10 Things We Learned About "Civil War II" in #1

1. It's absolute high-polish entertainment with first-class standards throughout.
2. Tony Stark's moustache will haunt you in your dreams.
3. The built-up to the comic's main conflict is well-told and superbly interwoven.
4. Think of a Marvel character. They'll be in here. The cast is gigantic.
5. Writer Bendis and artist Marquez know how to stage some strong emotions, especially with Stark and Danvers. 
6. We don't really need any product placement.
7. Marquez' large panels are simply breathtaking. 
8. Luckily, Tony Stark's arrogance never becomes annoying.
9. The action scenes are stunning and among the best in comics this year.
10. Marquez' various art approaches manage to keep the comic fresh at all times. 

    Further Links:

    8 Things We Now Know About "Civil War II"

Review: "The Punisher" #2

The Punisher #2 picks up exactly where it left off, for better or for worse. Becky Cloonan still delivers an enthralling story full of grit and grind where the baddies are really bad and the heroes only slightly better. It's not black and white here, but rather black and dark gray. 

However, it seems for every single thing Becky Cloonan gets right on the narrative side, artist Steve Dillon gets one wrong. Characters look weirdly alien and waxy, not being able to add some extra depth to the comic's story. Similarly problematic is his depiction of action scenes and its inherent violence. Blood looks like it was just blotted onto the page and fights seem strangely clumsy and uncoordinated. If Dillon is intentionally going for a b-movie style in his art approach it is, however, by no means supported by the comic's narrative. 

Overall, it is still a highly recommendable comic, despite some major shortcomings in the art department, which keep it from achieving an even higher quality. 

7/10

Further Links:

The Punisher #1

Daredevil/The Punisher #1

Review: "Green Lanterns: Rebirth" #1

Sadly, Green Lanterns: Rebirth doesn't do particularly much to keep its readers invested, even though protagonists Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz are wonderfully complex characters, whose back stories are signified by loss and perseverance in the face of public and private adversity. 

Writers Johns and Humphries, however, don't explore this intriguing potential enough here, but focus half the comic on their uninspired banter and quarrels, before Hal Jordan makes them team up to defend earth. Think of him as some sort of cosmic Edward James Olmos in a buddy cop comic story that you shouldn't already give up on now, but that needs to figure out what it really wants to be and where its strengths ultimately lie.

5/10

Review: "Green Arrow: Rebirth" #1

Green Arrow: Rebirth, featuring the titular hero and Black Canary as they go into Seattle's underground to rescue missing homeless, is a thoroughly engaging and heartfelt story. Oliver Queen's conflict between his own privilege and the quest for social justice is genuinely depicted, while writer Benjamin Percy makes him and Black Canary click right from the outset. And it's not often one has to praise a comic for its lettering, but Nate Piekos does a hell of a job here, perfectly mirroring the mood and action in the comic's story. 

Even though artist Otto Schmidt's interpretation of the homeless is a bit too dickensesque, Green Arrow's bon mots don't always find their targets (sorry for that) and the finale is slightly underwhelming, Green Arrow: Rebirth is a strong first entry in what could be one of summer's best series.                                         

                   8/10

Keepin' It 360: "Superman: Rebirth" #1

At least this one ties in nicely with the actual "DC Universe Rebirth", as pre-"New 52" Superman meets Lana Lang. It lacks excitement and doesn't have much to tell, but is solid in contextualizing the two universes and gives readers a crucial retelling of the Doomsday encounter, as artist Mahnke packs a lot of information into his amazing larger panels.

6/10

Further Links:

More Thoughts on the "DC Universe Rebirth"

DK III: The Master Race #4

Action Comics #51

Review: "Batman: Rebirth" #1

Batman: Rebirth #1 has a lot going for it in the beginning. Writers Scott Snyder and Tom King put Calendar Man in the spotlight of a Batman story again, and his story as well as artistic conception by artist Mikel Janin make you wonder why we haven't seen more of such a compelling villain in the past. 

Duke Thomas' fresh take on Robin shows great promise and potential too, as King and Snyder take up the strong narrative and character established in "The New 52". Batman himself is grittier and grimmer compared to the previous instalment, also due in large parts to Janin's art and June Chung's coloring, which is outstanding throughout the whole comic (especially the double-page batcave panel is an absolute eye-catcher).

However, after all Batman: Rebirth #1 does not manage to fully deliver on its huge initial promise, mainly because it's just over in the wink of an eye (half of the comic is promo material. Come on, DC!). Why the story ends so abruptly, and what exactly all this has to do with a rebirth is anyone's guess, and hopefully subsequent issues will shed a bit of light on it all. Until then, we're left with a somewhat half-baked experience.

7/10

Further Links: 

Final Thoughts on the "DC Universe Rebirth"

Batman #52

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6