Monday, August 1, 2011

Top 10 DC Comics-August 31st & September 2011

10. The Fury of Firestorm #1
Written by ETHAN VAN SCIVER and GAIL SIMONE; Art by YILDIRAY CINAR; Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
"Jason Rusch and Ronnie Raymond. These two high school students are worlds apart – and now they're drawn into a conspiracy of super-science that bonds them forever in a way they can't explain or control. The dark secrets of the murderous Dog Team and its Firestorm Protocol force them to put aside their differences to confront a threat so terrifying that it may lead to a new Cold War! Welcome to a major new vision of nuclear terror from writers Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone with astonishing art by Yildiray Cinar!"

I mean I've always loved Firestorm as a character. His powers are pretty awesome, you have to admit. I'm not sure how I feel about this series and the whole reboot of Firestorm's character. But...hey, it's a place to see Ronnie and Jason, plus Ethan Van Sciver covers and read Gail Simone writing. So...I'll pick it up.

9. Batwing #1
Written by JUDD WINICK; Art and cover by BEN OLIVER
"Africa, a land of beauty – and of great horror. A land of creation and conflict. It is in desperate need of a defender, and from the ranks of Batman Incorporated comes a soldier to carry on the legacy of The Dark Knight in the most tumultuous region on Earth. Meet Batwing, the Batman of Africa!"

I love Judd Winick, I've researched some Ben Oliver art and it looks pretty cool, and I'm totally up for supporting a series that is racially unique. Plus I don't have anything against Batwing. He looks like a pretty cool guy. I'll gladly check it out.

8. Legion Lost #1
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA; Art and cover by PETE WOODS
"Seven heroes from the 31st century have traveled back to the present day. Their mission: Save their future from annihilation. But when the future tech they brought with them fails, they find themselves trapped in a nightmarish world that, for them, is the ultimate struggle to survive!

Don't miss the start of this all-new LEGION series illustrated by Pete Woods – fresh off his spectacular run on ACTION COMICS – who is joined by writer Fabian Nicieza (RED ROBIN)!"

I've liked what I've read of Red Robin, I like Pete Woods art, I like the whole Legion-concept, and they're in the present day DCU, which means that it won't be all confusing trying to figure out what exact year they're in!

7. Green Lantern #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS; Art by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY; Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO; Variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
"The red-hot GREEN LANTERN team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Doug Mahnke introduce an unexpected new Lantern."

I usually like Geoff Johns stories, I'm kinda into Doug Mahnke art, Sinestro's pretty badass... But all thrown in together? I dunno. I'm giving it a chance because I like any individual combination of these three, but meh. Hopefully DC isn't giving up it's best-selling series because of this stupid move to take Hal's ring away.

6. Action Comics #1
Written by GRANT MORRISON; Art by RAGS MORALES and RICK BRYANT; Cover by RAGS MORALES; Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
"The one and only Grant Morrison (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN) returns to Superman, joined by sensational artist Rags Morales (IDENTITY CRISIS), to bring you tales of The Man of Steel unlike any you've ever read! This extra-sized debut issue is the cornerstone of the entire DC Universe!"

Grant Morrison, Rags Morales, a perfect time for me to start reading at least one Superman story...yeah. Sign me up.

5. Red Hood and the Outlaws #1
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL; Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
"No sooner has Batman's former sidekick, Jason Todd, put his past as the Red Hood behind him than he finds himself cornered by a pair of modern day outlaws: Green Arrow's rejected sidekick Arsenal, the damaged soldier of fortune, and the alien Starfire, a former prisoner of intergalactic war who won't be chained again.

As a loner, Jason has absolutely no interest in this motley crew of outlaws. So what's he going to do when they choose the Red Hood as their leader? Find out in this hot new series from writer Scott Lobdell (WILDC.A.T.S, Uncanny X-Men), featuring art by rising star Kenneth Rocafort (ACTION COMICS)!"

Jason Todd, Roy Harper, and Starfire.. All vigilantes. Jason has never been part of a real team dynamic. He was never a member of the Titans. I think there'll be a lot of humor since Jason doesn't really WANT Kori and Roy along with him. I'd like to see whether Roy is gonna have everything back to how he used to be. His daughter back to the living, his arm perfectly normal, etc. Plus from the Kenneth Rocafort art that I've seen, I like it.

4. Aquaman #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS; Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
"The superstar creators from BLACKEST NIGHT and BRIGHTEST DAY reunite to take AQUAMAN to amazing new depths!

Aquaman has renounced the throne of Atlantis – but the sea will not release Arthur Curry so easily.
Now, from a forgotten corner of the ocean emerges… The Trench! A broken race of creatures that should not exist, an unspeakable need driving them, The Trench will be the most talked-about new characters in the DC Universe!"

Okay...let me get this straight. Geoff Johns. Ivan Reis. Aquaman. Piranha-looking villains. Hmm... Well I'll let the Piranha-thing slide. And who knows, maybe they'll actually be pretty badass. Plus they released a scan from #1 and it shows a very iconic-looking Aquaman. It was really pretty awesome. Can't fucking wait.

3. Green Lantern: New Guardians #1
Written by TONY BEDARD; Art and cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and BATT
"Kyle Rayner has assembled the most powerful team in all the universe, selected from the full spectrum of corps. But can he even keep this volatile group together?"

Okay, you don't even understand how awesome Kyle Rayner is. Plus Saint Walker. And Munk. I love it, already. And if I've said it once, I've said it a million times...I LOVE TYLER KIRKHAM ART!!

2. Justice League International #1
Written by DAN JURGENS; Art by AARON LOPRESTI and MATT RYAN; Cover by AARON LOPRESTI
"With the growing presence of super beings around the world, the United Nations resolves to create a new group called Justice League International.

Batman, Booster Gold, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, August General in Iron, Fire, Ice, Vixen and Rocket Red are charged with promoting unity and trust – but can they reach that goal without killing each other first?"

Okay, I love it. Booster Gold, Batman, Guy Gardner, Fire, Ice, and Rocket Red were all original JLI-ers from back in the late-80s. They reformed during Justice League: Generation Lost. They chased don Max Lord, but he still managed to escape. I really hope that Max Lord exists in the DCnU, that he has mind control powers still, and I hope the JLI still wants him taken down. I also wish Power Girl, Captain Atom, and Blue Beetle were all on the team. But they aren't. Still, this line-up is very powerful and it sounds like Batman isn't along with the U.N.'s sanction of the group, he kinda just joined in because he said so. Which sounds like Batman. So I can't wait for this.

And last but not least is... 1. Tiny Titans #44
Written by ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO; Art by ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO • Cover by ART BALTAZAR
"It's the issue of doom! Join the Tiny Titans as they – walk to school! Beast Boy takes a wrong turn when confronted by the crossing guards he calls The Doom Patrol. Plus, witness Beast Boy's first encounter with the Crossing Patrol Boys of Doom! Crossing the street has never been so tough!"

I love the Tiny Titans. They're funny, childish, and the artwork is...wait. You know I'm kidding right?

Here's the actual 1. Justice League #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS; Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS; 1:25 Variant cover by DAVID FINCH
"Comics superstars Geoff Johns and Jim Lee make history! In a universe where super heroes are strange and new, Batman has discovered a dark evil that requires him to unite the World Greatest Heroes!"

It's the return of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman to the Justice League line-up. PLUS, we get to see Hawkman, Green Arrow, Firestorm, Mera, Element Woman, the Atom (which has been hinted to being Ryan Choi), Deadman, and an unidentified, white-haired, woman. Plus Jim Lee and Geoff Johns? I cannot wait.