A Whole New World

It's been three months since the announcement, and DC's new universe has officially begun. A couple months back, I listed the seven comics I would try out, so I figured I'd follow that up this month with reviews for those (and any others I decide to buy).

First off, I'm not sure exactly, but from reading the last few pages of Flashpoint 5 at the comicbook store, it seems that the Flash merged several alternate timelines together to start a new timeline where some previous continuity happened and some didn't. Easy enough, right? Here's my first review (spoilers):


Justice League
 I have to admit the only reason I bought this was because it's the first new title out, and I was curious to see what DC was doing. Although both Geoff Johns and Jim Lee have produced work that I like, I'm not too big a fan of either.

Before I give you my verdict, I'd like to make a point that I'm in my thirties. To roughly explain my tastes: I loved Tree of Life and thought Captain America was expensive-looking garbage. That is to say, I like what DC's doing although I didn't really enjoy the comic itself. I think that 20 years ago I would have loved this. This is a great comic to generate newer, younger readers. Not that mature readers won't enjoy it, but that's just not where I am right now.

Anyway, this issue centers around Batman and focuses primarily on his first encounter with Green Lantern. Some chasing and fighting but not really any plot except for some Darkseid foreshadowing. A few pages are dedicated to Victor Stone (not yet Cyborg). I think this is a good choice. New readers have seen a cartoon or movie and are likely familiar with the big heroes origins. It's good that they're established that far, and not too much is retreaded. However I don't even know anything about Cyborg. Redoing his origin isn't too gratuitous.

One theme that's been going on for a while now is that all heroes are chumps, and only Batman has any discipline. The new universe takes this even further by making the characters younger and more arrogant. Green Lantern makes several blunders throughout the issue, and Superman is introduced on the last page beating up Green Lantern and picking a fight with Batman.

The other three team members don't appear in this issue. So I guess my biggest complaint is that there's very little substance. I realize that some stories need time to build but with serialized storytelling, I feel the first issue should give readers a solid story and a good grip on what the series is about. This is mostly a prelude to a fight. There is absolutely nothing that gives me a curiosity to pick up the next one.

Muchos Melvins

Just kidding.  See what I just did?  I went the other way this time.  I'm actually going to do a Book of the Week.  Serious, this time.  Here we go:

Book of the Week
            or
International Incident 2: Electric Boogaloo

5-12-10

I mentioned this a while back when it was first announced, and I'm happy to say that Booster Gold 32 lived up to my expectations.  In true Giffen and DeMatteis fashion, this book is hilarious.

The humor counter-balances surprisingly nicely with some real serious, heart-breaking moments.  Being a time traveler, Booster (mistakenly) jumps to Daxam in the midst of The Great Darkness (for those of you who don't know, we're talking about genocide).

Anyway, its a great start and seems to leading into some great stuff.  I should also mention that Chris Batista's artwork is great.

On the other side of that coin, I feel like I should mention Justice League: Generation Lost, the twenty-six issue miniseries written by Giffen and Winick starring the JLI kicked off the same day.  Unfortunately, this book isn't nearly as good as Booster Gold.  It's played serious, and Maxwell Lord is like the most dangerous villain in the DCU, and I just don't think the characters work well like that.  Bummer.  I guess you can't win them all.

International Incident

I've always said that the Vaudevillian Giffen/DeMatteis/Maguire Justice League is one of my all-time favorite runs in comic book history. Although, Maguire didn't draw all of this, I'm including Justice League (later retitled Justice League International and Justice League of America), Justice League of Europe, Formally known as the Justice League, and I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League.

Kieth Giffen and JM DeMatteis have since become known for telling superhero stories in Vaudeville tradition. In fact, I think that there were like three JLI covers with Blue Beetle saying to Booster Gold, "This is another fine mess you've gotten us into."

The trio also made a Defenders series a few years back, and recently were doing Metal Men backups in Doom Patrol. When those were cancelled, I was so upset that I dropped every DC book I was buying. Kind of. Doom Patrol was the only DC book I was buying. Unless you count the two Vertigo books.

Anyway, as you can imagine, I got a huge boner when I looked at DC's May solicitations. First off, Giffen and DeMatteis are taking over Booster Gold with issue 32 with a Kevin Maguire cover.

Also, the Justice League International will be returning in Justice League: Generation Lost. Although, this one, I'm not quite sure of. First, it's a Brightest Day thing, and I couldn't finish Blackest Night. Secondly, I think its something like a 26 issue mini. But mostly, its written by Giffen and Judd Winick, who I don't dislike, but have never read anything of his that I really enjoyed. Hopefully, it will still be funny. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Either way, I'm happy to see the characters.