A Thorny Debate

National Comics' Rose & Thorn #1 (2012)

DC Comics again produces a better comic in a one-shot than numerous of their ongoing series.  What am I talking about?  National Comics' Rose and Thorn.  Like last month's Looker one-shot, Rose and Thorn reintroduces a character into the new DC Universe.  

Now, I absolutely loved the first Rose/Thorn character in the DCU.  It was later shockingly discovered that she was the mother of Jade and Obsidian from Infinity, Inc., having previously married the Alan Scott Green Lantern of Earth Two. That made for fantastic storytelling. 

Infinity, Inc. Annual #1 (1985)

The new Rose is a geeky high schooler whose Thorn persona comes out and does some wild things that impress even the Mean Girls.  She gets a tattoo from one of the Mean Girls' ex-boyfriend's dad and then turns into an S&M dominatrix, ties him up, and mutilates him by "branding" him with the word "MINE" across his chest.  We also discover that, as Thorn, she tried kissing her best friend in high school (another nerd) and, come to find out, the friend actually liked it.  How will Rose handle these new revelations when she can't control her second personality?

In my opinion, DC has done a better job reintroducing their characters through the National Comics medium than through their regular New 52 titles.  I hope we get to see Looker and Rose & Thorn in their own well-told monthly series one day...

What a Looker!

Batman and the Outsiders #31 (1986)

When Looker appeared out of nowhere and joined the Outsiders (formerly Batman and the Outsiders) back in 1985 with her heavily eye-shadowed eyes and pink bow above the hip of her bare leg, I was not a fan.  I felt like she was intruding on a great dynamic that the Outsiders had going and was a little too popular and flashy to join a group of supposed outsiders.  

Worse, when I started reading comics again in 2007, I discovered that Looker was now a vampire. WTF?  It was as jarring as learning that Jubilee from Marvel Comics' X-Men had become one, too.  It seemed that both big comic companies were taking two of their silliest creations and jumping on the vampire craze bandwagon.  

I think there's an unnecessary vampire-mania going on right now, mostly thanks to Twilight.  However, I decided to give DC's I, Vampire revival the benefit of a doubt and read the first five issues. As you can see from my review, I thought it was as awful -- if not worse -- than even Twilight.

National Comics Looker #1 (2012)

Recently, though, I purchased and read DC Comics' new Looker one-shot.  I was intrigued by the fantastic blood-red cover, and especially by the National Comics moniker.  (Quick history lesson:  DC Comics was called National Comics long, long ago.  It was the title of an anthology series from Quality Comics in the 1940s.)  

Anyway, today in 2012, DC Comics introduced this new anthology series titled National Comics, which is supposed to showcase a number of one-shot series focusing on some of DC's more obscure characters such as Kid Eternity, Looker, Rose and Thorn, Madame X, etc.  Looker reimagines the vampiress in DC's New 52.  All I have to say is:  WOW.  If only other New 52 series and characters were as interesting, well-written, and beautifully illustrated as National Comics Looker.  Ian Edginton did a fantastic job with character development.  Not just Looker (aka Emily Briggs), but also her supporting characters.  The artist, Mike Miller, gave us vivid depictions of each character and scene, bringing everything (pun intended) "to life."  I found myself reading the comic slowly to savor each panel.  I knew this was only a one-shot and didn't want the story to end.  

My only question is, "Why isn't there a Looker monthly series instead of crap like I, Vampire?"