Aldo reads DC's New 52 (So you don't have to)

All-Star Western #2: This builds on the success of the first issue by continuing to be the Jonah Hex book it replaced. Yes, it weaves in Bat-elements like the Crime Bible but this only adds to how great it is. I appreciate (given that I was buying it until the reboot) I might be predisposed to the title, but it really is brilliant. Buy it.

Aquaman #2: FUCK YOU GEOFF JOHNS. I liked the last issue but this is Johns Sadface bollocks. Miserable shite.

Batman The Dark Knight #2: Amazingly, for the second issue on the trot there actually is David Finch content in this issue. And it's sort of OK I suppose, but it barely goes anywhere. It's almost a circular story with the conclusion of this issue the same as the last one, with very little happening of note in between. I get the feeling if Finch drops out altogether this could be all right, but I'm not sure I've got either the patience or inclination to find out.

Blackhawks #2: Insubstantial might well be the middle name of Mike Costa. This does nothing and goes nowhere and is not worth your time. Remember the way Nick Fury strips read in the late 80s? No? Exactly. And that's why this is so unmemorable.

Deathstroke #2: Can this be redeemed after the first issue? Simple answer: No. Slightly more detailed answer: Fuck, no. This is poor quality violence pr0n and plotless. I could have done something useful in the time it took me to read this like, I don't know, peeled a banana.

Firestorm #2: Who are Terror Grunt and what do they sound like? That's what inquiring minds really want to know having read this slice of 80s nostalgia. Blah blah nuclear winter blah blah emergency broadcasts blah THIS ISN'T THREADS. "Think I'm scared? I'm from Belfast, monster!"

Flash #2: Barry gets to grips with being Flash and pushes what he can do. It doesn't need any more of a description than that to be honest as this just develops what we saw last month and adds enough to the mystery to keep you reading next month, which I will be. Seeing how Barry sees the world is kind of marvellous.

Green Lantern New Guardians #2: Oh, this went from a fun issue 1 to impenetrable Johnsy GL bullshit. Wake me up whe you're finished. The comic itself makes no sense either, with Kyle INCREASING the amount of casualties from "Red Lanterns and their napalm blood puke" and X Factor arithmetic (i.e. things being >100% of themselves). Also, unless I'm mistaken, quite some years appear to have passed between the end of the last issue and this one, as Kyle reminisces about the Guardian who chose him and how he's come to think of him as his "fairy godfather" despite only meeting him the day before. No.

I, Vampire #2: I can't believe for a minute this is going to run past 6 issues. If it does, there will be one like this every 10 or so. It's a trap/escape/spread the legend vampire story, with about as much backstory as last time. It looks beautiful, but then so does Batwing and this doesn't have the legs of, say, 30 Days Of Night or The Walking Dead. I'll enjoy it while it's being published, but I don't expect that to be much longer.

Justice League Dark #2: This is a step backwards from last month, with pointless setup and an unhealthy fascination with Deadman having a shag. Yes, sex again. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU, DIDIO? Not every book in the DCU has to have sex on every page, don't make it editorially mandated. He gets this >< close to having a fake lesbian scene in it too (fake in that one of the women is a man, kind of). This is going to turn into a complete abortion of a book, isn't it?

Savage Hawkman #2: "INCREDIBLE. THE SYMBOLS ARE BECOMING EASIER FOR ME TO READ!" And the symbols appear to be saying THIS BOOK IS SHIT, DO NOT READ IT. This is just muddled twaddle, with the big bad from number one thrown away for a bigger (maybe) bad and some minor plot related shit in the background. There's a girlfriend now, possibly, and something something something don't care.

Superboy #2: In which Astro Boy tries to punch the universe but his neural inhibitors stop him. It turns out he's some kind of weapon which it turns out comes in very handy when some giant shark monsters from Sector 3 turn up. Maybe less so when SHIT BLOWS UP, as it inevitably does. This is a whole pile of fun, but I have no idea where it's going. A bit like canoeing blindfold.

Superman #2: WORDS AGAIN. Last month was wordy, but this is full of them straight out of the gate. THERE'S A THIRTY-TWO WORD SENTENCE ON THE FOURTH PAGE! This is such a hackneyed idea I can't possibly believe it hasn't been done a hundred times before in Superman/Action/whatever and similarly I can't believe it wasn't done better on the previous occasions. I can't wait for this to be crossing over with Action and turning it to shit, which is happening soon. Hitting my cut list, right now.

Teen Titans #2: Kid Flash, I like. The rest of this book, not so much. MAKE IT MORE ABOUT HIM. Anyway, this is still a 'build the team' issue but is starting to get towards an actual storyline. Although yet again we have some tiresome sexism with chat about Wonder Girl's boobage, and I'm beginning to get tired of it all. I'm prepared to go with it for a while but only because Kid Flash is so great. Give him his own book and I can stop buying this?

Voodoo #2: Last month I gave this the benefit of the doubt. This month I'm taking it back. Next month has Kyle Rayner. CUT!

I've heard numbers on VAMPIRE have held steady as of last round of orders, so it might not go away that quickly. My store never got it, so I have yet to give it a read.

The only book that's got any real excitement for me so far is ACTION. HEX is decent but hasn't been as great as the first series (which I was reading for the art as much as anything else. Jordi Bernet, yay!) But still, ACTION feels pretty thin for a monthly book, as opposed to ALL-STAR, which was substantial issue-in, issue-out. Trade arcs sap so much out of the monthlies, it's painful to read most of them.

UPDATE!

Action #3 is now out, and advertised fill-in artist Brent Anderson is not present; the first seven pages here are drawn by Gene Ha.

This issue is again 20 pages for $3.99.

Given the huge media buzz and sales success of this giant line-wide relaunch, here is a full and complete breakdown of the ads they have thus been able to sell on non-cover pages of this book:

1p: The Big Bang Theory is now in syndicated repeats on basic cable!

That's it.

There are 18 (EIGHTEEN) pages of unpaid ads for DC's The New 52, and the standard page of content-free house advertorial in the back.

HOLY COW.

Wonder if that means a tacit admission that they're not able to wring much ad revenue from these books and the value is in the IP, not the audience?

It seems weird that Time Warner wouldn't have it at least to the point where DC would be selling their own products in the comics.

Green Lantern #2: This is Geoff Johns wank fantasy made flesh. Basically Sinestro turns up and gives Hal his ring back if he agrees to admit he's great. He then withdraws it more than once to prove HIS ULTIMATE POWER OVER GREEN LANTERN. This couldn't get more Johnsy if it was printed in his spunk. The very fact I'm writing this is probably setting off his Johns-sense and he's getting wood as I type.

I feel dirty.

Action Comics #3: You know what I think? GMoz should put as much distance between himself and people who are linked to Alan Moore as he should. The entire Krypton sequence looks and feels like offcuts from Top Ten and that ends up colouring the entire book. The Metropolis stuff is nice and the Big Bad looks fun but nothing that hasn't been done before. I'm looking forward to sseing how GMoz gets out of it, but since the 5 year gap is consumed by #7 I'

m assuming that's as long as he's on the book and DC just aren't announcing it yet. (PS Gossip says Dan Jurgens is writing both)

{Continuing the previous post which got posted G_d knows why)

Animal Man #3: Do I like this? I'm really not sure any more. This seems confused at times, but then Buddy realises he is slave to his daughter and it kicks off into a level of awesomeness. I don't care at all for the Ellen and Cliff stuff and I'm not sure at all how the 'real world' pans into the Red at all but I'm not really bothered. I guess the big problem is this is all based on Old Universe DCU stuff so I'm reading it for the second time. Hmm.

but since the 5 year gap is consumed by #7 I'm assuming that's as long as he's on the book and DC just aren't announcing it yet.

god I hope so, the pricing makes me actually angry

Batwing #3: This almost does enough. Really nearly makes me want to keep on buying it. Then I remember Ben Oliver is off it with this issue and I'm convinced the other way. Arguably not enough happens during the issue, but the hints of The Kingdom being a big thing which fucked up really badly and sold out a continent could be a great thing. But Ben Oliver is what makes the book and this is the end of his involvement and also mine. I might torrent the next couple to see where the plot goes. SO HOW'S THAT STRATEGY WORKING, DIDIO?

Detective Comics #3: I actually kind of love the writing on this. Ultimately, The Dollmaker isn't nearly as good as I thought he would be last month but I can put up with it because the characterisation of Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock is the best in the reboot. Still not sold on the art but this is the New DC - I might not even have to put up with it till the end of the next issue! Still onboard and will stay that way.

Green Arrow #3: I'd love to be able to say the writing on this became competent with my last issue. I'd love to say the art doesn't look like the worst kind of 80s throwback. I'd love to be able to say what has passed to date for a plot is resolved satisfactorily. I'd love to be able to say the fake Steve Jobs characterisation becomes realistic. Unfortunately this is still the same bag of shite it has been since the first issue. Maybe even worse. If JT Krul ever works again it will be too soon.

Hawk & Dove #3: This ends with the phrase "He's not too old to answer some questions though... and I've got plenty." I only have 2: "How is Sterling Gates in work?" and "How is Rob Liefeld in work?" The answer to the first appears to be that he is good mates with Geoff Johns. The second is a challenge up there with Fermat's Last Theorem. Every line is delivered between gritted teeth. Barack Obama looks like a chocolate popsicle. There's a panel with Swan and Dove where they have the same face. Not similar faces, IDENTICAL ones. Woeful.

Justice League International #3: http://www.clashmusic.com/files/imagecache/big_node_view/files/Jaz-Coleman-Killing-Joke.jpg EIGHTIES. I'M LIVING IN THE EIGHTIES. You know what the highlight of this is? Vixen uses the powers of a badger. Some people would say this is damning with faint praise. I'm characterising it as reaching to find anything worth enjoying. Average is a compliment.

Men of War #3: What was the Rock section of this has turned to shit. Absolutely nothing happens in it. It's a completely failed attempt at a Two Fisted Tales type effort and totally worthless. Can it be save by the completion of the SEALS backup story? No. It's shite as well. Deserves to be cut andhas been.

OMAC #3: The writing in this really isn't that great is it? And I'm beginning to think the art isn't either. I hate this reboot. Still entertaining enough, but that probably says more about the other books than this one. I'm already looking forward to next month when I am reading less new comics.

Red Lanterns #3: WHAT A SURPRISE. The character I predicted last month is made clevererer is the one that is made clevererer. Unfortunately, because she is A WOMANG she has to be better than 'the hero'. This doesn't work at all. The issue ends with a gratuitous arse picture. One that makes Red Hood #1 look like Andrea Dworkin. You're better than this, Pete Milligan.

Static Shock #3: No. No. No. Static Shite. Features a piss-poor joke about someone not knowing what The Joker looks like. Losing the will to live here.

Stormwatch #3: So we don't get the villain reveal the last issue promised... I can put up with that because this is still a pretty servicable comic. Filler, yes, but servicable. Plot doesn't get advanced much and Jack's foot/ankle about halfway through is one of the worst pieces of art in the reboot (I know, a huge claim) but NOT AWFUL.

Swamp Thing #3: In which our hero compresses over 70 issues of a comic into a VERY short narrative. But the ACTUAL PLOT is great when it kicks in, even if it does rip off SoST 23-26 (the Floronic Man/JLA issues). LET'S GO WITH BRILLIANT mainly because we don't have any competition.

You can't reference the worst panel in the reboot and not share a bad scan!

Otherwise, kudos.

Yeah, I'll find the panel tonight. I realised as I was typing it I would need to. Also, two Liefeld montages to do.

have you dropped wonder woman aldo? my roommate & i are subscribed to omac, wonder woman, action comics, animal man thru a joint reservation account, should be caught up in a week or so

The first WW was great, the second smacked massively of the Perez 80s run. Am sticking with it until #4 at the moment but I know where it needs to go.

is there even a royalty system still in place?

now less than ever

okay I broke down and bought Suicide Squad

this is so exactly my type of shit

also Harley is hilarious

Fabian Nicieza discusses the valuable creative input of DC editorial into New 52 plotting:

Nrama: You know, Fabian, a lot of people picked up the first issue and got the idea that this book was going to be all about action and character peril, but you seem to be doing a lot more with this comic now. As a writer, were you planning from the start that the first issue should be fast-moving to grab readers with the perilous situation and confusion of the characters?

Nicieza: Actually, as a writer, I wasn't. This is the first time I'm even talking about it, so I have to be diplomatic about it. It was not my original intention to break the story down that way. After we did a six-issue outline, we had lunch and a meeting editorially, and we all talked about it. There were aspects of my original six-issue outline that they didn't want to do yet. They thought it was too soon, too fast. They wanted a slower burn for some of the things, like the spread of the disease and the Legionnaires themselves having options available to them.

So I had to go back reconfigure my six-issue plans to kind of create more of a slow burning fuse to their presence here on Earth.

Part of that meant that, instead of opening it the way that I'd envisioned, which was them here for a few days already, them contacting Superman for help, and clearly putting out on the table exactly what's going on within the first eight pages of the book -- that changed.

What they wanted, and I understand why they wanted it, they wanted the first 20 minutes of the Lost TV pilot.

Nrama: Ah, yeah. The peril is similar, with the crashed airplane.

Nicieza: Exactly. They wanted a sense of frantic, chaotic turmoil and uncertainty. That, in and of itself, is twisting the usual "Legion in the past" story. And they wanted a twist on the usual "Legion in the past" story. And I get that.

So I turned the dial on my head a little bit and reconfigured it, and this is what we got.

There's a lot of good to that, but there's some bad to that too. And I do think clarity is one of the things that got sacrificed in that first issue, which is a bit frustrating, because I felt that it was an important aspect that we needed in that first issue.

So, by publishing solicitation details for the first New 52 collections, DC have not only given more hints into their focus but also spoilered some more as-yet-unannounced team changes.

Dig through to note what's being given hardcover prestige, how worthy-of-colllection every single title appears to be considered even before they're written or drawn, and how evidently everyone's stories must be no less than 6 issues and no more than 8.

The pricing disparity on Action gets tilted the other way on the collection - while buying the floppies costs $8 more than any other series for the same number of pages, the collection gives you 40 pages more than any other HC for only $2 extra. SURE, THAT MAKES SENSE, WHATEVER.

Writer: Grant Morrison
Artists: Rags Morales, Rick Bryant, Brent Anderson, Gene Ha, Andy Kubert and Jesse Delperdang

Obviously Kubert isn’t so excited about drawing those two last-minute story-derailing issues that he can do them by himself. This shows amazing confidence that Morales will have his shit together enough to draw #7 and #8 though!

GREEN ARROW VOL. 1 TP
Writers: J.T. Krul, Keith Giffen and Dan Jurgens
Artists: Dan Jurgens, George Pérez, Ignacio Calero and Ray McCarthy

Let’s see if it manages to hold to a mere four artists in six issues.

BATWOMAN VOL. 1: HYDROLOGY HC
Writers: J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman
Artist: J.H. Williams III
Collects: BATWOMAN #0-5
$22.99 US, 144 pg

Sure, don’t bother looking inside those comics to see if anyone else, say Amy Reeder, may have drawn half of every page of one of them. Or reading the cover. More evidence of Dan DiDio’s frenzied campaign to drive out all female creators from the halls of DC!*

Also, this means that the three issues of Detective Batwoman by Rucka and Jock that go in between BATWOMAN VOL. 1 HC and, er, BATWOMAN VOL. 1 HC (well done, there) are being completely orphaned. YOU NO WORK FOR US NO MORE, YOUR COMICS NEVER EXISTED.

*actually holy fuck, this may be more accurate than my mockery intended: DC paid for and scrapped EIGHT covers by Reeder this year, including VARIANTS FOR EVERY ISSUE OF BATWOMAN.

And I guess DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS was always meant to be rotating teams, but with #1-5 still coming out, this solicitation is a sneak reveal of what an amazing team they were able to line up by working five months ahead of the rest of the entire line!:

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS VOL. 1 TP
Writers: Paul Jenkins, Dan DiDio and Jerry Ordway
Artists: Bernard Chang and Jerry Ordway
Collects: DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1-8

Oh.

And my favourite one to track the creators on...

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT VOL. 1 HC
Writer: Paul Jenkins and David Finch
Artists: David Finch and Richard Friend
Collects: BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1-6

So either the solicited fill-in penciller from #2 and #3 wasn’t needed (!) or Finch managed to have him wrestled back to proper, uncredited ghosting by the time the issues came out. Or the people in the trades department don’t know what the fuck they’re doing, which is not implausible at this stage I'll grant you.

i love the updates in this thread, DC sounds utterly out of control

I checked BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #2 in the shop and Jay Fabok is not credited inside. I'm putting my money on 'ghost'.

i love the updates in this thread, DC sounds utterly out of control

Me too. THis whole thread is hugely fun to read.

Batgirl #3: The biggest problem about this issue is contained within the spread page internal DC advert and the MTV quote therein: "DC is actually delivering what they promised... these books give you everything you need to know, right there, in the first issue." So why do I spend all this issue wondering when the "how Babs left her wheelchair" is going to get resolved? The book spends the entire time CULTIVATING mystery about what happened prior to the reboot, not resolving it. And it just isn't that good at it - I enjoyed #1, disliked #2 and have no real opinion on this so I'm going to read the next one (which apparently finishes this storyline) then cut it. Good work, DC.

Batman and Robin #3: Umm... what? I have read this three times now and it still makes very little sense. Damian is bad at chess and disobedient. The guy from the last issue has a cool costume. Batman doesn't know the Green Cross Code. BatDog is a cutesy dopey love. Yes he is. Who's a cutesy dopey love then? It's you, isn't it? Yes it is. What is the film going to be in the next issue? FIND OUT IN A MONTH. I hope it's The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Claus.

Batwoman #3: KEEP FOCUSING ON THE ART. The first half of this is maybe some of the most beautiful stuff JH Williams has done. The second half, the part that's more like a regular book, not so much. The first half flows perfectly, the second half is stilted and awkward. But it looks so lovely I can forgive it all of this. I'm so shallow.

Deathstroke #3: HOORAY! MY LAST ISSUE! And it's possibly the worst of the three, with no plot to speak of and confusing art that presumably to even up the gender issues in some of the #1s has a load of upskirt style shots of MANLY MEN BEING MANLY AND KILLING EACH OTHER WITH KNIVES. Anyway, now we're at the end I can summarise the first three issues as follows: blah FITE blah FITE FITE blah blah FITE FITE FITE FITE HEAD IN A BOX.

Demon Knights #3: What is this, severed head month at DC? Anyway, this doesn't quite live it to the first two issues but the plot barrels on with a near-death Madame Xanadu, a Jason Blood returned from Hell, a priest Etrigan has put there, some joke about the Seven Soldiers version of the Shining Knight and Vandal Savage, Leader Of Men. Somehow this has become the book I look forward to reading most every month. I have no idea how this took place.

Frankenstein #3: Another month on, another month of low quality BPRD rip-off. It's no use ramping up the excitement with TWO (count 'em) new threats at the end of the story, you're still a poor man's Dark Horse product. I think I'll stick with this as it puts me in the price break that my LCS give me as it keeps them in Diamond's sale-or-return bracket, but I'd much rather be reading something by Mike Mignola or Guy Davis.

Green Lantern #3: I don't EVER want to see Doug Mahnke drawing Sinestro laughing again. Is he secretly having sex with Geoff Johns or something? How does this man hold a job down? Although he's not the worst thing about this book, Geoff Johns is. You know what his plan is now? The Guardians have decided that after creating the Green Lanterns (plus all the other colours that make up the Lantern Pride Alliance) and the Manhunters they now need to create a Third Army (I guess answering the question about whether Millenium/New Guardians exists in the the new DCU with a resounding NO). And he has a paradox in this issue that Hal Jordan points out and has a fight with Sinestro about. And a character called Arsona. Can anybody actually want to read this? I don't think I could even muster the enthusiasm to t0rr3nt it in future.

Grifter #3: Inexplicable. This cannot be explained. Next month it involves a Green Arrow team up. There is no way this can make it better. GRifter shouts a Platoon-style NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO in the middle of this. It's how I feel about the title too.

Legion Lost #3: It's like watching the footage from Bottom Live 3: Hooligan's Island - OH WE'VE GOT A PLOT THIS YEAR, HAVE WE? After the slight disappointment of last month this is really going somewhere, and the revelation at the end is cracking. Yes, the second half of the issue is a lengthy Timber Wolf fight but SO WHAT. Fabien Nicieza might not like the pacing of this, but I think it's just fine. #1 set up the scenario and introduced the characters, #2 brought in the real bad guy, #3 developed it all further and gave you something to make you really care about. All while bringing the THRILLPOWER. Give us more of this sort of thing.

Mister Terrific #3: This features a bad guy called Brainstorm who was a computer scientist and is now a blue bloke with a WiFi symbol on his head. He can shoot USB cables - sorry, 'Intelligence Spikes' out of his arm to hard wire himself to people and download the things they know. Some kids film Mister Terrific beating him up on their iPhones because it turns out he was having mental sex with the satnav in her car which caused her crash and subsequent death. I really wish I was making this shit up. I'm done with this.

Resurrection Man #3: The weird sexualisation of the previous issue continues in new, even more bizarre ways (I mean was there really any reason to show us those heart-covered panties?) and despite the whole Limbo bit of dialogue nothing is actually progressed. It feels like a filler issue, which for only the third is a horrible accusation. If this gets to #10 I'll be amazed, as I would guess will the writers because it doesn't feel like it's supposed to.

Suicide Squad #3: I love Harley Quinn and the way she's written here. Can you guess what may or may not be happening when she says "This reminds me of a joke about a clown car..."? Between this and King Shark "keeping a low profile" this is hands down the most FUN in anything DC are publishing for the third month in a row. And at the end? Two words. CAPTAIN BOOMERANG. This just keeps getting better. MORE FUN COMICS (not More Fun Comics though).

Superboy #3: "I am so not following any of this." You and me both, Superboy. I think I like this but I have no idea why. Apparently next month Superboy destroys a Christmas tree. Doesn't that sound worth your money?

I can't wait for all the six-month postmortems. And the one-year should be HILARIOUS.

I am on board for buying about 25 #4s at the moment. That doesn't mean I won't keep up by t0rr3nt with the rest just for you lot.

The panels from last week that wound me up:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6052/6337730959_a50ee96baf_z.jpg

I know in relation to some of the other things you see this doesn't seem that bad, but THESE ARE HIS ACTUAL FEET AND ANKLES. You know, there isn't a boot or something in the way that changes the shape, this is just poor drawing skills.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6035/6337731055_6a59c6fd21_z.jpg

You see what I mean about it being hard to credit this was Pete Milligan's direction? I have also realised in the week since that the two text boxes make it look like she's been holding a lottery for who gets to give her anal. WHY DOES MY BRAIN WORK THIS WAY?

It's the ROB LIEFELD CAN'T DRAW FOR SHIT EXTRAVAGANZA. Hawk & Dove #2:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6107/6338685160_a2e30d733f_b.jpg

Ask if you want it biggerer.

lol i don't know from comics but this is god's work yr doing

That Stormwatch panel is all kinds of twenty colors of crap.

And from H&D#3:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/6338074655_5ec0ebf5bc_b.jpg

Yes, that black gentleman is Barack Obama.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJhoa2SVGNA
so rob...you had any formal art training?

To be fair maybe he twisted his ankle and it's gone all swollen

re Batwoman #3: Maggie Sawyer is meant to be a tough cop, and not a sook in matters of romance, I take it from her other appearances in this series? So why is she such a marshmallow pushover for Kate's bullshit? This is the only thing that bothers me about the writing so far.

Wish it was still Rucka writing, tbh

happy for him that he fled the sinking ship before getting dicked around even more, if I have any opinion

I'm not completely familiar with what was done to him, but I applaud anyone who felt it a good time to bail before this relaunch business.

me neither, Batwomang was prob the first thing I'd read by him in ten years, but he made hints and allusions at the time. that now seem more illuminated, yeah.

I liked Gotham Central, although I read it after publication

I fully intend to read it if they ever do a complete TPB series.

Ty Templeton, back in launch month:

http://tytempletonart.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/websized-revised1.jpg

UPDATE!

Birds Of Prey #s 1-4 were all solicited with Duane Swierczunski as writer and Jesus Saiz as sole artist. Once #5 is solicited with Saiz needing an inker to help out, a fill-in issue is promptly commissioned from George Perez and Writer TK.

Tonight, as I get closer to finishing my run on SUPERMAN and prepare for my next project (still only in the negotiation stage right now) I am starting to pencil an inventory issue of BIRDS OF PREY-- just so I can draw some nice looking babes!

so rob...you had any formal art training?

this guy is totally a real-life Liefield drawing
http://i39.tinypic.com/9j0ocg.gif

I saw a changed teams list for #6s but I can't remember where. Basically there's barely half of the original line-up doing the same jobs iirc. I kind of fail to see how that encourages anybody to buy the books.

Batman #3: Hot damn. Yes, this introduces another OH NOES GOTHAM HAS ALWAYS EVER ALWAYS HAD DARK SEKRITS mythology, and I'm still not completely sold on the art, but this is quite brilliantly written. The history of the Owls and the ties to Alan Wayne AND THEN THE DENOUEMENT, holy crap. Read this at all costs.

Birds of Prey #3: This is very nearly good enough to make me reconsider cutting it. Poison Ivy is re-cast in the Johnsiverse as a superpowered Earth First activist and the plot threads laid down in the first two issues begin to come to fruition. The issue ends with a BLACK CANARY IS ABOUT TO DIE cliffhanger which, as we've learned from the Johnsiverse (or in fact basic comics theory) means it won't happen but the nagging reality doesn't prevent you getting swept up in it. Apparently the inclusion of Batgirl as the lead character is imminent, which can also only mean return of The Simone. Shame, as the writer here is starting to find his feet.

Blue Beetle #3: After one of the least surprising reveals of the reboot (I mean, really? You think we didn't know it was the Auntie all along?) this rumbles along trying to find its feet. The Hispanic histrionics in dialogue make me grateful for all that time I put in with Amor Y Cohetes and the possibility of the Scarab Lanterns or whatever the fuck they are destroying Earth might be a thing, but ridiculous poses and HANDS DOWN THE WORST NEW CHARACTER DESIGN I HAVE SEEN IN MANY YEARS (seriously, this Silverback dude is like the worst excesses of the 90s. He's Cable invented on crystal meth.) makes this a dung beetle.

Captain Atom #3: The moment we all waited for - JT Krul writes the Flash. No, wait, the moment we were waiting for was Captain Atom and the Flash solving the conflict in Libya. Until Gadaffi sets off a nuclear bomb to destroy the country. Captain Atom sucks in the energy and Flash outruns the blast picking people up on the way. Did I mention Captain Atom turned himself into God in the first couple of pages? It makes me pine for the good old days of Qurac. Please don't let any of this make you think you should look at the book because it's really not worth your time.

Catwoman #3: Torture porn! Strippers! Visible labia! At one point Catwoman's thighs are bigger than her waist! Holy BatSnogging! Awful, awful, awful.

DCU Presents Deadman #3: I really wish this was ready to move on to the next story. Basically this issue rehashes the last one and doesn't advance the plot apart from the first and last pages. Consequently, it does nothing for me. I can't help thinking it's a wasted opportunity but I can't offer any suggestions as to how it could be improved as it's just a whole pile of nothing.

Green Lantern Corps #3: "Beware the Ring Slayers!" Sounds like a porn film to me. Yadda yadda ring fites (although since inventiveness was always supposed to be a thing, why they all will guns into existence doesn't show much imagination) and it turns out the titular Ring Slayers are in fact an unknown species comprising vast reserves of raw willpower. Glad that's all cleared up. The best dialogue on the first page is "RRAGHH!" and comes from the dinosaur GL that had his arms and legs cut off in the last issue. Presumably he can only say RRAGHH because he is wearing his ring on his tongue now he is limbless. I wish I was making this up. I might start putting in some fake details from now on.

Justice League #3: "Steve, this place, your home, is filled with so many wonderful things. Ice cream and Rock and Roll and... many wonderful things." FUCK YOU GEOFF JOHNS. How can you have the gall to write this shit? Wait, Superman's just managed to cleanly slice off a Parademon's arm with a car tyre. Hal Jordan's just claimed shagging rights on Wonder Woman. This could be a triumph but instead is a disaster. Vic Stone's heart races up his spinal cord (according to the dialogue, but that can't be right) then he screams one of the most epic pieces of dialogue from the reboot - "AAHH01010101000010111". And finally Aquaman turns up. I don't think I can look away.

LoSH #3: Yes! The return of the Dominators! How to subdue Daxamites! This is pointless crap for the rest of you. It's still a fanboy's book. I wish I could actually judge the quality of this title.