Decisions: Teen Titans and Superboy

I'm trying to lump together titles that intertwine or are at least related by character line.  These two are both.

Warning: Most likely contains spoilers.

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Issue #3

Teen Titans

Since I'd already covered two issues of TT, this will only cover Issue #3, but really, do I need to?

Re-cap:  So much is going on in this story line, it might take me as long to recap as it would take you to download and read.  Kid Flash rescues Solstice from the N.O.W.H.E.R.E. facility somewhere in the Antarctic, but because of the weather, and the muting of Solstice's powers, they don't make it too far. Bunker, on the run, hops a railway car on his search for Red Robin.  Instead he meets a gritty hobo traveling with a strange cocoon. After a brief scuffle, lo and behold, the hobo is Red Robin in disguise.  The two  stop in a town of mind-controlled citizens and RR meets Detritus, a self-sentient scrap metal beast with the ability to erase memories.  He's going to take over humanity.  Finally, Wondergirl confronts 1/3 of "Thrice" to grill him for more information on who hired him/them.  I have a feeling she'll have to beat it out of him.

What Soars: What doesn't?  The art in Teen Titans is amazing.  I'm ranking Brett Booth up there with Jim Lee and Ivan Reis.  I love the way he pencils with such interesting details.  Lobdell has an amazing ability to write a complex story that is so seamless, the reader is able to move through it without feeling lost or whiplashed.  There was so much I couldn't believe there were only 20 pages.  The humor is also HILARIOUS.  It's adult humor and juvenile humor all rolled into one.  Perhaps his ability to do this is why there is such great character development.  I feel like I know Bunker more in 10 pages then I know most other characters after several issues.  And no, it's not because I have a thing for gay latin guys. I do, but that's not why.

What Crashes:  Honestly, I can't say anything does.  OK, maybe I don't quite understand Bunker's powers yet and maybe he's a little too stereotypically latino twinkie flamboyantly gay, but he's a fucking riot.  And if the shoe fits...  Besides, this series is GREAT!

Decision: A definite keeper!  In fact, I've already downloaded the rest of the issues up to now.  Worth every penny, I'm sure.

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Issue #2

Superboy
Issue #2

Re-cap:  Superboy is released from the lab to team up with Rose Wilson to stop a "prison riot" where three aliens are trying to break free of a holding facility. Even though he is stopped physically, Superboy manages to take down the aliens and the entire facility with his powers of tactile telekenesis.  Rose Wilson barely manages to escape and return to the N.O.W.H.E.R.E. plane as the prison disintegrates.

What Soars: I am actually pretty impressed with the story.  There is enough action and plot to keep me engaged AND thinking this book is much longer than it actually is.  The great part is that Lobdell writes Teen Titans as well so the stories mesh well.

What Crashes:  I've said it before.  The art is abhorrent. It is so distracting, it keeps me from enjoying the story.  How many issues have to run before publishers decide to replace an artist?

Decision:  I hate to say it, but I had my mind made up on this one by the end of Issue #2.  While I think it would be a good companion to Teen Titans, I just can't justify following them both.  Because I like a variety of characters, I'm picking TT. Goodbye, Superboy.  I'll see you in a book where you're drawn much better. Maybe if Silva is replaced in the future, I'll pick you back up.

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All images copyright DC Comics and used under the guidelines of Fair Use.

Reviews: Red Lantern #2, Stormwatch #2

Now that all the #1s are issued, the frenzy at Mile High Comics in Glendale has died down.  They're still busy, but they aren't selling out before noon anymore. Now that I've made it through, it's time to decide what to keep and what to let go.

It's New Comic Book Wednesday!

Red Lantern #2

From the cover of this issue, you know you are reading a book highly charged with political commentary.  When I saw it, I immediately thought "propaganda poster."  It has that artistic style, political feel and the simple message. Rage. And in this case, with the arm held high, rage clearly equals power.

SPOILER ALERT:  Attrocitus is still feeling the emptiness of his unrealized vengeance and is in pursuit of enacting retribution for those feeling unbridled rage.  His memories take him back to Ghan IX where Yeuver militants who came to help the citizens of the homeworld are now fighting against them.  In a move to exert their power they gun down some "armed hosiltes"  their sensors detected out in the open.  Too bad their sensors couldn't tell them the hostiles were children with sticks.  The Yeuvers slaughter two of the three children leaving the youngest, a girl, witness to the act and filled with an immense rage of her own.  It is this rage that fuels Attrocitus' vengeance, and the memory of his own family's slaughter that is it's origin.

Yup. Killing those kids. You should be really proud.

While the political commentary is blatantly obvious to me, I wonder how many readers just don't get the Middle-east parallel.  The images, the excuses, the behaviors are all called out in this series. Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking sides here.  I understand the complexities of war and the challenges that come along with fighting on a front, but I think all to often we don't see the selfishness, the removal from emotion, and the inappropriate actions that come with killing in the name of oil, or freedom, or peace.

Attrocitus asks many pointed, rhetorical questions as he narrates.  "How is one rage be more worthy of another?",  "How can one pain be worthy of more retribution?", and "Does rage simply beget more rage?" In the end, because of his nature and his red ring, he decides rage, vengeance and retribution must be enacted for the defenseless, those who cannot act for themselves.

However, I think it is the Yeuvar soldier, facing his own death at the hands of vengeance, who asks the most though-provoking question of all.  Here is a man who killed children in the name of war, who recognizes his mistake and understands what Attrocitus is there to do.  In one of his final breaths, he asks, "I have a wife and a small daughter.  Kill me and you'll be destroying their lives too.  Who will be an instrument of justice for them?"

Not to be repetitive, but the art continues to be spectacular, not only for its skill in representing form and shape, but also in the emotion that these images can bring out in the reader.  The slaughter of the children is graphic, but the moment where Rixx realizes her rage at the death of her brothers, that rage is clear in every line of the panel.  It's truly incredible.

I mostly try to read comics to escape the harsh reality of the world I live in, but it's nice to have examples of comics that challenge the political mainstream, that make the reader think, and that help to show nay-sayers that comics aren't just "kids' stuff."  And because we can all identify with rage in one form or another, I'll keep on readin' on.

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Stormwatch #2

I will continue to follow this storyline, but I'll have to admit, from the get-go of this issue, I felt a little lack-luster.  First, I fault myself for not re-reading issue #1 to get me back in line with the story. Second, I fault the story for being a little chaotic to begin with.

SPOILER ALERT:  The story starts in chaos as the moon is coming alive and threatening the planet in an effort to "toughen up" the human race.  The entity there is invading Harry's mind, unaware Harry is actually invading his.  How else could he become more powerful and unseat Adam as the leader of Stormwatch. Meanwhile, back in Moscow, Martian Manhunter and his unconscious cohorts are now trying to recruit BOTH Apollo and Midnighter.  I'm not sure how they were so selective with Apollo and then, hey, "Why not join us, Midnighter?"

Stormwatch operates in such secrecy that they frame villains to protect the world from finding out they even exist. No one knows.  Even superheroes aren't in on the secret.  This intrigues me.  They cover up that an alien is targeting Stormwatch and Earth, by alerting the Justice League that some two-bit Fox-faced villain was causing some lunar disturbance.  In some instances, they border on the gray zone of villain or hero.  How is it OK to frame someone for your own protection.

Do you know how I know 

you're gay, Midnighter?
Maybe it's the carbon-
armored sheath for your VanDyk.

The sexual tension between Midnighter and Apollo is a little, well, gay.  Come on, Midnighter?  Stalker much?  You've been trailing Apollo for a year?  you know why he doesn't want to "come out" as a superhero?  Please.  Enlighten us.  It's understandable you want him all to yourself.  Who wouldn't?  But do you have to be such a creeper about it?  Do you know how I know you're gay, Midnighter? Maybe it's the carbon armored sheath for your VanDyk.

The artwork in this series remains on par.  It's not the most impressive I've ever seen, but it is FAR from the worst.  I'm glad they didn't go with some more graphic style (i.e. I, Vampire).  Anything that gets the more mainstream audience on board with the story helps.  Maybe by the time they "reveal" they gayness of not one, but two characters, the audience will already be hooked.

I support superheroes, I support teams, and I support the gays.  I'll keep supporting this because the story and intrigue keep me wondering.  And I'm still hoping to see some hot man-on-man action.

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Watch out for this week's mini-digis: Action Comics #2, Green Arrow #2; Huntress #1 and The Last of the Greats #1.

Next week:  Batgirl #2, Green Lantern #2, and Superboy #2

All images copyright DC Comics and used under guidelines of Fair Use

Reviews: GLNG#1 and TT#1

This week I had some titles I wanted in print, so I headed on in to Mile High Comics in Glendale. After talking to the best Comic Book Guy I know, Aaron Tucker, I learned to call on Tuesday to have books held when...

It's New Comic Book Wednesday!

Green Lantern New Guardians #1

My second favorite Lantern of 2814 is Kyle Rayner.  He was first introduced as I was entering college and exploring my creative, artistic side.  I knew I could never be the cool, jocky, test pilot like Hal, but I was able to identify so much more with Kyle.  He was an artist, I was an artist.  He was about my age and living  on minimal resources. If Kyle could be picked as a Lantern, I could have some of the same positive attributes.

This issue explores the birth of Kyle as a GL, but with the relaunch, they play with the idea a little differently.  And I like it.  Green Lantern, Sinestro, Star Sapphire and Black Hand have all been around for a while, but the rest of the Lantern spectrum was introduced in the Blackest Night series.  Because it was so successful, the idea of all Lanterns was incorporated into this relaunch.

A pensive Kyle,
drawing for favors

SPOILER ALERT: Kyle is so poor, he's trading drawings for drinks when he's out with his friends.  When he sneaks out back to take a leak, he's accosted by Ganthet bearing the last Green Lantern ring of Oa.  He has some trouble gaining acceptance from the rest of NYC who are used to seeing Jordan in the role, but in an epic rescue, he impresses the folks in Times Square.  The "twist" to the story comes when Kyle is "chosen" by a ring from every color of the spectrum.

The humor in this issue is pretty characteristic of GL and somewhat self-mocking.  As soon as Kyle saves the day, a tween bystander starts talking about "the brown haired" Lantern and asks why Kyle has on a bib.  I also really like the twist of the story and the challenge presented with Kyle being chosen by every ring.  It's a cool concept, even though it does raise some unusual questions, the strongest being, "Whenever has a ring decommissioned on an active lantern?" followed closely by, "When does a ring choose someone outside its own sector?"  No wonder the other Lanterns are so pissed off and suspicious.

The art of Tyler Kirkham is actually pretty impressive.  We see it in the details of Kyle's face, the bulges of strained muscles and the nooks and crannies of alien features.  He even shows his range in style when Kyle forms an "anime Ganthet" but I think the true wonder is in a two page "rescue" spread.

Absolutely love the beefy blue
collars saving the rig.

The fun thing about Kyle is because he has such a different perspective, his "creations" have historically tended to be more artistic than Hal's much more concrete embodiments.  In his attempt to rescue a massive crane falling of the top of a Time's Square building he creates some amazing, massive energy construction workers to catch and support the tumbling machinery.  Quite impressive, Booth.

I was talking with Aaron about the New 52 and how some stories are minimal and some have too much.  He referred to JL#1 as being like "a quarter of a cookie."  I feel a little like that with this story.  What was there was delicious, but it just wasn't enough.  Luckily, I'll continue to follow.  It is GL after all.

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Teen Titans #1

I still feel like a teenager.  Even though I'm pushing 40, I behav like I did in high school.  Heck, I can't imagine that a day has even passed.  How do I hold down a job?  Granted, maybe thats why I ended up working with teenagers in a high school.

All that said, it's kind of why I have a tie to Teen Titans. They're kids. Life is awkward even if you don't have super-human abilities.  When you do, it just compounds all those weird feelings you have of feeling out of place.  So the misfits turn to each other, just like I turned to other misfits in high school.  The result here is a powerful force.

SPOILER ALERT:  Red Robin is trying to stay one step ahead of the evil agency trying to hunt super-human teams. His mission is two-fold.  To protect them all and help them band together to form a solid team. He's the current target, but his research on meta-humans tells him who is next.  Narrowly escaping his hunters in his Luthor Towers penthouse (big fireworks there), he seeks out Wonder Girl as the first of many he knows are also being hunted.

The story is actually pretty riveting and it feels like "a whole cookie" to me.  There's enough exposition there, gets you right into some conflict and develops two strong characters throughout the 20 pages.  While the cover is slightly misleading (most of these characters aren't in the mix yet), it's a fun and enticing foundation.

Psyched for a gay hero,
but purple? Really?

I admit, I've not been a "follower" of Teen Titans, but I was interested in reading this, but hadn't planned on picking it up in print.  But then I read an interesting article on Bleeding Cool. TT is introducing a new gay character in this series named Bunker.  I may not be a fan of his gaily purple costume, but the young, latino meta-human should provide a positive image for gay teens everywhere.  I wish I had some positive image of other gay teens.  Now if only he wasn't so stereotypically "Mondo-Queer."  I guess progress is progress no matter how slow.

Is she 17 or 40? Or are those just
man hands?

The art in this book is great too.  Brett Booth's got quite the handle on musculature and details in the humans and scenery.  The one suggestion I would give him is to work on being able to correctly convey the age of his characters.  Wonder Girl is clearly identified as 17, but  in most panels, she looks much older.  It's not about muscles, it's more about the aged look we all get as we get older the lack of elasticity in the skin.   Red Robin has it, why not Wonder Girl?  In one specific scene, I thought I was looking at a 40-something housewife of Orange County.  The hands? Really? No wonder the poor teen can't get any dates.

This story ends with the same few pages that end Superboy #1 which is a nice way to tie the two books together.  But with a merge, I have to wonder how they'll run two parallel series.  Of course I'll keep reading to find out.

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Watch out for this week's mini-digis: Red Hood #1 (last week), Aquaman #1, and I, Vampire #1

Next week:  Action #2, Green Arrow #2, Red Lantern #2,  and Stormwatch #2


All images copyright DC Comics and used under guidelines of Fair Use

Reviews: Green Lantern #1, Red Lanterns #1, Batwoman #1

Prologue:  So I stopped at the comic book store on the way home today.  When I arrived, the shelves were mostly empty.  I checked and double checked that it was actually Wednesday and it wasn't a holiday week (I've committed both mistakes), and eventually went to the front.  There were two copies of GL#1 left in the "Pick of the Week" rack.  Everything else had been picked clean!

When I asked Aaron if they were all sold out, he said there were 25 people waiting for them to open this morning and they sold out soon after.  THIRTEEN brand new "52" titles this week all gone in about 4 hours.  Looks like comic sales are back on the rise.  And I am forced to buy titles in digital this week.  How's that for a sign?  With that in mind, you already know...

It's "New Comic Book Wednesday!"

As DC continues to release #1s of all its revamped AND new titles, I'm playing along.  Here's what I've been anxiously awaiting this week.

Green Lantern #1
Just looking at the cover, any GL fan can tell this is a re-vamp.  We have been teased with this cover for a long time now. Hello! Sinestro is a Green Lantern again! Now DC released a 3 page preview so I knew this was coming.  Anyhow, because the GL universe is my life, I'm just going to start out saying...

SPOILER ALERT: (and mild language warning)
WTF? Hal Jordan is no longer the Green Lantern!  You have got to be kidding me.  Who do I need to blow around here to fix that screw up?

Now I know I'm at fault.  Being so back-logged on inventory, I'm not entirely caught up.  I don't know the last few things that led up to Flashpoint and I don't know what happened there, so I could be missing crucial info.  But this was supposed to be a relaunch.  I shouldn't have to know.  Believe me though, I will be doing my homework and catching up pronto!

Short synop: The Guardians discharged Hal (he's too much of a screwup) and the ring "chose" Sinestro again (Earth-hating Guardians embrace the "friends close, enemies closer" ideal) who is sent off to protect his sector and Korugar (which he last left in the hands of the Sinestro Corps to protect).  Hal, (jobless, in serious debt and facing eviction) gets arrested, bailed out by Carol who offers him a desk Ferris.  Eventually accepting reality, Hal decides to let go of his GL life and move forward.

Discontinuity aside (yes, perceived), there are some really powerful aspects to the story in this first issue.  His hatred for all things green aside, Sinestro's  intent was always to protect Korugar.  When he arrives at his home planet, he knows he has to do recon  because of his new mantle.  And he's not happy what he sees.  The Sinestro Corps he left to protect his planet has enslaved its people.  You don't need words to see the internal battle raging in Sinestro's heart.  Of course, killing a Sinestro Corps member helps you see that just a little.

I'm glad Geoff Johns knows Hal.  As always, the cocky (and clueless) Hal I love is in true form.  He accepts where his actions have gotten him, he decides to swallow his pride and take a desk job, and he even asks Carol out on a romantic date.  There, across the candlelit table, he admits it's time to leave his old life behind, accepts his shame and asks Carol that important question every woman in love wants to hear. "Will you cosign the new lease on my car?" Classic. 

Hal Jordan? Or bad drag queen?

As for artwork, I'm a little unimpressed with Mahnke this issue. OK a lot! Throughout Brightest Day, I saw some really great work, especially in the close up detail.  As I mentioned, some of his stuff was tattoo worthy.  And then I see this issue.  The detail in some of the face work is appalling. Carol looks plain in most panels, Hal looks ok most of the time, but there is one ECU on Hal that makes me hurl.

Yes, Gary the Landlord,
I'm looking at his butt too.

I will admit though, there is one panel in particular where the detail grabs my attention.  Unable to leave his heroism behind, Hal leaps from his 7th floor balcony into another apartment to rescue a woman being attacked by a thug.  As he takes off, we catch a glimpse of his lower back, including his sexy green chones (yes, Spanish slang for undies).   Why this was the view you chose to go with, I'll never know.  Perhaps you artists are on my team. Regardless, I thank you. Thank you VERY much.

Overall, a great story.  I'll continue reading GL forever, but good writing like Johns' will always make sure I'm entertained and thinking.  As for the art, I'll take some Tums while I read and just hope for less of Exhibit A and more of Exhibit B.  And I know what I'll be dreaming of later.

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Red Lanterns #1
I started laughing from the first panel of this issue.

1. Wonderful that the action occurs in Sector 666.
2. Pleasing that the first creatures we encounter are getting a frisson from pulling out a captor's eyeball.
3. Hilarious that they decide to invent a new game of torture on that cute kitty, Red Lantern Dex-Starr.

And all before the title page.

While humor caught my attention in this story, the plight is what kept it.  Rage and vengeance have never been driving forces in my life, but I can certainly identify with them.  In the moment, I have let rage and vengeance consume me, but I can't imagine having that as your only driving force (although it might actually been fun for awhile. Fun and lonely).

This issue is an origin story, but one that gives life and identity to Attrocitus, a being so evil.  Rage lives in all of us and sometimes we can act out in rage while having every good intent. That's where Attrocitus was born; his rage was born out of his love for his people. People slaughtered by the orders of a Guardian.

But doesn't vengeance have an endgame?  When the object of your Rage has been terminated, doesn't it finally subside, or has it become so much a part of your thinking that it has to find another outlet?  And what if the object of your vengeance is destroyed by someone or something else? Can your thirst ever be quenched?  Hal Jordan destroyed the cause of Attrocitus' rage, so he was left feeling empty and unfulfilled.  He decides he will survive by bringing the rage of others into his fold.  A side story on Earth, of a young man whose grandfather is beaten to death by a mugger, is the perfect way to bring this story home.

In my 9/11 post, I talked about how comics helped me understand and process my feelings about real events.  This story has some pretty tough political undertones given the climate of our country over the last ten years.  "We" are fueled by vengeance and attacks on our own soil; we seek out targets we think are responsible, but when those are defeated, the victory seems shallow.  We then feed off the rage and revenge of others by inserting ourselves in their conflicts, making them our own.  The idealist in me is sure it will end sometime.  But will it really?

Ed Benes has some mad pencil skills.  Of course, it's harder to critique details when an artist is drawing creatures so unlike reality, but they still look realistic in form and musculature.  And they do scare me.  However, his renderings of the attack on grandpa are very vivid, quite graphic, detailed and realistic (although I'm still trying to figure out the physics of one punch).

In the end, the important part is that Attrocitus becomes a character who readers can identify with and eventually see as their heroic protagonist.  I'm not sure how long the connection can last, but I will continue to follow this story.  Digitally.  Besides, how can you resist a man who likes cats?

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Batwoman #1
I followed Batwoman's short life through and after 52 and the Countdown and thought there was really something there.  I liked the character, I liked the story and the art, and I was even digging on the lesbian vibe.  Anytime, mainstream media, pop culture, art or literature can help break stereotypes, I'm down.  So I had high hopes for this title.

Boy was I ever let down.

The story opens with a family being attacked by La Llorona, a spirit manifested from a latin urban legend. The family is rescued by Batwoman, but not before the Weeping Woman escaped with their three children.  Is the Bat franchise fighting ghosts now?

Kate Kane, the secret identity of Batwoman, looks like a Smurf goth chick gone wrong.  In too few pages, they try to introduce the sidekick (and cousin), Plebe, formerly Flamebird, establish Kate as a lesbian by cramming in a Renee Montoya reference while she flirts with a police detective, tell a backstory that explains why Kate hates her father who covered up the fact that her murdered sister was still alive, returned as a super-villain and died (drowned) as a result of Batwoman's actions (yes, most likely leading to this "twin" being La Lorona).  Oh yah.. And some agent from the Department of Extranormal Operations (who also looks like the dead twin) is being sent to "unmask the bat." Confused yet?

The story (as convoluted as it is) is told through a kaleidoscope of images and panels that were confusing to follow.  I have to admit, here's the advantage of buying it in digital format.  "Guided Reading Mode."  At least I was able to figure out where to go next.

I've never been one for the whole Batman universe, and this comic has certainly not changed my mind.  I will probably give it one more issue (which I might skim in the store), but unfortunately I'm not hopeful.  If anything is going to bring me to the Dark Knight side, it will be Batgirl #1 which had far better art and a much more identifiable and appealing storyline.

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Other mini-reviews of this week's and last week's (digital) comics coming soon!

Action Comics#1, Batgirl#1, and Superboy#1

Next Week: Green Lantern Corps #1 and Wonder Woman #1

Reviews: Stormwatch#1 and GA#1

It's "New Comic Book Wednesday!"

As DC continues to release #1s of all its revamped AND new titles, I'm playing along.  Here's what I've been anxiously awaiting this week.

Stormwatch #1

I have been dying for this one to come out primarily because of the characters being brought up from the DC "minors."  Although I have never followed The Midnighter, I know of him. And Apollo.  I feel like a Noob starting something completely new, but one thing I like about the DC relaunch is that none of them (so far) start at the beginning.  It isn't a string of "Origin" comics.  

In Stormwatch, a team of super powered monitors have been protecting the planets for centuries and they have discovered an alien force that is threatening the earth and has the power to defeat Superman.  Their mission is to save Earth. One member of their team, The Martian Manhunter, explains that he works with the Justice League when the world needs a hero, but he works with Stormwatch when they need a warrior.  And they are looking to recruit a man on earth even more powerful than Supes.

Enter Apollo, a closet case.  He has tremendous power, he's even used it to fight and defeat the man of steel, but he is not interested in being a hero.  He wants to be left alone to live his normal, quiet life.  But Stormwatch knows his ability and knows they need him to save Earth.

This is one story I'm hoping does NOT change from the characters as they exist in Wildstorm comics, for you see, Midnighter and Apollo are a couple.  Yes.  Strong, masculine, male heroes. And gay. Such men do exist.  And here in their own mainstream series.  I'm hoping it continues to be epic.

Now, I suppose I'm being picky, but you have a headquarters lurking in hyperspace, you have technology to monitor the entire universe and you have humanoids with amazing abilities to run the entire operation. And the best names you can come up with are Angie, Harry and Adam? I guess that a world as fantastic and creative as this could have some names that are a little more unique.

I'm also not so keen on the art, but I can certainly live with it.  I get really finicky when comic art borders on watercolor realism.  I recognize that Alex Ross is a tremendous artist, but I do not like his for for comics.  There are times in this, especially in close up details, that Miguel Sepulveda seems to be approaching that line.  And then there's feet.  One character is barefoot and it looks like he's walking on stumps.  I recommend some practice in that area, especially if this guy is ALWAYS barefoot.

Overall, cheers for Stormwatch as a first issue.  I'll continue to read even if it ends up only to follow the Midnighter/Apollo relationship.  

Green Arrow #1
I have been drawn to Green Arrow since early college for his Batman-like origin.  He's just a guy in a suit. Avenging the death of his parents.  He has no powers but does possess amazing skills.   I don't know why I liked him better than Batman (maybe it was the color green or the phenomenal van dyck he always sported), but Green Arrow shot his arrow through my heart.

But making Oliver Queen look like the glamorized CW version detracts from his appeal.  Don't get me wrong.  Justin Hartley is one FINE specimen as a man as Oliver Queen, Arthur Curry or... Justin Hartley, but when it comes to the Oliver Queen on the printed page, he just isn't it.  Disappointment #1.

Now, I've only ever followed GA peripherally, so I don't know which elements are brought from previous stories and which are part of the overall re-write. In this version, Queen Industries is based in Seattle (not Star City) and when I really got to know Green Arrow, he didn't have an "eye-in-the-sky" team helping him pinpoint crime.  As I read through it, I somehow felt like I was reading a modified version of a Smallville episode. Here, his Chloe is called Naomi, although she may as well be called the Oracle or even "Angie" (Yes, the Engineer from Stormwatch). Disappointment #2.

SPOILER ALERT:  The story seemed a tad bit convoluted.  Green arrow is in pursuit of an awkward trio of criminals who video their attacks and post them online.  He confronts them on a yacht party where they are caught and sent to prison.  As he resumes life at Q-Core, the arrested criminals are broken out by a team of villains.  One looks strangely like Claude Rains' Wolfman.  Writer J.T Krul tried to put way too much into a far too ridiculous story.  Disappointment #3.

The only other element that rubs me the wrong way, in all of the New 52 so far, is that every costume seems made of scaled (yes, like fish scales) armor. Somehow superheroes in armor seems wrong.

And finally, I lied.  Yesterday I said I'd buy all The New 52 #1s in print.  However, I decided there were some titles I'd test drive in digital, so I logged on from home and downloaded a few.  I'll talk about them another day.