Pulp of the Week - DC's First Wave Miniseries

Geof Darrow Cover

Pulp of the Week
First Wave #1-6
DC Comics
Writer Brian Azzarello
Artist Rags Morales

I don't know if it is ironic or just sad that the flagship book of DC Comic's First Wave Universe has just  finished its six issue run as the whole Universe is rumored to be scrapped.

Several sites have reported the demise of the First Wave Universe, but as of this writing, DC Comics still has the books listed on their schedule. Time will tell.

J.G. Jones cover

If the line is cancelled, that would be a shame. For all of Azzarello's bluster about changing everything about these characters, he wrote a pretty good story. It didn't hurt that Rags Morales is a great artist. The same can't be said for the Doc Savage solo title as the art has been poor, in my opinion.

The real issue is that the First Wave miniseries ran hopelessly late, and in fact should have been completed as a set up to the solo books, instead of seeming to have nothing to do with them and finishing 6 months late. The miniseries is also a far better story than any of the Doc Savages so far. The Spirit has fared better.

I like happen to like this combination of Doc Savage, the Batman, the Avenger, and the Spirit, although I know many pulp fans don't.

The First Wave miniseries follows Doc Savage and his men, The Bat Man, and The Spirit on a globe-trotting adventure to thwart the machinations of Doc's nemesis, John Sunlight. Along for the ride are Richard Benson (The Avenger), the Blackhawks, and the jungle girl, Rima.

I liked the First Wave mini series and give it a 7.5 out of 10.

Pulp of the Week - The Spirit #1

The Spirit #1
DC Comics - $3.99
Written By Mark Schultz
Art By Moritat
Colors By Gabriel Bautista
Cover By Ladrönn
Alternate Cover By Mark Schultz

The Spirit takes place in Central City and Denny Colt is an ex-cop that has died but keeps fighting for justice in the midst of corruption and organized crime.

Mark Schultz got it right. The story is satisfying as it is, but leaves the door open for the plot to advance in the next issue.

The Spirit is a First Wave Universe comic that feels like it takes place in the neo-noir retro-present that is what was advertised as the First Wave Universe. I have not read the Spirit before, nor have I seen the recent movie. I have a general knowledge of the character, but I am no aficiando. That said, I thought the Spirit #1 was a great start to a series. There is a story here. Beginning, middle, end. But it is also part of a longer story.

The art is evocative and feels right. I liked this comic quite a bit.


Back-up Feature
The Spirit - Black & White
Written By Denny O'Neil
Art By Bill Sienkiewicz

This is a short 8 page story. A whole story in 8 pages. Leave it to veteran O'Neil to have a beginning , middle and end in 8 pages. Sienkienwicz provides his trademark art; highly energized and full of character.

It turns out I like The Spirit better than Doc Savage. Well, in the First Wave universe so far, anyway.

I give The Spirit #1 an 8 out of 10.

Alternate Mark Schultz Cover

Pulp of the Week - First Wave #1

DC Comics
Written by Brian Azzarello
Art by Rags Morales
Color by Nei Ruffino
Cover by J.G. Jones

The first issue of six in the First Wave limited series which takes place in the so-called First Wave Universe is a $3.99 comic that has 30 pages of story and was released last week.

Here's the story breakdown:
Doc Savage and his five aids - 18 pages
The Spirit - 10 pages
Reporter's Observations - "Insight" - 2 pages
The Blackhawks - 2 panels

The story begins with Johnny in trouble in South America and Doc Savage returning to New York from Gotham City (see Batman/Doc Savage Special for details.) for Clark Savage Sr.'s  funeral. This is somehow tied in with John Sunlight, the Spirit, and the Blackhawks.

Normally, I wait for the trade paperback for miniseries, but for Doc Savage I made an exception. Upon reading issue 1, I am reminded why I don't buy single issues any more. So very little happens in an issue of a comic book any more. They are more like story boards for a movie than ever before. Comics from my youth, circa 1972, almost always contained a full story. They might continue, but rarely did not finish a story. This comic is a beginning of a graphic novel, no more. It is just 16% of a story that we are buying on time.

The art is OK, but we were kind of spoiled with Phil Noto's soft deco work in the Batman/Doc Savage Special. Rags Morales' art is OK, but the colorist isn't helping. For my taste there is excessive over use of photoshop highlights in the coloring. It puts a much more contemporary look in the book than it needs and everything kind of looks the same. Hopefully the color palate will improve and we will get to see the art a bit simpler.

There is plenty of good stuff in here. Renny is nicely cast as Doc's main confidant and Monk and Ham banter, but it isn't too silly. The scenes of Johnny in the jungle are good and have the best art. Johnny gets a big part in this issue and more pages than anyone else. He is in South America running away from something and searching for something else. All he finds is trouble. And Rima, the Jungle Girl.

But Long Tom doesn't have more than a line or two. Even in the pulps, he is the least heard from.

What are the big changes to Doc Savage? He has a cel phone. He uses computers. He is world famous and stalked by paparazzi. His father was even more famous. We get into his head a little, which the pulps never did.

What things are the same? As in "The Man of Bronze" (the first Doc Savage Pulp) Doc's father has been murdered before the story starts. Doc was away at the Fortress of Solitude.

I don't feel the changes made destroy the legacy of the Doc Savage pulps. Those are in the process of being printed for the third time. I don't think any other pulp can boast that. If you like your Doc Savage pure, stick with the beautiful reprints or the upcoming Will Murray pulp-style novel.

To me, Doc still feels like Doc. Maybe I am a bit more open to interpretations and adaptations than other fans, but I am fine with giving this new incarnation a chance and my money. And John Sunlight is the villain. The First Wave Universe shows promise, but we barely get a peek into it, this is just a tiny bite of story.

I cannot speak to the interpretation of the Spirit as I am unfamiliar with this character, but he is a bit of a wise-cracker and gets in a fight.

All in all, I give issue 1 of First Wave a 6 out of 10. Hopefully the series will improve, but at this point I would recommend just waiting for the trade paperback.

DC First Wave - Batman / Doc Savage Special

Today in the DC Universe blog there was a tiny bit more about the Batman / Doc Savage Special. Writer Brian Azzarello says, "“Cities are urban jungles– and there’s also unchartered mysterious countries with their own jungles as well. It’s world where you’re guilty before being proven innocent– something that rarely happens. Little people make big mistakes and suffer the consequences. Life is cheap, and everyone has their price. Where part of the thrill of being rich, is watching the poor suffer. Y’know, my kind of place.”

I'm not sure how I feel about that. Hopefully Doc Savage will not be turned into some kind of vicious killer...

Rags Morales is to be the regular artist on the First Wave book. Here is his cover for the Batman / Doc Savage Special...

DC First Wave - Batman / Doc Savage announced

Today at The Source blog on the DC Universe official website Alex Segura announced the November publication of BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE SPECIAL #1, which serves as an entry into the DC First Wave universe.

On the blog Segura writes, "This November, writer Brian Azzarello teams with artist Phil Noto for the BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE SPECIAL #1, which sets the stage for an entire new world for the Doc, along with a slew of characters that will pop up later, including the Blackhawks and Rima, the Jungle Girl. It all starts here, and I’m not exaggerating when I say you’re really in for a treat."

I really like Phil Noto's work and I'm eager to see what Azzarello comes up with as well. All of this bodes very well for Doc Savage fans who are eager to see new material with their favorite original "superman."

Segura closes with a tease for tomorrow's blog, "So, allow your jaw to drop at the J.G. Jones cover below. Then come back tomorrow for another treat, plus comments from Azzarello himself."