Written by Benjamin Percy
Art by Otto Schmidt
Green Arrow has had a bit of an odd journey since the New 52 began, which can be understandable when a majority of your history has been erased. For the most part, his character design was revamped to match what he looked like on the "Smallville" TV series. Eventually, the character got a boost in popularity thanks to the "Arrow" TV series, and like comics do, they try and make things match up. Among all the writers (and there were a lot) through out Green Arrow's New 52 run, the only one who seemed to receive a favorable reception was Jeff Lemire. Even when Andrew Kreisberg and Ben Sokolowski, writers from "Arrow", took over the comic, it received criticism for trying too much to make it like the show. After they left, Benjamin Percy took over the book, and from what I heard, it wasn't
that good. I think there was a bit about him becoming a werewolf, so
take that as you will. But once again, we have Rebirth to thank for cleaning up previous messes, but with Percy being one of the only writers to remain on their current book, there was cause to be wary.
While I didn't read the main Green Arrow book, he was part of some of the Justice League books and events. Much like my view on Superman in the New 52, I didn't really have a problem with how this version of Green Arrow was written, but it seemed a bit off compared to what I'm used to from the character. As we enter Rebirth, it's evident that the classic feel of the character was back, right down to the goatee. At this point in the new continuity, Oliver barely had facial hair, which made him seem younger. Giving the goatee back makes him seem a little older, but when it comes to Rebirth trying to recapture the classic feel for some characters, that makes it okay. In a way, this issue kind of seems like a complete restart, so that we don't really need to read the previous New 52 series, and from what I've heard, there's not much to look at outside of Lemire's run. He also has a new costume which resembles the one from season four of "Arrow". It looks good for the most part and it's nice to get a revamp after keeping the "Smallville" suit for so long, plus the goatee brings it all together.
But aside from looks, Oliver's character seems in line with that I'm familiar with, particularly from Justice League Unlimited, Young Justice, and Injustice, with a bit of Stephen Amell's version sprinkled in. For the most part, he's a man at the top who still cares for the little guy, no matter who they are. This is best illustrated in this story with how he helps a homeless boy rescue his mother from a human auction run by "The Underground Men", who sell people they believe won't be missed to mysterious bidders in masks.
Another aspect that makes its return to the Green Arrow book is his relationship with Dinah Lance, the Black Canary. This relationship was erased after Flashpoint and this issue is only their second ever interaction with each other in the current continuity. The issue does a great job (re)developing their relationship from the two getting past their preconceived conceptions about the other and eventually making quite a connection.
If there's a theme to this issue, it's second chances. Green Arrow's whole crusade is a second chance to make up for his past life style (which in a way makes him kind of like Iron Man), Black Canary has come to Seattle to get a fresh start, and Oliver even talks about how the city got a second chance itself after the Great Seattle Fire. I get the feeling that this new volume of Green Arrow, as well as Rebirth as a whole, is a second chance, learning from the mistakes of the past and building a better future for the character.
Overall, this was a great issue and I look forward to picking up the first collection.
Written by John Semper Jr.
Art by Paul Pelletier
Most people are probably more familiar with Cyborg as part of the Teen Titans. When the New 52 began, Cyborg was given a major push by being retroactively made a founding member of the Justice League (replacing Martian Manhunter), and that push has continued outside the comics as well, with the character also founding the League in the DC animated movie universe and in the upcoming live action movie. Despite his upgraded status, strangely enough, Cyborg wouldn't get his own solo ongoing series until four years later. I heard something before that it'd be hard to market a non-unique name like Cyborg, but it hasn't stopped them now has it? Cyborg's previous volume lasted over a year before Rebirth began, which is where we're at now. I've gotten to know this version Cyborg well since he's a main character in the Justice League, so I hope I'm not missing much when it comes to his previous series.
The main plot of this issue is Cyborg fighting off a cybernetic organism known as Malware, who is trying to break into a secret area of STAR Labs that even Victor doesn't know about. Also during this fight, we're told by an unknown narrator about Victor's backstory, going back all the way back to when his parents met. We see them date, marry, and have Victor, but then his mother is stricken with cancer. His father works tirelessly to prolong her life, but neglecting Victor in the process. His mother is still there for him though until the day she finally passes. I was aware of Victor's issues with his father and that his mother had passed, but didn't know the full backstory until now. It's pretty sad, and I feel a little more sympathy for both Cyborg and his father, who I've really only seen in the present helping his son.
Cyborg and Malware's battle eventually gets to the secret area, where Cyborg is able to hack into Malware and shut him down. However, the secret area is still breached and we see what's inside: hidden recorded notes by Cyborg's father, questioning whether his attempt in saving his son's life and transforming him into Cyborg actually means he's alive or just a replication in a metal shell, as well as what it will mean for the future of mankind. Cyborg, while upset by this, doesn't let his father know he heard his notes. Elsewhere, our unnamed narrator is speaking with other machine based DC characters (including the Metal Men, Cyborg Superman, the Brain, Amazo and OMAC), and he's revealed to be another cyborg like character who believes Victor is the key to a machine uprising. I don't think this character's name is given, and while I could easily look it up, I'm not going to. He's so freaky and intimidating looking, that I can hold on until I pick up the first trade of this series to find out more.
So this comic was pretty damn good. I've always been used to Cyborg as more of a 'team' character that I didn't know what to expect out of a solo story. But color me impressed. Plus as an introductory issue, it does a good job at showing who the character is and The art is great as well, reminding me of Ron Garney's work on Spider-Man within the past decade. I'm not sure how I feel though about apparently more father-son drama being a plotpoint in this book, especially since as far as I know, Vic and his father finally reconciled back in "Forever Evil".
I do have a few nitpicks though. Apparently, Vic has been Cyborg for "5 years, 31 days". On that, I call bullcrap. The Justice League's New 52 origin takes place five years before the present timeline began, and given EVERYTHING that's happened, not just to Cyborg, but EVERY other character in the DCU, I find it very hard to believe that it all happened within 31 days. Besides that, there's a flashback to the first Justice League story, but they show him in his current armor, which he didn't get until "Forever Evil." At this point though, art inconsistency across continuity has become a norm unfortunately.
Overall, this is another great issue that gets me excited for the first story arc.
Written by Geoff Johns and Sam Humpries
Art by Ethan Van Sciver and Ed Benes
For whatever reason, Earth seems to get more Green Lanterns more than any other planet. We've had Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Kyle Rayner. In recent years, there have been two more: Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz. Simon debuted a year into the New 52 and while his debut had gotten attention, he eventually and unfortunately fell into obscurity. Jessica debuted in the Justice League series, being possessed by the ring of Earth 3's Power Ring and taken under the League's wing to use that power for good. Eventually, she was able to destroy that ring and had been chosen to become a Green Lantern herself. As Rebirth approached, not only would Jessica be getting more of a push, but Simon was finally coming back to the forefront along with her. While the veteran Lanterns would be off in their own book in space, the two rookies would be co-starring in their own series as Earth's official Green Lanterns.
This issue is set sometime after the Rebirth issue of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps, as Hal in full Lantern mode is shown putting the rookies to the test with a Manhunter drone. As expected, the two don't work well together, so to make sure they do better, Hal fuses their Lantern Batteries, pretty much forcing the two to be partners to protect Earth while Hal is off looking for the rest of the Corps and stopping Sinestro. Hal also makes a comment about how the rings seem to keep choosing more Lanterns on Earth because they know something is coming.
The issue is a bit introductory for the two Lanterns, giving you a feel for who they are if you hadn't read about them before. Simon is a formerly accused terrorist, but the stigma still remains because he's a Muslim (and considering the current political atmosphere, we could use a role model like this). Before she became Power Ring and eventually a Lantern, Jessica was a shut-in with a fear of going outside. This issue shows her coming to the soccer game of her little sister (who is surprised to see Jessica outside), and even her inner thoughts show she's still uneasy and thinks the ring may have made a mistake in choosing her. We also have a bit of set-up for Atrocitus and the Red Lantern Corps being our first villains, but they don't have too much bearing on the plot.
The art is split up again between two artists. It starts out being done by Ed Benes and is taken over by Ethan Van Sciver. The change-up doesn't really bother me as much as the other issues that have done it, since both artists do very well. Plus Van Sciver's involvement begins once Hal Jordan arrives in the book, which adds some significance because his involvement in the past of the franchise.
Overall, I think this issue is okay. It's good, but it doesn't wow me, especially since it's mostly set-up and (re)introductions. And while I don't have anything against these new characters, I kind of have more interest in the veteran Lanterns' book given my familiarity with them. Maybe after reading Simon and Jessica's first story arc, I'll warm up to them a little more.
Written by Dan Abnett
Art by Brett Booth
Art by Brett Booth
Much like Superman, the book to keep an eye on going into Rebirth was Titans. The reason for that would be that it would feature the newly returned pre-Flashpoint Wally West. For those who read the proper Rebirth one-shot that started it all, Wally had been trapped in the Speed Force for years, and due to the events of Darkseid War, he was able to break free and interact with the New 52 Prime Earth. Unfortunately, due to the manipulations of time, no one knew him, and each time Wally tried to talk to someone without success, he disappeared further. In his last shot, he spoke with Barry Allen, and even if Barry didn't know him, Wally still wanted to thank him for the life he's led. Thankfully, Barry's memories of Wally came back and he was able to pull Wally from the Speed Force back into the real world, making it an emotional moment that was a sign of good things to come from Rebirth. Wally knows someone manipulated the timeline and erased him from everyone's memories, and he's going to find out who. In the Flash's Rebirth issue, Barry and Wally have an extended conversation, where Wally decides to go find the Titans and creates a new costume, and uses the Flash codename (as he once did in the old continuity) with Barry's blessing.
This brings us to the Titans Rebirth issue. Prior to this, Dick Grayson, Donna Troy, Roy Harper/Arsenal, Garth/Tempest, and Lilith Clay/Omen reunited as a team years after they were once the original Teen Titans, but through a little convoluted series of events, their memories of the team and each other were erased. While they were back together, they still felt something was missing...or someone.
The issue begins with a flashback of our characters taking a team picture together. We shift to the present where Wally in costume arrives at the Titans' loft (I'm guessing they live in a loft), where he finds the picture they took, but he's missing. Dick (now back to using the Nightwing identity) arrives, and of course, he doesn't know Wally. Dick tries to fight Wally, but Wally accidentally gives Dick a shock, which reignites Dick's memories of Wally. The rest of the Titans show up and fight Wally, thinking he's done something to Dick. While Wally tries to avoid the fight at first, he figures out that physical contact and a shock from the Speed Force reignites the team's memories of Wally. Eventually, the fighting stops and everyone's happy to see Wally again. Much like his conversation before with Barry, Wally explains what's going on, and that "the Titans are going to figure this out...together" while holding up the team picture once again featuring Wally.
Bringing back the classic Wally West was a sign of the old continuity resurfacing in the new, and him being a part of the reformed Titans is more proof of that. When he reignites the others' old memories, it's almost as if they're transformed back into their old selves. Well that technically applies to Donna and Garth, who haven't really been part of the new continuity too long. Dick's been more or less the same, and while Roy's been around just as long, I haven't been a fan of his New 52 depiction. As for Lilith, I've never actually heard of her until this book. The flashback segments were probably my favorite parts of this issue, as it helps establish the forgotten past, and in a way, makes me think of the versions we've seen in the Young Justice animated series (particularly the interactions between Dick, Roy, and Wally). The rest of the series going forward will probably them picking up the pieces and making up for lost time.
Art-wise, Brett Booth is in his usual form. I know some people don't like it, but I think it's okay. It's stylized, but can be off sometimes.
If there's one thing I have to take off points for, it's that Roy is still wearing the trucker hat he's had since the New 52 began. I mean, here's Rebirth, where you're giving characters a new start and new designs (sometimes reflecting the classic continuity), and they keep one of the most ridiculous aspects of the present. I mean, what function does a trucker hat serve for an archer?
Nonetheless, with Wally back and the Titans fully reassembled, it seems like this is going to be one of THE books that best emphasize Rebirth's goal of returning a classic feel to the DCU.
Next week, we deal with some ladies of Gotham, a petty dabbler in the dark arts, a gun-toting vigilante, and a bunch of misfits trying to do some good.
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