It's finally here! As of today, DC's The New 52 begins with the release of Justice League #1 from Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. So here I am wondering what I'll do with this since everybody else on the internet already seems to have read this issue and reviewed it already. Instead, I'm going to reread it and post up 52 things I find interesting about this issue. Let's get to it!1: It's already been said that this takes place in the early days of the DCU, so it's kind of cool to see this series beginning with Batman getting chased down by the GCPD.
2: The second page is a nice big splash page. Almost makes me want to go reread Batman: Hush. Keyword there: almost.
3: Thought I'd get a better look at the details of Batman's new threads here. Outside of the bat gauntlets, no dice.
4: While I'm on the topic of Batman's costume, I'm kind of steamed that they got rid of the Batman Incorporated costume so quickly. I was really enjoying that look. It feels like it's been squandered.
4: There we go; a nicer look at Batman's new costume! It looks a bit similar to the Arkham Asylum costume.
5: Also, holy crap, batman's got tiny little rockets in his glove. Nice.
6: Bwoof is an odd sound for a helicopter to make.
7: First time I read this, I thought that was Killer Croc in the cloak.
8: Yes Batman, fire your grappling hook through his calf muscle!
9: Bwoooooooshhhhhhh is probably an appropriate sound for whatever this thing is to make.
10: Look out Batman, it's a robot!
11: Suddenly, Hal Jordan! With the Fire Truck! On the Rooftop!
12: This scene would be infinitely cooler if this were Killer Croc and Hal was throwing a green rock at him.
13: It'd be a pretty big rock...
14: Hal is surprised that Batman's real. Yep. The space cop thought Batman couldn't be real.
15: Also, Hal's shoulder pads look dumb.
16: You'd think the cops would know better than to fire at a someone in glowing green spandex with a magic space ring. Not that they'd know it's a space ring...
17: Looks like this is gonna be a Batman and Hal team-up issue.
16: Seriously, we just got through a Flash and Batman team-up in Flashpoint. Has Geoff Johns been watching a lot of Batman: The Brave and the Bold lately?
15: It also almost makes me want to reread All-Star Batman and Robin because Batman and Hal meeting was the basis of the single best issue of that series. Keyword there: almost.
16: Uh-oh, the robot isn't quite dead.
17: Man, no wonder Gotham cops are so corrupt; they don't have a great track record with staying alive, so they might as well make as much as possible why they live.
18: Dammit, it's "CRASH" not "KRASH"!
19: And the robot gets away as by turning into a spider looking thingy.
20: Okay Hal, just shut up. That's not what a transformer looks like and that's not what a dog looks like. Your track record with describing things is terrible. Remember Larfleeze? You called him Gonzo when he clearly looked like Alf. How are you this dumb?
21: And now Batman's mocking Hal. Stupid Hal.
22: Y'know, on the one hand, nice to see that Hal's helping out, but on the other, leave some of those fires to the fire fighters. That's their JOB.
23: Actually, can green lantern construct water to take out the fire? Does that mean there's going to be green construct puddles after all of this?
24: "...Green Lanten can handle anything." Geez Hal. Ego much?
25: Batman has a power Hal. It's called endless wealth. Also, he's Batman.
26: Oh look, a NEW 52 checklist. I'm seriously only buying about 1/4 of these books at best.
27: Just like ASBAR, Batman totally stole Hal's power ring. Now Hal's angry.
28: And they found the "dog" it looks like it's vomiting kirby dots.
29: Oh look, the "dog" is fusing a box to a wall. huh.
30: "For Darkseid!" Hmmmm? I wonder what THAT could mean.
31: And the "dog" blew itself up, probably because Hal called it a dog.
32: Darkseid: a band, a death cry, or an evil space god? YOU DECIDE!
33: Yes, this box must be related to Superman! I mean, they're both from space, right?
34: Batman: "Let's be careful around Superman. He seems pretty dangerous." Hal: "Pfft, screw that! I'm the Green Lantern!" Yep. This is gonna end poorly.
35: Meanwhile, at a Highscool football game... wait, what?
36: Oh, right. Cyborg's origin story. He's really good at foot ball.
37: Aw, his dad didn't show up to the game. Nothing is sadder than an athlete looking to see that reserved seat empty.
38: And everyone wants a piece of Vic Stone. In fact, the only way for him to not make it into college is if he ends up getting turned into a crime fighting cyborg. Oh, wait...
39: "Hustle, Hit, Never it!" Varsity tag?
40: Poor Vic just wants his dad to see him win the big game.
41: Also, why the hell is he using a payphone? Is this set back far enough that cellphones weren't widespread yet?
42: Also, what the hell Vic's dad? Your kid's future as a pro is at stake and you can't take off for one night to sit down and help him figure out which college to sign him up with? You suck at being a parent.
43: "Man, Look at him, Vic's got it made." Yeah, what with the neglectful father, not even showing up to his game or taking the time to help him sort out his future.
44: It's a bird! No it's a plane! Wait, yes. It's a plane!
45: Man, Green Lantern really sucks at being inconspicuous.
46: "Well, you can't fly..." Yes, Hal. You have a point. I mean, it's not like a guy who can afford an impressive costume like that would have the money for his own jet or anything.
47: Oh hey, they're at a Lexcorp building and there's a hole in the side. It's either Superman or one of the countless monsters that Lex Luthor keeps making to kill Superman.
48: "I can handle this!" PUNCH! THOOM!
49: Hey, it's Superman! And he's looking and acting really cocky. Oh boy.
50: And the issue is over! Next issue: Batman vs. Superman!
51: Not a bad issue, really, but not something I'm gonna come back to month after month. It's decompressed to the level of a Bendis Avengers book. I'll wait for the trade to read more.
52: Oh hey, bonus art! Man, the Green Lantern outfit looks worse here. Superman, on the other hand, looks much better. Those red gauntlets add a lot of needed red to the outfit and the cape attaching directly to the big S-shield is pretty cool. The final product is pretty lame in comparison. Aquaman isn't too shabby, either.
And, that's it! 52 thoughts for the first of the New 52! Not sure if I'm going to do this every week, but I thought it'd be an interesting thing to do instead of just a straight up review. Like I said, the issue isn't bad at all, but if every issue is this decompressed, then I'll stick to the trades. Still, I am looking forward to Batman, Action Comics, All-Star Western, and Blue Beetle. Hopefully the good titles get to stick around.
