DC has done quite a bit revamping their classic heroes. So here's some reviews of core Justice League heroes who have also benefited(or not) from the "reboot".
As most comic fans know, SUPERGIRL is Superman's female cousin. She has had different appearances, origins and series over the years. here's the newest.
It begins with meteors dropping in the Heartland, as the commentary says "not all that different from the Kansas event" from some time ago(so, we have to assume this is in present day as the Kansas event refers to Superman's landing on Earth). One meteor goes straight through the Earth and comes to rest in Siberia. And from out of that crater comes a very confused Supergirl. And the classic suit she's wearing? I guess she's not supposed to wear it until she graduates in a year or so.
It isn't long before she finds herself accosted by a bunch of battlesuit wearing folks who try to take her in. They also notice the logo on the suit. Suddenly, our heroine realizes she's not on Krypton anymore and goes berserk, spending the remainder of the book trying to cope with her new powers. She rips one guy out of his battlesuit and , still trying to figure out where she is, her cousin arrives.
Okay...still not certain on this one. We've taken the existing origin and tossed it and left the Maiden of Steel pretty confused in the process. Michael Green does a nice job of laying the groundwork and Mike Johnson's artwork is very reminiscent of another Micheal: the late Michael Turner. The book has premise and is worth hanging onto for a few months to see how this all develops.
BTW: the mysterious hooded woman is next to a battlesuit's foot on page 14.
Supergirl's cousin SUPERMAN has had his book rebooted too. It's written by comics legend George Perez, who also provides the breakdowns, with pencils and inks by Jesus Merino. This book is set in present day, as opposed to ACTION COMICS which is set at the beginning of Superman's career.
The book begins with the razing of the old Daily Planet building in favor of a new, modern one. Next we meet Morgan Edge who looks like Samuel L. Jackson from the Marvel movies, minus the eyepatch. Yeah, Edge is no longer the middle aged guy of Jack Kirby's creation. In fact Perry White now looks more like the Edge we all know and love. but, they say change is good. So I'll continue.
The first glimpse we get of Superman is with him looking pretty pissed at the destruction of the old Planet building. Part of the renovations is due to the fact the the Planet is now owned by Edge and his Globe. We also learn that Lois Lane, formerly the wife of Clark Kent(in old continuity) is now the Executive Producer of the P.G.N. Nightly News and Executive Vice President of New Media. Anyway, his basic story in this book is the foiling of a bunch of terrorists and defeating a fire breathing monster by using the old Planet globe as a weapon.
The book ends with Clark showing up at Lois apartment unannounced. He should have called first because she's been entertaining her date, if you know what I mean.
Did I also mention there is this creature with a horn that ties into STORMWATCH #1? Okay-then go read STORMWATCH #1 so you don't get too confused.
As with SUPERGIRL, the verdict is still, out on this one. Let me just say I ABSOLUTELY HATE the new costume. Okay, it's Kryptonian but I was raised on the underwear on the outside look and that's that! Perez' script is great...the usually dialogue filled stuff that George is know for. And it's tough to tell how much is breakdowns and how much is Merino's actual artwork. If it's mostly Merino, the guy is good.
As with SUPERGIRL, I'll give it a couple of months to see where it goes.
BTW: the mysterious hooded woman is standing in front of one of the Daily Planet globes on page 3.
While Boston Brand's alter ego Deadman may not be a household name, his character has been around for many years. His initial stories with art by Neal Adams, are classics. And, during BRIGHTEST DAY, he came back to the world of the living...sort of. So what does the dead guy do now? He appears in the opening arc of the new anthology series DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS.
We get a nice recap of Deadman's origin and some new info regarding his mission and his first meeting with Rama, who was always depicted in the original stories as the mysterious voice. She kind of looks like she should be in AVATAR. He spends most of the book bouncing from troubled soul to troubled soul before ending up at the circus he died at, trying to meet with Madame Rose the Psychic. He eventually convinces her that he IS Boston Brand inside all of the people he inhabits. And she tells him how crappy a person he was when he was alive.
We get glimpses of all the people Brand has inhabited before he jumps back into the body of a legless veteran. He picks up his service revolver and Rama arrives. Obviously, all of his methods to call her to him failed until now.
A third book I'm on the fence about. I have always loved the Deadman character, initially because part of his journey was finding the person who shot him. But he has always been intriguing as written by a number of creators. Paul Jenkins has the making of a great story here, once we figure out where it's going to lead. I like the supporting cast, sparse though they may be. And Bernard Chang is a talented artist and this is some of his best work.
As with SUPERGIRL and SUPERMAN, I'll give it a couple of months to see where it goes.
BTW: the mysterious hooded woman is standing with the circus folk in the background of panel 3 on page 2.
Hawkman has had more origins than you can count. Thangarian, classic troubled character who is forced to die and be reborn throughout history. He even spent time on Earth, in space and as a member of both the JSA and the JLA. Now we have THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN.
The book begins with Carter Hall attempting to destroy the Hawkman costume. Unfortunately, the suit and the Nth metal that resides in it have different ideas. Meanwhile, the Shining Knight Research Vessel(like that one guys!) finds an ancient spaceship and they wonder where their cryptologist has disappeared to. Yeah, that would be Carter Hall, who awakes in his home in New York City with no idea how he got there.
Hall ends up with the rest of the archaeologist who are examining some kind of space mummy. No sooner can you say "plot point", this inky black organism comes forth and kills two of the scientists. That's when Carter transforms, whether he likes it or not. Apparently the Hawkman costume now resides within him. And it's pretty high tech-a far cry from the old green mask and such. We learn the creature is called Morphicius and he's pretty much consumed with stealing the Nth Metal from the life force of Hawkman.
This now makes a fourth book leaving me with a so-so taste. Tony S. Daniel weaves an interesting story, but I find it differing so far from the Hawkman I know and love that I couldn't really latch onto it. Philip Tan's art is typical Philip Tan: nicely painted with some great full page work, which is where he excels. But the thought of Carter Hall not wanting to be Hawkamn, wanting to be rid of the Nth metal and the fact we have no mention of his life partner(unless "Emma" is going to turn out to be her) or his continual resurrections.
Unlike the other reviews today, I won't be giving this book a second issue. I just don't like where it has gone thus far,
BTW: the mysterious hooded woman is hiding in the background of a beautifully painted full page 16.
WONDER WOMAN is the legendary Amazon who has also had more origin stories than I can count. She's been a warrior, a secret agent and had issues with gods and men. Her last version by the driving force behind BABYLON 5 was revered by some and hated by others. How does this new version stack up?
The book starts with a bang as the "sun of a King" kills three lovelies in a hi-rise in Singapore. Next, we're in Virginia and a mysterious woman wearing a cloak of peacock feathers beheads two horses with a sickle. Back in the house, a mysterious blue skinned man wearing a WWI style army helmet implores the woman residing there, a woman named Zola, to leave thew house. Sounds like good advise as two centaurs, arising from the bodies of the beheaded horses, burst in an attack. The blue man is wounded but not before he gives Zola a key.
She awakes in a bedroom in London. And the woman she wakens in that bedroom is none other than Wonder Woman. The pair transport back to Virginia where the centaurs attack the pair. They are driven off and the mysterious man, who we learn is Hermes(ahh...the helmet!) revels that Zola is pregnant by Zeus. Oh Snap!
Back in Singapore, Zeus' "sun" is conversing with the three dead girls. yeah-very Macbeth like...you know: the witches and all. He is told that one of Zeus' children will take his place but he isn't born yet. Yet? Okay-I see where this is going.
Do you like Brian Azzarello's work? Well, think of this as 100 BULLETS with an Amazon for the lead character. This book is so screwy it demands more reads. The plot of pretty interesting and just enough has been divulged to make you come back for more. Again-just like Azzarello's other major work, which constantly kept you guessing. Cliff Chiang's artwork is quirky but I like it. Of course, I come from the school of Independent Comics where quirky is cool, so it works for me.
This book has the making of being a sleeper hit. It's is weird enough to appeal to fans of TV shows like LOST and, at the same time, has a hard edge to catch those people who like their mysteries dark and...well: mysterious! Grab this an give it a whirl. There's no gray here: you'll either love it or hate it!
BTW: the mysterious hooded woman is hiding behind a tree in the 4th panel on page 17.
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