Category Archives: Comics
New Green Lantern? New Origin for Tim Drake?
Hi-dee-ho there, comic book fans! Your favorite blogger here bringing you some fascinating news out of DC Comics. Who is the new Green Lantern? And is DC going to change the origin for Tim Drake, the third Robin? We’re going to find out the answer to both questions in September!
In September, the one-year anniversary of the New 52 reboot, DC will be publishing a #0 issue for each of their titles. These will be flashback and prequel issues, revealing a bit of the new backstory that came with the reboot. This is a fantastic idea, because DC have told us very little about large swaths of the back story. You can check out the full solicitations here, if you’re so inclined.
But of the solicitations, two really stuck out to me: Green Lantern #0 and Teen Titans #0.
First, in the Green Lantern issue, we’re finally going to be introduced to the new human Green Lantern who made his first appearance in DC’s Free Comic Book Day issue. Only in that issue, he seemed to be an antagonist against the Justice League. Yeahbuwha?
I’m excited to see a new Green Lantern. I’ve never particularly cared for any of the four previous human Green Lanterns, and so new blood is just what that franchise needs. The ring can go to anyone, after all. And we haven’t had a new Green Lantern since the early 90s. This guy is apparently Arabic, based on the tattoo on his arm, so that’s cool. Diversity is always a good thing. But I am a little worried about that antagonist thing. Hopefully it’ll get sorted out.
My guess is that this guy, whose name we don’t yet know, will be getting Hal Jordan’s old ring. Prior to the reboot, Hal was kicked out of the Green Lantern Corps and stripped of his ring. Meanwhile, Sinestro had been inducted back into the Corps for reasons that remain mysterious. Since the reboot started, Sinestro has used his Power Ring to give Hal temporary Green Lantern powers so that they can go on adventures together. So that still leaves open the fate of Hal’s ring – which I think this new guy is going to get!
Meanwhile, we have Teen Titan #0.
The solicitation says that we’re going to take a look at how Tim Drake became Robin.
“Focusing on the origin of Tim Drake; how a would be Olympic star and computer genius went on to become Batman’s third Robin.”
So yeah, would-be Olympic star? Computer genius? Neither one was ever part of Tim’s original origin. Granted he’s always been good with computers, but he was never a computer genius. And also, Olympic athlete and computer genius? Do those even go together?
Tim’s original origin had him as a youthful detective who correctly deduced the identities of Batman and Robin using only his smarts and some good detective work. Then after Jason Todd dies, Tim notices that Batman has become a lot more reckless without a Robin. Tim tries to convince Dick Grayson to return as Robin, but Dick won’t go for it. Then when Batman is really in danger, Tim decides that he must do something brave and impulsive, and so he goes to aid him wearing the Robin costume. It’s only later that Bruce finally comes around and accepts Tim as a new Robin.
When it comes to the New 52 timeline, DC really shot themselves in the foot by declaring that superheroes have only really been around for about 5 years…yet they kept all four Robins. So Batman had four different Robins over a 5 year span? How does that even work? Especially considering that Damian Wayne, the current Robin, is 10 years old. That would mean Bruce Wayne has been Batman for at leas t10 years to have met Ras al Ghul and Talia…I dunno, it’s all very confusing.
But making Tim a would-be Olympic athlete would cut down on the time needed to train him to be Robin, making him easier to squeeze into that 5 year span. But does this also mean they’re going to change everything else out about his origin?
I sure hope not. The idea that Tim decided on his own that Batman needs a Robin is key to the character, and to the mantle of Robin. I plan to write a lot more on this someday, but it never works out whenever Batman choose who will be his next Robin. The new kid has to come to him naturally through the story. So I really hope DC doesn’t drastically alter Tim Drake’s origin.
Not that there’s anything I can do about it if they do…
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #11
Ultimate Spider-Man is firing on all cylinders, baby! Last issue was absolutely perfect in its tense dialogue and character study, and this issue is absolutely perfect with its fantastic action and excitement. If I haven’t declared it already, this is the issue where Miles Morales is cemented in my mind as a new and exciting Spider-Man. The pain of Peter Parker’s young, unnecessary death still hurts, but writer Brian Michael Bendis is at the top of his game telling a decidedly Spider-Man story with a new, fascinating protagonist.
Ultimate Spider-Man #11
Not that I’m saying Miles should replace Peter everywhere, but for a comic in the Ultimate Universe, this is an absolutely fantastic story.
Comic rating: 5/5: Great!
Everything works in this issue. The dialogue, the art, the action, the energy. This is Miles Morales finally getting into a fight that actually lasts more than a single punch. This is Miles being unable to come up with a good quip in the middle of a brawl. This is Miles actually getting smashed around – though he shrugs it all off fairly well. This kid seems untouchable so far. I suppose that’s one complaint I would have: Miles still hasn’t had any trouble being a superhero. I realize it would be horrible to put a kid so young into a good scrape, but not even his costume gets torn. Peter Parker was put through the ringer. Miles seems almost impervious.
And the teaser cliffhanger at the end is absolutely fantastic! Can’t wait for the next issue! Too bad the Ultimate Universe will be starting another stupid crossover soon. Poor Miles.
New DC Comics Fail to Excite Me
Come on, DC! You should be trying harder to get me to buy your comics! Is it really so hard to tailor your line to fit the desires of this one blogger in Upstate New York? I shouldn’t think so!
Anyway, enough silliness. DC Comics announced today four new comic book series to join their New 52 lineup. And I simply don’t care about any of them, sorry. Not gonna buy them. Not gonna be surprised when they get cancelled.
Talon
1. Talon by writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, with artist Guillem March.
“Meet Calvin Rose, the only Talon to ever escape the grasp of the Court of Owls. This former assassin of the Court is trying to live a normal life … but that’s impossible when he’s being hunted by his former masters!”
I’m pretty sure that Night of the Owls has been a big success across the Batman line, in no small part to the genius writing of Scott Snyder. Plus the Talons have a cool look. So it’s no surprise that DC would want to get something more out of that story. If I were going to buy any of these new comics, it would be this one. While the Talons have been dangerous foes so far, they are utterly lacking when it comes to personality. They all may have unique histories, but they all end up as just soulless assassins. Except for this guy, apparently. It’s also pretty cool that DC is trying to push a brand new superhero. Hopefully he’ll catch on.
Sword of Sorcery
2. Sword of Sorcery by writer Christy Marx, with artist Aaron Lopresti.
“Featuring the return of Amethyst, Amy Winston leads a strange life on the road with her mother and resents it. She’s about to learn it’s all been necessary when she discovers she’s the lost princess of Gemworld—and she’s being hunted by her murderous aunt. With a back-up story written by Tony Bedard with art by Jesus Saiz, set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the monstrous warrior Beowulf is charged with finding and defeating the evil Grendel.”
What the blooming hell? Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld? Can people even pronounce that word properly? A little Wikipedia search revealed that this is based on an old series from back in the 1980s, which makes sense since she looks like Jem. But still, what an odd choice. I guess DC really wanted a sword & sorcery comic, and decided to kill two birds with one stone by going with a strong female protagonist. And it looks like a female writer too, so awesome with that. Maybe this one is worth a buy as well, if only to support the womenfolk. Still…odd choice.
Phantom Stranger
3. The Phantom Stranger by writer Dan DiDio, with artist Brent Anderson.
“Spinning out of his recent appearances in JUSTICE LEAGUE and DC’s Free Comic Book Day story, learn more about the true origin of The Phantom Stranger and his connection to the mysterious Pandora.”
For those of you who didn’t pick up DC”s Free Comic Book Day comic, we learned that the Phantom Stranger is actual Judas from the New Testament, the guy who betrayed Jesus for 40 pieces of silver. He’s been turned into the Phantom Stranger by the mystical powers that be as punishment. And Pandora is the little Pandora from the Greek myth of ‘Pandora’s Box’, blamed for opening the forbidden box and unleashing all the evils in the world. She too is being punished by those mystical powers that be. But I don’t care. I’ve never had any interest in the Phantom Stranger and I definitely don’t know. And I really, really don’t care about delving into the mysteries of the New 52 universe. No thank you.
Team 7
4. Team Seven by writer Justin Jordan, with artist Jesus Merino.
“Set in the early days of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, threads of the entire DC Universe collide. As Superman emerges, so does the world’s counter measures against him and his kind. Team 7 is comprised of Dinah Lance, Amanda Waller, Steve Trevor, John Lynch, Alex Fairchild, Cole Cash and Slade Wilson — and their story will change everything you know about DC COMICS-THE NEW 52.”
I guess this is based on an old Wildstorm concept, rejiggered so as to include popular DC characters like Amanda Waller and Slade Wilson. Not to mention Dinah Lance, Black Canary, and Steve Trevor, who is serving as a liaison to the Justice League now. So the idea of putting all of them together onto some kind of anti-superhero team sounds intriguing, the fact that it’s set in the early days of the New 52 is a bad idea. The timeline of the New 52 is screwed up enough as it is, we don’t need a book mucking around with it even more. And it’s not like any of those characters are a big deal in the New 52. I know Deathstroke has his own comic, and Waller has shown up a few times, but was anybody really clamoring for their secret backstory? DC seems to think we all want to know the secret bits and pieces of how their new timeline works, whereas we’re all still waiting to find out the bigger picture!
Which I guess DC is also doing. In September, for the one year anniversary of the New 52, all the comics will tell a prequel story. How did our heroes get to where they are in the New 52? That kind of thing, with all of the issues numbered ‘zero’. Those could be fun to read.
Anyway, four new books. Some look potentially interesting, maybe. But mostly they look dull and boring. What do you guys think?
Also because DC is sticking to the number 52, that means four titles will be cancelled. We already know that Justice League International is getting the ax, but they haven’t revealed what else. It sounds kind of silly to be cancelling all these books so frequently, considering they already did this once back in the spring.
But then Jim Lee gave a quote to Newsarama about why they’re doing it, and now it makes sense to me.
We’re looking at the New 52 sort of from a TV model, in that every season, or every wave, we’ll be putting out new books that interject fresh material and new creative teams into the DCU.
So yeah, bringing in new blood more often instead of letting bad, poor-selling comics rot on the shelves. Makes sense to me!
Review: X-Factor #237
This! This is what I’ve been talking about! X-Factor #237 is writer Peter David at his finest, writing his characters as people first and superheroes second. Forget the interdimensional super-villains, the Mojoverse and whatever other crazy plots PAD has in store for X-Factor. This is what I want from this comic. The issue starts with a few of his female characters going on a character-building road trip together, and ends with one of them having a huge personal break through. This issue is comic gold.
X-Factor #237
X-Factor doesn’t need costumes, super-villains or an Avengers vs. X-Men tie-in to make for an amazing comic book.
Comic rating: 5/5: Great!
I wish more of PAD’s issues were like this one. But instead he seems to sprinkle these character-based issues throughout his run. They have always been a highlight of X-Factor. And I suppose they’re made all the better because of how rare they are. Plus, having issues like this makes the action issues better, because we come to care more about the characters. Polaris has been a ghost in this series since she joined, so she desperately needed a story like this.
Unfortunately, this issue is far from the best character-based story that PAD has written for X-Factor. After nearly 100 issues writing this volume, his grip on the characters and their personalities is slipping. I chalk this up to having just too many characters and plots to contend with. Back at the beginning he had everything under control. But that’s not to say this issue isn’t great. The dialogue and humor are fun, the characters are written very well and the art is absolutely gorgeous.
And thank the heavens, Polaris has finally changed out of that stupid green costume Thank you for that, PAD!
Review: Avengers vs. X-Men #5
Talk about a game-changing cliffhanger! I’ve said it before about Avengers vs. X-Men, and I’ll say it again: I have no idea where this story is going, and that’s awesome! While most of these big Event Comics end with a giant fight (and somebody shouting “Avengers Assemble!”) we’ve already had half a dozen giant fights in this series. And while those fights haven’t been all that great, the story continues to move along at a fantastic and exciting pace. Which is why I’m going to give Avengers vs. X-Men #5 my highest rating for the series for far.
Avengers vs. X-Men #5
After that cliffhanger, Avengers vs. X-Men is definitely keeping us on our toes! I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Comic rating: 5/5: Great.
Now that’s not to say this is a perfect issue. That’s not how my rating system works. And granted, my rating system really only works in my head. The previous issues of Avengers vs. X-Men have only been “good” because they were solid stories that were told well with decent art, so worth a read, but not all that amazing. This issue continues that trend, but then delivers a fantastic, action-packed climax, and then that cliffhanger I can’t stop gushing over. I’ll spoil it in the synopsis after the jump. Just trust me that it definitely changes the series from here on out.
Though arguably not in a good way. I can’t help but feel that Marvel has definitely picked a side by the end of this issue, and it’s the side I’m against. I’ve definitely been on the side of Cyclops and the X-Men throughout the series, but Marvel may have tipped their hand.
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
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