Hey CCAS family. We've extended issue # 2 of 'Samson the Nazirite' about 10 pages and unfortunately that's beyond our budget. Please check us out on kickstarter.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1111867039/samson-the-nazirite-limited-series
Thanks,
Hi again,
I've been away for quite awhile, but I've been working hard at getting my comic ready for launch. It's a bit behind schedule (it hopefully will be ready shortly after the turn of the year) but it's progressing nicely. I recently finished scripting and paneling the initial 100 pages; the first 80 will be spread across the first 4 weeks after launch at 20 pages per update, and the remaining 20 will serve as my initial buffer. As I write this I'm going back through and illustrating/coloring the panels.
I also just finished the templates for what will be a very in-depth Reference section of all the characters, vehicles, locations, and events for the series. I posted the first Character Reference page, Colonel John Carlson, on my Homepage here. The purpose of the Reference section is to complement the comic with descriptive detail and insight on the world of Tomes of Atlantis in a way that won't intrude unnecessarily on the story itself, but will give readers information they may not get solely from the comic.
Anyway, that's what I've been up to. It's good to have a community of fellow Christian writers and artists to come back to and draw support and encouragement from!
In an effort to make its stories more accessible to new
readers, DC recently launched The New 52, cancelling all of its existing titles
and starting 52 new series with revamped and rebooted versions of its major
characters. But how will the New 52 affect the DC universe? Will new readers
actually be attracted? Will old fans still be interested? Will the new titles
be fresh and new, or disappointing and unfaithful to the original continuity?
After buying and reading all but a few of the 52 new #1s that DC released over
the course of a month, I have set out to review some of the major ones and let
potential readers know which new titles are and are not worth reading. So,
without further ado…
Batman: The Dark Knight #1
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Penciler: David Finch
Review by Samuel N. Harris
Batman: The Dark
Knight #1 contains a decent story. It starts off with a few pages of Batman
ominously patrolling the night. It goes into a stint with him as Bruce Wayne,
addressing the public of Gotham at an elegant social function of some sort.
Bruce meets a few interesting characters, such as a bold, attractive woman, and
a Lieutenant who is not too happy about Bruce’s involvement with Batman, Inc.
(something which Bruce made publicly known recently before the reboot
happened). Later, there’s a breakout at Arkham Asylum, and Bruce changes back
into Batman to contain it, going up against familiar villains such as Mr.
Freeze and Clayface. The comic’s cliffhanger ending has Batman encounter a
stronger, more twisted, and more depraved version of one of his classic foes
(whose identity I will refrain from indicating so as not to spoil the
cliffhanger). It’s an interesting and entertaining story—just not a
particularly original or amazing one.
Don’t get me wrong. I have no major complaints with this
particular issue, because it’s really not bad as a whole. But perhaps I do have
a minor complaint about how much money and popularity DC keeps trying to milk
out of Batman, who is clearly their biggest character as of now. Sure, I love
Batman as much as the next guy, but when he’s already starring in Detective Comics, Batman, and Batman and Robin,
as well as being part of both Justice League and Justice League
International, a title like Batman:
The Dark Knight seems just a little bit redundant and unnecessary to me. I
wouldn’t mind it so much if the plot was something original or new or daring,
but this one doesn’t seem to be any of those things. In fact, it doesn’t seem
to be a whole lot different from Batman #1, which also featured Bruce Wayne addressing the public of Gotham at an
elegant social gathering, and also featured Batman trying to contain a breakout
at Arkham. It seems to me like DC decided to add another Batman title to the
line-up of the New 52 just so they could make more money off of Batman, but
they did it at the cost of original storytelling or particularly high quality
content.
On the other hand, I am somewhat interested by the
cliffhanger ending I mentioned above, and I’d be interested to find out exactly
how this villain at the end came to be in his new, twisted condition, and how
Batman will manage to defeat him this time around. I’m sure those questions
will be addressed in subsequent issues of Batman:
The Dark Knight. Maybe it will actually turn out to be a fresh and original
take on this particular villain, or maybe it will just be another temporary
gimmick to sell more comics—but it’s too early to tell with just the first
issue. This first issue doesn’t give us a whole lot to go on, and the shocker
cliffhanger ending is the only thing close to an incentive to come back and
read the next one.
Batman: The Dark
Knight #1 is entertaining and enjoyable enough, but it’s nothing to write
home about. In my opinion, it was a slightly subpar imitation of Batman #1—although, since they came out
around the same time, maybe both comics are just imitating classic Batman
stories and not coming up with anything extremely original. Read this comic if
you really, really love Batman and will never get tired of reading his stories,
even when they do get a bit repetitive. Otherwise, you won’t miss much by just
sticking with Batman, Batman and Robin, and Detective Comics.
As a green lantern fan I injoyed the movie for what it was and I know it should of been more than just a superhero movie with sci fi added to it, it could of shown its true comic book lore. There is always a sequel they can do to make it up because the movie was not as bad as people make it out to be. Anyone agree? If green lantern was done right it could of been up there with major sci fi franchieses like Star Wars.
In an effort to make its stories more accessible to new readers, DC recently launched The New 52, cancelling all of its existing titles and starting 52 new series with revamped and rebooted versions of its major characters. But how will the New 52 affect the DC universe? Will new readers actually be attracted? Will old fans still be interested? Will the new titles be fresh and new, or disappointing and unfaithful to the original continuity? After buying and reading all but a few of the 52 new #1s that DC released over the course of a month, I have set out to review some of the major ones and let potential readers know which new titles are and are not worth reading. So, without further ado…
Batman and Robin #1
Writer: Peter Tomasi
Penciler: Patrick Gleason
Review by Samuel N. Harris
Before we dive into the newest adventure of DC’s dynamic duo, let’s start with a little background information to make sure we’re all on the same page:
First of all, if you still think that Robin’s secret identity is Dick Grayson, then you’ve probably been away from comics for quite a long time. In fact, the same is true if you think that Robin is Jason Todd, Tim Drake, or even Stephanie Brown. The previous Robins have all grown past being Batman’s sidekick and forged identities of their own, and the current Robin is none other than Batman’s own son, Damian Wayne, who was born to him by Talia al Ghul and was introduced in the “Batman and Son” storyline in 2006. When Batman “died” in Final Crisis in 2009, a great battle ensued and Dick Grayson became his replacement as Batman. Damian then became Robin, and he and Dick had several adventures together as Batman and Robin before the return of Bruce Wayne as Batman. Now that the original Batman is back and the universe has been rebooted, the dynamic duo is off to a fresh new start.
Because of all the complicated drama and identity switching that I described in the last paragraph, this issue was the first time that Bruce and Damian, father and son, have ever been together as Batman and Robin. As such, it gives us a new perspective on an old duo, a new combination of personalities, and a new relationship dynamic to consider. Batman’s grim and methodical seriousness sometimes clashes with Robin’s impulsiveness and rebellious ten-year-old nature. Whereas Bruce is compelled to do things a certain way because he is always haunted by the murder of his parents, Damian has little respect for the traditions that his father holds dear and sacred. Damian is also a very troubled character because he was raised among assassins and trained to kill from a young age, so his way of doing things often conflicts with Batman’s. It seems ironic to see Robin as darker and more violent than Batman, but it makes for good character development and an interesting twist on the traditional roles of Batman and Robin. Of course, Batman clashed with all the previous Robins at time or another, but none of them were his biological sons, so it is interesting to see in this issue how that relationship affects the dynamic duo, and how they can still put aside their differences to succeed together in their battles with crime when it really matters.
This issue pits Batman and Robin against a few Batman copycats with similar bat-influenced costumes, but tendencies towards big weapons and violent murders. The action and mystery are exciting as Bruce and Damian try to figure things out and bring the villains to justice. But this issue also pits Batman against the ever-haunting memory of his parents’ death, and he confronts it here in a way he never has before. Whereas Bruce always used to bring flowers to his parents’ graves to commemorate the day of their deaths, he decides in this issue to begin commemorating their wedding anniversary instead, because he wants to celebrate the way they lived rather than mourn the way they died. This conscious decision is a stroke of good character development for this issue and for the Batman story as a whole. It is one step closer to Bruce letting go of his traumatic past (even though he will probably never let go completely), and it is a way for him to teach his disrespectful son by example the value of strong family relationships and of learning to heal from a violent, troubled past.
Batman and Robin #1 is an enjoyable read that looks at familiar characters from a new and intriguing perspective. My only minor complaint with this issue is that new readers who haven’t been following Batman comics for the past few years may be confused to learn that Batman has a son who is the current Robin. Still, if readers can accept that fact, then this issue is a great place to jump on without necessarily knowing all the details of the previous backstory, because it introduces the characters in a different, daring way that is new to everyone, however long they’ve been reading comics. This comic features great characters, a good story, and pleasing artwork as well. I look forward to reading more about Batman and Robin, the duo who truly is dynamic—ever-changing and always exciting.
In an effort to make its
stories more accessible to new
readers, DC recently launched The New 52, cancelling all of its existing titles
and starting 52 new series with revamped and rebooted versions of its major
characters. But how will the New 52 affect the DC universe? Will new readers
actually be attracted? Will old fans still be interested? Will the new titles
be fresh and new, or disappointing and unfaithful to the original continuity?
After buying and reading all but a few of the 52 new #1s that DC released over
the course of a month, I have set out to review some of the major ones and let
potential readers know which new titles are and are not worth reading. So,
without further ado…
Green Arrow #1
Writer: J.T. Krul
Penciler: Dan Jurgens
Review by Samuel N. Harris
Who’s a wealthy industrialist playboy by day and a
crimefighter with combat skills and an array of gadgets by night? If you
answered “Batman,” then you probably aren’t quite as familiar with Green Arrow—the
other DC hero who fits that same description. Somehow, Oliver Queen manages to
run a global company and shoot arrows at supervillains all at the same time,
while still maintaining some semblance of a personal life as well. But what
will his life be like in the newly revamped DC universe?
Honestly, not a whole lot different—at least, not as far as
I can tell. I’ve never followed Green Arrow particularly closely, so I may be
oblivious to any more subtle differences if there are any, but as far as I can
tell, he’s the same old character—a fairly young and cocky guy who happens to
be good with a high-tech bow and arrows, and, motivated by personal tragedy,
uses those to make the city he lives in a better, safer place.
That’s pretty much what this issue is like. Early on, the
higher-ups at Queen Industries are speaking over the phone to Oliver Queen
himself—who just happens to be out patrolling the streets as Green Arrow at the
time. Within the first few pages, Green Arrow takes on some villains who I don’t
recognize—including a guy who can shoot electricity and a freaky-looking woman
with two heads and four arms—and proceeds to beat them up for most of the comic
book. He shoots arrows at the villains,
taunts them and exchanges witty banter, and even works in a few extra-special
arrows and other gadgets that do more than meets the eye, such as accessing a
computer system or turning water into ice. Green Arrow beats the bad guys and
spends a few pages as Oliver Queen again, talking to his business colleagues
and his few confidants about the superhero/alter ego business. He makes a
statement about how he has a responsibility to fight crime because of the
people he has failed to save in the past—which may be true, but is also fairly common
and clichéd as a motivation for a superhero. Then at the end, some more
villains who I don’t recognize show up, presumably to be fought by Green Arrow
in the next issue.
That’s it. That’s about all that happens in this issue. No
epic, overarching storyline that’s visible yet, and no fresh, new, dramatic
take on the character that I can notice. Just Green Arrow beating up some bad
guys and being a fairly typical superhero alter ego with a motivation of guilt
and a civilian life to try to maintain. This issue doesn’t seem to contain
anything much deeper or more original than that. I have nothing against Green
Arrow as a character, and I’ve seen versions of him that have been complex and
well-developed, but this issue is not one of them. It seems mediocre and unoriginal to me in that
respect—and most other respects as well. I have no major complaints with the
issue, nothing that was done particularly poorly, but no major compliments
about it either, nothing that was done particularly well. It’s another average, everyday superhero story that I could
just as easily go with as without.
In an effort to make its
stories more accessible to new
readers, DC recently launched The New 52, cancelling all of its existing titles
and starting 52 new series with revamped and rebooted versions of its major
characters. But how will the New 52 affect the DC universe? Will new readers
actually be attracted? Will old fans still be interested? Will the new titles
be fresh and new, or disappointing and unfaithful to the original continuity?
After buying and reading all but a few of the 52 new #1s that DC released over
the course of a month, I have set out to review some of the major ones and let
potential readers know which new titles are and are not worth reading. So,
without further ado…
Aquaman #1
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciler: Ivan Reis
Review by Samuel N. Harris
Some comics fans may be
aware of some stereotypes and negative opinions that have often existed against
Aquaman’s character. Maybe it’s due to his portrayal on the ridiculously corny Super Friends cartoon series of the ‘70s, or based on the idea that his powers are only useful around water or
the ocean. Maybe a guy who talks to fish and rules a fantastical, undersea
kingdom is just a bit too far-fetched, not very believable or relatable to the
modern readers of today. Whatever the reason, Aquaman, the half-breed son of a
human lighthouse keeper and the Queen of Atlantis, has often been seen by fans as
a silly, weak, or even useless character. That is, until the New 52. Because
the newly rebooted Aquaman #1 shows
us a different side of Aquaman—one that is anything but silly, weak, or
useless.
One thing I enjoyed about
this issue was that it specifically addressed the negative stereotypes about
Aquaman, showing that even the characters in the DC universe see him as weak
and useless—but then it deliberately tried to refute those stereotypes, and, in
my opinion, succeeded. We first see Aquaman in this issue in the middle of a
busy city street, trying to stop an armed robbery. There is no water or ocean
anywhere nearby, so the police and the crooks both wonder aloud what Aquaman
could possibly do to help the situation. So does he summon the waves from far
away, or telepathically convince a giant whale to help him out? Nope. Instead,
he just rams his golden trident into the front of the criminals’ getaway truck
and, with his super strength, flips the truck upside-down. Then he stands by
nonchalantly as the desperate crooks’ bullets bounce harmlessly off of his
super-tough skin. With the thieves clearly defeated, a police officer offers
Aquaman a glass of water—which he declines—and then, after Aquaman has sped
away, says, “I can’t believe we just got upstaged by Aquaman.” A fellow officer
comments, “The boys at the station are never gonna let us hear the end of this.”
After his brief bout with
crime, Aquaman heads over to a local seafood restaurant. Now, I know what you’re
probably thinking: What could Aquaman possibly want with a seafood restaurant?
When I first read this issue, I thought the only possible answer could be that
he would forcefully order the place to shut down, or even destroy the building
himself, because he can’t bear the thought of humans mistreating and eating his
fishy friends. Nope. Instead, he just sits down peacefully and orders the fish
and chips—to the great surprise of me and the surrounding customers within the
story. When one man points out that Aquaman can’t eat fish because he talks to
fish, Aquaman explains that he does not actually talk to fish because fish don’t
talk. In his own words, “Their brains are too primitive to carry on a conversation.
I reach into their midbrains and telepathically push them to help me out.” In
other words, Aquaman doesn’t just spend all day hanging out in the ocean with
his fishy friends. He recognizes that fish are lower beings than himself, so he
uses them to help him when he needs to, but he’s not opposed to eating them
either. Aquaman also says that he chose this particular seafood restaurant
because he has fond memories of his father, the human lighthouse keeper,
bringing him there when he was younger.
One man at the restaurant
asks to interview Aquaman for his blog, but continuously patronizes him along
the way. He mocks Aquaman’s belief that Atlantis even exists, and asks him, “How’s
it feel to be nobody’s favorite superhero?” Instead of lashing out in anger at
such insults (like Namor, the Marvel universe’s hot-tempered ruler of Atlantis,
would probably do), Aquaman, to his credit, gets up and walks away, choosing
not to put up with a public who doesn’t appreciate him—but not before he tosses
a couple gold coins from his undersea stash of treasure to his financially
struggling waitress. By this point in the issue, Aquaman has exemplified
usefulness in battle and crimefighting, moral resolve and strength of
character, generosity and compassion for people in need, and the ability to
partake in normal human activities such as going to a seafood restaurant. Doesn’t
sound like such a bad superhero to me.
Later we see Aquaman with
his wife, Mera, and theirs is apparently one of the few superhero marriages
that has not been retconned by the New 52. Aquaman tells her that he wants to
leave behind all of his troubles in the kingdom of Atlantis and embark on a new
life with her, to which she agrees. I, for one, was pleased to see Aquaman in
this happy relationship for a few pages-because I like it when superheroes are
allowed to be happy for once in a while in their tragedy-filled lives, and I
like seeing Aquaman as a relatable person with troubles behind him, a woman he
loves in front of him, and realistic human desires about the whole situation.
This issue also gives us
a few glimpses of some scary-looking sea-monsters who eat fishermen and who
appear to be Aquaman’s next big villain. They’re not explored much in this
first issue, and Aquaman hasn’t even met or fought them yet, but we’ll probably
be seeing more of them in the issues to come. However, I’m okay with the fact
that we didn’t get to see a whole lot of superhero action in this first issue,
because it means that more time was spent on Aquaman’s character development
and on reestablishing him as a relevant and powerful character.
I’ll admit that Aquaman
was never one of my favorite superheroes. I never quite hated him or thought
him useless like some people seem to, but he was never at the top of my list of
favorites either; I guess I always considered him a B-list character compared
to the likes of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern. But this issue with this
new portrayal of him is beginning to change my perceptions. I’m beginning to
see Aquaman as a better and more complex character than I ever had before. I
think it’s clever and well-done how Geoff Johns worked real-life fans’ negative
opinions about Aquaman into the characters in this issue, and how he purposely
took steps to prove those negative opinions wrong. The newly revamped Aquaman
in this issue is strong and assertive, but without becoming an arrogant jerk
like certain other revamped characters I could mention. Aquaman is a bold hero
who does the right thing, helps people out, has a relatable human side, and can
still do plenty of good in situations that don’t directly involve water or
fish. This was a great first issue and I’m looking forward to reading more of this version of Aquaman.
In an effort to make its stories more accessible to new
readers, DC recently launched The New 52, cancelling all of its existing titles
and starting 52 new series with revamped and rebooted versions of its major
characters. But how will the New 52 affect the DC universe? Will new readers
actually be attracted? Will old fans still be interested? Will the new titles
be fresh and new, or disappointing and unfaithful to the original continuity?
After buying and reading all but a few of the 52 new #1s that DC released over
the course of a month, I have set out to review some of the major ones and let
potential readers know which new titles are and are not worth reading. So,
without further ado…
Wonder Woman #1
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Penciler: Cliff Chiang
Review by Samuel N. Harris
What will the greatest and most iconic super-heroine of all
time be like in DC’s newly rebooted universe? Will she be greater and more
iconic, or a little less than wondrous? Honestly, it’s hard for me to tell so
far. So let’s take a look at a few different aspects of this comic to see what
we can figure out.
For one thing, Wonder Woman’s costume has changed—again.
Most readers familiar with Wonder Woman recognize her in the traditional,
star-spangled, metal-encrusted leotard that she has worn since her first issue
back in the 1940s. However, with the release of Wonder Woman #601 in 2010, she got a new costume, one that was
controversial among fans because it was more modern and less iconic than her
classic one. This latest reboot finds her in yet another costume (seen on the cover above), one that is more
similar to her traditional costume, but with some different color schemes and
slight modifications. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of the new costume Wonder
Woman wore from 2010 until this reboot—not because it was bad in and of itself,
but because it looked more like the young, modern Wonder Girl than like the
iconic, larger-than life Wonder Woman. However, I approve of this current
costume in the reboot and am glad for the change.
The plot of Wonder
Woman #1, however, doesn’t get quite as high of an approval rating from me.
It feels incomplete and disjointed for several reasons. Wonder Woman, being a
warrior princess of the Amazons, has often fought against mythological or
supernatural villains beyond the comprehension of normal humans, but this issue
seems to lump several such villains together without much apparent connection.
From the beginning we see three different scenes, each involving some
apparently supernatural figure or event, but none of them with much explanation
as to what is going on or much relation to other parts of the story. These
scenes are confusing and uninteresting, since we don’t know what’s going on
yet, and they also distract from the main focus of the story, as it’s not until
about ten pages into the comic that we first catch a glimpse of Wonder Woman
herself. We see a dark man with glowing eyes killing some unsuspecting girls,
then a green-robed figure with a scythe killing a horse, then a few
blue-skinned figures and some centaurs breaking into a young woman’s home. It
is only once the young woman manages to grab a magical key from one of the
blue-skinned figures that she is transported for protection to Wonder Woman’s
residence—or at least somewhere Wonder Woman is temporarily staying, in London
of all places. Granted, most comic books these days contain complex, multi-part
stories that unfold over the course of several issues, so I’m sure that these
events will be explained in future issues and that everything will make some
semblance of sense by the end of the story arc. However, none of it makes much
sense to me yet, and it seems to me like an odd way to begin a comic that’s
supposed to appeal to new readers rather than confusing them.
The content of this issue deserves a note as well, and a
caution for readers. The issue is not particularly gory or violent (the most
gruesome scene is of the horse’s severed and bloody head and a new creature
that seems to arise mysteriously from out of the horse’s insides). The greater concern
in this issue is the sexual content. The young woman who Wonder Woman protects spends
the entire issue in a skimpy top and pink underwear, leaving her midriff and
legs always revealed. Also, the first time we see Wonder Woman, she is covered
in nothing but a bed sheet, and as she dresses into her full costume, we get a
few tantalizing glimpses of as many parts of her naked body as can be shown
without it technically being
considered pornography. Now, of course I object to this sexual content from a
Christian and moral perspective, but I also consider it to be bad storytelling
and bad art quality. I believe that showing near-nudity when the story does not
require it, when it serves no purpose for the character or the plot, is just a way
for the creators to pander shamelessly to the basest desires of male readers—a way
to make money and keep people interested rather than to produce good, quality
art. Comic books, as a male-dominated industry with a predominantly male
audience, have often been accused of such pandering, and of treating women
characters as sex objects rather than as truly independent female personalities. Of
course, not every comic book does these things to its female characters, and
one would think that if any comic treated women as independent people and not
as objects, it would be Wonder Woman,
a comic about a strong and powerful female superhero. Unfortunately, though, Wonder Woman #1 does not do much to
break or disprove those too-often-too-true accusations against the comics
industry.
Wonder Woman may be the most iconic female superhero, and
she may have a new and improved costume in this rebooted DC universe, but her
first new issue is definitely subpar. Since we don’t even see her for almost
halfway through the comic, she doesn’t even seem to do a whole lot in this
issue, other than fight centaurs for a few pages and protect that young woman
who goes teleporting around the world in her underwear. The quality of a decent
(but still not super-special) fight scene between Wonder Woman and the centaurs
is lost among the confusing, disjointed, and seemingly random different scenes
of the story, and the needless sexualization and objectification of the female
characters doesn’t help either. If you’re looking to get into the new DC
universe and trying to read through the New 52, do yourself a favor and just pass
over Wonder Woman #1.
In an effort to make its stories more accessible to new
readers, DC recently launched The New 52, cancelling all of its existing titles
and starting 52 new series with revamped and rebooted versions of its major
characters. But how will the New 52 affect the DC universe? Will new readers
actually be attracted? Will old fans still be interested? Will the new titles
be fresh and new, or disappointing and unfaithful to the original continuity?
After buying and reading all but a few of the 52 new #1s that DC released over
the course of a month, I have set out to review some of the major ones and let
potential readers know which new titles are and are not worth reading. So,
without further ado…
The Flash #1
Writer: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
Penciler: Francis Manapul
Review by Samuel N. Harris
The
reboot of The Flash finds Barry Allen, the classic Flash from the Silver
Age, fighting crime again as the Scarlet Speedster. Though Barry had previously
“died” during Crisis on Infinite Earths, he returned just a couple years
ago in The Flash: Rebirth, and had gotten a new series last year—only to
have it cancelled in order to make room for the new reboot. In a sense it was
the Flash who caused the reboot to happen during the Flashpoint
crossover. Now, with a new lease on life and the universe, Barry Allen is back
on the scene as a crime scene investigator in Central City, and his alter ego,
the crimefighting Flash, the fastest man alive.
As seems to be the trend with superheroes these days, the
Flash’s previous marriage to Iris West has been retconned in this new universe.
This issue does show us a professional friendship between Barry and Iris, who
is a reporter and often runs into Barry—or the Flash—at crime scenes. However,
as the issue opens, Barry is on a date not with Iris, but with a coworker named
Patty. Even before this reboot, the Flash was not a character who I followed
very thoroughly, so I never got to know him or Iris very well, and I wasn’t too
broken up by the decision to retcon their marriage—but some more faithful
readers than I might be. But either way, the decision fits with the trend of undoing
previous continuity to appeal to new readers (and disappoint old ones), which
is, on principle, generally something I’m not a fan of.
Of course, Barry and Patty’s date doesn’t last long before a
crisis moves the Flash into action. Their evening is interrupted by some
high-tech thugs trying to steal some important piece of technology called the
portable genome re-coder (also known as the common comic book plot device that
can do some crazy science-fiction-y thing, and will probably be end up being used
by some supervillain to try to take over the world). When the Flash speeds into
action to stop the thugs, one of them apparently dies in the battle. When the
thug is unmasked, he is revealed to be Manuel, an old troublemaking friend of
Barry’s from his college days. Barry doesn’t know how or why Manuel got
involved with stealing important technology—and he also doesn’t know how it is
possible for Manuel to resurface again, fully alive and well, later in the
issue. The Flash gets an even greater surprise on the final page of the issue—but
I won’t give away the cliffhanger ending so you can be surprised by it as well.
All that is known is that there is a big mystery and some sort of sinister plot
that involves one of Barry’s old friends, and Barry as the Flash will have to
get to the bottom of things somehow in the issues to come.
Honestly, I can’t think of a whole lot to say about this
issue, either positive or negative. I have no major criticisms of it, but I don’t
have any major praises either. It seems to be an average, run–of-the-mill
superhero story with a fairly predictable formula. Maybe things will get deeper
or more original as the story progresses into future issues, but the first
issue doesn’t give us much indication of that. Get this issue if the Flash
happens to be one of your favorite superheroes, or if you just want some fun,
superficial escapism for a little while. Otherwise, it’s not a bad comic, but
it’s nothing special either.
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In an effort to make its stories more accessible to new
readers, DC recently launched The New 52, cancelling all of its existing titles
and starting 52 new series with revamped and rebooted versions of its major
characters. But how will the New 52 affect the DC universe? Will new readers
actually be attracted? Will old fans still be interested? Will the new titles
be fresh and new, or disappointing and unfaithful to the original continuity?
After buying and reading all but a few of the 52 new #1s that DC released over
the course of a month, I have set out to review some of the major ones and let
potential readers know which new titles are and are not worth reading. So,
without further ado…
Green Lantern #1
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciler: Doug Mahnke
Review by Samuel N. Harris
Technically, there seem to have been few, if any, continuity
changes to Green Lantern’s universe in this new reboot—but that’s because there
were some pretty major changes made to Green Lantern right before the reboot. The War of the Green Lanterns story arc earlier this year saw some rather drastic
changes in the status quo: Hal Jordan was discharged from the Green Lantern
Corps for rebelling against the Guardians of the Universe, and in his place,
the green ring chose Sinestro, formerly the Green Lanterns’ greatest enemy, to
become a Lantern again like he was before turning evil. This is what things are
like when the new Green Lantern #1
picks up.
Fans of the recent Green Lantern movie will recognize some of the same characters in this comic—most
notably Hal, Sinestro, Carol Ferris, and the Guardians—just not quite in the
same way, as Hal is no longer a Green Lantern in this issue, and Sinestro has
become one again after a long period of fighting against them. Before this
reboot I had been somewhat behind on my DC reading, so I actually still have
not yet read War of the Green Lanterns
(and I don’t know much about the story other than that, apparently, there is
some sort of war among the Green Lanterns). However, once I dove into this
issue and read up a little bit on what came before it, I was eager to learn
more, both about the details that had led to those events, but also about what
would happen in Hal’s and Sinestro’s lives now that their roles have been
somewhat reversed. It’s an intriguing idea for a story that had me curious to
find out what would happen, and this issue did not disappoint in beginning to
satiate that curiosity.
So what do you do when you are forced to return to a group
that you were once part of, but have since been fighting against? For Sinestro,
the answer involves questioning why he was chosen to become a Green Lantern
again, but reluctantly trying to fill that role. We see him arguing with the
Guardians of the Universe about the matter, but also fighting fiercely against
members of the Sinestro Corps, which he had previously led, who fight with the
evil power of fear. Sinestro does appear to be willing, if still reluctant, to
fight against the evil that he was once a part of. The Guardians suggest that
perhaps the ring chose him to give him a chance at redemption. It was nice to
see that chance explored in this issue, and it will be interesting to see
whether or not the future really does hold redemption for the Green Lanterns’ former
greatest enemy.
And what do you do when you get kicked out of an interplanetary
peacekeeping organization and suddenly sent back to Earth? For Hal Jordan, the
answer involves trying to put the pieces of his life back together—and failing
miserably. True to his frequent portrayal as an irresponsible hotshot, he’s got
no job, no money, no car, bills overdue, and relationship problems with Carol.
We see Hal struggling to make ends meet financially and trying to patch things
up with Carol, but carelessly saying the wrong thing to her in a comical but poignant
moment. He also tries to be a hero and stop a crime at one point—without his
Green Lantern ring or anything to make him more powerful than the average human—but
he ends up messing up in that situation as well. But despite his insensitiveness at
times, Hal is portrayed here as a likeable, sympathetic, down-on-his-luck
character, and he is an easy hero to root for as he faces all the roadblocks of
his new life.
Green Lantern #1
is great because it takes already familiar characters (at least, familiar to
those who have read or watched Green
Lantern before) and puts them in a new situation with an unexpected twist,
giving them room to grow and develop as characters even more. My only minor
criticism of it is that it may not be the best place for new readers to jump on—which
is what I thought DC was trying to do with this new reboot—because it relies
directly on events that have happened previously and character relationships
that have been established already, and it puts the characters in atypical
situations for them that are not the status quo. However, I still understood
and enjoyed the comic well enough without having read or known all the details
of War of the Green Lanterns, so I’m
going to go out on a limb and say that this comic is a great read for anyone
who is remotely familiar with the Green Lantern characters.
What will happen next in this new Green Lantern status quo?
Will Hal Jordan become a Green Lantern again? Will Sinestro become a villain
again? I think the answer to both questions is probably “Yes, eventually,” but
I could be wrong—you never know with comics. Sometimes things don’t always go
back to the way they were, and even when they do, it sometimes takes a while to
happen. It looks like Sinestro will be a Green Lantern and Hal a struggling bum
for at least a little while longer, and I personally am interested and curious
to see how that story plays out, and how (or if) they get back to the way they
were before. Green Lantern #1 is a
great comic with a fun story and a new twist on old characters. I look forward
to reading more.
So some of you have asked what the difference is between the “Rescue Me!” standard edition and the “Super Nova” edition. Well, as our dog Toby tries to decide between the two, I’ll mention the first difference is price: the standard is $8.99 at Amazon.com and the “Super Nova” edition is $15.64. Why the difference? Because the “Super Nova” edition is printed on glossy paper at full comic book size, and includes bonus material as well (so it’s a little longer, and of course, more expensive to make). But I didn’t want the cost to keep anyone away from the book, so thankfully, we were able to create an excellent, and more affordable option as well. When you pick one up, make sure to submit a review at www.itscaptainsun.com or on Amazon!
In an effort to make its stories more accessible to new
readers, DC recently launched The New 52, cancelling all of its existing titles
and starting 52 new series with revamped and rebooted versions of its major
characters. But how will the New 52 affect the DC universe? Will new readers
actually be attracted? Will old fans still be interested? Will the new titles
be fresh and new, or disappointing and unfaithful to the original continuity?
After buying and reading all but a few of the 52 new #1s that DC released over
the course of a month, I have set out to review some of the major ones and let
potential readers know which new titles are and are not worth reading. So,
without further ado…
Batman #1
Writer: Scott Snyder
Penciler: Greg Capullo
Review by Samuel N. Harris
Batman is probably DC’s most popular character these
days, and the source of most of their current success. Fans and readers love
seeing the Dark Knight using his resources and his fists to fight against the
forces of injustice and evil in Gotham City. Since the Batman franchise was
doing so well already, it’s not surprising that this reboot doesn’t seem to
have affected him much. He’s still billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne by day and a
dark crusader of justice by night. His continuity has remained the same in that
he still has strong trusting relationships in this issue with former sidekicks
Dick Grayson and Tim Drake, and with the current Robin, his son Damian Wayne. And
his stories still carry enough action, suspense, and mystery to keep a reader
entertained. Batman #1 is a great
issue that hardly seems rebooted at all, because it’s just another chapter in
the life of a Batman I'm already familiar with.
This comic opens up with a scene of Batman at Arkham
Asylum, trying to contain a break-out. We get an enjoyable, action-packed fight
as Batman goes up against familiar faces such as the Riddler, Two-Face, the
Scarecrow, Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, and some more obscure characters. The story
is fun to read and contains a few interesting surprises along the way.
This issue sees Batman, as usual, exchanging help and
information with his trusted ally on the Gotham Police Force, Commissioner Jim
Gordon. Later, we see Bruce and the boys (Dick, Tim, and Damian…and Bruce’s
butler Alfred) at a fancy party where Bruce announces a new set of renovations
for Gotham City that he plans to fund with his company. Reporter Vicki Vale is
also present and gets in a few words with Bruce about his plans. At the end of
the issue, as Batman again, he goes with Detective Harvey Bullock to
investigate yet another violent and mysterious murder. In short, the familiar
cast of characters and recurring crises are all there to help make this issue
great.
At the end of the comic, Batman is called upon to
investigate a murder victim, and he discovers a mysterious hidden threat
against the life of Bruce Wayne, right before the issue ends with a surprise
revelation and a cliffhanger. I won’t reveal the details of the revelation at
the end, but I will say that it left me wanting to find out what would happen
next. It also seems to tie into information that was revealed in Nightwing #1, so it would appear that some sort
of big plot is forming among multiple Bat-titles, and it’s nice to see some
continuity among the titles of the new DC universe.
Some readers may also be pleased to know that this
particular issue contains less violent or disturbing content than other Batman
titles might. I cautioned readers about the content in my review of Detective Comics #1, also featuring Batman, but this issue is
not nearly as extreme as that one. The depraved, psychopathic Joker is (technically)
not in this issue, and we don’t see any villains torturing victims this time
around. The worst of it is one single image of the murder victim at the end,
whose body has been stripped almost bare and stabbed full of knives. If you can handle that, then this issue shouldn't present many problems to you as far as moral or objectionable content.
Overall, there is not a lot for me to say about this
issue—not because it lacks anything, but, quite the opposite, because it has
everything it should. It’s a good comic and so there is not much for me to
criticize. The story is enjoyable, the characters are as they should be, the
art is pleasing to look at, and I look forward to reading more.
In an effort to make its stories more accessible to new
readers, DC recently launched The New 52, cancelling all of its existing titles
and starting 52 new series with revamped and rebooted versions of its major
characters. But how will the New 52 affect the DC universe? Will new readers
actually be attracted? Will old fans still be interested? Will the new titles
be fresh and new, or disappointing and unfaithful to the original continuity?
After buying and reading all but a few of the 52 new #1s that DC released over
the course of a month, I have set out to review some of the major ones and let
potential readers know which new titles are and are not worth reading. So,
without further ado…
Superman #1
Writer: George Pérez
Penciler: Jesus Merino
Review by Samuel N. Harris
“Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No…it’s
Superman!”
The opening pages of the newly relaunched Superman #1 do indeed show us Superman
up in the sky, hovering over Metropolis and looking down unpleasantly as the Daily Planet building is demolished to
make way for another company, the Planet Global Network. It’s a new era for the
citizens of Metropolis and the characters in Superman’s world, and it’s a new
era for the Man of Steel himself and his readers as well.
This issue pits Superman against all sorts of foes and
problems, including relationship problems with Lois, the fact that big business
is taking away the Daily Planet, a couple of masked terrorists trying to steal
hazardous materials, and an inexplicable fire creature who seems connected to a
mysterious alien entity. The action starts off small with Lois and Clark and
others in their civilian identities; their marriage having been retconned by
the universal reboot, Clark’s and Lois’s relationship is in rocky territory, as
Clark is angry at her for selling out the Daily Planet and supporting the move
to the larger global news network. They get into an argument in the midst of a
big public announcement about the new changes (made by Morgan Edge, a name
which longtime readers may recognize), and the relationship problems and
disappointments help to add at least some element of relatable human drama to
the life of Superman, who the creators keep trying to make relevant again.
Things start to pick up a little more in this issue when
Superman encounters a couple of criminals hijacking a truck full of explosive
and hazardous chemical materials. Superman’s apprehension of the criminals is
an enjoyable enough action sequence for a couple of pages, but I’ve got a
couple of criticisms with it. First, a somewhat minor one, is the fact that the
criminals are wearing clown masks reminiscent of the Joker’s face. There’s
nothing inherently wrong with this, but it seems to me that DC is trying to
make a lot of their characters—or maybe just the
underappreciated-in-modern-times Superman—more like Batman to capitalize more on
the success of Batman comics and The Dark Knight. On a related note, if you read my rant—I mean, my completely fair and
unbiased critical review—of Action Comics#1, then you’ll know that I object to Superman being made more like the darker
Batman instead of like his own iconic self. This scene also includes more of
that, as Superman taunts the criminals cockily when they’re at his mercy, and,
worse, defeats them by throwing their truck up in the air, causing the
chemicals to explode and presumably killing the two men. Killing criminals is a
line that even the dark Batman isn’t willing to cross in most versions of his
story, but apparently this newly revamped Superman has no problems with it. Superman’s
arrogant attitude is perhaps not quite as apparent in this issue as it was in Action, but his methods and the lengths
he is willing to go are even more brutal. This is not a version of Superman with
which I am very familiar, or very comfortable.
The explosion from the chemicals inexplicably turns into Superman’s
next foe: a sentient fire monster that speaks in an alien language and seems to
be saying something about Superman’s home planet, Krypton. We aren’t yet told
where this being came from or why, but it probably has something to do with a
mysterious, horn-blowing alien creature who was shown for about a page earlier
in the issue—which, according to the editor’s footnote, has to do with Stormwatch, another of DC’s new titles,
about the watch for something alien approaching our universe. There appears to
be a complex, interwoven plot going on here, and I like the fact that it’s
tying into another new DC title to lend some continuity to the new universe.
However, this issue doesn’t give us all (or any) of the answers to this big
plot, so the alien and the fire monster may seem underdeveloped, confusing, or
just plain random and uninteresting to some. Superman’s fight with the fire
monster is an enjoyable action scene, but it doesn’t seem like anything huge or
spectacular just yet. Maybe it will once the whole plot unfolds, but it’s too
soon to say based on just this one issue.
Speaking of continuity and large plots, it’s still
unclear to me how this Superman title
corresponds with the other one, Action Comics (an aspect I also
mentioned in my review of Action).
Superman’s costume in Action is only
a blue T-shirt, jeans, and a cape, but his costume in this issue (and in Justice League #1) is mostly similar to
his classic, more iconic-looking one (minus the red underwear on the outside). I
actually prefer the costume in this issue, so I’m not complaining, just
wondering how the two fit together, or if they even do at all. I’ve heard that Action #1 may take place ten years
before Superman #1, when Superman’s
crimefighting career was just beginning, but I haven’t seen official
confirmation of this from DC or in either of the two new Superman issues, so
the question of continuity remains a mystery to me.
Superman #1
is decent enough if you just want a fun, escapist adventure, but it’s got a few
problems on some deeper levels. For one thing, the continuity and some
plotlines are unclear and underdeveloped, and more importantly, Superman’s
portrayal is fundamentally different from that of the iconic, unquestionably
good hero who he always was before. Maybe things will get better or clearer as
the series progresses, and maybe I’ll read some of the subsequent issues
eventually, but I probably won’t be eagerly rushing out to buy them over the
course of the next few months.
In an effort to make its stories more accessible to new readers, DC recently launched The New 52, cancelling all of its existing titles and starting 52 new series with revamped and rebooted versions of its major characters. But how will the New 52 affect the DC universe? Will new readers actually be attracted? Will old fans still be interested? Will the new titles be fresh and new, or disappointing and unfaithful to the original continuity? After buying and reading all but a few of the 52 new #1s that DC released over the course of a month, I have set out to review some of the major ones and let potential readers know which new titles are and are not worth reading. So, without further ado…
Detective Comics #1
Writer: Tony S. Daniel
Penciler: Ryan Winn
Review by Samuel N. Harris
With last month’s release of Detective Comics #1, DC’s “flagship” title and the longest-running superhero title still around was relaunched for the first time ever since 1937. Add to that the fact that Detective Comics was the series that first introduced Batman back in 1939, and that the title still features Batman, probably DC’s most popular character, to this day. Considering all of this, Detective Comics #1 had quite a lot of expectations to live up to—and there were certainly quite a lot of fans eager to see exactly how well it would do. On the day that Detective Comics #1 came out, I got to my local comic shop within two hours after it opened and they were already sold out of Detective. I had to order my copy from an online dealer a couple of weeks later, when the price had already climbed up to $12, four times the cover price of $2.99. But I knew that if there was such high demand for this new milestone Batman comic, then I would definitely want to get a copy before waiting any longer (and while it was still relatively affordable). So I did. Now, how well did it live up to all those high expectations?
Quite well, actually. The DC reboot doesn’t seem to have changed Batman’s continuity or status quo in any significant, earth-shattering ways, and in my opinion, the new Detective Comics #1 was everything a good Batman comic of any continuity should be: a fast-paced, action-packed adventure that pits Batman against one of his many psychologically complex foes, complete with plenty of suspense as Batman tries to get inside the criminal’s warped mind to figure out where he will strike next and how to stop him. This particular story features the Joker, and focuses on Batman trying to track him down, rescue the Joker’s victims, and put a stop to his longtime killing spree. We see Batman, a misunderstood vigilante, also being hunted by the police until Commissioner Gordon, the one officer who seems to trust Batman, intervenes. We see Batman’s crimefighting ways putting a strain on the life of his alter ego of Bruce Wayne, as he sits in the Batcave missing Bruce’s appointments and puzzling over the Joker’s methods instead. And we see an action-packed, no-holds-barred fight between Batman and the Joker that leads into a shocking cliffhanger ending that left me wanting more. The story of this comic may not seem like anything particularly significant, and may not be much different from some of Batman’s other encounters with the Joker (but, granted, it’s hard to develop a particularly significant story in only the first issue when the full story has not yet been told), but nonetheless it was a great, enjoyable, and entertaining read overall.
One aspect of this comic that does deserve some criticism—or perhaps not even a criticism so much as a caution—is its content. It’s no secret these days that Batman is a very dark character, and the Joker is even darker with his twisted, amoral ways and the sick happiness he gets out of hurting and killing others. After the huge success of the 2008 film The Dark Knight, most Batman comics can be expected to be anything but tame or mild in emulating the film’s style—and this comic is no exception. The reader sees the Joker torturing his victims with a blade, blowing up a building full of people, and stabbing Batman during their fight. Throughout the comic we see some blood and torn off flesh. Although it is not fully shown, the Joker is said to be naked while he was torturing his victims. The final cliffhanger scene of the comic also contains a particularly gruesome image (check the Spoiler Warning below if you don’t mind knowing the details). In short, this comic is extremely violent and is not for the faint of heart. If that sort of thing bothers you, then I would not recommend reading it. But if you’re able to tune out or not be affected by the more disturbing parts, then the comic is still a great read that is about as mature and dark as one would expect a Batman comic these days would need to be.
SPOILER WARNING: After Batman subdues the Joker at the end of their fight, the Joker is sent to Arkham Asylum to be treated physically and mentally by a doctor. However, the doctor turns out to be someone called the Dollmaker (a new villain, probably) who appears to have a secret previous arrangement with the Joker. The final page of the comic is a picture of what appears to be the severed skin of the Joker’s face, removed from his body, dripping blood, and tacked up on a wall. Possibly the Dollmaker is giving him plastic surgery to disguise his identity, but I expect this will be explored more in Detective Comics #2.
END SPOILER.
Although this comic is indeed very dark and violent, it contains just about everything that I would expect and want from a typical Batman comic, and it still shows the reader how one man with an unyielding commitment to morality can take a stand against the darkness. I think this issue was a great start to the relaunch of one of DC’s longest-running, most definitive titles (it was definitely much better than the relaunch of Action Comics, DC’s other longest-running, definitive title). Now that I’ve finally read this issue, I can see why it was in such high demand from the moment it came out, and why it was worth paying four times the cover price. I recommend this issue and this title to anyone who can handle the violent content and who is lucky enough to be able to get their hands on a copy.
HollywoodJesus.com is a part of our FrontGate Media group. I've known the Senior Editor there for several years and have appreciated their spin on the pop-culture world.
HollywoodJesus.com covers ALL of pop-culture entertainment from a Christian worldview. Their editorial categories include movies/dvds, books, comics, music, tv, games, sports, and more.
We were recently able to work out a partnership for CCAS with HJ in the form of a brand new news feed on the CCAS home page. :)
To celebrate the new collaboration, HollywoodJesus is offering a MASSIVE DISCOUNT during October and November ONLY FOR CCAS MEMBERS who want to advertise their comics projects.
HollywoodJesus recently debuted new TARGETED ADs that run ONLY IN CERTAIN CHANNELS on their web site. One of those channels is the COMICS channel.
The COMICS targeted ads run for 50,000 views normally at $375. During October and November 2011, CCAS members can book these ads to run anytime now or in the future for only $275, a $100 discount!
Please contact me if you are interested.
For more general info about HJ, see the HJ Media Kit on FrontGate Media.
For larger ad campaigns, we can connect you to comics readers through HollywoodJesus, HM Magazine, Cornerstone, NewReleaseTuesday's Authors program, ReadItFirst/HearItFirst and more. We done extensive work for the Action Bible, Rob Liefeld's Armageddon Now, the Serenity series, and most of the comics and graphic novels put out by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan.
Today is the day! "Rescue Me! What Superheroes Can Teach Us about the Power of Faith" is now available at Amazon.com ($8.99). How is this book different from the Christian comics and Christian superheroes who have come before? Well, in many cases, 'Christian comics' seek to provide explicitly Christian alternatives to secular/classic comics and heroes. But "Rescue Me!" was not designed to replace Superman. It was created to help kids see through Superman (or Batman, Spiderman, etc.) to the 'Hero of heroes', Jesus Christ! Not only does this help children from believing homes develop a Christian worldview in terms of culture, but the classic comic story will appeal to kids outside the faith as well. I hope you will take a look (www.itscaptainsun.com)! (BTW, CCAS helped make this book possible, since I found the illustratror (Mitch Martin) through this site. Thanks CCAS!)
