Wednesday Comics 3 (22 July 2009)

632687 This issue has even less good strips than before. Sgt. Rock in particular falls off, with Joe Kubert’s art getting way too loose. Gaiman and Allred’s Metamorpho doesn’t recover either.

In other words, at issue three, Wednesday Comics is already downhill.

Azzarello and Risso’s Batman manages to be worse, as does Arcudi and Bermejo’s Superman. Kamadi by Gibbons and Sook, however, is awesome. It’s perfect as a comic strip.

Nice Adam Strange by Pope, nice Metal Men by Didio and Garcia-Lopez. Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner’s Supergirl is rather cute; being well-intentioned and competent compensates for its lack of ambition.

Sadly, Kerschl and Fletcher’s Flash falters. They concentrate on a dramatic cliffhanger instead of an amusing one.

Kyle Baker quizzically turns his Hawkman into an “aliens were behind 9/11” thing. I hope that theme doesn’t stick.

The issue’s tiresome. The standouts don’t make up for the failures.

CREDITS

Batman; writer, Brian Azzarello; artist, Eduardo Risso; colorist, Patricia Mulvihill; letterer, Clem Robins. Kamandi; writer, Dave Gibbons; artist, Ryan Sook. Superman; writer, John Arcudi; artist, Lee Bermejo; colorist, Barbara Ciardo; letterer, Ken Lopez. Deadman; writers, Vinton Heuck and Dave Bullock; artist, Bullock; colorist, Dave Stewart; letterer, Jared Fletcher. Green Lantern; writer, Kurt Busiek; artist and colorist, Joe Quinones; letterer, Pat Brosseau. Metamorpho; writer, Neil Gaiman; artist, Mike Allred; colorist, Laura Allred; letterer, Nate Piekos. Teen Titans; writer, Eddie Berganza; artist and colorist, Sean Galloway; letterer, Nick J. Napolitano. Adam Strange; writer, artist and letterer, Paul Pope; colorists, Jose Villarrubia and Lovern Kindzierski. Supergirl; writer, Jimmy Palmiotti; artist, Amanda Conner; colorist, Paul Mounts; letterer, John J. Hill. Metal Men; writer, Dan DiDio; penciller, Jose Luís Garcia-Lopez; inker, Kevin Nowlan; colorist, Mulvihill; letterer, Lopez. Wonder Woman; writer, artist, colorist and letterer, Ben Caldwell. Sgt. Rock; writer, Adam Kubert; artist, colorist and letterer, Joe Kubert. The Flash; writers, Brendan Fletcher and Karl Kerschl; artist, Kerschl; colorist, Dave McCaig; letterer, Rob Leigh. The Demon and Catwoman; writer, Walt Simonson; artist and colorist, Brian Stelfreeze; letterer, Steve Wands. Hawkman; writer, artist, colorist and letterer, Kyle Baker. Editors, Chris Conroy and Mark Chiarello; publisher, DC Comics.

Wednesday Comics 2 (15 July 2009)

632686 So even some of the better ones from the previous issue are losers this week. Specifically Neil Gaiman and Mike Allred’s Metamorpho. They flop on the format.

Still strong are Pope’s Adam Strange, Baker’s Hawkman, Dan Didio and Jose Luís Garcia-Lopez’s Metal Men (no, really) and Catwoman by Walt Simonson and Brian Stelfreeze. Oh, and Kamandi by Dave Gibbons and Ryan Sook. The biggest surprise has got to be The Flash from Brendan Fletcher and Karl Kerschl. They split it between Iris and Barry and have a very unexpected, but fun, twist.

Deadman, from Vinton Heuck and Dave Bullock, is another nice one.

The lousy ones remain lousy (or worse). Azzarello and Risso’s Batman stinks; Risso’s art wastes the large size. Arcudi and Bermejo’s Superman is probably worse, just because it’s so poorly written. Berganza and Galloway’s Teen Titans has to be the worst one overall.

Another mixed bag.

CREDITS

Batman; writer, Brian Azzarello; artist, Eduardo Risso; colorist, Patricia Mulvihill; letterer, Clem Robins. Kamandi; writer, Dave Gibbons; artist, Ryan Sook. Superman; writer, John Arcudi; artist, Lee Bermejo; colorist, Barbara Ciardo; letterer, Ken Lopez. Deadman; writers, Vinton Heuck and Dave Bullock; artist, Bullock; colorist, Dave Stewart; letterer, Jared Fletcher. Green Lantern; writer, Kurt Busiek; artist and colorist, Joe Quinones; letterer, Pat Brosseau. Metamorpho; writer, Neil Gaiman; artist, Mike Allred; colorist, Laura Allred; letterer, Nate Piekos. Teen Titans; writer, Eddie Berganza; artist and colorist, Sean Galloway; letterer, Nick J. Napolitano. Adam Strange; writer, artist and letterer, Paul Pope; colorist, Jose Villarrubia. Supergirl; writer, Jimmy Palmiotti; artist, Amanda Conner; colorist, Paul Mounts; letterer, John J. Hill. Metal Men; writer, Dan DiDio; penciller, Jose Luís Garcia-Lopez; inker, Kevin Nowlan; colorist, Mulvihill; letterer, Lopez. Wonder Woman; writer, artist, colorist and letterer, Ben Caldwell. Sgt. Rock; writer, Adam Kubert; artist, colorist and letterer, Joe Kubert. The Flash; writers, Brendan Fletcher and Karl Kerschl; artist, Kerschl; colorist, Dave McCaig; letterer, Rob Leigh. The Demon and Catwoman; writer, Walt Simonson; artist and colorist, Brian Stelfreeze; letterer, Steve Wands. Hawkman; writer, artist, colorist and letterer, Kyle Baker. Editors, Chris Conroy and Mark Chiarello; publisher, DC Comics.

Wednesday Comics 1 (8 July 2009)

666638 Wednesday Comics really needs a stronger editorial hand. While some of the creators get the concept, others completely fumble it. The successes (and the mediocrities) make up for the bad patches.

In the “no idea how to do the format” section, the issue has Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso on Batman, John Arcudi and Lee Bermejo on Superman (thumbs down to Bermejo’s interpretation too), Eddie Berganza and Sean Galloway on Teen Titans (Galloway’s art is atrocious) and the Kuberts on Sgt. Rock. At least the art’s good on Rock from Joe.

The best entries are–no shock–Paul Pope and Kyle Baker’s. Pope does Adam Strange, Baker Hawkman. They both gleefully approach the newspaper sized medium, pacing their entries differently–though most of the better stories don’t spend this page setting up a plot. The worst ones do.

The issue’s interesting, but barely half successful. There are some real stinkers.

CREDITS

Batman; writer, Brian Azzarello; artist, Eduardo Risso; colorist, Patricia Mulvihill; letterer, Clem Robins. Kamandi; writer, Dave Gibbons; artist, Ryan Sook. Superman; writer, John Arcudi; artist, Lee Bermejo; colorist, Barbara Ciardo; letterer, Ken Lopez. Deadman; writers, Vinton Heuck and Dave Bullock; artist, Bullock; colorist, Dave Stewart; letterer, Jared Fletcher. Green Lantern; writer, Kurt Busiek; artist and colorist, Joe Quinones; letterer, Pat Brosseau. Metamorpho; writer, Neil Gaiman; artist, Mike Allred; colorist, Laura Allred; letterer, Nate Piekos. Teen Titans; writer, Eddie Berganza; artist and colorist, Sean Galloway; letterer, Nick J. Napolitano. Adam Strange; writer, artist and letterer, Paul Pope; colorist, Jose Villarrubia. Supergirl; writer, Jimmy Palmiotti; artist, Amanda Conner; colorist, Paul Mounts; letterer, John J. Hill. Metal Men; writer, Dan DiDio; penciller, Jose Luís Garcia-Lopez; inker, Kevin Nowlan; colorist, Mulvihill; letterer, Lopez. Wonder Woman; writer, artist, colorist and letterer, Ben Caldwell. Sgt. Rock; writer, Adam Kubert; artist, colorist and letterer, Joe Kubert. The Flash; writers, Brendan Fletcher and Karl Kerschl; artist, Kerschl; colorist, Dave McCaig; letterer, Rob Leigh. The Demon and Catwoman; writer, Walt Simonson; artist and colorist, Brian Stelfreeze; letterer, Steve Wands. Hawkman; writer, artist, colorist and letterer, Kyle Baker. Editors, Chris Conroy and Mark Chiarello; publisher, DC Comics.

Teen Titans 3 (January 2012)

Lobdell’s gay superhero makes his first appearance this issue and… wow… he could not be more flamboyant. Not sure Lobdell’s aware all gay men aren’t Jm J. Bullock. It’s some terrible writing.

But there’s actually a really fun page in the comic. I couldn’t believe Booth had it in him. Kid Flash–let’s not forget, Kid Flash wasn’t ever a sidekick (that detail of the Titans didn’t make it to the new DC universe)–runs around a room and Booth shows the numbered order of little events. It’s fun. It’s more fun than anything in Titans and it’s something out of a kid’s picture book.

Nothing really happens this issue other than the Bunker (the gay kid) introduction. The regular story line doesn’t develop, just little moments, like Red Robin meeting a giant android and Wonder Girl torturing a bad guy.

It’s a fast read, which means its over sooner.

CREDITS

Better to Burn Out… Than to Fade Away; writer, Scott Lobdell; penciller, Brett Booth; inker, Norm Rapmund; colorist, Andrew Dalhouse; letterer, Dezi Sienty; editors, Katie Kubert and Bobbie Chase; publisher, DC Comics.

Red Hood and the Outlaws 3 (January 2012)

Unbelievable. Lobdell has this all knowing kid god look into the histories of the cast because they’re so “curious.” Nothing like the writer creating characters who tell the reader the lame characters are really, really interesting.

Also interesting is a detail about Starfire’s memory. I thought Lobdell had given interviews she and Jason are just messing with Roy about her being an anterograde amnesiac (or whatever) and she’s not really a brainless nymphomaniac. This issue directly contradicts that explanation. She really is a brainless nymphomaniac.

And how can Green Arrow have a sidekick in his twenties if he’s in his twenties now? The logic editing of the new DC Universe is just dreadful.

Rocafort’s scenery drawing skills come in handy, but he’s bad at giant monsters and humanoid figures.

Lobdell unexpectedly finishes on a sappy note. It’s lame, desperate, and nearly sincere.

Sincere or not, Red Hood is still awful.

CREDITS

Cherish is the Word I Use — to Destroy You!; writer, Scott Lobdell; artist, Kenneth Rocafort; colorist, Blond; letterer, Pat Brosseau; editors, Katie Kubert and Bobbie Chase; publisher, DC Comics.

Teen Titans 2 (December 2011)

I assume Lobdell had to turn in his terrible script for Teen Titans early (so Booth could draw it poorly), which means his constant references to objectifying women aren’t some breaking the fourth wall reaction to the response to the misogyny in his writing.

Too bad. It might be funny.

Wonder Girl can’t shut up about Robin–sorry, Red Robin–looking at her butt. It’s bad the first time and tiring the next thirty. The funny part, of course, is Red Robin really is looking at her butt and he doesn’t admit it. The lousy narration gives it away.

Other things we learn… black superheroes become cockroaches and Kid Flash doesn’t know the Flash. It’s so hard to figure out the new DC Universe.

The most fun in Titans is when Booth and Rapmund’s expressions work in direct opposite to the writing.

Though Lobdell’s inability to use English amuses too.

CREDITS

Underground and Overwhelmed!; writer, Scott Lobdell; penciller, Brett Booth; inker, Norm Rapmund; colorist, Andrew Dalhouse; letterer, Carlos M. Mangual; editors, Katie Kubert and Bobbie Chase; publisher, DC Comics.

Red Hood and the Outlaws 2 (December 2011)

Now, I know Lobdell explained the whole “Starfire is a nymphomaniac” thing as something subversively feminist or whatever, but why are all the other female characters in Red Hood nymphomaniacs too? Maybe even more so than Starfire, who Lobdell here portrays as a dumber, more insipid version of Paris Hilton.

He also seems to really dislike Jason Todd as a character, mocking the resurrection of the character, but also his famous death. Why Jason Todd dying is still part of DC continuity is perplexing. Why not fix things with the new DC Universe instead of perpetuate the silliness?

As for Roy Harper, Lobdell seems to like him even less. He portrays Roy as a constantly unfunny moron (whereas Jason Todd is a rock star).

Rocafort proves he can draw scenery really well. There’s this magical city out of Immortal Iron Fist and Rocafort nails it.

Shame everything else is mediocre.

CREDITS

Shot Through the Heart — and Who’s to Blame?; writer, Scott Lobdell; artist, Kenneth Rocafort; colorist, Blond; letterer, Carlos M. Mangual; editors, Katie Kubert and Bobbie Chase; publisher, DC Comics.

Teen Titans 1 (November 2011)

I thought there was supposed to be a flamboyantly gay superhero in Teen Titans. There’s not.

There’s nothing here except some awful Brett Booth art and the writing stylings of Mr. Scott Lobdell. One must admire Lobdell’s consistent incompetence. I mean, one example is his narration from Tim Drake. Lobdell writes it like he’s got a character narrating a movie trailer.

Also of amusement is how Teen Titans basically just rips off Marvel’s Ultimates or, at least, did to when I fell behind in reading it. There’s this secret organization with an acronym who’s going to manage all the superhuman teenagers in the world. So a mix of the Pied Piper and Ultimate Nick Fury. Only Booth’s Nick Fury stand-in looks like a goth hipster.

Lobdell doesn’t even establish why all these teenagers have sidekick names; it’s doesn’t seem like Kid Flash is the Flash’s sidekick.

It’s truly awful.

CREDITS

Teen Spirit; writer, Scott Lobdell; penciller, Brett Booth; inker, Norm Rapmund; colorist, Andrew Dalhouse; letterer, Carlos M. Mangual; editors, Katie Kubert and Bobbie Chase; publisher, DC Comics.

Red Hood and the Outlaws 1 (November 2011)

With Red Hood and the Outlaws, I feel like DC is drawing a line in the sand. Female readers need not apply. While Lobdell is an awful writer on every level possible, he also gets to be the one to reveal Starfire is a mentally impaired nymphomaniac. She’s genetically incapable of forming long term memories about humans (all Tamaraneans are) and so she has sex with everyone she can. I’m not sure, but there’s a question of whether she’s able to give consent.

It doesn’t stop Lobdell and artist Kenneth Rocafort from objectifying her, in fact it seems to encourage them.

Lobdell isn’t able to distinguish between his male characters (Jason Todd and Roy Harper) so Rocafort has the job of making them look different enough.

Jokes about Lobdell’s terrible writing aside, there’s something seriously wrong with DC thinking this comic is all right in the way it portrays women.

CREDITS

I Fought the Law and Kicked its Butt!; writer, Scott Lobdell; artist, Kenneth Rocafort; colorist, Blond; letterer, Carlos M. Mangual; editors, Katie Kubert and Bobbie Chase; publisher, DC Comics.

The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans 1 (September 1982)

I’m hard-pressed to think of a worse comic than The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans. Besides the Chris Claremont writing, which is atrocious, laughable and so on, there’s the Walt Simonson art. I’m not a big Simonson fan, but I’d never thought he was capable of being terrible or incompetent (he’s got some Liefeld body proportions here). So it’s not even pleasant to see. Terry Austin does his many dot backgrounds, which is cute, but he certainly doesn’t fix the awful art.

The story involves Dark Phoenix and Darkseid teaming up. Big whoop.

Claremont tries to introduce a shared universe—the TItans have just never run into the X-Men before (so they don’t feel bad about trying to kill Professor X). Claremont writes the Titans terribly, unless Starfire’s supposed to be a slut. The X-Men get all the page time anyway.

It’s complete garbage.

CREDITS

Apokolips…Now.; writer, Chris Claremont; penciller, Walt Simonson; inker, Terry Austin; colorist, Glynis Wein; letterer, Tom Orzechowski; editors, Len Wein and Louise Jones; publisher, Marvel Comics and DC Comics.