April 2013 DC Comics Diamond Previews Review
It is time to turn our eyes to merchandise and books coming out starting in June of 2013. Up first will be DC Comics who has solicitations that are already not applicable anymore. Two titles affected were ones I was excited to try, more on that later.
Let’s talk about the biggest DC release for June, perhaps the year, and maybe in the top ten for the end of the year, namely the Scott Snyder (W), Jim Lee (A+C), and Scott Williams (A+C) created Superman Unchained #1. Other than the odd title, I am really excited for this book. I have not had the joy of having a Superman book that feels like mine, and is a definitive Superman for me.
Scott Snyder did that with his recently completed run on Swamp Thing. Scott Snyder has moved directly onto my radar (I know I’m a late convert to all things Snyder) and anything he writes I will read. June also has his definitive New 52 origin for the Dark Knight starting in Batman #21. Year Zero is the origin in a way that Bat-fans have never seen before and with the strength of Scott Snyder behind the keyboard, this may be my definitive Batman. I may now be able to join in discussions talking about the best Supes and Bats runs.
A book that could easily be the biggest hit, or a huge flop, is Larfleeze #1. With the strong team of Keith Giffen (W), Scott Kolins (A), and Howard Porter (Cov.) powering the ring of creativity this could inject some much needed levity into a rather serious Green Lantern imprint. On the flip side, was there a demand for a Larfleeze ongoing? I may be in the minority but I didn’t think so.
Ray Fawkes, quickly becoming one of my favorite writers at DC, is the writer behind Trinity of Sin: Pandora #1. Art is being provided by Daniel Sampere and Jonathan Glapion. I am excited for this title because of the mystery surrounding her, and her appearances, limited as they are, in the first issues of all of the New 52 series. This title also ties into the long discussed Trinity War. With this book launching and Phantom Stranger being re-branded to Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger, one can’t help but assume that the Question will make up the third title in that triumvirate.
Justice League of America has quickly earned the spot of my favorite DC team. It may be the nature of the characters and not having direct ties to the bigger franchises that the creative team is able to really dig down and explore these characters and the interactions they have. There seems to be more creative freedom and a feeling that anything can truly happen. Every character has different motivations for being part of the team, and most of those motivations don’t have a single drop of altruism to them. Geoff Johns writing and David Finch on art has propelled this to the top five of my reading pile. Speaking of Justice League, over in #21 by Geoff Johns (W) and Gary Frank (A), we finally get to see where Shazam fits in the New 52. This book will surely be a key book for the Trinity War so completists look out for this one.
DC has recently been up and down for me, but they hit a definite down point for me following the quick arrival and then departure of writer Joshua Hale Fialkov on and then off Green Lantern Corps as of issue #21 and Red Lanterns, also in issue #21. This was the moment I had been waiting for, a chance to hop onto Green Lantern without the books being absorbed into some line wide epic event, and it was Mr. Fialkov that was bringing me. I wish nothing but the best for the new creative teams for both books, but I really think that what Joshua would have brought to the titles would have been something special, especially with the floundering direction of Red Lanterns. I will say that this is the perfect jumping on point for anyone wanting to try out this line. Green Lantern: New Guardians #21, and Green Lantern #21 also bring out new creative teams. These with Larfleeze added shows a nice diversification, even if all of the books don’t survive.
Trade waiters should rush out and get Justice League Dark Vol. 2: The Books of Magic TP. This is the volume where we see the hand off between writers Peter Milligan and Jeff Lemire. While I appreciate the stage Peter Milligan set I found that Jeff Lemire is really where the title took off for me. He has done an amazing job of keeping the characters fresh and the unexpected is the norm in the book. With the recent announcement that Zatanna will be joining Geoff John’s Justice League later this year, I am a bit saddened at the prospect of her leaving the cast. The relationship between herself and Constantine and the past they shared adds an intense layer of characterization. With the recent cancellations of Frankenstein, and Sword and Sorcery I hope that both Amethyst and Frankenstein himself get added to the regular roster of the team. This is a good size trade, collecting issues #1-7, 0, and Annual #1. That is the equivalent of a little over 9 issues. Amazing value for a $16.99 price tag.
Astro City #1 is launching as part of Vertigo, which is good because that line has lost quite a bit of its pedigree lately so it’s good that the original creative team of Kurt Busiek (W), Brent Anderson (A), and Alex Ross (Cov.) reunite for the launch of a new ongoing. Featuring a blend of new and old characters. Samaritan and Honor Guard are back and I am excited to see who else has joined the ranks.
Another return to the past happens in the pages of a new mini-series by Brian Azzarello (W), Eduardo Risso (A), and Dave Johnson (Cov). 100 Bullets: Brother Lono #1 tells the story of what happened to Lono after he was shot in the chest, and presumed dead at the end of the 100 Bullets series.
All in all a very nice month at DC Comics. You toss in the regulars on my pull list, Vibe, Wonder Woman, Animal Man, Constantine, just to name my favorites, and I will have allot of DC to read in June.
