This Week's Comics - 52, Checkmate, Sg&LSH, Flash

[sdelmonte]

Spoilers? Some.

52, Week 11 - The Renee and No-Face Show, guest starring Batwoman, some old enemies of Batman, and Ralph Dibny. Good stuff, despite some pacing problems and occasionally stilted narration. This comic is the one I read first every week now.

Checkmate 4 - Remember how I said that Alan Scott doesn't really fit? Well, by the end of this issue, after he saves the day and remains true to his values, that's not a problem. The best issue so far, as for once things seem to make sense and the cast seems to be more interesting. Alas, I think this book is going to be too dark for me before long. It might be a lot more readable by then, though.

Supergirl and the Legion 20 - With guest co-writer Tony Bedard. Which is to say, not a very good outing. I read this two hours ago and have already lost most of it. Some decent stuff with Brainy, but not much else.

Flash: The Fastest Man Alive 2 - Less of a mess than the first issue, but still not up to the standards of the past. Clearly, however, Bart Allen is the new Flash. This gets two more issues to impress me since I want to see where it's going.

Comments

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I may buy Checkmate 4, but that's it. The series just hasn't worked for me.

[sdelmonte]

Checkmate has been a split decision comic. That is, Batya is enjoying more thna I am, and so it got a longer leash that it would have otherwise. By comparision, she didn't care for Shadowpact at all, so once I decided there were better things to buy, she didn't miss it. If we drop Checkmate, it's a joint choice.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

Now, that's interesting. Shadowpact is the one I'm thinking of continuing to read, as opposed to either Checkmate or Secret Six.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I read and enjoyed the latest issue of Shadowpact, and am ready to get into a flamewar with you over how it is so much better than Checkmate. :-)

In all seriousness, the first three issues of Checkmate confused me so much that I couldn't keep the story straight. I've had a similar problem with the Battle for Bludhaven comic.

[sdelmonte]

On the whole, the first two issues of Shadowpact were better than the first four issues of Checkmate. And I might yet revisit Shadowpact.

But so far, none of DC's new titles have been really memorable. I'm reminded of the spate of spinoff titles that followed every major Crossover in the early 90s. And how with one huge exception (Starman), they tended to last two years or less, and be rather forgettable. Not bad. Just bland. I thik we are getting the same thing again. (Though I will add that if there is soemthing I'm missing that is good, I can just go back and get it in TPB later.)

In addition, there is the Jack of Fables spinoff from Willingham coming next week. At this point, and based on the preview of it in Fables 50, I think that I will be happier getting a second (if smaller) dose of Willingham there.

To Willingham's credit, though, he brings a sense of humor to Shadowpact. The only other DC super-hero books which show signs of having such a thing are LSH, All-Star Superman, any scene in 52 with the Question, and maybe GLC.