In time for Convergence, Eye finally caught up with DC Comics' weekly series New 52: Futures End that ended with #48. Sadly, Eye was underwhelmed. The series ended with a whimper, not a bang.
It felt like the series had some direction at the beginning but then the creators and/or execs decided to just say "fuck it" and move on to the Next Big Thing (i.e., Convergence.) It didn't even offer much of a lead-in to Convergence. Brainiac started to come collect cities...but then they defeated him? And pretty quickly, too. Eye was quite confused.
Eye think what the series was also missing was interesting characters. Or maybe they just weren't used properly. Included were Batman Beyond, Shazam as Superman, Amethyst, Frankenstein, Grifter, Mister Terrific, Tim Drake (retired), and a new female Firestorm. Meh. Eye think DC did a much better job of using secondary characters in their 2006 weekly series 52. Eye was invested in the 52 characters, not so much in the New 52 Futures End ones.
Eye wasted about $150 and who knows how many hours of my time waiting for something exciting and big to happen, but it never did. And the series didn't even matter in the course of things.
Move along, folks, there's nothing to see here...
With the cancellation of four DC titles (Justice League International, Captain Atom, Resurrection Man (ironic, right?), and Voodoo) came Wave 3 and the introduction of four new series. This is about the three new titles that I've read; I refuse to read the fourth.
Talon. Yes, I was as sick as everyone else reading about the Court of Owls in EVERY Batman-related title for months on end. However, I was curious about this new title and one of the Talons as a supposed superhero. Meh. It's an interesting concept and I think the characterization of Calvin Rose has promise, but after reading Talon #0, it wasn't enough to get me hooked (pun intended).
Sword of Sorcery. Worst. Title. Ever. Sadly, though, this was the title I was most excited about. Why? Amethyst! She was one of my favorite characters in the 1980s and I loved her monthly adventures (up until they made her a Lord of Order). They took a fun series with a fun, energetic, youthful character and made her all serious and boring in confusing, nonsensical storylines. Blah! The reintroduction of Amethyst in the new Sword of Sorcery comic was actually decent. Instead of being a 13-year-old blond girl who steps into Gemworld as a blond adult, she's now an unpopular punk high school teenager with purple streaks through her dark hair who steps into Gemworld as a blond adult, much to her disgust. The second story featuring a new character of Beowulf was just okay. (Although the silver fox was pretty sexy in his tight black boxer briefs.) I'll keep reading this comic for Amethyst, but I don't expect it to survive at a $3.99 price point.
Phantom Stranger. I've never been a fan of the Phantom Stranger, and since the disintegration of the Outsiders at Dan Didio's generic writing hand, I wasn't a fan of his writing either (although I loved what he did with DC Comics as a leader to help turn it around several years ago). I gave PS a shot, though, and surprisingly, this turned out to be my favorite comic in Wave 3. The writing was spot-on and I loved the characterization of this wandering soul. And -- spoiler alert -- we got two origin stories for the price of one in Phantom Stranger #0. There are also ties to the mysterious Pandora, another mysterious character, and the Shazam family as well. What I thought would be a so-so comic will probably be one of the first ones I read every month if the stories are as good and well-written as this one.
Team Seven. A team of Punishers wielding guns. 'Nuf said. No thanks.
I still wish DC would combine elements of the New 52 with the former DCU and its well-established characters, though. The replacements just aren't the same...and sadly probably never will be. They're too angry and there's little room for characterization and personalization of their private lives.
I looked forward to the new 2008 Titans series when it was released because it brought together the heroes from my favorite 1980s comic: The New Teen Titans. Unfortunately, the stories were pretty weak up until the "final" issues when each character had their own spotlight issue. With issue #24, Titans changed its format and became Titans: Villains for Hire (without the "Villains for Hire" in the title). I'm still not sure why DC chose to revise the entire format of the Titans series and continue the numbering rather than starting anew like they did with Green Arrow, Birds of Prey, Red Robin, etc. I don't feel that Titans is an appropriate title for this Villains for Hire book. It's quite the tarnish to the Teen Titans name and doesn't accurately reflect the storylines or the characters. Confusion aside, I enjoy seeing a regular monthly comic featuring some of my favorite characters: Arsenal/Red Arrow, Cheshire, Deathstroke, and Osiris, Isis' brother.
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| JoAnna Cameron as Isis |
I can't thank DC Comics enough for bringing Isis back to life in recent Titans issues. She's one of my favorite characters. I have such fond memories of watching the live-action Shazam! and Secrets of Isis TV shows on Saturday mornings back in the 1970s. So when Isis first appeared in the year-long series 52 in 2006, I nearly wet myself with excitement. DC did a fantastic job of bringing her into the Shazam/Captain Marvel family (how apropos) by making her Black Adam's love interest. See: my Black Adam mini-series review. However, like with Conner Kent/Superboy, though, I was sad when she was killed off, but relieved now that DC is finally bringing her back to life in the current Titans series. I hope this time it's for good and she and Black Adam can finally have a life together. Someone needs to calm that boy down. In their own monthly series, of course.
What happens when you push a superhero too far? DC Comics' seven-issue mini-series Cry for Justice
answers that question. So as to not give away any spoilers (as if you probably already haven't heard), I won't go into detail about the story's content. However, I will tell you that the book leads into a new roster for the Justice League of America and into some major character changes in the Green Arrow family.
While the series ended on a powerful note, the entire story throughout felt a little bit convoluted and pieced together without much thought of cohesion. I felt that the writer, James Robinson, wasn't quite sure what the story was, how to develop the characters, how to have the characters interact with each other, or how to get the characters from Point A to Point B. And I'm sure "scheduling delays" with the release of the comic didn't help with my waning interest either. The first five issues were issued monthly and then the second two every other month after that. Hopefully, the graphic novel as a whole reads better. But most likely, it doesn't, since the story doesn't naturally flow.
Anyway, besides the "shocking" finale, the best part about this series was the amazing artwork. AMAZING. And when I say "artwork," I literally mean works of art. Each panel by Mauro Cascioli felt like a well-crafted painting. I only wish the story was as well-crafted. This book's artwork is worth the purchase alone. 
The Black Adam mini series (2008)
was one of the first comic arcs that I read upon my return to comics after a 15-year absence. Why? I've always had a fondness for the Marvel Family that dates back to the 1970s. Now, I'm not talking about Marvel Comics. I'm talking about the Marvels: Captain Marvel (Shazam), Mary Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr., etc. Growing up, I used to love watching the Shazam! live-action series that came on every Saturday morning. To a young kid, it was way cool. Now, I don't recall if Black Adam was ever on the TV show (I don't think he was), but since I was happy to see one of the members of the 
Marvel family currently being used by DC Comics, I picked up the entire Black Adam: The Dark Age series to give it a shot. I was given an even sweeter treat when I discovered that the series also featured Isis ("Oh mighty Isis"). Come to find out, DC had, after all these years, created (and killed) an Isis character based on the Shazam! show's sister show Isis. Woo hoo! How psyched was I?
In the mini series, Black Adam is mad as hell at the world (and he's not going to take it anymore). He wants the love of his life, Isis, back. Dammit. And he'll kill anyone (and does) to get her back. Yes, Black Adam is evil and a murderer in all senses of the words, and quite possibly could be considered a terrorist. So imagin
e an entire mini series revolving around his character?
The story takes place in mythical countries in the war-torn Middle East, and the violence is astounding (yet necessary and purposefully used to tell the story). In fact, the story was SO well written by Peter Tomasi that I actually felt sorry for Black Adam. (Of course I had my own selfish reasons for wanting Isis back alive.) The art by Doug Mahnke was amazing, too. He really brought the story (and violence) to life. Now if only we could get these two to do a Black Adam continuing series with the same murder, mayhem, and terror. Oh, and love. Ah, l'amour...
