The Flash: Rebirth #1

Written by: Geoff Johns

Art by: Ethan Van Sciver

If there was one thing you learned or understood from Final Crisis, it’s the fact that Barry Allen was brought back into the DCU. Knowing that fact, it takes away some of the mystery of this new series: The Flash: Rebirth. And that is the main problem with this book: there is just about no mystery or shock in seeing Barry back in the red suit. Obviously, Geoff Johns will have some trouble in making this book seem relevant, and on some note, he does.

Most of the book is spent on Barry’s friends’ and enemies’ reactions. A good amount of the book is spent on these. It all made sense to show reactions of everyone, but after about the third group of people expressing shock and disbelief, it became redundant. I get it, he’s back, but having it spoon fed to me over the course of 32 pages is too much. Much like the last great Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver team-up, Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps War, Johns placed a lot of continuity into his story, but NOT like the afformentioned big event, he has not given a concise, yet absurdly detailed recounting of those needed bits of continuity. First time readers of the Flash will more than likely be bewildered by the idea of the “Speed Force” and some of the other little Barry Allen history.

Remember in Live Free or Die Hard, John McClane was an old school cop with technophobia? Well, Rebirth #1 utilizes that same concept. We already know that Barry has been gone a long time, but that fact is just constantly told to us. He doesn’t understand current day technology. Cell phones, internet, and texting and the likes of other “high speed” tech is over the head of a “high speed” superhero. The world is moving faster than the fastest man alive.

The book focused on the lives of everyone around Barry. With just a little hint of what’s to come hitting near the last few pages of the book, it almost comes in as an afterthought. It is interesting, but you have to wait around so long to see what the book is more than likely going to be about.

Van Sciver is a fantastic artist. Sinestro Corps War #1 was a beautiful piece of work. Large splash pages and interesting page layouts seemed to spring from the pages. The cover to the Flash: Rebirth #1 is classic Van Sciver, but the inside leaves something to be desired. It is still fantastic, I was just expecting something more. It’s kinda hard to complain about Van Sciver because his work is always great, it just was lacking some of that “spring” to it.

I still recommend this book, but if you aren’t a Flash fan, I would have to direct you to the nearest comic shop and tell you to pick up some Barry Allen trades before picking up Flash: Rebirth. The book is in capable hands, it is just a lot of continuity. I will say that it doesn’t hold a candle to Final Crisis’ head asploding concepts, but it might help to familiarize yourself with Central City’s crimson speedster.

Irredeemable #1

Written by: Mark Waid

Art by: Peter Krause

Mark Waid, the writer behind the outstanding Kingdom Come mini-series, brings us his newest tale, Irredeemable. The main idea of Irredeemable is that a once nigh immortal and indestructible “Superman” has detached from the world he once swore to protect only to become it’s greatest super villain. Right off the bat, we are introduced to this unstoppable hero turned villain. One of his former teammates rushes home to gather his family in an attempt to escape death at the hands of “Superman”. Forgiveness is never accepted by this “Superman”, even from his former teammates’ families.

While not the most original idea for a story, Irredeemable does stick to its guns. It does not pull any punches in terms of a superhero forgoing his civic duties and friendships and dishing out violence towards the do gooders. We are not expressly told what exactly happened to him to make the world’s greatest hero switch sides, but we are foreshadowed the fact that it must have been really bad.

Krause’s artwork in this issue is very nice and clean. Everything is colorful and is easy to understand and follow along with. Action is fluid and to the point. And who can’t love the cover by John Cassiday?

Mark Waid has in the past, turned comic book superheroes on their heads. By bringing back the stories of moral and god like superheroes who unselfishly sacrifice themselves to protect the people who cannot protect themselves, Waid is considered a comic writting legend. Irredeemable #1 seems to be a reverse writing technique by Waid. Maybe it is a way of bringing back the very evil and vengeful super villains of comic yesterday. Given the fact that Kingdom Come is one of my favorite stories, along with my favorite version of Superman, I will continue to follow Mark Waid’s story of a super hero turned super villain.

G.I, Joe #4

Written by: Chuck Dixon

Art by: Robert Atkins

IDW’s acquisition of the G.I. Joe franchise has started off about as smooth as it can get. With an Origins series, a movie prequel series, a COBRA series, a classic relaunch series and this on going series, one would only assume that most of those books are just filler and nothing more than a quick cash in. You would be wrong. If anything, those other books are sometimes stronger than the main series of on going storylines.

That doesn’t mean that this Dixon penned and Atkins drawn book is bad. It is the opposite. Every issue I read of this new series makes me feel like a kid again. The Pit and all its inhabitants make me feel like I did when I watched them on TV about 15 years ago. This ‘Joe book stays true to the nature of its team, while throwing in a cartoony feel yet still retains a tech savvy and slightly futuristic take on warfare. While still in the early stages, issue 4 gives hope of future battles and interesting plot devices.

Currently, the story is about Destro and his minions indirectly infiltrating the Pit,( G.I. Joe’s secret, underground base of operations), using small unmanned robots. The goal being to have the robots escape the “invisible” radius surrounding the Pit that keeps onlookers from finding its location. If the robots can escape the radius, they can transmit their coordinates and reveal the Pit to whoever wants to find it.

This is the fourth issue that deals with this plot, more than likely, it should end in the next issue. While not stale yet, if anything more than 1 or 2 issues more of this current arc, it might become old and may even put off some readers. Although, this isn’t the only plot going on in this book. Destro is dealing with an intruding Baroness, and Snake Eyes has only shown up briefly but is caught in some kind of investigation dealing with arms dealings. So there have been multiple plots hinted at already, but this robot invasion thing has been the primary focus.

Dixon seems to really “get” G.I. Joe. I suppose when you go to relaunch a classic franchise, you would want a seasoned comic writer at the helm.

Robert Atkins has established many of the now common looks to many of the G.I Joe characters. His art in this issue and all the rest have a cartoony feel, yet are very clean and detailed.

If you are at all interested in G.I. Joe, now is the time to jump on board. With IDW reclaiming the Joe franchise, and this series only being at issue 4 right now, You have almost no reason not to pick them up.

G.I. Joe Movie Prequel: Rise of Cobra #2 – Destro

Written by: Chuck Dixon

Art by: S L Gallant

Chuck Dixon twice in a week? Sign me up. Like I said earlier, the relaunch of the G.I. Joe series through IDW publishing has been very smooth. With a great on going series already four issues in, and other tie in books hitting on all cylinders, one would only think that a movie prequel would be just a quick cash in.

G.I. Joe Movie Prequel: Rise of Cobra #2 – Destro only helps prove that IDW knows what they are doing. Establishing characters that will be vital in the movie by showing their natures and ultimately, their drives in whatever business they are part of. Destro is COBRA’s arms dealer. This issue shows his roots and his mistakes in his past that helped him become the evil mastermind he later becomes.

Through varous flashbacks, we are shown the Destro lineage throught time. Earlier members of the Destro family are all part of a long line of arms dealers. Using his ancestors knowledge, James MacCullen, or Destro later on, learns from his family’s past mistakes and established set of “rules” in dealing with prospective buyers. Selling high tech weapons or whatever is considered high tech at the time, to the highest bidder. No matter what side they may be on. Traveling the world and only adding fuel to the fires of war, Destro is an arms mercenary. All this issue does is basically set us up for what we will be shown in the movie. Destro supplies COBRA with whatever weaponry they require.

Dixon seems to really understand the G.I. Joe universe. He has a knack for character writing and can convey what is going on even when the characters aren’t speaking English. The latter half of this book is just about all French. Yet, you still know what they are talking about. Most of this is helped through S L Gallant’s art work. It seems a little washed out and weak colored, but it is still pretty good. Everything feels a little muted, but it is solid. Action is chaotic and messy, yet is easy to follow along with.

Overall, a great set up to a big summer movie.

Destroyer #1

Written by: Robert Kirkman

Art by: Cory Walker

The Walking Dead is just about my favorite comic series going on right now. So seeing Robert Kirkman’s name on this book is just about the only reason I picked it up. But with some hesitation. Yes, I LOVE Walking Dead, but Kirkman’s other books have not always enjoyed the success that his zombie drama has. Ultimate X-Men was all but dead in the water when Kirkman joined in. Much like Death sitting on that pale horse, death soon followed. Or at least will this year. His other on going story, the Astounding Wolf-man was fun at first but soon felt tired and cliche. His run on Marvel Zombies left something to be desired.

So all that flowed through my head when looking at this book on the shelves. The $4 price tag didn’t help either. But after a quick glance inside, I pulled the trigger.

The inside of the book is a whirlwind of bloody, over the top and gruesome violence. With people being impaled on their own guns and having their hearts pulled out from their mouths, Kirkman has thrown down another sadisticly torturous book. The general idea is an old man, yes I mean old as in “I’m gonna die soon”, who is also somewhat of a superhero who goes around stopping terrorists. With some aspects of sci-fi, for instance teleportation and some kind of mutating monsters, The Destroyer is sure to be a gory sci-fi fest.

With only 5 issues, The Destroyer will tell the tale of a dying, geriatric hero trying to tie up some loose ends before he kicks the bucket.

So far the book is pretty interesting. With some pretty funny writting and hilariously violent artwork, The Destroyer gets a pretty warm recommendation. Especially if you are a Kirkman fan, you will get a kick out of his continuing style of uber violence meeting character driven drama.

Next Week’s Pull List

Marvel

Daredevil Noir #1(sigh….)

Punisher: Frank Castle #69 (heh…69)

Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk #4

Wolverine Weapon x #1

DC

Batman: Battle for the Cowl #2

Booster Gold #19

Green Lantern #39

Solomon Grundy #2

Superman: World of New Krypton #2

Other

The Sword #16

Wrap Up

Another huge week of comics is coming this Wednesday. Lots of books are gearing up to the big summer events. Battle for the Cowl is going on and is sure to shake things up. Green Lantern is about to get it on with a plethora of new Lanterns. The history of Wolverine is about to get some light. Whether or not any of these books will have the payoffs they say they will, I will be there, wallet in hand, much like the comic gods want us to be.

In other news, apparently the Wolverine Origins movie has been leaked on the internet. Most likely through terrorist torrents. I am staying away from it, for one, the movie released is workprint and lacks lots of CGI effects and other touch ups, and two, I am actually looking forward to seeing it in the theater when it drops in May. I don’t know about anyone else, but the movie could be kinda cool. And the game looks pretty fun too.

Also on the upcoming comic book video game front, Batman Arkham Asylum might as well just take my money now. If you haven’t seen the walkthrough demo’d at GDC, you are missing out. It looks to be like the Batman game I’ve always wanted to play. Check it out!

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Tags: comics, flash, G I Joe, Robert Kirkman

This entry was posted on Monday, April 6th, 2009 at 9:00 am and is filed under Comics/Manga, Games, Videogames. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.