Expectations

Gotham City Sirens #21
Written by Peter Calloway
Art by Andres Guinaldo

 

This was another great issue of Sirens. Two in a row after a so-so opening arc for Calloway on this book! Harley succumbs to her love for the Joker after all. I loved it and I wasn’t expecting that but I should have! The story of the Guards’ kid was very sad and showed just how twisted the Joker really is. I didn’t expect Catwoman and Ivy to part ways in this either. Love the art as well!

Breaking In To Arkham

Gotham City Sirens #20
Written by Peter Calloway
Art by Andres Guinaldo and Ramon Bachs

 

After a so-so opening arc on this book, Calloway blew me away with this issue! Perhaps the best issue of this series so far – it details how Harley Quinn breaks into Arkham Asylum by using psychological manipulation on the guards and staff and inmates. She of course was once a therapist there and knows all their secrets. It really shows a cold and calculating side of Harley we rarely get to see and Calloway nails it. Hats off to Guinaldo and Bachs as well whose art really helps to tell the story beautifully. I really enjoyed this.

Leaving Arkham

Titans (Volume 2) #30
Written by Eric Wallace
Art by Fabrizio Fiorentino

 

It’s a shame this Arkham arc is coming to an end as this has been the best this book has been since the Villains for Hire thing started. Heck any comic set in Arkham is usually a treat but this setting really amped up the fun for this series which I found to just be incredibly depressing before. Osiris leaves and swares off killing for now, which is a good thing, although it was kind of abrupt and the confrontation between Dick and Roy was great cause I am glad to see that Dick still believes in his friend even if Roy has become a drug addicted mess. I wonder where this is going.

Arkham Fights

Titans (Volume 2) #29
Written by Eric Wallace
Art by Fabrizio Fiorentino

 

This was an okay issue but I don’t feel like a lot happened – just a lot of fighting inside Arkham and Tattooed Man talking about his dead son – who I didn’t even know was dead. But it’s still Arkham and that is always fun. Osiris is completely nuts now.

A Trip To Arkham

Titans (Volume 2) #28
Written by Eric Wallace
Art by Fabrizio Fiorentino

 

I have to say that this is the best issue of Wallace’s run yet, and that has a lot to do with it is always awesome when a comic is set in Arkham Asylum and the Bat-Villains show up. The idea that the one guard had the key to all the cells is incredibly dumb but whatever. Osiris is a full-on killer now I highly doubt he can be redeemed even if he thinks killing is going to bring his sister back to life. Arsenal is actually quite interesting as a drug addict but it’s still so sad to see him like that. It was just as heartbreaking to see Ray Palmer investigating Ryan Choi’s disappearance. A part of me still has some hope that Ryan may still be alive somehow.

Clay

Batgirl (Volume 3) #13
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Pere Perez

 

Batgirl takes on Clayface as he breaks into a bank in this one-shot issue. It was a fun romp but still no Cass…and seeing Steph as Batgirl just isn’t the same or give me that hell ya feeling as I did when I saw Cass kicking ass in her Batgirl costume. I do like Steph a lot though she is a fun character and in no way was this a bad issue. Great to see Wendy working as Proxy now.

Who Is This Angel?

Gotham City Sirens #13
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Peter Nguyen and Andres Guinaldo

 

Hmmm so is Maggie Kyle really being lead by an angel? It seems so or is it something else? Something sinister. I don’t know as it is clearly not just a hallucination as Harley saw it too. This was a quick read but it was still good and it was a great recap of Catwoman history. I loved seeing the nineties costume again too. I wonder when this will be followed up as Dini is sure to return as regular writer next month.

Her Name is Gabrielle!

Outsiders (Volume 4) #23
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin

Pasarin is such a good artist why doesn’t DC ever use him as a regular artist? Although his Creeper is a little more normal looking then the Creeper usually is. But at the same time Tomasi writes him as more “normal” then he usually does too. It was great to see Katana and Halo’s relationship acknowledged, even if it is annoying that they keep calling Halo Violet instead of Gabrielle. This is going to be Tomasi’s last arc on this book before Didio takes over. I guess we shall see if Tomasi’s run is considered a sucessful one or not.

Best Use Of Clayface Ever

Outsiders (Volume 4) #22
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin

Pasarin’s art is much better then Garbett’s for this book. And I have to say I am enjoying this rounding up the Gotham villains arc so far. It is much simpler then the last arc and less confusing. Not to mention that this issue contained the best use of Clayface I have EVER read in a comic. Clayface is usually used as a a throw away character disguised as someone else or a background character, but this issue shows how dangerous and powerful he can be. Especially when he shows up and absorbs a whole family into his body so they can mine him! Kudos to Tomasi for making great use of a character and showing me his worth.

Bat-Face or Two-Bats?

Batman #690
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Mark Bagley

So I really don’t know why Two-Face is dressed up like Batman at the end of this issue. I am assuming it was him that was in the Tony Daniel Battle for the Cowl teaser, that makes sense since Winick was originally slated to write Battle for the Cowl. I am not really sure what is going on with Two-Face, Penguin, and Black Mask but I can’t wait to find out who Black Mask is. This was a decent issue and it definitely showed how skilled in combat Dick Grayson is, but I can’t say there was much here to get me too excited.

Frozen Lightning

Outsiders (Volume 4) #21
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin

I am not sure why Alfred is acting the way he is in this issue. What situation in Gotham is he referring to? Possibly something that happens in Batman and Robin #3 which hasn’t come out yet? I don’t know. Anyways, this was a definite improvement over the last arc. I like the idea of the Outsiders splitting up to find the villains who have left Gotham and Pasarin’s art is wonderful! Is he the new regular artist? I sure hope so. I like him a lot better then Garbett. It is interesting to learn that the new Black Mask implanted chips into the heads of the villains so he could kill them if they upset him. In this issue, Mr. Freeze is captured by Black Lightning and Owlman and his chip is removed. I look forward to the confrontations with Killer Croc and Clayface.

Bagley Steps Up His Game

Batman #689
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Mark Bagley

 

Now this was more like it…after last issues’s less then stellar debut of Mark Bagley, Bagley steps it up a notch with this issue. I bet he was just rushed on the last issue because this was some good art and I loved how he drew the new Batmobile. Winick’s writing is also spot on, he created some cool new things for the new batmobile to do and explored the difference between Bruce and Dick even further in this issue. I still don’t know how I feel about Dick making Batman too public but it at least fits his character. He even announces over a loudspeaker from the batmobile to the crowd, and it was kinda fun to see that happen despite my misgivings about the publicness. I really wanna know who this new Black Mask is. This was a good issue.

The Boy Wonder Meets The Girl of Steel

Superman/Batman #62
Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

You may think I am nitpicking, but this blog is called the CONTINUITY Blog for a reason. Robin simply did not wear that costume yet when Kara first came to earth. The editor should have caught this and told Albuquerque cause there is no way this adventure takes place one year after Infinite Crisis. Unless it takes place right before Supergirl joined the Teen Titans…hmmm…I suppose you could place it there but it seems like Kara should have met Tim long before then. Otherwise, this was a really fun issue. Any time we get to explore Arkham it is a good comic and this is no different, and Albuquerque’s art is perfect for this book! I never really liked his Blue Beetle art because I thought it was too cartoony but I think he adjusted his style or something because I enjoyed his art here a lot. I am glad he is the regular artist.

Catwoman 69 – 82

Catwoman (Volume 3) #69
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

This side story to Amazon’s Attack is actually better then the main series, which isn’t saying much, but this was a good issue. I liked Batman having a car seat in the batmobile! He really does plan for everything. The art is gorgeous as ever too.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #70
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

Hmmm I am not sure what happened on that last page. Where is Selina taking her baby? But this was a damn good issue….I loved how Selina kicked that Amazon’s ass and tricked her. Very good stuff.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #71
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

Now Selina faking her own death has been done before…in fact one of the first comics I ever bought featured such a story…but this was really good and I loved Bruce’s involvement. It’s sad that it looks like Selina will be giving away her baby, but the kid has been in so many close-calls it probably is the right thing to do.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #72
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

I gotta be honest…I almost cried during this issue. A mother giving away her only child must be the hardest thing in the world. I thought she was going to go through with it and have Zatanna wipe away her memory of Helena because it was too hard. I suppose one day some writer will bring Helena back into Selina’s life, but for now I guess she has to live with knowing she will never see her daughter again. Very sad.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #69
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

Not sure if I recognize the guy at the end of this issue but this was another fun issue of Catwoman. I love the idea of a billionaire who collects super-villain memorabilia and I love what Catwoman did with the Joker Explodie-hand. Lopez’s art is underrated, he really knows how to tell stories from fantastic different angles along with amazing facial expressions.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #74
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

It looks like Catwoman is going to be taken to the prison planet from Salvation Run. I look forward to that. But this issue was as good as always, I hope the whole thing with The Thief gets resolved eventually. Oh and seeing her get her old hair back was a geek out moment for me.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #75
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

This issue actually makes me want to read Salvation Run as it is fun to see all the villains interact; especially Catwoman and Cheetah who make an interesting paring. Pfieffer writes Luthor pretty well but I prefer my Luthor to be a little less…er…I don’t know, Supervillain-ish. I guess I always liked the Luthor as Evil Corporate guy thing but at least he isn’t in that stupid suit freaking Loeb brought back.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #76
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

I like how Selina recaps what has gone on before in her head most issues and in this issue because it helps new readers a while lot. Lopez’s drawing of the alternate Catwoman looks similar to the costume warn by Halle Barry in that awful movie, and I bet that was intentional. Speaking of Lopez, why is this guy not on a book like JLA! He does great art and does it on time! Come on DC!

Catwoman (Volume 3) #77
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

I liked this issue more because it makes me sad to see Martian Manhunter then anything else. What a great character that we lost this year. I hope he comes back. But yes, the story and art were good as usual as Catwoman escapes from her pseudo-dream thingamagiger.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #78
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

Eh this seemed like a sort’ve unnecessary issue, I think I am getting sick of the Salvation Run plot but she will be back to earth next issue so that is good. It was good to see Slam Bradley again and I wonder what he will think when he finds out Selina gave Helena away.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #79
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

This was a good issue and I really get the feeling that we are going to get the old Catwoman back. It was good to be back on earth as well. But as for Slam, you would think he would ask her more questions about his granddaughter, wouldn’t you?

Catwoman (Volume 3) #80
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

The eightieth issue brings Catwoman back to the way I like her, the real feline fatale. She is one bitch you don’t want to mess with and “The Thief” learns that the hard way this issue. Awesome.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #81
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

Catwoman return to her full-time criminal career in this penultimate issues and it was fantastic! I liked how Lopez used the windows in the building to show flashbacks.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #82
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

Sadly, this is the final issue of Catwoman, but it could not have ended in a better way! The series has been brought full circle, touching on things that go all the way back to the Brubaker run, Catwoman is back to being a thief and having Batman chasing her across rooftops and I think there is no other way they could have ended this series effectively.

Checkmate 16 – 31

Checkmate (Volume 2) #16
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Joe Bennett and Joe Prado

What a fantastic issue! I forgot how good this series was. This is one of those relationshippy issues which I love, especially focusing on the relationship between Sasha and Mr. Terrific, as well as the friendship between Fire and Ice. It was great to see the two of them together again.

Checkmate (Volume 2) #17
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric S. Trautmann
Art by Chris Samnee

This was a decent issue focusing on the security of the Checkmate Castle and the man behind it. It was pretty high concept and I liked that. The idea of a man with a computer in his brain is so simple I am surprised no one has ever thought of it.

Checkmate (Volume 2) #18
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Joe Bennett

Ah this looks like it is going to be a fun arc. Amanda Waller is going to get her ass handed to her I have a feeling as Checkmate is figuring out her scheme with Taskforce X. I did not expect to see Martain Manhunter in this and it made me very sad to realize he will die soon after this in Final Crisis. I really miss him. His death was a shame.

Checkmate (Volume 2) #19
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Joe Bennett

I like how we are seeing both sides of the mystery so it’s the characters that are in the dark about everything. Amanda Waller is fascist biatch…I can’t wait to see her fall. I like that this series doesn’t glorify the US government (in fact, it does quite the opposite). The art is fantastic by the way.

Checkmate (Volume 2) #20
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Joe Bennett

Hell ya Amanda Waller has fallen! Most of the characters on this cover don’t appear unfortunately but still, Amanda Waller has fallen! The rest of Checkmate totally got her where they wanted her and got her to resign. I am excited to see who will b e the new White Queen. My question is though, has Martian Manhunter been the Black King this whole time?

Checkmate (Volume 2) #21
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric S. Trautmann
Art by Chris Samnee

You know I am not sure why but I didn’t really care for this issue. It just didn’t do it for me. It wasn’t bad and I thought the whole Madame Moiselle Marie legacy thing was interesting, but I guess I just found it kinda dull.

Checkmate (Volume 2) #22
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric S. Trautmann
Art by Chris Samnee

So this issue really grabbed me with the Madameoiselle Marie concept….I really liked the historical aspect and the tradition. And I liked seeing her whoop ass. Seriously she was brutal. I hope this character is not forgotten after this series ends.

Checkmate (Volume 2) #23
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric S. Trautmann
Art by Joe Bennett

This looks to be a fun and thrilling arc dealing with Kobra. I remember rather enjoying the first Kobra arc on this title. Bringing in Superman may have been the easy-way-out, but at least it was a smart move on Checkmate’s part.

Checkmate (Volume 2) #24
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric S. Trautmann
Art by Chris Joe Bennett

This was intense as Checkmate gathers the Global Guardians, the Outsiders, the Justice League, and Justice Society to stop Kobra’s evil plan. Oh how occults are freaking scary and especially when said Cult has killer reptilian babies.

Checkmate (Volume 2) #25
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric S. Trautmann
Art by Joe Bennett

This ends Rucka’s run on this title and it was definitely a nice ending. I expected Checkmate to kill the babies but I was pleasently surprised to see they hadn’t. As for the rooks, I am not sure I really understood exactly what was going on with them. They all shot up with alien DNA?

Checkmate (Volume 2) #26
Written by Bruce Jones
Art by Manuel Garcia

Not sure what to think of this issue. It didn’t focus on Checkmate so much as this new character Chimera that Checkmate scientists created from a near-dead soldier in Iraq. The issue was page after page of very disgusting scenes from a bear getting ripped apart to a person being stung by a giant and his whole body swelling up. I read Jones’s Nightwing run so I know he can write disgusting but I really don’t know what to think yet.

Checkmate (Volume 2) #27
Written by Bruce Jones
Art by Manuel Garcia

Okay we haven’t seen Sasha Bordeaux or Mr. Terrific since Jones took over, these are these are the stars of the book! So far this is about Chimera, a new character, and not really Checkmate at all. Wtf!

Checkmate (Volume 2) #28
Written by Bruce Jones
Art by Manuel Garcia

Ya this Chimera stuff isn’t doing it for me. I liked when this series was about the inner workings of Checkmate, not their monster operative only. So far, no good. But at least Sasha appears in this issue.

Checkmate (Volume 2) #29
Written by Bruce Jones
Art by Manuel Garcia

Ya this still sucks Chimera Balls! I really could care less about this character or the monsters attacking everywhere. Jones really likes writing about monsters for some reason. How did the girl find out Adam Sharp was Chimera? Did I miss something?

Checkmate (Volume 2) #30 Written by Bruce Jones
Art by Manuel Garcia

Ya this is utter crap. Still more fighting monsters and focus on a character I don’t give a crap about. What an extreme drop in quality for this series. Bruce Jone’s Nightwing wasn’t great, but it wasn’t this bad.

Checkmate (Volume 2) #31 Written by Bruce Jones
Art by Manuel Garcia

This is the final issue of Checkmate and I am really not sad to see it go. Sure it had some great moments under Rucka but Jones had really taken this series to an all time low, focusing way too much on Chimera and not on Checkmate. Heck, Mr. Terrific hasn’t even appeared since Jones took over the title. Chimera saves the world from the boring monsters and this was just a big borefest. Not recommended.

BATO 8 – 11

Batman and the Outsiders (Volume 2) #8
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Julian Lopez

God I love this series….Lopez’s art is just plain gorgeous in this issue and I am actually really liking Remac….not the stupid annoying guy that controls him, but he is a cool looking hero himself.

Batman and the Outsiders (Volume 2) #9
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Julian Lopez

Julian Lopez’s work is extremely underrated. This is some great work. I especially liked the detail put into Looker’s mansion…and I am not even an art person. Anyways, it was fun to see Looker again, she is a lot less annoying then when she was with the Outsiders.

Batman and the Outsiders (Volume 2) #10
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Ryan Benjamin

Sadly this is Dixon’s last issue on this series and he doesn’t even get to finish off his whole arc with the thing on the moon. The idea of a parasite that gives metahuman powers is an interesting one. The opening page was particularly terrifying for an opening page….but I miss having Lopez on this title. I look forward to seeing how the crossover with Batman RIP goes.

Batman and the Outsiders (Volume 2) #11
Written by Frank Tieri
Art by Ryan Benjamin

Well I am happy to say that this wasn’t a bad issue. I liked how all the villains ar Arkham are singing “Ding Dong the Witch is dead” because Batman is missing haha. I also like how out of all the RIP tie-ins, this one was the most tied in…even referencing more events then just the Black Glove’s existence. I just wish the other Outsiders would stop picking on Batgirl….cause they SHOULD listen to her she is Cassandra Cain and she is kick-ass.

Batman Confidential 9 – 21

Batman Confidential #9

Written by Michael Green

Art by Denys Cowan

Okay I really hope this is a joke….I mean there is no way in hell Batman would order a hit on the Joker. Are you kidding me? If it is, this story is crap. I hope not because I do generally like Green as a comic writer. I do think the idea of Joker’s smile being created by the Batarangs to be pretty clever though.

Batman Confidential #10 Written by Michael Green
Art by Denys Cowan

Okay well I am glad that Batman changed his mind at the last second, but it is still hard to swallow that Batman would have ordered the hit in the first place. The joker’s emergence from the waters was a very nice scene, I especially liked the bunny on the moon part haha.

Batman Confidential #11 Written by Michael Green
Art by Denys Cowan

Still don’t understand how this fits in continuity but oh well, let’s just imagine this is another one of the Joker’s retelling of his possible origin. It was okay issue….really the only good parts were the Joker’s lines. Batman’s love for Lorna Shore just seems forced and lame.

Batman Confidential #12 Written by Michael Green
Art by Denys Cowan

So the Joker’s origin concludes with this issue in which Bruce ends it with Lorna and defeats the Joker for the first time. Eh….it was okay. Nothing special.

Batman Confidential #13 Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Rags Morales

Okay Bedard is a great writer and Morales is an amazing artist, but I did not expect this to as good as it was! This is by far the best arc of this series within just one issue. I want to know more about the Wrath and I love how this is not set in Year One but around the time Robin became Nightwing. There are just too many stories set in Year One that this was very refreshing.

Batman Confidential #14 Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Rags Morales

Hmmm…..so is the ending hinting that this Wrath was the original Wrath’s sidekick? I like the Wrath…he is a way cooler anti-Batman then Killer Moth ever was. Why no one has brought him back before this is beyond me. Kudos for Bedard for doing so. Oh and I do not even have to mention since this is Morales but the art is gorgeous in this issue.

Batman Confidential #15
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Rags Morales

The original Wrath’s origin is revealed this issue and it’s anti-Batman to the max. But it is not lame silver agey at all, but really clever. I am really enjoying this arc. And you gotta love the Wrath-mobile.

Batman Confidential #16
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Rags Morales

This concludes the Wrath storyline and we find out the new Wrath’s origin. Very clever stuff. I like that the original Wrath kidnapped these children and most of them got killed. Kinda reminds me of All-Star Batman (:. I highly reccomend everyone pick up with this arc.

Batman Confidential #17
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Kevin Maguire

Haha what an expected turn for the original Batgirl’s first meeting with Catwoman. Barbara has to follow her into a hedonist club – naked times for the Cat and the Bat! Although, I have to say, from what I have seen on TV….nudists are never as attractive as these people. The art here is great since it’s Maguire but some of their facial expressions are too much like they are taking dumps (:

Batman Confidential #18
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Kevin Maguire

This was hilarious….Catwoman and Batman fighting it out naked. It must hurt to get kicked like that hehe. The scene in the junkyard with Catwoman and the dog was fantastic as well. This series has really picked up with the Wrath arc and this.

Batman Confidential #19
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Kevin Maguire

This issue sees Batgirl and Catwoman working together against the Russian mob after they steal the notebook. The banter between Selina and Barbara is hilarious, even though they aren’t fighting anymore. And I love the inner monologues of both characters.

Batman Confidential #20
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Kevin Maguire

Well, I think this is the first time the Narrows has ever been mentioned in Batman comics, I am pretty sure it was only in the movies before….but not totally sure. Anywyas, I look forward to seeing Batgirl take on Arkham’s villains next issue.

Batman Confidential #21 Written by Fabian Nicieza

Art by Kevin Maguire

For some reason, this issue really got excited for the upcoming Arkham Asylum video game. This was an Arkham story really done well as you feel the creepiness of the place and the villain will get to you at every turn. At the same time, this story retained its light heartedness. What a wonderful surprise this arc was, I hope Fabian’s Robin run is just as good as this.