ACTION COMICS #39: Superman, Steel, Mr. Santiago and Mrs. Takahara have been trying to do what they could to save Smallville. They believe that if they close the Phantom Zone portal, they can keep Superman from falling into a trap. But Lana is trapped and Superman and Steel enter to face the fear-parasites. Steel uses his organic steel to shroud them, to hide fear about Lana from the creatures. There is a voice in their head and Clark is told to think back twenty years to when it caused the fire that brought him out of school. This is back when he was known as the Ultra-Humanite-back before Clark imprisoned it in the Phantom Zone, until Doomsday broke out of the Zone and it came with it. As creatures escape the portal and begin attacking the people of Smallville, Superman tears his armor off and is immediately overwhelmed with fear. Clark forces himself to continue facing his fear so the creature can feed on it. Once it has called back all the creatures, the decision is made to close portal …with Superman still inside. The creatures get so full of fear, they can’t stand anymore. Claiming he hasn’t been harmed by the experience, he gets John Henry and Lana out of the portal before the townspeople close it for good, saving Smallville. The next morning, Clark and Lana hold a funeral for both their parents. She also apologizes for blaming him for her parents' deaths.
Greg Pak and Scott Kolins do a nice job of ending what I thought was an overly long story arc. But they end it on a really good note as we find out that the baddie in this story was the Ultra Humanite! Very cool! So, from here, we have one more issue and then CONVERGENCE and then…let’s see what changes happen. Rumor has it the Big Blue Boy Scout is going to be wearing his undies on the outside again!
AQUAMAN #39: Aquaman and Mera finally get to meet Arthur’s mother and she refuses to believe it. She says her first child was dead and, since Arthur wears the crest, she assumes Orm must be dead too. Defeating him, it is decided to take he and Mera as sacrifices to Karaku the Volcano God. But Aquaman has been feigning unconsciousness and throws the servant who was guarding him into the fiery pit. Mera, Arthur and Atlanna’s assistant Lenu make their escape, as the assistant says that she is sure Atlanna knows the truth but won’t accept it. They get pursued and things look bleak until Tula and Neol arrive to save them. Unfortunately, the Volcano God is awake and pretty angry.
It all ends next month. So, this is truly the beginning of the end. Will Arthur and his mother have reconciliation? Will she give up this kingdom to go back to Atlantis? Will he and Mera stay here? Jeff Parker and Paul Pelletier aren’t saying. Tune in next issue.
AQUAMAN AND THE OTHERS #10: While Vostok struggles to forget the memories of his childhood, the launch codes are being sent to Cheshire and company. Ya’wara may be dead in the water but Mera fishes her out while Cole stops Korec from leaving the ship and forces Torrez to force Korec out of his body, killing him. It seems that the Operative also sent the wrong launch codes to the bad guys, thanks to The Others, which means they got infected with a virus instead. They get transported to an island where both teams brawl until it becomes evident that they have launched the missile, even if they don’t care where it lands. If The Others can’t stop it, the results will be “catastrophic”.
Welcome to the penultimate issue of this series, courtesy of Dan Jurgens and Lan Medina. So, all our heroes have to do is take down the bad guys, stop the missile and make sure that Vostok finds himself. For this team: a piece of cake
ARKHAM MANOR #5: While Jeremiah Arkham tells his staff they may have to evacuate, Batman is in the walls trying to stop the murderer living here. Batman beats him and tosses him through the wall into the snow outside. He is unmasked and, when Batman demands to know who he is, the man bites his own tongue off. One of the guards tells him was one of the workmen who transformed Wayne Manor into Arkham. Although there are four prisoners unaccounted for, including “Jack Shaw”, Batman feels Seth Wickham may have gone home. When Batman arrives, the smell from inside tells him he is too late to save Wickham’s family.
So, batman has an acute sense of smell that tells him Seth Wickham has killed his family? Wow! He could take that act on the road! This is another quirky chapter from Gerry Duggan and Shawn Crystal that ends next issue. How it all turns out is anyone’s guess but, considering this title is NOT returning after CONVERGENCE, I would have to guess that Wayne Manor will be Wayne Manor again and Arkham will be rebuilt. Or maybe none of this ever happened because of CONVERGENCE.
BATGIRL #39: Burnside has decided that Batgirl is no longer their hero of choice. She meets with Qadir, restocking her armaments and wondering in there is another Batgirl out there. At home, she finds Frankie trying to fix issues with Hooq, which currently has been hacked and has an ad offering 20 million dollars for Batgirl's head. The next day, she meets with Professor Krupke, telling him she has changed her thesis. Later, she goes to see Dinah’s band at their rehearsal, apologizing for her recent actions. Dinah doesn’t have time to talk but tells Barbara that, whatever her problem is, she will find a way to beat it. That night, she hears a mugging below her apartment and ends up being saved by Dinah, as this was only a trick to try to cash in on the bounty. Dinah suggests a meeting to talk about their possibly teaming together again. The next morning they meet and spar, with Barbara saying how she is concerned that maybe she is causing her own troubles. They go to Barbara’s apartment to find Sevin there and Frankie missing. They find her phone and discover a message from someone who tells Barbara to rescue Frankie. That night, Dinah and Batgirl go to the Hooq building and make their way inside. Getting into the server room, they find Frankie, who has discovered that Babs is Batgirl. But a voice from the computer declares she is NOT Batgirl and that the real Batgirl is coming back to take what is hers.
Yeah…I really dislike where this book has gone. BUT, there is hope in the form of the current issue of SECRET ORIGINS which has a Batgirl origin that ties in to the whole thought of the computer having a conscious. I would like to think that all of this, even though the creative team of Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher and Babs Tarr, would change following CONVERGENCE. My FEAR is that even though this book is bringing female readers into comic stores, it’s going to be like TWILIGHT: a year from now, they will all have moved onto some new treat. Can we get Gail Simone back?
BATMAN #39: Batman meets with the Court of Owls, who tell him that the Dionesium they found was not as pure as what is in the Joker's blood. He warns them that The Joker will burn the city down and, pointing to a model in the ceiling, tell him to let him, as they will have anew city rise on top of the old. Batman blows the model up with an explosive Batarang. Next he battles Talon Uriah Boone, demanding to know if the Joker was alive four hundred years ago. Later, he emerges from the sewers victorious. He contacts Julia to discover that the Joker had entered the Batcave, only to be caught by Alfred as he tried to steal the Red Hood. He then chopped off the butler’s hand with a meat cleaver and stole a number of trophies. The Joker then broadcasts on every screen in the city, daring Batman to come and take the Dionesium from his spine. Batman tells his allies, including some of his greatest enemies, that they need to collect the Dionesium from the Joker to be able to create a cure. As they battle the infected on their way towards him the Joker promises that his best trick yet is coming.
In the second story, the Arkham prisoners bring Dr. Zaheer to the Marquis Publishing Group offices, where she had made her book deal to tell the Joker’s life story. She explains that the Joker is William Distal who, when he was sixteen, ran away to the Narrows and faked his own death during Zero Year. The inmates are outraged forcing her to lock herself in a room with the man she believed to be Eric Border, who is actually the Joker. It was he who fill in all the blank parts of her manuscript and admits that it was only a story, just as he had told all the rest. He gives her a gun with five bullets and says it is up to her to figure out which of the six stories is true and then gives the sixth bullet to her. He disappears just as the door opens and six shots are fired.
Well, I guess Alfred isn’t Batman’s right hand man anymore! I never saw that coming and I wonder where we go from here! Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo set things in motion for the final act in this drama before CONVERGENCE. And, as always, it is a page turner to say the least. The second story by James Tynion IV and Dustin Nguyen does a nice job of wrapping that up. So, who is the Joker? Has be lived longer than we ever guessed? And will anyone in Gotham live long enough to find out. This title is amazing and I cannot wait 30 days for the conclusion!
BATMAN AND ROBIN #39: Robin is using his powers to take down some of Batman’s enemies, but is being reckless about it, which is not making his father happy. Later, Bruce takes his son out fishing and chastises him about what he was doing and Damian tells him that he experienced a hiccup in his powers. He also says he wants to go home, tosses his fishing pole into the water, skewers a fish and carries the boat back to Wayne Manor. Several nights later, Damian again behaves recklessly, forcing Batman to force him to go to the Satellite, where he is unimpressed with Superman and Shazam. While there, a distress call comes in that would send the team to Ghost Island. Batman lets Damian lead the way.
Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason do a nice job here of showing that unique relationship between Batman and Damian. The boy has definitely become power hungry…actually, that’s not right. He has becomes so enamored with his powers, he believes he is invincible. Bruce is just trying to make certain he doesn’t lose him again. Of course, this title ends with CONVERGENCE and Damian gets his own gig, written and illustrated by Gleason.
BATMAN ETERNAL #44-47: In issue #44, Maggie Sawyer finds out that the Arkham Asylum inmates all the blame Professor for what is going on. He is at Gotham International Airport when he is spotted by police officers. He throws down a vial of chemicals that causes insanity. Batman arrives and subdues him but, while he tries to help the victims, Milo escapes, only to be defeated by the Batplane. Batman wants to know had him do what he did at Arkham. But, before he can answer, they are attacked by spirits. Meanwhile, Lucas Fox is trying to repair his Batwing Suit by using Nth Metal to repel the spirits. And Harper catches Stephanie trying to escape and will taser her if she has to.
In issue #45, Batman finds himself being attacked by ghosts of his parents, while Milo is being attacked by demons of his own including Mister Bygone. Fighting off the ghosts, Batman attends to Milo, but GCPD forces him to throw a flash-bang grenade and escape with Milo. Batwing has found a way to get rid of his ghosts when Jim Corrigan arrives, apologizing for what happened at Arkham. Jim then gets a call from Batman, looking for help regarding a book that Milo had with him. When Batwing and Jim arrive at the cemetery to meet Batman, Corrigan stops Milo from summoning a demon. The book was a trap that allowed Blackfire to open a hole into hell. Batman returns to the cave where he and Julia determine the person responsible is Ra's al Ghul. Meanwhile, Stephanie tells Harper she believes Bruce Wayne and Batman are responsible for the troubles in Gotham and can’t trust him.
In issue #46, Poison Ivy is living in a green house outside Gotham until the troubles are over. Meanwhile, Batman is near Karachi and fighting the League of Assassins. Ra's tells him he is not responsible, but does know who is. He has created a mystery, asking the question “is Batman Eternal”. He sends Batman through a dorrway where Batman sees Ra's in a hospital bed. He has been here ever since he was thrown into the ravine at Nanda Parbat. He says he too received an invitation to break Batman and Gotham, but had destroyed it. Elsewhere, Selina Kyle goes to Blackgate to pay her father a visit, where he swears he has done nothing to endanger what she or the family has done. She tells him that he needs to find out who is responsible. Later, Rex discovers that someone is giving gifts to Gotham's worst criminals.
In issue #47, Alfred finally wakes from his nightmares and is told by Hush that Julia has gone out. She has answered a Bat-Signal call, meeting with Selina, who gives her the file she planned to give to Batman herself. It contains the list of the weapons that have made their way to Batman’s enemies. Speaking of Batman, he calls Alfred and informs him that they were wrong about Ra’s. Meanwhile, Scarecrow and Clayface plan to unleash their plans only to be stopped by Batwing and Red Robin. Bluebird tracks down Mister Freeze while Batgirl goes to find the owner of the shipment of Kewpie Dolls, expecting to find Joker's Daughter. Jason ends up in a dive bar, where he sees Bane fighting in a Luchador ring. In the Batcave, the lights go out and hush finds both Julia and Alfred knocked unconscious by a guest he invited in. Alfred finds hush released and Julia shot out of the cave into Gotham River in an escape pod. Hush activates the emergency override on the Batplane, causing it to crash. Meanwhile, Cullen watches Stephanie use Harper's computer to contact Vicki Vale.
The countdown to issue #52 continues and we STILL don’t know who is behind all of this. The list of suspects keeps getting shorter and I thought sure it would finally be revealed as Ra’s. I mean, who else hates Batman this much? Joker? Seriously-WHO’S LEFT? Ray Fawkes, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Kyle Higgins, and Tim Seeley gives us the story while ACO, Javi Fernandez, Alessandro Vitti, Christian Duce, Ronan Cliquet and Juan Ferreyra handle the art. Five issues to go…
BATMAN SUPERMAN #19: Dr. Ray Palmer has shrunk Batman and Superman down small enough so they can make their way into Kandor and attack the tower. Once inside, Kara and Superman discover vandalism using the crest of the House of El. Accidentally stepping on a device that recognizes his genetic code, Superman discovers that his aunt and grandmother, Mara and Dame Kela-Van, lived on Kandor and he hopes they survived Krypton’s destruction. It says that Jor-El framed Xa-Du and Kal-El imprisoned the city in the bottle. A group of soldiers see Superman and one of them commits suicide, leading Batman to realize the whole place is a trap. If they attack the tower, Xa-Du will kill Mara and Kela. Superman and Kara destroy the tunnel that has been firing the Kandorians like bullets while Batman made his way to the control room to free the Kandorians. Superman discovers that Xa-Du is responsible for all of this. He reveals that Kara’s family has been afflicted with his living death and is ready to fight for him.
So, why didn’t I see this? Xa-Du is The Joker in Superman’s mythos. It makes perfect sense, as Xa-Du has had an axe to grind with the House of El since Jor-El stuck him in the Phantom Zone. This was a nice plot twist that I really didn’t seen coming. Kudos all around to Greg Pak and Ardian Syaf for this one!
BATWOMAN #39: Beth Kane, insisting to be called Red Alice, is at Kate’s apartment where she comments how she is surprised to see Kate with Nocturna instead of Maggie. This leads Nocturna to become angry, causing the two to trade insults. Beth tells Natalia that she knows crazy. While Kate and Beth go out on patrol, Maggie goes to Natalia’s to discuss the murder of Alex Witherspoon. Kate receives a call from Rory. Who is trying to convince Clayface that his amnesia is his chance to start fresh. Meanwhile, Jason Blood goes to his apartment where Morgaine le Fey is waiting for him and says she has captured Etrigan. Jason claims he has no memory of her, which prompts le fay to through him aside and take the stone she has been seeking. Batwoman and Red Alice join Ragman and Clayface, just as Morgaine throws Jason out of his apartment window. Morgaine escapes, leaving the heroes to free Etrigan, who explains that Morgaine is more powerful than before now that she possesses the stone. Morgaine heads to Slaughter Swamp where she uses the stone to raise the dead and creates her demon army.
Marc Andreyko and Georges Jeanty move us closer to the end of the series with this issue that gives us Morgaine leFay. Morgaine? Okay…this is the NEW 52 after all. And I believe this is the first modern world appearance of Jason Blood, who has now knowledge of his past. Or at least Morgaine’s past. And what about that steamy kiss between Natalia and Kate. Don’t see CNN talking about that now, do ya?
CATWOMAN #39: Because of Ascolat, which is run by Aiden Mason(who has claimed to be Selina’s brother), Black Mask has ceased territory from her and the united crime families, specifically land near the Docks. This leads Selina to donate to the Gotham Free Clinic, the Fine Arts Museum and the Narrows Community Center. Black Mask promises his allies that it is possible to get rid of Selina and they vote unanimously to have her killed. Afterwards, the representative from the Sons of Forster Lane called Detective Keys to report the attempted murder, which was yet to occur. At the announcement of the donation, one of Falcone’s men pulls a gun and Bruce Wayne warns her, allowing her to hide behind the podium. By the time Keyes and Antonia reach him, they find that someone else has shot and killed him. Selina worries that they have lost the Falcones to Black Mask, as Ward suggests they declare war. Trying to save her from what is coming, Selina fires Antonia, before she meets in secret with Aiden Mason. He claims he had nothing to do with the assassination attempt and was just trying to set up a deal between Selina and Sionis. Meanwhile, Keyes has Black Mask taken in for questioning, despite her superiors having previously taken her off the case. Eiko’s father reminds her that when the war comes, they will be against the Calabreses, no matter if she cares for Selina or not. She immediately goes to Selina dressed as Catwoman to warn her about the upcoming war. Selina kisses her. Later, Black Mask warns Mason to apply more pressure to their inside person in the GCPD and then has to eat crow as he learns he has been bailed out by The Penguin. Falcone’s nephew is sent to apologize to Selina but she holds onto him, telling Ward to let Black Mask arrange to send Mason to come and get him.
Oooooh: there’s THE KISS! This one panel kiss sent shock waves through Mainstream America as all the news outlets declared “Catwoman is bisexual”. If anyone bothered to read the two panels that came after, “Catwoman” asks if the kiss was for her or the suit, to which Selina replies that she didn’t know, but if she survives it, it might be “nice to find out.” Okay: so she MAY BE bisexual. This was a great story by Genevieve Valentine that is filled with all sorts of little plot points that build into one big, complex picture. However, I am still not a huge fan of the quirky art of Garry Brown, so that was a down point in the issue. And Mainstream America: GET OVER YOURSELVES! What the hell are you going to do when Midnighter gets HIS own series in a few months?
CONSTANTINE #22: The family and friends of the John Constantine he just killed are attacking our John Constantine. Doctor Fate warns that he needs to help Constantine with maintaining the spell. Doctor Fate ties the family to The Bleed, although the mother is lost into the Bleed. John's spell sends them into The Green where they find Parademons attacking the Parliament of Trees. John's father realizes they won’t be going after his mother ands threatens to kill Constantine, who explains that if he dies, they all die. Doubling over in agony, Constantine realizes his invisibility spell has failed and Darkseid knows where they are. The Mad God Darkseid says that even though they have reached Earth, he can follow them, Constantine cuts loose the people he saved, allowing them to drop into Darkseid's clutches, hoping their sacrifice will give him the power he needs to pull off one final trick.
Ray Fawkes and Jeremy Haun prove that, despite him having had a movie and a television series, John Constantine is still a miserable bastard who would do anything to save his miserable soul. He’s killed himself, his “mother” and about half the cast of the last few issues. You rotten bastard! See you in Hell…or the next issue!
DEATHSTROKE #5: Deathstroke and Batman are in a battle because of Harley Quinn, who is looking for revenge for what happened with the Suicide Squad in Russia. Harley heads off to collect the bounty on Slade’s son Jericho and leaves them with a bomb that buries them in rubble. When she goes back to check on her handiwork, Slade reaches up from the rubble and grabs her by the throat. She tells him his daughter Rose has been working for the Penguin and Jericho is with her., taking down his enemies to make ends meet. Jericho is with her.
Meanwhile, Jericho tells his sister that he can’t control his power and doesn't trust their father. She has brought him to see a man named Possum who Slade had been contracted to kill in Russia. Jericho says that he can sense evil on Possum who proceeds to activates a sound on his phone which renders him immobile. Rose cuts Possum to pieces and her grandfather appears, telling her that Jericho can't hurt anyone anymore.
Tony S. Daniel turns in another great looking action filled issue here. When the series resumes after CONVERGENCE, Daniel will continue on it. And hopefully DC won’t mess with it. I love the action and there is just enough pure blood and guts to make it a guilty pleasure title. While I still am getting used to Slade having two good eyes, I wonder which Slade we will see come June. We may even see the one from television. Either way, I’m stoked for more adventures with DC’s answer to The Punisher(oh…was that unfair?)
DETECTIVE COMICS #39: Batman, hiding in the back of Bullock’s back seat, admits they both know that he didn’t kill Lonnie but Yip did. They agree that they need to work together to stop Anarky and the anti-police sentiment going on. Two days earlier, Bruce had visited Lonnie at the Gotham University Medical Center. The next day, Bruce was trying to figure the connection between the Anarky's masks and the dead children that had been found. But Anarky had erased all county records. Currently, Harvey insists that, despite evidence to the contrary, he is not a dirty cop. Batman is trying to link Jeb Lester to the Mad Hatter. They go to a broken down building known as the "blue house". Inside, they battle with youths wearing Anarky masks, resulting in Harvey getting stabbed in the chest. While Batman battles, Harvey notices a portrait with familiar faces he recognizes. As he begins to lose consciousness, he points out that Jervis Tetch is among the children in the portrait and the girl is his Alice. The Anarky Masks are apparently based on her face. Anarky arrives and pulls the Hatter out of the trunk, telling him it is time for him to die.
Man oh man oh man! Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato are just killing this title as well as Snyder and Capullo are on BATMAN. In fact, all three of the “core” Batman titles are just among some of the best books in the NEW 52 line. So, when it all comes down to it: who is Anarky and what does he/she have to do with these children. The conclusion next month and I cannot wait!
EARTH 2 #31: In Indochina, Doctor Fate uses his power to strike out at Apokolips. He proceeds to the great hall where he encounters Arcanis and her thrall. Nabu decudes that the thrall has more power than Lhakid, so Nabu merges with the thrall. Unftortunately, Nabui quickly realizes this is a bad thing and begs to come back to Khalid. Khalid beheads the thrall and once again claims the helm and destroys the great hall. Meanwhile, in Atlantis, Aquawoman strikes out at the invaders of her kingdom, only to find that she must help the surface world as her oceans are being destroyed too. So she gathers her army and heads to the surface world.
So, this whole issue was just one big letdown. Daniel Wilson, Marguerite Bennett and Mike Johnson, with Andy Smith and Cliff Richards, gave us a one note story that was too much about Nabu being a power hungry jerk and spent an entire issue resolving it. The obvious parallel story is the comparison we were to make between Nabu and Aquawoman. Nabu craves power and Aquawoman wants to hide away from the surface world. Unfortunately, this story could have been handled in about half the length it did. One more issue to go and hopefully it will all tie up nicely, although we all know it won’t end well, I’m sure.
EARTH 2 WORLD’S END #18-21: In issue #18, Jimmy Olsen gets in touch with Batman and asks him what he knows about someone by the need of Ollie Queen. Batman visits with his grand daughter, who is recovering from her time as one of the Furies of Apokolips. In Atom’s Haven, Sato and Steel find out from jimmy that Sloan had a secret ship and a mission is taking place to steal it. On Apokolips, Darkseid has decided it is time for the world to end and commands that the Terraformer be unleashed. At the same time, the Deathspawn is affecting the Parliament of Earth and is apparently causing the death of the Avatars.
In issue #19, the Deathspawn of Apokolips tries to crack open the Earth to get to its core, leading Green Lantern to try to stop it. In Atom Haven, Sato and Steel learn that the firepits have been reactivated. At the same time, Dick Grayson continues to hunt for his missing son and Ted Grant continues to promise to help. In Amazonia, Doctor Crane gets a rocket off the ground and Fury, Mister Miracle, Mr. Terrific and Sandman head off to save the refugees. Meanwhile, Val, Kara and Lois discover that the Terraformer is preparing to devour the planet. In New York City, Batman and The Huntress search for Oliver Queen but notice that Apokolips is scorching the planet and that means they may not have time to find him.
In issue #20, Green Lantern learns that it is more important for him to tend to the Avatars then to go after Deathspawn so he heads off to Russia. Once there, he absorbs all of the other Avatars to become super powerful. In New York City, the Huntress and Batman manage to get an old computer to work and tell them where Ollie Queen is before the city goes down in flames. This leads them to a structure in the North Sea. Beneath Atom’s Haven, Dick and Ted battle with Jonni Thunder and Obsidian as they try to locate Brainwave. Aboard the TSS Endurance, the team continues their space voyage only to discover that Terry Sloan is on-board, suggesting they all need to work together.
In issue #21, the satellite battles Kara, Val and Lois while it continues to mulch the planet. In the North Sea, Oliver Queen, known as the Red Arrow, meets with Batman and The Huntress and reveals that the original Batman entrusted him with a box containing all the DNA and history of Earth 2. In Atom’s Haven, it seems Brainwave is in the process of taking control of anyone and everyone, declaring himself Savior of the Earth. On the TSS Endurance, Sloan manages to crash the ship into Apokolips as part of his master plan.
The end is near, literally and figuratively. Daniel Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, Mike Johnson, and Cullen Bunn provide the story while Scott McDaniel, Eddy Barrows, R. B. Silva, Eduardo Pansica, Jorge Jimenez and Tyler Kirkham give us the art for this next to last batch of tales. It sure looks like Earth 2 will be gone sooner than later. But what if Red Arrow brings his little DNA box to a new home. Does that mean they can start again on a NEW PLANET? Stay tuned, folks.
THE FLASH #39: Iris continues to investigate how the Flash has changed and is pressing Patty for information. Meanwhile, Barry from the future continues to look at clues that will help him find the murderer known as Overload and finds a link in the form of horse hair on the victims. In the Speed Force, Barry gets grabbed by a giant robotic flying dinosaur. Barry gets saved by Selkirk and the Singers, then they proceed to the temple to the Speed Force. Selkirk knocks him unconscious as they plan to use Barry as the lightning rod that will call down the Speed Force. Back at Central City, the Flash spots Overload and attacks him, saying how this attack was responsible for killing 207 people. He promises to kill Overload, which is overheard by Patty and Iris. Patty tries to stop him and he accidentally tosses her away, dislocating her shoulder. The mayor activates a WiFi the signal towers, which allows Overload to channel that energy into the Flash. At the same time, the Speed Force is called down to strike his past self.
So, all I really want to know is how Robert Venditti, Van Jensen and Brett Booth manage to tie up all these loose ends in just one more issue. I mean, let’s look at everything happening here. Our Barry is being used to call down the Speed Force. The Future Barry is in the present and ready to kill a potential mass murderer. Patty knows Barry’s identity and Iris doesn’t and…where is Wally during all of this? Question, questions, questions: so little time for answers.
GOTHAM ACADEMY #5: Olive found Killer Croc and asks him where he got a picture of her and her mother. He explains that he knew her because her cell at Arkham was across from his. She had asked him to watch over Olive. Maps arrives and causes Croc to scamper away, leaving the pair to continue exploring the crawlspace. They end up near the North Hall, but it has been blocked by Croc to keep anyone from following him. Later they meet with Pomeline and Colton and plan to clear the package to the North Hall, using the dance that evening as their cover. But Colton reveals they need his bag of tricks that had been confiscated on the first day of classes. That night, they meet up to steal back Colton's gear from Headmaster Hammer's office, which Maps is able to do by solving a puzzle. Gathering a handful of confiscated prizes, Maps and Olive heads outside where Olive accidentally shoots Tristan Grey with her crossbow. Grey reveals that he suffers from Langstrom virus, which means he turns into a Man-Bat. Maps and Olive go inside and use Colton's gear to blast into the North Hall. Olive tells Croc that they brought him food and he tells her that he came here because her mother told him that Arkham and the Academy were connected. That is when Batman arrives on the scene.
Okay…NOW this is getting interesting! Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher and Karl Kerschl have crafted a neat little tale here with some nice little twists and turns. What at first seemed to be an attempt to make this a Tween version of Harry Potter with a non wizard cast has turned into a neat little mystery series with an engaging cast. I never thought I would say it or admit it: I’M REALLY LIKING THIS BOOK!
GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT #4: Jim Corrigan is drinking with Sgt. Rook when they realize that the bartender is long-dead and a demon calling itself Amodr is coming out of his head. Meanwhile, Dr. Tarr and Detective Drake find that Gotham is filled with dead bodies. Drake crushes some kind of parasite under her foot and it grows tentacles. Corrigan calls Tarr and makes him listen to the ghost language the demon is speaking. Tarr says that the creature is attacking the whole neighborhood. The Spectre comes forth and puts his fist down the throat of the monster. Tarr explains that the creature wants to show Corrigan that the city needs to be judged and now that judgment is loose in the form of The Spectre. Tarr fears that when the Spectre meets the creatures rising from the swamp, the burst of mystical will destroy the city.
Following CONVERGENCE, Ben Templesmith exits this title to be replaced by Juan Ferreyra. Personally, I am totally amazed that DC is letting this book continue as I am pretty sure the numbers are not among the top tier and DC has been cutting titles loose based on poor sales. I love Ray Fawkes writing and have always had a warm spot for Templesmith’s art. But I know that most comic fans, at least those I have talked with, don’t care for these characters, and truly want a Spectre book. Sorry, this is thes best you’re gonna get any time soon.
GRAYSON #7: Agent 37 is missing as the Fist of Cain prepares to attack Tel-Aviv. Minos tells Matron she needs to make retrieving the Paragon's brain her Number One priority. Dr. Ashemore uploads files to Helena revealing that he is being held prisoner by Midnighter, who has put Dick’s implant into his own head. While he tries to convince Midnighter that he needs to let him go to Tel-Aviv, the Gardener appears to Dick even as Helena’s Hypnos shows what is happening there. Midnighter tells the Gardener that he now believes Dick is telling the truth. The attack is scheduled to occur during a concert by Sin by Silence, where the band is actually the front for Fist of Cain. As a psychic attack breaks out, Dick and Midnighter arrive with Midnighter handling crowd control and Dick rescuing Helena. With a kiss, she sends him off to get the brain. Helena rescues an elderly man only to discover he is the leader of the Fist of Cain. As he attempts to strangle her, Minos kills him with a single bullet to the head. Later, Dick Helena tells Dick that her memory has gaps in it and she doesn’t remember the kiss they shared. Off on the God Garden, Midnighter states his anger about how the Gardener allowed her agenda to be more important than lives and leaves.
I have said it before: this is the coolest spy book since the early S.H.I.E.L.D. issues were
being published. Tim Seeley, Tom King and Stephen Mooney (filling in for Mikel Janin) continue to make this a ride and a half. Now, what I want to know is who Mister Minos is and when are we going top find this out. The good news is that this creative team remains in tact after CONVERGENCE so we may have this mystery hanging over our heads for some time.
GREEN ARROW #39: Felicity gets arrested for hacking the government’s servers where she is sent to a Supermax facility and sharing a cell with Cheetah. Cheetah promises to take revenge on her cellmate as soon as the lights go out. Oliver confronts his girlfriend Zehra, who makes him talk to King, who admits to having Felicity arrested. Zehra admits that she is responsible for making sure King has spared Oliver’s life, forcing Oliver to break up with her. That night, Oliver and Diggle argue over what their priority should be as Oliver plans to break in and get Felicity out. Steve Trevor arranges for Oliver to get past security and tells him he only has three minutes to get the job done. Just as Cheetah is ready to kill Felicity, Oliver rescues her and gets out before the three minutes are up. With Felicity safe, Oliver meets with Diggle and his new army.
As you have already noticed, all of the DC series are in the process of ramping up for the end before CONVERGENCE. Ben Sokolowski, Andrew Kreisberg and Daniel Sampere are at the point where they are completing their run and getting ready to give way to the new creative team of Ben Percy and Richard Zircher. Based on preliminary art that DC has released, there are a few costume changes. How far reaching the creative changes will be during the new era of canon over continuity is anyone’s guess right now. What we do know is that Oliver needs a new girlfriend as his old one sold him out to John King.
GREEN LANTERN #39: The Guardians are concerned as there is a crisis brewing and they feel it may be final. It is urgent enough that Constantine, Shazam, and Raven can feel the vibrations. The Guardians decide that Hal Jordan needs to go to Sector 3276 to stop it although he is trying to help some alien miners that are trapped in an asteroid belt cave-in. On his way to see the Guardians, he meets with Kilowog, who tells him he wants the guardians locked away. The Guardians tell Hal they are pleased with the job he is doing and wants him to bring the Corps back to its’ previous glory. He heads to the locker room, leaves his ring and his father’s pilot jacket in his locker next to his battery.
Robert Venditti and Billy Tan are doing a wonderful job of concluding the story of Hal Jordan. Based on what I am hearing through the comic grapevine, there are MAJOR CHANGES coming to this title after CONVERGENCE involving Hal and his future as a Green Lantern. Apparently, he will still be wielding the power, but not how we expect. June is coming and where this will go, who knows. All I DO KNOW is that Venditti and Tan are continuing on, so I assume their grand plan is a good one.
HARLEY QUINN VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL #1: Harley has been driving the captain of the Staten Island Ferry nuts as she has been re-enacting the scene from TITANIC. She sees the Mighty Carp kayaking up the Hudson River collecting samples of fish killed by the polluted waters. In Gotham, Bruce Wayne goes to an auction benefiting an animal shelter where he is set to be auctioned off. Harley wants to go and intends to rob some Wall Street folks who caused the 2008 recession. That night, she dreams of her future with Bruce Wayne but, when he decides he wants thirty-six children, she kills him. Then she dreams of her wedding to Bruce, with Poison Ivy as her Maid of Honor. She goes after Barney Runoff, getting the money she needs. Later, at the auction, Harley gets into a bidding war and reaches her limit of one million one hundred dollars before she strangles her nearest competitor to death. Then the Carp arrives declaring he wants the money. He sprays a puffer fish toxin that causes hallucinations on Tony and Bruce and takes Wayne away. Bruce dreams of waking up next to Harley, who fired Alfred for going through her clothes. They go after Catwoman, but have to clean bat guano off the Batmobile first. He wakes to find the Carp has kidnapped him. Bruce promises promises to give him the money he wants if the Carp unties him. Just as that deal is about to go down, Harley arrives to save him. Later, they go on their date, which they both end early. She begs for a goodnight kiss, which she receives. Back home, Batman, who thanks her for rescuing Bruce Wayne out earlier, visits her. She steals a kiss from him and declares he needs kissing lessons from Bruce Wayne.
Further proof that this character has jumped the shark? Every other month there is an expensive “special” thrown at us. This is just another one. What’s next? The HARLEY QUINN MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL? Shame on Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, John Timms, Ben Caldwell, Aaron Campbell and Thony Silas for unleashing this upon us. Shame more on me for coughing up five bucks for it. The only highlight was the girls showing up in Bruce’s dream including Julie Madison, Silver St. Cloud, Natalia Trusevich, and Jezebel Jet, among others. Oh yeah: Amanda Conner put herself into it too. Really?
HARLEY QUINN #15: Harley is buying 122 birds and getting food for her dogs. On the way home, she tries to talk to Mason’s mother, but she hangs up on her. She sees a law office on fire and, realizing the fire department won’t get there in time, she races inside where she finds the arsonist known as Tinderbox, who she uses to break the fall of those trapped there. Everyone survives except Tinderbox, who gets squished to death in the process. Returning home, she finds that she mixed up her work schedule but also finds Poison Ivy waiting for her in a bubble-bath. Harley notes how she is too busy trying to stop bad things from happening and doesn’t have time for herself. Mason arrives later with a bouquet of roses and an invite for another date. Once he leaves, Harley and Ivy create an online want-ad seeking twelve "brassy lassies" to help battle crime and make the world better. This leads to a number of women believing this is the job for them.
Let me just say that the whole media frenzied world got their panties in a bunch when Catwoman was deemed to be bisexual but no one bothered to freak out when Harley decided to spend two-thirds of a page on top of Ivy. Here’s some of the dialogue:
Ivy: Is that your hand?
Harley: Is that yours?
Ivy: I asked first…are you gonna get off?
Harley: Are you?
Ivy: I’m not the one on top of me. Stop fooling around!
Harley: Aw, REALLY?
Oh…did I forget to mention the shot on the last page of one of the potential assistants eating a sandwich in a really obscene looking way? Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti wrote it, Chad Hardin drew most of it except for the five pages John Timms drew. Yeah…shark jumping time kids!
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