DC UNIVERSE Month 13, Part 1

ADVENTURES OF THE SUPER SONS #5 by Peter J. Tomasi and Carlo Barberi. Although he tries to escape, Joker Jr. gets captured by Rex.  Meanwhile Superboy and Robin meet the grown-up versions of themselves.  In actuality, the boys had been captured by an entity known as the Wonder Machine and all of this is actually implanted dreams in their head.  In the end, the boys team up with their imaginary selves to get themselves free before trying to figure out how to get to the next place on the planet they are on.

AQUAMAN #43 by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Robson Rocha. Aquaman has lost his memory after the events in THE DROWNED EARTH. He finds himself hunkered down with some folks who feed him and give him a place to stay. Later, he meets with a girl named Caille, who calls him Arausio. She is the daughter of a sea god named Namma, who has apparently polluted their seas because the people Aquaman is staying with sent Namma away but kept Caille. In the end, he sees an image of Mera, who he doesn’t recognize and races to save Caille, who is in danger of being swept out to sea. When he reaches her, the sea parts, meaning the sea has plans for him.

BATMAN #60 by Tom King and Mikel Janin. While Batman continues his rampage through Gotham, beating up criminals to try to get information on Bane, Alfred entertains The Penguin, in an attempt to learn more information about what has been going on.  Commissioner Gordon, frustrated by Batman’s sudden violent inclinations, goes out and destroys the Bat Signal.  In the end, the person who The Penguin has been working for shows up to silence him.  In the process he attacks Alfred.  When Batman returns to the Bat Cave, he discovers that the person who has been pulling the strings, is actually his father: the Batman from Flashpoint.

BATMAN #61 by Tom King and Travis Moore. We find a young Bruce in Crime Alley grieving over his parents. But not to worry as Batman is on the case and goes off seeking the killer of the Waynes while Bruce is at home with Alfred. But this isn’t REALLY Bruce Wayne, but Master Bruce, who is really Matthew Warner and was supposed to be sent to Arkham for killing his parents with the help of his butler, Mr. Taylor. This whole story is taking place in Warner’s head, who continues reliving this. Now he is being sent to Arkham after killing seven people in prison. This will put him in the hands of…Bane.

BATMAN ANNUAL #3 by Tom Taylor and Otto Schmidt. This is a tale which illustrates the love of Batman’s adopted father, Alfred, for his “adopted” son.  With Batman going out and trying to stop a mad bomber, Alfred continues to worry and act as an accomplice for Batman.  After stopping the bomber, Batman gets attacked by a group of street thugs who wind up stabbing him, which leads Alfred to put on another that Batman mask and come to Batman’s rescue.  He eventually manages to get him to Leslie Thompson, who takes care of both men’s wounds.  In the very end, Batman’s decides to take the night off and spend it with Alfred.  Because, after all, it ends up being Father’s Day.

THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1 by Scott Snyder and Jock. The issue begins with Batman chasing a gang of criminals.  When he finally stops them, he finds a coffin, and when he opens it up, he finds the body of Bruce Wayne inside of it.  Later, in disguise at the Gotham Morgue, Batman deduces that the body he has found is actually that of Bruce Wayne.  But that is impossible because Batman is Bruce Wayne.  Whoever this Bruce Wayne is, it is not someone who ended up fighting crime based on the physical features that Batman discovers.  Batman makes his way to Arkham Asylum, where he plans on meeting with The Joker.  Unfortunately, the Batman Who Laughs has gotten here first and puts an ax in the head of The Joker.  What is later discovered is that The Joker who was killed was actually just a henchman made up to appear to be The Joker.  Back in the Bat Cave, The Joker, who has escapes from Arkham, arrives and pulls a gun on Batman which misfires and shoots The Joker.  However, this releases Joker toxin from the villain’s heart and now the toxin has infected Batman.

CATWOMAN #6 by Joelle Jones. Selina has gotten free from her captors while Raina Creel and her family try to have a memorial service for the husband she killed. She gives her son Raymond chemicals to turn him into a monster while Detective Yilmaz tries to stop Selina. He fails which leads to a balcony fight that leaves son Adam dead. Selina escapes, Yilmaz is arrested but being offered a plea deal and Selina promises her sister they can live happily ever after together.

THE CURSE OF BRIMSTONE #9 by Justin Jordan and Eduardo Pansica. Joe continues his solo travels in Florida where he runs into a passing car with a driver who seems to know who he is. This causes Joe to turn into Brimstone and the driver of the car becomes Dr. Fate.  The two of them battle with Joe’s flame power actually burning Dr. Fate’s mask and injuring him, forcing him to flee.  Elsewhere, Joe’s sister shows up at a house in Alabama and confronts Jack.

DAMAGE #12 by Robert Venditti and Aaron Lopresti. After a flashback with a young Ethan watching Superman’s adventures on television and dreams of being a hero. In the present, Superman and Damage fight it out. Batman and Deadman show up, allowing Deadman to take over Damage until the hour wears off. The Justice League take him into custody at the Hall of Justice until they can figure out what to do with him.

DEATHSTROKE #38 by Christopher Priest and Fernando Pasarin. Death Masque pays a visit to Rose’ husband and tries to explain what has been going on.  Joseph has been saved by Wintergreen, who rescued him after being shot by Two Face.  Two Face is out training Rose in Vietnam and their journey leads them to a group of well armed, sword wielding folks.  Meanwhile, Deathstroke is still in Arkham but it looks like he may have a friend in the form of one of the doctors there.  He promises to show her where the mysterious beacon is and that leads to him being accosted by most of the inmates there who take him to Hugo Strange for his final therapy session.

DETECTIVE COMICS #994 by Peter J. Tomasi and Doug Mahnke. Batman is trying to solve the murder of a man and woman found in an aquarium tank that look specifically like the Waynes, right down to their clothing. They apparently were murdered on the anniversary of the Waynes’ deaths. Later, Leslie Tompkins is menaced by a monster wielding the Bat Signal. Batman saves her and defeats the creature, but it appears Leslie has been turned into…The Joker?

DOOMSDAY CLOCK #8 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. While Ozymandias plots and plans, Lois Lane realizes someone has picked the lock on her desk. She also spies a mysterious envelope on her desk. A news broadcast shows Firestorm losing control in Russia, where he accidentally transforms people in the center of Moscow. Superman heads to Kahndaq, where he meets with Black Adam, with Adam saying his country is a safe place for Firestorm to seek refuge. Superman heads to Moscow and works with Firestorm to be able to use his abilities to transmute a child back to normal. He takes Firestorm back to the square in Moscow and pleads his case, but Putin’s soldiers fire at the heroes, causing unnecessary deaths to the solidified civilians. Superman, despite Batman’s pleading, picks a side and revolts against the Soviets. Firestorm reaches a boiling point, causing an Earth-shattering explosion. Meanwhile, Lois opens the envelope, which reveals a jump drive. On the drive is an article about The Justice Society of America, which she doesn’t recognize as a real superhero team.

THE FLASH #60 by Joshua Williamson and Rafa Sandoval. Gemini has taken over a train in Africa and say they have found evidence to where Flash is going. Over in Corto Maltese, Flash is battling with Fuerza while Iris tries to talk reason to the head of the police, Corozon. Corozon isn’t listening and opens fire on Fuerza, but is saved by The Flash, who flees with Iris in tow. Fuerza goes back to a community she has built inside a mountain to protect her family from the corrupt police. Later, they go to watch a convoy of medical supplies to make sure it goes where it is supposed to when an injured family member shows up and there is an explosion in the mountain hideaway. Flash and Fuerza rce back to find the police holding family and Iris held hostage. Corozon fires a gun that shoots bubbled and those bubbles become monsters. The gun is powered by the Sage Force. Meanwhile, Detective Burns flirts with Commander Cold while the Tricksters watch and wait for their chance.

GREEN ARROW #47 by Julie Benson, Shawna Benson and German Peralta. Citizen has Oliver Queen strapped in an electric chair and is ready to execute him on live TV. Green Arrow arrives, actually Black Canary in disguise, allowing Ollie to escape and come back at Citizen as Green Arrow. He takes down Citizen and later clears his name by having a press conference and producing Kevin’s photographic evidence. In the end, Arrow and Canary head off as a team.

THE GREEN LANTERN #2 by Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp. Evil Star and a gang of bad guys have managed to break out of the secret Green Lantern Corps prison known as the Obsidian Depths. Hal gets assigned to the case while Lantern Volk works on a mystery involving a missing planet. Hal and Lantern Tru interrogates a member of the Spider Guild who was part of the crew that broke out and gains valuable information. Evil Star ends up on the Blackstar Flagship where he loses his Star Band and has his life force sucked out of him. Hal meets with the dying Evil Star on Planet Hippocrates, where he finds that the Star Band which has been keeping Evil Star young, has been sold on the black market to some Dhorians. Hal heads to Earth and discovers that it’s gone.

HARLEY QUINN #55 by Sam Humphries and John Timms. Harley’s family has shown up for Christmas and of course manages to ruin everything. And, to top it off, Mom reveals she has Cancer. After having a heart to heart conversation with Mom, they head back home, where a food fight ensues, and all is right with the world again.

HARLEY QUINN #56 by Mark Russell and Mirka Andolfo. Harley’s allegories are killing her, leading her to go to Monsieur Katz and beg him to get rid of his collection of cats. She proceeds to walk around Coney Island and give them away. But this leads to retaliation by a group that only men should be able to distribute pets, and that leads to the men targeting her apartment like unstoppable zombies. Luckily, they get dispatched by angry cats, thanks to Catwoman.

HAWKMAN #7 by Robert Venditti and Bryan Hitch. In the distant past, Ktar the Deathbringer looks over the piles of the dead that Idamm has ordered be killed. Throughout history, Ktar continues on the mission and continually sees a mysterious woman. He eventually turns away from the mission and destroys the temple. His best friend and ally slays him but Ktar is given a second chance. He will be reborn and continue to be reborn until he can save the same number of people he has slain in his life. Essentially, this means he will live and die forever. In the resent, and now being aware of his past, Hawkman heads to the destination of the weapon to stop the Deathbringers: Krypton.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #13 by James Tynion IV and Guillem March. In the past, we see Luthor meet with Joker and try to convince him to join his Legion of Doom. In the present, we see Lex’ deal with The Batman Who Laugh. There is a roster recruitment going on and no one but the Joker is more upset about it., leading to him battling with Lex, who he captures. Joker reveals he had his own plan and Lex ruined it. So now, Joker is going off on his own to initiate his plan. The other Legion members, who had been gassed and were following Joker, free Lex and he has a plan of his own: fix Brainiac and add him to the team.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #14 by James Tynion IV and Jim Cheung. Batman is trying to gain information from Starman by using Jarro, but is stopped by Wonder Woman and Superman before he goes too far. Over on Thanagar Prime, Martian Manhunter, John Stewart and Kendra meet with Shayera Hol, who informs them that the Martian Elder is dead. They all decide to stay the night and attend a celebration on Thanagar, while Kendra realizes that she and Shayera should be one and the same person. It turns out that the Martian Elder is being kept alive and then our heroes are attacked by a masked winged man. He turns out to be Katar Hol-the Savage Hawkman. Back on Earth, Starman’s power suddenly triples in force and it looks like he is going to explode and take the planet with him.