NEW #1's

It's been quiet in the comic book world the last few week. No more! Today was a big day. Marvel ripped off DC and, this month, starts re-booting all of their books with #1's and mostly new creative teams. DC started their new Batman weekly today. And, last but certainly not least, Brian K. Vaughan has a new book out. So the big question: are any of these books worth reading?

DR. STRANGE #1: I've been reading comic books since the late 80's and have probably read a book featuring every character out there at one time or another...but I've never read a Dr. Strange title. Has he even had his own book in the last twenty years? Either way, he's back with the stellar team of Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo. The art is terrific (Bachalo is one of my favorites). And Aaron, as usual, is having a lot of fun here. First off, they do a good job at quickly introducing Dr. Strange's origin (he was a surgeon who got into a car crash and met a wizard that gave him powers while looking for a cure for his damaged hands). Second, they set up a big bad that's bringing "a coming slaughter" that makes you at least curious to read #2. The book doesn't really feature anything we haven't seen before but it's entertaining. *** (out of ****)

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1: Marvel changed writers and artists on all of their new #1 books except for this one. Writer Dan Slott has done a good job but, seriously, he's been on the book for years. We need new blood. In this issue, Peter Parker is in Asia where a new Parker Industries lab has opened up. And the big reveal at the end is that Dr. Octopus' mind is still alive and now in the A.I. of a robot in Parker Industries. The art, by Guiseppe Camuncoli, is kinetic and vibrant as usual (who ever did the cover should be fired, though...Spider-Man looks fat). I'm tired of this status-quo, though. It's not a bad book, it's just basic and same-old. **

INVINCIBLE IRON-MAN #1: They put Bendis on Iron-Man, so at least that's something new. Iron-Man has never been a good comic book. And now it's extra hard because good luck trying to make people believe Tony Stark isn't Robert Downey, Jr. (Bendis writes him like Downey's portrayal, if you wondered). The book is definitely helped by David Marquez's art, which is glorious (he did work with Bendis on Ultimate Spider-man). The story has Stark on a humorous date. Then Stark heads to Dr. Doom's country where Dr. Doom shows up without his mask. Bendis is a great writer of dialogue and quips and pacing. He's not all that great with anything else. And this, like the other new Marvel books, is really just more of the same. It's light fun, nothing more. **1/2

PAPER GIRLS #1: A new Brian K. Vaughan book is always a reason to celebrate. And this book is a lot better than We Stand on Guard, Vaughan's U.S. vs. Canada book that just came out in July, which is a relief. The story is set in 1988 in the Cleveland suburbs and is about a group of 12 year old girls that deliver newspapers on their bikes. The opening dream sequence is so crazy and wild and funny that it really sets the stage for something new, fresh, exciting, and fun. By page two you realize how truly great a writer Vaughan is. His books are alive, pulsing with energy. There are very few comic books out there like a Vaughan book. Stuff like this is the reason we read comic books. And, granted, it's not perfect. 12 year old's don't smoke or talk or look like this (Cliff Chiang's sketchy art is just okay). I guess Vaughan figured high school girls wouldn't be delivering newspapers so he had to make them younger even though he's still writing them like 16 year old's. That's fine...because this is not a realistic book. Towards the end a sci-fi element/mystery is introduced. I would be happier if it was just a normal story about middle-school girls without any "aliens" or whatever the villains turn out to be...but the book is so engaging it's hard to complain. This is one of the best books I've read all year. ***1/2

BATMAN & ROBIN: ETERNAL #1: A new DC weekly started today, this one shorter (26 issues) than Batman: Eternal (52 issues), which ended earlier this year. The other big difference is that Bruce Wayne lost his memory and isn't Batman anymore. James Gordon is Batman now. So this book, so far, seems to be mostly about the assorted ex-Robins and side players of Gotham. Batman: Eternal had a main story featuring Gordon framed for murder and this new book seems to feature a story with Bruce Wayne framed for murder (years ago as Batman he killed two people while under the mind control of a villain known as "Mother"). The bad thing about a weekly book is that you get the B-team of writers and artists. At least with this first issue we get the decent art of Tony Daniel. The writing in this issue is by James Tynion IV with a story credit by Scott Snyder. I do love the weekly cliff-hanger style of these type of books...and I love Batman and Gotham enough to keep reading, but it could be a hell of a lot better. **1/2