Review - Justice League Rebirth

Justice League Rebirth #1 - 

DC Comics

 

Written by Bryan Hitch

Inks by Daniel Henriques

              Scott Hanna

Colors by Alex Sinclair

Letters by Richard Starkings

                  & Comicraft

Covers by Tony S. Daniel

                  Tomeu Morey

 

There are so many things to love about what DC Comics has been doing with Rebirth.  From sending characters back to their roots, to creating different dynamics for classic characters, the storytelling has been top notch.  The differences are certainly palpable as we dive into the Rebirth of the Justice League.  Let's see how the team comes together early on.  (Some spoilers may be ahead if you have not been reading some other DC Rebirth titles.  Please be advised.)

 

One thing I liked right from the beginning is that we did not see a complete reformation of the Justice League.  Instead we see the League faced with an incredible foe that is threatening a large number of civilians.  The undercurrent of this story is Superman, and if you have been reading the main Superman run, echo some of the family dynamic struggles going on in those issues.  Superman is not yet a member of the League and, other than the foe itself, seems to be the main focus of this initial issue.  I don't want to spoil the inner plot points of the story, other than to say that something is coming and it is very clear this will demand the attention of more than just a single hero.

 

The feel of the team dynamic is good, but I did feel there were a couple of missteps.  I feel that there really should have been more of a focus on the death of "their Superman" from the team.  That was part of this issue, but I think Hitch missed the opportunity to explore the raw emotion of the loss as a focal point.  I feel like this would have made the issue more powerful and give this new Superman a different viewpoint.  I also didn't get that wow factor that I got from many of the other Rebirth titles.  Maybe I am unfairly judging Hitch, but the singular titles have been so strong on their own that I was expecting a Justice League book to elevate that even more.  The imagery in this book was excellent.  The spotlight of each League member was done very well and there were a couple of panels that really gave you that iconic feel.  I certainly enjoyed this book, I just hope it reaches the level that was set by it's predecessors.

 

RATING:  PICK UP

 

  

Review - Zoe Dare vs. The Disasteroid #1

Zoe Dare vs. The Disasteroid #1 - 

Action Lab Entertainment

 

Written by Brockton McKinney

Illustrated by Andrew Herman

 

Remember the cartoon we used to watch back in the 70s and 80s?  We love them because they are from our childhood, and there were plenty that definitely stand the test of time.  Then there are those that, when we look back, we wonder why we thought they were so great.  Well...because they were made for the age we were at the time.  When daredevil Zoe Dare is sent off the track and onto a lifesaving mission, I was definitely taken back to those very cartoons.  Now let's find out of it's boom or bust for this Action Lab title.

 

Certain things are pretty obvious when you start reading this book.  Zoe is a bit of a loose cannon, but she surrounds herself with a family dynamic that helps keep her in line and focused.  Something happens very early on between Zoe and her sister Danni (who runs the tech side) that tells you a lot about their dynamic.  They also have two robots, but other than an attempt at comic relief, I didn't find that they had much of a purpose.  We also find out around the middle of the issue who the big bad is and why Zoe is needed for this mission.  There is also an extra added conflict, which won't make the task any easier.  The start of the mission is pretty much where this issue ends.

 

I will admit, at first I was not a fan of this book.  The writing seemed a bit too predictable, the humor just didn't work for me and there were a few characters I felt were unnecessary.  About halfway though I realized, this book isn't being written for me.  Just like some of the cartoons from my youth, that I just can't see the same way as an adult, this book is for a younger audience who needs it to be the way that it is.  It's clean, it's easy to follow and the art is very pleasant.  It very much reads like a short run, animated series from about 25 years ago.  There are just enough unanswered questions to keep younger readers interested, and Zoe definitely carries herself as the leader of this story.  This is a book your kids around the age of 10 and up may enjoy, but maybe by those who enjoy the extreme sport and/or stuntwoman niche.  Hard to rate this one, but for the right reader, it's worth a look.

 

RATING:  PICK UP  

Review - Lucas Stand #1

Lucas Stand #1 (of 6) - 
Boom! Studios

Written by Kurt Sutter
                   Caitlin Kittredge
Illustrated by Jesus Hervas
Colors by Adam Metcalfe
Letters by Jim Campbell
Cover by Lee Bermejo

Intensity.  That is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Kurt Sutter.  Toughness, edge and intensity to take it a bit further.  When I saw that he had a new comic from Boom! Studios, I knew to expect all of that, but was curious to see what else would be brought to the table.  So it's time to hop off those motorcycles and dive into the pages of Lucas Stand.

Lucas was a soldier, and as is the case in some instances, hasn't had the easiest time after having served his country.  He is a broken man, both mentally and physically, and his life is nowhere near a happy one.  He makes a huge mistake that leads to a decision that would change things in his life drastically.  Lucas isn't a big believer in second chances, but he gets one in a very unique way from (what he thinks) is a familiar face.  It's not too long until we see him in a new mission, of which he isn't sure is real or, at the very least, one that he is capable of executing.  The end reveal of this book may finally make him a believer.

There was plenty to like about this book, but also a few things that were a bit off-putting.  The raw emotion that is put into Lucas Strand is quite palpable.  Both Sutter and Kittredge put you in a position where you will have a lot of feelings about their main character.  There is also a bit of real life, in that, Lucas doesn't exactly buy what's happening to him.  Too often we see blind acceptance in stories like this, so this was a refreshing change.  At the same time, once things did take a turn, I was a little disappointed about the setting in the third act.  I feel like it's a place in time that has been done in SO many stories, I wish that they had at least started somewhere else.  I also think they could have gotten to the point a bit faster, as there was a bit of a drag at times.  The art is good, even visually striking at times.  I will definitely keep Lucas Stand on my radar, but I'd like to see this supernatural solider story straighten up a bit.

RATING:  PICK UP  

Review - Conan The Slayer #1

Conan The Slayer #1 - 
Dark Horse Comics

Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Sergio Davila
Colors by Michael Atiyeh
Letters by Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Cover by Lee Bermejo

Over the years, Dark Horse Comics has told many great stories that would make Robert E. Howard proud.  When you see that Cullen Bunn will be writing the world's most famous Barbarian, how can you not take a look?  Conan The Slayer #1 doesn't come out until July 13th, but let's take an advanced look.

When we first see Conan, he is in dire straights.  He is also alone in the desert, which is a recipe for disaster in itself.  It's only the first issue, and you actually get the sense that this could be it for the great warrior.  As he stumbles forward, things take a bit of a turn for Conan.  The question you keep asking yourself is:  Is this for the better or the worse?  It may be too soon to answer that question, but we get a little bit of an idea towards the end of the issue.  Without going into spoiler territory, the issue ends with a sign of what may be ahead and a choice that could change things in a big way for Conan.

This book had the action that you expect from a Conan title, but it also had something else...a legitimate and interesting prologue.  It's easy to dismiss a book with a lot of narration, but Bunn uses it so skillfully to bring the emotion forward and put the focus on every page that you are currently on.  The way he writes Conan may also be the closest you can get to perfectly capturing the barbarian that I have seen in a long time.  Davila's art is solid, and Lee Bermejo's cover makes you want to grab this book with both hands and rush to the register of your local comic shop.  If you're a Conan fan, you will be very pleased.  If you're not a fan, this book could very well make you one.

RATING:  PULL / BUY 

Review - The Flash Rebirth #1 (2016)

The Flash Rebirth #1 - 

DC Comics

 

Written by Joshua Williamson

Art by Carmine Di Giandomencio

Colors by Ivan Palscencia 

Letters by Steve Wands

Cover by Karl Kerschl

 

DC Comics has seen quite a bit of success with Rebirth so far.  In the first week, I personally felt that the heart and soul had been brought back to the publisher I grew up on.  One thing it succeeded in doing, is making me want to read more.  I never quite got into The Flash during the New 52, but I thought Rebirth may be an excellent chance for me to get reacquainted with the Scarlet Speedster.  As it turns out, the title isn't the only bit of familiarity in this kickoff story.

 

Barry Allen has caught a case that looks VERY familiar to something from his past.  He is insisting on staying on the case, but something is happening that he can't quite explain. (MINOR SPOILERS FOR THE INITIAL DC REBIRTH ISSUE AHEAD!)  Barry seeks advice from a family member before we get to once again see the memorable reunion between himself and Wally West that we remember from DC Rebirth.  That's when this story somewhat splits in two, and both Flashes try to solve separate mysteries.  Barry then goes to one man he know will have the answers to the big picture of what is going on.  The issue ends with a tease ahead in Barry's current case, which may or may not involve a familiar foe.

 

Even though Wally West seems to be the key to Rebirth as a whole, referencing Flashpoint and bringing Barry into the mix just felt right.  The interactions between Barry and Wally are so genuinely written, you get lost in what it is they were investigating in the first place.  We don't get a wise cracking Barry Allen, but we do get the deeply analytical scientist that I have always been drawn to with the character.  Speaking of drawing, I like the new style that Di Giandomencio brings to the table here.  It has an edge that really shines through, especially when Barry is on the move.  There is a two page spread that is a callback to a classic Flash issue cover that just works SO well in the context of the story.  As someone who actually liked a lot of things about the New 52, so far Rebirth just feels right.  While this is a bit more dark and moody at times, the raw emotion that Williamson is bringing to Barry Allen really makes me think this is going to be a very compelling read.  I'd speed to your local shop to get this one.

 

RATING:  PULL / BUY 

Review - Batman Rebirth #1

Batman Rebirth #1

 

Written by Tom King

                    Scott Snyder

Art by Mikel Janin

 

Ladies and gentlemen, raise your batarangs.  To new beginnings!  After months of talk and speculation, Rebirth is finally here and we are getting a glimpse of a brand new DC Universe.  Whether you were a fan of the last few years or not, there is no debate that Scott Snyder was the constant, gold standard of those years with his work on Batman.  Enter Rebirth, and enter former CIA agent Tom King to work with the World's Greatest Detective.  So what is so different about this book?

From the very beginning, you can sense a different tone.  There's a new attitude for Batman, and it seems, a different outlook.  Right away we get thrown into the deep end with Calendar Man (which isn't a spoiler, because it's in the solicitation.)  While Batman is dealing with that, there is a BIG reveal about a MAJOR Bat villain that I will not reveal here.  You get the sense that this may be the springboard for the beginning of a new story, and it's a big one.  We also see another familiar face from the Batman mythos, but in a very different role. MINOR SPOILER... If you've read Batman And Robin Eternal or We Are Robin, you should be familiar with who it is.  It's in the interactions between Bruce and this character that we get something we don't normally get from Batman...hope and cooperation.  I'm not sure if this is a new leaf, or new operating procedure, but it is certainly a tenor that we have not had in a long time.  In true one-shot fashion, we do get a conclusion to the Calendar Man story, but we also get a feel of what's to come. 

The second I saw Tom King's name attached to the character, I was perfectly at ease.  His work so far just screams Batman, and this is a man who knows how to write this character.  It's hard to follow someone like Snyder, but you really get a sense that everything is going to be just fine.  You also get that sense from Bruce himself, which is really a welcome change after what he's been through with Zero Year and End Game recently.  Mikel Janin is such a striking artist, I can't help but selfishly wish he were staying on for the main run.  I really cannot wait to see where the story goes from here, especially with the reveal that I just cannot spoil for you.  A solid start to one of the anchors of the upcoming Rebirth. 

 

RATING:  PULL / BUY 

Review - Weird Detective #1

Weird Detective #1 - 

Dark Horse Comics

 

Written by Fred Van Lente

Art by Giui Vilanova

Colors by Mauricio Wallace

 

There's weird, and there's weird for the sake of being weird.  The question is, when do you cross that line?  When you see a title like Weird Detective, it's right there, so you have to expect it going on.  This new Dark Horse title definitely bring plenty of it.  So, let's see just how weird Fred Van Lente's newest offering gets.

 

The story follows Detective Sebastian Greene, who was once an average cop, now turned top detective.  There is actually quite a bit of narration that explains the character which, without it, you would be completely lost and out of touch.  Along with that we have a very strange case that no one seems to be able to figure out, so enter Detective Greene.  Everyone knows there is more to him than it seems, but they all have the same explanation for is.  I won't say what it is, because it's actually kind of funny (at least the first few times.)  As most detective stories go, Greene finds himself with a new partner, and he doesn't like it.  What he doesn't know is, there is a reason the two have been paired up.  The investigation takes a MAJOR turn, thanks to a connected case, and that drives most of the story.  Fast forward to the end, it definitely sets up a very interesting scenario for the next issue.

 

While I did enjoy the story, and the narration, I did feel like this issue actually could have ended a couple of different times.  There were two reveals in this issue that I feel would have made a better ending, and actually made the reader want to come back more.  There is a joke that runs it's course, but one of the characters actually echos that sentiment, so I applaud Van Lente for that.  The art is decent, but you won't be blown away by it.  This story really walks a fine line between weird and unnecessarily weird.  With the story of who Greene is and the case itself, you find yourself trying to figure out which story you want to know more about, but don't feel like you can fully focus on both.  If you like weird, this is definitely for you.  You do get answers to a lot of questions right away, so there isn't too much to get dragged out.  At the same time, this second issue definitely needs to drive up the intrigue.

 

RATING:  PICK UP