Cyborg front- and -centre but not Superman? Why exactly?!
Justice League 5- Pluses: it looks a bit like a poster book but this roster of the team is (almost) a challenge for the Ultimate Avengers the world will have on its lunchboxes soon. No Mary Sue members like Aztek, Faith or Congorilla. Flash and Green Lantern prove their worth; bloodthirsty Wonder Woman is a good gag.
Minuses: The Batman would never reveal his real identity under those circumstances. Super Friends nostalgia be damned: Cyborg does not belong on this team. He's just not iconic enough. Better choices would be Hawkgirl; Green Arrow; Catwoman; Plastic Man (who doesn't exist in the New 52...yet); Supergirl...even John Constantine! And Aquaman did nothing. **
Demon Knights 5- Pluses: four of this Magnificent Seven are female; very unusual for a team book. Vandal Savage shows his brutal true colours in a shocking way. Minuses: Jason Blood is really Etrigan the Demon; they don't swap places; why "homage" the relationship between Billy Batson and Captain Marvel? This would make a better graphic novel than an ongoing; the pace is very slow. Who is the Horsewoman? Some kind of analogy for Oracle/Babs Gordon? ***
Omac 5- Pluses: Giffen's pencils; it feels like a Bronze Age Marvel monster book: Omac vs. Frankenstein! Desaad behind the scenes! Minuses: two battling monsters. Very little else happens. Checkmate agents look too much like AIM (it's the beekeeper suits). *
Legion: Secret Origin 4- Pluses: Colossal Boy (who's been bumped from the LSH ongoing) in a reworked version of his original space ranger costume. Ditto for Chameleon Boy, in his old blue duds. Bright, shiny art from Batista who gives the Legionnaires slender, teenage bodies. A proactive, cheerleading Phantom Girl. Minuses: very little happens. *
Legion of Super-Heroes 5- Pluses: The first issue I've really enjoyed since the latest relaunch. I read about it on Legion Abstract and it sounded like another clunker but one of the most successful elements turned out to be Simonson's art . Also, it was a Day in the Life issue, so: the Legion has two gay couples (and the world didn't end); Quislet's absence was referenced; we checked in with Blok and Mysa; Variable Lad got a memorial; Stone Boy! The Ardeen-Ranzz twins played at pirates.
Minuses: Jo Nah's Hair Metal look and his B.O.! The Hell as the Bendis Avengers might say? Polar Boy goes for a pish?! WHO IS HARMONIA LI? WHO IS SHE?! We have her and her bloody xylophone but Sensor Girl is written out? ***
Next: 5-D Pests; Valentines; and the Anti-Superman Army
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Nothing in there that makes me want to read them. Unlike my 'Marvel Firsts: The 1970s' book. So, I've still got a desire to read comics - just not 'New 52' comics.
ReplyDeleteI'm fortunate that this job pays enough for disposable income (and there's not much to spend it on up here). On balance, I only really enjoyed the Black Widow comic; The Shade; The Simonson Legion; Action; and the Valentine's Day Batman.
ReplyDeleteI own most of the Marvel Firsts stories in other collections already. Vol.2 would be more nostalgic and "totemic" for me.