Superman #0
Sucky. That's my one word review of Superman #0. In more words I can say something like "Scott Lobdell doesn't get what Superman is supposed to be about at all." The moment I was out was when Lara, held at gunpoint, goes all Matrix on her captors and takes out like three dudes.
Lobdell turns Clark's birth parents in to superheroes. Granted, Jor-El is a brilliant scientist. He has to be in order to save Kal. But he doesn't have to be SUCH a brilliant scientist/man-of-action. And Lara is a ninja.
Part of what makes Kal so special is that he comes from humble beginnings. Between his birth parents and Earth parents, they're unassuming people. Krypton just happens to blow up on its own. Its not a grand design by a doomsday cult trying to eliminate Jor-El in some James Bond-type setup. Clark's humble upbringing is what makes his taking the safety of the world on his shoulders something incredible. Now he's just the son of an equally brilliant and exciting couple. Ho hum.
Lobdell just doesn't get what Superman is about. This issue was enough indication of that. Ergo, I won't be buying Superman anymore.
Ps, Kenneth Rocafort's art was good. I don't blame him for this affront to all things Supes.
Teen Titans #0
Early word on the street was that Scott Lobdell's re-writing of Tim Drake's history got a thumbs down. Personally, I'd give it an OK.
Lobdell does a nice job keeping the story pretty intact: Tim feels that Batman needs a Robin and goes about uncovering who the Batman is. He also makes it so Tim is already a very smart kid and a scholarship-worthy gymnast.
Where Lobdell drops the ball is in Batman telling Tim the only reason Tim got as far in the investigation as he did, is because Batman led him there. What this does is take points away from Tim's god-given detective ability and makes him a less impressive character.
He also has Tim's parents go into the Witness Protection Program so Bruce can take care of him. Tim's original story was unique in that he had both of his parents (moreso his dad) and was able to still live at home and go see him. So what Lobdell did was take two of the more distinct traits of who Tim Drake is and erase them, making him less interesting in the process.
So, after hearing myself talk this out, I agree with the masses: this new origin sucks.
Justice League Dark #0
Jeff Lemire knows how to write a good comic book. Maybe instead of giving everything to Scott Lobdell DC should start giving the books to writers who have found success in the New 52?
Lemire and Lee Garbett (who draws some killer artwork) put together a damn fine "How Constantine Meets Zatanna" story. Its a quick story but it illuminates who each character is so well. We're also introduced to Nick Necro, Constantine's mentor, who I imagine we'll be seeing sooner or later.
Good art, good story, overall good comic book.
The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #0
When this book started, I thought I was into it. Turns out I kind of wasn't. Dan Jurgens takes over this book with issue #13 and after hearing him talk about it and what makes a good Firestorm book, I'm totally in his camp. I agree wholeheartedly.
This #0 takes everything back to the beginning. Everything that happened in issues 1-12 still happened, but we have a new status quo. Ronnie and Jason aren't each a Firestorm anymore. They're going old school with Jason being in Ronnie's head when they merge. Jurgens plans on taking a more lighthearted approach, and that's exactly what this book needs. It didn't realize until he said it, but the first year was way too dark for this character.
This issue sets up the new direction that I'm really looking forward to reading.
Aquaman #0
Best run on Aquaman, ever. I'm not afraid to say it.
Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis and Joe Prado take us through Arthur's father's death, the history of what happened to his mother and his discovery of Atlantis. While its a little too coincidental for Aquaman to rescue two people that just HAPPEN to know of someone else claiming to be Atlantean, it does get us to the narration that we're looking for and sets up year two on the book quite nicely.
One great year down. Looking forward to number two.
The Flash #0
Something that the majority of these #0 issues has done, is tell a story using a characters backstory to further stories in the future. The Flash is one of these books.
Barry Allen lost his mother when he was a kid. His dad got put in jail for it where he still lives. Barry has been working his whole life to try to prove his dad's innocence. I like that Barry still has a living parent. Too many heroes don't have any. It makes the ones that do a little more special. Manapul's art is fantastic jumping from time period to time period as the story pieces itself together.
Just another great issue from a book that I expect greatness from.
I, Vampire #0
What a great book. Andrea Sorrentino does some great work in this period piece about the beginning of Andrew Bennett, vampire.
The story takes place in 1591 England and tells the story of Bennett becoming a vampire. All the pages are dark and rainy as any proper horror story in that time should be. Sorrentino flawlessly illustrates every panel. Its a testament to him and writer Josh Fialkov that this book hasn't had any fill-in artists. Putting a fill-in on this book would essentially be like DC slapping their readers in the face. That's how good Sorrentino has been.
It may be a bubble book, but I, Vampire is easily one of the best reads month in and month out for DC.
Panel of the Week
Andrea Sorrentino hooks up some 14th Century style mood!
-Gint
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