I'm still toying with the idea of getting ALL the first collected volumes of each corresponding Rebirth series that I'm not currently reading, but there are some I know for sure I'll be getting.
The series I'll be reading in trades regardless: 'Superman', 'Titans', and 'Teen Titans'.
The first volumes of books I'll be getting just to try them out: 'Green Arrow' and 'Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps'. I'm also considering getting 'Supergirl' because the art by Brian Ching looks pretty good and the story could be worth a shot.
That said, let's start this part of the series with seeing how the flagship New 52 title begins anew.
Story and Art by Bryan Hitch
After nearly five years, Geoff Johns, recently promoted to president and chief creative officer at DC Comics, hands the reigns of the Justice League over to Bryan Hitch. This isn't Hitch's first foray into the League though. After "Convergence", a new 'Justice League of America' series was launched with Hitch writing and drawing. That series has yet to be concluded because much like Jim Lee and David Finch, Hitch is notorious for not being able to work on a deadline. It's part of the reason that while I had interest in 'JLA', I decided to trade-wait that story because of the expected delays, even though the story itself has been referenced in other books, including this one. I'm not even sure I'll still get it at this point.
Speaking of art, Hitch does draw this one-shot and he has a unique style, where you can look at it and immediately say 'that's by Bryan Hitch.' Personally, I'm not a big fan. It's not that it looks bad, but it just looks off to me. He does a good job with landscapes and alien creatures, but people's bodies (particularly the faces) are sometimes in weird positions. Maybe it has to do with the characters being in motion. Thankfully though, Tony Daniel, who has worked on not just the previous volume of Justice League, but also Batman and Superman, will be the main artist of the book. He's quite good and is able to make a deadline (and also provided the cover above).
Story wise for this one-shot, there's one thing that works, and one that doesn't. For what works, it's the character interactions, particularly the League discussing how to handle this giant alien creature called a Reaper from engulfing a city (they don't say which one) and its inhabitants. They all sound like you'd expect. But outside of that, there are two other scenes shown. One is at the home of the pre-Flashpoint Lois and Clark, who are discussing whether Clark should join up with the League now that their Superman is dead. The League, still mourning, have also been discussing this idea, though uneasy about the fact that another Superman has been living on their world for years and not sure. If anything, the League, especially Batman, wants him close to keep an eye on him and make sure he can be trusted. Between the two conversations, the other correlation is how the New 52 Superman's death and the discovery and succession of the pre-Flashpoint Superman may be too connected to be a coincidence.
A couple more notes. I've felt more this way while reading Action Comics, but I see it applicable here as well. When I read Superman and Lois, the voices I hear are Tim Daly and Dana DeLaney from the animated series. With the New 52 versions, I kind of felt like I had to force those voices in my head because they were very different from what people expect from the characters. But using the voices with the pre-Flashpoint versions, it feels so much more natural, because these are the versions people expect. That's also kind of the reason I don't like that the League are uneasy about this Superman because they don't know him. Batman even says "He claims he's Superman, but we know nothing about him." I know this trustbuilding will probably be a plot-point in the book for awhile, but I myself, already familiar with this character, know he can be trusted. In the end though, he doesn't officially join the League, but says he'll "be around".
Now the thing about the story that doesn't work. The threat of the story is one of an extinction level. On one hand, it's nice that to see a story where it doesn't take 6 issues to fight off an invasion. However, it appears that this is Hitch's go-to story. Between from what I've heard of Hitch's 'JLA' and reading the first issue of the new volume of Justice League (and I've been trying not to talk about the stories following the Rebirth one-shots so soon), it involves an alien force threatening to destroy the Earth and take over the population's minds. I realize that the League is THE team to fight off the major threats, but there should be some variety. Geoff Johns' run included a villain targeting the League because he blamed them for the death of his family, and a virus outbreak that was granting normal humans super powers. I know it's too early to tell, but I hope Hitch brings some different story types. Another thing about this story though is that I think Hitch is channeling the first Avengers movie, especially in the end where they tell the creature to run and let his kind and anyone else know that Earth is protected by the Justice League. It's kind of similar to what Nick Fury said: "[The Avengers] surely are [dangerous]. And the whole world knows it. Every world knows it."
I guess the only other thing to talk about is the team line-up. Carrying over are Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg. And in addition to the pre-Flashpoint Superman, the other two members are the new Green Lanterns, Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz (not sure why the League needs two Lanterns but whatever). Baz hasn't had much spotlight since his debut so it's nice to see him in a starring major role again. Cruz has been working with the League since after "Forever Evil" trying to use Power Ring's powers for good, but was inducted into the Green Lantern Corps at the end of "Darkseid War". Apparently there's some kind of attraction between her and Flash and a future solicit says shes going to ask him out, which will kind of put a damper on my thought from the Flash Rebirth special that Barry and Iris were going to get back together. Guess we'll have to see what happens.
Justice League's Rebirth one-shot in my opinion isn't a perfect set-up for the future of the series (especially the art), but it offers an idea of what's to come: big threats and a good team dynamic.
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Yanick Paquette
For the last two years, Dick Grayson has been playing super spy in his eponymous title, "Grayson". But now he's back in black (and blue) in the role he's made his own, Nightwing. While this one-shot sets up his return to his former identity, it also pays tribute to his previous title as an agent of Spyral. It's written in such a way that I feel that a new reader can easily follow along with what happened, along with make them interested in going back and read the "Grayson" title. Having read it myself, I really do recommend it. The best interactions Dick has in that series as well as this one-shot are with fellow agent Tiger (who Dick affectionately calls 'Tony' to his annoyance) and Midnighter, member of the superhero team Stormwatch who considers him and Dick to be "arch-frenemies".
Looking toward the future though, Dick and Damian are hanging out, which acts as a framing device for Dick's last missions as a Spyral agent (shown through flashbacks). I always enjoy the interaction between the two, going back to when they were partners as Batman and Robin. I won't spoil the specifics, but there's some follow-up to events from the "Robin War" crossover event that's a little too complicated to explain here and just gets glossed over in the one-shot. So I guess that's one aspect that probably requires from additional reading to understand. Let's just say it has to do with the main antagonists Dick will be facing for the beginning of his new series.
Dick has a cool inner monologue about the meaning of the name 'Nightwing'. Many may not know this, but it actually comes from a superhero from Krypton. It meant 'eternally reborn to start anew'. It certainly fits with Dick with all the roles he's undertaken in his career, from Robin, to Batman, and now, once again, Nightwing.
While Yanick Paquette is only working on the Rebirth one-shot, the art here is excellent. There are some instances where I think Dick or Damian's faces look a little weird, but I've gotten used to it after a couple re-reads (though I guess weird faces is the connection between these two reviews).
Now for a little commentary on aesthetics. First off, when Dick became Nightwing again when the New 52 began, he had a black/red color scheme instead of black/blue. Some people were upset about it, but I wasn't. Personally, I think the red kind of fits better because it connects more with his past as Robin. But I do like the blue. That said, I also kind of wish they went back to the logo they used for his solo book in the 90's and early 00's. It would have fit better with the 'Rebirth' theme. Either that or at least removie that bat-symbol behind the name in the current logo.
Out of all the Rebirth one-shots I've read so far, Nightwing's is the one that's nearly perfect, paying respect to the past that mostly won't leave readers asking questions while setting up what's to come.
It's going to be awhile before the next part of Rebirth Reviews, but when we return, it will be to the future world of Batman Beyond in another story of role reclamation.
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