GRAPHIC BREAKDOWN: DC Universe: Rebirth #1, Batman: Rebirth #1, Superman: Rebirth #1, Jupiter’s Legacy 2 #1, & Captain America: Steve Rogers #1

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

It’s been a great couple of weeks in the comic book world.

We have a few titles here to get your summer started!

So without further adieu here goes!

DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH #1  

Written by Geoff Johns and Illustrated by  Phil Jimenez, Ethan Van Sciver, Gary Frank, and Ivan Reis
Published by DC Comics

I was unsure how to feel about this 80 page title when it was first announced. Johns is an okay writer to me. Sometimes he does amazing. Other times, he’s very wordy and boring.

This however? This is a masterpiece. A total masterpiece.

Johns takes a hard look at the DC Universe with this title. He looks at it, reexamines it, and makes something brand new. I was impressed. He brings back Wally West as the Flash and I was grinning from ear to ear.

The New 52 eliminated Wally and it was a shame. Barry Allen was cool and all, but Wally? He was the Flash I grew up on. Johns creates a beautiful tale filled with action and emotion. It’s something else.

The art is also spectacular. You realize how much modern comic art is kind of terrible when you see the art on this book. All four artists are just at the top of their game and for the price, the value of this book is overwhelming. It’s great.

The last plot twist at the end has a few people up in arms. Not me though. It actually was exciting and new. Let’s see where it goes. This Rebirth had a lot of greatness in it. I’m a fan in love. Now keep it going DC. You have my attention.

RATING: A+

Captain America: Steve Rogers #1  

Written by Nick Spencer and Illustrated by Jesus Saiz
Published by Marvel Comics

“Hail Hydra.”

With two words, Nick Spencer sent the comicbook world aflame last week. Captain America now works for Hydra. People are offended! Nick Spencer is getting death threats! How dare he turn Cap into a traitor? But how is it? Any good?

Well, it’s hard to judge off this first issue. But to be honest, it’s pretty bad thus far. Spencer isn’t quite Mark Gruenwald who probably could have pulled this off…and it’s just a badly executed idea. It’s hard to blame Spencer however. For some reason, Cap gets the best sales when he is no longer Cap.

(Gruenwald’s run had it…and Bucky Cap had it) I’m sure it sounded like a home run…which backfired.

At least he tried something. He’s just not skilled enough to do it.

Saiz on the art is serviceable but never inspired. I got a copy with a Steranko cover. The cover was great. The inside was just average. I wish there was more to like. There isn’t. Maybe it’ll take off. Spencer got death threats for this issue for turning Cap bad. That’s stupid.

It’s a comic book and he’s trying. It doesn’t work and that’s a shame. But he gets a D rather than an F. At least he tried.

RATING: D

Batman: Rebirth #1  

Written by Tom King and Scott Snyder and Illustrated by Mikel Janin
Published by DC Comics.

Here is the first title I read after the fantastic DC Universe: Rebirth. And it was an immediate letdown. I won’t even mince words. Sure there are some good ideas but they don’t add up to much new.

Oh boy. Here we go.

First off, the story by Snyder and King. It’s okay. The problem with it, is that they don’t pick a tone with it.

So, it just sits there.

Snyder must have come at it like he was exhausted after his amazing run. And it shows. King must have wanted to please Snyder and we get a muddy story with okay ideas and not much else to show for it.

The art by Janin is okay. It’s not terrible. it’s also not amazing. It’s just…okay.

The whole thing seems…okay. And that’s just it. The only standout idea I liked was the way they handled The Calendar Man.

Other than that? It was kind of dull They may have done better to call this DC Universe: Afterbirth. It certainly feels like it.

RATING: C-

Superman: Rebirth #1  

Written by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason and Illustrated by Doug Mahnke
Published by DC Comics

As you can see in the above review, I didn’t much care for the Batman Rebirth. However, it feels like a flat-out masterpiece compared to this poor effort. Tomasi and Gleason are two of my least favorite creators. Here, they seem determined to be the worst they have ever been.

The story picks up sometime after the Death of Superman. Superman is back, with a beard. Gloomy. Like out of the Zack Snyder Universe. But less fun.

He’s back and we have to listen to him reflect. Blah. That’s about as interesting as it gets. Buy something else. Anything else. Save yourself.

The shining spot on this book is Mahnke on the art. He’s great. Buy it for that. There’s no other reason to.

This could have been great. Instead it’s just a D-.

Rating: D-

Jupiter’s Legacy 2 #1  

Written by Mark Millar and Illustrated by Frank Quietly
Published by Image Comics

Finally! Another good book! I loved the first Jupiter’s Legacy. Well written and illustrated. This one follows suit.

If you are a fan of the first series, you’re in for a treat. The second one is fantastic through and through. I didn’t even mind waiting for it. This is the real deal.

Superhero offspring Hutch and Chloe have come out of hiding with son Jason to assemble a team of super crooks from around the globe.

Millar has a formula. You can see it plain as day. Sometimes it’s pretty obvious and I get bored.

Here though, it works. He writes a deep tale filled with action and emotion. It’s wonderful. Quietly is one of the best artists still working. The book is incredible. I’m glad it’s out there.

This is one of Millar’s best. a film will be coming on down the line. Pick this book up now so you can get in on the ground floor. You won’t regret it.

Rating: A-