EB30 Nation – The RETURN of Scum to the Internet....

The other day I received an email announcing the return of "EB30," in the form of "EB30 Nation." 

(1) I have no idea why I'm on their email list. 

(2) Who knew or even cared that they were gone?

When I opened on the email – which I marked as spam – I was at once amused and frightened.  

There is a picture of Dan DiDio – who is easy on the eyes – holding a t-shirt with something that I can only describe as one of the walkers from Herschel's barn.  Chills ran down my spine....  I fear for Mr. DiDio – I worry he could have been bitten that walker....

Then I laughed when I read this blurb from the email:

"Our focus is still Charity based functions, but we want to offer you another experience in this online world of entertainment and information on-demand."

"Charity based functions" run by a group of drunks and junkies.  Really?  Does anyone actually take them seriously?  I wouldn't trust them with a dime of my money, since that dime would no doubt go to purchasing a dime bag. 

Their "founders" are the most disingenuous people I've encountered on the Internet, which is littered with the disingenuous. 

Someone should call Shane and Andrea to dish out some justice for "EB30." I wish "EB30" only stunning, spectacular failure.  They are a reprehensible crew of scum and filth who deserve to be put down like the walkers in the barn....

Hopefully, I won't receive any more spam from them.

My DCnU #1s Reading Order

I figured I would post my reading order for the DCnU series for each week in September.  I decided to add GREEN ARROW because of a brief review on Newsarama.
 
9.7.2011
(1) SWAMP THING #1
(2) BATGIRL #1
(3) ACTION COMICS #1
(4) DETECTIVE COMICS #1
(5) ANIMAL MAN #1
(6) HAWK AND DOVE #1
(7) JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1
(8) MEN OF WAR #1
(9) STORMWATCH #1
(10) BATWING #1
(11) GREEN ARROW #1
 
 
9.14.2011
(1) BATWOMAN #1
(2) FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #1
(3) LEGION LOST #1
(4) BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
(5) RED LANTERNS #1
(6) DEATHSTROKE #1
(7) RESURRECTION MAN #1
(8) MISTER TERRIFIC #1
(9) GREEN LANTERN #1
(10) GRIFTER #1
(11) SUPERBOY #1
(12) DEMON KNIGHTS #1
(13) SUICIDE SQUAD #1
 
9.21.2011
(1) LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1
(2) NIGHTWING #1
(3) BATMAN #1
(4) GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
(5) CATWOMAN #1
(6) BIRDS OF PREY #1
(7) WONDER WOMAN #1
(8) SUPERGIRL #1
(9) RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
 
 
9.28.2011
(1) I, VAMPIRE #1
(2) JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
(3) ALL-STAR WESTERN #1
(4) TEEN TITANS #1
(5) BLACKHAWKS #1
(6) AQUAMAN #1
(7) THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1
(8) THE FLASH #1
(9) THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #1
(10) THE NEW GUARDIANS #1
(11) SUPERMAN #1
(12) THE DARK KNIGHT #1
(13) VOODOO #1

My Top Ten(ish) for the DCnU

The DCnU officially kicks off August 31st with the release of JUSTICE LEAGUE #1.  While I'm not as psyched for JL as I am for a host of the other 52, the preview art, the blurbs, the teases and the enthusiasm that DCE is showing for the DCnU has infected me.  

This little black duck is HELLA excited to get his hands on these books.  

The books I've added to my pull list has changed sightly since all of the books were announced and I made my knee-jerk choices.

Of the "52," I will NOT be picking up the following series:  BLUE BEETLE, CAPTAIN ATOM, DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS, GREEN ARROW, OMAC and STATIC SHOCK.  The COLLECTOR in me thought about picking up all of the #1s just because, but the CONSTANT READER won out and I decided to opt out of buying all 52.  (However, if those books have good buzz once they're a couple issues in, I may end up getting them.)

As for the series I am getting, BATWOMAN (natch!) tops the list of books I'm most looking forward to.  It's been almost two years since the brilliant ELEGY and GO were published, so it is long past time her series launched.

My top (slightly more than) ten DCnU books:

(1) BATWOMAN – this will be brilliant.  'Nuff said. 

(2) SWAMP THING – Scott Snyder killed it on his DETECTIVE COMICS run. I know he'll do well by my ol' muck encrusted mockery of a man.

(3) ACTION COMICS – Grant Morrison + Clark Kent = brilliance. 

(4) JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK – Over in HELLBLAZER, Peter Milligan is writing THE best John Constantine I've read in over a decade.  If he brings even half of that awesomeness to JL DARK, the book will be fabulous. 

(5) BATGIRL – Gail Simone KNOWS Barbara Gordon better than any writer out there.  I know she'll do well by Babs and knock this series out of the park.

(6) FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. – if Jeff Lemire maintains the tone of the Frankie FLASHPOINT mini-series, I expect this to be a winner.

(7) I, VAMPIRE – Chances are this series will be more "TWILIGHT" (no that there's anything wrong with that) than "TRUE BLOOD."  The interior art released so far is striking.  Maybe they'll surprise me and this series will be DARK SHADOWS with a TRUE BLOOD twist. Either way, I am onboard the vamp express train to Collinsport. 

(8) JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL – I'm looking forward to this more than the main JL book.  There's no pretense to be THE groundbreaking series or the anchor of the DCnU or to prove anything to the fanboys, so this should just be good ol' fashioned JLI fun.

(9) LEGION LOST and LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES – I know they're being helmed by different creative teams, but it's the LSH and they both feature some of my favorite LSHers, so they go together like rama lama lama de ding a de dinga a dong.

(10a) NIGHTWING – Dick Grayson is one of MY characters, so I'll always get whichever book he stars in.  The previews for the series look sharp and I like the new color scheme of his costume.

(10b) HAWK AND DOVE – Like some other characters, Hank Hall and Dawn Granger have always been MY characters. Like 10a, the preview art looks sharp and so do the new characters.

(10c) ALL-STAR WESTERN – I didn't read the previous JONAH HEX series.  But with this book set in THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #4 Gotham City, I am on board!!! 

Teasing DC Comics-The New 52

Here are my guesses.  I’m pretty sure I have most of them wrong, but it was fun matching them up.

ACTION COMICS

“You’re Welcome, my friend. And New York City, you’re welcome too!”

ALL-STAR WESTERN

“If we stop looking to the present and the past, and instead we look to the future…if we ask ourselves what can be–what it will be tomorrow… then we’re asking the right question. Because to hope, to dream, to predict is to shape the city yourself, rather than to be shaped by it.”

ANIMAL MAN

“I remember a time when you would have begged me to stop playing superhero!”

AQUAMAN

“How’s it feel to be nobody’s favorite super-hero?”

BATGIRL

“Good to see you, Barbara.”

BATMAN

“You are the parent of your own fear.”

BATMAN AND ROBIN

“You’re not my partner, you’re my son.”

BATWING

“The dream isn’t over.”

BATWOMAN

“Just when I’ve set up my new life, my old one comes back. Well played, Gotham.”

BIRDS OF PREY

“Miles? Why, my beautiful girls….you can see forever.”

BLACKHAWKS

“They ended the revolution and freed our country. Then they disappeared.”

BLUE BEETLE

“If that scarab pops back up, I want any Green Lanterns within five parsecs to know it.”

CAPTAIN ATOM

“I’m losing control.”

CATWOMAN

“You’ll have my undivided attention….and I’m pretty sure I’ll have yours.”

THE DARK KNIGHT

“I swear to God I don’t know nothin’ about the Gotham Butcher.”

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS

Deadman – “Maybe I was never a good guy, and maybe I was never the really big fish. But if there’s one thing I do know from living other’s people’s lives, it’s that I’ve changed.”

DEATHSTROKE

“Find out who is under that mask.”

DEMON KNIGHTS

“For this great mission I will need help. I will need followers who are prepared to follow me into the jaws of death, and worse…”

DETECTIVE COMICS

“He’s the worst kind of killer. One with no true pattern.”  Given by THE SOURCE.

THE FLASH

“If you’re not moving, you’re not living.”

FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E.

“You are not the first doctor I’ve known that tried to play god.” My guess confirmed correct by THE SOURCE.

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM

“We don’t….we don’t call it that. It could be the key to all human knowledge. Black holes. Time travel. Physics, on another level.”

GREEN ARROW

“Some people don’t like having their secrets exposed.”

GREEN LANTERN

“The future is being re-made.”

GREEN LANTERN CORPS

“A bunch of Lanterns have just died in sector 3599.”

GRIFTER

“Life isn’t without risk. You hear that bon mot a lot. But mostly around business. Or dating. Or eating fried food from street vendors. But we take risks all the time, every day, in a thousand ways. Driving a car. Talking to a stranger. Jay walking. Those are the little ones we don’t even think about. It’s the big ones that make it interesting. At least for me, it is.”

HAWK AND DOVE

“You’ve been partners with this guy for a couple of years, and you still haven’t told him where you really came from?”

I, VAMPIRE

“Hee…That’s so cute. You think you’re scary. But mister, I’ve seen scary. And you ain’t got his smile.”

JUSTICE LEAGUE

Batman – “I thought I’d left that world behind me. That maybe I could do more good working from the shadows. Apparently, I was wrong. I’m going to need help.”

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK

“This time it spells trouble.”

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL

“I’ve always enjoyed your sense of humor, Booster.”

LEGION LOST

“We are too late.”

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES

“Flashpoint effect has definitely closed off time travel.”

MISTER TERRIFIC

“I always thought you could change the world, Michael.”

THE NEW GUARDIANS

“Kyle Rayner of Earth, you have been chosen.”

NIGHTWING

“The only reason I’m here is ’cause if anything happens to you – that would make me the worst former sidekick ever.”

OMAC

“What I want is your complete attention and for you to understand that your life is now mine.”

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS

“You think I need a ‘team?’”

RED LANTERNS

“You think you and your ‘army’ stand a chance against Superman and a half dozen Green Lanterns and Wonder Woman?”

RESURRECTION MAN

“People are goin’ nuts. Wait ‘til they watch us kill him.”

THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN

“He makes a sound like a supersonic bomber. And then it looks like his shadow itself turns against him.”

SGT. ROCK AND THE MEN OF WAR

“You’re just in time for your destiny.”

STATIC SHOCK

“I didn’t even know how much I missed it.”

STORMWATCH

“Do we look like ‘super-heroes’? We’re the professionals.”

SUICIDE SQUAD

“Welcome to Cellblock D of the Central Asian Supermax Meta-Human Facility.”

SUPERBOY

“Because the entire time THEY have been studying ME? I have been studying THEM.”

SUPERGIRL

“How long have I been here? How long have I been frozen like this?”

SUPERMAN

“Maybe this is all connected to that guy in Metropolis.”

SWAMP THING

“Nature sounds its own warning bell.”

TEEN TITANS

Red Robin to Wonder Girl – “You could do so much good! WE could do so much good!”

VOODOO

“Oh, God. Oh, God. I just murdered someone!”

WONDER WOMAN

“What I do, I do for the good of the universe. Something you lost sight of thousands of years ago.”

Justice League of America 0 and the DCnU....

I was flipping through the THE LIGHTNING SAGA TPB and saw JLoA 0, which I had forgotten was included in this TPB.  The single issue was released in July of 2006.

Written by Brad Meltzer and drawn by various artists, the issue presented the reader with vignettes set "yesterday" and "tomorrow."  The final vignette was set "today" – i.e. the formation of the then current JLoA roster.

The "yesterday" segments incorporated various bits of JLA lore and brought them back into continuity.

The "tomorrow" segments presented bits that may (some [one] did) occur in the stories that followed in the DCU.

The final "tomorrow" vignette, drawn by Jim Lee, has now become the most significant to me.

In this vignette, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman discover the appearance a second Earth.  The third panel on the page is a gallery of various JSA and JLA members in their "classic" attire and the fourth panel shows the two Earths with slightly different geography. 

Superman and Batman discuss:

Clark: How's it even possible?

Bruce: It's vibrating at a different speed.

Clark: No, Bruce....I mean, how can it even be?

Bruce: Clark, we've seen alternate universes, pocket prison dimensions and a full-on multiverse. Why should we suddenly be surprised to find....that there's a second Earth out there?

Could this page have been a foreshadowing of the DCnU?  

Jim Lee is one of the architects behind the formation and "bible" of the DCnU and he's also the artist on the new JUSTICE LEAGUE series.

Dan DiDio has stated that the Justice Society of America is being given a "rest."  

In the DCnU's sliding timeline, the emergence of the super-hero began five years ago (which will be chronicled in JL and ACTION COMICS [and possibly in other DCnU books, i.e. BATGIRL]), which seemingly puts the kibosh on the original JSA roster, that team having formed during WWII. 

It's possible the DCnU JSA kept their activities on the down low during their reign in the 40s and 50s, doing what they do best – being heroes – but not drawing media attention to themselves (remaining "urban legends"), being true "Mystery Men" and "Mystery Women." 

But after reading JLoA 0 again, I think one of the stories we're going to see – set at some point in the sliding five years past – is going to be the Justice League discovering a second Earth.  A second Earth, where the JSA is still doing what they do best – being heroes and training their next generation.

I think "SECOND EARTH" will be an arc in JL and it will lead into a full exploration of the "second Earth" in MULTIVERSITY next summer.

There, I said it!

8.27.2011 UPDATE:

Fan Expo Canada: James Robinson will be writing a DCnU JSA series set on Earth-2. 

Dark Shadows is Coming to Dynamite Entertainment....

Comic Book Resources released the press release and I am psyched! 


Both covers previewed look sharp.

"Out of his own time and now a self-appointed protector for the Collins family, accompanied by his loyal confidante Dr. Julia Hoffman, Barnabas lives in fear that Angelique might return as he seeks a cure from his vampiric affliction. Picking up directly where the original daytime episodes of Dark Shadows left off, the new comic book will bring the familiar residents of Collinwood further into the 1970s, facing threats both old and new."

I'm thrilled that the series is going to be set in the 70s and not revamped to fit the 00s or 10s and that it will try to maintain the same continuity – to an extent, it seems.

Angélique was killed at the end of the 1840 storyline (after removing the vampire curse from Barnabas), which featured Angélique before she ever travelled to the then present of 1968.  Angélique died in Barnabas' arms with Barnabas finally admitting that she (in spite of the fact that my beloved Angélique killed [directly and indirectly] half the Collins Family and their friends over the course of the series) was his one, true love.

The adventures of (vamp free) Barnabas and Dr. Julia Hoffman ended with them walking off hand in hand into soap opera and TV history.

Even in the present – at the end of the 1970 Leviathan storyline – Barnabas and Angélique had made their peace. 

I hope we're given a logical, in-story reason for a renewed fear on Barnabas' part and for the vampire curse being back upon him.  

I also hope we get a true love story for Barnabas and Julia – they deserve some love and happiness.

No matter what, I will be buying this series.

(Dynamite is also launching a BIONIC MAN series in August.  That also has me psyched.  Dynamite might be the new Boom! for me....)

October can't get here fast enough for me!!!

The DCnU Books....

My Thoughts on the DCnU 52….

I’ve broken the 52 down to 5 tiers.

Tier ONE: books I’m most looking forward to. I expect them to be terrific based on creative team, concept (blurb) and character(s).

Tier TWO: books I’m looking forward to, but fall just below the Tier ONE books;

Tier THREE: books I’m getting based on the writer, artist or both, but not necessarily the character(s).

Tier FOUR: books I’m getting based on the character(s) or concept, in spite of or regardless of the creative team; the blurb piqued my interest.

Tier FIVE: books I have little to no interest in; I may get them because I’m a sucker for DCE products, but I may skip them entirely. I won’t decide until I get my September order form.

---

TIER ONE

ACTION COMICS #1

• Written by Grant Morrison

• Art by Rags Morales

This series is the anchor of the DCnU.  With Morrison writing it, that means the anchor will hold the DCnU line in place with the brilliance, the majesty and the power that the character of Superman demands. There, I said it!

BATGIRL #1

• Written by Gail Simone

• Art by Ardian Syaf

Simone writing Babs?  I’m sold.  Syaf on the art?  Wonderful!  I was always against Babs walking again, but after reading Gail’s comments about the book, I’m psyched for this!!!  I do understand how this change will disappoint people who looked up to Babs (not to mention the Steph fans, of which I am one) for the way the character evolved after the trauma of THE KILLING JOKE and built herself up through the years into one of the most powerful characters in the DCU.  But things change and it’s something you have to accept and move on from.  Her Oracle stories will always be there to be read over and over again.

BATMAN #1

• Written by Scott Snyder

• Art by Greg Capullo

I know Snyder is going to write a brilliant series.  I don’t know anything about Capullo’s art, but he’s EYEtalian, so he can’t be all that bad.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #1

• Written by Peter Tomasi

• Art by Patrick Gleason

This will ROCK!!! ‘Nuff said.

BATWOMAN #1

• Written by JH Williams III and Haden Blackman

• Art by JHW III and Amy Reeder

Anyone who knows me knows THIS will be the book I look forward to the most in September.  It’s already a brilliant series and it hasn’t even launched yet!

DEATHSTROKE #1

• Written by Kyle Higgins

• Art by Joe Bennett

Slade is one of MY characters, so I will be getting this book.  I don’t know much about Higgins’ writing, but Bennett (when he’s on) kills on art. I hope they bring back the essence of the Slade of old – from his NEW TEEN TITANS days.

DETECTIVE COMICS #1

• Writing and art by Tony Daniel

Tony Daniel is killing on BATMAN, so this series should continue that trend.  I hope he keeps THE LONG HALLOWEEN mythology going in this run as well.

FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #1

• Written by Jeff Lemire

• Art by Alberto Ponticelli

Lemire hasn’t disappointed me yet and I did push for this series, so of course I’m looking forward to it.  The little girl to the right of Frankie on the cover of #1 looks like Gogo from KILL BILL. I’m glad The Bride is also going to be in the book.  Maybe Lemire will delve into the history of the two a bit…including The Bride’s encounter with the Red Swami….

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1

• Written by Peter Tomasi

• Art by Fernando Pasarin

They rock it on the EMERALD WARRIORS every month, so I expect this book to be of the same quality.

HAWK AND DOVE #1

• Written by Sterling Gates

• Art by Rob Liefeld

Ok, everyone’s whining about Liefeld (I’ve always liked his work and he did draw the mini-series that brought H&D into the post CRISIS DCU.), butGates is a sterling (ha ha) writer.  I’ll be there for the whole run of this book, since Hank and Dawn are two of MY characters.  I’m quite impressed that Liefeld drew nice, normal feet in the promo art.

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1

• Written by Peter Milligan

• Art by Mikel Janin (who?)

I knew it!  I knew, as soon as it was announced that the DCU Vertigo characters would be moved away from Vertigo, they’d place Constantine on a “super-team,” even if it’s meant to be a “dark” team.  But since it’s written by Milligan, I have faith that he’ll make it work.

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1

• Written by Dan Jurgens

• Art by Aaron Lopresti

Sold!!!  This creative team will rock!!!  There, I said it!  Bonus: August General in Iron is on the team, so The Great Ten are still around in the DCnU.But what happened to the mysterious brunette….

LEGION LOST #1

• Written by Fabian Nicieza

• Art by Pete Woods

Tellus, Dawnstar, Wildfire, Gates and Timber Wolf – some of my favorite LSHers. Nicieza is a great writer and Woods is a great artist.  This should ROCK!!!

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1

• Written by Paul Levitz

• Art by Francis Portela

Levitz + LSH = platinum!!!

THE NEW GUARDIANS #1

• Written by Tony Bedard

• Art by Tyler Kirkham

They do not nail it every month on the current GLC series, but Kyle is MY Green Lantern and he’s leading the pack in the book.  I’ve liked the “Rainbow Corps” since they first started popping up.  It should be fun to read how Kyle keeps the team together.

NIGHTWING #1

• Written by Kyle Higgins 

• Art by Eddy Barrows

I'm glad Grayson is going to be around and I do like Barrows' art, but Higgins is a fairly unknown commodity to me.  The costume looks sharp with the red and the black. Grayson is one of MY characters, so of course I’ll be getting this and I’m looking forward to rationale being explored for why he moved back to being Nightwing.

RED LANTERNS #1

• Written by Peter Milligan

• Art by Ed Benes

The Red Lanterns are my second favorite Corps (after Larfleeze), so I’ll be there for this one. Plus, Milligan is killing on HELLBLAZER right now.  With the Red Lanterns steeped in occult and horror elements, this should rock under Milligan’s pen.  I’m hoping Milligan delves into the distance past ofAtrocitus and the other Inversions. I’m also hoping that Dex-Starr gets some spotlight stories.

SWAMP THING #1

• Written by Scott Snyder

• Art by Yannick Paquette

I was always against Alec returning to the DCU and I always wrote that if he did, then a root to treetop reboot would be needed.  I wonder if this will be that type of reboot?  I trust Scott Snyder to make it work and I do love Paquette’s art, so this will be a terrific series.  I do hope that Abby (and Arcane) and Matt are part of the story.  I doubt my beloved Tefé will be in the book, though.

---

TIER TWO

ANIMAL MAN #1

• Written by Jeff Lemire

• Art by Travel Foreman (who? Why “Travel?”  Why not “Voyage?”) and Dan Green

So far Lemire has yet to disappoint me, so this should be interesting and the preview art is quite creepy.

GREEN LANTERN #1

• Written by Geoff Johns

• Art by Doug Mahnke

They rock it on the current GL series every month, so I’ll be there for this one. I’m quite glad Mahnke is staying on GL.

I, VAMPIRE #1

• Written by Josh Fialkov (who?)

• Art by Andrea Sorrentino (who?  She’s an EYEtie, so that’s a plus)

The preview art looks fabulous.  I’ve always liked Andrew Bennett (from the few stories I read that featured him) and I think it’s time to finally read his whole HOUSE OF MYSTERY run.  I’m looking forward to this one.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #1

• Written by Geoff Johns

• Art by Jim Lee.

Starring Supes, Bats, WW, Hal’s GL, Aquaman, Cyborg and a Flash (which Flash – Barry or Wally – is still unknown [as far as I know]).  I know Johns will knock this out of the park, but I’m skeptical (to say the least) about Jim Lee’s ability to produce a monthly series….monthly.  Unless they’ve been working on this for a year already (which is quite possible, considering all the rumors) and have a good number of issues already completed, then I’ll be irked when the inevitable delays begin.  I know this is set in the early days of the RISE OF THE DCnU SUPER-HEROES, but that won’t bother me as long as the stories are good.

RESURRECTION MAN #1

• Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning

• Art by Fernando Dagnino

Heck yeah!!!  The first series rocked and I expect this series to ROCK!!! 

 TEEN TITANS #1

• Written by Scott Lobdell

• Art by Brett Booth

Conner, Bart, Cassie and Tim’s costume redesigns look sharp! Although, I don’t care for the stupid tattoo on Conner.  I’ll be getting this and even though I am a bit unsure about the concept, it’s intriguing enough that I have it on tier two.

---

TIER THREE:

BIRDS OF PREY #1

• Written by Duane Swierczynski (who?)

• Art by Jesus Saiz

I love Love LOVE Jesus Saiz’s art.  That alone is enough for me to pick this up.

THE FLASH #1

• Writing and art by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato

At least the art will be awesome.  I have no idea what to expect from the writing on this one or which Flash it will feature.  But Manapul’s art is stunning, so that’s the main draw.

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #1

• Written by Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone

• Art by Yildiray Cinar

Because of Gail on the co-writing duties, I’m giving this series a try.  I know the art will be good, too.  I’ve never been a fan of Ronnie or Jason, so I’ll really only be getting this book for Gail.

OMAC #1

• Written by Dan DiDio

• Art by Keith Giffen

Oy vey….DiDio is not a good writer.  I’ll try this one based solely on Kirby’s creation and my admiration for Giffen’s art.

THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1

• Written by Tony Daniel

• Art by Philip Tan

I’ve been loving Daniel’s writing on BATMAN and I do like Tan’s art, but I’ve never cared much for Hawkman.  Like FoF above, I’ll be trying this out based on the writing and art.

SUPERMAN #1

• Written by George Perez

• Art by Jesus Merino

I don’t know what to expect from this and I’m not digging the new costume. But I like the artist and the writer and this IS Superman.

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TIER FOUR:

ALL-STAR WESTERN #1

• Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti

• Art by Moritat (who?)

The last time (RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #4) I read a story with Jonah Hex in Gotham it ROCKED!  I’m not a Western fan, but I’m in for this one because of Hex in Gotham City.

AQUAMAN #1

• Written by Geoff Johns

• Art by Ivan Reis

I’ve always (ALWAYS!!!) liked Aquaman. I know Johns can write a killer Aquaman story, but with the way he (and Tomasi) pandered to Reis in BRIGHTEST DAY, I expect this to be a highly decompressed series with lots of splash pages, two page spreads and all-important pin-ups and poses from the series’ leads. In between all of that, we should get three or four pages of actual story per issue.

BATWING #1

• Written by Judd Winick

• Art by Ben Oliver

Oy vey....this will be the book where Winick can preach and show all the readers (yet again) how much his heart bleeds.  But an African “Batman” is rife with good story potential.

BLACKHAWKS #1

• Written by Mike Costa

• Art by Ken Lashley

This looks very interesting.  Are they all new characters?

CATWOMAN #1

• Written by Judd Winick

• Art by Guillem March

Oy vey….  I love Selina. If Winick brings his POWER GIRL writing to this book, then it will rock. If Winick brings his preachy, “let’s undermine the character” writing, this book will stink.

DEMON KNIGHTS #1

• Written by Paul Cornell

• Art by Diogenes Neves and Oclair Albert

Oy vey….I had hoped NOT to see Cornell’s name on ANY relaunched books. I do like the setting and the artist, so I will (grudgingly) give this a try.

GRIFTER #1

• Written by Nathan Edmondson (who?)

• Art by Cafu

I love Cafu’s art, but I know very little about Cole Cash.  However, I love his costume.  I’m going to try this one out.

MISTER TERRIFIC #1

• Written by Eric Wallace

• Art by Roger Robinson

I have no idea what to expect from the art and Wallace has been trying admirably (but failing) to make TITANS readable, but it’s long past time that Mr. Terrific was given his own ongoing. I don’t know how long it will ultimately run, but I’ll be getting this.  

SGT. ROCK AND THE MEN OF WAR #1

• Written by Ivan Brandon

• Art by Tom Derenick 

Hmm….another book that looks interesting

STORM WATCH #1

• Written by Paul Cornell

• Art by Miguel Sepulveda (who?)

Oy vey….why Why WHY do they give books to Cornell?  I’ll get this because of the intermingling of WildStorm and the DCU = Martian Manhunter running interference for Midnighter and Apollo; but really, Cornell is a subpar writer and I have no faith that he will make this work.  

SUPERGIRL #1

• Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson

• Art by Mahmud Asrar

I’m only getting this for the character and to complete my Superman Family of Books.

SUPERBOY #1

• Written by Scott Lobdell

• Art by R.B. Silva

I’m only getting this for the character and to complete my Superman Family of Books.

WONDER WOMAN #1

• Written by Brian Azzarello

• Art by Cliff Chiang

The cover in the promo is hideous. I know Chiang is capable of awesome art, so I don’t know what he was thinking with that dreadful cover.  The only things written by Azzarello that I enjoyed have been 100 BULLETS and DR. 13: ART AND ARCHITECTURE. So I’ll be going in expecting this to stink as far as the writing is concerned, but it’s Wonder Woman and I cannot skip her book.

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TIER FIVE:

I’m very much up in the air about these series.  I’m going to need to read more print about these books and see more of the art.

BLUE BEETLE #1

• Written by Tony Bedard

• Art by Ig Guara (who?)

I like, but have never really been a fan of the Jamie Reyes BB.  As of this posting, I’m not getting this book. If something more is revealed (like back-ups or flashbacks about the other Blue Beetles) as the countdown to launch ticks away, I may change my mind.

CAPTAIN ATOM #1

• Written by JT Krul

• Art by Freddie Williams III

Another character I never cared for and another book I am waiting to read more about before signing off on it.

THE DARK KNIGHT #1

• “Written” by David Finch

• Art by Jay Fabok

Purely a vanity piece and most likely won’t be worth the effort to read. 

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1

• Written by Paul Jenkins

• Art by Bernard Chang

I don’t care for Deadman, so I might actually pass on the first arc.

GREEN ARROW #1

• Written by JT Krul

• Art by Dan Jurgens

I was extremely disappointed with the previous GA series (it had to much potential), so I’m still up in the air on whether or not I’ll be getting this series.

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1

• Written by Scott Lobdell

• Art by Kenneth Rocafort (who?)

Jason Todd, Roy Harper and Starfire • never three of my favorites, but I'll give this one a try if only to see what Lobdell has in store for the characters.

STATIC SHOCK #1

• Written by John Rozum and Scott McDaniel

• Art by Scott McDaniel

I’ve never cared for Static.  But I love McDaniel’s art and Rozum is a terrific writer, so I may give this one a chance to grab me.

SUICIDE SQUAD #1

• Written by Adam Glass (who?)

• Art by Marco Rudy

I don’t like the DCnU look for Harley.  As wicked and evil as Harley could be, she also had an air of innocence about her.  There is no air of innocence about NuHarley, at least as far as her look is concerned. I do love Marco Rudy’s art, so that may a good enough reason for me to pick this one up.  But the NuHarley places this book in TIER FIVE.

VOODOO #1 (who?)

• Written by Ron Marz

• Art by Sami Basri

I have no idea who this character is. Is she the Voodoo from the WildStorm universe?