Comic Overview 2015

Comic Book Overview 2015

2015 was an . . . . . .  interesting year for comic books though then again it's almost always an interesting year; it's more of an interesting year for ME in comic books. There were some fun changes, some things that didn't work or just felt completely confusing and pointless. For the most part it seems that a lot of the mainstream companies (DC and Marvel), did not have a lot of success with their main title books (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Avengers, and X-men) were not as well liked overall this year. This is primarily due to DC putting the characters through a lot of changes and Marvel using the last few months for Secret Wars. This was interesting because Secret Wars was a lot like Convergence, a special mini arc from DC where they revealed their entire history to be canon, just all happening in different Earths. After both of these events "ended" new titles were announced because of it, namely DC's "DCYou" and Marvel's "All New, All Different". The two companies brought in new stories and new directions for characters and I honestly felt DC had the bigger edge here though more into that later. I can't say which company did better because not only did Marvel's new books not come out until late in the year, I didn't read anywhere near enough of either companies books to really tell you. With that in mind let's take a look at the books we've looked at this year as well as some I just didn't talk about but will talk about here.

Black Canary

This was the first book I picked up for the new run and it was primarily because I had grown to like the character in recent animated works like Justice League Unlimited, Young Justice, and my short and fun trip to the Birds of Prey series. I kind of feel that as good as this book was in concept it just took itself too slow and relied on us kind of accepting a history that we didn't know unless we read other books. The band idea wasn't that big of an issue and was a fun idea but it never felt that it was working enough at least for me. It relied too much on subtlety at times which is why I had to drop it though I do plan to pick it up again and finish it when I get the chance. I also think this really could have used the other members from the Birds of Prey. Actually, this could have been a great origin story for them with tweaking.

She-Hulk

I'll be the first to say that I'm not the biggest Marvel fan but I had heard good things about the character and the book as wel as the premise of a super hero/lawyer.The book itself reminds me loosely of the new Doctor Fate or Starfire books. It is at it's best when it's kept separate from the main titles and books though it helps to see them meet up with other characters like Spider-Man. Jen Walters is a fun and very real character in a lot of ways, she isn't someone who ever stood out or took risks and becoming She-Hulk made her more open though she preferred to be She-Hulk. The books played around with that element, as being She Hulk affected her life as a lawyer and even her dating life. It works in the same way I think people like Spider-Man where her books is really about a somewhat real person with super powers. But I think what really helped this book was the supporing cast like Awesome Andy and Pug, they help bring a bit of life to the superhero law firm idea. I think the best moment is still when Jen and Pug help Spider-Man sue Jameson for slander. If there was one weak point in the book it would be her romance with Jameson Jr. as well as Dan Slott's take on the book as well as the Civil War tie ins. If you want something fun to read I'd say pick this up. The only reason I didn't review this book originally was because it wasn't an ongoing book and ended well before we started.

Green Lantern

I don't really like to admit it but Hal Jordan may be one of my least favorite Green Lanterns of Earth though not as much as Kyle Rayner. Him being a renegade I think would have worked if there were Green Lanterns for him to deal with in addition to other things like the story itself. It isn't that the book was poorly written or that the premise was bad, it's just that I cna't think of anyway this book or any lantern book works without other lanterns involved. Granted I only read a few issues and had to drop it due to budget but it felt so different that I thought it was a separate book from the Green Lantern book. I did enjoy the art as usual and I did like the idea of the gauntlet being something that would take more time and focus to control as opposed to it being as simple as a ring for him.

Doctor Who

I honestly picked this up because I was so interested in the work Big Finish did and because those audio plays are a bit expensive I decided to pick up the books. I haven't developed completely into the series, having only read one full story "The Four Doctors"and I've picked up an issue from Doctors 9-12 and honestly . . . . . .  they're all right. The artwork is detailed enough to keep you interested but at least the multi Doctor story seemed too aware of itself and the writing never seems to be up to par with the story though I may change my mind the more I go on. But so far, I'd just say stick to the awesomeness of Big Finish.

Green Lantern: Lost Army

This book was fun and I'm sad that I had to drop it for other titles that I promised I would read. The Lanterns being lost in a new dimension in the past before the emotional spectrum ran out was really only ruined by the idea of the emotional spectrum running out which was a bit . . . . . stupid. But the idea of the corp being trapped in the past and interacting with future enemies like Krona was fun. I think it would have been awesome if there was more focus put on the light wielders of the past but who knows? The primary saving grace of this was in fact John Stewart's internal dialogue which helped sell the book. i would have liked to see more from Killowog and Arisia in the future but time will tell.

Wonder Woman 

Poor pacing, odd art at times, weak and confusing story have bogged down some good ideas that is Wonder Woman. The idea of Diana trying to balance her duties as a queen, god, and league member are interesting but is never really played up in an interesting enough way, but it only happens once. The stories themselves never truly seemed tied together, an example being in this week issue where we find out one of the men survived the slaughter the Amazons led against them, he could have served as the antagonist instead of Aegeus who was just boring. That single man could have helped tie Donna and Diana together into the story as he is both the man Donna condemned and the man Diana couldn't save. The book also promised that we would get more into what it means to be the god of war but Diana never delves into that and it never seems like she has any new understanding.  I kind of feel that Finch was possibly not qualified to sort of continue off of Azzarello's work as she was left with that godhood status around and she would have to play around with it. A problem is that she never gives the character's much room to breathe or do much of anything, Donna Troy and Diana do not interact in any sort of meaningful way and Donna gives up her crusade against Diana in an annual issue, and her world view changes so quickly it doesn't even seem to matter. There also never seems to be any real fire from Diana, she's either happy or sad and really doesn't seem to be the warrior she seems to be in Sinestro, Justice League, Aquaman, or JLA. I honestly wouldn't recommend this book during Finch's run but if I do like what she is trying to do and if you are reading it and like it then more power to you.

Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch

Doctor Strange is just fun and I mean that in every fun way possible, especially in comparison to Scarlet Witch and it's why I decided to review them side by side though the latter only has one book to the former's two. I've always liked magic and I really wanted to get in Strange and wanted a book about Scarlet Witch that had her less on the mutant side of the story.  Strange is very happy and casual with his magic and the use of it, he's very serious and experienced whereas Scarlet Witch is very grim and serious and it almost feels like the two books will link together at some point.  Like Mighty Thor, these books are part of Marvel's "All New, All Different" campaign and I honestly don't want to give credit for that because it isn't really new or different, at least to my knowledge. Both books do a great job with giving a short and clear backstory, either in flat out exposition or in short internal retrospective and I think this should have been used for Black Canary.

Mighty Thor

This is the story I wanted Thor: Goddess of Thunder to be. That book never seemed to really want to tell the story of Jane Foster Thor, at all. What little we got from her was bogged down in people figuring out her identity and the book almost patting itself on the back. This I think is part of Marvel's biggest problem: the illusion of change. Mighty Thor fleshes out the story a bit more and in only two issues I can't wait to see what happens next as not only is Jane Foster fleshed out but Asgard and the plot with Maliketh. The entire book really does feel like the story we were supposed to get. If you want to see some of Marvel's best, I'd say this is it.

Justice League United

I honestly didn't know how to feel about this book. I read it primarily because I felt Justice League of America got the shaft due to Trinity War. I liked the the characters exclusive to this book like Alana and Adam as well as Miyabin and along with Stargirl and Animal Man I would love to see more them together along with Martian Manhunter, Supergirl, and Green Arrow. I personally felt that the first story was ruined by the Legion of Superheroes showing up because I never really cared about them due to not being really familiar with them. As good as the opening story was I kind of feel it got better with the idea of a constantly rotating team of heroes and villains but I wish some stories would feel bigger and with more gravitas to them. I still don't understand much about our characters Alana and Miyabin and I do feel bad about Supergirl not being used, especially since she doesn't have her own book.

Zatanna and Zatanna and Black Canary 

I, like most people have a crush on Zatanna so when I found out she had a book I jumped on it with enthusiasm. Honestly . . . . . .  I wasn't THAT impressed. Don't get me wrong, it isn't that it ruined her character or had bad stories, it's just I never felt that she was ever in much trouble. Paul Dini (who is best known for the Arkham games and Batman animated series) did have a good knack for her, and he showed her in a variety of lights and emotions but it never felt like he gave her a real challenge. The stories were fine and showed exactly how skilled a magician she was as well as how dedicated to perfecting her skills with backwards magic, learning to say more complicated words. Her team up story with Black Canary was more of a let down. When I think of a crossover, I always think of "could this be a movie?" When a curse is placed on Black Canary, she seeks the help of her old friend Zatanna and the two of them embark on a mission to stop the curse and save the other people affected. This story was completely underwhelming because it relied on a history that was never really explained in terms of the friendship between Dinah and Zatanna. It's written well but ultimately this should have been more like Batman and Superman: Public Enemies, the two having to deal with their own enemies teaming up to kill them or whatever. Dini seemed to have either trouble writing those past moments or couldn't fit them and honestly, I think it would have been better if the book had been about them BECOMING friends. If you want a fun read between the two of them, I'd say pick up Zatanna and if she isn't part of Birds of Prey yet, she should be, especially with her New 52 costume.

Loki: Agent of Asgard

I've never been a Loki fan and I still haven't seen the Avengers so I honestly picked this up because of Mighty Thor. Loki has essentially gone back to his basic roots, not evil but more of a trickster and doing odd jobs for Asgard like returning heroes, other gods, and weapons back to Asgard. In a way it seems a lot like a video game in theory, especially with Loki's equipment. I'm only a few issues in and honestly I do like the direction Loki is taking here. He isn't exactly a good guy but he can be a nice guy and it does flesh out his relationship with Thor whom he helps get purged of a curse he got from the God Butcher. It's a fun little story that fleshes out the character in a way I didn't think possible, especially with the characters he interacts with.

Batgirl

                              THAT'S RIGHT I PICKED THE CONTROVERSY PICTURE! 

I don't know how to feel about the new take on Batgirl honestly. It's not that it isn't bad but it is just a bit too goofy at times which I think isn't something I myself like. It also seems like a regression of the character that Simone set up in the first story though I feel that was more obvious in the first run where she almost sounds a bit bratty. Despite my claims of it being goofy there were a lot of fun idea, like a scan of Barbara's brain is used for an algorithm she was creating and goes HAL-9000 on her. Honestly I think if there was less focus on the camp and romances (which got to be a bit much) then this series would have been awesome at least for me and it should be noted that this books is very popular. I get why because when the writing is good it's good and maybe this book just isn't for me in this direction but I feel that if she had at least some more interaction with the Bat-Family I would enjoy it more, like her annual issue where she teams up with Spoiler and Gotham Academy. I find it a bit weird that she hasn't had an interaction with Bruce yet.

Doctor Fate

I was going to honestly stop reading this book if it didn't impress me soon because as good as it is at times, Khalid really excels at dragging his feet and took FOREVER to accept what was going on. There was also a lack of anything going on in the background as Anubis and his plans never seem to move forward. It's like Lord Zed with Serpentara in Power Rangers; he's got it and talks about it but never uses it. This weeks issue was just brilliant as Khalid embraces his role to a greater extent. The artwork grows on me the more I see it and the more they get to show outside of just cities and rain. What I think would help this book would be interactions with other magical characters. It's a good read but I do feel that it could have used more in terms of other characters.

Starfire

I love this book. I didn't think I would but it really kept me interested with it's slow but energetic start and kind of took a sitcom route to it. Alien tries to adjust to life on a strange planet and not getting most Earth customs and then add the rest of Starfire's history as needed. This works because as soon as something from her past shows up to cause trouble to her new friends she becomes rather serious and a bit scary. As a character, Kori (her actual name which I kind of wonder why that was never revealed in the Teen Titans cartoon) shows a certain innocence and maturity that helps make this book work, she is treated more as a foreigner than a ditz, it's not that she is stupid but Earth phrases and social norms aren't something she is familiar with but is open to learning. It never really commits to her past and opts to focus more on her interacting with Sol and his sister who look after her. This is what I think the DCYou secretly wanted to do: make changes to characters and book that weren't well received.

Star Wars

When the time came for me to pick up a Star Wars book I was a bit apprehensive but a review from Comic Book Cast changed my mind (you should check them out). This takes place after the first movie (episode four) and it does a good job of playing not only with our expectations but with it's universe. This is primarily about Luke, Han, and Leia as they help the rebellion out in one way or another, trying to help topple the Empire. It plays around a lot with the idea of Han and Leia as a couple, because it hasn't happened yet and people know it will it helps create drama in if it works or not. But the only real reason I'm reading it is because of my boy Luke Skywalker because I love Jedi. Luke primarily has to come into his own, realizing that after getting manhandled by Vader that he doesn't really know what he is doing and goes out to find a way to learn about being  a Jedi. This helps primarily because it shows us that Luke isn't some arrogant kid who feels that because he did something awesome ONCE, doesn't mean he is a Jedi. His journey is to help get him to the man who Ben Kenobi feels is ready for Dagobah who will help him become the Luke Skywalker Disney plans to show us for episode seven. SPOILER ALERT: Maybe it will explain why Leia named her son Ben.

Star Wars: Darth Vader

Even in the Expanded Universe (now the Legends continuity) Darth Vader stands as one of the most frightening and powerful characters in the franchises history and since this new universe starts after A New Hope it makes sense to give him a book. Vader takes center stage here and after the destruction of the Death Star begins to make moves to stop the Rebel Alliance and ensure his place at the Emperor's side as well as replace him. What makes this work is what makes him work in the movies in that the mediums are able to convey emotions form a character has no eyes. Vader is the iconic tragic character and this book is designed to reinforce that in some way but reminding you that he is still the villain and has his own agenda. The characters that make up the story as well are interesting as we see murderous versions of C-3PO and R2-D2 a sort of Indiana Jones weapons hunters and even Force uses who may be Vader's replacement. It's a war on multiple points for Vader that he must weather through and it's really good.

In comparison to the EU, I still don't see why EVERYTHING had to be a part of the Legends continuity. I get why to an extent but the events that happened before Phantom Menace didn't need to be written out, heck we could have kept the stuff up to at least the beginning of Revenge of the Sith and there would still be plenty of story. But the stuff we have is good though I can't say for sure if it was worth it just yet.

Batman

Bruce underwent a lot of changes this year. After losing most if not all of his fortune in Batman Eternal he undergoes a battle against he Joker as everything he thought he knew about is changes and culminates in his death and revival as well as the loss of his memories. In the wake of his death, the GCPD and the Powers Corporation create their own mecha Batman with Jim Gordon in the suit. Ultimately the new direction Batman in hasn't exactly been great for one real reason: Bruce Wayne. Bruce is such an interesting character without his memories, the event that made Bruce become Batman as well as his training. Now working at a community center with his high school sweetheart Bruce if perfectly content to just do that. Gordon's story isn't poorly written but it suffers in that Bruce's story is more interesting and this was apparently fixed in Batman: Detective Comics. This book here played more with Bruce Wayne slowly getting back to Batman though with subtlety, there is a part of him that is putting things together but there is another part of him that is blocking it out. Again, this is similar to the episode "Perchance to Dream" in the animated series. Another problem this book has is the illusion that this change will last though this is better than Superman and the changes made to his story. This was done with the idea that Bruce employs Batman and that Batman's death and Bruce's amnesia are just coincidences, if Bruce gets his memory back he can just say that the guy who was Batman is back.

Overall, Snyder has been rocking this book since he took it over with the New 52. He's pushed the character to not necessarily new levels but he knows how to challenge Batman without making it seem impossible. My only issue with him is that he really hasn't given a Joker story that doesn't always feel like the end of the Joker stories in general. I think that has more to do with the Joker than Snyder because the Joker has become too big to just throw around. His best story so far would be the Court of Owls with Zero Year a really close second with Death of the Family being the worst primarily because it never felt like there was any resolution to it within the Bat Family itself. 

Earth 2 Society

This book seems like a letter of apology for Earth 2: World's End which was a depressing, over the top, and complicated series to end Earth 2. The book is decent enough in a couple ways, devoting our first issues to characters like Jay, Val, and Lois as everyone work son getting their lives on after the events of Convergence. It really did a good job fleshing them out but I feel the story was a bit small because it never felt like Dr. Impossible or Helena never got the right amount of screen time. Helena herself never got to really explore her motivations save for her missing her dad and it's never brought in any meaningful sort of way. We say Jay dealing with being a superhero, Lois finding he rplace in the world and even Val screwing up his relationship with Kara. I get why Grayson didn't get a story because he was a focal character in Convergence and Kara had her own book with Helena. With any luck future stories will have a much bigger story which I think is more of a problem I'm having with these issues.

Aquaman

So Cullen Bunn has announced that he is going to step down from this book and I think that's a bit sad because this months issue was pretty good and his story really just needed a little work. People are acting like the last story before Bunn took over was so great but it really wasn't. Honestly, this book hasn't really been the same since Aquaman fought one of the kings of Atlantis and Bunn just kind of took the story to a higher level. Ultimately his story was still good and it was nice to see him teaming up with the Justice League again as well as seeing how aware he is of the trouble Atlantis is asking for with all of the issue caused because of them. If anything I feel the book could have used more from the people of Thule, make us care about them to make us care about the decisions Arthur is making wanting to save the people of Thule and Atlantis. The enemy of Siren is also a wasted opportunity, though I expect if Bunn had continued (or maybe later on) that is Siren survives she'll be pregnant.

JLA

I felt obligated to read this book because of the title, I wanted a book that I could read that wasn't as big as the main line which was another point of the DCYou with creativity over continuity. This story with a Kryptonian god coming to Earth and a group called the Infinity Corporation seek to stop Rao's machinations though what they are exactly we don't know. The idea of Roa essentially being a god whose purpose seems to be to replace other gods is an interesting idea and everyone has something to do to an extent. Batman with his skepticism, Flash trying to get to the present, Hal dealing with a Rao from Krypton's past, Diana and Arthur dealing with the loss of the gods and uprisings and Cyborg . . . . .  being Cyborg (he got his own book). The only issue I've had with this run is that there was an issue devoted to Martian Manhunter who isn't in the book, it was an issue 0 for a book that didn't need it.

Martian Manhunter

J'onn was one of the characters that honestly got screwed over but was screwed over the least in terms of character spotlight with the most being Simon Baz. J'onns book is just awesome with him dealing with a Martian uprising from his believed to be dead home world. Where Starfire's book was about adjusting to a new life, Manhunter's was bout him realizing great secrets about his past and forced him to make a choice on what to do as he realizes the Martians are executing a plan centuries in the making and J'onn must make a choice, stop the Martians from getting Mars back or dooming Earth to be destroyed. What makes this work is actually that J'onn ha spit himself into multiple personas each representing an aspect of Martian Manhunter. Whether they are detectives, thieves, or a crazy old man wearing pajamas, all who are connected to J'onn will play a role in an event that will change the universe. It's a fun interesting book that I can't see anyone enjoying. In a way it reads a bit how I think Doctor Who should be as a comic.

Sinestro

This is Cullen Bunn's better work and I think it's why I'm not as against him as people are who read Aquaman. This book just had me from page one as Sinestro finds himself at his lowest with some brilliant dialogue that I wish Charles Dance could read as Tywin Lannister or if Bane from Dark Knight Rises read it. Sinestro is a bit like Napoleon who at his lowest in exile rises back to resume his work in the universe. This book as pretty much been the best thing coming out of the Green Lantern Universe at least on a  consistent basis. He's actually doing stuff that people like seeing in those books, seeing other planets, fighting and recruiting aliens, even defending Earth. Sinestro is essentially rising to prominence in the absence of the Green Lantern Corp, even getting Saint Walker on his side along with Black Adam and even SUPERMAN!

Superman: Lois and Clark

Convergence was created to resolve stories that were left open before the New 52 reboot and the birth of Johnathan Kent, the child of Superman and Lois was one of them. I've always liked them as a couple, Lois as a human to me helps complete Superman in a way that Wonder Woman can't and it's because Lois sees him as who he wants to be: Clark Kent. When the Earths all converge Superman and Lois fine themselves in the New 52 Earth and decide to live underground  as Clark and Lois White on a farm with Lois serving as an author secretly exposing government corruption while Clark goes around helping with issues that the others can't get to like massive earthquakes and criminals in a way similar to Power Girl wanting to be out of Superman's sight. But what is really interesting to me is Johnathan White, the child of a human and Kryptonaian who seems to take after  his mother but is probably as stubborn as his father who knows what else he gets from his dad as there are subtle but debatable hints that he may have super powers.

Justice League

I'm going to be honest, this book has never really been 100%. A lot of arcs have existed to only set up other stories like the Atlantis Invasion and Trinity War, the latter being a completely wasted opportunity. Even the story with Lex Luthor joining the league never really felt that impressive long term but nothing has really gotten as bad as the falling action from the fight with Darkseid. The Darkseid War is psossibly the best story ever which actually lends credibility to Forever Evil. What makes this story work is not only the writing but a variety of other things like how expansive it is, covering Apokalypse, Oa, and the history of the Anti-Monitor and New Genesis. It also provides the best writing for Wonder Woman that we've had for the longest time. If you want to read any story from this book then I would say it' the Darkseid War. 

Saga

If there was one issue I have with DC and Marvel comics is the fact that nothing ever really changes. There aren't new characters or any actually "new" ideas. There is no new Captain America, it's Sam Wilson,Simon Baz offered nothing as a Green Lantern, and you know that at some point all changes will revert to the status quo. Even Jane Foster as Thor was established to be temporary and all of those books will eventually follow into a pattern. Then I found this book here. Saga is possibly one of the best comics I've ever read. So these two people from warring armies fall in love, have a baby that a royal family of televisions want dead and what ensues is this really rich and introspective space story. In it's own way I think it's drawing off of the "Space Soap Opera" idea that Lucas always said Star Wars was as a film series. Marko and Alana are both interesting character traveling through space just trying to keep their baby safe and meeting so many diverse characters. I think what makes it work is that as honestly serious as it is with it's messages about war, it doesn't take itself too seriously and has the message take a back seat to the characters. This book doesn't use internal dialogue other than through Hazel who gives us great retrospectives on the story from her perspective but we get very detailed character designs as well which combined with the dialogue makes for an interesting story. If you want something that relies less on the superficial nature of change, that doesn't have a truck load of history behind it.

So that ends this years comic book synopsis for the year. Lots of good stuff with more fun thigs to come. I would have to say that Saga and Justice League have been the best this year with Wonder Woman trailing behind as the worst this year but I'm optimistic. There's lost of promise with the new books that came out and are continuing.

Special Shout out to books that I just picked up and plan to read at 12:01 a.m. January 1st.

Justice Society of America

Catwoman

The Wicked + Divine

Dark knight III: the Master Race

Feel free to comment on any books you'd like me to pick up or read or what book you felt really stood out to you this year.

@Images are property of Disney, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, BBC, and Image Comics.