BatCon 52 – 54

Batman Confidential #52
Written by Marc Guggenhiem
Art by Jerry Bingham

Batman calls the Justice League for help and that is about it. This would seem to be before he became a full-time member. This was probably the best issue of this arc so far.

Batman Confidential #53
Written by Marc Guggenhiem
Art by Jerry Bingham

 

Okay DC you need to decide who was a founding member or not! This issue reads like Batman is definitely not a founding member of the Justice League as he has said to have been post-Infinite Crisis. How annoying. Total continuity mistake made this unreadable for me. And if they were gonna go with the Post-Crisis, Pre-Infinite Crisis continuity where Batman was not a founder – why isn’t Black Canary there! This is just dumb.

Batman Confidential #54
Written by Marc Guggenhiem
Art by Jerry Bingham

 

The continuity mistakes (And the fact that the two stories told never connect) made this arc a lousy read for me. And this issue also marks the final issue of this book. This was a book chock full of continuity mistakes with some great arcs in between. The Batgirl and the Wrath arcs come to mind but otherwise I am not going to miss this series at all.

Booster Gold 40 and 41

Booster Gold (Volume 2) #40
Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. Demateis
Art by Pat Olliffe

 

This was an okay issue setting up the threat, recapping Booster’s life, and a surprise ending. I am sure Rip has his reasons for this.

Booster Gold (Volume 2) #41
Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. Demateis
Art by Chris Batista

 

So were we supposed to recognize the guy at the end of this? And the idea that Booster would willingly turn himself in after all these years – or that Rip would think it was a good idea – is just absurd. Not impressed with this issue.

Trained By The Bat

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #54
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Tyler Kirkham

 

You know what made me cheer in this issue…when Sinestro asks Kyle who trained him to fight, and Kyle hits him hard and says Batman!!! Hells to the ya. Another reason why Kyle Rayner is better then Hal Jordan, Batman likes him better!  Anyways, Kirkham’s art really impressed me in this issue as he can draw scenery wonderfully. Just look at his Oa! He is a great guy to draw a book mostly set in Alien Landscapes. The moments between Soranik and the Weaponer were really great as it kinda sorta humanized the villain and showed how caring and compassionate Soranik can be. Great issue.

Like The Creators, But Not The Comic

Batman Confidential #50
Written by Marc Guggenheim
Art by Jerry Bingham

The switches between the far East and Gotham left me very confused as to what the hell was going on in this issue. The second feature with the Justice League was interesting but I still just didn’t care. Definitely not impressed with this arc so far and I like these creators.

Green Friends

Green Arrow (Volume 5) #4
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Diogenes Neves

 

I can’t really complain about this Green Arrow relaunch. Despite coming out of the worst story in recent memory (Cry For Justice), this has been some amazing Green Arrow issues and this issue is no different. The art and writing continue to be spectacular and Martian Manhunter guest stars! I loved how Galahad asks if all Green Arrow’s friends are green. The Queen is still is an intriguing villain. I know that this Mary is supposed to be Maid Marian to Green Arrow’s Robin Hood, but I hope there is more to her then just a love interest for Ollie and I also hope he doesn’t forget that he and Dinah are not technically divorced, just separated.

Artifacts

Booster Gold (Volume 2) #33
Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. Demateis
Art by Chris Batista

 

Haha this was a fun romp! Booster travels to the past to the JLI days to gain evidence of Maxwell Lord’s existence. Brilliant idea but it doesn’t quite work because the artifact – a videotape- doesn’t come back with him for some reason. I am not sure that I understand why but Rip says it is something to do with a chain. Anyways, a lot of interesting stuff was shown besides how great it was to see the JLI and everythig – apparently Maxwell Lord was not always evil and that Martian Manhunter scanned his mind and found him to have a good heart. What happened to him? Will this be revealed in Generation Lost? I wonder if Lord will be redeemed by the end of all this? I love the character of Rani and I hope she stick around. This run has been kick ass so far.

Let’s Stay Focused On The Other Characters

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #53
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

Really Johns? Another Donner Superman reference? Give me a break. We get that you liked the original Superman movie but this is getting out of a hand lol all we had was Lex Luthor and already he is referencing the Donner Superman movie. I liked this issue, that being said, as it focuses on the group of New Guardians. It makes for a great way for Johns nto to focus on boring old Hal Jordan. Didio’s DC Nation at the end of this week’s books explain a lot about why certain characters keep coming back. He is such a douche.

I Am Happy For Donna

Justice League of America #43
Written by James Robinson
Art by Mark Bagley

 

Not really sure why DC had certain members like Starfire and Mon-El join just to leave one or two issues later…kind’ve bad planning on their part but oh well I am enjoying Robinson’s run so far and this is no different. I loved to see Donna and Congorilla feeling so happy to be on the League! It’s refreshing to see someone be excited about it for a change. Donna needed to find her place somewhere and I like that Robinson is giving it to her. Please keep her around for a while. Did Donna always have a lasso though? I will have to look that up. I love that Starman is staying in the book and I think this cast really works so far. There was a lot of action and characterization – in fact really the perfect balance for the league. The narration boxes are utilized much better then Meltzer ever did and hey at least everyone has code names. There were some minor continuity troubles – this takes place after Blackest Night yet Green Arrow acts like J’onn and Aquaman are still dead. Not to mention Black Canary should have been in that flashback scene as well but those are just minor complaints in what was an enjoyable issue.

Peace And Love

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #41
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Chris Batista and Fernando Dagnino

 

Can I just say that Gail Simone should stay on Wonder Woman, give Morrison or Rucka a new Wonder Book and keep Simone here. She understands the character tremendously. Power Girl’s inner dialogue about Diana pretty much showed that. Wonder Woman is more then fighting (although she is a great fighter) she is inspirational and full of love. Power Girl needed to channel Diana in order to stop the hatred consuming Washington D.C. I hope these Crow Children come back soem day because they were some damn scary Wonder Woman villains. The scenes with Etta and Steve Trevor were very suspenseful and Diana saves the day once again! Great issue! Plus The Olympian finding the reincarnation of his lover again warmed by big gay heart.

Meh

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #51
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

 

The Black Lantern Spectre is defeated and Hal is no longer Parallax is one issue. This all seemed to be just stalling for the fight against Nekron and it bored me. There were some cool moments, none of which featured Hal Jordan of course, but otherwise it was just a waste. Mahnke’s art seemed really rushed too.

The History of Negative Man

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #6
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark
Co-Feature by Giffen and J.M. Demateis
Art by Kevin MaGuire

 

This issue was basically a crash-course in the history of Negative Man through his own words. I wonder if it was done in a narrator style if it would have been easier to follow. I think so. Giffen definitely made the wrong choice there but what can I say, maybe it’s the artist. I enjoyed it none-the-less. I love continuity as you all know! The Metal Men back-up was amusing as always and still loving all the Chicagoland references.

Justice League 39 and 40

Justice League of America #39
Written by James Robinson
Art by Mark Bagley

Why did Kimiyo just call Doctor Light Curry at the end of this comic like he was Aquaman? That is some bad editing and the kind’ve sloppy editing and mix ups that have plagued this title since it began. Not really forgivable. All-in-all this was a rather forgettable issue where neither of the creators showed how good they could be.

Justice League of America #40
Written by James Robinson
Art by Mark Bagley

I have to say that this was an intense issue of Justice League where the heroes are emotionally and physically taken to their breaking points by the Black Lanterns. It dealt with race and rape. And it was very uncomfortable to read and almost mean-spirited in the way that Robinson’s Cry for Justice has been. I can’t say that I object to the subject matter but just in the way it was handled, I really felt like Kimiyo Hoshi was being raped in this issue as I was reading this. If not physically, at least on an emotional level and why the hell did Bagley have to draw her running around naked? That was unnecessary and disturbing. I don’t mind the subject matter but I felt like the entire story had no light – it was completely cruel.

Honoring The Dead

Booster Gold (Volume 2) #27
Written by Dan Jurgens
Art by Jurgens and Mike Norton

While this issue was not as powerful on an emotional level as last issue was, it was still a great issue and a great way to honor Ted Kord. I am not sure if I liked the way Jurgens characterized Jaime Reyes here, he seemed a little more in experienced that he has been shown to be of late, but it wasn’t too bad. Next issue I am excited to get back to the main story as it looks like Booster will be going to save his sister from Coast City’s destruction by Cyborg Superman in the past. That should be good. That’s all I really have to say about this issue.

Brainiacs Two And Three

R.E.B.E.L.S. #10
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Andy Clarke

 

Okay I didn’t expect Vril Dox to get a Sinestro Corps ring at all! Bedard wove Blackest Night in with his own mega-story about Starro perfectly. Both people coming in for the Blackest Night stuff and previous readers will enjoy this issue. Clarke’s art is great to see again, let’s hope he stays around this time. I like that Vril’s son is now Brainiac 3. This was a good issue.

Jurgens The Underrated

Booster Gold (Volume 2) #26
Written by Dan Jurgens
Art by Jurgens and Mike Norton

Jurgens is by far one of if not the best artists DC has, why doesn’t he get any appreciation for it?! He is also just as good of a writer. You don’t have to have read anything with Booster Gold before and you would completely understand and enjoy this issue. If you know Booster’s history, you will enjoy it more but that means it is a good use of continuity. I loved every page of this issue. Pick this up if you are a fan or just someone getting into DC through Blackest Night.

Alienated

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #44
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

Let me tell you, I didn’t expect to love Blackest Night as much as I did and this issue is no different from the rest of this event. I love Martian Manhunter, he is the heart and soul of the Justice League and any long time readers of this blog know I complained a lot of how he was treated by DC (aka Dan Didio and Brad Meltzer) after Infinite Crisis. Johns understands this and I loved when Barry said he didn’t become Alien, he was Alienated. Barry is exactly right. Any Martian Manhunter fans should read this issue. This was a quick read and did seem kinda filler but I still loved it because of it’s Martian Manhunter content and Mahnke’s great art. What a battle he drew.

Death in the DCU

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #43
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

If this issue doesn’t get you excited for Blackest Night the nothing will. This was an excellent issue detailing the history of the Black Hand, the murder of his family, and suicide and then his rise from the dead as the first Black Lantern and embodiment of the Black Lantern Corps. Mahnke’s are is as gorgeous as ever and I think he may be my favorite artist at DC for event books. I love the DC Universe and its continuity and it was so exciting to see Mahnke draw all the heroic deaths over the years. My only complaint is story-wise, why the fuck no mention that Kyle was basically the entire Green Lantern Corps for a decade! It’s just another example of DC favoring silver age old-fuck heroes. Oh and fuck Didio by the way and his stupid ass DC nation column about the Justice League. Am I being a little mean with this review? Sorry. Let’s go back to the positives, this was an amazing issue that brings us right into what will hopefully be the greatest event DC has had in a long time.