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I haven’t historically followed DC anything except cartoons, which I loved as a kid. I used to read Marvel off and on (specifically X-Men), and a lot of indie comics, but I’ve fallen out of reading comics all together for quite a few years now.
Surprisingly, its DC’s new “not-reboot reboot” “Rebirth” that’s reeled me in. I knew about the New 52 bullshit from my bestie who’s a Batman/DC comics fanboy and from the internet, so I was intrigued on his behalf when I saw they were finally fixing that. I read an article about Rebirth so I could tell my bro about it, only to find that the plot was using a lot of my favorite tropes and plotlines.
Honestly a lot of my fondness for these types of plots ties into my kin bs.
- finding your way back into your home universe
- friends who forgot you remembering you exist
- people erased by timeline shenangians
- reconnecting relationships destroyed by timeline shenanigans
- universes being puppeteered by unknown muscular malefactors from outside
LOL the more I pick it apart the more it seems specifically like Homestuck-lifetime trauma.
But seriously, I picked up the first few issues of the Rebirthed books and so far it seems awesome.
DC Rebirth itself…. made me cry for like 40 pages. Probably the best comic I’ve read in ages. Way too much happened in it for me to go over here, but basically it was the story of Wally West finding a way to pull himself back into the universe and it was Very Emotionally Satisfying, even though I hadn’t been introduced to any of these problems or relationships before picking up the comic.
Batman Rebirth… wasn’t anything special but I’m gonna keep up with the book anyway because who doesn’t love Batman? Also, the Batman part from DC Rebirth I hope will be revisited. Apparently Bruce received a letter from his AU father, where Bruce died instead of his dad…. *sniff*. The issue itself is kind of a glossed over episode about calendar man (who is apparently fucking creepy, who knew) and also introducing the fact that this kid Duke (a black kid) is going to be Bats’ protege for a while. He seems cool. No complaints just not much happening in this issue. The art was nice.
Superman Rebirth…. god damn it why does Superman keep making me like him? All I’ve been doing for the past few years is defend Superman every time he comes up and I don’t know why??? I guess I just have to accept that as much as I like complex black and grey characters, its nice to just have a shining example of goodness sometimes. Uncomplicated doesn’t always equal bad. Superman deserves so much better than the recent goddawful movies.
I definitely have the most to say about Superman Rebirth; the issue is about quite literally, laying to rest the New 52 version of Superman who is freshly dead, and the Pre-52 (handsome beardy dad) Superman step into his role. The whole comic pretty much just takes place between Beard Superman and Lana, and its honestly beautiful and emotional. There were a bunch of extended flashbacks to the 90s death of Superman. I cried, again. Talk about dying and coming back does that to me. New 52 superman isn’t coming back to life any time soon, apparently, but I’d like to see him come back, sometime. In the meantime I quite like Superdad.
Green Lanterns Rebirth… everything I know about Green Lanterns I know from like 2 animated features and some wiki articles. I know they had a big story (Blackest Night) a while ago and I ALMOST picked up that story but ultimately didn’t. This book is apparently going to be a perma-teamup with the two new earth lanterns, this big tough (kinda handsome) guy who was mistaken for a terrorist, and this cute girl with anxiety. I have to say, I am all on board for a super hero with anxiety, especially in a book about conquering fear. (which is apparently what being a green lantern is about according to this issue). The two of them have essentially been handcuffed together until Daddy Green Lantern gets back from important business, so this should be fun.
Green Arrow Rebirth…. I’ll be honest I only picked this one up because DC Rebirth promised me a romantic reunion of lovers pulled apart by time fuckery. Some of that WAS in the issue, but it was mostly like cartoonishly over the top Real Social Problems addressed by people in tights. I’m all for helping the homeless and I am 100% against human trafficking but this issue had the same kind of tone as a 90s Captain Planet episode. I have no idea if this is the usual tone of the book or what? It left me a little confused. On the other hand the banter was fun and the art was great. It actually had the art I liked the best out of all of the Rebirth books so far. So there’s that.
Over all I am really into the whole Rebirth thing and the various threads of the DC universe. I am going to keep reading titles each week until I get a good feeling for what I want to keep and what I want to read only where it ties in.
What I am really looking forward to is Rebirth’s promised return to Optimism, and hopefully kicking in the teeth of the Watchmen Comics Are Depressing idea.
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