DC Universe Rebirth #1

Second of a small stack of new comics purchased at Newbury Comics at the Cape Cod Mall, Hyannis MA.

Title: DC Universe Rebirth
Issue: 1
Date: July, 2016
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Gary Frank, Ethan Van Sciver, Ivan Reis, Phil Jimenez, Joe Prado, Matt Santorelli
Colorist: Brad Anderson, Jason Wright, Gabe Eltaeb, Hi-Fi
Letterer: Nick J. Napolitano
Editor: Andrew Marino, Eddie Berganza
Cover: Gary Frank, Brad Anderson

This is DC's reboot of their previous reboot. Well, in some sense, it's just the latest reboot in a long series, but this reboot in particular is aimed at correcting some of the more unpopular aspects of DC's New 52.

As is typical for this type of event, this plays more for serious fans than for casual readers. In fact, in some sense, I am the target audience: A longtime fan of DC comics, who read the early New 52 issues extensively, but lost interest and am no longer reading current DC comics on a regular basis.

The narrator and main character here is Wally West, who was trapped in the Speed Force as a result of the Flashpoint (the triggering event for the New 52 reboot (and by "trapped in the Speed Force" what we mean is "written out of the current continuity"). No one remembers Wally West, and he is only capable of appearing on Earth for brief moments before being pulled back into the Speed Force. He's desperate to escape, and he has a warning to bring: Some unknown force has been tampering with time and space.

I'm not a huge fan of the Flash, but it was very clear from the writing that Geoff Johns is, and I have to say that he won me over by the end. This was a nice mix of nostalgia with some teases for future storylines.

There was also a surprise twist ending that came from so far out of left field, that it almost felt like DC Comics is trolling us. No spoilers here other than to say that it's definitely aimed at the serious comics fans. Your mileage may vary, but it worked for me in terms of 1) I really was surprised, and 2) I am intrigued to see where this is going.

Mission accomplished.

Rating: 8/10

Justice League #4

Continuing with the DC #4's.

Title: Justice League
Issue: 4
Date: February 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciler: Jim Lee
Inker: Scott Williams
Colorist: Alex Sinclair, Gabe Eltaeb
Letterer: Patrick Brosseau
Editor: Darren Shan, Brian Cunningham
Cover: Jim Lee, Alex Sinclair, Scott Williams

There are really three things going on here. First is the introduction of Aquqman, who basically takes the attitude that someone has got to be the leader of the rather disorganized team of heroes that have banded together to fight the parademon invasion. And, well, he's the only one who's a king, so it might as well be him.

Green Lantern (still acting like an idiot) issues the "Really? What can you do that we can't?" challenge. The answer is a resounding "Talk to fish!" in the form of great white sharks jumping out of the water and nom-nom-nom-ing some parademons. Which is actually not all that impressive when you think about it. Lanter, Superman, or Wonder Woman could have done the same amount of damage with less effort and no endangered species in the line of fire. Still, the sharks plus Aquaman putting a trident through the head of a parademon prove sufficient to win at least a grudging acceptance.

In the midst of all of this is an attempt at comedy when Lantern just happens to "accidentally" have his hand on Wonder Woman's lasso and becomes a bit more truthful than he might have liked to be. So Lantern is consistently a sexist jerk. Yay for consistency, I suppose.

The other two big plotlines are the continuing origin of Cyborg, which is going about how you would expect, and the arrival of Darkseid, which is, well, big. As in two-page- turn-the-comic-sideways big. Nice job of making him impressive, but it will be next issue before he does anything more than announce his name.

Goofy fun, but this issue leaned a bit too heavily on the goofy side.

Rating: 5.5/10

Justice League #3

I'm on the road today and looking through the comics I have on me, all I've got is #3's from the New 52. So here's a little jump ahead, as I look at Justice League #3.

Title: Justice League
Issue: 3
Date: January 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciler: Jim Lee
Inker: Scott Williams
Colorist: Alex Sinclair, Hi-Fi, Gabe Eltaeb
Letterer: Patrick Brosseau
Editor: Darren Shan, Brian Cunningham
Cover: Jim Lee, Alex Sinclair, Scott Williams

Amazingly, Hal Jordan barely gets any lines here, but it only takes him one word four letters long ("Dibs"; his reaction to seeing Diana for the first time) to cement his place as as sexist jerk for this issue.

Wonder Woman herself is the major focus of this issue, with a rather clumsily handled attempt at portraying her as totally naive to the ways of human civilization. The problem is that there is a fine line between naive and dumb, and Diana spends a bit too much time on the wrong side of that line. That being said, the kid who introduces her to ice cream is adorable and should be a recurring character.

The main plot here is a large-scale attack on Earth by enough parademons to make the heroes look somewhat impressive fighting them, but not nearly enough to actually mount a successful invasion.

We also get some progress on Cyborg's origin, as well as the introduction of Aquaman (who gets a great first line). Dialogue in general was pretty sharp. Flash to the Batman. "You don't have powers? I thought you were a vampire or something!" Ha! There's a cute introductory exchange between Superman and Wonder Woman as well.

Art continues to be great. It's nothing all that daring or innovative, but it looks great, and as mentioned before, it's really exactly the look that a big and loud action-oriented book like this needs.

Rating: 7/10