This seems like it will be a great book. No idea where they are taking it though a series about a con-man who has lost 17 days of his life, this could be interesting. Have to see where it goes. Can’t say any more as it did not reveal much of the future.
Weird, that is the only word i can think of to describe this issue, from what i can tell it is DC attempt to do a League of Extraordinary Gentleman style book. I have no clue what they are going to do with this book, but I do not actively dislike it, it a promise depending on where they tske it.
The beginning half of this first issue is spent with the lead character in a matrix looking tank with the leading character plugged into the computer. The only plot progression is a discussion of if a half human, half Kryptonian, is physiologically the same as a human. The only interaction from our lead character is inner monologue boxes, and this is very alien so in know way draws you into the character.
The Second half is free from the tank. We start in a school where we discover Superboy is a walking cross between wolphram alpha and wikipedia, on more step in the unreadable category. We are introduced to Rose Wilson who puts the lead in his place, and seems like she might be an okay character. Shame all I have said so far in the paragraph is complete bollocks as it all happens in a VR so the one hope I had at this point was blown out the window.
This clone from the hints given is and mix of Kal-El and Lex, and there for has a wonky version of Clark’s childhood memory, and Lex’s morals. We hear more talk on how he is not human.
This issues totally bored me to me 3 attempt to make it all the way through, as had no grip so would wonder off mid read and then not bother when I come back. This is a bad sign.
Hoping there is a 20 fold improvement in issue 2.
¤Like: - Batgirl - Justice League - Detective Comics - Hawk and Dove - Green Arrow
¤Shows Promise: - Static Shock - O.M.A.C - Stormwatch
¤Not Sure Yet: - Swamp Thing - Action Comics - Batwing - Justice League International
¤Dislike: - Men of War
That was an amazing first issue, easily my favourite of week one.
The are style is brilliant, distinctively Bat family but more light tones and hope at a graphical level, it fits brilliantly.
Barbara Gordon is brilliant, I like that they are keeping that she was Oracle, she did have and encounter with the Joker, and has been wheelchair bound as well, which as she put it lead to extreme upperbody strength, helpful as Batgirl. The costume is good too looks good, looks as practical as superhero costumes get and fits the character well.
What struck more was the power of the character, she is someone with a new lease of life, and wanting some fun post wheelchair, as shown by her driving her Batcycle in to a lift to get to a higher floor. The best bit is that they are making her past count to the future of her character, this was most obvious when she had a gun aimed at her and she was just frozen, as her crippling at the hands of the Joker, came flooding back into her mind, leaving her a terrified mess, meaning she failed in her return to her job as Batgirl, making her a human and a character we can relate partially too.
First things first, I have to get this out of the way, I don’t really like Superman as a character, but I watched every episode of Smallville.
So first thing I liked and jumped out at me, they used the Smallville title song on the title page.
I like the fact that this is the early days of Superman, only been in the public eye for six months, and has yet to work out his costume and is wearing a cobbled together set up from the farm and a t-shirt with the house of El symble printed on it, which must have cost him all of $15 to get made up, and a cheap fancy dress cape. As hero he is also developing getting stronger and stronger as the years go on as he did in Smallville. He’s also developing his morals deciding just how far he can puss his powers.
I don’t like the fact that they that in his t-shirt he looks like he is wearing a corset under it. I also don’t like that they are still going with the where glasses and no one will know who you are, I wear glasses at times, that does not work.
Now for supporting characters, Lex is a bit chunky which I can see makes sense, his power is his mind and like alot of geeks his body is second thought. General Lane is a hard nosed general as you’d expect with no real love for Lex. Since his plans are very unpredictable.
Do not like the current Jimmy, swivelling up to Clark even though they work for rival papers, and he also looks like a stiff breeze will kill him.
I almost forgot Lois Lane, and that sums up my thoughts on her.
I found this issue wholly average, I hope it improves.
Good god, I was not expecting that.
So far without a doubt the best of the New 52 I’ve read. It was brilliant, and above and beyond what I was expecting from a Batman comic. I loved the art style really gritty but bold.
Now for characters. Batman, seems like broken man at his core, that is nothing but a symbol, Bruce just seems to be a front, not really caring about the life Bruce leads.
Joker is the big thing in the issues and I feel the foreseeable future of the book, he is unbelievably mad, he seems to because madly evil character rather than the bonkers guy with the flags saying “BANG” popping out of them. This joker is a Jack the Ripper type character brutally murdering lots of people in many different ways. He is so twisted he will be the perfect counter point to the Symbol of Justice, Baman.
The supporting characters, you expect are all there, Jim Gordon, Harvey Bullock, and Alfred Penwortham, and hints at a relationship with Catwoman, I hope these characters develop well, I also hope they bring in more of the well known background characters.
The end few pages show the Arkham Asylum is a corrupt and odd place, that seems like it will lead to great stories. The final panel was the high point of the whole issue, it showed that future issues will be going in a very twisted and interesting places.
Green Arrow, just what I expected, some good arrow shooting fun.
Green Arrow, was what redeemed Smallville for me, he was a great fun character with lots of depth from his past and as with Batman, the interaction with his company. From what I have encountered of him he is pretty much Batman, with less sulking, which is why he went with a Robin Hood look rather than a bat.
This first issue showed of what I wanted it to show off; the combat, the tech in the arrows, the interaction with Queen Industries, and I liked the background staff in his Batcave equivalent. I hope to see more of this in future issues as I think he will be a great continuing character if they play up his fun factor, and don’t take him down the Batman route.
Batwing, from a quick google I discovered he is part of something called Batman Inc, Batman franchising, just off a gut reaction, stupid idea.
So let’s look at the Batwing comic, it seems like it may have promise, as a more broken and disturbed version of Batman. Set in post war torn Democratic Republic of the Congo, with all the corruption, bribery and drug dealing that goes with it. Instead of a billionaire Batwing is just a cop, with the Batman funding and tech, this includes a full armoured suit and a Batcave (the haven).
The villain also seems like he’s going to be good, a hardened murderer, who isn’t above a bit of ex-super-hero killing. He shows some promise for the future like the rest of the book does, as long as the line between Batwing and Batman is kept clear.
These are two characters I knew nothing about, this seems to be a running theme.
This so far this has been my second favourite of the comics from this new era, after Justice League #01. I am loving the art style, it fits so well with the characters. The opening statement about how the US political scheme is rotting from the core, because the checks and balances have gone since it has become so firmly a two party system.
The two main characters are brilliant, Hawk the Avatar of War, a very angry character that is the brutal strength in the pair, and Dove the Avatar of Peace, a calm and collected character that’s the brains of the operation. The counter play between the two clashing personalities looks like it will be great. There is also history between the two, and the former Dove, Hawk’s brother, there seems to be alot of history to come out that from the old Dove and the new Dove (Dawn), and it will be good to see how that plays out.
The villain of the price seems like it will be good fun, a scientist who is also a terrorist, trying to destroy the world with monsters he creates.
I think I am going to be enjoying this comic in future issues.
