Booster Gold- The Greatest Hero the world has never known. This series hit its stride in issue 6 as the loser hero turned secret savior of time and space Booster Gold tries to undo the death of his frriend Blue Beetle. The whole arc had the sense of character and nostalgia that Geoff John brings to the books so well. The arc went through issue 10, plus a zero issue and finished with Booster Gold 1 million. At this point, Chuck Dixon took over and while the art remained great, the stories became more isolated and episodic. They also added a sister character for booster that felt all wrong and interrupted their arc with a starro story that I didn't pick up. These elements led to me losing interest in the book altogether. If they make a trade of the first arc, get it. Otherwise skip it.
Batman And The Outsiders- Or should we call it Batgirl and the Outsiders. Unless you're a fan of Batgirl, this year hasn't been a very memorable one for this book. Despite the great idea of bringing Batman to the book, he runs things from behind the scenes and doesn't have the character presence he should to have his name in the title. Despite this, writer Chuck Dixon has brought Geo-Force back on the scene and handled him well so far. There was a great issue focusing on Metamorpho that stretched the limits of his powers in a very creative way. There was also a death in the team the was hyped on the cover, but it was such a minor character that I'm not even sure he qualified as a real "Outsider". The book also loosely tied into the Batman RIP story, but not near enough to be given the crossover promo banner on the cover. Good thing I was reading this book anyway. I like it enough from month to month because it gives me exposure to more characters in the DCU, but it is far from the best Team book out there right now.
Blue Beetle- 2008 brought a great story arc to a close for this book. We learned of Blue Beetles connectino to the alien race known as the Reach, giving us greater insight than ever into the Beetles suit. After this arc, the book floundered just a bit in shorter stories, but has started a new story arc dealing with the sensitive political issue of illegal immigration. Beetle is expected to uphold the law, but he is also Latino, making him partially sympathetic toward those who want to have a better life in America. This story isn't finished yet, and the book remains charming. Hopefully it won't change into a political soapbox, as I love this new take on Blue Beetle. Bit now that he is appearing regularly in Teen Titans, I don't need this book to get a BB fix. So a word to DC. Don't screw this one up.
The Brave and the Bold- This book traded a six issue arc format for a 2 issue arc format this year, and although any change was welcome after the bland and kinda weird "challengers of the unknown" arc, I miss the story developing over a longer period of time, being passed off to different characters while still moving one plot forward. When the book was introduced, it was kind of like having an ongoing summer crossover event. The current stories are not as memorable, but the character interactions are fun. The ccreators seem to pride themselves on pairing up characters that you would never expect to see together. Supergirl and Raven, Green Arrow and Deadman, Superman and Catwoman. But has the character interaction made up for the storytelling? We'll see. My suggestion would be to shop around for new regular art talent to give the book a less compact Perez style (perex hasn't done the whole run, but the book still hasn't "opened up") and maybe see if Geoff Johns wants to do an arc in it to help editorial get a better sense of what might be done with this one.
Ex Machina- Mitchel Hundred continues to advance in his career, although he may have passed his peak in this book. This year an anarchist villain has been introduced that provided antagonism, but nothing terribly new. And with the latest issue including an appearance by the creative team, it seems they may be running out of ideas. This book is on borrowed time with me.
Final Crisis- Some major screw-ups have led to parts of this story being published out of order, as if Morrison's writing wasn't confusing and directionless enough. Maybe he IS a genius, and in the end this will all be a great read. But a word to DC, keep Grant Morrison on graphic novels, not monthlys. If I can't read his story arcs in what sitting, I'm afraid his "genius" is confused with the phone book in my small, small brain. They both seem to carry the same amount of purpose in their plots at this point.
And I also notice that none of the other ongoing titles seem to reflect the events of Final Crisis. If DC REALLY wanted o shake uip the status quo, how about two issues where Darkseid takes over the world, then a year of stories set in the totally screwed DCU before cleaning this up again?
That said, I'm enjoying Final Crisis: Revelations and their take on the Spectre, and Final Crisis: Rogues Revenge was incredible gratifying after the misuse of those characters in the ongoing "Flash" title.
Speaking of "Flash"- I stopped buying this book last March. This was HUGE for me. Since Infinite Crisis, the Flash property has been screwed up so bad that only Geoff Johns can fix it. Good thing he will! Early in 2009 we will witness "Flash: Rebirth". I don't care if it's Wally, Barry, or even Jay. Just give me a Flash with a personality I can enjoy and invest in (unlike Barry, historically) who, if he IS a dad, doesn't let his kids run around in superhero costumes (Wally). Yeah, I know, they're dying and he wants them to "live life" while they can. I don't care. I do not like stories where children are empowered. I don't feel like investing in two new hereos in this book with lame "speed based" powers, and if I want to see the Flash in a team book, I'll read Titans or JLA. Give me a Flash book about the Flash. Supporting cast is fine, but he's the hero of the book. Not his kids. Lame. Fix it Johns.
Green Lantern- I'll admit, even though Geoof Johns is writing this book, I was leary about another retcon for Hal's origin. And with some good reason. The Secret Origins story arc this year deleted continuity established in Emerald Dawn and Emerald Dawn 2. These were both really good stories and still stand the test of time in most respects. Johns could have worked around them if he wanted to and I'm dissapointed that he didn't. DC may regret that since the upcoming GL: movie is heavily based on Emerald Dawn's plot. That said, it was a great story that gave new life to Hector Hammond and Black Hand. The art continues to be great and it's still an awesome time to be a GL fan. Get this book!
Green Lantern Corps- While not as character driven or solid in the art department as the main GL book, this title continues to expand the GL universe and keeps the action coming fast and furious. It has the militaristic overtones I always knew would work back in the Kylke days when I could only dream of a GL Coprs returning. Though not for everyone, if you like the GL concept, this book should be on your list.
Justice League Of America- Dwayne McDuffie was one of the writers on the fantastoc Justice League animated series, but the book has suffered with his presence. There used to be a philosophy about the JLA. Everyone loves that book, so if you want a character to get noticed and become somebody, put them on that team. While McDuffie doesn't bring new character to the team, he does bring has-beens to the forefront, and without the finesse that Geoff Johns does. His Red Tornado story was interesting, but focusing an entire story arc on VIxen and Animal man was way off target. I kept wondering when the Big Guns were coming back. I'm still wondering that. For all his current flaws, Grant Morrison re-invented this book by putting the "Big Seven" all on the same team and not cluttering it with third stringers. I realize it's a challenge to write for those characters month after month, but it was the interaction between the "Big Seven" of the DCU that mesmerized me in the first story ar of JLA. The art is wonderful and McDuffie is a good writer, he's just making some poor choices.
Justice Society of America- I don't understand why everyone is so lin love with the Waid/Ross Kingdom Come story. It was painted, cool. The writing was good, too, but do we have to keep worshiping it by revisiting it over and over? When JSA started going in that direction, I was skeptical. I still don't think it's the best JSA story ever. But it's good, and I am enjoying it. Some great moral dillemmas have popped up that make it a consistantly interesting read. But this will also be John's last arc in this book, so I'm in "wait and see" mode regaring its future in my collection.
Superman/Batman- After about a year of so-so stories, 2008 returned this book to much of its former glory. An awesome stroyline involving the attempted eradication of all Kryptonite on earth showed us more of who these characters are and what their friendship means. The art is fantastic and the constant comparison between these two characters never gets boring. If you're a DC fan, you should be getting this book. I'd even consider dropping each of these heroes monthly titles and just catching these characters here.
Titans- Judd Winick has brought the original Titans together again with some pretty solid results. In the first story arc we're reintroduced to Raven and her character's mythology. It's a worthwhile story, since she is not among the well recognized DC characters, but the antagonists were disappointing. The concept of demons and procreation has some real limits for me, even in fiction, and they were up against three or four of Raven's demonic siblings. The current storyline about Jericho is more promising, although I've recently learned that Jericho's major stauys change is explained in part four of a mini-series I have no interest in, so hopefull they'll rehash it here. I'm als waiting for the other shoe to drop. Winick has two pet causes. Homosexuality awareness and HIV/AIDs awareness. I admire his compassion for both homosexuals and those with HIV or aids, but these elements have become such predictable elements in his writing that I'm now waiting to find out who is going to be gay or have HIV. I've seen both of these elements (gay characters and HIV) handled by other writers without the heavy-handedness that WInick uses, but he doesn't seem to be learning from them and the result can be a pretty significant detour from the kind of stories I buy comic books for. I'm enjoying this book cautiously.
Teen Titans- Although well written and enjoyable, this book has suffered the McDuffie effect. Third strong characters have been added to the team and given too much attention. This year we saw stories focusing on Red Devil, Ravager, and Miss Martian. (Who? Yeah, exactly my point.) The death of superboy in Infinite Crisis has negatively affected this book, as well as the characters who loved him. Bart Allen also "grew up" and became the flash for a few days before he was killed, so no more kid flash either. These two changes took a bite out of the team that they were almost forced to fill with third stringers, since the DCU is running out of teen heroes. Blue Beetle is a no-brainer addition to this group, and they should hang on to Supergirl as well. Not sure how to fill the "Kid Flash gap", but maybe Geoff Johns will amaze us all and figure out a way in "Flash: Rebirth" in 2009. Keep truckin' Teen Titans!
In 2009 I'm excited to follow a few books-
The Greatest American Hero- This modern adaptation of the 80's TV show features the same characters, even using the actor's likenesses. The shows producer is involved and William Katt is one of the writers. Only one issue out so far and it's got some good points and bad. The characters are grounded in reality, as they should be, but there are hints of a stranger underground cult that Raplh will likely be fighting soon. The weakness of the show was when Ralph went up against villains. I'm hoping they'll stick to the strengths, which involved moral dillemmas and finding ways to use the costume without having to parade around in it. Those charming bits of realism made the show great until studio execs mucked things up.
Flash: Rebirth- Geoff Johns found a way to rescue Hal Jordan from some of the messiest artistic choices in all of comic book history. Now that Flash has been through some even worse ones, we can be excited that Johns is returning to the scarlet speedster to clean things up. I'm recommending the same solution here as I do for the Superman Movie franchise. "You didn't really have kids. They are evil synthetic robots made by brainiac! (Or Abra Kadabra, for Flash.) Then you get a tear jerking, dark storyl;ine where the hero ends up killing his "children" and gets really screwed up over it, and we don't have the botched attempt at a family superhero book staining the franchise. Either way, good luck, Geoff! I can't wait for 2009!
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