Comics! The Blog in conjunction with Wizard’s Comics brings you the New 52 Hoedown Throwdown - a quick blow-by-blow spoiler free set of recaps that help you choose which of the new books are right for you!
In a corrupt Metropolis that doesn’t yet trust him, a young Superman fights for the little guy. He can’t fly yet, but he’s faster than a speeding bullet. By day, he’s the gutsy reporter Clark Kent. But when someone’s in danger or the powerful prey on the week, he’s there. He’s Superman.
Recommended if you like: All Star Superman, Bruce Springsteen, communism, and books with a sense of wonder.
ANIMAL MAN #1
Buddy Baker can take on the powers and abilities of any animal on the planet. He used to be a full-time superhero, but now he’s an activist and an actor who dips hit feet in the crime fighting pool now and again. But when his young daughter manifests a morbid power of her own, what will he do? He’s always been a family man above all else, but can he save them from what’s coming?
Recommended if you like: Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Believer, Grant Morrison’s Animal Man and superheroes with a Vertigo twist.
BATGIRL #1
Barbara Gordon steps back into the role of Batgirl after spending three years on the sidelines. As she struggles to start fresh (in more ways than one), she soon realizes that old wounds have ways of reappearing when least expected.
Recommended if you like: Birds of Prey, Secret Six, fantastical stories with a grounded characterization.
BATWING #1
David Zavimbi is Batwing, Batman’s chosen emissary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He’s also Officer Zavimbe of the Tinasha Police Department. Every part of his life is dedicated to ending the violence and corruption of his home. Does he have what it take to find the madman leaving altars of corpses across the city? Can he stop Massacre?
Recommended if you like: Batman Incorporated, 99 Days, superheroes in different locales.
After a spat of random murders plagues Gotham, Bruce tracks down the Joker and the pair face off. But is it really as simple as bringing down the Joker, or is something even bigger at play?
Recommended if you like: Pre-relaunch Batman, darker mystery stories.
GREEN ARROW #1
Oliver Queen is an inventor of things. By day he runs Queen Industries, makers of Q-Core products like the Q-Phone. By night, he uses all of these gadgets to right wrongs and whatnot. He’s a super hero.
Recommended if you like: Iron Man, lighter Batman stories, tech talk.
HAWK AND DOVE #1
A mad scientist attacks Washington with flying science zombies and only Hawk and Dove can save the day - if they can find a way to work together.
Recommended if you like: Hawk and Dove (of course), Brightest Day, stories with crazy science.
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1
When the public’s trust and respect of government hits an all-time low, the United Nations creates its own Justice League to give a PR boost. Unfortunately, Booster Gold is the team leader and everybody in this new Justice League International is kind of a dick to each other. Even when monsters start showing up. Hijinks ensue! Batman may have his work cut out for him, I fear.
Recommended if you like: Booster Gold, the JLI of old, teams that may or may not have to learn to get along, hilarious consequences.
MEN OF WAR #1
Joseph Rock is nearing the end of his life as a grunt - but not the end of his life in the military. Recruited for a special ops team, Rock finds himself neck deep in the battle between regular human beings and a new breed of super human - and the results aren’t always pretty.
Recommended if you like: Joe Kubert’s Sgt. Rock, Stormwatch PHD, war stories.
OMAC #1
Something strange is going on at Cadmus labs in this super-charged ode to Jack Kirby comics - and a new OMAC is at the center of it all!
Recommended if you like: Jack Kirby comics, silver age shenanigans, weird science things.
So what if Static shorted out everybody’s car, phone and laptop on the Queensboro Bridge. He still stopped Sunspot, didn’t he? Oh, that guy got killed by his bosses? Damn. Surely, the authorities will give Static the benefit of the doubt. Oh? They’re in on it, too? Well… dang. Welcome to New York City, Virgil Hawkins.
Recommended if you like: The Static Shock cartoon, Dwayne McDuffie stories (we miss you!), the Justice League cartoon, Spider-Man, teens being teens in the DC Universe.
STORMWATCH #1
Stormwatch attempts to recruit one of the most powerful superhumans in existence when the moon starts looking threateningly towards earth. Which is to say, the team is going to fight the moon.
Recommended if you like: The Authority, Ultimates, big wide-screen action.
SWAMP THING #1
Botanist Dr. Alec Holland died in a lab accident. When he woke up much, much later, he had memories of another existence as the Swamp Thing, protector of life on Earth. Then he came back to life. Was he ever really Swamp Thing? Is he still? We don’t know. But when whole groups of animals across the globe start dying and a terrible being rises, we might need the Swamp Thing again.
Recommended if you like: American Vampire and/or Scott Snyder’s Detective Comics run, Brightest Day, Swamp Thing, slightly literary (but fun!) comics.
Great feature!
I hope that reading this in the next few weeks doesn’t make my file grow too much…
I guarantee we will dash your hopes. That is my new life goal.
I don’t like this life goal of yours…