DC's VILLAINS MONTH, Week 1

ACTION COMICS #23.1 CYBORG SUPERMAN: This issue begins nine months after Krypton’s destruction on the ruined city of Argo with Brainiac tooling about. We flash back and forth throughout this issue as we see Jor-El and his brother Zor-El debate on how to save their people. Brainiac finds Zor-El and makes him into a cyborg representative for the House of El. Cyborg Superman begins touring the universe in search of specifies to bring back to Brainiac. But his tests are challenging on immoral levels, making brothers fight brothers and friends grovel to demand his favor, costing the lives of their friends.

If this was the opening salvo for VILLAINS MONTH it was a real stinker to start with. I can’t totally blame Michael Alan Nelson and Mike Hawthorne because they have to work with a character who apparently has made his presence know in SUPERGIRL, which is where everyone learned Zor-El was the Cyborg…everyone but me who doesn't read the title or any spoilers surrounding it. So, when I didn't get Henk Henshaw, I was a bit bummed. But to spoon him out to act as a black hearted version of the Silver Surfer looking for flowers for Brainiac/Galactus’ garden turned this tale into a stinky pile at best. Aaron Kuder and Daniel Brown give us a Lenticular cover that actually looks really good from arms’ length. And that seems to be the trick with these. Are they worth another dollar out of my comic budget per book? Probably not, unless it really bowls me over once first glance. My guess is that I will be opting for 2D with most of the month.

BATMAN 23:1 THE JOKER: While in the middle of a heist, The Joker recalls his young life with his abusive Aunt Eunice. Washing his skin with bleach and saying how she murdered her husband with a Colombian necktie, he was rather attached to a monkey puppet he called "Gaggy". Back in present day, the Joker and his gang are allowing a zookeeper at the Gotham City Zoo to be constricted and consumed by a boa. Then he sees a gorilla with child, gases mother gorilla and steals the baby. From here, he attempts to create a family with the monkey, who he names Jackanapes, and his sidekick Flame Dupree in a house where the rotting corpses of the owners still remain. He tried to have a father and son relationship with Jackanapes, including teaching him how to steal and build weapons. Eventually, he learned the Gotham Zoo was being closed and torn down, so they attacked a council-woman by dirigible, causing the councilwoman and her guards to mutate because of a device they had created. The victims turned on the pair, sending them out of the airship. Joker survived, but Jackanapes fell into the river and drowned. The Joker laughed, realizes he was owed money for swimming lessons that didn't work.

How can you go wrong with this one? Written by Andy Kubert and illustrated by Andy Clarke with a killer Lenticular cover by Jason Fabok, this book is the reasons The Joker needs his own series again. He‘s a crazy psychotic who sometimes has a heart of tarnished gold. All he wants to do is raise a family and unfortunately his best effort isn't enough. C‘mon-raise your hands: who cried when Jackanapes died? Sure you did. Twas Beauty killed the beats and all that! This was a winner from page one right to the very end.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.1 TWO-FACE: Batman is gone and Two-Face has two choices: save Gotham or make it bleed. As he flips, Scarecrow grabs it and hands him another coin: a communication devise used by the Secret Society.  The coin flips Heads meaning he becomes a public defender as he did in his past life. He starts killing off the bad guys and dragging any survivors to the courthouse. Harvey ends up on the judge's bench, flipping his coin. It’s heads for life in prison and tails for death. A gang bursts in representing the Secret Society. Since Harvey has broken his promise to the Society, the gang kills everyone in the court room. With that, he shoots the gang members dead and places the Society's coin into the mouth of the dead leader.  Harvey retrieves his own coin and again vows that heads means he saves Gotham and tails means he makes it bleed. The coin lands Tails-side up. Watch out Gotham: Two-Face is back.

Peter J. Tomasi and Guillem March turn Harvey Bullock back into a hero for the briefest of moments, doling out justice to the bad guys of Gotham. But then, it all comes back to the coin flip and the final flip causes Harvey to flip AGAIN. His was a fun story for me. Nothing groundbreaking-no origin piece like many of the other tales this week. Just a fun tale of a former crusader protecting his people again. Guillem March’ art looks awesome as always. I wish the same could be said for Chris Burnham and Nathaniel Fairbairn cover which may have looked great in 2D but certainly suffers from the crummy Lenticular process here.

BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.1 THE VENTRILOQUIST: Even though the power is out all across Gotham City, it appears the old Melodian Theatre is open, offering light, shelter, and food. It’s current resident is ventriloquist Shauna and her partner the Fantastic and Frisky Ferdie. She tells of her youth, how she was born to a concert pianist and a ballerina. Bur she was also a twin. Her brother became a child star who eventually won himself a recording contract. She sabotaged the chains on a swing he was on, it snapped, and he broke his neck. This is how her doll got his name. She soon found herself being spoiled by her parents, poisoning a punch bowl and stealing Rainbow Rodney’s dummy. She was responsible for a crime wave recently, but killed the officers taking her in and now she is free. In the middle of her act with her captive audience, gangs break in and she and Ferdie appear begin killing them off. When all the killing is finished, Ferdie finds Shauna has poisoned her audience.

Maybe it’s me, but I really like the new Ventriloquist. I have trouble trying to figure who is crazier: Shauna or Ferdie. With the OLD DCU Ventriloquist, you had a mile mannered man who seemed to be haunted by the dummy. Here, we have a crazy woman who seems to be HAUNTING the dummy. No matter what, she is a certified crazy woman and will be a villain for a long time to come. Great work from Gail Simone and Derla Santacruz under a real creepy cover by Pat Gleason, Mick Gray and John Kalisz. In fact, it is one of the few Lenticular covers that really works well, especially from a distance.

DETECTIVE COMICS #23.1 POISON IVY: Gotham City is a complete mess and Batman is M.I.A. Poison Ivy decides it’s her time to take the city back to it’s roots.-literally. She causes a variety of havoc while being reminded of her time growing up. Born with a skin condition that keep her out of the sunlight, she and her mother constantly had to deal with her abusive father. He father eventually killed her mother and buried her within her flower garden. In the present, she takes revenge on arsonists destroying a beautiful garden by burying them in the garden. In college, she created designer drugs which helped get her in jail. But she had used her pheromone pills on the Dean. So, charges were dropped, and she graduated Summa Cum Laude. After college, she visited her father for the first time since the murder and kissed him on the lips with an untraceable toxin that killed him by the next morning. Soon she landed an internship ay Wayne Enterprises and helped develop pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. She arranged a meeting with Bruce Wayne and pitched a pheromone project, but he fired her on the spot. She tried to steal back her work, but got doused in her chemicals.  This made her immune to poisons and gave her a connection to The Green. Becoming an eco-terrorist, she spent some time with the Birds of Prey before she left them. Now, with batman gone, she returns to Wayne Tower and ignites a fire in the chemical lab. Soon, all of Gotham is covered in plants.

Right off the bat, this book ends up with one of the best looking of the Lenticular covers by Jason Fabok. But, when you have a busty super villain on your cover in 3D you can’t lose. So, let’s go to the inside of the book. We get some nice back story on Pamela Ivey’s early life and that does a great job of coloring a character we all thought we knew in the days of the OLD DCU. Derek Fridolfs, someone I am totally unfamiliar with, does a great job with this story, especially when it is set in this past. As it tries to mesh with the current story, it tends to fall flat. The art from Javier Pina is great. Despite all the complaints in fandom, I find this a great issue to read.

EARTH 2 #15.1 DESAAD: Five years in the past, DeSaad was ready to attack the few survivors on earth when he fell into a Boom-Tube and ended up on another Earth. He ends up off the coast of Hawaii where he immediately begins torturing people to feed upon their emotion. Four years later, he has set up a base in the Congo with the intention of building  a Boom Tube to get back home. Unfortunately someone has stolen the quantum tunneling technology from Holt Industries and Holt himself has gone missing. He eventually discovered it in the possession of Karen Starr. With the help of Hakkou, he decided to destroy it rather than have her retain it. He also gets depressed that he can’t seem to influence an artist who is more concerned with his art than anything else. Someday, Darkseid will come back to retrieve him.

Wow: what a major whiny god is DeSaad. I found this to be one of the least entertaining of the VILLAINS MONTH books thus far, be cause he is supposed to be the big bad mental torturer and all he does in complain about NOT being back hope with Darkseid. Paul Levitz: shame on you. This is awful! And it has nothing to do with your writing, but the characterization is so trying. “I’m the great and powerful DeSaad and I miss Darkseid.” To quote Megadeth:  “Nice story ... Tell it to Reader's Digest!!!” Yildiray Cinar: your artwork is cool. Nothing amazing, just cool. The cover is by legend Ken Lashley and rocks, even in the non 3D version.

THE FLASH #23.1 GRODD:  Following all that transpired during the recent Gorilla Wars in both Central and Keystone City, the apes of from Gorilla City have decided to help rebuild. During an unveiling a a Flash statue, an unscheduled eclipse occurs, interrupting Solovar’s speech. Grodd appears, destroying the statue and claims he owns the Speed Force now that The Flash is dead. Pied Piper attacks, but is swatted away. Solovar attempts to stop Grodd with psychic attacks to no avail. He rips the Flash symbol from the statue's chest and sends it through the chest of his enemy. Rather than risk the death of humans or apes, Solovar surrenders. Grodd intends to begin constructing Grodd City on the ruins of Central and Keystone Cities and, within days, humans are enslaved in camps. Grood rechristens Central City as Gorilla City. He murders Chroma as warning to other villains, and chains Solovar to the Flash statue as punishment. One of the elders begs Grodd to stop humiliating Solovar and the gorilla leader decapitates the elder, placing it on a pike alongside the heads of the mayor and Chroma. With  no challenge ahead, Grodd leaves the Gem Cities, Levin his army totally confused as what to do next.

Okay, that Grodd is a bad mother…shut your mouth…I’m just talking about Grodd! Can you dig it? Wow! This is not just some intelligent monkey anymore, is he? No, he’s a bloodthirsty, killer monkey who has been through the Speed Force. He has killed his own people, the mayor and now tortures one of the great elders of Gorilla City. What a great use of this underused character. This ape is truly mad, bad and dangerous to know! Brian Buccatello and Chris Batista give us a great non-origin story that fleshes out the beast known as Grodd. Francis Manapul brings us a great looking cover that just doesn't work in 3D. This Lenticular process is certainly hit or miss with some books looking awesome and others just looking bad. This is truly one of the bad ones!

GREEN ARROW #23.1 COUNT VERTIGO: We begin today with Count Vertigo making a visit to a dilapidated Health and Research Center. When he was a young boy, Werner Zytle and his mother escaped from the war torn country of Vlatava and head to Vancouver. His father, who was next in line to be king, was murdered by rebels and his mother blames him for them having to leave. They had lost everything and she was forced to become a prostitute, making him hide in his room while she worked. She eventually got a payment from the Crius Mental Health and Research Hospital, where they took him and experimented on him. Ten years ago, Dr. Witchell designed a new model of the vertigo devise Werner had been fitted with and praised his progress. Werner responded by deciding to leave and punish Witchell by causing his head to explode! A year later, Werner was back in Vlatava and making his way into HIS castle and calling himself Count Vertigo. Today, Vertigo is in a brothel in Calgary where he visits his sick and drug addled mother. While she is glad to see him, he tells her she is not fit to go back to the homeland and he uses his abilities to kill her. He then orders that her body needs to be burned, as well as the hospital. Now it’s time to go back to Seattle and settle the score with Green Arrow.

 

What a huge difference the team of Jeff Lemire and Andxrea Sorrentino has made on this title. Count Vertigo’s twisted and sad origin story is a modern classic. We get a displaced monarch in waiting, a prostitute mother who sells him for research who becomes a tormented child seeking revenge. Once he gets enough power, he takes his revenge on his captors and then, eventually, ends up becoming a true monarch, uses his resources to find his mother and then take revenge on her. This is some extremely heavy stuff going on here and that is why this book is fast becoming one of my favorite NEW 52 titles.

GREEN LANTERN #23.1 RELIC: The story begins in Relic’s universe, where the Lightsmith’s were using too much power. He tried to warm his people but they treated him like the people of Krypton treated Jor-El. The various lights within his universe began to burn out, eventually burning out all lights in his universe. Billions of years pass and Relic has been freed by Kyle Rayner and his Guardians. And since no one listened to him before, Relic is determined to make people listen now.

This is a fairly lightweight lead-in to the LIGHTS OUT SAGA that will cross through all of next month’s Lantern titles. Robert Vinditti does a nice job of introducing the character fully and giving us his motivation. The saving grace in this book is Rags Morales and his beautiful art. The cover gives me a headache and Green Lantern does NOT appear anywhere in this book. This is probably one of the weakest of this first week’s worth of books.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.1 DARKSEID: We begin long ago on a planet of “mortal mud-grubbers”. Their gods were giants that didn't care for their people and regularly trashed their homes. Uxas hated the gods while his brother-in-law Izaya and his wife Avia were devout and thought Uxas’ hate would be the death of them all. That night, he whispered lies into the gods’ ears and that led to war amongst them. One fallen god revealed to Uxas that the gods fed on faith. Uxas slew him and took his power, eventually killing all the gods and taking their power. This transformed him into Darkseid. Izaya and his wounded wife fled, but stopped at the dying body of the lord of the sky. The god died as did Avia, but he bestowed his last bit of power to Izaya as he did. Izaya faced Darkseid, claiming they were the New Gods and should use their power for good. In response, Darkseid destroyed the world and created Apokolips. Amongst the horror that was Apokolips, Kaiyo the Chaos Bringer teleported to worlds where super beings existed that rivaled his own power. He would challenge and destroy each hero and each world. One universe defeated him. But this only may him vow to kill every Superman everywhere.

WE HAVE A WINNER HERE!!! We are presented the NEW 52 origin of Darkseid and Highfather. And it is about as perfect an origin story as it could be for the ruler of Apokolips. This is one spectacular gem of a story! And it happens to be Greg Pak who brings it to us! Not NEW 52 Architect Geoff Johns…Greg Pak! The guy who did some amazing stuff with Bruce Banner’s alter ego gives us a great story that defines the legendary villain. We have Paulo Siqueira doing the art. Now, Siqueira is no Jack Kirby, but his work is okay to look at. And the cover by Ivan Reis, either in the Lenticular version or the standard 2D version is awesome. The Lenticular is truly amazing as the 3D effect works to true perfection. No squinting, no tilting it from one angle or another. Look at it dead on from arms’ length and prepare to be blown away. This is TRULY my pick of the week and has set the bar very high for the rest of VILLAINS MONTH.

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23.1: THE CREEPER: We begin back in 16th Century Japan where we meet a boy named Jakku who was possessed by a demon called The Oni that, for over two decades caused havoc. Eventually, he was taken down by a Samurai from a team known as The Outsiders and ended up becoming one of the souls within the Soultaker Sword. Eventually, the rest of the team turned on the Samurai, as it seemed his sword developed a life of its’ own, and ended up being sucked into Soultaker. Once inside, the Samurai meets everyone who ever ended up in the blade, including The Oni, now know as The Creeper, who proceeds to hang the Samurai for 100 years. Then one day, specifically KATANA #4, the Soultaker blade was broken and The Creeper and the Samurai were free in modern day San Francisco. The Creeper finds his way into the corpse of Jack Ryder, who died in THE PHANTOM STRANGER #7, and then takes over a janitor named Gallagher. Once inside the janitor, he wreaks havoc, burning a building down and forcing him to take the blame. First on the scene the next day is the late Jack Ryder. It appears that Ryder sleeps at night, freeing The Creeper who does his damage. The following night, The Creeper tears up a biker bar and causes a tornado, just as he did in olden times. The following morning, Jack Ryder finds himself the only survivor and is ready to report the news.

Let’s make the short and sweet: AWFUL. A dumb origin, a sequence the feels like it came from GHOST RIDER and cornball dialogue. Shame on Ann Nocenti and Dan Didio(well-THAT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING!!!) for delivering this upon us. Pencils by Chriscross, Fabrizio Fiorentino and Tom Derenick, along with a trio of inkers and colorists cannot save this book. Neither can a cover by super talented Mikel Janin that is a headache inducing mess. Did I already say AWFUL?

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.1 DEADSHOT: Young Floyd Lawton used to suffer from survivor’s guilt. When he was a child, his parents and sister Jenny were inadvertently killed when thugs in the next apartment got shot to death as part of a mob hit, leaving Floyd an orphan. He went to the apartment of the junkies, took one of their guns and learned how to shoot it. He became quite good over the years and put his talent to use, deciding early on to NEVER take an assassination job for free and never missing his target, which is how his family died. For some time, Lawton, now known as the assassin Deadshot, has been a member of Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad. But that Squad has been disbanded and he has decided to kill the man who once ran Ace Chemical. That was before he began using the company's chemicals to provide power for an armored suit he designed. Deadshot takes him out which now completes his goal of killing the man responsible for hiring the hitmen that killed his family. He also takes out the man’s son so he doesn't grow up to seek revenge on Lawton. Finishing this mission, he gets a call from Waller, telling him Belle Reve has been destroyed and she needs his help. He agrees for a price. The government wires 10 million into his account and he is ready for his next mission.

Well, this was an interesting take on the early life of Floyd Lawton and his metamorphosis into the assassin known as Deadshot. And if you can’t actually find a soul inside Floyd Lawton after the way his childhood was interrupted so violently, then you haven’t quite gotten it. I understand Deadshot’s needs now and why it’s all about being the best marksman and getting paid to do it. The old DCU Floyd Lawton had father/son issues which always made him somewhere between hardcore assassin and The Punisher. Matt Kindt knows Floyd Lawton because Matt Kindt has had his hands all over SUICIDE SQUAD. Sami Basri provides the art on the current story sequence while Carmen Carnero provides the art for the flashback part of the story. All in all, a great issue that paves the road for a possible DEADSHOT series. Not saying that’s a sure thing, but they are giving Mr. J’s #1 gal her own gig.

SUPERMAN #23.1 BIZARRO: Five years ago, at the beginning of his crime fighting career, where Superman breaks free after being held by Lex Luthor. In the process, he spills blood upon Lex’ suit, which now gave the bald genius a DNA sample and the raw material with which to create a superhero who could rival Superman. Luthor eventually selects a test subject and injects him with his drug cocktail that causes his muscles to grow and his skin to turn white. He breaks free and begins to rampage through the lab. Lex opens fire with a Kryptonite gun that has no effect on the creature. So he releases the Lexbots and the Transdimensional Quantum Tunneling Hounds. When nothing fails to stop the creature, Lex decides to abandon the experiment, pulls a switch and causes the creature to explode into chalky goo. So his next move is to clone a new hero from pure Kryptonian DNA. The finals shot we see is a test tube marked B-0. B-O=Bizarro.

I totally feel like I have been screwed! Let me firsts start with the good points. 1. Aaron Kuder’s art on the cover is nice and the Lenticular effect is prettry amazing. 2. Jeff Johnson’s artwork is really nice and his pacing is and layout is pleasing to the eye. 3. It only runs for 20 pages. Thus ends the good. The bad? EVERYTHING ELSE! Sholly Fisch, the king of ACTION COMICS back-up stories, is in charge and I now know WHY he only gets back-up stories. This is a MAJOR pile of doo-doo. First off: the dialogue is totally stale and not even bad Eighties dialogue. Second: we go through an entire issue and don’t even get the character portrayed on the cover. We get a rampaging failed experiment that eventually will LEAD to Bizarro. We have been led down the road expecting this poor test subject to become that classic “Me Bizarro” guy and instead we get someone with less dialogue than Solomon Grundy. This was a complete waste of my time and my money and if THIS had been the first NEW 52 book I was to ever read, I would NEVER pick up another DC book ever again.

FOREVER EVIL #1

Lex Luthor, a recently freed man, is trying to negotiate the sale of Kord industries to LexCorp. Just as it seems Kord will begrudgingly sign, his helicopter loses control and crashes into LexCorp Tower. As he crawls from the wreckage, he sees a message on his phone saying: "THIS WORLD IS OURS." Lex sees Kord is still alive and just when it looks like Superman is going to save him, the non-Superman causes Kord to fall to his death as he smashes into Lex’ safe and steals a shard of Kryptonite. He crushes it into powder and snorts it, causing Ultraman to claim he is again the strongest there is.. Grid has taken down power in Metropolis and Gotham City is next and he sends an energy pulse that does just that. Nightwing, in Gotham to deliver Mister Zsasz to Arkham, sees a caped woman tear the doors off of the Asylum. He is quickly punched in the face by someone resembling Batman and then finds himself dangling at the end of a barbed wire lasso. The freed inmates are given the chance to join the Secret Society and they do, based on the flip of a coin by Two-Face. Meanwhile, The Rogues are trying to break into Iron Heights to free the Trickster. Suddenly they encounter a super speedster and a tiny woman. Belle Reve is broken into by two super-powered criminals just as Amanda Waller is attempting to recruit Black Manta for the Suicide Squad.

The freed criminals assemble at the ruins of the Justice League Watchtower in Rhode Island. Suddenly Aquaman’s trident hits the floor, followed by Wonder Woman’s Lasso of truth and Superman’s shredded cape. Ultraman appears with the members of the Crime Syndicate and announces that the Justice League is dead. He tells the crooks that they come from another world that they conquered and destroyed because the people turned against them. So they have come here to conquer this world. They reveal that they have Nightwing and proceed to unmask him in front of all the criminals. Dick Grayson has been unmasked. Dick’s friends are watching on television, as is the whole world. The Crime Syndicate says they know everything about Grayson: who his family is and who his friends are and they will hunt them down and destroy them. Ultraman tells his Secret Society that they represent the new world order: one that is “forever evil”. The criminals head out into the world as Ultraman winces from the radiation of the rising yellow sun. Suddenly a solar eclipse is put in place, blocking out that sun. Lex Luthor mentions how this seems like a job for Superman, who is nowhere to be found.

And this is how it all begins. September is a good month for comics. DC has FOREVER EVIL and all that will come from it and Marvel has INFINITY and all that will comes from that. But this is the first salvo in the “Big Event” War and this is a beauty! Geoff Johns knows how to write the BIG STORY and he’s well on his way with this one. We get a boat load of bad guys, the Crime Syndicate from Earth 3(there are 52 you know!) and Dick Grayson unmasked. Paint yourself out of THAT CORNER, Geoff! Toss in Davd Finch’ phenomenal art, including a beautiful four panel spread inside the Watchtower and I was blown away! This is the lead to VILLAINS MONTH and we shall see where that goes, as I review those week by week. For now, this is one of those fun reads that I want to continue week by week. Now I know how my parents felt when they had to wait week by week for the next movie serial chapter.

DC's NEW 52 Month 23, Part 2

LARFLEEEZE #3:  The Wanderer tells how she and her brothers came to the Earth and why she is keeping Butler Stargrave alive. It appears she purchased him many years ago and wants him back. He is enthused until he learns that he can either be castrated or switch his private parts for female ones. He decides he wants to keep his genitals and keep working for Larfleeze. Larfleeze awakens and battles with The Wanderer and The Laord of the Hunt over the ownership of Stargrave until he sends The Laord to the other side of the universe. The Wanderer kills Lou the Guard Dog, so Larfleeze brings forth the Orange Lantern Corps to battle The Wanderer. She uses her power to return the Orange Constructs to life who prepares to battle Larfleeze as The Wanderer leaves with Stargrave.

Leave it to Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis to have a book filled with incest jokes and castration. And leave it to Scott Kolins to use his unusual style to create a surreal feel to the whole affair. I wouldn’t go as far as to say the book is funny, certainly not the way titles like AMBUSH BUG and JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL were. It’s more of a satirical, weird book with quirky science fiction flair. How long will this title last? I’m uncertain as I don’t know how long you can keep readers interested in a book filled with jokes about everything from incest to farts interesting.  Oh wait: with the Internet, it should be a huge hit, as we are constantly filled with this sort of stuff. They are called You Tube sensations!

THE MOVEMENT #4: Virtue is in Captain Meers office and is demanding that Katharsis be released. The Movement is here too and the growing numbers could pose a problem for the police of Coral City. We get Mouse’ back story. Jayden Revell was a child of wealthy parents but was put out in the streets when his mother could no longer handle him. Katharsis is interrogated and reveals she is an immigrant child, with her mother coming from Laos. She worked at her mom’s restaurant and even joined the police force. But that all went away when she became a vigilante and took the law into her own hands. Cannon tells the police that she is the only witness to their crimes so they should do what they feel is best. Mouse and Virtue break down the front door and the Movement flows inside. We find out that Tremor had come from Calcutta where her talents ruined her fathers’ life and forced them to move here. She fell in with a bad crowd and all of her friends except her were killed as the result of drinking and driving. To atone, she became a spy for Amanda Waller and knows that she will have to betray her friends one day. Virtue goes to search for Katharsis, while Tremor is left to handle an approaching tank. Burden gets into a verbal battle with The Movement, who are looking to beat a police officer to death. Burden was riddled with fits as a child and his family and town elders tried to have him exorcised of his demon. He left home because he was a burden to his family. Rainmaker arrives to help The Movement. Captain Meers learns that Katharsis is being kept in the sub-basement and takes some amount of revenge on Yee. Virtue, Mouse, and Burden free Katharsis, while Virtue tells Meers to clean the corruption from his precinct. The next day, we learn that Mayor Prein requests assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, and at least six other cities in America have sprouted their own cells of the Movement.

I know: long synopsis for a comic book. But that is because there is so much that happens in this issue, mostly with back story being provided for some of the major characters. I still don’t know what Gail Simone’s ultimate point is here, but I find the book very intriguing. The fact that all of these characters have flaws or are immigrants I’m sure will play a role in why she has put them together. Each and every one is flawed in their own way and the fact that they are fighting corruption is their way of fighting for the American dream. Freddie Williams II art is very much in the old independent comic mold that is art tight and inking light. I still plan on hanging with this title as I still find it an interesting ride that really isn’t clear on the direction it is coming.

NIGHTWING #23: The Prankster's army of followers has been wreaking havoc throughout Chicago, but Nightwing has been keeping busy to stop it. He has learned that a criminal named Danny knows where the Prankster is and makes him reveal that he will be at an old Brewery later. Meanwhile, Joey and Michael have gotten concerned that they haven’t seen Dick for days. Michael promises to have the police put a trace on Dick’s phone, but he gets caught in a blast that the Prankster rigged for the police and soon finds himself captured. Tony Zucco, under his new name of Billy Lester, is on vacation in Wisconsin and word reaches his wife, who is totally disappointed in him for lying to her and their son. At Chicago City Hall, one of the mayor’s Aldermen is gunned down by Prankster, who  appears in Mayor Cole's office. Nightwing eventually rescues Michael and several others hostages when Tony Zucco appears saying they have to work together to save Chicago, Nightwing will have to work together with the man who killed his parents. How do you work with the man who killed your parents.

And this IS the question that Kyle Higgins and Will Conrad ask? This is an interesting turn I thought I would never see, but this IS the NEW 52 after all. This is the equivalent of Bruce Wayne having to team up with Joe Chill. So what do we do? Great story from Higgins and the art from Conrad is equally satisfying. But after this arc is done, what then? Of course, Dick needs to survive FOERVER EVIL first.

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS:#23: Drakar and the Untitled wait for the destruction of the fountain that will allow them access to the city of ‘Eth Alth’eban. The League of Assassins has chosen former Robin Jason Todd as their champion while the Untitled have recruited Roy Harper into the same role. Roy is using all sorts of weapons to keep the League’s followers at bay. First he traps Graystone in a block of ice with a weapon he stole from Mr. Freeze. then Cheshire shows up and he plants a device on her that causes her teleportation device to malfunction and she disappears. Jason confronts Roy and the two argue until Starfire arrives and is accused by both of abandoning them. Rictus arrives and attacks her, while Roy uses an explosive arrow to blow up the fountain. Bronze Tiger tries to have Roy and Starfire killed, but Jason won’t have it and, as their leader, forbids them. As the pair are led away in chains, the Untitled arrive in the city just as Jason is shown how to make the All-Blades manifest.

I so love where James Tynion IV, with guest artist (I guess!) Julius Gopez are taking this! And that’s good because I really thought I would hate it. Now I admit being bitchy about the triangle feeling like bad high school romance junk but the idea of Jason’s mind wipe and the consequences of it have renewed my interest in this title. To have the two former best friends on opposite sides of the battle lines creates a really cool storyline that is intriguing, action packed (where DOES he get those toys!) and plain fun! Rock on, guys! This is a ride I am greatly enjoying.

RED LANTERNS #23: Dex-Starr has created an artificial heart and brought Atrocitus back to life. The pair then travels through space looking for any one of the Red Rings he sent out to build his Red Lantern Army. They end up on Styge Prime, were they find Skallox’s former boss, The Butcher. Atrocitus sticks his hand into it and becomes possessed by The Butcher. Now he is fueled with enough rage to destroy Guy Gardner. Meanwhile on Ysmault, Zilius Zox fixes up the captured ship as Guy realizes he is losing his humanity. With only 0.003% charge left on his ring he contacts Hal to cancel this mission. Hal informs Guy that the Blue Lanterns have been destroyed and his ring goes dead. Bleez arrives in time to see Guy speaking with Hal and she realizes he has been sent here to infiltrate them.

Charles Soule’s amazing run on this title continues. And good old guy Gardener realizes he is in over his head with no lifeboat. So, he either has to man up and do what a Red Lantern does to survive or else get wiped out by Bleez or Atrocitus. This is a fun title now, as opposed to the depressing stuff Peter Milligan was handing us. And I love Alessandro Vitti’s art!

SUICIDE SQUAD #23:  It seems that John Lynch, former director of Team 7, is the man responsible for all the issues the Squad has faced as of late. She has also learned that he is going to try and convince Paris Mingowee to hire his own superhuman team as Mingowee’s security force. The Squad infiltrates Mingowee's compound, but the super powered security team arrives to meet them. But they are no match for the Suicide Squad as they quickly dispatch the others, complete with Harley throwing a landmine pie into the face of someone named Crow Jane. With his team completely defeated, Waller calls an air-strike that blows him up while Mingowee hides in his bunker. But James Gordon Jr. has taken care of that as the Unknown Soldier gets into the buker and assassinates the dictator.

And the key word among many titles this month is FUN! A pie BOMB? Deadshot getting hit on by King Shark? And some of the neatest (did I just say that?) dialogue outside of LARFLEEZE. Ales Kot, who I will be sad to see leave this title, and Rick Leonardi (there’s a legendary name for you fans!) turn out one of the wildest rides in comics. This is enough to ALMOST make me go back and find copies of MEN AT WAR to read the Unknown Soldier story. Note: I did say ALMOST. This book has been my favorite since the beginning and it continues to elevate to the top of my must read pile each month.

SUPERMAN #23: We start out four years ago where a young man who was a member of the Twenty stole the Medusa Mask from the Metropolis Museum of Art. He put it on and became the Psycho Pirate, who we have previously seen in SUPERBOY.  Flashing to the present, Superman has been captured and defeated by the mental powers of the H.I.V.E. Queen. Lois Lane is in a coma, following recent events. Her boyfriend Jonathan is at her side. But when Lois suddenly wakes up, she calls for Superman. Back in downtown, Hector Hammond mentally attacks the H.I.V.E. Queen and, using the people of Metropolis as their pawns, the two engage in telepathic combat. She goes directly to H.I.V.E. headquarters to attack Hammond, with Superman in hot pursuit. When he arrives, he finds the base ruined. He finds Hammond badly injured within the rubble. He claims that the Queen is dead. Just then, the Psycho Pirate appears and makes our hero know that he is well aware of Superman's secret identity.

Here’s the good news: Scott Lobdell IS NOT writing this! He has been replaced by Mike Johnson, who did some adequate work when he was on SUPERGIRL. Let’s hope that this will rub off on this title which has been an absolute drag for months. Jesus Merino’s art is nice and I’m cool with that. But hey: NO SCOTT LOBDELL! I know that’s harsh and HE has a comic job and I don’t. But, for crying out loud: WRITE SOMETHING that FEELS like it was written TODAY and not back in the 90’s. I don’t expect Frank Miller but something current would be nice. So, we’ll see if Mr. Johnson can take some of these plot points and characters and mold them into something interesting.

SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #3: Superman finds himself taken down by a super-human who landed here in 1938 and has been kept in a secret facility hidden deep within the Utah Salt Flats. General Lane and the alien take Superman down into the facility where the alien introduces himself as "Wraith." According to Lane, Wraith has spent the last 75 years making the world safer, even if no one knows it. Lane admits he doesn’t like Superman because he is a coward and a murderer who has decided NOT to help eliminate dictators that would affect the world, thus allowing them to continue murdering people. The General learns that the terrorist group Ascension is heading towards Japanese airspace with some Soviet drones it has captured. Superman and Wraith go to Tokyo where they get involved with the drones. Wraith admits he is thrilled to be working together with Superman and how much of a shame it is that he now has to kill him. The same terrorist group has sabotaged Lois’ plane and she is trying to perform an emergency landing over Nova Scotia, but ends up in the ocean instead. It looks as if all will drown until the propellers begin to spin and the plane surfaces. On the shore, she finds the man she came to interview levitating on the shore and holdings a crystal. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor has uploaded his Consciousness into a robotic suit and broke out to meet someone. In the back-up, Jimmy Olsen is met my Lex Luthor who thinks it might be time that Jimmy becomes HIS pal for a change.

Scott Snyder and Jim Lee continue their take on the Man of Steel. As one of the architects of the NEW 52, I love Snyder’s writing and pretty much everything he has done thus far. But I keep waiting for Lee to finish his six issue arc so he can put it in his resume and bail. And then we end up with the rotating artist roller coaster on another title. Personally, I’m happy with the classic, core Superman titles. The old DCU was once heavy with Superman titles and we don’t need it here. As far as the back-up story” does this become a lead in for the new title LEX LUTHOR’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN?

SWAMP THING #23: John Constantine has gone insane after drinking from the Whisky Tree and has declared himself the king of Fetter’s Hill, Scotland. Everyone who from the tree becomes psychopaths and the town is full of them. Meanwhile, Constantine has locked a very weak Swamp Thing in the town jail. With what little strength he has left, Swamp Thing sends out a vine out and steals the keys from a sleeping guard. Constantine is planning to have the trees seeds planted in every village in the United Kingdom. Learning that Swamp Thing has escaped, and orders everyone to find him and burn him. The posse catches him and lights him up. He puts all of his remaining power on becoming a poppy, causing Constantine to pass out. The Green comes back to him and tempts him to squash the village like ants. Instead, he destroys the Whiskey Tree, grows more poppies to sedate the village. Returning to the Louisiana swamp, he finds Capucine having been attacked by the Seeder, who attacked her because Alec wasn’t there. In a grove a trees, is a message: "It's time, Professor."

Charles Soule, with art by Kano and David Lapham, finishes the Constantine storyline (is he in EVERY BOOK lately?) and propels things forward towards an eventful meeting with the Seeder. I love Soule’s pacing and his style is refreshing. And the  fact that we get Lapham adding his artistic touch means I can get my fix of one of my favorite creators without having to read CROSSED! The story gets interrupted next month, as do all the DC titles as it’s VILLAINS MONTH.

TEEN TITANS #23: Everyone tries to keep Kid Flash from being dragged into the future with little results. Red Robin tells Superboy to use his TK powers to disrupt the portal and this works. In the 30th Century, the people hunting Kid Flash vow to continue their hunt. With the drama ended, Beast Boy and Bunker become BFF’s and head off together on a road trip so Bunker can head to Mexico to see his boyfriend that has finally come out of his coma. 

Yeah, I know I swore I was done LAST issue, but I just had to see how this arc ended. And I want my money back. We never get the reveal about the 30th Century storyline. The team sort of splits up as Beast Boy and Bunker do their best Thelma and Louise and head off to find Bunker’s recently reborn lover. Cassie dreams about her father, who has just died in the pages of WONDER WOMAN and the rest of the crew just continues to chew scenery with Scott Lobdell’s dialogue. With this ending, I’m done…honest!

TRINITY OF SIN-PANDORA #3: This issue begins in the 14th Century with Pandora training in China. The tale then jumps to the present where she watches the Justice League’s fighting for possession of the box. She warns them that the box isn't what she thought it was. Flashing back to the 16th Century, she asks the philosopher Aldager why God would permit evil to exist. In the present, she attempts to kill the sins with her guns and realizes she may not be able to fight and win. Back in the 18th Century, she asks an old woman for wisdom but is told she is actually trying to find how to destroy spirits. Back in the time that is now, Agents Kinkaid and Chang meet Marcus Severin, who is told he will be arrested for supplying illegal weapons to a super villain. Back in the battle, Pandora attacks and kills Envy. Now Pandora must decide who dies next.

Well, if you have read the earlier postings concerning the JUSTICE LEAGUE title, then you know what transpires to end the TRINITY WAR. So, with that over and done with, what is the point of this title carrying on? We know the conclusion of the tale, we know that her mission is not going to be easy to accomplish, if at all. So what is her purpose now in the NEW 52? And, after all the speculation about who she was and how she fit into the fabric of the NEW 52, it turns out that she has been moving throughout this world as opposed to being responsible for the changes that occurred during the end of FLASHPOINT. Ray Fawkes does a nice job with the story and Daniel Sampere art is filled with clean lines and not too many anatomical offenses. Again, this is all about where this character goes from here.

 
TRINITY OF SIN- PHANTOM STRANGER #11:  Batman, Deadman, Katana and The Phanton Stranger find themselves in Heaven’s Basement where they need to speak with Doctor Light about how he died. When they enter Heaven, they each get their own piece of what Heaven is. Tatsu ends up in a Japanese garden with her husband Maseo. The Stranger interrupts and banishes the demon Maseo to a nether realm. The pair finds Batman with his parents at Christmas while Thomas Wayne reads A CHRISTMAS CAROL to him. Deadman arrives and they head off to find Doctor Light. The Stranger attempts to give him his life back but Zuriel intervenes and, as promised, uses his flaming sword to finish The Phantom Stranger’s existence.

Well, that’s the end of him. Or not, since the last page says that the story two months from now is called “Oblivion”, so I guess the series continues on. Fernando Blanco is the artist of record this month and his work is okay. J. M. DeMatteis writing has been some great stuff since taking over for Dan Didio, whose work was enough to ALMOST make me toss the book. Still having nightmares about the first issues’ writing….

WONDER WOMAN #23: The First Born has trashed London where War has brought his own army consisting of every soldier who ever had a song sung about him. Hera tries to get Zola and Zeke to safety while Orion attacks the First Born and gets crushed beneath a stone pillar for his troubles. Wonder Woman removes her Bracelets of Submission, which keeps her powers in check, and attacks the First Born, intent on gaining revenge for Lennox’ death. He takes Diana down and turns his attention to War. Diana shoves her spear through War's back and into the First Born's chest. Dying, Diana apologizes to War who says he would have done the same thing. He apologizes and asks her to keep him in her heart. Hell appears to take War home and he and Diana carry War to the ferry. It’s time for a trip down the River Styx.

Brian Azzarello brings this chapter of Wonder Woman’s life to a close and another member of the Gods dies. At this rate, Diana will be an only child. As always, this is a killer book and Cliff Chaing’s art is right where it needs to be. This is truly one of the major successes in the NEW 52 for me and, despite all of the various incarnations of her we have seen in the past, nthis is surely one of the most unusual. Well played!

WORLDS’ FINEST #15: Last issue Huntress was kidnapped by Desaad. Power Girl makes her way through the Boom Tube after them and gets into battle with some Parademons. Meanwhile, the Huntress is being tortured by Desaad who is collecting Fearamones from her. Seeing that Power Girl is trashing his followers, Desaad goes after her, giving the Huntress a chance to escape. She does and even beats up some beast that comes to stop her, before going to help out Power Girl. Desaad Boom Tubes them away Karen and Helena away. Back home, Power Girl’s clothes are torn and she is covered in cuts and bruises. What has Desaad stolen from her.

The cover says the issue is by Paul Levitz, Robson Rocha and Wayne Faucher. Actually, it is by Levitz, Emanuela Lupacchino and Guillermo Ortega. And that’s okay because Emanuela Lupacchino’s work is AMAZING!!! I mean, she is absolutely fantastic! Can she be our regular artist because these heroines never looked so good. And Levitz’ script is fun too!

DC's NEW 52 Month 23, Part 1

ACTION COMICS #23: Lady Lourdes and the Pax Galactica have arrived on the moon where Straith and Superman have been fighting. The Pax Galactica have come to fight an enemy called the Lexus and they are hoping Superman can help them out and he agrees. Lexus, also known as the Devourer of Life soon appears. Lexus is described by Lourdes as “evil incarnate” that wields dark magic. When Lourdes began to battle Lexus, there were 500 in the Pax Galactica, which is down to only four. Superman takes Lourdes enchanted blade and, using his x-ray vision, thrusts it through Lexus’ heart, destroying the creature. At that point, the Pax Galactica declares him their ruler. In the back-up, the World of Krypton story concludes with Zod and Jor-El defeating The Colonel.

Scott Lobdell and Tyler Kirkham turn in a confusing and really boring issue. PLEASE get this man off this character! I am tired of the Big Blue Boy Scout being turned into the Big Blue Whining Guy in Tights. I mean, I had issues with Grant characterization, but this is so much worse. Superman wielding a sword and thrusting it through the bad guy’s heart? C’mon: this is dumb, dumb, dumb. And the back-up: just glad it’s over. I couldn’t stand the story and having it show Zod and Jor-El as good buddies just really put me off. And all this time, I thought THE COLONEL was ZOD. Shows how much I PAID ATTENTION!

ALL STAR WESTERN #23: While Batman is looking into Jonah Hex’ story, Hex and Dr. Arkham tear up the town as Hex is searching for Booster Gold, so he can get back to his own time. Hex decides he needs a drink and he and the good doctor end up at a bar, where they are accused of being homosexuals by some trouble makers which is the perfect excuse for Hex to start a brawl. So impressed is the bartender that she and Hex end up in bed together while Jeremiah ends up with her flirtatious roommate. The next morning, the foursome end up at a chop-shop to change vehicles. Afterwards they pass a breast cancer awareness march, which suddenly gets interrupted by a speeding car that crashes into the camp. Hex heads into a nearby gun shop and is given a rifle by a sympathetic owner. The driver is seeking revenge for his wife's plan to divorce him. Jonah responds by putting a bullet through the driver’s head. Jonah gets arrested as a mass murderer even though he saved countless people in the process. Suddenly Bruce Wayne arrives at the hospital and says he will provide legal representation for Hex. 

Jimmy Palmitotti, Justin Gray and Moritat craft a weird feeling one this issue. We have Hex and Arkham playing male versions of Thelma and Louise in this buddy road trip. Then they end up in a bar where the whole concept of homosexuality and gay marriage is debated. I love that someone has to explain to Hex what gay means! Then we get to watch Arkham get nervous around the positively excited roommate of the barmaid and then Jonah and the barmaid make post coital small talk. Then we get an explanation of what breast cancer awareness is before the vigilante who looks like he old Wild Dog character shows up, pissed as his wife and mows down innocents. Wow! This is a totally weird chapter. And, if that wasn’’t enough, what IS with the mutants?

ANIMAL MAN #23: With Buddy nominated for Best Actor, the conjecture is that the View-Tube video of Buddy fighting the splinterfolk is nothing but a publicity stunt. Buddy is pretty upset by it and has locked himself in his hotel room. Later that night, Buddy attempts to break into Belle Reve to talk to Clinton Hogue and find out more information about the splinterfolk. Meanwhile, Brother Blood complains that he was born with a connection to the Red but the Totems passed him over for Buddy. He believes if he drinks Buddy's blood, he will gain access the Red. Unfortunately, when he drinks the blood, he breaks out in the same bloody tattoo that once affected Buddy long ago. Maxine is still within the Red trying to find her brother Cliff, but there is a chance that his soul is on its way to the Rib-Cave to be reincarnated. Brother Blood enters the Red and begins to murder the Totems. One of the Totems admits he called on Brother Blood to put an end to the Parliament of Limbs.

Jeff Lemire, my hero when it comes to writing creepy, continues to turn things loose on this title. With art from Steve Pugh, Buddy Baker’s life continues to get more and more complicated. His marriage is in disarray, with son is dead, his daughter deep in the Red and Brother Blood, long a Teen Titans foe, trying to tap into the energy of The Red and get some help in the process. It’s gonna be a long road for our hero. 

AQUAMAN #23: Aquaman and Mera attempt to escape from the Xebel forces who are loyal to the Dead King. We learn that Mera’s father used to be king of Xebel and she inherited his ability to control water. The pair decide to return to Atlantis because they believes Vulko knows about the Dead King. Meanwhile, Tula, Murk and Swatt prepare to enter the prison to rescue Orm when they learn Atlantis is under attack. When Aquaman and Mera arrive at Atlantis, they lead the attack against the Scavenger. Urn sacrifices his life to save Aquaman from a missle attack. Using his telepathic powers, he gets Topo to attack the Scavenger's fleet. But the strain of the telepathic command causes Aquaman to pass out, just as the Dead King and his Xebel forces arrive. When Aquaman awakens, he is inside a tent with Vulko taking care of him. Aquaman, sporting a beard, has been in a coma for six months. 

So Geoff Johns has decided to slap the beard on our sea hero. How long will it be before he loses a hand to a shark? Speaking of which, have we jumped the shark by jumping ahead six months in time? What will have changed in all that time? And how does this tie in to the FOREVER EVIL storyline? Anyway, the story is fun, Paul Pelletier’s artwork is great, as always, and the dialogue, even when there are silly bits, is compelling and fun. Yeah: it’s a fun read!

BATGIRL #23: Comissioner Gordon and Detective McKenna arrive at Charise Carnes apartment and he asks for her help in finding the killer known as Batgirl. They set their sights on questioning Ricky Gutierrez. Her alter ego, Barbara in out shopping with her roommate Alysia Yeoh and Barbara defeats some would be muggers in the process. Arriving at home, Barbara gets a call from Ricky, who explains he can’t see her anymore. Ricky is off the meet with the leader of the Sixty-Eight Kings street gang, who have captured his brother Rolo. Gordon and McKenna arrive just as Rocky heads off and he accidentally knocks McKenna unconscious in the process. Gordon searches the house and sees pictures of Ricky and Barbara together. Barbara follows Ricky and, having decided top give up the mantle of the bat, disguises herself and gets into it with some of the Sixty-Eight Kings. Outside, Knightfall has assembled The Disgraced to kill Commissioner Gordon. Gordon and his men burst in just as Tyrell prepares to kill Rolo. The Commissioner takes a shot and it apparently kills Ricky. 

First we start out with a tremendous looking Alex Garner cover. Then we move to the story where Batgirl is trying to deal with her brother’s death AND now the APPARENT death of her thug boyfriend. Jim Gordon is in a major snit about Batgirl killing his son(he thinks-read SUICIDE SQUAD Jim) and Knightfall is so paranoid she thinks the Gordon is after her so she plans on having him killed. This is all just part of the neatly tangled tale by Gail Simone and Fernando Pasarin.

BATMAN #23: Bruce has been blasted into the bottom of the well and the Red Hood Gang are in hot pursuit. They grab a bunch of ancient weapons from Bruce's collection and beat him severely, while the Red Hood mocks him. As the place burns and the walls start coming down, a monologuing Red Hood grabs a portrait of Bruce’s parents and fires a gunshot through their faces and into Bruce's stomach. He manages to activate the secret panel that leads to the tunnels below and eventually to the manor, where he collapses. When he awakes, Alfred is tending to his wounds. That night, he discovers his father’s mapping device and begs his father for some kind of sign. The mapping device activates and creates a 3D image of the cave he had fallen into as a boy. Standing by the open window, a swarm of holographic bats fly through. Seeing this as a sign, Bruce vows to become a bat. Meanwhile, Philip Kane is having issues with his adviser Edwrd Nygma, as he believes Nygma is responsible for sending Red Hood after Bruce. Kane threatens to kill him and Nygma says "Cain", which activates a ginat magnet in the floor and drags Kane, who has a metal plate in his head, to the floor. Nygma’s quits, but is told he will always be a question mark. In the back-up, we see Bruce involved in a death-match fight in Norway.

Purists will be flipping out over this retooling of the origin (you think that’s something, wait until ZERO YEAR invades the rest of the NEW 52). Well, as much as I recall the classic Bruce in the smoking jacket being inspired by a bat, the whole smoking jacket thing REALLY made me think Dr. Wertham was right! Anyway, I like where this is going, even if I don’t truly buy the whole Edward Nygma was a villain in Bruce’s life BEFORE Batman. Of course, I don’t buy the Red Hood being under the command of Nygma. But, this is the NEW 52 and I am willing to suspend disbelief. After all, I am ready to believe that Ben Affleck can be Batman…

BATMAN AND ROBIN #23: Bruce has been using a virtual reality program to relive the events that killed Damian, convinced he could have saved his son’s life. Alfred calls Nightwing back from Chicago to have a talk with his former partner, but instead the former Boy Wonder joins him within the simulation. Nightwing ends up killing the Heretic with a spear and Damian lives. But Bruce realizes it was only a simulation and Damian is still dead. Dick suggests he takes Damian's death to become a better Batman. Later, Alfred runs the simulation himself. In that sim, Alfred pricks the boy with a tranquilizer before he can leave the cave. Bruce finds a tearful Alfred using the device, and the older man apologizes for letting Damian go. Bruce agrees to shut the simulation down permanently.

Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason continue their epic run on this title with the ever changing name. This time it is called BATMAN AND NIGHTWING, obviously. We continue to see a father’s grief, but it is now tended with sorrow as opposed to the desperate anger which he first approached it with. Remember: he originally was trying to pull a PET SEMETARY and resurrect him suing Dr. Frankenstein’s methods. So we proceed into Villains Month with The Dark Knight a little more at ease. Not totally at peace, but more at ease.  

BATMAN INCORPORATED SPECIAL #1: Batman is checking the Bat-computer’s case files on members of Batman Incorporated. The first tale involves Jiru, the Batman of Japan. Seems someone has been storing human organs in vending machines. Jiro and Canary end up at the Capsule Hotel, where businessmen are being killed and their parts are being sold. The man responsible is Doctor Inside-Out and our heroes eventually capture him. The next case has Squire who battles and defeats Srpingheel Jack before becoming the Knight. Raven Red battles Coyote while remembering a moment with an old man at the top of a casino. The next case file features Nightrunner, El Gaucho, and Dark Ranger. The next story is followed by The Battlin’ Bovine Bat-Cow breaking up a kidnapping. In the end, Batman decides not to archive the case folder for Batman Incorporated.

And thus BATMAN INCORPORATED comes to an end. This was a fun little anthology that gave us some cool stories. Chris Burnham needs to be given a MONTHLY BATMAN JAPAN title…just because it’s so much fun! Yeah I know: ANOTHER Bat Title? So cancel BATWING and give us this. And I don’t even READ BATWING. The Knight tale by Joe Keatinge and Emanuel Simeone is a nice way to pas the torch. The Raven Red was okay and highlighted by the art of John Paul Leon. The El Gaucho tale was also okay with a lot of action and some nice art from John Stanisci. The higghlight of the book had to be the adventure of Bat Cow by Dan Didio and Ethan Van Sciver. Six silent pages. Proof that Didio does his best work when he’s only has to write one line of dialogue: “MOO!”  

BATMAN SUPERMAN #3: We learn that the Earth Two Wonder Woman stabbed Lois Lane because Kaiyo the Trickster from Apokolips possessed her body. Kaiyo convinces Superman of Earth Two that Batman has the means to kill Superman if needed. The leads to a flashback where Clark and his family first met Alfred and Bruce. Going back to the present, which is actually the past, Superman finds the crystal he had knocked out of Batman’s hands. Apparently it comes from a government bunker studying it. The two Batmen attack the two Supermen and, in the process, our Batman and Superman learn each other’s secret identities. Kaiyo returns and tells them all that the weapon they want to destroy is the only weapon that can defeat Darkseid. 

I have total mixed feelings about this title. Jae Lee’s art is his usual great work but the story by Greg Pak makes me yearn for his HULK work. It is a confusing mess. We have the trinity from Earth 2 and the heroes of Earth Prime and unless you pay attention to the costume, it is extremely difficult to see who is who. And then we fill a good portion of the book with the first meeting of Bruce and Clark of Earth 2. It’s kind of weird and a little creepy and the fact that Clark and Bruce would spar without Clark killing him accidentally is hard to swallow. And this is all going to lead to a meeting with Darkseid? So, we certainly know where this falls in the timeline. And I really don’t care. Even with Scott Lobdell doing a smash up job(?) on the main Superman titles, I would take his titles over this in a heartbeat.

BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23: At the Gotham Securities Exchange, Clayface manages to sneak in with a tour group and begins to short out the computers there, causing the market to immediately crash. Done with his crew, he then murders his henchmen and turns his attention to one witness. Just in time, Batman arrives and rescues her. Clayface pursues Batman who tries several times to use his new weapon on the villain but it doesn’t work. He needs it to create a complete seal, otherwise Clayface slips out. Batman ends up in Arkham where he questions Mad Hatter about who he told about his relationship with Natalya Trusevich but to no avail. Soon the Darek Knight is in Penguin’s bedroom who he accuses of hiring Clayface to make the market crash. Clayface attempts to steal some rare cat's eye diamonds, but Batman arrives. Actually several Batmen arrive, confusing the villain. Finally the real Batman flies overhead in the Batplane with the perfect ait tight container. The various Batmen were Jim Gordon and the rest of the GCPD. With Clayface in jail, Gordon knows it’s only a matter of time before Clayface finds a crack to slip through.

The concluding chapter in Gregg Hurwitz story is great with the shape changer being held in the ultimate trap. But if it cracks during the FOREVER EVIL story…?  Alex Maleev delivers some of his best work since DAREDEVIL and I could almost get used to him being the regular artist as I see Daredevil and batman as being cut from similar cloth. Next issue is part of VILLAINS MONTH and we get the origin of Clayface. I wonder which origin and which Clayface. It should be interesting…

BATWOMAN #23: Kate and Maggie Sawyer discuss the incident where Kate accidentally injected Maggie with Fear-Toxin. So Kate injects herself with it to see what Maggie went through. With Maggie waiting beside her, Kate rides out the violent hallucinations. When she awakens, she apologizes for hiding her true identity, promises to never cheat, never kill someone who wasn't going to kill her, and never hurt her daughter. Kate proposes for a second time and Maggie accepts. Meanwhile, Bette Kane watches her father interrogate a DEO Agent and decides to take a different approach to getting home to talk. After explaining what she believes will happen when Director Bones lets the people in Washington down. With that the Agent agrees to talk. Speaking of the DEO, Cameron Chase releases a whole batch of dangerous criminals, including bane, who she leaves in charge, as part of "Operation Batfrack".

J. H. Williams III and W. Hadem Blackman continue to build towards what is going to be an interesting war on the Bat. We get a boatload of trippy images during Kate’s psychotic reaction to the Fear Toxin, followed by a proposal and an acceptance. We get Bette using intellect to get info on the DEO versus her dad’s military tactics. And the fact that Bane is leading a team for Operation Batfrack (LOVE THE NAME!) is just scary wrong and so right! But I don’t like Trevor McCarthy’s art at all. It just is too formless as opposed to Williams’ wonderful style. This is the only negative I can find. This is still one of my favorite titles. As I have said before: she’s gay and you need to get past it to get to the heart of this book. Unfortunately DC seems to have issues as Williams and Blackman have announced that, because of issues with DC Editorial, they will be exiting this title as of issue #26. Guess who isn’t happy about this? 

BIRDS OF PREY #23: Basilisk has subdued the Birds and Uplink is feeding them all dreams that never happened. Condor dreams of he and Dinah falling in love with each other. Dinah dreams of Team 7’s encounter with the Pandora Box. In this dream, Kurt survives but he fades and turns into Condor. Barbara dreams of a happy family where her brother is sane and she gets accepted into the FBI. Strix dreams of her grandmother and how Mary tries to warn people about the balloon that explodes, killing everyone and burning her. Uplink’s control is weakened and soon the Birds, minus Condor and Black Canary who have already been shipped back to Tsiklon, wake. When Dinah wakes, she discovers that her Canary Cry won't work because her husband Kurt, who is supposed to be dead, is being held in a tube in the room with her.

So NOW we get some interesting stuff and we have to wait for the last THREE PAGES to get the big plot piece? We have an entire issue full of “would of, should of and could have” to get to the revelation the Kurt Lance is still alive. This is another issue of Christy Marx’ usually boring dialogue that I find myself having to struggle to get through. But Romeo Molenaar’s art is the BOMB!

CATWOMAN #23:  Catwoman and Princess Tinderbox are on their way to the land of the Warhogs to broker a peace that will allow Selina to find Rat-Tail. During their journey, Catwoman begins to be bothered by this cat that continues to follow them. As they get closer, the Warhogs attack. They are captured and brought inside, where they immediately receive a cleansing gas shower and meet the chief Warhog, who is developing bacteria that will help humanity survive a biological event. Convinced that this Bio-Toxin will eventually kill everybody in Gotham, she steals the test tube and uses it so she and Tinderbox can gain their escape. Unfortunately, the Joker’s Daughter and the strange cat are waiting for them. The Joker’s Daughter?

For the history impaired, the original Joker’s Daughter was Duela Dent, the biological child of Two-Face and Gilda Dent. She was a member of the Teen Titans and Titans East and certainly didn’t look like the Joker currently does. Perhaps she is wearing his face, as it did sort of float away at the end of the DEATH OF THE FAMILY storyline. The story is interesting, but Ann Nocenti’s dialogue, even with an assist from Scott McDaniel, is like something from a high school writing assignment…and one that probably got a C+. The bantering between Selina and her charge is ridiculous and it only gets worse when they arrive at Warhogs bunker. Rafa Sandoval’s art is consistently great and is the true high point of the issue.

CONSTANTINE #6: Constantine may soon be dead, especially since Lloyd called Zatanna and gets her answering machine. John is having an out of body experience and Chris is his tormentor, as he has been cutting deals with those on the Astral Plane to make Constantine’s life and afterlife a living hell. Constatine warms him that it’s not good to make deals with the spirits of the Cult. But he gets dragged away by the Cult's eliminators who warn Constantine that they will come for him when he truly dies. Meanwile, Tannarak learns of John’s impending death from Mister E and Sargon and sends cultists to the bar to finish the job. But they are halted by Lloyd and a rifle. When he runs out of bullets, Papa Midnite comes to his aide, because his man MopMop was corrupted and killed by the Cult. While Tannarak heads to Dotty's Pet store, Midnite uses his voodoo magic to bring John back to life. Unfortunately, Tannarak has found John’s secret room where all of the occult weapons and artifacts are hid.

Yeah…he’s pretty much screwed! Actually, not really. After all, he IS John Constantine. He could take a snake out of its’ skin while it’s still slithering. Ray Fawkes, with the artistic assist of Renato Guedes, has managed to quickly grasp the concept of the man and is doing a competent job of translating that to the NEW 52 Universe. I had pretty much written this book off with the first issues, but persistence does pay off as this book continues to get better in style and substance. And I REALLY LOVE Papa Midnite.

DEMON KNIGHTS #23: Despite the Shining Knight being healed and the Horsewoman getting her legs back, the Giants are bombing al-Wadi. Jason Blood goes back to Hell and unleashes the Demon Etrigan to help his fellow Knights battle the Giants. From a hot air balloon, al Jabr and his troops attack. And the prize of the Black Diamond gets knocked from his hands by Xanadu and in falls into the hands of the Giants who find themselves fighting over it. When all is said and done, Vandal Savage escapes and all of the Giants end up dead. Al Jabr takes the Black Diamond and locks it away with the Holy Grail, as they cancel each other out. This allows the Demon Knights to ride off into the sunset of future comicdom.

And thus ends one of the original NEW 52 titles which never really gained enough of a fan following to be a success. I personally was surprised it lasted this long. In the end, Robert Vendetti and Phil Winslade become the final creative team and bring the series to a satisfying conclusion for me. I’m sure many of these heroes will pop up again, especially Etrigan. You can’t keep a demon down this long. Personally, I would expect to see him pop up in JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK with his former team mate Xanadu. It was a sometimes fun and sometimes frustrating ride, but it will be missed.

DETECTIVE COMICS #23: We learn that the guy who got tossed out of The Wrath’s plane was a crook named Clyde Anderson who Batman had tried to mentor to three years ago. Batman also is pretty positive that E.D. Caldwell is The Wrath, although he has no solid proof. Bruce meets with Caldwell, which includes martial arts sparring during their negotiations. Caldwell has special video contact lenses that allow him to watch Alfred as he is going through Cladwell’s private armory. Excusing himself, Bruce takes a call from Alfred but it is cut short when the butler is suddenly caught and menaced by The Wrath himself, who announces he is coming for Batman next. In the back-up, we learn that Francine Langstrom married Kirk Langstrom because her employers at Caldwell Industries had instructed her to, along with making sure he completed his Atavistic Gene Recall Serum. After the serum got loose in Gotham, she realized the operation was compromised and developed her own formula, which is both addicting and turning her into a killer. Kirk tries to convince her to let him fix it, but she attacks him and flees.

John Layman and Jason Fabok continue to turn E.D. Caldwell and Caldwell Industries into a major player in the NEW 52 Gotham City. With plans to start a war while also trying to align himself with GCPD, this sly businessman is poised to become a major player in the Rogue’s Gallery. And, for once, I find myself a FAN of the back-up, as we finally get a resolution to the Man-Bat story and learn that Francine was just a hired hand sent by Caldwell to get the formula created and kill off her husband. Cold stuff! And not the Francine Langstrom from the old DCU where she was the loving concerned wife. I actually look forward to more of this story, especially if it’s by Layman and artist Andy Clarke.

DIAL H #15: Nelson and the Dial Bunch have finally made it to the Hub: where all realities connect through the Exchange. The Centipede is waiting for them, leading to attacks on him by Dwan, Nelson and Roxie. The Fixer arrives and he and the Centipede take off with Nelson. Roxie and the Dial Bunch find a section of the Hub where the wires are frayed and cut, allowing elements of an infinite number of worlds to arrive here. Nelson wakes up and is introduced to O, the Lost Operator. We learn that he has created a D-Dial, which destroys realities by randomly dialing up apocalypses. He dials and wipes out the reality of Metacastle. Fixer tells Nelson that O has promised the Centipede an E-Dial(for Evil). Fixer explains the true workings of The Hub and how people of various realities found their way to the Hub and that the Lost Operator nearly caused genocide with the Doom Dial. He broke time and sent Dials off to other realities, which the Fixer has sent a lifetime trying to retrieve, only to find that the Exchange tower fell only days after he left this world. Meanwhile, Open-Window Man gets inside and finds hundreds of dials inside. Roxie replaces her S-Dial with a flawless H-Dial that she can use to battle Centipede. The Fixer and Nelson team up to take down The Operator, while The Centipede cranks up his E-Dial. Nelson creates a mash-up hero with Chimney Lacrymose, which can’t be shut down by O, and continues to dial mash-ups. O dials a mash-up that is unrecognizable as any one thing and causes the Operator, the tower and Centipede to explode. Nelson, Roxie, and Open-Window Man decide to dial again to find their friends.

And so ends one of the most confusing titles in recent history. This book was so far out there it was truly destined to fail from the start. But somewhere down the road these characters will reappear in the NEW 52 DCU and someone might even declare this as one of the most underrated series ever. Credit to be given to DC for even attempting to find and audience, and to China Mieville and Alberto Ponticelli for sticking it out and turning out some amazing, if not bizarre, work.

EARTH 2 #15: The Flash, Wesley Dodds and his Sandmen have been knocked about by a battle with Steppenwolf’s Hunger Dogs, as have many of the other New Wonders. Green Lantern was trashed by Brutaal, Doctor Fate found himself defeated by Beguiler and The Atom was taken out by Bedlam, after he had been driven mad and taken out The Flash. While all this is going on, the World Army is getting ready to cross the Dherain border. In Casablanca, Hawkgirl continues her investigation into the death of Alan Scott's murdered fiancé. The trail leads her to the Double Zero Casino and a man named Darcy Twain, also known as Roger Sharpe and Hazard. In Gotham City, Scott Free and Barda are being attacked by Fury, who graduated from Granny Goodness’ finishing school with Barda. Scott steps in to help when a red robot calling itself Red Tornado Unit 1.3 interrupts telling all parties to yield to her by order of the World Army. 

Nicola Scott and Tervor Scott’s art is awesome! James Robinson’s story-not so much. I like that he is throwing in a bunch of Fourth World characters and has even reintroduced Red Tornado as the female she was back in the Golden Age of Earth 2. But the story is so disjointed right now with action in Dherain, at the Dherain border, in Casablanca and in Gotham City. So stories have one plotline that plods along. This one has four that will eventually all intersect. I hope that happens before Robinson bids farewell to this title and DC.

GREEN ARROW #23: The implant that gives Count Vertigo his powers has been taken out by one of Oliver’s EMP arrows. As one of Vertigo's doctors tries to repair it, the Count plots to recapture Oliver and Shado. Against doctor’s orders, he proceeds after them. Oliver is still reeling from the revelation that Emiko is NOT Komodo’s daughter but Shado’s by Robert Queen. Vertigo’s men arrive to attack and Shado takes them out of the picture quite quickly and handily. With the bad guys taken out, Shado explains how Komodo killed Robert Queen, and took Emiko from her. The pair had sought the ancient artifact known as the Green Arrow, which was also sought by The Outsiders. Lacroix killed Robert, who was his rival for leadership of the Arrow Clan. Count Vertigo attacks and Shado collapses, but recovers quickly. She kills off Vertigo's men and takes down Vertigo, telling him to tell Komodo that she is coming for him. In Hungary, Henry prepares to tell Naomi how he feels about her but she confesses her feelings for Oliver, crushing Henry. Meanwhile, Seattle Mob Boss Jimmy MacGowan finds that someone is killing off mob bosses. He gets tossed from an upper floor window by Richard Dragon, who plans to take control of everything in Seattle.

Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter, gets introduced into the NEW 52. Of course the Richard Dragon we knew was once Richard Drakunovski and trained Oracle, Huntress and The Question. But this one appears to be on the Dark Side, as the original character once was. Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino are making this title as fun as it has ever been. It is a far cry from where it started in the NEW 52 and, I would have to say, is truly being saved by the twists and turns Lemire is throwing in. I love the introduction of Shado and wonder how long before she and Ollie become a couple. Would that be weird? The mother of your half sister is your lover?

GREEN LANTERN #23: Hal mourns the fact that Lantern recruits have died battling Larfleeze and his Lanterns. And, making things worse, prisoner Prixiam Nol-anj has escaped, killed a Lantern guard and has become a Star Sapphire in the process. Hal goes after her and finds her on a barren world where she has reunited with members of The Clann. There is a battle and she manipulates him with his love for Carol Ferris. Suddenly, their rings cut out, only for a moment. He rushes off to try and save Carol as he has seen a vision of her and Kyle Rayner battling against Relic, even though his ring can no longer detect them.

I’m still trying to get used to the non Geoff Johns/Doug Mahnke version of GREEN LANTERN. Writer Robert Venditti is doing an adequate job, although I think he’s trying too hard to get Hal back into the driver’s seat and show some backbone. Hal, as of late, has become the Green Lantern we love to hate. Unfortunately, Hal is still hung up and his former lover and this will probably be his downfall. I ALMOST wish we had Sinestro back at the helm as you KNEW where his motives sat. Billy Tan’s art gets better with every issue, so that is a big plus here.

THE GREEN TEAM #4: Last issue, J.P. and Commodore unmasked Riot and left us in the air. We still don’t know as the team battles Riot and he rips Cecilia’s arm off. Riot wants Commodore's mecha-suit. He is soon captured and taken away while Riot’s clones continue to battle the remainder of the team. Riot is Commodore’s father and he takes his son to his hideout in France. Apparently Riot has infused the mecha-suits with nanites and that is helping to keep him alive. The rest of the team arrives just as Commodore’s suit dissolves his father. The issue ends with the team cemented together, even though the after effects on all of the team will remain.

I really wish I knew what Art Baltazar and Franco are trying to prove on this book. I don’t get it. I really don’t. We have a rag tag bunch of uninteresting characters brought together by common greed and then becoming superheroes because…? Again, I like Art and Franco’s work over the years, but I don’t understand where this book is going and give it another four to eight issues before DC drops the boom on it. And that you have to have three pencillers in the form of Ig Guara, Robson Rocha and Travis Moore to finish a book. My biggest gripe about the NEW 52 and many comics in general is that you cannot keep a team in place for more than an issue or two, if you’re lucky. WAY TOO MAY fill-in artists. I have done the rant before: where are the heroes of our comics past, who were drawing countless issues each and every month, when you need them? 

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7: We begin with Lex Luthor’s lawyers telling him they may be able to get him out of prison. He is more concerned that someone set Superman up and it wasn’t him. Pandora arrives and thinks he may have the darkest heart to open her box. Meanwhile, Plastique infiltrates A.R.G.U.S. and places a device on Dr. Light’s body. In Pittsburgh, Doctgor Psycho is battling many of the Justice League members and Martian Manhunter manages to enter his mind. Psycho tells Manhunter that he was sent to Kahndaq by the Secret Society, but never received his orders. The Atom then confesses that she is a mole for the JLA, causing Superman to order them to head to A.R.G.U.S.  to question Amanda Waller. Elsewhere, part of Batman’s team is trying to get inside the House Of Mystery after The Phantom Stranger absconded with the other half. Catwoman asks the House to open its’ doors and it does. The Phantom Stranger's image appears in a window and explains how the team tried to interrogate Dr. Light’s soul in the afterlife and now the Stranger may not be able to return. He warns that Xanadu must be found as she knows the truth behind the box. Back at the prison, Pandora presents the box to Luthor, but Wonder Woman arrives and pulls Pandora away. The Amazon touches the box in the process and finds herself possessed by it. At A.R.G.U.S., the Secret Society detonates the device on Dr. Light's body and a massive explosion destroys the building and possibly all in it.

Geoff Johns, Jeff Lemire and Doug Mahnke bring us Chapter Four in this epic crossover which will lead into FOREVER EVIL. In its own weird way, this so reminds me of the old JSA/JLA team-ups of the Sixties and early Seventies. Only we don’t know who the real bad guys are that have been setting things in motion. Just who makes up the Secret Society? We now know Plastique is a member, or at least a hired gun. But who are the rest of this Super team. Maybe we will even get to see the old Legion of Doom headquarters! And, just because this is all about spoilers, get ready for JUSTICE LEAGUE CANADA as the JLA team will end up folding after FOREVER EVIL and relocate to the Great White North.

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23: The aftermath of the last chapter is felt. Back at what is left of A.R.G.U.S., the search for survivors begins. In Luthor’s prison cell, Wonder Woman is possessed by Pandora’s Box until it is freed from her and it possesses Shazam, turning him into an evil version of himself. The evil influence makes its’ way through the assembled heroes, moving to Frankenstein and others until it ends up in the hands of John Constantine, who joins hands with Zatanna and transports to the Temple of Hephaestus in Greece. It seems that Madame Xanadu is trapped in a bunker beneath the site. Batman’s team arrives as Madame Xanadu explains that Pandora’s Box is not a prison but a doorway. And that is when a strange thin man, who we have seen before, arrives and tells all that it is time to open the doorway. 

Jeff Lemire and Mikel Janin bring us the penultimate chapter in the TRINITY WAR crossover and it looks like the mystery is revealed. The doorway will lead to another Earth, because obviously two is not enough. Here we see someone who looks like an alternate reality version of Alfred Pennyworth promising to open the door. Does the arrival of super humans from another world signal the “death” of our heroes or will they just end up on said Earth and leave the super humans to run rampant? Read JUSTICE LEAGUE #23 to find the answers and then prepare for VILLAINS MONTH.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #23: Apparently when the Justice League fought Darkseid five years ago, it weakened the boundaries between universes and allowed two people to escape their world. One of those was a man known as The Outsider, who built the Secret Society and put a mole within one of the Leagues. He arranged to frame Superman for murder and blame it on Pqandora’s Box. At the Temple of Hephaestus, all the Leaguers decide they want the box, which Madame Xanadu has revealed is a doorway to another world, for them. The craziness concludes with Superman, convinced that Wonder Woman and Batman are having an affair, attacking them and knocking the box away. It momentarily shuts down and the influence fades. Firestorm and Element Woman find out that Superman is suffering from Kryptonite poisoning because of a sliver of it inside his brain. The Atom quickly admits that she did it at the exact moment Dr. Light was murdered. Cyborg accuses her of being a traitor and she accuses him of being the same, at which point his metal form rips away from him and reveals itself as Grid. The Outsider arrives and picks up the box which had been created on his world and placed here. It could only be open4d by someone from his world-the birthplace of evil. Declaring that the butler did it, he opens the portal and a version somewhat like Aquaman emerges and falls to the ground, dead. Xanadu realizes the "Trinity" she had envisioned was actually the number three, as in Earth Three. Meet the evil versions of the Justice League: the Crime Syndicate. And they are prepared to conquer the world.

No real commentary needed for this. This issue had everything you could want in a concluding cliff-hanger! The villains are revealed! Earth 3 is here! The traitor is revealed! Earth 3 is here! Cyborg is pretty much reduced to what is left of his human self. Did I mention Earth 3 is here? Sorry-fanboy here!!! I cannot wait for FOREVER EVIL and VILLAINS MONTH. This could define where the NEW 52 goes from here.