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.