Gotham Victims

Batman (Volume 3) #26
Written by Tom King
Art by Mikel Janin

Ok what the hell Deathstroke is NOT a Batman villain. Why is he pictured with the Batman Rogues Gallery all of a sudden and showing up possibly in the next Batman movie – he is a Teen Titans villain who sometimes fights other heroes! But anyways the second part of the War of Jokes and Riddle was decent but I was surprised at how quick a read it was. It was good to see characters like Carmine Falcone and it looks like Batman has now joined the Justice League in his first year as a crime fighter which I don’t even think that was the case before Flashpoint so that is an interesting continuity change. The theme that I took away from this issue is that Tom King seems to be focusing on the innocent victims of the Batman villains and how Batman remembers their names to keep his crusade on crime going. I like that.

The War of Jokes and Riddles Begins

Batman (Volume 3) #25
Written by Tom King
Art by Mikel Janin

This issue begins a flashback story called the War of Jokes and Riddles. It begins with many violent hard to watch/read murders by both the Joker and the Riddler and ends with a great panel of a naked Batman looking pretty great next to Catwoman in bed as he tells this story. We still don’t know if Catwoman said yes to his marriage proposal last issue but who cares – we got to see Mikel Janin draw a great naked Batman! Yay! Jokes aside (no pun intended), this was a great start to what looks like a very cool past-Batman story which if done right looks like it could be on the level of something like the Long Halloween. Tom King is really good at dissecting these characters and his explanation of why the Joker and the Riddler do what-they-do (as told by the Riddler) is fascinating.

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.

All-Star Batman 1 – 7

All-Star Batman #1
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by John Romita Jr. and Declan Shalvey

Scott Snyder wrote some good Batman comics before Flashpoint. But I never read his New 52 run he is praised for because well…it was the New 52. Of course I did not read that crap. So now after Rebirth he gets his own Batman series to play around with. In this first issue, Two-Face tells Gotham he is going to expose their criminal secrets unless one of them saves him from Batman…I guess that is what happened. I really did not like the art in this book. Was this Declan Shalvey or John Romita Jr.? It was confusing and the characters were ugly to look at. I could see it working in another comic but not a Batman comic. I am also very suspicious of any story that has Alfred betraying Batman. It also doesn’t help I find this new character of Duke Thomas hard to give a shit about. I am hoping Snyder turns it around and makes me understand the need for this character? We shall see. I can’t say that I was impressed with this first issue. The “stilling” technique was super gross.

All-Star Batman #2
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by John Romita Jr. and Declan Shalvey

Why is King Shark referred to as Trixie in this comic? I don’t remember that ever being his name. Anyways, the art continues to bother me. I like Shalvey’s art better than Romita but still they both annoy me. They aren’t right for this comic at all. I want to get excited to look at Batman, not be weirded out by it. Also, the non-linear storytelling in this comic is beyond annoying. What the hell is even going on? I thought people said Snyder was a great Batman writer? He sure makes Zsasz scary but so far that is it for me.

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??

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.

Selina, It’s Me

Batman: Streets of Gotham #17
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Co-Feature by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Szymon Kudranski

 

The main story continues the House of Hush story arc….which I assumed would feature the fall of Hush before Bruce’s return but I guess not as Bruce reveals himself to Selina as Batman in a great scene at the beginning of this issue. The “Selina, it’s me” moment was just awesome for fans of their relationship and Dini writes their relationship very well. The Bed Bug is another great Gotham villain creation by Dini. How does he keep doing this?! The revelations about The Wayne, Kane, and Elliot families also continue to be interesting. The Ragman backup starts off really well as the art really suits the mood and darkness of Gotham City – especially the underbelly a character like Ragman should explore. I love the theme of Gentrification. Gotham really reminds me of Chicago sometimes. It must be why they set the movies here.

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.

Batman 698 and 699

Batman #698
Written by Tony Daniel
Art by Guillem March

 

Unlike most bloggers, I am not opposed to the idea of the Riddler becoming a villain again. I just think the whole Riddler as detective thing was nice for a while but it has ran its course and its time to get back to the root of the character. So this was a great issue for me and I like how Daniel set it up so that Batman is solving a mystery for Riddler when Riddler is the one behind it all. Great to see such use of the Gotham cast – one of the things I have loved about Daniel’s run on this book. March’s art was great as always.

Batman #699
Written by Tony Daniel
Art by Guillem March

 

I am not sure if I completely understand what Riddler’s scheme is here. Maybe I am not supposed to? I liked the issue and all just a little confused. I was expecting this to be the conclusion of this story…perhaps it finishes next issue along with Morrison’s new story. I don’t know hmm.

Imposters And Skin Suits

Batman: Streets of Gotham #2
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Co-Feature by Marc Andreyko
Art by Georges Jeanty

Okay I did not expect the main story with Hush to go the way it did – but I liked it! I am very interested in seeing how this plays out with Hush posing as Bruce and Dick not being able to do anything about it (I assume). it was also cool to see the League’s reaction to Bruce’s  fake return. We still don’t know who the new Black Mask is and I hope we find out soon enough. I also wonder who this mysterious new vigilante guy is? I hope it’s some guy from the past and not some random new duded. Nguyen’s art kindve annoyed me because it was said that Gordon was there – but I did not see Gordon. Did he read the script? But I really enjoyed this issue. The Manhunter Co-Feature was kick ass and I liked it even better then the last issue. Jane Doe is one scary villain! Art-wise it seemed like Kate was drawn like a little girl sometimes and I didn’t like that at all but story-wise it was great.

Dini Makes Firefly Fly

Batman: Streets of Gotham #1
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Co-Feature by Marc Andreyko
Art by Georges Jeanty

The Former Detective Comics creative team of Dini and Nguyen begin their run with this new series and I have to say one again another Batman book was really good this month. This series reminds me of Gotham Knights, in the way it focused on the Bat’s supporting cast, and that is something I have seriously missed since that book got cancelled. Nguyen draws Damian strangely like Tim at first but later in the book he seems to have gotten a handle on the character. I love how Harley is still kinda wearing her costume even when she is not wearing her costume. Check out he last page of the main feature, that is some gorgeous art by Nguyen. Dini’s script is fantastic as if there is anyone who can really write good Gotham villains, it’s Dini and he makes firefly particularly scary in this. In a way Firefly has never been. The Manhunter Co-Feature also was really exciting. I like how both the art and the writing really made me feel that Kate belongs in Gotham. It’s like Manhunter has always been a Gothamite. I think it was a great way to start her new feature.

Superman Batman 49 – 53

Superman/Batman #49
Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson
Art by Shane Davis

This concludes the fantastic arc of the search for Kryptonite and I was a little worried that they had succeeded but it looks like Batman still has a stockpile! Nice. What Superman said to Lana was hurtful, but true. I can’t believe she would do that to him over keeping LexCorp alive. That was shady. Good issue.

Superman/Batman #50
Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson
Art by Ed Benes, Matthew Clark, Ian Churchill, and Allan Goldman

I really wanted to like this story. It’s heart is in the right place, the art was good, and the writing was good. But I have to say the idea that Jor-El and Thomas Wayne met a long time ago is soooo unlikely and ridiculous that it takes away from what could be a good Batman/Superman story. Not recommended.

Superman/Batman #51
Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson
Art by Rafael Alberquerque

While the lil’leaguers are funny and cute, especially their hilarious origins…..I wouldn’t want this all the time. It’s always good to have comic relief sometimes but let’s face it, cute gets annoying after it’s over done. So despite the fact that some bloggers want to read Tiny Titans (even though they are adults) and want nothing bad to ever happen in the DCU, I don’t want that nor do the majority of readers. Anyways, besides that rant this was a good issue and a nice break from the serious storytelling.

Superman/Batman #52
Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson
Art by Rafael Alberuerque

This was another fun issue featuring the lil’leaguers, I do question Bat-Mite’s place in current continuity as here it seems like he actually is a guy from the 5th dimension while over in Batman’s own series he seems to be a mental delusion of Bruce. Anyways, I loved the end where Lil’Joker meets The Joker and Lil’Superman’s death was very sad. Good issue.

Superman/Batman #53
Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson
Art by Rags Morales

After a tussle with Silver Banshee, it looks like Superman has lost his powers and Batman has gained them. Always a fun plot development no matter if it has been done before. Morales’s art is amazing this issue and makes me miss Davis on this series less. Green and Johnson are the BEST thing that has ever happened to this book.