SUPERMAN #1- Yeah, its a bit old fashion but I liked it. I hope we don't see Clarks news articles used as a narrative device again though. For the most part it was a pilot: we get the skinny on who's who and what's what in Superman's modern world. The GBS buying the Planet is an interesting nod to the same thing backing in the Seventies, though I looks like this time Clark is sticking with the Planet. Interesting that Clark isn't a superstar, awarding winning journalist this time around, instead is a guy who rarely lands on the front page. Which is probably a smart move,being a celebrity, even at the local level is not a good idea for a guy who doesn't wear a mask.
The SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1: I was prepared not to like this, but the art and story were suprisingly good. Still not sold on the costume as I'm not a fan of the "ooohh look how tough I am I got crazy sharp things on my costume" school of design. Internalizing the Nth metal is a pretty good idea. Carter Hall's background is mystery though. We know he was Hawkman and something happened that made him quit ( Sheira's death?) He not rich anymore since he was about to be evicted. He claims to be 100% human but our villain thinks otherwise.
AQUAMAN #1: Man that Ivan Reis sure draws purdy. I wish he was on Justice League or a Superman book. Over a pretty good blend of action and exposition. Though as other have pointed out, Johns trying a bit too hard to show Aquaman is cool. It looks like Johns is going the pure superhero route since Aquaman has cut ties with Atlantis and is staying in his fathers old lighthouse. Been a while since that approach was tried.
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1: Lame name but a pretty good read. Milligan knows how to put a team together. He manages to show/intro all the future members while telling a story. It didn't read like an issue of the Brave and the Bold. (coughJustice League)cough. Milligan can get outthere sometime, a few issue of his books have left me scratching my head, but he seem in control here. The art was very well done. Gorgeous in spots.
TEEN TITANS #1: Here's where I contradict myself, yes this was basically Red Robin and Wonder Girl team up with Kid Flash on the fist few pages and Superboy showing up on the last page, but it works in a way that JL didnt. The story seemed more focused. The art was a little too 90s Imagey for my tastes but servicable.
ALL-STAR WESTERN #1- I haven't really followed Jonah Hex, but I know the basics. The change of local was the hook for me. Sort of McCloud or Coogans Bluff in the 1800s. That local is Gotham and a few familer names pepper the supporting cast doesnt hurt either. Team Hex with Amadeus Arkham reminded me a book I enjoyed a few decades back called the Alienist written by Caleb Carr. Like Arkham, Carr's protagonist was a proto-psychatrist hunting a killer in a large 19th Century city (NYC).
BATMAN DARK KNIGHT #1- Didn't care for it. Finch's art is muddy and dark. And judging from an upcoming cover he might be be working from a swipe file. The story didn't draw me in either. Something about an IA cop going after Bruce Wayne and uhhh, some other stuff. Yeah escapees from Arkham.
