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
Number of Zero Issues Released on 9/19: 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.”
“Batwoman” #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: This is hard to justify as just “one moment,” but the way that Williams manages to change tones with his art really makes for an enjoyable, enthralling read.
Worst moment: The reveal of who was behind the kidnapping seems far fetched, even for a superhero comic.
A review in one sentence: “The most beautiful book DC puts out gives a great introduction to Kate Kane, although new readers may still feel the need to go back and read the earlier runs of the character.” – Brian Salvatore
“Birds of Prey” #0
Is this an origin story? A team origin, yes.
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: The reveal at the end of the book, which manages to both enhance the team’s origins and push the book forward.
Worst moment: There seemed to be a bit more gratuitous bra and panties shots than usual, and “Birds” is usually a book that doesn’t need to stoop to such cliches.
A review in one sentence: “Dinah is becoming one of the most changed characters in the New 52, origin wise, and this continues that trend, while having some good Starling stuff, and some absolutely time-line maddening Batgirl noise.” – Brian Salvatore
“Blue Beetle” #0
Is this an origin story? This story is the origin of the Scarab, not of Jaime.
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: The history of the Scarab, while interesting (I guess?) makes for a pretty dry comic – I don’t know if one moment stands out to me as a highlight or a lowlight.
Worst moment: See above
A review in one sentence: “If you’ve been wondering about the Scarab’s history, you’re in luck; if not, avoid this comic.” – Brian Salvatore
“Captain Atom” #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 issue as a whole ties in nicely to what JT Krul has been trying to do throughout, especially in the past few issues – that said, while it ties in nicely, what it ties into is a boring, sloppy, Watchmen rip off.
Continued belowWorst moment: So, so many moments to choose from, but I’ll go with the stereotypical grieving tough guy scene from early in the issue.
A review in one sentence: “With “Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan” in the marketplace, it is finally time to put this knock-off of a character that was knocking off this character to bed.”
“Catwoman” #0
Is this an origin story? Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Not even close – gone are Judd Winick and Rafa Sandoval, and in are Ann Nocenti and Adriana Melo.
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: There are actually quite a few nice character moments for “Selina” here, but none of this much resembles the Catwoman we have grown to know and love.
Worst moment: The way she winds up in the alley that defines her is cheesy and borders on being Batman Returns-ian.
A review in one sentence: “Nocenti does a good job at crafting an origin for a character who looks a lot like Catwoman, but this work ultimately disappoints since it doesn’t really feel like a Catwoman story.”
“DC Universe Presents” #0
Is this an origin story? Sort of
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Mostly – because of the designation “and others” at the end of the list of artists, there is leeway given to the artistic flux. But Cafu and Eric Battle are nowhere to be found.
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: The entire Mister Terrific story manages to give dignity to the terrible, terrible Eric Wallace penned run.
Worst moment: Hawk and Dove standing in space motionless while gods discuss their origin.
A review in one sentence: “So, while not the best way to use these characters, the book is successful in keeping these characters alive, and keeping their stories moving forward.” – Brian Salvatore
“Green Lantern New Guardians” #0
Is this an origin story? Not even close
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Andrei Bressen pitches in on a few pages of pencils, but otherwise, yes.
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: It takes balls for DC to include this in their zero month stories, as this is a direct continuation of the Green Lantern books stories, with nothing so much as a flashback to an origin. The brazen nature of the book is its best quality. That said…
Worst moment: …there are a lot of characters in “New Guardians” who could get a origin tale. Or, even do short 4 page stories about the 5 Lanterns that haven’t really been explored before. This is really a missed opportunity.
A review in one sentence: “This should have been labeled “Rise of the Third Army Prologue,” instead of “Green Lantern New Guardians” #0, since origins are nowhere to be found.” – Brian Salvatore
“Justice League” #0
Is this an origin story? Not quite
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: Finally seeing Billy Batson as Shazam.
Worst moment: Billy being reduced to hero-ing for cash.
A review in one sentence: “I don’t think people weren’t buying Shazam books because Billy wasn’t real enough, and I don’t think sales will spike on the eventual spin-off book because Billy now wants to make a buck.” – Brian Salvatore
“Legion of Super-Heroes” #0
Is this an origin story? Not really
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Continued belowIs there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: Seeing some humanity in Brainiac, who frequently can appear to be a dull Legionnaire.
Worst moment: The fact that this already hard to penetrate series isn’t given the clear jumping on point it probably needs (and like “Legion: Secret Origin” was)
A review in one sentence: “For those who wanted more about why Brainiac 5 joined the Legion, here yo go; for the rest of us, continue to not buy this book.”
“Nightwing” #0
Is this an origin story? Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? No – Tom DeFalco and Kyle Higgins plotted this, with Higgins providing dialogue, whereas only Higgins is listed in the original solicitation. In addition, Eddy Barrows is on pencils and Eber Ferreira is on inks, but the solicited Ruy Jose is nowhere to be found.
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: Do I have to pick just one? Let’s go with Dick’s spotting of Bruce’s tics.
Worst moment: The still confusing as fuck Bat-timeline.
A review in one sentence: “If you can overlook an odd moment or two, and a timeline that has been completely screwed, you’ll find an enriching story at the heart of this book.” – Vince Ostrowski
“Red Hood and the Outlaws” #0
Is this an origin story? Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? No – Dwayne Turner was solicited as the artist, but Pasqual Ferry, Ig Guara and Brett Booth are the actual listed artists.
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: The realization that, although it may feel like it, Scott Lobdell isn’t the architect of the entire DCnU.
Worst moment: The last few pages that reveal, spoiler alert, that the Joker basically tricked Batman into taking Jason Todd as his Robin. Yeah.
A review in one sentence: “Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarf.” – Brian Salvatore
“Supergirl” #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: Zor-El is presented as a well-defined, complex character, something that can be tricky to pull off in this single serving issue
Worst moment: Bringing Superboy into this origin for some reason
A review in one sentence: “Supergirl continues to be the best Super-book on the shelves.”
“Sword of Sorcery” #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 relatively real feeling high school scenes.
Worst moment: The weird decision to tell a Beowulf story that isn’t really a Beowulf story at all.
A review in one sentence: “If there are any major problems with “Sword of Sorcery”, they lie in the fact that these books really couldn’t be more opposed to one another from a tonal standpoint.” – Vince Ostrowski
“Wonder Woman” #0
Is this an origin story? Not quite
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: Every panel. Azzarello and Chiang do a note-perfect Silver Age-style tale.
Worst moment: That there isn’t a second Wonder Woman book filled with exclusively these types of stories.
A review in one sentence: “If you don’t love this, you will never love Wonder Woman.”
Final Verdict of the Week: This was an incredibly inconsistent offering. For every “Wonder Woman,” you get a “Red Hood and the Outlaws.” The Bat-books continue to perpetuate the mess of a timeline that exists in the New 52, while the lower tiered books simply didn’t offer all that much to hold on to this week. Here’s hoping the month goes out on a high note next week. Thanks for reading, and see you next week!
