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| I think I left my keys to the new Fortress of Solitude under this rock. |
ACTION COMICS #1
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by RAGS MORALES and RICK BRYANT
Cover by RAGS MORALES
Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
The one and only Grant Morrison (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN) returns to Superman, joined by sensational artist Rags Morales (IDENTITY CRISIS), to bring you tales of The Man of Steel unlike any you’ve ever read! This extra-sized debut issue is the cornerstone of the entire DC Universe!
After the fantastic run on All Star Superman, Grant Morrison is bring his approach to a regular Superman book. I can't express how excited I am about this book. In a single year, All Star Superman gave me three of my favorite Superman stories of all time and while we won't get the lovely art from Frank Quietly for this run we have a supremely confident artist in Rags Morales. I honestly believe that Rags can define the look for Superman for the next generation of readers.
Another of the titles that will help define just exactly what the tone and scope of the new DCU initiative I think that it's a fairly important book for picking up and giving the first story arc a read. 5 DC Bullets
ANIMAL MAN #1
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by TRAVEL FOREMAN and DAN GREEN
Cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Buddy Baker has gone from “super” man to family man – but is he strong enough to hold his family together when Maxine, his young daughter, starts to manifest her own dangerous powers? Find out in this dramatic new series from writer Jeff Lemire (SWEET TOOTH) and artist Travel Foreman (The Immortal Iron Fist).
Animal Man has been back in the regular DCU for some time now after his inclusion in 52 and he still continually gets small chances to shine, but this will be the first time he will get the spotlight by himself. Jeff Lemire has been producing great work for DC, his creator owned Sweet Tooth is as good as his work on Superboy and the ignored Atom back up he was doing, if he can bring that type of effort to Animal Man it'll be a great book to read.
If the book can find a readership is should be fairly easy for it to maintain itself as a good title. 3 DC Bullets, if there was more info about how the stories would be interacting with the rest of the DCU I might have giving it 4 Bullets on the strength of that, but I'm judging it from the creative team alone right now.
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| At the new DCU, there's a rule that all Bat-female motif characters have to be red-heads. |
BATGIRL #1
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by ADAM HUGHES
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Yes, it’s really happening!
Barbara Gordon is back as Batgirl – and she’s going to have to face the city’s most horrifying new villains as well as the dark secrets from her past. You won’t want to miss this stunning debut issue from fan-favorite BIRDS OF PREY writer Gail Simone!
Gail Simone has already had a long track record of writing the most successful run with Barbara Gordon and I really don't see that changing with the return to her status quo of being Batgirl. I can't think of anyone else out there that could bring as much experience at developing and maintaining Barbara Gordon as a central character and for her to continue her efforts is paramount to the title keeping the current audience and finding a new one.
How this book is handled is extremely important to DC, the idea of Barbara Gordon returning to the Batgirl mantle, both as an IP and Iconic character can be viewed as a litmus test for the relaunch's success. 5 DC Bullets.
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by BEN OLIVER
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Africa, a land of beauty – and of great horror. A land of creation and conflict. It is in desperate need of a defender, and from the ranks of Batman Incorporated comes a soldier to carry on the legacy of The Dark Knight in the most tumultuous region on Earth. Meet Batwing, the Batman of Africa!
Despite having a quality creative team on this title, it really is kind of a blank slate as to what to expect. The potential for “real-world” action given the location the book is set could mean for a great realistic gritty feel, but that is just speculation on my part.
The lack of solid info about the book makes me rate it at 2 DC Bullets given the nature of this week's titles.
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
DC’s flagship title is relaunched for the first time ever, with new Batman adventures from acclaimed writer/ artist Tony S. Daniel!
A killer called The Gotham Ripper is on the loose on Batman’s home turf – leading The Dark Knight on a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Those shopping at the Duluth location will know that I've had no qualms about mentioning my displeasure at Tony S Daniel's Batman run. I haven't much liked any of his work since he joined the Bat-Team on the insanely confusing Battle for the Cowl miniseries. Fantastic artist and despite my enjoyment of his old series The Tenth, I don't actually see anything from this solicitation to change my impression that his run on Batman has been sub par.
The only thing going for this, in my opinion, is the relaunch nature of Detective Comcs itself. Worth trying for the first story arc and judging from that point forward. 3 DC Bullets (primarily because it's Detective)
Written by J.T. KRUL
Art by DAN JURGENS and NORM RAPMUND
Cover by BRETT BOOTH and ROB HUNTER
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Green Arrow is on the hunt. Driven by inner demons, Ollie Queen travels the world and brings outlaws to justice…by breaking every law.
Now, armed with cutting-edge weaponry and illegally gained intel (courtesy of his team at QCore), Green Arrow is shooting first and asking questions later.
Green Arrow pretty much is going to have creative writing team. Krul will continue as writer and I expect a book that is a little bit darker than it was during it's time with the Brightest Day emphasis. 3 DC Bullets.
HAWK AND DOVE #1
Written by STERLING GATES
Art and cover by ROB LIEFELD
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Hank Hall is not happy. He’s not happy to have Dawn Granger as a new partner in his war on crime. He’s not happy that she’s dating the ghostly Super Hero, Deadman. He’s not happy to learn that someone is trying to plunge the United States into a new civil war! Now it’s up to Hawk and Dove to root out the forces behind this conflict and stop them before they turn the U.S. into a wasteland!
And who is the monster lurking in the shadows, watching Hawk and Dove from afar? Find out in this new series from Sterling Gates (FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST) and artist Rob Liefeld (X-Force, Youngblood)!
Sterling Gates is a wonderful writer. I'm not so confident with Rob Liefeld as the artist for an ongoing book. I'm not trying to diss Liefeld, I've always found him to be the Ed Wood of comics. He's boundlessly energetic in his love of comics and an extremely (pun??) nice guy, but has continually shown a lack of skills to match his stated goals in storytelling.
Given this week's releases I can't rate this book at more than 1 DC Bullet.
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by AARON LOPRESTI and MATT RYAN
Cover by AARON LOPRESTI
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
With the growing presence of super beings around the world, the United Nations resolves to create a new group called Justice League International.
Batman, Booster Gold, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, August General in Iron, Fire, Ice, Vixen and Rocket Red are charged with promoting unity and trust – but can they reach that goal without killing each other first?
Spinning off the successful Justice League Generation Lost mini-series, this title has a lot of promise. Filling the void left by both JL:GL and Booster Gold ending pulling readership of two titles into one is a pretty smart choice to try and have a good starting point. As a retailer, I would've preferred Judd Winick to continue to be involved with the book, but Dan Jurgens has proven himself on the Booster Gold title and Aaron Lopresti is so wonderful so it's worth a chance .
I rate it at 3 DC Bullets.
MEN OF WAR #1
Written by IVAN BRANDON
Art by TOM DERENICK
Cover by VIKTOR KALVACHEV
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+
On the ground and on the front lines, a young, headstrong soldier known as Joe Rock assumes command of Easy Company – a team of ex-military men turned contractors. Will they survive the battle-scarred landscape carved by the DCU’s Super-Villains? Find out in this explosive new series from Ivan Brandon (Viking, DOC SAVAGE) and Tom Derenick (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA)!
Another cipher book, we know Ivan Brandon from his work on Viking at Image and Final Crisis Escape from DC. Viking really shows that he's a solid writer. I suspect if you where a fan of books like Checkmate or Human Defense League you'll enjoy this title.
3 DC Bullets.
O.M.A.C. #1
Written by DAN DIDIO and KEITH GIFFEN
Art and cover by KEITH GIFFEN and SCOTT KOBLISH
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The all-seeing Brother Eye satellite has unleashed a new beast upon the DC Universe in this smashing new series! Kevin Kho has become an unwilling participant in a war between Checkmate and Brother Eye as he is transformed into the One Machine Army Corp known only as O.M.A.C.!
My love for anything Keith Giffen is probably not enough to protect my opinions for this book. I believe it's enjoyment is going to be based primarily over which Dan Didio shows up to write this book. If it is the Didio that was writing Outsider this book will flounder just like that title did; if it is the Didio that wrote the Metal Men story in Wednesday Comics then this book will be quite enjoyable.
2 DC Bullets.
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| Apollo is looking pretty severe there, I thought Midnighter was the grim one in that relationship. |
STORMWATCH #1
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
They are Stormwatch, a dangerous super human police force whose existence is kept secret from the world Directly following the ominous events of SUPERMAN #1, Adam One leads half the Stormwatch team to recover the [INFORMATION REDACTED] from deep in the Himalayas. Meanwhile, Jack Hawksmoor and the rest of the Stormwatch crew look to recruit two of the deadliest super humans on the planet: Midnighter and Apollo! And if they say no? Perhaps the Martian Manhunter can change their minds…
The first of the Wildstorm titles to be intergrated into the standard DCU and having a tie-in with the Superman title means that this could be an extremely entertaining relauched title. The addition of the Martian Manhunter to normal Stormwatch characters will provide the foundation that this intergrated title needs to have in the new DCU. Paul Cornell is such a wonderful writer that having him be the writer that launches the Wildstorm concepts into the DCU is pure genius.
Plus the hints that there is a huge secret about the nature of the Stormwatch team is intriguing.
I've rated this 5 DC Bullets.
STATIC SHOCK #1
Written by SCOTT McDANIEL and JOHN ROZUM
Art and cover by SCOTT McDANIEL and
JONATHAN GLAPION
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The brilliant, slightly awkward high school student Virgil Hawkins transforms into the cocky electromagnetic hero Static!
A mysterious tragedy forces the Hawkins family to relocate from Dakota to New York City! Virgil embarks upon new adventures in a new high school and a new internship at S.T.A.R. Labs!
As Static, he dons a new uniform and establishes a new secret headquarters! But is he ready to take on the new villains who lurk in New York City’s underworld?
The new Static Shock book has been a long time coming and anyone familiar with John Rozum's Milestone work knows that it is in good hands. By moving the setting out of Dakota to New York City, DC is trying to make the book more approachable to new readership. I've always felt that Virgil is kind of DC/Milestone's modern days version of a Peter Parker-type character and hopefully that potential will be realized in the relaunch.
I think this is a very solid 3 DC Bullets.
SWAMP THING #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
One of the world’s most iconic characters has returned to the heart of the DC Universe, and every step he takes will shake the foundations of the Earth!
Alec Holland has his life back…but the Green has plans for it. A monstrous evil is rising in the desert, and it’ll take a monster of another kind to defend life as we know it!
While disappointed that China Melville's Swamp Thing title ended up in some file cabinet somewhere, I don't think that the title could be in better hands then Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette. Both have proven themselves capable of telling some of the finest comics on the stands and I don't expect this to be any different. Hopefully, Brightest Day Aftermath's slow showing will not hurt people's intent to give the book a try.
I don't know how much it'll impact the new status quo of the DCU and that drops it down from my initial ranking of 4 to 3 DC Bullets.
In summary, this weeks best picks are Action Comics #1, Batgirl #1 and Stormwatch #1
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