Is This Filler or an Important Issue?

Justice League (Volume 3) #24
Written by Dan Abnett
Art by Ian Churchill

I don’t care what anyone says, it never truly feels like the Justice League without the Martian Manhunter. It annoys that crap out of me that he isn’t on the team. I am sure sick of these filler issues too. This is suppose to be DC’s premiere Superhero team – Bryan Hitch should be taken off the book if he can’t do things in time (and if he keeps having the characters throw their real names around haphazardly too!) That being said, Ian Churchill’s art is beautiful in this comic. And damn is Mera badass in this. She nearly takes down the entire Justice League. I mean her aqua-telekinesis is stronger than I ever thought and that is why Batman asks her to join the Justice League on their next mission. So is Mera replacing Aquaman on the team? Why would a new member join on an issue that the regular writer is taking a break?

Batman Hates Tentacles

Trinity (Volume 2) #10
Written by Frances Manapul
Art by Manapul

This was the least interesting issue of this series (at least among those written by Frances Manapul) because not much really happend but Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman plus the Flash and Cyborg are fighting these viruses. The ending held some promise as it seems there is more to the virus’s story than we initially though as they are searching for their mother and suddenly Wonder Woman gets infected. I loved it when Batman said he hates tentacles though. That was a funny moment.

 

Rucka Will Be Missed

Wonder Woman (Volume 5) #25
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Nicola Sharp and Bilquis Evely

I am sad to write this is the final issue of Greg Rucka’s triumphant Rebirth run on Wonder Woman. Rucka’s run was my favorite run on the character ever before Rebirth and he impressed me even more this time around. I wish he was staying on this book. I have one complaint – why the hell would Diana call Superman Kal-El? She isn’t Kryptonian and it seems out of character. That being said, as usual this issue was amazing and showed how fascinating Rucka makes the character of Wonder Woman. He Rucka shows her strength, her beauty, her love, her dedication to justice, her vulnerability, and even her sexuality (tastefully) in one issue. Steve and Diana are back together and he even had a house built for her, Veronica Cale refuses to help Cheetah, and a lot is left over for the next creative team to build upon. My biggest fear is that they won’t. Rucka’s last run ended with a great supporting cast just like this one ended and it wasn’t followed up on. DC dropped the ball. I sincerely hope that mistake is not made again.

Green Lanterns 21 – 25

Green Lanterns #21
Written by Sam Humphries
Art by Robson Rocha

Robson Rocha really hit it out of the park with the art in this issue. Wow! Ever panel was breathtakingly beautiful in this issue where Dr. Polaris nearly pulls the Justice League watchtower out of space and on top of a city but is stopped by the two starring Green Lanterns. Doctor Polaris is turned into such a tragic character in these pages. Good issue.

Green Lanterns #22
Written by Sam Humphries
Art by Ronan Cliquet

Yay the first GL to show up in this issue besides our star Jessica Cruz is none other than Kyle Rayner! This is apparently the first time Jessica has met Kyle – I am frankly surprised that she has never heard of him. Hasn’t she done her research on the past Green Lanterns of Earth? He even says he used to have her job. In fact, Kyle and Jessica have a lot more in common than that. Both of them got their rings spontaneously and were not trained at first. Anyways, it was great to read about Jessica’s introduction to the Green Lantern Corps headquarters too and I look forward to seeing Guy train Jessica and Kyle train Simon! So glad Hal Jordan is not involved…that guy sucks. PS Ronan Cliquet is a great artist.

Justice League 19 – 22

Justice League (Volume 3) #19
Written by Bryan Hitch
Art by Fernando Pasarin

Molly the Keeper (whatever a Keeper is, they seem like monitors?) but she warns she only wanted to destroy the League because someone way worse is coming to destroy them. I am assuming this has something to do with Dr. Manhattan and Rebirth but maybe it is a different threat? I also have no clue who Alexis, Vincent, or Jane are.

Justice League (Volume 3) #20
Written by Bryan Hitch
Art by Hitch

This was spectacularly depressing issue of Justice League where the Flash keeps reliving the death of Jessica Cruz like Groundhogs day and eventually figures out the guy who caused it’s family was accidentally killed by the machine he created when it mixed with the Speed Force and he blames the Justice League. This is the second time this book has had a villain who blames the League for deaths of loved ones but I am willing to see where this goes before I judge the story because it was enjoyable.

Trinity 8 and 9

Trinity (Volume 2) #8
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Emanuela Lapacchino

This issue focused on Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman discussing the realization that someone is tampering with reality and they decide to keep it among themselves for now until they know more information. What was odd to me is that Batman doesn’t mention that Barry and Wally know someone is messing with reality already so they really aren’t keeping it just among themselves. It was a good Rebirth tie-in issue none-the-less.

Trinity (Volume 2) #9
Written by Frances Manapul
Art by Manapul

Frances Manapul returns for this new story arc focusing on an invasion of the Justice League sattelite from a viris alien. As usual, it is breathakingly beautiful and well-written. Reading this, I can’t help but think Manapul should be given the writing and art duties on the regular Justice League book because he knows these characters and his art makes them come alive. He manages to balance action and character moments perfectly, which is something I am not sure the main Justice League book does well right now. Either way, I am glad he is writing these characters somewhere.

At Least He Used the Code Names

Justice League (Volume 3) #18
Written by Bryan Hitch
Art by Fernando Pasarin

Okay so I did not see that ending coming and I can’t say I at all understand what is going on here. This girl wants to protect the timeline just like Tempus did by getting rid of superheroes? But Tempus did not want to kill them. But honestly just like every issue of this series not much happens accept a few panels of them fighting different people. It is still way too decompressed and it’s a shame because I don’t think Hitch is a bad writer. At least he didn’t have them call each other by their first names in this issue. That would have made it worse.

Polaris Origins

Green Lanterns #20
Written by Sam Humphries
Art by Eduardo Pansica

We learn more about Doctor Polaris’s past which is something even I don’t know much about. It seems he was discredited in the scientific community but for real reasons or fraudulent ones? It is unclear. What is clear is he now has schizophrenia and can’t stop himself from putting on his Polaris suit when he really just wants to save his brother’s life. Meanwhile, John Stewart decides to bring in Rami, Jessica, and Simon to be trained after it is reported Rami is with them. It was a decent issue with great art. I am still rather enjoying this series.

Green Lanterns 1 – 19

Green Lanterns #1
Written by Sam Humphries
Art by Robson Rocha

As happy as I am to have a new Green Lantern book that is not starring boring old Hal Jordan, I can’t say I was excited to read this. Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz have not interested me one bit in the Justice League book. Simon just seems like a jerk and Jessica is so unsure of herself it becomes not sweet, but annoying. I was hoping under a different write I would feel differently. This issue did not win me over, but maybe future issues will because the art was good and I am interested in the Red Lantern sub-plot. Oh and Dex-Starr!

Green Lanterns #2
Written by Sam Humphries
Art by Robson Rocha

Now this was more like it! By focusing on Jessica learning about her ring with her sister, Humphries made me actually understand her character better and what she is going through. Hopefully we will get a similar focus on Simon. This series just got good.

Threats Against Space and Time

Justice League (Volume 3) #17
Written by Bryan Hitch
Art by Feranando Pasarin

The latest issue of Superman made it seem like the New 52 Superman and our Superman were really the same being split in two but this issue has Tempus saying that our Superman is an anomyly. I wonder how this fits together. I just realized that the latest issue of Superman seems to be playing on the Superman-Red (New 52) and Superman-Blue motif. That’s cool! Anyways, on to this actual comic book I am reviewing. I love how intricately connected all these books are. The editors are doing a stand up job (except for the Aquaman book and its crazy Atlantis destroys half of Boston but it is not mentioned in any other comic crap) as Wonder Woman and Superman’s going ons in their respective solo books are referenced here. And this issue is representative of what this series should have been from the start – epic Justice League stories where the threat could destroy all of space and time. I like how the villain is utilizing magic, Green Lantern energy, and the Speed Force to move the Earth somewhere else because a dark force is going to come after the heroes and he wants to separate them from the rest of the univer. Could this coming threat have something to do with Rebirth? Is it Doc Manhattan or something specific to this book? We shall see.

Nightwing 1 – 16

Nightwing (Volume 4) #1
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Javier Fernandez

How great is it to see Nightwing in that costume again? It’s been what ten years since he wore that beautiful – frankly iconic – Nightwing costume. DC….what were you thinking? He should have been returned to that immediately after he stopped being Batman. Speaking of that, Dick refers to his time as Batman. Does that mean Final Crisis happened in the New 52 universe or is this a result of Rebirth restoring the timeline? Interesting. This was a great start to this series but not exactly a good jumping on point for new readers for a first issue. We aren’t really told what is going on with this Parliament of Owls other than they are forcing Dick to work with them or they think they are and he is playing them. I don’t know much about the Court of Owls because they are a new 52 creation. Anyways, it is still weird to see Barbara Gordon in a Batgirl costume and not Oracle and looking so young. Is she still suppose to be the same age as Dick?  So far…this is good. Seeley seems to really understand Dick Grayson as a character and the art is perfect for a Nightwing book.

Nightwing (Volume 4) #2
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Javier Fernandez

This was a fantastic comic. I like how Seeley writes Nightwing’s narraration. It isn’t all action, there is depth to this story. I don’t like how the Raptor knows their have been different Robins. That is dumb. The general public in the DCU should not know that. Also, how is Barbara flying to Tokyo and back? Does Bruce bankroll her?

Aquaman Rebirth 1-18

Aquaman (Volume 8) #1
Written by Dan Abnett
Art by Brad Walker

This is the first issue of Aquaman post-Rebirth. Aquaman of course only recently came back to life Pre-Flashpoint so I wonder how much of Aquaman’s history has now been restored. Black Manta attacks Aquaman and his new embassy in this comic, and there is no mention that Black Manta once killed Aquaman’s baby son, so maybe that is no longer in continuity? Or perhaps the memory of it has been erased by Dr. Manhattan since Mera and Aquaman think they were never married. Anyways, continuity matters aside, this was a great first issue with great art and a great introduction to the politics between Atlantis and the Surface World.

Aquaman (Volume 8) #2
Written by Dan Abnett
Art by Scot Eaton

In this issue, Aquaman manages to use his words rather than his fists to defeat Black Manta as he convinces the villain that killing him will ultimately be disappointing for him. It shows that this character is about both brains and brawns. He is a monarch and a diplomat after all.

The Timeless and Rebirth Questions

Justice League (Volume 3) #16
Written by Bryan Hitch
Art by Fernando Pasarin

Fernando Pasarin should be this book’s main artist going forward. He draws an incredible Justice League book. This issue ties back to the beginning of this series with the zodiac crystals and maybe even with Rebirth itself as the Timeless maybe related to Dr. Manhattan and his manipulation of the timeline? These timeless people have led to the League being stranded in different times. Barry Allen back to his origin, Wonder Woman in ancient greece, Aquaman in Ancient Atlantis, Cyborg in the time of the Legion, and the Green Lanterns in the 26th century. Meanwhile Batman and Superman are talking to some people who know about this…who is this group and what are they hiding? How does this relate to Rebirth? Why do the Timeless look like Brainiac? A lot of questions and I can’t wait to see how this plays out. I hope everyone’s Pre-Flashpoint memories are somehow restored.

Batman Rebirth 1 – 17

Batman (Volume 3) #1
Written by Tom King
Art by David Finch

In the first issue of this new Batman solo series, Batman prepares to give his life to save a plane full of people that almost crashes into Gotham. Spoiler Alert…he ends up not dying although he prepares to say goodbye to Alfred in a touching scene. The plane is actually saved by two Superheroes calling themselves Gotham and Gotham Girl. The idea of heroes showing up in Gotham with actual powers is an interesting thing. Would this make Batman feel useless? I guess we will see. I enjoyed the art in this. Finch knows how to draw Gotham City and its world well. Also, who is this new Batman protege Duke Thomas? I don’t know anything about

Batman (Volume 3) #2
Written by Tom King
Art by David Finch

I love how Duke asks Batman if he trusts these new heroes of Gotham and Gotham Girl, and he says “I don’t even trust Alfred.” That made me smile. I thought this would make Batman jealous to have super powered heroes but I should have known better – Batman is a true hero and wants what is best for Gotham City. These heroes could stop things he cannot stop and he knows that. I loved how the Gotham Man is confused when Batman dissapears when talking to Commissioner Gordon. But who are these two heroes and how do they have powers that are almost Kryptonian in nature? I do not like how skinny Finch draws Amanda Waller. She is way too thin in this. But that is my only complaint about this issue.

Justice League 1 – 15

Justice League (Volume 3) #1
Written by Bryan Hitch
Art by Tony Daniel

This is the the first issue of Justice League after DC Rebirth and I have to say I was…underwhelmed. I ceratainly felt like I could come into this as a new reader (although there wasn’t much explanation of each character) and understand it but it was just another crazy disasters happening all over the world story. Although I know there is this Kindred subplot…I guess I expected something more. I mean maybe it is just after reading Detective Comics it just seemed like nothing happened in this single issue compared to what happens in every issue of that series.

Justice League (Volume 3) #2
Written by Bryan Hitch
Art by Tony Daniel

I wish I could say that I was impressed with this issue but I really feel like not much happened here. They talked about the problems and then Batman went to go get Superman. That was really it…. hard to recommend a single issue if very little happens. All I kept thinking about was I miss Martian Manhunter. Talk about a character who has been screwed since Didio took over. He was the heart of the League and when I see him you think “Justice League.” Why the hell is he not on this team?

Justice League (Volume 3) #3
Written by Bryan Hitch
Art by Tony Daniel

Now this was a bit better. This still seems decompressed but more happned here. It is the first I have seen of Lois since I started reading Rebirth so that was good although you would think by now she would be used to these kinds of things with her husband. I think Tony Daniel upped his ante on the art in this issue. I found myself enjoying quite a bit more than the previous issues. I wonder what the Kindred’s connection is with the League and these Zodiac Crystals.

Justice League (Volume 3) #4
Written by Bryan Hitch
Art by Jesus Merino

Hitch is guilty of the “Brad Meltzer” trope of having the Justice Leaguers call each other by the real names all the time. Come on. Why in the hell would these new Green Lanterns know the Flash’s secret identity. Anyways, for some reason the Sigil of Truth showed up in ths issue so I imagine this storyline is going to go into an occulty direction which I am excited about. But this is seriously decompressed.

Justice League (Volume 3) #5
Written by Bryan Hitch
Art by Tony Daniel

In this issue the Kindred say they are looking to bring about a Forever Crisis, and it was in bold. I think that was on purpose. Is Rebirth leading to another Crisis event? Or am I seeing things that are not there. Either way, I wouldn’t say I super enjoyed this first story arc of this series, but at least we got that interesting tidbit.

Detective Comics 934-950

This is it…I am returning to DC after a 5 year absence. Now that DC Rebirth has brought back the original continuity without throwing the New 52…will these characters be the same as the ones I loved. Most of all, for this book, I care about Cassandra Cain. She is my favorite comic book character and in my opinion the one true Batgirl. AND she is finally a regular in a book again. Will this be the same Cassandra I know and love? I know she got reintroduced but is she really just the same character with the memories of her time as Batgirl erased by the evil Dan Didio…I mean Doctor Manhattan. Let’s find out as I explore Detective Comics Rebirth.

Detective Comics #934
Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Eddy Barrows

This was a great jumping back on point for old/new readers. I did not miss a beat. Batman discovers someone is targeting Gotham’s vigilantes and has recruited Batwoman to “train” them. (I do cringe at the idea that Cassandra needs training from Batwoman.) He finally reveals his secret identity to her and they are cousins. I always was annoyed the the Wayne-Kane connection was never explored pre-Flashpoint so I loved this moment. The first of the team we meet is Stephanie Brown former Batgirl and Robin but now back to her Spoiler idenity. The identity she should have remained. I like her, don’t get me wrong, but she should never have been allowed to take the mantle of Batgirl from Cassandra Cain.

After Steph, we see Tim Drake in a new Red Robin costume that evokes his classic Robin costume. Man it is good to see him look like that again. That was an amazing costume.

Finally, we get Cassandra and I love that her new costume evokes her original Batgirl costume but I am sorry it is not enough….she needs to have a bat emblem and be a real Batgirl again someday. As fan, we can’t just give up on that. She now calls herself Orphan. As cool as it is to have her full mask back, I still would prefer her pre-Flashpoint Black Bat identity than “Orphan.” Now besides this, Tynion IV writes her perfectly as the bad ass scary fighter she is but I just wish she could be that way in a Bat costume.

The final member of the team is Clayface which is an odd choice but okay we will see where it goes. Eddy Barrows’s art was beautiful…he has truly stepped up his game in five years and seems perfect for this book.

So ya….CASS IS BACK!

Detective Comics #935
Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Eddy Barrows

In this issue, Batwoman continues the training of the younger vigilantes. Meanwhile, Batman tells Tim he has always been Robin to him. So in this continuity was Tim never officillay Robin? If so, will he remember his time as Robin whenever the missing ten years gets restored or whatever? I sure hope so. I hope the same with the other characters too.

Cassandra is bad ass in this. I love how Steph says he just shows up and gets blood on the floor and is almost never home. We truly are getting old school Cassandra Cain back and I could not be happier…except if she was Batgirl again. That would be better.

Beautiful story and beautiful art. I feel Tynion IV truly gets these characters.