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A review by sapphisms
DC Universe: Rebirth #1 by Geoff Johns
3.0
This isn't going to be a long review (I'll save that for my comic reviews blog), but, for a comic intended to reboot an entire universe, I have several issues with it:
* Bringing back White Wally West is the first problem with this. After severe racist backlash against Black Wally West in the New 52, DC showed that they don't actually care about representation and folded, bringing back White Wally in order to appease racist fans that said "You know what's confusing about the New 52? The fact that Wally's black!". The excuse that they're cousins is weak, mainly because Iris remains white (or, at least, the person I thought was Iris was white in this comic- even though there are new character designs, there aren't any character "announcements" saying who they are), and they're related through... Uncle Daniel? Is Uncle Daniel adopted? Is White Wally adopted? Is black Wally adopted? The genealogy doesn't make a lot of sense, and it feels too much like DC is trying to have the best of both worlds.
* You know how they could've still had this plot and not done this 'cousins' thing? Young Justice Earth 16's white Wally West was lost in the Speed Force too. You already have an alternate earth Superman, why not bring him into the fold?
* Making Khaji-Da made of magic instead of technology feels like a cop out so that writers don't have to explain how he works. The Reach plot line is, in my opinion, one of the best written plots DC has ever come up with. It's disappointing to see Jaime back at the beginning of his superhero career over nothing.
* I don't remember two female characters speaking to one another, which is a problem in and of itself.
* Really glad that Aqualad/Jackson Hyde/Kaldur'ahm has a boyfriend (I won't make a generalization about his sexuality), but I'm sick and tired of the 'black families can't accept their gay children. It's racist, old, and tired. You shouldn't have to introduce homophobia in order to make a compelling plot.
* I know jack shit about Watchmen, which means I have to read an entire volume just to understand the premise of this entire reboot. What a load of nonsense.
* Three Jokers??? Fucking really??? It was bad enough with one. No more 'Death of the Family' bullshit.
* Did we really have to threaten Ryan Choi with getting deported back to Hong Kong?
* Diana having a twin brother is gross because there was no need for him to be there. You know how that could've been better? Have him be a trans boy, raised on Themyscira, that experiences gender dysphoria when he goes to Man's World.
* Bringing back White Wally West is the first problem with this. After severe racist backlash against Black Wally West in the New 52, DC showed that they don't actually care about representation and folded, bringing back White Wally in order to appease racist fans that said "You know what's confusing about the New 52? The fact that Wally's black!". The excuse that they're cousins is weak, mainly because Iris remains white (or, at least, the person I thought was Iris was white in this comic- even though there are new character designs, there aren't any character "announcements" saying who they are), and they're related through... Uncle Daniel? Is Uncle Daniel adopted? Is White Wally adopted? Is black Wally adopted? The genealogy doesn't make a lot of sense, and it feels too much like DC is trying to have the best of both worlds.
* You know how they could've still had this plot and not done this 'cousins' thing? Young Justice Earth 16's white Wally West was lost in the Speed Force too. You already have an alternate earth Superman, why not bring him into the fold?
* Making Khaji-Da made of magic instead of technology feels like a cop out so that writers don't have to explain how he works. The Reach plot line is, in my opinion, one of the best written plots DC has ever come up with. It's disappointing to see Jaime back at the beginning of his superhero career over nothing.
* I don't remember two female characters speaking to one another, which is a problem in and of itself.
* Really glad that Aqualad/Jackson Hyde/Kaldur'ahm has a boyfriend (I won't make a generalization about his sexuality), but I'm sick and tired of the 'black families can't accept their gay children. It's racist, old, and tired. You shouldn't have to introduce homophobia in order to make a compelling plot.
* I know jack shit about Watchmen, which means I have to read an entire volume just to understand the premise of this entire reboot. What a load of nonsense.
* Three Jokers??? Fucking really??? It was bad enough with one. No more 'Death of the Family' bullshit.
* Did we really have to threaten Ryan Choi with getting deported back to Hong Kong?
* Diana having a twin brother is gross because there was no need for him to be there. You know how that could've been better? Have him be a trans boy, raised on Themyscira, that experiences gender dysphoria when he goes to Man's World.