DC’s New 52- Batwoman #1

And now…another issue of nonsene…courtesy of: J.H. Williams III!  Sigh…let’s just go to her backstory and go from there. Take it away, Wikipedia!

 In their early childhood, Katherine “Kate” Rebecca Kane and her sister Elizabeth “Beth” Kane were identical twins and were very close to each other. On their twelfth birthday, Kate and Beth were taken by their mother, Gabrielle “Gabi” Kane, to an expensive restaurant for chocolate and waffles, their favorite dish. On the way to the restaurant, a group of armed gunmen attacked the family and took them hostage, killing their bodyguard in the process. After learning of her family’s kidnapping, Kate’s father Colonel Jacob “Jake” Kane led a rescue mission to save his captured family, which ended with Kate’s mother executed and Beth apparently killed after being caught in the crossfire between the kidnappers and soldiers.

Years later, Jake marries Catherine Hamilton Kane. Kate is attending the United States Military Academy, where she receives excellent grades and ranks at the top of her class. However, when it is alleged that she is in a lesbian relationship with another student, Kate’s commanding officer asks her to disavow the allegation. Telling the officer that she refuses to lie and violate the code of the Academy, Kate admits to being gay and is forced to leave the school. When she confronts her father with the news, he supports her and affirms that she upheld her honour and integrity. She then moves back to Gotham City where she attends college and pursues a wild social lifestyle. Kate is eventually pulled over for speeding by a young Renee Montoya, who was just a traffic cop at this point. The two date for several months and break up following a fight where Kate berates Renee for keeping her sexuality hidden from her colleages and family; after Renee expresses concern about Kate’s lack of direction, when it’s revealed she’s not been attending college.

While attempting to call Renee and apologize for her behavior, Kate is attacked by a mugger who wants her wallet and cell phone. Using her military training, Kate easily defeats the criminal just as Batman arrives and helps her off the ground. She is then shown fixated by the Bat Signal as Batman flees the scene.

Wow…that certainly was something, now wasn’t it?!

I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening. I was too busy munching on this delightful snack!

Williams co-wrote the book, alongside W. Haden Blackman, and I’m still uncertain what to say about it. The story is very confusing and doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for any kind of book trying to be a ‘Bat‘-title. The artwork is amazing..in fact it’s the best of the NEW 52, but that’s where the praise stops.  I like Batwoman as a character but as of now, she just doesn’t fit into the Batman Book Canon. It’s cool to see the former Teen Titan, Flamebird as her new sidekick(I think), but I just don’t know where this book is headed. Is it about her life, the mystery of her sister, who apparently died after already kinda being dead, or something else entirely (oh, just read the damn book, maybe you can tell me what is going on!)?

Seriously though, just save yourself a headache and pass on this convoluted turd.

An official member of the Bruce Wayne Appreciation Society,

Donnie Drama

DC’S New 52- Detective Comics #1

Detective Comics #1, written and drawn by  Tony S. Daniel with  inks by  Ryan Winn, hooks you in from the first panel and doesn’t ease up until the last.

I’m hooked too!

Batman is still early on in his career, chasing the joker for what seems to be the first time(it’s not), while the joker himself is even darker and more twisted than ever.

Can you go darker? You can?! Good!

 The book showcases Batman’s intelligence rather than just his physical strength, showing readers why he’s the world’s greatest detective.

If I have 5 apples and Timmy eats 2, how many people did the Joker kill in the time it took Timmy to eat those apples?

As this is a detective comic, I won’t dwell too much on the plot as to not ruin anything, but I will say this..Things are about to get really interesting as of issue #2!

Already going for $10-$15 online, this issue is probably one of the hottest DC properties to grace their printing presses since the 90’s Comic Boon! I recommend picking it up, if just for the end alone.

The world’s greatest comic reviewer,

Donnie Drama.

DC’S New 52- Resurrection Man #1

Written by  its original writing team of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Mitch Shelley(Resurrection Man) resurrects every time he dies, and returns with a different superpower each time. These superpowers would always  correlate in some way to his death(though that is not confirmed as of yet in this new series).  These range from minor, almost dismissive abilities, such as the changing of his skin color and making pyrotechnic butterflies, to the extraordinary, such as the ability to transform into giant monster with a bullet-proof hide.

One of my favorite comic book series from the 90’s, Resurrection Man gave a delightful spin on a concept similar to Dial H for Hero.  Mitch Shelley has almost joined the JLA, fought  baddies such as Vandal Savage, and even gone boob-to-toe with the Body Doubles.

Yep, I have no idea what I was talking about either.

He’s even gone up against Hitman, with hilarious results(Hitman kept killing Mitch over and over until he came up with a proper superpower he could use).

Yep, he’s a Badass!

Mitch hasn’t been seen too often since his cancelation, but has made brief appearances in DC’sOne Million, where he created the Resurrector, a device that would kill him in a way that allowed him to select a specific power. He’s also apppearted in supergirl #28, and briefly in Brightest Day.

Ridiculous, right?!

In the current issue, Mitch resurrects in a morgue, where he quickly finds his new power to be…magnetic! But his many returns have not gone unnoticed, and supernatural forces are gathering to learn what’s so special about him. Uh Oh!!!

He also quickly learns he looks very similar to a Nick Nolte!

I’m gonna live forever!

This is easily one of my favorite new titles as the writing, along with stellar art by Fernando Dagnino, easily draw you in to this issue.  I highly recommend it to any fan of Vertigo titles, or the supernatural realm of the DCU, which you will see is expanding quickly in the New 52!

Talk about getting dealt a bad hand!

Resurrected with the power to review this comic,

Donnie Drama

DC’S New 52- Deathstroke #1

Deathstroke The Terminator is a MAJOR DAMN BADASS…a line that stuck with me as I read Deathstroke #1.  This new comic written by Kyle Higgens with pencils by Joe Bennett and beautiful inking done by  Art Thibert is an action romp. It’s a reminder of fun action such as Ronin and Lethal Weapon.

What, too soon?!

I am a huge fan of Deathstroke since I began reading his series in the 90’s, and my affection for him has only increased thanks to masterful storytelling from Brad Meltzer in DC’s Identity Crisis mini-series.

The story begins with Deathstroke being contracted to kill a man, delivering nukes to a country that shall remain nameless…oh, and did I mention he has to do this…MID-FLIGHT!!!  Crazy, huh?

Also too soon?

His team is assembled, but things are not what they appear to be and crazy Clayface action takes place..NO JOKE!  There are beheadings, plane explosions, gunfire and one of the coolest execution scenes in comics! Enjoy this series for what it’s sure to be…mindless fun, but with an actual plot! I recommend this book to any fan of Deathstroke or any fan of the current Suicide Squad.

Thinking a Simon Bisley Deathstroke cover is amazing ,

Donnie Drama

DC’S New 52- Action Comics #1

Written by Grant Morrison with beautiful art by Rags Morales,  Action Comics starts out with…well, some action! I was a bit thrown off by superman fighting crime in bluejeans and a t-shirt with a cape hanging out the back, but as the story chugged along, it made more sense to me. Seriously, who creates a whole spandex costume right away? And how much cheaper is it to just have an S printed on a shirt? Clark Kent is starting out in Metropolis, he’s poor, struggling to make ends meet, and a bit behind on rent. Some of this sounds familar to me…hmmmm.  

Me, five years ago.

Anyway, Superman is harassing some rich guy (poor rich guy), but there is a method to his madness as the rich guy is doing bad deeds in Superman’s fair city! The police intervene, but are useless to catch Superman (yep, you heard me right, they are after superman!), as Superman taunts the police and flee’s the scene. It doesn’t seem like he can fly yet, which is an interesting throwback to the olden days of Golden Age Yore (that’s a mouthful!)

No, this is a mouth full! 

Lois and Jimmy are here, but Kent is working for a rival paper…what? ! They still have newspapers?! Who knew?

This guy knew.  He knew all along and never told a soul…asshole! 

So there is a bomb and a hidden agenda from Lois’s father, General Lane, who has contracted  lex luthor to capture superman, but does he succeed? Read it to find out, it’s worth it!  A light, fun read well worth the price of admission for any superman fan!

Your super friend, Donnie Drama!

DC’S New 52- Suicide Squad #1

Written by  Adam Glass, Suicide Squad starts out with a bang, or more like a scream, as Deadshot has rats attempting to tear through his stomach. Yes, this is brutal and it sets the tone for what is to come: Arms torn off, people burnt alive, electrocution, bullets to the head…and it’s only issue one!  This new “reimagining” isn’t far off from the old DC’s concept for Suicide Squad, in fact, you might say it’s “Deadshot on”!  Get it? Huh? It’s funny! It’s a pun..a funny pun! Sigh, never mind.

Ok, I get it, it’s not funny!

So during this whole torturing of the team, we get to learn a bit about everyone  via flashbacks, which basically tell you what they did wrong to get into this position. They killed people, and that is a very bad thing, until they start killing bad guys of course! 🙂

Yay!

As usual with Suicide Squad the issue ends with a surprise and we’re off to another adventure…in the next issue of course! The main concern a lot of people have are the re-designs of certain characters, the biggest being Amanda Waller (did you catch that pun?!) and Harley Quinn. Harley Quinn looks a bit “skanky” in her new attire, but I think it fits in context with the story and the SQUAD.  Personally, the only one that bothers me is Amanda Waller, as I much preferred seeing a “big woman” in control and comfortable with who she is. Now she’s some skinny bitch!

First she said she wanted a sandwich, now she doesn’t!

I highly recommend this one, not for the art (three artists on this one, folks), but for the fun story and great characters! Go pick it up already!!!!

Your Squad Leader,

Donnie Drama

DC’s New 52- Red Hood and the Outlaws #1

This week’s new batch of DC books brings us something a little different. Now different isn’t always a bad thing, but in this case it isn’t really all that great either.

Written by Scott Lobdell with fantastic art by Kenneth Rocafort, this series kicks off with Roy Harper, aka, Arsenal, being busted out of prision for what we can only assume is shoplifting.

If Arsenal was Chinese, I imagine it would look something like this.

So they both escape, whitty banter flies back and forth and then we meet Starfire, who apparently, in this new DC universe is a whore…or a nympho, cause she only has sex for fun, not money…much better, DC! 

Yay, promiscuity is DC approved!

So anyway, the story ends on a cult-type thing, which really doesn’t make much sense…yet. At times it can be a fun read, but it’s really thrown me for a loop by taking a lovable character such as Starfire, and degrading her in such a manner. I’d say pass on this one as it’s about as forgetable as this guy:

I don’t even know who I am anymore.

Your “slutty” partner in crime,

Donnie Drama!

Loch Ness has nothing on Ted Kord!!!

There has been another sighting of Ted Kord, this time in a very strange place…next to an….an Amish Buggy?!

DC’S New 52- Justice League International

Let me start out by officially admitting I’m a huge fan of the JLI. They were like the cousins you never talked to at the family reunions, but you knew somehow they could be awesome.

These guys will some day re-invent the hammer.

Written by Dan “the man” Jurgens, creator of such greats as Booster Gold, The Death of Superman storyline, and this:

Hey wait, where ya goin?!

The series was either going to be totally off the mark, or right on…as of issue one, I’m unsure. Huh? Let me explain, please…before the stoning begins!

This new series has a few of the oldies but goodies such as Booster Gold, Batman, Rocket Red and a Green Lantern (in the form of Guy Gardner, my personal favorite). But it also has some of the “lesser tiered” characters as well:

Wait…let’s look at that cone picture one more time.

Um, what was I saying?

There are a few other WTF moments, such as the addition of August General In Iron annnnnd Vixen..yes, Vixen. Her power? She can act like animals..yep “waits for laughter to die down”.

Yep, this is her power…sigh

So the team is assembled and they’re sent off to investigate seismic activity and the disappearance of some governmental scientist types. They get there and BAM..Rock Lords attack!!!!

I had almost all of these!

But seriously, rock people do attack and it ends on a cliffhanger. While the series is a bit slow to start it does pick up pace and could be fun, if we get “Old Dan Jurgens” not “Red & Blue Dan Jurgens”. Only time will tell, but I’m in for the long hall on this one! Of course Aaron Lopresti’s great art doesn’t hurt one bit…I’d say give it a try, you might find it to be a fun gem.

Your JLI Partner,

Donnie “If I was a Rock Lord I’d be Diamond” Dramma

BLUE BEETLE & BATMAN BRINGING THE PAIN!!

Fellow BUGS, exciting news here!  Just off-the-set picture of Blue Beetle and Batman….prepping for the new Blue Beetle Web Series..coming in December!!!!