Flashpoint Woes

I'm still in mourning over the passing of the former DC Universe to make way for the "New 52."  I've been giving the new DC comic series a try, but I'm having a difficult time pretending that everything is starting from scratch where the main Justice Leaguers don't even know one another yet!

Remember what happened when the TV show Dallas pulled that kind of shit, brought back Bobby from the dead, and said the entire past season had been only a dream of Pam's?  Viewers were pissed off, the series dropped out of the Top 10, and the show's ratings declined even further from there.  

Sure, DC's sales are skyrocketing right now out of curiosity, but how long will that last?   The only comics I've truly enjoyed are Animal Man and Aquaman.  I've probably enjoyed these the most because I haven't kept up-to-date with these two characters for over a decade and because thus far their stories have operated separately from the rest of the new DCU.  It doesn't hurt to have good writers onboard either.  But is that enough? 

Unfortunately for DC, I no longer have an emotional connection to any of my favorite characters, which makes me not care about reading about their adventures any longer (if they're even in the New 52).  So, tell me again why I should continue to put forth $100 a month to something about which I'm no longer passionate? 

Wild About Animal Man

The new Animal Man series is one of my favorites (so far) of DC's New 52.  Jeff Lemire's new version harkens back to the days of Grant Morrison writing the title in the late 1980s.  The theme is a bit darker than your typical superhero comic book, and I'm already excited about the potential odd storylines. 

One of the strongest parts about the series is the character development.  At the beginning, we see Buddy Baker in his family setting.  He's in superhero semi-retirement, but being recognized for his new work as an actor.  His wife Ellen is there, and we can already sense some tension between the two.  There's also Buddy's two kids -- Maxine and Cliff -- both rebellious in their own ways.  

Buddy decides to jump back into action when a crazy man who lost his daughter to cancer enters a hospital wing waving a gun around other cancer-stricken children.  After saving the day, Buddy returns home to some mysterious developments...

Animal Man is one comic of DC's New 52 that I can't wait for issue #2 to see what happens next. 

Batman R.I.P.

After seeing the movie The Dark Knight, I was in the mood for more Batman. With the Batman comics starting the "Batman R.I.P." storyline, this seemed like a good place to jump back in. I picked up all the comics on the Batman R.I.P. checklist, which included Batman #676-681, Detective Comics #846-850, Nightwing #147-150, Robin #175-176, and Batman and the Outsiders #11-13. I've read them all now and all I have to say is, "Huh?" I used to love Grant Morrison's wacky storylines for Animal Man in the 80s, but with Batman today, I think he's on something. Seriously. I never got into the story. And wasn't sure even how to begin. Batman of Zur-En-Arrh? Excuse me? Did you say "Surrender?" No. Batman of Zurrrrrrrrrrrr-ennnnnnnnn-arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh. Oh, okay. Can I have some of what you're on, Grant? And whatever the DC Executives are on who okayed this storyline? After that, throw in some Bat-Mite and we've got ourselves a party!

Seriously? This is what you give Batman fans who went in droves to the movie theaters this past summer and then out to buy Batman comics as a follow-up? Rabble and Bat-Mite? The Riddler makes more sense than "Batman R.I.P."