New 52 Thoughts

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:46 pm

comicm wrote:Big move up for Static Shock for me this month.

I REALLY disliked Static #2. Helped me move the title from "on the fence" to dropped. But everyone likes different stuff, which is good.

I'm pretty much dropping anything Marvel/DC that I consider a 3/5, it's the only way to get down to my target of 125 books.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:50 pm

BobBretall wrote: Still in "Holding Zone":
Green Arrow #2
Justice League International #2

On reflection, I'm going to:

Drop Green Arrow #2 - I'm really not liking the younger hipper GA.
Add Justice League International #2 to my Pull list, the 2nd issue was much more enjoyable for me than #1.

comicm · Post by **comicm** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:53 pm

BobBretall wrote:
comicm wrote:Big move up for Static Shock for me this month.
I REALLY disliked Static #2. Helped me move the title from "on the fence" to dropped. But everyone likes different stuff, which is good.

I'm pretty much dropping anything Marvel/DC that I consider a 3/5, it's the only way to get down to my target of 125 books.

That is funny because I thought it was a huge improvement over the first issue which was towards the bottom. I wonder if frame of mind when reading a comic is a huge factor in how we feel about it. We did have one thing in common we both said All Star Western was our favorite #1. It even beat OMAC for me.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 6:38 pm

comicm wrote: I wonder if frame of mind when reading a comic is a huge factor in how we feel about it.

I don't know. I read it in the same sitting as JLI, Huntress, & Last of the Greats, and I liked all those. I really don't think I was in a frame of mind to specifically dislike comic stories, I liked ones that I thought had well told stories.

1) I don't like the art in Static. This puts it at a disadvantage (just like OMAC, and other book where the art is really not to my personal taste).

2) I thought the story was a real cheat in #2. I personally HATE where a cliffhanger is set up at the end of an issue (like Static getting his arm chopped off or Batwing being stabbed thru the chest, both at the ends of their #1s) and it's resolved very easily in the following issue where it feels like a "cheat" to me. I can't argue with anyone who didn't feel that way about the story & liked it, but it felt like a real cop-out to me, so I dropped the book, as I was on the fence anyway.

J. Farrell · Post by **J. Farrell** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 11:02 am

Got a chance to grab a copy of All-Star Western#1 and read it yesterday. Great stuff. I already knew I liked Palmiotti & Gray's take on Hex so that was no surprise. Teaming him up with Arkham and keeping him one place is a different direction that, so far, is working well for me.

The one thing I didn't see eye to eye with so many other readers on was the artwork. I just don't know what people see in Moritat's art. It was okay, but it fell far short of the drooling, amazed reactions I heard from several readers.

I also read Batwoman#2. Still like it, but the issue went by REALLY fast for me. I actually counted the pages when I was done. I dunno, maybe that's because it's drawing me in, but I suspect it also has to do with spreading the book between an increasing number of plots. We hardly got anything about La Llorona in this issue. I might let a few build up before I read it again so I get a more substantial shot of story next time.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 5:28 pm

J. Farrell wrote: The one thing I didn't see eye to eye with so many other readers on was the artwork. I just don't know what people see in Moritat's art. It was okay, but it fell far short of the drooling, amazed reactions I heard from several readers.

It's just personal taste. I can't understand why people are drooling over the art in OMAC. Or Lenil Franci Yu's art.

But people like what they like, everyone has their own perceptions on what art hits them as super-pleasing to the eye.

Personally, I really love Moritat's art.

J. Farrell · Post by **J. Farrell** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:58 pm

BobBretall wrote:
J. Farrell wrote: The one thing I didn't see eye to eye with so many other readers on was the artwork. I just don't know what people see in Moritat's art. It was okay, but it fell far short of the drooling, amazed reactions I heard from several readers.
It's just personal taste. I can't understand why people are drooling over the art in OMAC. Or Lenil Franci Yu's art.

But people like what they like, everyone has their own perceptions on what art hits them as super-pleasing to the eye.

Personally, I really love Moritat's art.

Yeah, I know. I just wish I could see what other people are seeing and enjoy it to the same degree. Still a great issue, regardless.

Danscomics · Post by **Danscomics** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:25 am

BobBretall wrote: Drop Green Arrow #2 - I'm really not liking the younger hipper GA.

I fully agree with this. I was read the last Green Arrow series from #1 to the end and was really enjoying it. I was expecting the same this time but I am about ready to drop it as well. I also don't like the younger brasher GA, I much preferred the older repentant one.

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:20 pm

Danscomics wrote:
BobBretall wrote: Drop Green Arrow #2 - I'm really not liking the younger hipper GA.
I fully agree with this. I was read the last Green Arrow series from #1 to the end and was really enjoying it. I was expecting the same this time but I am about ready to drop it as well. I also don't like the younger brasher GA, I much preferred the older repentant one.

I wonder if these are scripts for the GA series that never took off . . . feels a lot like what they might have done with the character as was shown in Smallville.

torchsong · Post by **torchsong** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:07 pm

Dropped:
Batgirl - may get in trade
Green Arrow - totally unimpressed
Suicide Squad - REALLY unimpressed...I think they sat down and wrote down every bad move the could make on this series, then went with that list!

Huntress mini-series - Is okay but seems to be a fairly standard Huntress tale. Will get in trade.

On the cusp:
Batman The Dark Knight - I'm not sure why I dig it when nobody else does. But I do.
Wonder Woman - I'm giving this one a few more issues. I like what I've seen but I'm not enthralled yet.
New Guardians - This may get dropped. I'm just not sure I'm going to like where it goes.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:17 pm

Week 2 #2s....

Dropping both of the books that were in my "holding zone" after #1:

Batman & Robin #2 - This was OK, I'd give it a 3/5, but 2 Batman books is going to be plenty for me, those are going to be Batman & Detective. Plus, I was a fan of the progress that Damian had been making pre-Flashpoint, personality-wise. Now, killing a bat with his bare hands? Please.
Suicide Squad #2 -2/5 - Art is not doing it for me, and the story (techno-zombies) was REALLY weak. No motivation/set-up, just "we've been dropped in, let's fight these guys!"

Revisiting the #2 issues that did not make the cut w/#1, just to make sure they didn't do a big turn-around:
Deathstroke #2 - 2/5 - Just read like a long mindless fight scene, not for me.
Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE #2 - 3/5 - Can't get past the art, which isn't to my taste.
Grifter #2 - 2/5 - Nope. Really lacking on motivation for this guy becoming a "costumed" adventurer, and why bother tying on that mask at all for a couple pages?
Legion Lost #2 - 3/5 - Story is not clicking for me. Doesn't read like a Legion story and doesn't feel like a "current heroes" story either.
Mister Terrific #2 - 2/5 - Art was really not to my liking, ANOTHER book with a cliffhanger from #1 that was resolved too quick in a throw-away fashion that felt like a cheat, and I DO NOT like the dialogue.

I'll read the other DC #2s from week 2 tomorrow......

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:18 pm

Demon Knights #2 - 5/5 - **Favorite DC of the week ** I really love this one, the combo of the fantasy/medieval elements with the DCU is really cool. I loved the Dragon/dinosaurs & how tasty Vandal Savage found them to be. The mixture of characters really works well for me, and I thought each one had a decent amount of 'screen time' & character development over the course of the issue. The Demon sprouting wings? Neat!

Resurrection Man #2 -5/5 - Another one that I can't get enough of. I'm going to love seeing where they go with old Mr. Roth. And the Body Doubles? Love 'em! The last page? Color me intrigued! Can't wait for #3.

Superboy #2 -5/5 - I'm really digging this new take on Superboy, I like Rose (will she be Ravager?) & Fairchild as supporting cast.

Batgirl #2 -4/5 - Good story overall, a couple of things didn't work for me, but I can let them slide. Barbara's room-mate continues to feel like a REALLY BAD IDEA. She needs to live alone. She can't be totally poor, Bruce could float her a stipend if nothing else. No super-hero should be sharing an apartment with a civilian.

Batwoman #2 -4/5 - Kate Kane's pasty white skin tone continues to really bother me. other than that, I liked the story (cool seeing Cameron Chase again) and the design sense in the issue.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:55 pm

The Unexpected (one shot) - 4.5/5 - I really enjoyed the vast majority of stories in this one. There were several that I thought were phenomenal: The Great Karlini, Look Alive, A most Delicate Monster, Americana. My least favorite was the last story that promises to be continued in Voodoo Child #1, I think I'll skip that one.
Also, I wish Rafael Grampa had done a story inside & not just the cover. If you think that cover was amazing, you need to check out his OGN "Mesmo Delivery Service".

BadDeacon · Post by **BadDeacon** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:17 pm

Just finished reading the week 2 #2s. In order:
Batwoman - Loved it. Loved it. Even if the art wasn't infreakincredible, I would like this issue for the story.
Frankenstein, Agent Of S.H.A.D.E. - fun adventure, cool monsters, cool characters.
Superboy - despite the fact that I feel like I should dislike this, I really like it.
Batgirl - better than issue 1. I really like the aspect of Babs re-learning how to be Batgirl.
Batman and Robin - a lot better than issue 1, and almost a green for me. I liked seeing Bruce learning about being a father, and the father/son relationship developing.
Grifter - another almost green for me. Maybe the long annoying day I had today is making more simple, straightforward comics appealing tonight, but this was a fun read.
Demon Knights - This issue was really losing me. A lot happened, and I didnt really care too much. The line from the "Red Sonja" character about men and bigger targets was a laugh out loud moment for me though.
Suicide Squad - I'd read this if it was laying around, and I didn't pay for it, but that's about all I can say about this one.
Green Lantern - This evoked about as much excitement in me as issue 1, not much.
Ressurection Man - I liked this a lot less than the first issue. Confusing and pointless.
Deathstroke - He killed some fools. Yawn. And they still didn't reveal what is in the briefcase, the most intriguing thing about this title so far.
Mister Terrible - I forced myself to read the whole thing. I bought it, after all, I might as well. I regret this decision.
Legion Lost - fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, we won't get fooled again. After reading a couple pages, and remembering what I mentioned above about Mr. T, I stopped reading this before it gave me a headache.

J. Farrell wrote:I also read Batwoman#2. Still like it, but the issue went by REALLY fast for me. I actually counted the pages when I was done. I dunno, maybe that's because it's drawing me in, but I suspect it also has to do with spreading the book between an increasing number of plots. We hardly got anything about La Llorona in this issue. I might let a few build up before I read it again so I get a more substantial shot of story next time.

Interesting, I thought this issue was a bit more substantial than the first issue, I had no complaints about length, and I've been heckling and heckling about how quick of reads these comics have been. What I find interesting is that something that feels like a quick read to one person can feel like a substantial read to someone else.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:43 pm

My Greatest Adventure #1 - 5/5 - A great follow-on to Weird Worlds. Really fresh take on Robotman, appears to be set in the future. Garbage Man & Tanga are superb, as they were in WW.