The Story: Bruce Wayne and son Damian, now taking the mantle of Robin, may be partners while suited up, but on an emotional level, they’re not very close. Having been without a father for most of his life, Damian has a lot of resentment towards his newfound dad, and also thinks he’s being held back. Meanwhile, a threat looms over the international Batmen of Batman Inc.

The Verdict: Well, this was a disappointment. Peter J. Tomasi is a really good writer, and outside of his Green Lantern Corps work, his top stuff is generally in the Batman universe, but unfortunately this just isn’t up to par. Even when compared to his run on Batman and Robin before the reboot, this doesn’t hold up. I really want Dick Grayson back working with Damian, because the duo of Bruce and Damian is ugly. I’ve never been a big fan of Damian, but it’s understandable why he has such a chip on his shoulder, and in past books there’s always been an attempt to write him as struggling to become a better person. That’s missing completely here, and what we’re left with is an absolute little shit. And for anyone jumping into this without past knowledge, I just can’t see Damian clicking. It’s apparent in comics that some suspension of disbelief is needed, but I can’t fathom people with no prior knowledge on the character digesting his dialogue. No one is going to buy this is a 10 year old without being educated on his upbringing, and hopefully that eventually comes to light in this new series.

And that isn’t my only gripe with this book. Bruce sucks; he actually makes the comment that he’ll never think of his parents’ death again, and will only celebrate the good times. Um, what? So, now he just wants to clean up the streets of Gotham because it’s the right thing to do? Bruce’s unwillingness to let the memory of his parents’ murder fade is his entire being, the whole definition of his character and personality. Also, his restraint against Damian’s barbs is Zen-like. I know it’s his son and he’s trying to be a good dad, but on the flipside Bruce isn’t known for being emotionally in-touch with these things, and here he comes off as the greatest dad on the planet putting up with his son. This combined with him taking Hal’s crap in Justice League has me worried about the character’s direction. Maybe there’s some coalition out there screaming for a kinder, gentler Bruce, but I sure as hell am not one of them. The timeline is wacky too; this feels like it picks right up from where we left off, only now Bruce, instead of Dick, is teaming with Damian. Okay, it can’t all gel perfectly for longtime readers, I can brush a bit aside; but then Damian mentions that Dick, Jason and Tim have all been Robin in this universe. But weren’t we also told that superheroes have only existed in this world for 5 to 10 years? Wow, Batman goes through Robin’s quicker than Wilt Chamberlain went through women. Lastly, while Patrick Gleason’s artwork is still nice, I don’t think it holds up to his previous stuff, and it definitely falls short of his work on that amazing cover.

The Outlook: The bookend pages where the bigger threat to Batman Inc. looms is intriguing, but unless something is done quick with Damian’s character, I don’t know if it’d be worth slogging through. But if he doesn't evolve, that’s good news for Justice League Hal Jordan; he won’t be biggest douche anymore in the DCnU.

The Story: Following the events of War of the Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan has been stripped of his ring and is now an out of work, down on his luck everyman. Shocking pretty much everyone is the ring choosing Sinestro as the new guardian of Sector 2814. Obviously not too many are pleased with this, the biggest of which being Sinestro himself, not willing to take orders from the Guardians of Oa, whom he rebelled against all those years ago believing their views on defending the universe were archaic. However when he sees those of the Sinestro Corps he’s left in charge of his home-world Korugar have decided to enslave everyone on the planet, maybe he’ll have a use for his new green ring after all.

The Verdict: It was made abundantly clear that the Green Lantern titles would survive the reboot with continuity intact, and that’s exactly the case with the first issue of Green Lantern. The amazing part is that Geoff Johns handles this in a way that is also inviting to new readers. I actually think you could read this with no prior knowledge and enjoy it on its own. Basically, we’re being introduced to Sinestro as he struggles with having the ring, just like we went through when Hal, Kyle Rayner and the rest got theirs originally. What makes it feel different though is that this is the Lanterns most hated enemy that is now a member of their ranks, and stories like that are almost always compelling. The scenes with Hal down on his luck are handled extremely well too; he can’t pay bills, can’t find work, is about to be evicted, and is still oblivious of Carol Ferris’ desires for him. While that may all sound pretty depressing, there are some laughs injected throughout so you won’t come away feeling too bad for your favorite former Lantern.

Doug Mahnke is aces as usual in the art department, showing once again what a master he is at conveying emotion through facial expressions. He sets the tone of every scene just as much as Johns’ script does. The only real worry I have is exactly how Hal losing his ring will eventually be revealed to new readers; just saying he rebelled too much doesn’t cut it. I would only assume that they’re going to explain it in the new universe, since in Justice League he still has the ring. I doubt DC would force newbies to go back and read pre-reboot content to find out, as that goes against everything they’ve been saying they hope to do with these books. I just hope if they do have a story about it, it’s fresh and not what older readers have already read.

The Outlook: The same as always: really good. Anyone that was a fan of the book before will still be, and the whole hubbub about the reboot may bring in some new readers as well. No worries about this one continuing on for a very long time.

The Story: The fall of Camelot is nigh, and the wizard Merlin needs to do something with this demon named Etrigan that he’s summoned that he thought could help with things. His idea? Bond the demon to a human servant named Jason. Fast-forward to the Dark Ages, and Jason now travels the lands with his love Madame Xanadu in search of adventure and some good ale. At a local pub, they encounter some bizarre individuals that have powers just like them, including the eternal Vandal Savage and Sir (actually may be a Lady) Ystin, otherwise known as The Shining Knight. But a merry time isn’t in the cards, as the sorcerer Mordru and his Queen’s Horde is laying waste to all in their path, and the soon-to-be Demon Knights happen to be in it.

The Verdict: I was really looking forward to Demon Knights, being a massive fan of Madame Xanadu (thanks mostly in part to the ill-fated Vertigo series that if I had my wish would still be ongoing), Etrigan, and writer Paul Cornell, and this did not disappoint in the least. First off, I love that the Xanadu mythos created in Matt Wagner’s Vertigo series is actually present here. She’s present at the fall of Camelot, and the idea that this Xanadu will be in the spirit of that series makes me very happy. But even if this was a whole new take on her, I think I’d be just fine. Paul Cornell’s writing is in tip-top form in this first issue, with witty banter that may very well be the cream of the crop when it comes to the “New 52”. There’s just something about British writers and their ability to write enjoyable dialogue like no other. He also introduces all of the players in magnificent fashion. All but one of the Demon Knights are introduced by name here, and he shines a light on each in a way that makes them immediately memorable. None of them are throwaway, and at this early stage it already looks like this may be the most fun team book to come out of DC’s new roster.

I also think I may have found my new favorite artistic team as well. Diogenes Neves and Oclair Albert bring a life to these medieval times that just pops off the page. Every character is well defined and the atmosphere and setting are pitch-perfect. And then there are the colors courtesy of Marcelo Maiolo. I’m generally not moved one way or another when it comes to comic book colorists (thus why I don’t think I’ve mentioned them at all up to now), but the almost water-color like techniques (check out the page with Mordru pointing to a map) he uses gives the comic a real sense of style that sets it apart from your usual superhero team book. The only aspect of the book that I could see someone having an issue with is the quick introductory sequence during the fall of Camelot, which if you don’t know Arthurian lore, may be confusing. But something tells me with how prominent Excalibur was featured that Cornell has his own take on the legend planned down the line. Ultimately, everything at work here is quite unique, and a real breath of fresh air for the mainstream line of DC books.

The Outlook: Very bright. I sincerely hope that this line of “Dark” books succeeds, because so far none has let me down and it genuinely feels like DC is ready to let the bizarre, weird, and distressing that has been relegated to Vertigo for nearly two decades back into the DCU proper. If you’re a fan of Vertigo titles but not DC, you still need to buy these books because the Vertigo spirit of creativity is undeniable. Hopefully these books are allowed to grow, or at the very least are treated in the same way Vertigo titles are, with trade sales being almost more important to a book's survival than their monthly counterparts. Seriously, how could you want a comic with fire-breathing, pissed-off dragons and possessed babies not to succeed?!

The Story: Slade Wilson, codenamed Deathstroke, is the world’s deadliest assassin. All of his metahuman abilities lend themselves to his craft and no one with half a brain would want to cross him. Sent on an assassination mission with a crew of upstarts to stop a man from delivering nuclear secrets to the enemy, Deathstroke does his usual thing; but things this time around aren’t exactly what they seem.

The Verdict: Ah, Deathstroke; a character that up until the past handful of years when DC started using him heavily again was sadly overshadowed by Marvel’s parody of the man that unexpectedly exploded into a superstar. Slade, unlike Wade, was never a joke, he’s the real deal, a bad ass killing machine with zero remorse, and we get that in spades in this issue. Sadly, there’s little else, but if you came for some good ‘ol fashion carnage, you’ll be happy. I was honestly a bit worried as I read through the issue, as like my fears that I’ve touched on previously with Batman, Deathstroke almost seemed a little nice as the story rolled on. Not to spoil anything, but my fears were allayed before all was said and done. While this issue doesn’t hold much in the way of meat, it does serve as some fun mindless action, and there is a nice mystery put into motion that hopefully plays out well in the coming months. I’m a fan of Deathstroke, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed this will do the man justice. Kyle Higgins is an unproven writer (as good as Gates of Gotham was, I don’t know how much of that was him and how much was Scott Snyder), so the first story arc of this book is going to go a long way in showing what he can do.

I’ve been a fan of Joe Bennett’s pencils for a while now, and he does a bang up job in Deathstroke, translating some pretty kick ass action sequences nicely to the page. The action in this opening issue is big, and Bennett is up to the task of conveying it all. The problem is when we strip away all of the pizzazz and big explosions, there’s not much here, but I’m optimistic at this point that it’s just a case of “establishing first issue” syndrome, and am holding out hope for the future. Then again, that may just be my man-love for Deathstroke talking.

The Outlook: The next handful of issues will really tell the story. This is one that I can’t honestly judge on one book alone. It sets up things with a bang, but if we continue down this path of run-of-the-mill storytelling with huge action set pieces, I’ll sadly be putting the book back on the shelf. There’s also the risk that unless Higgins develops some part of Slade’s personality that isn’t so hardened and cold, readers could be turned off. I don’t really need that (I think it’s what defines him), and anti-hero fans should be fine, but if you’re looking for redeeming qualities in the headlining characters you’re supposed to be rooting for, you might want to look somewhere else.

The Story: Some jobs are just too dirty for your average superhero to handle. That’s where the Suicide Squad comes in. A covert government agency led by Amanda Waller, it’s a team comprised of expendable and manipulative elements. In other words, criminals that would do anything to get out of their cells. The latest team, comprised of Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark, El Diablo and others already find themselves in dire straights a few weeks in. They’ve been captured, are being tortured, and are pretty much going to be executed. Were the few weeks out of jail worth it?

The Verdict: Out of all the books released under the “New 52” banner, I think I cracked into Suicide Squad with the most bias out of any other. I had so many issues with this going into it that I’d need a few more fingers to count them all, but I’ll name a few. I love John Ostrander’s original series and claims were being bandied about that this was going to be edgier and better; this is the book that was basically selected to replace Secret Six (the original Suicide Squad’s spiritual successor), which was far and away among the top 5 books DC published in the past 5 years. Adam Glass’ Flashpoint mini-series Legion of Doom sucked. And I had a ton of problems with the redesigns…why does Deadshot look robotic? Why is King Shark suddenly a Hammerhead? Why was Harley redesigned to appeal to horny 13 year olds? (Lesson to teenagers: crazy chicks are hawt). And while all of that pretty much still holds true, it’s gotta say something about the quality of the book that with all of that in my mind as I read it, I didn’t hate it. In fact, it actually shows some promise. Yes, I’m eating my words.

Things aren’t perfect; members Black Spider and Voltaic (a completely new character unless he was dug up from some dusty corner I didn’t know existed) are treated just like you’d think: as the low men on the totem pole. It’s only the first issue, and it makes sense for Glass to shine a light on the more popular characters, but boy do these two feel like background filler for now. Hopefully that’ll change, as right now the odds are they'll be dead within a few issues. Our first shot of Amanda Waller is also jarring; apparently, she’s been hitting the gym since the last time we saw her, as she’s fit as a fiddle. This goes into the pile with the rest of my redesign qualms; she was much more imposing as an overweight woman that didn’t take shit from anyone and was nicknamed “The Wall”. But on the writing side of things, this isn’t so bad. It’s a massive step up for Glass after the dire Legion of Doom, and while this isn’t a great first issue nor do we really see how this team will interact with one another (which as far as I’m concerned is what will cause this book to sink or swim), some seeds for the future are planted (their first mission sounds quite interesting), and this could possibly flower into something. And as the story develops over the next few months, let’s also hope the artwork does too. Apparently original artist Marco Rudy couldn’t keep up with deadlines, so three replacement artists were brought in to keep the proceedings on time. The quality ranges wildly, and I have no idea who to credit what to. All I know is that I thought the first half of the book looked nice and it went down from there. Whoever drew that first half of the issue, let’s hope he’s the permanent replacement. This is not a book that should look cartoony, as Glass looks to be taking a very serious tone unlike Simone did with Secret Six (although Harley has some bizarre dialogue, as one would expect).

The Outlook: As it stands now, it’s too early to say one way or another. If you’re like me, you’re going to have to dismiss a lot to give this book a chance. Even decent storytelling doesn’t make the crappy character redesigns disappear, regardless of the fact that Glass actually does have a rather firm grip on the top three member’s personalities. But seeing as I’m not afraid to admit that I plan on reading at least the next couple of issues to see how things unravel regardless of my preconceived hate towards the title, that has to stand for something.

The Story: S.H.A.D.E. (Super Human Advanced Defense Executive) is a science-heavy shadowy organization that handles the more bizarre threats that take place while the heavy-hitter superheroes are busy fighting their world-threatening crises. To battle these weird events, a crew of just as unique operatives makes up S.H.A.D.E., including the eternal Father Time, Frankenstein, and his bride. Their newest mission has them taking on monsters that are loose in Bone Lake, Washington, and this time it might take a little more creature power to battle the ongoing madness.

The Verdict: Okay, now I think DC is mind-probing me at night and picking out all the weird shit I dream about and making comics out of them. Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. made me giddy; this is pure, escapist fun. I’m slowly coming around to this reboot, and its books like this that are helping me along. As much as I felt stabbed in the back by DC when they told me all the years of keeping up on current events now meant nothing, the originality coming out of this is pretty astounding. My worst fears of treading familiar ground, while certainly present in a handful of titles so far, have for the most part been laid to rest due to the wildly imaginative stuff coming out, and once again it’s from a book in the “Dark” line. I can almost envision Jeff Lemire sitting behind a glowing PC screen at 3 in the morning, maniacally laughing as he cooked up the craziness that inhabits the 20 pages of this first issue. Not only do we get Frankenstein and his bride, who we all were well aware of going in, we’re served up with Father Time, whose latest body reincarnation is of a little girl, a microscopic base of operations created by Ray Palmer (yes, THAT Ray Palmer, although so far he’s just a normal scientist) that operatives must teleport to and obviously be shrunk down to access, and the Creature Commandos, all of which were present in the Flashpoint mini-series Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown, are all on the team. Plus, there’s one new member: Khalis, the Mummy Medic. Yes, I said "Mummy Medic". If you don’t read this comic with a goofy grin on your face the entire time, you have no soul.

I’m also quite thrilled with the choice of Alberto Ponticelli for the artwork. Anyone that’s read Vertigo’s Unknown Solider will be familiar with his work, and while I doubt it’ll be to everyone’s tastes, just like Travel Foreman’s artwork in Animal Man, it fits perfectly in an oddball title like this. Kudos to DC for pairing Lemire with two artists in this reboot that completely embody his storytelling prowess. And speaking of Lemire’s role in the “New 52”, I just realized that both of his titles were made famous by Grant Morrison, and they’re two of his more renowned works as well, which says a hell of a lot about Mr. Lemire’s talents that he handles these so well, to the point where not once did I think about the past incarnations of the characters in comparison. Memo to DC: put this man on a new Doom Patrol series. That may very well be the mad scientist’s recipe that saves us all from the 2012 doomsday.

The Outlook: Given my already inflated expectations for this title that grew even larger after last week’s incredible Animal Man, it’s almost uncanny that it not only delivers the goods, but goes above and beyond. You don’t need to be a fan of superhero comics to enjoy this; if you grew up reading Famous Monsters magazines and devouring Universal monster flicks, you owe it to yourself to pick this up. The imagination being put to work here should be consumed by as big a group of people as possible.

The Story: A secret militaristic research center wants to make a superhero. Fusing Kryptonian and human DNA, they’ve created a clone codenamed “Superboy”. Those in charge however are ready to pull the plug, as after months the clone is exhibiting zero brain activity. Unfortunately for them, they don’t realize that this being operates on a level no one understands, and he’s well aware of everything going on around him.

The Verdict: Outside of Jeff Lemire’s recent Superboy series, my only familiarity with the character comes from Teen Titans and when he makes an appearance in another book; I’ve never read any other solo Superboy books. I do know that a number of incarnations of the character are cloned from Superman’s DNA, so this may very well be a rehash of sorts for those more familiar with the character. For myself though, and likely new readers as well, this is fairly solid. Through a lot of internal exposition we get into the head of Superboy as he learns about the world around him and it works well. Things aren’t perfect, as there’s a twist about midway through that is very reminiscent of the early days of Bart Allen, better known as Impulse and then Kid Flash. While it’s hard to argue against it working, it is odd seeing another character’s background origin being used for a different character. I’d have preferred something more original, but then again since I’m not a huge Superboy know-it-all, this entire story may be old hat to longtime readers. I'm also hoping that the reveal on who his human DNA came from is different than the last time around.

By far the strongest aspect of the entire book is the artwork from R.B. Silva. I don’t think I’ve seen his work anywhere outside of a fill-in issue for Secret Six, and I gotta say I’m really impressed. While it’s a bit cartoony, it doesn’t sacrifice anything in the way of detail and conveying the emotional undertones of the story. Hopefully he’s onboard this book for a while, as along with the narrative route this is going down, which will involve the Teen Titans book launching in two weeks, this could be a book to keep your eye on. Oh, and I’m absolutely thrilled that Rose Wilson makes an appearance. While she isn’t donning her Ravager costume quite yet, it’s made clear she likes to kill, and her being my favorite member of the past incarnation of the Teen Titans, I can’t wait until she cuts loose.

The Outlook: As I’ve already touched on, I can’t comment on what longtime readers will think, but most newcomers should enjoy this. If you’re a sucker for science gone wrong storylines, check it out.

The Story: Children are disappearing in Gotham, and the rumor is the legend of La Llorona, The Weeping Woman, isn’t just a story. Kate Kane, aka Batwoman, already used to fighting off the more bizarre denizens of the city, is the perfect candidate to look into things. With her cousin Bette, the former Flamebird, undergoing training and at her side, the investigation begins. But another investigation directed towards Kate, involving the D.E.O. and Mr. Bones, is brewing below the surface.

The Verdict: Well, the wait is finally over. After what has seemed like eons (actually two years) since we were promised a Batwoman ongoing series, it’s finally at hand. And for anyone that was worried, like me, if it would be worth a damn without Greg Rucka on writing duties, you can rest your head easy at night knowing that Kate looks to be in good hands. Even though J.H. Williams III hasn’t written much and his partner W. Haden Blackman doesn’t have any comics experience outside of the Star Wars universe, it’s apparent that Williams has really learned the character and developed an affinity towards Kate Kane/Batwoman over his years with the character, as this can stand toe-to-toe with Rucka’s original origin story. This is just as compelling, and the supernatural tone is in full force. In fact, things haven’t been rebooted one iota, as we’re right where we left off, with Kate on the outs with her father, training her cousin Bette, and still grieving over her encounter with Alice, who turned out to be her long-thought dead sister. Don’t worry new readers: this is all summed up in the comic, and while it’s a little awkward and my only qualm with the issue, it’s quick and to the point and updates anyone that hasn’t read the previous Batwoman stories. I'm also looking forward to seeing how the D.E.O. and Mr. Bones plays into future storylines.

Anyone that has never had the pleasure of seeing J.H. Williams III’s artwork is in for a treat here. He’s really among the cream of the crop when it comes to comic book artists, and he may very well be the strongest at DC’s disposal. His panel design is second to none, and the dynamics between the painted style as Kate does her thing as Batwoman and the simple approach when she’s just Kate are truly stunning. This is one of the few books on the stands right now that I can honestly say is a work of art; anyone that’s the least bit interested in innovative sequential art has to at least pick this up at their comic shop and flip through it. You’ll be impressed. Throw in the amazing colors of Dave Stewart and legendary letterer Tom Klein navigating the wild design choices that makes reading things a breeze, and this is a beautiful piece of comic goodness.

The Outlook: Fresh faces and those that have been patiently waiting for this book to debut will both be satisfied with the inaugural issue of Batwoman. It’s beautiful to look at, but more importantly, it reads well too. Along with Batgirl, it looks like the ladies are currently poised to stomp the boys when it comes to quality. I’m sure Scott Snyder isn’t going to take that sitting down though when his Batman era begins next week.

The Story: Coming through time hot on the heels of an intergalactic threat, seven members of the Legion of Super-Heroes, consisting of Timber Wolf, Dawnstar, Tyroc, Gates, Chameleon Girl, Tellus, and Wildfire, have landed on Earth to asses the damage. Little do these time-travelers realize that things aren’t going to go as planned, as their ticket back to the year 3011 may not be a sure thing.

The Verdict: As a Legion of Super-Heroes fan, I was really looking forward to the idea of having two ongoing Legion books on the stands at once, and while this may not have been as good as I was hoping, it’s still a solid start that I fear only fans of previous Legion incarnations are going to bother with. This book is going to be incredibly alienating to anyone coming in blind. You have 7 characters to keep track of, which are never properly introduced; they call each other by not only their codenames, but also their first names, and occasionally just their last names, on a whim. If you don’t know Timber Wolf’s real name is Brin Londo, you’re going to be lost. There’s also a ton of sci-fi speak that isn’t explained at all, and the character’s powers are just put out there and you’re expected to keep up. While I was under the assumption that the new Legion ongoing would sort of not be a total reboot, this was the book that could have been used as more of an introduction, and it fails at all levels. It’s a shame they didn’t carry over the text boxes that were used in the last Legion series before the re-launch, where every time a new character was shown, the boxes would give the reader information like their name, powers, and so on. You’d think if you’re trying to attract new readers and make things accessible for them, that’s a tactic you’d employ. Oh, and not to spoil anything, but the finale of this issue better be a bait and switch; otherwise, a lot of the time used to establish characters was a total waste of space.

However, I do think the seeds are planted here for something interesting, and hopefully some first-time readers will give it a chance to grow on them before eliminating it from their pull-list. The most intriguing aspect is this actually seems like it’s taking place before Flashpoint; I honestly don’t know if that’s the case, as it’s just the vibe I got due to a few bits of dialogue, but that could prove for something very interesting. Hell, maybe they’re in a completely different universe. Only time will tell whether this threat they’ve come back to stop will have an overreaching affect throughout the rest of the titles. Pete Woods’ art is really nice here; it’s a departure from his Superman work, but I really like the more basic, less ridged style he’s utilizing. Lastly, for those that had a hard time understanding this book, cross-platform promotion was used in the lead-up to release giving back-story on the main villain and his motivations. Why it wasn’t also posted in the book itself is beyond me, but it does help shed a bit of light on just what the hell is going on. You can check it out here.

The Outlook: It’s decent. This is another to put in the pile of books where you can’t completely judge in one issue. There’s so much going on in this that a lot needs to be tied up in the coming months for it all to come together. If not, it may all be a bit too ambitious for its own good and fail to attract anyone but the most faithful of Legionnaires.

The Story: Following the events of War of the Green Lanterns, Atrocitus, leader of the Red Lantern Corps, is unsure of his direction after being denied vengeance against Krona, whose decision to re-program the Manhunters wiped out Atrocitus's entire sector, including his wife and daughter. Considering this was the driving force of his rage, he’s emotionally torn on his purpose in life going forward, and with his entire Corps’s reason for existence being the rage that consumes them, a crossroads is looming.

The Verdict: I’ve actually lost count on how many Lantern Corps now exist in the GL universe, and it’s about time one of them finally got their own book. And seeing as I really dig Atrocitus and his ragtag crew of misfits, I’m perfectly happy that this is the Corps they chose for the spotlight. This first issue however isn’t particularly great for those that have been along for the ride for a while. Even with the storylines from before the reboot being kept for us old-timers, the new reader needs to be caught up to speed, so for us there isn’t too much new material to enjoy. It’s not handled badly; it just feels like stuff we already know. There are a few moments here that work though, including the impending revolt of the Corps that seems inevitable as they begin to sense Atrocitus’ evolving emotions, and what is always a highlight, the great Dex-Starr gets a decent amount of attention. In fact, Atrocitus bursting in as Dex is tortured and then delivering the line “What are you doing to my cat?!” pretty much sums up his character better than anything else in the issue. He’ll tear you to shreds without remorse, but he looks out for his own. Also interesting is the quick scene on Earth as two brothers butt heads over choosing a school test over being at their grandfather’s bedside as he dies. Could this be a set-up for Sector 2814 getting a Red Lantern of its own down the line?

Ed Benes tackles the artistic duties, and while I know he divides fans due to his 90s style of accentuating hot chicks, muscles and action shots, I dig his work. In fact, I’m really glad he was given a book that isn’t all about highlighting the female anatomy. That actually doesn’t stop him when he gets a chance at drawing Bleez (she even looks hot as she spits acidic plasma), but overall this is a nice change of pace for him and I think he’ll sway a few naysayers into his camp with how well he handles the bizarre alien life-forms that play in this universe.

The Outlook: Since this was basically just an issue to get newcomers up to speed with only a handful of fresh elements, it’s hard to say. The tale will be told over the next couple of months how this one plays out, but myself being a fan of Peter Milligan’s work, I have faith.

The Story: Professional con-man Cole Cash is hearing voices in his head. Having woken up in a warehouse strapped to a table with needles in the back of his neck and a bizarre alien-like creature in a tank next to him, he now needs to get back on track and meet up with his girl in San Juan so they can bask in their latest monetary score. But life isn't going to go back to the way it was, as the voices won’t stop, and Cash is sure they're coming from normal looking people. How can he know who to trust? And what the hell happened in that warehouse?

The Verdict: Out of all 27 books released so far, Grifter by far is the most affected by the reboot. This is indeed a complete reimagining of the character. I suppose DC figured since the Wildstorm universe isn’t hugely popular they could get away with it, but the small group of WS fans are pretty rabid, so I’m not sure what they’ll think about this change. No longer is Cole a former member of Team 7, a grizzled war vet with excellent fighting skills and latent psi powers. Instead, we get a crafty con-man that apparently has never killed before, has a conscience, and has no special meta abilities. His psi powers were developed thanks to a government experiment in old continuity, so this is somewhat like that, albeit much different in terms of where he’s at in life. The demons he’s now hearing can look like humans, so they may very well turn out to be Daemonites, although with a completely new design. From this initial issue it seems as if the approach going forward is going to be about a sort of shady guy that finds himself in a crazy situation and dealing with coming to grips with it, and while this introductory issue does little outside of set the stage and jump around a lot time-wise in doing so, time may prove it a wise decision to change things up considering his old persona to those not well versed in the Wildstorm universe likely saw him as just another hitman/merc for hire type of character to add to that ever-growing pile.

While I think some may be turned off that you learn very little about who Cole Cash is in this issue, I actually have to hand it to Nathan Edmonson for writing an issue that’s just as much of a mystery as the story being told. Just look at it this way: Cole is currently paranoid, has lost 17 days of his life, and is hearing bizarre voices in his head. He’s panicked to the point of not thinking, and we’re basically along for the ride for now. In that sense, it does work. CAFU steps up for art duties here, and while his artwork isn’t quite as striking here as when it’s also inked by Bit (check out some T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents for comparisons), it’s still quite nice and I'm glad to see him onboard an ongoing series in the reboot.

The Outlook: For anyone that’s read and enjoyed Edmonson’s previous work Who Is Jake Ellis?, this actually mirrors that in a lot of ways. Just like how that book began, there’s a mystery brewing, and while little is revealed in this issue, if you hang along, you should be rewarded nicely. Let’s just hope it sells well enough so Edmonson has enough time to reveal all. I'm at least sticking around to see how this first arc plays out.

The Story: Is it a curse or a blessing to be eternal? That’s the question presented to Mitch Shelley, a man that has the uncanny talent of surviving death through resurrection. Each resurrection grants him with a new ability and a new goal to accomplish. The reason behind this is a mystery to him. But such a soul that neither Heaven nor Hell can ever proclaim as their own? There’s a mighty high price tag on it, and everyone wants to cash in.

The Verdict: The original Resurrection Man series always felt like it was a fish out of water; a book that would have likely succeeded in the Vertigo environment but sort of just hung around the DC universe proper and never caught on like it should have. To its credit though, it did survive for a little over two years and amassed a pretty rabid cult following. All of those people should be happy with the reboot, especially considering creators Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are back for the ride. While this initial issue only hints at what’s to come, a war between Heaven and Hell for Mitch’s soul could be epic indeed, and Abnett and Lanning’s track record of delivering is generally positive. I’m a sucker for dark tales involving Heaven and Hell warring with one another, so I’m very excited about the future of the book.

There are a lot of nice curves thrown out throughout the issue, from demonic soul hunters disguised as cute chicks to the idea that nowhere and no one is safe for Mitch. It already looks like agents from Heaven have infiltrated all sorts of organizations, and Hell looks like they aren’t far behind. Fernando Dagnino is on artistic duties, and his style perfectly encompasses the tone of the book. His style is very reminiscent of early Vertigo, evoking memories of guys such as John Ridgway, Stephen Bissette and Mike Dringenberg. That definitely is not a bad thing at all.

The Outlook: Pretty strong. With a group of “Dark” mainstream books to go along with it, this doesn’t stick out as much as it did the first time around. Abnett and Lanning did a fine job with the character during the first run, and there’s no reason to doubt they can do it again. Fans of comics such as Mike Carey’s Lucifer should give it a look.

The Story: Michael Holt, aka Mister Terrific, is known as the world’s third smartest man, using his brains as well as his inventions to thwart science gone wrong. With a new will to live after coming to terms with the death of his wife, a successful high-tech corporation, and havign recently founded an institute for the next great minds of the future, you’d think Michael would have it made. But you always have a target on your back when you’re that successful, and someone’s about to take a shot.

The Verdict: I was pretty bummed when I saw the JSA wouldn’t play anywhere into the “New 52”. I actually like them better than the Justice League, and I’ll definitely miss characters like Dr. Mid-Nite, Hourman and Stargirl. And while I think all of them would have made for cooler solo series, Mister Terrific isn’t so bad of a choice, but this inaugural outing doesn’t do him much justice. It’s obvious from this first issue DC is poising the character to be their answer to Iron Man, which is a bit of a disappointment. While all of those personality traits were always present, his more radical views, such as being an atheist, refusing to accept anything supernatural, and always being able to see what’s in front of him have generally taken precedence. This time around however the playboy role has been played up in favor of the rest, and that may not exactly help this character stand out the way DC is hoping. Also worth mentioning are some racial undertones that are played with; they come off very forced. Terrific isn’t Luke Cage or Black Lightning. He doesn’t come from the streets. Are we really expected to take any type of racial issues a multi-million dollar business man that’s living in a swank penthouse may face seriously?

One positive I did take away from this issue is that Karen Starr, better known as Power Girl, is alive and well in the new universe. She really doesn’t do much here, but she could certainly add some spice to this book if she’s going to be a mainstay. Holt’s staunch ideals on the supernatural also look like they’re going to be tested fairly early, it’s just a shame that how adamantly against the idea of those types of things existing he is isn’t explored very much, so the impact may well be lost on new readers. Gianluca Gugliotta’s artwork is a mixed bag throughout the issue. I don’t know if it’s the inker, the colors, or what, but his work varies wildly here. I thought his Marvel work was fairly solid and unique; here it’s occasionally downright ugly. If the guy is turning in rushed work due to time constraints, maybe it’d be wise to move on to someone else. And if it's due to a different inker or colorist, make a change as soon as possible.

The Outlook: “Meh” is probably the best word to use. Not much happens in this issue to distinguish Terrific as anything other than a poor man’s Tony Stark, and the sad thing is those of us that have read JSA over the years knows he’s much more than that. Throw that in with the lame twist at the end, and I can’t say I have too much faith in the book for the long-term.

Continue to week three reviews!