Earth-2 #0 review
Rating 3.5/5
Pros: Mr. 8 was intriguing
Cons: Inconsistent art style, mysterious hints for the sake of mysterious hints; Mr. 8 wasn't too original
With the telling of this Zero Month story, James Robinson reveals more about the Earth-2 world under the constant threat and attacks of Apokolips. Some good hints to future plot lines were dropped in this issue... and really cranking up the mystery.
He shows the battle-frought Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman alongside the newly revealed Mr. 8 (although he may be better known as Terry Sloan aka Mr. Terrific from the old Golden Age of comics).
The design of Mr. 8 is pretty modern considering the source of the character, but it's a good look. It's the kind of "battle-suit" a non-powered, super-smart guy would think up. Now instead of Terry Sloan being an advocate of "Fair Play", he is playing the role of the smartest man alive and is using his logic to "save humanity from itself" Unfortunately this means disasterous results for large chunks of Earth's population and turning the Trinity of Wonders against itself for his own desires. This type of hero/villain is really taking the lead from characters like Ozymandias in Alan Moore's Watchmen... or Owlman from Grant Morrison's JLA:Earth-2 Maybe not the most creative plot twist, but if you're hanging out with writers like Moore & Morrison, you're in good company.
The art was a bit rough looking. Full of action and explosions, which looked great... but the faces were quite inconsistent. At times, Terry Sloan is shown as a beat-up bruiser with large proportions, but he is seen again looking not-so-thick and normal. Same with Superman, where apparently when driven crazy by kryptonite, his eyes bulge out and with face looks lumpy.
Not totally happy with the art, nor the writing. This was mainly an issue to lay down groundwork for the rest of the main storylines featured in the monthly comic. I hope Robinson keeps up the work form the previous issues, before settling again with these formulaic plot devices.
Action Comics #0 review
Rating 5/5
Pros: Great storytelling, great character developement, beautiful art.... I could go on.
Cons: hmmm... the back up story wasn't necessary, but that's it.
Grant Morrison really has a handle on this young incarnation of Clark Kent / Superman. He is able to show the quiet complexities of the character, and the struggles he is facing with his new life in Metropolis. Morrison really draws in the reader and we instantly develop a fondness for this sweet, nice, mild-mannered Clark who is just steps away from being the greatest hero ever.
Amidst all that, Morrison is able to take a side-step into a sub-plot of the impact the S-image has on the innocent against the backdrop of domestic abuse. We see how a simple cape can bring power to the weak...and we are shown that the guy with the big red S is going to come to our rescue!
The great (painted?) art by Ben Oliver was breathtaking. Great panel layout, great facial expressions, great flow of movement (just check out the scene with kid fighting off his father for the first time). Although I was sad to not be able to see Rags Morales, Mr. Oliver did a fine job.
Phantom Stranger #0 review
Rating 3/5
Pros: "Origin" of Phantom Stranger, finally... kinda, essential keypoints for the New 52
Cons: "Origin" of Phantom Stranger, finally... kinda, sloppy art
This is going to be a pivotal series in the upcoming Trinity War (or whatever the cross-over tag line will be for the next year with DC). For that reason alone, this is an important series and an important issue. Worth the price right there.
This series is also Dan Didio's take on one of the most mysterious character in the history of the DC Universe. In this single issue alone, we learn more about the Stragner than has ever been revealed... but could it be too much? I liked that we didn't know. I liked that he was a force for order and for good... and the he was just around, like everywehere, and would help anybody.
Without outright saying it, Didio has identified the Stranger as Judas Iscariot, and that he is serving his penance for his betrayal to Jesus. He was judged for sins that continue to affect the course of the world. He was judged along with the newly mysterious figure, Pandora as well as the 3rd sinner, who is arguably Vic Sage aka The Question. Although Didio is revealing a lot here... he is introducing just as many new mysteries... I just hope he is able to drag them out for 4 or 5 decades to make up for ruining my appreciation of the Stranger.
The art was difficult to deal with, though. In an industry where most artists almost attempt photorealism nowadays, Brent Anderson's pencils were a struggle. His body designs and panel flow and sometimes cartoonish expressions were distracting. I kept stopping half-way through the page ro the dialogue to ask "Why does that look like that? That's weird". The style was reminicent of a really bad Jerry Ordway, or more acurately a bad impression of Don Perlin from the early Valiant days 20 years ago (when great writing made up for not-so-great art). Scott Hanna has been inking well for some time, so I don't have issue with his work... but I hope Anderson cleans up his pencils and learns more about body structure for future issues.
Worlds' Finest #0 review
Rating 4.5/5
Pros: Character development, great dialogue, Kevin Maguire's art!
Cons: Wes Craig's art
Why aren't you reading this already?! It's been mentioned elsewhere before, but Paul Levitz is writing the best series of his career. Throw in Kevin Maguire's amazing artwork and you can't be beat!
The only drawback to this issue was the artistic assitance of Wes Craig. Not that his slightly-stylized art is a distrction from Maguire's more clean, realistic approach... but some of Craig's design and body proportions are so difficult to grasp at first, it completly removes you from the flow of the story. At one point I actually had to look back at his drawings of Huntress's arms just to make sure that they were arms... of weird sticks, or something.
Okay, that's just a minor glitch in an otherwise perfectly written book. Love these characters, love Maguire... best of all I love seeing Kara & Helena in their "old" Supergirl and Robin costumes. Just go out and read it already, seriously!
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