New Comics This Week (5/2/12)

[JBK405]

I cut out of work early today (Not feeling particularly well) so I was able to get to my shop bright and early. An interesting mix for me, with several new series to try.

Blue Estate #11: Well, it finally got all big and violent, as I was predicting, and the termites made their comeback. As I've said for pretty much every issue, the art still needs work (The covers are great, the inside not so much) since it can be pretty excruciating to decipher what's happening, but in general it's shaping up real well. The "season finale" next month should be a wild ride.

Dial H #1: Trying out the series, and I highly doubt I'll be back. I've not read Dial H previously, and it just seemed too weird and off (And not the good weird and off) to hook me. Plus, hasn't this guy seen any cime movies ever? When you say "Lay off of XXXXX" that means they have to go and kill him now.

Earth 2 #1: I bought it out of JSA love, and also because it's part of the lead in to World's FInest, and I'll probably be back next month, but only to give it one more shot. The issue itself was okay, but nothing special; just another "Last stand of the Big Three" that really didn't have much emotional impact for me. Plus, Jay's girlfriend was horrid. There's dumping your college boyfriend when you've outgrown him, because such things do happen and sometimes you need to be firm when he isn't gettin the clue, and then there's being rude, condescending and offensive. That was cold, Joan.

Smallville #1: Man, I am so conflicted here; on the one hand, I grew tired of Smallville back in the beginning of season two, but on the other hand it's Bryan Q. Miller! I'd pay three bucks for a napkin he scribbled 'boo!' on. The issue wasn't quite as good as his run on Batgirl, and I believe that Superman looks way too young (Yes, I'm aware he's at the beginning of his career as Superman, he still looks too young), but the issue actually was quite enjoyable. It made Green Arrow tolerable (Very few writers can do that for me, as much as I love the character he almost always comes across as insufferable to me when poorly handled) and it gave each character a role. I'll probably be back next month, and the months after that, unless the ball gets dropped. Oh, also, 24 Draculas! @#$% yeah!

Daredevil #12: I said I was hooked when I bought issue #11, and I'm glad to see that pan out. It wasn't quite as epically awesome as the crossover with Spider-Man and the Punisher, but it was still an extremely well done and enjoyable issue with a character that is rapidly growing on me even more than he already was. The banter back and forth and byplay between Matt and Kirsten was glorious (The bra was just gold) and I really liked the college flashback (Particularly how they didn't get the professor fired or censured, since quite often a minor victory is all you get). I'm sticking with this series for as long as I can.

Swamp Thing #9: As usual, the imagery (Abbey cradling the Swamp Thing) was simply stunning and top-notch and emotional, but the story...I dunno, I thik it's starting to lose me. The issues haven't really been hitting me for the past few months. Not bad, per se, just not as impactful as they used to be. I think we need to move the plot along, probably finally get to that crossover with Animal Man that they've been foreshadowing for months now, before I'll start feeling it again.

Animal Man #9: See above, re: Swamp Thing. I didn't expect John Constantine at the end, but pretty much everything else was just "Last months issue, again!". I don't know what will get me invested in the series again, but they need to find that special something that they had in the beginning.

Batwing #9: As somebody else pointed out in last months thread, it's not really"Batman in Africa" if he's not in Africa! As great a character as Batwing is, we've already got a Batman in Gotham (We've got a dozen Bat-characters in Gotham) so this just seems unnecessary. I like how they at least brought in African politicians, so we can stay close to the roots of the series, but I'll be eagerly anticipating when the series returns to the DRC.

World's Finest: Huntress & Power Girl #1: This was probably the most anticipated series for me. We've already spent plenty of time going over the decisions to use Wayen instead of Bertinelli, and making both characters sidekicks in their original reality, so I'm not going to talk about that, I'm just going to focus on this issue, and the fact is that, when all was said and done, it was a good issue. It's not without its flaws (I find the dig at Bertinelli fans in the opening to be in poor taste, and I'm opposed to any comic that makes buying another comic a requirement for understanding the basic premise of the series), but it was quite enjoyable. It did a good job of introducing both characters and establishing their personalities and histories (Even if it did refer you to Earth 2 and Mister Terrific for backstory), they had great back and forth wordplay, they're both still gorgeous (Hey, just because I oppose the systematic exploitation of women and the inappropriate sexualization of fictional characters to reduce them to objectified objects doesn't mean I don't like a good loking woman), and it actually predicted and addressed all of my knee-jerk complaints (They explained how they got their equipment, how they set up their fictional identities, how they got their money, etc.). I'm treading lightly here, because this could easily become "T&A: The Series," but right now this is looking like a really good new addition to my monthly list.

So, what did everybody else get? Did you try any of the DC Second Wave?

[Personamanx]

Animal Man #9: Awesome as usual, cool to see Constantine show up at the end. Still dreading the inevitable crossover with Swamp Thing.
World's Finest #1: Pretty solid read. More so for the art than the writing. Loved Helena's Robin costume.
Earth Two #1: Pretty solid read. More so for the art than the writing. Loved Helena's Robin costume.
Dial H #1: Weird as fuck. In a good way.

Out of the three new series I tried I probably would only stick with Dial H. Like I said with WF and ET the art was lovely but I really don't think I care enough to look into again. Unfortunately I can't afford to just start picking up random books like this regularly, if I was as responsible as I wish I were with my money I would have only gotten Animal Man.

[AndrewCrossett]

It's a light week in pay-for comics... just The Boys #66 and Red Sonja #66.

But, I've already picked out my FCBD choices. I'm sure there will be a separate thread for this, but I'll be getting the Peanuts/Adventure Time flipbook; the Buffy/Guild flipbook; Star Wars/Serenity flipbook; The Worlds of Aspen; and the Mouse Guard/Labyrinth hardcover.

[Thequeerjock]

The Batwing title was a pretty solid tie-in. Nice to see Lucius Fox back.

Earth-2 was pretty mediocre but had lovely art.

Ultimate Spider-Man was pretty good all around but suffered from some serious decompression.

Animal Man was very good though.

[scout1279]

Ann Nocenti's take on Green Arrow would be fun if the art didn't make me want to stab out my own eyes.

That's the only comic I've read so far, and I probably said the same thing about the comic last month. Whatever. It's still true.

[Personamanx]

You know what? Straight up the only reason I think I bought WF and E2 was Helena's Robin outfit. I think it's lovely.

[Shurato2099]

Teen Titans Annual ... yep, about what I expected. Lobdell really needs to find a new means of exposition.

[Billy the Cat]

Got a feeling everyone is going to hate me for typing this but got X-O MANOWAR today and really LOVED it !! IF you the time and have a LCS please go on saturday and get the FCBD VALIANT comic that previews this issue along with Harbinger issue 1 !

[JBK405]

I hate you for typing that.....why do I hate you for that?

[Artful Angie]

I haven't read Earth-2 or Worlds' Finest yet, but I did pick them up because I'm a big-time pre-Crisis JSA fan. Reading them in a little while.

I loved X-O MANOWAR but I thought it read too fast for me. I ended it wishing there were more pages to the story. Am I the only one?