Rebirth Wednesday-Week 2

I'm so happy to be back to discussing comics, and very, very happy to be discussing this one. One of the minor things that annoyed me and many others when the New 52 happened was that every comics numbering restarted...including Action Comics and Detective Comics, both of which have been running continuously since their creation in the 1940's. Well, with Rebirth they retrofitted the numbering to include the last four years of misnumbered ones, making this issue Action Comics #957.

This issue starts with a crisis at a tech facility as armed assailants try to hold the people hostage, only to be stopped by a man with an S on his chest: Lex Luthor! Yep, Lex made himself a new power suit and fancies himself the new superhero of Metropolis. Clark can't stand for that, so he shaves, brings out the old blue and red suit, and heads to Metropolis. Lex is super confused because, you know, he saw Kent die, and they fight because he's a superhero now and superheroes must fight on first meeting.

As that's happening someone shows up to help Jimmy Olsen report the event: Clark Kent. (I'm going to call this one Mystery Clark.) Everyone is profoundly confused that Mystery Kent is there, because apparently Kent being Superman was outed to the public and everyone saw Supes die. But no time for that: the thing that was stolen by the crooks? Doomsday. End of issue.

I can't tell you how happy I am to see Dan Jurgens name on the front of this book. An OG writer for Superman, having written the book for a long time and was the one behind the entire Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen arcs, he also created Booster Gold, who I love. His pre-New 52 Booster Gold solo book is pure perfection...at least until Keith Griffin took over and ruined it. *sigh*

The art here, by Patrick Zircher and Tomeu Morey, is also incredible. From the cover to the page to page illustrations, this comic is just a treat. The issue manages to put in so many story hooks, from Mystery Kent to Doomsday's return to whoever masterminded his release, while still being engrossing the entire time.

Action Comics #957: A

It's odd. Even though I've defended Aquaman as a character for many years now, I've never read any of his solo titles. In fact, I've barely seen him in any comics. His appearances in Blackest Night, Tower of Babel, and other minor roles in larger stories are about the most I've seen of him in his original medium.

Let me tell you, this issue made me regret not reading sooner. There are a lot of ways to cast Aquaman as a character: him as a superhero, him as a warrior, etc. I quite love the angle this series is going for: Aquaman as King Arthur Curry, ruler of Atlantis and all the ocean.

As someone who is only half Atlantean and half Surface-born, Aquaman is someone constantly pitted between two extremes. Many of his people despise him for trying to make peace and open trade with the other human nations on Earth. Most humans just know he's on the Justice League, and that he talks to fish (which the comic goes to great lengths to explain that he does, in fact, not), but those who pay more attention are unnerved that the leader of a foreign power is on America's superhero team, especially one who's nation has a history of aggression with the United States.

Arthur's fiance, Mera, is there to help him as best she can, supporting his positions and defending him against others, but privately she doesn't agree in the slightest. She wants Atlantis to be an isolationist state, like it used to be. For a prologue, there isn't a lot of Aquaman as a person in this issue, but his dinner with Mera does humanize him a lot, and their relationship is great. They don't have to agree with each other about everything, they love each other and support one another. Though the fact that Mera is giving up publically on her political opinion for Arthur's sake is a little misogynist.

If I had to mention a flaw, it would be that Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy, and Gabe Elteab's art isn't really my cup of tea. Sometimes it works well, but other times the characters are a little too sharp-edged for my taste. Still, Dan Abnett's writing really sold me on this book, and I really look forward to what comes next with Aquaman.

Aquaman Rebirth #1: B+

Okay, if you thought Action Comics #957 made me happy, you have no idea. Basic idea: Azrael, religious Gotham vigilante, is killed by someone who looks like Batman, and while Batman is investigating he finds a drone watching him. They're watching every vigilante in Gotham, and to keep them safe he needs to bring them together.

First he goes to Batwoman, Katherine Kane, his cousin through his mother. She's ex-military, kicked out for being a lesbian, and while she trusts her father (a general in the military) enough for him to know she's a costumed crime-fighter, they're still having a rocky relationship. She wants him to rejoin the military under his command, but for now it looks like she'll be working as Batman's partner on training this new team.

Next is The Spoiler, Stephanie Brown, brilliant mind and excellent gymnist. Her father is the villain Cluemaster, and after working against him she's started taking on larger targets. She's currently dating Red Robin, Tim Drake, Batma's ex-partner and the World's Greatest Detective. (Seriously.)

With both of them comes Orphan, Cassandra Cain, daughter of a world-class assassin who raised her through violence to the point where she barely understands verbal language but is the ultimate master of body language. Last, there's Clayface, Basil Karlo, a villain who has appeared in multiple Batman adaptations. The guy's made of clay and basically a monster now, but once he was a handsome, talented actor, and more than anything he just wants that back.

Batman and Batwoman bring them together for Boot Camp, and the comic ends with the reveal that the enemy here is an army of Batmen. This comic is glorious. To be fair, as a huge fan of Cassandra Cain's solo run on Batgirl, which featured The Spoiler quite heavily, the cast here is a big part of why, but it's also just so damn good.

The art by Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, and Adriano Lucas is great, really drawing the reader into the story as it unfolds. James Tynion IV's story is nothing to sneeze at either: the cast is explained for anyone not aware of who they were and almost all of them are given relevant plot hooks. Cassandra and Stephanie miss out on those for now, but they're engaging enough characters that it doesn't affect the book negatively. I'm sorry that I'm gushing so much, but I just love this comic up and down, forwards and backwards.

Detective Comics #934: A+

How can I not love The Flash? The speed, the Rogues, the Flash Rings, it's all silly and amazing. This issue, written by Joshua Williamson, starts with Barry working a crime scene that is suspiciously similar to the death of his mother. His boss tries to convince him to step away from the case, let someone who has less of a personal stake work it, but before he can consider it Barry sees visions of three speedsters: Kid Flash, an unknown speedster is white, and Professor Zoom. It's unclear where in the timeline these visions come from, but they freak Barry out.

From there he talks with his dad a little, pulls Wally West back into reality, then goes to see Batman, so they can investigate the Flashpoint retcon together. Just before the issue ends, we cut back to the crime scene to find out the husband confessed, as the cops talk about how Barry makes mistakes sometimes...and as a familiar sinister speedster appears for a second.

The story here is good, if a little unfocused. Instead of having one definitive plot it bounces around to different ideas, some of which are really interesting, others of which are not. Luckily it's supported by Carmine Di Giandomenico and Ivan Plascencia's art, which is great for setting up the mood of the issue, which is fairly somber for a Flash story.

It's clear that the status quo here is quite similar to that of the CW's The Flash, in that they're both similar to Geoff John's preferred Flash status quo. It's not bad or anything, but I think I've seen a little too much CSI Barry Allen tries to manage life as a speedster a little too often. Still, the hooks are good enough and it's great at introducing newcomers to the superhero life in Central City.

The Flash Rebirth #1: B

Like Aquaman, Wonder Woman is a character who I've always been supportive of, but rarely read. Well, nothing makes me want to pick up a book like seeing Greg Rucka's name as a writing credit. One of the writers behind the weekly series 52, the guy is an excellent wordsmith and storycrafter, and I'm happy to see he has taken up the pen for the first Superheroine once again.

The thing I like the most about this issue is it's simplicity. Wonder Woman has noticed, as she ponders her current situation and her past, how contradictory it is. She is able to remember both of her origin stories, pre and post New 52. Part of her, the part that has lived through the New 52 storylines, which apparently had her become the Greek God of War, is struggling with her original identity, as the icon of Truth.

To figure out what's happening, she uses her Lasso of Truth on herself and asks herself who she is. The answers seem obvious at first...until she speaks aloud that she has been deceived. Now Wonder Woman is aware that so much of what has seemingly happened to her lately is completely impossible, and is on a quest to discover the truth.

What really works here is that it's not only a focused story, but it's also focused on Wonder Woman's character. She's always been a very thoughtful hero, remaining silent at important points to consider her position and her options, so giving her this issue of self-reflection works very well.

The comic also clarifies that the series will alternate between some version of her past for one week and a present storyline on the other. It's a great way to reintroduce the character to newer fans and to give new, amazing storylines for longtime readers.

The only negative thing I have to say is that the art, made by Matthew Clark, Liam Sharp, Sean Parsons, Jeremy Colwell, and Laura Martin, seems inconsistent at times and never really completely matches the level of quality in the writing. Nonetheless, this is a great issue and I'm excited to see what happens, both in this series on others, in the future. Join me next week for some actual #1 issues, and the return of a truly titanic superhero team.

#dc #comic #actioncomics #superman #aquaman #detectivecomics #batman #flash #wonderwoman #wednesday