Monday, 4 July 2011

Which Titles to read in the New DCU?

The news from DC a few weeks back that they were relaunching all their titles is still causing much chat and debate online and offline about whether such a bold move is a good one and whether it will not only add new readers to their loyal following but keep existing fans happy. It is a lot of work to go through this process, regardless of the industry. They aren't using the word "reboot" but it is pretty damn close to one.





For existing fans like myself, my favourite comic characters are DC. Always have been. I do read Marvel titles (maybe more now than I ever did) but there are stronger links with DC. My core reading revolves around Batman. That has always been the case. I have had two stints of 'proper' comic collecting in my life and both have been Batman-centric. Unless DC radically change Batman for the worse, I can't see this ever changing.

So, with the new titles coming in, I have to decide which ones I'm going to read and collect. There are a number of facets to making this decision. Bearing in mind the titles are all starting at #1 there will be some collectors who buy all 52. It is not often you can buy a Batman #1 or Detective Comics #1 nowadays for a couple of quid. And what about in 3/4 years time when Detective Comics #27 comes out.

So on the basis that I am buying these simply as number one's the plan is as set out below. I will review after the initial issue of each.





Action Comics #1. Grant Morrison and Rags Morales. I love most of GM's stuff, especially the Batman runs. Admittedly I've been less enthralled on the recent stuff (The Return of Bruce Wayne) and I didn't partucalry like All Star Superman (I know I must be the only one), but I definitely won't be missing this.

Superman #1. Curiosity more than anything else.

Superboy #1. I'll check the art on this. The premise sounds quite cool - clone/experiment.

Batman. There are 11 titles that fall within the Batman family. I'll buy them all in the first instance. Obviously Batman and Detective Comics are the big ones. They have both got to nail it and I hope they do. With Synder, Capullo and Tony Daniel I think they are in good hands.





I'm less concerned about Batwing and Red Hood and the Outlaws but feel they deserve a first look. Batman and Robin looks like it could be pretty sweet also especially with Tomasi and Gleason on board. The Bruce, Damian relationship could be an interesting one.


Green Lantern. There are 4 titles that fall within the GL world and again I'll definitely start with the 4. Green Lantern #1 looks to set up a new green lantern so that will be interesting and does have Geoff Johns on writing duties.

Justice League #1. Well Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. What else do you need to convince you? This could actually be pretty cool.

The Flash #1. Francis Manapul really gets Barry and is writing as well as drawing, so I am hoping this will be awesome.






Green Arrow #1. Written by JT Krul, who probably knows this character better than most and has started Ollie over a few times. If he is depicted as the hard nosed vigilante who doesn't give a flying firetruck then this could be a good opportunity to headline Green Arrow as a leading DC entity. Also with Jurgens and Perez on art, this could be a winner.

The remaining titles fall into three distinct categories, The Dark, The Edge and Young Justice. These I am less concerned about and will probably pick and chose as they come out and on the basis of the teams and the art (and how I'm feeling on the day). On the basis of what we know thus far, I'm thinking Animal Man, Voodoo and Deathstroke. This may change but Animal Man has always been one of those odd DC characters I have enjoyed as is Deathstroke, who looks like he is properly tooled up and looking for trouble. Voodoo looks like a good premise and could be something a little different.

Final possibility is Suicide Squad, only because Harley Quinn is in it and she became an interesting character in Gotham City Sirens, so that could be a bit of dark humour.

So that is about 25 out of the possible 52. Not too bad!



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