First Wave of Titles & Creators for DC's Revamp Announced

Yesterday, The Source published the first wave of titles and creators for their ambitious new revamping of their line of comics.  I've taken a look at the titles and creative teams attached and broken down my thoughts on each.  Hit the jump to see what I thought and feel free to let us know what you think of the titles and creative teams as well.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #1

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Jim Lee

Kirk: This was already announced, but worth discussing as it's likely to be DC's new marquee title.  Aside from Cyborg, this is similar to the Grant Morrison JLA with a focus on all the big name JLA members.  As long as they drop those annoying multi-coloured thought boxes for all the characters that every JLA book has been using since Identity Crisis, I'm all over this one.  Hopefully Jim Lee has been drawing the art since three or four years ago or I can't see it going without delays.

Verdict - Day 1 Purchase

WONDER WOMAN #1

Written by Brian Azzarello

Art by Cliff Chiang

Kirk: They are using the recently redesigned Wonder Woman costume here and in the Justice League cover, so possibly going to draw on JMS's run for some of the backstory, but I'd expect a full rework of Wonder Woman and her mythos with a major focus on establishing something viable for a movie treatment.  However, what really stands out is the creative team.  I'm very interested in seeing what Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang do with this.  I'm of the mind DC is doing a lot of these revamps with movies in mind, so I suspect they're putting a lot of effort into Wonder Woman and getting her up to snuff.  Going to be interesting to see where they go with it and this is the title that has drawn the most interest from me from those announced.   That cover is amazing, too. 

Verdict - Day 1 Purchase

AQUAMAN #1

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Ivan Reis

Kirk: I loved what Johns did with Aquaman in Blackest Night, but his Brightest Day work left me nonplussed.  It was already announced as a book for the pre-revamp line, but I'm actually more interested in it now than I was before, so I'll actually be giving this a look when it comes out now.  Like my suspicions for Wonder Woman, I imagine there's a movie initiative planned for this series.

Verdict - Will Try First Issue

FLASH #1

Written by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato

Art by Francis Manapul

Kirk: Now this is an interesting change to the already recently relaunched Flash title.  Gone is Geoff Johns and in his place Francis Manapul steps up as the writer (with some scripting help from Brian Buccellato).  I imagine Johns left some crib notes and plans for the Flash for his artist friend, but this is both an interesting and odd decision.  Flash has been pretty popular of late and is currently headlining the Flashpoint event, so handing the reins over to an unproven artist to write the book seems like an odd decision in this bold new era for the company.  I'll be taking a look at this one when it comes out just since I'm enjoying Flashpoint so much.  At the very least, it'll look pretty.

Verdict - Will Try First Issue

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #1

Written by Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone

Art by Yildiray Cinar

Kirk: In what is a very 90's Image trend this first wave of announced creative teams share, another artist headlines a book as the writer with Ethan Van Sciver handling writing duties with Gail Simone on this Firestorm title.  Firestorm has always been a tough sell and I'm not sure how big an impact this title will have.  With 52 other number one's to pick from, I can see this getting lost in the shuffle, even with Firestorm's roles in Blackest Night and Brightest Day.

Verdict - No Interest

THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1

Written by Tony Daniel

Art by Philip Tan

Kirk: Is there anyone interested in this title?  Artist Tony Daniel's writing hasn't been exactly drawing rave reviews combined with Hawkman, a character Geoff Johns couldn't even make people care about and who has had several dozen failed revamps and relaunches over the years, makes me think this will be the first comic cancelled for the new DC barring some act of God.  

Verdict - No Interest

GREEN ARROW #1

Written by JT Krul

Art by Dan Jurgens

Kirk: Sorry, scratch that last comment, this title is probably the first to be cancelled.  Why is JT Krul still writing?  The mind, it boggles.

Verdict - WHY

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1

Written by Dan Jurgens

Art by Aaron Lopresti

Kirk: Okay, this is a nice premise for the title and I'm all for a JLI book, but where's Keith Giffen?  He would be perfect for restarting this title.  Hell, where's Judd Winick?  He was handling Generation Lost and most were happy with what was happening there.  I like Jurgens and all, but his recent writing work feels dated and not something that will draw me in.

 Verdict - No Interest

MISTER TERRIFIC #1

Written by Eric Wallace 

Art by Roger Robinson

Kirk: Only thing I've read from Eric Wallace is his Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink work and it was serviceable, but nothing special either.  As I've never had any interest in Mister Terrific prior to this revamp and no major creative team or changes announced for him, not much to get excited about for me on this one. 

Verdict - No Interest

CAPTAIN ATOM #1

Written by JT Krul

Art by Freddie Williams II

Kirk: JT Krul again headlining a new title.  He must know where the bodies are buried.  I can't see how the man responsible for Rise of Arsenal and various other train wrecks is getting work, let alone headlining major revamps at the most important time in DC's history.  Captain Atom is a character I've always had an interest in, but have never really been able to find a book or title he's been in that hooked me.  On paper, he should be an easy sell with his power set and background, but nothing ever clicked.  Can't see Krul doing much with him, though I may check it out for Freddie Williams II's art.

 Verdict - Will Try First Issue

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS

Written by Paul Jenkins

Art by Bernard Chang

Kirk: Anthology book?  Right out of the gate for this new revamp?  Perhaps even with his surge in popularity coming out of Brightest Day, mayhap DC didn't think Deadman could hold a solo title on his own and relegated him to renewing the copyright on an anthology title?  I honestly thought Deadman would have a title when they announced this revamp of the line and all the new number ones set to be announced.   Despite that, I like the creative team (though Jenkins can be hit or miss, but when he hits, its usually a homerun), so will probably at least try this one out.  

Verdict - Will Try First Issue

Conclusion

This first batch of revamps from DC left me with a lot of questions.  I like most of what I see, but only two books really stood out and grabbed me with a few others generating interest.  Then there's just a handful that leave me scratching my head in disbelief.  What's the point of revamping an entire line of comics if you aren't going to shake things up, bring in new talent and get some big names on books?  Geoff Johns can't write every book for DC.  He's doing his best, but he's still human.  

So seeing all the same old faces, various artists given writing jobs and questionable choices (JT Krul being the big one) headlining multiple books just like pre-revamp DC makes no sense.  The problem wasn't the history or characters or anything related to the DC Universe itself - it was the talent.  Putting all the same talent on the same titles doesn't fix the problem regardless of whether you revamp the line or not.

Hopefully they take cues from Marvel and the next wave of creative teams announced feature indie talent and/or poach from Vertigo.  I still can't believe Marvel has so many former/current Vertigo writers in their stable when DC is the one responsible for Vertigo.  Grab these critically acclaimed writers and artists already in working relationships with one branch of your company and let them take chances and work magic for a revamp.  Give me something to be excited about.  Not the same old song and dance from the creators that failed to interest me previously.

What do you think?  Are these titles and creative teams selling you on the revamp?  Which ones will you be buying or checking out? 

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