Hawk and Dove DCnU Review: #1 - #3

I didn’t want Hawk and Dove to be so far down on my list. But it just wasn't that good. Every time I went to rate it against one of the other titles I had to pause, but ultimately it lost a lot of the comparisons. Don't get me wrong, there are things about Hawk and Dove that are praise worthy. Some of the art is pretty smart and the coloring is excellent. Where Hawk and Dove falls flat are the characters and the story.

In this first story arc we see that Hawk and Dove are the embodiment of war and peace, touting such powers as strength and compassion, respectively. The enemies that we set up for them are the infamous Condor and Swan. Okay, I would like to think that I can get past these names, but the story telling is still scattered and inconsistent, promising enough just to be disappointing.

Here’s my reason for disliking Hawk and Dove so much. It has so much potential that it could live up to, but it fails. A great scene in the second issue is the creation of Swan, who achieves this status by sacrificially killing another avatar. But despite some great hints of story, I don’t know what is up with these characters. It doesn’t help when Deadman shows up, bringing up his past relationship with Dove. In the third issue, the presence of Deadman shows us that there is something dark and sinister lurking within Condor and Swan, but I feel that this could have been portrayed with the two title characters. I mean, what else are super powers of compassion and intelligence useful for. In addition to these gripes, I've been spoiled with characterization in some of the other New 52. Although we get to see both characters outside of their uniforms, the ingredients of their social life are off and its not yet interesting.


This incarnation of Hawk and Dove is brought to us by Sterling Gates and Rob Liefeld. Overall, Liefeld's art is okay, though some of the scenes are downright awesome. Unfortunately, those just highlight the inconsistencies. Sadly, the writing follows this same pattern. Turning to Gates, he is a relative new comic writer and, according to Wikipedia, was hired by Johns. I wish I had read some of his other work, and I would love to know what he is/was thinking with this book. Did he choose the title or was it offered to him? Again, parts of the story are intriguing, and I'll keep reading it, but there were so many other titles that DC could have released.

Review of Static Shock #1 to Static Shock #3

Static Shock is one of the New 52 that provides an extraordinary adventure story. Three issues in and the action and story telling are still coming strong. Number 1 does a great job of introducing the character and the setting. Virgil Hawkins just moved with his mother and sisters from ‘Dakota’ to New York City. His move just happens to correspond with the disappearance of Zoom and the appearance of the new Static Shock!


I knew I was enjoying this story through #1 and #2, and was actually wishing I felt this much excitement for some of the other new titles. I wasn’t, however, expecting it beat 37 other New 52 titles. The target of corporate sponsored villainy, Static not only has to stay alive but also contend with both cantankerous New Yorkers and a family pushed to uncomfortable limitations.  All of this gives Static Shock a strong atmosphere and pulse pounding sense of adventure.

Mostly, Static Shock is adventure and action. To issue three it has maintained its adrenaline rush, with Static Shock the target of unwelcome attention. While this is exciting, I think it is the underlying family story that actually makes Static so memorable. So far there have been great fights and action sequences in the new series of books (e.g., Batman, Resurrection Man, Green Arrow). However, the story of Static's mother, his sister, and his sister’s clone is present just enough to hook us, and Scott McDaniel and John Rozum reel us in.

I sadly admit that I'm still learning the authors of all these books. There are a few that stand out to me, both from times of yore and from my recent re-emergence into the DC world, but I haven't given these fine writers the attention that they are due. However, both McDaniel and Rozum have some excellent websites that fans should check out.

Rank Order of the New 52

Having read the first two issues of all the New 52, I decided that it would be a good idea to rank order them. Using a pairwise comparison method and my wife's iPad to review issues, I made the 1,326 comparisons necessary for this process. I must admit, I was a little surprised by the results. I knew I liked Animal Man and Blue Beetle, but I wouldn't have guessed they were at the top. Also, just a couple reviews ago, I was commenting that Superboy was probably in my top 10, but this title actually falls at 16. I guess, what I really learned is that there are a lot of new DCnU titles out there. Here's looking forward to the #3's!

Below are the rankings (along with how many other titles a particular title was rated better than in parentheses).

1 Animal Man (50)
1 Blue Beetle (50)
3 Batgirl (47)
3 DC Universe Presents (47)
5 All Star Western (46)
6 Frankenstein (45)
7 Demon Knights (44)
7 Green Lantern Corps (44)
9 Justice League (43)
10 Teen Titans (10)
11 Supergirl (41)
12 The Flash (39)
13 Nightwing (37)
13 Static Shock (37)
13 Superman (37)
16 Superboy (35)
17 Batman The Dark Knight (34)
18 Detective Comics (32)
19 O.M.A.C. (31)
19 Suicide Squad (31)
21 Aquaman (30)
21 Catwoman (30)
23 Birds of Prey (29)
23 Red Lanterns (29)
23 The Fury of Firestorm (29)
23 Wonder Woman (29)
27 Swamp Thing (24)
28 Batman (23)
29 Resurrection Man (22)
30 Action Comics (20)
30 Batman and Robin (20)
30 Batwing (20)
30 Justice League Dark (20)
30 Stormwatch (20)
35 Deathstroke (19)
36 Justice League International (17)
37 Voodoo (16)
38 Men of War (15)
39 Mister Terrific (14)
39 The Savage Hawkman (14)
41 Red Hood and the Outlaws (14)
42 Green Lantern: New Guardians (12)
43 Green Lantern (9)
44 Blackhawks (8)
45 Legion Lost (7)
46 Captain Atom (5)
46 Green Arrow (5)
46 Legion of Super-Heroes (5)
49 Batwoman (4)
50 Grifter (3)
50 Hawk and Dove (3)
52 I, Vampire (0)

Animal Man #1 and Animal Man #2

Jeff Lemire is penning two of the DCnU New 52: Animal Man and Frankenstein. Before this I was a little familiar with Lemire's Sweet Tooth, but not his older works. So far, hands down, Lemire is my favorite writer among the list that makes up DC's new titles. Before discussing the story, let me mention Travel Foreman's art. In the first issue (9/7), he shares the spotlight with Dan Green, but receives sole billing for the followup (10/5). The art is great and provides a feel to the book that wouldn't have been achieved without it, but it takes some getting used to. In fact, in September I recall complaining about the same style that I was praising in October.

At least in this first arc, Animal Man is a horror story. Buddy Baker, a.k.a. Animal Man, is a costumed hero with the ability to borrow powers from the animal world. The readers of the New 52 enter Buddy's life during a slump, where he has left most of his superhero days behind him and is less well known now as an actor and activist. Slipping back into the role of the hero, Animal Man is beset by a deeply unsettling experience that spreads to the world around him. While the first issue sets up the coming of the Red, the second sees Buddy and his daughter Maxine preparing to travel to it.

Lemire fills the path of Buddy and Maxine with a sense of dread, danger, and impending disaster. The art that I at first disdained maintains the feel of the story with an air of surreality. If you are looking for a horror story containing a depth of story and characterization, then Animal Man appears to be a good match.

The Dark Knight #1 and The Dark Knight #2

Batman the Dark Knight is written by David Finch and illustrated by Paul Jenkins and Richard Friend. There are both flaws and great things contained in this project. Number 1, published on 9/28, covers an outbreak at Arkham Asylum. We see a personal side of Batman for a moment, as he reminds the guards about the human costs of the riot. Helping lead the charge, Batman and Arkham’s security force storm the asylum. During all the action, Batman first spots the White Rabbit.

Issue 2, published on 10/26, shows the investigation and mop up following the Arkham riot. After being bloodied by an enraged Two-Face, Batman traces the White Rabbit to where another villain waits at the end of #2. The second issue is also full of action, with great scenes of Batman's Gotham allies taking down drugged escapees from Arkham.

The White Rabbit is more interesting than the drug that she is pioneering, but I'm a little surprised by the physical effects. We see that both heroes from Batman's past are physically ripped, their muscles swollen beyond reasonable expectations. Although we see Dent's enormous guns and the physical pounding that Batman takes, the only discussion we get is of its emotional effects.

Overall, I think the first story arc of The Dark Knight will be an action packed story that highlights the human side of the Dark Knight with not so subtle hints of his fighting and detective skills.

Superboy #1 and Superboy #2

So far, I'm really enjoying the Superboy title among the new 52. Perhaps top 10. Superboy #1 was released on 9/14 and Superboy #2 on 10/12. Written by Scott Lobdell, so far we've gotten an exciting adventure about a clone grown by N.O.W.H.E.R.E. along with a healthy dose of mystery.

Perhaps more than other DCnU titles (excluding the "Bat" titles), Superboy pulls together a wide web in the DCnU. We see Lois Lane leaked information about a cloned "Superboy". Among the scientists cloning and growing Superboy, we learn that part of his genetic material comes from Superman and a mystery person. Perhaps this will explain his telekinetic powers? Finally, we see a mysterious director setting him against the Teen Titans.

Sadly, this was all #1 and #2 doesn't give us much more. Instead, despite the fact that Superboy has involuntarily destroyed multiple labs when threatened, he painfully learns the limits of his abilities as he attempts to prove his abilities to his captors.

The artwork of R.B. Silva and Rob Lean is enjoyable. Superboy really is an adventure and its their work that brings it to life and makes it pop. If it wasn’t for their action scenes #2, the series would have already lagged. Perhaps the best examples of their work is the contrasting of the frail, vulnerable being barely months old to the cocky and sure teenager that is Superboy.

Deathstroke: Bloody and Brutal

The rest of the DCnU may have received a face lift but Slade Wilson is still grizzled. In fact, he may be the oldest character that I’ve seen yet. Don’t let this loll you into a false sense of security. Deathstroke may have been taking body guarding gigs, but in no way should be be counted out.

The team of Higgins, Bennett, and Thibert bring us the new Deathstroke. I really enjoyed the art of Bennett and Thibert. Although not a horror story, Bennett’s work gives it an eerie feel at times and Thibert’s ink creates some sharp depictions, ranking amongst some of the best of what new 52 has offered. Although Higgins is relatively new, he has some serious titles behind him (Batman, Captain America). His writing, both here and in Nightwing, is promising.

Turning to the story, what surprised me the most was that it was a team op. I wasn’t expecting this; neither apparently was Wilson. But I have to say, the team thing went smartly. Given a dangerous assignment, the group provides support for Wilson as he deals with skewed intel and mutated enemies. Despite the set up, I think we’ll see Deathstroke running alone in the future. Let me warn you, its brutal.

Digging to get to the Bottom of OMAC

As CADMUS Industries evacuates its offices, a blue construct is ripping its way further into the secret levels. Clashing with security, this O.M.A.C. manages to fight its way to the central database and disappears. Afterwards, Kevin Kho awakens, disoriented, and promised by a strange voice that there is much they will discuss.

I picked up OMAC knowing nothing about it. It was a pleasant read, but raised several questions. The first place I landed was with Jack Kirby, who introduced both CADMUS and OMAC to DC comics. Project CADMUS was a genetic engineering project; OMAC was the One Man Army Corps, a story about a corporate nobody transformed by remote control. Expanded during the early 2000s, OMAC became the acronym of Omni Mind and Community and Observational Metahuman Activity Construct. Didio, Giffen, and Koblish’s Office Management Amidst Chaos seems to combine these stories to give us the current OMAC as both.

With the amount of research I had to do, I almost feel the book is Didio’s homage to what has came before. Didio, as co-publisher of DC Comics and editor of DC Universe, is certainly in position to do so. With such a brief story, its the art and portrayal of action that is the carrying factor of #1.

Superman in Jeans: Action Comics #1

The superman presented by Morrison, Morales, and Bryant isn’t clad in the armor we see in Justice League. Morrison gives us Superman outing criminals, saving innocents from a demolished building, and stopping a run-away train and carrying Lois Lane. Clad in jeans, a t-shirt, and a red cape, our hero takes a beating, leaving a battered and bruised Clark Kent.

Morrison has worked with Superman before, a notable work being All Star Superman and his recent work with Batman and Bruce Wayne. I wasn’t as familiar with Bryant’s work, but was surprised that his credits included the 80’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. Their work in Action Comics gives us well drawn characters with features that reflect the toil and joys of their lives. While I wasn’t a fan of Clark’s battered visage or Luthar’s aging appearance, they also provide great action sequences that keep this book rolling.

While Superman kept busy, I was a little disappointed with him. What I was more intrigued by was Lex Luthor, working with General Lane in the military, as he placed civilians in danger to lure in Superman. It appears that his final plan is an even greater gamble and threat to the people of Metropolis, but can Superman handle it?

Demon Knights is a Medieval Delight

Wow! Mordru, an illicit love affair between a demon and Xanadu, and the fall of Camelot!

It turns out Merlin was a dick. At the fall of Camelot the wizard forces Etrigan, a captured demon, into the body of the first human he encounters, the fated Jason of Norwich. Meeting up with the immortal Xanadu (who may have recovered Excalibur), they roam for centuries as he becomes known as Jason of the Blood. Now, in the Dark Ages, begins their conflict with the Lord of Chaos and the Questing Queen. As the Queen’s hordes flow into the village they are visiting, they are thrust into confrontation with the villains alongside Vandal Savage, Sir Ystin (the Shining Knight), Al Jabr, Exoristos, and a mysterious female bowman. The first two are confirmed by Jason and Xan as fellow immortals, roaming the world.

Paul Cornell really delivers in the writing of DemonKnights. Probably best known for his work with Doctor Who, Cornell sets up compelling characters, terrorizing villains, and enough action and dialogue to draw me in and set the hook. Of the new 52, the art of this book is outstanding. I was excited to see Brazilian Diogenes Neves (New Mutants, Green Arrow) and Oclair Albert (Blackest Night) take on these characters.

Justice League International: A Mixed Review

The work of Dan Jurgens can be powerful. After 20 years his name conjures the death of Superman and the war of the supermen. With this, it was with some trepidation that I approached Justice League International. Illustrated by the team of Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan (JLA Generation Lost), we have mostly good, if sometimes inconsistent, art.

Some of the new 52 start out with a bang, some with quiet contemplation, but JLI starts out with a fancy power point presentation. Andre Briggs, head of U.N. Intelligence, sells a new group of superheros to be backed by the U.N. Headed up by Booster gold, their members include Ice, Vixen, Fire, Godiva, Rocket Red, the August General in Iron, and Guy Gardner.

Jurgens’ gives us friction from the beginning: factions amongst the U.N., Gardner’s resistance, Batman’s interference, and missing U.N. research teams. The cost of this is that we don’t get much personality and character, with the exception of Booster and Gardner. Overall, I liked the story, but I’m less than impressed with Jurgen’s writing. The beginning starts strong, but the trivial characterization of some of the team draws it down. In the end, I’m still a little afraid of what we’re going to get with JLI.

Rage of the Red Lanterns

When first looking over the 52, this title intrigued me. It was Johns’ work with the Ring corps enticed me to DC again. That said, I didn’t know what to expect. What we get from the team of Milligan, Benes, and Hunter is great, and I hope its going to stay bloody.

To be honest, I don’t know where British writer Peter Milligan is going. First, though, let me praise Benes and Hunter’s (Justice League of America) work. Their art is sharp and splendid, but its really Nathan Eyring’s colors that got me. The coloring makes Red Lanterns a visual delight.

Milligan has a wide background, with such titles as Spiderman, X-Men, Batman, and Tank Girl. He starts with a cat and slaughter while leaving us with a mutinous brood of raging Lanterns. We learn the past and present of Atrocitus. We see his family’s death and the birth of the Red Lanterns; him gloating over the bleeding corpse of the Guardian Krona; and finally we see his self doubts mingle with his bloody quest for vengeance. Where Atrocitus is going, I do not know; however, I suspect the Red Lanterns will soon be visiting John and Raymond in London, where Milligan plants the seeds for rage to grow.

Batgirl Offers New Insight into the New 52

DC offers a new universe, but not everything has changed. Barbara Gordon was still shot by the Joker (as presented in Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke), but instead of being left paralyzed she is back as Batgirl. Where in the old world, Gail Simone presented Gordon as the computer savvy Oracle, in the new Batgirl she gives us a motorcycle riding heroine dealing with the scars of her injury.

Although Batgirl is my second review, it’s the fifth of the new 52 I’ve read and it’s my favorite. Simone’s presents an action packed issue, a great villain, and a hero battling her own fears. Ardian Syaf’s art is amazing and compliments Simon’s story – Gordon as Batgirl is intoxicating but the emotional flashbacks quickly sober us.

By the end of the issue we see Batgirl again paralyzed, but by the fear that Simone introduced earlier. It’s a good thing that we get a couple different fight scenes, or I might have drawn different conclusions about Batgirl’s worth. But because of her success in the early pages and the emotional internal dialogue, I end up feeling for her failure and cringing as superhero relations are set back further in the DCnU. Simone’s title is one that I will definitely be following.

Justice League #1

It is appropriate that the first title in the DCnU is Geoff John's take on the Justice League. Chief Creative Officer for DC, Geoff is also the architect that managed to bring Hal Jordan back as Green Lantern and author of Flashpoint, the series that ended the DC universe as we knew it. Pairing with him are Jim Lee and Scott Williams, both of whom are coming off the now ended Batman and Robin title.

From the outset we see that this is a whole new world, with the police firing on Batman as he pursues an alien along Gotham's skyline. Alerted to the extraterrestrial threat, Batman is joined by a young and cocky Hal Jordan. Geoff's dialogue between the two is a blast, with Green Lantern and Batman trading quips as they pursue the alien and avoid the city's forces. Most memorable, Hal mocks Batman's lack of powers before losing his ring to the caped crusader.

While the meeting between the two is fun and filled with excitement, it also leaves something to be desired. The reader is left with the feeling that the book is too short. Despite this, we are left eagerly looking forward to Superman joining the frey as the mystery of Darkseid unfolds.

Beginning the New 52

Excited by the DCnU, I'm reviewing the New 52. Being truthful, there are few comics that I currently collect. This is an opportunity for me to get reacquainted with DC after the 90's. It's also an outlet for non-academic writing. While I anticipate this task being a pleasure, I expect that there is a lot of research I will need to do to do these titles justice (thank you Wikipedia authors and the Green County Public Library).

Each of my reviews will be between 190 and 210 words long. I promise to provide a little background on all titles and the authors/artists. However, being away from DC for so long, I'll be approaching this with a detached view of what has occurred in the last 15 years and a general ignorance of the events of Flashpoint (despite the endorsement of my local shop).

Finally, let me note three inspirations for this task. Geoff Johns, for his work on JSA and Green Lantern. Maximilian Lake, a close friend, for recommending Geoff's work and agreeing to this task in a more public arena. Superfly Comics and Games (http://superflycomics.com/), my local comic shop, for offering the New 52 half off to customers committing early to all #1's.