Board 8 > What's hot at DC Comics right now?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I feel like I've made this top twice before now, but I really mean it this time.

I've been out of the game for over a decade, so I don't necessarily need brand new stuff. I'd prefer non continuity or post Rebirth which I am told was the last reset they did.

Things I know about (in name only, not content or quality, or even if this is old news)

New Batman comic from Jock

New JLI style wacky D-lister comic

Mark Waid is back at DC

All Star Batman reboot for Snyder and JRJR

Grant Morrison writing The Authority and also Batman is there

Nightwing is supposed to be good?

Scott Lobdell got the Red Hood reboot again?? How did that call get made? I mean I'm the only maniac who liked that book!

DC is publishing RWBY comics...like what the fuck is that?

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Things I don't know about....well, I want I know about anything that's good, but things I am curious to know about regardless of quality

GL
Flash
Booster Gold
Shazam
Martian Manhunter
Titans/TT/YJ

Good Supes stuff. Like REAL good Supes stuff I'm hoping.

Harley Quinn but only if they made the smart move of making a comic that took after the show.

Also any books Johns has done since stepping away from being a frontline player. It's so wierd that him doing a book feels like Didio doing one now.

The only DC thing Im reading right now is DC vs. Vampires, which is ongoing, but Im enjoying that. I guess DCeased is in a similar vein (DC with zombies), so if you like those kind of spin-offs, then I recommend both of those.

I never typically went in on books like that myself, but I'll give anything a try.

Just saw that the full Johns Justice Society creative team got together for a Shazam book??

The Shazam book was not great. You can really feel that it's just Johns messing around with potential plot ideas for the upcoming movie and doing his usual formulaic world building thing. He used to excel at this but it's lost whatever spark he used to have since selling out. The Didio comparison is apt. Just wait for the inevitable movies tbh.

Blue and Gold was a fun book

Bumping for the day.

Will check out Blue and Gold. Jurgens is a bit old hat but he's still the OG for Booster.

Starting to look through some of this stuff.

I've only read a few, and so far there have been some misses. Shazam was indeed pretty mid, only read a couple chapters. The new Jock Batman mini also did little got me, and surprisingly I couldn't get into Last Knight on Earth.

This Superman and the Authority, however, I'm loving. Morrison doesn't disappoint. I'm hitting his Green Lantern next, which I have high hopes for as well. I typically like my Lantern in a bombastic John's style, but...it's Morrison, what do I have to worry about?

I've read some things here and there post-Rebirth. Sinestro had a 23 issue series that was really damn good.

I also loved Dark Knights Metal and everything that revolved around that event. Not sure if it's actually good, but imo DC for the most part is at their best when it comes to insane over the top crossover events.

A Sinestro book? On it.

I remeber there was a page of Dark Knight Metal everyone was meming the hell out of, but I don't actually know anything about it. I'll check it out!

Man, there's a lot more variety than there used to be, huh? So many one offs and limited series. Back when I stopped doing weeklies, everything was an ongoing with a questionable future and the house style was king. Now it seems like they're really focusing down a lot more on one offs with more variety. I'm reading these Garcia Raven and Beast Boy books and it's like a different world.

However, some things never change. Still seeing Booth, Glass, and Lobdell all over Titan and Suicide Squad adjacent books.

Oh, also loving this Orlando Martian Manhuhter series, halfway in. There have actually been a LOT of miniseries I've seen here that are original or prolific old creators coming back for a whirl.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/8/4/AAOJ0pAADJGE.png

Man I couldn't even BEGIN to guess who that's supposed to be lol.

I have finally, after putting it off, read my first chapter ever if a Bendis DC book, my dislike of his Marvel content still drilled into my brain. It wasn't on oipose, I just couldn't believe he was on a Young Justice book!

And I gotta tell ya, one chapter in...I'm digging it! Part of that is because the character designs are so good and Gleason is a king.

Superman in War World is the most compelling Action Comics has been since morrison

That's the one that follows up the Authority miniseries setup, right? I have it on my list for that.

This Dark Knight Metal seems like it was a while big thing I gotta track down all the books for.

Has DC done any big Blackest Night style event stuff in the last several years? Not really seeing anything besides Metal. I know Batman Who Laughs was a big deal, whatever that was, but that was just a whole bunch of Bat crossovers from what I can tell.

The series that got me into comics in the first place were Titans 1999 and Teen Titans 2003. The thing that got me to leave the DC bubble and read Marvel was the 2000s New Mutants series (though the difficulty I'm having figuring out which run this actually was is pretty common issue for older Marvel stuff, sadly. If Wikipedia is to be believed it doesn't even exist before Wells started writing it).

And now this newer YJ is getting me back in to the real swing of things and making me wanna try out a bunch of stuff again whether they're highly regarded or not.

I dunno what it is about these young adult or teen group books like these that always get me reinvested in the universes as a whole, in a way stuff like JL or Avengers never do.

Must be the appeal to my shounen anime and manga side.

Oh huh

Did DC just give up on Firestorm entirely?

Doesn't look like Guy Gardner exists anymore either?

I think Guy still exists but he's not a 2814 Lantern anymore since they've introduced at least two new humans as GLs. So he's probably just sidelined. I could be wrong, regardless he's effectively gone the way of Wally West and that second Batgirl who's name escapes me.

Anyways as for Metal it is their big crossover event, it starts off very Bat-centric but the rest of the heroes are still present. And their dark versions started showing up eventually. I don't remember exactly but I think there were a few mini-series plus all the additional tie-ins. Its a big story, full of bat-edginess. Hence the title lol

Well

I mean

Big spoilers

They just killed off Guy Gardner

Oh. Poor guy.

How's Kyle doing?

Man....Young Justice had me hyped at first but this thing went absolutely nowhere in 20 issues. It's just one big advertisement for other books and the Bendisism was off the fucking rails, everyone talked exactly the same. He even did that thing where there was 3 pages in a row of 9 panels each on an even grid where all the panels are almost the same.

Unless highly recommended otherwise, I'm gonna avoid chacking out any more of his stuff.

I mean we know Bendis is a bad writer, switching to DC didn't change that.

Apparently he was writing Superman first and I only heard bad things about it. Unsurprisingly.

...Did DC really see all the clamoring for Wally to come back, and respond with Identity Crisis 2 that starts with Wally getting iced before it even starts?

And Arsenal which I actually care about more, but I know Wally is "The Guy".

That was one of the most offensively bad comics I've ever read. Worst since Justice League Rise and Fall.

WTF Tom King.

I guess to be fair the issue with the comics was the contents. Like....purely as far as dialogue flow and writing goes, and especially art, it was totally fine/good.

But yeah it's just offensive as a fan if a lot of these prominently involved characters.

Also I have no idea how that was 9 issues.

Dark Nights Metal proper was a mess and does not work as a self contained trade at all. I guess the side content is where all the meat must be? The buildup trade was good though.

Oh MAN this new Rogues series just started, huh? I LIVE for this.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/4/6/9/AAeolZAADJSV.jpg

CassandraCain posted...

I mean we know Bendis is a bad writer, switching to DC didn't change that.

Apparently he was writing Superman first and I only heard bad things about it. Unsurprisingly.

The run itself was fine verging on good. The issue was he aged up Jon Kent to be an adult immediately scuttling the highly successful Jon/Damian dynamic that had been established for basically no reason, working at cross purposes with his own Young Justice run. It was meant to set up Superboy appearing in Legion of Superheroes which....works better if Jon is a young teen and yet.

It has set up the current Tom Taylor run on superman (where Jon is superman) which is critically acclaimed but I hate Ton Taylor's style so.

I'm not sure how it was received what with people not wanting them to use these characters, but I thought Doomsday Clock was really good. Gary Frank and Johns are unbeatable as a team.

The Batman who Laughs independant miniseries was pretty good, Dark Nights Heavy Metal...also pretty ridiculous, I just don't think I'm into the event at all.

That Punchline one shot was interesting, is that connected to some greater story? I remember the "Joker's new girlfriend" headlines from a while back.

I've been putting off this current Williamson Flash run be a use I know it will be a time investment, but from what I hear it's one to get into.

Wait, Alan Scott is gay?

I know Obsidian is gay, but they made Alan gay too?

Seems odd to....keep it in the family??

....Or is Obsidian NOT gay now?

UshiromiyaEva posted...

The Batman who Laughs independant miniseries was pretty good, Dark Nights Heavy Metal...also pretty ridiculous, I just don't think I'm into the event at all.

Understandable! Not a lot of people enjoyed it. I might be the minority, not sure. People do seem to enjoy Batman Who Laughs as a character, refreshing to see a cool spin on the Joker that takes the Batgod antics to the extreme.

Doomsday Clock is the best thing DC has done since pre-52. That might be hyperbole but I'm having trouble thinking of anything better.

I just know people seemed to always talk positively about Metal, but yeah it's just...not it for me. I was never REAL big on Snyder to begin with out side his initial content.

And, to be fair, that initial content was great! The initial Court of Owls stuff killed it, Black Mirror is a classic, and American Vampire was a fantastic series.

After that hough I don't think he's quite the second coming of Johns in his prime a lot of people were saying he was gonna be.

I wasn't super aware of Williamson way back when, but based on Infinite Frontier series her seems closer to the guy for that mantle. I guess he's doing the next Crisis which starts soon, too?

And to be clear, when I'm saying something like "the new Johns", that's not in reference to them being the best writer. I mean carrying the mantle as the brand wide event header. It's undeniable that Johns was unparalleled in that sense on either side of the aisle.

UshiromiyaEva posted...

Wait, Alan Scott is gay?

I know Obsidian is gay, but they made Alan gay too?

Seems odd to....keep it in the family??

....Or is Obsidian NOT gay now?

James Robinson introduced a gay version of Alan Scott on Earth-2, and I think they transitioned it into the mainstream DCU quite nicely. Usually I dislike the sudden change of a character's innate nature like that, but the change really does work well.

I also do recommend the Earth-2 line from the start of the New52. It wasn't super-beholden to the Golden Age characters, especially after James Robinson left, but it was an enjoyable little romp. Reminiscent of some of the old Squadron Supreme titles.

....Huh, I'm looking up the New 52 Earth 2 book and I absolutely recognize that #1 cover but I don't remember that book existing at ALL.

It's just a fun little ride - I'd call it a B+ book from beginning to end. It's not peak Robinson, but hell, it's hard to recreate Starman.

I still haven't washed off the stink of Cry for Justice, but I will look into it.

The best part of Cry for Justice is the actual Justice League run that comes out of it. I do wish we got to see all of those crazy story arcs Robinson had planned before New52 came along.

It was so bad I swore of of Robinson for a while and never checked it out, lol.

The JT Krul Red Arrow stuff that came out of it was even worse, but he redeemed himself with Captain Atom at least.

Cascioli was the only good thing I got out of Cry, that art was superb. Shame he barely ever worked on comics after, not sure why.

Probably because he did Cry for Justice.

Honestly, I'm fairly convinced based on what I've heard that it was pretty solidly fucked with by Didio.

scarletspeed7 posted...

James Robinson introduced a gay version of Alan Scott on Earth-2, and I think they transitioned it into the mainstream DCU quite nicely. Usually I dislike the sudden change of a character's innate nature like that, but the change really does work well.

I also do recommend the Earth-2 line from the start of the New52. It wasn't super-beholden to the Golden Age characters, especially after James Robinson left, but it was an enjoyable little romp. Reminiscent of some of the old Squadron Supreme titles.

In this same vein, I swear by the World's Finest run Levin did with Earth-2's Huntress and Power Girl.

Wait, you really think he was driven away by trolls?

That would be hella tragic, his art had nothing to do with that!

Look at this promo art, it's gorgeous!

https://www.previewsworld.com/SiteImage/MainImage/STK405705

I wanted a poster of this....well....before the series started...

By the way, Justice League Incarnate killed it was well. I'm all in on this Williamson guy.

Williamson is great, for sure.

I'm halfway through Mister Miracle and this is one of the best comics I've ever read?

I no longer had any idea what to think of Tom King between this and Heroes I'm Crisis.

The greatest comic book page in history.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/9/0/AAeolZAADJgu.jpg

Glad to be back in the game so I can be up to date on the hot memes.

https://twitter.com/MisterMoscle/status/1516463447105490962

I read that 12 issue Green Lantern Far Sector story, it was pretty good!

Has there been any really good GL since New 52? All the New 52 GL stuff itself did nothing for me at all, I pretty much dropped the book entirely.

I know Johns is a hard act to follow (and in fact people that folloed him on ongoing had a tendency to be notable BAD back in the day, not just worse) , but I'm hoping someone better than Vendetti came along.

The series that immediately follows the one youre reading where Jo is in the main continuity is pretty good.

Vendetti's entire run shits all over Johns' run. Don't read it.

Oh, I didn't see any marketing blurb about "adventure continued in such and such", which nowadays made me just assume it was an out of continuity one and done.

scarletspeed7 posted...

Vendetti's entire run shits all over Johns' run. Don't read it.

I distinctly remeber how hyped this guy was coming off of XO Manowar.

Seems like a lot of misplaced attention.

I vaguely remember....there was some other writer around the same who was super hyped up from writing this original comic that was Promised Neverland adjacent, about a school that was actually secretly a prison or something unbeknownst to the students, and they ended up being terrible on Capes too. Trying to remember either the comic name or the writer has been killing me.

It was around the same time that Chew was really big.