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.

Put Josh Williamson On A Monthly Book

Superman/Batman #77
Written by Josh Williamson
Art by Ale Garza

 

This was an amazing filler issue by Williamson! I read an interview – I forget where- where he talked about this issue and even then I could tell he really cared about these characters and DC Continuity – I was not disappointed by the issue one bit. Williamson pulls in elements of both Supergirl and Robin’s recent continuity including Blackest Night and New Krytpon but keeps it accessible for new readers and really explores the two characters in a profound way. DC better keep this guy on the payroll! I loved the final scenes with Robin and Batman discussing Supergirl….actually I loved everything about this issue. Very good.

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.

Damage

Superman #703
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by Eddy Barrows

 

JMS’s Grounded tales is a lot better then I thought it would be and I love that he is incorporating the after effects of New Krypton and not just sweeping that story under the rug but I don’t know if I buy the argument about the potential damage being done as Superman walks across America. What is the difference between this and the damage done when people attack him in Metropolis? Nothing really. Anyways, I wonder what this New Krypton kryptonite does cause it seems to have possessed a school teacher and caused another guy to gain powers hmmm.

Web 9 and 10

The Web #9
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Roger Robinson
Co-Feature by John Rozum
Art by Tom Derenick

 

In the main feature, we are introduced to the name “Global Concern” which I know from reading the Mighty Crusaders Special that they are the big bad organization behind everything in these Red Circle books. The Web defeats the evil insurance man and figure out that his ex was the one blackmailing him. I did not see that coming. Dead Hand Legendre tries to drain the Hangman’s life force in the back-up and gets killed in the back-up. We also learn that the Hangman derives him powers by a tree filled with his victims? Or perhaps just people who have died by all nooses? I am not sure but it was damn cool.

The Web #10
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Roger Robinson
Co-Feature by John Rozum
Art by Tom Derenick

 

In the final issue of this series, The Web teams up with Fly Girl, one of his web hosts who has modified her costume. I was excited to see her in this issue and this made me really excited for the Mighty Crusaders mini-series. I think DC is dumb for not putting an established hero on this team in order to make it sell and get people interested but whatever. The final scene where Crusaders shows up doesn’t really correspond to the Mighty Crusaders special where they come together unless this was them asking Fly Girl to join and not the Web (who already joined at this point). The Hangman back-up was awesome as we find out there are other avatars of execution like one for the Guillotine and Gassing, and now the Jackal will be representing the Electric Chair. Hahaha awesome it is too bad Rozum won’t be able to explore the concept more.

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.

Action 889 and 890

Action Comics #889
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric Trauttman
Art by Jose Perez
Co-Feature by James Robinson
Art by Cafu

 

The main story ends Rucka and Trautmann’s run on the book by having Chris and Thara defeat the false Rao. It was a kind of a wimper of an ending. I have to say that I have grown to like these two characters as they have starred in this book – but not enough to really miss them. I like the mythology of it all but I think it is just time to move on. The finale to the Captain Atom back-up was more exciting as Mirabai is defeated and Captain Atom’s reputation restored. I really thought this back-up was a neat idea all-around and I’d say it was successful.

Action Comics #890
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Pete Woods

Wow that was unexpected. I wasn’t sure what to think when I heard Lex Luthor would be the new star of Action Comics but damn this was awesome. Lex is an evil bastard and Cornell writes him that way. He has an employee killed just for embarrassing him, he builds a robot Lois to be his companion haha, and he is obsessed with finding the secrets to the Power Rings. Great start!

To 700 More!

Batman #700
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel, Frank Quitely, Andy Kubert, Scott Kolins, and David Finch

 

Morrison returns to the main Batman book to celebrate the 700th issue. I am not sure why everyone around the blogosphere wants to rip on this book. I enjoyed it more then anything Morrison did when he was actually the writer of this series! I liked the look at Batman through different eras and it was awesome to see Batman Beyond and everything. I thought all the art was superb and it worked really well. This was a great anniversary issue.

Keep Her In Gotham

Batman: Streets of Gotham #10
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Co-Feature by Marc Andreyko
Art by Jeremy Haun

 

The main feature was a probably the first solo Damian story – as Damian is kidnapped by Zsadz’s men whom he went looking and is forced to fight the serial killer in an arena. It annoyed me how easily the Abuse kid figured out Damian was Robin and that Damian is going around introducing himself as Damian – I mean if he is going to do undercover work at least use a fake name! Ah! Oh well I guess we can chalk that up to his inexperience. It wasn’t a bad issue, but was a little on the short side. The Manhunter back-up kicked major ass…I love the character of Jane; she is such a creey villain and pulling a bomb out of her neck made her even creepier. Why is this co-feature ending exactly? I mean how are they even judging how well a co-feature is doing without the trades out? I am loving Manhunter in Gotham and do not want to see this end.

Parallax Rebirth

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #50
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

Wow! I thought that the cover was just metaphorical but no, Hal becomes Parallax again in order to scare off the Spectre! Where is Nekron in all of this though. Why the focus on Spectre instead of him? Don’t get me wrong I liked the issue but I was just wondering what was going on with him. This is a nice anniversary issue because it harkens all the way back to Rebirth. Hey maybe Hal will stay as Parallax and we can get Kyle back! I highly doubt that but I am a Blue Lantern what can I say (:

Nightmares

Superman/Batman #65
Written by Peter Johnson and Matt Cherness
Art by Brian Stelfreeze, Brian Haberlin, and Kelley Jones

This was a superb halloween special telling the story of how Superman, Batman, Joker, and Lex Luthor are captured by the Scarecrow and are somehow put to sleep and experience horrific nightmare. Each nightmare is drawn by a different artist and each artist’s style fits that particular nightmare. I liked all of them – especially Batman’s creepy Alfred kills his whole family story – and the Joker being angry that everyone finds it funny that he is killing. Johnson and Cherness prove they can write a good comic with this issue.

Bittersweet

Batgirl (Volume 3) #3
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Lee Garbett

Scarecrow doesn’t know that there is a new Batgirl – so I find it hard to believe that he would call her a second-stringer considering he has faced Cassandra before – he has right? Cause she would have handed his scrawny ass to him if he did. This issue was bittersweet – while I like the idea of Babs working with Stephanie – I really wish it was Cassandra behind the mask. But Didio wanted a blonde white Batgirl I guess I don’t know. I really want to like this. But I still miss Cassandra Cain. At least Steph got her new costume this issue.

I Miss My Dark Knight Damsel

Batgirl (Volume 3) #2
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Lee Garbett

You know…I really can’t wait for Stephanie to get her new costume, because I just can’t help but miss Cassandra when I see Steph in that costume. How cool would it have been if this series was about Cassandra working with Barbara out of the currently abandoned batcave! Wtf Didio! I miss my Dark Knight Damsel, Stephanie Brown just isn’t her. Anyways, this was an okay issue and unlike other people, I see no problem with the way Barbara is acting. Steph has screwed up in the past and Babs doesn’t want to see that happen again.

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.

Not Half Bad After All

Batman #687
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Ed Benes

Well I have to say that I am pleasently surprised by the first issue of Winick’s new run on this book. I really expected it to be mediocre at best. I mean Ed Benes is not a good artist and Winick is hit or miss but he really hit this time. Winick should have written Battle for the Cowl cause all of the story beats that were missed in that mini are hit here effectively. We actually see how Dick and Damian became Batman and Robin and authentic seeming sadness over Bruce’s death – and an explanation for why there was no elaborate funeral for the former Batman.Benes still isn’t a great storyteller artist but he draws a kick ass Scarecrow in this issue and is a lot better then his Justice League run. I look forward to the next issue. I am really loving Dick as Batman so far!

Morrison’s Farewell

Batman #683
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Lee Garbett

This is Morrison’s final issue on Batman, and, well it was damn good. Just like last issue, we get more memories from Bruce’s life mixed with a fake what if memory if Bruce had never become Batman. This issue was much more clear. I like the idea that Dick would have died going after his parents’s killers if Batman never existed. It shows how important Dick and Bruce are to each other. Same with Gordon. And Catwoman for that matter. And hey, we see Batgirl’s silhouette! Yay! Thanks for actually having her appear in your run at least once Morrison. The end of R.I.P is finally revealed…Batman survived the explosion and goes on to Final Crisis which is his real last case. Yes, DC totally handled this wrong and I am pretty sure this wasn’t originally how it was going to happen but I don’t really mind. What I do mind is Didio’s fucking DC Nation column in the back, not only does he totally disrespect Kyle and Wally, but what he says is definitely a lie. There were no plans to bring back Barry Allen, just read interviews with other creators like Johns and Waid who have said DC didn’t know what the hell they were doing with Flash. I can’t wait till the day Didio leaves DC and the DCU can actually move forward instead of backwards. But anyways, this issue was good.