Post-Forever Evil Shake Ups in the DC Universe

cover to Justice League United #0 by Mike McKone

There have been several important shake ups to the DC Universe announced over the past few days in anticipation of the April 2014 solicitations (which are set to drop on Tuesday). Most notably are the ones from yesterday and today, which revolve around the Justice League books. Yesterday it was announced that Justice League United #0 will be released (with the creative team of Jeff Lemire and Mike McKone) and that will be replacing Justice League of America. The roster has been revealed to be a combination of several corners of the DC Universe. Coming over from JLA we have Martian Manhunter, Stargirl, Green Arrow, and Hawkman (not pictured). Also joining the team will be Adam Strange and his wife, Animal Man, Supergirl and a new character of Cree background. The team will apparently be based in northern Ontario, where the first adventure takes place. The first two story arcs will be space-focused though as they will be going to Rann and then Thanagar. The cover to Justice League United #0 is shown above.



cover to Justice League #30 by Ivan Reis

But perhaps the biggest surprise to come out of the post-Forever Evil announcements is this: Justice League #30 will feature the start of a new Justice League roster...including Lex Luthor, Captain Cold, and Shazam. Noticeably missing from the cover are Superman and the Flash. All of the other League-members seem to be sticking around though. It is understandable that Superman and Flash would leave the League considering the inclusion of Lex Luthor and Captain Cold to the team. It seems that Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis will continue on as the creative team for Justice League in the post-Forever Evil world.



cover to Aquaman and the Others #1 by Ivan Reis

Originally seen in the second story arc of the Aquaman series, the Others were introduced as the team Aquaman was on before the Justice League. They've been seen a few different times since that story arc. But starting in April, DC will be giving them an ongoing series from the creative team of writer Dan Jurgens and artist Lan Medina. This will not affect the regular Aquaman ongoing series by Jeff Parker and Paul Pelletier. When this was announced a few days ago, I expected it to mean that he was leaving the Justice League book to go back to his own series.



cover to Secret Origins #1 by Lee Bermejo

DC hasn't had the best of luck with anthology books in the New 52. They tried at the beginning of the New 52 with DC Universe Presents...which starred characters like Black Lightning & Blue Devil and Deadman. But in April they're launching a new book called Secret Origins. The first issue will star Superman, Supergirl, and Nightwing's origins. The first issue will be written by Action Comics, Nightwing, and Supergirl scribes Greg Pak, Kyle Higgins, and Tony Bedard. There will be art from various artists. Here's the solicit for the book:

SECRET ORIGINS #1
Written by TONY BEDARD, KYLE HIGGINS and GREG PAK
Art by PAULO SIQUEIRA, WILL CONRAD and others
Cover by LEE BERMEJO
1:25 Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT
On sale APRIL 23 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
At last, the SECRET ORIGINS of the World’s Greatest Heroes in The New 52 can be revealed! This new series gets off to an awesome start with the origins of The Last Son of Krypton and Kara Zor-El, Supergirl, plus the first Robin, Dick Grayson.





cover to Teen Titans #30 by Kenneth Rocafort

Also, there has been at least one book announced as ending. Teen Titans will be ending with it's 30th issue, writer Scott Lobdell announced on ComicVine. This issue (and then the annual) will feature the final battle with N.O.W.H.E.R.E. to end Scott Lobdell's big overarching story arc. Noticeably missing from the cover are Solstice and Kid Flash, which leads to the question of whether they are staying in the future or not.

Also announced is Nightwing getting a new creative team in April. Writer Kyle Higgins took to Facebook to announce his departure from the series.



cover to the Flash #30 by Brett Booth

Another creative team shake up is that the Green Lantern Corps writing team of Van Jensen and Robert Venditti and artist Brett Booth will be the new creative team on the Flash starting with April's #30. Booth will do the Flash Annual #3 and then switch over to regular series artist. The book will focus on Barry taking back and helping rebuild Central and Keystone Cities as they were destroyed at the beginning of Forever Evil. Also, arguably more important than the new creative team and focus of the book, is the introduction of New 52 Wally West. He will be introduced in the Annual. It hasn't been said if he will become a regular cast member of the Flash book or if its just in the Annual. The cover to issue #30 of the Flash is shown above. The Annual's cover is shown below.




cover to the Flash Annual #3 by Brett Booth



Update: It appears that I forgot one! Sinestro is also getting an ongoing series starting in April! Writer Cullen Bunn and artist Dale Eaglesham are starting a new ongoing series starring everybody's favorite Yellow Lantern. The series is set to focus on Sinestro as he tries to take control of his self-named Corps. The book will also co-star Lyssa Drak. This is now the sixth book to be part of the Green Lantern family of titles, alongside Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: New Guardians, Red Lanterns, and Larfleeze. Below is the cover for that.

cover to Sinestro #1 by Dale Eaglesham

 

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

 

  

  

 

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?

Justice League International #6 Review!

Justice League International #6
Dan Jurgens, Marco Castiello, & Vincenzo Acunzo

Summary

We open up the issue with Batman and Booster breaking into the apartment of the two guys who blew up the Hall of Justice in #1. Batman tells Booster that, if an upcoming meeting with the U.N. doesn't go well, they should consider working without the U.N.'s blessing. They easily take down the two thugs and Booster prevents a bomb from exploding and taking he and Bats out with it. Then we cut to Peru where Guy (Green Lantern), Gavril (Rocket Red), and Tora (Ice) are taking down the last of the giants from the first story arc. Guy is talking about how Booster isn't there because he's probably off doing some commercial or... "sleepin' one off." Classy, Guy. Ice tries to calm him down, but still supports Booster's leadership. Gavril accidentally gets in Guy's mouth's line-of-fire and gets sent off. Gavril wanders around and eventually finds an odd piece of equipment that blasts light into his eyes. Guy calls him out before they destroy the place Gavril was in. We now cut back to New York where we see Dora (Godiva) and Zhifu (August General-In-Iron) out for lunch. Dora (despite the fact that she's British?) is teaching Zhifu about American culture. She begins confiding in him, but he pushes too far and she backlashes. We see a van with a bomber inside drive at them, but Zhifu stops it with his brute strength and Dora stops the bomb from going off with just two seconds left. We next see Michael (Booster Gold), Bea (Fire), and Mari (Vixen) meeting with the U.N. Security Council. The council tears into the team about how they handled their first mission poorly, and Bea and Booster quickly defend. Booster tears into the council about how if they want "the big "S" and the J.L.", then they should get them. Booster convinces the council the team did a good job and the team is officially shown to the world, but a bomb blows up the entire team, leaving them potentially dead as the issue draws to a close.

Thoughts

I REALLY enjoyed this issue! I mean I know that it was only a filler issue, but I enjoyed this issue more than I have enjoyed any other issue so far in this series. (Or in general besides Aquaman #5) I loved the fact that Godiva and August General-In-Iron continued their surprising friendship and I'm happy to see Booster leading wonderfully without Batman and that Fire and Vixen have also taken on a kind of leadership role also. It was cool seeing Booster stand-up to the U.N. for himself and for the team. I think it's really cool that this is all tying into that first issue when those two guys bombed the Hall and that the team is fighting a terrorist kind of threat. I think that's a good threat for the JLI to face. Especially early on. Very fun issue with a good ending. I wonder if this is a sign that Batman won't be in the next story or some such thing. I wouldn't mind that, actually. But anyway, solid issue. Fill-in art was surprisingly good, but I am excited for Aaron Lopresti to return because he is one of my favorite artists. Solid issue, solid story.

10/10 (How is it that this issue was better than all of the first story arc? Sign of even BETTER things to come, perhaps?)

Chairman Bao: "A convenient excuse. Superman's team would not retreat as you did."
Booster Gold: "Yeah, the Big "S" and the J.L. superstars would've kicked that giant's ass in three seconds flat."
Andre Briggs: "Booster! Don't--!"
Booster Gold: "But they've been together for five years. They've trained as a unit. If it's them you want, sign them up! But you can't, can you? They're independent. They won't march to your orders."

AND

Booster Gold: "My story is well known. I'm from the future. Where, sad to say, I messed up. Royally. But I'm here to make up for that. To help. 400 years from now, there will be fewer differences. A better time when countries and people will unify. Problems that seem major now will be long-forgotten trivia by then. But the way you screw-ups are handling things is beyond belief. The fools I see running governments jeopardizes that better tomorrow. There will be a Justice League International. Whether you want it or not."
Vixen: "Shall we interrupt?"
Fire: "No way. Man's on a roll."

Alright if DC doesn't fuck up my subscription for Red Lanterns (like they did last month), then I should be reviewing that tomorrow or Wednesday. If not, my next review will be either Justice League or Batman. Should be good. See you later!

"Justice League International" #6 Preview!

While I won't be getting JLI #6 in the mail until Monday or Tuesday--which is also when I'll review it--we can all enjoy a four-page preview of the epilogue issue of the first story arc.

Okay this filler artist isn't that bad at all. That's a pleasant surprise. Looks like it'll be a nice issue. It looks interesting enough. Plus I very much so like the internet!