DC's ZERO MONTH WEEK #3

BATWOMAN #0: We get the tale of Kate Kane and her twin sister Beth as they grew up. If Beth was bullied, Kate would defend her. Beth and her mother were slaughtered in a terrorist kidnapping. Kate’s ultimate way of dealing with their deaths was to focus on her studies and get into West Point. During that time, she met her new girlfriend Sophie. But that relationship lead to her being thrown out of West Point during Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. She found herself sinking in drink to wash away her pain. As part of her training to be Batwoman, her father sent her to the Four Corners of the world on treacherous missions. On her last mission, her father confronts her. Eventually she returns to Gotham and realizes that her father betrayed her by not telling her that her sister Beth was still alive. That led to the birth of Batwoman.

J. H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman retell the story of Kate Kane and add some new pieces to it. What I love about Williams art is that it shifts from this beautifully painted style to a very cartoony one. The pair writes a good story that moves along nicely. You don’t have to have full knowledge of Batwoman’s pre NEW 52 adventures, but it helps. But they do a good enough job of filling in holes to eliminate a lot of that need. A great character with a great story.

BIRDS OF PREY #0: The story begins one year ago with Dinah Lance, formerly of Team 7, chasing after Basilisk. Biding her time, she goes to work for Penguin’s Iceberg Lounge. Penguin nicknames her Black Canary to keep with his bird theme. She meets and becomes friends with Eve Crawford, who has been named Starling. Dinah hears that a deal with Basilisk is going down but the meet she observes gets broken up when Batgirl ruins it by getting involved. After a scuffle, Dinah and Batgirl admit they were both after the same thing: a mutation bomb (similar to the one from SUICIDE SQUAD #0?). They finally observe the buyer, go after him, and take him out. But Starling gets the drop on Batgirl, putting a gun to her head. Dinah convinces her that they are all on the same side and the trio head off in a speed boat. In the epilogue, Dinah realizes she missed the ‘team adventure’ and liked the idea of having someone watching her back. Meanwhile, Starling reports to  Amanda Waller, who tells Starling to remain friendly with Dinah. We also see Dinah’s “late” husband kept in stasis in Waller’s control.

WOW!!! Duane Swierczynski makes every effort to impress on this one and does! We find how Canary got her name, how she and Starling became friends and that they might really be friends. Kurt Lance on ice…REALLY!? Again, we have Amanda Waller pulling strings. And Romano Molenaar’s art rocks! I would take his art any day and every month on this book!

BLUE BEETLE #0: We start at Reachworld, long, long ago when Khaji-Da was created. It seeks out a host and bonds itself onto a littler alien girl named Styx. Styx uses the powers she never knew she had to fend off the scarab and we are told she has grown up to become Lady Styx: “her name is a byword for terror”. Attacked by a Green Lantern, the injured scarab ends up in the Yucatan Peninsula where it changes form and becomes known as the Sky Witness, defending the people of the land. Eventually, it would be known as the cruel god Quetzalcoatl. Over the centuries, the scarab is found and lost and traded until it ends up in the possession of Jaime Reyes who becomes the superhero known as Blue Beetle. When last we saw him, O.M.A.C. transported him into deep space. Now he floats through space and is about to be attacked by other scarab creatures.

I found this a fun read, especially since I don’t read the title. Keith Giffen and Tony Bedard craft a brilliant story about the history of the scarab, as narrated by the scarab itself. Ig Guara and J.P. Mayer handle the art chores and, while it’s nothing stunning, it is also not so off-putting to take away from the story. If this book read this good each month, I would probably buy it.

CAPTAIN ATOM #0: Set several years ago, Nathaniel “Nate” Adams finds himself so overcome by his father’s death that he tries to fly his jet to the moon, which gets him to volunteer for a secret, inter-dimensional experiment run by Doctor Megala. Something goes hideously wrong and he appears to die during the experiment. He reappears some time later as a being of pure energy.

J. T. Krul’s story gives me nothing that would make me want to read this title which, thankfully, has been cancelled. Here’s a military guy with a complete dislike of the military who suddenly becomes a weapon or the military. Sorry: that makes no sense to me! And Freddie Williams III art is a poor man’s version of Bill Sienkiewicz…and that’s being kind. The character is shallow, the art is miserable and I think it’s time he gets re-imagined yet again…by someone who can develop him properly!

CATWOMAN #0: Set a few years ago, Selina Kyle is hired by the mayor's as the Mistress of Protocol and Invitation Management, which gives her more clearance. She wants to find out where her brother, who ended up in another foster home, ended up.

A co-worker helps and finds Selina’s image, but with a Russian name. That was when the computer crashed. A year earlier, She was involved in burglary, but she got caught and got taken in to the second chance program with the mayor's office. The day after the computer crash, she was called up to speak with the man who put her in the second chance program. He accused her of triggering the crash by looking into her file and throws her off the building. But an awning breaks her fall. On the ground, stray cats surround her. Months pass and Selina has transformed into Catwoman, using the cloth from the awning to make her first costume. She broke into her old office to steal stole some computer files. She takes the files to a computer expert and he claims the files have been wiped and there was no record of the Second Chances program.

Ann Nocenti steps into Judd Winick’s shoes and does an commendable job of it. She throws in this brilliant hook that will move the story along for the next few months if not the next year. Who is Selina Kyle? Really? We also have a wonderful art job from Adriana Melo who seems to be the new kid on the block replacing Guillem March, although March does turn in a breathtaking cover. And I’m okay with that! This book continues to do wonders and rocks my world! I cannot wait to see how this all ties together. It is now a far cry from the book that disturbed so many people because it began with Batman and Catwoman having sex!

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #0: In the first story, we see how Max Lord and Brother Eye collaborated on the O.M.A.C. project and how Kevin Kho was chosen to be the host. Next we get Michael Holt as he makes his transformation from the smartest man in the world to Mister Terrific. He sees visions of the past, present and near future, including a vision of his deceased son. But it turns out his son is actually someone else who will be causing trouble for the heroes of Earth 2. Next, the origin of the team of Hawk and Dove, thanks to the manipulating of the Goddess of Order and the God of Chaos. The next tale is of the early days of the Blackhawks. Set five years ago during the war with Darkseid, we see how the team fought valiantly, how Lady Blackhawk lost her eye and our first look at Mother Machine. Finally, we have an early tale of Deadman, who is adjusting to try and work with Rama Kushna.

Welcome to the $6.00 NEW 52 version of the 1978 CANCELLED COMICS CAVALCADE(bits and pieces from 20 DC comics cancelled during what was called the DC IMPLOSION). Each of these characters (except for Deadman, who appeared in the first DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS story) had series shot out from under them. And, for the most part, we can see why.  Of all of these characters, the only one I gravitated to was O.M.A.C. and even this tale is weak. Of all the stories here, the one that looks the best is the Hawk and Dove tale. But keep in mind it IS Rob Liefeld and therefore the writing leaves something to be desired. This was a very expensive way to keep these characters in the public eye. Merge them into something and be done with them.

GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #0:  Following the events of GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL VOL. 5 #1, Carol Ferris and Kyle Rayner search for Hal Jordan, but end up battling Black Lantern zombies. Harnessing the powers of his ring, which now has all the colors of the various Lanterns within it, Kyle defeats the zombies and discovers that Hal Jordan is no more. Meanwhile, The Zamorrans are ready to usher out the Lanterns and usher in their own era.

Tony Bedard, Aaron Kuder and Andrei Bressan carve out the next chapter in the upcoming crossover in the Lantern titles. For me, all it serves to do is fill in some holes for me. I haven’t read the title since the first issue, so I knew nothing about Kyle’s ring acquiring new powers. And to be honest, I really don’t care. I have never been a Kyle Rayner fan, except for that moment when he found his girlfriend dead in his fridge. And even that wasn’t me liking his character-it was me missing Alex.

 JUSTICE LEAGUE #0: Black Adam has arrived and he is looking for the wizard. Billy Batson examines the tunnel, finding and activating all the statues that make up the name SHAZAM. Eventually he is called to the Wizard, who resembles the aborigine Gateway from UNCANNY X-MEN. He proclaims he is the last of the Council of Wizards and the keeper of the Rock of Eternity. He is seeking the pure individual, which we know Billy is not. But he knows Black Adam is loose and does see potential in the boy. The wizard tells him to say that magical word and he does with one word…SHAZAM! After admonishing him for wasting his powers, the wizard dies and Billy transports himself back to the surface where Freddy is. The pair cause some havoc in town but Billy saves a young woman from a mugger and accepts a $20 tip. At this point, he and Freddie see the ultimate get rich scheme.

FINALLY-SHAZAM is born. Sorry…can’t get used to calling him that, even after all these years. he’s Captain Marvel: the Big Red Cheese. Geoff Johns and Gary Frank make a character who should have his own book…if we need another anti-hero. Supposedly he has the good within in. So how come all we can see is the nasty in him. Where this goes and hour this will play out during the upcoming issues of JUSTICE LEAGUE could be very entertaining.

 LEGION OF SUPERHEROES #0: We start shortly after the founding of the Legion. Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, Brainiac 5, Phantom Girl and Ultra Boy battle a creature on Colu, which, for the uninitiated, is Brianiac’s homeworld. And, whether he meant it or not, Brianiac 5 was responsible for these robotic bugs getting loose when he opened the lab door. Oh, and we also get the origin of Tharok and meet a Colun child who may be important down the road.

Once again, I find myself craving the good old days of the Legion. I like Scott Kolin’s art as a rule, but it doesn’t hold my attention on this book. And Paul Levitz’ time as a Legion writer has long passed. So Brainiac 5 is accountable for the villain and we will reward him by making him a Legionnaire. Yeah-let us all know how that works out for ya!

NIGHTWING #0: As kids, Dick Grayson and his friend Raymond get in some trouble playing in a rail yard. Despite being grounded, he presented a bracelet with two robins on them to his mother for her birthday. That night, after Tony Zucco threatens C.C. Haly, the adult Graysons fell to their deaths. As Bruce Wayne took him away, Dick took back the robin bracelet. Dick spent his spare time looking for Zucco under the guise of playing video games. He also made it a pint of sneaking out at night and doing his own detective work. One night he saw Batman in action and immediately realized it was Bruce Wayne. Eventually, Bruce began training Dick and made him a part of his world of vigilantism. Making a costume out of spare Batsuit parts, Dick ended up in a  battle with the notorious assassin Lady Shiva. Referring to him as Bat Boy, he declared himself to be Robin. Despite defeating him, she offered to have him come to her for some real training. 

This is a very pleasing take on the legend of Robin the Boy Wonder. The death of the Graysons, the contribution of Boss Zucco, becoming Bruce Wayne’s ward-that’s all part of the legend. What becomes new here is where Robin comes from (his mother) and how he revealed his understanding that Bruce was Batman to Bruce. This sort of echoes the Bucky Barnes meets Captain America origin and feels a bit cheap. And Lady Shiva as a possible mentor for Dick? That doesn’t feel right either. But Tom DeFalco writes a comfortable story and Kyle Higgins provides some awesome artwork.

RED HOOD & THE OUTLAWS #0: Our story begins with the birth and young life of Jason Todd. His father was a thief; his mother was a drug addict. Ultimately his father died in prison and his mom has an overdose. A child of the streets, he gets helped by Leslie Thomson and has an eventual run in with the Batman, who makes his the second Robin. The two are not the ideal partners, as they are often at opposite ends of the spectrum. One night, he sees a photo on the Bat Computer and realizes his mother is still alive. They meet at last and soon he is captured by the Joker and beaten to death. He dies and eventually reborn thanks to the Lazarus Pit. In the second half of the  story, The Joker tells his version of how all that happened, complete with faking Jason’s mother’s initial overdose and being totally responsible for the death of Robin and the eventual rebirth as Red Hood.

They say every story has two sides and we get great detail on both of them. This has, by far, been my favorite issue of the series. The great DC anti-hero (next to Deathstroke) is Jason Todd and Scott Lobdell tells the tale that takes him from the punk we all wanted to die back in BATMAN #428 to the guy we wished we had sympathized with. Lobdell has succeeded in making him a poor soul who suffered through life, death and the afterlife. We get stunning artwork throughout both from Pasquel Ferry, Ig Guara and Brett Booth. A nearly perfect issue!

SUPERGIRL #0: Both Zor-El and his brother Jor-El knew that Krypton was dying, even though they had an argument which led to a rift that had yet to be repaired. Zor-El was searching for a way to save his daughter Kara. He built many machines to produce a force field protecting Argo when the destruction came. Eventually Zor-El took Kara to his power generators and showed her a pod. Inside was a suit bearing the family crest. As Kara went off to try it on, her mother, encountered a stranger from the House of El who promised to show her a way to say goodbye to her daughter before it was too late. Kara becomes weak while wearing the suit and Zor-El places her in the pod. He began toi record a message to her but was interrupted by his wife, who shot him with his own non-lethal weapon. Zor-El entered the launch sequence and the rocket left Krypton, just as the force field formed around Argo.

Again, this was a title that I loved when it started and then it just petered out. This origin story is not the perfect jumping on pint for me as I truly don’t like the character. Give me Power Girl any day, as she strikes me as more of the person Supergirl was. At least give her the tacky Sixties outfit with the little skirt and the bob hair and maybe I might be interested again.

SWORD OF SORCERY #0: Amy Winston is a high school student who is far from popular. The new girl in town, her only other friend is a girl named Beryl. During her 17^th birthday party, Amy leaves as her mother had always promised she could go home for her 17th birthday. Meanwhile, on the world of Nilaa, Lady Mordiel, the heir of the Amethyst house, has tracked down another of the bloodline and has the girl killed. Back in our world, Amy arrives at the football field as three men try to rape Beryl. Amy’s training allows her to beat up thew boys but freaks out Beryl in the process. Amy heads home and is told it is time to leave. Where they are going, they will have enemies who wish to kill them; especially Graciel’s sister, Lady Mordiel. Using a gemstone to open a portal, Graciel grabs Amy’s hand and they head into a New World, where they are greeted by a group of warriors who kneel before them. The women’s clothes and hair changes color and Amy grabs a sword to be by her mother’s side. The book ends with John Constantine picking up the portal crystal and walking away.

In the back-up, Wigstaf, the son of Weostahn, has been chosen to send a message to Beowulf. As the group approaches, Beowulf arises from his cryochamber and sees the group on a video screen. One warrior walks inside the chamber and is cut in two by the mighty warrior. The boy pretends he was a prisoner and he thanks Beowulf for saving him. He begs Beowulf to come north and slay Grendel. After some discussion, he agrees.

Back in the day, when I was single and comics were a lot cheaper, I bought AMETHYST PRINCESS OF GEMWORLD. In fact, I have a full collection. It was a fun read with great art by Ernie Colon back when I was 23. However, add 30 years to me and I really do not care about these characters. Now Christy Marx is a well established and talented author having done such work as diverse as G.I. Joe and SISTERHOOD OF STEEL (another comic I own a complete set of). So she has the sword and sorcery thing down. But the characters are boring to me. Maybe that’s because I’m not a 17 year old girl. I do love Aaron Lopresti’s artwork but not enough to cough up four bucks each month. Regarding the backup, Tony Bedard and Jesus Saiz take an interesting approach to the classic character. This must be set either in a distant world or a far flung future. I love the idea that this warrior of legend comes out of a cryochamber and watches the outside world on a video monitor. Here’s a thought: cancel some other low selling book, take this out of the back-up slot and make this a mini-series. THAT I would buy!

WONDER WOMAN #0: Princess Diana turns twelve she stole a harpy’s egg and gained favor with God Ares. During the celebration Diana  and Aleka fight, which gets nasty as the “clay” reference to Diana’s heritage is used like an epithet (she knows nothing of her revised origin at this point). She flips out and savagely attacks the girl until she is pulled off of her. In shame, she runs away. Crying by a stream, the god of war arrives and offers to teach her the way of a warrior. She agrees and they regularly begin to train and do so for a year. On her thirteenth birthday, she faces the Minotaur. She defeats the beats but refuses to kill him. Disgusted, Area vowed to never help her again.

I cannot say enough about Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chaing’s work on this title except it is quickly becoming the standard many other writers and artists wish they could attain. The book is always filled with humor, energy and some of the best plot twists in comics today. I could go on at length, but if you have read any of my recent reviews in the last years, you know I love this title dearly.