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At the beginning of this year, I decided to start reading the first trades of DC Comic's "New 52" in alphabetical order. Why alphabetical order; I'm just OCD like that. Having gone through the first thirteen trades, I want to look back at some of the things that I liked and disliked about the ones I have read so far.
Surprised I Liked: Action Comics
Action was one of those titles I did not want to like because of my massive dislike of the writer Grant Morrison. I was happy that it began with 'A' and I could get it out of the way. Then I sat down, threw my dislike of Grant Morrison aside and read it. You know what? I really liked it.
This was not the Grant Morrison that wrote the non-ending to "Final Crisis." This was a Grant Morrison that was not hamstrung by having to squeeze in a bunch of things by editorial to make it fit into their plans. This Grant Morrison had a vision on what he wanted to do and was able to do it. He got his message across without being too preachy.
Happy to go back and Re-Read: All-Star Western
I had the floppy issues of the first storyline of All-Star Western and read them, and then with the great purge after we moved I only had the trade to re-read. I liked this book because it's not one of those supers books. Hex is a down and dirty, get his hands messy bounty hunter who is human and can be hurt.
I loved the first storyline of this book. It really showed that Jonah Hex is not one of those characters that you think would be one dimensional, but through the narration and background provided by Dr. Arkham we get a glimpse into his (Hex's) mind. I'm reluctant to call it a Holmes/Watson relationship because they are not exactly solving mysteries, but that is about the closest analogy I can come up with.
Why can't they make more like: Batwing
I would have put this under the first category, but Action just barely edged it out. Batwing was one of those titles that I really did not know what to make of. A Batman of Africa? I guess Winnick took the idea that Grant Morrison came up with in Batman Incorporated and ran with it, but in Africa. It kind of delves into the "what happened in the five years" thing that DC was going for when they rebooted the universe.
The story in this book had me gripped after the second issue. It would have been the first, but hardly anything was resolved in the first issue; it was all set up. Then issue two came along and started the ball rolling.
Why did I spend time reading that: Aquaman
My first introduction to Geoff Johns writing was the Final Crisis miniseries "Rogues Revenge", which I recommend people read if they want a good bad guy story. After remembering how much I liked that, I thought Aquaman would be a good title.
It's not.
The first issue, after starting off with a good super hero type battle it veers into the realm of exposition with Aquaman being interviewed in a seafood restaurant by some guy for his blog. The subsequent issues for me felt unfinished until the first storyline was over and at the end of the trade we have a fill-in issue with Mera going to town to get dog food, and meeting a woman who is being abused by her boyfriend. Mera nearly kills him by sucking the water out of his body and that pretty much is making me think twice about my enjoyment of Geoff Johns' writing.
Damn it! I want more NOW!: Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey, out of probably the entire Bat family of books is the one that does not need the Batman/Batgirl/Nightwing/Robin etcetera interference. There's actually not that much interference by Batgirl, but she's in there lending support as needed.
I want to know who is manipulating people with mind control(?) and other things that make them do things counter to their beliefs. I thought at the end of the storyline things would be wrapped up, but not really. It just opened a whole new can of worms. For those of you that are Katana fans, you'll have to wait until about issue two or three for her to be added to the team and fully integrated. Personally I think Katana is nuttier than a fruitcake thinking the spirit of her dead husband inhabits the blade of her sword.
Cancelled way too early: Blackhawks
It may be because I was reading GI Joe trades at the same time as I was reading this one, but I got a definite GI Joe vibe from the book. The only thing about it is that there is no terrorist organization named after a venomous snake to act as the foil.
The ending to this series seemed to me to be a bit rushed. It was like they did not know they were being cancelled and then they found out and had to alter what they had planned. I liked what I read and thought it had real potential to be DC's version of GI Joe for the 21st century.
I'm glad I spent my time reading: Batgirl
If reading Aquaman was a complete waste of time, then reading Batgirl is the palate cleanser of comic books. Written by comic writer extraordinaire, Gail Simone, she really gives us a look into Batgirl's/Barbra Gordon's life.
The book goes into the insecurities that super heroes have about their skills and what an injury can do to a person. A lot of writers would have glossed over that part of the story, but not Simone, she actually makes it part of the story.
The last two issues in the trade, I'm not sure what to make of them. Was Gretel using pheromones or some sort of suggestion to make the people act the way they do based on that number?
Totally Forgettable: Batman the Dark Knight
I honestly don't remember what happened in this book. Something about Bane (who is a stupid character addition to Batman's rogues gallery) making some super juiced up version of his venom that made people super strong and super crazy at the same time and he was testing it on the inmates at Arkham Asylum. Why was the white rabbit there screwing with Batman? Ultimately seven issues later Bane dies on a beach by falling into a bunch of rocks and the white rabbit thing is still not answered.
If I know anything about comic books; Bane will be back.
What the hell did I just read? (tie): Batwoman, Animal Man.
The Batwoman storyline seemed to just end and really have no interaction with the other storyline going on in the issues. It just seemed tacked on to me; unless there is something about this storyline that continues in the next trade.
The Animal Man storyline was getting a lot of praise from people on the internet so I am glad I got the trade out of the way third. Were all Animal Man stories like this Pre-New 52? The character of Animal Man has a cool concept and cool powers, but the metaphysical stuff in the book I just don't know what to make of it.
Go on Amazon and buy right now (tie): Batman, Batman and Robin, Detective Comics
The Batman trade is the first part of the "Court of Owls" storyline that was the first major crossover between the Batman family of books. This one made the buy right now list because it is Batman at his best. The book contains the right mix of action and detective work. It's good storytelling by Scott Snyder. There was only one issue in the entire trade that I would have cut because it added nothing and seemed like a filler issue.
Batman and Robin on the other hand made the buy right now list because it really gave me a new look at Damian. I just thought Damian was some punk kid that needs to have his attitude changed in a hurry, but there is a story there that I'm glad I read. It's hard to believe that someone so young could be corrupted so completely by a parent. I think Bruce is a saint for taking Damian in and trying to rehabilitate him.
Detective, I chose because it gave us the return of the Joker as well as a storyline that involved The Penguin. I like The Penguin as a character because of his character in the 1960's Batman television show. The whole thing with the casino on Gotham Harbor was kind of neat and seemed totally like something The Penguin would do. It's just a fun read if you can get past the end of the first issue.
If you only have the cash to buy one "New 52" trade from your local comic book store this month than make it one of the last three if you are just as casual reader. If you are more into serious writers, then Batgirl or Action are right up your alley. Are you a fan of the Western Genre of media, then All Star Western is in the bar for ya. Those would be the top six I would recommend for you to read from the first 13 titles.
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