DC Comics Preview Review for November

So during the hiatus I have skipped a month or two and we missed all of the zero issue stuff. I will say that the zero issues will be where I pick up a book or two that I have dropped off of just to see some origin type material. As with other preview reviews I set it up with just solo commentary by me and invite my cohorts to chime in only if they feel like it.

The current DC set up does not allow for a lot of new launches as they have decided 52 is their magic number. Of course they added Before Watchmen and other mini-series, but the idea that 52 is the perfect number is an artificial construct, but an interesting game to force them to cut weak books faster Perhaps. Time will tell if the idea is a good one or not.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #14
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by TONY S. DANIEL and RICHARD FRIEND
Backup story art by GARY FRANKVariant cover by JASON FABOK
On sale NOVEMBER 21 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
• The second chapter of a tale that lights the fuse that will ultimately explode in 2013's TRINITY WAR.
• The League must fight the mysterious Cheetah… AND a monstrous Superman! The result will radically change the dynamics of the entire team!
• Amid all this, where is Green Lantern?
• Plus: The next chapter of the SHAZAM backup epic by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

Jim: This book has so many problems. Number one Johns’ JL writing was horrible and I dropped the book. Next the idea of Jim Lee doing this series was never going to last, he has way too much to do with his other job and I think he has like seven kids, so he needs to help out at home. Second the book is already being used as a prelude to a cross over. I hate that neither DC nor Marvel is competent enough to make all of their books good enough to stand on their own. Third the book is relying on a backup to fill up the pages. Most modern writers take six issues to have anything happen. With a large cast the extra pages could be used to make this book something special, the backup will be collected and sold later as its own thing. I admit I am very down on most core DC books and have gone from being a Geoff Johns fan to being a Geoff Johns detractor. His best works appears to be behind him.

Lee:  I don't know if it's all that bad.  Except for the "I'm Bruce Wayne" debacle this has been decent enough.  It's a giant slug fest every month with little to no plot.  If that's what you want from your superheroes (and lots of people do) then you are getting what you pay for.

EARTH 2 #6
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
1:25 B-W Variant cover by IVAN REIS
On sale NOVEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• The Green vs. The Grey! Who will decide the fate of this dying Earth: Green Lantern or Grundy?
• Will the new wonders of Earth band together to form the first super team since the death of the Trinity?
• Does super-genius Sloan really know what's best for this world?

Jim: I loved this book for about 3 issues and have already started to look at it with a jaundiced view. The problems I have is that the book is taking too long to come together as a team book, it has some very nineties type costumes which are not that cool and the Green vs the Grey is way too similar to the Animal Man and Swamp Thing stuff. Maybe it is suppose to be connected, but to me it is redundant. I’m sticking with the book because I still love the Justice Society and this is as close as I will get to having them back. At least we are starting at the beginning for these characters as opposed to the middle for so many of the rest of the DCU books.

Lee:  I'm not actually reading this book because I am waiting for the trade.  Robinson has always been somewhat of a slow-burn writer so I'm not surprised it's taking awhile to develop.  I bet it'll great when read in collected format.

 

BATMAN, INCORPORATED #5
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
Variant cover by FRAZER IRVINGRESOLICIT • On sale NOVEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $3.99 US
• War in the skies of Gotham City!
• Bat-robots versus Talia's Man-Bat armies!
• Leviathan and The Heretic increase the hostilities to a whole new level!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

Jim: I absolutely love this series. The cover depicts a return of the future version of Damian as Batman and the solicitation talks about other stuff going on at the same time. The entire Grant Morrison turn on Batman has been fantastic and it opened the book back up with some new concepts. The reset button impacted that a bit, but Grant has continued to push the Batman myth forward.

Lee:  I find it odd that you love this so much because this is the book that I am having the most trouble with.  The huge reset button that is there, and is going to continue to be used makes the series moot in my opinion.  Not that I am a huge continuity geek but knowing it doesn't matter now really kills me interest. 

 

BATMAN #14
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Backup story written by SCOTT SNYDER and JAMES TYNION IV
Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Backup story art by JOCK
Cover by GREG CAPULLOVariant cover by TREVOR McCARTHY
On sale NOVEMBER 14 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
• "DEATH OF THE FAMILY" continues!
• The Joker is back and somehow more sinister than ever! What caused this change? And can even Batman stop a Joker so driven and dangerous?
• And where is Alfred?
• Plus: In the backup feature, The Penguin is running out of options as he's confronted by The Joker!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

Jim: While I think Grant’s Batman series is the best one, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s series has been an excellent run on the book. I have had issues here and there with some of the retro-cons but all in all Scott crafts some great stories and Greg’s art is a huge plus. As much as DC in general disappoints me they do understand that their entire line is dependent on Batman now and they put forth some strong efforts on these books. I saw a piece where Rob Liefeld said it was the character that sold the book and not the writer. While Batman is the main draw a good team can increase sales and maintain a strong brand and a bad team will erode sales. Snyder and Capullo are a great team and I would have to say the fact that Batman is a top book is due to these gentlemen.

Lee: I am not nearly as sold on this book as you are.  It's fine but somehow it just doesn't click with me.  There are good points, and the art is great but it's just not working.

 

THE PHANTOM STRANGER #2
Written by DAN DIDIO
Art by BRENT ANDERSON and SCOTT HANNA
Cover by BRENT ANDERSON
1:25 Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale NOVEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• The Phantom Stranger comes face to face with PANDORA!
• Plus, meet the deadly sons of Trigon — and behold Dr. 13!

Jim: I have always loved this character, but fear Didio’s handling of any book. Plus, as an editor how do you manage the co-publisher writing a book? Internally there should be rules that once you are in a certain position you can only do one shots or no writing at all. Hell I think Johns’ position makes it hard to edit him too.

Lee: There is no real reason for this book to exist so I am betting that it's a lead in to the first major cross-over.  I'm taking bets now that something happens in this book that imacts all the other books across the line.

 

JOE KUBERT PRESENTS #2
Written and illustrated by JOE KUBERT, BRIAN BUNIAK and SAM GLANZMAN
Cover by JOE KUBERT
On sale NOVEMBER 28 • 48 pg, FC, 2 of 6, no interior ads, $4.99 US • RATED T
• At last: A lost Joe Kubert classic sees print! The amazing sci-fi epic THE REDEEMER begins in this issue!
• New stories with classic characters ANGEL AND THE APE and the crew of the U.S.S. STEVENS!

Jim: With the passing of Joe Kubert this project I assume will fall apart, but I hope it doesn’t and we get to see whatever work was done for the book. Maybe it can be a pure tribute to Joe Kubert. I already miss that we will not get more new work from Joe. He was an enormous talent.

Lee: Wow, is this a collection of old stuff or what???  The Redeemer character was first hyped back in 1983.  You can read allllll about it in Amazing Heroes #34.  If you can find a copy that is.  I assume the story was never finished because it was never published so I'm wondering what is actually going to happen. 

 

TEEN TITANS BY GEOFF JOHNS OMNIBUS HC
Written by GEOFF JOHNS, BEN RAAB, JAY FAERBER, JUDD WINICK, JEREMY JOHNS, MARK WAID and MARV WOLFMAN Art by MIKE McKONE, JUSTINIANO, GEORGES JEANTY, MATT CLARK, IVAN
REIS, TONY S. DANIEL and others
Cover by MICHAEL TURNEROn sale JANUARY 30 • 1,440 pg, FC, $150.00 US
• In this massive hardcover from superstar writer Geoff Johns, Superboy, Kid Flash, Robin, Wonder Girl and Cyborg join together as the DC Universe's premiere teen super team!
• Plus, meet new arrivals Miss Martian and Ravager and witness a battle for the fate of the universe as the INFINITE CRISIS arrives!
• Collecting TEEN TITANS #1/2-26, 29-46 and 50, LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE #2, TITANS SECRET FILES #2, TEEN TITANS/OUTSIDERS SECRET FILES 2003, BEAST BOY #1-4, TEEN TITANS/LEGION OF SUPER HEROES SPECIAL #1, OUTSIDERS #24-25, ROBIN #147-147, INFINITE CRISIS #5-6 and TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1.

Jim: With a library of 75 years to choose from we get Omnibus after Omnibus of Geoff Johns work being reprinted. I know he is one the high muck a mucks at DC, but really this is not classic material or even his best work. I hate these volumes. DC uses cheap paper, no book that is 1440 pages can have a spine that will last and almost every DC collection now has no extras. I miss books that have interviews or background material that goes along with it making the collection more than just a reprint.

Lee: Yep, I agree with you.  I am not a fan of these omnibus's at all.  Especially when they reprint material that is less than 10 yrs old.  Heck, you can go get all the issues for less than the price of this book.  I fear this is the way of the future too.  DC isn't going to reprint anything before the reboot anytime soon.

LOT 13 #2
Written by STEVE NILES
Art and cover by GLENN FABRY
On sale NOVEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, 2 of 5, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS
• An overnight stay turns into a terrifying hell for a young family!
• As the horror mounts, the question becomes this: How far would you go to protect your family?

Jim: Steve Niles I think has written for a lot of different publishers. Right now he has work with DC and IDW and probably has projects with two other companies. I wonder if he has ever done any Marvel work (I’m too lazy to look it up). I’ll give almost any Niles project a look and with Fabry art it is hard to go wrong.
Lee: Let me know how it is. Niles is too hit of miss for me.  It's either great or complete trash so these days I wait until I read a review.

DC has lost favorite publisher status with me. I’m no longer tied to their characters, the Vertigo line is showing signs of weakness and the collected editions have lost the quality they used to have. This does not mean I’m not buying stuff from them or they don’t have some great books, it just means they are back in the mix with the other publishers. I’m sure the management team at DC is now scrambling to restore their lost status with me.