DC Rebirth Recap And Review For Comics Released 7/12
Welcome to Graphic Policy’s DC Rebirth: Recap And Review where we take a look at the comics released under DC‘s Rebirth banner and try to work out just how accessible they are for new readers – we’ll also be providing recap of sorts for the relevant story beats up until the issue in question in order to help you figure out if the series is something you’re interested in.
Each comic will receive a rating of Friendly or Unfriendly based on how easy it was for
new readers to pick them up; the ratings are based solely on the issues released in the post-Rebirth ongoing series. More consideration regarding the comic’s accessibility will be given for the specific issue being read rather than the series overall, but if reading a back issue will help, then that will be mentioned. Generally, the quality of an issue won’t be discussed unless it directly impacts a new reader’s enjoyment of the series.
You may notice that not every comic is covered week to week, and that’s because I sometimes forget to read them (although that doesn’t happen often). If I have missed an issue, typically I won’t go looking for back issues to catch up on events – this feature is all about accessibility for new readers, after all.
Action Comics #983 Superman has been attacked by his greatest enemies, and they;ve beaten seven shades of shit out of the Man Of Steel (it doesn’t help that he’ currently blind). Before the final blow came, the cavalry arrived…. it’s a Friendly comic. And really fun.s
Dark Days: The Casting #1 Just… not the best place to jump in. Unfriendly.
Detective Comics #960 I’ve never really been all that familiar with Azreal, nor his backstory, and this arc is pretty heavily steeped in both. An android/dude-in-a-mechsuit with a connection to Azreal’s former bosses has killed a bunch of ex-monks… and Batman’s talking to Zatanna. On the whole this is borderline Unfriendly.
Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps #24 A Green Lantern murdered a Yellow Lantern, and Corps Leader Stewart just found out that a criminal was using this information to blackmail the murderous lantern – and threaten the precarious peace between the two corps.. This issue is Friendly enough.
Justice League Of America #10 Another first part, another chance for you to hop into a series that, personally, I dread reading every month. But you may like it, and if you do you, then I’m pleased for you.
New Super-Man #13 A wonderfully written series, New Super-Man finds our young heroes coming to grips with a foe that’s more powerful than any one of them – Emperor 
Super-Man! This Friendly issue won’t be the easiest place to jump on, but it’s certainly doable.
The Flash #26 Uh… in a nutshell, Reverse Flash pulled the Flash into the future, revealed his identity to Iris and then decided to show him stuff. Depending on how you like your timey-wimey travel stuff done this is either Friendly and worth reading or best avoided. Personally, I enjoyed it.
Red Hood And The Outlaws #12 You can probably tell what the issue is about by the cover, and it’s homage to the Death Of Superman arc from the 90’s. Bizarro is suffering from cellular degeneration due to his limited life span as a clone, and his teammates aren’t too sure what to do. A Friendly issue in one of the most exciting Batbooks.
Titans #13 The Titans are currently attacking a facility to find Bumble Bee’s memories after they were siphoned off and emailed (or something) somewhere else. What results is an entertaining battle that feature’s a character eerily reminiscent of Valiant’s H.A.R.D. Corps. Is it Friendly kinda.
Wonder Woman #26 The first part of a new arc is always a decent place to hop on board, and this issue is no exception. Assuming you know who Wonder Woman is, this is a Friendly issue.
Spider-Men II #1 (Marvel) When the first Spider-Men came out I was reading a lot of Spider-Man comics, but I have since dropped off from the series (a couple years ago, actually). Still, I wanted to see whether we’d finally find out who the Marvel 616 version of Miles Morales is, so I picked this issue up – and I’m glad I did. This comic was entertaining, enjoyable, and almost without any real substance. I loved it in the way you like a movie you can turn your brain off and not have to think too hard. Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read
Dark Days: The Casting #1 (DC) I was really impressed with the the first part of this storyline, so naturally I was a bit let down with this one just being more of the same plot advancements that could have been put into the first issue. The artwork is still solid and there are a nice couple of bits but DC really just stretched this for another 4.99. I would get it for the art but story wise nothing that wasn’t really covered in the first part.
Grass Kings #5 (Boom! Studios)** – The shit begins to hit the fan in the fifth issue of Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins’ family drama set in a breakaway, “off-the-grid” community, and while it’s certainly exciting and visually interesting, a poorly-timed composite flashback/present-day “mash-up” scenario at the end that features actions that don’t quite line up with each other dulls the impact somewhat and places this installment just a notch below the previous four. Overall: 6.5 Recommendation: Read
publicity than at any point since the early days of “American Flagg!” with this one, and while most of it has been understandably negative (that sickening, since-pulled cover was the very definition of “not a good idea”), it’s also beginning to look like both “camps” in the controversy surrounding this series are wrong. There was no gang-rape of a transgender woman last issue — in fact, she killed everybody trying to abuse her before they could — while at the same time, the right-wingers who were bitching about the cover to the first issue, which featured a Muslim woman in a red-white-and-blue burqa, were eager to defend the aforementioned no-longer-forthcoming cover to issue four, which featured a lynched Pakistani man with his balls cut off.
I can sympathize with those who were offended by that cover that was probably never going to come out anyway (although I do have to wonder what these outraged individuals would make of the work of Johnny Ryan, S. Clay Wilson, Mike Diana, and even Crumb — seriously, people, read some undergrounds, it’ll broaden your horizons!), but there’s a “sweet spot” that’s being hit here for what few left-leaning readers of this comic remain : this is confrontational, in-your-face, unflinching stuff that effectively rebukes every single politically conservative position it takes aim at. In vintage Chaykin style, he’s managed to piss off all his allies and fleece all his true foes. I’m not sure I’d go so far as to say that I admire that by any means, but his willingness to stand alone takes some guts, that’s for sure. Overall: 8. Recommendation: Buy.
Black Panther and the Crew #4 (Marvel) – In this issue, we get a flashback and a catch up for readers. In the flashback, the OG Crew, deals with some unsavory characters in Mississippi, as they say struggle with having Northern sensibilities in Jim Crow South. In the present day story, Luke Cage and Misty Knight look for answers about the mysterious corporation who runs Americops and where their true interests lie. By issue’s end, both generations of the Crew meet, and what could happen next probably will be the game changer. Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy
Kaijumax Season 3 #1 (Oni Press)** – Zander Cannon continues to amaze with a heartfelt, humorous, horrible monster story that starts with a cabin in the woods, takes what appears to be a long detour through the story of a poor, put-upon giant goat, gets lost near a mysterious lake in Minnesota and then – oh my Goj – comes together and sets up the rest of the story in a great twist. Get on this. Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy
Today I wanted to talk about the first reboot of the Spider-Man movie franchise from waaaaaaaay back in 2012. After the Sam Raimi trilogy which, lets be honest, didn’t exactly end on a high note, Sony would eventually decide to relaunch the Spider-Man movie franchise, and it’s the result of that reboot that I wanted to talk about today.
“Toyo Harada’s former protege – Alexander Solomon, a “psiot” with the ability to predict and analyze potential futures – has been waiting for this moment. With the Harbinger Renegades – Peter Stanchek, Faith, Kris Hathaway, and Torque – now reunited as a result of his covert manipulations, his ultimate gambit can now begin. But he’s not the only one who has been watching. Major Charlie Palmer has just re-assigned a new division of the militarized psiot hunters codenamed H.A.R.D. Corps to active duty…and they’re about to bring a torrent of blood and calamity roaring into the streets of a major American metropolis for an all-out firefight.
Batman #26 Batman proposed to Catwoman, but before we find out the answer, Bruce is telling Selina about a time when he was caught between the Riddler and the Joker. The slow pace to the story makes this Friendlier than you’d expect.
The Unsound #2 (Boom! Studios)** – I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue of Cullen Bunn and Jack T. Cole’s horrific take on Milos Forman’s “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest,” but the second sees the story take a rather dramatic leap forward that feels more forced by pacing concerns than it is achieved through anything like a natural transition. We’ll see where it goes, though, since it’s not a “deal-breaker” by any means and Cole’s art remains absolutely gorgeous. Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read
Batman #26 (DC) Not a bad issue, when all is said and done, Tom King seems to be building slowly toward what will hopefully be an explosive story. As a build up issue this isn’t bad and carries the momentum of the previous issue (for better or for worse) forward… but all I really want to read is the follow up to Batman #24, not an in-the-past-cstory. . Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read
Scott tells cool psycho Kretchmeyer “sometimes you’ve got to get your hands a little dirty,” he has no idea what he’s talking about. As always, David Lapham is a master of letting his characters do what’s absolutely worst for them even though they themselves think they’re on top of everything. And as we hit 700 pages (!) of “Sunshine and Roses,” every layer we peel off these characters just proves that old pulp hack Shakespeare right: “The worst is not so long as we can say, ‘This is the worst’.” Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy
Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe Again #1 (Marvel) – In the debut issue of the sequel to one of the craziest series in 2012, returns with Deadpool being mind controlled once again to kill Marvel’s superhero roster. This time, he is being mind controlled by a team of villains that seem to have a few motives in play. His connection as an Uncanny Avenger has given him unfettered access to places where most villains can’t go, so his first victims, are 2 of his teammates. By the end of this first issue, we find out he has enough control to ask for help but not enough to stop killing. Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy
Alterna Comics have recently begun printing their comics on newsprint paper, which means they’ve been able to price those comics between $1 and $1.50 per issue. It’s a movement that I am entirely on board with and have been buying everything that the publisher has been releasing on newsprint – which you’re probably aware of if you follow me on Twitter (shameless plug: @karcossa) over the last few months – so obviously I grabbed Scrimshaw #1 when it came out, even though there was probably a review copy hidden somewhere in my inbox.
“Jules Verne meets The Untouchables, in a prohibition themed aerial crime adventure. To avoid dry laws rum runners and patrons alike take to the sky. Dirigibles and hot air balloons now serve as speakeasies and black markets for alcohol. Sky gangs and the police battle it out for rights to the sky.”