DC: The New 52

Ok, gang... take a knee. As almost everyone knows now, DC Comics is doing a complete and total reboot/relaunch of all their titles. All of them. Every series that you have fallen in love with or creative team that has always been great: Cancelled. That's enough to get anyone mad, but there are a few things that may come out of this that will be great. Recently DC sent out a free guide to each of the new books explaining the plot, creative teams, the first cover, and some thoughts from the writer/artist. So let's just go down the list, shall we?

This book actually opens with the first few pages of Justice League #1, which take place 5 years ago. This is described as the world before it knew superheroes. This is apparent as the Gotham City police try to bring Batman, chasing some sort of hopping villain, down. It is made pretty clear that this is definitely goign to be a Batman that is dark and grim, and extra violent, as he shoots a grapple through the leg of the hopper, and its revealed to be (I think) Killer Croc. One explosion later, and I'm either immediately proven wrong, or Croc is now a robot. A giant green fire truck crashes down onto Robo Croc and we get to meet Hal Jordan, who is shocked that Batman is real. So... anything super before 2006 has now been established as out. This includes the Justice Society, which is sad. But enough with the recap, lets get to the reviews.

JUSTICE LEAGUE
The "Justice League" section should really be "everything that isn't Batman, Superman, Teen Titans, Green Lantern or in a separate imprint," but this is what they're calling it, since I doubt every title in this list features a character who'll be in the Justice League. Unless it's going to be a pretty damn big Justice League.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
1:25 Variant cover by DAVID FINCH
RETROSOLICITED • On sale AUGUST 31 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US RATED T • Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Comics superstars Geoff Johns and Jim Lee make history! In a universe where super heroes are strange and new, Batman has discovered a dark evil that requires him to unite the World Greatest Heroes!

First off, congrats to Cyborg for finally graduating to full League member. This guy has been awesome for 3o+ years and he never seems to get any credit. Happy that's changing. This is a pretty standard league and I think that DC is right to push this one. Johns and Lee haven't really disappointed me yet.

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by AARON LOPRESTI and MATT RYAN
Cover by AARON LOPRESTI
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
With the growing presence of super beings around the world, the United Nations resolves to create a new group called Justice League International. Batman, Booster Gold, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, August General in Iron, Fire, Ice, Vixen and Rocket Red are charged with promoting unity and trust – but can they reach that goal without killing each other first?

For me, Justice League: Generation Lost was a great sleeper, and I love this team. Just add Blue Beetle. Or Power Girl. This is a solid writer/artist team as well, so I think this will be successful as well.

AQUAMAN #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Aquaman has renounced the throne of Atlantis – but the sea will not release Arthur Curry so easily. Now, from a forgotten corner of the ocean emerges... The Trench! A broken race of creatures that should not exist, an unspeakable need driving them, The Trench will be the most talked-about new characters in the DC Universe!

I always pray that eventually Johns will get the idea that no one cares about Aquaman. And this reset seems to exclude some major things in his history. Namely his marriage and son. The loss of Mera, his ever supportive wife, and his child, whose death was a defining moment for the character, as well as Black Manta... who is the father of the new Aqualad. So, cautiously pessimistic would describe me best here.

WONDER WOMAN #1
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art and cover by CLIFF CHIANG
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The Gods walk among us. To them, our lives are playthings. Only one woman would dare to protect humanity from the wrath of such strange and powerful forces. But is she one of us – or one of them?

The pants... I hate them. Not because I'm wanting to see more of her body, but because they seem to appear and disappear depending on who is drawing her. Recently, DC put out a statement that her pants are retractable. I will repeat that: retractable pants. New DC universe, everybody! Also whoever wrote that description should be fired. Its ridicuous.

THE FLASH #1
Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
Variant cover by IVAN REIS and TIM TOWNSEND
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The Fastest Man Alive returns to his own monthly series from the writer/artist team of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato! The Flash knows he can't be everywhere at once, but what happens when he faces an all-new villain who really can! As if that's not bad enough, this villain is a close friend!

I don't like the chin guard. Another costume issue where somethign small was added or removed and it makes a world of difference. The other big change is how the costume goes on. Still from a ring, but this time the pieces of fabric burst out and like static electricity, they bond to his body. What. But, you know, its not enough to make me not want to read the series. That comes from this:

If I don't know anything about the character I will love it? So, if I know a lot about the character, I should hate it, right? Seems to be the idea. What's the over/under on the rogues not factoring into the series at all? Johns spent years on those guys and now they will probably all be left hanging in the writer void. Screw you DC.

CAPTAIN ATOM #1
Written by J.T. KRUL
Art by FREDDIE WILLIAMS II
Cover by STANLEY "ARTGERM" LAU
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Charged by nuclear energy, possessing vast molecular powers, Captain Atom has the potential to be a literal god among men – a hero without limits. But the question is: Will he lose himself in the process?

He's being rewritten as Dr. Manhattan. Ed, you win this round... another Moore concept mercilessly shredded and repackaged from DC. I'll read the first issue, just to find out if I'm right.

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #1
Written by ETHAN VAN SCIVER and GAIL SIMONE
Art by YILDIRAY CINAR
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Jason Rusch and Ronnie Raymond. These two high school students are worlds apart – and now they're drawn into a conspiracy of super-science that bonds them forever in a way they can't explain or control. The dark secrets of the murderous Dog Team and its Firestorm Protocol force them to put aside their differences to confront a threat so terrifying that it may lead to a new Cold War!

Are they two seperate heroes now, that come together to form one great thing? Like the Wonder Twins? Anyway, new Cold War sounds so dumb, I can't even process it. BUT Gail Simone is writing it and on that note alone, it gets a pass.

GREEN ARROW #1
Written by J.T. KRUL
Art by DAN JURGENS and NORM RAPMUND
Cover by BRETT BOOTH and ROB HUNTER
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Green Arrow is on the hunt. Driven by inner demons, Ollie Queen travels the world and brings outlaws to justice...by breaking every law. Now, armed with cutting-edge weaponry and illegally gained intel (courtesy of his team at QCore), Green Arrow is shooting first and asking questions later.

This description sounds awful. Every time they reinvent this guy he sounds even more wacked out than the last time. If he's breaking every law though, I think I'm going to have to read, just to find out how that works. The Batman with a Bow thing is really sticking with this description. At least they didn't mess with his costume or look...

WHAT. THE. HELL. DAMN. GUY? This better be an undercover look, or I'm going burn something. If he shaved it off forever, the issue's getting burned. If they once again tried the fakeout with Conner taking the role after the first issue, I will burn down the writer's house. So ridiculous...

THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art and cover by PHILIP TAN
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Carter Hall's skill at deciphering lost languages has led him to a job with an archaeologist who specializes in alien ruins – but will the doctor's latest discovery spread an alien plague through New York City? No matter the personal cost, Carter Hall must don his wings and become the new, savage Hawkman to survive! Witness the start of a new action series from writer Tony S. Daniel and artist Philip Tan that will take Hawkman where no hero has flown before!

This actually interests me. Johns is a big fan of Hawkman, and I think his resurrection at the hands of Brightest Day has been leading to having this series. Question is, what kind of origin story will we get this time: Alien? Egyptian? Blackhawk?

MISTER TERRIFIC #1
Written by ERIC WALLACE
Art by ROGER ROBINSON
Cover by J.G. JONES
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The world's third-smartest man – and one of its most eligible bachelors – uses his brains and fists against science gone mad in this new series from Eric Wallace (TITANS) and Roger Robinson! Michael Holt is the head of a successful high-tech corporation and an institute that recruits and encourages the finest minds of the next generation to excel. As Mister Terrific he inhabits a world of amazement few others know exists, let alone can comprehend.

I've rewritten this part about 3 times because it keeps coming out racist. I get that we need to have more minority heroes, but this is grasping at straws. This, I am almost positive, will be the first "Justice League" based title cancelled.

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1
Written by PAUL JENKINS
Art by BERNARD CHANG
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
It's the start of a new series spotlighting some of the DC Universes's most exciting super heroes! First up is Deadman, straight from the pages of BRIGHTEST DAY, in a five-issue epic where the body-hopping hero meets his match in a new foe who wants to make sure the souls that Deadman helps out go straight to Hell!

I like Deadman, and I think this book will be a place to really seem some fresh ideas and characters since its so open. Cautious optimism....

SUPERMAN
The Superman line's actually losing titles, namely Superman/Batman, which spent its entire solicitation history hanging out in the Superman section, and, for the duration of the Jeph Loeb run at least, was far more tied to Metropolis than Gotham.

ACTION COMICS #1
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by RAGS MORALES and RICK BRYANT
Cover by RAGS MORALES
Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
The one and only Grant Morrison (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN) returns to Superman, joined by sensational artist Rags Morales (IDENTITY CRISIS), to bring you tales of The Man of Steel unlike any you've ever read! This extra-sized debut issue is the cornerstone of the entire DC Universe!

The truth is, I don't know what to make of any of this. Morrison wrote one of, if not the, greatest Superman stories of all time with All Star, so I trust him. The problem is that I don't like anythign I've seen so far. 5 years in the past. Tshirt, tiny cape, jeans, and boots. Also he doesn't fly. Oh, and this is really important: BOTH THE KENTS ARE DEAD NOW. He's also not married. And until the issue of the comic I'm about to discuss, he doesn't know he's Kryptonian. All of this might be nice for an Elseworlds story, but look at that last sentence in the description. This is going to be the cornerstone of the new universe. Folks... this is really ominous.

SUPERMAN #1
Written by GEORGE PEREZ
Breakdowns and cover by GEORGE PEREZ
Art by JESUS MERINO
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The new adventures of Superman begin here! What is The Man of Steel's startling new status quo? How does it affect Lois Lane and The Daily Planet? There's no time for answers now, because Superman must stop a monstrous threat to Metropolis – one that he somehow is the cause of!

You never realize how much you'll miss some things until they're gone. Superman's underpants, for one. His whole suit which used to be Kryptonian fabric, now looks like a suit of armor straight out of a Wildstorm comic. Its just a bad costume change...

SUPERBOY #1
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by RB SILVA and ROB LEAN
Cover by ERIC CANETE
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
They thought he was just an experiment – and a failed one at that! Grown from a combination of Kryptonian and human DNA, the Clone was no more than a set of data to the scientists of Project N.O.W.H.E.R.E. But when the scope of his stunning powers was revealed, he became a deadly weapon! Now the question is: Can a clone develop a conscience?

But this soooo much worse than than the Superman costume change. This entire plot is beyond bad, and I feel like this story is built solely around the origin of the Young Justice cartoon Superboy... which I thought was beyond dumb.

SUPERGIRL #1
Written by MICHAEL GREEN and MIKE JOHNSON
Art and cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Meet Supergirl. She's got the unpredictable behavior of a teenager, the same powers as Superman – and none of his affection for the people of Earth. So don't piss her off!

So she gets the red undies instead of the skirt or capris she has had in the recent past? This sounds really angsty, and will no doubt be the least popular of the Super titles. Though I will wager Superboy's worse.

BATMAN
With Grant Morrison leaving the franchise for at least the next few months, Scott Snyder becomes the de facto showrunner for the franchise. His take on Batman has far more in common with Morrison's pre-Incorporated incarnation than post-; while Morrison extended Batman's scope outward in terms of space, leading to a true International Club of Batmen, Snyder is extending Gotham City in terms of time, as started off in the current Gates of Gotham series he's cowriting with future Nightwing writer Kyle Higgins. The rest of the line is taken up by three other mainline Batman books, a title for each of the Robins, Barbara Gordon returning as Batgirl, and new books for Catwoman, Batwing and the Birds of Prey. And Batwoman. FINALLY.

BATMAN #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Be here for the start of a new era for The Dark Knight from writer Scott Snyder (AMERICAN VAMPIRE, BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM) and artist Greg Capullo (Spawn)! A series of brutal killings hints at an ancient conspiracy, and Batman learns that Gotham City is deadlier than he knew.

For the most part they are leaving Batman untouched. Changing some looks around, but its definitely Bruce under the cowl. Snyder has done some really good stories thus far and I'm anxious to see where this goes. That was... until this caught my eye:

That is a green question mark shaved into someone's head. We all know who that someone is, and I think it is an enormous step back from the great Riddler we've had for a few years. Not a fan at all. It doesn't get much better for other villains. Take a look at a page from the story:

From left to right: Freeze looks about how he should. Professor Pyg, looks much fatter, but not too bad (I do like the fact that he gets a nametag), Scarecrow seems to have his Batman Begins look, and Croc looks unchanged. Then there's the last three: Two Face looks like there's a whole lot more than his face that's scarred. The Ventriloquist seems to be alive and well, but old. And then there's the man in question. This is not as bad as the question-mark-hawk, but it still looks dumb. Like a ten year old dressing up as a ninja turtle.

DETECTIVE COMICS #1
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
DC's flagship title is relaunched for the first time ever, with new Batman adventures from acclaimed writer/ artist Tony S. Daniel! A killer called The Gotham Ripper is on the loose on Batman's home turf – leading The Dark Knight on a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Daniel's been a good writer so far as well, so I feel good that this book will be fine, but that cover is friggin' creepy.

BATWING #1
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by BEN OLIVER
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Africa, a land of beauty – and of great horror. A land of creation and conflict. It is in desperate need of a defender, and from the ranks of Batman Incorporated comes a soldier to carry on the legacy of The Dark Knight in the most tumultuous region on Earth. Meet Batwing, the Batman of Africa!

Racially sensitive people, prepare to write a letter. This is another example of a character who was brought on just to fill a quota. The plot of this book doesn't make any sense, even with the relationship to Batman Inc. Batman has Gotham; Batwing has the entire continent of Africa. Which, according to every DC comic I have ever read, is not made of contries, but of jungles, bush huts. and the savannah.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1
Written by DAVID FINCH
Art by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
Cover by DAVID FINCH
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The Dark Knight struggles against a deadly – yet strangely familiar – foe in this phenomenal debut issue from superstar writer/artist David Finch (BRIGHTEST DAY, ACTION COMICS)!
As a mysterious figure slinks through the halls of Arkham Asylum, Batman must fight his way through a gauntlet of psychos, and Bruce Wayne faces the unexpected legal ramifications of Batman Incorporated!

Nice to see a book that only had 4 issues pre-reboot is also getting the reboot. Finch is doing all the work is thisw comic and given his work with the recent Nolan films, I feel that this might be interesting. But then again, all the issues so far have dealt with demons and magic... so who knows?

BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Battling evil with his son, Damian, at his side, Batman now realizes that the hardest part of the job may be trying to work together! As Batman and Robin try to adjust to their new partnership, a figure emerges from Bruce Wayne's past: His name is NoBody, and he's not happy that Batman Incorporated is shining a light on his own shadowy war against evil...

That's a stupid plot for the opening of a book. But Tomasi has done great work so far on the Bat titles so I won't hold it against him too much. But I can blame the artists for this monstrosity:

HIS NAME IS ROBIN. HE DOESN'T NEED STUPID WINGS ATTACHED TO HIS COSTUME. Yellow and black cape. Is that so hard to draw? No?... then don't do shit like this.

BATGIRL #1
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by ADAM HUGHES
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Yes, it's really happening! Barbara Gordon is back as Batgirl – and she's going to have to face the city's most horrifying new villains as well as the dark secrets from her past. You won't want to miss this stunning debut issue from fan-favorite BIRDS OF PREY writer Gail Simone!

First off, I support the walking Barbara. There's a guy in the Justice League who is just a brain in a metal body, and we can't fix her spine? Ridiculous. I love Simone and I have the utmost faith in her ability to tell this story.

BATWOMAN #1
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
In "Hydrology," part 1 of 5, Batwoman faces deadly new challenges in her war against Gotham City's underworld – and new trials in her life as Kate Kane. Who or what is stealing children from the barrio, and for what vile purpose? Will Kate train her cousin, Bette Kane (a.k.a. Flamebird), as her new sidekick? How will she handle unsettling revelations about her father, Colonel Jacob Kane? And why is a certain government agency suddenly taking an interest in her?

Way too much info, right? There's more...

Just like the Batwoman run in Detective a couple years ago, this is way too complicated of a plot, especially starting out. As an artist, I understand his attention to detail, but dude needs to calm down. His description in the pic above sounds like a 5th grade book report... Just sayin'

NIGHTWING #1
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and JP MAYER
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Dick Grayson flies high once more as Nightwing in a new series from hot new writer Kyle Higgins (BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM)! And as he embraces his destiny, Haley's Circus, the big top where Dick once performed, returns to Gotham City – bringing with it murder, mystery and superhuman evil. Nightwing must confront his past, among former friends and enemies from his circus days, while uncovering a much greater evil!
A color change for Nightwing but other than that, he seems relatively unchanged... except for hints/rumors that his time as Robin never happened. So we shall see how that turns out...

CATWOMAN #1
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Meet Catwoman. She's addicted to the night. Addicted to shiny objects. Addicted to Batman. Most of all, Catwoman is addicted to danger. She can't help herself, and the truth is – she doesn't want to. She's good at being bad, and very bad at being good. Find out more about what makes Catwoman tick in this new series from writer Judd Winick (BATMAN: UNDER THE HOOD) and artist Guillem March (GOTHAM CITY SIRENS!

This is just over the top... I'm pretty sure the fact that she knows who Batman is has been retconned, but every page or cover I see just looks way too oversexed. Its no surprise we get the ridiculous cleavage shot on the cover... I've seen this pose with her a couple times, though not nearly as... chest-y. This however is forced and unexpectedly "sexy:"

See what I mean?

BIRDS OF PREY #1
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
One is wanted for a murder she didn't commit. The other is on the run because she knows too much. They are Dinah Laurel Lance and Ev Crawford – a.k.a. Black Canary and Starling – and together, as Gotham City's covert ops team, they're taking down the villains other heroes can't touch. But now they've attracted the attention of a grizzled newspaper reporter who wants to expose them, as well as a creepy, chameleon-like strike team that's out to kill them.

I just don't get it... This book hinged on Oracle, Black Canary, and Huntress (who I have yet to see in the reboot). Now we just have BC, who has never been popular enough to carry a series. We will see what happens, and in theory a team with two Black Canaries, Poison Ivy, and Kitana should be awesome... but this just seems dead in the water already.

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
No sooner has Batman's former sidekick, Jason Todd, put his past as the Red Hood behind him than he finds himself cornered by a pair of modern day outlaws: Green Arrow's rejected sidekick Arsenal, the damaged soldier of fortune, and the alien Starfire, a former prisoner of intergalactic war who won't be chained again. As a loner, Jason has absolutely no interest in this motley crew of outlaws. So what's he going to do when they choose the Red Hood as their leader?

I like Jason Todd. I like Starfire for the most part. And I liked Arsenal before he went crazy. But all three together? I'm not sure. Well, this is what Lobdell had to say:

So it's a reverse Three's Company with action? I'm kinda hoping it will be cool, though. Not to mention I'm almost positive someone will be sleeping with Starfire by issue's end. Yeah... read that quote above again... and tell me that's not what's happening.

GREEN LANTERN
It's business as usual with the Green Lantern titles; the team on Emerald Warriors is moving to the new #1 for Corps, the old team on Corps is launching New Guardians, and Peter Milligan's Red Lanterns ongoing kicks off. Writers and artists are all pretty much the same. This line is barely touched by the refresh.

GREEN LANTERN #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

The red-hot GREEN LANTERN team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Doug Mahnke introduce an unexpected new Lantern. Spoilers: Its Sinestro.

Given the fallout from War of the Green Lanterns, I'm really anxious to see where this book is going, and to see how the new Lantern affects the storyline.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by FERNANDO PASARIN and SCOTT HANNA
Cover by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
When deadly conflicts emerge across the universe, it's up to Guy Gardner, John Stewart and an elite Green Lantern strike force to keep the peace – or else.

The same feeling goes for Corps as the regular series. You put Guy in a book, and you have my attention.

GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #1
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art and cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and BATT
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Kyle Rayner has assembled the most powerful team in all the universe, selected from the full spectrum of corps. But can he even keep this volatile group together?

This has the potential to be awesome or awful. I like Kyle for the most part, but this team seems like a lot of nobodies, unlike the brillaince of the last set of New Guardians. Kyle's not a strong personality already... but neither is anyone else here. Saint Walker is the only holdover from the other NG set, but he's a support member at best. Bleez doesn't say much and looks more like Harley Quinn everytime I see her. Indigo guy has had two lines in his entire existence, and unless the Indigo language has changed, we won't get much conversation from him. Fatality is a former villain turned Sapphire and is probably the most outspoken of the lineup. Arkillo is now mute after his battle for control of the Sinestro Corps, but he is definitely the brawn of the team. And finally there's Glomulus, who, last time I checked was just a creation of Larfleeze. This brings us to my major question: WHERE THE HELL IS LARFLEEZE?

RED LANTERNS #1
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art and cover by ED BENES and ROB HUNTER
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Atrocitus and his Red Lantern Corps return in their own series, battling against injustice in the most bloody ways imaginable!

Fighting evil with evil? I can dig the concept, but unless someone promises Dexter in every issue, I probably won't keep up with it.

THE EDGE

While they're integrating the WildStorm and DC Universes, looking at the books below makes it fairly clear that "The Edge" is where the majority of the WildStorm mythology is being transferred to, being amalgamated with DC's war and western titles, as well as some of the, well, "edgier" properties like Deathstroke and the Suicide Squad. I predict every book in this section will be rated for older readers than the rest of the line, other than "The Dark" below.

STORMWATCH #1
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
They are Stormwatch, a dangerous super human police force whose existence is kept secret from the world Directly following the ominous events of SUPERMAN #1, Adam One leads half the Stormwatch team to recover the [INFORMATION REDACTED] from deep in the Himalayas. Meanwhile, Jack Hawksmoor and the rest of the Stormwatch crew look to recruit two of the deadliest super humans on the planet: Midnighter and Apollo! And if they say no? Perhaps the Martian Manhunter can change their minds...

This book is shrouded in a lot of mystery, so I'm interested to see how this team compares to SHADE which appears in the Dark titles. I never cared for anything Wildstorm but perhaps this will make a reader out of me.. or it will crash from being too secret for reader's to get it.

GRIFTER #1
Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON
Art by CAFU
Cover by CAFU and BIT
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The DCU's most wanted man stars in his own series! Cole Cash is a charming grifter few can resist. And yet he's about to be branded a serial killer when he begins hunting and exterminating inhuman creatures hidden in human form – creatures only he can see! Can the biggest sweet talker of all time talk his way out of this one when even his brother thinks he's gone over the edge?

Once again, a Wildstorm character I know absolutely nothing about save for his appearance in the Lois Lane miniseries. Seems like an interesting character and certainly an interesting plot, but oen that so rarely works out for the person killing the "monsters."

DEATHSTROKE #1
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art by JOE BENNETT and ART THIBERT
Cover by SIMON BISLEY
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
"Friends die, family disappoints, but a legacy... That lives forever."
Slade Wilson is the best mercenary in the DCU, and he's been doing this a long time. Some might say too long. But they'll learn: Never turn your back on Deathstroke the Terminator. He won't quit, no matter how high the stakes. Kyle Higgins (BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM) and Joe Bennett (TEEN TITANS) team up to bring you the finest in mayhem and gore and show you why Deathstroke is the deadliest man in the DC Universe.

Well, we see the cover, so we know he's deadly. Really, I'm a fan of Deathstroke... he's an interesting character and I even enjoyed his role on the Teen Titans cartoon as Slade. So I'm pretty optimistic with this title.

SUICIDE SQUAD #1
Written by ADAM GLASS
Art by MARCO RUDY
Cover by RYAN BENJAMIN
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
They're a team of death-row super villains recruited by the government to take on missions so dangerous – they're sheer suicide! Harley Quinn! Deadshot! King Shark! Defeated and imprisoned, they're being interrogated about their mission – and about who's pulling the strings behind this illegal operation. Who will be the first to crack under the pressure?

I should be excited for this title, but I'm just not. NO ONE looks like they should. King Shark is not a Hammerhead. Deadshot is not a cyborg. AND HARLEY QUINN IS NOT WHATEVER THE HELL THAT IS. Red and blue hair doesn't make sense. The corset is way too small. Nothing on this cover works. And Harley doesn't belong on death row or this team, either. Clearly she belongs in Fear Itself... I mean, look at that hammer. I hear everyone's getting hammers. Anyway... how can I sum up what I hope happens to the creative team on this?

O.M.A.C. #1
Written by DAN DIDIO and KEITH GIFFEN
Art and cover by KEITH GIFFEN and SCOTT KOBLISH
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The all-seeing Brother Eye satellite has unleashed a new beast upon the DC Universe in this smashing new series! Kevin Kho has become an unwilling participant in a war between Checkmate and Brother Eye as he is transformed into the One Machine Army Corp known only as O.M.A.C.!

Its written by Dan Didio... what can I say besides: Its gonna suck. No one has cared about OMAC for decades. We brought the idea back in a new way and used them back for Infinite Crisis and Final Crisis for important plot developments. Probably the first of all of the series' to be cancelled.

BLACKHAWKS #1
Written by MIKE COSTA
Art and cover by KEN LASHLEY
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Welcome to a world waging a new kind of war that's faster and more brutal than ever before. It's fought by those who would make the innocent their targets, using computers, smart weapons and laser-guided missiles. The new enemy is hard to find – and closer to home than we think. Between us and them stand the Blackhawks, an elite force of military specialists equipped with the latest in cutting-edge hardware and vehicles. Their mission: Kill the bad guys before they kill us.

Where the hell is the blonde, aka, Lady Blackhawk? Shit... maybe war enthusiasts will dig it, but it's not for me.

MEN OF WAR #1
Written by IVAN BRANDON
Art by TOM DERENICK
Cover by VIKTOR KALVACHEV
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+
On the ground and on the front lines, a young, headstrong soldier known as Joe Rock assumes command of Easy Company – a team of ex-military men turned contractors. Will they survive the battle-scarred landscape carved by the DCU's Super-Villains? Find out in this explosive new series from Ivan Brandon (Viking, DOC SAVAGE) and Tom Derenick (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA)!

Updated Sgt. Rock I can dig... not really for me, but what I said about the Blackhawk series goes double here.

ALL-STAR WESTERN #1
Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art and cover by MORITAT
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+
Even when Gotham City was just a one-horse town, crime was rampant – and things only get worse when bounty hunter Jonah Hex comes to town. Can Amadeus Arkham, a pioneer in criminal psychology, enlist Hex's special brand of justice to help the Gotham Police Department track down a vicious serial killer? Find out in this new series from HEX writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, with lush artwork by Moritat (THE SPIRIT)!

I'll be honest... I love Western comics. Guess that's my dad's cowboy nature shining through. Most of all western comic characters, I like Jonah Hex. So making him the focus of the series is a smart plan. Gray and Palmiotti have been at this thing for a while, so I have the utmost faith in their skills.


YOUNG JUSTICE
I'm honestly not sure what the Legion of Super-Heroes is doing in this section, considering those guys seem to be, like, thirty at this point. Otherwise, Scott Lobdell's rebuilding the Titans franchise seemingly from the ground up, and is certainly taking authorial control of Superboy between this title and the ongoing. It's a fairly diverse group, too, with Static and Blue Beetle in its ranks, as well as whatever new characters Lobdell comes up with. Seriously, though, what's young about the Legion of Super-Heroes? Half of them are married with children! Unless they get de-aged...

TEEN TITANS #1
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Tim Drake, Batman's former sidekick, is back in action when an international organization seeks to capture, kill or co-opt super-powered teenagers. As Red Robin, he's going to have to team up with the mysterious and belligerent powerhouse thief known as Wonder Girl and the hyperactive speedster calling himself Kid Flash to stand any chance at all against a living, breathing weapon with roots in another world! They – along with a few other tortured teen heroes – will be the Teen Titans in this new series from writer Scott Lobdell (WILDC.A.T.S, Uncanny X-Men) and artist Brett Booth (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA)!

This is easily the ugliest comic I have ever seen. Its like this person looked at Liefeld's work in the 90's, grew up believing the man to be a god, and said "I want to be the affordable Rob Liefeld." And here we are. Kid Flash is decent enough and as bad as it is, Superboy isn't as bad here as he is in his own series. Wonder Girl has some weird look going on... thief/dominatrix/etc. She looks more like a villain really... and I'm almost positive thats Donna Troy's star outfit she's wearing. We also have two new characters that I can only assume are Tar Girl and Porcupine-Spider-Nightmare Girl... Seriously... what the hell is going on with her. But the greatest travesty is this:

AGAIN WITH THE DAMN BIRD WINGS! Robin is a title/name... not a lifestyle. I will not prepare to be blown away (by his giant stupid friggin wings). I will prepare for this comic to blow.

STATIC SHOCK #1
Written by SCOTT McDANIEL and JOHN ROZUM
Art and cover by SCOTT McDANIEL and
JONATHAN GLAPION
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The brilliant, slightly awkward high school student Virgil Hawkins transforms into the cocky electromagnetic hero Static! A mysterious tragedy forces the Hawkins family to relocate from Dakota to New York City! Virgil embarks upon new adventures in a new high school and a new internship at S.T.A.R. Labs! As Static, he dons a new uniform and establishes a new secret headquarters! But is he ready to take on the new villains who lurk in New York City's underworld?

I am a fan of Static and was really hoping to see this kid have his own series with DC... and finally it happened. Just wish Dwayne McDuffie could have lived to see it too.

HAWK AND DOVE #1
Written by STERLING GATES
Art and cover by ROB LIEFELD
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Hank Hall is not happy. He's not happy to have Dawn Granger as a new partner in his war on crime. He's not happy that she's dating the ghostly Super Hero, Deadman. He's not happy to learn that someone is trying to plunge the United States into a new civil war! Now it's up to Hawk and Dove to root out the forces behind this conflict and stop them before they turn the U.S. into a wasteland! And who is the monster lurking in the shadows, watching Hawk and Dove from afar? Find out in this new series from Sterling Gates (FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST) and artist Rob Liefeld (X-Force, Youngblood)!

Oh Rob... I hound you, but I'll be honest. I think this book looks great. The plot sounds beyond dumb, but I'm glad the art is really solid from what I've seen. Dove is dating Deadman? Beyond being dumb alliteration, this seems liek a tragedy waiting to happen. Soooo stupid.

BLUE BEETLE #1
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art by IG GUARA and RUY JOSE
Cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and SAL REGLA
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
It's not easy being Jaime Reyes. He has to deal with high school, family and all the drama that comes with being a teenager. Also, he's linked to a powerful scarab created by an alien race known as the Reach who seek to subjugate planets – or annihilate them. It's up to one teen hero to turn this instrument of destruction into a force for good.

There have been rumors circulating that in the new DCU there were no Beetles before Jaime... so that means no Dan Garret. And more importantly, no Ted. This is a HUGE problem if this turns out true. The book is not at fault though, and I actually like Jaime and given his appearances on the Brave and the Bold cartoon, he's pretty popular. I think the character has a lot to offer.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by FRANCIS PORTELA
Cover by KARL KERSCHL
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The Legion of Super-Heroes has been decimated by the worst disaster in its history. Now, the students of the Legion Academy must rise to the challenge of helping the team rebuild – but a threat of almost unstoppable power is rising at the edge of Dominator space, and if the new recruits fail, the Legion Espionage Squad may be the first casualties in a war that could split worlds in half!

I don't know much about the Legion, but I'm not a huge fan of what I have encountered. Will read the first issue for the blog but odds are, I'll drop it right after.

LEGION LOST #1
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA
Art and cover by PETE WOODS
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Seven heroes from the 31st century have traveled back to the present day. Their mission: Save their future from annihilation. But when the future tech they brought with them fails, they find themselves trapped in a nightmarish world that, for them, is the ultimate struggle to survive!

See previous comment.

I however will be in for no surprises, unless I end up enjoying it.

THE DARK
As "The Edge" is seemingly carrying the torch of WildStorm, so is "The Dark" continuing the torch of the original conception of Vertigo, the dark, mature(ish)-readers supernatural tales that made up the bulk of its titles upon its conception. While Constantine will continue in Vertigo's Hellblazer, that book's writer will also deal with the separate DCU incarnation in Justice League Dark. WildStorm's Voodoo is in this line, too, along with many of the other usual suspects like Animal Man and Swamp Thing.

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art by MIKEL JANIN
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The witch known as The Enchantress has gone mad, unleashing forces that not even the combined powers of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Cyborg can stop. And if those heroes can't handle the job, who will stand against this mystical madness? Shade the Changing Man, Madame Xanadu, Deadman, Zatanna and John Constantine may be our only hope – but how can we put our trust in beings whose very presence makes ordinary people break out in a cold sweat?

Ok, given my hatred for Secret 7, I'm sick of Enchantress and Shade. The others I'm ok with I guess. I just don't really care too much for magic based books. But I like that no one's costume or look was changed really... except:
Zatanna. She wears fishnets on her legs and a tuxedo. She now wears fishnets on her arms (WTF?) and a corset, with leather pants. IS ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION HERE?! This is stupid beyond all imagination.

SWAMP THING #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
One of the world's most iconic characters has returned to the heart of the DC Universe, and every step he takes will shake the foundations of the Earth! Alec Holland has his life back...but the Green has plans for it. A monstrous evil is rising in the desert, and it'll take a monster of another kind to defend life as we know it!

Never cared for Swamp Thing and DC isn't helping me any with that. This series might be good though... I like Snyder's work so far in other titles.

ANIMAL MAN #1
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by TRAVEL FOREMAN and DAN GREEN
Cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Buddy Baker has gone from "super" man to family man – but is he strong enough to hold his family together when Maxine, his young daughter, starts to manifest her own dangerous powers? Find out in this dramatic new series from writer Jeff Lemire (SWEET TOOTH) and artist Travel Foreman (The Immortal Iron Fist).

You know what we don't have yet? Besides a hundred characters we should... we don't have a family man with family issues that have some super added. I think this fills that hole and I have, so far, be very pleased with Lemire's work.

FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #1
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI
Cover by J.G. JONES
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
It's Frankenstein as you've never seen him before, in a dark new series from acclaimed writer Jeff Lemire (SWEET TOOTH) and artist Alberto Ponticelli (UNKNOWN SOLDIER)! Frankenstein is part of a network of strange beings who work for an even stranger government organization: The Super Human Advanced Defense Executive! But can he protect the world from threats even more horrifying than himself? And since he's vilified for who and what he is, will he even want to take on this mission?

This apparently leads straight out of the Flashpoint mini with Frank. He's an intersting character and I think this will be a sleeper hit like Secret Six, but I don't want to get my hopes up that Lemire will have two great series at once.

I, VAMPIRE #1
Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV
Art by ANDREA SORRENTINO
Cover by JENNY FRISON
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
For hundreds of years, vampire Andrew Stanton kept mankind safe from the horrors of the supernatural world, thanks to a truce he made with his ex-lover Mary, the Queen of the Damned. But now that truce has reached a bloody end and Andrew must do everything in his power to stop Mary and her dark forces from going on a killing spree – and she plans to start with the heroes of the DCU!

I'm so sick of the monster thing. I know that's weird after I just gave Frankenstein a glowing review, but its true. Maybe Twilight has put me off the vampire thing, but I believe that this will tie OMAC for fastest cancellation. Its a boring story that unless some real life is added, will die quick. Plus I thinks its a rip on the success of I, Zombie. Maybe I shouldn't be so crass... but when I get gems like this attached how can I help it?:

WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?! Limits? Vampire? Where do you think we are?

RESURRECTION MAN #1
Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING
Art by FERNANDO DAGNINO
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
It's the return of Mitch Shelly – and he's still dead. Resurrection Man can't stay dead for long, though – and with each rebirth comes new and unexpected powers. But his many returns have not gone unnoticed, and forces are gathering to learn what's so special about him – and to see which of them will finally stop Resurrection Man dead.

Hey, character no one has cared about for years. Oh, just stopping in to remind people you're still alive? Good deal, aptly nicknamed guy. Watch this get integrated into another book soon... probably JL:Dark

DEMON KNIGHTS #1
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art by DIOGENES NEVES and OCLAIR ALBERT
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Set in the Dark Ages of the DC Universe, a barbarian horde is massing to crush civilization. It's fallen to Madame Xanadu and Jason Blood, the man with a monster inside him, to stand in their way – though the demon Etrigan has no interest in protecting anyone or anything other than himself! It'll take more than their own power to stop an army fueled by bloodlust and dark sorcery, and some very surprising heroes – and villains – will have no choice but to join the fray!

Dark Ages with demons and surprise guest stars in a comic by the guy who hit the Luthor fueled issues of Action Comics out of the park? Sign me up. I may hate it, but I may fall in love with a new series... who knows?

VOODOO #1
Written by RON MARZ
Art and cover by SAMI BASRI
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Who is Voodoo? Is she hero, villain – or both? Learn the truth about Priscilla Kitaen as she leaves a trail of violence across America. Discover the new DCU through her eyes, because the things she sees are not always what they seem...

Is Dark just the area where all the half-cocked ideas go to die? We are told to see the new universe through her eyes, but its not what it seems... DC, I think we just found your backdoor to save yourselves. Your mission is to make this book avoid cancellation so that you can undo this horrible crap. This book looks awful though... Female lead, magic powers, ethnicly questionable, antihero/anitvillain, and its nontraditional. All these factors are usually a death sentence for a book... and that's seperate.