Stephanie Brown 20-24

Batgirl (Volume 3) #20
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Ramon Bachs

Reviewing this series always made me a little queazy because I wish it was the real Batgirl Cassandra Cain and not Stephanie Brown who really should be the Spoiler but here we go…this issue was decent. The art was good and fit the title well. I am a tad but confused by the ending although it could be because I did not go back and re-read the last issue. I hated the annoying talk between Oracle and Steph confirming once again that Stephanie is Batgirl now. Gross.

Batgirl (Volume 3) #21
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Dustin Nguyen

Batgirl fights Harmony in this issue, another operative of the Order of the Scythe. It was rather uninteresting. The side story of Wendy Harris deciding to go to Nanda Parbat was interesting though. I wonder if this ever gets resolved or if Wendy is just MIA after this. I have to note that the cover of this issue has the wrong artist on it. Come on DC.

 

 

Batgirl (Volume 3) #22
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Pere Perez

In this issue Stephanie travels to London on Batman Inc orders and fights a a villain with the Squire. The whole thing was okay I guess as Stephanie realizes unlike the squire, she really is not a sidekick. Whatever. I miss Cassandra Cain as Batgirl and this issue would have been so much more fun to read if she teamed up with the Squire. Anyways, this issue ends with a cliffhanger said to be continued in Batman Inc #9…which never came out. DC clearly had no idea they were going to do the New 52 till the last second and it was horrible decision.

Batgirl (Volume 3) #23
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Pere Perez

Stephanie goes into the middle of a riot at Blackgate in order to find out who is behind the Order of the Scythe if I understood this issue correctly. She is helped out by Miss Martian, Bombshell, Supergirl, and Stargirl because she is not Cassandra Cain the real Batgirl and therefore could not pull this off herself. The cliffhanger was something I did not expect – the mystery is revealed to be Steph’s Dad, the Cluemaster!

 

Batgirl (Volume 3) #24
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Pere Perez

This is the final issue of this Stephanie Brown Batgirl series. I can’t say I am sorry to see it go because this is the series that broke my heart and gave the mantle of Batgirl to someone other than DC’s greatest character, Cassandra Cain (who doesn’t even make it on this cover!). Cassandra actually does appear in costume as Batgirl in a one panel where she is shown as part of Stephanie Black Mercy effected hallucination where all the Batgirls are working with the Blackhawks. It is such a shame we never go to see her team up with the Black Bat since they used to be best friends. Anyways, this was a decent issue.

Justice League of America 55-60

Justice League of America #55
Written by James Robinson
Art by Brett Booth

This James Robinson Justice League was so fantastic. It really was totally underrated. Robinson is a writer who understands that the DC Universe is so rich with diversity of characters. Anything CAN happen in the DCU and Robinson and really knows how to play with its toys. I also loved how odd this group of Justice Leaguers was at the time. This issue is actually part of a wider crossover but Robinson does what any good writer should do and incorporate the crossover into the ongoing story of the book without a hitch. It was cool to see Dick Grayson Batman’s space suit too.

Justice League of America #56
Written by James Robinson
Art by Brett Booth

Congorilla calls in the Justice League Reserves which I didn’t even realize existed but I am sure glad they do because Zauriel is a great character to put against Eclipso. Robinson is brilliant with his use of DC characters. Even Manitou Dawn got a name drop! He joined the League back when I first started reading comics as a kid and has been barely seen since! I did find it odd that the Shade is aware that two heroes teaming up is called The Brave and the Bold. How would he know that in-universe? What does the media in the DCU say that?  The issue ends with Obsidian showing up as the Big bad.

Justice League of America #57
Written by James Robinson
Art by Brett Booth

Robinson’s use of Theology in this DCU is fascinating to me. Earth as the Conduit for God’s love for the Universe. Theology in the DCU would be an interesting topic for a paper don’t you think? Anyways, The Spectre shows up now (Robinson is brilliant I can’t say that enough) to fight Eclipso and Eclipso absorbs Spectre’s power. His whole plan with this is to kill God. That is the ultimate villainous plot is it not?

Justice League of America #58
Written by James Robinson
Art by Daniel Sampere and Miguel Sepulveda

Jesse Quick makes mention here that she is no faster than Donna or Batman now that she has lost her link to the speed force. Does Jesse Quick think that Batman has super speed powers? Because Donna does have superhuman speed so why is she saying that like Batman and Donna are equal in speed. I hate to sound like a broken record but Robinson’s knowledge of DCU obscurity is great and he uses that to a great advantage in the story. All of the Leaguer’s histories are mentioned in this arc so far and this time we get a look at Donna Troy’s past which is quite interesting. But I sure hope Eclipso did not just kill Donna at the end. I like Sampere’s art here.

Justice League of America #59
Written by James Robinson
Art by Daniel Sampere

The Justice League defeats Eclipso in this issue and all returns to normal, but there is a tease that the League will be breaking up next issue (which is the last issue of this series) after the Atom expresses how impressed he is with this new ver

 

Justice League of America #60
Written by James Robinson
Art by Daniel Sampere

This is the final Justice League issue before the New 52. Sad because James Robinson made this comic good for the first time since I can really remember. Certainly specifically this volume of the comic was pretty awful till he showed up. I look forward to reading more Justice League Comics during the Rebirth of the DCU. The beginning of this issue is a quick summary of an arc he probably had planned for the book where all the robots in the DCU get corrupted. How cool would that have been as a full arc! Robinson has so many obscure Robots name dropped. Instead he fast forwards through that and has the team meeting and talking about why each one wants to bow out of the League. Donna wants to discover who she is again now that her rage is gone, Supergirl wants to do the same after dealing with New Krypton, Jade wants to enjoy her second chance at life outside of the superhero costume, Jesse Quick is pregnant, Congorilla wants to become a hero for Africa, Starman is nursing a broken arm,  Batman thinks he will be too busy with Batman Incorporated,   They look back on an untold story (has to be another arc Robinson had planned, this guy is great!) about a war between Saturn and Thanagar and an untold story in Gemworld. Donna makes a comment at the end she wants the world to forget her which is ironic because I think at the beginning of the New 52 they had forgotten her. This was a very bittersweet ending to Robinson’s run and I love that we get a taste of what he would have done with this group if the book wasn’t ending.

 

 

International Heroes

Batman Incorporated #3
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Yannick Paquette

 

Interesting set up as Batman and El Gaucho are set up in a “Saw”-like deathtrap where they have to kill each other. I am interested to learn more about Gaucho but we don’t get that much here. I like how this series is growing the DCU by populating it with non-American heroes.

Stumped

 

Batman and Robin #13
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Frazer Irving

Ummmm hmmm I have no idea what the hell is going on with all of this. Simon Hurt is claiming to be Thomas Wayne back from the dead, Robin is beating the crap out of the Joker, apparently Pyg led by hurt has poisoned the entire city with his addictive virus thing and someone has shot down the Batmobile. Irving’s creepy art works for this story I guess but I would have preferred something different I guess. I don’t know how I feel about all this just yet.

Morrison’s Conclusions Are Always Better Than His Beginnings

Batman and Robin #9
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Cameron Stewart

I have to say the conclusion of this three-part arc here is the best issue of the arc so far. Dick finally gives a reason for trying to throw what he thought was Bruce’s body into the lazarus pit, but I still find it to be pretty weak reasoning and not like the character at all but whatever. Dick’s relationship with Batwoman is fun and I like that he kinda has a crush on her – but we all know nothing can come of it. Damian kicked major ass from his wheelchair Babs Gordon-style and in the end the fake Batman falls apart. The last page was exciting for any Batman fan. Bruce is alive and we have to find him!

What A Twist!

Batman and Robin #8
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Cameron Stewart

Whoa! How the hell did no one think of that? SPOILER ALERT!!!Of course it was a clone…the clones of Batman Darkseid was trying to create. That was the body that Superman found during Final Crisis. So Dick just brought an insane clone of Bruce back to life! What a twist!!! I am not sure what is going on with Batwoman exactly and there was a little too much channel zapping in this which Morrison is fond of but readers can not stand but still what a twist! This was a great issue, great art, great twist, and I loved the moments between a crippled Damian and Alfred.

Would Dick Grayson Really Do This?

Batman and Robin #7
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Cameron Stewart

 

After everything they have been through with the Lazarus pits, I really find it hard to believe that Dick would willing try to put Bruce in one of them. It just seems completely out-of-character to me. I don’t know. The art is definitely amazing and I loved every page but the story was – eh – not my cup of tea (no pun intended), but I guess we will see where this goes. Batwoman was a nice guest star and it made sense since the whole religion of crime thing.

Mixed Feelings

Batman #681
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel

My enthusiasm for this issue was nearly destroyed when I read Didio’s interview with Newsarama today. He basically confirmed Barbara Gordon will come back as Batgirl. I will get into that in a seperate post. Anyways, I have mixed feelings about this issue. When I first read it it seemed like a great ending if not a little underwhelming ending to this issue. The more I think about it the more I think Morrison’s ending for this was changed instead of Final Crisis. I don’t really see this as being such a shocking ending as Morrison described interviews. Sure Batman goes down in a helicoptor that blows up but it’s not like we see a body. One good thing about all this is Gotham certainly has a new group of villains in the form of the Club of Villains and the Black Glove but….I guess I expected some huge revelation, which there wasn’t one. Was the guy the Devil? Was he really Thomas Wayne? Was he Mangrove Pierce? I am not really sure. Daniel’s art is amazing and I don’t quite understand why people hate on it. I just don’t know what to think about this yet.

Batman 669 – 680

Batman #669
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by J.H. Williams III

Ya maybe because it has been a while since I read the start of this story…..but I sooo confused by this. What happened? It seemed like pages were missing or something? So Mayhew was behind this? He is being paid by the Black Glove? So confused….maybe I have to go back and re-read the last two issues.

Batman #670
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel

This is the prelude to the Ressurection of Ra’s Al Ghul Bat-crossover and I have to say I liked it more then some of the other issues of this crossover. I was a bit confused by Ra’s saying Damian was grown in a tank? Did I miss something there? As for the storyline itself, I really could care less about it. But this was still a good issue.

Batman #671
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel

Also, a little bit confused by this issue. Was that really Ra’s father? It really didn’t seem like much happened in this issue. Very quick read….really only okay for a comic, a big failure for a comic written by Morrison.

Batman #672
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel

Wow…Morrison’s run is very confusing, but you know with Morrison it will all make sense in the end and when you reread things you will catch things you did not catch before. I didn’t notice the Zur-En-Arr stuff the first time I read this. As for what Bat-Mite is doing here, I do not know. But I am intrigued by everything, even though I am confused.

Batman #673
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel

Batman is having heart attack this issue, and flashes back to some interesting moments in his life where he has hallucinated. I like the flashback to the Robin Dies at Dawn storyline and it’s paralells with the Thogal ritual. I even liked the Joe Chill stuff, even if I was a little against the idea of bringing that character back. Tony Daniel is a fantastic artist and his work is perfectly suited for Morrison. I am not sure why some bloggers seem to not like him…to each his own I guess.

Batman #674
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel

Now things are getting really good! We learn the truth behind the three Cop-Batman’s that have been plaguing him. Apparently, they were created by Dr. Simon Hurt to take Batman’s place in case he died. But it looks like Hurt was a psycho who even went to the lengths of having one of the cop’s familes murdered to do the same psychological damage to the cop as Bruce experienced as a boy. Interesting stuff, I really think the overall theme of Morrison’s run is Bruce’s psychology, and the state of his mind. This is all coming together rather nicely. As for Bat-Mite, he seems to represent the readers, as he seems to know things only the readers of this book would know and is trying to clue Batman in. That would fit with the whole characters being aware they are comic characters thing that Morrison has been dealing with since his run on Animal Man.

Batman #675
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Ryan Benjamin

Well, this is the prelude to R.I.P. The storyline that is supposed to change Batman’s world forever. Benjamin’s art is pretty bad. I did not like it at all…the facial expressions just seemed off. As for Jezebel finding out that Bruce and Batman are one and the same, I think Bruce could have easily said that he wasn’t Batman, but it looks like he does trust her for some reason.

Batman #676
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel

This is the first part of R.I.P and I must say that I really enjoyed it…especially on the second read. Yes, it is no Hush, this isn’t some stupid popcorn summer movie flick type comic, this is intelligent stuff. You have to read it multiple times to catch things. I am not sure if the Black Glove is the same as the club of villains or if the Black Glove is an actual person behind the scenes. The club of villains are interesting and I look forward to learning more about them. I am getting suspicious of Jezebel…could she be the Black Glove? The Joker’s first appearence in this story was particularly frightening….the perfect way for Batman’s arch nemesis to make his entrance.

Batman #677
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel

If this stuff with Thomas Wayne is true, then this WILL fundamentally change Batman as a character forever. I hope it is not. That is too much of a messing with the mythos. I hope this was created by the Black Glove to throw Batman off, to make him go crazy. I still am suspicious about Jezebel, I think she is involved with the Black Glove somehow. This is the most original Batman story I think I have ever read.

Batman #678
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel

I can’t help but think of that old Batman: The Animated Series episode where Batman forgets he is Batman and ends up on the streets while reading this issue as essentially the same thing has happened, except Bruce has also gone bat-shit crazy! He’s running around in hand-stitched costume saying he is the Batman of Zur-En-Ahhr! I have to say, I have no idea where this story is going, but I am loving it!

Batman #679
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel

The club of villains have taken over Arkham, and everything is going to hell in a handbasket. The Batman of Zur-En-Ahhr is one crazy bastard, but Bruce is sitll in there I know it. There was certainly a lot of red and black symbolism in this issue, although I probably would not have noticed if I hadn’t read about it in annotations.

Batman #680
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel

I was correctamundo! It looks like Jezebel Jet is the Black Glove or is at least working with him/her. This was one INTENSE issue as I really got the feeling I was reading Bruce’s final days. It is both creepy and amazing. I can’t wait to see how this arc ends.

Batman 665 – 668

Batman #665
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Andy Kubert

Not sure why but the first time I read this I was very confused. Now I get it. It seems Batman is being visited by three ghosts- or versions of himself. The first one was the crazed cop Batman who shot the Joker, the second was the prostitute killing Bane-like Batman, and their is a third he has not yet met. That’s pretty crazy stuff. I think Morrison’s run is finally picking up after all.

Batman #666
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Andy Kubert

While I don’t normally enjoy stories that aren’t in continuity- this was pretty good. We meet the third ghost in this issue. It is Damian Wayne, who in the near future, long after his father is dead, has become an evil Batman who sold his soul. It was really cool and it was cool to find out what has happened to certain characters since Batman’s death. I still have no idea how this is all going to play out, but that’s typical Morrison fashion. It won’t all make sense until the end.

Batman #667
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by J.H. Williams III

We take a break from the Black casebook storyline for this story, Morrison’s new take on the silver age Club of Heroes concept. I loved it. I am not a big silver age fan but this update was really cool. We learn that their are a bunch of Batman-like heroes around the world who meet every so often as the Club of Heroes. They have really goofy names and such but Morrison write them in a completely serious murder mystery. It was almost CLUE-like in how they all meet at this house and have to solve a mystery. Awesome.

Batman #668
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by J.H. Williams III

Part 2 of the Club of Heroes story arc was in this issue. I didn’t really enjoy this one as much as the first issue mainly because I had forgotten who was who. I will have to go back and read this story arc as a whole when its over. But it was good. The art is amazing. Williams is a great artist and perfect for this storyline.