Do you know what surprised me a few years ago? When JLA and JSA relaunched, in JLA Meltzer went the 6-issue origin route and it was painful. In the first JSA issue, Geoff Johns, of all people (in other words, I associate him with the modern decompressed era), managed to 'get the gang together' pretty much in 1 oversized issue. And it was a pretty big gang at that. I just wish he had followed that blue-print with the JL relaunch... 

Personally I like how each is being introduced as the focus in an issue to start. I think it shows a commitment (at least Im hoping) to a larger story arch and with luck a longer run by the creators. I like what seems like a similar (if a bit different) device being used in the Teen Titans

Ive already dropped a couple of the 52 because they dropped the artist I liked that started the reboot

I could be wrong ... wouldn't be the first time today either, but I'm thinking the one hero intro per issue is a marketing device to introduce new readers to characters in a group book (where people always feel they are getting more bang for their buck) I believe they're hoping they transfer that interest into the individual titles  ... like Aquaman.

I'm still warming up to the new incarnations of the Titans. I have to admit if it wasn't for Lee and Booth doing the art on these two titles the slower storyline wouldn't be near as bearable.

I'm just guessing that I probably don't read as many new comics as alot of people so I haven't grown "overly" weary of it - yet, but I totally see you being tired of the public leeryness of discovering meta-humans in their midst and all the ramifications that would result. I do think it has it's place in a full reboot though.

I'm betting we won't see it after about six issues. 

Bird of Prey: Its a reboot, or not,  I can't tell.  Batgirt can walk again, so the Killing Joke happened but its a reboot.  How confusing is that?
   Three issues and I think less then 50 words have been spoken.  Can anyone sayd decompression? 

C-

So for somebody who hasn't bought a single title of the new 52: How is DC explaining the reboot, continuity-wise within their stories?

It sounds like some things reference the old continuity, and others don't.  Some characters change immensely, and others don't.  Is there an explanation (like Crisis did)?

Majestic wrote on Jan 10^th, 2012 at 3:26pm:


They haven't explained it, and to make things even more confusing, some books reference events that may, or may not have happened. Teen Titans is the perfect example, one book says there have been groups of TT in the past, while others say they're the first team.

And then there's Batman, who's somehow managed to have had, FOUR separate Robins, in the course of five years.    I really don't think TPTB thought this trough very well. They basically kept books that were selling well, Batman, Green Lantern (although I think GL had more to do with the DC thinking the movie was going to be a huge hit), and left them alone, while gutting pretty much everything else, and then trying to infuse both Wildstorm and Milestone characters, while giving the DcnU more of a Wildstorm/Image feel to it.

Ranger wrote on Jan 10^th, 2012 at 5:46pm:


I had five of the 52 titles on my pull list (Aquaman, Justice League, Green Lantern, Legion of Superheroes, and Teen Titans). Of the five, I've been enjoying Aquaman the mos. But, IMO, they could have wrapped up the first storyline in two issues. JL is taking WAY to long to get the core group together (Six issues is ridiculous, pick up the damned pace already). While I love Brett's artwork, I'm not really liking any of the new Titans he's introduced. And they just kind of seem to be bumbling around. As far as the Legion goes, if I hadn't been reading the old series, I'd be lost, and that's not counting the fact that they've got a separate group of Legionaire's (including two of my favorites) running around in the past. And GL while a solid story, isn't anything great, and you REALLY needed to be flowing the old book to have clue as to who some of these characters are.

Batman: Seems to have picked right up from the last series.  There are a billion Robins,  Bruce Wayne is the known financier of Batman.   So why the reboot?
    After all that,  this is a great comic.  Is creepy, and I like the villian they are setting up.  The Owl.  So far its got some good ideas in it.   One of the better titles from DC.

A

When the bundle deal is over, I am not sure if I would collect any.

Thanks for the explanations, Pulp and D.  Though I have to say it sounds like DC really didn't think this through very well.  The gal who owns/runs my comic shop said that her customers really like a variety of the new titles.  Some love X and hate Y, while the next customer might love Y and hate X.

I read over what Flashpoint is/was on Wikipedia, but I'm still a bit confused as to what's happening in the DCU.

Perhaps I'll check out Aquaman.

DC has some fine characters, but I've never felt invested in the DC Universe the same way I have with the Marvel Universe.

Actually there are a number of Marvel characters I could plug into the DC universe and say yeah that would work. As merely an opinion, except for the Batman, I don't think I could say  the same the other way around. At least not for any of the brand Icons.

Just a thought but I think Image and Wildstorm would be more successful had thye found a home with Marvel.

However at the time of the acquisition, wasn't Marvel still struggling financially? They emerged from bankruptcy about a year or so before the sale to DC of Wildstorm, so probably were in no shape at that time to try anything like that I guess.

*Psst* maybe avoid Avengers Assemble then...

Batman: Detective Comics:  I can't say its Batman finally done right, as so many have done Batman done right.  I will say its Batman done very well.  Spot on, going after creepy serial killers.  It could use more Detectiviness to distinguish it from the other Batbooks.   

A if you like Batman   B if you just like good comics.

I, Vampire:  The good and the bad.  The good,  the art is great.  Nice and creepy like a vampire comic should.  Second, I like the grand idea, that the vampires are tired of hiding and sneaking about, but Andrew Bennet, I guess he is DC's Dracula? feels this move is suicidal.   So the two sides are going to war.
    The bad... Three issues that could very easily sqeezed into one Vertigo comic.  This is decompression at its worst.    And the worst thing a comic can do?  I challenge anyone to pick up issue three and then tell me what is going on.  You can't.    This comic is very unfriendly to the causal reader.   If you missed issue one, forget it.  You will never know what is going on.   Kind of like Fringe in that the steps have to be taken in order.    Not a good idea at 3 dollars for a comic with 35 words in it.

The concept A if you like vampires, but C- in execution. Otherwise C overall.

Aquaman:  Geoff Johns is the Comic Doctor.  If you comic is sick, call him and he will fix it.   In three issues he has made the three single best Aquaman comics I ever read.   I know that is damning with faint praise, but I mean it in the best way.   The story is slow but the bad guys are scary and very Lovecraftian, something that I think fits well with undersea superheroes.
     He is setting Arthur up well,  and even goofing on his shitty reputation as the *ahem* fish out of water among the super community.   
     Great art and again,  I love the look of the bad guys.   On of the 52's best.

A+   If you like Aquaman.  If you don't like Aquaman, then  you shouldn't be reading comics.

I agree.  And I will say its happening to all comics ( Marvel and DC) latley.


To illustrate the point, I read the newest Secret Avengers when Black Widow goes back in time to save them from death.   It took me a while to read and I said, "Wow"   One issue and a whole story, with characters and resolutions and everything.  It made me stop and think about how rare this was.    And it was a great story.   How sad is that that that a full one issue comic is the exception these days?

Oh but that would kill the trade paperback compilations and we cant have that - practically a generation of comic book "fans" think that's the best way to go.