After METAL, DC Comics introduces a new line of rookie heroes (and some reimagined favorites) for a new generation of readers with no-assembly required from out of the Dark Multiverse!
Springing forth from the fountain of DC Comic’s most recent “earth shattering” event Dark Nights: Metal the publishing giant decided it was time to take the focus off its big guns and perhaps turn the spotlight onto some fresh new faces. At the conclusion of Scott Snyder’s overly hyped 6-issue saga (stay tuned for additional editorial on Dark Night: Metal coming soon) our trinity of heroes find themselves rejuvenated in their mission having prevented the planet from falling into the depths of the Dark Multiverse, but in so doing unleashed all new threats!
The Justice League will find themselves in uncharted territory and will revitalize their roster in Justice League: No Justice the upcoming follow-up to Metal. It culminates with the league taking in new members including Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern (John Stewart) and the return of Hawkgirl who has been reintegrated into the mainstream DC comics mythology, after being relegated to much of the Earth 2 storyline following “The New 52” rebrand of 2011. While many of the books get a polishing, an entire new line has appeared in the wake of Metal.
Enlisting much of the A-list talent on its payroll DC has given rise to what it’s calling The New Age of Heroes and with all the fanfare that such a prestige announcement should merit has introduced several new titles, sporting all new heroes, as well as some familiar faces for a fresh start. What all the heroes have in common is their connectivity or emergence after the events that took place during the arrival of the Dark Knights and the Dark Multiverse’s incursion. The new line-up of characters are also being positioned alongside some very familiar DC mainstays!
The Dawn of a New Age
For long-time DC readers, the interjecting of some fresh blood may have been a long time coming. The publishing giant has benefitted greatly from the milestone moments of its long list of icons including the long anticipated live-action Justice League feature film, the success of The CW primetime series including Arrow and The Flash, and the recently published #1000 issue of Action Comics marking Superman’s 80 years as the world’s greatest heroes. It was perhaps the perfect moment to give some legends in the making their own turn.
Leaping immediately (and literally) onto the scene were the premiere issues of Damage and Silencer. Damage created by Tony S. Daniel and Robert Venditti introduced Ethan Avery who becomes the living weapon code-named “Damage” a hulking monstrosity that is part of a secret, government black-ops group that is quickly getting the attention of Amanda Waller and her Suicide Squad. Comics legend John Romita, Jr. and Dan Abnett are trigger-happy on Silencer a masked assassin with a death wish and she’s a mom to boot!
Pulling together some fantastic established favorites are Ivan Reis and Jeff Lemire on The Terrifics which brings together the unlikely quartet of Mr. Terrific, Plastic Man (both who were an instrumental part of Metal) and Metamorpho who are joined by the alien Phantom Girl. This foursome find their fates irrevocably intertwined as they investigate the mysteries released from the Dark Multiverse and the dark matter energy unleashed on the prime multiverse. There is also the interestingly enthusiast addition of Sideways from Kenneth Rocafort and Dan DiDio.
All-New, All-Different (Really?)
There will be more new titles joining the “New Age of Heroes” including The Immortal Men by Jim Lee, The Curse of Brimstone and the much anticipated return of The Challengers of the Unknown, who played a significant part in Metal as well. Though many of these titles are setting up some interesting new characters, elaborating and bringing some classic faves back into the spotlight like The Challengers, DC is banking that these new story arcs will reel in more readership, though one thing is hard to mistake and that is the familiarity of this “New Age”.
Most notably Sideways teenage hero feels ad sounds like Marvel Comics web-slinging, wall-crawler Spider-Man, while The Terrifics seem to pay homage to that label first family the Fantastic Four down to mimicking the power set of that famed quartet. Whether these are subtle similarities, or some other clandestine evocation of those heroes remains to be seen, as DC continues to roll-out the “New Age of Heroes” through spring. Perhaps it’s a play by DC to snag some of Marvels audience, rather than accept the possibility that there really is nothing new under the sun.
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