Super Speed

Superman #709
Written by J. Michael Straczynski and Chris Roberson
Art by Eddy Barrows and Allan Goldman

 

This was a cute little meet up with the Flash that allows Roberson to explore super speed and further the plot about the strange things that have arrived on earth from New Krypton. I enjoyed it. Although the whole thing makes me miss the days when Wally was the default Flash instead of Barry.

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.

Batman Is The Best

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #62
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

Hahahahahahahahaha I love Batman’s comments about Hal Jordan – he hates him just as much as I do and that is why Bruce Wayne Batman is my favorite Superhero (Besides Cassandra Cain of course). I worry what that vision was that Hal had – one of the Lanterns of Sector 2814 is going to die? It better not be Kyle. Anyways Krona gets the best of Hal in this and Hal acts like an idiot as usual.

The Real Flash Is Back! Welcome Back Wally!

The Flash (Volume 3) #9
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul

 

Well I didn’t see that ending coming! But anyways fuck the two Barry’s – Wally West and the rest of the Flash family is in this issue! Welcome back the real Flash! I hope Johns includes him more then his two lines in this issue in later issues because Johns certainly can write Wally well and he deserves to be one of the stars of this book. As for the mystery – it’s actually really interesting as Elongated Kid is found dead aged and dead (I liked that they made up a new hero here instead of killing off say – Offspring – or something) and Hot Pursuit is revealed to be some kind of alternate Barry Allen. Hmmm?

Just Bring On The Eclipso

Justice League of America #53
Written by James Robinson
Art by Mark Bagley

 

I was disappointed with the conclusion to this arc. I mean it was better then anything pre-Robinson but man was it not that great of an ending and Bagley…he must have known he was leaving when he drew this cause this was a weak issue on his part. That last splash page could have used some serious editing. Elasti-Woman is wearing the wrong costume and Damage is there – Damage is dead! Come on DC! I am looking forward to next month’s Rise of Eclipso story though!

Settling In

Gotham City Sirens #18
Written by Peter Calloway
Art by Jeremy Haun

 

This issue was much better as it is revealed Talia is behind all of this wanting to erase Catwoman of her memories of Batman and I liked the dialogue between Harley and Ivy. I think Calloway is finally getting settled writing this book. I still don’t buy Zatanna even thinking about mindwiping Selina again but oh well.

Altering Time

The Flash (Volume 3) #8
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Scott Kolins

 

This was an okay issue but I definitely did not enjoy it as much as the Captain Boomerang spotlight. I don’t know if it is because it was set mostly in the 25th century or because I just found some stuff to be confusing. Why does Thawne hate Barry Allen? It wasn’t really explained clearly. I liked the idea that Thawne kept changing his past. Clever idea by Johns but otherwise I didn’t care much for this issue.

The Keeper’s Identity

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #60
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

Well the one who has been stealing the entities identity is revealed…and it was someone I didn’t guess and you would think I would it was so obvious. Anyways, this was okay although the whole Parallax possessing the Flash thing was absolutely pointless.

The Life And Times Of Captain Boomerang

The Flash (Volume 3) #7
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Scott Kolins

Captain Boomerang reflects on his life as he frees the Reverse-Flash from prison. This was by far the best issue of this book to date…probably because it focuses on the Rogues instead of boring old Barry Allen. Boomerang’s entire history is dealt with, even stuff I didn’t know about like his childhood, but meeting his son is curiously left out. Perhaps Johns just didn’t want to deal with it. Seems odd. But anyways, this was definitely a great issue and it makes me look forward to Wally caming back in the next arc.

The Rebirth of Dark Supergirl

Justice League of America #51
Written by James Robinson
Art by Mark Bagley

Robinson once again shows how much he understands and loves the DC Universe with the beginning of this issue. Instead of a random assortment of heroes trying to save Washington DC, we actually get an explanation for why each of the persons’ powers can help the situation. That is a rare feat in comics and I like the attention to detail! Meanwhile, the League is dealing with the threat of Omega Man – who is a bastard yet we don’t even know who he is yet and he has brought back Dark Supergirl. I miss Starman but this this is getting just as epic as the last arc! Great stuff!

A Different Douche

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #59
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

 

Wow Barry Allen sure comes across as a big douche – I still can’t believe he thinks Green Arrow’s murder of Prometheus wasn’t justified. Once again all the stuff in this book is awesome with all the color Lanterns and everything – everything except for the borefest that are Hal Jordan and Barry Allen – at least this time around it’s not Hal that is a total douche.

Timing

The Flash (Volume 3) #6
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul

The opening arc of Barry Allen’s return to the Flash comes to the end with this issue as the Big villain turns out to the the future version of the Top and it’s a decent ending. I just expected bigger…and the something is wrong with time thing just kind of annoyed me. I hope Flashpoint doesn’t fuck with continuity again. I want to see Wally West soon!

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.

Hope Burns Bright

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #58
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

 

I already like Adara…the Blue Lanterns have always been my favorite corps and I really like the character of Nicole Morrison so I hope this sticks around. Hal is such a dick in this as usual. Can’t stand him still but everything else in this book is blast. Good stuff.

Streets of Gotham 15 and 16

Batman: Streets of Gotham #15
Written by Ivan Brandon
Art by Ramon Bachs

 

This is kinda weird…replacing the back up as the main feature in the middle of an arc. I don’t know why Dini is having trouble getting his scripts in on time but whatever this was good. It was violent and disturbing as a Two-Face story should be and ends with Two-Face getting stabbed brutally by his lackeys and thrown in a river. I doubt he’s actually dead but it sure seems that way.

Batman: Streets of Gotham #16
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Co-Feature by Ivan Brandon
Art by Ramon Bachs

The main story continues “House of Hush” and it is really good. It focuses once again on fleshing out a back story dealing with the Waynes and we get more moments from Bruce and Tommy’s childhood. I have said before and I will say it again that Dini has given Hush more depth then Loeb ever did or could. Zatanna showing up was weird….does Dini have to put her in everything he writes? He writes her well don’t get me wrong though. The Two-Face back up has Harvery being found and taken care of by a priest and has a pretty shocking ending I don’t want to ruin here. Good stuff.

The Breaking Of The Mirror

The Flash (Volume 3) #5
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul

 

Okay this was a good issue…finally something happens as the Mirror breaks, the Flash may have been betrayed by The Top from the future (which I didn’t see coming at all) and it looks like Iris is in trouble or something…I am not sure. But am I the only one who thinks it would be cool if Iris ended up becoming Barry’s greatest enemy as The Top says will supposedly happen?? It would certainly make Barry Allen a more interesting character (Because he isn’t interesting at all). But still waiting for Wally here.

Looking Glass

The Flash (Volume 3) #4
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul

 

We find out the truth in this issue about why the Renegades are after the Flash and it actually makes sense why he would kill Mirror Monarch. That was cool but otherwise I am still bored with the character of Barry Allen and the art seemed rushed and muddled in this issue. I am curious to see more of these Mirror Lords though.