DC New Boughts & Thoughts

[Kamakazi010654]

What time do they start putting these up on Comixology? 2:00 PM ?

Yep 2PM EST

[Lawrence]

Sweet, I saw they just went up. I am going to buy one on my phone and I obviously want to choose something I know I wasn't going to pick up at the store. Mr Terrific or Suicide Squad? 

[whirlwindx]

Picked up the last copy of Grifter #1. I don't think there were many copies to begin with. Saw almost everything on the shelves this week and Omac from last week. There was a customer in there when I was there that was talking about having just made a deal to sell his collection and dropping his pull list this week and one of the reasons was because of the DC #1's. He asked about how the new #1's were selling and I found out that Batwing was the dud from last week. He thought it was going to be Batgirl since he heard it was terrible but that lcs had sold out of that. That was a little weird.

[JimN]

I picked up Grifter, Resurrection Man, Demon Knights and Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. My first impressions after reading them:

Demon Knights: After I got past a pretty dynamic cover, this felt choppy and uninspired to me, although the ingredients are there for a good series so maybe it will get better. The first issue slings the reader around, working hard to introduce the cast but I didn't think it did a good job of making the characters particularly interesting. This was the worst take on Etrigan I've read (not that I've read a ton of them) and the art did nothing for me. I won't be getting issue #2. Disappointing.

Grifter: Other than the cover, the art in this one did nothing for me, although it gets the job done. The story is told sparingly but it gets intriguing toward the end. I didn't think this was anything special but the set up is intriguing enough that I may stick around for at least another issue or two. It definitely gives the reader a sense that it's going places and I love a mystery. I just wish the art was better.

Resurrection Man: I hate to sound repetitive but this was yet another comic with uninspired (and sometimes just plain bad) art, which is a shame because poor visual storytelling hurt a pretty interesting script. A change in artists might get me to buy this series but otherwise, I'm out.

Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.: This was definitely my favorite of the 4 new DC books I purchased today. The art, by Alberto Ponticelli, is loose but fun and the script could probably be described the same way. Writer Jeff Lemire is clearly playing in Mignola territory here but he draws on plenty of other influences and the ideas flow. It felt like there was more energy and creativity in this book than the 3 above combined. That said, I didn't love it but I suspect some here will, especially with Lemire involved. I'm sold on issue #2.

Overall, I'm a bit disappointed this week but my LCS is allowing people to return new DC #1s they don't like so I may exchange a few of these and try something else. Hopefully, others will be happier with these titles than i was...

Jim

[legion of daves]

Batwoman #1 wins.


that is all.

[BobBretall]

So, there were sell-outs (at my LCS) of the following books last week:

Action Comics
Animal Man
Batgirl
Detective Comics
Stormwatch
Swamp Thing

I don't think they had fewer than 100 copies of any title.  They had several hundred each of Action/Batgirl/Detective when I was in last week.  Heck they had 50 copies of the Action Comics variant cover, all being sold for cover price on the rack.

All 4 titles that earned a slot on my pull list were among the sell-outs:
Animal Man / Batgirl / Detective / Swamp Thing


with 6 sell-outs, what about the others?  When I went in today, there were pretty fair sized piles left (40+) of these:
Batwing
Justice League International
Men of War
Static Shock

and 20 or so copies each of:
Green Arrow
Hawk & Dove
OMAC

[JimN]

Thanks for the info, Bob. My LCS sold out of several titles too (including Animal Man and Swamp Thing) and when I asked them how the new DC books were doing for them, they said they were pleased with the results and that they were seeing new customers coming into the store looking for these titles.

Jim

[VinceB]

LCS sold out of everything from last week. Had to turn a few people away, but he made sure to tell them DC was going back to press. He tells me they said they'd be back.

[thefreakytiki]

So far this week I have read:

Suicide Squad: Loved it a bunch... but the switching of the artists left me scratching my head  .  I liked the first artist the best.

Mr. Terrific: I liked it until the story took a weird turn at the end...

I have no idea why why the first 18 pages of the book introduces you to Michael Holt went from a sympathetic character who is using his money, mind and powers for good and then the last two he becomes a wannabe killer.  Mind you it probably ties into the same reason why the diner patron became "possessed" but there was something missing in the art/storytelling that would make me think that is exactly the reason for the character change.

the Tiki

[David]

I think Green Lantern could've maybe used a recap page.  Not only is it one of the very few titles/characters/stories with baggage from the past, it was also a movie.

[Lawrence]

I noticed that Suicide Squad had a well placed editors note that referenced you back to Detective Comics #1. Thought you would like that DAP. Especially since they actually did it in the right order this time.

[Wood]

So far, this week is hurting me more than helping me.

A LOT of books this week I think fail the #1 issue test. If you genuinely didn't know the characters and settings, I think they would have left you  and  .

[David]

So far, this week is hurting me more than helping me.

A LOT of books this week I think fail the #1 issue test. If you genuinely didn't know the characters and settings, I think they would have left you  and  .

 

It's like Bizzaro to last week's Superman.

[Rustyautoparts (Russ Otto)]

Ended up coming away with Legion Lost, Grifter, and Superboy today. Store was sold out of Batman and Robin. I overheard the manager talking to another customer. He said about 50 people started a pull list in the last two weeks. He seemed happy about it, but also expressed frustration because he underestimated the response and under ordered on a bunch of titles.

On to reviews:

Grifter - I enjoyed this. I feel like I've enjoyed CAFU a lot more than I did in this issue, but it still looked good to me. I think he's usually inked by somebody else, so maybe that's the problem. Storywise it was good, although it used a storytelling technique that I'm starting to get tired of seeing. The issue drops you into the action, then you get the "Earlier..." caption box to catch you up on the action, and then the end of the issue picks up from the beginning scene. Just a personal nitpick. I'm interested enough to read the second issue if I can fit this book in my budget.

Legion Lost - As a recent Legion fan, this book disappointed me. I'm not really a big fan of Nicieza. His storytelling does absolutely nothing for me. His dialogue feels flat and uninspired. In the first issue of a team book, I need to see that there's some interesting chemistry between the characters, and there was none of that here. Pete Woods' art was great. It's a much more kinetic and meaty line than I'm used to seeing. I'll give this one more issue just because I want to like it, but it's on a really short leash.

I fell asleep while reading Legion Lost, so that might have colored my reading of the book. I'm not sure if the book made me sleepy or the sleepiness colored my negative reactions, but I'll give it another go with a set of fresh eyes. Because of this, I'm holding off on reading Superboy for now. I'll also update at the end of the month when I get my DCBS shipment in. Can't wait to read Demon Knights and Frankenstein.

[Ryan 'gobo' C.]

Books I expect to stick with...

Batman & Robin
Demon Knights
Resurrection Man
Grifter
Batwoman
Frankenstein

Books I'll probably stick with for the first arc, but am skeptical beyond that...

Superboy
Deathstroke
Green Lantern

Books I'll give the 2nd issue a try, but am skeptical beyond that...

Suicide Squad

Books I've tried and am going to hand off to other fans to enjoy (the one and done club)...

Red Lanterns
Mr. Terrific
Legion Lost

For me? A better week than last.

[JimN]

So far...

Books I expect to stick with...

O.M.A.C.
Swamp Thing

Books I'll probably stick with for the first arc, but am skeptical beyond that...

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E.

Books I'll give the 2nd issue a try, but am skeptical beyond that...

Men of War
Grifter

One and Done

Batgirl
Resurrection Man
Demon Knights

Books I haven't tried yet but may still try:

Animal Man
Batwoman

[Jeppe]

So far I've only gotten Batwoman this week, and it is every bit as gorgeous as I expected it to be! I'll definitely be picking up Frankenstein as well, and am still considering Resurrection Man, Suicide Squad, and Demon Knights.

[VinceB]

When we record tonight, I'm going to have to preface my comments with a reminder that I am not receiving any kind of compensation from DC Comics (or any of their subsidiaries) because, with one exception, every single book I've read so far has exceeded my expectations. I can find nothing about which to complain from ANY of the titles, Gotham books included.

Oh, and LEMIRE SLAYS, AGAIN! Frankenstein was outstanding.

[Jeppe]

When we record tonight, I'm going to have to preface my comments with a reminder that I am not receiving any kind of compensation from DC Comics (or any of their subsidiaries) because, with one exception, every single book I've read so far has exceeded my expectations. I can find nothing about which to complain from ANY of the titles, Gotham books included.

Oh, and LEMIRE SLAYS, AGAIN! Frankenstein was outstanding.

Seriously Vince, I can't wait to hear you gushing over the new DC comics! As good as last week's episode was, you were very much missed  

[Wormworth]

When we record tonight, I'm going to have to preface my comments with a reminder that I am not receiving any kind of compensation from DC Comics (or any of their subsidiaries) because, with one exception, every single book I've read so far has exceeded my expectations. I can find nothing about which to complain from ANY of the titles, Gotham books included.

Oh, and LEMIRE SLAYS, AGAIN! Frankenstein was outstanding.

And to think at the beginning of this year you were ready to say goodbye to mainstream superhero books...