Experience the Rebirth all over again.
DC Universe Rebirth #1 really set the tone for DC in 2016. It ushered in a bold new era for the publisher, one that cast aside the darkness of the New 52 and worked to restore sense of hope and joy in the DCU. Needless to say, that oversized one shot was a major success, and it paved the way for many great comics to come. Now, with the release of a Deluxe Edition HC, DCU Rebirth becomes ever so slightly better.
I wrote a detailed review of DC Universe Rebirth #1 just ahead of its release this past May, where I said:
For all the great stories that came out of the New 52, there was always something about this version of the DC Universe that didn't sit right. DC Rebirth manages to break the fourth wall and turn that idea into a story. This one-shot is a wonderful showcase for what this universe can be when it's executed properly. It's both a fitting farewell for Johns and a worthy template for DC's new wave of comics to follow. Reading Rebirth feels like coming home again.
This hardcover contains no new story material, so I won't spend too much time rehashing that first review. Suffice it to say, the comic has lost none of its impact over the past six months. It remains a fine collaboration between writer Geoff Johns and artists Ethan Van Sciver, Ivan Reis, Gary Frank and Phil Jimenez. All four are artists who have collaborated with Johns on some of his biggest DC projects, and all four manage to channel the intense emotion and burning love for the DCU apparent in Johns' script.
If anything, rereading DCU Rebirth now has its own, unique appeal. The comic set in motion a number of new status quo and story developments for various characters. Some of those (the three Jokers mystery, the fate of the JSA) have yet to be really addressed. But others, such as the revamped approach to Blue Beetle, the return of the pre-Flashpoint Superman and Wally West becoming acclimated to an unfamiliar DCU, have been a major focus in recent months. It's fascinating to go back and look at how Johns was setting the stage for those stories here.
There's really only one question that needs to be asked regarding this hardcover. Is it worth buying this version over the cheaper, single issue release? That's a little tricky. One of DCU Rebirth #1's major selling points (apart from the superstar creative team) was the fact that it offered such a huge story for a very modest $2.99 price. Even when subsequent reprints upped the price to $5.99, that was still a darned fine value. But $17.99 is another matter entirely. Suddenly what was one of the best values on the stands becomes a book with a fairly high price-to-page count ratio.
Mind you, it's not as though this book offers nothing to make up for the higher price of admission. The most obvious improvement being the hardcover format and larger page trim. And when you're talking about artists like Frank and Reis who are known for their detailed, cinematic pages, the size increase really does make a difference. The big moments in this story become that much more striking and impactful thanks to the larger pages.
Physically, the book feels nice and sturdy. The pages are thicker as well as being larger than the original comic. The binding leaves a bit to be desired, though, with some of the middle pages suffering from a bit of gutter loss. But overall, the book lives up to the "Deluxe Edition" name.
In terms of supplemental material, the book includes a cover gallery spotlighting the various DCU Rebirth #1 reprints and a section featuring various DC Rebirth costume designs. Nothing too remarkable, in other words. Given that this is one of the shorter Deluxe Edition hardcovers DC has published, it's disappointing that there isn't more back-matter. Where's the penciled art or script excerpts? It would have been great to see some deeper insight into the creation and development of DC Rebirth, or Johns' thoughts on crafting what may well be his swan song in DC's comic book universe.
Fans will have to ask themselves how much the improved presentation matters. Do you want to read this story in the best possible format? Then definitely buy this hardcover. But for everyone else, the lack of new story material or significant bonus content ensures that the cheaper, original release is the better option. That's even more the case for digital readers, as the question of physical page size becomes irrelevant. But regardless of which version you buy, DC Universe Rebirth #1 belongs in your collection in some form.
The Verdict
This hardcover edition of DC Universe Rebirth may be a tough sell considering that it's so much more expensive than the original comic. The lack of new material or significant supplemental content doesn't help. But the bigger, nicer format really does help enhance the story. And DC Universe Rebirth #1 is a comic that deserves to be read in the best possible format.
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