Penguin’s Nose

Batman: The Dark Knight #2
Written by David Finch
Art by Finch

 

That was a quick read for a comic book that is so incredibly late but whatever, it was still good. Finch’s artwork is fantastic and the story is interesting even if I have no idea on how it all connects just yet. Who is the Ragman-like monster killing homeless people and what is with this amulet? Oh and Finch draws a big nose on Penguin doesn’t he?

White Knight

Batman and Robin #21
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason

 

The second part of this arc blew me away here. I never expected it to get this intersting. Tomasi and Gleason have created an intriguing new villain the White Knight – a man murdering relatives of Arkham inmates and treats them like martyrs – even going as far as giving them anesthetic so they don’t feel pain and passionately made wings. Awesome and Gleason’s art helps make this Gotham mystery a beauty to look at. I was very impressed.

Sunglasses At Night

Detective Comics #874
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by Francesco Francavila

Scott Snyder continues his stellar run by revealing that James Jr. had a violent past but he has recovered and wants to work for Leslie Thompkins meanwhile Batman and Red Robin have some awesome moments. Francavila is just as great as Jock at setting the mood for this book and I can’t say enough about how great this issue was. Snyder nails Dick’s voice with a great joke about Sunglasses at night and I love how Dick and Tim called eachother by code names (I hate the Brad Meltzer style of always going by first names – their superheroes!). I can’t wait to learn more about James Jr.’s untold past.

Magical World’s Finest

Superman/Batman #81
Written by Cullen Bunn 
Art by ChrisCross

 

A magic-based Batman and Superman show up in this issue and I thought it was that alternate earth that was magical but instead it is actually from some possible future. That sucks cause I was hoping that it was the Superman and Batman of Earth-13 but oh well this was still a pretty cool issue and it guest starts the Shadowpact! A team of heroes I miss a lot and they need to show up more! Especially good old Detective Chimp.

Family Time

Batman and Robin #20
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason

 

Okay Tomasi already did the whole “Bat-family watches a movie together” thing when he was writing Nightwing and I thought it was corny then – doing it again here made it cornier. Maybe I am just pissed that he didn’t include Cassandra I don’t know but it’s just not what I want to see in Batman comic. The rest of the book was pretty good as a guy dressed like an Angel falls to his death and Batman and Robin tried to figure out why. Man-Bat shows up and everything. Not a bad start to Tomasi’s run on the book, but not really spectacular either.

Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite

Batman: Streets of Gotham #18
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Co-Feature by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Szymon Kudranski

The main story is so good it makes me sad that this book is ending in a few months. The BedBug is a great new addition to Batman’s Villains as Dini has yet to create a new villain who isn’t and the Hush storyline keeps my interest enough. In the Ragman backup, Ragman discovers the mayor is behind Firefly’s arson. I wonder where this story is going to continue now that DC is dropping its back ups??

The Auction Of The Black Mirror

Detective Comics #872
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by Jock
Co-Feature by Snyder
Art by Francesco Frankavilla

 

The main story was just fantastic and creepy as the Dick goes undercover at the Black Mirror auction. From the Dealer’s talk about evil being humanity’s divine spark to the creepy gas masks to the surprise ending it was fantastic. Jock really sets the mood with his art too. I hope this creative team stays here for a while! There is great characterization of Dick and Babs too. Everything about this makes the perfect Bat-book. The co-feature sees more of James Jr. as Commisioner Gordon and Barbara discuss him and apparently they suspect he committed murder in the past. Interesting stuff.

Finch’s Gotham

Batman: The Dark Knight #1
Written by David Finch
Art by Finch

 

And so debuts another new batbook this time the sole work of David Finch depicting Bruce Wayne dealing with darker, more occult side of Gotham City. I really enjoyed it and I was surprised how much I liked Finch’s artwork here. I loved how he drew the Batmobile like the one from the Burton films and the mystery of Dawn Golden is intriguing (Even if her name and retconnedness is a little hokey). Not a bad start at all.

Surprise Guest Star

Batman #705
Written by Tony Daniel
Art by Daniel

 

I almost didn’t like this issue…this whole mask of the beholder thing doesn’t really interest me. I think Daniel works best when he plays with the Gotham cast and didn’t want to read about this Peacock and her brother — until the very end when he saved it all by bringing in a character not seen since Geoff Johns’s Teen Titans. I wasn’t expecting her to show up. Awesome!

Find What’s Missing

Batman and Robin #17
Written by Paul Cornell 
Art by Scott McDaniel

 

Paul Cornell takes over for three issues before Tomasi comes on board here and I’d say Cornell wasn’t kidding when he kept saying in interviews that this wasn’t just filler. The Absence is an interesting new villain and not just because she apparently had a hole in the head but just the idea of looking for what’s missing seems like great story potential. I want to see where this goes. McDaniel’s art seemed different here too…good different. I was pleasantly surprised as I am not his biggest fan but I think he stepped up his game for this book.

Little James

Detective Comics #871
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by Jock
Co-Feature by Snyder
Art by Francesco Frankavilla

 

Snyder begins his run with a great mystery – someone is selling weapons based on Gotham villains – and with an artist who knows how to set the mood for it. I am not the biggest fan of Jock’s art, but it works here. This was a great debut for the team. The Commissioner Gordon back-up had quite the shocking ending! I don’t know when was the last time we saw James Jr, but I have never read a comic with him except for flashbacks set when he was a baby – and now he is committing Gotham Crimes! Interesting!

Bruce is Back!

Batman and Robin #16
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Cameron Stewart and Frazer Irving

 

Bruce Wayne is back everyone! Damn this issue was pretty much perfection. I loved everything about it as Batman is the character that brought me to comics I was so happy to see the return of my hero it such an awesome way. My favorite part was probably Bruce punching the Joker just as Joker was seemingly accepting that he was gone for good. The only real problem with this issue was probably the fact that the two art styles are so different, but it didn’t bother me all that much. The final scene has Bruce announcing to the world that he has been funding Batman for years and now plans to take Batman Incorporated global! I’d say that is the biggest change to the Batman world in many many years and I can’t wait to see where Batman goes from here.

Bat-God

Batman and Robin #15
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Frazer Irving

 

Unless I am wrong about who this Bat-God is, the final moments of this issue were downright awesome for any Batman fan! This was an intense issue from the moments between Joker and Damian to Simon Hurt revealed to being taken in by the Waynes – the pieces are all starting (but not quite) to fit together. As much as it has given me a headache sometimes, I have a good feeling that the mystery of Simon Hurt will in retrospect will be one of the all-time greats in comics. Kudos to Morrison and Irving for a fantastic issue.

Batman Confidential 47 – 49

 

Batman Confidential #47
Written by Kevin VanHook
Art by Tom Mandrake

 

Not the biggest Mandrake fan but I like the way he arranges the panels here. I also don’t buy Superman saying he doesn’t believe in occult stuff…um…he just said he was vulnerable to magic and he is fighting vampires and werewolves. How could he not believe?

Batman Confidential #48
Written by Kevin VanHook
Art by Tom Mandrake

This issues concluded the vampire werewolf zombie arc and it was okay. Not much to say about it. Maybe I would have liked it all better if Mandrake didn’t draw it I don’t know.

 

Batman Confidential #49
Written by James Patrick
Art by Steve Scott

 

This one issue story by a creative team I have never even heard of is the best damn Batman issue I have read in a long while!!!! Seriously DC who are these guys put them on a regular book! James Patrick’s story show’s Batman’s thoughts as he enters a crime scene examining everything. I have never read such a good use of Batman’s detective skills, Kudos! The art is fantastic and Steve Scott draws from a perspective where you really feel like you are with Batman searching this building for the killer…… really a surprisingly stellar issue!

Set Up

Detective Comics #869
Written by David Hine
Art by Scott McDaniel

 

God I hope that kid survives the fall…things are heating up as Batman confronts the imposter Joker and a war is about to begins between the Guardian Bats and the Jokerz but I felt like this issue was just all set up and maybe this story could have moved a lot faster. Not bad…just a minor complaint.

Terrifying

Batman and Robin #14
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Frazer Irving

 

Holy Shit does Irving draw a terrifying Joker. In fact, he draws a pretty terrifying Professor Pyg too. As a villain, Pyg is a great creation and I hope other writers will still use him after Morrison. Buy yes every scene is rather frightening in this as the villains are getting the upperhand. I love that the Joker is kind’ve on Batman and Robin’s side here – or at least kind of and I did not expect him to get Robin with the Joker toxin. This is by far the best this book has been yet and I am loving it.

Detective Comics 867 and 868

Detective Comics #867
Written by David Hine
Art by Scott McDaniel

 

I am not the biggest fan of McDaniel’s art and is it can be too zany and cartoony and take away from a story – but it worked pretty well here I’d say. The Jokerz are the kind of thing that McDaniel can do well. I never read a story about them before except I remember them from Batman Beyond as the imposter Joker gang. Here it seems like they have been in Gotham before so hmmm I wonder if they are not new to the comics. What makes this interesting is that was once a gang of practical jokers and vandals has suddenly become violent like the real Joker himself. Good stuff.

Detective Comics #868
Written by David Hine
Art by Scott McDaniel

The war between Guardian Bats and Jokerz become bloody and violent and things are getting crazy out of control. We learn the origin of the imposter Joker – a young man permanently disfigured by Joker venom years ago. He makes an interesting villain as he seems to be angry with Batman for never permanently getting rid of the Joker ala Jason Todd. This arc continues to surprise me with how good it is.