I started a re-read of DC’s New 52 when I moved to LA as a way to organize my bookshelves since they got jumbled up in the packing and unpacking process. In honor of DC’s Rebirth event and the restart of this blog, though, I thought this would be a good time to put some thoughts down. Origin is the official DC launch point for the New 52 storyline, so I will start here and meander on following in-universe chronology as best I can.
Geoff Johns — Writer
Jim Lee — Penciller
Scott Williams — Inker
Published 2 May 2012
Collects Justice League 1 – 6 (31 Aug 2011 — 29 Feb 2012)
[yasr_multiset setid=0]
Art
Jim Lee is a god to me so Art is pretty much an automatic 5 out of 5.
Story/Connections
Story, I liked a lot, too. I was not sure what to expect from the New 52 reboot, but I appreciated how Geoff Johns pulled this off. The superheros are established (so there is no need to rehash all their origin stories), but not public, so the world still does not know much about them and they do not know each other (giving a great opportunity to tell each other about their abilities).
Darkseid’s probing attack serves as the world’s first extinction-level threat and the catalyst for Bruce Wayne (Batman), Hal Jordan (Green Lantern), Clark Kent (Superman), Barry Allen (Flash), Diana Prince (Wonder Woman), Arthur Curry (Aquaman) get together, as well as the origin for Victor Stone’s (Cyborg) powers.
It also introduces several supporting characters, such as Silas Stone, David Singh, Steve Trevor, Anthony Ivo, Sarah Charles, Thomas Oscar Morrow, David Graves, Grail, DeSaad, Steppenwolf, Pandora, Phantom Stranger, Spectre, and Question. More are mentioned, like Guardians, Gorilla Grodd, Lex Luthor, William Magnus, Ryan Choi, Oliver Queen (Green Arrow), Zatanna Zatara, and Carter Hall (Hawkman). And the stage is perfectly set for the less-than-perfect team dynamic.
A few relationships have already been formed. Batman has files on everyone, of course. Green Lantern and Flash fought Gorilla Grodd together. Superman dislikes Lex Luthor. Steve Trevor is Wonder Woman’s liaison.
Overall, it is action-packed and full of laughs. I tell everyone who listens that DC had a blueprint right new here for launching their answer to the MCU, but no, they had to start with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, loosely based on The Dark Knight Returns, which is not even in the main continuity.
Next up, Superman — Action Comics Vol. 1.