17. DC Universe Presents
In many ways, DC Universe Presents is my favorite book of the New 52 because it is actually multiple books. The series is made up multi-issue stories focused on different characters of the DCU. Some of which do not have their own titles. The first arc is a Deadman story. As I stated when talking about Justice League Dark, I love Deadman. The character is fascinating and whenever I can get a little more Deadman in my comic reading, I am happy. The story gives an updated take on his origin and has some great moments throughout. The second arc is Challengers of the Unknown. I have no knowledge of them prior to the New 52. But after reading the three issue origin arc, I want to see more of these characters and their journey. It is about a group of reality TV stars who stumble upon a mystical city and take up a mission that could save the world. And the third arc is about Vandal Savage. He is currently in prison for being a serial killer when his daughter shows up. She is an FBI agent who is on the trail of a Savage copycat killer. The books have some great insight into a character that I only know from Demon Knights and it feels like Silence of the Lambs set in the DCU. Real good stuff. But there is one thing about DC Universe Presents that I do not like. More specifically, one issue that I do not like. Issue 12 is a Kid Flash issue. No problem. I like Kid Flash and we haven't seen his New 52 origin yet. So I thought that would be the story. Instead, it is a silly story about dinosaur people that is nothing more than an ad for Teen Titans. I don't know why they decided to do this. Maybe it was because they didn't want to start a new arc and interrupt it with the #0 issues. I just hope this was a one time thing and the book gets back on track from here.
16. All-Star Western
Much like Men of War and G.I. Combat, All-Star Western totally surprised me. I am not a fan of westerns (unless they star John Wayne). And my only exposure to Jonah Hex was that God-awful live action film from a couple years ago. But All-Star Western has turned out to be a book that I am always excited to read. In fact, it is one of only a few New 52 series that I have read through multiple times. The book is set in Gotham City during the late 1800s and focuses on Jonah Hex and Dr. Amadeus Arkham as they solve crimes together. Part of the charm of the book is the relationship between the aggressively violent Hex and the sophisticated and scientific Arkham. Despite Hex taking leave of Arkham several times, they seem to keep coming back together to have some wild adventures. And being set in the Gotham City of old, there are several characters with familiar names like Wayne and Cobblepot as well as connections to The Court of Owls and the Crime Bible. And every issue has a backup feature that usually spans two or three issues. All of these backups have been really good and I would be willing to buy another western themed comic that just featured these types of shorts.
15. Nightwing
It is hard to believe that the character of Dick Grayson has been around almost as long as Superman, Batman and The Flash (Jay Garrick) and longer than Wonder Woman and Green Lantern (Alan Scott). 2015 will mark the 75th anniversary of the character. In that time, he has donned the mantle of Robin, Nightwing, Batman and Nightwing again. The New 52 Nightwing series is simply amazing. The first arc entitles Traps and Trapeze takes Dick back to Haley's Circus and out of Gotham for a while. Which was a nice change of pace. As much as I like the Bat-family operating in Gotham, it is good to have these characters spread their wings and travel the world every once in a while. Seeing Dick on his own and doing his own thing is really fun. And I like the fact that the book doesn't rely on cameos from Batman, Robin or Batgirl (although they do appear occasionally). It is an action filled book with plenty of respect for the character's past and some superb writing. And the art ain't too shabby either.
14. Earth 2
Earth 2 was my most anticipated book of the New 52's second wave. I have always loved the concept of parallel worlds that are different from our own. Sometimes the changes are small. Sometimes they are massive. Earth-2 was originally created by DC to explain the golden age versions (Alan Scott's Green Lantern and Jay Garrick's Flash) of silver age characters (Hal Jordan's Green Lantern and Barry Allen's Flash). Earth 2 is an updated take on that concept. The first issue is set five years in the past and parallels the events of the first arc of the New 52 Justice League. Apokolips has invaded Earth and Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are fighting parademons in an attempt to end the invasion. And they are getting added support from Supergirl and Robin, who is the daughter of Catwoman and Batman on Earth-2. The trinity are able to save the world, but all three die in the battle and Supergirl and Robin are sucked into a portal and disappear. Five years later, 20-something millionaire head of GBC productions Alan Scott is chosen to possess the power of The Green and becomes Green Lantern. Elsewhere, slacker Jay Garrick is given the power of super speed by Roman God Mercury and becomes The Flash. I know that my description of the first issue is longer than the rest of the series, but that is because issue one is basically the set up for Earth-2 and issues 2 through 4 are the beginning of Scott and Garrick's origin stories. There is a lot more to the series including Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific from Earth-2 and from the cancelled Mister Terrific series. Plus, the war between The Green, The Red and The Rot (as seen in Animal Man and Swamp Thing) seems to be a major factor going forward. I'm loving the redesigns and updates of the characters and I am excited to keep reading stories set on this Earth.
13. Worlds' Finest
The last time we saw Supergirl (Kara) and Robin (Helena) of Earth-2, they were getting sucked into a portal. That portal led them to the New 52 Earth (which still doesn't have a designation and that is beginning to annoy me). Kara takes the identity of Karen Starr and builds an international scientific research group to help her devise an interdimensional transport. All of this is possible due to money that Helena is able to acquire from Wayne Industries. The book bounces around through time starting with the two super heroines arriving on the New 52 Earth and ending in present day. Along the way, we get to see them find out about the New 52 Earth equivalents of Superman and Batman and the failed Apokolips invasion. Helena dons the mantle of Huntress and Karen becomes Power Girl. The book has villains (or a villain at this point because there have only been 4 issues), but the thrust of the story is the sisterly relationship between Karen and Helena and their mission to get home. It is a lovely book and I am happy that it is getting as much praise as it has been among the comic community.
12. Wonder Woman
I will admit that prior to the New 52, I had never read a Wonder Woman comic and I never had the desire to either. I don't have a real reason for this beyond just not caring much for the character. But Brian Azzarello's run on the title has totally changed my feelings toward the character. I know that Wonder Woman has always been tied to the Greek Gods, but Azzarello has brought the Gods into the story in an interesting way. Although the first twelve issues are split into two volumes entitled "Blood" and "Guts," it is really just one long and awesome story. Zeus has impregnated a human and the Gods are worried about a prophecy that states the child may kill all of the Gods. It is up to Wonder Woman to protect the girl from Apollo, Hades and Hera. Along the way, she finds out that her connection to the Gods is stronger than she once thought. I love Greek mythology and that love plus Azzarello's writing and Cliff Chiang's art have made Wonder Woman one of my favorite books on the shelves today.