The Skin of Our Teeth

Today's topic -- DC Comics attempted One Year Later reboot.

Let's face it, this all started way back with Identity Crisis. I'll admit the majority of people HATED IdC I enjoyed it. In fact it was one of the many things that made me go nearly exclusive to DC (you can't in your right mind drop Captain America and Daredevil, especially now.) I enjoyed the whole build up, it felt like the DCU was going to one spectacular moment.  Seriously, when anyone, any group of people, sit down and plan the path something's going to take for 2 and a half years, the outcome should be great.  You really got the sense that something special was going on.

Infinite Crisis was that something special. While a sequel to the 1985 classic Crisis on Infinitie Earths, the sequel has thus far, six issues out of seven in, fallen quite short to its predocesser. I wasn't collecting comics in 1985 but in preperation for IC, I did read the original Crisis and while I'm not all for the 1980s narrative technique reading it you can tell just how amazing and special it really is. It's a complete gem that can be read and enjoyed by any era. I'm sure it's changes pissed a lot of people off back then like IC pisses people off now, but that seems to fade with a new generation.

Don't get me wrong. I have loved IC.  Every issue has caused me to geek out, but the feeling of specialness is nothing compared to the original story. It's still an amazing ride but it's like comparing an amazing rollar coaster to riding the space shuttle. There's no comparsion while both things are very much enjoyable. Though I'm not sure how good IC will feel in trade.  They've announced the series will be collecting with all seven issues. That's fine. But the real strange part of IC is the story has mostly been told within the smaller issues of on-going series.  The stuff you find in IC are the broad strokes of what is happening.  The details are found within the spaces of the regular books.  Interesting story telling and a nice money ploy but I want someone's opinion who's just been reading IC and IC alone -- does the story feel like every thing is there?

Six issues in and the purpose of IC still doesn't feel clear. You ironed out all your continuity problems by a very rediculous solution involving Superboy-Prime's rage? And after saying reminents of the multi-verse still existed, you're going to make us believe there's only one earth, designated New Earth, now exists? I have no problem with SBP's rage bringing Jason Todd back, but blaming the fluxations in Hawkman's history on him? It's iffy at best. Judd Winnick and crew should have stuck with it as the explaination to one thing and that was it -- especially when you could easily blame all changes on the formation of New Earth. There's many problems that come out in issues 5 and 6 however that's not what I'm here to discuss. And adding to the feel of IC is the fact that we still don't quite understand why Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman have dissapeared for a year.  The "death" of our Superboy (Teen Titans OYL is already hinting at his return the same release week he's killed off) is the obvious event that makes the DCU holy trinity pull their heads out of their asses and get on the same page quickly, but is it the reason to exile themselves for an entire year? I guess but you'd think a world in the aftermath of Crisis would need these beacons of light more than any other time. We can tell Supes doesn't lose his powers because of the formation of New Earth but he loses his powers sometime during IC. Obviously he's going to have to sacfrice them in issue #7 to stop Alexander Luthor and/or SBP (although the Spectre is sure to get his hands on at least one of them -- though seeing as Alexander is a Luthor, it's probably Superman's job, leaving SBP to the wrath of God.) We also can tell that Batman and Robin leave Gotham for a year, it appears to be to travel around the world. Seems like Robin has also been busy trying to ressurect or reclone Superboy, perhaps the two are not only clearing their heads but seeking out Ra's? I really don't know. I don't think we'll know for sometime.  WW probably exiles herself but honestly I couldn't care less about her and her atonement. After all she doesn't have shit to atone for in my mind.

Either way, that's not important....it'll come out later.  But what is important is all the hype surrounding One Year Later and the deflation since. They promised "If IC shocked you, you won't believe what happens next -- ONE YEAR LATER." And honestly, all the shockers they pretty much already revealed to us either at convention panels or on their website or just teases.  Teases are fine, they make people interested but for fuck sake's when you said Nightwing would still be Dick Grayson you left very little mystery on who would be the two Nightwings OYL. Oliver Queen as mayor of Star City?  In the first issue the fact is treated like a huge reveal, but all the soliciations and hype surrounding it was centered around that fact. It felt stupid to treat it like a big secret when the audience has known for months already. None of the 'new' directions feel all that radical and many of the creative teams are failing with their hooks.

So far perhaps only Action Comics/Superman has been any good.  In Up, Up, and Away they've been very good in keeping you interested, but not wasting space.  I really really really care what's going on here, although the ending is very transparent. Geoff Johns and Kurt Busiek of course are amazing writers and Pete Woods can have my soul. But the rest of the OYL titles have been puke.

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis, really piqued my interest with the first issue, the second issue the fact that it's just Busiek continueing his Conan the Barbarian run is painfully obvious. Just stay on Conan if that's what you wanted to do.  Conan's a great book, it's just not the direction I'm liking for Arthur.  I'm going to continue picking it up because I have hope it'll be better and I do like the Shark King a lot.  Plus I don't think he can possibly keep the Dweller's identity a secret -- to the Dweller and the new AC -- for much longer. After all you can possibly stretch out the dramatic irony too much longer when the audience knew the damn secret nearly off the bat in the first issue. And if you didn't know, you knew on the last panel at the very least.

I didn't pick up Blood of the Demon, but I've never liked Jason Blood and the opening panel didn't really entice me.

Batman/Detective Comics.  Yes, I geeked out with the first issue of Face to Face. It was just a geek moment, but once you get past the geek out moments in the issue, three issues in already and really it's moving slow. Nothing happened worth a damn in the first two. It feels like Bendis pacing and James Robinson is better than that. Magpie and KGBeast, two villains no longer serving a purpose but I do sorta miss so perfect choice on who to off. Too bad Ratcatcher's already gone or he'd be biting the bullet here. At least they're not treating Harvey Dent's breakdown like a mystery. Though Jason Bard does intrigue me a slight bit. I'm not familiar with the character's place in the DCU so maybe that's why. Hopefully he sticks with the Bat-team longer than this arc. I really enjoyed perhipial characters such as Onyx.

Haven't had a chance to check out Firestorm OYL because it sells out within like minuts at my comic shop and the past six issues are all on back order for the shop. Should mean good things but all I've been hearing is bad.  I love the character's concept but Jason Raush didn't really catch my interest after he became Firestorm. I don't hate JR but Ronnie Raymond was my home boy.

I love JSA, you wouldn't know it looking at my pile of stuff I haven't read yet. I'm about 14 months behind in JSA and I thought OYL would be a nice point where I could just jump back on.  I enjoy the Gentleman Ghost emensely, he just might be one of my favorite villains but the first two issues OYL really haven't done much to shock me or move me one way or another.

OMAC Project. I'm interested in the Checkmate book, mainly because it appears Arsenal and Sentinel will be appearing within the pages of it. I'll admit Greg Rucka's a good writer but I just don't like his stuff personally. It's not what I like. So I passed on this 4.99 book but everyone's raving over it and counting it as Checkmate #0 so I guess I've got to seek out a spare copy if I can.

Outsiders became my first offical drop of OYL.  The first issue was fun but not enough fun.  Nightwing didn't feel right (though that's a complaint that can go around the entire DCU when it comes to Dick) and honestly not shit happened. I know slow, arc trade-based story telling is becoming the norm in mainstream comics, but when you're book is competing against the entire company's line, you've got to make a splash. If the splash was the fact that they are covert agents, all pressumed dead, or that the team included Katana and Captain Boomerang II then you failed -- their status as a covert team was in the socilit, and DC revealed one member a week of the team leading up to the release. No Arsenal, no Jade (RIP), no Starfire (also pressumably RIP), and butchered Nightwing equals drop.  Let's face it, Outsiders hasn't been a great title for some time. Winnick's writing has gone off the deep end from just slightly average to absolute hack lately. I've stuck with the book from issue one until now and honestly I feel like a dumbass for doing so. Maybe something will happen in this arc but the way it's moving, I'll be asleep by then.  I'm interested in Captain Boomerang II (Owen) but not if Judd's writing it.

Teen Titans, one of the few bright spots in the OYL line-up. Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but Geoff Johns gets the point of this OYL thing -- probably because he had such a huge hand in it. Giving us enough of a mystery, moving it along in the same issue and blending old characters with new characters for a feel that's different. We want to read IC#7 (or possibly 52) to see what happened to Cyborg. We're worried about Raven and Starfire. We're sad that Gar has left and the relationship with Raven (although slightly out of character) failed, but we're also happy that he's found his place with his family in Doom Patrol again. We feel Cassie's anger and hurt. And we know all these plot strings will be threaded together over the remaining course of Johns's run on the book. Might take a year, might take more but there's enough ground work laid to keep you interested. I loved Ravenger over on Nightwing and I wanted to see her turn good and it's a treat to see her here. Kid Devil, sidekick to a sidekick is an interesting character that I'm sure Johns will do something with -- much like he made the Flash Rogue Gallary threatening again. But one of my favorite little bits was Cyborg, the former leader of the Titans's talk with Robin. Robin has assumed the leadership role during the toughest time in Titans history and he's doing his damn best at it, but Cyborg lashes out in shock -- THIS is the best you can do? It's not like Cyborg handed the keys over to Robin, they feel, deservedly, into Tim's lap. This book passes.

Green Arrow. I only stick around because I have every issue of this volume. Honest to God if I didn't I would have dropped it. Only a few short months ago he was my favorite character, enough to name my children someday after Team Arrow.  I didn't mind Winnick's start on the series but BAM that last arc to go OYL just sucked so much ass. The idea that Brick now works for Ollie OYL keeps me interested and a throw down one-on-one with Slade and Ollie is promising -- next issue.  Solicits promised the fight in #62 and it was teased in #61 and #62, Slade doesn't appear until the last panel and the fight we were promised comes in #63. Fuck you Judd. Please leave this book before I have to kill you.

 Battle for Bludhaven. Not sure how to feel on this one.  It's nice seeing some obscure new characters but it's just not the concept I thought the book would be about.  I want Nightwing, Cassandra, Tim, and all the sort.  Not some sort of quasi-government crap. The whole concept set before us in Nightwing's book between Dick and Slade sounded like it was going to be awesome. Of course they destoryed any potential in that by dropping Chemo on Bludhaven....i'm mixed on its effectiveness, mainly because I would have liked to seen the deal Dick had come up with. Hard to care for characters you've never seen before, and Gray tries slightly to do it but you're not sure what to think because you don't know anyone's MO here. I'll pick it up again but it's the last chance they get. Plus I know all the good names are taken up but ugh we get some lame character names here.

Nightwing. People bitched about Devin Grayson's run? What? At least Grayson had a plan. Perhaps a lack of expierence back fired on her but there was a lot of potential in what she was doing. Bruce Jones has proven himself a good writer but I'm not sure he understands who Nightwing is or who the fans want Nightwing to be.  The mystery of this book was the worst kept secret ever (they even ruined it in the solicit line for the second issue) and copy-cat Jason Todd just isn't my idea of interesting. Though I do see potential in him trying to replace Dick as Nightwing -- after all that's the next logical step if he hadn't died as Robin, he would have grown up and would have needed a new identity. Twin Nightwings, but of course Todd's no longer sane. But seems like they're putting up pretty standard fare with this. It's a shame.  I don't like the Pierce Brothers and I absolutely hate Cheyenne -- top fashion designer? My ass, she doesn't dress it or act it. Many people had problems with the 'modeling mistake' with Dick but I found it funny and light hearted although done before.  If I hadn't been collecting Nightwing since the 50s I would have also dropped this one too.

Birds of Prey. It's a book I'll pick up every now and then and that's it. Only one issue in and I'm sorta bored. I like Black Carnay but here training in the jungle -- snooze, we've seen this sthick before. Lady Shiva a bit interesting but nothing in this book catches me. And I love Gail Simone to boot but I'm not sure BoP has ever been her best work.

Green Lantern. Didn't pick up issue #10. I've never been a Hal fan, sorry folks. And after Rebrith essentially destoryed the best (and perhaps only) character development in Hal's entire history and retconned it out of existance, I really can't get into the character. Though I hear some good things so I might seek out #10.

JSA and JLA Classified. Vandal Savage....Nuff said with JSA. Something tells me JLA Classified is supposed to be a book for people who liked the old JLA before IC. Not sure, this Hypothetical Woman arc isn't over with.

Manhunter, didn't get ahold of #20 and still trying to find it. If you have an issue I'm willing to fucking pay.

Robin, Blue Beetle, Catwoman, Hawkgirl, Supergirl, Supergirl and LEGION reviews coming later in the day.

Yeah the list is still coming (see last post) but school, work, and a little thing known as Kingdom Hearts II has been taking a large amount of free time. Finally beat it so I can get on with some of my life. Goddamn it was a great game but I'm going to give it a couple more weeks before saying anything spoilerish about it or the Secret Ending which has me quite worried about the direction the series might take on the next generation platforms.

 While it's been an experience to say the least from the amazing opening video to the close, full of twists, turns, and even more questions in the end than answers, it's not say the game isn't without its flaws and sadly I'm not sure if it has its place on the list but it'll be under consideration.

Watching the opening video again, if you pay attention real closesly they give away two of the turns althought it takes a nice eye or knowing the fact to figure it out.

Voice acting usually the bane of English dub games is actually damn good this time around sans for Aerith's voice. Sadly she'll be providing the English voice for Aerith in Advent Children coming out later this month. Fuck is all I can say. Thank god the lines in that probably aren't long. Though hate to say it -- I prefer the Japanese version of the Opening Song ("Passions") to the American lyrics.

Honestly I have to give it a thumbs up to play. It's worth buying for your collection too if you're so inclined but if you have three straight days with nothing else to do you could probably plug away the whole thing in one rental.

Yeah the list is still coming (see last post) but school, work, and a little thing known as Kingdom Hearts II has been taking a large amount of free time. Finally beat it so I can get on with some of my life. Goddamn it was a great game but I'm going to give it a couple more weeks before saying anything spoilerish about it or the Secret Ending which has me quite worried about the direction the series might take on the next generation platforms.

 While it's been an experience to say the least from the amazing opening video to the close, full of twists, turns, and even more questions in the end than answers, it's not say the game isn't without its flaws and sadly I'm not sure if it has its place on the list but it'll be under consideration.

Watching the opening video again, if you pay attention real closesly they give away two of the turns althought it takes a nice eye or knowing the fact to figure it out.

Voice acting usually the bane of English dub games is actually damn good this time around sans for Aerith's voice. Sadly she'll be providing the English voice for Aerith in Advent Children coming out later this month. Fuck is all I can say. Thank god the lines in that probably aren't long. Though hate to say it -- I prefer the Japanese version of the Opening Song ("Passions") to the American lyrics.

Honestly I have to give it a thumbs up to play. It's worth buying for your collection too if you're so inclined but if you have three straight days with nothing else to do you could probably plug away the whole thing in one rental.