DC Comics is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the New 52 by releasing Zero issues, line wide, to fill in some key backstories and drop hints to what year two might entail for these titles. We wanted to take a look at each week’s releases and attempt to see themes, patterns, or trends in them, as well as assess the success of the issues on an individual level, and as a line. Also, every #1 issue of the initial New 52 had a Pandora sighting, so we wanted to see if this trend was going to continue with the #0s, so we scoured as hard as we could to try and spot her if she was there. So, without any further ado: Week 3!
Check out Week One
Check out Week Two
Check out Week Three
Number of Zero Issues Released on 9/26: 14
A Quick Note Before We Begin: Editor in Chief Matthew Meylikhov and I had a discussion about whether or not unnecessary comics were bad comics. If necessity is the key to enjoying these books, then you’re going to be disappointed in nearly all of them. They mostly present pieces of the character’s overall story that are inessential and inconsequential, and serve as a little glimpse into who they are what they are. So, my judging of these books will be whether or not the issues are enjoyable and well executed, versus whether or not they “matter.”
“All-Star Western” #0
Is this an origin story? Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: There isn’t one moment that particularly stands out, but there is a whole mess of Hex badass moments to be found herein.
Worst moment: Ah’m a monthly reader of the book, so Ah’m used to I’s being Ah’s, but for a new reader, that could potentially ruin your day.
A review in one sentence: “One of the more consistent New 52 books thus far provides a straight up origin for its main character that, while fun, doesn’t add all that much to the character’s mythos.” – Brian Salvatore
“Aquaman” #0
Is this an origin story? Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: The fact that there wasn’t one tongue in cheek comment amount being lame and or talking to fish seems like a win to me.
Worst moment: Arthur used to smile, believe it or not, but in this entire run I doubt he’s cracked a grin more than twice.
A review in one sentence: “Often times in comics we find that on occasion great art will carry along terrible writing to the point that it’s tolerable, and “Aquaman” is a great example of that.” – Matthew Meylikhov
“Batman Incorporated” #0
Is this an origin story? Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Not quite, as Frazer Irving steps in for Burnham on art duties.
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: The Batman of Japan sequence is bomb.
Worst moment: As a huge Irving fan it pains me to say this, but the art didn’t quite match the script here at points.
A review in one sentence: “My point is that though this fits the definition of a “zero issue” by being about the recruitment of the Incorporated members, it does little to actually introduce them to you if you’re an uninitiated reader.” – Vince Ostrowski
“Batman: The Dark Knight” #0
Is this an origin story? Not really
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? No, as David Finch takes a breather and lets Mico Suayan and Juan Jose Ryp pencil the issue
Continued belowIs there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: It was nice to see the world’s greatest detective hit a brick wall and get frustrated by his process.
Worst moment: This issue borders on cheesy in various parts.
A review in one sentence: “Hurwitz has been a welcome addition to the Bat-stable of writers, but this is an issue a bit too heavy on sentiment and light on deep meaning.” – Brian Salvatore
“The Flash” #0
Is this an origin story? Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: When so many other New 52 books are going darker, it is nice to see Barry Allen still being a positive guy who refuses to rest while his father is in prison.
Worst moment: That we don’t get to see more of Allen’s prototype costumes.
A review in one sentence: “The team who brings us “The Flash” each week deserves a statue in their honor” – Brian Salvatore
“The Fury of Firestorm” #0
Is this an origin story? No
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: While it is certainly the easy way out, having the Firestorm boys team up in the old fashioned way (one in body, one in mind) certainly makes the book easier to plot, read, and enjoy.
Worst moment: Each character’s development struggles significantly when reduced to the “brain” versus “brawn” roles they are given.
A review in one sentence: “This issue acts as a reset switch for the book, rendering its name all but moot (“Fury” was their combined Firstorm Voltron), and clearing the path for Dan Jurgens to take over the writing.”
“I, Vampire” #0
Is this an origin story? Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: There are three or four pages of jaw-droppingly awesome artwork which are worth the price of admission alone.
Worst moment: The Shakespeare sonnet at the end is a little too on the nose.
A review in one sentence: “This book continues to impress with its impeccable scripting and stunning art.” – Brian Salvatore
“Justice League Dark” #0
Is this an origin story? Kind of
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Lee Garbett fills in for the solicited Mikel Janin
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: This is the first issue where Lemire seems to have a grasp on Constantine as a character, even if he still isn’t quite up to “Hellblazer” standards.
Worst moment: Garbett is not Janin, and Janin is missed dearly.
A review in one sentence: “Though we get a passable “Times Past” tale about Zatanna and Constantine, there’s so much more potential to the Justice League Dark team and we’re afforded none of it.” – Vince Ostrowski
“Red Lanterns” #0
Is this an origin story? Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment:
Worst moment:
A review in one sentence: “Overall, this was an ok issue, but not good enough to entice me back next month” – Drew Bradley
“The Savage Hawkman” #0
Is this an origin story? Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: Hawkman’s origin is ever-so-slightly clearer now.
Continued belowWorst moment: Hawkman’s origin is still a God-damned mess.
A review in one sentence: “I thought the New 52 was supposed to simplify thing?” – Brian Salvatore
“Superman” #0
Is this an origin story? Not really
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: Rocafort continues to do excellent work in the New 52.
Worst moment: Why are both adult Kal-El and teenage Kon-El on Krypton before it explodes? Is this bad storytelling or terrible storytelling?
A review in one sentence: “Lobdell manages to make the simplest part of Superman’s origin weirdly complicated and involving time travel and weird metallic Super armor.” – Brian Salvatore
“Talon” #0
Is this an origin story? Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: The fact that this isn’t an obvious cookie-cutter Batman analogue is refreshing.
Worst moment: The Court of Owls just isn’t that interesting.
A review in one sentence: “And some [new books] look a lot like “Talon” — a well thought out gamble, with the odds in its favor.” – Brian Salvatore
“Teen Titans” #0
Is this an origin story? For one character
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: Tim Drake is still a great detective in the New 52, and that is a great thing.
Worst moment: The fucking timeline strikes again.
A review in one sentence: “Regardless, this issue does about all it can to clearly state Drake’s new origin, while establishing him as both an athletic and academic superstar, in addition to being a great son.” – Brian Salvatore
“Voodoo” #0
Is this an origin story? Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: The ending of the book makes it clear that the book may be ending, but Voodoo, as a character, still has a role in the DCnU.
Worst moment: This issue reinforces that Joshua Williamson and Sam Basri were doing their best on a book that was doomed to fail, and done in, ultimately, from the first scantily clad page from original series writer Ron Marz.
A review in one sentence: “See you in “Grifter” for four months until that books gets cancelled, too!” – Brian Salvatore
Final Verdict of the Week: This week had a few great books continuing to be great, a few weird asides, and a few clunkers. However, this week is probably the most solid since the first in terms of overall quality.
Final Verdict of the Month: This month reminded me a little of August 2011, when “Flashpoint” was in full effect, and there were some nice issues mixed in with a lot of shit, and all of it soon to be meaningless. While there might have been some great issues here, with the exception of “The Fury of Firestorm,” “Blue Beetle,” “Green Lantern” and “Green Lantern New Guardians,” these are all skippable books, in terms of being aware of what is happening in #13.
See you when the next gimmicky DC month pops up (I’m guessing “Infinity Issues” in 2013)!
