Three New (ish) DC Comics

The Brave & The Bold #13

Oh TB&TB, what shall become of you? Oh, I know, cancellation. Anyway, here's what happened with this book, the fans said, "Hey DC why can't you give us a solid, fun, action comic with star creators, star characters, that doesn't require vast knowledge of continuity, and is shockingly free of decapitations?" DC's reply was, "Here you go." The Fans then said, "Never mind, I think Mark Millar has Mr. Fantastic punching a baby this week somewhere else."

Anyway, on to the issue at hand. Now that the story arc that was told over the first 12 issues is over, Mark Waid is filling out the remainder of his run with a few done-in-one issues, this one featuring art by Jerry Ordway. This is a fun little murder mystery starring Batman and the Golden Age Flash and is pretty much exactly everything people say they want out of comics. It's a full story, well told, with action and easily the best bit of dialogue I've read this month:

Yes, that is geriatric Flash yelling at those DAMN SAMUROIDS TO STAY OFF HIS LAWN!!

Booster Gold #9

After reading Calvin and Sallyp's raves (maniacal raves on the part of Sally) about this title, I decided to give it a shot, as I was paring down my pull list. Booster Gold is a bit of a sticky wicket. Despite a newer costume design, he's still the most 1980's of superheroes. I mean, just say his name and you'll induce giggles in anyone who didn't love the Justice League International days, indeed, it even seemed like DC had given up on him, making him only the latest of the members of that team that were sacrificed to event-o-mania (the hit list: Blue Beetle, Rocket Red, Max Lord, Ralph & Sue Dibney, and coming soon: J'onn J'onzz and Batman). But instead, they turned it on it's ear and gave him a very good character arc in 52 and launched this series, which I promptly waited for trade on, and that will finally arrive next week.

Anyway, this is another one of those series fans seem to have been clamoring for. Nobody gave a flying fig about Ted Kord until he bought it in the run-up to Infinite Crisis and suddenly half of the world was clamoring for them to bring him, along with the rest of the JLI, back to life. Well here you go fans, now buy the damn book.



Blue Beetle #26

For our final exercise in fan-service, we have Blue Beetle. This is another one of those books people have been asking for, for years. It's a new title, featuring a young, Hispanic super-hero that is appealing to both teens and older fans alike. It's fun, well paced and oftenly hilarious. Of course, no one is buying it.

ANYWAY, in order to broaden their fan base for this series, they decided to do an issue with 90% Spanish dialogue. Mind you, this is appropriate, with Jamie (Blue Beetle) taking his new girlfriend to his family reunion, most of whom only speak Spanish. Unfortunately, I don't speak a word of Spanish, but the art makes most of the action clear, and the english-language script is reprinted in the back of the issue. It's a well done, but it left me rather cold, mostly because I'm a moron who doesn't understand a word of Spanish. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a xenophobic jackass like this guy, and I totally support their reason for doing this issue, this way, but it just wasn't my favorite of the bunch. I would hope that DC makes an effort next year during Free Comic Book Day to put out this book, as I have a feeling it would bring in some new readers. Mind you, that assumes that DC is still publishing this book in one year's time, which is, at best, a 50/50 proposition.

Anyway, that's my round-up of the low selling DC titles I've read in the last month. I've been debating on whether to plug into the blogohedron zeitgeist and take a pass at Secret Invasion, but I just can't do it. Here's hoping Final Crisis turns out well, Grant Morrison, make like Flash Gordon and save us all.