Aquaman: Rebirth #1 (DC)
The big push Dan Abnett takes in this Rebirth reintroduction issue is poking fun at all the people who make fun of Aquaman, the superhero who "talks to fish." As Abnett points out in the captions, "This is untrue. He has a telepathic gift that allows him to compel marine life, but fish do not possess enough intelligence to conduct meaningful dialogue." But such subtleties are hardly likely to convince people who like their reactions pithy and pointless...
Empress #3 (Icon)
The adventures of the escaping queen continue in this Mark Millar/Stuart Immonen comic rife with breakneck adventure. Look, I read Saga for years, but after a while, it kind of seems like a soap opera, like The Walking Dead, where the thrust of the story is lost in just kind of keeping it going. Empress is punchy, even while at its heart it kind of is a soap opera. Millar is far too impatient for full-on soap opera, though, so there's not a chance of Empress becoming another Saga.
The Flash: Rebirth #1 (DC)
I was kind of shocked that DC allowed this property to all but go to complete waste in the New 52 era, after reviving Barry Allen with Geoff Johns at the helm just before it. The New 52 Flash was one long attempt at struggling to catch up with better material that had come before it. Josh Williamson, previously best known for Image comics like Nailbiter, seems to have been chosen precisely because he's both capable and willing to reverse this trend. And thank god, because as the issue fans will be reading post-DC Universe Rebirth to see what happens next, we don't need another post-Flashpoint disappointment. A story that makes Flash look like one of DC's most important characters needs a decent follow-up. This time that's exactly what happens.
Superman: American Alien #7 (DC)
The finale of this mini-series sees Max Landis brilliantly reimagine, essentially, the scenario J. Michael Straczynski featured in his first volume of Superman: Earth One, wherein an alien comes to Earth, causes a lot of trouble, and helps Superman find out where he came from. Where Straczynski settled for a surprisingly dull new creation, Landis chooses Lobo, as fans recognize him from pre-New 52 continuity (the good ol' bounty hunter bastiche with the bike and everything). It's brilliant, as everything has been about American Alien. Lobo is here to send a message to Hawkman (alluded to, which is even better), and ends up provoking Superman into his first big brawl. I know I tend to sound fairly dismissive of Straczynski's creative output, but in this instance, a clear parallel can be found, and I think Landis does it better. However, I'd still recommend Straczynski's Superman: Earth One work for those interested in less complicated Superman continuity.
Action Comics #957 (DC)
Interestingly, Lex Luthor is the star of this title, but the Convergence (and new Rebirth) Superman is a co-star, too, so Dan Jurgens gets to continue his recent storytelling along with Tomasi & Gleason's Superman, which I hadn't really anticipated. The rivalry between Luthor and Superman has kind of been turned on its head, which is brilliant. There's also Clark Kent running around (how? this continuity's Superman is dead, right?), and the threat of Doomsday once again. After "Doomed," is it too early? Who cares! This is Jurgens' (ugly, ugly) baby. It's about time he gets to revisit him again...
Wonder Woman: Rebirth #1 (DC)
It's interesting that so many Wonder Woman stories, from about Jodi Picoult onward, have dealt with a fairly insular world, and that once again, her origin (kind of like Donna Troy, actually) is causing all sorts of continued drama. That's what Greg Rucka, returning after too many years to follow-up on his brilliant Infinite Crisis-era work, will be dealing with, all over again. I trust he'll have some interesting stuff to say about all of this.
Aquaman is still lame.
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