I love an origin story, so this was right up my alley. I especially enjoyed Harley Quinn's origin--which I hadn't read prior to starting the new series. I also really liked Damian Wayne's origin. If you're looking for a peek at the new 52 this would be a good way to get one. (Provided by publisher) ( )

This TPB was a bunch of short origin stories for (in this volume) 12 DC characters (11 heroes and one sometimes villain, sometimes not villain). Superman, Supergirl, Batman, three different Robins (no Jason origin story in this volume), Batwoman, Green Arrow, Hal’s Green Lantern, Aquaman, Starfire, and Haley Quinn.

For the most part they were the characters’ classic origins. From Oliver on his island (although this was more like the show Arrow than what I remember from the first Green Arrows I read in my younger days), to the Bat through the Wayne’s window, and even Tim figuring out Batman’s secret identity. That said, I liked how they were written, the little things that were changed to make them even better stories.

My favorite origin story of the TPB was, unsurprisingly, Batwoman’s. I liked how Maggie was there in the story as well (although I was bummed that that means that there was no Renee Montoya in it). And I’d never read a Starfire origin story also, so that was a new origin for me. Not to mention, yikes hers was an intense story.

Overall I really liked this TPB and I can’t wait (and I hope) that there’ll be more DC characters’ Secret Origins as well.

I got this advanced galley through Netgalley on behalf of DC Entertainment ( )