Review of the New 52: Part 2: Superman & Friends

So, as a continuation of my series, here are the next 8 in my list of reviews. they are all stand-alone people in their own titles, with a lot of them having connections back to Superman in some way. for background info, check out my batman post. out of this group of 8, we had 5 keepers.

So, this is DC's other big flagship title that they've been running forever, and originally introduced superman in, back in like 1939. This also deals with a younger superman, as seen in the cover because he hasn't quite figured out his costume with those jeans and boots on. all that aside, this is a really well written piece, and definitely the more entertaining of the 2 stand-alone titles staring superman. worth a #2 read.

This was what some might describe as a classic Superman vs Random alien. it was all very busy, and not really that well written. they tried to mix too much of their in-world politics with explosive action, and it just didn't fly for me. it was clearly set much later in superman's tenure than Action Comics, but he seemed so much more human in Action Comics... just a disappointment.

This one is tricky. i really liked how they took this first issue and incorporated all of the greek myths associated with Wonder Woman, and i really liked the art. but for some reason, all of these positives couldn't keep me entertained. it was neither good or bad, it was just there. it has potential to grow, but also could turn out horrible. all that considered, it is not one i am finding the #2 issue.

i know, i know. i actively read an Aquaman comic. this was one of the 3 best out of everything i read. it had humor at every turn, with the pedestrians in the comics actually making fun of aquaman to his face, and asking him why he was the butt of so many jokes. it had snappy dialogue back every time from aqua man, and it really gave you a huge insight into his personality that i didn't see very much in any of the other titles. the writer for this one really was able to capture the human side of aquaman and make him a really great character to read about.

Let's get one thing straight. Barry Allen is not my Flash. Barry Allen has not existed in comics since he got killed of 23 years ago. Since that time, Wally West has been the Flash, and i really liked him. He is still the most recognized Flash by the mainstream people because Wally was the one used in the Justice League Animated Series. but no. the writers decided that they needed the bring back the "original" flash, that few comic readers nowadays have no connection to. this one is just a disgrace, and not worth the time until Wally West returns from limbo-land, because he cannot be found anywhere in this new 52.

So, this was one of the smaller titled that i looked into, off of solid recommendations from Tumblr. Animal Man is not a very commonly used superhero, but i love him because he can tap into the abilities of any animal! he can have the agility of a fly, the strength of a rhino, and the eyes of an eagle all at once. but because he is a 2nd or 3rd tier superhero, he does not get much publicity, which is a shame. they present him in this comic as a real guy, with real problems that is conflicted with wanting to not be a superhero, and not being able to live without that rush. it is a good read, and definitely one for me to continue.

This one ties in a lot to the Teen Titans comic that is on my next batch of review, but even as a stand alone, this one is compelling. superboy has always been interesting to me, because he is a clone of superman, and cloned by some evil organization as a means of "defense" against superheros going rogue. but everytime, something goes wrong, and superboy gets out of the cloning place, and he discovers humanity. although it has no continuity relation, this feels incredibly similar to the Young Justice TV show that i've been obsessed with lately. overall, a very good read.

the first thing that must be said about this one is how wonderfully it is drawn. the art is really really pretty, and draws you into the scenery and story immediately. that aside, it is a supergirl origin story, with her crash landing on earth, so it is a very legitimate beginning. it has almost a wall-e effect, because all you see are her thoughts; she doesn't speak. you just get to see her thoughts in comparison to the government people that are trying to capture whatever it was that landed with this meteorite. you also get to see something that is often overlooked for the superman family: the fact that they have these awesome powers only on earth; on their home planet, they are all normal, and no one has the powers we associate with superman, and in this first comic you get to see her go all "what the fuck is this" when she suddenly has the superstrength, and what not. really really great read. in my top 3.