Justice League of America: The Atom Rebirth #1

   As a longtime fan of the Atom, I was glad to see him getting the Rebirth treatment - heck, I'm just glad to see him in a comic, period.

   Apparently he's going to be a member of the upcoming Justice League of America title (in some capacity), so DC is rolling out a series of one-shots focusing on the team's lineup.

   This isn't an origin story - not quite, anyway. It follows Ray Palmer, the scientist who created the shrinking process and the Atom costume, and it brings back (thankfully) Ryan Choi as his working partner / lab assistant / possible successor.

   And that's about all you get here - an introduction to both men, and a possible setup for the first JLA adventure.

   I was really hoping for much more - this issue just offers some backstory for those who came in late.

   For those of us who've been here a while, there's nothing new here.

   Darn it.

Grade: B-

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Teen Titans Rebirth #1

   The usual schtick for the first issue of a team comic is to show us how the team comes together.

   But for this Rebirth issue, the Teen Titans are taking a different approach - it introduces each hero individually.

   And what an odd team it is, including a brash, self-centered Changeling (what, he's going by Beast Boy again?), a definitely-not-teenaged Starfire,  a mysteriously young Raven, the "I have no idea how old he is) Kid Flash, and the son of Batman version of Robin.

   And that's all you get here in the story written and drawn by Ben Percy and Jonboy Meyers.

   There are some nice character beats and a few good twists, but it's a pretty thin slice.

   The problem seems to be the fact that there are two "Teen Titan" comics now - one starring the classic team, now grown into the Titans, and a (mostly) younger group of heroes.
 
   So the trick is in how you divide up the characters. Cyborg is off to the Justice League, and the classic team is now grown up (at least in terms of years). This book gets the pint-sized version, though I have no idea why Raven is just a child - yet camp able!

   I really think DC would be better advised to focus on building one great comic, using these amazing characters - a street version of the Avengers).

   The series isn't bad, and it's way too early to make a judgement - but here's hoping for clearer storytelling in the future, and maybe a joke or two.

Grade: B-

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Titans Rebirth #2

   It's all about action.

   That's the focus on the new Titans (Rebirth) series - which is something of a surprise.

   I expected this series to focus more on the characters (since they're old friends) and on the universe-shaking revelations that were revealed in the first DC Universe Rebirth story.

   Instead they're thrown into a battle against the newly-revived Flash villain, Abra Kadabra, a magician from the far future whose advanced science looks like magic to us.

   The issue, written by Dan Abnett, is given over to the classic "battle of magically-created doubles" - in this case, a throwback to the same team lineup as they were when they were the Teen Titans.

   So, lots of over-the-top action as drawn by Brett Booth and Norm Rapmund, and a cliffhanger ending.

   So it's a decent start for this "reborn" series, but I'd still like to see more of the personalities of the heroes coming through (at least Linda Parks gets a few moments in the sun).

Grade: B+

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Blue Beetle Rebirth #1

   DC keeps making the same mistake.

   They keep bringing back the wrong Blue Beetle.

   I know, I should be grateful that the hero is back at all. And I have nothing against the third version of the hero, the magic-scarab-powered Jaime Reyes, who's at the center of this reboot.

   And they get bonus points for including Ted Kord, hero #2 in the series. That billionaire inventor has taken Jaime under his wing and is pushing his "apprentice" to live up to his high-powered potential.

   So why not take the logical step and bring back the original Blue Beetle, Dan Garrett? (He should know a thing or two about fighting the bad guys with a magic scarab.)

   That is, of course, a minor complaint. Writer Keith Giffen and artist Scott Kolins craft a solid introduction to the characters and concepts here (although you don't get much more than that).

   (Wait, I was supposed to work in a "Meet the Beetles" gag. Oh, never mind.)

   It's a promising return for the characters - here's hoping for more like this!

Grade: A-

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Supergirl Rebirth #1

   I have to admit that I've completely lost touch with Supergirl (the comic book).
  I tried the first few issues of the "New 52" version in 2011, but they didn't spark my interest - and I wasn't crazy about her costume, with its strange design on the crotch.
   However, I have become a fan of the Supergirl TV show, which is getting ready to launch into its second season (moving to the CW network).
   It features an upbeat, instantly-likeable star, a strong supporting cast, some good action sequences, and works despite the somewhat silly secret identity shenanigans.
   So now DC has apparently (a year later) realized it should be following the lead of the TV show - so they're putting their character through gymnastics to bring her more in line with the on-air version.
   And those efforts are mostly successful here - the art is strong and the writing is overcoming those continuity hurdles with a minimum of stress.
   Best of all, her costume follows the classic-but-modern lines of the TV version (although it still seems a bit dicey, having a flying girl wearing a skirt - but at least it's not a mini-skirt).
   This is a good start in (what I assume to be) a new direction.
Grade: B+
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Wonder Woman #4

   How many times has Wonder Woman's origin story been retold, tweaked, adjusted and rebooted?

   Well, here it goes again.

   But the tweaks are relatively minor. We see Steve Trevor recovering after crashing on Themyscira, the home of the Amazons.

   Queen Hippolyta decides to send an emissary to "man's world," and a tournament is arranged to pick the best candidate. (Guess who signs up?)

   This is a lovely retelling, with a sharp script by Greg Rucka and wonderful, lush artwork by Nicola Scott (there's a splash panel near the end that would make a great poster).

   To keep up with the twice-monthly publishing schedule, they're alternating stories between the present-day Diana and this "Year One" tale - and I must admit, I find this arc much more entertaining.

Grade: A-

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Superwoman #1

   Give DC credit - when they decide to make a change to their continuity / status quo, they jump in with both feet.

   Superwoman is a good example. Now that the pre-New 52 Superman has taken over for the (apparently killed) New 52 Man of Steel - bringing along his wife Lois Lane and their son - they've gone "all in" with alternate versions of their characters.

   So we have the "New 52" Lois endowed with Superman-like powers and she decides to use them in defense of Metropolis.

   But first she seeks help - from Lana Lang? (I have no idea how they know each other.)

   So we have two Lois Lanes running around in the DC Universe, one wielding superpowers - but not wearing a mask (yet somehow no one knows who she is).

   The issue features stunning artwork by Phil Jiminez, one of the best in the George Perez school of dynamic design, powerful character depictions and an amazing amount of detail.

   There almost too much crammed into this first issue, with introductions, mysterious menaces, disaster on a massive scale and tons of dialogue.

   So you certainly get your money's worth here.

   I'm not sure about the reasoning behind the series. With two Supermen (if you could the "new" Lex Luthor) and a Supergirl, is there room (or need) for Superwoman?

   We'll see!

Grade: A-

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Batman #4

   Well, that didn't take long.

   I've been trying to check out some of the Rebirth titles - but as usual with such things, with me it's three strikes and you're out.

   The "new" Batman comic had one strike against it last issue, with the casual use of vulgar language (which is fine in a comic for mature readers - but surely Batman should be accessible to all ages).

   This issue features a lot of casual, unnecessary death - but that doesn't earn a strike (though it probably should). What earns it the second strike is the gruesome and in-your-face death later in the comic. A needlessly graphic visual in a book that kids might pick up.

   The story itself is rooting deep into the "grim and gritty" style of story - which Batman's adventures can accommodate, but it seems just too unrelentingly dark.

   It follows the fall of Gotham and Gotham Girl, two Superman-style heroes trying to defend the city - but who may be overwhelmed by its dark side.

   But the third strike happened on the last page of this comic - it's an ad for an upcoming story, "Rise of the Monster Men," a six-part series that jumps around through Batman, Detective Comics and Nightwing.

   Designed to bring more readers to the other titles, it instead convinces me that it's time to drop them all.

   Maybe I'll come back when the Dark Knight is "reborn" in more upbeat, heroic stories.

Grade: B-

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Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #1

   With a series like Green Lantern, it's easy to get lost in the magnitude of the concept.

   You're talking about a universe-spanning police force (the Green Lantern Corps) made up of thousands of aliens - and there are other, competing Corps made up of different colors.

   It's all happening on a cosmic scale - so it's easy to get lost in the, well, bigness of it all (if that's a word).

   The trick is to maintain a balance between the cosmic stories and the human ones - Hal Jordan has to be relatable for us to care about his adventures, right?

   Getting stuck in cosmic mode loses that side - and that's why I dropped this series a couple of years ago.

   For the Rebirth, I'm trying to give it another chance, and it's off to a decent start. Apparently the GL Corps and the Guardians were somehow banished from reality, leaving Hal to pick up the pieces - literally - with no support structure at all.

   He's managed to build his own ring - somehow - and is searching for the rest of the Corps.

   In the meantime, Sinestro is setting up his old power base, vowing to restore order to the galaxy - but his methods are as suspect as his motivation.

   So it's a big ol' story on a big ol' canvas, with great artwork and a solid story (though I'm a bit fuzzy on some of the details).

   I'd still like to see Hal back on Earth for at least a while, and give him a chance to show why he's a beloved hero. There's more to him that just a power ring.

Grade: B+

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The Titans #1

   They never should have let them stop being "Teens."

   The group now known as The Titans started out as the Teen Titans, of course, and the Rebirth version of the team brings together the version of the team from the 1960s (mostly).

   But hey, they're all grown up now, though it's hard to tell, because they still act like kids - teasing Wally (Flash) West about being in love, teasing Aqualad (or is he Aquaman now?), and in general acting like kids.

   The series has a great mystery at its heart - which is also the key to Rebirth - who stole the memories and several years of time from the DC heroes?

   They make an effort to solve it - but instead spend their time looking for an old Teen Titans foe (with little luck) - and bring back an even older villain from a different series!

   If they're grownups, let them act like it (though certainly there's no harm in letting them have fun).

   But for a first issue, this comic never really went anywhere - it's all setup and no delivery. There's a huge mystery behind the book, by it looks like the solution is going to have to come from a different source.

   Is DC going to let this team be second-rate heroes again? Surely not.

Grade: B

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Green Arrow #3

   I don't buy everything out there, so I check in with friends to see what comics I should be picking up (assuming I'm not already).

   Green Arrow, they all told me. It's really good, they said. It's the biggest surprise, they added.

   "They"... were right!

   I tracked down the Rebirth issues, and apparently the focus is on bringing the series in line with the ongoing Arrow TV show - and that's not a bad idea at all.

   It's also good to see the supporting cast growing, and longtime fans will be happy to see the Black Canary back as a romantic (ish) figure in GA's life.

   On the action side, Oliver's in the fight of his life - he was nearly killed, he's been discredited, his company stolen, his money taken away, his friends are turning on him, there's an international conspiracy, powerful enemies targeting him  - what better for a hero than to have his back against the wall?

   It's a terrific script by Benjamin Percy and outstanding artwork by Juan Ferreyra, and a strong start to this "reborn" series.

    Thanks to everyone who pointed me at this series - heed their wisdom, readers!

Grade: A

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Batgirl and the Birds of Prey: Rebirth #1

   As a fan of the Birds of Prey, I'm glad to see the team making a comeback, this time with Batgirl headlining.

   Of course, most of Barbara Gordon's involvement with that team was in a supporting role as the computer wizard Oracle, back when she was partially paralyzed (she, uh, got better).

   This Rebirth issue brings back Black Canary (who's busy these days, as she also guest stars in Green Arrow) and introduces a new Huntress (well, she's new to me).

   This version of the character is different from the Earth-2 version - Helena Wayne, who crossed over with Power Girl and co-starred in the most recent version of World's Finest.

   The new one is very much a throwback to the original version of the character - a tough as nails vigilante.

   The question is: is this version a hero?

   The team is gathered by a new menace with a familiar name and a new mystery - just who is playing the part of Oracle now?

   So, lots of questions to be answered as the new series starts up. It's a promising (if somewhat dark) start for the new series.

Grade: B+

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Nightwing: Rebirth #1

   It's generally a bad idea for heroes to change names - it's a sign that something isn't working (in other words, weak sales).

   One of the exceptions to that rule was Dick Grayson, the original Robin who outgrew the role of being a sidekick and a "Boy Wonder."

   As the leader of the Teen Titans, he became Nightwing, and it was a real improvement - it gave him a chance to shine on his own, build a new life and it paved the way for future Robins to take their turn.

   For whatever reason, the decision was made to expose his secret identity in recent years, forcing him to drop his hero identity and become a secret agent.

   This issue of Rebirth has an obvious task at hand - clean up the continuity clutter and get Dick Grayson back in action as Nightwing.

   As the cover makes clear, this story does exactly that, walking us through as he touches base with all his past identities and explaining which one he's going back to.

   It doesn't really shed much light on those past associations - those of us who haven't read all those stories just get a general idea of what happened before - but it does a great job setting up the new series, and I suspect it'll make longtime Nightwing fans very happy indeed.

   Strong art, a solid story - and the return of a great hero. Sounds good to me!

Grade: A-

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Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps: Rebirth #1

   I've been a fan of Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) since the early '60s, when I discovered the terrific John Broome and Gil Kane stories being published by DC Comics.

   I stuck with the series for decades, but finally dropped it a few years ago when it just got to be too much - too many multi-colored Corps, too few Guardians, too many times Hal Jordan was de-powered and had to find a way to work around that handicap.

   So with some trepidation I picked up this Rebirth issue - hoping it treated Hal as well as the original "Rebirth" series (about 10 years ago) that brought the character back into the DC Universe as a Green Lantern (after a side trip as a mass murderer and the Spectre - don't ask).

   The issue is a bit of a puzzle - Hal has apparently been transformed into green energy, the rest of the Green Lantern Corps is "gone" - and he's trying to return to the world of the living. (There's not much in the way of explanation for those of us who have missed the recent story arcs.)

   We also catch up to an aged Sinestro, who is in control of the planet-sized Warworld, which is taking its place at the center of power in the universe.

   The issue features a strong story by Robert Venditti and powerful artwork by GL veteran Ethan Van Sciver.

   So there's a lot of potential for future stories and (hopefully) a return for Hal to his position as one of DC's greatest heroes - and maybe (stay calm now, gentle reader) a return to my pull list!

   Time will tell.

Grade: B+

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Superman #2

   Two issues into the series (not counting the Rebirth issue) and, I have to admit, I'm still not sure what to think about the "new" Superman.

   I think I like it.

   But I'm hesitant, perhaps because it's such a drastic change. Outside of Kid Flash (Wally West), no character (that I've seen) has been changed more than Clark Kent.

   That's because this is a different version of both Superman and Clark. This version is married to Lois Lane, they have a son, Jon, who's (I'm guessing) about 10 years old and just starting to develop his own powers.

   They live on a farm near Metropolis, and they go by the name "Smith."

   So that all takes some getting used to.

   This issue is a father-and-son outing, as Superman brings Jon along on what seems to be a standard rescue of a stranded submarine - but quickly takes a darker and more dangerous turn.

   The series is well-written by Peter J. Tomasi and I like the fresh, energetic art by Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray, and it's going to be interesting to see how they build this new life and new story for a new Man of Steel.

   But it may take a few more issues before I'm sure.

Grade: A-

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Justice League Rebirth #1

   I'm so confused.

   Superstar artist and writer Bryan Hitch has been working on the comic Justice League of America, an "outside continuity" series that featured the classic "New 52" team (which means you get Cyborg instead of J'onn J'onzz, and Green Lantern is in there, too). It was very good.

   But the opening storyline hasn't wrapped up yet.

   Despite that, here's Bryan Hitch writing and drawing (with inkers Daniel Henriques and Scott Hanna) Justice League Rebirth, which is not connected to the other series (aside from a quick mention).  Apparently he's the new writer (and possibly artist) on the ongoing, post-Rebirth series.

   This issue is a fun, Cinemascope-sized "done in one" comic that serves as a solid primer to the series. It introduces the cast, substituting two Green Lanterns in place of the (presumably off world) Hal (Green Lantern) Jordan.

   It also introduces the new and different Superman to the team, although it takes its sweet time getting around to it (apparently his discussion with Lois was more important that rescuing millions of residents endangered by a city-sized monster).

   So while this certainly offers a promising start to the new series, I'd like to see a resolution to the series still dangling out there, waiting for a conclusion.

   Hopefully Hitch can manage both!

Grade: A

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Batman #1

   For the opening issue of the new Batman series, the creative team has that hero tackling the kind of job you'd usually see Superman handling - a plane falling out of the sky.

   The story is touching and fantastic, very dramatic, and I like the art - but I don't believe for a minute that what Batman does in this issue is at all possible.

   No human could stand on an airliner without protective gear, and he certainly couldn't hang on (or swing around on the plane) via a Bat-rope.

   I could go on and on and nit-pick the story to death, but that would be silly - this is a comic and you generally have to shelve your sense of disbelief at some point.

   But this issue forced my sense of disbelief to jump up and down and shake its little fist.

   Nice start, nice cliffhanger, but ultimately a very silly story.

Grade: B

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Superman #1

   When I heard that the new Superman title was going to include a married Lois and Clark - and their Super-son - I cringed a bit, thinking back to the lackluster film Superman Returns.

   So it's no small surprise that I actually like this new series (though it's a bit heavy-handed in spots).

   It's nice to see the new dynamic, I'm glad to see Lois back as a  central character, and the father-son dynamic is actually touching and fun.

   I'll be following this one - if cautiously - for now.

Grade: A-

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Titans: Rebirth #1

   "Buy Titans: Rebirth," they said. "It's the next chapter after Rebirth #1."

   That's true, sort of. But if this is the way the Rebirth issues are going to play out, it's going to be a long slog.

   The spark to the event - so far - has been Wally West, the former Kid Flash and onetime Flash (which he may be again - it's difficult to be sure).

   After his enigmatic return to the real world, thanks to Barry Allen (the real Flash - I think), Wally has gone looking for his former teammates.

   Originally the Teen Titans, those heroes have outgrown the age indicator and just go by Titans. But can Wally make his former best friends remember?

   So apparently the next few chapters of Rebirth are going to consist of Wally going around and restoring the memories of the world before the "New 52."

   It may take a while.

   But don't feel like this issue is indispensable. It's just a reintroduction to the team (now missing Cyborg, Raven, Starfire and Changeling for reasons I'm not aware of).

   It's not a bad issue at all, but it spends a lot of effort and doesn't cover much ground.

   It's going to take more than this to keep my interest in Rebirth cooking.

Grade: B

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Aquaman Rebirth #1

   I have to admit that I haven't been reading Aquaman's comic for a while, so I have no idea if this is a reboot, a restart or just more of the same.

   This Rebirth issue, whatever it may be, is a good jumping on place - it's a narrative-heavy issue framed around a serious action sequence with Aquaman fighting to prevent a terrorist attack on the American shore by an Atlantean fringe group.

   So we see him in action, exerting his considerable powers to stop men and monsters alike.

   The script by Dan Abnett is solid, and the art by Scot Eaton and Oscar Jimenez - inked by Mark Morales and Jimenez - is exceptional, with several impressive splash pages (no pun intended).

   The series has always struggled with the idea that Aquaman is somehow a joke of a hero - "he talks to fish" - and once again they do their best to discredit that.

   I'd say it's past time to put that aside and focus on telling great stories - that'll do more to secure the hero's reputation than any amount of verbiage.

Grade: A-

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