DC Preview Review For August Part 1 of 2

Jim: Again we have asked Greg to step into Lee’s shoes for this review as Lee is trying to set up house in France. I sent Frenchie over to help him unload la truck. Since Gwen and Greg are the younger set we may have to replace them with their silver age counterparts Gwyneth and Gregory.
Gwen: Hah! As if moving to another country is an excuse for bowing out of solicitations. Lee's just slacking.
Greg: Once again DC replaces an Irishman with a white bread Englishman straight off the Mayflower! Typical! Bronze age Greg is a much deeper reviewer.


SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE HC
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art by SHANE DAVIS & SANDRA HOPE
Cover by SHANE DAVIS
Forget everything you know about The Man of Steel and brace yourself for a staggering new take on the world’s most popular Super Hero.
Best-selling, Hugo Award-winning writer J. Michael Straczynski (BRAVE AND THE BOLD, Thor, Babylon 5) and red-hot rising star artist Shane Davis (GREEN LANTERN, SUPERMAN/BATMAN) team up for this exciting launch of the EARTH ONE graphic novel series. Set in an all-new continuity re-imagining DC’s top heroes, EARTH ONE is a new wave of original, stand-alone graphic novels produced by the top writers and artists in the industry. The groundbreaking new line rockets into effect right here with the Super Hero who started it all – Superman!
What would happen if the origin of The Man of Tomorrow were introduced today for the very first time? Return to Smallville and experience the journey of Earth’s favorite adopted son as he grows from boy to Superman like you’ve never seen before!
On sale OCTOBER 27 • 136 pg, FC, $19.99 US

Jim: On one hand I like this idea of restarting Superman and doing it on a different (ultimate) world, on the other hand JMS is writing the regular DCU Superman at the same time and it seems like you would want different writers getting their perspectives on the Man of Steel. The series of graphic novel approach is a bold decision.
Gwen: Ugh, no Ultimate DC. Haven't we pretty much made the main DC continuity into the Silver Age anyway? What's the point? Besides, I'm pretty sure this has been done many times before - even outside of comics.
Greg: Whew. I’m glad DC is finally giving us the definitive Superman origin story. We haven’t had one of those in 3 whole weeks. While I appreciate doing this as a series of graphic novels, I do think having the regular writer of Superman write the Ulimate version is counterintuitive. I’m trying to keep an open mind on this, but that cover and every interview I’ve read about this screams bad idea.

GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS #1
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by FERNANDO PASARIN
Cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI
1:25 variant cover by LEE BERMEJO
BRIGHTEST DAY! A whole new chapter in the epic GREEN LANTERN saga gets under way as Guy Gardner begins his secret mission for Atrocitus, bringing him into conflict with Hal Jordan with massive repercussions for the Green Lantern Corps!
Guy takes fellow Emerald Warriors Kilowog and Arisia along as he explores the Unknown Sectors — but what happens when they discover his mission and what’s waiting for them in the unpatrolled darkness?
On sale AUGUST 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Jim: This book has failure written all over it from a concept and premise idea, but with Tomasi and Pasarin as the creative team, this could become the best GL book on the stands.
Gwen: Guy has really grown on me as a character but this could probably be done within the confines of GLCorps. Even so I'm interested to see the reasons behind this storyline.
Greg: I like Guy a lot, but I think they’re stretching the GL franchise a title too far here.

BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #5
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by RYAN SOOK
Cover by ANDY KUBERT
1:25 variant cover by RYAN SOOK
Grant Morrison is joined by all-star artist Ryan Sook in the penultimate issue of THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE! In this story, Bruce Wayne finds himself in the hard-boiled streets of Gotham City’s past. Will his adventure as a private investigator help him take one step closer to the present day?
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale AUGUST 11 • 5 of 6 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Jim: After reading the first two issues I have to ask myself what type of drugs is Grant taking when writing this book. On one hand it is nigh incomprehensible on the other hand it is Grant as his most fantastic and oddly entertaining best.
Gwen: Well, I'm back to my original stance of not liking Grant Morrison's work. As much as I've actually liked Batman and Robin I just can't get into this. If you want to write a graphic novel story than publish it that way - not as single incomprehensible monthlies because seriously, this stuff makes no sense whatsoever. Also, I was fine with Bruce being dead.
Greg: While I would be fine with Bruce being dead and Dick being Batman, I have been loving this series. I hope the entire series just gets progressively crazier every issue until you need to be dropping LSD while rollerblading naked to understand the last issue.

Jim: I will film Greg understanding the last issue for youtube.

DETECTIVE COMICS #868
Written by DAVID HINE
Art by SCOTT MCDANIEL & ANDY OWENS Cover by PETER NGUYEN
A warped variation of the Joker drug has caused those who use it to suffer mental breakdowns and embrace anarchy and chaos. With riots cropping up throughout Gotham City, the citizens find themselves divided into two gangs: one led by a Batman impostor whose mission is to bring law and order back to the streets, and the other led by a Joker impostor whose purpose is to punish the innocent and set Gotham ablaze. And in the middle of it all is The Dark Knight – but can Batman stop an entire city?
On sale AUGUST 25 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Jim: David Hine was writing some great stuff for Marvel and he now seems to be firmly in the DC camp. Hine’s stuff usually has a edge to it and if you never read Strange Embrace with story and art by Hine you have missed a true indy masterpiece.
Gwen: This looks... weird. I could really go either way on this type of story so it depends on how well it's executed.
Greg: Hine’s stuff usually reads better as a concept (District X) than does on paper. That said, this storyline hits a personal pet peeve of mine: messed up Joker serum. Doesn’t DC publish some version of this story every frigging year? Why can’t we get more stories about Pilgrim Batman instead?

SUPERMAN: THE LAST FAMILY OF KRYPTON #1
Written by CARY BATES
Art by RENATO ARLEM
Cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA
Returning to a character he’s long been associated with, legendary writer Cary Bates explores a different side to Superman’s legend in an Elseworlds tale that hinges on the fact that while baby Kal-el has rocketed to the distant planet Earth from his doomed homeworld of Krypton, he was not alone. How does a world handle the emergence of the Last Family of Krypton as Jor-El, Lara and Kal-El make Earth their adopted home?
On sale AUGUST 4 • 1 of 3 • 56 pg, FC $4.99 US

Jim: Cary Bates was a big name in comics back a few decades ago and his recent Marvel work was well reviewed. What I find of most interest is DC is calling this an Elseworlds book which I had read/heard somewhere was banned by Didio.
Gwen: This could be a fun story I suppose. Although part of what makes Superman the character he is, is the idea that he was raised by Ma and Pa Kent.
Greg: Has Superman Returns taught us nothing? Krypton is booooooring.


SADLY Gwen and Greg were caught in the midst of Crisis of Crisis and appear to have been lost in the space time continuum. That same maelstrom has brought back their long lost silver age predecessors Gwyneth and Gregory who will continue on in their stead.

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #36
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ
When Adam Strange offered Lois Lane the chance to file a story from Rann, she jumped at it – but she wasn’t expecting to become an interstellar war correspondent! It’s another surprising single-issue epic from the Eisner-nominated team of Straczynski and Saiz!
On sale AUGUST 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Jim: Adam Strange has been lost. The character was actually a fun concept back when it started as he was the thinking man’s hero as he had no super powers. I’m curious to see if JMS can bring that flavor back.
Gwyneth: I like the idea of Lois being a interstellar war corespondent.
Gregory: Gee wilikers this looks like a cracking read there, chief? Can I review this for the Blog, Mr. Jim?

PART 2 Tomorrow