Following this summer’s Flashpoint event, DC Comics has decided to reset the DC Universe with younger characters with retooled costume designs by artist Jim Lee. The decision to relaunch all the titles back to #1 issues was recently made at the beginning of 2011.
For the first time digital copies of each comic will be available on the same day as the physical release. Digital copies will be available at $1.99 after the first four weeks of release however $2.99 on the day of release. Collectability is definitely a factor with the physical release of each title while price and affordability is a factor for the digital release.
Personally the first issue should be available for free so consumers will be able to sample the writer and the artist of each title as well as attract new readers. The writers and artists are the primary focus on whether they will be capable of building their titles and characters. Established writers and artists have paid their dues and trust amongst comic readers.
After weeding through the September DC Comics solicitations for the 52 renumbered issues, we have picked the best for your pull list while the rest of the books are cannibalizing readership and taking up space on comic book shelves.
Justice League #1 kicks off the renumbering event the same day as the final issue of Flashpoint. Geoff Johns and Jim Lee create the best interpretation of the Justice League with their original members including Barry Allen and Hal Jordan since Crisis of Infinite Earths. Post-Crisis incarnations of the Justice League included both Wally West and Kyle Rayner. The first arc will reveal the origin of the team while the second arc takes place in the present.
Aquaman #1 finally returns with his own series after Brightest Day with Flashpoint architect Geoff Johns. Geoff Johns plans to return the character to the heights of Peter David’s run bringing the aspect of responsibility to the character much like he has done with bringing the aspect of emotions to the Green Lantern and the aspect of time with the Flash.
Wonder Woman #1 comes on the heels of returning Wonder Woman to its original numbering due to fan demands with issue 600 prior to J. Michael Straczynski’s take on the character. Many fans were upset on the costume change by Jim Lee however they may have to get to use to Wonder Woman wearing spandex. The story is by 100 bullets writer Brian Azzarello and artist Cliff Chiang both of whom may bring an interesting take on the Wonder Woman mythos.
Superman starts with Actions Comics #1 by Batman R.I.P writer Grant Morrison. Grant Morrison who was also responsible for All-Star Superman is joined by 2004’s Identity Crisis artist Rags Morales. Grant Morrison has proven himself worthy of a Superman title as well as a Batman title. Next year he will be continuing his Batman Incorporated title in early 2012 concluding his six year Batman saga with Batman: Leviathan.
Batman and Robin #1 finally teams Bruce Wayne and his son Damian as Robin. The dynamic between the two characters should bring some interesting stories to the title. Following the first issue we will know whether this title should garner continued attention.
Batwoman #1 is definitely a pick-up following last year’s Batwoman #0. DC Comics did the smart thing by delaying the title until a proper relaunch. Too bad they didn’t do the same for David Finch’s Batman:The Dark Knight, which has been consistently plagued by delays.
Batgirl #1 returns Barbara Gordon to the role of Batgirl following Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke back in 1988. Over two decades later Barbara returns to her roots under writer Gail Simone and artist Ardian Syaf. Could the wedding of Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson be far behind?
Green Lantern franchise continues with four new individual series. The previous series under writer Peter J. Tomasi Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors, which served as a prelude to the War of the Green Lanterns epic has ended. Now he begins again by returning to his roots with the Green Lantern Corps along with his artist from Emerald Warriors Fernando Pasarin. Peter J. Tomasi was a stronger writer on Green Lantern Corps than he was on Emerald Warriors. The main series of Green Lantern continues under writer Geoff Johns and artist Doug Mahnke. The series ended with Green Lantern #67 at the conclusion of War of the Green Lanterns.
Two new series enters and expands the Green Lantern universe: The New Guardians and Red Lanterns. R.E.B.E.L.S and former Green Lantern Corps writer Tony Bedard tackles Green Lantern: The New Guardians combining the multiple members from various corps into one team. The Red Lanterns under writer Peter Milligan and artist Ed Benes will be definitely the one to watch as these two merge their talents and expand the Green Lantern mythos.
Justice League Dark #1 brings together various Vertigo superheroes into one title under writer Peter Milligan (Red Lanterns). Milligan wrote Human Target a few years ago and is a worthy writer to follow.
Static Shock #1 teams both John Rozum (Xombi) and Scott McDaniel. I loved the Milestone characters and will definitely pick this title up drawn by former Nightwing artist Scott McDaniel.
Swamp Thing #1 returns with an all-new takeunder Scott Snyder. Not much invested with Snyder’s Detective Comics or Gates of Gotham however I will follow the character of Swamp Thing as it has a rich history that began with Alan Moore.
Image Comics star Josh Fialkov (Echoes) begins his take on vampires with I, Vampire #1.Very much enjoyed his Image title Echoes and looking forward to his first DC series.
Resurrection Man #1 returns following his short run between 1997 and 1999. Twelve years later he returns under the same writers who brought him into the DC Universe. This series was starting to buzz however got cancelled too early.
Voodoo #1 begins the return of the Jim Lee’s Wildstorm Universe as the title is headed by Top Cow Artifacts architect Ron Marz. Writer Ron Marz was also responsible for removing Hal Jordan and introducing Kyle Rayner as Green Lantern. Another title from the Wildstorm Universe is Stormwatch by Action Comics writer Paul Cornell. This title will reveal how the Wildstorm Universe is integrated into the DC Universe.
Not Interested…..Yet or Never
Flash #1 returns with Barry Allen in a modern costume designed by Jim Lee however the artist Francis Manapul is teaming up with Brian Buccellato on scripting duties. Rising star Francis Manapul is just that a rising star without a comic writer’s reputation. Whether Brian Buccellato will enhance the stories will be revealed after the first year of the Flash.
George Perez is an established writer and artist however teaming up with artist Jesus Merino on Superman #1 seems a bit risky. Jesus Merino recent artwork on the Reign of Doomsday seems a bit scrappy and rushed. Unfortunately I need to skip this title along with Michael Green on Supergirl #1 and Scott Lobdell on Superboy #1. These three writers need to develop trust that they will be able to take on each character and address them for the 21st century comic consumer.
The Batman titles get a make over with new #1s however their creators fall short. Batman#1 begins with Scott Snyder as head writer however I wasn’t following his Detective Comics or American Vampire run so I am not following him here.
Detective Comics #1 begins with Tony McDaniel take on Bruce Wayne following his Dick Grayson run in Batman. Tony McDaniel didn’t make an impact on his Batman title so I doubt he can pull it off in Detective Comics.
Batman: The Dark Knight begins again under David Finch who was supposed to write and draw the comic however had trouble after issue 1. Now collaborating with artist Jay Fabok, David Finch starts over after failing. Why on Earth did DC Comics put him in the role if they knew Batman: The Dark Knight will begin anew a few months down the road? Now the whole #1 renumbered titles seem like a rush job after the “Drawing the Line at $2.99” marketing failed early this year to increase DC Comics market share.
Nightwing #1 puts Dick Grayson back into costume while Red Hood and the Outlaws #1 puts Jason Todd on a team of misfits. Dick Grayson became Batman after Jean Paul Valley then returned as Nightwing while Jason Todd assumes the role of Red Hood. Years ago Jason Todd was voted to be killed off as Robin and now he has his own series. Both these characters are repeating what has transpired in the past. DC Comics is hoping to gain new readers by eliminating their old ones. It would be interesting if both Nightwing and Red Hood were no longer former Robins Dick Grayson and Jason Todd but someone entirely new and mysterious.
Both artists Kenneth Rocafort (Action Comics) on Red Hood and the Outlaws and Eddy Barrows (Superman) on Nightwing are amazing artists taking over these two titles however they deserve better titles than the ones they have now. Another Batman sidekick title is Batwing #1 which puts the character from Grant Morrison’s Batman Incorporated into his own title. Regardless all of these titles cannibalize the mainstream DC titles.
Teen Titans #1 makes Red Robin into a Battle of the Planets character. I enjoyed Geoff Johns run on the title and not interested with Scott Lobdell taking over the title. He never made an impact when he wrote the Uncanny X-Men in the 90’s and doubt he could make me care for the characters within Teen Titans.
Hawk and Dove #1 teams-up Sterling Gates (Supergirl) and veteran artist Rob Liefeld. Seriously isn’t Rob Liefeld working with Robert Kirkman with their Infinite title. This is a disaster waiting to happen as both books will be delayed and their quality suffering.
Blue Bettle #1 is written by Tony Bedard who wrote R.E.B.E.L.S and Green Lantern Corps. However an established writer is taking over an unestablished character of Jamie Reyes. Would have been nice to have Ted Kord come back as the Blue Bettle instead of Jamie Reyes following Flashpoint. It would have been an interesting series with Ted Kord coming back following his death in Countdown to Infinite Crisis.
The Legion of Superheroes is divided into two titles Legion Lost under Fabian Nicieza and Legion of Superheroes under veteran Paul Levitz. Unless this franchise presents more future titles much like Marvel 2099 line, the series impacting the Legion of Superheroes present a less significant group of characters within the DC Universe with no impact on the other main titles. Legion Lost follows 7 members from the future tracking down a villain into the past and getting stuck. This is the Gillian’s Island title where the climax of the story ends when those 7 members return to the future.
DC Comics really needs to rethink how to reintroduce their core characters and teams for a 21st century comic consumer. Writers need to prove themselves first before readers are willing to invest in them. If DC Comics is so confident with their current set of writers and artists then the first issue should have a digital copy available for free. This will allow comic consumers to taste of what each title represents in September as well as introduce readers to DC Comics digital model.
SEPTEMBER 2011 PULL LIST
Justice League #1
Aquaman #1
Wonder Woman #1
Action Comics #1
Batman and Robin #1
Batgirl #1
Batwoman #1
Green Lantern #1
Green Lantern Corps #1
Green Lantern: The New Guardians #1
Red Lanterns #1
Justice League Dark #1
Swamp Thing #1
I,Vampire #1
Resurrection Man #1
Stormwatch #1
Voodoo #1
Static Shock #1
The New Teen Titans: Games HC
Joe The Barbarian Deluxe Edition HC
