This Week’s Reading Recommendations for DC
This week I read through 11 comics published by DC Comics and they were all available on the DC Universe service. Actually, these 11 issues were only spread across 2 titles and they were both published back in 2016.All 11 rate a Read for me even though some are better than others but none really stand out as must reads or stinkers. Finally, they are all part of my DC Rebirth reading plan where I’m trying to read through DC’s current era of continuity – the problem I have though is that I am years and hundreds of issues behind. Reading these 12 though will at least move me forward a bit and I can only get through my backlog if I keep making progress.
Aquaman Rebirth #1, #1-#6
The first story arc of Aquaman in the Rebirth era begins with Aquaman: Rebirth #1 and includes the first 6 issues of the main title.
As King of Atlantis, Arthur Curry must deal with a distrustful surface world and a vindictive Black Manta in an attempt to bring peace between his nation and the world. Even though he’s King he faces many dissidents among his own people; Altaneans who have no interest in peace with the surface but rather would turn to terrorism to destroy any hope of establishing positive relations. Even more worrisome is the surface world’s reaction to rebel attacks…they arrest Aquaman and then try to kill him when he escapes.
The volume culminates with an appearance of a fellow Justice League member who it turns out is ready to come to browns with Aquaman without getting the true story of what’s going on. This last was a surprise since I figured Superman would want to get the story straight before fighting with a fellow League member. On the whole, the story was well written and drawn but it seemed a bit tired since I’ve hear a similar tale in the Aquaman movie, in Marvel’s Submariner, and in other Aquaman tales. I’m hoping that after this The Drowning volume, the stories will get more diverse and enjoyable. For now though, I rate these a Read.
Detective Comics #1-#4
The first arc of Detective Comics after Rebirth is another story that I rate a Read. This one I haven’t finished yet but while I found all the issues enjoyable, none really stood out as a must read so far. Hopefully in the final few issues that will change but for now I’m happy recommending this as a Read.
The story revolves around Batman’s putting together of a team of heroes to protect Gotham. It was pretty cool to see Batwoman, Clayface, Orphan, Red Robin, and Spoiler heed the call of Batman’s recruitment drive but I was a bit put off by the villain they had to face. Rise of the Batmen put our caped crusader and his team up against a rogue military organization run by Batwoman’s own father. While it was interesting to learn of the connections between Batwoman and Batman I was surprised to see that the vigilantism that seems to run in the family ended up with the two of them fighting against Bruce’s uncle. Colonel Jake Kane was clearly in the wrong but I wonder how Batman’s team is gonna hold up against an organized military trained to be just like Batman. I suppose my major issue with it is one of principle in that I really don’t like to see the military propped up as a bad guy in a superhero story. The current culture may have moved in that direction but I don’t buy it and I don’t like to see the people who serve our country trotted out as villains in a comic book.
Comic Corner | This Week’s Reading Recommendations for DC Comics: 10/4/2019