Huge 8-book week this week. I prefer a nice, quick 3-4 book week. Save me a lot of scanning time.
A well deserved Eighth Place:
Superman #5
This is not a good comic book. If Superman wasn't an already established character with almost 75 years of history, and this is what was offered up, his book would have been cancelled already. Even the stunning talents of Nicola Scott make this book look like an attempt to "shine a turd."
I'm ready for a new Superman. Its one of the reasons I like Grant Morrison's Action Comics so much. He's a different character. He's new and exciting. George Pérez trots out all the old same old same old. From dropping names (the Swan-Klein Hospital) and using old worn-out plots (Superman is EVIL?!) there's nothing new and exciting about this book.
When the producers of the upcoming Man of Steel movie said they're not using the old ice planet Krypton or even the John Williams score, the nostalgic kid in me was disappointed. But my love for Superman and my desire for others to love Superman comes first. We NEED a brand new Superman. We need all the old nostalgia retired in order to create a brand new Superman that creates as much interest as Christopher Reeve did in 1978.
George Pérez, you've got nothing left in the tank. Your art and storytelling are the definition of stale. Its time to hang them up, brother. Go quietly into that good night and let someone with a new vision and desire to evolve take over. Its what Superman needs, and more importantly, its what comic fans need.
Seventh Place:
Teen Titans #5
This is a fight book. 20 pages of Superboy kicking the Teen Titans' asses. And its pretty solid.
Scott Lobdell and Brett Booth do a nice job of choreographing the Titans' disorganization in attacking Superboy. There weren't any moments of "that would never happen," and everything flows smoothly. He really shows Superboy's dominance and I think that's the way it should be.
Chronologically, this issue should have come out before Superboy #5 so overall between the two books it leaves some confusion as to what happens when and why Superboy acts one way in Superboy and another way in Teen Titans. I'm going to just sit tight and hope Lobdell has a plan and these books dovetail together nicely.
Sixth Place:
Green Lantern: New Guardians #5
Tony Bedard does a great job writing a HUGE story fitting a book on such a large scale. He's created the Orrery, a galaxy-sized model of a solar system. Imagine your grade school science project, but lifesize. Interesting concept that has a great start.
He's also juggling six different Lanterns plus cameos from Larfleeze and Sayd and giving each character enough room to breathe. He's really handling the large cast well.
Tyler Kirkham's artwork is rolling pretty nicely. He's getting the hang of drawing such a large-scale book with larger than life locations and ideas.
Bedard and Kirkham's run on Green Lantern Corps wasn't very good. It had potential but just fell flat. Their time on Green Lantern: New Guardians has been much different. It seems they needed some time to get comfortable and learn how to write a good Green Lantern story.
Fifth Place:
Justice League #5
Green Lantern gets his ass kicked by Darkseid and Batman unmasks to go after a captured Superman alone.
I'm curious to see if Geoff Johns reveals his thinking in why Batman takes off his cape and cowl to go rescue Superman. If you're going into the stronghold of Darkseid, wouldn't you want the most protection as possible?
Anyhow, besides a quiet moment between Bruce and Hal, this book continues to be straight up superhero adventure. The good guys band together to fight the bad guys. Any real character moments don't exist. This book is entertaining, but could be better still.
Fourth Place:
The Fury of Firestorm #5
I wanted this book to be great. I wanted to love it. And so far I do. Each issue keeps getting better. Not just the story, but the art of Yildiray Cinar. Also the inks of Norm Rapmund which seem to really tighten everything up. Great looking book.
And the ante has been raised in the story. The stakes are higher and this issue really blows you away with the emotion written into Ronnie Raymond and Jason Rusch.
Gail Simone will be leaving the title at some point and as the writer I'm worried this book will lose some punch. The creative team has really been working like a well oiled machine and created a great issue for #5.
Third Place:
The Flash #5
Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato wrap up the Manuel Lago storyline and leave it incredibly open ended. But while they wrap up one story, they open up two more involving the Speed Force ripping through space and time and Captain Cold.
Manapul and Buccellato did nothing in this first arc but knock it out of the park. There were certain books launched in the New 52 that were expected to do well. I don't think The Flash was in that group but it is now.
Francis Manapul continues to step up his art game. He does some really interesting panel layout and really uses it as part of the story. Plus, he draws a really sexy Iris West and Patty Spivot. That gets my vote automatically.
More great stuff from the Flash team and it looks like its just gearing up.
Second Place:
Aquaman #5
I got some good reviews going into this issue and wasn't disappointed. It don't think this was the best issue of the series, but it was in some respects. It was a novel, almost one and done issue (even though it sets up the next arc). The story jumps between Aquaman getting stranded in the desert and how he got there. We learn that there was a secret plot to sink Atlantis that somehow involved the Trench.
It was a very well done issue on all levels. It touches the first four issues while moving toward the next arc and really continues to build a world for Aquaman. In a lot of ways this is the "Rebirth" for Aquaman that the Flash's rebirth was supposed to be for him.
Great stuff.
First Place:
I, Vampire #5
Mary, Queen of Blood might be the sexiest character in comics. She only appears once this issue, but that's all it takes.
Andrew and the good guys venture to Gotham City to track down Mary and her new hordes of vampires. While doing so they run into Batman. Its nice seeing Batman make an appearance and its also a nice touch seeing Q-Core (Green Arrow's company) train cars. Its a small thing but it builds the idea of a true shared universe.
This is a turn I'd like to see Wonder Woman start to take. Joshua Fialkov has built the I, Vampire world for 4 issues and tastefully introduces it to the greater DCU. Wonder Woman, while a good story is still marching to the beat of its own drummer. I'd love to see some DCU interaction in this book.
So I, Vampire continues to be the class (if not the big seller) of the New 52. The words and art continue to work perfectly to create a cool, creepy story.
Panel of the Week:
Andrea Sorrentino draws some creepy stuff and keeps it going this month.
-Gint
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