New 52 Blues

Hi Everyone,

So, here’s my problem. I wanted to write about all the new and exciting books coming out from DC in their New 52, but to be honest I’ve been having a hard time getting excited about too many of them. Admittedly, I haven’t picked up ALL of the new number 1s to come out so far, but can you really blame me? I’ve read Justice League #1, Justice League International #1, OMAC #1, and Animal Man #1. (I’m very hopeful about my new Green Lantern #1, but that commentary will have to wait ‘til next week.)

Out of the new books I’ve read so far, here are my opinions in a nutshell. JLI #1, forgettable. OMAC? Gets a plus for nostalgia’s sake, but I can’t even remember what the first issue was really about. Action Comics #1. Hmm. Let’s see. Without peaking. I remember that Superman was starting in his job as a reporter and looked and behaved more like Superboy than Superman. His dialogue was written to make him seem a bit edgier and younger. And I think Jimmy Olsen was cooler. All in all, not that interesting.

Now, Animal Man #1. First good surprise of last week’s round of new number 1s. Interesting art by Travel Foreman. Solid story by Jeff Lemire. Very cool (I thought) how they handled Animal Man reaching out and taking the strength from this animal and the speed from that animal, etc. Yeah, I know that isn’t so new in itself, but it was written well. And toward the end, I gotta tell ya, it was the first time in a long time that a comic book creeped me out. I mean it went from interesting to disturbing in a single splash page. I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here, and I highly recommend that you check it out (if you like a slightly more intellectual but still entertaining read).

OK, now that I got all that off my shoulder, I’m going back to reading the new issue of Xombi. “Nun the Wiser.” This book cracks me up!

-M