hmmm maybe my sarcasm didnt come through

That's exactly what I meant Dom. Theses guys are killing the industry with these things. You use to be able to buy collected version, but not to this extent (at least in Indiana). They definitely need to cut back on the decompression writing that is just for the sake of this TPB stuff. Save it for the things like Avenger's Sanction or Fear. Let the regular titles stand on their own merit.

I like the one year wait but some bean counter is running the show Im sure

Batgirl: Ok so its not a reboot?   She was crippled by the Joker, but some miracle has cured her.   But she is broke, and I guess, was never Oracle?  I am confused.
   I liked that she had to go back to get her Motorcycle from police impound.  That was a nice touch.    I enjoyed it all around, untill the last page of issue three.

She tells Nightwing that she needs to solve this crime on her own.   WHat arrogance. 

She froze and a cop was shot, and a murderer was killed.  She failed to stop a train from blowing up.  But screw that, her ego needs a boost so damn the innocents who die cause she is not ready to be Batgirl again.    Nightwing should have said, when  you show me you can do it, I will leave you alone.
   Between this and Black Panther refusing help over at Marvel  while his villain is killing left and right makes me wonder who they are out in costume for,  the people or themselves?

Oh, and  loved the bad guy.  I will steal him for a future V&V game.

B-

Batman and Robin:  Ok so there were Robins before,  and  Batman was "dead"  so how is this a reboot?

I like the character of Damion, and if they stay focused on his relationship with his father, this should be a good read.   I like how   Bruce is trying to humanise his sociopathic son.    Pretty interesting.

The  Superheros stuff is secondary, as is, I think its supposed to be. 

B

Swamp Thing:  Ok not a reboot.  It refers to practically everything in the past comics, except Tefe.
    So I am getting more and more increasingly confused with the new 52. 
    Anyway, back to Swamp Thing.   I am glad they shed all the four elemental powers, as that made him a god.   This is off to a good start.  Keep in mind, Swamp Thing has been one of my favorite comics.  I have gotten every comic that I know about that he apears in.  So I am very picky about this comic.  So far so good.  Not great, but good.

B

John wrote on Jan 19^th, 2012 at 6:52pm:


I think you highlight a problem of perhaps more than a few of the new 52 books; they are focusing on developing mystery about largely-recognisable but-not-quite-the-same-as-they-were characters, adding to their power sets, yet taking far too long to develop them or explain.

PulpCitizen wrote on Jan 21^st, 2012 at 6:00am:


This may give some insight into the problems inherent with the book:

John Rozum Bleeding Cool interview

Stormwatch:  Ok so this is  reboot.  The Engineer, check.  Hawksmoor, check.  Apollo, check.  Midnighter, check.  Jenny Q, check. 
    So who is everyone else?  I get the Projectionist, cool idea.  Which one is the Doctor?  Who is everyone else?    
    You can't start a reboot comic in media res.    Some good ideas, but something is off.  Seems like people with less talents then the old Stormwatch/Authority guys trying their best to copy them.

And Martian Manhunter on the team seems out of place. They must have read my story write up about the Solution, my Authority rip off for my V&V game. They had a Martian Manhunter rip off called the Martian and liked the idea.    I am being spied on by DC!

C

Suicide Squad:   Not sure if this is  reboot or what, but then I don't think DC knows either.  If you like the concept, then this is the Suicide Squad done, well, like the incarnations of the squad from before.  Its a good idea and well executed.  My only complaint is that now Amanda Waller is young, slim hot girl?   That is not right.

B+

John, I'm really enjoying your reviews. Thanks.

dsumner wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2012 at 9:29am:


Okay, John Rozum has posted at length about this on his blog:

'Why I quit Static Shock'

Fixed. 

Superboy:  Its a hard reboot.  Its a bit confusing,  and the art is on the Leifield school of anatomy side.    Need I say more?

C

Superman:  Its a reboot but not a clean start.  FIrst off,  Clark and Lois are not married, nor dating.   Other than that and the costume change,  its seems to be just like every other Superman.
    Three issues and the only real difference is that there doesn't seem to be as much Superman worship in Metropolis as there used to be.   
    And  the art really picks up on issue three when George Perez does more than just layouts.
   Nothing really special here.  Just competant super hero comics.  I was expecting more.


C+

More proof that DC is on drugs.

Justice League:  I know people have been knocking this, and I was prepared for the worst.  But I have to say, I enjoyed the first three issues.   
   I liked that Darkseid is the cause of the birth of the league, even though I loved Starro the Conqueror.   I liked that Flash and Green Lantern seemed to be friendly and mistrustful of Batman.   Superman comes off as a bit of a bully, and that rubs me the wrong way.  And I understand this is set in the past and I look forward to the more heroic league in a few issues.     I am confused that Cyborg is "born" in this comic.  But I haven't read the Titans yet, so I guess Cyborg is a JLAer now.       The only thing that bothers me is that DC really didn't need a reboot, but that is moot at this point.

B+

John wrote on Jan 30^th, 2012 at 1:09am:


The big problem I have with JL is the casual killing displayed by Superman and the rest (witness Parademons being dispatched with no reference to any moments of conscience from the previously against-killing League members from the pre-reboot days). Yes it is a war situation, but it simply does not line up with how I have known these heroes over my decades of comics reading.