Weird Thoughts: Week One of DC Comics June Sneak Peeks

Month Two of Convergence came with a cool little treat...Previews.  Yep, instead of the "history lessons" at the end of each Convergence tie-in, we get a preview of a June DC Comic.  This was all announced before, so it is no surprise, but what was a surprise (to me at least) is that these aren't only for the new June books.  This week throws in continuing series Detective Comics, Green Arrow and Green Lantern along with seven new titles.  Here are our "Weird Thoughts" on each...









Detective Comics

Written by: Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul
Art by: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato


Jim's Take

After reading this preview, I am so pumped up for June.  I haven't had a Buccellato/Manapul joint to review since they left The Flash, but now I'm jumping on Detective Comics and I couldn't be more happy.  Gordon in the Mecha Batsuit looks cool, but I'm more interested in the mystery of Bullock and Renee Montoya.  I'm also interested in the obvious...this book looks absolutely fantastic.

Eric's Take

While I've gotten used to Buccellato and Manapul's style when it came to Detective Comics, I don't know if I was completely sold on it....... Yeah, I'm probably in the minority about that, but that was then and this is now and right now, I'm in complete awe at the eight pages they put together here and seriously can't wait to jump back into this series in June




Doomed

Written by: Scott Lobdell
Art by: Javi Fernandez and Kyle Ritter


Eric's Take

This is probably the book that I knew the least about and had the least amount of conclusions about what it could be, but after reading this sneak peek, I'm sold on the fact that this has the potential to be a lot of fun and really reminds me of the 90's Green Goblin comic, where our usual bad guy was turned hero when a teenager took up the mantle of the Goblin........ Man, that's a lot of Marvel talk for this site.......... and even though that series only lasted thirteen issues, I loved the hell out of it and have high hopes for this.


Jim's Take

I think Eric nailed it by comparing this book to a Marvel book, but to me it's straight-up Spiderman. Aunt Belle and a love interest named Jayne?  Really?  That being said, I kind of enjoyed this preview. Doomed was the book I thought I'd hate and I didn't...though I'm still not totally sold on it yet.  I'll remain cautiously optimistic on this one.  Just asking...does everyone get the idea that Roman is the Alpha Centurion?



Green Arrow

Written by: Benjamin Percy
Art by: Patrick Zircher and Gabe Eltaeb

Jim's Take

Okay...I really don't know what to say about this one except that this was one odd preview.  I really don't like the new look for Oliver and I'm a bit confused if this was supposed to get me excited for the book come June.  I do know that there is no way I would drink a "Drowned Man" and I guess the Health Inspector doesn't get up to Alaska often.  I miss the Lemire/Sorrentino Green Arrow and after this preview, I still do.


Eric's Take

While this preview certainly sets a atmosphere and mood that I can totally get behind for this series in June, I can't say that I'm sold on how Oliver Queen looks.  I love Patrick Zircher's art and maybe my opinion will change once I see Oliver in the mask and hood but from what we see in this story, I hope that this isn't the look that we get for Oliver throughout the series.






Green Lantern

Written by: Robert Venditti
Art by: Billy Tan and Mark Irwin

Eric's Take

This is what I love about comics.......... Well, besides for everything else I love about comics, but the point I'm trying to make is that they are constantly changing and evolving and putting Hal Jordan into this new situation complete with a bad ass new look is something that I can totally get behind and can't wait to read.  The Green Lantern is my favorite superhero and seeing him play the bad guy for awhile with no Parallax in site, is just incredible to me.

Jim's Take

This is my favorite preview of the bunch!  Robert Venditti shows that he can take Hal in a different direction and completely nail it out of the park.  I can't be the only one who sees a little Han Solo in this new Hal (or for you youngsters, Starlord), but it's still Hal freaking Jordan and I can't wait to see him and Darlene travel the Universe looking for trouble.




Midnighter

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: ACO and Romulo Fajardo Jr.


Jim's Take


This book was on the top of my list of new books...until now.  I'm still taking a wait and see approach, but this preview really cooled my jets.  I really don't know what the hell happened in this preview.  Granted, I don't have a long history with Midnighter, but I loved him in Grayson and was hoping for something along those lines.  I'm hoping Steve Orlando wins me over in June...I'm hoping.


Eric's Take

Well........ I wasn't sold on Grayson initially and that was able to prove me wrong and as of right now, I'm hoping that Midnighter will do the same.  I know that this is just a sneak peek story to get us in the mood for June, but I found the art hard to follow during action scenes and while I know that Midnighter is a bad ass, he seemed to be really adamant in letting everyone know by his words and his actions to the point where he seems like he just got down watching an action movie from the 80's. So not completely sold on Midnighter from this preview, but I guess time will tell.



Prez

Written by: Mark Russell
Art by: Ben Caldwell and John Lucas

Eric's Take

While I enjoy the satire of what the interwebs are doing to the youth and American culture in general, I still don't really know what to make of this series from this preview........... or even what the story was going for by the end.  So yeah, I don't know about this one.

Jim's Take

I'm with Eric on this one, I don't know what to make of this preview.  I will be reviewing this one come June so I hope I get in tune with it more when I read a full issue.  I'm so confused right now. Umm...it sure was colorful and it mentioned West Virginia.  I graduated from West Virginia University and was in a band called the Boxxtrotters during my time there.  I'm so confused.









Red Hood-Arsenal

Written by: Scott Lobdell
Art by: Denis Medri and The Hories

Eric's Take

While I'm happy that The Outlaws death sentence was commuted and that this seems to continue the over the top action that the previous series had, I'm not sold on the art of this book at all.  It's all a little too "cartoony" for me and I'm not a fan of the redesigns of these characters.  I hope that I can get over the stigma that I have, but for right now I'm not looking forward to this.

Jim's Take

Like Eric, I'm not sold on the art on display here.  Cartoony is the right word, but at least we get some pretty cool over-the-top action.  It all came off as some sort of animated universe type of thing and while I'm okay with that, I don't know if fans of Red Hood and the Outlaws will follow Roy and Jaybird to this type of book.  On the flip side, I can't see a whole bunch of new fans jumping on either.  I really hope I'm wrong.





Section Eight

Written by: Garth Ennis
Art by: John McCrea and John Kalisz

Eric's Take

Now I might not be the best person to talk about this series because I never read Hitman and have no background with these characters at all, but after reading this hilarious preview, I'm all in.  This just looks like so much fun that I hope it finds an audience because man am I looking forward to Section Eight now.

Jim's Take

Hilarious!  Like Eric, I have no past experience with Hitman, but I want to read it after this preview. The only thing I worry about is that we won't get the Grapplah, Powertool and Guts come June.  I do love Dogwelder and laughed out loud when I saw how he got his name.  That is the craziest "power" I've ever seen and I am so gl;ad I am reviewing this book.






Starfire

Written by: Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner
Art by: Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy and Hi-Fi


Eric's Take

Whether you're a fan of the New 52 Starfire or not, I think you'll want to check this out.  It's a fresh start for Starfire and for the readers and with some of the best art that I've seen from these previews, this is definitely a series that looks to be in good hands all around.

Jim's Take

Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner struck gold with Harley Quinn and after reading this preview, it's a god darn gold rush!  This book looks like pure fun that anybody can jump into a enjoy the ride. Then there is the art.  I loved Lupacchino's art on Supergirl and this looks even better.  I can't remember if I'm reviewing this book come June, but I really hope I am.



The Omega Man

Written by: Tom King
Art by: Barnaby Bagenda, Jose Marzan Jr. and Romulo Fajardo Jr.

Eric's Take

Well, the creators of this certainly got my attention right out of the gate when they said that the Omega Men killed Kyle Rayner and whether I believe they did or not............ I love Kyle Rayner and I need to read this damn book because of it.  So yeah, this preview was alright, not much to show for what the artist can really do, but I am kind of interested in finding out more about The Omega Men and their beliefs and what they're willing to do for them.

Jim's Take:

Okay, this one came off as a gimmick.  It's all about Kyle Rayner and is or isn't he murdered.  The probelm is, I wanted to learn more about the Omega Men.  As it is right now, they seem more ISIS than a team I want to read about.  I hope that changes right away come June.  Right after we find out Kyle Rayner is working wiht them behind the scenes because he ain't dead.





Well, that it or the first round of previews.  I'm sure I can speak for Eric and say that we'd love to hear what you guys think of all the books as well.  Let us know.