Lois Lane 1 (April 2014)

Pulitzer Prize-winning–not to mention gainfully employed–journalist Lois Lane thinks in hackneyed phrases like “a thief in the night.”

About the only nice thing to say about Lois Lane–her first comic to herself in almost twenty years–is I like how writer Marguerite Bennett keeps the misspelling thing from Superman: The Movie. Sure, it might be a DC New 52 editorial decision and it’s not like Bennett does it well–or gets why it worked in the movie–but whatever.

The art, from a litany of folks who I’m not taking the time to list, isn’t bad. It’s not good, but it’s decent enough DC house style. No crazy proportion problems. The monsters look cool.

The story has to do with Lois being a good sister to Lucy, who’s had a girlfriend for five years and hasn’t told her sister. They need help. Just like this comic.

D-

CREDITS

Nostalgia; writer, Marguerite Bennett; pencillers, Ig Guara, Meghan Hetrick-Murante, Emanuela Lupacchino and Diogenes Neves; inkers, Marc Deering, Meghan Hetrick-Murante, Ruy Jose and Guillermo Ortego; colorist, Hi-Fi Colour Design; letterer, John J. Hill; editor, Rickey A. Purdin; publisher, DC Comics.

Blue Beetle 2 (December 2011)

This DC relaunch has worn me down to the point I don’t like making fun of bad comics anymore.

I can’t even get interested in mocking Bedard’s lousy dialogue. He’s so painfully trying to invite teenagers to read the book, I’m shocked there aren’t stories about him passing the books out at high schools. But let’s not forget Bedard’s look at being a teenager is a lot like “Beverly Hills 90210” with Hispanic kids. Actually, thinking about it, I think “90210” might be his inspiration.

He probably should aim a little higher when it comes to inspiration.

But, like I was saying, Blue Beetle is so crappy, so obviously crappy and commercial, I can’t believe anyone thinks it’ll be a good. It’s a property with crossover potential or something. Not a comic book, for goodness sake.

Those comments made, I wish Guara would stop ripping off the Venom costume mechanics….

CREDITS

Metamorphosis, Part Two; writer, Tony Bedard; penciller, Ig Guara; inker, Ruy Jose; colorist, Pete Pantazis; letterer, Rob Leigh; editors, Rex Ogle and Eddie Berganza; publisher, DC Comics.

Blue Beetle 1 (November 2011)

I’m not sure who the target audience is for Blue Beetle. I assume DC has a Hispanic teenage superhero as a gateway (“See, we have this character who’s like you! Now, buy all our Batman books too!”).

But, not being Hispanic, I can’t really comment on Tony Bedard’s approach. Maybe Mexican-Americans really do slip into Spanglish. Maybe all rich Mexican-Americans are drug lords. Maybe all Mexican-American teenagers who don’t have two parents in the home are gangsters.

Is Bedard stereotyping or just accurate?

I don’t know. I also don’t care.

Blue Beetle is far more interesting at the opening with a Green Lantern cameo than it is once the lead takes over. I don’t care about Jaime whatever. His character’s only supposed to be interesting because he’s Mexican-American.

Blue Beetle is maybe the most blandly, patently artless commercial DC relaunch title so far. It’s actually annoying.

CREDITS

Metamorphosis, Part One; writer, Tony Bedard; penciller, Ig Guara; inker, Ruy Jose; colorist, Pete Pantazis; letterer, Rob Leigh; editors, Rex Ogle and Eddie Berganza; publisher, DC Comics.