Justice League Vol.1: Origin HC

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead

5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price

4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Trade Paperback Read

3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection

2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase

1 – Avoid and Save your Money

JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME 1: ORIGIN HARDCOVER

The last incarnation of the Justice League began after Geoff Johns’ Infinite Crisis ended in 2006, which started with Justice League of America #0 foretelling the death of Clark’s father, Wonder Woman becoming a mortal, and the death of Batman. That series comes to a close following Geoff Johns’ Flashpoint series. The current incarnation of the Justice League begins again with writer Geoff Johns (Green Lantern) and artist Jim Lee (Batman, Superman) at the helm.

Korean artist Jim Lee began with Marvel Comics in 1987, illustrating Punisher War Journal then moving on to Uncanny X-Men before starting his own studio with Image Comics, Wildstorm Productions in 1992. Lee sold Wildstorm Productions to DC Comics in 1998 where he began illustrating Batman: Hush and Superman: For Tomorrow. Now as Co-Publisher of DC Comics, Lee joins his Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns spending the first arc of the new Justice League series bringing together the World’s Greatest Heroes. 

The series begins with a slow-burn origin tale uniting all the characters together Post-Flashpoint. Batman pursues a Daemon while being pursued himself by Gotham Police. Green Lantern arrives after detecting an extraterrestrial presence and joins Batman. Together they head towards Metropolis to find another alien: Superman.

Superman deals with both Green Lantern and Batman until the Flash arrives to stop the chaos. The foursome escape as local authorities arrives on the scene. Meanwhile at S.T.A.R. Labs, Dr. Silas Stone examines a mysterious alien box as his son Vic Stone visits. The alien box activates a portal allowing Daemons to come through for and injuring Vic Stone and kidnapping Professor Ivo. Other alien boxes open across the world releasing an army of Daemons for an invasion.

Wonder Woman arrives to assist the heroes against the alien invaders who are kidnapping people. The invaders have started with the ocean but Aquaman arrives to deal with the menace. Dr. Silas Stone saves his son Vic Stone by turning him into a cyborg to deal with the injuries created by the alien box.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- Colonel Stever Trevor is the appointed liaison for Wonder Woman

- Vic Stone interfaces with the alien box and is teleported to our heroes

- Darkseid arrives

This hardcover collects

Justice League #1 -6

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

Batman Vol.1: The Court of Owls HC

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead

5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price

4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Trade Paperback Read

3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection

2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase

1 – Avoid and Save your Money

BATMAN VOLUME 1: COURT OF OWLS HARDCOVER

Scott Synder builds on the history set within Gates of Gotham with co-writer Kyle Higgens. Batman teams up with the Joker who is secretly Dick Grayson to deal with loose Arkham inmates. Later Batman discovers a John Doe with Harvey Bullock who was killed using antique throwing knives with an owl symbol on them. The DNA evidence under John Doe’s body points to Dick Grayson and a message reading Bruce Wayne Will Die Tomorrow.

Lincoln March is the COO of March Venture and the current mayoral candidate who meets with Bruce Wayne at the Old Wayne Tower. They are attacked by one of the Court of Owls. March ends up in a hospital bed while Bruce survives the fall.

Later Batman discovers his great-great grandfather Alan Wayne established a trust for assisting young architects. The fund was used to advance Gotham’s skyline however these buildings had thirteenth floors which were the nests for the Court of Owls. While investigating one of these buildings, Batman trips on a wire triggering explosives and destroying that part of the building.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- Bruce tells Dick about how he linked the Court of Owls to his parents death

- Batman investigates the death of his great great-grandfather Alan Wayne

- Batman gets trapped in Labyrinth the by the Court of Owls

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RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

    

Green Lantern Vol. 1: Sinestro Rebirth HC

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead

5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price

4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Trade Paperback Read

3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection

2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase

1 – Avoid and Save your Money

GREEN LANTERN VOLUME 1: SINESTRO REBIRTH  HARDCOVER

Following the events of War of the Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan is suspended from the Green Lantern Corps while Sinestro unwillingly returns as a Green Lantern. The Guardians believe Sinestro received the ring as a chance for redemption and protect his sector. He heads towards his homeworld to find it enslaved by his own Sinestro Corps. Meanwhile Hal Jordan adjusts to his life on Earth while everything falls apart as Sinestro offers a chance to become a Green Lantern once more.

On Oa the Guardians of the Universe remove Ganthet’s emotions so he will be able to vote for the rest of his fellow Guardians. Both the Manhunters and the Green Lantern Corps failed the Guardians of the Universe. Now it is time to create the third army to protect and patrol the universe.

Sinestro gives Hal Jordan a ring incapable of hurting him so he will be able to control Hal Jordan. He asks Hal Jordan to free his own homeworld from his Sinestro Corps. Sinestro asks Hal Jordan to fly down and trigger his fail-safe by putting a Green Lantern battery inside the yellow central battery to shut down his Sinestro Corps. However after warning Hal Jordan not to attack until sunset, Sinestro jumps the gun to rescue Arsona while Hal Jordan heads towards the yellow central battery. In order to protect itself, the yellow central battery disintegrated Hal Jordan as a helpless Sinestro witnesses.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- Hal Jordan is ejected from the central battery and not transported to the Antimatter Universe

- The Sinestro Corps imprison Hal Jordan as they attempt to remove Sinestro’s ring

- Sinestro is imprisoned with other citizens of his homeworld Korugar who confront him

- Hal Jordan tells Sinestro to create Green Lantern rings for the Korugar citizens

- The citizens of Korugar turn their revenge on Sinestro

- Sinestro rids Korugar of his Sinestro Corps and imprisons them on Oa

- Sinestro lets Hal Jordan keep his ring however without a battery to recharge

- Carol Ferris gives Hal Jordan another chance in their relationship

- The Guardians plan to release the first Lantern to lead their third army

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – 5 OUT OF 5

    

  

Stormwatch Vol.1: The Dark Side TPB

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead

5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price

4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Read Trade Paperback Read

3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection

2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase

1 – Avoid and Save your Money

STORMWATCH VOLUME 1 TRADE PAPERBACK

Adam One is the current leader of Stormwatch and was born at the birth of the universe and is aging backwards.

Harry Tanner interfaces with the moon, takes all of its knowledge, and finally kills it. The moon responds by attacking the Earth with meteors while one turns into a monster on impact so the Earth would be prepared to face something even greater.         

Martian Manhunter recruits both Apollo and Midnighter into Stormwatch as Apollo heads into space to stop the meteors. Jack Hawksmoor talks to various cities including Metropolis, Paris, and Gotham to find out of the hidden city called Alba Umbra within Colorado. Stormwatch heads to Colorado to deal with the lunar monster.

A great start however Paul Cornell is leaving after the first arc with Paul Jerkins coming onboard for two issues before Peter Milligan takes over. Seems very clear DC Comics did not have a long term strategy for this series after after the first 8 issues. 

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- The Projectionist stops media coverage of the alien in terrorizing Colorado

- The monster absorbs everyone’s powers and leaving Midnighter to fight them all

- Apollo comes back to Earth after destroying the lunar meteors

- Apollo saves the Stormwatch heroes as Jack Hawksmoor wakes Alba Umbra

- After the monster is stopped the team faces the Stormwatch Shadow Cabinet

- Adam is taken to the Shadow Cabinet realm for failing Stormwatch on the field

- The Projectionist Adele Benson is chosen by the Shadow Cabinet to lead

- The Swordsman attempts to steal data from Stormwatch and kill Midnighter

- Swordsman reveals something is heading towards Earth from his interface with the moon

- Swordsman uses the alien horn to destroy Stormwatch HQ and the people inside

- The Stormwatch HQ is a Daemonite ship with a Daemonite A.I in control

- The Engineer is elected as the new leader of Stormwatch

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT – 3 OUT OF 5 

    

    

Batwing Vol.1: The Lost Kingdom TPB

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead

5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price

4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Trade Paperback Read

3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection

2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase

1 – Avoid and Save your Money

BATWING VOLUME 1 TRADE PAPERBACK

Batman gave armor and tech to Officer David Zavimbe of the Tinasha Police Department operating within the Democratic Republic of the Congo during Batman Incorporated. Eleven years ago both David and his younger brother Isaac were part of the Army of the Dawn and together they were called the Dragonflies. Isaac is punished by insubordination by his General and falls over a cliff. David enacts revenge for his brother by delivering the General to his enemies. 

Now Officer Zavimbe works with fellow Officer Kia Okuru who finds an altar of limbs with a stolen wallet belonging to Dede Yeboah. Yeboah happens to be Earth Strike who was a founding member of the Kingdom. While returning back to his police precinct, Massacre impales Zavimbe after killing everyone there however Officer Okuru arrives just in time for the save.

David wakes up two weeks later at his Haven Headquarters and realizes Massacre will target a school. Meanwhile Massacre arrives at a school to attack a teacher who happens to be Thunder Fall of the superhero group the Kingdom. Massacre severs Thunder Fall’s arm before Batwing arrives to deal with him.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- An injured Batwing battles Massacre however it is Thunder Fall who stops him

- Batwing takes Thunder Fall to the nearest hospital however admits he betrayed Africa

- Another member of the Kingdom, Dawnfire, is murdered by Massacre

- Massacre prepares to slaughter a bus load of innocents

- The headquarters of the Kingdom members the Citadel becomes a museum

- The Citadel is destroyed as Batman and Batwing apprehend the terrorists

- Massacre is waiting for Batwing in Giza, Egypt

- Batman and Batwing head towards Gotham City as Massacre targets the rest of the Kingdom members

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

    

Irredeemable/Incorruptible: Redemption HC

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead

5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price

4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Trade Paperback Read

3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection

2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase

1 – Avoid and Save your Money

  

  

INCORRUPTIBLE/IRREDEEMABLE: REDEMPTION TRADE PAPERBACK

Writer Mark Waid brought us two characters Plutonian and Max Damage that have reversed their live paths in mid-life. Irredeemable tells us a tale of the Plutonian who was once Earth’s greatest hero turned into an emotionally imbalance one. As a desperate move, the Chinese government sacrificed a third of the world’s population to unleash two mysterious extraterrestrials captured decades ago. They have been revealed to be Plutonian’s parents.

The alien parents take Plutonian to the very end of time to imprison him. However Plutonian manages to expose their compassion so they will reveal his true origins. The two aliens created a probe to mirror the emotional spectrum. When the probe touched a mother, who wanted redemption after she killed her child, it changed into a newborn baby. The unstable mother attempted to kill the newborn through rat poison, burning, and carbon monoxide. After the mother died of carbon monoxide, Plutonian was shipped to a series of foster homes until he began living on his own as the Coalville’s “Wolf Boy.”

Max Damage believes he is to balance of the scales of justice when Plutonian went rogue and is now the hero of his hometown of Coalville. Twenty-two years ago Max decided to trap the “Wolf Boy” however Max is buried alive. Years later Max becomes an ex-con having embraced a life of crime until he encounters Plutonian again. Plutonian recognizes him and crushes his hands before Max is back in prison. 

It took us two years to get to these issues and the four part crossover was overhyped by Mark Waid as the true origins of both characters are revealed however the reason Max Damage became a good guy is still a mystery. A secret pact is made between Max Damage and Plutonian off panel which Waid will reveal over time. 

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- Plutonian learns the origin of his extraterrestrial parents

- Max Damage is a constant reminder of Plutonian at his worst

- Plutonian is taken to the end of time where Max Damage comes for a last visit

- The origin of Max Damage is revealed

This paperback collects

Irredeemable #32 - 33

Incorruptible #25 - 26

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT – 3 OUT OF 5

Ultimate Comics Ultimates By Jonathan Hickman Vol.1 Premiere HC

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead

5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price

4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Trade Paperback Read

3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection

2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase

1 – Avoid and Save your Money

ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES VOLUME 1 PREMIERE HARDCOVER

Reed Richards developed a highly-evolved race of super humans by creating a dome where time exists faster than the outside world. Nearly 1000 years has passed and now their base the City is expanding destroying Europe and the Asgardian Gods. The Ultimates take a beating before retreating however Thor wants his revenge for the death of the Asgardians and goes solo to confront the Children of Tomorrow.

The revelation the Maker of the City is Reed Richards would have been a surprise if his plot was not unveiled within Ultimate Comics Fallout. The first six issues was a very decompressed story style by Jonathan Hickman where the villains take over half of Europe and the helpless heroes are on the ropes. The total cost is $24 for six issues and the story is not completed. You will be able to get a full season box set at Amazon.com for that price.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- Thor frees Captain Britain and discovers the children are grown within the City

- Reed reveals the City has reached its potential and they will take everything they gained

- Thor witnesses his father as well as his fellow Asgardians are in Valhalla waiting

- Sam Wilson AKA the Falcon recons the City while Nick Fury brings back Steve Rogers

- Nick Fury initiates his plan against Reed Richards and the Children of Tomorrow

This hardcover collects

The Ultimates #1-6

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT – 3 OUT OF 5

Marvel Comics Publication Strategies 2012

Following Marvel Comics 2011 event Fear Itself, the stage is being prepared for the Avengers Vs. X-Men starting with Avengers: X-Sanction, The four-issue limited series leading into the twelve-issue bi-weekly event. Avengers: X-Sanction features the return of Cable who presents himself as the “Captain America” of the X-Men. Cable plans to save the future by stopping the Avengers before they kill his adopted daughter, Hope. Marvel Comics is positioning their characters to take advantage of their 2012 blockbuster movies Avengers and the Amazing Spider-Man by Marvel Studios.

While DC Comics relaunched their franchises last September, Marvel Comics has its own publishing schedule according to Joe Quesada, which will not be altered due to its rival DC Comics relaunching all of their titles.

The writers are the key to any comic as they establish the trust with their readers. Brian Michael Bendis and Jonathan Hickman have established their titles are worth picking up which includes Ultimate Spider-Man and Fantastic Four.

Marvel Comics have a rapidly growing list of cancellations including Alpha Flight, Victor Von Doom, Destroyers, Ghost Rider, Black Panther, Daken: Dark Wolverine and PunisherMax as well as a few more. These cancellations provide strength for the popular titles without cannibalizing them. The popular titles have built franchises to draw attention when the titles are released. The titles are focused on the Marvel architect writers which includes both Brian Michael Bendis and Jonathan Hickman taking a hold of the Marvel Universe providing quality stories for the next decade of Marvel Comics.

Marvel Comics strategies for 2012 include selling more of the popular titles per year, shorter story arcs, and increasing titles of the current franchises. Marvel Comics is beginning to sell more of the popular titles increasing to more than 12 issues per year. Titles include the new Winter Soldier, Hulk, Amazing Spider-Man, as well as the Point One issues associated with the titles. Shorter story arcs provide more bang for the buck when they are collected in trade form. Daredevil, Incredible Hulk, and the recent New Mutants bring a new age of storytelling instead of the decompressing storytelling of the 2000s.

Comic fans want stories that matter and make a difference to the reader now. The Post-Fear Itself titles seem to be the beginning of something special as our heroes deal with the consequences of their actions. The mutant titles seem to be a convoluted set of stories all which will eventually lead to next summer’s event: Avengers Vs. X-Men. Basically the X-Men Universe seem to be put on the back burner as the Avengers are pushed towards the forefront as the movie premieres next May.

Most of the Fear Itself and Spider-Island tie-ins last year seem to be bombarding the comic racks rather than adding to the comic experience. One of the lessons Marvel Comics needs to learn is not to bombard the reader with numerous tie-ins or else they will lose interest in the main title. The main titles are under ordered to make room for their tie-ins. Fear Itself has 20 tie-ins while Spider-Island has 8 tie-ins for a total of 28 books that are cannibalizing quality comics and taking up store space. Much like the Fear Itself tie-ins, the Spider-lsland tie-ins are written by various writers who have very little to do with the Spider-Man Universe. Unless the title is written by series writer Dan Slott, these titles are to be avoided to save money for the reader.

Marvel Comics need to be sensitive to retailers instead of bombarding them with stuff they need to sell to raise quarterly earnings on the stock market for their owners Disney. When you have shareholders then you have short-term goals without any long-term strategies. 

References

Devil Comics Entertainment http://www.devilcomics.com

DC Comics http://dccomics.com/dccomics/

NYC Graphic Novelists http://www.nycgraphicnovelists.com

Comic Alliance http://www.comicsalliance.com

Jim Shooter http://www.jimshooter.com

Comic Mix http://www.comicmix.com

The Hollywood Reporter http://www.hollywoodreporter.com