Out this Week: First Wave #1

I'm back from my travels and now trawling through Google Reader for news and previews ... I may be some while! In the meantime, here's one of my highlights from this weeks new releases -

First Wave #1

DC's shocking new pulp universe is finally unveiled! In the shadows of the War, the roots of the Golden Tree cabal grew deep into the heart of a fallen world… and the leaders at the heart of this secret organization see no place in their utopia for heroism. Doc Savage, struggling with the loss of his father, has been blind to their advance – until now. Central City's mysterious Spirit has caught wind of their plans as well. But whose side have the Blackhawks chosen? What is the Red Right Hand? And where is the Batman? Eisner Award winner Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Joker) and superstar Rags Morales (Identity Crisis) craft a DC universe like you've never seen before! It's a world with no supermen, only mortal men… Death can come at any moment, and adventure can still be found at every corner of the map! Will Doc Savage be the first to lead the coming world or the last to be crushed under its heel?

[Source: DC]

'Buy it in single issues' ... 'Wait for the trade' ... 'Buy it in single issues' ... 'Wait for the trade' ...

Since reading the First Wave Batman Doc Savage Special late last year and then discovering there was a mini-series to follow, I've been caught in two minds about how to pick the book up - in single issues or in trade?

By rights, this book should (would normally) fall into my 'wait for the trade' category - it appears to be a stand-alone story, it's not impacting on any of the other books I read, it's a mini, it's $3.99 ... up to yesterday I was prepared to wait and pick it up in trades.

Then, this morning I came across some fantastic interior preview pages over at Omnicomic, and I was back to picking the book up in single issues - the artwork looks fantastic.

Brian Azzarello, Rags Morales, Doc Savage, Batman, The Spirit - it can't be anything less than great can it?!

First Wave #1
Written by Brian Azzarello with art by Rags Morales, cover by J.G. Jones with a 1:10 Variant Cover by Neal Adams

DC Comics, 40 pages, colour, $3.99
On Sale March 3, 2010

First Wave #1

This one very nearly passed me by - DC's The Source recently published a number of fantastic black and white interior pages, along with a number of very nice sketch pages ahead of the launch of the first issue of their new title First Wave.

First Wave ...

... an Earth very much like our own, but featuring a collection of pulp and noir heroes that include the Batman, the Spirit, Doc Savage, Black Canary and many more.

In the shadows of the War, the roots of the Golden Tree cabal grew deep into the heart of a fallen world and the leaders at the heart of this secret organization see no place in their utopia for heroism. Doc Savage, struggling with the loss of his father, has been blind to their advance – until now. Central City’s mysterious Spirit has caught wind of their plans as well. But whose side have the Blackhawks chosen? What is the Red Right Hand? And where is the Batman? Eisner Award winner Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Joker) and superstar Rags Morales (Identity Crisis) craft a DC universe like you’ve never seen before. It’s a world with no supermen, only mortal men. Death can come at any moment, and adventure can still be found at every corner of the map.

[Source]

Click here to see all of the preview pages.

A couple of months ago I wrote about how much I had enjoyed the Batman Doc Savage Special that for me served as an excellent stand-alone story as well as a nice preview for the new series.

By rights this title would fall into my 'wait for the trade' category but ... I'm just not sure I can wait. The concept is intriguing, the Special was hugely enjoyable, this preview work looks fantastic - I know I'll be picking it up in single issues!

First Wave #1 is released on 3 March.

Batman Doc Savage Special

Last week I picked up the Batman/Doc Savage Special one-shot without really knowing too much about it aside from 1) I'm currently enjoying the other Bat books I'm reading and 2) it's written by Brian Azzarello and has art by Phil Noto: two creators I admire.

The story features a young and somewhat arrogant Bruce Wayne in the early months of his 'reign' as Batman. Curiously Gotham itself appears both a modern and yet traditional city. The issue also features a young Jim Gordon who, at this time, sees Batman as a menace, most definitely not an ally. Cars appear to be from the 1940s or 50s, Doc Savage, featured as something of a Hollywood matinee idol, pilots his own gyrocopter, we see and reference the city airship station and at the same time, we see a stretch limousine and mobile phones.

And did I mention Batman carries two Colt .45 caliber semi-automatic weapons?

This one-shot issue is something of a preview for the forthcoming new ongoing Batman series First Wave due in Spring 2010. Also featured in the book are a number of 'character profile' pages including art from Rags Morales and narration from Azzarello.

I'll give this book a full review in due course but if you see it on the shelf and fancy a Batman story that's a little different then pick it up - the writing is superb and the art fantastic.

Batman Doc Savage Special: Bronze Night
Written by Brian Azzarello with art by Phil Noto
Sketchbook material and variant cover by Rags Morales
Cover by JG Jones
Published by DC Comics, 56 pages, $4.99

More details along with preview pages at http://www.dccomics.com/dcu/comics/?cm=13384


While on the subject of Batman, I've blogged before about my enjoyment of The Batman Universe podcast and online content. I'm extremely pleased to announce that The Batman Universe will be carrying my Batgirl reviews over at their Editorials blog. As I said before, the regular contributors to The Batman Universe really know their stuff and their enthusiasm for Batman comes across in their written and spoken words, and I'm very happy to be contributing.

More details at the website and the editorials blog.