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 2!
Number of Zero Issues Released on 9/12: 14
A Quick Note Before We Begin: Editor in Chief Matthew Meylikhov and I had a discussion last night 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.”
“Batgirl” #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: Gail Simone’s ability to freshen up the origin of Babs without dumbing it down.
Worst moment: “The Killing Joke” referenced – again (and again [and again {and again}]).
A review in one sentence: “Ed Benes and Gail Simone deliver a solid origin that looks gorgeous and reads quick and fun.” – Brian Salvatore
“Batman” #0
Is this an origin story? Not quite – this is almost a sequel to last week’s “Detective Comics,” so we see a crime-fighting Bruce without a cowl or cape.
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Mostly – the solicit credits the backup to Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, but Tynion writes it solo.
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: Tynion’s backup is a nice moment in time that inspires three Robins and a Batgirl.
Worst moment: Much of this issue tries to be more like the Christopher Nolan films (especially design wise) than Batman comics typically have.
A review in one sentence: “It could be a case of a great team having set the bar too high, but it really does feel like no one had much to say about Bruce’s early years.” – Vince Ostrowski
“Batman and Robin” #0
Is this an origin story? For Robin, yes. For the team, no.
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: The last page. (Not a snide remark – it is a well drawn and funny page)
Worst moment: The continued theme of everything about Ozymandias in the last month of DC books – this time, the obsession with Alexander the Great.
A review in one sentence: “A retelling of Damian’s origin without any additional flair or fun – a dull comic.” – Brian Salvatore
“Deathstroke” #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: That Deathstroke wedding scene fans have been clamoring for since the debut of the character.
Worst moment: Jericho returning as a non-mute.
Continued belowA review in one sentence: “Shit sandwich.” – Brian Salvatore
“Demon Knights” #0
Is this an origin story? Of the Demon, yes.
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: The running gag of Etrigan being a poor rhymer.
Worst moment: Merlin is Lucifer’s son? That doesn’t seem very, you know, good.
A review in one sentence: “Much like its sister book, “Stormwatch,” the zero issue of “Demon Knights” gives the reader exactly what was promised — a straight forward origin story for the Etrigan/Jason Blood, if not the entire team. ” – Matthew Boren
“Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E.” #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 issue had a lot of great packed in, but Frank fighting a robotic Nazi spider has to take the cake.
Worst moment: There wasn’t a real bad moment to be found, but if I had to choose, I’d say not a longer Frank/Victor battle.
A review in one sentence: “A tragic birth, a transformative journey, and some epic battles – what more could you ask for?” – Brian Salvatore
“Green Lantern Corps” #0
Is this an origin story? For Guy Gardner, Yes
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: I do love seeing Guy bust Hal’s chops.
Worst moment: Just about everything else. Gardner had a perfectly good origin before, and making the Gardners basically the O’Dares from “Starman” (down to their red hair) is a weird and unnecessary move, especially since Tomasi used to edit “Starman.”
A review in one sentence: “A really frustrating retcon which seems to have been changed for no good reason” – Brian Salvatore
“Grifter” #0
Is this an origin story? Sort of
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: Scott Clark has a few really nice sequences throughout, especially the double page spread early in the issue.
Worst moment: The unclear way that the story unfolds – it isn’t effective in terms of either explaining who he is, or throwing the reader into his inherent confusion.
A review in one sentence: “What day did the Lord create Rob Liefeld, and couldn’t he have rested on that day too?” – Matthew Meylikhov
“Legion Lost” #0
Is this an origin story? For Timber Wolf, yes.
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: The Timber Wolf/Tor battle
Worst moment: The schlocky premise (pretty much a futuristic version of the final sequence from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
A review in one sentence: “Pete Woods is doing great work with so-so material here, and although this origin is interesting enough, it truly has no bearing on anything to do with this book.” – Brian Salvatore
The Ravagers #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: It is nice to see Terra and Beast Boy survive the New 52 with, basically, the same personalities and powers, even if the circumstances leading to their heroics are completely different.
Worst moment: The overall vibe of this book (and most of the Young Justice line) is just so dark, that it takes away any of the fun moments that these characters could have.
Continued belowA review in one sentence: “Just a few brief months after ‘The Culling,’ we are back in that depressing and dark world for another dull installment.” – Brian Salvatore
Resurrection Man #0
Is this an origin story? Yes, as well as a conclusion to the book
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: For those that have been reading the book since the relaunch, this ties things up very nicely, but the best moment is the final confrontation between the angel and the demon fighting for Mitch’s soul.
Worst moment: The worst moment, in a way, is the whole issue, since this shows the potential the book had and, sadly, never really attained this time around.
A review in one sentence: “A fitting end to a book with a great premise and lackluster execution.” – Brian Salvatore
Suicide Squad #0
Is this an origin story? Sort of
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: Seeing King Shark’s headshot on the last panel.
Worst moment: The whole convoluted thing.
A review in one sentence: “DC Comics: Over thinking simple origins since September 2011” – Brian Salvatore
Superboy #0
Is this an origin story? Sort of
Is the originally solicited creative team the team responsible for this book? Yes
Is there a Pandora sighting? No
Best moment: When I realized I only had a page left.
Worst moment: Anything involving Kryptonian clones going nuts.
A review in one sentence: “If you thought Kon-El’s origin was confusing before, strap in and enjoy the ride.” – Brian Salvatore
Team 7 #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 sense of fun that this book brings – this feels like a high-octane action movie, but never veers into parody.
Worst moment: The dialogue did get a little cheesy here and there.
A review in one sentence: “While, for some reason, dropping Steve Trevor from the team, Justin Jordan starts this series off right, and begins another journey through the not-so-distant past of the New 52.” – Brian Salvatore
Final Verdict of the Week: Well, this was a much worse week than Week One. However, this week had almost universally great art, while it also had a bunch of retcons that made absolutely no sense. Week Three looks interesting, with noted trainwrecks like “Captain Atom” battling “Batwoman” to see which aesthetic reigns supreme. Thanks for reading, and see you next week!
