We decided to look at DC with an emphasis on teams. We also tossed in two Marvels because the covers caught our eye.
We kicked things off with The Teen Titans. This is Robin's band of heroes that have been around forever. The really big change? Wonder Girl (Donna Troy) is now a blond. The artwork, specifically the colors ("Colors by ANDREW DALHOUSE") looked washed out and like someone had smoked too many doobies while staring at 70s concert posters. Things never got better, not even on the last page which promised you that part two would continue in Superboy issue nine. Then, so impressed with their bad visuals, they spent several pages at the end of the book praising themselves.
Teen Titans, even when it functions as a comic book, was always a junior Justice League of America. So we decided to check out Wonder Woman and company and see what they were up to. The main reason to check out issue eleven is to find out just how worthless the writers and artists think Aquaman is. Though he shows up first on page two, it's not until page eight that, in the midst of a gab-fest, he's finally given a line, "With what?"
The mission of the team? To rescue Wonder Woman's longtime love Steve Trevor. Best moments? When Green Lantern and Wonder Woman are in conflict, with him telling her it's a Justice League mission not a Wonder Woman one and trying to hold her in one of his green orbs that she quickly smashes. After that, the two begin to fight. And trade one-liners. "This isn't giving me any pleasure," Wonder Woman informs him. "But I'm sure you've heard that before." Comic snap!
Then Wonder Woman's kicking Superman's ass and you're left with a solid and fascinating story.
We were on such a giddy high that we switched to Marvel, afraid DC might implode.
The first thing we noticed about X-Men issue 52 was that they're no longer "Amazing X-Men." Now they are "Astonishing X-Men." Mike Perkins, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Jay David Ramos and Cris Peter have created a distinct look that DC might want to consider stealing for Teen Titans. Marjorie Liu has written a fascinating tale that will keep you turning the page and leave you upset on the last page that you've got to wait a whole month to find out what happens next.
Secret Avengers grabbed our attention because of the title. These guys and gals aren't The Avengers, you understand, they are Secret Avengers. Shh.
While most of us thought it was Storm on the cover, C.I. insisted it was Ms. Marvel. Guess who was right.
So Ms. Marvel teams up with Thor, Beast (who's also in the X-Men issue), Protector, War Machine, Valkyre, Vison and Captain Britian. The issue ends with a death and it's not a bad guy. Our only complaint?
As serious collectors of the seventies Marvel series The Defenders, we just don't like seeing Valkyre without Hellcat.
It was back to DC for a team issue. Issue three, in fact, of Superman Family Adventures. Where super-pets terrorize children? Although a corny comic for little kids, it has a better look than Teen Titans does. Also more life.
Demonstrating that DC's real problem with the latest reboot isn't the age factor, it's the lack of a real vision.