The New 52 – Epilogue
by Paul Pratt on October 28, 2011
Hey Mom,
The DC Comics “New 52” event has now come and gone. I wanted to take a moment to share some of my final thoughts on the entire ordeal.
My local comic book shop was busier than ever during the event. A lot of lookie loos, all pouring over the potential of each new number one. The way people came in and looked at the books amused me to no end, handling each book with the care of a newborn baby. As if comic books were worth anything anymore. Reminded me of the mid-nineties, each new number one on the shelf was a new opportunity to reap some sort of financial reward a few years down the road. Ah, the speculator market. Good times. Once the #2 issues are in the dollar bin in three months they’ll learn their lessons the hard way.
I didn’t plan on getting many of the DC Comics “New 52” originally. I generally go into my shop, get my pull list, and hit the eject button. But, I had been hearing the buzz from the clerks and grabbed up one of the preview books to take a gander at what was coming.
I’m big into stories. That is my draw. As an artist, I appreciate and love the art, but it’s secondary to me. The potential of DC re-launching their entire universe with new readers in mind was an opportunity to jump on and start fresh at ground zero. This was a place where I could begin to understand these characters without all the complicated baggage that comes from 20-40 years of continuity.
The DC Comics "New 52" Preview Book
I paged through the preview book over and over on the sofa, in the bathroom, and in my office, trying to figure out what would interest me. Each time I looked, I would find something new. Scott Lobdell’s name attracted me to all his books. The artwork would even get me excited to pick up titles like Supergirl and Batwoman. My son got ahold of the preview book and demanded as many Batman titles as I was willing to shell out for. In total, I purchased only twenty out of the total fifty-two.
I feel like I didn’t really buy books, I felt like I bought a marketing plan. The New 52 did exactly what it set out to do: smash sales, but I believe it was only for the moment. I don’t think DC really thought through the repeat viewers thing because, to me, surprisingly few of the books were structured for new readers. I approached all my reviews as if these were new television pilots. I wanted to care about these books, but I just couldn’t because they were still entrenched in the plots from before the re-launch. The worlds of Batman and Green Lantern were virtually unchanged from what I’ve seen and talked about with others. Most of the other titles were either throw away books like Men of War and I, Vampire, or rehashes of characters that were long forgotten (sometimes rightfully so) like Animal Man, Hawkman, Swamp Thing, and Firestorm. Despite those being “new’ books there was a lot of stuff that happened in Blackest Night and Brightest Day that one might need to know to get into those titles.
The checklist of all 52 #1 issues.
I think in retaining new readers, or keeping returned, older readers, DC failed in the long term. Some readers will probably stick around for a few months, maybe even a year or two at most, but interest will fade as all the old comic conventions will show through and disappoint people again. Even in these number one issues some of the traditional comic book problems appeared, despite the new start. That was really disheartening.
I tried to use my story instincts to feel out which books I should buy and there isn’t a title I regret not picking up. Out of what I bought the biggest winners were: Batwoman, Batgirl, Red Lanterns, Green Lantern: New Guardians, and Wonder Woman.
The biggest losers, to me, were: Action Comics, Catwoman, and I, Vampire.
Most of the other books were just mundane, or you needed the next issue to get any grasp on the story at all. Again, Green Lantern and Batman picked up right were they left off before. However, Green Lantern #1 was the only issue that was 100% unapproachable for new readers from those four Green Lantern themed titles. Most of the Batman books were decent stories, but there was a lot of information you needed to know about Damien and the Batman franchising thing to get a complete handle on where these characters were, so I had to pass on them.
Out of the twenty books I purchased, I only added two to my pull list. That was Batgirl and Batwoman. My son reads the Green Lantern books, so Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: New Guardians, and Red Lanterns are on his pull list. New Guardians replaces Emerald Warriors, so Red Lanterns is the only new title for him, really. Only three new sales netted for DC in my house. I suppose that’s good. Red Lanterns was guaranteed, but two seemingly permanent pick-ups are good. Out of 52 potential issues, maybe not so much? I guess it depends on your perspective. My son is harassing me about picking up the Batman book, so that might be another.
Now that we are nearing the end of October, I’ve read the number 2 issues of Batgirl and Batwoman.
Cover of Batgirl #1 by Adam Hughes
I’m still impressed with Batgirl. I really am. The book is fun, the character is likeable, and the conflicts are interesting. I really like the way the writer plays with the traditional Batman conventions, such as the voice over, and turns them into great venues for the personality of Barbara Gordon to shine through. Of all the issues I read, Batgirl is the biggest success.
Batwoman on the other hand is a bit bumpy. Just a little bit. I will admit I’m picking this issue up for the art, at least 60% of me anyway. The story is interesting enough, but damn… the art is incredible and the layouts are the closest thing I’ve ever seen to motion in a comic book. Everything I’ve ever wanted to achieve in the medium is produced in Batwoman. I really hope the writer can keep up with the art, bumps like Kane’s argument with her father in issue #1, and the mutant fight detective work and abrupt end in issue #2 interrupt the flow of the story. I really hope they can bring it together.
Cover of Batwoman #1 by J.H. Williams III
My site during the “New 52” series had a lot of traffic. I beat my averages by 40%, which is really great. I don’t do advertising. I run this site on my own dime, I could have used the cash, but ads are so obvious and an eyesore. I would have preferred just getting people’s opinions.
I know my posts are 2000-3000 words and they take awhile to get through, but I try to be entertaining and informative. I try to share only my opinion, and I always invite you to share yours. My words aren’t law; they are just my perspective on things. I’m always looking for different perspectives, story suggestions, and intelligent discussion, so, please, don’t be afraid to post your comments.
What am I going to do next? I’m going to write something! I have a Star Trek television post I’ve been preparing, but I have to write a pilot for it in order to illustrate what I’m talking about. I know, excessive, but I don’t have any paid work right now… unless you have a job?
I’m also working on a comic book! Yay! I’m trying to get my ideas pulled together for a six issue limited series. I don’t have an artist to work with and the story is very loose right now. I’ll begin to update you more on that process once I have the story all planned out. I’m about 50% completed on that.
Thank you for reading all these articles. If you read the entire series, I appreciate your support. I hope it was worth your time, and I hope you’ll come back more often.
The New 52 – Week 4
by Paul Pratt on October 27, 2011
Hey Mom,
Thanks for showing up! This is the fourth and final review of the DC Comics “New 52” event. This is a bittersweet moment for me. I enjoy having content to discuss and share with everyone, but I’m really excited about not having to write more three thousand word essays on DC comic books containing yet another voice over.
With that, I give you the week 4 reviews of Batman: The Dark Knight #1, Green Lantern: New Guardians #1, I, Vampire #1, Superman #1, and Teen Titans #1. You can read my previous reviews from week 1 here, week 2 here, and week 3 here.
To briefly recap my review process, I’m going to be reviewing the issues from my perspective as a screenwriter, not simply as a comic book fan. DC’s primary goal with this massive event was to allow a jumping on point and a fresh start for brand new readers. Also, older readers, who may not be currently reading DC Comics, would have an opportunity to jump back in. My reviews will focus on both those goals and give brief and general thoughts on the other aspects such as the art.
You can read even more about my review perspective and initial thoughts in the prelude post here.
Batman: The Dark Knight #1
I spoke to damn soon, another voice over… at least it’s a Batman book, I guess. Oh wait, it’s not a voice over, cute! However, this “voice over instance” is a bit jarring when reading. I had to look back at the previous page to realize that it was part of the speech Bruce Wayne was giving. If this were a movie we would be able to tell the difference immediately, that’s an inherent flaw in the comic book medium. The change isn’t terrible, it’s just odd as I turn the page and I’m in a totally different situation with barely a bridge to get there. I do applaud the clever change, though.
Batman: The Dark Knight#1 spends a lot of time meandering about amongst a group of Batman titles unsure of themselves. This particular book just seems like another story in the barrel of Batman crap. I’ve learned that page constraints have really killed the narrative of comic books. I know why people have turned to trades now. After reading this DC “New 52″ event, I’ve just come to the realization that expecting a complete narrative out of one book was silly of me.
The book does mention the revitalization of Gotham City that was shown in Batman #1 from week 3. I like that and the unification of the last three Batman titles has been really nice (Burn in hell Detective Comics). I was hoping when Batman went into Arkham Asylum during the maximum-security riot that it would be loosely related to the riot in Batman #1, but it was not to be. Again, I just wish these guys would coordinate better and use the number of titles to tell tightly knit stories.
That is the inherent difficulty of having four titles about one guy. At least ten of the DC “New 52” titles are Batman related, that’s approximately 1/5th of the entire run of new 52 comics. Why do we need four titles about Batman? Two would be great and I think would lead to sharper storytelling and better cohesion. Keep the six or whatever B titles about other characters, just cut Batman’s specific titles down to two.
After reading this fourth and final Batman issue, I’ve just got the feeling that the Batman writers got together at McDonalds and each said, “I’m doing this, this, and this for my first issue, so make sure you kind of mention whatever I have going on here (This, of course, was while the Detective Comics writer was in the toilet, because that team didn’t get the memo).” By that I mean, Batman has this opportunity to start fresh, but then, after issue #2 each title will just walk in four different directions with no regard for the possibilities to be had. So, rather than get mixed up in the X-Men style train wreck, I’m just going to not care.
P.S. When did Two-Face, or One-Face (creative, btw) become the hunch back of Notre Dame? Wasn’t Batman’s shtick that all the criminals were normal guys for the most part? Half the bad guys rioting in Arkham during this issue were B-villains from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Green Lantern: New Guardians #1
Ok, this was an interesting Green Lantern book. I expected it to pick up right where previous issues may have left off. I guess it does, but we don’t get any of that in this issue. The story begins with a brief synopsis of Kyle Raynor’s origin as a Green Lantern.
The origin is disorienting because I do have a little bit of Green Lantern knowledge. On the first page I’m starring a pile of blue guys. One of the muppets crawls out of the smoldering heap to bring a power ring to failing cartoonist, Kyle Raynor. The first page doesn’t tell you that this is the past and this is the origin story. So, for a guy who hasn’t read a Green Lantern book, I’m all spun around. Out of the other three Green Lantern themed books only one had any type of origin story in it and it’s a brand new series, not a renumbered issue. I assumed this was picking up from where Emerald Warriors left off, so I didn’t expect the origin story. As a writer, I would have labeled the first page as a “previously on Green Lantern…” type of deal, but I was relieved on page eight when it said “present day.”
This is a great issue and a quick read. After the origin we cut right into the heart of the story for what seems like the entire purpose of the series. This isn’t just some ill masked attempt to bolster Green Lantern titles. I mean, it is, but there is an overarching story purpose introduced to justify the title’s existence, not just another throwaway Batman book for instance. For some mysterious reason one of each spectrum’s power rings goes to Kyle Raynor after leaving it’s original owner. Pursuing members of each color attack Kyle Raynor believing him to be a thief and a killer.
The story gets right to the point and doesn’t screw around with drifting ideas. We are given the origin story for new readers and to possibly show that Kyle Raynor was chosen during a time of seemingly great need. To me, the origin shows he’s special and that must tie loosely into why these other rings came to him. The other members from each color coming after him leaves us in a great cliffhanger that makes you want to come back.
The art in the book is solid and well done. I’m especially appreciative of the more complimentary colorization. As I mentioned in my Green Lantern Corps #1 review the colorist went crazy and made the book almost a Pixar film that draws unnecessary attention to itself.
My son is a Green Lantern fiend, as I’ve discussed before, so I’ll be picking this up anyway, but this is definitely a title I would probably pick up again on my own. This is easily the stand out title for the final week of reviews.
I, Vampire #1
When I saw this in the “New 52” preview book I figured that DC wanted a mainstream title to cash in on their success with the Vertigo title American Vampire. As I open the book I’m only more convinced of that. The artwork could fit seamlessly into an American Vampire book. The style, the atmosphere is nearly identical. The artist does more to play with shadows and light here, which is really incredible, but the artist looks to have been specifically chosen because his style was very close to that of American Vampire.
As I’m reading through the book, I’m beginning to get situated in a very dense story structure. The plot itself isn’t dense, just the way the story is told. The story goes back and forth between two people essentially repeating the same things over and over again to one another. I figured as I moved from page to page that this title would be situated within it’s own universe, again, much like American Vampire. American Vampire doesn’t need to be bound into a universe of other superheroes simply because they all have a DC comics logo on the cover. Apparently I, Vampire does.
As the two talk through their issues the male lead mentions that this woman would have to fight Superman, Wonder Woman, and a half dozen Green Lanterns. Ugh. The sour taste is coming back. This turned me off immediately, but I kept plowing through the book to give it a shot.
When I got to the end of the book and you see what this female is doing, the first reaction is “Where are the super heroes then?” I don’t care if you are Lex Luthor, The Joker, One-Face (creative!), or a 400-year-old vampire that can turn into a flying dog, if there are super heroes around they are going to tear your ass up. The minute the female vampire started killing people the Justice League would be all over the city kicking vampire ass.
Unlike Marvel Comics, I don’t believe for a second that Vampires have any room around Super Heroes. The genres don’t mix or mesh well in any way and 99% of the time the story, that writer’s manage to cobble together, is terrible. Vampires, I dare say, in a world of super heroes, are the story idea that jumps the shark. In universes of aliens, ultimate nullifiers, sons of krypton, infinity gauntlets, green lanterns, what have you, vampires rank extremely low on the threat list. So low in fact that bothering to talk about them just shows how low the idea barrel is getting.
The art is top notch and only subject to scrutiny because DC put this talented artist on a vampire book to completely and blatantly copy the style of a Vertigo book I’ve already mentioned too much. I wish I could return this book.
Superman #1
I swear to God, if I see another comic open with a box of dialog, I’m going to cut someone. The box is a speech like in Batman: The Dark Knight; I get it. I’m just sick of seeing boxes.
Anyway, this feels like a massive tome compared to every other comic I’ve read from this event. I feel like I absolutely got three bucks worth of story out of the few pages within. Comics in recent years put so much emphasis on action over dialog, particularly these “New 52” books. This was a nice change of pace.
The story travels virtually everywhere, though. As with the previous titles involving Superman, I’m 100% unsure where this story fits. Now, I’ve since read that Action Comics is Superman’s past, but if I hadn’t read it on a website, I wouldn’t have known at all from just picking up the book, which is just sloppy.
The story starts off with the demolition of the original Daily Planet building. I guess they built a new one. The writing during this scene is top notch. We get woven through the implications of the move from print to web news and what that means for Clark and Lois, what that means for all of us. We tread some interesting territory and the story is very personal and weighty.
There are a couple of odd moments in the book. In the middle there is some sort of shellfish lizard that is blowing a horn like the Ricola guy. I’m assuming that is loosely related to the fire guy that springs up in the book. An asterisk tells me I have to read Stormwatch #1 to get more on the “mystery.” No thanks.
If I have to read another book to understand Superman #1, everyone has failed at DC Comics. This event is already large enough and you are fishing for new readers, do you really want to start bogging them down in traditional comic book industry shenanigans? This type of crap is why those older, former readers stopped reading way back when. There is always a point when a comic book fans says, “this is just to much” and want to stop. I hate when I have to buy a comic outside of my normal interests to understand some miniscule plot point. Did everyone see that this is Superman #1?
There is this crap with a fire, and some sort of forgettable fire villain. I understand the action piece and it’s place within the story to show everyone doing his or her thing, it’s all well written, but it just left me disappointed. I think the story should have stayed with the personal stuff. If that wasn’t an option, I wish Superman had brought the original Daily Planet globe back to the ceremony after the battle. He could have made some impassioned speech about the past and present, how that relates to Metropolis and everyone, blah blah blah.
Superman bringing the globe back would have been a perfect resolution for Clark’s argument with Lois. He, as Superman, brings the Globe back to be a symbol of what they built upon with print, and that there is room for it all, and we can’t stand in the way of progress, but we can’t forget our past either. Then they put the old globe in the lobby or something. This would have been a great moment to wrap up the front half of the book and tie it all together, but the story just falls flat and ends in a cliché.
I have to point out that the writer drew the cover for this issue. I don’t know what the story is there, but as a writer who formerly wanted to be a comic book artist I find it charming. The interior art is done very well. The dialog and art are crammed from edge to edge of each page so you feel like you are just being blasted with content. I wish all comic books were like this. Most of them I just rush through and put away. I poured over the details in this book like i was twelve years old again.
The story seems like it will be stand alone, save for shellfish lizard, but just doesn’t live up to the incredible expectation it laid down at the beginning. I probably won’t be picking up anymore Superman comics.
Teen Titans #1
No dialog boxes! Thank you!
This is a companion book to Superboy #1 that I reviewed back in week 2. The ending to Teen Titans is pulled from Superboy #1, but this book gives the reason why evil John Lennon showed up to collect our test tube Superboy. I like that, and I wish they had released the book in the same week, just the first issues, to give you that link sooner.
The writing is not as shaky as it was in Superboy. The read is very quick and this is virtually a pure origin story like it was in Superboy also. The dialog is snappy, like all the “New 52″ Lobdell books I’ve read (save for Superboy). DC has totally pigeonholed this guy, but Scott Lobdell gotta eat, you know. The opening of the book features Kid Flash and his reckless behavior making a bad situation, worse. This is an example of growing concern for super powered teenagers and their inability to handle the responsibility of their powers and the potential danger they could pose to society because of that. Sounds familiar, right?
The main story follows the Red Robin and the beginning of his quest to assemble “meta humans” into a superhero group to resist a faction of government sanctioned agents from hunting them down. We are introduced to the aptly named Wonder Girl who has powers similar to, you guessed it, Wonder Woman. Clever! So, we have Red Robin, the younger Batman, Kid Flash, the kid… Flash, Superboy, the teenage Superman, Wonder Girl, the young version of Wonder Woman… you get the idea, right? TEEN TITANS!
That really is the entire book right there. After reading Superman #1, this felt like a pamphlet. Despite its perfectly matched writer to the material, the story is all too familiar. I have enough X-books to buy as it is. I know we’ll get the DC spin on things, but I wasn’t driven to be interested that much in this first issue. Not much is going on and the personalities are barely more than archetypes. I just couldn’t find a reason to be invested. I won’t be picking up Teen Titans again.
Also on Sale September 28th
All-Star Western #1, Aquaman #1, Blackhawks #1, The Flash #1, The Fury of Firestorm #1, Justice League Dark #1, The Savage Hawkman #1, and Voodoo #1.
Thanks for reading. I plan on writing an epilogue post to summarize my feelings on the entire event. I’ll have that later today or tomorrow.
