When DC Comics rebooted their entire universe with "The New 52," my intent was to buy the first couple issues... be underwhelmed... then stop collecting comic books once and for all. I had already given up on Marvel Comics for being insanely expensive, so dropping DC seemed inevitable. Heck, 90% of the books I bought I never even read anyway. My thirty-three year relationship with comics was at an end.
Except it wasn't.
Against all odds, "The New 52" rejuvenated my love of comic books.
And once I learned that the previous issue of DC's digital titles would drop by $1 when the new issue when on sale, I switched to reading comics on my iPad and never looked back. I am now reading more comics than I ever have before... a full half of DC's entire line-up (impressive even though it's down from the 35 I was reading three months ago).
In fact, four of the titles are so good that I can't wait a month for the $1 price drop... I buy them the minute they are released...
• BATMAN
No lie... Writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo have created one of the best Batman series I have ever read. The current "Court of Owls" storyline is dragging just a bit six months in, but it's so fascinating that I can't feel raw about it. The tale has weight to it. A lot of history is being woven into the plot, and it's a fascinating look at Batman that's as good as it gets.
• WONDER WOMAN
My favorite Wonder Woman books were from the George Pérez era where he took her back to her Greek mythology roots and made her into something so much more than a female Superman. Now writer Brian Azzarello and artist Tony Akins have taken those mythological ties to an even deeper and more bizarre level, and I absolutely love it. Sure, it can be a difficult read... the climactic battle in #6 was so confusing that I have no idea what in the hell was going on (and neither did the person setting up the "Guide View" in the digital comic, because it skips some stuff!)... but I can't get enough of this book.
• AQUAMAN
If you would have told me six months ago that a book headed up by Aquaman would be in my "must read" pile, I'd have called you crazy. And yet here we are. I felt that Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis' conclusion to the whole "Trench" storyline was a bit wimpy and anti-climactic... but the journey to that finale was so rewarding that I wasn't bothered. Aquaman has gone from a D-list joke of a character to a truly critical part of the DC lineup. Whoda thunk it?
• JUSTICE LEAGUE
Geoff Johns and Jim Lee are serving up a terrific team book that's larger than life. And though the story has been a little uneven, the beautiful artwork goes a long way towards my enjoyment of the book. And enjoying it I am.
The other titles I'm buying (albeit after a month delay for the $1 price decrease) are...
• Action Comics
• All-Star Western
• Batgirl
• Batman & Robin
• Batwoman
• Birds of Prey
• Blue Beetle
• Flash
• Green Lantern
• Justice League Dark
• Justice League International
• Legion of Super-Heroes
• Legion Lost
• Nightwing
• OMAC (cancelled)
• Resurrection Man
• Stormwatch
• Superboy
• Supergirl
• Superman
• Swamp Thing
• Teen Titans
Entirely too many comic books. But I just can't help myself.
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The Trench is done?? Where will they take the story now?? I just hope that they come up with a good follow-up storyline. Aquaman will continue, right?
It’s already moved on to a new story for two issues now… and it’s off to a really good start. LOVE THIS BOOK!
So you read the new ones on the iPad too? Is the price the same as paper?
At first. But, after a month, the price drops a dollar on the digital version. Sweet! Comics are affordable again!
The Aquaman comic sounds and looks like it is a great read.
So good. Worth a look when its compiled in a graphic novel if you’re not grabbing the individual issues!
I think that the Court of Owls storyline started off strong but now has faltered so much that it’s moved to the bottom of my pile instead of the top.
Justice League has been good – I’ve been reading a lot of negative feedback online, especially relating to the characterization, but so far I’m on board with it.
Wonder Woman and Aquaman have been outstanding, which is nice for a change. I think my other favorites are Action Comics, Batwoman, Green Lantern, Swamp Thing, Animal Man, and surprisingly, Red Hood and the Outlaws, which started out weird, but has gotten really good.
Court of Owls didn’t unravel for me until this last issue. Not because I didn’t appreciate the whole “Batman goes crazy” thing… which was actually pretty well done… but because they’re just dragging this storyline out for too long. This whole thing should have been concluded by now. Overall, however, I am loving the team on this book. Batman is Batman again.
I agree 100% on Justice League. I find it highly entertaining, beautifully drawn, and well-paced. Why it’s getting slammed so hard by some critics is a mystery to me. THIS IS COMICS!
Animal Man is the only one on your list I couldn’t get into. It seems a pale imitation of what’s come before to me. I dumped Red Hood after two issues… maybe I need to take another look. Thanks!
Yup, I concur. I picked up several series that I probably would not have if they had been launched pre-52, basically anything where the character and art combo was at least interesting. (Cases in point: Animal Mand and Swamp Thing.) I’ve dropped a couple of the series after 2-4 issues (Static Shock, Savage Hawkman, Fury of Firestorms), but I’m generally buying several more titles than I did pre-52.
A little late but what’s your take on Batman: The Dark Knight. I picked up on that and am liking it so far. Getting myself all caught up on it now.