DC's New 52, Week 1: Top 5

The comics are out, and DC has delivered what they promised: amazing comics. The following is my top 5 list for the first week of The New 52.

#1: Batwing

Written by JUDD WINICK, Art and cover by BEN OLIVER

Batwing #1 mainly serves to establish the following: who Batwing is, and that Batwing is a violent, action packed, exciting series. The character seems to be different than Bruce Wayne in one key regard: he has genuine hope. Batman has claimed Gotham can never be truly saved. Batwing, however, believes he can help Africa become a better place. 

And, right now, it needs all the help it can get. Batwing's nemesis is terrifying, and its shown through horrific, but absolutely beautiful drawn savagery. Batwing has the best art I've ever seen in a comic, I feel like every page is real, and it adds to the terror.  

Batwing is, for all intents and purposes, a brand new character in the DCU, so there isn't a person who couldn't read this and fully understand this amazing issue.

#2: Animal Man

Written by JEFF LEMIRE, Art by TRAVEL FOREMAN and DAN GREEN, Cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN

Even though I meant every word when I gushed over Batwing, it was still difficult putting Animal Man #1 in second place. This comic does what every good horror series should: slowly build tension and then wallop the reader with holy terror. That's not all the comic is, though. Animal Man shows how a superhero juggles being both a superhero and a family man, and it adds a whole new layer of depth largely unexplored in comics.

The art is brilliant, in that during the sedate scenes in the comic, the art feels somewhat like an amazing and colorful sketchbook (and I don't mean that in a negative way at all). When the freaky stuff starts happening, though... it's bone chilling.

All I knew prior to this comic is that Animal Man can harness the power of animals, and the comic explains that, anyway. It opens up with an journalist interviewing Animal Man, and that perfectly explained his situation in life. Totally new-reader friendly.

#3: Action Comics

Written by GRANT MORRISON, Art by RAGS MORALES and RICK BRYANT, Cover by RAGS MORALES

The Man of Steel has gotten a makeover, and I'm not just talking about the jeans and t-shirt costume. Superman is suddenly pretty wicked. He cuts down on crime without mercy, and he's pretty cocky and flashy, too. But that's not what's most important: Action Comics #1 takes place at the beginning of his career (before Justice League #1) and he's vulnerable and not yet all-powerful, and it shows.

There are very few people in America don't know who Superman is, there is nothing obscure in this comic, and it even starts at Superman's beginning. My only complaint is that the comic has a lot happen really quickly at one point, and it's a bit confusing, but it does become clear after one reread. But if you've ever felt that Superman's boy scout attitude was a bit campy and that he's overpowered, this comic changes all of that. 

#4: Stormwatch

Written by PAUL CORNELL, Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA

Flight, super strength, combat expertise - those powers are all tried and true. While they are certainly present in Stormwatch #1, there is also so much more. Stormwatch is a diverse team of very interesting super heroes with indescribably awesome and equally diverse powers. Shapeshifting, controlling the media, being able to manipulate quantum fields, and communicating with cities are just some of the highlights.

Stormwatch, the team the comic is named after, is in the process of fighting an enemy so ridiculously wonderful, it could only be found in comics - the moon. It looks beautiful, and while it also suffers from being confusing (much worse than Action Comics, I'm afraid), that's only because a lot of characters and the main premise and conflict are all being introduced in one issue. And, as everything is being introduced, it's a perfectly fine and highly suggested pick up for new readers.

#5: Swamp Thing

Written by SCOTT SNYDER, Art and cover by YANICK PAQUETTE

Few comics contain truly powerful prose. None of the comics listed above do. Swamp Thing #1, though, has multiple sequences of writing you'd expect to find in a novel or short story. Absolutely stunning art accomponies these scenes, and the combination is a one-two knockout. But Swamp Thing is a horror story - and the art that accomponies silence, when there is no one left to speak and describe the terror - that's when the art really shines.

Swamp Thing is very new-user friendly, as a lot of time is spent giving a general overview of Alec Holland, the protagonist, and what made Swamp Thing. Swamp Thing finds itself at number five because too much time was spent giving that overview. The writing was brilliant, but next to nothing happens. The force of evil that's lurking, though - I can not wait.

Honorable Mention: Batgirl #1 (Written by GAIL SIMONE, Art and ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES, Cover by ADAM HUGHES)