Rebirth Wednesday-Week 6

Path of Doom: Part Three (Written by Dan Jurgens, with Art by Tyler Kirkham and Arif Prianto)

The fight continues. Lois and Jon watch from home, the mother trying to help him feel better without letting him know that the monster his father is fighting has already killed him once before. Through her narration, a good recap of the Death of Superman story is given to new readers, but Jon isn't satisfied with how little information his mother is giving him.

Luthor is saved from Doomsday by Clark, after which Lex uses a Motherbox to restore his armor to fighting form, and rejoins the fight. Mystery Kent refuses to leave the scene, and even when he and Clark are alone together he insists that he is Clark Kent, and has never been Superman, seeming just as confused about this as Clark is.

All throughout this, Superman is doing his best to stop Doomsday, but finds the beast is just as unstoppable as ever, and accidentally causes enormous damage to Metropolis in his bid to end the threat: to no avail.

This issue is quite good, mostly focusing the narrative on the mother-son relationship and the mystery of Mystery Kent, both of which carry the general storyline forward. Otherwise, it's mostly a big fight. A cool big fight, but a big fight nonetheless.

Action Comics #959: B+

Rise of the Batmen Part Three: Army of Shadows (Written by James Tynion IV, Drawn by Alvaro Martinez, Paul Fernandez, and Brad Anderson)

The Batman has fallen, taken down by an army replicating his skillset and iconography. Batwoman's in charge now, and she's playing by her rules: she calls in the team and her father. One of those was the wrong choice.

Both Kate and her father were inspired by their relative, but in very different ways. He wants her to join her, to be a part of something greater again. Kate refuses his hand, and joins her team in a retreat, ready to fight back against an army.

This issue is pure excellence. It focuses almost entirely on Kate's character, opening with a great scene with her and Rene Montoya, her ex-girlfriend. This story is about what kind of person Kate is, and if you can pay close attention it's about a struggle between Kate's independence and self-doubt, one that she's been dealing with all her life. Now is the time for her to choose one side or the other: lead or follow.

Not only that, the issue packs in twists and turns for the narrative, with lots of small amazing character moments for Orphan and Red Robin. Honestly, reading this gives me more joy than 99% of other media I consume. So excited for next issue.

Detective Comics #936: A+

Forged (Written by Robert Venditti, with Art by Ethan van Sciver and Jason Wright)

Of all the series that had a lot of catching up to do for me with it's Rebirth issue, it was Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps. I haven't caught up on Hal's storylines in...almost ten years, I think.

Well, apparently Hal became leader of the Green Lantern Corps, only for the universe to decide they didn't like the organization. Hal faked becoming a villain and stole some super-powerful forbidden tech made by Krona in order to take the fall for the Corps, but as he re-enters reality the Corps has disappeared, and the Sinestro Corps has officially become the new police force of the universe. Hal can't keep using his new gauntlet, however, as he feels himself slipping away. So he uses it to make a new ring, end of issue.

Okay, I'm going to be really honest right now: I don't really like Hal Jordan. I don't dislike the guy, he's okay, but he's really bland. At least John Stewart has some interesting elements in his backstory, Kyle is actually creative with his ring, and Guy is...the best GL ever. (Fight me IRL.)

Still, as not-excited as I am for another Hal series, it's the and the Green Lantern Corps part that interests me, as well as the storyline: Sinestro has won, he basically rules the universe now, but he's also really old for some reason. The Corps is in hiding, Ganthet is out of the picture, it's a dire situation. I want to see the Corps come together and kick some yellow ass, so I'm actually hesitantly enthused by this issue.

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps Rebirth #1: B+

Made in China: Part One (Written by Gene Luen Yang, with Art by Viktor Bogdanovic, Richard Friend, and Hi-Fi)

Diversity in Comics: It kinda sucks. Even with all the advances DC has tried to make over the last 30 years (some of which has produced the best superheroes of all time), the DC line-up is far less diverse than it's audience: in race, gender, sexuality, and ableness. Having heroes that people can relate to on a closer level is always a good thing, especially for groups who rarely find such heroes.

Enter Kong Kenan, a teenager in urban China with good looks, a strong physique, and a terrible personality. Kenan bullies a local overweight rich kid, and when that accidentally turns into throwing a soda at one of China's only supervillains, Kenan becomes famous in hours thanks to a cellphone video. Too bad his father doesn't give even a single cao, he's too busy being a conspiracy theorist, and he knows what kind of person his son really is.

Turns out, Kenan's mother died in a plane crash, the plane belonging to the bullied kid's family. Just as it seems there might be more to Kenan, a government official appears and offers him the chance of a lifetime: the chance to become Superman.

When I first heard of this series, I was interested, but as I started reading I was unprepared for how much of a jerkass Kenan is. I can see the seeds of what is likely a character arc towards becoming a decent person, but in the meantime the New Super-Man is a Super-Dick.

I'm really happy they tapped Yang, author of American Born Chinese, for this series. His writing draws in the reader's interest very well, and hands out information at the perfect pace that when the issue ends, you're starving for more. I'm excited to see where this series goes, and to see if Kenan stops being a douchenozzle.

New Super-Man #1: A

Nightwing Rebirth (Written by Tim Seeley, with Art by Yanick Paquette and Nathan Fairbairn)

For a while, I deluded myself into thinking my favorite Robin was Tim Drake. Oh, sure, the great detective is a fine hero, but there's no topping the original. Dick Grayson, also known as Robin, Nightwing, Batman, or Agent 37, has been a sidekick, a solo hero, a Titan, and a secret agent. And all throughout he's walked the line between seriousness and humor like it was a tightrope from his childhood.

Dick's time at Spyral, a spy organization he was part of for the lauded Grayson series I've never read, is at an end. It was fun. He apparently made friends, enemies, frenemies, and love interests. But now he's back to hang with Batman and Robin, his little brother Damian. Turns out the Parliament of Owls, successors of the Court of Owls, think they've recruited him by putting a bomb in Damian's head, but Nightwing already out-thought them on that and not only is it removed, but the Parliament has no clue. So he'll let them think they own Nightwing so he can take them down from the inside.

I cannot believe I'm saying this, but this comic actually made me like Damian Wayne. I didn't know it was possible. Seriously, him and Dick as siblings works super well, and it's a great way to show off his character.

If I had to point out a negative, it's that the comic spends a little too much time rapping up Grayson for my tastes, since I've never read that series and I barely understand who half of the characters from it are, and the scenes with them got a little too confusing for me. I'm someone who doesn't mind introducing people to series that throw lots of characters at you, but this issue didn't really do well at explaining who some of them were. There also wasn't enough Bruce/Dick quality time for me. Still, it's a good premise for a series and I'm happy to start it next time it comes around.

Nightwing Rebirth #1: B+

Lightning Strikes Twice Part Two: Thunderstruck (Written by Joshua Williamson with art by Carmine Di Giandomenico and Ivan Plascencia)

Now that there's another Speedster on the force, Barry starts training his friend in his new powers, while Iris tries investigating the baddies from last issue, The Black Hole. Turns out they're a group of ex-STAR labs scientists and guards who don't like being told they can't research the Speed Force, and after Flash and Heart work together to take down their kidnapping attempt of Iris, they let loose more Speed Force Lightning, giving Central City more speedsters than ever before.

I'll give the issue this: while it doesn't try to go for a thematic throughpoint like the first issue, it's focus on story and character momentum honestly works much better. It feels like a full issue, and definitely leaves the reader wanting more, which is always good.

This issue isn't really anything great, though. It's good, sure. It's hard to pin down exactly what isn't working, though if I had to name something it would be that the plot threads don't really jell together, at least not yet. Individually, Detective Heart, the Black Hole gang, Barry feeling overwhelmed with the life he's built, they're all fine storylines. But they're too big to share the same space, at least not without hampering the development of each other. Even if I wasn't doing this series I'd want to continue reading, but nonetheless I feel like there's room for growth with this story and with Barry himself.

The Flash #2: B+

Year One: Part One (Written by Greg Rucka, Drawn by Nicola Scott and Romulo Fajardo, Jr)

Two stories, told at the same time. One is the story of Diana, daughter of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. They live on an island, hidden from outside view by their patrons, the Gods of Mount Olympus. Most of the Amazons are women reborn after having been murdered by men. Diana is different. She doesn't look towards the sky, she looks toward the sea.

The other story is that of Steve Trevor, a young man in the American military. He's a nice man, one who quickly befriends others in the service. Steve is wise in a way few others are, and watches as his best friend finds love, marriage, and a child. Steve doesn't follow. Instead, both friends are sent overseas of military action, only for their plane to crash on Themyscira, island of the Amazons, Steve the only survivor.

I've seen Wonder Woman's origins told a number of times (though not in the new film, haven't seen that yet), but this is perhaps the most creative take on a classic story. Instead of having Steve come in as he crashes, Greg Rucka plays the two characters are deuteragonists, sharing the spotlight.

The main way he does this is through cutting between the characters, showing them at similar points in their lives, concurrently. It works to establish both of them as people who don't quite fit in where they are, and implies a connection deeper than that as well.

I also like the portrayal of the amazons more here than ever before. They're allowed to be seen as real people, not ancient person caricature's like they're often played as. They joke, they gossip, they look at the stars, or at the horizon. A great start to a great look at Wonder Woman's origin. Next Rebirth Wednesday, two more Rebirth issues arrive...whether I like it or not...

Wonder Woman #2: A

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