Rebirth Wednesday-Week 5

The Drowning Part Two: Full Circle (Written by Dan Abnett with art by Scot Eaton, Wayne Faucher, and Gabe Eltaeb)

What's this? Didn't I cover Aquaman #1 last week? Yeah, well, they switched his biweekly schedule so we get two issues in a row. And I could not be more grateful for that.

Black Manta has sabotaged the opening of Aquaman's embassy, killing eight people and causing an international incident. But his work isn't over. Black Manta's reason for his hatred of the King of the Seven Seas is shown, and he won't rest until he's killed his mortal foe.

This issue is such a beautiful showcase of Arthur Curry's character. He's a fierce warrior, intelligent, and compassionate to an extent I've never seen in the character before. He sees the cycle of vengeance going on with him and Black Manta, and he refuses to let it continue. His argument against vengeance here is so gorgeous that I want the panels framed on my wall.

As far as I'm aware this is the first time Black Manta has been given a reason for his hatred of Aquaman, though that might just be my ignorance of Aquaman mythology. Still, it feels organic and his unrelenting assault against Aquaman has always been his most interesting quality as a villain.

All of that and the issue continues the theme of tension between ocean and surface while ending on a foreboding note that the rest of the arc will run with. Amazing job.

Aquaman #2: A

I Am Gotham: Part Two (Written by Tom King, Art by David Finch, Matt Banning, Danny Miki, and Jordie Bellaire)

Okay, before I actually start, really? Gotham's Statue of Justice? Really? Really. Really?

Strange things are happening in Gotham City. I mean, besides two new heroes with Flying Brick powers calling themselves Gotham and Gotham Girl. People are committing crimes and then suicide, only mentioning a fear of the Monster Men. Batman is trying to get the new heroes up to his standard, and someone else is trying to save Gotham City, though it seems their methods are causing more harm than good...

This issue isn't bad, but not much happens. There's a great scene with Gordan, a funny line from Alfred, an appearance by Solomon Grundy...and that's basically it. I understand this is a smaller part of a larger arc, but it's fairly anemic on it's own.

Still, at least it's fairly clear where the arc is going. Batman is a little too accepting of these new heroes, I'd expect him to be a little more paranoid, but it's nice seeing that mentor side to him. His near death from the first issue is also having a issue on him, which is good continuity but a little mopey for the Bat. Still it's better than the last issue.

Batman #2: B-

Erasure (Written by Benjamin Percy and Drawn by Otto Schmidt)

Oliver Queen is dead. At least, that's what they're reporting on the news: dead and a suspect for the murder of his secretary, his blood found with drugs and booze on his boat, abandoned. The truth? He was targeted by Shado, mother of his younger sister Emi, for digging too deep into his own company.

Saved by a friend, Oliver has no ID, no money, and seemingly no friends. Black Widow is trying to investigate on her own, and his old pal Diggle has been made aware of the attack and is on his way. But Olly doesn't know that. The man who saved his life? Won't do his hacking work for him, considering Oliver can't pay him. The only one Oliver knows who can help...is Green Arrow.

If that description doesn't make it clear, I love this issue. Once again the art is gorgeous and the writing is sharp and poignant. The issue walks the line between humor and tragedy, with more emphasis on the latter, but those moment of levity are genuinely funny and help provide a little relief in this dark time. The introduction to the audience of John Diggle, a character created originally by the show Arrow, shows immediately his profession and what his relationship to Queen is at the moment. Nothing else to say but this series is still amazing.

Green Arrow #2: A

Rage Planet: Part Two (Written by Sam Humphries, Art by Robson Rocha, Jay Leisten, and Blond)

Red Lanterns are infecting humans with rage, including Jessica's sister. More insight into her character is shown, as she tries to free Sara from the infection. Simon, her partner, wants her to see the bigger picture so they can stop this at the source.

I cannot describe how much this issue works and doesn't work at the same time. The parts of the story focusing on Jessica Cruz are amazing, making her stand out as a Green Lantern character and as a superhero in general. If the whole issue was in that style, I would love this book.

Sadly, Simon Baz is still an unlikable jackass. What's tragic is that he doesn't need to be. There's a good scene here where he thinks to himself about how he knows what Jessica is going through, that the first week as a Lantern is the toughest, but he never puts those thoughts into action. Instead he's just an asshole.

As I believe I said before, the idea of partnering her up with a hot-headed, somewhat arrogant guy with slightly more experience than her isn't bad, but when he uses 90% of his dialogue to demean her and talk down to her he doesn't come off as likable or interesting.

Also, and this literally just occurred to me, this arc is structured a little poorly. After the reveal of the Red Lanterns and Atrocitus at the end of last issue, he explains stuff about him and his corps at the beginning, and it's clear what he's after. That's fine, I suppose, but I feel like waiting a little longer to introduce him and his plan would have worked better.

The issue plays a little with how Jessica's insecurities are compounded when her sister, infected by rage, says all the worst things to her, but I feel like they could have run with this for the whole issue. Instead of Simon appearing and being Captain Asshat, he could be dealing with rage-infected people he knows whose latent racism against Muslims is brought out, causing tension there. But no, let's scale expectations back I guess. The issue isn't bad, but it's far from great.

Green Lanterns #2: B-

Fear the Reaper (Written by Bryan Hitch with Art by Daniel Henriques, Scott Hanna, and Alex Sinclair)

Besides the incredible cartoon series Justice League and JLU: Justice League: Unlimited, I'm not as familiar with DC's most famous superhero team as I'd like to be. I've read the now-classic Tower of Babel storyline, and the first 20 or so issues of New 52 Justice League, but that's about it. I liked the former fine, and the latter meandered between good to mediocre depending on the storyline, and it annoyed me how it went right from arc to arc with time skips. I prefer team books to have character development issues/scenes to actually show the team bonding and stuff, not just go from fight to fight. So, how does the Rebirth Justice League stack up?

Giant alien thing has attacked Earth, is enslaving humans. Justice League fights it. BAM. It leaves. The end.

Okay, it's a little more complicated than that. Superman is finally joining the League, despite the reservations both sides have with the idea. Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz are also struggling to fit in on the team, who look at them as rookies. Also something bad is coming to Earth, I guess.

If it isn't clear, I was bored to tears. The monster is a Reaper that harvests life forms. Really? Why hasn't Bioware sued? The action is rote, the art ranges from okay to really awkward, and the ending group shot feels like Steven Moffat at his worst.

I do like the hints of chemistry between Jessica and Barry Allen, and the talks about Superman joining or not were good on both sides. But those positive aspects don't do much when the base story is so dull.

Justice League Rebirth #1: C+

Clark takes his son to save a nuclear sub, fight a giant squid, and grow closer through the magic of telling your father the truth. Things are looking up for the Kents, but when Jonathan falls suffers a very human injury, questions are raised about the extent and nature of the young boy’s powers, questions that can only be answered by the Kryptonian technology in the Fortress of Solitude. Only one problem: the Eradicator has just constituted a body for himself there.

I’m amazed at how much is packed into this one issue, and I say that in the best way possible. The arctic actions scene provides a great establishing scene for Jonathan, and the more ordinary danger he faces later on rings truer than it could otherwise have, as it felt like the issue was starting to wind down after that big scene.

The return of the Eradicator is a nice hint of what’s to come, though it does make me laugh at how much nostalgia there seems to be for Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen. Don’t get me wrong, I like both storylines quite a bit, but that 20-year nostalgia filter is definitely hitting the 90’s now. How long until Marvel Studios does a live-action Clone Saga movie? (That is a joke, Marvel, please, please do not do that.)

This issue has good action, good ch aracter work, and good set-up, so I’m glad to say it’s a good read. Next week will bring us two new Rebirth issues as well a hits-the-ground running #1 issue, one also featuring a Superman…though not one from America.

Superman #2: B+

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