Nick Davis's Blog, page 108

Inside the Box DCnU52 Special – Pick 6 with Wonder Woman, Red Hood & the Outlaws, Captain Atom & Catwoman

Welcome to my Inside the Box DCnU52 special, every week I pick six titles from the DC52 release from my local comic book shop Chucks Comics and see if they will stay in my comic box for the next issue. This is the third week of DC52 and the releases are not the banner books of the last two, so this time the books have to lean more on their stories over flashy names. Now lets see what will stay, what will go in the order I read the books in.

Wonder Woman #1 – Azzarello & Chiang – I've already reviewed this title in full here, this book was a surprise to me as I frankly don't expect much from this character. The direction here is exciting, the outfit is still a little cheesecake, but the colors are muted and it feels like something a warrior would wear. The book did enough for me to want to read the next issue and I look forward to picked in up.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #1 – Lobdell & Racafort – I read the previews for this book over on CBR and I didn't really like the style of it. We have three heroes with the Red Hood, Speedy? and Starfire who don't fit into the norms of the Superhero pantheon and have a darker edge to them. Red Hood is the Hitman, Speedy is the Mercenary and Starfire is the Alien who doesn't belong. Not a bad book, there is a gratuitous scene of Starfire in a bikini that is straight out of Sports Illustrated, there is over the top violence and it is almost the comic book version of Crank. There isn't enough in this book to want me to come back a second time, not staying in my box, but I think the book will appeal to pure-action orientated readers.

Batman #1 – Snyder, Capullo & Glapion – Like Wonder Woman, I got this book because it is Batman #1 of the relaunch. I normally pick up Batman books as trades to get the whole story, I've found the Bat stories work better that way. Nice artwork, very stylized and I like it we are reading comic books, not photo realistic novels. I liked the story, and we get introduced to the entire Batman immediate pantheon. I don't really know were it stands in the Batman timeline I think this is present DC time. This may stay in the box as a book my wife will read, for me I will wait for the trade.

Captain Atom #1 – Krul & Williams II – They ermm turned Captain Atom into Doctor Manhatten and seriously amped up his powers. I got it because I read Captain Atom back in the 90′s I don't know if this book will stay in the box and might make a rack judgement on the next issue.

Catwoman #1 – Winick & March – Cheesecake abounds in this book and Selina (Catwoman) spends most of the book in various states of undress. It was fun, I liked the dialog and the interesting grey area she lives in, the artwork is nice although Selina is a little angular for my liking. This books ends in a predictable way that can go multiple ways. Again another comic that my wife will most likely keep, and even though I enjoyed it its not really my type of book.

Nightwing #1 – Higgins, Barrows & Mayer – Dick is back to being Nightwing again, a character created for him and a character he grew into. New characters, new attitude and a good book to boot; Dick has been always the more light hearted character in the Batverse, the foil to Batman, the light to his darkness. He has always found his own way and is many ways Dick Grayson is the lynch pin of the DC universe. It is a keeper and will be staying in my box.

There you have it my six DC books for this week, two of the six I choose will be staying in my box until at least the second issue. Two more of them I am sure my wife will enjoy and keep more than me. One more week to go and then we will examine the body count for the new DC52 this month. Onwards and watch out for my wife one line reviews for DCnU52 in the next couple of days.

Listen to my debut guest appearance on the SOMETHING AWESOME! Podcast talking about Fabula Exposition

I know it was last minute, but I got invited to join What Dan Said and his compatriot Alex on their SOMETHING AWESOME! Podcast show on Wednesday night. They invited me to talk about my graphic novel Fabula Exposition.  If you missed the show, you can listen to my debut guest appearance on this fun podcast all about comic books by clicking here to open the stand alone player. My piece starts about 25 minutes in and I get invited to share my thoughts on the new DCnU52 too. Have a listen, it was fun show, it is only two hours long and it passes very quickly. Again thank you to Dan & Alex for having me.

Review – DCnU52 Wonder Woman #1 by Brian Azzarello & Cliff Chiang, a surprise read…

Wonder Woman #1

Publisher DC Comics

Written by Brian Azzarello

Art & Cover by Cliff Chiang

The only reason I picked up Wonder Woman #1 was simply because you had to get the first issue of Wonder Woman in relaunch. I really didn't know what to expect from it, in my experience I've not really enjoyed Wonder Woman as a stand alone title it never seems to quite work. Almost as if the writers never knew what to do with her, Princess or Warrior? Ambassador for Peace or Warrior? What is she? 

This new book was a surprise, the art is muted and slightly muddy which gives the title a moody look. Gone are the primary colors of the Wonder Woman of old, the new Wonder Woman is serious, and the dark artwork is a foreboding of this. Here we have Princess Diana here, Amazon Warrior, not cheesecake Wonder Woman. However even this incarnation isn't wearing pants.

The story leans heavily on Greek Mythology and it doesn't pull any punches, the fight is gory and we see Diana the warrior here and she reacts accordingly. Very much a hit first and think later, this Wonder Woman makes mistakes and puts people in peril unintentionally through her actions. I enjoyed it, the story by Brian Azzarello was a surprise and with the muted art of Cliff Chiang really brought it together. This book is dark, brooding and hints at the Greek Pantheon getting involved in mortal affairs.

As a stand alone introduction to the Character it didn't quite work, we get to see Diana in action and see how capable she is as a fighter. We don't know much more than that, thankfully Wonder Woman, much like Batman & Superman is one of those public conscious heroes, so you don't need to explain much. I'm interested in seeing what happens next, this book was standout because I wasn't expecting anything from it, I like the character of Wonder Woman in this book and I will be picking up the second title to see where this goes. If you've ignored this book because it is Wonder Woman I suggest you go back to local comic book shop's rack and pick it up, give it a chance I promise you it is worth it.

3 thumbs up out of 5

Going LIVE on the SOMETHING AWESOME! Podcast at 8.30 tonight talking about Fabula Exposition

I will be LIVE on the SOMETHING AWESOME! Podcast at 8.30 tonight talking about my graphic novel mashup of Prose/Comic book Fabula Exposition, The Tether Saga and other books. You can listen in here on SOMETHING AWESOME! and you can call in to ask me questions as well! I hope you can tune in…

The Sweets Fairy Bakeshop the creators of my amazing Captain America shield cake are having a Fall Season Sale

The Sweetsfairy Bakeshop, who created my amazing Captain America cake and the uber-cool fairy tale inspired Enchanted Tower are having a fall season sale! And did you know they create totally awesome Fondant Cake toppers, like the Star Wars inspired Figs above! Check out their eye-popping fondant creations in their Etsy shop here (they do custom orders too)

Here are the details of their sale, if you order $15+ get 20% off your order (code-"sweet20″) or order $50+ and get 25% off your order (code-"sweet25″). The sale started today but won't be around long so take advantage of this totally sweet deal to pre-order for the holidays, upcoming birthday, wedding, baby shower or other celebration – Trust me they are a fantastic bakeshop with the best customer service I've ever experienced.

Another Baltimore location straight from the pages of The Tether Accept One

When I say The Tether Saga books are based in Baltimore I'm not kidding, there are locations throughout both books scattered all over this city. Today I am showcasing one of them that you may have missed if you don't look up. I present to you the Bridge from the opening chapters of Accept One; it was here CT got clocked by Solomon and just across from that is the rooftop where Sarah encounters the Catulus for the first time. Take another look at the books, you will be surprised what you will see…

Welcome to the new DC52 universe the 'DCnU52′ is continuity free and a new beginning, right?

It is fair to say DC books like Marvel are loaded with continuity, however unlike Marvel if you waited long enough the DC universe would reboot once a year making anything your favorite character did extremely pointless. Then we had the crisis of the crisis that was infinite, final and the final 52 of final crisis, Brightest Blackest Day; which pretty much painted them into a corner and screwed up continuity so much nothing made sense anymore. So to cure all the problems DC hatched a plan to totally reboot (or is that relaunch) the entire DC universe with a new continuity and make it accessible to new readers. We are now two weeks into the new DC52 universe so did it work?

Lets see, the first book of the DCnU52 was Justice League #1 where all the events take place five years before the current time, Superheroes were seen as menaces and the League didn't even exist. It worked, it set the tone that we would be seeing origin stories, see the Heroes become Heroes and the entire month of September would be a gateway into DC with its exciting pantheon of characters; 52 origin books what a rocking concept! Justice League was a pure jumping on point for new readers and it worked by focusing on the three heroes that are in the public consciousness with Batman, Green Lantern and Superman.

The next week we saw a bunch of books set in current DC time and not in the Justice League five years previous, which kind of made sense, although I would of enjoyed seeing the emergence of heroes throughout all the titles, it would give the writers a time period to pull from through flashbacks. Then things got a little confusing, we had Action Comics that details Superman's origins which are set before the JL five years previous. It doesn't say how long ago, but we know he isn't wearing the armor he was wearing in the JL comic and he is more geeky in this book – so is this one, two or five years before he runs across Batman? With no timeline to judge when these events happened and the mix of technology your left with a book that doesn't really fit anywhere and I wonder if would of worked better as a special. The next clue in superhero development is with the Justice League International book which refers to events with the Justice League in sort of past tense, the Justice League America has been established but is seen as a rogue operation. Now we have Action Comics, Justice League and current DC timeline all going on at once… Since DC has such a great history of handling continuity spread across three time lines it is a recipe for the return to continuity errors we are used to seeing.

We also have new reader accessibility problems. For this one I will use the JLI as an example, this new UN sponsored team is based in the Hall of Justice without any explanation what the Hall of Justice is. Yes, of course I know what it is but do new readers? Maybe some of them will remember Superfriends or watched some of the JL cartoons on CN, right?

Then we have the Batbooks… Batgirl refers to events in the Killing Joke when she was crippled by the Joker, that's okay we have some past history which I shall assume is in the JL five years previous timeline and it looks like it will be explored throughout this book. Batman in Detective Comics isn't regarded as a pest, but still has cops shooting at him as he operates in an odd gray area of the law. In Batman & Robin, Damian, son of Bruce refers to working with Dick as Batman and the story is linked to events in Batman Incorporated as is Batwing. As Batman Inc is a pre-DCnU52 book I need to know about Batman Incorporated to figure out some of the story elements in the new rebooted  Bat books, errmm wasn't this supposed to be a whole new continuity?

Continuing on this theme Hal Jordan has already lost his ring in his Green Lantern book which makes no sense to anyone who jumped in after watching the movie or the Justice League book. Hawk & Dove leans heavily on its old back story which is double blow considering it has Rob 'No Feet' Liefield drawing it.  Legion is just an inaccessible mess, unless you know anything about the characters you are lost and story doesn't help as it is incomprehensible. Even Static Shock, the DC Tween Spider-man book doesn't even treat us to the characters origins. I thought Superheroes were supposed to be a new phenomenon in this universe? So why aren't we learning about or joining them on their first steps? In almost every book the heroes are established, so we don't even get to grow with them. A good example of creating a new universe is Ultimates, it nodded to the older reader while creating something unique and continuity free for the new reader.

Instead of a series of origin books that reset the universe and launched the DCnU52 proper making it completely new; we are two weeks in with a bunch of books that lean on the old continuity and in places totally fail in their task to recruit new readers. Really Hal Jordan with no ring? Legion so badly done you can't even read it if you don't know who is who. Hawk & Dove, huh?  Stormwatch tripping over itself and we still have two more weeks to go. I'm not convinced that this relaunch is going to save DC from their old problems, I feel we are just on a 52 week countdown to another reboot, a return to the older universe and it will be just a little more broken. Hey, they can just have another Crisis to sort it out, or have Superboy Prime punch the universe again, eh?

Already we have news of some of these books will be cancelled by issue 6, of creative teams being switched around by the third issue? The promise of a new start, of new origins and books free from continuity has been broken; which makes DCnU52 a total fail, right?

I know this post feels like a whine, but when I first started to pick up comics it was in the 90′s and DC books were rocking back then. When I returned to comics in 2007 I found the DC books incomprehensible with no jumping on points and in the middle of a year long event. With no titles I recognized on the rack beyond the Bat books I choose Marvel instead. I so want to be able to really enjoy the DC universe with its rich characters that I was looking forward to coming back via DCnU52; instead I find myself disappointed I wanted DC to really take a risk and give us something new and refreshing. Instead its coming across half baked; perhaps DC should of done an Ultimates line calling it 'The Flashpoint Universe' and really gone for it.

Welcome to the DCnU52 universe continuity free and a new beginning, right?

It is fair to say DC books were loaded with continuity and if you waited long enough the universe would reboot once a year making anything your favorite character did extremely pointless. Then we had the crisis of the crisis that was infinite, final and the final 52 of final crisis; which pretty much painted them into a corner and screwed up continuity so much nothing made sense anymore. So to cure all the problems DC hatched a plan to totally reboot the (or is that relaunch) the entire DC universe with a new continuity and make it accessible to new readers; we are now two weeks into the DCnU52 universe so did it work?

Lets see, first book of the DCnU52 was Justice League #1 where all the events take place five years before the current time, Superheroes were seen as menaces and the League didn't even exist. It worked, it set the tone that we would be seeing origin stories and a gateway into what DC was planning. This book was a pure jumping on point for new readers.

The next week we see a bunch of books set in current DC time and not in the Justice League five years previous. Then we had Action Comics that details Superman's origins which are set before the JL five years previous as he isn't wearing the armor he was wearing in the JL comic. Okay mildly confusing, but okay not all the books are running concurrent I can roll with that. Justice League International refers to events with the Justice League in sort of past tense, although the new JLI is based in the Hall of Justice without any explanation what the Hall of Justice is. Yes, of course I know what it is but do new readers?

Then we have the Batbooks… Batgirl refers to events in the Killing Joke when she was crippled by the Joker, that's okay we have some past history which I shall assume is in the JL five years previous. Batman in Detective Comics isn't regarded as a pest, but still has cops shooting at him as he operates in an odd grey area of the law. In Batman & Robin, Damian, son of Bruce refers to working with Dick as Batman and the story is linked to events in Batman Incorporated – which is a pre-DCnU52 book as is Batwing. So now I need to know about Batman Incorporated to figure out some of the story elements in the new rebooted continuity free Bat books, errmm was this supposed to be new continuity?

Continuing on this theme Hal Jordan has already lost his ring in his Green Lantern book which makes no sense to anyone who jumped in after watching the movie. Hawk & Dove leans heavily on its old back story about the Don the first Dove.  Legion is just a mess unless you know the characters you are lost and it is incomprehensible. Even Static Shock, the DC Spider-man book doesn't even treat us to the characters origins… I thought Superheroes were supposed to be a new phenomenon in this new universe?

Instead of a series of origin books that reset the universe and launched the DCnU52 proper making it completely new; we are two weeks in with a bunch of books that lean on the old continuity and in places totally fail in their task to recruit new readers. Really Hal Jordan with no ring? We have books running in a different time period either in JL five years previous or what time period Action Comics is in – which suspends the sense of peril because you know how it all turns out. I'm not convinced that this relaunch is going to save DC from their old problems, I feel we are just on a 52 countdown to another reboot, a return to the older universe and it will be just a little more broken. Which makes DCnU52 a total fail, right?

Sigmartyr – Vol.3 of the Epic Stikfas action web comic continues and we find out the fate of Alpha Team

Volume Three of Sigmartyr the Stikfas Action Web Comic continues. Click here to view to read this epic story, as we return to the front and find out the fate of Alpha Team.

Inside the Box – Thunderbolts, More Fear Itself, Talking Head Avengers, Moon Knight & Alpha Flight

Welcome to my biweekly Inside the Box column, these are the books that are currently in my box at Chucks Comics. Some will stay, some will go, these are my thoughts presented in the order I read these books in…

Thunderbolts #163 – Parker, Walker & Martin – I love this cover, a perfect foil to all the DCnU52 releases we are seeing this month. Once again Thunderbolts is showing why its one of the better team books on rack at the moment. The events of Fear Itself are now over and the plot that was boiling in the background of Marvel's least inspiring event has come to the fore. Great dialog, great interaction and an ending that is just full of potential. A keeper and one of the best Marvel teams books out there right now.

Alpha Flight 4 of 6 – Van Lente, Pak, Eaglesham, Hennessy & Oback – We see Alpha Flight running for the border and the formation of Alpha Strike. We are witness to a very dark moment from Vindicator – where I'm not sure if there is a way back for her and the power behind Unity is finally revealed. In all a great book, made better by the news that Alpha Flight is going to live beyond this excellent Maxi-series. Good book, get it just to see the team all cramped up in a people carrier. For me its a keeper.

The New Avengers #16 – Fear Itself Tie in – Bendis, Deodato & Beredo – I think this is book number five of talking heads? Done much better this time, but still used as the narrative to drive the story. Good piece of action and what is basically a love fest for Daredevil by Bendis. The question is if such a low powered street level hero is so bad-ass, why are the Avengers struggling to contain the events/minions of Fear Itself?  Of course it is staying and now the events of Fear Itself seemed to be behind this book I'm excited to see what is next for this more street level team.

Red Skull Incarnate 3 of 6 – Pak, Colak & Wilson – Great cover, sadly this time this issue fell flat, it is a transition book which deals with a huge chunk of German history in the 30′s and with this we lose some intimacy in the story. I am hoping this is just we need to get Johann to a certain point. The book is still fascinating, dark, pulls no punches and chilling.

Fear Itself Book Six of Seven – Fraction, Immonen, Von Grawbadger & Martin – If there was ever an event that made you shout just get to the end already it is Fear Itself. This is an story that should of been plotted out over four books and is now being largely ignored by many of the mainstream Marvel titles ; because as far as most the books are concerned these events have happened and they are continuing there own stories… Bad timing adding to the utterly pointlessness of this event now. Anyhow, this is the first book since the first issue that didn't jump around and gave us a solid believable story. We see everyone get ready for their final stand and Captain America turn into Ultimate Cap. We only have one more book to tie this up and it is done. An event that will never be forgotten as such a non-event.

The New Avengers Annual – Bendis, Dell'Otto & Svorcina – Here come the Revengers! And what follows is slug fest between the New Avengers and this team of super villains led by Wonderman. A little confused action and you couldn't tell what was happening in some of the fight panels. Basic premises is Wonderman blames the Avengers for all the bad stuff that has happened and has come to the conclusion removing them, will remove the problems. The fight could of been better and I don't buy that D-list villains really could do this to even the street level Avengers. Bad placement of the end image next to the 911 tributes, sort of lost all dramatic impact. The Revengers continue in The Avengers annual, where this team should have its butt handed to it by the Super level Avengers.

Moon Knight #5 – Bendis, Maleev & Wilson – Now Moon Knight is being Moon Knight and now we have the Avenger voices in his head arguing about the best way he can handle a situation; instead of him dressing like them this has become a much better book. I still don't like the muddy artwork, but the story is solid and fun to read after a very, very bleak start.  But it survived to become a mainstay of my box.

Kirby Genesis #3 – Busiek, Herbert & Ross – I knew this was going to happen, Kirby Genesis is starting to creak and fall apart under its own pantheon. Beautiful art, just with so many new characters and arcs being introduced I feel it is starting to lose its way a little. Nice book, I hope it pulls itself together as a book cannot survive by art alone.

Super Dinosaur #4 – Kirkman & Howard – Super fun all ages book that doesn't pretend to be anything other than a Saturday morning Cartoon show wrapped up in the pages of a comic. Pure fun and as my kid loves it (as I do too!) it's a total keeper!

I have to say that all the Marvel books this week had 911 tribute in the back of them, all of them are moving especially the panel stories. It is just poor judgement that the The New Avengers Annual had a poorly placed dramatic ending splash next to the moving 911 tribute.

I am very happy that Fear Itself is coming to an end, there is something polarizing about this event and I do believe it three books to many. What consequences it has for the Marvel universe will be played out (with no doubt) through a series of books that I will do my best to ignore. I know I sound bitter, but is it wrong of me just to want good solid books that tell a story? Until the next column, take care now!