second book.

7) Red Lanterns – Seriously, even if you don't buy this book find a way to read the first few pages. I dare you not to laugh.

8 ) Aquaman -  A solid first effort with great art and a story any new reader can jump into. Plus, it was funny. A couple of classic lines in this one.

9) Batwoman – The art was gorgeous. I am hoping this book won't be plagued with lateness though. I am going to assume they have quite a few issues ready to go since it was supposed to come out last year.

10) All Star Western – I liked the mood and atmosphere in this book. Not at all what I was expecting to get out of a Jonah Hex comic. I am very excited about this series potential.

11) I, Vampire – I was a little confused by this story but loved the art and writing. Will see where it fits in after a few issues.

12) Grifter – Not quite up to the start of Stormwatch but close. I was hooked pretty quickly into the story.

13) Resurrection Man – I was really hoping to like this book. I love the premise and can see a lot of potential. They delivered a very good first book.

14) Deathstroke – I refuse to say anything on the grounds I will ruin the story for you. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.

15) Supergirl – The super books keep up their great opening run. Not quite as good as Action for me but the long-term prospects of keeping me interested are good.

16) Swamp Thing – A great start to a character I once really loved. It reads well for new readers and I like how they poked the old readers who thought they knew what was happening.

17) Batgirl – An above average bat book. Didn't blow me away but a solid superhero comic.

18) Green Lantern – Had a lot of elements I really liked. Nothing new or crazy for a comic but I look forward to seeing where the first story goes.

19) Teen Titans – Before the reboot I was looking forward to this comic. Then Red Hood happened and I grew nervous. First issue was good though. Will see what the future holds.

20) Men of War – I hope the second story picks up a little because I have a feeling the Sergeant Rock storyline is going to only get better.

21) Superboy – I liked the other world quality Superboy gives off. It has a solid science fiction story behind it too. This book has a lot of potential.

22) Legion of Super-Heroes – This book benefited by my long love and knowledge of Legion. Not at all sure how new readers will take to it.

23) Flash – It was an okay start. Slightly above average. I think my main complaint was the pacing. Seemed a little slow for a book about the fastest man alive.

24) Justice League – It wasn't what I was hoping for right out of the gate but I think it will get better.

25) Superman – It was an okay hero book but I found it all a touch boring. This was one of the areas of the reboot I feared. I have seen the Clark – Lois dance many times before. I don't really care to see it again.

26) Captain Atom – Better than I thought it would be but still not quite there. The potential to be more than a run of the mill hero book is there.

27) Demon Knights – This was a good solid almost for me but I have hope I am going to like it a lot more in future issues.

28) Catwoman – Easily my biggest guilty pleasure of the first round. I wonder if it will hold up though. Sometimes guilty pleasures lose their luster.

29) Detective Comics – I was underwhelmed with the story. It wasn't terrible but it read like every other standard Joker-Batman book.

30) Frankenstien, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. – The art is going to put a lot of people off. I have faith in Jeff Lemire though, and expect this book to get steadily better.

31) Nightwing – Left me wanting more. Not a fan of the art style and the story was not there. A slow start but I am rooting for it.

32) The Savage Hawkman – The book really didn't do anything for me. The best I can say is it was a competent superhero book. I think I would have rather had Hawkman in the JSA.

33) Batman: The Dark Knight – I have to be honest I don't know what the point of this book is other than to get Batman fans to spend more money. Brought absolutely nothing new to the table.

34) Green Arrow – Not a blazing shot out of the cannon but there is hope. I like Green Arrow so I want this book to succeed.

35) Batwing – You could flip-flop this one with Green Arrow. They are about the same for me.

36) Justice League International – First thing this book needs to do is get rid of Batman. Then jump out of the box and try something new.

37) Mister Terrific – A very predictable book. The dialog saved it from being a total wash for me.

38) Suicide Squad – I actually saw some potential in this book but the story is going to have to get going in the next issue.

39) Green Lantern Corps – This book was a miss for me. Didn't care about the story or the characters. I won't give up hope on it because I liked the other two Lantern books so maybe the future will be better.

40) Green Lantern: New Guardians – I am sure Green Lantern fans will like this book way more than me. At least the Corps book had some humor in it.

41) Blue Beetle – The book felt like it was trying too hard and it made the dialog come off sounding a little hollow. Didn't feel like it really got started until the end.

42) Blackhawks – I would have never bought this book without the reboot. Nothing in it really changed my mind.

43) Legion Lost- I might have been tempted to give it a higher rating if the story hadn't felt so cliché. I guess there is hope it will pick up but just a glimmer.

44) Batman & Robin – They won't cancel this book but for me it is going to have to get a whole lot better. I am a Batman fan and I just didn't dig it.

45) O.M.A.C. – I liked the art but I have always been a fan of Giffen. The book barely held together on the story front.

46) DC Universe Presents – There were a few moments of brilliance surrounded by a whole lot of whatever.

47) Birds of Prey – Easily my biggest disappointment. I love the concept of an all female super group. It just didn't cut it for me. Here's hoping they figure it out.

48) The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men – Maybe I am just too old for these teenage angst driven books. Nope probably not because I loved what Ultimate Spider-Man did. DC is just not hitting the mark.

49) Hawk & Dove – Right now I see this book as an early possibility of getting voted off my DC island.

50) Static Shock – The art was okay but nothing else about this book caught my imagination. Could also easily be voted off my DC island.

51) Voodoo – This book seemed like an excuse to draw half-naked women on every page. There was an interesting story hiding somewhere under there.

52) Red Hood and the Outlaws – I mostly liked the art and I did get a few chuckles but this book has issues. Not sure why they went with this and not something like the Outsiders.

Incarnaotors Week 13

A little bit slower of a writing week this week. I still went over the 70,000 word mark. The DC reviews blog takes up a lot of writing time on Wednseday and a little bit Tuesday setting it up. It's okay though because I really like writing that blog. I don't mind trading a little writing time.

On the Incarnators front line I have officially reached the home stretch. I have only 20,000 words to go. This is an estimate, but I will hit it pretty close. All of the story lines are at the point where they will start barreling towards each other.

I reintroduced a villain from the first book and a minor character from the second. There is war ragging all over the book and magic has become a big part of the story. I have come to the realization that this story will end but there might be future tales to be told in this world. The main players will have a lot of rebuilding to do. Might not be another trilogy but I can see a stand alone someday (assuming I ever start selling enough books to warrant a return visit).

I will finish up around the middle of October. By then I should also have the third book's cover in hand to share. I had a great idea for the cover and am hoping my designer can pull it off (if he can't it's my fault because I am a pain in the ass and I'm always asking for hard stuff).

I have definitely decided my next book to write will be my rock and roll ghost story. I actually have been writing the end of the book in my head while showering these last few weeks (I do some of my best writing while in the shower).

Once the end of book writes itself I feel compelled to fill in the rest. Thanks for sticking with me as I trudged my way through the last book of the series. It is funny to think about how hard it was to get this book going and now I am racing towards the end.

The New DC Universe: Week 4 reviews

Well, after a crazy up and down week I am hoping for a little more consistency this week. I reread a few week 3 books to see how they held up. Some of them not so good on a 2nd read. Although, I still hated Red Hood, maybe even more. This is the last week of number ones and then next week we roll out the second issues. I will keep at it for at least another month. I want to see the changes in my power rankings as the next issues come out. I am also very interested in how sales hold up after the hype starts to die down. I'm crossing my fingers that some of the kinks will be ironed out of books I was expecting to like a lot more than I did. If you missed the first few weeks here are the links (week 0, week 1, week 2 and week 3 reviews).

All Star Western #1

Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI; Art and cover by MORITAT

I have to make a confession first. I am a sucker for a good western. I loved Deadwood, grew up reading Two Gun Kid.  I think Clint Eastwood walks on water. So I was really hoping to love this book and it didn't disappoint. One of the most interesting ideas for the reboot. Setting Jonah Hex in the old west Gotham and partnering him with Amadeus Arkham. Throw in the fact Arkham narrates the story and is not exactly a trusty narrator and the book has a lot of interesting story going for it. This book reads like an old west mystery crossed with Caleb Carr's, The Alienist. I love that Arkham is supposed to be the smart one but Hex does all the work. A very curious partnership. The art fit the story although there were a couple of spots I thought it was a tiny bit off. A very good start 8.5 out of 10.

Aquaman #1

Written by GEOFF JOHNS; Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO

Growing up I was a huge fan of the Superfriends (power of ridiculousness activate). It was probably the only version of Aquaman I have ever enjoyed. I tried to pick up the comic book a few times. I admit I was intrigued when they sliced off his arm and gave him a badass makeover, but still didn't really like him. Well have no fear Aquaman fans. This book is a winner. Not only is it genuinely funny all the way through but it winks at all the Aquaman haters. I loved the art and it left me wanting more. Another great example of how to hook a new reader on something he had no prior interest in. It also looks like it is going to be an interesting mix of land based and water based story. With a dash of nasty creatures thrown in for good measure. 9 out of 10.

Batman: The Dark Knight #1

Written by DAVID FINCH; Art by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND; Cover by DAVID FINCH

I am not really even sure what the point of this book is. How is it bringing something different to the Batman table. Do we really need another bat book like this? The art was okay but I wasn't a big fan (except for one panel with all the villains. That was cool). The story felt a little clunky and some of the writing hit with a thud. If this book did anything it made me appreciate Detective Comics #1 a whole lot more. I also chuckled when I saw the new Two-face, I am fairly certain this wasn't the reaction they were hoping for. This was a decidedly average book. 7 out of 10.

Blackhawks #1

Written by MIKE COSTA; Art and cover by KEN LASHLEY

I really liked the idea of a team based counter terrorism unit. Sort of DC's answer to G.I. Joe. The story itself left me a little wanting, though. It just wasn't that interesting and I found the art really distracting. I saw a lot of potential here but I don't think the first issue lived up to it. I also had to wonder a little bit about all the sex going on in the reboot of the comics. It is starting to jump out at me. Maybe because I have read all the issues. I thought the whole, "I don't want anyone to know about our relationship story" was kind of silly and old. Considering this is the type of book I wouldn't have picked up if I wasn't reviewing all the issues it is going to have to work harder to keep my interest. 6.5 out of 10.

The Flash #1

Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL

I am in that perfect age group which claims both Barry Allen and Wally West as the Flash. Although, I was always a bigger Wally West fan. I have also read Flash several times over the last ten years depending on who was writing it.  I really like the character. This book was a good start but it was a little slow in its pacing. I wasn't totally sold on the art either but I have a feeling it will grow on me. We got a lot of Barry Allen and not as much Flash as I would have liked. I think the opening story line has some potential though and am on board to see where it goes. Not completely sold on this one yet. 7.5 out of 10.

The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #1

Written by ETHAN VAN SCIVER and GAIL SIMONE; Art by YILDIRAY CINAR; Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER

This one is going to hurt a little. One of the first comics I ever bought was the original Firestorm. I loved it and collected it. I am also a fan of Gail Simone. I was expecting a winner. What I got was a little bit of a mess. I disliked the art a lot. The story didn't make much sense and the big plot point which turns the two boys into Firestorm is ridiculous even for a comic. It also didn't take very long for me to get over the bantering of the two boys. I wanted to like this book but I really didn't. I hope the second book picks up but I am not sure I will ever get the origin story out of my head. 6 out of 10.

Green Lantern: New Guardians #1

Written by TONY BEDARD; Art and cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and BATT

Another Green Lantern book. Another Green Lantern on earth to keep track of. I am so excited. Like the Batman book above I am not sure what the point of another Green Lantern book is (this is not true. The point is to get Green Lantern fans to pony up money). I just didn't dig this book. You could have combined it with the Corps book and that would have been enough for me. I am not even really sure how they are going to make all these books work together and they will have to (there are some busy editors at DC). The story was your basic start-up story. Nothing new or original. I think over the long haul Red Lanterns and Green Lantern are the only books I will end up reading. Two good ones will be enough to keep me satisfied. 6.5 out of 10.

I, Vampire #1

Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV; Art by ANDREA SORRENTINO; Cover by JENNY FRISON

This book is really tricky. I liked it. Completely enjoyed the art and the reading experience but its place in the DC Universe threw me for a loop. It doesn't feel like it fits. More of a Vertigo book. I mean how are they going to explain vampire massacres in a world where Superman and the Flash exist? No one notices or comes calling? Again I liked the book and am at least a little intrigued how it will fit in but I worry my questions might affect the long-term prospects of the comic. Then again Hitman worked in the DC Universe and it shouldn't have. So you never know. It was still a great book and worth the read.  8.5 out of 10.

Justice League Dark #1

Written by PETER MILLIGAN; Art by MIKEL JANIN; Cover by RYAN SOOK

When this book was announced I admit to panicking  A LOT. You see I have every issue of Hellblazer. The thought of John Constantine back in the superhero universe scared me. Throw in the fact they have collected all of my favorite magic users and this was going to be a book I loved or hated. Well people, Peter Milligan is on a roll. I really liked this book. The story was well done. It actually explained why it was a Justice League book in a way which made sense (are you listening Firestorm?). The art was perfect for the book and it had a strong sense of being a Vertigo comic set in the DC World. 9.5 out of 10.

The Savage Hawkman #1

Written by TONY S. DANIEL; Art and cover by PHILIP TAN

Hawkman has always had one of the most bad ass costumes around. I like when an artist really sinks his teeth into getting it right. There were a couple of panels in here which really hit it for me. Only a couple though. The art wasn't terrible. Just kind of there. The story was fairly average. No real origin but definitely a hint of the mystery of it. Not a huge fan of the villain. Felt like a 2nd class Venom. I was hoping for more on this book. I can't see this book appealing to a lot of new fans which was the whole point. 7 out of 10.

Superman #1

Written by GEORGE PÈREZ; Breakdowns and cover by GEORGE PÈREZ; Art by JESUS MERINO

Ah, there's the Superman I don't really like. This is much more of the old school Superman book and it was only a little above average. Like I said a few reviews ago, I have never really been a Superman fan, which is why Action Comics surprised me so much. I am sure this is a perfectly acceptable Superman story for the fans but it did nothing for me other than establish Clark likes Lois. Lois doesn't know. They aren't married. We are starting over. I prefer my Superhero books with a little more story and action. At the very least make me giggle a little. 7.5 out of 10.

Teen Titans #1

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL; Art and cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND

Wow, was this really the same writer who wrote that Red Hood monstrosity? I was sharpening my knives before I read this book. He had already ruined Starfire so who knew what he had in store for the Teen Titans. I had to put the knives away. I enjoyed this book. I liked the art. I loved Red Robin and the book had a wonderful feel about what lies ahead for the Titans. The interactions between characters was good and I loved the mystery being set up. A book with Teen in the title should have a good young vibe to it and I think this book did. Much better than  a lot of the other "teen" books did. The knives are packed but I am ready to whip them out on a moments notice. 8 out of 10.

Voodoo #1

Written by RON MARZ; Art and cover by SAMI BASRI

I guess there was a point to this comic besides drawing scantily clad females all the way through it. The story seemed like it had potential but the cheesecake factor was on overdrive in this book. Another book which felt really strange in the DC Universe. For me it didn't work and I think they used the titillating art to mask there was no real substance here. Not as bad as Red Hood for me but close. 5 out of 10.

—-

DC Power Rankings

1) Animal Man – I was hoping this book would be great in Lemire's hands and it was. The art was creepy and gave power to the excellent story.

2) Wonder Woman – A complete winner for me. Took my love of mythology and mixed it right in perfectly. Plus, it really handled the story well for any new readers.

3) Action Comics – A complete shock to me. Even with Morrison on board I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did.

4) Justice League Dark – Way better than I had any right to expect. Peter Milligan can be all over the place as a writer but he delivered two of my favorite reboot books.

5) Batman – I really enjoyed this book. The art was fantastic and Snyder can flat-out write. I think this book is going to only get better.

6) Stormwatch – Exciting story and everything I had hoped the first Justice League would be. Left me wishing I had the second book.

7) Red Lanterns – Seriously, even if you don't buy this book find a way to read the first few pages. I dare you not to laugh.

8 ) Aquaman -  A solid first effort with great art and a story any new reader can jump into. Plus, it was funny. A couple of classic lines in this one.

9) Batwoman – The art was gorgeous. I am hoping this book won't be plagued with lateness though. I am going to assume they have quite a few issues ready to go since it was supposed to come out last year.

10) All Star Western – I liked the mood and atmosphere in this book. Not at all what I was expecting to get out of a Jonah Hex comic. I am very excited about this series potential.

11) I, Vampire – I was a little confused by this story but loved the art and writing. Will see where it fits in after a few issues.

12) Grifter – Not quite up to the start of Stormwatch but close. I was hooked pretty quickly into the story.

13) Resurrection Man – I was really hoping to like this book. I love the premise and can see a lot of potential. They delivered a very good first book.

14) Deathstroke – I refuse to say anything on the grounds I will ruin the story for you. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.

15) Supergirl – The super books keep up their great opening run. Not quite as good as Action for me but the long-term prospects of keeping me interested are good.

16) Swamp Thing – A great start to a character I once really loved. It reads well for new readers and I like how they poked the old readers who thought they knew what was happening.

17) Batgirl – An above average bat book. Didn't blow me away but a solid superhero comic.

18) Green Lantern – Had a lot of elements I really liked. Nothing new or crazy for a comic but I look forward to seeing where the first story goes.

19) Teen Titans – Before the reboot I was looking forward to this comic. Then Red Hood happened and I grew nervous. First issue was good though. Will see what the future holds.

20) Men of War – I hope the second story picks up a little because I have a feeling the Sergeant Rock storyline is going to only get better.

21) Superboy – I liked the other world quality Superboy gives off. It has a solid science fiction story behind it too. This book has a lot of potential.

22) Legion of Super-Heroes – This book benefited by my long love and knowledge of Legion. Not at all sure how new readers will take to it.

23) Flash – It was an okay start. Slightly above average. I think my main complaint was the pacing. Seemed a little slow for a book about the fastest man alive.

24) Justice League – It wasn't what I was hoping for right out of the gate but I think it will get better.

25) Superman – It was an okay hero book but I found it all a touch boring. This was one of the areas of the reboot I feared. I have seen the Clark – Lois dance many times before. I don't really care to see it again.

26) Captain Atom – Better than I thought it would be but still not quite there. The potential to be more than a run of the mill hero book is there.

27) Demon Knights – This was a good solid almost for me but I have hope I am going to like it a lot more in future issues.

28) Catwoman – Easily my biggest guilty pleasure of the first round. I wonder if it will hold up though. Sometimes guilty pleasures lose their luster.

29) Detective Comics – I was underwhelmed with the story. It wasn't terrible but it read like every other standard Joker-Batman book.

30) Frankenstien, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. – The art is going to put a lot of people off. I have faith in Jeff Lemire though, and expect this book to get steadily better.

31) Nightwing – Left me wanting more. Not a fan of the art style and the story was not there. A slow start but I am rooting for it.

32) The Savage Hawkman – The book really didn't do anything for me. The best I can say is it was a competent superhero book. I think I would have rather had Hawkman in the JSA.

33) Batman: The Dark Knight – I have to be honest I don't know what the point of this book is other than to get Batman fans to spend more money. Brought absolutely nothing new to the table.

34) Green Arrow – Not a blazing shot out of the cannon but there is hope. I like Green Arrow so I want this book to succeed.

35) Batwing – You could flip-flop this one with Green Arrow. They are about the same for me.

36) Justice League International – First thing this book needs to do is get rid of Batman. Then jump out of the box and try something new.

37) Mister Terrific – A very predictable book. The dialog saved it from being a total wash for me.

38) Suicide Squad – I actually saw some potential in this book but the story is going to have to get going in the next issue.

39) Green Lantern Corps – This book was a miss for me. Didn't care about the story or the characters. I won't give up hope on it because I liked the other two Lantern books so maybe the future will be better.

40) Green Lantern: New Guardians – I am sure Green Lantern fans will like this book way more than me. At least the Corps book had some humor in it.

41) Blue Beetle – The book felt like it was trying too hard and it made the dialog come off sounding a little hollow. Didn't feel like it really got started until the end.

42) Blackhawks – I would have never bought this book without the reboot. Nothing in it really changed my mind.

43) Legion Lost- I might have been tempted to give it a higher rating if the story hadn't felt so cliché. I guess there is hope it will pick up but just a glimmer.

44) Batman & Robin – They won't cancel this book but for me it is going to have to get a whole lot better. I am a Batman fan and I just didn't dig it.

45) O.M.A.C. – I liked the art but I have always been a fan of Giffen. The book barely held together on the story front.

46) DC Universe Presents – There were a few moments of brilliance surrounded by a whole lot of whatever.

47) Birds of Prey – Easily my biggest disappointment. I love the concept of an all female super group. It just didn't cut it for me. Here's hoping they figure it out.

48) The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men – Maybe I am just too old for these teenage angst driven books. Nope probably not because I loved what Ultimate Spider-Man did. DC is just not hitting the mark.

49) Hawk & Dove – Right now I see this book as an early possibility of getting voted off my DC island.

50) Static Shock – The art was okay but nothing else about this book caught my imagination. Could also easily be voted off my DC island.

51) Voodoo – This book seemed like an excuse to draw half-naked women on every page. There was an interesting story hiding somewhere under there.

39) Red Hood and the Outlaws – I mostly liked the art and I did get a few chuckles but this book has issues. Not sure why they went with this and not something like the Outsiders.

My Issues Run Deep or How My Cats Are Smarter Than Me

I actually thought the words to myself, "don't start playing the game. You know you won't be able to stop." I, of course, didn't listen to this sage advice and fired up the Xbox 360 and started playing BioShock 2 Sunday night. Many hours later Monday morning (I don't want to say the time. Okay, you twisted my arm 3 am) I thought to myself, "gosh I have to work in a few hours." I actually didn't say gosh I believe I used a word which started with an f and ended with a g. I might have also called myself a name which implied a lack of intelligence. I reluctantly shut off the infernal machine cursing my addiction and the fact I didn't finish the game yet and trudged off to bed.

I, of course, hit the pillow and was out instantly… Ha! Not really. No, instead I tossed and turned for a few hours thinking about the next chapter in my book (I am sure I fell asleep in there somewhere but really at that point who gives a shit). I got up. Chugged enough coffee to keep a few farms in Brazil humming along at maximum profit (a friend sent me an article today which said coffee cures depression in women. I am a little pissed this apparently doesn't work on men, mutant freaks, me). I should have been tired Monday but I wasn't. I should have gone to bed early but I didn't. I made it past my biological sleep time clock and stayed up late again.

I am a serious mutant when it comes to sleep. If I am up past 8 pm I am up all night. If I go to sleep before 8, I will get a couple of hours sleep and then be up all night. My body seems to like to break up its sleep. I have always been this way. It makes having a day job a royal pain in the ass. Speaking of day job. How did I pick a day job which actually requires me to be working by 8:20 am. I don't think I am nearly as smart as I like to pretend I am.

Sometimes I wish you could pick which religions were real for you and then get all the stuff they promise because I swear to you I would come back in my next life as a cat. Those little fuckers are way smarter than me. Here's my cat's schedule. Wake up and have human feed me. Play with human so they feel important and keep feeding me. Go back to sleep. Wake up eat food out of bowl human left for me. Play with other cat. Go back to sleep. Wake up when human gets home. Rub against their leg to make them feel like I give a shit. Eat some more. Attack human's foot. Go to sleep on human's lap while they pet me. Seriously, who's the smart one here. Of course, my cat Troubadour paid for all this lovely treatment by getting his balls cut off. I wonder if he misses them? Maybe I don't want to be a cat.

This of course all adds up to one very clear picture. I have issues which there is no cure for. My weirdness knows no bounds. I may have had a psychotic break while playing Donkey Kong as a kid. I am hilarious and ridiculous all at the same time. A legend in my own mind and currently a writeaholic. All of these things may be true but it does beg for one very important question to be answered. What the hell is wrong with my wife? I mean she did marry me. I am going to have to keep a closer eye on her.

Incarnators Week 12

What a lazy weekend I have had. I decided Friday night I needed some recharge time this weekend. So I took it off. I am seventy percent of the way through my novel. The current word count is 61,000 words and if I have the same type of week I have been having I will go over 70,000 this week.

Even more importantly every single one of the character story lines are in the perfect place. I am very happy with the way the end of the book is shaping up. I am definitely in the home stretch. Several of the story threads are about to connect and the book is going to end with a big bang.

I am also fighting with myself as an author about the death of a character. I had a character that was not going to make it. As the book has rolled on I have wondered about the decision. The problem might be is too many wheels have been set in motion. I might not be able to unpull the trigger.

I find things like this very interesting. When characters don't do exactly what I want. In the first book there was a character I planned on killing in the first three chapters and that character is still with us. On the other hand, I had two characters who I always knew were goners and eventually my grim reaper got them. Writing is a big puzzle. I just try to fit all the pieces together in a way which is enjoyable and makes sense.

I will finish the book in October. Then I will take a week off and dive into editing. I have Keepers to edit also. So this means I will be editing probably until the end of the year. Originally, I was going to move back to the rewrite of my steam punk book (which I still think there is a great novel in there somewhere but I haven't found it). Instead, I think I am leaning towards my ghost story.

The ghost story has been rattling around in my brain for the last few months but lately it has begun to occupy a lot of my thinking time (when I am not thinking about the end of Incarnators). I was in the shower the other day and actually began outlining the first few chapters. I don't think I am going to be able to not write it. The story doesn't look like it is going to leave me alone. In the meantime, I am about three weeks from finishing up Incarnators. Can't wait to have another book done.

The New DC Universe: Week 3 Reviews

This really has been the most fun I have had with comics in a very long time. I have absolutely loved talking to people on my blog and Twitter about their opinions. It is incredibly interesting to find out what works and what doesn't. It has also been interesting trying to dissect my own feelings. Like did I like Red Lanterns so much because I had absolutely no experience with the book? Will Damien really be a character that ruins any book he is in? Originally I knew I was going to review all issue 1s but now I know I am going to do at least the 2s and possibly 3s. We'll see how long my pocketbook can take it. In creator news John Rozum left as writer of Static Shock. He said it was for personal reasons and had nothing to do with DC. Made me wonder though, why even mention it? J. T. Krull also left Greean Arrow. He was given a new book and felt he had to drop one so he kept Captain Atom. I still think Static Shock will be one of the first books canceled (an opinion which actually got me nasty comments on my blog. They were so offensive I hit the delete button. Only the 2nd time I have done this. If you missed the first few weeks of reviews here are the links. Also, please note I changed the week headings to match DC. They are calling Justice League Week 0. I wanted to match up to how they are labeling the weeks (week 0, week 1 and week 2 reviews).

Batman #1

Written by SCOTT SNYDER; Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION; Cover by GREG CAPULLO

I admit something about Detective #1 didn't quite click for me. This is one of the reasons I was waiting for Batman #1 to hit the shelves. I am a big fan of Scott Snyder and was looking forward to his take on the Batman mythos. First of all, I have to compliment him on one of the best introductions of any of the New 52 books. If you have never read a Batman comic before he quickly sinks you into the universe with a lot of information delivered in an entertaining way. Second of all, this guy can flat-out write. I was glued to the pages. A really good batman story. It unfolded a little slowly but I was okay with that. I kind of like the slow burn. I loved the art and I didn't think I would. It fit the mood set by the words perfectly. The best part of this experience is I really think it is actually going to get better. Being an intro comic he spent time on getting people acquainted to the world. With that out-of-the-way, I look forward to the book taking off next month. 9 out of 10.

Birds of Prey #1

Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI; Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ

This book may end up being one of my biggest disappointments. It was really not that good. I admit to loving Oracle and sad to see her gone from the DC Universe but that has nothing to do with my judgment. The art did not float my boat and the story was a little ridiculous. By the time I finished it I completely understood why DC has already announced Batgirl would be in book 4 because this book needs help as it stands. Adding Batgirl back into the mix will not be enough though if they don't actually write a story where I care what happens. It pains me to say this book could be in trouble. 6 out of 10.

 

Blue Beetle #1

Written by TONY BEDARD; Art by IG GUARA and RUY JOSE; Cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and SAL REGLA

I am really torn on this one. Another book which was really trying to go for the teen vibe. It practically screamed "look how hip we are trying to be". For the most part that was a fail for me. Having said that I have some hope. I thought the end of the book was good. It was one of the few books in the new universe which let you experience the actual origin story. I liked the main character but a lot of the characters around him fell flat for me. Hard to judge though because the story really didn't get going until the last few pages. I am taking a wait and see attitude on this. 6.5 out of 10.

 

Captain Atom #1

Written by J.T. KRUL; Art by FREDDIE WILLIAMS II; Cover by STANLEY "ARTGERM" LAU

If you can look past the extremely hokey volcano plot there was actually an interesting story hiding under here. Captain Atom is another one of those really hard to write characters because he is so extremely powerful what can stand up against him? You add in the fact that any new readers who don't know the history of the Watchmen are going to be wondering why they are calling Dr. Manhattan something new and you have got a nasty tight rope to walk. I had a few problems with the story but I liked Captain Atom and was intrigued by where I thought the story might be going. It wasn't a knock out punch but it caught my attention. 7.5 out of 10.

 

Catwoman #1

Written by JUDD WINICK; Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH

I really shouldn't like this comic. That was what I thought every page I read. I really shouldn't, but I did. I guess we are going to have to call this one my guilty pleasure. I like the character of Catwoman. She is at her best when you don't know what she is, good, bad, or indifferent. All of those are in this book and despite my, "does Batman have to be in every book" comments from before Batman's appearance in this book really worked. In fact, it gave some character depth to Batman that his own comics didn't give him. The story was good and I mostly liked the art (there were a few places it was a little rough for me). 8 out of 10, but just barely.

 

DC Universe Presents #1

Written by PAUL JENKINS; Art by BERNARD CHANG; Cover by RYAN SOOK

First of all, I must say I have always liked books like this. DC Universe Presents is going to rotate heroes through the pages. I would assume giving characters who don't have their own book a tryout. They picked Deadman for the first story. I have always loved the character of Deadman. I was expecting a lot out of this book but it was all over the place. In some panels the art would be just brilliant and then the very next panel I would be asking, "did the same person draw this?" The story was way to preachy and spent a lot of time telling us about Deadman. Honestly, I have no clue where this book is going. Even worse I don't really care. 6 out of 10.

 

Green Lantern Corps #1

Written by PETER J. TOMASI; Art by FERNANDO PASARIN and SCOTT HANNA; Cover by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY

I will admit my anti-Green Lantern bias really cropped up in this book. Part of what makes a good story is the ability to suspend disbelief. You have to suck me into your story without making me think too much about the details. The Green Lantern Corp has always been a problem for me. They are super powerful and yet somehow can't take care of some basic functions, like security. For me this story was just a little too boring. I didn't really care about anything that happened on earth. Some of the space scenes had me a little interested when I wasn't thinking, "wait how did they let that happen?" I know people who really like the Green Lantern books will probably like this book a whole lot more than me but I don't think it comes even close to the quality of Green Lantern and Red Lantern. 6.5 out of 10.

Legion of Super-Heroes #1

Written by PAUL LEVITZ; Art by FRANCIS PORTELA; Cover by KARL KERSCHL

Wow, this is going to be an interesting book to see how people react to! If the reboot was about giving new readers a chance to come in and not worry about knowing too much back story then this book failed a little. It was dense and I liked it but I have read Legion for a long time. Not sure how new readers are going to take to it. Not to mention Legion tends to be a "love it or hate it" type of book. I think long time Legion fans will be on board. We'll see what everyone else will think. Also, DC I am begging you end Legion Lost and return those characters back to the main book. I think the main book would be even stronger with them. The story here started a little slow (I assume this was the concession to new readers) but I know this book will only get stronger Paul Levitz can write the hell out of the Legion. I hope the sales are good enough to give him a chance to do just that. 8 out of 10.

Nightwing #1

Written by KYLE HIGGINS; Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and JP MAYER

I have to start off by saying I love Nightwing and have missed him terribly. A big part of my childhood love of comics was centered around Wolfman's and Perez's Teen Titans. When Nightwing eventually got his own book I jumped on board and collected it all the way to the end. It is good to have him back and I really wanted to love this book, but I didn't. It wasn't terrible. It falls firmly in the average category. I wasn't thrilled with the art and the story was not super. It was a good introduction issue for new fans but left me wanting a whole lot more. I am hoping the story picks up considerably in the next issue. I don't think this style of art is ever going to win me over so the story has got to get better. 7 out of 10.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #1

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL; Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT

Why does this book exist? I mean you can start with the really crappy title and work your way down. It tries to be amusing and sometimes it sort of is. It has pretty good art if you can ignore the fact that Starfire's costume is awful and kind of offensive (not to mention she must have superpowers to not expose her breasts to the world. I hope they explain that one at a future date). They have completely ruined the character of Starfire who used to be one of my favorite Teen Titans. Yes, I know this is a reboot so I should not be comparing it to what has gone on before. But really it doesn't matter because Starfire's character sucked even if I didn't know what had gone on before. Then of course there is Jason Todd who is one of the many former Robins who make me question how they could all exist in this time line. For me this book was a hot mess. If not for the few chuckles I might have really not liked it. 5 out of 10.

Supergirl #1

Written by MICHAEL GREEN and MIKE JOHNSON; Art and cover by MAHMUD ASRAR

This was a pleasant surprise. I have tried Supergirl a few times in the past and it never really connected with me. I really liked the story. The whole book is shrouded in the mystery of who is Supergirl? It was well written and a great example of what I thought the reboot was about. You don't need to know anything about her because the story is clearly going to give it to you. The art was enjoyable and frankly I appreciated a costume which seemed like it could actually work on a woman. I am excited to see where this story goes. This makes the Superman family books three for three so far. Color me surprised. 8 out of 10.

 

Wonder Woman #1

Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO; Art and cover by CLIFF CHIANG

I was really worried about this book. I saw the cover last month and the art made me nervous. Then there is the fact Wonder Woman has been all over the place recently. DC can't seem to make up their mind what they want to do with her (Wonder Woman really needed a clean slate. Her history has been completely muddled up over the last decade). Finish that off with the fact it is the comic book my wife is looking forward to reading the most and you get a good case of the worries. I should have trusted one of my favorite writers Brian Azzarello would come through. Wonder Woman kicks all kinds of ass. What a great start. A nice introduction for new readers. A good dose of mythology and did I mention Wonder Woman kicks all kinds of ass. This might be one of my favorite Wonder Woman stories. Part of what goes wrong with Wonder Woman is not knowing how to handle the mythology but Brian handles it like a glove. The set up for the future books is brilliant. I promise you're going to be dying to find out what happens next. As for the art. It did take a little getting used to but by the end of the book it really felt like it fit. I think I am so used to Wonder Woman being overdrawn that actually showing some restraint threw me. 10 out of 10.

—

DC Power Rankings

1) Animal Man – I was hoping this book would be great in Lemire's hands and it was. The art was creepy and gave power to the excellent story.

2) Wonder Woman – A complete winner for me. Took my love of mythology and mixed it right in perfectly. Plus, it really handled the story well for any new readers.

3) Action Comics – A complete shock to me. Even with Morrison on board I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did.

4) Batman – I really enjoyed this book. The art was fantastic and Snyder can flat-out write. I think this book is going to only get better.

5) Stormwatch – Exciting story and everything I had hoped the first Justice League would be. Left me wishing I had the second book.

6) Red Lanterns – Seriously, even if you don't buy this book find a way to read the first few pages. I dare you not to laugh.

7) Batwoman – The art was gorgeous. I am hoping this book won't be plagued with lateness though. I am going to assume they have quite a few issues ready to go since it was supposed to come out last year.

8 ) Grifter – Not quite up to the start of Stormwatch but close. I was hooked pretty quickly into the story.

9) Resurrection Man – I was really hoping to like this book. I love the premise and can see a lot of potential. They delivered a very good first book.

10) Deathstroke – I refuse to say anything on the grounds I will ruin the story for you. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.

11) Supergirl – The super books keep up their great opening run. Not quite as good as Action for me but the long-term prospects of keeping me interested are good.

12) Swamp Thing – A great start to a character I once really loved. It reads well for new readers and I like how they poked the old readers who thought they knew what was happening.

13) Batgirl – An above average bat book. Didn't blow me away but a solid superhero comic.

14) Green Lantern – Had a lot of elements I really liked. Nothing new or crazy for a comic but I look forward to seeing where the first story goes.

15) Men of War – I hope the second story picks up a little because I have a feeling the Sergeant Rock storyline is going to only get better.

16) Superboy – I liked the other world quality Superboy gives off. It has a solid science fiction story behind it too. This book has a lot of potential.

17) Legion of Super-Heroes – This book benefited by my long love and knowledge of Legion. Not at all sure how new readers will take to it.

18) Catwoman – Easily my biggest guilty pleasure of the first round. I wonder if it will hold up though. Sometimes guilty pleasures lose their luster.

19) Justice League – It wasn't what I was hoping for right out of the gate but I think it will get better.

20) Captain Atom – Better than I thought it would be but still not quite there. The potential to be more than a run of the mill hero book is there.

21) Demon Knights – This was a good solid almost for me but I have hope I am going to like it a lot more in future issues.

22) Detective Comics – I was underwhelmed with the story. It wasn't terrible but it read like every other standard Joker-Batman book.

23) Frankenstien, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. – The art is going to put a lot of people off. I have faith in Jeff Lemire though, and expect this book to get steadily better.

24) Nightwing – Left me wanting more. Not a fan of the art style and the story was not there. A slow start but I am rooting for it.

25) Green Arrow – Not a blazing shot out of the cannon but there is hope. I like Green Arrow so I want this book to succeed.

26) Batwing – You could flip-flop this one with Green Arrow. They are about the same for me.

27) Justice League International – First thing this book needs to do is get rid of Batman. Then jump out of the box and try something new.

28) Mister Terrific – A very predictable book. The dialog saved it from being a total wash for me.

29) Suicide Squad – I actually saw some potential in this book but the story is going to have to get going in the next issue.

30) Green Lantern Corps – This book was a miss for me. Didn't care about the story or the characters. I won't give up hope on it because I liked the other two Lantern books so maybe the future will be better.

31) Blue Beetle – The book felt like it was trying too hard and it made the dialog come off sounding a little hollow. Didn't feel like it really got started until the end.

32) Legion Lost- I might have been tempted to give it a higher rating if the story hadn't felt so clichéd. I guess there is hope it will pick up but just a glimmer.

33) Batman & Robin – They won't cancel this book but for me it is going to have to get a whole lot better. I am a Batman fan and I just didn't dig it.

34) O.M.A.C. – I liked the art but I have always been a fan of Giffen. The book barely held together on the story front.

35) DC Universe Presents – There were a few moments of brilliance surrounded by a whole lot of whatever.

36) Birds of Prey – Easily my biggest disappointment. I love the concept of an all female super group. It just didn't cut it for me. Here's hoping they figure it out.

37) Hawk & Dove – Right now I see this book as an early possibility of getting voted off my DC island.

38) Static Shock – The art was okay but nothing else about this book caught my imagination. Could also easily be voted off my DC island.

39) Red Hood and the Outlaws – I mostly liked the art and I did get a few chuckles but this book has issues. Not sure why they went with this and not something like the Outsiders.

A Good Game Gone Wrong

We have all had it happen to us. Sitting there playing a video game you are totally digging. Then suddenly the game designers lose their minds and throw some giant turd into the middle of your game and ruin the experience. I hate when good games go wrong and wreck your experience completely.

One of the worst examples of this for me in the last year was Batman Arkham Asylum. Some brilliant game designer decided the game needed only one save game slot. One for fraks sake. I have a bazillion bytes of storage (a slight stretching of the truth combined with a made up word. This equals win) use them. No, instead they gave us one save and then released a game with a bug in it. I was lovvvving that game. I had put a lot of hours into it and right before the end the game crashes and takes my saved game with it. A problem which could have been completely avoided. This is not 1985 people. We are not working with old Vic-20′s and tape back-up drives.

My current game of frustration is Deus Ex: The Human Revolution. There is a great game buried in there somewhere. That is when I am not spending countless hours opening up drawers and lockers with nothing in them. Oh and don't get me started on hacking. Someone's brilliant idea to add gameplay time to make it seem longer. A complete waste of time. Then there were their stupid boss battles.

Why make me build up my stats. Force me to do all these meticulously boring things in your game to create the strongest character I can have and then make me fight a boss where you take away all my powers. Completely ridiculous. Not to mention the whole end of Deus Ex could put you into a coma with its lack of action. Basically back to back bosses and an end game which is supposed to provide some moral compass of your character when there was no actual moral consequences to any of your actions throughout the game.

Deus Ex was a game I could have loved but they missed the boat. They are not the only ones. It happens all the time. Sometimes I wonder if an actual gamer is on the other end of the game. How else can you explain stupid inventory systems. Games where they have you sell items like you are an arms trader only to find out money really doesn't matter. Bad camera angles or control schemes which make little to no sense.

I wish I could work at some of these big comapanies simply as a game tester. I would send meticulous notes about things which were going to annoy people who are playing the game. One of my all time favorite mistakes in games is where you have some really cool weapon or power only to find out the game is over. Yep, you got to use it for five minutes. What the hell. Would never happen if I was in charge. It doesn't seem like it would be that hard. As we enter the holidays all the best games are lined up to steal our money. Here's hoping a few of them get it right.

Incarnators Week 11

Merrily we roll along, roll along. I have zipped past the halfway point. I will reach 53,000 words sometime this weekend. I wouldn't call it the homestretch but I can see the finish line. Everything is going well and all the story parts are coming together. I think it will be a nice conclusion to the trilogy.

About the only thing I am regretting right now is introducing my new character in third book and not sooner. I am really enjoying writing him. I think he has more story. I think I am definitely going to write a short story at some point in the future with him as the star. I also have the image in my head I want for my cover and will be sending out the notes to my cover designer this weekend.

I should be done with the book sometime between October 16th and November 1st. I am really hoping to be done by my birthday. At that point it will be a few solid months of editing. The plan is still to have Incarnators out in December. I will then have Keepers out sometime around March of next year.

In other writing news. I pulled out a bunch of old rejection slips this week. I will tell you this, I have very few regrets about how my life turned out. I didn't produce writing for almost a decade and for a long time this made me both angry and sad. Now I don't worry about it. It is what it is. The one regret I do have is I was close to breaking in at Marvel Comics. As I went back and read the rejections it was pretty clear to me they were helping me and trying to get me better. Sadly, the idiocy of my youth got in the way (along with a whole lot of other crap). It is still my hope to someday see my name inside a comic. Until then the writing train just keeps heading down the tracks.

The New DC Universe: Week 2 Reviews

When I was a kid the best day of the week was new release day. My friend Steve and I would hop onto a Muni bus and then transfer to the J Church Muni line to get to our favorite comic book store. We would sit in the store for hours looking through the new books. We had a few that we bought no matter what but we were always looking for good stories and art. Even as a kid I was all about story. This ritual was the most important part of my childhood. Comics were my religion. The comic book shop was my church. I was safe and happy there. I don't think I have felt that enthusiasm for comics since then. I have always read them but a little of the shine had worn off (especially DC and Marvel Comics). The DC Universe relaunch has really given this back to me. After last Wednesday all I could think about was I can't wait until next week. I am just bursting at the seems to get my hands on the books. Digital has a lot to do with this because I can finally get my books when they come out, not months later. As we roll into the third week I can't wait to see what surprises me next (here is the link for my week 1 and week 2 reviews).

Batman & Robin #1

Written by PETER J. TOMASI; Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY

This is going to be a hard book for me to like. I am not a fan of the character Damien as Robin. Nothing I read in these pages changed my mind. I do not like the interaction between him and Batman. I think it is silly to try and get the readers to believe Batman would let Robin willingly disobey his orders and put them in danger. The bratty dialog was not to my liking. This was also the first book which left me a little confused about the reboot timeline. Somehow Damien knows about all the previous Robins. How many Robin's has Batman gone through since the timeline started over? The art was not bad and others might not have the Damien problem I have. 6 out of 10.

Batwoman #1

Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN; Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III

This book was a long time coming. It was originally supposed to appear in 2010 and was delayed several times. Finally, DC decided to hold it off and relaunch it during the reboot. I am not sure how much, if any, of the story had to be redone for the reboot. Let me start off by saying Batwoman is drawn beautifully. I loved, loved the art in this book. I think you could argue this book might be worth buying for the art alone. Luckily, the story was quite good also. A good solid mystery to sink our teeth into right away. There were a few parts I actually thought the writing got a little wordy but not many. I really can't wait to read the next one. I do have my usual complaint though. I know this book is part of the Batman family but could we have waited a few issues before Batman made his appearance ? I repeat what I said last week. Batman is the worst secretive loner ever. 9 out of 10.

Deathstroke #1

Written by KYLE HIGGINS; Art by JOE BENNETT and ART THIBERT; Cover by SIMON BISLEY

I admit I was a little perplexed when I saw Deathstroke was getting his own book. One of my all time favorite villains of the DC Universe. I decided to put on my "roll with it" hat and give it a chance. The reboot was supposed to be all about bringing in new readers, trying new things. This book is a hard one to review, not because I didn't like it, I did. I just don't want to given anything away. This book was a pleasant surprise. The art was good, some genuinely funny moments and a story you could sink your teeth into. 8.5 out of 10.

Demon Knights #1

Written by PAUL CORNELL; Art by DIOGENES NEVES and OCLAIR ALBERT; Cover by TONY S. DANIEL

This was a hard one for me. I love it is set way in the past and the passing references to Camelot. I have always liked Demon and am interested to see where they go with it. It has a lovely touch of supernatural and fantasy. The art is good and the storyline was interesting. This is a book made for me and yet honestly it didn't completely grab me. I was certainly left wanting more and have hope the book will pick up. I think a lot of people are going to like this book more than I did.  7.5 out of 10.

Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1

Written by JEFF LEMIRE; Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI; Cover by J.G. JONES

I have to be honest when I heard this book announced I was not at all hopeful. Then I saw who was writing it and thought, hmm, maybe. Now I have read it and I am not completely sure how I feel. I love horror comics and this one looks like it is leaning in that direction. The problem I have is the art is all over the place (some good, some not so much) and I felt they jammed the story with a lot of exposition to give us an idea what the heck was going on. This leaves me firmly on the fence. I see the potential and I think Jeff Lemire is a great writer. I will ride this one out for a few issues. 7 out of 10.

Green Lantern #1

Written by GEOFF JOHNS; Art by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY; Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO

I guess I should start off with a confession. I have never liked Green Lantern. I don't know why because really I should. I love science fiction and Green Lantern has always leaned towards world building science fiction stories. I have tried several times over the year with little success. I liked the Green Lantern/Green Arrow run in the 70′s but really Adams and O'Neil were the main reason for that. In a lot of ways I was expecting to not like this comic. I didn't think it would be bad but I expected more of the Green Lantern I have grown to not care about. While the first issue wasn't perfect I did enjoy it more than I thought I would. I liked the new more fallible Jordan. The mystery behind Sinestro hooked me and I loved the art. It also had a few funny moments in it. I did think it was going to be a hard book for a new reader to just pick up and dive into though. I have to assume they are hoping the new readers have seen the movie. 8 out of 10.

Grifter #1

Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON; Art and cover by CAFU

Another book I had zero expectations for and was pleasantly surprised. I loved the story. The mystery it sets up is very good. The dialog was crisp and the art solid. So far I have been very impressed with how well they have incorporated the Wildstorm Universe into the DC one. You know you have experienced some good writing when you have no idea what is going on but want to come back for more. 8.5 out of 10.

Legion Lost #1

Written by FABIAN NICIEZA; Art and cover by PETE WOODS

I was worried when I read the announcement for this book. There has been a couple of great Legion story lines over the years but I was not sure the Legion of Superheroes needed two books. Especially, if they were siphoning off some of the best characters. Why not do one really good book? My worries met reality today and I have to say I was disappointed with this book. The art was okay but the storyline was slow and truthfully has been done a bazillion times before (this is a slight exaggeration). It wasn't that the book was terrible but there was nothing really impressive about it either. It was just kind of there. 6.5 out of 10.

Mister Terrific #1

Written by ERIC WALLACE; Art by GIANLUCA GUGLIOTTA; Cover by J.G. JONES

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. Some of the dialog was really snappy and funny. The problem is it was really just an average superhero book. Absolutely nothing new under the sun. It didn't hook me at all. The story had all the classic comic stories. Smart boy becomes smart man becomes hero after traumatic event. I don't mind reading superhero books but was looking for more out of the reboot.  7 out of 10.

Red Lanterns #1

Written by PETER MILLIGAN; Art and cover by ED BENES and ROB HUNTER

The whole spectrum of rainbow lanterns happened at a time I did not read Green Lantern. I vaguely knew what they were. I was actually looking forward to this book more than Green Lantern, mainly because of Peter Milligan. Milligan is a little all over the place as a writer in his career. Sometimes I love him and sometimes I wonder what was that? Color me red with surprise on this book (sorry about the bad pun I should have warned you). This book was worth buying for the first few pages alone. I laughed out loud at the introduction to the Red Lanterns. I really loved this book. It was a little heavy-handed in the writing in a few places but I was completely hooked. I can only hope the book stays this good. It looks like I have been suckered completely into the Lantern world, rainbow colors and all. 9 out of 10.

Resurrection Man #1

Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING; Art by FERNANDO DAGNINO; Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO

I love the premise of this book. A man dies. A man comes back. When he comes back he always has a new power. Throw in some supernatural creatures wanting to eat his soul and some very good writing and you have a winner. I am finding it interesting which of the supernatural/horror books I am digging the most. I liked this one a lot. Nice set up for the story and art that felt just right for the book. Had moments where it felt very much like a Vertigo book. A solid start. 8.5 out of 10.

Suicide Squad #1

Written by ADAM GLASS; Art by MARCO RUDY; Cover by RYAN BENJAMIN

I am not sure about this book. The suicide squad has always been an interesting concept for me. Take a bunch of bad guys and set them loose on the world. I have read a few stories over the years which worked nicely. This book did an okay job setting up the world and the characters. It is quite possible I will like future issues more. My main problem with the first one is I felt it spent all of its time trying to set up the world and the characters' viewpoints. I know you want new readers but you have to show a little trust in them. I think we would have picked up the story dishing a little of the back story at a time. Harley Quinn was awesome though. 7 out of 10.

Superboy #1

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL; Art by RB SILVA and ROB LEAN; Cover by ERIC CANETE

In order for Superboy to work for me it was going to have to do something completely different from any of the other Superman books. As I have said before I have never been a big Superman fan. This lack of fandom applies to all of his extended family. I was very pleased with the way they set up this story. Just enough of the back story to leave you wanting more. A connection to Superman but a very different book. It was a well written first book with a nice mystery to carry it forward. I also liked the art a lot. A solid superhero book. I think a lot of people will be pleasantly surprised with the direction and tone the comic took. 8 out of 10.

—

DC Power Rankings

1) Animal Man – I was hoping this book would be great in Lemire's hands and it was. The art was creepy and gave power to the excellent story.

2) Action Comics – A complete shock to me. Even with Morrison on board I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did.

3) Stormwatch – Exciting story and everything I had hoped the first Justice League would be. Left me wishing I had the second book.

4) Red Lanterns – Seriously, even if you don't buy this book find a way to read the first few pages. I dare you not to laugh.

5) Batwoman – The art was gorgeous. I am hoping this book won't be plagued with lateness though. I am going to assume they have quite a few issues ready to go since it was supposed to come out last year.

6) Grifter – Not quite up to the start of Stormwatch but close. I was hooked pretty quickly into the story.

7) Resurrection Man – I was really hoping to like this book. I love the premise and can see a lot of potential. They delivered a very good first book.

8 ) Deathstroke – I refuse to say anything on the grounds I will ruin the story for you. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.

9) Swamp Thing – A great start to a character I once really loved. It reads well for new readers and I like how they poked the old readers who thought they knew what was happening.

10) Batgirl – An above average bat book. Didn't blow me away but a solid superhero comic.

11) Green Lantern – Had a lot of elements I really liked. Nothing new or crazy for a comic but I look forward to seeing where the first story goes.

12) Men of War – I hope the second story picks up a little because I have a feeling the Sergeant Rock storyline is going to only get better.

13) Superboy – I liked the other world quality Superboy gives off. It has a solid science fiction story behind it too. This book has a lot of potential.

14) Justice League – It wasn't what I was hoping for right out of the gate but I think it will get better.

15) Demon Knights – This was a good solid almost for me but I have hope I am going to like it a lot more in future issues.

16) Detective Comics – I was underwhelmed with the story. It wasn't terrible but it read like every other standard Joker-Batman book.

17) Frankenstien, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. – The art is going to put a lot of people off. I have faith in Jeff Lemire though, and expect this book to get steadily better.

18) Green Arrow – Not a blazing shot out of the cannon but there is hope. I like Green Arrow so I want this book to succeed.

19) Batwing – You could flip-flop this one with Green Arrow. They are about the same for me.

20) Justice League International – First thing this book needs to do is get rid of Batman. Then jump out of the box and try something new.

21) Mister Terrific – A very predictable book. The dialog saved it from being a total wash for me.

22) Suicide Squad – I actually saw some potential in this book but the story is going to have to get going in the next issue.

23) Legion Lost- I might have been tempted to give it a higher rating if the story hadn't felt so clichéd. I guess there is hope it will pick up but just a glimmer.

24) Batman & Robin – They won't cancel this book but for me it is going to have to get a whole lot better. I am a Batman fan and I just didn't dig it.

25) O.M.A.C. – I liked the art but I have always been a fan of Giffen. The book barely held together on the story front.

26) Hawk & Dove – Right now I see this book as an early possibility of getting voted off my DC island.

27) Static Shock – The art was okay but nothing else about this book caught my imagination. Could also easily be voted off my DC island.