So this really concludes my first full week of reading comics and what a week it was. Found myself heading back and forth between my home and local comic book store quite a few times. My main goal was to pick up some of the new DC 52 issues, had only planned to pick up 5 but ended up with 9. Also while there I decided to get some other stuff that I had heard some buzz about, either from here or Fresh Ink. The guy at my LCS was really helpful, and quickly realized I was a new reader and helped point me towards stuff to read. What follows are some quick reviews of each:  
 

 

• Batman: The Killing Joke – This one really blew me away. Fantastic story, some really twisted moments and a perfect ending. Wonderful artwork. Loved it.

New DC 52: 

• Batwing #1 - Very interesting introduction to the character. Africa seems to be a great setting for the this sort of vigilante hero and the world he is up against is one that is sure to be bloody, violent with many different levels of corruption. Really loved his armor, the artwork was solid and the ending was awesome. Definitely something I’m going to follow. 4/5 
• Batman: Detective Comics #1 - I liked it, though maybe not as much as I had hoped though I’ll be back for issue #2, especially after that ending. Really interested to know what is up with the Joker and this villian Dollmaker. 3.5/5
• Action Comics: Superman #1 – Great take on Superman’s early years updated to a modern setting. I love his personality and how he using his powers and really shoved them in the face of ‘Metropolis’ finest”. Can’t wait for the next issue after that ending. Very solid issue. 4.5/5
• Batgirl #1 – As one that I had high hopes for after hearing some buzz I must say I felt a little let down. It jumped around a bit and I didn’t get as good a fell for the character as I had hoped. I did however like the references to The Killing Joke, but I just wish we got a better explanation as to why she is no long paralzyed.   I will pick up the next issue and hopefully we will learn more because at the moment she doesn’t really interest me. 3/5
• Swamp Thing #1 – Awesome. I didn’t know what to expect when I first heard about Swamp Thing and it was never on my list of things to pick up. I mean how   interesting could the character be? Well even though we don’t get much of him here I still loved this issue. The dialouge was fantastic, its flow was even better and the artwork was great. Of everything I read this week it is probably the one I’m most interested in picking up when the next issue rolls out. 5/5
• Green Arrow #1 – Not much worth talking about here really. Bland story and character. Still not totally sure how he manages to fight in close combat with his weapons like he did here. Won’t be picking up the next issue, not sure why I even got this one, the character never interested me. 2/5
• Animal Man #1 - Yet another one I was skeptical about picking up but decided to anyway at the last minute and ended up pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The family dynamic is great, the A- Man’s character and powers are interesting, that ending was dark and definitely has me wanting to know what happens next. My only complaint would be the art. Wasn’t a big fan and it, sort of bland, but nothing that really bothered me. 4/5
• Stormwatch #1 – A bit confusing, there seemed to be a much big story going on behind the scenes as if I was missing important backstory. I liked the scale of the story and the artwork so I might just pick up the next issue but definitely not a priority. 3/5
• Static Shock #1 – Meh. Really nothing terrible about this, but nothing about it interested me enough to want to get the next issue. 3/5

Others:

• Secret Avengers #16 - This one I really liked even if I jumped into it some many issues in. Great pacing, fun dialouge and great artwork, the moment with Knight Moon flying over the city was spectacualr. Very enjoyable and something I’ll likely follow. 4.5/5
• Secret Avengers #1 – So I picked up the first issue after enjoying the latest release so much and once again really loved it. Might try to pick up the trades for it. 4/5
• Locke & Key: Clockworks –Very interesting read but nothing too spectacular as of yet. It really just had me wanting to go back and read some of the earlier stuff, will look to see if my LCS has Volume 1. 3.5/5
• Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #1 - Enjoyable read, I like the story and the pacing enough to have me interested in the next issue. 4/5
• The Rinse #1 -   Fun read and a story that seems like it could get really interesting. Definitely worth it for $1. 3.5/5 

I've been getting into comics a lot more ever since the release of 'Thor' and 'Captain America'. I had always been interested in superheroes, a lot actually when younger, but that interest came mostly from films and TV adaptations. But the recent Marvel releases have made me go out and start actually reading the comics. Mainly because with those films more than any before them I actually felt like there was a universe worth exploring and learning about which I never felt with something like 'The Dark Knight', though I love it to death. With the upcoming 'Avengers' film coming together it was just that final spark to fuel the fire and I haven't looked back since. 

So as a new reader I've been very excited for the new DC relaunch, which gives me a great opportunity to start from the beginning with a lot of characters. So I figured I'd start a blog in which I would post weekly and talk about what I picked up that week, and try to give a 'new reader' perspective.

So I'll start with Justice League #1:

I really enjoyed this. I found it hard to really think about what to say in terms of its quality because the story and characters are only just being introduced and it is hard to sort of get a good feel for it in so few pages. What I can say is that I liked the attitudes that Batman and Hal Jordan seem to have. There has been some criticism from those that think they are too cocky but I think that is expected at this point. I've always viewed Batman as a loner and a new superhero coming into his 'turf' would surely piss him off. As for Hal Jordan, I do not know much about his personality, but given his powers and the fact that he has just learned Batman really doesn't have any makes it understandable that he acts like he should 'take the lead' in a "stand back and let the real superhero handle this" sort of way. If it were to continue like this throughout then I could definitely see it being very annoying but their initial feelings towards one another will lead to interesting arcs in which they are forced to work together and we can see that chemistry change. I don't want them to hit it off right away, the tension of meeting these new heroes, some with greater powers than their own, and having to learn to work as a team is something that needs to be well examined for me to really have a vested interest in the Justice League. I can't wait to see where it goes from here. I liked that final page with Superman's introduction and I'm very excited to see his interactions with Batman.

I plan to pick up a few more this week: 

• Detective Comics
• Green Arrow
• Action Comics
• Swamp Thing
• Static Shock

• Green Lantern
• Resurrection Man
• Batwoman
• Frankenstein
• Suicide Squad
• DC Universe Presents
• Batman
• Nightwing
• Blue Beetle
• Wonder Woman
• Red Hood and the Outlaws
• Aquaman
• Superman
• Batman: The Dark Knight
• Voodoo
• Teen Titans

Not sure which I will follow closely, or if there may be others I pick up along the way, but I'm excited. I will also probably pick up some Marvel so I'll post some stuff about those as well as what I thought about this week upcoming DC releases in my next blog. Until then, thanks for reading!