DC Rebirth Reviews: BATMAN #5, GREEN ARROW #5, NIGHTWING #3, SUICIDE SQUAD #1, SUPERGIRL: REBIRTH #1

| August 22, 2016 | Comics, DC Comics | No Comments

As I get back in the swing of doing reviews, I thought it’d be best if I jotted down some thoughts on the comics I read this week. Two of the comics are finishing up their initial story arcs, one is starting with a new #1, and another is a Rebirth special. So check out my Rapid Reviews for Batman #5, Green Arrow #5, Nightwing #3, Suicide Squad #1 and Supergirl: Rebirth #1.

*WARNING – POTENTIAL SPOILERS BELOW*

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BATMAN #5
Writer: Tom King
Pencils: David Finch
Inks: Sandra Hope, Matt Banning and Scott Hanna
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: John Workman
Cover: Finch, Danny Miki and Bellaire
Publisher: DC Comics
Score: 3 out of 5

  • Alfred makes for one distinguished Caped Crusader as he dons the cowl to distract Gotham before Batman arrives.
  • The Justice League being called in to help Batman take on Gotham would have been a bigger “OMG” moment if we hadn’t just seen them during the last Joker story pre-Rebirth.
  • Tom King loves his nine-panel grids.
  • Did we get foreshadowing for a future relationship between Duke Thomas and Gotham Girl?
  • We learn how Gotham and Gotham Girl’s powers work. It’s not that obvious and a little depressing.
  • Kudos to David Finch for drawing the entire opening arc. The only Rebirth artist to pull that off.

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GREEN ARROW #5
Story: Benjamin Percy
Art, Color, and Cover: Juan Ferreyra
Lettering: Nate Piekos of Blambot
Publisher: DC Comics
Score: 4 out of 5

  • Good to see Diggle and Oliver working together again.
  • Emiko isn’t a traitor! She is still #TeamArrow.
  • Juan Ferreyra is a boss on artwork. Ferreyra and Otto Schmidt combine to form the best Rebirth art team.
  • I feel like the Underground Men and the 9th Circle are generic villains. Thankfully the story doesn’t hinge on them being threatening. Benjamin Percy has made this the rise and fall of Oliver Queen. The story is all about Green Arrow and his supporting cast (Diggle, Emiko, Black Canary).

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NIGHTWING #3
Writer: Tim Seeley
Artist: Javier Fernandez
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover: Javier Fernandez & Chris Sotomayor
Publisher: DC Comics
Score: 4 out of 5

  • It’s good to see Nightwing interacting with the extended members of the Bat family (Batgirl guest-stars).
  • The art team of Javier Fernandez, Chris Sotomayor and Carlos M. Mangual craft a visually appealing comic. I love the blue captions used for Nightwing’s internal dialogue.
  • Is Nightwing too trusting of Raptor? Even Batgirl calls Nightwing out on his trusting nature. Just because Nightwing sees some of himself in Raptor doesn’t mean it’s time to trust the new partner.
  • Babs also calls Dick out on his actions over the last year — faking his own death, becoming a superspy, and now infiltrating the Parliament of Owls. Dick keeps putting himself in dangerous situations.

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SUICIDE SQUAD #1
Writer: Rob Williams
Penciller: Jim Lee
Inker: Scott Williams
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Nate Piekos of Blambot
Cover: Lee, Williams and Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics
Score: 2 out of 5

  • Talk about a letdown — I was so looking forward to Suicide Squad #1. Count me as a happy customer after seeing the Suicide Squad movie. This issue was by-the-book formulaic.
  • A very generic setup for Task Force X. Nothing stood out. I know Rob Williams is capable of so much more.
  • You can tell that Jim Lee cut some corners with his art. It wasn’t as detailed as his usual work. This can be explained by Lee’s time commitments as Co-Publisher of DC Comics.
  • The best part of the comic was the Deadshot back-up story illustrated by Jason Fabok. Whenever Fabok contributes to a comic it’s a win in my book. He absolutely killed it on the Justice League: Darkseid War arc.
  • I’ll keep reading because it can only go up from here. I have faith in Williams to produce a stellar Suicide Squad comic. Plus it will tie into the larger DC universe.

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SUPERGIRL: REBIRTH #1
Writer: Steve Orlando
Penciller: Emanuela Lupacchino
Inker: Ray McCarthy
Colorist: Michael Atiyeh
Letterer: Steve Wands
Cover: Lupacchino and Atiyeh
Publisher: DC Comics
Score: 5 out of 5

  • Emanuela Lupacchino and Michael Atiyeh provided vibrant art and colors. It brings a youthful spirit to the comic.
  • Steve Orlando introduces the reader to Supergirl’s new supporting cast, which will be familiar to fans of the Supergirl TV show.
  • Speaking of youthful, Orlando’s dialogue matches the art. Very witty.
  • Orlando explains Supergirl’s powers being gone and resolves the plot point so there can be a new Rebirth beginning.
  • Instead of gaining parents when Supergirl landed on Earth (like her cousin Superman), the D.E.O. set up Agents Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers as her parents/handlers. This is how Supergirl gains the civilian identity of Kara Danvers.
  • Does part of her life as Kara Danvers involve her being a brunette? Or was that a coloring mistake?

What do you think of this week’s books? Let your thoughts be known in the Comments section below.

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE

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