New Beginnings - Superman #32

by Stuart Mulrain

Okay, cards on the table time. I’m a Superman fan and have been for a very long time. The first superhero comic I bought was a UK edition Superman comic that featured the second part of John Byrne’s Man Of Steel miniseries. The first American comic that I bought - from an actual comic book store (the long-passed Hobbit Hole in Gloucester) – was Superman #82. I then spent most of my teenage years buying as many issues as I could get my hands on, from the Man Of Steel miniseries up to that issue and beyond.

At a point where most teenagers were getting into the darker comics, I was binging on Superman comics, as well as episodes of Lois & Clark on TV and obsessive listening of the Dirk Maggs BBC Radio Superman movies. At a certain point though, the Superman comics stopped being of interest to me, partly because the creative team began to change - and Mike Carlin moved on as Editor - and partly because I’d decided it was time to start looking at other types of comics and comic book heroes.

I did dip back into Superman occasionally - Jim Lee’s run on the character in the mid 2000’s in particular - but they just failed to grab me like the comics did in that first post-Infinite Crisis decade did. And then came The New 52...

There was very little about The New 52 that grabbed or excited me, but on a whim I bought the first trade paperback edition of Grant Morrison’s Action Comics run and while I quite enjoyed it, I have yet to get round to picking up the rest of the run. And that was it for me and Superman until this very issue I’m here to review.

DC are clearly excited to be putting this book out, even going so far as to give it its own title credits sequence that boldly declares that “DC Comics Proudly Presents” before listing the names of all involved in creating the book. They clearly think they have found a winning team in Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr.

It’s true that any new arc that has Geoff Johns’ name on it is something to get excited about. Following the huge success he garnered following his Green Lantern: Rebirth series in the mid 2000’s, Johns has been the go-to-guy for reinventing characters that have fallen out of vogue, making them new, exciting and relevant again. He’s essentially to DC what Martin Campbell is to James Bond.

But given Johns' pedigree for making an event title out of reintroducing/reinventing old or stale characters, it’s a shame that this first part of his Superman is something of a nothing issue, taking a very casual approach to the way it tries to set up future issues and doesn’t really concern itself with trying to hook you in for future issues.

So what about the art?

Well, I know that he has his fans out there, but I’m personally not keen on John Romita Jr’s art and there’s nothing about the cover of Superman #32 that made me feel any differently about his work and it didn’t fill me with confidence about what I could expect on the inside. It’s a pleasant surprise then that after the first few pages you are greeted with a nice splash page of Superman fighting Titano.

There just seems to be a lack of depth to some of the panels, while others look like Romita Jr. sketched them out on the bus on the way to handing them in. While his rough art style works fine in a book like Kick-Ass, it lacks the sheen and polish that Superman deserves that somebody like Dan Jurgen’s would bring to him.

It’s odd then that, despite my issues with this first instalment and its seeming lack of effort to hook me in, it has actually succeeded in making me curious enough to want to pick up the next issue and see if and how this arc is going to move forward.

Stuart Mulrain is at Proud Lion this Saturday for True Believers Day!

New Beginnings - Justice League Of America #1

So in the span of a week we have found out that Geoff Johns is leaving the Green Lantern series (boo!) and at the same time he is starting a new line with the (late) arrival of Justice League of America.

Over the years, the JLA has had various incarnations, quite often incorporating at least one of the Justice League main members. On this occasion it is for very different reasons and flows from the reimagining of the New 52 Justice League. For this team is there as a failsafe. A potentially redundant safeguard against the original Justice League in case anything ever went wrong. The original member included in this line up is the Martian Manhunter who rather unceremoniously left (before a brief stint in Stormwatch) after a dispute. This also fuels his inclusion with Waller’s line up and her agenda too.

Although this team member is one of the latter to be approached, the remainder of the comic is dedicated to the other associates that he will have. The line up is unconventional to say the least as it contains Hawkman, Katana, Vibe, Star Girl, Green Arrow, Catwoman and the new Green Lantern, Simon Baz. All of which are carefully selected - not because of who they are - but what they can do. Each of them possesses a skill, strength or power that can neutralise a specific member of the League. This is also something that Colonel Steve Trevor can also see through, which is why he is prime to mould the group.

Considering that some of the characters are either relatively unknown - or have not been in the DCU for very long - Johns does a good job of introducing everyone and respecting their relative character flaws and foibles, without dumbing down their character traits. He has also created a huge air of unease, which will no doubt be a plot vehicle around this dysfunctional team.  This mix is one that will also not be widely well received in the public eye. And the large personalities within the group will cause a certain amount of friction.

Simon Baz epitomises this fantastically as he is the new Green Lantern recently added to the Corps only a few issues ago in the Green Lantern title, currently perceived by many as a terrorist. Johns is not afraid to bring existing history over for any of these individuals.

Whilst reading it as well it’s very easy to forget that there are actually three different storylines being explored here. In addition to the team's formation, we have the Dark Hunter (later revealed as Green Arrow in disguise) on the run, plus a flashback depicting Professor Ivo some years in the past taking on the mantel - along with others - as would-be super-villains. All things to come in no doubt which shows the forethought and planning that is already afoot.

David Finch, who most recently gave us the artwork on Batman: The Dark Knight, has joined Johns to create this title. Having loved his work on B:TDK I was keen to see what he provided here too. It’s not what I expected though, as it is different in certain ways. Working with so many characters who have a reputable image has meant that he couldn’t really change them too much but there are small differences that set them apart with his own little twist. The one thing that hasn’t changed is the huge volume of information that the reader is visually provided with as every inch of every frame has been considered and used appropriately. He has also obviously enjoyed providing his take on an iconic image such as the cover which many will recognise, albeit not in bronze.

As a new beginning I didn’t feel that it was the strongest of stories, as it was more scene setting and by that the style also became a little clichéd. However, once you looked beyond the obvious you can see that there is a lot more going on. I also have a lot of time for Geoff Johns as a writer and have come to expect that there is most likely a lot more than meets the eye here, a literary iceberg in the making.

I may not necessarily follow this title straight away, but I will be keeping watch on it to see how it progresses.

Matt Puddy is pondering what to say about Jeph Loeb's new take on Nova...

The Mane Event - The Throne Of Atlantis

The Throne Of Atlantis crossover starts on Boxing Day!

Written by Geoff Johns, it wil alternate between issues of Justice League and Aquaman.

All Reservation Service customers who order either title will automatically receive the other issues as well, in order to get the full crossover.

Should you wish to opt out of this service, please contact me ASAP and let me know.

GEOFF JOHNS    IVAN REIS

PAUL PELLETIER

READ THE ENTIRE EPIC CROSSOVER!

DECEMBER 

• Part 1: JUSTICE LEAGUE #15
• Part 2: AQUAMAN #15

JANUARY

• Part 3: JUSTICE LEAGUE #16
• Part 4: AQUAMAN #16

FEBRUARY

• Part 5: JUSTICE LEAGUE #17

IT'S NOT SAFE TO GO IN THE WATER!

Why Should I read... Green Lantern Rebirth

Every kid has heard a grandparent, or parent, or just an old person tell them how much better things were way back when. Maybe that's true sometimes. I personally have no frame of reference. I never just got an orange for Christmas. I've never walked to school over 20 miles barefoot in the snow. I never mixed fruit with sawdust and claimed it was a meal. Hard to imagine how that might have been better than how things are now. Green Lantern Rebirth gives me the same feeling.

Again, I have no basis of comparison. My reading habits have often steered me away from the more mainstream titles, so my first Green Lantern experience was this book. I had three attempts at reading it and therefore three experiences reading it.

The first time around, I sat down to read what I thought would be a classic superhero comic book. You know the kind of thing; heroic stances in Lycra, vanquished villains and witty one liners. I was expecting a reboot and a return to those days of yore. What I found was a number of multidimensional characters struggling to come to terms with what had gone before. A vast and emotional landscape was laid out very quickly, not only for the central Hal Jordan, but for those connected to him, from close friends and family, to those only connected by the common ground of the Green Lantern Corps. It was so complex and subtle, so different from what I had expected, I was forced to set it down and revisit it at a later date.

I did a little research to prepare myself. I tapped up Wikipedia to understand (albeit in abridged form) what had lead to this point. Rebirth is very much not a reboot of Green Lantern. It is a point in the timeline of the Green Lantern universe where the characters react and reflect on the events of such massive magnitude that time is required to process. It is a time when a line is drawn under what has gone before, and as the reader you observe the line being drawn and most importantly what it takes to draw it.

The second time I tried to read Rebirth, I discovered that the story was about that line, not what the line was being drawn under. It's always nice to know, as insatiable as curiosity is, but it's not necessary. My second attempt at reading the stopping point was the characters. Not only had I not read Green Lantern before, but despite years as a comic nerd, I was a relative novice to the wider DC universe. I was drawn away to check out the lesser characters; the various Lanterns of note, the villains, the 'normal' people of prominence and so on. While Rebirth is a great entry point in to the Lantern universe, there is a lot of history prior to it and it deserves to be respected. So I read up, and returned fully prepared to sit and read the book in its entirety, and I did.

The book reads like a hole in a fence. You look one way and you get a good look at the past. You look straight ahead, you can see what's happening, flashes of change, of motion. You look another way and you get a good idea of what's coming. But you can't see it all at once, no matter how hard you press your face against the fence panel. Given this book contains so much, is a lynchpin between stories, characters and their emotions, it's just about the perfect way to write it.

That's not to say it is a very accessible book. You need to be prepared for the intricacies of the interactions between the characters (knowing who they are certainly helps). There's a certain level of effort required to deal with some of the more fantastical or ethereal elements of the book. They are rewarding when you become familiar with them, but to the uninitiated they could be daunting.

Rebirth is very compelling once you are underway. It draws you in to its various elements as an angler might a fish, gently teasing and tugging as it switches pace and direction. Whilst I loved that aspect, I wouldn't place it in the hands of a novice comic book reader, but to someone familiar with the medium, it is as satisfying as any book I've read.

Green Lantern Rebirth is ultimately a gateway in to the Green Lantern, one that I strongly suggest you step through. Just don't trip over the Ryan Reynolds on the way in.

Chris Boyle is prepping the one man cave to rule them all.

52 New Beginnings - Justice League #1

There's a lot riding on Justice League #1. The first full length offering from the new DC Universe will be judged by every blogger, journalist and comics fan - old and new - as the beachhead for this bold new venture.

Over the coming weeks the current Proud Lion blog team will review all 52 of the new DC comics and I kick things off today with my verdict on Justice League.

I was expecting big things from Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. These two titans of DC have served up classic tales from Hush to Green Lantern Rebirth and many more.

But I also remember that despite Johns' amazing work in recent years, he also penned the frankly appalling Infinite Crisis - a convoluted and insipid mess which include Superboy-Prime punching the walls of reality and changing select parts of the timeline. And his partner-in-crime Jim Lee was partly responsible for the trainwreck that was All Star Marv-in-a-cape-and-cowl & Robin. Sorry, I meant Batman, obviously.

So let's not put these two creators on a pedestal and worship them as demigods just yet. They're great, but even the Olympians had their off-days.

I'll nail my colours to the flag pole right now. Justice League #1 is good, but it's not great.

A lot of reviews seem to have neglected to take on board the fact that this opening story arc is set five years ago. This is a cool idea. The team haven't come together yet and superheroes are new to the public eye. They are feared and reviled by the media and hunted by the military - which sounds a lot like the story arc from the final season of Smallville. Suddenly that rings alarm bells. Don't get me wrong, Smallville got lots better during its last few years as it embraced its comic book origins, but it was still melodramatic nonsense. Borrowing from Smallville to reinvigorate the comics is a bad idea.

That said, the current zeitgeist of terrorism, heightened security, economic depression and civil unrest needs to be reflected in the modern comics. I think most of us accept that comic superheroes are the equivalent of the Greek mythology for the modern age; they need to feel like they exist in our world, not a shiny heroic age of white hats and villains. The idea that the authorities would hound superheroes is completely understandable - though the idea of three black ops military helicopters shooting up Gotham just to bring down Batman does slightly stretch any credibility.

Ultimately though, I like Justice League #1. I just don't love it and I really wanted to. Johns is smart enough to introduce the cast gradually rather than throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks. This creates an organic flow of action thus far. Batman and Green Lantern have their first meeting in Gotham as they chase down an alien creature that clearly serves a Dark master. There is a lovely bit of business where Batman removes Hal's power ring when he isn't concentrating and a great moment where Green Lantern realises Bruce has no powers to speak of.

Jim Lee's artwork here is great as well - Hal's constructs are superbly detailed and imaginative. The only artwork criticism I have is of the four pages of Victor Stone - the young man destined to be Cyborg - playing American football. As a narrative aside it works, but inker Scott Williams' attempts to make it look like dusk come across as pale and washed out, rather than twilight. Bit of a shame really.

I also have to say though, there is one very odd bit of characterisation with the way Johns depicts Hal in this - he often refers to himself in third person. "Green Lantern's got this." and "Note to self, Batman: Green Lantern can handle anything." I think it's supposed to make him sound arrogant and cocksure. Instead it just makes him sound a bit dense. It's odd considering Johns as spent years writing Hal Jordan - you'd think he'd have the character's voice down by now.

Moving on, our two heroes fly from Gotham to Metropolis in a power ring constructed plane, buzzing over the action with Stone and maintaining the flow. Starting their search for the alien Superman at a LexCorp building site they quickly encounter a red-blue blur (another Smallville touch? Ugh, I hope not!) and a certain Kryptonian hero enters the fray. His debut line leaves A LOT to be desired - really Geoff, is that the best you can do? Still the following full page reveal of Supes is classic Jim Lee and overall the issue left me looking forward to issue #2.

One additional niggle. Bob Wayne told us that DC would continue to hold the line at $2.99, other than four $3.99 titles including Justice League. These four more expensive titles would have extra pages, totaling 40 pages rather than the usual 32. Sadly in Justice League #1, four of these pages are given over to a sketchbook. It's a bit of a cheat really.

I remain massively excited for Action Comics, the Green Lantern titles, Stormwatch and several others but Justice League is simply quite good rather than mindblowing and as the flagship title, this is unsettling.

Minf you, I am reminded of a time over a decade ago when I first read Ultimate Spider-Man #1. I found it to be slow-paced and a bit boring - simply retreading the old Spidey origin.

Then some time later I read the first graphic novel collection and I was hooked.

I'm hoping by issue #6 of Justice League, I feel the same way about this re-imagined team of heroes.

Ben Fardon is gearing up for the midnight opening next week!

The Mane Event - Flashpoint #1

A few weeks ago I reviewed Marvel's event book du jour - Fear Itself. Timed a few weeks after its release, DC has launched Flashpoint.

I have been trying very hard not to get involved in all the hype. There have been teasers and thoughts pushed by every major comic site - avoiding them has been an exceptional test of restraint. With many early statements leading to speculation of whom, what and how I’ve only been unable to stay away from, ironically, The Flash as I have followed it since the rebirth. Setting up since the late times of Brightest Day, the entrance of Eobard Thawne has pointed to a fractured universe for the Flash where nothing is as it was.

You can tell that DC is investing in this as well. Not only are there more than 14 crossovers hitting every main character and some of the Flash’s more significant enemies of the past too, but also they have stepped outside of the DCU to pave the way. This could be make or break as it will challenge all of the preconceived ideas we have about our favourite heroes, as they may not have come to be, or even exist in the way we know them at all. The glue that will hold it all together is the scripting of none other than Geoff Johns.

His workload must be hectic considering all the other titles he is involved in at present but it’s worth it. Essentially, if it has Johns’ name on it at the moment it is at least worth picking up and taking a peek at and Flashpoint is no exception. Johns has the DC Midas touch right now.

From the moment the main story starts it moves at a very fast pace... but not the pace of the Flash as we know him. Waking up mid-case after pulling an all-nighter, Barry Allen runs as fast as he can, slips, trips and falls down the stairs into someone he never thought he’s see again, his mother. This is just the first of many changes he has to adjust to in this brave new world.

As the issue opens out further we are given insight into other ripples that have crossed the DCU. Batman is now sporting red instead of yellow, a tiny change but even more noticeable is his demeanour. The subsequent discussion with Cyborg and his assembled team, which contains an interesting assortment of characters from both sides of the former moral fence, is another pivotal point as it’s here that we learn of the war on this earth. The only difference is that it is between Atlantis and the Amazons and affecting everyone.

With the changing outlook of different players and a whole new environment, Johns has managed to set a multitude of scenes in waiting for this series. Admittedly not all of them, and there are plenty that aren't even alluded to, but that is also a good thing as there is simply not enough space to do that effectively. What he does do is leave you hanging with a massive twist at the end. One I have to admit not see coming at all.

Andy Kubert has teamed up for the artwork and he makes an impact immediately with the cover shot. It is vibrant and intriguing all at once, fantastically drawn and definitely an eye catcher.

The contents of the issue are no different either. I’ve not seen a lot of Kubert’s work as he has been on titles I don’t normally read but now I’ve seen his work I’m really impressed. There is a huge amount of detail in every frame, both fore and background, without crushing or cramming the frames. There’s also been the chance to be more expressive too, considering that all the individuals we see are people we know but just not quite, meaning that a new take or twist can be added when drawing them. Batman’s horned shoulders are but one example of this. I’m also fairly sure that there are plenty of references and hints in there that I’ll only notice in retrospect. Sandra Hope has worked harmoniously with Kubert as well to give a very well presented issue.

The upshot of this all, without blowing too much from the issue, is that I’m glad that I have pre-ordered Flashpoint as well as specific cross over pieces. If this is a mark of what is to come then things are looking very bright. More importantly, the delicate balance of the DCU isn’t being messed with so it also means that anyone who isn’t a fan is not going to be left out or left behind too.

Matt Puddy feels this is another gem from Geoff Johns.