DC's NEW 52 Month 21, Part 2

JUSTICE LEAGUE #21: The back-up becomes the feature as we get the final act in the origin of Shazam. We begin in Philadelphia where the Seven Deadly Sins are laying waste to the town, as Doctor Sivana realizes that they are too powerful for him. They find Mr. Bryer, enter him and he becomes a flaming devil with a pentagram on his chest. Black Adam threatens to kill Freddy if Shazam doesn’t release his power to him. So Billy says the magic word and suddenly Pedro, Mary, Eugene, Freddie and Darla are transformed into the Marvel Family. They join together and attacked Black Adam and the transformed Mr. Beyer. Billy applies some power to Tawny and the tiger attacks Black Adam, but in doing so, drains powers from the rest of the Family. Billy realizes he can’t beat Adam, says his magic word and returns to his old self, as do his brothers and sisters change back. He challenges Adam to a fair fight and Adam changes back, grows old and turns to dust. In the process, the Seven Deadly Sins leave Mr. Beyer and he is left naked in the st6reet. Everyone is happy, Magic has a new champion once again and all have a merry Christmas. Except for Doctor Sivana who discovers a talking worm in a bottle named Mr. Mind.

Okay…NOW I WANT MY REGULAR SERIES!!! Geoff Johns and Gary Frank have revitalized the Big Red Cheese for the new Millennium and I LOVE IT! The whole creation of the Marvel Family was pure genius; even if they don’t resemble the Marvel Family of old (Captain Marvel Jr. with long flowing Thorlike locks?). The dialogue was smart and snappy and this whole epic was a blast to read. Gary Frank’s art screams off the pages and you can credit a lot of that to colorist Brad Anderson. I so want this book to be a regular series that someone CAN’T SCREW UP! C’mon DC: you owe this to us after having shoved so many awful NEW 52 titles on us!

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #21: Madame Xanadu sees visions of death and destruction twenty years in the future, where most of the Justice League Dark are murdered by Doctor Destiny, leaving only her and Constantine, who is possessed by Deadman. Destiny calls her mother, she kisses Deadman and the end of the world begins. Xanadu wakes as Doctor Destiny informs the team that she is indeed his mother. Frankenstein attacks as Deadman goes to free Swamp Thing. Destiny is protected by a demon and Frankenstein is trapped in the Den of the Firefeeders. Destiny explains that he was raised by his father and nurtured by the Cult of the Cold Flame who gave him the Dreamstone. Deadman enters the Swamp Thing’s body and uses the wood from the House of Mystery to create an army that traps Destiny. Flash arrives, having taken care of the most of the nightmares that were causing havoc in Manhattan. Flash searches for Frankenstein and rescues him for the second time. Xanadu, having seen the future, grabs Frankenstein’s sword and cuts the ruby from his chest, reducing him to nothing. She gives the Dreamstone to Constantine and he asks her who Destiny's father was. She replies that some secrets are best left that way. She also knows that, if the world is to survive, she must walk the path alone.

Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes end this tale, which sets up the TRINITY WAR beginning next issue, with a bang! Xanadu obviously has secrets in her closet after all these years with the Demon Knight and, for all we know, Jason Blood or his alter ego is Doctor Destiny’s father. I could buy that. For that matter, it could be almost anyone in the mystical corner of the NEW 52. Either way, this was a nice ending to a cool lit5tle story that reminds us that there is a sordid past here or this may all come into play during the TRINITY WAR Great looking art from Mikel Janin and Vicente Cifuentes helped to push the story along, along I could have done without the Flash/Frankenstein connection. Does that mean our stitched together creature will be the new Kid Flash?

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #5:  Green Lantern Simon Baz gets his criminal record wiped by A.R.G.U.S. and joins the JLA., just as they received word that something bad has happened to Dr. Light. Elsewhere, we have a dead Catwoman that turns out to actually be Martian Manhunter in disguise and very much alive. Ivo sends his robotic Justice League after Hawkman, who is saved by Stargirl while Blockbuster and the Society’s leader are attacked by Manhunter and Catwoman, who has been hiding in the rafters. Green Arrow, who along with the other JLA members, has been freed by Stargirl, chases Ivo until he corners him in the same room as Chronos,  who causes a temporal neutral field to that freezes the manor in time. The Society can stay in the manor because of their coins, but the JLA must leave quickly. As they leave, the mysterious leader of the Society tells Martian Manhunter that it was nice to see him again. Despite capturing some of the members, the house disappears and takes the leader with it. Later, Amanda Waller tells Steve Trevor that she is disbanding the current JLA. Trevor fights for this team and she allows him to make this team into the team he thinks they can be. She gets a call from the Puzzler, explaining that the stained glass that got pieced together from the manor is part of an image of the Pandora Box. She checks in with Dr. Light and tells him she will help him if he helps her. In the back-up, we see how Martian Manhunter took Catwoman’s place and he remembers a parasite named Thoth who could inhabit any body with his thoughts. Could this be the leader of the Society?

First off, several buckets of rotten tomatoes need to be tossed at Geoff Johns for the swerve regarding Catwoman’s death. Sure, we all knew there was a way to get out of it, but with the whole stolen identity thing floating about from pieces laid down in her own title, I thought sure that would be the payoff. But Martian Manhunter? Hell, you may as well have gotten Plastic Man involved, or is he not here yet? Discounting that, this was an average issue that showed the good guys beating the bad guys, the mysterious leader still being mysterious and Steve Trevor standing behind his team, just as Amanda Waller had hoped for. Brett Booth and Norm Rapmund do a nice job on the art and we fly headlong into JUSTICE LEAGUE #22 where the TRINITY WAR goes on. Regarding the back-up: I tire of these tales. Okay, so we see how Martian Manhunter did the switch and then get a lame tale of his past that may or may not have anything to do with the current story. Seriously, find a way to get these back-ups gone, or do an anthology title which could have a BUNCH of these together for $3.99.

LARFLEEEZE #1: The issue begins with Larfleeze and his space butler, Stargrave, floating towards potential death. They are heading towards the edge of the universe, Larfleeze’s ring will be out of power in fifteen minutes and he’s lost all of his stuff, including his Power Battery. So he relates his origin story as the pair head towards doom. We see his birth and how he fought to survive being one of seventeen children. Eventually he finds the Orange Ring and Power Battery on Okaara. Stargrave realizes that Larfleeze’s ring should have died and believes that Larfleeze has become the battery. That is when Starjumper leaps from the void of creation at the edge of the universe and attacks, eating Larfleeze. His ring allows him to explode out of Starjumper’s stomach. The Laord of the Hunt emerges from the Void of Creation, upset that his dog was just killed. Larfleeze sees all of the potential treasures The Laord is carrying and, since he is all about material goods, he attacks. That doesn’t sound like such a great idea.

This is certainly a title that isn’t for everyone, even fans of the Green Lantern portion of the universe. Keith Giffen is responsible for the plot and the artistic breakdowns, J. M. DeMatteis is handling the script and Scott Kolins is the finish artist. The opening credit list is hilarious and right off the bat you KNOW this book seriously does not take itself seriously (credits like “Joey Cavalieri is worried” and “Kevin McGuire” will enjoy seeing his name in these credits. Larfleeze’ birth, complete with him dropping out of mom who continues to drag him, still attached by his umbilical cord, for several panels, is insane and just a small example of Keith Giffen’s crazy sense of humor. The art is quirky, the story is wacked and this book could be the sleeper of the year. Again, it’s not for everyone as Larfleeze is pretty much a one sided character who lives for what he can acquire. But Stargrave is the voice of reason, kind of the Alfred to an intergalactic Batman who is more like Lobo than Bruce Wayne. I figure to give it a few issues until, much like DEADPOOL was known to do, the joke runs thin.

THE MOVEMENT #2: Virtue leads Officers Witt and Peña to their headquarters in an old garment factory. Long ago, women died in a mudslide at this sweatshop. They meet the same girl they tried to assault last issue who slaps Whitt across the face before Virtue gets to lock them in a cell. Vengeance Moth informs Virtue that Mouse is in anguish because one of his favorite rats. has died. Although Virtue tries to comfort him, he feels the need to eat the dead rat named Trouncer. The teens have a meeting to discuss what do to next. Amongst much disagreement, Tremor threatens to quit if any harm comes to the policemen. Katharsis accuses Tremor of being a traitor and leaves to find the Cornea Killerby herself. She breaks into James Cannon’s penthouse and accuses him of ordering teams off the Cornea Killer case. He has two barely dressed women pull guns on her and tells them to shoot her. She overcomes the girls but Cannon has a group of  police to apprehend her, insisting that she IS a cop. Meanwhile, Captain Meers accounts for all of the missing police men except for the captured pair. Eric Yee insists they go back to the 'Tweens neighborhood to get them, but Meers squashes that plan because of the rats and the earthquake. Virtue and the rest visit the witch, only to be attacked by a group of thugs who find they are no match for the team’s abilities. The thugs run off as the Weather Witch known as Rainmaker appears.

I still have mixed emotions about this series as I still haven’t figured where Gail Simone is going with it. What I DO LIKE is the introduction of the Weather Witch known as Rainmaker. Could this be Sarah Rainmaker from the old GEN 13 series? Is THE MOVEMENT the new GEN 13, especially since THE RAVAGERS is no longer. Anyway, I like Simone’s writing, always have, and she is doing a nice job of dropping the smallest number of clues possible around this book. So your either give up on it now or hang in for the long haul. And Freddie Williams II’s art is cool. There is just something special and creepy about having a character wanting to eat his own dead rat friend and Williams pulls it of beautifully. So, I’m going to hang in for awhile, solely on Simone’s name and ability. Now, how this ties into THE GREEN TEAM is still anyone’s guess.

NIGHTWING #21: We begin with the back story of how Chocago’s super hero population was declining, due to a series of vigilante murders known as the "Mask Murders". The last known hero was Slipshift, who was gravely wounded but managed to use his ability to escape his intended killer. Meanwhile, Nightwing has been trapped by The Prankster and can only save himself by removing his mask. He douses the flames with a flame retardant capsule and gets free of his glass prison. The police arrive and Nightwing cons The Prankster into getting his vision back and actually rescues the villain from the police, and then knocks him out. When The Prankster wakes, Nightwing explains that he needs help tracing an email back to its source. The Prankster determines that Tony Zucco sent the email from inside City Hall and points to someone known as Billy Lester, who didn't exist until three years ago. Nightwing, despite promises otherwise, handcuffs the Prankster and leaves him for the police. Nightwing finds Lester's house and photos confirm that Lester is Zucco. When the police get to the roof where the Prankster was, all that is there is his mask. Meanwhile, Dick's roommate Michael is offered a video camera from the incident the night before. If Michael uses it, it could make his career. And why IS the police giving up evidence anyway?

Kyle Higgins and Brett Booth continue Dick Grayson’s Chicago adventure and this is some of his best adventures since he dug himself out of the sewer known as Bludhaven. The concept that Tony Zucco is alive and well will upset, and I am sure already has, many fans. But we all know that a tragic character comes full circle when they meet the source of their origin. Bruce Wayne dealt with Joe Chill, Peter Parker dealt with the burglar and Bruce banner has learned to embrace the Gamma Bomb. I’ve always been a fan of Brett Booth and that continues here. This is a totally fun book with Higgins managing to keep Dick away from the rest of the Bat Universe and stand on his own. Great job!

PHANTOM STRANGER #9: The issue begins with The Phantom Stranger strung up in a tree in Hell while Etrigan plays a pan flute. Through flashback, we learn that with the help of Justice League Dark, he has managed to descend into Hell to find his family. Once he arrived, Etrigan and The Sin Eater took him through a tour of Hell. Once he finds his family, they turn out of be soulless shells that are eating rats. To save his family, The Phantom Stranger offers Etrigan a deal, which is how he ended up strapped to the tree? The Sin Eater refuses to let the family go until The Stranger gives up his love and his memory of them. He agrees, but then we find out that Etrigan is really the Godhead that appears as a dog and gets his memories back. To truly get them back, The Stranger has to climb the spiral staircase to heaven. Meanwhile, Terrance Thirteen sits drunk in a bar mourning the fact that he killed The Phantom Stranger.

Now that Dan Didio is no longer plotting this title and it’s all in the hands of J. M. DeMatteis, the book actually ALMOST makes sense. Anytime you have a book with a whole bunch of the characters from The Dark in it, you should have a winner. And the fact that it took THIS LONG I blame on Dan Didio, because we all know how BADLY I HATED the first issue for it’s less than intelligent plot and super dumb dialogue. And you have to figure it needs to start working as this book gets renamed with the next issue to TRINITY OF SIN: THE PHANTOM STRANGER. When you throw in the art of Fernando Blanco, the book visually takes on this weird Dore style to it. It was a long wait but I’m glad to see it’s finally paying off for me!

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS:#21: Roy Harper is venting his frustrations about Jason Todd being mind wiped to his therapist Dr. Hugo Strange. Essence arrives and tells Starfire that Hugo Strange sold them put to claim the bounty on their heads. Starfire bursts into the session and tells Roy this news just as the Untitled shows up, causing Hugo Strange to run for his life. They reveal that Jason has been taken by the League of Assassins. Drakar says if Roy and Kori help them storm the Assassin's gates, they will let Jason go free, and they will never hear from the Untitled again. Kori refuses to join him as she knows they will be betrayed by the Untitled. Roy insists that he and Jason will come back and find her when they get out of this. Meanwhile,  Jason finds himself under attack by Rictus, Lady Shiva and Cheshire, who trained him even though he has no memory of it. Shiva suggests they reconsider the plans they have for Jason as they believe he is not ready. Jason gets led into the hidden city by December Graystone and Bronze Tiger: the city that Ra’s al Ghul has spent centuries building.

James Tynion IV continues to infuse some real nice energy into this title that only a few issues ago was lagging. I still have a lot of issues with Starfire’s character and really feel this should be a buddy book with Roy and Jason-kind of the new version of the old Ollie and Hal team.With the introduction of the League of Assassins into the NEW 52 universe, this presents a whole new set of chess pieces in play. In the OLD DCU, Bronze Tiger ended up being a part of the Suicide Squad and I could see that happening here, especially with developments over in that title. Julius Gopez is the artist this time around and his work is rather dynamic, especially his Bronze Tiger who never looked as mean and lean as this version. I rather like his style and certainly could go for seeing more of his work. 

RED LANTERNS #21:  Atrocitus kills Red lantern Phist because there is a Guardian listening device inside of him. He declares they are done being tools of Guardians. He sends out ten more rings to find ten new recruits while ordering the other Lanterns to take Rancorr’s constructs from him by force. Meanwhile, Hal Jordan informs Guy Gardner of how he has been appointed leader of the Green Lanterns and how he needs Guy to go undercover in the Red Lanterns. Guy is hesitant after having gone through being a Red Lantern before. Finally, at the Warrior’s Bar on Oa, finds a way to channel his rage and decides he must do as Jordan has asked. Guy returns to Ysmault, almost kills Atrocitus and takes his ring, thus becoming the new leader of the Red Lanterns.

And now this title gets good again! Charles Soule and Alessandro Vitti are the new creative team and infuse this book with something that Peter Milligan just couldn’t. I don’t know if I like it because it’s a new direction or because Vitti’s art is clean but also quirky enough to fit with this title. Soule has earned his spot on two very good books with dedicated fans: this one and SWAMP THING. He has a lot to prove, but apparently has some fans in the mainstream comic world as he starts writing THUNDERBOLTS for Marvel with issue #12. Let’s hope he can keep his momentum and focus in check on this title

SUICIDE SQUAD #21:  We start seventeen days from now as Deadshot and the team battles a giant with the promise that they will be free of the Squad. Flashback to now where Amanda Waller and her new adviser James Gordon Jr. watch thrusts a knife into the Unknown Soldier's gut. Harley heads to Waller’s control room and manages to knock her out with the butt of her knife and takes the remote detonator from her. Meanwhile, Deadshot learns he and Voltaic have survived death becausde they have received the Samsara serum made from Mitch Shelley's (Resurrection Man) DNA. Harley releases him and, when Cheetah begs him to let her out, he refuses and leaves her behind. Deadshot challenges the Soldier to hand-to-hand combat and defeats the bandaged soldier with a headbutt, before Gordon knocks him unconscious. Gordon arrives in the control room and cuts a deal with him that would allow the team to work better. Seventeen days later and Waller has been allowed to live provided that the team, consisting of Harley, Deadshot, King Shark and Cheetah, will be freed in 11 months.

Another fun filled issue of the best guilty pleasure title in the NEW 52. New writer Ales Kot(who will be leaving this title after issue #23), along with artist Patrick Zircher, continues to take this book so far away from the old DCU version that they should almost lose the SUICIDE SQUAD name and call it something different…but I guess THUNDERBOLTS was already taken! Based on the fact that we never got to see a proper end to TEAM 7, we really don’t know how Amanda Waller managed to get this gig and how she decided to pick the villains she did. But we do know that the addition of James Gordon Jr., who is NOT as dead as his sister, father and mother think, adds a whole new dimension to a team that is already the most unpredictable in comics today. Not only do we not know who will survive from issue to issue(although the body count has dropped substantially since the early issues), we don’t know which lunatic is running the asylum. Yes, this is still one of my favorite titles and has been that way since issue #1.

SUPERMAN #21:  The Queen of the Holistic Integration for Viral Equality (H.I.V.E.) is observing Hector Hammond and manages to get one of the S.T.A.R. Lab scientists to infect the other scientists with H.I.V.E. mind. This allows The Queen’s army to kidnap Hammond. Meanwhile in Gotham City, Clark Kent meets with a confidential source who turns out to be a female in battle armor toting a very large gun. She presents Clark with a folder with information on “The Twenty." Back at the kidnapping of Hector Hammond, a loose wire on his chair touches the water of the sewer he is beingi carried through and suddenly, and momentarily, he enters the minds of everyone in Metropols. But his presence leaves after effects that Superman is soon investigating. He rescues Lois when she thinks she’s invulnerable, he talks Jimmy Olsen off a ledge and has to convince Perry Whites that he isn’t Superman. At last, the drones bring Hector Hammond to the Queen. Unfortunately for her, he’s not unconscious and she is not in control.

 
How do you take one of the iconic characters in pop culture and ruin him? First make a pretty awful movie and then turn at least one of his FOUR comic books into a pile of poop! The Holistic Integration for Viral Equality? Well, that really isn’t much better than the Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination as it was known in the old DCU. Also, when did this become the adventures of Hector Hammond? If you really want to use the character, than USE HIM! Stop this whole “I’m a big headed comatose bad guy with potential”. By the way, did we forget that last issue ended with a disfigured Lana Lang wandering through a destroyed city in Superman’s mind? Apparently Scott Lobdell has phoned in another truly awful story with plotlines that just are silly. Perry White is Superman and Lois in invulnerable. When did this become the Silver Age of Comics again? Can we get a revived LOIS LANE SUPERMAN’S GIRLFRIEND? No, because they aren’t together in this NEW 52 Universe. And we’re are treated once again to Kenneth Rocafort’s art, which some folks may like but I find leftover from the Image school of minimalistic art. I cannot believe the Big Blue Boy Scout is playing second fiddle to just about everybody in the cast.

SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1: We begin in Nagasaki during the Second World War, where a bomb falls. When it opens, it reveals a man. Jumping to present day, Superman is trying to save a prototype space station called the Lighthouse that is just one of eight objects that have been hurled out of orbit today by an unknown enemy trying to destroy Earth. Not only is the station manned, it is also nuclear equipped. He uses his X-Ray vision to short out the nuclear battery, grabs the astronauts in mid-air and saves them, even as the Lighthouse lands hard. Jimmy Olsen calls Clark Kent to inform him of Superman’s successful mission and informs him he believes that this could be the work of a cyber-terrorist group called Ascension. Meanwhile, prisoner Lex Luthor quietly reads as his fellow prisoners cause havoc on the helicopter they are riding in. Superman saves the day and believes Luthor may be involved in all of these incidents. Luthor explains that his research was stolen years ago, in a well-documented theft. Later, Jimmy credits Clark for quitting the evil empire known as The Daily Planet, while Lois critiques him for writing a story about the lighthouse and not mentioning Superman and to suggest that Ascension might have been responsible. She also tells him that the seventh object had hit the water near Thailand, which is not what Superman believed. When he arrives there, he discovers a giant hand-print on the side of it. He finds himself fired upon by submarines, under the orders of General Sam Lane, who wanted the sub destroyed. General Lane is in a secret underground base with a weapon they have hiding for 75 years-a weapon that has been working for the US government.
 

I don’t quite know what Scott Snyder and Jim Lee have in mind for this title but I fear that FOUR Superman titles is at least two too many and harkens back to the bloated days of the Old DCU. And what timeline are we working with here. I assume this is modern day as Luthor is under arrest. But wasn’t ACTION COMICS set five years in the past at one point and we know the near Batman team-up title is set in the past. So, where does this fall in continuity? On the plus side, Snyder’s writing is as satisfying as ever and Jim Lee’s art is…well: it’s Jim Lee. I was a little pissed off about the fold in, semi glued posted that you needed a road map to undo without screwing up your mint comic! 

SWAMP THING #21:  Now living in a basin in Louisiana, Swamp Thing is visited by a woman shouting "Sanctuarium Folium Viride!"  She says her name is Capucine and she has come to invoke the right of "The Sanctuary of the Green Leaf", as she was promised by his predecessor some eight hundred years ago. That is when a pair of men blows his head off with a shotgun. They have been hunting Capucine who, it has been said has ten centuries of life and if a warrior finds her and kills her, he gets those years. Even though she is unarmed, she kills one of them by hand and a second with his own sword. The Parliament of Trees let him enter the Green so he can see the story from the former Avatar. He arrives in medieval France at a witch burning that is broken up by an Avatar of the Green, teling the villagers that Sanctuarium Folium Viride has been invoked. The Avatar tells Alec that those who worshipped nature were persecuted as heretics and witches and he offered the Sanctuary of the Green Leaf to any who asked. The Avatar is suddenly destroyed and Alec leaves the Green, emerging next to Capucine. Alec traces the source of the Seeder in Scotland and as he travels there, Capucine says that someone is coming for her and her time is short.

Charles Soule and Jesus Saiz try and establish themselves as the new kids in the swamp. This is a nice effort which propels future stories forward. Soule’s writing has a cool flair to it and Saiz’ art is clean and not as artsy as Paquette’s was. Still, something seems missing. Oh…I know: Abby. I’m sorry: without the love of Alec Holland’s afterlife, the character feels empty and alone. It remains to be seen how this works in future issues. Who knows: maybe Capucine will be the next Abby. After all, if Doctor Who can change companions like some folks change socks…

TEEN TITANS #21:  The Teen Titans fight the sons of Trigon. Beast Boy transforms into a T. Rex to help in the attack. Superboy gets sheathed in Raven’s Soul Self energy while Bunker and Wonder Girl battles their demon in Central Park and Kid Flash and Solstice battle the other demon brother downtown. Superboy’s enhanced power soon fades and Belial attempts to finish him off when Robin cuts off Belial’s hands with the wings on his costume. Bunker finishes off his demon by turning into a pile of bricks and burying him. Kid Flash has been possessed by his demon but Solstice hits him with a rock which knocks the demon out of him. Then they kiss. Meanwhile, Raven pulls out Belial’s heart, subduing the last of the brothers. Suddenly Trigon returns and takes possession of Bunker, Superboy, Kid Flash, and Wonder Girl.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse…it does! Scott Lobdell gets credit for the story, but Tony Bedard wrote the dialogue, so I haven’t quite figured out who to blame the most, but I think I lay this one at Lobdell’s feet. The cover shows the Titans on a WANTED poster. Apparently, the closest we get to that is them being watched by Amanda Waller and her cronies. So, last issue we had a bogus cover and we get another this month….with NOTHING TO DO with ANYTHING IN THIS STORY! Eddie Barrows and Jesus Merino do a bang up job on the art, but that really can’t save this title. Put the fork in it: I am done!

WONDER WOMAN #21:  Lennox, Hera and Zola find themselves being held at bay by the First Born and Cassandra. Wonder Woman arrives and attacks the First Born. Cassandra chases after Zola and explains how she was raised by Lennox. Suddenly a Boom Tube appears to save Wonder Woman and Lennox, who are taking a severe beating at the hands of the First Born. Orion arrives and realizes that the First Born is truly the threat he has been sent to end. His Astro Harness gathers up Zola and Zeke and she warns the rest to join her so they can escape into a Boom Tube. The First Born tries to pry open the Tube and it brings the Boom Tube to critical mass. Lennox decides to sacrifice himself, leaving the Harness and knocking the First Born out of the Tube. On the other side, they are greeted by Highfather, who welcomes them to New Genesis.

Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang do a fantastic job of bringing this story arc to a close. We lose Lennox to the graveyard of heroes, but we gain Highfather and New Genesis in the process. I continue to be a big supporter of this title as I think Azzarello’s spins on these classic characters is going to go down as being as important to the Amazon as some of the other legendary creators’ runs. And Cliff Chaing’s often imitated style is a perfect fit. Now that the characters of New Genesis are being reintroduced, I can’t wait to see what comes next.

WORLDS’ FINEST #13: Huntress and Power Girl break into the Securities and Exchange Commission building, which has approved a hostile takeover of Starr Industries by Holt Industries, in search of confidential documents they have on Starr. Soon an Apokoliptian Warhound arrives and attacks them. Realizing they are out gunned, the pair to safety. Helena and Karen hide in a home in Alexandria, Virginia but are discovered by the Warhound and attacked again. Power Girl leads the dog to a nearby factory while Helena causes an electrical transformer to short out and kill the creature. Meanwhile, DeSaad tortures and eventually murders Kubu for failing him. He then has an agent named Marbury transformed into a creature and tells him to discover if Karen Starr has the power to leave this Earth.

Paul Levitz continues on with the tale of the Earth 2’s version of THELMA AND LOUISE and it continues to be kind of a fun trip. Robson Rocha is the artist this time around and it’s okay. There is nothing spectacular about his work, but it doesn’t make me want to throw up! And Lezitz’ work on this is much more intelligent than it was on THE HUNTRESS mini-series.

DC NEW 52 MONTH 21, Part 1

ACTION COMICS #21: Superman continues to battle the hybrid creature with the help of a holographic transmitted Dr. Veritas, who teleports a red light device to him. Suddenly Lex Luthor arrives in his warsuit to evict the Man of Steel from Earth. Superman convinces Jimmy and Lois to lead the hybrid humans to safety, even as Luthor tells Superman he is allowing the virus to spread. Lois records the confrontation between Superman and Luthor on her phone, specifically when Luthor admits he created the virus. Unfortunately, she drops her phone in the midst of their battle. After a trip to the sun to regain his energy, Superman defeats Luthor but id disappointed to hear the police consider arresting HIM. Lois and jimmy, with no physical evidence explain the real story to the police. The following day, Jimmy and Lois meet with Clark, who gives her back her phone that he claims washed up on the river shore. Lois hugs him, declaring him the best friend ever, even as she goes off on a date with her boyfriend, Jon Carroll. In the back-up, Lara breaks ups with her lover as he falls under the influence of Colonel Zod. And Zod has sent men to kill Jor-El.

The Andy Diggle/Tony Daniels era continues and it just gets really dumb! Luthor shows up in his battle suit and spends way too much time doing his monologue. Superman gets depressed because people don’t understand him(is this supposed to tie in with how he is treated in the new movie?). Lois’ phone survives an epic battle and she BELIEVES it washed up on the river shore and was found by Clark after an exhaustive search. Clark gets dumped…again. The dialogue is awful and the plot is equally bad with holes to drive a bus through. And the only thing worse than the main story is the back-up, which continues to give us the early days of Lara, Jor-El and Zod but really does nothing for me. Personally, I cannot wait until November when Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder sink their creative teeth into this title.

ALL STAR WESTERN #21: We begin with Booster and Jonah fleeing from the remains of Clem Hootkins' gang. Unfortunately, Booster ends up driving the horse drawn cart they are in over a cliff. Jonah grabs Booster who apparently floats through the air. Jonah drops off Booster and falls to the ground. When he wakes, he realizes he is in Gotham’s future, where he finds a family being attacked by a gang of mutants and fights them. Before he can reach the family, he finds himself in battle with the Gotham City Police Department and the Batwing. Hex mentions Amadeus Arkham and Batwing think he is an escaped mental patient and he knocks him out. When Jonah wakes, he is in a padded cell and has been labeled a lunatic. In the back-up, something in Dr. Thirteen’s garlic fueled blood poisons Mircalla and causes the death of her and her minions. Adam is left to his own devices as the team strips him naked and lead him in the desert. Before all is done, Jenny offers herself to Dr. Thirteen.

This was a wild issue this time around as Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti send our hero off to the future of Gotham City. And it’s not just ANY future: it looks to be the future of THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. Well, there are mutants here so it MAY be possible, unless that timeline doesn’t exits any longer. Oh yeah: our hero needs to know that you can’t say “colored” any more. But, at the same time, the GCPD have to know that “redneck” is equally offensive. Art for Moritat is on target as it always is. Regarding the back-up, AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE: I don’t care! First off, I don’t need to bear witness to a 19^th Century Stormwatch team, even if it does color the future characters and their descendants. Second: if I wanted vampires in the desert, I would watch FROM DUSK TILL DAWN.

ANIMAL MAN #21: As we learned last issue, Buddy baker has been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his role in the film TIGHTS. His manager calls him at the apartment he has been living in since his family threw him out and implores him to go back to work. Buddy reads about pet abductions in the area and decides he must investigate. He ends up at a seemingly abandoned warehouse, where he feels the pain of all the animals who suffered there.  Meanwhile, Ellen and Maxine moved to Ellen’s mothers’ farm in Sacramento. Maxine pretends to go to sleep, but actually ends up talking to her cat Socks. Maxine decides she and Socks will travel to The Red to revive her brother Cliff. They encounter the Shepherd who says the Totems have mellowed a bit but she must still maintain some decorum when speaking to them. She tells them she wants to be their avatar, but only if they do it while she's asleep and that they allow her, Shepherd and Socks to look for Cliff, which they agree too. Back at the warehouse, Buddy makes his way into the basement of the warehouse and discovers all the animals have been subjected to horrible experiments. He runs into the person responsible, who has grafted the animals' body parts onto his body. The creature flees and Buddy gives chase, but runs straight into the paparazzi.

Jeff Lemire once again continues to amp up the complete creepiness of this title. We have a creature made up of animal parts that has been torturing small animals? Wow! That just turns all the animal lovers completely off! And then, we get sweet little Maxine preparing to resurrect her brother? THAT can’t be good! Great looking art from Steve Pugh and Francis Portella too!

AQUAMAN #21: Deep beneath the Bermuda Triangle, Mera has a long overdue meeting with Nereus, who kisses her passionately claiming she is his wife. Meanwhile, her REAL husband is off hunting The Scavenger and tears up one of his submarines to discover that he is not there. In Medical Cove. an Atlantean who was savaged by The Scavenger is stabilized until he is well enough to operate on, while some plan to rescue Orm from a human jail. Arthur goes to find his wife and discovers that Mera, Nereus, and the rest have been frozen by the alleged First King of Atlantis. While Vulko screams to see Aquaman prior to his trial beginning, The Scavanger’s plan is revealed. He has implanted a tracking devise inside the wooden Atlantean and now he and his followers have invaded Atlantis. 

The DEATH OF A KING storyline continues on as all of the pieces begin to fall into place. Kudos to Geoff Johns and Paul Pelletier for churning out another killer chapter in this soon to be epic. We get a glimpse at Mera’s background, the First King of Atlantis, the real story behind the Bermuda Triangle and proof that The Scavenger is truly a villain to be reckoned with and deserves a place in the pantheon of Aquaman bad guys.   

BATGIRL #21:  Nightwing returns to Gotham City and calls Barbara Gordon to talk about James death, making the comparison to how he lost his brother in Damian. Meanwhile, Barbara is trying to deal with the hostage situation involving the Ventriloquist and hacks into the police database. She learns that the Ventriloquist is Shauna Belzer. Meanwhile, Jim Gordon meets with his ex-wife and is sad to discover she is leaving again.  Later that night, Shauna entertains Xavia while she sits at the dinner table with the corpses of Shauna's parents. Shauna fears her dummy, named Ferdie, thinks Xavia more attractive than her and demands he drill out the singer’s eyes. Batgirl arrives and ends up battling the corpses, accidentally slice the father’s head with her Batarang, before defeats them and handcuffing them to a table. Soon she is battling with Ferdie, who wounds her with his drilling before she causes him to be destroyed by an exploding Batarang to his head. Shauna is soon knocked out by our hero and Xavia is recues, even though Batgirl leaves to avoid being caught by the police. Later that night, while she and Alysia eat Snickerdoodles, Barabra’s date arrives: Ricky.

Yeah…this one has it all: romance, drama…animated corpses. We even get Nightwing proving to be a jerk by calling Barbara up to console her while whining about losing his “brother”. I am so glad to have Gail Simone back on this book as she continues to write some great stuff...even if we probably will never find out HOW Babs got her legs back. Fernando Pasarin does a beautiful job on the art and Alex Garner’s cover is eerie and rocking! This is quickly becoming one of my “must read” first books in the Batman Family of titles.

BATMAN #21: We start six years ago when Gotham City seems to think that Batman is dead. He soon proves he is not. Five months earlier, Batman had been working under cover to try to bring down the Red Hood Gang. He ends up in a standoff and discovers that his new grappling cannon needs improvement and ends up in Gotham Bay for his troubles. Later, we learn that the world thinks that Bruce Wayne is dead and Bruce wants to keep it that way. As he is about to leave, he is surprised by the appearance of his uncle Philip Kane. Kane explains he’s been trying to keep track of him since he disappeared and finally figured out that he was back when Alfred moved into Crime Alley. He drives him to the new home of Wayne Enterprises, which had merged with Kane Chemicals. Kane had Bruce declared dead so that he could take control of the company. He told Bruce a story about when HIS father realized he was dying and Bruce recalled his father showing him a visual mapper that used a 360 degree camera that Lucius Fox had designed. That night, Kane told his strategist that Bruce wasn’t going to play along with him and Edward Nygma tells him the simplest answer would be to kill Bruce Wayne.

In the back-up, a 19 year old Bruce Wayne learns stunt driving from a criminal named Miguel that Bruce manages to turn on and turn into the local police.

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo begin the ZERO YEAR event here with a tale of Bruce’ past AND the debut of Edward Nygma, who all comic fans know as The Riddler. There are so many great months in this issue, especially Nygma’s appearance AND the legendary Giant Penny, which is in front of Wayne Enterprises. Yeah-those were two MAJOR FANBOY moments for me! As far as the back-up by Snyder, James Tynion IV and Rafael Albuquerque: like most of the back-ups in DC titles, I can do without it. It’s a meaningless little tale that shows off Bruce as a 19 year old future superhero.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #21: Batgirl is battling drug-runners at the Gotham City Docks and meets Batman, who lends a hand to dispatch the crooks. Later, Batgirl watches her father and feels responsible for her brother’s death. Elsewhere, Harvey Bullock is on the scene of a hostage taking and Batman intervenes, offering himself up as a hostage to free the civilians. The offer goes by the boards and Batman ends up fighting the hostage takers with enough brutality that Bullock needs to intervene. Batman kicks him in the stomach and warns him to NEVER touch him. Returning back to the cave, Batman finds Barbara waiting for him and criticizes him for his violent crusade. She then breaks into the display case where Damian's costume is kept and offers to put it on if Batman ever needs a Robin. Batman orders her to get out and takes the costume back.

Peter Tomasi continues to document that slow decent into hell for the Dark Knight. As with every issue since the death of Damian Wayne, the title changes again. Technically, it’s BATMAN AND BATGIRL #21, but that just gets WAY TOO CONFUSING, so we’ll call it BATMAN AND ROBIN. It’s an interesting story, as we realize that Batman and Batgirl are both going through their own private hells.  Cliff Richards does an adequate job on the art, but I miss Patrick Gleason. 

BATMAN INCORPORATED #12: Batman has bats from the Bat Cave attacking the transformed Man bats and changing them back to normal because these bats contain the antidote. That allows Batman and the surviving members of Batman incorporated to be free to take out their frustrations on the murdering brother of Damian Wayne. Bloody and defeated, he ends up back with Talia, who beheads him and proceeds to blow up Wayne Industries building. At the end of the issue, Talia is inside the Bat cave and ready to face off against her former lover. 

Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham gallop along to the epic conclusion of this series. Morrison’s grand plan is coming to fruition and it ends with a battle between ex-lovers. This issue was light on dialogue but heavy on action and gore. And that’s fine because this issue was all about Bruce and company trying to save Gotham City and exact a small amount of revenge on Damian’s murderer. Burnham’s art is killer and so is the action. Despite everything Morrison has done to mess with Bruce Wayne’s life and the mythos of the characters, I will be sad to see this series end.

BATMAN SUPERMAN #1: Many years ago, a young Clark Kent visited Gotham City for the first time. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne was watching a group of boys bully a Middle Eastern boy named Zack. Bruce decides to watch and see what happens but Clark intervenes. Clark introduces himself as a reporter for the Metropolis Daily Star and he says he is investigating the murder of three Wayne Enterprise employees in Metropolis. Wayne tells him to stay out of it and that Kent should go back to the small town he came from because he will never understand the city. Soon, word comes that one of the Wayne employees fell victim to Catwoman. Batman ends up in a fight with her and has to break his employees’ wrist to stop him from activating stolen titanium robots from catching Catwoman. Superman arrives and takes out the robots with ease and then assumes the Batman is the murderer. He sets off a bomb which shocks and stuns Superman and then he finds himself having household appliances dropped on his head by an obviously possessed Catwoman. Both heroes head towards each other but a blinding flash sends Superman to Smallville. There he sees Batman, in a different costume, who has activated a shield of Kryptonite radiation to protect himself. Superman battles him, accidentally burning down his father's tree with his heat-vision in the process. Their fight was interrupted by the voice of Jonathan Kent, who can’t understand why his son is acting this way.


Greg Pak, the man responsible for so many great Hulk tales over at Marvel introduces his take on the origins of the Superman/Batman team. Well, not really the team as they were friends in the old DCU and here they just exist. This issue represents the first meeting of the two legendary heroes and it’s a winner! We get to see a Gotham City filled with the dregs of humanity. We get to see a nice parallel that never really was hammered home before: in this universe, there is an amazing similarity between Clark and Bruce’s ascent into manhood.  Clark’s parents die in a car crash (technically murdered) on the night of his prom and that partially leads to him going to Metropolis. Bruce’s parents are killed and that leads to his decision. Jae Lee’s art is his typical super stuff and half the reason to buy the title. So the book is really cool and, in addition to this, Pak’s next assignment takes him to ACTION COMICS where he can continue tgo craft the legend of the Man of Steel.

BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #21: Picking up where the last issue left off, Batman leaves the scene of the death of Natalya Trusevich in search of seeking his revenge on the Mad Hatter. Alfred tries to convince Batman not to go after the villain in the mental state he is in. Batman replies that if Alfred tries to stop him, he will run him down. Reaching the Hatter's underground lair, Batman finds himself attacked by Gothamites who have fallen under the Hatter's control. Freeing himself, he runs into Tweedle-Dum and Batman deactivates the mind-controlling device he has. Once the Hatter and the Dark Knight meet, Hatter blows hallucinogenic dust into his enemy's face. Overtaken by horrific visions, he eventually breaks free of the drug and breaks Tweedle Dee’s jaw. Batman then proceeds to beat Hatter to the point of near death, knocking the unconscious into a pool of water. Alfred is forced to remind Bruce that if he lets Tetch die, he will be no better than the villain and he saves him. One month later, despite Alfred asking Bruce to consider giving up being the Batman for Natalya, he returns to duty.

This has been a great story. Gregg Hurwitz’ has managed to take the Mad Hatter, someone I always considered to be a second tier villain at best. Hurwitz has turned him loose and let him become a major, A list psychopath! And, at the same time, there was a hint of his troubled past which provided some great pathos to the troubled character. Coupled with, for most of this storyline, Ethan Van Sciver’s highly detailed and incredibly expressive art, this title has been given new life and continues to impress.

BATWOMAN #21: We get a tale that begins with Killer Croc who was recovered by Kyle Abbot’s Religion of Crime and began a relationship with a reptilian woman named Claire. A man named Jered, along with Claire, suggests he can be their king by avenging Abbot and killing Batwoman. They decide that Maggie Sawyer MAY be Batwoman but Croc discovers that Sawyer and Batwoman are actually lovers. he attacks and is surprised when they team up on him. With Hawkfire arriving, he realizes that Batwoman has family and if she dies, more will come after him. He runs away and heads back to the tunnels and is confronted by Jered and Claire. He runs Jered through with his sword and tells Claire that Gotham is not safe and they need to flee, especially since she carries his child.

Just what we all need: a little baby Killer Croc running about! J. H. Williams III and W. Hadem Blackman give us a nice little story that sets future events in motion while tying up events from the Medusa storyline. Of course, I can’t figure whether Croc is a hero or a villain now. We know that he was an AA mentor to Roy Harper and we also know he became the hydra that almost destroyed Gotham City. So, do you cheer for him or not? It’s kind of like watching wrestling! Art by Francesco Francavilla is nice-it’s not Williams II, but it fits the book. I still love this character, even despite the ups and downs over the last year or so.

BIRDS OF PREY #21:  In a tale that continues both from last issue and TALON #8, Batgirl and Strix find themselves attacked by Talon Calvin Rose, who announces he is Strix’ executioner. He basically is here to attack her because the Court of Owls owns him and he is trying to protect Casey and Sarah Washington by doing their bidding. Calvin realizes how badly Strix has been hurt in her life by seeing the scars beneath her face mask. He throws his weapons aside and expects Strix to behead him. But she writes the word "who?" into the floor. He tells her that his friends will be tortured and killed if he doesn't bring back proof that he killed Strix to the Court. Strix begins leading him away, appearing as if she will help him in his fight. Meanwhile, Condor attempts to recover the hard drive from one of the computers in the lab. At one point, he removes his helmet, introduces himself as Ben and explains the real reason he has joined The Birds of Prey was to be close to her. And then he kisses her! 

Great-now we have a love story! I miss the old days of ass-kicking and such with Oracle at the helm. I REALLY MISS Lady Blackhawk. That having been said…again…Christy Marx delivers a decent story that, unfortunately, leads into a title I DON’T read, since I never really cared for Calvin Rose’ character. Romano Molenaar does a great job on the art and that helps kicks the book in all the right places. Next issue: we don’t know. All we know is that this continues into TALON #9. Tune in next month and we’ll see more kissing from the Birds(i.e. Condor and Canary).

CATWOMAN #21: While the war over Badlands continues, Catwoman has taken to saving the denizens of the place, including one girl who risked her life for a jug of milk. She meets with Rat-Tail and they examine the catapults that have been built to help them in the war. Soon, Volt attacks but one of the Rat-Tail's home-made bottle-bombs knocks him into a pool of water infused with a live electric line. It only makes him stronger than before. Escaping and regrouping, Catwoman is told the girl with the milk is Joe Paffo’s daughter Tess. Penguin realizes he is losing this war and, after the Black Ice debacle, he orders Lark to find a way to get the real name for Catwoman out of their Gwen Altamont, who they have as their prisoner. He flies a helicopter to the Badlands and warns Catwoman that if she shows affection towards anyone, we will kill them. He launches a bomb that opens up a hole up underneath Rat-Tail, causing him to fall him. Catwoman tries to save him and pulls out a stray cat instead.

Ann Nocenti, despite being overly wordy and sometimes sending stories off in vague directions, is writing probably one of the better pieces of her career. This whole Gang War story against the Penguin is great, although Catwoman and Rat Tail don’t strike me as the ideal couple. I do like the introduction of Joe Pazzo’s daughter into the mix and I’m sure there will come a moment when these two cross paths with either tragic or vengeful results. And let me not forget that Rafa Sandoval’s art is improving with each issue and becoming more of a fit for these characters every month.

CONSTANTINE #4: John Constantine is upset because of recent events. He goes to the Joint Bar and is warned that Papa Midnite's men are looking for him. He had stolen a sounding skull from the Haitian crime lord and he is looking to exact revenge. Constantine is captured by him, but they reach a truce to face a common enemy in the form of the Cult of the Cold Flame. Constantine goes to visit Zatanna and informs her that Jaimini Sargent has returned as Sargon. This upsets Zatanna, as they were childhood friends. Leaving her, he runs into a con man named Third-Time Tommy and sends him back to Sargon. When John returns home, Dotty’s bird tells him that tomorrow there will be fifty-million deaths when light falls, and he may be one of them.

Yeah, I know: I swore I was done with the last issue. Unfortunately the lure of the upcoming TRINITY WAR made this title too tempting to pass up as the repercussions involving the magical folks in the NEW 52 Universe could be huge. Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes are responsible for a nice story that bridges the first three issues from what comes next. Fabiano Neves does the art and there is some grisly stuff here, especially when we get to Papa Midnite and his torture chamber involving the members of the Cult of the Cold Flame. While it doesn’t measure up to the stuff we see in WALKING DEAD, it is pretty grisly for a mainstream T+ comic.

DEMON KNIGHTS #21:  The team is at what we presume to be the final door leading to the Holy Grail. Through use of a transportal spell, Jason Blood and Vandal Savage to a great treasure room, which Savage immediately begins to loot, while Jason searches and finds Merlin’s Box, which contains the Grail. They also meet up with the giants who are the guardians of the room. Calling Etrigan forth, the Demon proceeds to be beat upon while Jason Blood goes to Hell with the Merlin Box. Jason tries to leverage Lucifer to send him back to al-Wadi and separate himselfe from Etrigan. What he DOES DO is bring Etrigan to Hell, leaving Savage alone with the two giants. Lucifer then sends Jason back to the others and he announces that “Vandal Savage finally got what was coming to him" as we see an unconscious and bloody Vandal Savage.

Robert Venditti heads towards the conclusion of this series with issue #23 by seemingly uniting Sir Ystin with the Holy Grail. At the same time, Ystin and Exoristos cement their love for each other with a serious lip locking! What happens in the next two issues that will set the future for these characters? We know that Etrigan remain buried under London for six hundred years because he didn’t have a human host. So somehow he needs to get out of Hell, Vandal Savage needs to continue to live on(after all, he became a serial killer as documented in DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS) and Madame Xanadu needs to keep herself alive to be a part of JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK. On the art side of the ledger, Chad Hardin drops the ball, as everyone is illustrated with these angular features that look more art school experiment than comic art.

DETECTIVE COMICS #21: We learn that Bruce Wayne had watched the girl he loved, Mio, die ten years ago after she betrayed him and killed Matsuda, their trainer. In actuality, she survived and became part of the League of Assassins. There is an event at Wayne Tower and Harper Row, who is hanging outside with her brother Cullen, notices a suspicious woman in white, who seems to have been there for a long time, making Harper suspicious. Harper follows her into Wayne Tower and watches as the woman creates a cross-bow to assassinate the Bhutanese Prime Minister. Alfred has observed Harper’s actions and Batman arrives to battle the would-be assassin. Calling herself Penumbra she battles the Dark Knight, even as Harper, having gone to the ground floor and advised police of the incident, manages to shine police flood lights on the 14th floor window. Batman realizes that Penumbra is Mio. Confused by the fact that Batman knows her, she missteps, falling towards the ground, but disappears in mid-air and never reaches the ground. Mio is returned to her master, who has her put in a dungeon as punishment for her failure.  In the back-up, Kirk Langstrom may be turning into Man-Bat at night and murdering people, but he doesn’t know for sure.

It’s time for me to start off by beating up on DC Editorial once again. Underneath a beautiful cover by Jason Fabok and Jeremy Cox, we get a story from John Layman that continues to tease the possibility of Harper Row entering into the Bat Family in some way. We meet Bruce’ old flame and get a glimpse inside the League of Assassins, specifically a shadowy figure that we can only assume is Ra’s Al Ghul. The back-up by Andy Clarke and Layman is just a great excuse to fill the book, although Clarke’s art rocks! Oh yeah-back to DC Editorial and that great cover. It has Batman in battle with Penumbra and Catwoman. CATWOMAN? She appears NOWEHERE in this book. Oh I get it: it’s symbolic as Batman is entangled with two of his ex-lovers. DUH! That is ridiculous. DC Editorial screwed up!

DIAL H #13:  The entire Dial Bunch, along with Nelson and Roxie, have been taken to a dimension of living graffiti by Open-Window Man. But they arrive too late to prevent a young boy from being orphaned by crime. Roxie is searching for something a J-Dial.  If she and Bansa can find this Dial and fix it, they might be able to make the jump to the Fixer's home base. Unfortunately, it's only graffiti on a wall. Of all the Dial Bunch members, only Open Window Man is the only one without powers. he was recruited by Bansa after his partner Boy Chimney was killed. Bansa thought she might be responsible as her dial removes powers. Open Window Man’s origin is much like that of Batman except her was inspired by an open window instead of a bat. He gets Nem to dial up a bus and Open Window Man crawls through one of the windows and ends up leaping out through a window in graffiti world. The heroes give up the J-Dial so he can avenge Captain Random. When he leaves the graffiti world, he drew a super-hero hideout underneath the boy’s house. The boy explains he can't accept it because it doesn’t belong here, even if it would help him fulfill his destiny. Open-Window Man wipes the cave he drew off of the wall, and says goodbye as they all leave this dimension.

Despite it being as weird as anything else that has run through this series, this is one of the most lucid and touching episodes. Despite that, this title has confused so many people that DC is pulling the plus in August with issue #15. Most comic fans figured this title would be strange with China Mieville at the helm and they were right. What makes this issue work is the origin of Open Window Man and how they tie together with the kid in graffiti world AND Bruce Wayne. And Alberto Ponticelli’s art is quirky as always and pretty spectacular too. Although the title will be missed by some, hopefully the character will end up in something like JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK. 

EARTH 2#13:  Captain Steel arrives in Rio de Janeiro to enter one of the flaming pits. Khan is criticized by his superiors, but reminds them of the Red Files: a program where super-humans were created, including Red Tornado and Red Arrow. Khan explains why he chose Captain Steel for the mission. Hank was born with a defect that made his bones brittle and his father invented a metal substance that bonded to Hank’s DNA, making him more metal than man and the World Army’s first wonder. He gets inside of what is known as the Red Torpedo and enters the fire pit. Meanwhile, Hawkgirl continues to investigate Sam Zhao’s death. Attacked by Parademons, she is aided by the new Batman. A day and a half later, a badly injured Captain Steel emerges from the pit, declaring the pit needs to be sealed off. The Red Lantern is there and, if she gets free, the world will die.

James Robinson continues what will be his final story for both DC Comics and EARTH 2, effective with issue #16, as he has decided to forgo the mainstream and work with Boom Studios. This story is a load of fun as we get a look inside of Captain Steel’s origin, learn about the Red Files AND see more of the new batman, whoever he or she may be. And there’s a Red Lantern too? I wonder if it turns out to be an Earth 2 version of Guy Gardner. Anyway, the story is fun and Yildiray Cinar provides some really nice looking art, although I am getting tired of DC throwing in new artists on titles every second or third issue. Whatever happened to the days when an artists, like Jack Kirby, would stay on a title for years?

GREEN ARROW #21: Stuck in the Arizona desert, Magus finally gives Oliver some answers.  Oliver finds himself in a hallucination where he finds himself on the island and being attacked by versions of the super-villains he has fought. This transitions into a vision involving his father, Emerson and the Arrow Clan. When he comes out of the vision, Magus explains that the Outsiders are a collective of seven clans and that, centuries ago, he had been a member of one of those clans. Oliver’s father became aware of the Outsiders when he discovered a secret vault belonging to his great grandfather. The third man in the vision was Simon Lacroix, who is now Komodo. Lacroix killed Richard Queen to gain the legacy of the Arrow Clan, which contradicts the story Emerson had told Moira. Richard had tried to instill archery in his son when he was young and Emerson arranged to have Oliver stranded on the island with the bow so he would be ready when Komodo came for him. Magus leaves him with John Butcher: the man who attacked him on the highway and stranded him in the desert. Butcher is a member of the Axe Clan and a friend. Magus instructs Oliver to go to Vlatava, where he will confront his greatest challenge ever. Oliver returns to Seattle and enlists the aim of Henry Fyff and Naomi as part of Team Arrow. Using his JLA salary, he walks away from Queen Industries to fight the corporate system as Green Arrow.

I so love the Jeff Lemire/Andrea Sorrentino era on this title. This is such a fresh take on a classic character who has managed to turn from playboy cry-baby to a someone searching for answers from his life. We finally get the answers we have wanted from the beginning, even those of us who came to this title late: who is Komodo, who are the Outsiders and why was the bow so important to have on that island. Lemire characterization of the main and supporting players is great! Something we have seen from Lemire, whether it be this title, ANIMAL MAN, FRANKENSTEIN, or even SWEET TOOTH, he knows how to write cool dialogue and convincing characters who we care for. He has turned the once and future Ollie Queen from boring hero to someone who could eventually fill the classic Ollie Queen shoes. And Andrea Sorrentino was such a dominant force on I, VAMPIRE that I knew he would kill it here and has!

GREEN LANTERN #21: The new era of this title begins in the near future with the Green Lantern Corps, led by Hal Jordan, are on Oa and realize that the Central Battery is dead. We flashback to now as Carol Ferris breaks up with Hal. In the middle of this, he is called away to see Kyle Rayner and the Bohemian Guardians of the Universe are sorting through the evidence vault on Oa and name Hal the leader of the Green Lantern Corps. Soon he is leading the Corps against an invasion by Larfleeze and the Orange Lantern Corps. That’s when Jordan’s new recruits show up.

I realize that Geoff Johns work on this title is a tough act to follow but to say I was totally underwhelmed by this whole issue would be a major understatement. I like Robert Venditti’s work but this issue went nowhere with me. A recently resurrected Hal Jordan gets dumped by Carol Ferris with all the tenderness of a bad soap opera. Then he leaves to meets with Kyle Rayner and gets drafted to run the Corp by the new generation of the Guardians, who drop the gig on him and leave. Then he has to deal with Larfleeze and the Orange Lantern Corps, coming in to get their hands on whatever they can steal. In the middle of all this, the new recruits show up. Oh, and let’s not forget thatr somewhere in the middle of all of this, the Central Power Battery will go dark. That’s a great piece to open the book with but to spend the balance of the issue telling the now story instead of the future tale feels like we have had a carrot dangled in front of us with no payoff. On top of that, we get a mediocre art job from the very talented Billy Tan. All in all: I am really disappointed. I hope the next issue delivers more.

THE GREEN TEAM #2: In the middle of where they were left with Riot Act last issue, Mo and L.L. hide in a car while J.P. tosses another of the Commodore’s discs at Cecilia and she develops gold colored armor similar to the Commodore’s green one. The Commodore arrives driving one of the old Batmobiles, saving Mo and L.L. while Cecilia finally manages to work the weapons on her suit and electrocutes the Riot Act members who are hanging off of her. Commodore and J.P. trade text messages and J.P. and Cecilia arfe told to lay low until later. Commodore, Mo, L.L. and Abisha take refuge in one of Mo’s New York apartments. Commodore explains that he wants to use his money to get weapons off the street by forming a super team. Abisha says he knows somebody who might be able to help out. Meanwhile, J.P. and Cecilia end up in a fancy hotel and for some reason, her right arm grows some kind of pink mechanical sleeve.

Here is another very strange issue that leads to a lot of potential plot places but doesn’t really deliver. Art Blatazar and Franco drop some really cool stuff into the book, like the contents of Mo’s apartment where we see a bunch of his recent online auction acquisitions over the years, including a BROTHER POWER costume! Yeah-I totally geeked out on that ONE PANEL and that for me made the book. The biggest problem I have thus far is that Commodore is going to put together a super team and they apparently are going to be powered by the special discs. Okay-I get that. So let’s put the team together and get this book moving along. I realize this is only the second issue but get us moved along already. I think new see SOME of the characterization here, but I would like a bit more than what we’ve gotten. Art and Franco’s use of satire is evident, even if you sometimes have to dig deep for it. And I like Ig Guara’s art. Do I think this book will last past a half dozen issues? No. But it could be fun while it lasts.