Batwing, Earth-2, and JLI #4 Previews!

Batwing #12

Written by: Judd Winick

Art by: Marcus To

 

 

Earth-2 #4

Written by: James Robinson

Art by: Nicola Scott

 

 

Justice League International #12

Written by: Dan Jurgens

Art by: Aaron Lopresti

 

  

  

 

DC's #0 Issues in September; 4 New Series

Well this is it, folks, DC has announced what they are going to be doing in September today: "#0" issues. Every series will get a #0 issue.

Promotional Image for Animal Man #0

Promotional Image for Aquaman #0

Promotional Image for Batman #0

Promotional Image for Batman, INC. #0

Promotional Image for Dial H #0

Promotional Image for The Flash #0

By the looks of things, each character will be diving head-on into the past and we'll get to see events from their past that are leading to new stories in each series. But not only is each series getting their own #0 issue, four new series have been announced:

Talon: Co-Writers: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV. Artist: Guillem March.

Meet Calvin Rose, the only Talon to ever escape the grasp of the Court of Owls. This former assassin of the Court is trying to live a normal life ... but that’s impossible when he’s being hunted by his former masters!

Alright well here are my thoughts on that... Talon looks like it could have potential, but I see it as being a lot like how The Ravagers is right now: A story that comes from a crossover. And honestly, the Court of Owls is on the edge of being over-used already. I mean they dominated the first whole year of the Batman and Nightwing stories and now they basically get their own series? I think that's pushing it a little bit. But you never know...anything from Scott Snyder is worth a shot!


Sword of Sorcery: Writer: Christy Marx. Artist: Aaron Lopresti. 
Featuring the return of Amethyst, Amy Winston leads a strange life on the road with her mother and resents it. She’s about to learn it’s all been necessary when she discovers she’s the lost princess of Gemworld—and she’s being hunted by her murderous aunt. With a back-up story written by Tony Bedard with art by Jesus Saiz, set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the monstrous warrior Beowulf is charged with finding and defeating the evil Grendel.

So here we have a series that is much like how Dial H and Batman INC. are to me: I just don't really care enough to buy it. It has potential, but it's just not my style of comic. 

The Phantom Stranger: Writer: Dan DiDio. Artist: Brent Anderson. 

Spinning out of his recent appearances in JUSTICE LEAGUE and DC’s Free Comic Book Day story, learn more about the true origin of The Phantom Stranger and his connection to the mysterious Pandora. 

This doesn't look so...wait. That says Dan Didio is the writer? Never mind. Don't expect to see anything about that series ever again on this blog.

Team Seven: Writer: Justin Jordan. Artist: Jesus Merino. 

Set in the early days of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, threads of the entire DC Universe collide. As Superman emerges, so does the world’s counter measures against him and his kind. Team 7 is comprised of Dinah Lance, Amanda Waller, Steve Trevor, John Lynch, Alex Fairchild, Cole Cash and Slade Wilson — and their story will change everything you know about DC COMICS-THE NEW 52. 

I'm extremely interested in this series. All of these characters have ties to one of the little sections of the DC Universe. Dinah from the Bat-Family, Waller from the Edge or Dark or wherever Suicide Squad is, Trevor from the League's section, I don't know who John Lynch is, Fairchild (related to Caitlin Fairchild from Ravagers?) from the Young Justice portion, Cole Cash from the Edge or Dark group, and Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke is cool as hell. I might just get this series' first issue to see how they will interact with each other and how they all went on such separate paths. This is the one I'm actually interested in. The Talon is up there, but Team Seven is the center of my attention in the "Third Wave" of titles.

Okay so I have to ask: Why is DC putting out more than 52 titles in September? That's weird. I thought they were sticking with 52 titles? Who knows anymore. Maybe the other 3 titles will get cut after September. (Please cut Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, & Voodoo!!!) Speculation? Comment below!

Justice League International being CUT!?

The solicit for Justice League International #12 was just released today, and the issue is going to feature Rocket Red's funeral (finally). But they also had something that surprised me in the solicit: the words of death, aka "final issue."

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #12

Written by DAN JURGENS

Art by AARON LOPRESTI and MATT RYAN

Cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND

On sale AUGUST 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE(?!?!?!?!?!)

• It’s the funeral for ROCKET RED.

• Several members resign from the team – who will be left?

The solicit says that many members quit, which is very likely that it would leave just Batman, Booster, and maybe the General-In-Iron. But why? Beyond the fact that Rocket Red died, Ice broke both her legs, Vixen's spine is probably broken, etc... Okay well actually those are valid reasons. BUT is it fair to end a series this quickly? I sure as hell don't think so. If anything, the JLI should continue on. And who knows, maybe it was a typo? One can only hope. Because I've decided that if this is the truth, I will finish out the year with DC and if there are any storylines that haven't been wrapped up, I'll finish them off. Then I'll shut down the blog and think about how badly I really want to have more DC stories. Which will probably be very unlikely. Oh well. 

Justice League International #7 Review

So. I know I haven't really been around lately...BUT I'm working on it. Personal issues. Whatever. ANYWAY... I just got a set of four new comics through the mail (well...they actually came in the last week but..."personal issues") so I'm gonna try and pop out reviews tonight. I read all four of them already but none of them really stood out besides JLI #7. Shocking shit, people. Let it be known that there WILL be spoilers to the fullest extent. And with that out of the way...here we go.

Summary
At the end of the last issue, the JLI was bombed right as the U.N. officially announced them to the world. The first page opens with Booster Gold holding Fire's unconscious body in the middle of rubble and destruction that was once a stage. We see Booster, Batman, and Guy Gardner carting off both civilians and JLI teammates alike to the local hospital for treatment. Apparently, there are some energy creatures running around causing more problems at the scene of the explosion. It seems to be that Godiva is okay (although a little roughed up), but Fire was knocked out. Bats and Booster run back in to find more survivors, while Guy handles the energy beings. Bats and Booster come across Vixen who potentially has a spinal injury. We then see a new villain named "Lightweaver" on a rooftop across the street from the destruction, watching Guy and the rest handle the situation. He wants to jump in an take the rest of the JLI down, but whoever his boss(es) is tells him not to. Guy gets increasingly worried about Ice, Booster gets worried about Rocket Red, and Batman...he just seems to be handling civilians. Booster find Ice and takes her back to the hospital in time for August General In Iron to carry Rocket Red out...dead. (Ranting to come. I promise you that.) Godiva begins freaking out, questioning how a mere bomb could do this to a bunch of super-heroes. Batman runs off to find "whoever did this," leaving Guy, the General, (a beat-up) Godiva, and Booster to be the remaining healthy members of the J.L.I. Booster goes back to the scene and finds Andre Briggs and Emerson Esposito (the ambassador's for the team to the U.N.) dead. We see Lightweaver land across from the hospital when Booster, the General, and Godiva all return where Guy is. We learn that Vixen may never walk again and that Ice broke both her legs and has "serious" internal injuries. Oh, and Fire's in a coma. There go the strong female leads. Then Chairwoman Bao (a member of the Security Council who agreed to form this team) announce that the team is officially disbanded, or else they will all be sued. Booster storms off to the roof of the hospital, where he meets Lightweaver who has been allowed to attack the rest of the J.L.I. Lightweaver quickly knocks down an angry and unfocused Booster, leading to Batwing's first appearance in the series.

Thoughts
Well, first let me say that I'm sorry for it being so long-winded on the summary. Its just that SO much happened in this issue that I couldn't help but leave NOTHING out. Now. Onto the injuries.
Fire: She seems to be relatively okay, just in a coma. I know that sounds cruel and uncaring, but considering the other injuries...she should feel lucky. When she wakes up, that is.
Ice: Okay. She's getting a little worse. Two broken legs and "serious" internal injuries are pretty bad. But she was the only one who talked in the issue out of all those who were injured (besides Godiva), so I have a feeling she'll be okay in the long run.
Vixen: She may never. Walk. Again. You want to see how cruel DC Comics can get, here you go. Potentially (so far) three heroes may be going into a very. Early. Retirement.
Rocket Red: I...honestly, I don't know what to say or think. I know he was a relatively new character to the comics (hell, he was created...what? A year and a half ago?) but he quickly became one of my favorites. Not only did he fit well on the team, he was the comedic relief. For him to just die? I'm appalled. Dan Jurgens, you're a cruel, cruel man. And it wasn't like they really cared, either. The heroes just kept on moving. The next issue (or soon after) better feature a funeral for Gavril...he deserves it. Forget it about Vixen's thing being cruel...this is cruelty. Killing a character before he even got the chance to shine.
All in all, this was a great issue. Not surprised that Batwing was featured near the end and that he seems to be joining on full-time, it fits better for the "International" part. Good art, interesting new villain, and now we get to see the newly-formed team begin to rebuild after tragedy. "Yippeee..."

It would have been a 9.5/10 without Rocket Red's death. Now I'd say it's a 7/10 even though I loved everything else. Here's to hoping he is not easily forgotten.

Booster Gold: "But the J.L.I. needs--"
Batman: "Wake up, Booster. With everything that's happened today, the J.L.I. we knew--" (looks over at Rocket Red's body being put in a body bag) "--is done for."

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL and FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN Solicits

Here's the solicit:

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #9
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by AARON LOPRESTI and MATT RYAN
Cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
On sale MAY 2 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• It’s the JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL against O.M.A.C in a fight to the finish!
• Special crossover with this month’s FIRESTORM #9!

Here's the solicit:

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #9
Written by JOE HARRIS and ETHAN VAN SCIVER
Art by YILDIRAY CINAR and NORM RAPMUND
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale MAY 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• Don’t miss this crossover with JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #9!
• RONNIE seeks information – but is the price he must pay too high?