DC Comics: The New 52, Week Two – Part Two

I have finally finished my week two reviews and I look forward to your feedback. Now I must start reading the 13 comics for week three of the New 52. Have fun and keep reading!

Hawk & Dove #1 -SPOILER ALERT!

This is a great introduction for those new to Hawk and Dove – myself included. I have only read a bit about the series back during the Blackest Night and Brightest Day events in the old DC Universe. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the way the characters were introduced amidst a crazy fight scene in a cargo plane. Writer Sterling Gates launches into characters at a great pace, but still provides a really good history in a short amount of time. I was also pleased to see Deadman, as Dove’s love interest, especially considering how they fell for one another in Brightest Day only to be pulled apart in the end. Thank you for that! Perhaps some of our readers can fill me in on who the character is at the end of this issue. Bottom line: I thought I wouldn’t read beyond issue one, but thanks to fantastic writing, accompanied by great art and colors, I am hooked.

Writer Sterling Gates – Artist Rob Liefeld – Colorist Matt Yackey – Letterer Dezi Sienty – Cover Liefeld and Hi-Fi

O.M.A.C #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

Of the books I’ve read so far, I’m sorry to report this is the first lackluster effort of The New 52 from DC. Back in the 1990s, I was not the biggest fan of any storyline involving Cadmus Industries and unfortunately, this first issue did not wow me. I felt no connection to any of the characters. I read this issue twice to try and see if I missed something on the first go through. The second read didn’t make it any better. Hopefully, the second issue will be different. I welcome our readers to disagree.

Story and Art by Keith Giffen & Dan Didio – Inks by Scott Koblish – Colors by Hi-Fi – Lettering by Travis Lanham

STATIC SHOCK #1 – NO SPOILER ALERT!

I am sure there are fans of this book out there and I would like to hear from you. Please tell me why you liked this first issue? Static’s banter reminded me of Spider-Man’s witty repertoire, which isn’t the most promising way to launch a character in a new book. Even if I ignored that, the story simply wasn’t engaging. I will not be picking up issue two.

Story by Scott McDaniel & John Rozum – Pencils Scott McDaniel – Inks Jonathan Glapion & Le Beau Underwood – Letters Dezi Sienty – Colors Guy Major

SWAMP THING #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

The opening of this book was superb. Birds literally drop dead in Metropolis as Clark, Perry and Lois look out their Daily Planet office window in horror. Bats fall from the Batcave ceiling as Batman stands holding a dead one in has hand. Aquaman is swimming with the dead fishes. Cut to Alec Holland working a construction job as he ponders the fact that he is once again alive (after dying six weeks earlier). He also comes face-to-face with Superman and they discuss Holland’s connection to Swamp Thing. The book takes a creepy turn to introduce a pretty scary new villain that you must see for yourself. There were some pretty good death sequences. The writing and art in this book matches brilliantly. Definitely take a chance on this book.

Writer Scott Snyder – Artist Yanick Paquette – Colors Nathan Fairbairn – Letters John J. Hill

ANIMAL MAN #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

HOME RUN! Thank-you DC. You finally turned what I always considered a sub-par character into someone I want to read after the first issue. Writer Jeff Lemire did all of the right things with this book. I appreciated how Buddy Baker’s (aka Animal Man) origin was presented to the reader: a one-page question and answer interview style in the fictitious pages of The Believer. DC should have treated every origin story this way. It avoids cluttering each first issue with an origin setup. I also really liked the layout of the art and panels in this book. And I loved the ending when his daughter…Well, I’ll just let you read.

Writer Jeff Lemire – Pencils & Cover Travel Foreman – Inks Travel Foreman and Dan Green – Interior & Cover Colors Lovern Kindzierski – Letters Jared K. Fletcher

MEN OF WAR #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

I was skeptical of this book because I didn’t know a lot about Sergeant Rock beforehand, but I am a big fan now. I was completely blown away by Men of War. (No pun intended.) Artist Tom Derenick really paid attention to detail, and the colors by Matt Wilson sets the mood from page one.  The narrative given to Rock through the story really shows what makes him tick. The cast of characters around Rock – although there aren’t many – were well placed. Rock, who just wanted to be a good soldier, was reluctant about having the rank of Sergeant thrust upon him. However, events involving two super powered beings in a war zone result in the death of Sergeant Torisi and with his final breath, dog tags in hand, he tells Rock he’s a sergeant now. I am looking forward to seeing where this story goes. Pick up this book if it isn’t already sold out.

Writer Ivan Brandon – Artist Tom Derenick – Colorist Matt Wilson – Letterer Rob Leigh – Cover Viktor Kalvachev

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

I was excited to pick up the first issue to see how Booster Gold and Guy Gardner are treated in relation to the lesser-known heroes in the book. I suspect Batman’s role may only be part-time on this team, but I hope I am wrong. I was surprised to see the Hall Of Justice actually get blown up and wonder if the creative team let that happen so they can set the team up elsewhere, perhaps in space.

Writer Dan Jurgens – Pencil Art Aaron Lopresti – Ink Art Matt Ryan – Lettering Travis Lanham – Colors Hi-Fi

BATGIRL #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

A cover can do so much for a new book, especially when it’s drawn by Adam Hughes, a true artistic talent. Issue one opens with a marvelous death scene by a villain, who calls himself the Mirror. But I do not want to ruin the story for you, so I’ll leave it there. This book is extremely well written and boasts some of the best art of a female hero I have seen in a long time. The story kept in step with the history of Barbara Gordon, who was paralyzed from the waist down after being shot by the Joker. The brief explanation of why she can walk once again was also believable. This is a book for fan girls and fan boys alike.

Writer Gail Simone – Penciller Adrian Syaf – Inker Vicente Cifuentes – Color Ulises Arreola – Letterer Dave Sharp – Cover Art Adam Hughes

BATWING #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

It looks like Batman Incorporated lives in the new DC universe after all. The book introduces Batwing, hero to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who sports a cool costume and a fantastic “Batcave” dubbed, The Haven. I was pleasantly surprised to see Batman make an appearance in the first issue and was completely shocked when our hero took a sword right through the back. Issue two can’t come soon enough.

Written by Judd Winick – Art by Ben Oliver – Colors by Brian Reber – Letters by Carlos M. Mangual – Cover Oliver and Reber

GREEN ARROW #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

This issue left me feeling indifferent. It was a very heavy reboot of the hero, which we once knew in the old DC universe. The drastic age change from the original Oliver Queen was jarring. However, I did enjoy that his enormous wealth finances his greatest superpower: an endless supply of arrows. I also liked that this version of Green Arrow will go anywhere in the world to fight for what he believes in and save lives any chance he gets. What did you think of this book?

Writer J.T. Krul – Penciller Dan Jurgens – Inker George Pérez – Colorist David Baron – Letter Rob Leigh – Cover Dave Wilkins

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Comic Canuck

Managing Editor at ComicBookTherapy

My fortress of solitude is in Calgary, Alberta, CANADA and surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. I hope you enjoy my musings on the industry, comic book reviews, interviews and all other things that are pretty geek chic. Comment, rant and even agree with me sometimes. Plus, let me know if there is anything you think I should read and review.

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