DC New Boughts & Thoughts

[Rustyautoparts (Russ Otto)]

My curiosity was based on your description.

I figured, but didn't want to assume. I was mostly exaggerating to rile Vince up. He's so sexy when he's angry. Of course he had to give me post filled with understanding and respect.

Seriously though, I grew up on BTAS. My love of comics stems from that show. So seeing a Harley that clearly isn't the character I know and love being tortured ala Saw (hence my splatterporn hyperbole) really does nothing for me. I'm not pissed about it, I just have little desire to read it. If I see a trade at a con or a digital sale, I might pick it up, but I was much more impressed by other things (like Superboy or Grifter) than I was with this particular issue.

[Splatoon]

I saw where the title ranks on your list, but I'm not clear on something: did you read Suicide Squad?

Wait, what?

Definitely not slutty.  She may have been drawn sexy (especially in the Kesel/Dodsons title), with her form-fitting head-to-toe outfit, but she never came across to me as a character that wanted anyone other than Joker to get close.  Granted, I'm not caught up on Gotham City Sirens, so maybe she changed toward the end of that universe's existence.

To be totally honest, 99% of my Harley knowledge is based on the animated show and the game, where she tended to mockingly hit on many of the main characters (Batman, Gordon etc.) though as you said, she obviously had eyes only for Mr. J. Slutty was probably the wrong term, flirtatious might be more accurate.

[VinceB]

Definitely not slutty. 

Maybe not slutty 'cause she acted out of love, but remember the episode where she pops out of the cake half-nekkid and asks her Puddin' if he wants some pie? She may not act that way around every guy, but when she's with the Joker, BTAS Harley is a dirty girl. 

[David]

So seeing a Harley that clearly isn't the character I know and love being tortured ala Saw (hence my splatterporn hyperbole) really does nothing for me.

Gotcha.

I could understand dismissing it if she was the only one being tortured, but it was a test and everyone on the team had to take it.  Jumper cables aside, everything else the character did and said in the issue was all too familiar to Harley fans.  Including yearning for Mistah J and calling him "Puddin'".

Maybe not slutty 'cause she acted out of love, but remember the episode where she pops out of the cake half-nekkid and asks her Puddin' if he wants some pie? She may not act that way around every guy, but when she's with the Joker, BTAS Harley is a dirty girl.

Of course.  Because she only has eyes for him.

Anything to get even the slightest bit of attention from her man.

Poor girl...

[matthaber]

Anyone who was planning on skipping Red Hood I recommend checking out the preview from ign. This book is going to be the dopeness. Just look at that art, Rocafort is a MONSTER



http://comics.ign.com/articles/119/1195097p1.html

[Lukeh]

That art is insane

[Rustyautoparts (Russ Otto)]

Gotcha.

I could understand dismissing it if she was the only one being tortured, but it was a test and everyone on the team had to take it.  Jumper cables aside, everything else the character did and said in the issue was all too familiar to Harley fans.  Including yearning for Mistah J and calling him "Puddin'".

Yeah, I can see that. Her characterization was my favorite part of the issue. Something just rubbed me the wrong way and it definitely had to do with Harley. I guess I just dislike the environment she's in. I like stories that are really violent and the characters are mostly despicable. I like stories with scantily clad sexy ladies. I like stories that have Harley Quinn in them. Apparently those three likes don't overlap.

[badartdog]

Ok - I wasn't sure if I was going to buy any of 'em to be honest, but I got reeled in by the podcasts and this forum.
My purchases are all digital and I have read them on a large monitor - I have an iPhone but not an iPad and whilst some stuff works well on a small screen (I fell in love with Bone that way) most comics work better, bigger.

The titles I have bought so far are Action, OMAC, Batwoman, Animal Man and Suicide Squad - probably the ones I would expect most of.

Anyway, my overall feeling is one of mild disappointment. All the ones I have read have been ok, but none have made me fall in love with superhero comics again, none have made me laugh, grin, gasp or cower. I don't know if I'll buy the second issue of any - especially at full price with, maybe, one exception - Batwoman towers above the rest in visual terms, and the story is just about good enough to keep me interested.

None of them seem to have the pure joy that I saw in All Star Superman, Brendan McCarthy's issue of Solo, or Darwyn Cooke's New Frontier - the greatest comics series I have ever read - or even Wednesday Comics.

Even OMAC has left me a little underwhelmed and I love Kirby (and Giffen doing Kirby - those couple of Defenders vs Zodiac issues from the 70s are among my all time favourites).

I'm quite interested in seeing the dark Justice League thing and may give Azzarello's Wonder Woman a look - but so far, it just feels like a bit of a missed opportunity, quality-wise. DC is releasing 52 new series - I wonder how many (if any) of them will be remembered in 5 years time?

[glwarm76]

Anyone who was planning on skipping Red Hood I recommend checking out the preview from ign. This book is going to be the dopeness. Just look at that art, Rocafort is a MONSTER



http://comics.ign.com/articles/119/1195097p1.html

This art is crazy business. I had no interest in this title but after seeing this art I'm strongly considering checking this out.

[JimN]

None of them seem to have the pure joy that I saw in All Star Superman, Brendan McCarthy's issue of Solo, or Darwyn Cooke's New Frontier - the greatest comics series I have ever read - or even Wednesday Comics.

If you're looking for a superhero comic that exudes the pure joy of that genre, I recommend trying Marineman. Ian Churchill's passion for his character and subject matter practically jump off the page.

I'm quite interested in seeing the dark Justice League thing and may give Azzarello's Wonder Woman a look - but so far, it just feels like a bit of a missed opportunity, quality-wise. DC is releasing 52 new series - I wonder how many (if any) of them will be remembered in 5 years time?

My guess is very few but isn't that the nature of the beast? Great, memorable runs on mainstream comics seem like the exception more than the rule.

Jim

[JimN]

Anyone who was planning on skipping Red Hood I recommend checking out the preview from ign. This book is going to be the dopeness. Just look at that art, Rocafort is a MONSTER

http://comics.ign.com/articles/119/1195097p1.html

Thanks for the link. This book wasn't on my radar but Jason Farrell mentioned it to me yesterday and after seeing the preview art, I'm going to give it a try.

[steve bryant]

Thanks for the link. This book wasn't on my radar but Jason Farrell mentioned it to me yesterday and after seeing the preview art, I'm going to give it a try.

I just wish it was inked.

[Jeppe]

To borrow the nifty format.

Books I expect to stick with...
Animal Man - I had high hopes for Lemire with this title, and boy did he not disappoint. Great writing, excellent first issue, and art that invokes the right, creepy tone of the story. I gave the issue to my girlfriend, who has no experience with the title or Lemire, and she loved it too.
Batwoman - The writing seems good, if not quite at the same level as Rucka's, and the art is the best in the industry. I have to read this title, and I can't wait for the eventual hardcover collection.


Books I'll probably stick with for the first arc, but am skeptical beyond that...
Suicide Squad - This was a good introduction to the team, and I enjoyed the art. Intrigued enough to stick with it for a few more issues.
Deathstroke - A bit corny, but pretty much what I would expect from a comic about Slade. I enjoy the character a great deal, and I'm interested to see if they can take him beyond the tried and true clichées.


Books I've tried and am going to hand off to other fans to enjoy (the one and done club)...
O.M.A.C. - I can see the appeal for long-time Kirby fans, but I have to admit that this one probably isn't for me. At least I gave it a shot

[JimN]

Animal Man - I had high hopes for Lemire with this title, and boy did he not disappoint. Great writing, excellent first issue, and art that invokes the right, creepy tone of the story. I gave the issue to my girlfriend, who has no experience with the title or Lemire, and she loved it too.

I heard SO much praise for Animal Man #1 that I decided to spring for a digital copy since the comic shop was sold out. Thankfully, I liked it. The story is quite good and I even thought the opening page worked, although I tend to dislike "all text" pages in comics.

I had mixed feelings about the art. I thought it was excellent in the dream sequences and the page where Animal Man reaches out with his powers,

searching for an animal to protect him from gunfire

. However, it didn't do much for me on most of the domestic and real world pages. It's not bad and it serves as a contrast to the richness of the other sequences but the thin, open line style combined with the flat colors and pastel palette just didn't appeal to me.

I definitely liked this enough to buy issue #2.

Books I've tried and am going to hand off to other fans to enjoy (the one and done club)...
O.M.A.C. - I can see the appeal for long-time Kirby fans, but I have to admit that this one probably isn't for me. At least I gave it a shot

At least you gave it a try! Sorry you didn't care for it...

Jim

[badartdog]

If you're looking for a superhero comic that exudes the pure joy of that genre, I recommend trying Marineman. Ian Churchill's passion for his character and subject matter practically jump off the page.

thanks for that, Jim - I'm not familiar with it, but will investigate.

Despite being underwhelmed - these issue 4 covers previewed over at iFanboy are great:
http://ifanboy.com/articles/first-look-dc-comics-dark-book-solicits-for-december/

[Jeppe]

thanks for that, Jim - I'm not familiar with it, but will investigate.

Marineman is great comics, pure fun! I can't recommend it enough 

[JimN]

thanks for that, Jim - I'm not familiar with it, but will investigate.

There's a thread about it here:
http://bullpenbulletinspodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=12533.0

That thread contains a link to the creator's blog about the book. If you find yourself interested, you should still be able to find online previews of all 6 issues too.

Despite being underwhelmed - these issue 4 covers previewed over at iFanboy are great:
http://ifanboy.com/articles/first-look-dc-comics-dark-book-solicits-for-december/

Thanks! I love the Swamp Thing and Resurrection Man covers.

[LoadofBS]

Is Tiny Titans the highest numbered DC book now? It's still going with the same numbering. They didn't use my idea of having Garth Ennis reboot it but I'll still keep picking it up.

[Hassan T]

I finished reading the 2nd week of the new DC 52 books.

Batwoman was my favorite book of the week. It is a Bat book, but it is different than the other DC books in both story and art. It does focus on the supernatural element of Gotham City. The art is, of course, amazing.

Besides Batman & Robin and Green Lantern, the books I really liked this week were Demon Knights and Frankenstein. These were two books that really stood out from the rest of the new 52, as well as, majority of comics out there. If you like Game of Thrones, you have to read Demon Knights.

Other books I enjoyed were:
Grifter - This is a new take on the character but it works within the new 52.
Red Lanterns - A lot of fun. Great story and art.
Deathstroke - A good first issue. Not great, but interesting enough where I will be back next issue.
Superboy - The surprise of the week for me. I wasn't really expecting much, but it was really good.

Books that I thought were good but I am on fence on were: Resurrection Man, Suicide Squad, and Mister Terrific. These books were good, but didn't blow me away. Resurrection Man I had high hopes on but was not excited for the book after reading the first issue. I will probably get the next couple of issues.

The worst book of the week and so far is Legion Lost. I was so confused about what was going on in the book. The storytelling was very confusing. The only thing that saved the book was the art (excluding the storytelling aspect of it).

[bean6344]

It's great that so many of us are loving the fringe books.  Personally I am not surprised because these are the books that I was most looking forward to. 
I have to admit that I am perplexed by the tweet from Ron Richards that stated;
"I listen to @11oclockcomics and wonder if we're reading the same comic books."
I know that Ron is characterized as the Marvel Guy, but I find it hard to believe that he does not share the enthusiasm for the new 52 as do the EOC big 4.

Maybe it was a joke and I did not get it.

Bean