JUSTICE LEAGUE #15: This issue features the start of the THRONE OF ATLANTIS crossover with AQUAMAN. Something or someone causes a U.S. Naval ship to fire missiles at Atlantis, causing death and destruction. Atlantis, led by Ocean Master Orm, retaliates, attacking Boston, Gotham City and Metropolis. Along the way, Vulko appears in Metropolis looking for Aquaman and we learn that Aquaman and Orm wrote the Atlantean War Plans which are apparently in effect. And we also learn that wearing glasses DOES conceal your identity, as Clark shows Diana Prince. In the back-up story, Shazam and Fredie Freeman continue to explore the lengths of Shazam’s powers by stopping crime and getting junk food. But then Black Adam arrives and all the good times seem to come to an end.
Well, it’s time for another bug crossover, which is what the NEW 52 seems to be made of. Right mow, DEATH OF THE FAMILY, H’EL ON EARTH the RISE OF THE THIRD ARMY and this are running, with more on the way. STOP ALREADY!!! That having been said, this issue does a nice job of ramping up into that storyline and setting the table for what is too come. A Geoff Johns story with a bit of humor, specifically the glasses as a disguise bit, is a good thing. It’s nice to see he has stopped writing for the average thirteen year old! And we welcome aboard Ivan Reis as the former AQUAMAN penciller and new JUSTICE LEAGUE penciller. Because honestly: you didn’t think Jim Lee would be here forever did you? Regarding the backup: can you please stop toying with us and give us a regular CAPTAIN MARVEL series. As a side note: Gary Frank’s art seems a little more rushed than I am used to. Can someone at DC get this guy an inker and lighten his work load?
JUSTICE LEGUE DARK #15: Zatanna and Timothy Hunter have a confrontation with a giant. Zatanna uses her power on someone named Epoch who is wearing a digital protective suit. Her power has been amplified and it could possibly kill him if she is not careful. Suddenly, vines and arms reach up from the ground and drag the pair beneath it. In the cavern underground, a group of magical beings explains that they have been waiting for a long time to meet Timothy Hunter. Meanwhile, Constantine and Dr. Peril are trying to figure out how to unlock the Books of Magic to free Tim and Zatanna. Peril presumes that Hunter's DNA could open it, so they get Tim's father from the House of Mystery.Once there, they use his blood to open the Books and a magic portal taking them to their missing companions. But they only have 48 hours to get back.The trip messes them up badly as Madame Xanadu begins to age rapidly. Black Orchid morphs and begins to look like Swamp Thing. Constantine finds he can't lie.And Deadman, who is now human, is apparently killed by a blast from Epoch.
I so love this book. We get all of the classic magic characters in one place, trying to act like a superhero team and failing miserably. I feel this title is a major cornerstone of the NEW 52 Universe. Check it out!
NIGHTWING #15: With Haly's Circus ready to open the Amusement Mile, Jimmy the Clown gets attacked by The Joker, who infects him with Joker Venom and kills him. Nightwing is convinced the Joker knows the identities of Batman and all of his allies and decides to get Haly's Circus out of Gotham to protect this family. Then he learns that Joker broke Raya Vestri out of Blackgate. On his way to the Circus, Dick sees Jimmy's body tied to a gate with a note reading "Nobody Likes a Knockoff." Doing some detective work after the fact, Dick discovers Jimmy's blood contains traces of kerosene jet fuel. A little later, during what could be an intimate moment between Dick and Sonia, Dick gets a telephone call telling him the fuel formula was stolen from a Wayne Enterprises knockoff. Nightwing arrives at Kline Industries and is attacked by an infected Raya. While they fight it out, Nightwing struggles to inject her with an anti-toxin. But he is too late and his former friend dies in his arms. Finally he notices a message carved across her chest suggesting Joker is about to target Haly's Circus.
Kyle Higgins, Eddy Barrows, and Eber Ferreira turn loose the next chapter in the DEATH OF A FAMILY storyline and do so by taking two characters out before the end of the issue. Jimmy the Clown and Raya become the latest casualties in this epic, muli-title story. Where does that leave our former Boy Wonder mentally? How will he retaliate against The Joker? Next issue will tell the tale.
PHANTOM STRANGER #3: The Phantom Stranger wants nothing to do with Dr. Thirteen or his issues with the Haunted Highwayman. He and his wife head to a going away party for one of his neighbors. Soon Dr. Thirteen calls to him again for help and he’s pretty upset about it. No sooner does he arrive and the Highwayman does too.By calling on the spirit of the original Terrence Thirteen, he is able to destroy the Highwayman and end the curse. Next issue: Justice League Dark.
Please make them stop! Dan Didio writes a real stinker here and the fact that Brent Anderson’s artwork, looking like rough pencils, is held together by Phillip Tan and Rob Hunter’s even rougher inking. This book is a mess that I keep praying will get better. The fact that I am now four issues in means I keep PRAYING it will get better. Somehow, I think it won’t.
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #15: GPCD has shown up at a bad time: Jason’s girlfriend has overdosed and Jason needs to fight all the GPCD officers to get out and steal Harvey Bullock's cruiser. But Joker is in the back and hits him with the gas. When he wakes, Joker explains he has been paralyzed. Joker also insists that he was the one responsible for everything that happened in Jason’s formative years, including his mother’s death. He produces the bullet that came out of his father on the day he was shot. Joker gets ready to beat Jason with a crowbar but Jason breaks free and prepares to do the same when he is electrocuted by a charge in the crowbar. After the Joker declares that they are practically family, Jason falls next to the unconscious body of Red Robin. Meanwhile, Starfire is becoming more attracted to Roy. They pick up a phone call from Bullock, who has realized that Jason was set up. Roy and Starfire head to Gotham to help.
Yeah...okay. Another episode and I find myself not really caring. Red Robin held captive by the Joker and he dangles the carrot in front of him about how much he knows. Do you believe him, because I don't. It's a half-hearted attempt from Scott Lobdell that just falls flat for me. But the art by Timothy Green II is nice.
RED LANTERNS #15: We begin with Zox and Skallox looking at the severed arm of a Red lantern killed by the Third Army. Meanwhile, Atrocitus is being forced to see the massacre of his home planet again, but this time attacks them. This is all just a dream caused by a space creature. Atrocitus uses the creature's blood to ressurect the Manhunters and use them against the Third Army. Unfortunately, they attack him.Back on Earth, Rankorr goes to visit his brother, who is repulsed and begs him to leave.Rankorr goes after Baxter, who is under police protection. he sees the police officer was burned by Rankorr rebirth and feels sorry, but still wants revenge. Off on Ysmault, the Centreal Power Battery is still not responding.
I’m still not a huge fan of this Peter Milligan outing but it IS getting better. I find it way too disjointed and far too many cardboard charactersa. These Lanterns had so much life in earlier incarnatiuons(i.e. the old DCU) and now nothing!. However, the art by Miguel Sepulveda is pretty awesome.
SUICIDE SQUAD #15: When last we were here, Joker was choking out Harley Quinn in the basement of the Ace Chemical Plant. She passes out and when she awakes he informs her that she needs to be redunked into the chemicals that created her. At Belle Reve, Waller and Yo-Yo watch all of this through camera lenses in Harley's eyes. Waller tells Yo-Yo she wants him to be her spy within the Suicide Squad. Harley gets free and attacks Joker, leaving him dangling over the edge of the chemical vat. But he sets her pet hyenas on her, infected with rabies, on her. She is forced to kill Bud and Lou and promises Joker she will kill him too. He bites a chunk out of her ear, poisoning her, and he attempts to cut off her face. She kisses him, but bites off the tip of his tongue. He drags her into a dark room and chains her to the wall, where many other skeletons that he claims were previous Harleys, reside. Hours later, Waller and Captain Boomerang spot Harley approaching the Task Force X field-office. Meanwhile, Deadshot wakes up in a hospital bed.
Adam Glass and Fernando Dagnino totally rock this book. The read is awesome, the art is killer and the characters are totally engaging. There is nothing else I can or need to say about this. This is still my favorite of all the NEW 52.
SUPERMAN #15: The H'EL ON EARTH story continues. Superman and Superboy arrive at a government prison facility where Lex Luthor is being held. Currently, The Fortress of Solitude is under H'El's control, so he needs the greatest mind on Earth to help stop him. Luthor, his face horribly scarred on one side, agrees to help, but only if he gets a chance to talk to Superboy. Superboy agrees with Luthor intimidating Superboy with his knowledge of Superboy's genetics. he has also deduced that H'El is looking to cause a reverse Big Bang to generate enough power to go back in time and stop Krypton from being destroyed.. As they leave the facility, the Justice League arrive, ready to attack the Fortress of Solitude.
I am not a fan of this crossover and, in fact, I am only reading this title because I grew bored with SUPERBOY and SUPERGIRL. but I guess that is where a good chunk of this storyline is running. Anyway, I am not reading them and I don't particularly like the idea the Superman may have tried to kill Luthor in the past, which is why he is so scarred. Scott Lobdell's writing is his usual standard fare but I truly detest Kenneth Rocafort's art style. It is somewhere between painted and digitally painted and does nothing for me. Get me someone who can draw for real and we will talk!
SWAMP THING #15: When last we saw Swamp Thing and Deadman they were being attacked by William Arcane on their way Gotham City. Anton Arcane gave William the Trident of Neptune and now he sets Starro upon them. Alec uses the power of The Green to cut right through the creature's middle, destroying Starro. William sends forth another sea-monster and promises to tell him how Abby died at some point. Deadman possesses William's body, causing him to lose control of the monster. Meanwhile, Alec continues on his journey to Gotham. We learn that a year ago, Abigail was captured by her uncle. He took a bite out of her and kept her genetic material in his mouth to create Un-Men clones of her. She kept trying to use her powers to defeat him but he would always make her forget with the use of his rot flowers. She eventually broke free, attacked her uncle and made his body unravel. She heads to a room containing the other Parliament, but is too late. Arriving in Gotham, Swamp Thing finds the Batcave and a Batman who has been taken by the Rot. Although he is chained to the floor, Batman lunges at Swamp Thing and takes a chunk out of his shoulder. But a shotgun blast obliterates Batman's head: a blast from a humanoid bat-creature. It transforms into a human. It’s Barbara Gordon who welcomes him to New Gotham.
WOW! Scott Snyder and Marco Rudy continue this chapter of ROTWORLD and it’s a doozy! We have a Rot infected Batman that gets it’s head blown off by a Barbara Gordon who can transform? How much does that make my inner geek love this?
TEAM 7 #3: THE BLACK DIAMOND PROBABILITY continues. Team 7 is headed to the dark prison on Sentinel Island. They discover that the natives' village has been destroyed and men and children have been killed. Fairchild spots a survivor. Then Essence arrives, telling them that the survivor is warning them not to enter the "Heart of Hell", but they should. The mercenaries have captured a tribal elder and a young girl from the tribe. They are rescued by the island’s sentinels, which are the spirits of everyone who has died on the island. Team 7 heads in to help, trying to keep the Gamorrans from getting to the prison but Kaizen Gamorra’s all-seeing children make the mercenaries aware. The perimeter is wired with explosives and everyone but Slade is forced to retreat. Slade kills the mercenary leader but ends up touching the black diamond and becomes Eclipso.
This is one of the most confusing NEW 52 reads. Writer Justin Jordan does the best he can to try to make the characters interesting but he just can’t.. These are cornerstones of many of the “present day” NEW 52 titles but these versions are bad action figures or at least cardboard cutouts of action figures. Julius Gopez art is nice and fairly inoffensive. Right now, I am reading this to see how it all ties in to the BLACK DIAMOND PROBABILITY. Once that is concluded, I can only hope either a new writer can put something worthwhile into this or else I’ll put my money elsewhere.
TEEN TITANS #15: The Teen Titans contact Batgirl in order to help them find the missing Red Robin. He wakes up in his original costume and being mentally tortured by The Joker, who convinces him that he knows all about the Teen Titans. His plan is to put powdered Joker Venom in various locations and Kid Flash's speed spread it around, causing people to become hostile and kill him. Meanwhile, Wonder Girl and Bunker find the rest of the Titans being attacked by a crowd of Jokers. Help comes along in the form of Arsenal and Starfire of the Outlaws.
This is the weakest and lamest book yet in the DEATH OF THE FAMILY crossover. Scott Lobdell, whose writing I normally like, crafts everything in this issue as wooden. The central piece revolves around Tim Drake and The Joker, but too little time is sopent with them and too much time spent with the rest of the team and Batgirl. Stop with the unneeded crossovers! The highlight of this issue is Brett Booth’s art. other than that, I could have done without this stinker!
WONDER WOMAN #15: New God Orion goes to Brooklyn, to visit an old friend. To get some help, Orion offers him a ride on his Astro-Harness. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman has everyone else holed up in a hotel in Manhattan while she figures a way to find half-brother Milan. Zola and Hera find themselves arguing about which television program to watch. And, since this is aggravating both Lennox and Diana, they head off together to find Milan. As the pair go through an abandoned section of the subway, Hephaestus arrives to fiddle around with her Bracelets of Submission. Lennox finds Milan, who is the blind homeless man Orion was with at the beginning of the issue. Milan is angry about something Lennox did to their sister seventeen years ago. Orion attempts to attack Lennox but Diana steps in, with two swords coming out of her bracelets. Milan lets loose with a swarm of flies coming out of his mouth and covering them. Off in the Antarctic, ice rises as monsters. They call the giant “nephew” and make a promise to kill him once again.
Welcome to the wild ride that takes the mythology of the various gods and turns them sideways. Your hosts, Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang hope you like what they have done to Wonder Woman and her legend. They know many of you don’t care for it, but they don’t seem to mind. After all, it’s only a funny book. READ THIS!
WORLDS’ FINEST #7: Huntress convinces Power Girl to trust Damian Wayne and together they are going to attempt to find out who is stealing money from Bruce Wayne's bank accounts. While Huntress and Robin follow one lead, Power Girl follows one to the French Republic of the Congo. She sees a hut with a satellite dish affixed to it. As she approaches, several child-soldiers step out with alien guns that fires through the jungle. She destroys the weapons while a loud boom destroys the hut. All of the children and the dish gets sucked into a Boom Tube portal. Meanwhile, Helena and Damian are attacked by a pack of wolves. She leaps onto the roof of a nearby cabin, which also has a satellite dish on it.. She plugs in a USB stick and pulls data off the dish. She sees Robin being attacked by a wolf creature and takes it out with a makeshift arrow. They guess that it must be from Apokolips. Robin says he will tell Batman about this development, but will keep her a secret from him.
As I pretty much say every issue: I do not quite know whether I want to like this book or not. Paul Levitz writes some witty dialogue, much better than in some of his more recent titles, but the plots tend to fall flat. Case in point: we have Huntress and Robin fighting men-wolves from Apokolips, Seriously? And Power Girl fighting against native children with guns from Apokolips? We all get the whole Apokolips connection to Earth 2 and that is how these heroes got here. We also know that Darkseid has been on THIS Earth and a New God is here now in WONDER WOMAN. I GET THAT! Let’s continue to explore the whole “we’re related to Batman and Superman in another world” and possibly have them all meet up. Until then, give us something worthy of my time. However, the art by Kevin Maguire and George Pérez is mighty purty!
Friday, January 11, 2013
DC's NEW 52 Month 15, Part 1
ACTION COMICS #15: We start out 10 years ago on prom night about a decade ago, Clark and Lana Lang return to the farm to find Pa Kent helping out a Little Salesman with his car. Whatever happens, it changes Clark’s life(possibly the beginning of the end for his parents?). The flashback is part of a conversation between Superman and his landlady. Time is behaving strangely as the events of last issue are fresh in his mind but don’t happen for two more years. Next, we’re in the future where the Earth has changed AND Superman is being chased by a new Rogue’s gallery. That memory fades and he finds himself back on the roof with his landlady. Just as quickly as the memory comes on, it fades away and Superman is back on the roof with Mrs. Nyxly. Then she tells him the origin of Mxyzptlk, who became the favorite of the kind and his court. Vyndktvx used the Multispear, accidentally killing the king and destroy 230 different worlds by creating the Multitude. Jor-el and Superman stopped it from destroying their world but destroyed Vyndktvx's arm in the process, which left him seeking revenge. That included changing Clark’s past, resulting in Ma and Pa Kent being killed in a traffic accident while Clark is with Lana at prom. Mrs. Nyxly escaped from the 5th Dimension to be born as a normal child on Earth. She had been given three wishes by Mxyzptlk but only got to use two before she is assassinated. An unknown being steps into almost every moment in Clark’s life and plans to kill Superman. The back-up story is about Mxyzptlk, Nyxly and their son, Ferlin.
Leave it to Grant Morrison to set up his final arc with one of his greatest tricks. The origin of the 5th Dimensional imp intertwined with the deaths of the Kents. Heck-we even get to see a freckle faced Lana Lang. Brad Walker and Rags Morales nail the art in this issue and I find myself at ease with the way this storyline is going. The back-up is a typical Sholly Fisch piece with art by Chris Sprouse.
ALL STAR WESTERN #15: We begin with Amadeus Arkham being fed the Mr. Hyde formula. Jonah Hex arrives in time to see a deranged Arkham attack, but Hex knocks him out. He also learns he isn’t getting paid by Reginald Forsythe because Hyde has eaten him. Hyde attacks Hex, throwing him through a window, causing Hex to break his leg. Arkham awakens and attacks Hyde who, in turn, does the same. Despite the broken leg, Hex makes his way back upstairs, saves Arkham, who flees and puts the hurt on Hyde, who also flees. Hex tracks down Arkham, who is trying trying to solicit sex from a rather upset woman.. hex tells him he has been poisoned and Arkham decides to examine himself and drops his pants, leading to his being captured by the police and tossed into the asylum that will one day bear his name. Hex learns he will need to spend some time in a wheelchair while Hyde develops more of his formula in the abandoned home of the Haunted Highwayman. In the back-up story, Tecumseh and his brother the Prophet are forced to watch their men be executed by the Americans. Tomahawk and his men come to the rescue. Lancaster escapes but Tomahawk pursues. Just as he is about to win the fight, he is knocked out by a British soldier. Tecumseh and Tomahawk, betrayed by the British, plan to burn the British forts to the ground.
This is the book that will make you learn to love Western comics. Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Moritat redefine the genre. And the back-up, considering most back-ups give me a headache, redefines the character of Tomahawk for the new millennium. This should be on everyone’s read list!
ANIMAL MAN #15: We begin our tale in what used to be Central City, which has become Gorilla City. Led by Grodd, Mallah and the Brain, the gorilla army capture Buddy and the heroes of The Red. Frankenstein and his Patchwork Army arrive to rescue them. Buddy asks Frankenstein to join them and they decide to head to Metropolis where it is rumored that Arcane has a prisoner who could be an ally. We cut to a year ago, when Maxine and Socks ran into William Arcane, who convinces them that he has reformed since meeting Swamp Thing and Abby. Despite Socks warning, Maxine follows him, leading her to the Hunters Two. Meanwhile, Buddy dreams strange dream on the way to Metropolis, one that has his son wearing the Animal man garb. Arriving in Metropolis, they find that The Green seems to have taken over a lot of the city. With Frankenstein and his Patchwork Army standing guard, Buddy, Beast Boy, Steel and Constantine make their way through the city, following a unique energy signature. It eventually leads them to Green Lantern, who they find trapped there.
ROTWORLD continues to put the Creep in Creepy! Jeff Lemire and Steve Pugh continue to amp it up as the tale races along. Pugh’s art style is wonderful and drips with grotesque imagery. When you pair this title, SWAMP THING and FRANKENSTEIN (while it lasts), you have a true trilogy of modern horror.This title is totally, TOTALLY RECOMMENDED!
AQUAMAN #15: In Part Two of the THRONE OF ATLANTIS cross-over(go read the review/synopsis for JUSTICE LEAGUE #15 first to avoid confusion), Gotham City is underwater and Aquaman has to save Bullock and Jim Gordon. But, despite Mera trying to hold back a massive tidal wave, a lot of residents drown in the flood. Meanwhile, in Metropolis, a similar situation is occurring. And Vulko, who is trying to help, apparently has the strength to punch out Superman, because he does as he desperately searches for King Arthur. We learn that the Atlantean War Plans that Aquaman and Orm crafted long ago have Batman is a priority target as is Dr. Shin. Eventually, Aquaman and Batman meet up with Vulko on the Watchtower where he reveals that this is revenge for the accidental missile launch that apparently wasn’t an accident. Aquamna heads to Boston, which is also underwater, and confronts Orm. The trinity of the League shows up and Aquaman must make a decision on who to stand with. Meanwhile, the creatures from The Trench are on the loose again.
Geoff Johns continues this crossover and this is a winner! When all is said and done, the new JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA will be born, also written by Johns. Things are getting desperate in the League and this will all lead to the Trinity War later in the year. Some great action, some startling tragedies and a joke or two(thank you Harvey Bullock!). Paul Pelletier signs on as regular artist with this issue as Ivan Reis moves to JUSTICE LEAGUE. As always, his work is clean and smooth and having Art Thibert as your inker can’t hurt. Another winner this month!
BATGIRL #15: This issue has two stories running concurrently. The first is set some time in the past, as the Joker was with his doctor at Arkham Asylum. He offers up a chance to write a paper based on his journals, but they are unreadable without his help. Joker describes each page of his journal to the doctor until he came to a page which described what he might do if he ever met a nine year old girl named Sasha. This was the name of the doctor’s nine-year-old daughter. The doctor wanted to check and see if her daughter was safe, but Joker insisted she stay or something might happen to her. He tells her that the journal was his way to keep track of everything in his life, even his qualifications for his life partner. Of course, he fears infidelity, so he thinks it’s best to cut off his bride's arms and legs right after the wedding.
In the present, the Joker still has Barbara’s mom tied to a chair. Her ring finger, complete with ring, has been cut off and she has a five-pound nail-bomb beneath the seat. If you recall, The Joker was using the severed finger to propose to Batgirl. He places a gun to Mrs. Gordon's head, causing Batgirl to agree to marry him. Catching him off guard, she begins to beat him up, actually thinkning of shooting him in the spine to paralyze him as he had done to her. But a sniper’s bullet pushes her back and Joker gives her a list of things she needs for the wedding. Not far away, her brother James, who led his sister to the scene of the crime, receives a frantic call from Barbara’s roommate Alysia and he agrees to come to visit her. Then he calls the Joker and tells him that Batgirl and Ms. Gordon are his to deal. The Joker hangs up and James decides to help his sister. Batgirl arrives at an old church where the priest apologizes to her. The Joker is holding the congregation hostage and he must bear witness to her forthcoming beating.
This is one long, complicated issue jumps back and forth between the past and the present. And it is an amazing ride. Why DC Editorial would fire Gail Simone from this book…by Email mind you, is anyone’s guest. Apparently there was some concern on where she was taking this story and that resulted in her termination. I would love to see where she was going with it and will be a treat to follow her story until the end. So, besides telling one heck of a tale, Daniel Sampere’s artwork explodes of the page! This guy is good…real good! His style fits this book very nicely. I’m still missing Adrian Syaf, but I do like where Sampere is taking this look.
BATMAN #15: Joker announces that he knows all the identities of the Batman Family and, in less than three days, they will all be dead at Batman’s hand. Harvey Bullock and GPCD arrive and the Joker has his men fire rockets at them. Batman gets free and demands to know where Alfred is. He says he’s preparing a special dinner for the Batman family before Batman falls into the Gotham River, infected with Joker Venom. Bruce has a nightmare where Alfred has been replaced by the Joker and attacks all of the gathered Batman Family. He eventually wakes from his nightmare with his costumed family waiting for him. He tells of how his second encounter with the Joker, where it seems the villain may have made his way into the Batcave. The Batman Family are angry, despite Bruce’ belief that The Joker never made it past the entrance of the cave, which had since been sealed up. Batman tells the rest of the Family to stay in the cave as he breaks into the home of Dylan McDyre, a guard who has a connection to the Joker. McDyre explains the Joker had actually been holding the families of the Arkham Asylum staff hostage while he made changes. So Batman heads to Arkham to see what awaits him. In the back-up story, The Joker makes his changes at Arkham and involves The Riddler in his mad plan.
Leave it to the dynamic duo of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo to craft another wild chapter in the life of the Dark Knight. This generation’s Joker continues to be the vilest villain Batman has ever faced. Between his “face mask” and his motives, the once and future Jack Napier takes the cake as the most perverted villain in the New 52. If you are not reading DEATH OF THE FAMILY and all it’s crossover pieces, you are missing one of the greatest stories in years. And Batman has had many awesome stories over the years.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #15: Damian watch security footage of the Joker beating Alfred with a hammer. After talking thinks over with his dog, he decides to find Alfred. Titus sniffs hyena urine at the front gates so the pair head to Gotham Zoo, where he finds hyenas tearing at a dead guard. He opens the cage and gets attacked by the animals, getting bitten in the process. This causes him to be dosed by Joker Venom and he falls through a skylight. He awakens inside a nest made of human bones with The Joker standing above him. He shows Robin the video he made burning Alfred's eyes with ammonia. Damien promises that he will kill The Joker for that. After a lengthy soliloquy, he buries Robin under insects and worms. Then he makes Robin battle to the death against a Venom infected Batman.
Okay…are we jumping WAY ahead here? Batman is Venom infected? I just finished reviewing BATMAN where he is entering Arkham. This is where my biggest gripe about the DEATH OF THE FAMILY story comes in: no one in editorial can seem to get chronology issues straight. None of these titles run in a linear manner. Things happen in individual titles that are occurring either before or after they do in other titles. I would think that all issue fifteens would run at the same time. But then I would be working at DC and handling those things. Since I am not, I can only sit on the sidelines and bitch. Besides the bitching, we have the normally wonderful work of Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason.
BATMAN INCORPORATED #6: Last issue ended with the Batman Incoporated team being blown up and we see the after effects of that. Freight Train has been impaled and is dying. Squire is in pretty rough shape too, as are Halo and Looker. The only people up and on their feet are Batwing and Knight. Batman goes to talk to Talia who tells him the parable of the Goat Herder and Enlightenment. He tells her he just wants his city to be safe and all of this to be over. Meanwhile back at the Batcave, all of the various Robins and ex-Robins are in the Batcave wondering what to do next. And of course, there is Bat Cow and Titus the Bat Dog. They get to hear the conversation between Batman and Talia as it is being broadcast into the Batcave so that Damian can hear. She demands he make a decision: his city or his son. Batman encounters a robed, masked giant who kills the hostages and then moves on to attack Batman Incorporated. Just as Knight gets Squire’s heart heating again, the giant arrives and snaps his neck. Batwing is taken out by the giant who uses Knight’s body as a bat. Batman arrives to help Squire. In the Batcave, Jason Todd declares that they all need to go rescue Batman. Will they have the time?
Holy cliffhanger, Batman! How do they get out of this without major causalities in the New 52 Universe? And who will Batman choose, his beloved Gotham or the product of his loins? All this will be revealed in the next issue from Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham.
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #15: Batman continues his battle with The Scarecrow, who he has learned will release fear toxin in Gotham Square during the Christmas Parade. As Alfred and Lucius Fox try to figure how to develop an antidote, Batman discovers the antibodies they need are in his own blood. Since time is of the essence, Batman transfuses his blood directly into the Batplane's aerosol diffuser. While this will save the city, he will more than likely die from blood loss. Alfred and Robin monitor the situation as Batman flat lines completing his task. They remotely bring the plane home and with several shocks from the defibrillator, they bring him back to life. Meanwhile, Luz, Gordon and the GCPD find the safe house where the Scarecrow is holed up and he surrenders. We move forward to New Years Eve and Natalya, following a solo performance, ends up at the Manor for a movie and takeout. In the epilogue, Scarecrow plans his escape as he has a secret vial of toxin hidden upon him. Unfortunately, the vial ruptures, filling his glass cell with the gas.
And thus ends Greg Hurwitz’ first storyline with a bang and not a whimper! He has retooled one of the classic, iconic villains and next issue will do the same with The Mad Hatter. David Finch’ art seems a little sloppy this issue and I’m not surprised as his output has seemed to drop off in the last few months. Next month Ethan Van Sciver takes over and the preliminary images look amazing!
BATWOMAN #15: This issue is called INTERLUDE II and revolves around Maggie Sawyer. As Maggie finds herself puzzled by recent events, we get a flashback of what has transpired from her perspective. She had taken down some of Medusa’s thugs, but can’t figure out why a Japanese gang member is "mitera", which is the Greek word for “Mother”. During the battle in Gotham, orchestrated by Killer Croc, the city was filled with these gang members. With GCPD getting overwhelmed, she asks the DEO for help. This leads to a revelation how Maggie’s father had once locked her in the tool shed to protect his daughter from “going to Hell” as a 12 year old tomboy. Reluctantly, Agent Chase agrees and sends Maggie to a church where the parents of all of the kidnapped children had gathered. The gathered had become a mob, armed with weapons and intent on fighting Medusa themselves. Maggie is forced to go after Isabella Lopez’ husband, who had already gone out into battle, finds him and attempts to save him. That is when The Weeping Woman unleashes a tidal wave which save’s them; an act she does as penance for kidnapped his children. Maggie and Harvey are confronted by the sight of the kidnapped children being dragged through the streets with chains around their necks. Just then a car crashes down from above and the sight of something with tentacles is seen. That brings us to the here and now as Batwoman and Wonder Woman arrive. And somehow, Maggie knows that Kate is home and safe.
While this has the feel of a fill-in issue, mostly because J. H. Williams III only illustrates the first and last page of the issue, leaving the bulk of the art to Trevor McCarthy, it does gives us some much needed NEW 52 back story for Maggie Sawyer-even if it is only in the form of a short, almost tossed off bit of text early on in the issue. So we see that Kate and Maggie’s dads have a lot in common. For me, that was the absolute highlight: to find out that Maggie’s parents were trying to deprogram her at age twelve from becoming a lesbian. Guess what: it didn’t work! This is one of the best books on the stands today and it should be required reading for all “Teen Plus” comics fans.
BIRDS OF PREY #15: The issue begins with Condor using some interesting tactics in questioning a Dragon Clan member. Meanwhile, Canary, Batgirl and Starling rendezvous but Katana is missing. Using a tracking device, they discover she is one thousand feet below sea-level. This is where she is being tortured by the Dagger Clan, as they prepare to melt down the Soultaker Sword. Fifteen minutes from now, the Clan is ready to hit Yokohama with a scorched-earth bomb that will render the city uninhabitable for hundreds of years. That’s when the Birds arrive on the scene, but is soon overwhelmed by the Dagger Clan. Katana breaks free, grabs the sword and attacks Garasuki. As the battle rages on, Condor retrieves the bomb, which Katana cuts in two with the sword, as her husband has told her to do. Following the end of the battle, most of the Birds leave. Except for Tatsu, who stays behind tio handle things in Yokohama. Arriving in Gotham, Batgirl has a suggestion to replace Katana. And then she introduces Talon Strix.
Thus ends one chapter in the life of the Birds of Prey. Juan Jose Ryp and Vincente Cifuentes shine with the art in this book. Meanwhile, Duane Swierczynski’s writing doesn’t, as this title has been filled with bad dialogue and tacky clichés. While the action is intense, the characters are cardboard. Hopefully when new writer Jim Zub takes over three issues from now, that will also change. Until then: wither grin and bear it or give it the boot, boot boot!
CATWOMAN #15: Selina meets up with her buddy Gwen and they crash a party, and then jump out a window. They also walk out of the building and past Detective Alvarez. at the end of one page, then walk out the front door of the building on the next page. Selina meets up with a contact who has her go to Argus to steal the Black Diamond. She manages to get hired at ARGUS and tries to make her way into the Black Room. She uses a mystic key to get in and changes into her Catwoman costume. She gets in a firefight with security. She eventually opens the safe and the Black Diamond takes over her.
Talk about a total mess. Let’s start with Gwen and Selina jumping out a window and then, on the next page, they are walking OUT of the building they allegedly just jumped out of a window from. WHAT?! CONTINUITY!!! And Selina meets with a contact to get a job, which I thought was Gwen’s job. Again-continuity! When Selina is at Argus, she changes into costume, and the scientist joins her, not alert security. REALLY!? And that’s just the worst of it, although the entire issue is a writing disaster. Ann Nocenti should be ashamed and should hand over her writing credentials to Gail Simone who IS out of work. Take into effect the whole concept of having security with guns fighting someone in a room full of the most dangerous weapons in the world On the plus side, Rafa Sandoval’s art is nice. But it can’t save this poorly plotted and horrendously executed issue. Lastly: big slaps to Rachel Gluckstern and Rickey Purdin. They ARE the editorial staff after all and should have seen these mistakes.
DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #15: Tobias Whale has a new drug that turns the user into a monster from Hell. Daniel Cassidy wants to team up with Jefferson Pierce to take down and get the drugs off of the street. Pierce isn’t too keen on the idea, but when his father tells him he is meeting with Whale, he changes his mind. Black Lightning refuses to zap these guys w The duo battle the drug affected zombies while Whale and Nebiros capture Pierce’s father and hold him hostage. Blue Devil and Black Lightning find the Whale and Nebiros and we learn that Etrigan tore off the Blue Devil skin from Neibros “long, long ago” and now he is trying to take it back by peeling it off of Cassidy. And, if that wasn’t bad enough for our heroes, Black Lightning gets shot trying to save his dad.
This has been a fun ride so far. The story by Marc Andreyko has been beautifully paced and has done a great job of introducing these characters from the old DCU into the NEW 52 universe. Likewise, the art from Robson Rocha and Eduardo Pansica has been tight and gooey at times. I would like to see these guys with a regular series. Welcome to the NEW dynamic duo!
DEMON KNIGHTS #15: The battle for Avalon rages on. Merlin summons King Arthur, who saves the day by fighiting Lucifer, Mordru and The Questing Queen and monologuing about Stormwatch. Merlin creates a rainstorm from the waters of Avalon, which causes everyone to be cleansed of any enchantments. With the day won, Merlin de-ages, becoming “New Adam.” Adam/Merlin returns everyone back to reality. Jason, once again bonded to Etrigan, and Xanadu head off to be on their own. Exoristos reveals that Lucifer had her bring a Black Diamond back to their reality. The Shining Knight offers to travel with her.
That’s the end of this run. With the next issue, the story jumps ahead thirty years and who knows what that will mean for this title. What this fifteen issue run manages to do is set the groundwork for what will eventually become Stormwatch. Like it or not, DC has created an origin that we’re stuck with. But we do get the origin of Eclipso’s Black Diamond. Paul Cornell has done a wonderful job with this series and it will be nice to see where it all goes from here.
DETECTIVE COMICS #15: We begin with Penguin's henchman Ogilvy burying Poison Ivy alive. Meanwhile, Batman is battling Poison Ivy’s spouse, Clayface. However Batman believes that Clayface has been affected by Ivy’s toxin and the entire wedding is just an illusion. Losing the battle, Batman grabs a flower from Clayface’s skin and escapes in the Batplane. When he gets to examine the flower, Batman realizes he was correct-the marriage was an illusion. The pair have not been wreaking havoc-only Clayface has, but believing Poison Ivy was with him through it all. The Dark Knight heads to Ellsworth Industrial Park where Clayface is attacking. Batman sprays Clayface with an herbicide that dissolves his false memories. Broken hearted, Clayface smashes his way to the sewers and escapes. Meanwhile, Ogilvy tells Penguin about doing away with Ivy and Penguin leaves him in charge as he claims he has to go to Arkham Asylum for a while. Shortly thereafter, Ogilvy frees Ivy, explaining that he buried her with enough plant life to keep her alive. He then introduces himself as Emperor Penguin. In the back-up tale, we get the two sides of the Clayface/Ivy relationship. It begins with a letter in his cell at Arkham Asylum and ends with him meeting her after her influence has been removed and he is seeking revenge.
Even though the issue bears the now familiar die cut Joker face for a cover, it has very little to do with the DEATH OF THE FAMILY storyline, except for two instances. First, Batman doesn’t chase Clayface at the end of the tale because the Joker is still on the loose. And second, The Penguin is in a hurry to leave town based on the back-up tale from BATMAN #14 where the Joker killed all the top lieutenants of every crime family in Gotham and pinned it on The Penguin. Either way, John Layman does a killer job in both the lead and the back-up, while Jason Fabok and Andy Clarke rock the art. Another top notch issue in the Bat corner of the universe.
DIAL H #7: Roxie and Nelson have been travelling the world in search of the Cults of the Dial. It is a group of people who worship the legend of the H-Dial as if it were a religion. Every cult they have visited, in the form of various heroes, all have spoken of the existence of another dial, but they have been unable to find it. The focal point is in Paris and that is where they expect to find the leader of the cult. He claims that the dial was discovered in Atlantis so the pair head out into the Atlantic Ocean to search for it. She dials up a hero known as the Planktonian and, with her Manteau mask on these many microscopic creatures, she dives down and discovers an ancient underwater ruin. But the dial is gone. Roxie does find a military patch in French and English and it looks like a patch they saw in one of the cultists' pamphlets. Meanwhile, Vernon Boyne and his men attack Colton. But Colton makes hundreds of copies of him and kills all of Vernon's men. While he and the copies beat up Vernon, he introduces himself as The Centipede.
Yeah…this title is almost getting too weird for me. Between strange characters, which was always a staple of the old Robbie Reed series, to cults to mysterious villains, I really don’t know what China Mieville is doing. What I DO KNOW is that I am loving David Lapham doing the art on the title. Can I recommend this book? I’m not quite sure anymore. Every now and then I like to have my brain taken to strange places. And sometimes I just want to read a straight on adventure story. This is certainly NOT a straight on adventure story.
EARTH 2 #7: Word of the new Wonders and their battle in Washington, D.C. spreads across the world. Alan Scott has been reported alive and well. But he is far from well, as the death of his fiancé Sam is casugin him to wllow in grief. Hawkgirl arrives at his Manhattan apratment and reveals herself as treasure hunter Kendra Munoz-Saunders. Despite her pleas, he refuses to join her and Flash. Back at World Army headquarters. the council insists that Terry Sloan stay with the group, deapite Khan's complaints regarding Sloan’s actions during the Grunday incident. Unbeknownstr to the World Army, Khan has sent Wesley Dodds’ to Paris to investigate a base Khan believes Sloan has there. They don’t find Sloan, but Michael Holt, who attacks the Sandmen before being taken out by the Sandmen. They destroy the Paris base and hope that once they deprogram Mr. Terrific they may be able to make use of him. Back at World Army HQ, Sloan lays claim to the Red Tornado Project for his own evil reasons.
This is truly one of my consistent favorites from this batch of DC NEW 52 titles. While some fans went ballistic when it was revealed the new Alan Scott was gay, I think that their take on these classic heroes is wonderful. Don’t forget: this was the universe that, before CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, had a grown up Robin fighting crime and had both Batman and his wife die. And Superman was a much older version than the one we knew and loved (I say knew and loved because the new Superman is far younger). James Robinson, Yildiray Cinar and Trevor Scott continue to do phenomenal work on this title that is fun and engaging while carving new territory. And just how rotten will Terry Sloan, the ORIGINAL Mr. Terrific, turn out to be?
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #15: When we last left this title, Velcoro was dead and Frankenstein was fighting an island. Golden Robot Women become a Flaming Golden Sword and Frankenstein carves up the island, removing the last piece of the Soulgrinder in the process. At this point, he needs to return to Nina and the remaining scientists from S.H.A.D.E. to reconstruct Soulgrinder. He heads off to Monument Valley and makes his way to the top a butte while Khalis remains below fighting and eventually losing to The Rot. Frankenstein recreates the Soulgrinder and shoves Victor through it. Victor is destroiyed but Nina is changed into a Frankencreature in the process. The remainder of the scientists line up, walk through it, creating an army of Rot-Proof Frankensteins to defeat Arcane. But Nina is carrying Frankenstein’s child, so this final battle could be interesting.
So this Victor Frankenstein storyline is wrapped up in the penultimate issue of this title, leading to the final battle against The Rot before our heroes, or what is left of them, get rolled into JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK. Matt Kindt is doing a great job of picking up the pieces and tying up loose ends while Alberto Ponticelli has progressed from the early issues until now and has become quite a major artistic player in the process. I will truly miss this title.
GREEN LANTERN #15: In Dearborn, Michigan, Simon arrives at the home of the guy who owned the van he stole. Once inside, Simon sees blueprints on Wale's table. Wale reveals that the bomb was supposed to go off under the bridge. So Wale decides to kill him, covering up his attempted crime and looking like an American hero in the process. Simon attempts to escape, as his ring has run out of power. Wale catches Simon, but Agent Fed enters the house and aims his gun at Wale. That is when the Third Army enters, assimilating Wale as Simon and Fed escape into the basement, where they find bomb-making facility. Fed declares Simon innocent, they arm a bomb and escape before the blast that kills the Third Army soldiers. Just then, Green Lantern B'dg appears, saying he is trying to find Hal Jordan before the Guardians realize that the Green Lantern Corps knows “they have gone mad”. Meanwhile, in the Dead Zone, Hal and Sinestro speak to the cloaked figure who says he was both Sinestro's enemy and Hal's friend and tells them they are dead. On Oa the Guardians extract more power from the First Lantern, Volthoom, who promises revenge on the Guardians.
Despite the fact that I really don’t care for the new Green Lantern, this book continues to turn in directions that upset the old GL status quo. Geoff Johns continually turns in a great story with punchy dialogue. Doug Mahnke also turns in another great looking issue. All in all, I can’t wait to see how this all ends and what the next major crossover, involving the First Lantern, will do.
HUMAN BOMB #1: This is the story of former Marine Sergeant Michael Taylor. He’s doing work at Ground Zero when it appears another terrorist attack is occuring. One of his co-workers begins to smolder and shouts “Remember the C.R.O.W.N.” before exploding. Taylor flashes back to an incident in Afghanistan three years ago where an attack occurs, not by the Taliban, but by the agents of C.R.O.W.N. They are a terror organization made up of five terror groups: Capricorn, Renegade, Orbital, Warriors and Nezbali. Taylor awakens and it immediately attacked by another agent seeking to diffuse him. It seems Taylor has explosive powers and is referred to a Human Bomb 17. Meanwhile the head of S.H.A.D.E., Uncle Sam, observes the actions on one of a multitude of monitors and orders Taylor taken in.
Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti make a great tag team. Just look at their work on ALL STAR WESTERN. This is such an unusual take on a classic character that was not a member of either the original Earth 1 or Earth 2 DC. The Human Bomb was a part of the Quality Comics characters that were acquired by DC back in 1956 who eventually became a member of the FREEDOM FIGHTERS (a team that included Black Condor, The Human Bomb, Phantom Lady, Doll Man, The Ray and Uncle Sam. The artwork by Jerry Ordway is his usual superb style and I could look at his work all day long. Yes, I have been a long time fan and his style has not dropped in quality one bit over the years. This title has potential, although I do get leery of these four issue mini-series as some of them start out great (HUNTRESS) and flounder and others (PHANTOM LADY) just were awful from the start. I will probably do issue #2 and see where it takes me. Personally, I think these four issue mini series should end up being story arcs in DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS as opposed to getting their own mini-series. But that’s why I don’t run the marketing department at DC.
I VAMPIRE #15: Andrew Bennett, Charles Thompson and Tig break into Van Helsings’ castles and begin to take these vampire hunters apart. Andrew confronts the second-in-command, announcing he only wants to talk. This brings forth the former leader, who has been stitched together like Frankenstein after Andrew tore him apart twelve times in a row. Andrew and his companions head toward the Van Helsings' archives with the leader following them. Meanwhule, Mary Seward, John and Deborah have made their way to Bennett’s Wood to attempt to raise a spectral impression of Andrew's death, which would allow them to see who turned him, hunt that person down and restore Andrew. When the apparition appears, Mary recognizes it as Andrew's former carriage driver. He only recalls that the killer had a horrifying face. What they eventually find is Cain, who is now also a human, and he admits he created Andrew. Down in the archives of Van Helsings’, Andrew finds the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Upon opening it, they end up in a pocket dimension containing Van Helsings’ armory which has all the magical weapons known to kill vampires.
This story continues to rock on! I love Joshua Hale Fialkov’s story and the vampire mythos we know an love continues to crumble with each successive issue. I am disappointed with Dennis Calero doing the art. His work is good, but he’s no Andrea Sorrentino, who now moves over to GREEN ARROW. In fact, with Sorrentino and Jeff Lemire handling that title, it may end up in my shopping cart in the future. But that’s not what we’re talking about here. This is vampires at their best, as opposed to what Marvel is attempting to do with Morbius. Read this one, NOT that one!
Leave it to Grant Morrison to set up his final arc with one of his greatest tricks. The origin of the 5th Dimensional imp intertwined with the deaths of the Kents. Heck-we even get to see a freckle faced Lana Lang. Brad Walker and Rags Morales nail the art in this issue and I find myself at ease with the way this storyline is going. The back-up is a typical Sholly Fisch piece with art by Chris Sprouse.
ALL STAR WESTERN #15: We begin with Amadeus Arkham being fed the Mr. Hyde formula. Jonah Hex arrives in time to see a deranged Arkham attack, but Hex knocks him out. He also learns he isn’t getting paid by Reginald Forsythe because Hyde has eaten him. Hyde attacks Hex, throwing him through a window, causing Hex to break his leg. Arkham awakens and attacks Hyde who, in turn, does the same. Despite the broken leg, Hex makes his way back upstairs, saves Arkham, who flees and puts the hurt on Hyde, who also flees. Hex tracks down Arkham, who is trying trying to solicit sex from a rather upset woman.. hex tells him he has been poisoned and Arkham decides to examine himself and drops his pants, leading to his being captured by the police and tossed into the asylum that will one day bear his name. Hex learns he will need to spend some time in a wheelchair while Hyde develops more of his formula in the abandoned home of the Haunted Highwayman. In the back-up story, Tecumseh and his brother the Prophet are forced to watch their men be executed by the Americans. Tomahawk and his men come to the rescue. Lancaster escapes but Tomahawk pursues. Just as he is about to win the fight, he is knocked out by a British soldier. Tecumseh and Tomahawk, betrayed by the British, plan to burn the British forts to the ground.
This is the book that will make you learn to love Western comics. Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Moritat redefine the genre. And the back-up, considering most back-ups give me a headache, redefines the character of Tomahawk for the new millennium. This should be on everyone’s read list!
ANIMAL MAN #15: We begin our tale in what used to be Central City, which has become Gorilla City. Led by Grodd, Mallah and the Brain, the gorilla army capture Buddy and the heroes of The Red. Frankenstein and his Patchwork Army arrive to rescue them. Buddy asks Frankenstein to join them and they decide to head to Metropolis where it is rumored that Arcane has a prisoner who could be an ally. We cut to a year ago, when Maxine and Socks ran into William Arcane, who convinces them that he has reformed since meeting Swamp Thing and Abby. Despite Socks warning, Maxine follows him, leading her to the Hunters Two. Meanwhile, Buddy dreams strange dream on the way to Metropolis, one that has his son wearing the Animal man garb. Arriving in Metropolis, they find that The Green seems to have taken over a lot of the city. With Frankenstein and his Patchwork Army standing guard, Buddy, Beast Boy, Steel and Constantine make their way through the city, following a unique energy signature. It eventually leads them to Green Lantern, who they find trapped there.
ROTWORLD continues to put the Creep in Creepy! Jeff Lemire and Steve Pugh continue to amp it up as the tale races along. Pugh’s art style is wonderful and drips with grotesque imagery. When you pair this title, SWAMP THING and FRANKENSTEIN (while it lasts), you have a true trilogy of modern horror.This title is totally, TOTALLY RECOMMENDED!
AQUAMAN #15: In Part Two of the THRONE OF ATLANTIS cross-over(go read the review/synopsis for JUSTICE LEAGUE #15 first to avoid confusion), Gotham City is underwater and Aquaman has to save Bullock and Jim Gordon. But, despite Mera trying to hold back a massive tidal wave, a lot of residents drown in the flood. Meanwhile, in Metropolis, a similar situation is occurring. And Vulko, who is trying to help, apparently has the strength to punch out Superman, because he does as he desperately searches for King Arthur. We learn that the Atlantean War Plans that Aquaman and Orm crafted long ago have Batman is a priority target as is Dr. Shin. Eventually, Aquaman and Batman meet up with Vulko on the Watchtower where he reveals that this is revenge for the accidental missile launch that apparently wasn’t an accident. Aquamna heads to Boston, which is also underwater, and confronts Orm. The trinity of the League shows up and Aquaman must make a decision on who to stand with. Meanwhile, the creatures from The Trench are on the loose again.
Geoff Johns continues this crossover and this is a winner! When all is said and done, the new JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA will be born, also written by Johns. Things are getting desperate in the League and this will all lead to the Trinity War later in the year. Some great action, some startling tragedies and a joke or two(thank you Harvey Bullock!). Paul Pelletier signs on as regular artist with this issue as Ivan Reis moves to JUSTICE LEAGUE. As always, his work is clean and smooth and having Art Thibert as your inker can’t hurt. Another winner this month!
BATGIRL #15: This issue has two stories running concurrently. The first is set some time in the past, as the Joker was with his doctor at Arkham Asylum. He offers up a chance to write a paper based on his journals, but they are unreadable without his help. Joker describes each page of his journal to the doctor until he came to a page which described what he might do if he ever met a nine year old girl named Sasha. This was the name of the doctor’s nine-year-old daughter. The doctor wanted to check and see if her daughter was safe, but Joker insisted she stay or something might happen to her. He tells her that the journal was his way to keep track of everything in his life, even his qualifications for his life partner. Of course, he fears infidelity, so he thinks it’s best to cut off his bride's arms and legs right after the wedding.
In the present, the Joker still has Barbara’s mom tied to a chair. Her ring finger, complete with ring, has been cut off and she has a five-pound nail-bomb beneath the seat. If you recall, The Joker was using the severed finger to propose to Batgirl. He places a gun to Mrs. Gordon's head, causing Batgirl to agree to marry him. Catching him off guard, she begins to beat him up, actually thinkning of shooting him in the spine to paralyze him as he had done to her. But a sniper’s bullet pushes her back and Joker gives her a list of things she needs for the wedding. Not far away, her brother James, who led his sister to the scene of the crime, receives a frantic call from Barbara’s roommate Alysia and he agrees to come to visit her. Then he calls the Joker and tells him that Batgirl and Ms. Gordon are his to deal. The Joker hangs up and James decides to help his sister. Batgirl arrives at an old church where the priest apologizes to her. The Joker is holding the congregation hostage and he must bear witness to her forthcoming beating.
This is one long, complicated issue jumps back and forth between the past and the present. And it is an amazing ride. Why DC Editorial would fire Gail Simone from this book…by Email mind you, is anyone’s guest. Apparently there was some concern on where she was taking this story and that resulted in her termination. I would love to see where she was going with it and will be a treat to follow her story until the end. So, besides telling one heck of a tale, Daniel Sampere’s artwork explodes of the page! This guy is good…real good! His style fits this book very nicely. I’m still missing Adrian Syaf, but I do like where Sampere is taking this look.
BATMAN #15: Joker announces that he knows all the identities of the Batman Family and, in less than three days, they will all be dead at Batman’s hand. Harvey Bullock and GPCD arrive and the Joker has his men fire rockets at them. Batman gets free and demands to know where Alfred is. He says he’s preparing a special dinner for the Batman family before Batman falls into the Gotham River, infected with Joker Venom. Bruce has a nightmare where Alfred has been replaced by the Joker and attacks all of the gathered Batman Family. He eventually wakes from his nightmare with his costumed family waiting for him. He tells of how his second encounter with the Joker, where it seems the villain may have made his way into the Batcave. The Batman Family are angry, despite Bruce’ belief that The Joker never made it past the entrance of the cave, which had since been sealed up. Batman tells the rest of the Family to stay in the cave as he breaks into the home of Dylan McDyre, a guard who has a connection to the Joker. McDyre explains the Joker had actually been holding the families of the Arkham Asylum staff hostage while he made changes. So Batman heads to Arkham to see what awaits him. In the back-up story, The Joker makes his changes at Arkham and involves The Riddler in his mad plan.
Leave it to the dynamic duo of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo to craft another wild chapter in the life of the Dark Knight. This generation’s Joker continues to be the vilest villain Batman has ever faced. Between his “face mask” and his motives, the once and future Jack Napier takes the cake as the most perverted villain in the New 52. If you are not reading DEATH OF THE FAMILY and all it’s crossover pieces, you are missing one of the greatest stories in years. And Batman has had many awesome stories over the years.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #15: Damian watch security footage of the Joker beating Alfred with a hammer. After talking thinks over with his dog, he decides to find Alfred. Titus sniffs hyena urine at the front gates so the pair head to Gotham Zoo, where he finds hyenas tearing at a dead guard. He opens the cage and gets attacked by the animals, getting bitten in the process. This causes him to be dosed by Joker Venom and he falls through a skylight. He awakens inside a nest made of human bones with The Joker standing above him. He shows Robin the video he made burning Alfred's eyes with ammonia. Damien promises that he will kill The Joker for that. After a lengthy soliloquy, he buries Robin under insects and worms. Then he makes Robin battle to the death against a Venom infected Batman.
Okay…are we jumping WAY ahead here? Batman is Venom infected? I just finished reviewing BATMAN where he is entering Arkham. This is where my biggest gripe about the DEATH OF THE FAMILY story comes in: no one in editorial can seem to get chronology issues straight. None of these titles run in a linear manner. Things happen in individual titles that are occurring either before or after they do in other titles. I would think that all issue fifteens would run at the same time. But then I would be working at DC and handling those things. Since I am not, I can only sit on the sidelines and bitch. Besides the bitching, we have the normally wonderful work of Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason.
BATMAN INCORPORATED #6: Last issue ended with the Batman Incoporated team being blown up and we see the after effects of that. Freight Train has been impaled and is dying. Squire is in pretty rough shape too, as are Halo and Looker. The only people up and on their feet are Batwing and Knight. Batman goes to talk to Talia who tells him the parable of the Goat Herder and Enlightenment. He tells her he just wants his city to be safe and all of this to be over. Meanwhile back at the Batcave, all of the various Robins and ex-Robins are in the Batcave wondering what to do next. And of course, there is Bat Cow and Titus the Bat Dog. They get to hear the conversation between Batman and Talia as it is being broadcast into the Batcave so that Damian can hear. She demands he make a decision: his city or his son. Batman encounters a robed, masked giant who kills the hostages and then moves on to attack Batman Incorporated. Just as Knight gets Squire’s heart heating again, the giant arrives and snaps his neck. Batwing is taken out by the giant who uses Knight’s body as a bat. Batman arrives to help Squire. In the Batcave, Jason Todd declares that they all need to go rescue Batman. Will they have the time?
Holy cliffhanger, Batman! How do they get out of this without major causalities in the New 52 Universe? And who will Batman choose, his beloved Gotham or the product of his loins? All this will be revealed in the next issue from Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham.
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #15: Batman continues his battle with The Scarecrow, who he has learned will release fear toxin in Gotham Square during the Christmas Parade. As Alfred and Lucius Fox try to figure how to develop an antidote, Batman discovers the antibodies they need are in his own blood. Since time is of the essence, Batman transfuses his blood directly into the Batplane's aerosol diffuser. While this will save the city, he will more than likely die from blood loss. Alfred and Robin monitor the situation as Batman flat lines completing his task. They remotely bring the plane home and with several shocks from the defibrillator, they bring him back to life. Meanwhile, Luz, Gordon and the GCPD find the safe house where the Scarecrow is holed up and he surrenders. We move forward to New Years Eve and Natalya, following a solo performance, ends up at the Manor for a movie and takeout. In the epilogue, Scarecrow plans his escape as he has a secret vial of toxin hidden upon him. Unfortunately, the vial ruptures, filling his glass cell with the gas.
And thus ends Greg Hurwitz’ first storyline with a bang and not a whimper! He has retooled one of the classic, iconic villains and next issue will do the same with The Mad Hatter. David Finch’ art seems a little sloppy this issue and I’m not surprised as his output has seemed to drop off in the last few months. Next month Ethan Van Sciver takes over and the preliminary images look amazing!
BATWOMAN #15: This issue is called INTERLUDE II and revolves around Maggie Sawyer. As Maggie finds herself puzzled by recent events, we get a flashback of what has transpired from her perspective. She had taken down some of Medusa’s thugs, but can’t figure out why a Japanese gang member is "mitera", which is the Greek word for “Mother”. During the battle in Gotham, orchestrated by Killer Croc, the city was filled with these gang members. With GCPD getting overwhelmed, she asks the DEO for help. This leads to a revelation how Maggie’s father had once locked her in the tool shed to protect his daughter from “going to Hell” as a 12 year old tomboy. Reluctantly, Agent Chase agrees and sends Maggie to a church where the parents of all of the kidnapped children had gathered. The gathered had become a mob, armed with weapons and intent on fighting Medusa themselves. Maggie is forced to go after Isabella Lopez’ husband, who had already gone out into battle, finds him and attempts to save him. That is when The Weeping Woman unleashes a tidal wave which save’s them; an act she does as penance for kidnapped his children. Maggie and Harvey are confronted by the sight of the kidnapped children being dragged through the streets with chains around their necks. Just then a car crashes down from above and the sight of something with tentacles is seen. That brings us to the here and now as Batwoman and Wonder Woman arrive. And somehow, Maggie knows that Kate is home and safe.
While this has the feel of a fill-in issue, mostly because J. H. Williams III only illustrates the first and last page of the issue, leaving the bulk of the art to Trevor McCarthy, it does gives us some much needed NEW 52 back story for Maggie Sawyer-even if it is only in the form of a short, almost tossed off bit of text early on in the issue. So we see that Kate and Maggie’s dads have a lot in common. For me, that was the absolute highlight: to find out that Maggie’s parents were trying to deprogram her at age twelve from becoming a lesbian. Guess what: it didn’t work! This is one of the best books on the stands today and it should be required reading for all “Teen Plus” comics fans.
BIRDS OF PREY #15: The issue begins with Condor using some interesting tactics in questioning a Dragon Clan member. Meanwhile, Canary, Batgirl and Starling rendezvous but Katana is missing. Using a tracking device, they discover she is one thousand feet below sea-level. This is where she is being tortured by the Dagger Clan, as they prepare to melt down the Soultaker Sword. Fifteen minutes from now, the Clan is ready to hit Yokohama with a scorched-earth bomb that will render the city uninhabitable for hundreds of years. That’s when the Birds arrive on the scene, but is soon overwhelmed by the Dagger Clan. Katana breaks free, grabs the sword and attacks Garasuki. As the battle rages on, Condor retrieves the bomb, which Katana cuts in two with the sword, as her husband has told her to do. Following the end of the battle, most of the Birds leave. Except for Tatsu, who stays behind tio handle things in Yokohama. Arriving in Gotham, Batgirl has a suggestion to replace Katana. And then she introduces Talon Strix.
Thus ends one chapter in the life of the Birds of Prey. Juan Jose Ryp and Vincente Cifuentes shine with the art in this book. Meanwhile, Duane Swierczynski’s writing doesn’t, as this title has been filled with bad dialogue and tacky clichés. While the action is intense, the characters are cardboard. Hopefully when new writer Jim Zub takes over three issues from now, that will also change. Until then: wither grin and bear it or give it the boot, boot boot!
CATWOMAN #15: Selina meets up with her buddy Gwen and they crash a party, and then jump out a window. They also walk out of the building and past Detective Alvarez. at the end of one page, then walk out the front door of the building on the next page. Selina meets up with a contact who has her go to Argus to steal the Black Diamond. She manages to get hired at ARGUS and tries to make her way into the Black Room. She uses a mystic key to get in and changes into her Catwoman costume. She gets in a firefight with security. She eventually opens the safe and the Black Diamond takes over her.
Talk about a total mess. Let’s start with Gwen and Selina jumping out a window and then, on the next page, they are walking OUT of the building they allegedly just jumped out of a window from. WHAT?! CONTINUITY!!! And Selina meets with a contact to get a job, which I thought was Gwen’s job. Again-continuity! When Selina is at Argus, she changes into costume, and the scientist joins her, not alert security. REALLY!? And that’s just the worst of it, although the entire issue is a writing disaster. Ann Nocenti should be ashamed and should hand over her writing credentials to Gail Simone who IS out of work. Take into effect the whole concept of having security with guns fighting someone in a room full of the most dangerous weapons in the world On the plus side, Rafa Sandoval’s art is nice. But it can’t save this poorly plotted and horrendously executed issue. Lastly: big slaps to Rachel Gluckstern and Rickey Purdin. They ARE the editorial staff after all and should have seen these mistakes.
DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #15: Tobias Whale has a new drug that turns the user into a monster from Hell. Daniel Cassidy wants to team up with Jefferson Pierce to take down and get the drugs off of the street. Pierce isn’t too keen on the idea, but when his father tells him he is meeting with Whale, he changes his mind. Black Lightning refuses to zap these guys w The duo battle the drug affected zombies while Whale and Nebiros capture Pierce’s father and hold him hostage. Blue Devil and Black Lightning find the Whale and Nebiros and we learn that Etrigan tore off the Blue Devil skin from Neibros “long, long ago” and now he is trying to take it back by peeling it off of Cassidy. And, if that wasn’t bad enough for our heroes, Black Lightning gets shot trying to save his dad.
This has been a fun ride so far. The story by Marc Andreyko has been beautifully paced and has done a great job of introducing these characters from the old DCU into the NEW 52 universe. Likewise, the art from Robson Rocha and Eduardo Pansica has been tight and gooey at times. I would like to see these guys with a regular series. Welcome to the NEW dynamic duo!
DEMON KNIGHTS #15: The battle for Avalon rages on. Merlin summons King Arthur, who saves the day by fighiting Lucifer, Mordru and The Questing Queen and monologuing about Stormwatch. Merlin creates a rainstorm from the waters of Avalon, which causes everyone to be cleansed of any enchantments. With the day won, Merlin de-ages, becoming “New Adam.” Adam/Merlin returns everyone back to reality. Jason, once again bonded to Etrigan, and Xanadu head off to be on their own. Exoristos reveals that Lucifer had her bring a Black Diamond back to their reality. The Shining Knight offers to travel with her.
That’s the end of this run. With the next issue, the story jumps ahead thirty years and who knows what that will mean for this title. What this fifteen issue run manages to do is set the groundwork for what will eventually become Stormwatch. Like it or not, DC has created an origin that we’re stuck with. But we do get the origin of Eclipso’s Black Diamond. Paul Cornell has done a wonderful job with this series and it will be nice to see where it all goes from here.
DETECTIVE COMICS #15: We begin with Penguin's henchman Ogilvy burying Poison Ivy alive. Meanwhile, Batman is battling Poison Ivy’s spouse, Clayface. However Batman believes that Clayface has been affected by Ivy’s toxin and the entire wedding is just an illusion. Losing the battle, Batman grabs a flower from Clayface’s skin and escapes in the Batplane. When he gets to examine the flower, Batman realizes he was correct-the marriage was an illusion. The pair have not been wreaking havoc-only Clayface has, but believing Poison Ivy was with him through it all. The Dark Knight heads to Ellsworth Industrial Park where Clayface is attacking. Batman sprays Clayface with an herbicide that dissolves his false memories. Broken hearted, Clayface smashes his way to the sewers and escapes. Meanwhile, Ogilvy tells Penguin about doing away with Ivy and Penguin leaves him in charge as he claims he has to go to Arkham Asylum for a while. Shortly thereafter, Ogilvy frees Ivy, explaining that he buried her with enough plant life to keep her alive. He then introduces himself as Emperor Penguin. In the back-up tale, we get the two sides of the Clayface/Ivy relationship. It begins with a letter in his cell at Arkham Asylum and ends with him meeting her after her influence has been removed and he is seeking revenge.
Even though the issue bears the now familiar die cut Joker face for a cover, it has very little to do with the DEATH OF THE FAMILY storyline, except for two instances. First, Batman doesn’t chase Clayface at the end of the tale because the Joker is still on the loose. And second, The Penguin is in a hurry to leave town based on the back-up tale from BATMAN #14 where the Joker killed all the top lieutenants of every crime family in Gotham and pinned it on The Penguin. Either way, John Layman does a killer job in both the lead and the back-up, while Jason Fabok and Andy Clarke rock the art. Another top notch issue in the Bat corner of the universe.
DIAL H #7: Roxie and Nelson have been travelling the world in search of the Cults of the Dial. It is a group of people who worship the legend of the H-Dial as if it were a religion. Every cult they have visited, in the form of various heroes, all have spoken of the existence of another dial, but they have been unable to find it. The focal point is in Paris and that is where they expect to find the leader of the cult. He claims that the dial was discovered in Atlantis so the pair head out into the Atlantic Ocean to search for it. She dials up a hero known as the Planktonian and, with her Manteau mask on these many microscopic creatures, she dives down and discovers an ancient underwater ruin. But the dial is gone. Roxie does find a military patch in French and English and it looks like a patch they saw in one of the cultists' pamphlets. Meanwhile, Vernon Boyne and his men attack Colton. But Colton makes hundreds of copies of him and kills all of Vernon's men. While he and the copies beat up Vernon, he introduces himself as The Centipede.
Yeah…this title is almost getting too weird for me. Between strange characters, which was always a staple of the old Robbie Reed series, to cults to mysterious villains, I really don’t know what China Mieville is doing. What I DO KNOW is that I am loving David Lapham doing the art on the title. Can I recommend this book? I’m not quite sure anymore. Every now and then I like to have my brain taken to strange places. And sometimes I just want to read a straight on adventure story. This is certainly NOT a straight on adventure story.
EARTH 2 #7: Word of the new Wonders and their battle in Washington, D.C. spreads across the world. Alan Scott has been reported alive and well. But he is far from well, as the death of his fiancé Sam is casugin him to wllow in grief. Hawkgirl arrives at his Manhattan apratment and reveals herself as treasure hunter Kendra Munoz-Saunders. Despite her pleas, he refuses to join her and Flash. Back at World Army headquarters. the council insists that Terry Sloan stay with the group, deapite Khan's complaints regarding Sloan’s actions during the Grunday incident. Unbeknownstr to the World Army, Khan has sent Wesley Dodds’ to Paris to investigate a base Khan believes Sloan has there. They don’t find Sloan, but Michael Holt, who attacks the Sandmen before being taken out by the Sandmen. They destroy the Paris base and hope that once they deprogram Mr. Terrific they may be able to make use of him. Back at World Army HQ, Sloan lays claim to the Red Tornado Project for his own evil reasons.
This is truly one of my consistent favorites from this batch of DC NEW 52 titles. While some fans went ballistic when it was revealed the new Alan Scott was gay, I think that their take on these classic heroes is wonderful. Don’t forget: this was the universe that, before CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, had a grown up Robin fighting crime and had both Batman and his wife die. And Superman was a much older version than the one we knew and loved (I say knew and loved because the new Superman is far younger). James Robinson, Yildiray Cinar and Trevor Scott continue to do phenomenal work on this title that is fun and engaging while carving new territory. And just how rotten will Terry Sloan, the ORIGINAL Mr. Terrific, turn out to be?
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #15: When we last left this title, Velcoro was dead and Frankenstein was fighting an island. Golden Robot Women become a Flaming Golden Sword and Frankenstein carves up the island, removing the last piece of the Soulgrinder in the process. At this point, he needs to return to Nina and the remaining scientists from S.H.A.D.E. to reconstruct Soulgrinder. He heads off to Monument Valley and makes his way to the top a butte while Khalis remains below fighting and eventually losing to The Rot. Frankenstein recreates the Soulgrinder and shoves Victor through it. Victor is destroiyed but Nina is changed into a Frankencreature in the process. The remainder of the scientists line up, walk through it, creating an army of Rot-Proof Frankensteins to defeat Arcane. But Nina is carrying Frankenstein’s child, so this final battle could be interesting.
So this Victor Frankenstein storyline is wrapped up in the penultimate issue of this title, leading to the final battle against The Rot before our heroes, or what is left of them, get rolled into JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK. Matt Kindt is doing a great job of picking up the pieces and tying up loose ends while Alberto Ponticelli has progressed from the early issues until now and has become quite a major artistic player in the process. I will truly miss this title.
GREEN LANTERN #15: In Dearborn, Michigan, Simon arrives at the home of the guy who owned the van he stole. Once inside, Simon sees blueprints on Wale's table. Wale reveals that the bomb was supposed to go off under the bridge. So Wale decides to kill him, covering up his attempted crime and looking like an American hero in the process. Simon attempts to escape, as his ring has run out of power. Wale catches Simon, but Agent Fed enters the house and aims his gun at Wale. That is when the Third Army enters, assimilating Wale as Simon and Fed escape into the basement, where they find bomb-making facility. Fed declares Simon innocent, they arm a bomb and escape before the blast that kills the Third Army soldiers. Just then, Green Lantern B'dg appears, saying he is trying to find Hal Jordan before the Guardians realize that the Green Lantern Corps knows “they have gone mad”. Meanwhile, in the Dead Zone, Hal and Sinestro speak to the cloaked figure who says he was both Sinestro's enemy and Hal's friend and tells them they are dead. On Oa the Guardians extract more power from the First Lantern, Volthoom, who promises revenge on the Guardians.
Despite the fact that I really don’t care for the new Green Lantern, this book continues to turn in directions that upset the old GL status quo. Geoff Johns continually turns in a great story with punchy dialogue. Doug Mahnke also turns in another great looking issue. All in all, I can’t wait to see how this all ends and what the next major crossover, involving the First Lantern, will do.
HUMAN BOMB #1: This is the story of former Marine Sergeant Michael Taylor. He’s doing work at Ground Zero when it appears another terrorist attack is occuring. One of his co-workers begins to smolder and shouts “Remember the C.R.O.W.N.” before exploding. Taylor flashes back to an incident in Afghanistan three years ago where an attack occurs, not by the Taliban, but by the agents of C.R.O.W.N. They are a terror organization made up of five terror groups: Capricorn, Renegade, Orbital, Warriors and Nezbali. Taylor awakens and it immediately attacked by another agent seeking to diffuse him. It seems Taylor has explosive powers and is referred to a Human Bomb 17. Meanwhile the head of S.H.A.D.E., Uncle Sam, observes the actions on one of a multitude of monitors and orders Taylor taken in.
Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti make a great tag team. Just look at their work on ALL STAR WESTERN. This is such an unusual take on a classic character that was not a member of either the original Earth 1 or Earth 2 DC. The Human Bomb was a part of the Quality Comics characters that were acquired by DC back in 1956 who eventually became a member of the FREEDOM FIGHTERS (a team that included Black Condor, The Human Bomb, Phantom Lady, Doll Man, The Ray and Uncle Sam. The artwork by Jerry Ordway is his usual superb style and I could look at his work all day long. Yes, I have been a long time fan and his style has not dropped in quality one bit over the years. This title has potential, although I do get leery of these four issue mini-series as some of them start out great (HUNTRESS) and flounder and others (PHANTOM LADY) just were awful from the start. I will probably do issue #2 and see where it takes me. Personally, I think these four issue mini series should end up being story arcs in DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS as opposed to getting their own mini-series. But that’s why I don’t run the marketing department at DC.
I VAMPIRE #15: Andrew Bennett, Charles Thompson and Tig break into Van Helsings’ castles and begin to take these vampire hunters apart. Andrew confronts the second-in-command, announcing he only wants to talk. This brings forth the former leader, who has been stitched together like Frankenstein after Andrew tore him apart twelve times in a row. Andrew and his companions head toward the Van Helsings' archives with the leader following them. Meanwhule, Mary Seward, John and Deborah have made their way to Bennett’s Wood to attempt to raise a spectral impression of Andrew's death, which would allow them to see who turned him, hunt that person down and restore Andrew. When the apparition appears, Mary recognizes it as Andrew's former carriage driver. He only recalls that the killer had a horrifying face. What they eventually find is Cain, who is now also a human, and he admits he created Andrew. Down in the archives of Van Helsings’, Andrew finds the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Upon opening it, they end up in a pocket dimension containing Van Helsings’ armory which has all the magical weapons known to kill vampires.
This story continues to rock on! I love Joshua Hale Fialkov’s story and the vampire mythos we know an love continues to crumble with each successive issue. I am disappointed with Dennis Calero doing the art. His work is good, but he’s no Andrea Sorrentino, who now moves over to GREEN ARROW. In fact, with Sorrentino and Jeff Lemire handling that title, it may end up in my shopping cart in the future. But that’s not what we’re talking about here. This is vampires at their best, as opposed to what Marvel is attempting to do with Morbius. Read this one, NOT that one!
Saturday, January 5, 2013
BEFORE WATCHMEN Month 4
RORSCHACH #2: After nearly being beaten to death, Walter Kovacs tries to have a meal at his favorite diner. It’s Rawhead, the drug kingpin who was responsible for beating him that he wants. And soon is on the street causing havoc to some of Rawhead’s men. The kingpin is far from happy and takes it out on one of his men. After a rather disgusting trip to the diner, Walter spends three days in Bellevue’s emergency room being treated for his injuries. He then goes back to his mission, loaded up on stolen pills. He captures a local pimp and proceeds to torture him to find Rawhead, but some of the gang are heading to help.
This is more like it! This issue makes me want to take a big bath! Brian Azzarello writes the story like he’s doing Phillip Marlowe. And he does it better than Frank Miller ever could. And how much darker and totally disgusting can Lee Bermejo make this? Nothing I like better than blood, guts and vomit!
DR. MANHATTAN #2: Jon Osterman continues to observe his younger, pre-accident self and the decisions he could have made in his life. It all revolves around taking the left turn or the right turn and there is even a wonderful story about Erwin Schrӧdinger’s cat theory of quantum observation. When all is done, Dr. Manhattan wonders what it is he has actually done.
This is a fascinating look at what would be or what was. Does the Comedian get to assassinate JFK or does he get stopped? (Which reminds me-haven’t we seen Eddie KILL JFK in Dallas? But in THE COMEDIAN #1, he weeps with Moloch upon hearing the news.) Does Nixon resign in scandal or make his way into a third term. As I have said before, you truly have to know WATCHMEN to understand this book. J. Michael Straczynski rewrites history by giving our character choices to change history. And the art by Adam Hughes continues to devastate!
MINUTEMEN #4: Hollis Mason goes to Maine to visit Byron Lewis, in an attempt to explain his book to him. The former Mothman is a catatonic mental patient unaware of his old friend even being there. This leads to a flashback to 1946 to Silhouette's murder. Drummed out of the Minutemen after her lesbian relationship became public, she remained as a team with Nite-Owl, and Mothman to find the "Friend of the Children" murderer. In turn, the women are butchered by the Liquidator. The Minutemen proceed to track down the Liquidator but its Silk Spectre who captures and beats him to death. She quits the team. At Silhouette’s graveside, Sally Jupiter reunites with the Comedian, who has become a war hero. He tells of being injured and nursed back to health by a local woman and her son. He also reveals how the Comedian took his revenge. When his commander found out, he ordered an artillery strike that killed the pair. Later, Nite-Owl and Mothman listen to an audio tape Nite-Owl had taken from Gretchen’s apartment. It reveals how Gretchen met Ursula and her sister Blanche at an orphanage in Linz. The women fell in love and planned to escape with Blanche to the United States. The Nazis took Blanche Away and despite a rescue attempt, Blanche had been killed during experiments. The issue ends with Hooded Justice dreaming about being lost at a circus and he wakes up screaming.
Again, Darwyn Cooke shows a complete love for these characters. The death of Silhouette comes to the forefront and the effects of that death revolves around the entire cast. This is truly my favorite book of the series.
NITE OWL #4: Rorschach is chained to a pile of corpses, courtesy of Reverend Taylor Dean. It seems the good Reverend began his career of murder by killing his mistress and from there went on a one-man campaign to kill the sinners. Now he is about to cover up his handiwork by burning the place down and taking Rorschach with it. Even as the flames lick at him, Rorschach breaks free and heads upstairs, where Twilight Lady is battling the Reverend. Just when it seems like the masked girl will fall, Rorschach arrives and impales the clergyman with the THE END IS NIGH sign. Before the book is finished, Dan permanently takes over for Hollis Mason and we learn that Rorschach killed his own father. Unfortunately, Dan’s crush on Twilight Lady is never reciprocated and, even during his relationship with Laurie, he is troubled because she could never fall in love with him. The book ends with Walter walking down the street carrying his sign.
This book never came up to the level of the rest of the series. J. Michael Straczynski just didn’t quite get up to the places his compatriots did and the death of Joe Kubert certainly didn’t help the timeliness of the title. With son Andy providing the pencils and Bill Sienkiewicz providing the inks, it is a shadow of the book it could have been. To say the whole series was a kinky, nudity filled mess would be an understatement.
OZYMANDIAS #4: Ozymandias origin story continues. He meets President Kennedy and acts as an advisor of sorts during the Cuban Missile Crisis, recommending that Dr. Manhattan is used only as a last resort. Later, he watches the Kennedy assassination as it is played out on the multiple screens within his Fortress. He ends up following the careers of Rorschach, Night Owl and all the other heroes of the day. He is there when the first and last meeting occurs and he decides that he must save the world from itself.`
Len Wein and Jae Lee continue weave the tale of the mastermind behind the Watchmen. The smartest man in the world proceeds to his ultimate motives and this is a beautifully crafted tale of his rise to that point. The one thing that can be said about this series is that it features some of the most amazing art in comics today. Well done.
SILK SPECTRE #4: Greg breaks up with Laurie and she wants to come home, even though mom is still giving her grief over the phone. Hollis Mason continues his search for Laurie and ends up hooking up with Greg and company. Back at their “pad”, Hollis and Greg argue about Sally Jupiter and the way of the world. Laurie comes home to find the place trashed by a fight between Hollis and two of Gurustein’s girls. Having completely had her fill of Gurustein, she puts on her costume and heads to his place. There she finds some executed loose ends with the Chairman of the Board on his way out of town. A brawl ensues and she ends up stabbing him in the throat with one of her high heeled boots. Staggering into the street, he becomes the hood ornament of a city bus. Soon after, there is a going away party and Laurie and Hollis head back home. Not long after, she finds herself at the first meeting of the Crimebusters where she meets Dr. Manhattan.
This was a very interesting and violent end to this mini-series. Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner through four great issues that didn’t disappoint truly captured the feel of the Sixties and did so in beautifully illustrated fashion. I have always felt that Amanda Conner was a truly great artist who was totally underappreciated by the masses. This book proves how incredibly talented she is. Suffice it to say, I think this is some of her best work to date.
COMEDIAN #4: Eddie is back in Viet Nam, fighting the good fight. But the wear and the carnage, even is he is responsible for much of it, begins to take it’s toll. Rumors circulate the Robert Kennedy is running for President and Eddie tries desperately to get in touch with him to no avail. Leaving his house boys behind, aptly named Hearts and Minds, he heads out on a mission, fueled by LSD bearing his happy face symbol.
As much as I hate to say it, we get another totally boring issue from the creative pen of Brian Azzarello. His dialogue is wonderfully rhythmic and I love that part of it. but the story itself is boring to the point of disgust. If I wanted a long drawn out sequence in Southeast Asia, I would just go watch FULL METAL JACKET or APOCALYPSE NOW. It won’t be long now when the news of the assassinations of 1968 come through. Heck: maybe Eddie is responsible for those also. J.G. Jones art can’t save this title, which only has two issues left to go.
MOLOCH #1: Moloch’s life story is not a pretty one. Born a misshapen freak named Edgar William Jacobi who was scorned by everyone from his family to his classmayes, he went to the circus and discovered magic. Learning tricks from Mr. Fantasico, Eddie soon learns enough to dazzle his classmates. One in particular, Marie, becomes the object of his affection, until she betrays him and her lover Dave pays for it with a rather gruesome death. At bthis point, Eddie hits the road, performing on the vaudeville circuit under the name of Moloch the Mstic. He was also honing his craft as a bank robber by using his various tricks to get away. He and his gang had beigger and better heists and evengtually ran afoul of the Minutemen. and gets arrested This happens over and over again until he eventually finds God while in prison. When he is at least released, he is greeted by Ozymandias who has a proposition for him.
This two issue mini-series is brought to us by the talented team of J. Michael Straczynski and Eduardo Risso. And, as much as I would like to love it, I find it boring. Moloch’s character is a poor, mistreated child who uses his talent to become a poor, mistreated evil man. If you k now WATCHMEN at all, you can see where this is headed: Ozymandias hires Moloch somehow to play a part in the grand scheme. Been there, done that. However, Risso’s art is dynamite!
And, as a continued bonus, each issue, with the exception of NITE OWL #2, which shipped so late that the installment has not been included, has two pages from John Higgin’s pirate drama(as he is now writing and illustrating) THE CURSE OF THE CRIMSON CORSAIR. RORSCHACH concludes the Evil That Men Do arc and DR. MAHATTAN #2 brings us a new arc. Wide Were His Dragon Wings. In it, our hero seeks the second piece which will set him free and, in doing so, survives ritualistic cultists and even encounters and old acquaintance.
DR. MANHATTAN #2: Jon Osterman continues to observe his younger, pre-accident self and the decisions he could have made in his life. It all revolves around taking the left turn or the right turn and there is even a wonderful story about Erwin Schrӧdinger’s cat theory of quantum observation. When all is done, Dr. Manhattan wonders what it is he has actually done.
MINUTEMEN #4: Hollis Mason goes to Maine to visit Byron Lewis, in an attempt to explain his book to him. The former Mothman is a catatonic mental patient unaware of his old friend even being there. This leads to a flashback to 1946 to Silhouette's murder. Drummed out of the Minutemen after her lesbian relationship became public, she remained as a team with Nite-Owl, and Mothman to find the "Friend of the Children" murderer. In turn, the women are butchered by the Liquidator. The Minutemen proceed to track down the Liquidator but its Silk Spectre who captures and beats him to death. She quits the team. At Silhouette’s graveside, Sally Jupiter reunites with the Comedian, who has become a war hero. He tells of being injured and nursed back to health by a local woman and her son. He also reveals how the Comedian took his revenge. When his commander found out, he ordered an artillery strike that killed the pair. Later, Nite-Owl and Mothman listen to an audio tape Nite-Owl had taken from Gretchen’s apartment. It reveals how Gretchen met Ursula and her sister Blanche at an orphanage in Linz. The women fell in love and planned to escape with Blanche to the United States. The Nazis took Blanche Away and despite a rescue attempt, Blanche had been killed during experiments. The issue ends with Hooded Justice dreaming about being lost at a circus and he wakes up screaming.
NITE OWL #4: Rorschach is chained to a pile of corpses, courtesy of Reverend Taylor Dean. It seems the good Reverend began his career of murder by killing his mistress and from there went on a one-man campaign to kill the sinners. Now he is about to cover up his handiwork by burning the place down and taking Rorschach with it. Even as the flames lick at him, Rorschach breaks free and heads upstairs, where Twilight Lady is battling the Reverend. Just when it seems like the masked girl will fall, Rorschach arrives and impales the clergyman with the THE END IS NIGH sign. Before the book is finished, Dan permanently takes over for Hollis Mason and we learn that Rorschach killed his own father. Unfortunately, Dan’s crush on Twilight Lady is never reciprocated and, even during his relationship with Laurie, he is troubled because she could never fall in love with him. The book ends with Walter walking down the street carrying his sign.
This book never came up to the level of the rest of the series. J. Michael Straczynski just didn’t quite get up to the places his compatriots did and the death of Joe Kubert certainly didn’t help the timeliness of the title. With son Andy providing the pencils and Bill Sienkiewicz providing the inks, it is a shadow of the book it could have been. To say the whole series was a kinky, nudity filled mess would be an understatement.
OZYMANDIAS #4: Ozymandias origin story continues. He meets President Kennedy and acts as an advisor of sorts during the Cuban Missile Crisis, recommending that Dr. Manhattan is used only as a last resort. Later, he watches the Kennedy assassination as it is played out on the multiple screens within his Fortress. He ends up following the careers of Rorschach, Night Owl and all the other heroes of the day. He is there when the first and last meeting occurs and he decides that he must save the world from itself.`
Len Wein and Jae Lee continue weave the tale of the mastermind behind the Watchmen. The smartest man in the world proceeds to his ultimate motives and this is a beautifully crafted tale of his rise to that point. The one thing that can be said about this series is that it features some of the most amazing art in comics today. Well done.
SILK SPECTRE #4: Greg breaks up with Laurie and she wants to come home, even though mom is still giving her grief over the phone. Hollis Mason continues his search for Laurie and ends up hooking up with Greg and company. Back at their “pad”, Hollis and Greg argue about Sally Jupiter and the way of the world. Laurie comes home to find the place trashed by a fight between Hollis and two of Gurustein’s girls. Having completely had her fill of Gurustein, she puts on her costume and heads to his place. There she finds some executed loose ends with the Chairman of the Board on his way out of town. A brawl ensues and she ends up stabbing him in the throat with one of her high heeled boots. Staggering into the street, he becomes the hood ornament of a city bus. Soon after, there is a going away party and Laurie and Hollis head back home. Not long after, she finds herself at the first meeting of the Crimebusters where she meets Dr. Manhattan.
This was a very interesting and violent end to this mini-series. Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner through four great issues that didn’t disappoint truly captured the feel of the Sixties and did so in beautifully illustrated fashion. I have always felt that Amanda Conner was a truly great artist who was totally underappreciated by the masses. This book proves how incredibly talented she is. Suffice it to say, I think this is some of her best work to date.
COMEDIAN #4: Eddie is back in Viet Nam, fighting the good fight. But the wear and the carnage, even is he is responsible for much of it, begins to take it’s toll. Rumors circulate the Robert Kennedy is running for President and Eddie tries desperately to get in touch with him to no avail. Leaving his house boys behind, aptly named Hearts and Minds, he heads out on a mission, fueled by LSD bearing his happy face symbol.
As much as I hate to say it, we get another totally boring issue from the creative pen of Brian Azzarello. His dialogue is wonderfully rhythmic and I love that part of it. but the story itself is boring to the point of disgust. If I wanted a long drawn out sequence in Southeast Asia, I would just go watch FULL METAL JACKET or APOCALYPSE NOW. It won’t be long now when the news of the assassinations of 1968 come through. Heck: maybe Eddie is responsible for those also. J.G. Jones art can’t save this title, which only has two issues left to go.
MOLOCH #1: Moloch’s life story is not a pretty one. Born a misshapen freak named Edgar William Jacobi who was scorned by everyone from his family to his classmayes, he went to the circus and discovered magic. Learning tricks from Mr. Fantasico, Eddie soon learns enough to dazzle his classmates. One in particular, Marie, becomes the object of his affection, until she betrays him and her lover Dave pays for it with a rather gruesome death. At bthis point, Eddie hits the road, performing on the vaudeville circuit under the name of Moloch the Mstic. He was also honing his craft as a bank robber by using his various tricks to get away. He and his gang had beigger and better heists and evengtually ran afoul of the Minutemen. and gets arrested This happens over and over again until he eventually finds God while in prison. When he is at least released, he is greeted by Ozymandias who has a proposition for him.
This two issue mini-series is brought to us by the talented team of J. Michael Straczynski and Eduardo Risso. And, as much as I would like to love it, I find it boring. Moloch’s character is a poor, mistreated child who uses his talent to become a poor, mistreated evil man. If you k now WATCHMEN at all, you can see where this is headed: Ozymandias hires Moloch somehow to play a part in the grand scheme. Been there, done that. However, Risso’s art is dynamite!
And, as a continued bonus, each issue, with the exception of NITE OWL #2, which shipped so late that the installment has not been included, has two pages from John Higgin’s pirate drama(as he is now writing and illustrating) THE CURSE OF THE CRIMSON CORSAIR. RORSCHACH concludes the Evil That Men Do arc and DR. MAHATTAN #2 brings us a new arc. Wide Were His Dragon Wings. In it, our hero seeks the second piece which will set him free and, in doing so, survives ritualistic cultists and even encounters and old acquaintance.
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