DC Comics, as a major publisher, “proudly presents” Deathstroke? Really?
First off, the writing. Let me get through it. Kyle Higgins isn’t as bad as some of the writers DC has on the New 52. Oh, sure, he’s really lame and can’t write dialogue, but at least he tries. He does try to sound conversational and not declarative. He even succeeds. He writes bad conversational dialogue. He’s leagues better than the guys who can’t write like anything but Frank Miller knockoffs.
But he can’t plot either, maybe because the concept would require some understanding of the human condition to succeed.
And the art? Joe Bennett is a diet Ed McGuinness; he doesn’t sell the forced style. Plus, his references are all Marvel—both J. Jonah Jameson and the Vulture cameo in the book.
Maybe Deathstroke’s all supposed to be a joke.
Even if it is… it’s a bad one.
As the week’s releases continue, it becomes painfully obvious several of these concepts DC has introed are pretty slapdash affairs. While it keeps the cash flow going, it also severely undermines the entire line’s efforts to look like a formidable publisher. I guess it’s a matter of finding the diamonds in the rough, as usual.