Rebirth Wednesday-Week 3

I am Gotham: Part One (Written by Tom King with art by David Finch, Matt Banning, and Jordie Bellaire)

As much as I love doing Rebirth Wednesday, the fact that I do it alphabetically means I have to do Batman's solo first every other week. And that wouldn't be an issue...if it wasn't so boring. Well, maybe not boring exactly, but it's far from the cream of the crop as far as Rebirth comics are concerned.

Batman #1 involves a plane being hit by one of Kobra's missiles that they stole from the US Government, so Batman has to manually try to save the plane, ready to sacrifice his own life in the process. It turns out that's unnecessary, however, as there are two new heroes in town: Gotham and Gotham Girl, each of whom has a typical "Flying Brick" power-set.

I do have to admit that this issue is better on the second read through. While I still feel the content is a little anemic and Duke Thomas could really use some character focus so I know who the hell he is, the thematic set up here is genuinely well done. There's a brief scene on the crashing plane where a passenger is freaking out, blaming the city itself for their situation. The city of Gotham has really gotten it's own character over the years, and this scene helped reinforce the idea that it's a malevolent, violent place, despite Batman's best efforts.

I'm really split on the scene where Batman thinks he's going to die, and gives Alfred his last instructions. On the one bat-hand, it's genuinely touching and I always like seeing Bruce's more human side. On the other, Batman does so much insane bat-guano and lives that I feel like his succumbing to death here is a little out of character. In any other story, he would have an exact tool made for this exact situation that saves the plane and lets him get away. Still, it was a better issue than it's Rebirth preview.

Batman #1: C+

The End (Written by Benjamin Percy and Drawn by Otto Schmidt)

There are good ways to write an opening issue of a series, and great ways to write them. This issue is of the latter. The issue introduces the reader very naturally to Henry, Oliver's tech guy, and Emi, his little sister who he's been raising for a year now. His relationship with Black Canary grows deeper and more intimate as they investigate the Underground Men.

But the clues lead him to Queen Industries, his company, his father's company, and when he asks the wrong questions Oliver Queen finds himself full of arrows in his own apartment, attacked by Emi and her mother, Shado.

This issue is excellently composed, the first half easing you into the status quo only for the latter half to shatter it. The art is still absolutely gorgeous, and Queen himself is still a likable character willing to preach his own gospel, even if the other characters and some readers might disagree with it.

I wish I had more to say about this issue except that it's a thrilling read from cover to cover, and I implore everyone reading to pick it up.

Green Arrow #1: A+

Rage Planet, Part 1 (Written by Sam Humphries with art by Robson Rocha, Jay Leisten, and Blond)

Things are not looking good for Earth. The rookie Green Lanterns check out an illegal space alien only to find a junkie with a shotgun hiding a dead alien corpse and more than a dozen dead humans. Despite Jessica's insistence they stop their search and call the police, only for a hidden tower of rage to explode and ignite the rage of people nearby.

In their normal lives, Simon is being harassed by Amanda Waller for doing his job, despite the fact that the charges against him were false in the first place. Jessica is having panic attacks at the supermarket, shopping with her sister.

It turns out Simon has a heretofore unknown ability called Emerald Sight that gives him brief glimpses of the future, and it doesn't look good. At the same time, people erupt in rage all over the supermarket, and Atrocitus, leader of the Red Lantern Corps, is planning to save his weakening force by corrupting Earth with rage.

It's good to see Jessica proven right and Simon admitting it, but he was still a bit dickish this issue. The fact that he can apparently heal people and now gets visions of the future too, both features never before seen with a green lantern ring, is a little headscratching. Do they think giving a less likable character cool new powers will make him more likable? Because that's a dumb idea.

Some of the framework, storywise, is a little wonky in this issue, but it's still a decent first step in a larger story, one I'm interested enough in to want to keep reading.

Green Lanterns #1: B

Son of Superman, Part One (Written by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason. Art by Mick Gray and John Kalisz)

While Action Comics is focusing on Superman's hero stuff in Metropolis, the boy in blue's solo series is more about his family life, with a specific emphasis on his son, Jonathan. He's still unsure on his powers, and while he wants to use them he's also afraid of the world his dad is a part of.

Jonathan, in a moment of weakness, uses his heat vision in a destructive way that costs him the live of a pet, at it's clearly a traumatizing moment for the kid. It gives him enough self-doubt and fear that he starts a fight with his dad at dinner, upset that they have to keep so much of their lives a secret from others.

After being sent upstairs to his room, he watches as his father meets with Batman and Wonder Woman, who notice his voyeurism in one of the creepiest panels I've ever seen in a comic book. The issue ends with Clark telling his son that they need to talk.

This is an odd issue, because there's really not much to it, really, but it feels like it has more to it than other lighter issues. It's a good setting up of the family dynamic in the 'Smith' household, and it gives you a good sense of Jonathan as a kid. He's happy to be what he is, of who his parents are, but it also scares him. Not a great first issue, but a decent starter nonetheless.

Superman #1: B

(Written by Dan Abnett and drawn by Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, and Andrew Dalhouse)

The fact that this is a monthly, not biweekly series, is a crime. Real talk here, the reason I'm doing this at all is because of this comic. I was buying random series from Rebirth because I'd heard the buzz, and I love the Titans, so I tried this out. It made me cry. I haven't cried from reading a superhero comic in...a while. A long while. This comic was so good I knew I had to read all of Rebirth, every series.

After the events of DC Universe Rebirth #1, Wally goes to find his best friends, The Titans. Sadly, none of them remember him, and a fight starts as they attack this mysterious intruder. Luckily, when any of them make physical contact with him, the Speed Force sparks their memories of him back into their minds, showing the reader a small scene of their past. Once they've all remembered, they decide to work together to find what has done this to their universe, what has shattered their memories and their friendship.

This issue is really just one scene, but it's an amazing one. Reading as Wally reconnects with all his old friends, one by one, is great, and the scenes from the past are excellent. The group hug? Tearjerker. I love this team, I love how Dan Abnett wrote them, I'm sold.

The Titans Rebirth #1: A+

Next week doesn't hold any more Rebirth issues, but it does continue where we left off last week, which means more incredible stuff is coming. See you all next time!

#dc #comic #batman #greenarrow #greenlanterns #superman #titans #wednesday