Nightwing: Tom DeFalco, Kyle Higgins, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Rod Reis, Carlos M. Mangual

We’ve now seen the origins of two of Batman’s four Robins: Damian and Jason. Let’s take a further step back in time to see the very first…the original…the classic Dick Grayson. It’s a pretty wild ride, so please keep all hands and feet inside the vehicle.

My heart almost exploded when I heard DeFalco was credited on this issue. I was so scared he’d mess everything up. But apparently he only gets story credit, and that’s with Higgins. Higgins is the guy behind the actual script (thank God). There were parts of this that I liked, and parts I didn’t. Mostly I liked it. If I had to give it a percentage, I would say I liked 95% of it. That other 5% is made up of the following: parkour, and a change in the origin story. I’ll get to those.

First let’s talk about Eddy Barrows. This guy is awesome. I love his work. He always does a great job of these acrobatic poses and fluid movements. There’s PLENTY of that here, and it almost made me want to start reading the main title again (I put it down, after all). You wanna see something really cool? On page 2, check out Dick’s second position as he jumps from the train. With his arms up like that, and his jacket billowing out? Look like a Nightwing symbol to you? Ferreira joins his buddy from the Nightwing book on inks, and Rod Reis also returns. That’s interesting that the whole art team from the series is working the Zero Issue - as many of them have been different. I like this, though. I feel like someone else wouldn’t have done Dick the justice he deserves. Barrows also makes Dick look VERY MUCH like himself, younger. There’s a definite relation between this younger Grayson and the one we see grown up as Nightwing. I always like that.

Speaking of justice, that’s part of where the origin story differs from the preboot one. After Dick’s parents are killed, he’s not whisked away to Wayne Manor immediately. He’s put into a care facility while Bruce watches him, feeling sympathetic. This is much more realistic, and I dig it. The justice part comes in when Dick starts sneaking out nightly to try and find Tony Zucco. This reminds me more of the “Batman Forever” version of Dick Grayson…but, y’know, better.

I wasn’t a big fan of how the only moments we see with Dick and his parents together they were mad at him, because it doesn’t give us that loving connection we need in order to feel our guts ripped out when they die. But what are you gonna do? So, the parkour thing comes in because Dick and Raymond did parkour will running across moving trains as kids, and I guess it stuck with Dick as he grew and stuff. The main story didn’t really make much mention of parkour, though, so it feels lumped in there awkwardly. Kind of like how Tim Drake, now, was a star gymnast at school before becoming Robin. Coincidence? I liked how Dick and Tim had to train their ASSES off to gain the title.

Now, for the other major change in the origin story for Dick. He uses his understanding of motion and body language to figure out who Batman is. If that’s the case…then we have a problem. Because Tim uses his keen intellect and detective skills to figure it out later. So that means that Bruce isn’t doing a very good job of hiding it. It also makes Dick too similar to Tim in origin, for me at least. I liked that Tim was the only one to actually figure it out, and the others were told.

The ending of the issue, with a really cool surprise guest villain, was VERY awesome, and full of triumph (despite where Dick faltered). It really made me smile. I thought it was the perfect ending, in fact. Even better was the consistency of the theme of change throughout the ish, and how it tied in to the very last page. There are moments when you might get tired of the word “change” appearing on the page, but it does work for the purpose of the story. It gives Dick a very good motivation that more than foreshadows his eventually outgrowing the role of Robin.

Nightwing #0, the verdict: A very good issue, with outstanding art, and a really cool telling of how Dick came to be not only Robin, but surrogate son to Bruce Wayne and partner in crime-fighting. A great story that could have been more emotional, considering the tragedy in Dick’s life, but I suppose it does go with the whole “change” and “looking forward” mantra that’s repeated throughout the ish. I’m most bummed that he’s now another of the Robins to figure out Batman’s identity before it’s made clear, because that made Tim special, whereas Dick was already special. God, you really have to have everything for yourself, huh, Dick!?

(Photo Source: DC Comics)

Teen Titans: Scott Lobdell, Tom DeFalco, Ig Guara, JP Mayer, Andrew Dalhouse, Dezi Sienty, Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund

Oh man, FINALLY. The end of The Culling! And I say that not because I’m excited. I say that because I can’t wait to get past this ugly mess.

Speaking of ugly, Guara’s still on-duty for this issue while Booth handled the Annual. I’m just not a big fan of this representation with the characters. They have awkward proportions and look like none of them are wearing underwear. It’s the whole no-belts thing, I think…which isn’t necessarily Guara’s fault. But it’s just odd. Other artists don’t make these characters look strange without belts…so maybe some of it is because of Guara.

Speaking of more ugly, I hate Harvest. He just might be the worst villain of the whole New 52. And it’s really a shame because what a concept! What a great idea for a villain! A dude who kidnaps superpowered teens and makes them fight to the death to earn the right to fight for him!

Here’s the problem(s): We never learn WHY he needs his Ravagers to fight for him. Who will they be fighting? Why? What are they fighting for? It’s fairly obvious they’re to be an “evil” team, but is it a misunderstood thing? Like stealing to feed your family? Also, Harvest is way too powerful! Right on the first page here, he says he was able to beat the strongest of them with “a shrug of [his] shoulders.” So…why does he NEED Ravagers? What’s his motive? It would make more sense if he just wanted to kill all the superpowered teens in a cruel, sadistic, voyeuristic way. But instead he needs a team to do his bidding? What is he, agoraphobic?

Every single page is full of drawn-out, lengthy dialog that’s just god-awful. I seriously hurt my brain reading through it all. Here’s Red Robin, literally: “No sane person could think it was a good idea to pluck teenagers from across the globe — meta or otherwise — and set them against each other in a battle royal where the survivors are forced to serve your insane cause as Ravagers!”

That’s…what is…NOBODY TALKS LIKE THAT!! Is it supposed to sound proper and well-enunciated? Because, yeah, Tim’s a smart kid, but not even HE talks like that! It’s so expository! It’s so LONG! Why isn’t Harvest blinking him out of existence Rorschach-style-at-the-end-of-Watchmen while he’s yakking away? WTH?!

In this issue, Harvest FINALLY reveals his purpose, his goal in all of this. Again, as I’ve said before, everything was going “according to plan,” which is another reason he’s the worst villain ever. A villain in complete control of everything that happens is not exciting (Palpatine). A villain that is capable of losing control and becoming extremely frustrated is much more interesting. That makes them fallible and vulnerable.

Harvest was hoping that the Titans would help the children in the Crucible escape to all over the world so that they could, quote, “[create] fear, chaos and confusion in their wake,” and get the public to cry out for a controlling organization like NOWHERE. …Are you kidding me? So Harvest expects the average Joe public to follow a monster who looks like HIM?! Don’t think so.

You know what I realized at one point, reading through this? It feels like a video game. A poorly written video game, but a video game nonetheless. It’s like…the Titans did all their work together, took down and recruited Superboy, infiltrated NOWHERE, got into the Culling, teamed up with the Legion, defeated the Ravagers…and here’s the FINAL LEVEL BOSS!!! Harvest!! The most powerful mofo in the universe!!

Lame.

I don’t want to read a video game. I have video games I can play for that. I want to read good, involved, complex stories about the Teen Titans. We were getting some exciting seeds planted in the first few issues with Lobdell…but this whole Culling thing was just a complete bust. And it feels like nearly a year was wasted on this title. A YEAR. Nobody thinks of it like that, I think. It’s always, “oh well that’s just 12 issues.”

No, it’s a full, stinking year.

Teen Titans #9, the verdict: A severely disappointing end to a frustrating chapter in the Teen Titans annals. I’ve been looking forward to this event, thinking it was going to be epic and awesome. I didn’t think it’d be 90s action movie epic. Which is to say…terrible. Kids, little kids, will probably love this book. Because that’s the target audience for those terrible 90s action movies. I’m talking “Surf Ninjas,” and “Masters of the Universe.” Hell, Harvest does kind of seem like a mix between Skeletor and Leslie Nielsen’s metal-faced villain in “Surf Ninjas.” I think I just unlocked the inspiration to this story arc. If I didn’t know Lobdell and Booth were coming back next issue, I’d be dropping this book, sadly.

(Photo Source: Newsarama)

Superboy: Scott Lobdell, Tom DeFalco, R.B. Silva, Rob Lean, Iban Coello, Richard & Tanya Horie, Hi-Fi, Travis Lanham, Ian Churchill, Alex Sollazzo

This issue exists in moments. Moments of cool stuff and brilliant interacts that flail to stay afloat among a sea of mediocrity. Hell, it’s not even mediocre in most points. It just plain falls flat on its face.

I blame it mostly on Tom DeFalco, as I’m sure you can all guess right off the bat. Note the credits on this one. It was “plotted” by Lobdell, and “scripted” by DeFalco, which means Tom wrote it, guys. Scott just had the idea. The general plot. I know there’s a bandwagon of eager people who love to trash Lobdell, but I’m a fan. He writes well, I think. Sadly, this whole Culling event is pretty much falling under DeFalco’s pen…with little apparent interference from Lobdell.

Also, negatively, I opened this book to the first page and almost yakked. I’m still having such a hard time with Silva’s art. Just…Red Robin’s face on the first page there — both in standing behind Superboy and in the margins full of the team faces. Barely any of these people look like themselves. Bunker, Kid Flash, Red Robin, Timber Wolf, Beast Boy. I’m sure the only reason Wildfire resembles himself is because he wears a helmet.

The backgrounds are confusing, and just full of fire. There’s not a lot of definition or depth. Walls that we know to be miles behind the characters look like they’re right there. Sal Regla, when he helped ink the Teen Titans Annual, told me that colorist Andrew Dalhouse had a real understanding of depth, and saved a lot of panels from looking flat like this. So perhaps blame also falls with the Hories and Hi-Fi here. But they’re pretty good colorists on their own stuff, usually. It just looks like Silva didn’t give them much to work with. A lot of the panels are obscured by smoke, dust, large close-ups of characters, or special power effects given off by the characters. There, no backgrounds needed.

It’s depressing, sometimes, the characters look great. Red Robin and Ridge included. Same, the writing has moments of clarity…like when Timber Wolf tackles Kid Flash and sheds a little light on the mystery of the speedster from the future. And also, certain characters seem to have been left out of the entire issue, like Gates, Beast Boy, Omen, and Solstice. What the hell?

The dialog is horrible. I mean…just awful. That’s a DeFalco signature, right there. Lengthy, clunky dialog that used to work in comics a long time ago. Like when characters used huge globs of thought bubbles? Only now it’s all done out loud. Even worse. And finally, Harvest arrives to basically say, “Yes, I wanted you to beat my Ravagers so that you could feel hopeful before I kill you all.” This guy’s motives are ALL OVER THE PLACE!! I thought he wanted them to survive so they could be his new Ravagers! No? He wanted to kill them all along? Then why not do it when they were strapped to tables? Why have the Culling in the first place? To be showy? I totally don’t understand, and I hate it.

Superboy #9, the verdict: What. Even. This stuff is just trash. I honestly can’t enjoy it. Some of my favorite characters are getting murdered in the Crucible, and I don’t mean in the story. I mean in the writing and art. MURDERED. Let’s get these Superboy cover artists to do interiors! Good lord that’s beautiful artwork! And who cares about a Superboy with telekinetic powers? The preboot Superboy used his Kryptonian powers (through TT, yeah, but still!) The writers obviously figured out that a character named “Superboy” would have to ACT and BE like a Super! Haven’t figured that out here yet. Also, DeFalco’s shabby dialog is torturous. And I’m supposed to read Legion Lost #9 to get the rest of the story? UGH.

(Photo Source: iFanBoy)

Teen Titans Annual: Tom DeFalco, Scott Lobdell, Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Sal Regla, Marlo Alquiza, John Livesay, Andrew Dalhouse, Rob Leigh, Rob Hunter

So here it is…the beginning of The Culling, the huge crossover spanning between Teen Titans, Superboy, and Legion Lost. There are parts of this Annual that I loved, and there are lots I did not like. Let’s get started. I hope I don’t make this crazy long.

Tom DeFalco. I’ve said lots already in other reviews. But it seems like he had a heavy hand in writing this Annual, and possibly a lot of The Culling itself. A lot of weak dialog and some poor character choices that I’m more willing to associate with DeFalco much easier than I am Lobdell. Lobdell’s been able to show us consistency in his book, whereas DeFalco’s first issue of Legion Lost was a train wreck and a departure from Nicieza’s run. The worst is with the villains, Harvest and his crew. They seriously gave me indigestion.

Positively, BRETT BOOTH’S BACK! There were a few issues of Teen Titans handled by Ig Guara because of Booth needing time to work on this Annual. It’s so nice to see Booth’s pencil’s again, I’m not going to lie. There’s even one panel where Tim looks like he did in Young Justice all those years ago. Rapmund and Sal Regla help out with inks here, along with a couple others. I was able to talk to Sal about this issue, and he said that Andrew Dalhouse was the REAL hero on the art team. Regla pointed out how Andrew was able to add real depth to panels with his colors. It was cool to see.

Another really cool treat was BEAST BOY!!! Holy crap!! I really like Gar, I think he’s a great character. To see him back is a breath of fresh air. And he’s red now! I wonder how that decision went down. Anyway, there’s some GREAT art with Gar, thanks to Brett’s paleoartist background. The Titans end up fighting the Legion, but they eventually understand each other and team up. The best double-page spread I think I’ve ever seen comes from this, when one page is taken by the Titans, the other the Legion. It’s breathtaking. Nice job to the creative team.

And then it’s all ruined when Harvest goes nuts and destroys his monitors, claiming that everything that’s happened…was to his design. Yes. The Titans teaming up with the Legion, and taking everyone out, was exactly what he wanted. It leads to a future that he’s planned for. So…that all happened so Harvest could send his team in to kill them all? I don’t understand, I thought this Culling was to breed a new team of Ravagers to fight for Harvest. But his current team is just going to fight and slaughter them all? What even?

Teen Titans Annual #1, the verdict: So it all came down to, not a deus ex machina, but more a “I PLANNED IT ALL ALONG!” from the villain. How absolutely disappointing. I HATE those endings! It’s like everything the heroes fought for means nothing! Everything they did was in vain, and I think…”Why’d I read this in the first place?” See, a lot of writers think that whole, “Hahaha, everything you’ve done was anticipated, and exactly what I wanted you to do!” from the villain is exciting, and dramatic, and will get a great reaction out of us readers. Wrong. It negates everything our heroes have done. All I can do is take comfort almost all of the Teen Titans issues have been really great.

(Photo Source: Newsarama)

Legion Lost: Tom DeFalco, Aaron Kuder, Brad Anderson, Travis Lanham, Pete Woods

Sorry, folks. You won’t be getting a proper review of this issue. Why is that? Well, because this issue of mine was absolutely trashed by some spilled water that I wasn’t immediately aware of. So it’s practically destroyed. Why is that? Is it because it’s one of the worst pieces of garbage I’ve ever read, and a huge middle finger to Nicieza and his team, who did such an excellent job with the first arc? You can’t prove that. But this was one of the worst pieces of garbage I’ve ever read, and a huge middle finger to Nicieza and his team. The characters are off, the dialog is gag-worthy, there’s action for the sake of action (and not story), and the art is just atrocious. Atrocitus atrocious. See, because, I hate his redesi— Anyway, I felt like this issue was just a big F-you to us readers who have been loyal from the beginning. I felt pandered to. I felt like this whole issue was a joke. It made me sorely miss Fabian Nicieza…but more importantly, it made me stop buying this series. I’m done. As long as Tom DeFalco has his claws in it, it won’t be right. In fact, I’d like to take a moment to say how I think he’s ruining DC’s New 52. Notice at the top of the first page…the location tag for NOWHERE: it says “The Antarctic.” …………..WRONG. It was very well established already in Teen Titans that NOWHERE is in the Arctic - the north pole. Yet this mistake will continue on through multiple issues where Tom De-freaking-Falco’s name is attached…no matter what title. Who the hell is his editor, and why didn’t they catch it? I’m looking at YOU, Darren Shan and Brian Cunningham. You’re not doing your jobs. And this whole Culling event that eventually goes down? Well…I’ll get to those feels later in those reviews, but because Tom DeFalco’s name is all over it, it turned out shabby. What a shame.

Legion Lost #8, the verdict: UGH. I loved this book. And this guy comes along and just ruins it. In one issue. Ruins it. Nearly everything about this issue is bad or wrong, and I’m done. I’ll always hold onto my Nicieza issues like they were treasure, but DeFalco’s sullied it. He’s not only sullied this title, but Superboy and Teen Titans as well. I’m suddenly wondering just how much of the Culling idea was his. Because it was definitely executed with his sort of shoddiness. But, again, tune in to those reviews for more of that haterade. For now, I’m dropping this title.

(Photo Source: Comic Box Commentary)

The Ravagers: Howard Mackie, Tom DeFalco, Ian Churchill, Norm Rapmund, Alex Sollazzo, Hi-FI, Dezi Sienty, Peter Steigerwald

Well, it’s official…I’m hooked. I really loved this issue. There are just a couple of moments where things seem to skip forward without explanation, while giving us a dialog-heavy recap of events unseen in the pages that kind of got on my nerves. As a guy who writes in screenplay format, I know how important it is to “show not tell.” In this issue, we find what’s left of the team survived the fall and are floating on an iceberg until they find a boat that brings them back to the mainland. Bright Eyes and Windshear are brought to Harvest’s new base in Mongolia (yeah, I thought Bright Eyes died too), and we see Warblade take off his mask. Wait, what?! His mask?! I was totally married to the idea that that was HIS FACE! I’m so disappointed now. Oh well. This dude working for Harvest named Keeper is quite a horrifying sight…and he explains that Harvest is the Mary Sue of ALL VILLAINS EVAR! This is something I didn’t like about the ending of the Culling event…how everything that happened was, suddenly, all according to Harvest’s master plan. I raise my hand, ever so politely, and call BULL on that. Simply because it makes no sense. That Harvest WANTED the metahuman teens to destroy his huge underground complex and escape into the world? What exactly? But I guess I have no choice but to roll with it. There’s this other dude that shows up here, working for Harvest (apparently everyone and their grandma works for Harvest), named Shadow Walker…and this guy’s a total bamf. I love his look! His face is just so perfect and well-designed. He kind of reminds me of Quan-Chi from Mortal Kombat. We learn about how Shadow Walker is this super powerful, super scary dude that tortured the kids in the Colony…especially poor Thunder. Thunder seems to be, like, the “go-to” for everyone to pick on. I’m also starting to love Ridge more and more. But…all of this, everything in this issue, completely pales in the light of the last page. We see Beast Boy, and he’s dreaming something terrifying. Something that has me so incredibly excited that I just cannot wait for issue #3. I seriously don’t want to spoil it for you all! BUT I CAN’T HELP IT!! QUICK, STOP READING THIS REVIEW!!!!!

The Ravagers #2, the verdict: So this has really helped to decide how much longer I’ll be reading this new title. I do really like it, and it’s a lot of fun. The characters work well together, and I’m excited to see them all fighting alongside one another, especially when Gar and Terra rejoin the fight. The artwork is still great, with Churchill giving us some great visuals - especially of Shadow Walker! What a really great-looking character! Tom DeFalco steps in on this issue to help with the dialog…and we all know how I feel about his work so far (he’s the reason I stopped reading Legion Lost)…but, surprisingly, it’s not terrible. Perhaps that was Mackie in there tempering it with quality. The ONE thing I have to say about this really awesome ending is that it seems a little TOO convenient for Gar to be having this ominous, prophetic dream. I really do hope we get a swallowable explanation in the issues to come, and it didn’t just happen because it needed to happen. Also, don’t miss Kenneth Rocafort’s OUTSTANDING artwork at the end of the issue! WHAT A GREAT LOOK for this character! I really can’t wait to see it.

(Photo Source: First Comics News)

Legion Lost: Fabian Nicieza, Tom DeFalco, Pete Woods, Matt Camp, Travis Lanham, Brad Anderson

This was an excellent issue, I felt. It’s also the last issue Nicieza worked on…which will turn out to be a bad and sad thing. I’ll get to that later. Timber Wolf has been captured by some military organization and is visited by the enigmatic Martian Manhunter, who starts questioning just what the hell him and the Legion are doing in this time when they’re supposed to be in the 30th Century. Gates and the other Legionnaires break into the facility to try and rescue Wolf and Chameleon Girl. The following skirmish is epic. And I love Gates…and he really shines in this issue. Then there’s Major Nicholson, this high-up woman who thinks she has a handle on the situation. But she’s so hopelessly out of control that it’s hilarious. Martian Manhunter provides a couple mysterious answers to the Legion’s questions…and gets out of there…leaving the Legion to think that they may not ever find the way home. Another problem is…Alastor is missing. So we’re left with some great questions, and some great content as well as some awesome art by Pete Woods and Matt Camp. It’s bittersweet…with Fabian Nicieza stepping down from the title. Tom DeFalco is helping to fill in, and will be taking over next issue. He’s also heading toward this Culling crossover event with Scott Lobdell. That’s what you can expect next from this series.

Legion Lost #6, the verdict: You’ll see how this series will go once DeFalco takes over…and I’ll give you a hint - I hate it. So, for me, it really is sad to see Nicieza go. Remember at the start of the series? I didn’t much like it…but, later, I learned how fantastic it was. I couldn’t stop reading. To hear that the great writer behind the wheel was leaving was saddening. The art remains fantastic, and that does really help. This was a great send-off for Nicieza.

(Photo Source: iFanBoy)

Superboy: Scott Lobdell, Tom DeFalco, Iban Coello, R.B. Silva, Rob Lean, Richard & Tanya Horie, Hi-Fi, Dave Sharpe, Shane Davis, Sandra Hope, Barbara Ciardo

Once again, a great cover by Shane Davis and crew. I really like this art style, and wish it would permeate throughout the entire issue. Though Coello does a great job as well. They’re both definite improvements over Silva’s style…which seems a little too cartoony to me. For instance, the blood spurting out of Superboy’s stomach and mouth at the end of last issue…wasn’t that just strawberry jelly? I mean…it LOOKED like strawberry jelly. Must’ve been. Anyway, despite Superboy being in almost the same pose as last issue (though more clothed), it’s good. Here we meet Grunge, the elemental man. Oh, whoops, not the Elemental Man, the man who has learned to control the elements. That’s just far too much a mouthful for me, hence the stumble there. I mean…this is kind of ridiculous, though it does kind of really fit with Lobdell’s style. But it’d be like saying, “Magneto, the man who discovered he could conquer magnetism,” instead of the much more catchy, “Magneto, master of magnetism.” And you get to stick with the alliteration there, too, which is always nice. In any case, Grunge works for Harvest, and is whipping Superboy into shape…taking him to the next level in terms of the preparations for the Culling. But because Superboy’s TK doesn’t work directly on Grunge, he’s having his behind gift wrapped back to him. Grunge proves to be much more than Superboy’s match when he actually breaks his arms. Now…here, it’s on these two pages and this panel spread, is where my faith in Coello’s art was shaken. This two-page layout was not designed very well…because it still looks like it could be two separate pages, instead of two panels going across horizontally up top. I admit, I went straight down the page when I got there…and it was a bit confusing. Then, look at Superboy’s face as his arms are being broken. That face doesn’t convey the kind of pain I think he’d be in…especially for someone not accustomed to pain like that. Then…horror struck. I turn the page and we’re finally treated to the “what the hell how did we end up here because the Teen Titans had rescued Superboy already” explanation. And it’s on this page that I’m shocked, and almost puked my guts out. It’s the art on those two panel flashbacks. What the hell is that? No, really, what IS that? Because it’s nothing out of the DCnU that I’VE seen so far. It’s an abomination is what it is. That’s where my praise for Coello completely fell apart and turned to ash. It looks freaking unfinished! As the story goes on, we see Solstice talking to Rose— wait, Solstice? SOLSTICE?! What the actual—?! She’s in captivity! Teen Titans #8! You’re telling me she somehow got away? NONE of these Young Justice title issues explained or showed that! That’s about when I threw the book aside. There is one…ONE…redeeming quality about this book now. And that’s at the end, with a couple of surprise guest appearances by some friends of old. ….*sigh*…It’s really a shame they’re given some really crappy dialog for their first DCnU appearance.

Superboy #8, the verdict: What started as a promising issue QUICKLY turned to dust in my hands. This thing spiraled completely out of control while playing havoc with the rest of the current timeline for these heroes. I’m suddenly VERY worried about how this whole Culling event is going to play out if Tom DeFalco has had as heavy a hand in it as he has with the last two Superboy issues. Will there be more inconsistencies? Will there be more unworthy dialog? What’s exactly going to come out of this highly-anticipated crossover event? We can only hope that Lobdell and Booth will bring it around to the greatness we’ve already witnessed them accomplish, and that they wrest control away from DeFalco, Silva, and Coello. Then it’ll be a success.

(Photo Source: Danger Mart)

Superboy: Scott Lobdell, Tom DeFalco, R.B. Silva, Rob Lean, Iban Coello, Richard & Tanya Horie, Hi-Fi, Carlos M. Mangual, Shane Davis, Sandra Hope, Barbara Ciardo

Looks like Scott and Tom have been working very closely together, what with their team-up on the upcoming crossover event The Culling…which tapers into the Teen Titans Annual issue, due out May 2nd. DeFalco’s been handling Legion Lost, and so the two have been working on the story together it seems. There are a couple things I really like about this issue. I really liked how we saw Superboy just kicking all sorts of major butt, using his powers to seriously mess stuff up. I also liked the guest penciller Iban Coello’s contributions. They’re really excellent, actually. I think it gives Superboy this new kind of look that I haven’t seen before (and he actually looks a lot like Superman did in the “Flashpoint” series). Finally, I really loved the appearance of Danny the Street. He’s been hanging around Teen Titans a lot, but here we go now getting a glimpse of this mysterious character in Superboy. I only wish the writing didn’t refer to him as a “phenomenon” like it does. It’s just…bad wording. Some of the writing is a little weak like that. But you get what you get. I’m starting to realize that this title may become a moot point. Think about it: if Superboy is a member of the Teen Titans, will he ever have a spotlight of his own? Or will he just not join the Titans? I suppose it could be just like Superman having his own series while being in the Justice League, but still. I don’t know how much longer Superboy will be able to hold up his own title, especially after the Culling is over. But we’ll see. I trust in Lobdell to come up with some really exciting original stories for the Boy of Steel to experience.

Superboy #7, the verdict: This was a fun issue, especially the surprise ending, and I liked the guest art the most. The writing and narration was a little off-kilter, and has definitely been better. I don’t have much faith in Tom DeFalco right now, but I’ll get to that in another review of mine. Hopefully, once Lobdell’s back on this title full-time, it will improve. And, please, let’s try to get a different artist…or at least alternate between artists or something. I just keep coming back to how this is one of my least-favorite drawn books of the New 52. Oh yeah, GREAT COVER, too! I really dig this cover. Let’s let Shane Davis draw this book. Forever.

(Photo Source: Space Booger)

Superboy: Scott Lobdell, Tom Defalco, R.B. Silva, Rob Lean, Richard & Tanya Horie, Carlos M. Mangual, Shane Davis, Jonathan Glapion, Barbara Ciardo

Man, sometimes I just don’t like Silva’s art. I keep flip-flopping because sometimes it’s fun and sometimes it just comes off as ugly. That first splash page looks good, but Solstice here really steals the scene - she looks GREAT. She mentions “The Culling,” which is an upcoming cross-over event between Teen Titans, Superboy, and Legion Lost, from which we’ll see one of the new six books emerge: The Ravagers. We still don’t really understand what The Culling is or why it’s happening, just these hints and teases all over the place. I would think that with an event coming up as big as this, you’d want to let us in at least a little more. As Superboy flies off from the scene of the Titans attack, he looks back with this look on his face that reminds me of old Conner…as Superboy notices the friendship between the Titans (if however new). You can really start to see the beginning of the path that Superboy will take to join the team. Next…Supergirl appears. We see mention in this month’s Superman that she wanted to talk to Big Blue about his little clone friend…and here’s that encounter. And boy is it an encounter. I love how, at first, the two seem to bond a little, and there’s a point where you think this could go really, really well. But the ensuing battle is, actually, REALLY exciting. We get to see a few things for the first time in this issue (since the relaunch). Superboy gets to see Krypton using his TK powers, and lashes out at Supergirl, not understanding. He suddenly learns Kryptonian and admits to being a clone, to which Supergirl reacts very violently…and calls him Kon-El (which we all know is the pre-relaunch Kryptonian name for Conner). Though, here, it seems to mean some kind of abomination that helped lead to the destruction of Krypton, having to do with cloning. We also learn Superboy’s fate. Hopefully he can overcome it, though it definitely reminds me of how Superboy came under Luther’s control in Geoff Johns’ “Teen Titans” run. Superboy decides to take fate into his own hands, though, and return to N.O.W.H.E.R.E. (I absolutely hate typing that) to confront Templar and finally get answers. Though he’s headed off by Rose Wilson and her swords. She claims she can kill Superboy…but I’m so intensely curious on how she plans to do that with Superboy being impervious and all. Guess we’ll find out next issue!

Superboy #6, the verdict: This book CAN be hit-or-miss. It’s usually hit, for me. What I liked best about this issue was how much we learn. And I mean FINALLY learn. We get to see a new meaning for the name Superboy (may) eventually take for himself. We see him starting to interact with the other Kryptonians on Earth (which will no doubt eventually lead to a confrontation with Superman himself). And we see him starting down the path toward the Titans. The Culling makes another referential appearance in this issue…and I’m telling you I’m excited to see what Lobdell has in store. I can smell what the Scott is cooking…and it smells good.

(Photo Source: The Fellowship of the Geeks)