DC Rebirth Reviews: ACTION COMICS #957, DETECTIVE COMICS #934
Week Two of DC Rebirth takes place June 8, 2016. With new comics debuting and a bi-weekly shipping schedule, there will be a lot of coverage each week. With that in mind, I’ll be grouping my reviews together and making this a regular column. At least that’s my hope. I should be able to keep this going week-after-week.
First up, we have two comics that aren’t debuting brand new number one’s — Action Comics and Detective Comics. They both will return to their original number (combining pre and post New 52 totals).
ACTION COMICS #957
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Patrick Zircher
Colorist: Tomeu Morey
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Cover: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Sonia Oback
Publisher: DC Comics
Lex Luthor wastes no time letting the residents of Metropolis know that he’ll be filling the role of local hero now that Superman is dead. He even goes so far as to put Superman’s “S” emblem on his chest, along with wearing a red cape. Luthor is his usual overconfident, smarmy self here.
While this is a book starring Superman, it is by no means a small cast. Along with Luthor we have Jimmy Olsen, Captain Maggie Sawyer, pre-New 52 versions of Superman/Clark Kent, Lois Lane and their son Jonathan Kent. Jon Kent is the one who entertains me the most. Dan Jurgens portrays him as very inquisitive. Like many kids his age, he asks a LOT of questions.
Patrick Zircher’s art has a touch of realism to it. Even with bright colors and larger-than-life characters, his line work is very clean and consistent. Just when I start to take it for granted, Zircher breaks out a splash page of Superman taking flight in his full red-and-blue’s to remind me how epic he can get in his visuals.
Another fun couple of panels happens when the Kent’s are moving into their new home and catch a news feed of Luthor breaking up a robbery. Pre-New 52 Superman has been rocking a lumberjack beard since reappearing in the pages of Superman: Lois and Clark. Initially intent on staying out of the public eye, the mere sight of Luthor replacing a Superman is enough for Clark to take action. I loved seeing Clark shave his beard with heat vision and take to the skies in less than 10 panels.
Of course when pre-New 52 Superman confronts Luthor, it has to end in violence. This is a superhero comic afterall. Nothing can be settled through debate and discussion. I will point out that Superman does throw the first punch. Not a very heroic thing to do. I like this new Superman already!
DETECTIVE COMICS #934
Script: James Tynion IV
Pencils: Eddy Barrows
Inks: Eber Ferreira
Colors: Adriano Lucas
Letters: Marilyn Patrizio
Cover: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira & Adriano Lucas
Publisher: DC Comics
*WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*
Now this is one Rebirth title I’ve looked forward to reading. When it was announced during the DC Comics livestream that James Tynion IV would be assembling a Batman team-up book for Detective Comics, I jumped for joy. I’m a sucker for team books. Having one based in Gotham City starring new additions to #TeamBatman (Spoiler and Orphan), along with my favorite Robin ever (Tim Drake) feels like a book made just for me. Something else I’m a fan of is having Batwoman be the co-lead with Batman. I hardly know anything about Batwoman. I’ve never read any of her solo books and have only become educated on her from the Batman: Bad Blood animated movie. So I’m glad I’ll get to see how much of a kick-ass character she is on a bi-weekly basis.
Man is the art lovely to digest on each page and panel. You can tell Eddy Barrows is having fun playing with the shadows and panel layouts. Colorist Adriano Lucas teams with Barrows to make the shadows just as much a part of the overall aesthetic as the heroes are. Batman and Batwoman in particular get grandiose poses from spotlights and swinging from rooftops.
Earlier I referenced Batman and Batwoman being on equal ground. We see examples of this by Batman telling Batwoman she has more experience working in a unit from her military training than he does. Batman’s a loner — Batwoman can work better with others. This shows her importance to the team. Batman even reveals his secret identity to Batwoman. This was a major moment for both characters.
I have to go back to the art once again. The coloring for Clayface is different than the treatment everyone else receives. Since he’s made of clay, he’s given almost a watercolor effect. It helps differentiate him and make him unique.
With this being a team book, it’ll take an ensemble of antagonists to go up against them. From what we learn someone is gunning for vigilantes in Gotham. Azrael is the first to be targeted, which kick-starts our story. The big mystery is who is the shadowy figure pulling the strings? I wonder if this will tie in with the larger DC story spilling out of DC Universe: Rebirth #1. Could this person be one of the Watchmen? If Owlman wasn’t obliterated at the end of DC Universe: Rebirth #1 he would make another smart choice as well.
One image that will stick with me is seeing Batman and Batwoman both smiling in costume together.
Timdogg
#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE
