Confessions of a Comic Book Guy is a weekly column by Steve Bennett of Super-Fly Comics and Games in Yellow Springs, Ohio.  This week Bennett looks at Marvel and DC's relaunch character reinventions, and considers how the current incarnations and their stories stack up against previous iterations.

Last week I wrote about which titles from Marvel's initial salvo of "All-New, All-Different" comics where "in my wheelhouse" (see "Confessions of a Comic Book Guy--All New, All-Different Overload") without explaining exactly what that entails.  Even though, as I keep saying, I'm always looking for something I've haven’t seen before, which is something difficult  to find in genre material, I find that I’m still fully capable of enjoying a good superhero comic.  Especially if there’s been some kind of recent makeover to shake up a stagnant status quo; these sort of changes may not last very long, but they can make for interesting reading for as long as they do.

So luckily for me, these kind of relaunches appears to be this year's joint theme at both Marvel and DC.  For instance I had already been enjoying Spider-Woman after the character had received a new costume and direction, so you wouldn’t think the character would never another one especially so soon.  But I must admit that "parent by day, hero by night" is something I haven't seen before, so here's hoping Marvel handles her pregnancy a little better than they did Ms. Marvel’s back in 1980.*

Marvel can't seem to stop themselves from reinventing the Hulk.  In the last few years alone the character has undergone two distinct personality changeups, from The Indestructible Hulk to the "Doc Green" incarnation from (Just Plain) Hulk.  But I must confess I'm intrigued by the prospect of the new version, even if it is married to a hopelessly outdated title like The Totally Awesome Hulk.  Especially if, as the Bleeding Cool website has been predicting, it turns out that teen genius Amadeus Cho will be in the driver’s seat this time.  While both iterations were of the "smart Hulk" variety (being one myself) I'd really enjoy reading the adventures of a "smartass" Hulk.  And young Cho has demonstrated that he can really bring the snark.

I tend to choose superhero comics on the basis of either the writing or art, though of course ideally a good comic should have both.  I'll admit than usually I follow a comic for the writing first, but there are definitely some artists whose work I actively seek out.  At least half my interest in The Totally Awesome Hulk is due to it being drawn by Frank Cho.  But having been a fan of his work for years it's hard to imagine him being able to draw three consecutive issues before he'll require a fill-in artist.  This would be a perfect example of a situation where having a couple of extra issues finished and in-house before the first one is solicited would really come in handy.

And while I do like my superheroes solo, there's just something about a superhero team book, and Marvel is launching a veritable metric ton of those.  Among the many, many new Avengers and X-Men books coming out, I must admit I at least want to give A-Force and Avengers a try, chiefly because of the writing of G. Willow Wilson and Mark Waid.  And while it’s been over a decade since I've regularly read an X-Men comic I do find myself tempted by both Uncanny X-Men and All-New X-Men because they're being drawn by Greg Land and Mark Bagley.  Which, finally, brings me to Squadron Supreme.  I cannot in all honesty say I particularly want to read a Squadron Supreme comic; if I wanted to read a good Justice League of America comic, DC currently has a particularly good one that’s written and drawn by Bryan Hitch.  But, I find I always want a comic drawn by Leonard Kirk, and that’s what primarily what this title has going for it.

While we're still on the subject of "revamps" the ones ongoing at DC are going pretty well. I can't believe what I'm calling "Mobile Battle Suit Batman" will last a year, but so far it's been an enjoyable diversion.  Anyone with any remaining feelings for Hal Jordan should probably be aware that over in Green Lantern he has a new "Post-Convergence" look; unfortunately he looks like a millennial with stringy long hair.

I had my doubts about the depowered "Buzzcut" Superman who's currently appearing in Action Comics, but I can't say enough about Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder's work on the title.  Especially the most recent issue that has a "torn from today’s headlines" quality as Superman deals with an out of control police force.  It gives the character an immediacy and legitimacy that he hasn't had since 1939.

* For all those who weren't there, just Google "Ms. Marvel Pregnant."  I have neither the space nor stomach to go into the details here.

The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.