After Dc announced this a few months back, I admit I was quite annoyed.  Not so much the reboot of histories or even the costumes.  I was annoyed because I could not see a genuine reason for this.  Why throw away the loyalty of some of their fans in an attempt to hopefully bring in new ones.

Anyway after I had my rant on twitter about this, I sat down with the previews catalougue and marked down the changes to my pull list.  I could feel an element of excitement at the possible new changes.  Speaking to Mike (my local comic shop owner), I had decided that this was a temporary thing and Dc would eventually find a way to bring back the usual status quo.  So I was prepared to give most of the titles around 3 issues before deciding which ones to drop.  Who knows, I thought, maybe things will actually be better this time.

So what do I think so far?  Well it’s a mixture of interest and sadness. 

Let me explain.

I have not bought all the titles released so far but here is what I think of the ones I have bought.

Justice League 1 – Hmm.  I like the idea of costumed heroes being not trusted by the general public and the authorities.  Batman always works better as an outsider anyway.  Hal Jordan is not my favourite Green Lantern by a long shot but he is Geoff Johns favourite, so I don’t mind him being in the team.  The umpteenth attempt to make readers care about Vic Stone and his transformation to Cyborg seems as likely to fail here as it has over the years.  The character is a bust, a walking tank – yes but not a very interesting one.  However Cyborg was written mostly well in the Flashpoint mini series (and the less I say about that the better!) so who knows, maybe Geoff was right all along and the rest of the comic reading world was wrong. We shall see.

Overall it’s an issue of great art, ok writing and enough in it to make me look forward to next issue.

Batgirl 1 – I really liked this.  Ignoring the “how did she walk?” question (which seems to be what DC are doing) we get a decently written, action packed issue with a great ending.  Gail Simone is a good writer, so this may well turn out to be a great series, it certainly starts off well.  Personally I think Oracle is a better character for Barbara and one of the few disabled role models in comics. 

Action 1 – Grant Morrison could make me buy a phone book, such is my love for his writing.  I hate Superman with a passion, a boring character with a potential great supporting cast.  It is saying something that the only Superman books I have enjoyed have been written by Scotsmen (All Star and Red Son).  Grant takes the character back to the early days, before the costume and all the flag waving that I dislike.  In doing so, he makes me want Superman to achieve what he wants to do.  “Treat people right or I’ll be back”.  That’s what the most powerful superhero on the planet should be doing.  Probably wont stay with the book after Grant leaves but for now, this was the comic I enjoyed the most from the relaunch.

Animal Man 1 – Morrison’s run on Animal Man is the only time I have read this title, although I did like it when he was in Justice League Europe and 52.  So I come to this title looking for something different.  Mostly the title delivers, with interesting ideas being laid down for the future re Buddy’s daughter and the Red (a really bad attempt it seems to tie Animal powers into the Green of Swamp Things powers).  A horror comic with just the right amount of foreboding in it.  I really didn’t like the art though, very scratchy and rough.  Also the new costume they have Buddy wearing is just awful; well the head part of it anyway.

Swamp Thing 1 – Again I have only read Alan Moore’s run on this title all those years ago, so I come to this fresh.  Another title with a well written Horror theme and I loved the interesting twist with Alec Holland alive and well, with only memories of being Swamp Thing and Abby.  Great last page too.

Red Lanterns 1 – I bought this because of Peter Milligan writing it.  It was ok, nothing great but nothing bad either.  This may not make the 3 issue cut but with Milligan, I am hoping he manages to change my mind on that.

Justice League International 1 – Average in all departments.  Dan Jurgens is capable of better than this.  Yes I know it is a set up issue but when I finished it, I really didn’t care what had happened, who it had happened to and what the potential fallout was.

Stormwatch 1 – I know almost nothing about this title, apart from Apollo and Midnighter being gay lovers.  So this was my first real glimpse into the team.  Nothing amazing in here, hints of a greater threat to the earth that we don’t know about yet.  The Martian Manhunter seems shoehorned into the team but maybe he is a good fit, I don’t know yet.  Paul Cornell is a good writer though, so hopefully he will make me a fan.

Frankenstein agent of S.H.A.D.E. 1 – Good fun comic with enough crazy things happening to make me excited.  Art is a bit iffy again though.

Green Arrow 1 – Awful, just awful comic.  Take the Oliver Queen from Smallville TV show and make him even worse.  Add in writing and art that seem to be taken from an early 90’s comic and you have the worst comic from the 52.  I cancelled this from my pull list the following day.  It’s that bad.

Mr Terrific 1 – This is just rubbish too.  Not quite as bad as Green Arrow but not far off.  Bad writing again and a story that seems to go no where and everywhere at once without any rudder to guide it.  Plus how could you get rid of his Jacket?  That is my favourite Superhero outfit bar none.  Going to cancel this one too.

So there you have it.  Overall I have enjoyed a couple and been entertained mostly by others.  Two awful titles out of 11 is not a bad average.  Let’s see how the next couple of weeks play out.