Ever since its announcement, I've been looking forward to DC Comics' Convergence series and spin-offs. Why? Like a lot of long-time readers, I have a personal history invested in the "old" characters (i.e., pre-New 52). Not only that, they seem to have more personality and character development than those in the New 52.
Of the main series, I've read Convergence #0 and #1 so far. It's been interesting, but even better have been the spin-off Convergence series. The ones I've read from week one have been:
- Convergence: Speed Force #1 - starring the (Caucasian) Wally West Flash and his two speedy kids
- Convergence: Superman #1 - starring Superman and his pregnant wife Lois Lane
- Convergence: The Atom #1 - starring an "I-Hear-Voices" Ray Palmer
- Convergence: Nightwing & Oracle #1 - starring a romantically involved Dick Grayson and wheelchair-bound Barbara Gordon
- Convergence: The Titans #1 - starring Donna Troy, Starfire, and Arsenal
- Convergence: Harley Quinn #1 - starring a fully clothed Harley
All of got to say is: FANTASTIC. This is what DC Comics has been missing for the past four years since the inception of the New 52 Universe. Not only does it bring back the characters that I know and love and that have an actual history, but it involves character development, human emotion/interaction, and decent dialogue. Maybe people (myself included) wouldn't dislike the New 52 Universe so much if it wasn't focused on dreariness, flat emotions, battles/fight scenes, and cheesy dialogue.
With these Convergence titles, I get Wally West worried about his kids and wife, Superman looking forward to being a father, the Atom wigging out, Dick Grayson proposing to Barbara Gordon, Starfire being jealous about Dick's romance, Roy Harper still agonizing over the death of his daughter, Donna Troy working her photographer job, and Harley Quinn interacting with Catwoman and Poison Ivy again. (Not to mention Captain Carrot's teammate Fastback chasing after Wally West!) These are real human traits, feelings, and emotions, and they're what's missing from DC Comics today.
The bigger question about Convergence is: Why is the storywriting so much better? Is it due to the return of the better characters? Or are they using writers who aren't fatigued and/or mandated to write crap?
I'm not sure what the future holds for the DC Universe, but I'm thinking that if they decide to stick with the flat, two-dimensional characters of the New 52 Universe, then I'll probably drop several titles and maybe even quit reading comics all together again. (And don't even get me started with the new Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman; I've already canceled those comics.) Until then, I'm going to enjoy seeing my old friends converge.
I just finished reading the hardcover compilation of Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 1. It collects the first six issues of the Injustice: Gods Among Us series. The story is very well-written by Tom Taylor and beautifully illustrated by
Jheremy Raapack. The hardcover that collects the first six issues is attractive itself, too. I was very impressed by the initial presentation, and then became so thoroughly engaged with the storyline that I read all six issues within the book quickly.
The
series is based on the video game (which I've never played) and serves
as a prequel to the events in the game. The story involves the division
of members of the Justice League into two "teams" going up against one
another; one led by Superman, one led by Batman. Superman and his followers want to right the wrongs in the world by any means (Machiavelli's "the end justifies the means" philosophy). Batman, on the other hand, wants to right the wrongs within legal confines, using the established (albeit broken) justice system. I won't reveal any spoilers, but I will say that the writer does a fantastic job of not only keeping the story moving, but also with developing each character's personality.
The real injustice here is that Injustice: Gods Among Us takes place outside of the current DC Universe because this storyline is SO much better than Justice League stories currently being written in the New 52. What a shame that the talents of Taylor and Raapack are being wasted by not giving them a regular monthly series that takes place within the confines of the New 52 and delivers powerful stories with attention to characterization. Instead, we're stuck with bland writers like Ann Nocenti. Taylor also wrote the brilliant Rose and Thorn one-shot which was also a favorite of mine. So, kudos to Taylor on his awesome writing skills.
And the art in Injustice is so amazing and lifelike, too! I've rarely seen superheroes like Superman or Wonder Woman look better (although I'm not sure why Lois Lane is a redhead).
I look forward to reading the new ongoing Injustice series and (hopefully) watching the careers of Taylor and Raapack fluorish.
I just finished reading the 5-part Flashpoint mini-series and several related individual mini-series. I was a bit disappointed, especially with the "grand" finale in Flashpoint #5. All of the events just seemed to...fizzle out. (Is anyone as tired of the overused Reverse Flash/Professor Zoom and redundant time-traveling storylines as me?) I guess I was expecting more of a lead-in to DC's "New 52." I learned more about Flashpoint and its consequences from reading articles online than from reading the comics, and there's some shame in that. To me, that means that the writers, editors, and powers-that-be didn't do their job. On a related note, I think the best part about Flashpoint #5 was the interaction between Flash and Batman at the end. I wish more comic book series employed this human touch. It makes the characters feel more real and relatable and demonstrates true story-writing ability.
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| Aquaman looking bad-ass. |
- Flashpoint: Batman Knight of Vengeance - one of the better related mini-series to the Flashpoint storyline. It involves Thomas Wayne (Bruce's father) as Batman because Bruce died during the shooting that one fateful night at the theater instead of Thomas. It's provides a good "what if?" storyline.
- Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons - another good mini-series with Deadman, Nightwing, and Dick Grayson's still-alive parents as traveling circusfolk.
- Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman - another good Flashpoint related mini-series. Aquaman and Wonder Woman's proposed union dissolves and the Atlanteans flood most of Europe, making him one of the world's most wanted.
- Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies - Ties in with Emperor Aquaman. While Aquaman has flooded most of Europe, Wonder Woman and her furies have taken over England.
- Flashpoint: Citizen Cold - Captain Cold as a hero? Well...not really. And not really a great story either.
- Flashpoint: Deathstroke & the Curse of the Ravager - Ever wonder what would happen if you crossed Deathstroke and Capt. Jack Sparrow? Me neither. Skip it. I read the first issue and it was as lame as expected.
- Flashpoint: Legion of Doom - the Legion of Doom, with its recognizable headquarters shaped like a scary, giant Darth Vader-like head, holds a special fondness in my heart. It reminds me of Saturday mornings as a kid, watching my favorite classic Super Friends cartoon shows. This series focuses mainly on the villain Heatwave going on a killing spree with the assistance of his corrupt pal, Plastic Man. Unfortunately, there's no true "Legion."
- Flashpoint: The Outsider - I skipped this series all together.
- Flashpoint: Abin Sur - The Green Lantern - what if Abin Sur had lived and there was no Green Lantern Hal Jordan? Another average series.
- Flashpoint: Project: Superman - This series imagines Kal-El as a government-kept secret. He's scrawny and shy. I'm guessing it's the premise for the new Superboy series, which I'm not sure I'm going to like. (Goodbye, former sensitive-jock Conner Kent. I'll miss you.)
- Flashpoint: Frankenstein & the Creatures of the Unknown - Dracula and vampires have been done to death (literally), so how about some focus on Frankenstein? Frankenstein as a superhero and a leader of a superhero group? Yeah...it's as bad as it sounds.
- Flashpoint: Secret Seven - I bought and read this series for two reasons: the resurrection of Amethyst and George Perez as the artist. While the art was fantastic (naturally), the story just wasn't there. It was primarily about Shade the Changing Man (double yawn).
- Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost - I think this series really helped support the main Flashpoint series as much as Emperor Aquaman and Wonder Woman and the Furies did. I suspect its events also directly relate to the New 52.
- Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint - Why was this series called The World of Flashpoint? Oh, I guess because nobody would buy it if it just said Traci 13? Anyway, it's about the mystical Traci 13 and her family. Good, but nothing extraordinary.
- Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance - resist buying this series unless you're a big fan for the Wildstorm Universe's Grifter being integrated into the DCU.
- Flashpoint: Hal Jordan - Hal Jordan as an every day hero instead of a superhero. See: Marvel Comics' Steve Rogers, Super Soldier (when he's not being Captain America).
- Flashpoint: Grodd of War - The world is divided up among villains. Grodd happens to own all of Africa. A good one-shot tie-in since we don't really see/learn much about him and his kingdom elsewhere.
- Flashpoint: Reverse-Flash - if you didn't read enough of him in the main Flashpoint mini-series, here he is again, still time-traveling and fucking things up.
- Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries - The super-liberal, justice-seeking Oliver Queen as an arms dealer. Meh. I guess that's why there was only one issue.
- Flashpoint: The Canterbury Cricket - I draw the line at giant, talking insects. Seriously. What is this? Kafka?
I've always liked the concept of The Flash (the Barry Allen version), but as a kid, I never got into reading his comic. I think I tried on a few occasions but never got into his storylines or his gang of enemies, the "Rogues." Or maybe it was because I didn't feel like he had much personality.
After the Barry Allen Flash died during Crisis on Infinite Earths
in 1985, I was relieved when Wally West (formerly Kid Flash) picked up the mantle and received his own comic book. This, I liked. Wally was/is kind of cocky (unlike Barry) and, being a huge Teen Titans fan, I was excited for one of the founding members to get their own comic book. I enjoyed following Wally through his escapades.
Flash forward (pun intended) to 2007 when I started reading comics again after a 15-year hiatus, I find that there is now such a thing known as the "Speed Force." The Speed Force is, according to Wikipedia, "an energy source that served as a pseudo-scientific explanation for his powers and that of other fictional speedsters within the DC Universe." Sounds pretty cheesy to me, and almost as annoying to hear it constantly used. (I'm reminded of the former series Young Justice where Superboy talks incessantly about his power of "tactile telekinesis," thereby annoying his teammates.)
With Barry Allen being brought back to life 25 years later in Geoff Johns' The Flash: Rebirth, 
I decided to give the Flash (specifically Barry Allen) another try. Unfortunately, I felt a little letdown by the "Rebirth" storyline, mostly because -- again -- I was so tired of the overuse of the "Speed Force." Plus, now there were SO many Flashes. Here a Flash, there a Flash, everywhere a Flash, Flash. There's the Jay Garrick Golden-Age Flash, still alive and running; the Wally West Flash; and now the returning Barry Allen Flash. Not to mention many others in between who have assumed the mantle of "The Flash" over the years. Can't they pick different names? Are all superhero names used up? How confusing is it when the Justice League says "Call the Flash!" and they have to respond with, "Which one?" I'm waiting for a Flash Corps comic book to come out next, in the tradition of the Green Lantern Corps. And, naturally, all of the Flashes are all connected to the ever-present and overused Speed Force.
I know, I know...enough with the Flash-bashing, you say! I'm getting to that, don't worry.
Being a glutton for punishment, I picked up Flash Secret Files and Origins 2010 #1
and the follow-up, The Flash #1, the start of a new ongoing, monthly series written (for now) by Geoff Johns. To my surprise, Secret Files and Origins intrigued me so much that I had to read Flash #1 immediately following. I loved the direction in which Johns is taking Barry now that we've gotten past the Rebirth stage, loved that his minor characters are given personalities and storylines of their own, and loved that there's some mystery. I truly look forward to following his new adventures. (But would love to hear a bit less about the Speed Force and also see some Flashes get different names!)
I don't normally read Captain America, but since he was getting a reboot, I thought I'd give him a try. I picked up 
Captain America 600 and 601, as well as Captain America Reborn #1. At the higher pricing of $4.99, $3.99, and $3.99, respectively, I feel Marvel could have provided something a little more interesting and exciting to get new readers hooked on their flag-clad icon. The issues had some interesting ideas in bringing the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, back to life, like introducing a "second shooter" ala JFK. Plus, I enjoyed seeing the Falcon, if only briefly.
Unfortunately, the rest of the story fails. I had no emotional connection and was truly bored. Even the "tributes" to Steve Rogers weren't interesting, and the "very special issue" touted on the cover of #601 wasn't special by any means. I expected something with some emotion attached, not a flashback story from the 1940s. It didn't move the character or story of Captain America forward in any way and certainly didn't intrigue me enough to continue reading Captain America, the comic. For the money, I'll stick to DC's rebirth of the Flash.
