One year
after the Flashpoint and the
introduction of the New 52, DC
Comics celebrates their one-year anniversary with Zero Month. Below are the top comics and a brief summary of their
zero issues.
The first
week of Zero Month revealed the best
Superman story to date, the arrival
of a new Green Lantern, and the
secret history of Stormwatch. The
background of Earth 2 is expanded
further as the Justice Society will become the greatest threat against Terry
Sloan. Both Animal Man and Swamp Thing have given me reasons to
pick up the books after reading their zero issues as well as Sweet Tooth by Jeff Lemire. The origin
of Dial H is amazing and it works!
These seem to be the strongest stories due to their one issue standalone tales.
Action Comics #0 A boy steals Superman’s cape to
fight his mother’s abusive boyfriend. The boy ends up being saved by Superman
who stops a moving train from killing him. This is the best Superman story
following the New 52 relaunch! The second
part of the story introduces Erik Drekken.
Animal Man #0 Anton Arcane kills the previous
Animal Man leaving the Red to manufacture another Avatar and serving as an
emissary until the new Avatar of the Red is born. Actor Buddy Baker believes he
is given the powers of Animal Man through aliens however it is a ruse by the
Red. The stage is set for Rotworld.
Batwing #0 The adopted parents of Zavimbe
suffer at the hands of Death Jack. Zavimbe begins his life as a vigilante which
attracts Batman who offers him to become apart of Batman, Inc.
Detective Comics #0 Bruce Wayne trains with a sensei
that hardens him before he realizes those closest to him will only bring him
pain. The back-up story features Bruce returning home to Wayne Manor and
Alfred.
Dial H #0 A sundial used to Dial H for Hero
strips the heroes of other worlds of their powers temporary.
Earth 2 #0 Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman,
and Terry Sloan battle the hordes of the Apokolips. However Sloan has other
plans for our heroes and betrays them uses synthesized Kryptonite to drive
Superman insane against Wonder Woman. Sloan destroys the nations which were
enslaved by the Anti-Life Equation.
G.I. Combat #0 The origins of the Unknown
Soldier is examined however no explanation is given. The second half of the
story features The War That Time Forgot.
Overall this is sincerely the weakest of the New 52 Zero Month titles.
Green Lantern #0
Simon Baz
is selected to become the first Arab American Green Lantern. A known car theft
mistakenly believed to be a terrorist after stealing a van full of explosives.
Baz will be later selected to be apart of Steve Trevor’s team: Justice League
of America
The Phantom Stranger #0 The Phantom Stranger is brought
before the Council of Wizards. The Judas coins are attached to his skin and he
wears the robe of Jesus and sentenced to walk the Earth until is debt is paid.
The Phantom Stranger is sent to help find the fiancée of Gotham Police
Detective Jim Corrigan. The Spectre is born following the death of Jim Corrigan
while the Phantom Stranger loses on of his pieces of silver.
Stormwatch #0 Adam One reveals to Jenny the
histories of the Century Babies. It was also revealed the Demon Knights were
the precursor to Stormwatch and Adam One was once known as Merlin. The Daemonites arrival on Earth led to
unnatural human experiments. Now the Superheroes have emerged which will lead
to Stormwatch turning on itself.
Swamp Thing #0 Anton Arcane has been killing
Swamp Things of the past and now targets Dr. Alec Holland who is destined to
become the greatest Swamp Thing. Anton Arcane kills Holland
World’s Finest #0 The relationship between Robin
and Catwoman of Earth 2 is briefly explored before her Catwoman’s death. After
Superman trains his cousin Supergirl, she rushes to the aid of Robin who is
seeking revenge for the death of her mother Catwoman.
The week of Zero
Month revealed the best Superman
story to date, the arrival of a new Green
Lantern, and the secret history of Stormwatch.
The background of Earth 2 is
expanded further as the Justice Society will become the greatest threat against
Terry Sloan. Both Animal Man and Swamp Thing have given me reasons to
pick up the books after reading their zero issues as well as Sweet Tooth by Jeff Lemire. The origin
of Dial H is amazing and it works!
These seem to be the strongest stories due to their one issue standalone tales.
Batgirl #0 Barbara Gordon trapped with her brother inside a police station while a criminal runs amok, dons the Batman costume for the first time. She quickly attracts the attention of Batman and pursues her life as a student and a crimefighter. The darkness finds her as the issue opens as Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke begins. I was expecting the revelation of how Barbara walked again after the Joker shot her however this issue is focused on the origin of the New 52’s Batgirl.
Batman #0 Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham after his long absence and sets up his base near
Crime Alley where his parents were killed. After infiltrating the Red Hood Gang
and nearing getting killed and caught by the police, they target and Wayne
Batman and Robin #0 Damian Wayne goes up without
knowing who his father is until he wins in a battle against his mother on his
birthday. The day comes and he finally meets his father the Batman.
Demon Knights #0 The Demon Etrigan plans to unseat Lucifer and become the king of Hell by
battling the leaders of the demon tribes. The son of Lucifer, Merlin, the
Prince of Lies offers him a bargain to merge both Jason Blood and the Demon Etrigan
together. Etrigan is sent to the lowest levels of Hell and his only way of
escape is through Jason Blood. The Demon Etrigan leads other members to form
the Demon Knights who were the
precursor to Stormwatch.
Green Lantern Corps
#0 Guy Gardner
obtains his ring after attempting to rescue his brother and partner from drug
dealers. The issue displays the first meeting between Hal Jordan and Guy
Gardner.
Superboy #0 Lord Harvest tells the tale of Kryptonian clones who
once rage havoc on Krypton. The clones played havoc using the weather systems
to manipulate the planet’s climate. This eventually led to the destruction of
Krypton. Lord Harvest has been secretly manipulating Superboy using subliminal
messages.
Batwoman #0 Kate Kane reveals her childhood
and the birth of Batwoman came when she discovers that her father lied to her
about her sister Beth.
Catwoman #0 While searching for her brother,
Selina Kyle discovers her real name is Russian.
Green Lantern: New Guardians #0 Carol Ferris discovers an
engagement ring hidden in Hal Jordan
Justice League #0 The last of the Council of
Wizards gives Billy Batson the power of Shazam to stop the escaped Black Adam
from waking the Seven Deadly Sins of Man. The second part of the issue deals
with Pandora and her box as the Wizard warns her only the strongest or the darkest of hearts can open the box.
Nightwing #0 Dick Grayson searches for Tony
Zucco who murdered his parents which attracts the eye of the Batman. Dick
becomes Robin and saves Batman from Lady Shiva
Red Hood and the Outlaws #0 The origin of the second Robin is
revealed as Jason Todd’s history is told from his early beginnings to his fall
in Death in the Family where the
Joker killed him. He is later resurrected through the Lazarus Pit by Talia al
Ghul. The backup story reveals it is the Joker who created the Red Hood from
the beginning and may know the identities of the Bat Family which will erupt
with Death of the Family.
Supergirl #0 Zor-EL the older brother of Jor-EL
has found a way to save Argo city from the impending doom of Krypton. Superboy
arrives to tell Alura to say goodbye to Kara before its too late. Zor-EL puts
his daughter in the space capsule and sends her orbiting a yellow sun.
Sword of Sorcery #0 Amy Winston discovers she is a
child of another world and her mother opens the portal back to bring them back
home. The crystal that opens the portal is taken by Justice League Dark member
John Constantine. The second part of the book begins in the far future Beowulf
is called to slay Grendel.
Wonder Woman #0 Princess Diana grows up believing she is made up of clay and she is taught
to fight by an Olympian named War. However the union of mentor to pupil ended
when she refused to kill a helpless Minotaur.
Batman: The Dark Knight #0 Batman tracks down the person who
murdered his parents Joe Chill. Bruce discovers there was no conspiracy against
his parents so he ventures off journeying and training himself around the
world.
Batman, Incorporated #0 The early days of Batman
Incorporated is explored as Batman recruits for his battle with the Leviathan.
The Flash #0 Barry Allen is committed to
proving the innocence of his father while a Daniel West is introduced after
being apprehended by the Flash.
Red Lanterns #0 Atrocitus looks back at the
violent past of Manhunters who murdered his family. Atrocitus becomes one of
the Five Inversions. The Five Inversions are defeated by Green Lantern Abin Sur
however Atrocitus frees himself and kills them to fulfill the blood prophesy.
Atrocitus builds the Red Lantern and becomes the first blood prophesy before
beginning the second one: Creating the Red Lantern Corps. The Red Lanterns are
scheduled to team up with the Manhunters as the Guardians unleash their Third
Army.
Superman #0 Jor-EL discovers Krypton is dying
from within and the Doomsday cult whose leader is the Eradicator prevents him
from revealing his discovery. Jor-EL and his wife Lara send the members to the
Phantom Zone. Meanwhile the Oracle blows the horn summoning the beginning of
the end of Krypton.
Teen Titans #0 Olympic star and computer genius
Tim Drake has been pursing the identity of Batman. Tim Drake plays Robin Hood
and steals 100 million from the Cobblepots and redistributes it. Tim’s parents
are placed in Witness Protection and Batman partners up with him to become Red
Robin.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – 5 OUT OF 5
