COMICS! WEEK 1!
All right, just made a blog, I've got to catch up on my reviews! Okay, so I'm really not reading anyhting MARVEL or indie just yet, because I hopped on becuase of DC's new 52. Okay, let's start!

Swamp Thing #1
by Scott Snyder, and Yannick Paquette

OK, the only reason I got Swamp Thing was because of Scott Snyder. I've really only read classic graphic novels up to this point, and I recently picked up a copy of Batman: The Black Mirror. I was amazed by what Snyder did in those few issues, so for some strange reason, my expectations of Swamp Thing skyrocketed. And I have to say, the book exceded my expectations!

All right, first, the story. Snyder has made the book accesible for new readers, catching readers up in like, 5 pages. After a 3 page opening scene that just completley freaked me out and gave me nightmares, Snyder resorts to his usual tricks using monologue from the main character to compare a part of his childhood or past to his current life/problem. Even in the dark side of the DCU it worked like a charm. Now, my only problem with the book was the appearance of Superman. He just seemed out of place. I mean, he does help move the story forward, but I felt he could've been used by a more horror based character since this is the DARK side of the DCU.

Now, Yannick Paquette's artwork. OH. MY. GOD. It is breathtaking. He is what you would get if the inks and pencil style of Bryan Hitch crossed with the atmospheric art of John Cassaday. The guy can draw. He was born to draw bats dropping dead in the Batcave, and people getting their heads twisted 180 degrees.

I love Swamp Thing. Scott Snyder writes an awesome script as Paquette draws an amazing trio of dead people with their heads twisted.

STORY: 9/10
ART: 9.5/10
VERDICT: 9.5/10

Animal Man #1
by Jeff Lemire, and Travel Foreman

I went into Animal Man with no expectations. I really just had an extra 3 bucks at the comic shop, and was dazzled by the creepy cover, and I'm glad I did.

Jeff Lemire writes a story that is one-third horror, one-third superhero, and one-third family drama. He blends all 3 types of story perfectly, and manages to keep the book feeling fresh. But it's the character work that's the draw. Lemire perfectly writes Maxine as the kind and cute, but bratty 4 year-old, and her brother as the foul-mouthed YouTube teenager seen in every middle school across America. It's all brilliant, and I can't really say anything else about it.

Travel Foreman's art can be described by one word: SCARY. He wasn't really born to draw the superhero part of the book mentioned earlier, as he turns a regular fight scene into a claustrophobic mess. But he does happen to work perfectly in the horror/family drama parts of the book. I really love the big reveal of the Hunter's Three, and the intense cliffhanger at the end mostly because of Foreman. I really hate the big page of Animal Man flying mostly because of Foreman. But that's really not a problem because the superhero part lasts for 4 pages!

STORY: 9.5/10
ART: 8/10
VERDICT: 9/10

Green Arrow #1
by J.T Krul and Dan Jurgens

Go into Green Arrow with high expectations and you'll be sorely dissapointed. It sucks. End of story.

J.T Krul is a heartless !@#$%^& who ruined Green Arrow. He dosen't give a @%$# about the character. He writes Oliver Queen as another heartless !@#$%^& who just happens to run an electronics company. Krul frequently resorts to stereotypical comic plots to keep the story moving. At least, the one good thing Krul can do is write fun, just fun, fight scenes. They're not good. They're just fun.

Dan Jurgens artwork isn't good but it's not bad either. Jurgens' artstyle really makes you feel like you're reading a book from the 90's, like an old issue of the Death of Superman saga, only if you crossed that with the colorful inks of the Dark Knight Strikes Again. Jurgens really can't get facial details well, but at least it ain't Rob Liefeld.

STORY: 3/10
ART: 7.5/10
VERDICT: 5/10

Action Comics #1
by Grant Morrison and Rags Morales

OK, so here's how I picked up Action Comics. As my trip to the comic store ended, I knew I forgot something. I had enough money for 6 comics, but in my head, I'm all, but you need 5 comics. Then I remembered, oh! Grant Morrison! And picked this up.

Grant Morrison reimagines the Man of Steel as a young, learning superhero who is arrogant, but has a good moral fiber. It's this thing about the character that makes me love the book. Superman is vulnerable and can get hurt. However, the book dosen't have a unique charm to it that makes all of Morrison's other titles feel fresh. It feels like Morrison is just trying to write a story, not an amazing, deep, and thoughtful adventure.

Rags Morales' art is a strange beast. He seems to struggle with the facial expressions of most characters, but has a good hold on everything else. His backgrounds like the Metropolis skyline are a real pleasure to look at.

STORY: 8/10
ART: 7/10
VERDICT: 7.5/10

Batgirl #1
by Gail Simone and Adrian Syaf

OK, first: Batgirl is just an OK book. The writitng has a certain charm that makes everything awesome, and makes up for a some less than good art.

First up, Gail Simone's story. I was barely paying attention to the plot because Simone completely lets loose with her character work. The way she writes every character, even characters who only have one line of dialogue seem like they could step out into the real world, retain their personality, and not be out of place. It took me 3 reads to finally get to the plot of the book. The plot is decent, and acceptable for an average comic book, but just seems to be going nowhere.
Adrian Syaf's artwork somewhat reminds me of Andy Kubert. But the colorist and the angles from which Syaf draws them ruin what would be some decent art. The colors are below average and somehow make this book feel less special. The angles give the story a claustrophobic feel, which really dosen't suit a superhero comic.

STORY: 9/10
ART: 6/10
VERDICT: 7.5/10