It’s Tuesday. The day before new books hit the shelves. Let’s look at what’s in store for the new DCU:
Batman #2 – Snyder’s first issue was hands-down the bext Bat-book of the relaunch and one of the finest books overall. Not a lot to say about this one except I hope that the level of quality remains consistently high.
Level of Anticipation – 10 out of 10 (Gimme!)
Birds of Prey 2 – To say I had doubts about relaunching Birds of Prey with a new team and a new writer would be an understatement. But I was pleasantly surprised by the first issue. This issue, Canary continues assembling her team. And while I’m no Katana fan, I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.
Level of Anticipation – 8 of 10
Blue Beetle #2 – I liked the first issue, but I’m still not sold on the book. Bedard got things off to a promisng enough start. There’s a lot of potential for Jaime to be DC’s Spider-man. Hopefully this issue will seal the deal.
Level of Anticipation – 6 out of 10
Captain Atom #2 - This book is supposed to be the DCU’s version of Dr. Manhattan. But JT Krul’s first issue didn’t do much for me. And even the pretty art couldn’t redeem it. Not bad, just not good enough. This book is on the bubble. It’s going to need a strong second issue to hook me.
Level of Anticipation – 2.5 out of 10 (Does Keith Giffen have time to write this too?)
Catwoman 2 – Last month, I got my share of flack for not being sufficiently offended by the sexed-up first issue. I don’t know what some people were expecting given the creative team involved. I expect more of the same this issue. And as long as it is delivered with a light touch, I plan to have fun with tis book.
Level of Anticipation – 6.5 out of 10
DC Universe Presents #2 – I have to admit, I forgot this book exists. There were definitely worse books last month. But I don’t think any book bored me quite as much as this unnecessary retelling of Deadman’s origin. I’ll thumb through this to see if the book picks up at all. But nothing about the first issue made we want to come back for more.
Level of Anticipation – 1 out of 10
Green Lantern Corps #2 – Issue #1 served as a decent introduction to the main characters. Hopefully things will take off here. The GL books (Red Lanterns not withstanding) have been pretty good despite the lack of real changes. While I’m not psyched about this book, I am looking forward to reading it.
Level of Anticipation – 6.5 out of 10
Justice League #2 – I’ve read a lot of “first meeting of Batman and Superman stories”. Or at least it feels like I have. If this is the usual fight/team-up issue, it’s going to be pretty disappointing for something that was supposed to make super heroes seem fresh. Still, the first issue was a good read despite short-comings. Maybe we’ll even get to see more than half of the team this issue!
Level of Anticipation - 8 out of 10
Legion of Super Heroes 2 – I approached the Legion books with a reluctance that comes from having read at least a dozen Legion #1 issues without ever having been converted. I gave these books only the slimmest of chances to impress me. But I found the first issue of both Legion books to be very unfreindly to new readers. That was all I needed to jump off the bandwagon. In short, I have already dumped the Legion.
Level of Anticipation – 0 of 10 (dumped!)
Nightwing 2 – There’s a limit to how excited I can be about a Nightwing book. Unless Chuck Dixon comes back, I can say 8 out of 10 is about as high as I could ever go. Much like Batwing, it’s impossible to shake the idea that Nightwing is Batman Lite. (Sorry, xxadverbxx.) The first issue was pretty strong. So, I’m going to give this issue a moderate level of anticipation.
Level of Anticipation – 6 out of 10
Red Hood and the Outlaws 2 – Whether you loved it or hated it (or didn’t read it but still formed a strong opinion of it), Red Hood and the Outlaws #1 was a buzz book. A month later, people still want to argue with me over whether or not Starfire was portrayed as a bimbo. Personally, I think people over-reacted to a stupid degree. While the book wasn’t perfect and it certainly invited criticism, it was a pretty entertaining read at the end of the day. After reading about the contents of this issue, I’m looking forward to being proven right in a few forum arguments. Since that is a relative rarity and since the book is bound to create a spike in traffic, my level of anticipation is higher than it should be.
Level of Anticipation – 9 out of 10 (perfect 10 if it sends Starfire fans to cry “What about the children?” like last issue did)
Supergirl #2 – Superman sure seems to get in a lot of fights in the new DCU! I liked a lot about the first issue of Supergirl. My biggest complaint was that not a lot happened. Now that we have been introduced to this version of the Girl of Steel, I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.
Level of Anticipation – 7 out of 10
Wonder Woman 2 – No group of fans is harder to please than Wonder Woman fans. And no surprise, a certain group of fans objected to Azzarello’s horror-tinged take on the iconic heroine. Personally, I loved it. Along with Action Comics, Batman and Animal Man, Wonder Woman is one of my favorite books to come out of the relaunch.
Level of Anticipation – 10 out of 10
I AM EXCITED FOR THIS WEEK, 3 AWESOME BOOKS. Batman, Nightwing, & Birds of Prey.
I strongly disagree with the assessment of Nightwing as Batman lite. While Nightwing grew from a Batman character there is so little in common between Batman and Nightwing personality-wise.
Behind Detective Nightwing is my favorite comic so far, 1a and 1b would actually be more accurate.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Catwoman #1 but I will read it for a few issues to see how it grows. My issue with Catwoman is that DC is treating her like Stormshadow and making a “bad guy” good for fanfare.
As for Red Hood, I liked the first book, I had no issue with the portrayal of Starfire, I actually think the “bimboness” fits the non=-empathetic personality of her alien nature. My issue with it is I really don’t care to read a Soap Opera about who is humping who… I want ass kicking vigilante behavior with Red Hood.
Yeah, I figured I’d draw some ire over the Batman lite comment. I know the characters are different. I’m glad he’s around and that he has his own book. But for whatever reason, I still feel like I’m reading watered-down Batman most of the time. It’s not fair, but I can’t shake it.
I haven’t been a huge fan of Detective so far. My favorite Batbook was Snyder’s Batman. After that, it’s a toss-up. Lots of good books in the running. Few stand-outs.
I had to Google Stormshadow. lol. Catwoman has always walked a line. DC’s been doing this dance with her for a long time. If anything, Winick’s Catwoman seemed more of a villain to me than Selena has been portrayed in a long time.
Yeah, I don’t want Red Hood to turn into some kind of super hero version of Friends where they all hook-up. But that’s not where I think this is going. I got a very strong Joe Kelley Deadpool vibe off the first issue. That’s what I’m signing up for. Hope it delivers.
Ack. My responses keep getting garbled today! What’s the deal.
Yeah, my Nightwing comment isn’t fair. And yet, I still can’t get past the Batman Lite feeling most of the time when I read a Nightwing story. It’s my cross to bear.
I can sort of understand where you are coming from when you say it is a Batman story even in a Nightwing book, but I think that is what you have to expect… it is Dick Grayson after all.
think of it this way, if someone commented they care enough about what you wrote to respond.
Oh, I welcome disagreement. This place would be boring without it. the conversations are what keep me coming back!
Dick can be written in a way that makes him feel more unique. Like I said before, Dixon managed to do it through most of his run. Hopefully that will be the case here as well. I just didn’t get that sense yet in the first issue.
“There’s a lot of potential for Jaime to be DC’s Spider-man.” – I thought Static already grabbed that role for himself.
Justice League first meeting… needs to be done but I kind of wish it would be a more Superman/Batman only first meeting.
And no offense taken. I of course disagree but I at least see where you are coming from. You aren’t the first by any means to take that view, though the first to use the term “Batman-lite”; one I personally don’t really like the sound of. Like Obi points out, Nightwing has long ago been established on his own (though that now is in question with a possible lack of any Titans history) and it’s quite different than Batman’s. Granted, I’m not really a fan that for a while at least Dick will be hanging around Gotham now Bruce is back. In some sense, to me, it takes away Dick being his own character though. There is (or use to be at least) some issue between Dick and Bruce so that makes it odd he’s sticking around Gotham and I almost fear he’ll just start getting orders soon from Batman. As he’s popped in twice giving Batwoman offers and “advice”, well that didn’t help.
I agree. Love Batman, but I read Detective, Batman, DK etc. When I read Nightwing, BoP, Batgirl I dont want to see batman… once and a while is expected, but I want some variety reading a side book.
By the time I came around to the Titans, Dick had pretty much moved on. He was in that lousy Devin Grayson Titans reuinion book. But most of my experience with him has been in the Batbooks or his own book. Perhaps if I read more classic Titans, I’d feel differently about him.
I thought Chuck Dixon rocked his solo book for a long time. But no one has really made Nightwing feel all that unique to me since Dixon left. So, that’s where the Batman-lite comes from. I know the character can be unique because he was when Dixon wrote him. But the differences in the hands of other writers aren’t quite substantial enough for me.
Relocating Dick out of Gotham (to Bludhaven preferably) would probably help.
While you and I may not see eye to eye on Nightwing, we do agree on Chuck Dixon’s skills handling Grayson.
Dixon also single handedly became the reason for me to like Tim Drake’s Robin. His Robin series was absolutely awesome.
I do agree Nightwing needs to be in Bludhaven.
Yeah, Dixon made me a fan of Tim Drake too. I really wish he and DC would mend fences as unlikely as that seems. He launched BoP, Robin and Nightwing which were three of my favorite books at the time. And all three dropped off in quality after he left. Thank goodness Gail finally saved BoP.
Put Dixon back on Nightwing or a Tim Drake book and I’m sold.
dont forget the outsiders relaunch of 07… very solid. he always had a way with the Batman Universe.
Though he is writing a great GI Joe for IDW currently, should check it out.
Outsiders was good, but not among my favorite Dixon books. I always got the sense that book was being meddled with. You could tell Dixon wasn’t happy during his brief return to DC.
I have considered reading Dixon’s GI Joe since I am a fan of his work. My problem is I have no interest in GI Joe and too little time and resources to add an additional book.
But something tells me if I ever want to read a new Chuck Dixon book, I’m going to have to go outside of DC to do so. Which is a shame because he was magic with the Batman books.
Me personally I was a fan of the 1980s Outsiders gang, the 2000s was a bit rushed and not as well developed IMO. But I still liked it, though Judd Winicks version with Nightwing at the helm was actually better than the later Batman teamup.
I wasn’t around for the 80s version of the team. I mean, I was around. I just wasn’t reading comics. I didn’t get into comics until the 90s and the 90s Outsiders was pretty awful. I agree with you about later versions.
Sadly, DC (or whoever is in charge of shipping out comics) never shipped my store Wonder Woman. So I’ll have to wait until whenever their WW shipment comes in
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