When DC launched in 2011 Justice League was the first title off the blocks. Now here's the 29th issue as the rest of the original New 52 survivors are about to hit #31. That's what being knee-deep in crossovers gets you.
Never mind, #29 is here, and with it the new Metal Men's battle against the Grid creature coordinating the Crime Syndicate's takeover of Earth. They do pretty well, especially when, perhaps too conveniently, the technically brainless bunch face a bunch of mostly telepathic villains.
Cyborg, meanwhile, confronts the Grid, his former body taken over by a sentient computer virus. It's a bit of a cliche that they wind up battling on a digital plane, but the encounter does give Vic Stone his best showcase since he was catapulted into League membership with #1.
The Superman-symbol echo isn't accidental, as writer Geoff Johns and penciller Doug Mahnke make the point that former Teen Titan Cyborg deserves his place in the big leagues.
The revamped Metal Men are getting there in terms of personalities, but I die a little every time I see their new looks - they're so darn lumpy. Yeah, the Silver Age designs are half a century old, but you know what? The Mona Lisa is centuries old, and no one's demanding an update on that. I'm exaggerating for effect, obviously, but there's a reason Ross Andru and Mike Esposito's sleek designs lasted for decades - they're perfect for the characters in terms of personality and purpose. Every bit of tinkering - this isn't the first time they've been tweaked, but it's the biggest redesign we've seen - wrecks the Metal Men a little more.
Compare:
Honestly, does anyone think the latest look has the simple style of the old versions, the functionality, charisma, charm?
And as for the now-teenage Doc Magnus, Johns writes him as far too touchy feely - he should love his robots (not 'androids'!) but not in a madly demonstrative way. And give him his pipe back, for goodness sake!
There are some good moments from Johns, I like that the Metal Men are unambiguous good guys, he writes the melodramatically amusing Mercury especially well, and it's good to finally see some movement on this Forever Evil crossover. The arrival of Steve Trevor and Killer Frost is appreciated, hopefully giving a boost to the excellent, just-finished Forever Evil: ARGUS mini-series. It's rather boring that the Grid has the same Pinocchio complex as every other robot in fiction, as he seemed to be set up to go the other way. I'd rather have the Grid defeated via some less-obvious Achilles' heel.
Penciller Doug Mahnke produces first-rate superhero art, inked by Christian Alamy and Keith Champagne. While I don't like the character redesigns, they do well with what they've been given - Will is nicely animated, Cyborg is strong and resolute, and the action moments look great. Courtesy of colourist Rod Reis we get some great rain as he keep the pages popping. And Dezi Sienty's lettering is as sharp as ever.
I see the thematic idea behind Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Rod Reis's cover, but I'd prefer the Metal Men to be the Metal Men. And why is Platinum/Wonder Woman having a little sit down?
Overall, a very competent comic, keeping the wheels spinning, hitting the requisite storyline beats ... but surely the series that was meant to lead the DC line should be something more? I appreciate the world building (though Happy Harbor' residents won't) and reintroduction of versions of the Metal Men and, earlier, Doom Patrol, but I'm not wowed. There are no amazing moments, no original ideas. I'd love to see a writer such as Mighty Avengers' Al Ewing have a crack at this book, as he's a whiz at finding fresh things to do with vintage properties, combining characterisations and power sets to unexpected effect.
Right now, though, I'd be happy for Forever Evil to be done. And Cyborg seems to agree.
The new Metal Men design remind me of the live-action Transformers. There's an unnecessary sharpness and armored-ness about them that feels like a blueprint for a Metal Men movie version. I agree that the sleek and simplicity of the original designs is so much better, but I could say that about oh-so-many DC comics and characters.
ReplyDeleteWeirdly, I've never seen a Transformers film (or cartoon, or comic ... I'm not big on giant robots) but I think I get what you mean. And yes, it seams we're in an age of over-fussy costumes (ducks).
DeleteJust to comment on the cover: It might have been more interesting if, say, Mercury had played Wonder Woman and Platinum had gone for, oh, Green Lantern mimicry. They're robots. Are they built with sexual orientation? (If Platinum still has a thing for her creator, that's not really a male-female chemistry, is it? Through the years as Doc has continually turned down Platinum's romantic overtures, I've wondered if perhaps he wasn't more attracted to Gold instead. Or no one, metal or flesh.)
ReplyDeleteExcellent, the exact same thought crossed my mind, it's all too predictable; then I thought, well, Tina is, traditionally, the only Metal Person who has shown interest in Doc Magnus, so I let it pass. But yeah, basically.
DeleteWill Magnus has had at least one proper, if shortlived, girlfriend, she shows up in the new all-robot Back Issue, it was a woman named Isobel in #50. Interestingly!
This Forever Evil storyline has been going on Forever, as much as I like it I wish we would have some kind of conclusion.
ReplyDeleteWorth reading for the new Metal Men all the same. I love them. I also expected a re-design, as Nu-52 always does this. I would've liked it if the new female member of the team - cant recall her name, she was introduced in the previous run, but she was great - as I feel the new Metal Men could od with another girl in their ranks.
Smashing, all the same. I hope we get a series out of this.
Copper it was, I liked her too. She's probably still in Redesign, getting extra rivets.
DeleteJust waiting for the New (and more devious)Doom Patrol to finally show up. Those redesigns are fugly, but that's what you get nowadays. Mahnke's a better artist than that, so who told him those designs were good?
ReplyDeleteI think they may have been down to last issue's artist, Ivan Reis, if memory serves.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or does Lead now look like Blok from the Legion? Or maybe Hammerstein from Ro-Busters... But, yeah, everything seems too fussy and over-designed these days.
ReplyDeletehey mart sorry to be off topic but did you see captain america the winter soldier if not you should it was freaking epic everything was great and plus cap didn't kill his opponents unlike a certian man of steel in his movie it had all the great stuff of a good marvel story action spy-fi thriller tragedy moral hero's and vile villain and even tragedy look at howard stark i tells ya you should watch it
ReplyDelete