Not the Best Visit to Arkham

Batman (Volume 3) #19
Written by Tom King
Art by David Finch

Bane fights his way through Arkham Asylum taking on some of Batman’s most famous villain in the process, some of whom I was surprised to see in Arkham since they seem to be out of Arkham in other books. I guess it depends on when this exactly takes place. Copperhead shows up and he is suppose to be dead! I guess we have to assume this is a different Copperhead than even the one who showed up in All-Star Batman recently? Come on DC you have been so good at keeping things consistent lately do not let me down. Speaking of let down – David Finch was incredible last issue but I coudn’t get excited by his pencils this time around as it is all just kinda blah and this was suppose to be a showcase of him drawing the different Bat-villains. Listen, I like a romp through Arkham Asylum just as much as the next person but this time Tom King offered us nothing more than Bane just beating people up.

Batman and Robin 22-26

Batman and Robin #22
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason

This was a great issue. I can’t get enough of Gleason’s art. Jane Doe makes an appearance from Paul Dini’s run on Streets of Gotham! I always liked her. Batman defeats the White Knight whose origin is revealed as a boy who witnessed his father’s murder at Arkham.

 

 

Batman and Robin #23
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Guillim March and Andre Bressan

Judd Winick returns to the character he essentially created when he brought Jason Todd back to life as the Red Hood. I have to say Morrison wrote the character the best. I was afraid Winick would ignore Morrison’s work but he includes it in this issue even having Jason have light hair again. He isn’t in costume yet but the cover seems like he will be using the new Red Hood costume still so all is good. Honestly I have never thought it was a great idea to bring Jason back butit always seemed like Winick never got to finish the story he started when it got wrapped up in Infinite Crisis so I am interested in seeing where this goes.

Batman and Robin #24
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Greg Tocchini

The art change in this issue was jarring to say the least. It wasn’t bad art but it is nothing like the previous issue. Anyways I am sad to say Jason does get a new costume in this issue that is more like the boring one he had before Morrison’s run. Scarlet also makes her return in this issue and Batman, Robin, and the Red Hood will have to team up next issue to save her so it isn’t all bad.

Batman and Robin #25
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Greg Tocchini

This was an okay issue. Very mediocre really. But at least Scarlet and the Red Hood are team mates again. I wonder if she ever shows up in the New 52 because she is an interesting character. I liked the comparison between Dick and Jason but it has been done to death.

 

 

Batman and Robin #26
Written by David Hine
Art by Greg Tocchini and Andrei Bressan

Okay this was a very disturbing but well done-in-one comic starring the Batman of France, Nightrunner, and Dick and Damian as the fight the Man Who Laughs who is almost as scary as the Joker! This was grotesque but very well done as only David Hine can do it.

 

 

 

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.

That Dreadful Shrew

Batgirl (Volume 3) #7
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Lee Garbett

 

I just LOVE Damian Wayne now hahaha he calls Stephanie a dreadful shrew in this and it sounds perfect coming from his little mouth! This was an action-packed and fun adventure story. Sadly, no Cassandra in this issue. I am hoping that she will be in the next issue or at least be mentioned. That being said, I can’t help but love Miller’s writing. It is not MY Batgirl, but I do like Stephanie Brown in this role even if I wish Cassandra Cain were still Batgirl more. The art and the story was top notch and every line the characters spoke was genuine and fun to read. Good issue.

Guess Which Panel Was My Favorite

Batgirl (Volume 3) #6
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Lee Garbett

CASSANDRA CAIN APPEARED IN THIS ISSUE!

Yes, it was for one panel but it was damn awesome to see her! She hasn’t been forgotten about! It’s sad that a one-panel appearance gets me so excited when she should be appearing regularly in at least one monthly bat book. I am hoping she is going to be in the new Birds of Prey! Please put her in the new Birds of Prey DC! Anyways, this was a good issue and I love Damian so much now. What a change of feelings for the character I have had. I originally hated him. This was a lot of fun and a good book. More Cassandra Please!

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!

Superman/Batman 28 and 29

Superman/Batman #28
Written by Mark Verheiden
Art by Ethan Van Sciver

This was a dark issue, darker than this book usually is, some people might complain about that but I loved it! This issue was suspenseful and cool, Martian Manhunter has gone crazy and has elevated powers and now he is going after Batman and Superman. While it may seem like the superhero gone rogue thing has been done too many times before, but it really works in this issue. Verheiden pulled it off. Van Sciver’s art is wonderul as usual too. By far my favorite quote this issue must have been, “Your fine, is someone else’s two weeks bed-rest” – Superman to Batman.

Superman/Batman #29
Written by Mark Verheiden
Art by Ethan Van Sciver

In this issue we find out that it wasn’t really Martian Manhunter last issue but a different shape-shifter. This creature is apparently part of a bigger plot and is able to control Green Lanterns, which is why it is able to control Kilowog and Hal Jordan this issue. I don’t know if I liked this issue quite as much as the last but it was still good. Certainly a lot better than anything Loeb wrote when he was on this book. The art is fantastic and I am wondering who exactly is behind all this craziness. I look forward to next issue.

The Disgusting Return of Dr. Phosphorus

Detective Comics #825
Written by Royal McGraw
Art by Marcos Marz and Luciana del Negro

This was a nice little filler issue. In fact, it is one of the better filler issues I have read. While I did miss Paul Dini this month, these creators (whom I have never head of before) are not half-bad. They tell a story about a villain I must admit I am not familiar with, Dr. Phosphorus. But it doesn’t really matter if you have heard of him or not, he is pretty damn scary as a skeleton on fire. That may be because of the art here, which is just fantastic. This art team should do more books. I cringed when Batman through baking soda on the villain, Phosphorus looked very gross after that. I imagine it would be like throwing lemon juice on a wound…that would hurt! Gordon is kind of dumn in this issue…he makes a lot of pretty rookie mistakes. But otherwise, this was a well-written little story that is quite enjoyable. Reccomended.