Yeah I know it's become like my trademark to preview something then go back on it and do something else. But well, New 52 happened while I was on holiday without a laptop. Although I was very excited for it, despite all the cynicism for it but I wasn't following it all that closely (since I enjoy reading comics but I'm not really a hardcore fan of the medium like I am with film) and while I was hoarding together a list of alternative or indie comics to pick up and review for you guys I found out the first issues of the first wave of the New 52 titles were released. Secondly, yeah pretty much all the big titles were sold out by the time I got there, except the new Justice League, but apparently that issue is already creating continuity glitches with other books in the first fucking issue, so I thought I'd avoid that. Instead I have here, Swamp Thing. Not that it matters since it's a reboot, but I heard good things about this character, further still the 'blurb' to the issue sounded great. And Stormwatch is the rebooted sequel of the prequel of my favourite comic that I never read the first time around. So I guessed it was worth a read and I got to see some of my favourite heroes again.
We then get introduced to our hero, who is a zombie botanist of sorts. Who was once upon a time a monster but now isn't or he is going to become one or is one right now or, oh I don't know, it's so fucking unclear. I thought this was meant to be a reboot?!
We then get another plotpoint, a mastodon skeleton turns into some sort of monster. I'm hoping this is explained in later issues.
Hey, at least I got to see some of the main heroes new costumes, huh? Shame Batman's and Aquaman's are more of the same and Superman's is awful. Aquaman is look pretty handsome though, eh ladies? However this does thankfully lead into not only the best scene in the issue, but an actually genuinely awesome scene. The monster...thing the mastodon turned into...I think, kills three scientists with flies, that run into their ears which then turn them into zombies. Yeah it's fucking weird and doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but you know, comic books.
We close the opening issue with a flashback dream sequence and an appearance from Swamp Thing himself...I think.
Yeah over all, the issue was over much too fast but that happens a lot with comics. I guess they wanted to showcase as much as they could for the opening issue, but I think they tried a little too hard. The art isn't all that great to give you a reason to hang around much either. There is little action to entertain, little focus to suck you in and I can't tell if it's referencing older issues that I haven't read or if it plans to build up the back story through the issues. However the attack from the monster was a scene good enough for me to at least give the second issue a look. When Swamp Thing and this monster finally clash, I have a feeling it's gonna be epic. I just have a feeling it's gonna take forever to get there.
So Stormwatch #1 opens with the introduction of a great threat forming, with only Stormwatch aware of its presence...for some reason and this also acts as an introduction to the Engineer and some other people I don't recognise. Going straight from there, we get an introduction to more Stormwatch members. Apollo who is now apparently the strongest character in the DC universe (I guess Superman has been nerfed in this reboot) and one of my favourites from the Authority, Jack Hawksmoor who can communicate and control cities through alien implants. We then get introduced to a character I've never seen before, 'The Projectionist' who can tap into media with her mind. After the Projectionist shows us Youtube videos of Apollo and fan 'shoops of him beating Superman in a fight.
We then see the moon is turning into a huge claw. Going straight into another action sequence with yet another character I've never seen before. Some dude called Harry who's really good with swords. We then get introduced to I guess who is meant to be the main bad guy. Which is a giant eye in the middle of the moon with tentacles. It mind fucks, almost literally, Harry to get a hold of his memories and learn more about humanity.
After Harry seemingly dies we get a scene that doesn't really fit all that well about 20th century babies and stuff, this was all explained in the Authority but it's complicated and really this scene ended up meaning nothing to me.
We then get more action as Jack, the Projectionist and the Martian Manhunter catch up with Apollo and attempt to...beat him into joining them? A very Authority like plan, admittedly. We then close with the Midnighter's appearance in a terrible new costume, who takes down Jack, the Manhunter and the Projectionist in a flash (which is pretty damn inconsistent). Midnighter and Apollo then shake hands, starting their budding relationship to come. With a proposal to 'kill every bastard on the planet'.
This issue ended much faster than Swamp Thing, but that was because most of the issue was action and that's what I like to see. Shame the artwork is so ugly, the action sequences are well scripted and played out, which allows you to ignore the art a little. But as soon as the action stops it's just painful. Plus the Midnighter's new costume is just HORRIBLE. But that aside, this issue managed to both be more complicated than Swamp Thing and more action packed. Plus I love these characters, so I'll definitely be sticking with this.
So do I recommend either of them? Actually I recommend both of them, they were both flawed - Swamp Thing with its terrible pacing and being just generally pretty boring. But seemingly leading to something awesome. And Stormwatch being action packed fun, but also managing to be downright ugly and frustratingly complicated. So take it as you will.
Think About It!
-Locke.
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