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Giant Size Graphic Breakdown: DC Rebirth, ‘Faith’ #1 and ‘Betty and Veronica’ #1!

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown! This week the Rebirth continues on in the DC Universe. Is there anything to look forward to?

Let’s put it this way, two books that earned the best reviews aren’t from DC and have female leads.  Sound good? Let’s find out!

STL009768Betty and Veronica #1 

Written and Illustrated by Adam Hughes
Published by Archie Comics

The most interesting publisher currently isn’t Marvel or DC or Image or even Valiant…It’s not one you’d ever expect.

It’s Archie Comics. And why?

Well, the Mark Waid Archie is fantastic, easily one of the best books on the stands. Well written, well drawn and it just works without rebooting anything. The Afterlife With Archie series shows they are willing to take chances. Hell even their Dark Circle comic line with the Black Hood is pretty gutsy and awesome.

Then to further things along, Adam Hughes writes and draws this book. And it’s awesome.

Hughes is quite the artist. And he doesn’t do much interior work, mostly covers and special issues maybe.

To have him here is another feather in the Archie Comics cap. His art in this is as top notch as it’s always been, maybe even better. His writing isn’t bad either, and this is just entertainment. He does suffer from being too wordy as many artists do. He’s trying to pack in a little too much maybe? But that’s a small complaint.

This is a book to pick up. It certainly isn’t what I would expect Hughes to ever do. It’s certainly not what I expected Archie Comics to do. And it’s magnificent that this is happening. I’m happy to read the Archie Comics. They seem to be actually making interesting choices and above all, making good comic books. Kudos.

RATING: A-

5330348-aqm_cv3_dsAquaman #3  

Written by Dan Abnett and Illustrated by Philippe Briones
Published by DC Comics

The third issue of Aquaman has hit the stands (or the fourth issue if you count the Rebirth issue and the cover is a gorgeous piece of work by Brad Walker. I am truly wowed by his art. It is awesome. Sadly, the rest of the issue hold up to the cover.

Abnett writes a sort of dull tale of Aquaman. This is part three of “The Drowning.” It’s a choppy storyline.

The reason  for the choppiness isn’t all Abnett’s fault however. I’m not saying this is an amazing story…but Abnett’s got it tough. This is only the third issue and already we are on our third artist.

Now the artist may rotate but come on. The consistency is hurting the book

And that may be the biggest problem of DC Rebirth. They are trying to do so much and give us so much product that there is no sense of consistency. The art by Briones is perfectly fine but it doesn’t give a sense of whole.

I give this book a C+ mostly for the Walker cover, some nice interior art. The story is not compelling but Abnett is kind of at a handicap right off the bat.

RATING: C+

5330373-bgbopreb_cv1_dsBatgirl and The Birds of Prey: Rebirth#1

Written by Julie Benson and Shawna Benson and Illustrated by Claire Roe
Published by DC Comics

Here is a book that could conceivably get better.

The first issue is decent, not bad at all. It’s more of a recap than anything of stuff that has happened before. And it’s damn wordy. But it actually holds promise.

Batgirl and The Birds of Prey worked nice separately. So why not bring them together like peanut butter and chocolate? It’s a swell idea! The writing is wordy like I said before…so much so that it became a bit of the challenge.

The art is pretty cool however. It’s nice, well drawn, and it kind of pops. My favorite Batgirl recently was the Babs Tarr version, but this is good.

If the writers take it easy a little and the art is this consistent, I can see this being a hit. The talent is certainly there (I’m not putting the writers down as they are clearly talented…just need an editor). This could be a sleeper hit. I certainly hope so.

RATING: B-

Batman-3-2016Batman #3 

Written by Tom King and Illustrated by David Finch
Published by DC Comics

Here comes part three of Tom King’s first story arc on Batman. I’m already looking forward to the next one! Not because this one has been great or anything. It’s just that I think King is a talented writer who can do better than this arc.

I totally appreciate King bringing in Hugo Strange for this arc. A very cool villain who isn’t used as much as he should be, it’s a great choice. And Finch really is pushing hard on the art. In fact, he’s been on every issue thus far. And he may cut some corners on the art, but never the passion. He’s a talent.

The two new characters Gotham and Gotham Girl are pretty lame thus far and add basically nothing. Maybe they will in the future? Maybe they are Watchmen characters. It’s not looking like we are getting answers anytime soon. So it’s rather tough to invest in them.

That being said, this series has promise. King isn’t bad. He can do this. So can Finch. Pick up your game gentlemen. I know you have it in you.

RATING: B-

GA-Cv3-ds-fd54fGreen Arrow #3 

Written By Benjamin Percy and Illustrated by Juan Ferreyra
Published By DC Comics

This is another third issue that the art changed hands. But it’s actually not a bad thing here. The art might have been an improvement to be honest.

Green Arrow has been ahead of the norm in the new DC Rebirth. It’s a little better than the other books. Percy keeps the story going, taking it to wacky levels as well as emotional. I love that Oliver and Black Canary are working together here. It’s a pretty good if light read.

The art is pretty good like I said. It’s vibrant and I love the camera angles I love the energy. And I love the daring. Put that together with one of the best covers in recent memory and you have a solid book.

RATING: B+

Green-Lanterns-3-2016-1Green Lanterns #3 

Written by Sam Humphries and Illustrated by Tom Derenick,
Robson Rocha, Jack Herbert, Neil Edwards
Published by DC Comics

This isn’t a terrible book. It’s just not for me. Humphries tried his hardest to write a compelling tale. For me, It just does not work.

The book is about Green Lanterns other than Hal Jordan. Yet, it’s so much information I just stopped caring. I found myself rushing through it trying to find something to hold onto. I could not.

The art isn’t half bad. But it hardly holds together for me. There’s not a lot to say so I’m going to move on.

That cover though may be the saving grace. It’s simply gorgeous.

RATING: C

1469007524_521b210170548f37edd35a8c9752b9f3Justice League #1

Written by Bryan Hitch and Illustrated by Tony S. Daniel
Published by DC Comics.  

This book got me with the first image. Wonder Woman diving into a fiught. All right! Bring it on! I was hoping it would deliver.

And it kind of did. Hitch isn’t doing the art on this. Together they make a pretty okay team. Not the best, but I’ll take what I can get.

Hitch is improving as a writer…he really is. He actually paces the story better than if he drew it himself. Is it amazing? Not quite. Still, it’s enjoyable and has an actual feel of a Justice League book. I used to love Hitch’s art. But lately since he’s been writing, it’s been rushed.

Daniel’s isn’t so much here. It’s very good. It’s full of passion and love.

I thought this book may be lackluster. It’s anything but. I hope for more character development. But I do appreciate the fact they get right to the action without wasting anytime. This was actually fun. I hope it continues.

RATING: B

dc-comics-scooby-apocalypse-issue-3Scooby Apocalypse #3

Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. Dematteis and Illustrated by Howard Porter and Dale Eaglesham
Published by DC Comics

Ladies and gentlemen we have a dog.

Not a Scooby-Doo dog. I mean a dog of a comic. Reimagined without any imagination comes this book. As my rabbi used to say, “Oy Vey Lenny.”

Now there is some real talent behind this book! The writers! The artists! Good lettering and coloring. It’s just a whiff.

I appreciate them trying to do something new.

But this kind of hurts. Written with no real flair by two of the most talented writers ever and drawn by two very talented guys…this book just fails.

I would have liked to have seen this team tackle an honest to god Scooby-Doo tale, much like Mark Waid did with Archie. THAT book is brilliant because he tells a good story in that universe with tweaks. This is an overhaul. A loud messy overhaul. The Battlefield Earth of comic books.

RATING: F

Superman-3-1-600x923Superman #3 

Written by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason and Illustrated by Jorge Jimenez
Published by DC Comics

I’ve made it no secret I’m not a huge fan of the new Superman direction. It just seems directionless to me. This new Son of Superman arc hasn’t thrilled me either.

That being said, the newest issue isn’t bad and does entertain more than most of the others. The story is fairly standard but moves along at a steady clip. The art by Jimenez I really enjoyed though. There are some great panels in this.

It actually wasn’t horrible. I would be okay if Jimenez stuck around as he adds a weird energy to the whole thing.

The last shot of the book is pretty cool too. I liked it enough.

Let’s see what happens. I hope good things. It seems like it might be.

RATING: B-

1The Hellblazer: Rebirth #1 

Written by Simon Oliver and Illustrated by Moritat
Published by DC Comics

Hellblazer used to be one of the coolest comic books on the stands. But he’s lost his way in recent years. The character Alan Moore created and that Jamie Delano kept going, alongside Garth Ennis amongst many others is now gone.

This book doesn’t help the cause. Since the New 52,  John Constantine has been a part of the regular DC universe. His Vertigo self is gone and now all we are left with is “Diet Constantine.”

The writing and art isn’t bad. It’s just not the guy I remember loving. The story is rather flat too, lacking any sort of bite.

It’s not utterly hopeless though. There is some fun to be had. The cover is nice too. Still, I would rather re-read the old stuff rather than this watered down version.

It was great to see Chas.

RATING: C+

5322246-faith_ongoing_001_cover-a_wadaFaith #1 (ongoing series)

Written By Jody Houser and Illustrated by Pere Perez and Marguerite Sauvage
Published by Valiant Comics

What??? A Non DC Book? Well, it comes to us straight from our friends over at Valiant. The Faith limited series was a nice hit. Smart, funny, exciting, new I loved it. It deserves a series. How often can you say that? Here it is true.

In the debut issue of this new series, Faith fights her first ever arch nemesis.  And it picks up where the limited series left off. And it is good.

Houser has a wonderful take on Faith and it’s exhilarating in this current comics climate. She makes Faith a character to care about and to root for.

The art is also up to snuff. The flashback art by Sauvage is particularly great. It just feels fresh. It just is a good solid read.

This is one of the best books on the stands. I highly recommend it. Give a chance. More comics should be this good.

RATING: A

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