One of the series from the Wildstorm Universe is now a part of the DCU proper. This title seems to have ties to Demon Knights, which launches next week by the same writer.
General Information
Title: Stormwatch #1
Author: Paul Cornell
Illustrator(s): Miguel Sepulveda (art) and Allen Passalaqua (colours)
Cover Date: November 2011
Cover Price: $2.99
Buy the digital edition.
Premise
A group of professional Earth protectors are trying to recruit Apollo, following events that won’t be published for three more weeks.
High Point
Martian Manhunter states his role in the New 52.
Low Point
A new continuity is being established with a new shared universe, and you launch a title in the first week with a story that takes place after a story scheduled for the fourth week? To me, that sounds like a bad idea, particularly since the connection is right there on the first page when first impressions are so vitally important.
The Scores
This doesn’t seem original to me. I’ve never read the original StormWatch, but this feels a lot like Hickman’s S.H.I.E.L.D., only not as compelling. I give it 4 out of 6.
The artwork is very good. We’ve got clear depictions of all characters, who can be easily distinguished even without spandex. I give it 5 out of 6.
The story is very rapidly paced. This organization is big enough to multitask, and that’s exactly what we see here. It still feels like pieces are missing, though, particularly given the multiple references to “past” events from an unpublished title. I give it 4 out of 6.
The characterization suffers from all of the multitasking. The rather large cast gets very little time per character to establish themselves. The Martian Manhunter feels very alien, and his powers seem to work a bit differently than before, but I have very little understanding of the rest of the cast. I give it 3 out of 6.
The emotional response is hampered by my unfamiliarity with the characters. Existing StormWatch fans may be absolutely thrilled by a title this packed, but I don’t yet have a reason to care about this crew. I give it 3 out of 6.
The flow is surprisingly smooth given the amount of scene jumping. I give it 5 out of 6.
Overall, this may rock the world of existing fans, but it didn’t turn me into one. I give it 3 out of 6.
In total, Stormwatch #1 receives 27 out of 42.
The New 52
Here are handy links for the reviews of all 52 new #1 issues:
- Action Comics
- All-Star Western
- Animal Man
- Aquaman
- Batgirl
- Batman
- Batman and Robin
- Batman: The Dark Knight
- Batwing
- Batwoman
- Birds of Prey
- Blackhawks
- Blue Beetle
- Captain Atom
- Catwoman
- DC Universe Presents
- Deathstroke
- Demon Knights
- Detective Comics
- The Flash
- Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
- The Fury of Firestorm
- Green Arrow
- Green Lantern
- Green Lantern Corps
- Green Lantern: New Guardians
- Grifter
- Hawk and Dove
- I, Vampire
- Justice League
- Justice League Dark
- Justice League International
- Legion Lost
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Men of War
- Mister Terrific
- Nightwing
- O.M.A.C.
- Red Hood and the Outlaws
- Red Lanterns
- Resurrection Man
- The Savage Hawkman
- Static Shock
- Stormwatch
- Suicide Squad
- Superboy
- Supergirl
- Superman
- Swamp Thing
- Teen Titans
- Voodoo
- Wonder Woman