DC Comics: Rebirth

[kirk55555]

Spoiler

There's always some jiggery pokery in these things. Hopefully they'll keep most of the continuity intact

Spoiler

There isn't anything in Rebirth that would contradict the Legion stuff from a few years ago, heck even Superman can fit back into the history since Superman knew this Legion (although that would be a pain to have to fix again, after Geoff Johns fixed it so well years before the New 52. But, Saturn Girl's actions are just too out of character. She's either a new version, has brain problems for some reason, or (most likely) is a brand new Saturn Girl. There was a hint at the end of the last Legion book that, post Flashpoint, the Legion was actually the Legion from the future of Earth 2, so they could use that as an excuse to create a new Legion without a reboot. But that was never confirmed, and Justice League 3000 messes up the furute of the Prime Earth anyway.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Spoiler

There isn't anything in Rebirth that would contradict the Legion stuff from a few years ago, heck even Superman can fit back into the history since Superman knew this Legion (although that would be a pain to have to fix again, after Geoff Johns fixed it so well years before the New 52. But, Saturn Girl's actions are just too out of character. She's either a new version, has brain problems for some reason, or (most likely) is a brand new Saturn Girl. There was a hint at the end of the last Legion book that, post Flashpoint, the Legion was actually the Legion from the future of Earth 2, so they could use that as an excuse to create a new Legion without a reboot. But that was never confirmed, and Justice League 3000 messes up the furute of the Prime Earth anyway.

Spoiler

But that's the nice thing about "Rebirth", they can explain her strange behaviour as something the dark influence from outside (presumably Dr. Manhattan) did, and that it's not how it is supposed to be.

The Justice League 3000 can be explained away as a seperate timeline, like pre-Crisis the Legion future and the Kamandi future were both alternate future timelines of Earth-One.

 

[kirk55555]

Spoiler

But that's the nice thing about "Rebirth", they can explain her strange behaviour as something the dark influence from outside (presumably Dr. Manhattan) did, and that it's not how it is supposed to be.

The Justice League 3000 can be explained away as a seperate timeline, like pre-Crisis the Legion future and the Kamandi future were both alternate future timelines of Earth-One.

Spoiler

But, Doctor Manhattan is only supposed to be effecting people who have been changed since Flashpoint. Saturn Girl wasn't changed by Flashpoint.

Also, they can't just say Dr. manhattan did ever stupid writing decision/mistake. I mean, they can, but eventually they'll just lose credability and look like idiots. Using him as a plot device/excuse to write a bunch of garbage and then blame it on him would basically ruin Rebirth. It makes a lot more sense that its a brand new Saturn Girl. Geoff Johns wrote the Rebirth special, and he definitely knows the Legion well enough to write them well, since he's the one that fixed them and their history with Superman in the first place. So, in my opinion the only explanation that makes sense is that its a rebooted Saturn Girl.

I still don't really trust DC, but I really don't think that Dr. Manhattan has any involvement with Saturn Girl. He's not just a plot device boogeyman that exists to screw up new things. He's already screwed things up, but he's not actively continuing to screw with things years after Flashpoint. That hooded guy (who isn't Manhattan) might mess with stuff, but he doesn't have mental powers and couldn't basically wipe the mind of Saturn Girl to the point where she'd act like the Rebirth version. So, the easiest explanation is that its a total reboot, with the second most likely being that Johns let a bit of his new 52 mediocrity come in to a generally great comic and just wrote a very, very bad version of Saturn Girl. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that it was deliberate, since he's written the Legion stuck in the Present very well and knows that's not how the Saturn Girl he wrote before, or any of the other Legionaires, would act.

I mean, Johns is capable of writing complete garbage, especially in te New 52 (like his work with "Shazam" andthe Justice League), but until more evidence surfaces I'm saying its most likely a rebooted Legion, not Johns being terrible. That sucks because Legion doesn't need a reboot and I refuse to read any rebooted Legion stuff at this point, but it seems the most likely explanation to me

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I'm skeptical of a plot happening in Action Comics.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Lois has decided, with the encouragement of Clark, to assume the job -- and life -- of the dead Lois Lane. The reason I'm skeptical is that she's clearly older than her deceased counterpart by over a decade. (I think it's about fifteen, if not twenty, years.) It's been pointed out by characters that the pre-Flashpoint Superman appears to be older than his predecessor, and Lois even fretted herself about her coworkers noticing her age difference with the deceased Lois when she went into the Planet offices in the last issue. Dealing with her coworkers on a daily basis -- even family dinners with Sam Lane -- will eventually out her secret.

Now I wonder if, once the mystery of the human Clark Kent is resolved, Clark Smith will assume the life and identity of the deceased Clark Kent. But then, how will Clark and Lois explain Jon to their "friends" in Metropolis? Pass him off as an adopted son, as they did with Chris Kent before Flashpoint?

I suppose this was an inevitable development, because Metropolis and the Planet is such a key part of the Superman mythos. But I feel like we're going to lose some interesting things that have been added to the mythos.

 

[dahj]

I'm skeptical of a plot happening in Action Comics.

Spoiler: Spoiler

But then, how will Clark and Lois explain Jon to their "friends" in Metropolis? Pass him off as an adopted son, as they did with Chris Kent before Flashpoint?

Spoiler: Spoiler

Adoption seems like the way to go. With a side order of "son of an unexpectedly dead relative" as an explanation for the suddenness of the decision to adopt.

 

[Nerys Myk]

So Steve Trevor has gone from Air Force officer to Navy noncom?

 

[slappy]

I'm still struggling to understand what the actual story of Rebirth is. It seems to just be a banner under which to relaunch a bunch of comics and rake in dough. There's no overaching story. Even the original one-shot with Wally returning just kind of petered out and now the books have nothing to do with it.

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

You're right, it mostly is a banner to show that the books have taken on a new course.
It's no different than the branding for nu52, DC you, and what Marvel does with Now and the rest. It's not about an overarching story, that was the just the hook, it's more just the tone, direction, and new #1's to sell.

 

[JD]

They've said that the plot points introduced in Rebirth will be a very slow burn, with bits and pieces coming out every once in a while over the next year or two, possibly longer.

 

[The Lonely Man]

I was very sceptical about Rebirth, frankly I'm tired of the seemingly never ending relaunches of recent years.

However I'll admit to being pleasantly surprised so far with a number of titles. Particularly Green Arrow and Batman.

 

[Wyse]

So since it's been a few months, and I'm planning on pre-ordering some of the Rebirth trades soon since they come out in January, which titles have been the most worthwhile bang for the buck?

If you could only follow, say, five titles from here on out, which would they be?

 

[Nerys Myk]

I'm still struggling to understand what the actual story of Rebirth is. It seems to just be a banner under which to relaunch a bunch of comics and rake in dough. There's no overaching story. Even the original one-shot with Wally returning just kind of petered out and now the books have nothing to do with it.

The whole line isn't devoted to that story. Titans seems to involve it the most with the Superman titles dipping into it as well. That story is supposed to unfold over the course of two years, were not half way through yet.

 

[theenglish]

The whole line isn't devoted to that story. Titans seems to involve it the most with the Superman titles dipping into it as well. That story is supposed to unfold over the course of two years, were not half way through yet.

And going back to the original Rebirth special, the entire point of Rebirth is to reintroduce elements previously cut from the new 52 that made the DC universe special. The friendships and relationships are the most important, but also bringing back some of the old characters like Wally West or the original Superman. One of the most special highlights for me has been reintroducing the Silver Age Titans. I thought that was a bold move considering that the New Titans have been the group everybody knows for decades now.

 

[Mr Light]

<<So since it's been a few months, and I'm planning on pre-ordering some of the Rebirth trades soon since they come out in January, which titles have been the most worthwhile bang for the buck?
If you could only follow, say, five titles from here on out, which would they be?>>
Justice League. Batman. Superman. Action Comics. Detective Comics. Suicide Squad if you love Jim Lee art.

 

[Xerxes82]

So since it's been a few months, and I'm planning on pre-ordering some of the Rebirth trades soon since they come out in January, which titles have been the most worthwhile bang for the buck?

If you could only follow, say, five titles from here on out, which would they be?

Deathstroke, Batman, Red Hood & the Outlaws, Nightwing, Aquaman. I really can't recommend Deathstroke highly enough. Christopher Priest needs more Big 2 work. (Come on Marvel, give the man Steve Rogers on a solo book already. I can't be the only one waiting to throw money at that idea, can I?)

 

[Wyse]

See, I never would have tried Deathstroke at all, or Aquaman. They were never on my radar during the New52 line.

I do like Lee's art, so I'm checking reviews for Suicide Squad now, too. Almost all the Rebirth titles look good, tho, so it's getting harder to choose which to pre-order.

Has anyone read the Flash Rebirth comics? His book I never hear people talking about, either good or bad. So far I'm definitely getting Red Hood and Nightwing's books, probably Green Arrow, Deathstroke and am looking into SS. Is the rebirth Superman books a good jumping in place for someone who has never read a Superman book before?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Is the rebirth Superman books a good jumping in place for someone who has never read a Superman book before?

Proabably not. It's about the previous continuity's Superman and Lois stepping into the roles/lives of the New 52's Superman and Lois.

 

[Mr Light]

I think it's pretty reader friendly. You don't need to know anything about the "Lois and Clark" series. Just that Clark and Lois are married and have a young son and they're from a different reality. (the 1985 to 2011 comic book continuity)

 

[Nerys Myk]

I think it's pretty reader friendly. You don't need to know anything about the "Lois and Clark" series. Just that Clark and Lois are married and have a young son and they're from a different reality. (the 1985 to 2011 comic book continuity)

Which isn't the version most people recognize. It's reader friendly, but I don't know if it's new reader friendly.

 

[Xerxes82]

See, I never would have tried Deathstroke at all, or Aquaman. They were never on my radar during the New52 line.

I'm not a fan of the Deathstroke character, usually, but I picked up the book on the strength of Priest's previous work. And he really plays with some interesting ideas in the book. It really revolves less around Slade Wilson than it does around Slade's relationship with his family. And while I may be biased, as I love Rose and Joey, I feel like it's a really interesting way to look at a villainous character like Slade. To see the ways in which he's a complete failure and how being the best mercenary soldier in the world has shaped not only his life but that of those close to him. Also, Priest doesn't mess around with Deathstroke's competence. He's brilliant as well as skilled, and Priest essentially writes him as an amoral Batman. I've found it fascinating so far. I'm definitely in as long as Priest is on the title, and he's actually making me more interested in the character than I've ever been.