SERIES IN REVIEW: Batman #1-3 (THE NEW 52)

WRITER: Scott Snyder

PENCILLER: Greg Capullo

INKER: Jonathan Glapion

COLORIST: FCO Plascencia

Before getting on with the review, lemme ask you something: 

Guess what happens when one of the most versatile comic book writer of 21^st century collaborates with one of the most stylistic and awesome artist on a major DC title? 

The answer's easy - the current BATMAN reboot happens.

HISTORY

One fine day, while surfing the net, I just came across a piece of news that shook me or maybe it shook my room, or maybe the world might have shook with the shakes inside the bodies of comic fans. The column read- DC Reboot

From what I remember the DC guys saying that following the 'Flashpoint' crossover, all the DC titles along with some new ones (totaling up to 52), will be relaunched from September 2011.

Like many others I too was both sad and extremely excited at the same time. So the only thing I could do at that time was hoping for the new ones to be as good as the it's predecessors. And on that point, I gotta say, I was not disappointed. Here's a review of one of my favorite character's relaunched comic. 

NEW COMICS: Zero-day bullet reviews - Avengers X-Sanction/The Ray/The Strain

Welcome Addicts to the inaugural week-in-review from ComicAddicts.com - a space we are planning to bring you a selection of the comics released that week in short, quick and easy reviews to help you see keep track of whats good and bad with each Wednesdays releases!

This week we kick-off our reviewing with review by Anubhav and Akshay, our comic obsessed work-horses who brought you the blow-by-blow every week for the DC Comics "New 52" releases. 

First out of the gate, the hotly anticipated Avengers: X-Sanction by superstar creative duo, Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinessas reviewed by Anubhav Sharma

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Avengers X-Sanction

Ah Loeb, you make me sad.

Avengers: X-Sanction reunites the Jeph Loeb – Ed McGuiness creative duo that first brought us the Red Hulk (a.k.a "Rulk"). And its Déjà vu all over again. It’s all back: mindless smashing, every character who is not the protagonist is dumbed down, people acting out of character all over the place. This certainly does not fit well with Loeb’s earlier amazing work. Continuity errors aside (I thought Radioactive Man was a good guy now?!), and despite some unexpectedly good character work in the future sequence, this series does look like something you can miss, even if you’re looking forward to Avengers vs. X-Men. There is some extremely horrible dialogue involved, which, along with out and out bad pacing, gives the reader the feeling of nothing really happening throughout the issue. I’ve never been a very big fan of Ed McGuiness’ art, but in some ways, it is the almost-saving grace of the book with some big screen action and things blowing up.

As a book I was really hoping to like, a big disappointment.

Verdict: 5.2/10

Next up we have a double review (in keeping with the New 52 reviews) of DC's reinvention of The Ray:

Flashpoint & The New 52

Today, when most of the #2 issues of the DC Universe 'event' (or is it the DC Universe now?) called the 'New 52' have been released, I take a fond look back - at Flashpoint and the 1st issues of what will, for better or worse - heralded as a period of change for the average comic reader.

Flashpoint worked for most people. Innovative concept, no? Heroes, villains, altered timelines, different people, same names - except it's all been done before. No, here I'm not talking about the popular Elseworlds moniker books (all of which were loads better than what DC gave us here), which stopped coming out a few years ago, I'm talking about another DC Universe event called Zero Hour: Crisis in Time which came out in 1994. While Crisis on Infinite Earths addressed the question of multiple universes (space), this shorter (5 issues) series took upon itself to rectify the time anomalies. Written and drawn by veteran (then!....and the guy's still writing/drawing a couple of titles in the new 52! Wotta man!) Dan Jurgens, also known as the guy who killed Superman, the series dealt with a mystery antagonist destroying the past, present and future of the DC Universe - the identity of the said figure was kept secret till the very end, and that presented perhaps the best character development for him ever! (No, for those of you who haven't read it, I'm not spoiling it for you, until I review it!) Suffice to say, Flashpoint is 2/3rds Zero Hour.

Barry Allen is no longer the Flash. In fact, the world now doesn't have a Flash (if this sounds familiar, it's because Geoff Johns did it before in the beginning of his acclaimed Flash run, in a story titled Wonderland), the world is on the brink of war between Atlantis & Themyscira and there is no Superman. Barry Allen must figure out why all of it went to hell....before it gets too late. He's not without help, though - Batman is helping him, but this Batman isn't Bruce Wayne! (My rules - no spoilers for something that's not older than 5 years)

A lot of ground to cover in 5 issues, with splendid art by Andy Kubert and classic character moments by Geoff Johns - the scene with Barry and his mother is worth the full price of admission. But that, unfortunately, isn't enough to salvage this title - it's not that it's all bad, just that it's nothing we haven't seen before. In fact, a few of the 3 issue tie ins offer better stories - especially Batman: Knight of Vengeance & Secret Seven.

On to the new 52 - as an event, I really applaud the guys over at DC for taking this daring step - but it worked out so so for me. My top 5 picks:

Batman: Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo have hit it out of the park this time. Conspiracy theories aren't new in comics, but I really applaud the people who have dealt with colossal revelations and taken it forward breaking all the stops - people like Ed Brubaker (Captain America), Dan Jurgens (Zero Hour), Jim Starlin (Batman: A Death in the Family), Alan Moore (Batman: The Killing Joke) and Judd Winick (Batman: Under the Hood). I'm stunned, and I'll be back for more!

DC New 52 Final week REVIEWS! Hardly the end!

And so we come to it folks... the final week of #1's... (at least the main titles!) and what a crazy month it's been! Some fantastic titles, we've been shocked, amused, horrified, saddened, fascinated and so much more over these 52 titles and its been a total blast reading and reviewing them all for you guys!

Granted I'm tired enough to almost never read a comic again - almost I said! - but it feels well worth it for our fellow comic addicts out there.

We all hope you enjoyed this rundown the last few weeks and stick around, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming before you know it, but will continue to cover your new favourite DC titles as they come out.

Share your likes and dislikes kids, let us know what you want to hear more about and we'll mark of the release dates on our calenders just for you.

Now sit back and enjoy this finale round of #1's reviewed! (AND AS ALWAYS, CLICK FOR NICE BIG VERSIONS OF THE COVERS!!)

All-Star Western

(Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray, Drawn by Moritat)

Akshay (Wayfarer Score: 10/10)

In a lot of ways I was expecting exceptional things from this book, especially given my love for the lead character – Jonah Hex – and that the creative team writing it were masters with his stories. And man do they deliver! Bringing a high-plains drifter style bounty hunter with a penchant for always getting his man and extreme violence – all while keeping to his own unique moral code – to a new, gritty and crazy place like Gotham City (in its early days) has been handled brilliantly! Toss in a weird serial-killer mystery, no shortage of action and intrigue or character exploration and an awesome ending to boot makes this yet another of the best of the reboot in my view! And honestly, the art is so damn good and suitable to the feel and narrative that I almost didnt realise how little I was thinking about it, flowing organically with the tale until certain things just catch your eye!

Anubhav (Score 8.1/10)

This being my first exposure to Jonah Hex, it definitely makes me wanna read the back issues. There’s a solid introduction to Jonah’s no-nonsense attitude. Also welcome is his team up, with Amadeus Arkham, which roots the story firmly in DC (& Gotham City) continuity. Moritat and his art team give us a splendid noir look for the book, and shows great variety throughout.

DCnU Reviews - Round 4! WRITE!

Another week of madness begins folks! Come share the adventure, the action, the changes and the unchanged – see what we thought of this new batch of DC goodness (and the not so good) and let us know what you thought of the books you like or disliked! (And don't forget, all images are clickable high-res!) 
And with that said, no more time to waste, lets get to it and bring you some reviews:

Batman 
(Written by Scott Snyder, Drawn by Greg Capullo)

Akshay (Wayfarer Score: 9/10)

Scott Snyder once again shows why he is one of the most prominent rising stars in comic writing today with his migration from a fantastic run on Detective Comics to this new Batman #1. We are given a great dose of classic Batman-ness as the Dark Knight Detective does exactly what that name implies, he is the quintessential detective, hero and the force of nature hidden in the shadows. Spectacular art by Capullo just makes this all that much more a joy to read and the ease with which the existing Batman backstory is just taken and eased into the story (like the three Robins!) and such, it shows a world of promise.

Anubhav (Score 10/10)

Personally, this was easily the most awaited title of the new 52. And boy did it deliver or what. Scott Snyder, after his critically adored run on Detective Comics, has given us yet another excellent issue. The tone is similar to that run, with the personification of Gotham as a living entity, maintaining its ecosystem between the good and the bad. It’s this grasp on both the city and the characters that inhabit it that makes Snyder one of the best writers to ever write Batman. There’s a couple of moments, including the ending, that make you sit up and despite the sheer absurdity of both, make you consider the possibilities. If you were disappointed on not getting Francavile or Jock on art for this issue, don’t be, because Greg Capullo brings his A-game to the table, with amazing action coupled with superb and flawless character work. Read it ASAP if you haven’t already. If you have, read it again.

DC's new 52! Week 3-in-double-review!!

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Batman and Robin

(Written by Peter J. Tomasi, Drawn by Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray)

Akshay (Wayfarer Score: 7/10)

One of the bigger name titles starts off this week – an ongoing series being renumbered to a new volume, unlike many of the entirely new titles in this DC reboot. This was a title I was both anticipating but also solidly weary about. Kick-started previously by Grant Morrison to bring the world the Dick-Damian version of the Dynamic Duo, this new series has a lot to live up to and more so being that it is also the first real time given to the Wayne father-son dynamic since Damien first being introduced. It was this dynamic and the direction Bruce's character takes that makes me hopeful for this as a series/book, because it was the characters and their relationship that marked the awesomeness of the original series. The friction between the two leads was well portrayed and I was glad to see it touch on the Batman Inc. part of things but I don't much care for what I see of the villain here. The art was good and went well with the story but nothing spectacular. Still has a lot of potential, but as a first issue, I would say only 'good'.

Anubhav (Score 9.0/10)

God Damian Wayne has got to be the awesomest Robin yet. Peter Tomasi gives us a very good issue illustrating the Father-Son relationship between Bruce and Damain and moving Batman’s character plenty of leaps forward by showing him finally looking ahead to the future instead of the past, while Damian debates the need for looking back to the fateful day in Bruce’s childhood repeatedly. Some solid character interactions in the backdrop of an engaging plot makes this issue a total win. Patrick Gleason delivers just the right amount of Noir required in the book, in a way that the art doesn’t distract readers too much from the characterisations.

DCnU Week 2-in-review! All 13 titles!

Welcome ladies and gent's to Comic Addicts special rundown that we've created just for all you good folks out there!
We have for you burst reviews of all the new DC #1's out this week from two very different points of view - one an old-hand DC reader familiar with it all, the other a Marvel fan relatively new to the DCU a.k.a the kind of fan DC is trying to attract with the reboot.
Will DC's reboot gel with new fans? Will old fans be offended? Will the creative teams do the books justice? Who's review will you agree with? Hell, will the reviewers agree on anything? Keep reading to find out!
And of course - all images are good resolution and can be clicked on for nice BIG versions!

Action Comics (Written by Grant Morrison, art by Rags Morales)

Akshay (Wayfarer Score: 10/10)

Right off the bat, let me say this is my favourite book out of all I've read so far and its done nothing but cement my opinion that Grant really, truly loves and knows this character and will really do this new incarnation justice. Great story, well told and well paced with a fantastic finale to the issue and what an opener for #2! I was in awe! Even Lex is awesome here in his young and oh-so-aggravating way. This is Superman the way he should be, as a young and wayward man who has no family ties, no real home and is just a decent person at his core – albiet idealistic; watching him wanting to kick ass and have fun swatting away bullets and such, great fun!.  So deeply reminiscent of the original superman from his earliest days before he was rebooted a few decades later.

The only weakness was in the art – overall Rags has got a great feel for this and he seems to transfer Grants energy well from script to page, but there are inconsistencies in the facial designs and such here and there, hopefully he can improve on that over the issues ahead.

I'm definitely going to be following this!

Anubhav - Score : 9.1/10

So yeah, looks like Morrison has another masterpiece coming. After his stellar Batman run, Grant Morrison has now shifted his focus to re-establishing the early long-jumping-instead-of-flying part of the Man of Steel’s career. This is the Superman everyone always wanted : Vulnerable and not afraid to kick ass. Master storyteller that he is, Morrison has established the main cast and their relationships with both Superman and Clark perfectly in this issue, a list which includes General and Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Lex Luthor. The art by Rags Morales finds just the right blend between good action and excellent character depiction. Particularly worth a mention is his work on depicting a younger Clark Kent as well as his alter ego. Solid debut issue, all in all.

And so it begins: JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 (2011) REVIEW!

Its here folks! At last after all the hype and chaos that has been the news of DC reinventing itself and the madness of Flashpoint that sees its finale issue out this week, we see the first glimpse of the New DC Universe!

Apologies for the delayed post but I felt that waiting for a chance to read this and get the earliest possible review out to you all was worth delaying and postponing the scheduled post for today... ok, ok, you caught me and I really, really wanted to read it!

And for your consideration we here at Comic Addicts bring to you the all the gory details about the new face of the iconic names we have all grown up with and love.

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Today we start with the first book out the starting gate: Justice League #1.

This opening salvo is written by recent DC architect for the Green Lantern franchise, Geoff Johns, a brand which he took from vague old title to the among the most popular and strong brands in the entire DCU line, except perhaps the Batman family. Johns is also the brains behind "Blackest Night", "Brightest Day" and "Flashpoint" among many others.
And of course on art duties we have legendary comic creator Jim Lee who has been akin to a god for comic fans and was the architect and boss-man behind the awesome Wildstorm comics and co-founder over at Image.

And so now we come to a crossroads - the old DCU which we all had our own loves and hates with is being effectively put to a halt, much like the famous "Crisis on Infinite Earth" tried to do all those decades ago but only partially managed. This time an entirely new DC Universe is being brought to life with only selective connections to the past and all of that molded to fit this new Universe.
Is it worth it? Is this really a good and fresh start? Have DC shot themselves completely in the foot? Will this bring DC back to the greatness it once had and give new life to beloved characters? Lets find out together shall we?

A DCnU view - Deciphering DC

by Aalok Joshi

Hey, Welcome back to another edition of deciphering DC. Today, I try to make sense of the reboot and actually tell you why the DC reboot is good for you. Yes, you heard that right. And I also stress on the parts that might go awry, or just be bad.

Nish's Notepad: Do the DCU! Part I

Hola People! Missed me? Ah, I know you did. So, I'm Back! (drumrolls). This week, I'm not reviewing a particular comic book, but will be giving my opinion on the upcoming DCnU titles. This week I'm going to take on my top 10 titles about Squads. They're arranged alphabetically, not rank-wise! :) And yes, the images are in super high quality. So, feel free to click on 'em to view the covers in HQP (Highest Quality Possible) :D!