Batwing #1

[terabient]

4 pages from Batwing #1. Warning: the last page gets pretty gory.

The first few pages take place in the present day, with Batwing fighting a criminal calling himself Massacre. (yeah...)



After this a crowded bus drives near and Massacre stops fighting Batwing to kill everyone on board, presumably. Then there's an even more intense fight! a flashback to six weeks ago. Batwing, with some assistance/monitoring from Batman, was planning to bust a massive drug ring operation, but instead they find the drug dealers have been murdered.

Batwing investigates further as David Zavimbe, an officer in the Tinasha police department.



Batwing uses his bat-computer (^_^) to discover the identity of the dead man:



Justice League: Africa? :D

Afterward, David goes back to the police department, only to find that everyone has been killed.



The issue ends with Massacre attacking David, which would be more shocking if a)this wasn't a brand-new book and b) a flashback.

I enjoyed this for the most part. The artwork is gorgeous and really helps to make the...um...well used plotline feel creepy and surprising at just the right times. (I admit that the reveal of the drug dealer massacre actually made me gasp, something the excessive gore in the other Bat book failed to do.) There are some cringe-worthy bits of dialog, like the part where David is all "Tishana is one of the most crime-ridden cities in Africa!" to Kia -.- but at least that's the worst of it. Oh, and Batman's presence is completely unnecessary and I think it would have read better if he'd just been mentioned in passing, instead of hanging out with Batwing for like, two panels doing nothing, but whatever. I just hope Batman doesn't make any more useless cameos because they really stuck out and made Batwing look more like an apprentice/sidekick than a capable hero.

It's a lot better than this week's Detective Comics, at least.

Comments

[nightauditguy]

As good as this looks, I'm unsure if I want to get it. I mean, how many bat titles does a person need to get?

[darkknightjrk]

Well, it's not a Bat-title in that it's more adventures of Batman doing Batman stuff in Gotham City--this seems to have it's own, unique character with his own unique cast and world to play with. This could work as it's own beast--but with him having a bat-symbol on his chest, he just has a better chance on keeping his own title, you know?

[darkknightjrk]

I'm definitely going to keep going with this. The character and his world is interesting, and the art is BEAUTIFUL. It's like Alex Ross if he was dynamic!

[sunaya]

Pretty art is so pretty!

WHOA!

[glprime]

Those are some severed heads there!

Welcome to DCnU, with more kid-friendly comics!

Re: WHOA!

[thatnickguy]

Hey kids...COMICS!

Hmmmmm....

[capt_satellite]

This could well be the "sleeper" book of the whole 52 reboot. I'm very interested in finding out more about "The Kingdom".

[sun_man]

This is the sleeper hit of the DCnU!!!!!

OMG this issue was amazing!!!!!

[superfangirl1]

Agree. :)

[benicio127]

This was a fantastic issue. I really hope it does well.

[star_of_airdrie]

This really does look great. The art is stunning. It's realistic within the context of its setting - war torn areas of Africa - without over the top preachy.

Unique, could be a trailblazer... hopefully DC won't blow it.

[proteus_lives]

Gory but very Africa.

[aeka]

I like the art in this book. :)

[geoffsebesta]

+1, though I wonder if they can maintain a monthly pace like this.

[darrylayo]

:^( at the violence.

[blackruzsa]

This DOES seem interesting, and, I gotta say, I'm happy how they shed light on bribery and how most of it happens in poorer countries for reasons beyond 'they are crooked cops'.

[junipepper]

I'm surprised at how much I like this. And I see from comments above, that it's not just me. :) The art has a lot to do with it, because it's frankly not that great a story. Not bad. But gorgeous art.

[tsunamiwombat]

I'd pull a book about The Kingdom. Justice League Africa would be great, because Africa is one of those countries that could really use Superhero's.

Like, alot more than America, at least.

[stubbleupdate]

You're kidding, right?

[sun_man]

hopefully, cause we all know Africa is a continent. However, the continent could certainly use much more of a superhero presence. Which makes you scratch your head when you have a guy like Superman why doesn't he help out more in Africa and the Middle East

[pyrotwilight]

Ha. Batwing's 1 of the 3 I'm trying. Looking forward to this. And yeah the Kingdom looks neat.I wonder which one's Princess Knife or Shanty Saint. :D

Bat Stan Repellent?

[equinox216]

As regards the last panel, I don't get it. Who's "STAN", and why are they telling him to "AWAY"?

Man, viral marketing's just gone too far.

Re: Bat Stan Repellent?

[equinox216]

Also:
NUHNUHNuhNuhnuhnuhNuhNuhNUH
BAT STAAAAAAN.

[thanekos]

Somewhere, in the mind of someone who creates versus threads, an idea is formed: Massacre vs Joshua Dysart's Unknown Soldier.

(Or Batwing vs him, I suppose.. either sounds like it'd be a good read.)

[runespoor]

To buy or not to buy.

Technically we've kind of been promised that Cass still exists, so I wouldn't be breaking my self-imposed oath if I buy some title. Otoh, I really really want their DCnU to crash and burn, and I don't want to invest in characters they're likely to erase at any time due to more Awesome Ideas of events or disappointing sales.

[biod]

My philosphy is just to enjoy the ride. That's what stories are all about.

[runespoor]

But that's the thing: I can't enjoy it if I feel like my beloved characters are being disrespected. Most of the time, I'm in a story because of the characters.

[biod]

Are they being disrespected in the story itself or just the universe? If it's the former, it's probably not a good story. If it's the latter why should you let things that are going on in other stories affect your enjoyment of the one you're reading/watching/playing?

[runespoor]

I don't see much of a difference.

Besides, it's not as much an issue of "should" as it is an issue of "this is the way my feelings as a reader work".

[biod]

Just sharing my take om things and trying to be helpful.

[benicio127]

I know how you feel. But I had to support this title and I'm so glad I did. It really was good, honestly, I wouldn't lie to you! :)

[r0b666]

This title will be lucky to last 6 issues. Just my gut feeling.

[benicio127]

Why do you say that? Did you read it?

[dancesontrains]

I'm glad to hear that this is good (and see the artwork!). I really hope it stays that way, because I would love to read a ongoing superhero comic with an almost all-Black cast set outside of the US.

Is it specified which part of Africa Batwing's in? It's a very big continent.

[benicio127]

Congo, actually, though David will be going to other countries in Africa.

[dancesontrains]

Thanks.

[drmcninja]

The best part of this is how they are fleshing out the African superhero community. That's been a long time coming.

[rebecky_mo]

Wow, so glad I put this as one of my DCNu title picks; I wanted to support the new guy on the block, and if things hold up like this it won't be mistake. I probably should've expected the gore, but didn't; ah well.

The Kingdom has me very interested...hope we see ALOT more of them in the future too.

Welcome to the DC family, David Zavimbe. Hope you survive the inevitable title-cuts (and being a Bat in general)

[pyrotwilight]

My shop didn't have this and Stormwatch in stock. *head desk*

[autohobbs]

This was one title I did not expect would be this good. I don't know why I'm surprised though, Judd is writing it. I guess I was focused more on the character, but man this was really good!

[jlbarnett]

only just got this. I liked it over all but they're already screwing with the five years things.

Superheroes showed up five years ago. The Kingdom was Africa's first major superteam. Earth Strike was a superhero for five years.

Even is a guy's been gone a month or two do you really talk about them like they're long gone.