Saturday, July 23, 2011

October Solicits

The second month of the DCnU Superman family solicits are now up on the DC Comics site. Let's say that this doesn't necessarily help my waning optimism although I still am going into these books with an open mind. With news and blurbs being reported from the Comic Con, I don't know what to think any more. Maybe it is time to just get the books in my hand and let the work lead to the final verdict.



SUPERGIRL #2
Written by MICHAEL GREEN and MIKE JOHNSON; Art by MAHMUD ASRAR and DAN GREEN; Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR

Get ready for a super-smackdown as Supergirl fights her cousin, The Man of Steel! What could cause these two to come to blows? Can the teenage Supergirl hold her own against the adult Superman? Well, let's just say she's got a trick or two up those fancy new sleeves of hers...

Boy, it seems like the template that the new Supergirl comic is using is the earliest issues of the last volume. Second issue in and Supergirl is battling another super-hero. And it's Superman! Is this supposed to make me eager to read the book? Not only does she have no affection for humanity, apparently she has none for super-humanity! Maybe I should start a running tally comparing how many heroes Supergirl fights in this run as opposed to Loeb's. But this is such a well traveled road that this doesn't seem new or fresh or accessible or any of the adjectives DC has used about this new universe.

Okay, maybe I am being too snarky. But in all honesty I think it is too early in the DCnU to pull out this trick. We barely know this new Superman. We probably have no idea what sort of relationship he has with his cousin. So without having a good understanding of what they think of each other long term, how can this resonate as being a big deal? Are they friends? Do they like each other? Hang out with each other? Stay away from each other? This fight probably won't impact me as much since we don't know the foundation of their relationship.

I have been pretty consistent in saying I am sick of seeing Supergirl fight other heroes. But maybe this Supergirl isn't a hero.



SUPERMAN #2
Written by GEORGE PEREZ; Breakdowns and cover by GEORGE PEREZ; Art by JESUS MERINO

The all-new adventures of Superman continue! Everyone can see the new villain who's attacking Superman – except The Man of Steel! How can he stop a threat that none of his super-senses can detect? Meanwhile, a Daily Planet reporter starts digging up some dirt on Superman, including a secret that could ruin him forever!

Not much to go on here. But the idea that human eyes can see an enemy that mega-spectrumed Kryptonian eyes can't doesn't make much sense. I guess we'll hear the explanation.

And is the Daily Planet Reporter Lois? I don't think so. Maybe Jimmy isn't Superman's pal any more.



ACTION COMICS #2

Written by GRANT MORRISON; Art by RAGS MORALES and RICK BRYANT; Cover by RAGS MORALES; Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER; 1:200 Band W variant cover by RAGS MORALES

In his weakest moment, Superman is taken down – but by whom? And if the world wasn't ready for a man with super powers, they're utterly unprepared for the rage of a Superman cornered! The cornerstone character of the new DCU continues his debut adventure!

Hmmm ... Superman, put in an electric chair, guns pointing at him (presumably by police), and enraged.

Is this the Superman I want to read? I guess Superman would need to build a relationship with authorities before he is a trusted hero. It does, again, go back to those Golden Age roots when he was more a hero of the people - stopping spouse abusers, shady safety inspectors on mines, war profiteers, etc.  I just hope that it doesn't take too long for him to start being an accepted hero.



SUPERBOY #2
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL; Art by RB SILVA and ROB LEAN; Cover by ERIC CANETE


Project N.O.W.H.E.R.E. has put a lot of effort into creating their Superboy, and they intend to make sure he performs to their standards. And what better opportunity for him to demonstrate his raw power than to throw him into an alien prison riot? Good luck, Superboy… you're going to need it!

Still no idea about this comic. I don't know who this Superboy is. I guess I am going in with no preconceived notions.

I am sick of all the pre-DCnU droning. Now I just want to stop wondering/worrying about the books and read them instead.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like most of what I'm reading about the new Supergirl and Morrison's Superman... and I hope they are using the Loeb model or some combination of Loeb and David.

As far as Superman vs Supergirl, not overly excited about that, but the hero of this board, Gates, had her battle Superman twice and Superboy once if I recall. Gates had a running tally as well. I just hope they show Supergirl to be equal to Superman and not use her gender or age as handicaps. If they are going to do it, I wouldn't mind seeing Supergirl dominate him for a change. Most of all, though, I'd like to see her separated from Superman some, such as in David's book. When the two are together and Supergirl basically interacts with a bunch of Superman villains and side characters, Supergirl suffers as a character. I want her to branch out, be her own person, and do her own thing a bit more than has been seen the past few years on the book.

Anonymous said...

In a panel, Johnson described his take on Supergirl as "'kind and funny and smart,' except stuck in a, to her, backwards civilization."

This sounds wonderful to me. One of the major reasons I didn't like Supergirl by Palmiotti, Puckett or in those early issues by Gates was her lack of intelligence. I hate when writers make her the dumb blond. Kind, funny and smart while also resembling a teenage female with respect to her behavior and outlook on life sounds like something this character has needed for years. Big thumbs up to these guys for actually exploring her as a character, instead of just making her "not date," wear shorts under a skirt, and have little depth and just go through the standard motions of being a superhero.

LJ-90 said...

Scott Lobdell spoke about "Superboy", saying Conner was kidnapped before the book opens, being reverse engineered screwed him up and he's been wiped clean. However this is the same Conner from the last 15 years.

Matt Idelson's comments about "Superman" were that he's "not a boy scout" and has "no trophy wife"

Don't know how I feel about any of that.

valerie21601 said...

hhhmmm! I wonder how the N.O.W.H.E.R.E. people just happen to know about a alien prison riot?

Why is Superboy does look like a puppet?

valerie21601 said...

Lois Lane was never a "trophy wife" to Superman in the past. Where did Lobdell get that one from?

Erikson said...

Having read descriptions of this new series it sounds like a complete reboot of Kara who has just arrived on earth and doesn't know who Superman is, or that he is her cousin. So that might mitigate the scene we are showed on the cover. And who knows how much page space this will take up...it might be a short misunderstanding. Time will tell-

Anonymous said...

Supergirl #2 cover reminds me of Yogi Berra's famous remark, "It'a deja vu all over again."

Anj said...

Matt Idelson's comments about "Superman" were that he's "not a boy scout" and has "no trophy wife"

Don't know how I feel about any of that.


That doesn't make much sense. Lois wasn't a trophy wife but a partner with Clark in that relationship.

It also is a disparaging term.

Anj said...

Supergirl #2 cover reminds me of Yogi Berra's famous remark, "It'a deja vu all over again."

Yeah. I agree.

Anonymous said...

As a proud Eagle Scout I'm getting a little g-d damned tired of The boy scouts being applied as a term of disparagement.

This is the COIE all over again, hand Superman over to some Fan Fave Uber creator in the irrational believe that this person can somehow reignite the golden age when Superman comics sold in the millions. Except this time they aren't killing Supergirl off they are simply making her into a Klingon....progress indeed.

John Feer

Yota said...

Ugh... At least I'll save money, I guess, since it looks like I won't be buying comics.

Gear said...

I'm going to give all of it a chance. If there's one thing I've learned over the last year with DC it's that the final product may be only tenuously related to what the solicitation and advance publicity implied.

I wish the current run of Supergirl wasn't ending. I wish the DeConnick run would continue for a long time, I love her Lois and the new supporting characters and the strength of her Kara. But I loved the Gates/Igle run, and the stuff Peaty did, and I miss Silver Age Kara too.

I'm giving it a chance, and I'm not going to presume too much until I see the books. It might turn out terrible, but it might wind up being wonderful. Either way I'm along for the ride.