I liked reading about the effect of the bat on a different culture. The new character seems like a perfect choice to carry on in the name of the bat and I find that the fact that he is also a police officer adds a whole new element to the puzzle that I hope will provide interesting plots and characters. The art in this book was suberb and the writing felt smooth and fluid. I personally very much enjoyed this issue.

Mike comes around again with a review for Stormwatch #1: Stormwatch is a clandestine superhuman security force that has been saving the planet since the dark ages. They’re so secret absolutely no one knows they exist. They don’t like to be called superheroes. They’re soldiers with superhuman abilities with gaudy outfits and cool names like the Eminence of Blades and the King of Cities. Filling out the cast are Adam (the leader), the Engineer, Martian Manhunter, Jack Hawksmoor aka the King of Cities, The Projectionist, Harry Tanner aka the Eminence of Blades, Jenny Quantum, Apollo, and Midnighter.

Niko Kaylor aka Avengersfan223 had this to say about Green Arrow #1: The story opens in Seattle, WA. at Queen industries. A meeting is taking place and the owner, Oliver Queen, is unavailable to be in the office as he is on the phone. The reason for his absence is that he is in Paris. Or at least that is what he tells his CEO. But he does not tell him the whole reason which is that he is the GREEN ARROW! Now off the phone with his company, Queen he talks to Naomi, the Green Arrow’s assistant. He has identified three wanted criminals, Dynamix, Doppleganger, and Supercharge, who gained popularity on YouTube. Tracking them onto a boat, he reports to Naomi and his weapon maker, Jax. Not making a standard entrance, Naomi shuts down the security to let the emerald Archer jump through the top of the boat which happened to be a glass window. To find out what happens next, I strongly advise you to read this book. It ends with an epic cliffhanger!

I absolutely loved this issue! The story was well written, and drawn beautifully. The story has a good flow. I could not have read the issue any faster. The story kept me on edge the action and i did not find a single slow part. The art was great too. Dan Jurgens drew the issue superbly with great pictures that helped the story move along. I cannot wait until the next issue. This is definitely on my pull list!

Niko also read Hawk and Dove #1 and had this to say: The Story begins with an internet video clip of a Science terrorist on the news. The terrorist, Alexander Quirk, says that he is going to run the country (The USA) by using Monsters of Mass Destruction. The reporter goes on to say that there is speculation of Quirk hijacking a plane and planning to use it to attack capitol. Now in the hijacked plane Hawk & Dove are fighting Quirk’s workers. Suddenly the engine is killed by fire and the plane is falling toward the Washington monument. What will happen next? You will have to read this issue!

Without having read many Batman comics, I have been looking forward to my entrance into the Batman of the new DC universe. This issue brought exactly what I was hoping for! While Batman has limited speaking parts, he has a lot of internal monologue that I was expecting. The Joker is crazy and his insanity is portrayed very well in this issue. There was a good action to story ratio allowing for development of the story while maintaining the reader’s attention. The art was done well and really captured the dark feel of the story. With one issue down, this title has already hooked me and made me look forward to what I hope will be a great series.

Chance also took a swing at Batgirl #1: This book begins with an encounter between an unknown assailant and an older man he is out to kill.  After the mysterious man kills the older man, he marks off his name on a list,which also contains Barbara Gordon.  Batgirl is then shown preparing herself up for a criminal takedown.  A group of murderers is threatening a couple when Batgirl busts in and kicks some serious butt. She ends up becoming entangled with one of the criminals and winds up hanging over the rail of a balcony.  Like any hero, Batgirl does not let the villain fall and saves him in order to detain him for the police.  Later on Batgirl receives information of a crime in progress and responds. The mysterious assailant from earlier is back and faces off with Batgirl. Batgirl becomes “paralyzed” with fear and things do not turn out well.

Chip Reece aka chipreece wrote two reviews. The first of which is for O.M.A.C. #1: The book starts with what appears to be another day at Cadmus. But that soon changes. Enter O.M.A.C. a being on a rampage much akin to the Incredible Hulk! Apparently Cadmus is a front for something that Brother Eye (remember the artificially intelligent satellite?) wants and effectively uses this O.M.A.C. to trash his way in and take it. The underbelly of Cadmus proves to show us some interesting “experiments” that are used as a first defense to stop him. But they quickly fail. After the attack we soon see that the host of the O.M.A.C.
has been teleported elsewhere with little memory of the event.

So, did I like this? Yes. It was a simple tale with little hints at as to the motives and reason for this new O.M.A.C. Brother Eye
appears to have learned a sense of humor – which earned a chuckle from me – but not as much humor as I would expect from Keith Giffen. There is little to go on in this issue to give us any “deep” interpretation of where this series is headed but overall I had fun. The thing that sticks out to me is the artwork which has striking similarities to Jack Kirby who drew the original O.M.A.C. no coincidence I’m sure. I would buy another issue.

Chip also reviewed Animal Man #1: Buddy Baker has apparently been out of “superhero” work for awhile, choosing instead to focus on animal rights and a recent lead role in an indie film as a washed-up superhero. The reader finds this out in a transcript of a mock interview on the first page of the issue. The rest of the comic is a window into Buddy’s family life and the effect his life has on his wife and two kids. Buddy’s wife encourages him to get back into the superhero biz as she has observed he has lost some lust for life. An opportunity quickly presents itself and Buddy dons the Animal Man costume to engage. After returning late from the situation Buddy has a disturbingly cryptic dream about his family and wakes up to find his daughter exhibiting an animal power of her own.

This book absolutely BLEW ME AWAY! Going in I had high hopes and was worried this comic would not live up to my expectations. It were surpassed all my expectations! If you are interested in diving deep into a character this is your book. I love the many ways
and reasons Buddy uses his powers. The dream sequence had some very odd interpretive things going on that felt like it was paying respects to Grant Morrisson perhaps for his work on Animal Man’s first series. The ending is shocking and impossible to keep from picking up the next issue. I am sold on this one for sure. Really liking Lemire’s writing. The artwork was great too, completely fitting for a dark serious book such as this. I think it reminds me of a mix between Maleev and Rivera. There is so much going on in this book it really deserves an in depth review but I will leave it at this: BUY THIS BOOK!

My turn. Let’s start with Men of War #1: So DC is publishing war comics again! Well, one at least. The book has two stories. The main one being about the not yet Sargent Rock while the co-feature is about new characters not entrenched in DCU lore. Rock’s tale is indeed a war book but the DCU does rear it’s head on the very real and brutal battle field. During a near-suicide mission, some superheros battle it out in a city making the soldiers’ job a lot harder. The identity of these super humans are not revealed. The focus remains squarely on the men fighting in the trenches. Brandon’s done his research as is evident by the convincing military dialog. This book is relentlessly action packed! After the opening scene the entire book is one bloddy beat after another. The co-feature is equally “real” and intense. It’s set right in the middle of battlefield and has equally competent artwork. Don’t expect any profound or instrospective mamby pamby story. This is bloody war! Will I pick up issue 2? Verdict: No. This is too close to average for my taste. If this had a clearer modus operandi I might be sold. But as it is, it lacks well-defined direction.

As far as Action Comics #1 goes: The basic premise of the story is that Superman is casuing a stir in Metropolis by helping everyone but the law – not knowing exactly what to do – hires a third party to capture Supes. Nothing complicated in plotting. Where it shines is in tone. I feel Grant and Rags have put a lot of thought into what it means to relaunch Action Comics. The first issue of Action Comics in the 30s is what launched the superhero into the public consciousness. There seems to be a lot of effort put into re-contextualizing that initial brash and bold intensity. The book has stellar moments! G-Mo must have practiced his arcane magic to summon the essence of golden age Superman and injected it in the fibers of this comic. There’s a vivaciousness and unbridled joy contained withing this book. It’s not without it’s darkness -Lex Luthor makes an important appearance – but pretty much everything about this is undiluted fun. If this book was a drug, I’d be an addict. There were things in this comic I wasn’t a fan of but I can’t deny how much fun I had reading this. I will pick up the next issue.

There you have it! What did you think of this week’s DC releases?
___
Come back here often for more in-depth reviews, review capsules and previews.