Batman and Robin #15
Grant Morrison (w), Frazer Irving (a). DC Comics.
This issue made a lot more sense than the last one. Like, I could follow what was happening. Still, this story feels rushed. Rushed so that it would be released with a series of one-shots detailing the return of Bruce Wayne. Huh, funny that a whole bunch of them have come out in the last couple weeks. I know it’s DC’s prerogative to sell stories about Batman, but it’s mine to buy quality books. And, man, this book has a whole lot of quality in it — there’s just not enough room to make it good. — Miles Baker
Miles’ rating: 3.5 out of 5
Bruce Wayne: The Road Home: Catwoman #1
Derek Fridolfs (w), Peter Nguyen (p), Ryan Winn (i), John Kalisz (c). DC Comics.
I’ve got a soft spot for the Batman/Catwoman relationship, so it’s nice to see that played up here. The mission Catwoman gets sent out on is pretty superfluous, but that’s par for the course for old Batman — he likes to test you — at a super villain auction thing which Harley Quinn was definitely NOT invited to. Naturally the best part of the story is when Harley crashes the party. The final page is a pin-up that ruins the atmosphere of the second to last page. They wanted to fit more Batman narration in, usually a good thing, but in this case not worth it. – Isaac Mills
Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5
Bruce Wayne: The Road Home: Commissioner Gordon #1
Adam Beechen (w), Szymon Kudranski (a), John Kalisz (c). DC Comics.
I was really on the fence about getting this one because of how often I’ve been burned on Beechen’s writing, but this wasn’t bad. Vicki Vale is in protective custody and it’s up to Gordon to protect her, even while she thinks he’s nothing without vigilantes. It’s unfortunate that they ended up getting saved by Bruce Wayne, but even then they plotted it as such that Gordon immediately saves Bruce after. The first page sets up a great noir visual that’s maintained throughout the book, Kudranski does a great job. – Isaac Mills
Isaac’s rating: 3.5 out of 5
Chaos War #2
Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente (w), Khoi Pham (p), Thomas Palmer (i), Sunny Gho (c). Marvel Comics.
Hey! It’s this again. I like this. There’s Hercules and Amadeus Cho and some of the Agents of Atlas — I like all that stuff. Also, I like an event that feels like it’s something I’ve earned as a reader, rather than a marketing campaign. This story seems like the logical extension of Incredible Hercules, so I’m pretty happy to be reading it. Plus, there’s an exciting ending that’s sure to be fun next issue. Hurray for everything. — Miles Baker
Miles’ Rating: 4 out of 5
Darkwing Duck #5
Ian Brill (w), James Silvani (a), Andrew Dalhouse (c), Boom Studios.
I was a little concerned that after the initial story this title would lose some of its lustre, well I’m happy to report that that’s not the case. Not even slightly. This book is still funny, charming and all-out-awesome. I’m enjoying the alternate-reality Darkwings and the references to the Ducktales characters are fun. Brill and Silvani continue to make this one of my favourite books to read every month. – Owen Craig.
Owen’s rating: 4.5 out of 5
Daredevil #511
Andy Diggle (w), Roberto De La Torre (a), Matt Hollingsworth (c). Marvel Comics.
I’m not sure why Marvel isn’t giving Dakota North her own title. Heck, she makes more sense than Black Panter as “The Man Without Fear” and she’s not even a man. (She’s also not even real, but that’s beside the point.) She’s already been the main character of this arc — just give the book to her. I’d keep buying it that way. Too bad this is crossing over with its own event, otherwise this might have been a really good comic. — Miles Baker
Miles’ Rating: 2.5 out of 5
DC Universe Legacies #6
Len Wein (w), Various (a), DC Comics.
This book is such a treat for DC fans. Seriously, it’s pure nostalgia, hearkening back to past stories, tones and art styles. Len Wein has put together a really cool device for reliving DCU memories and the rotating art team is doing a fantastic job. I especially enjoyed the backup story this time out. That was hilarious! My only complaint here is that it seemed a little much to devote a whole issue to Crisis aftermath. Whole issue to that? There’s so much more to tell! I want more! I guess it’s kind of a compliment, too. – Owen Craig.
Owen’s rating: 4 out of 5
Green Lantern Corps #53
Tony Bedard (w), Tyler Kirkham (p), Batt (i), Nei Ruffino (c). DC Comics.
An awesome comic, no two ways about it. We get a flashback of Sinestro getting his original yellow ring; an idea that should have been expanded upon a long time ago, that yields a great new villain. Several mini action scenes before building up to the showdown at the end while making Kyle Rayner look like the man — he punches out Sinestro at the end! Sinestro! The end! – Isaac Mills
Isaac’s rating: 4.5 out of 5
Justice League of America #50
James Robinson (w), Mark Bagley (p), Rob Hunter & Norm Rapmund (i), Hi-Fi (c), DC Comics.
I sort of checked out during the “Starheart” arc, as I’ve never had much interest in delving into how Alan Scott’s powers work, but I decided to check this next storyline out. There’s definite improvement here, too. The story seems much more focused here and Robinson is definitely doing good work on the characters. Unfortunately the dialogue isn’t as tight as I’d like. The banter that worked so well for Robinson in past books doesn’t feel natural and some of the timeline jumping seems like Robinson was performing storytelling acrobatics just to get all the moments he wanted without leaving anything out. Bagley’s art is still fun and expressive, but extremely over-sexualized (was that…full rear nudity I saw? Really?). There’s a lot of improvement going on here, and the upcoming $2.99 price point makes it more tempting to stay on. I can feel this book being righted, but there’s still a little ways to go. – Owen Craig.
Owen’s rating: 3 out of 5
Legion of Super-Heroes #6
Paul Levitz (w), Francis Portela, Phil Jimenez, Scott Koblish (p), Francis Portela, Wayne Faucher (i), Hi-fi (c). DC Comics.
Coincidentally, this is the first issue of Legion I’ve read after reading the Action Comics run that introduced Earth-Man as a villain — and he’s acting more villainous than he has for the past four issues. But maybe I’m only seeing it because he’s drawn all scary while intimidating my favourite dude, Brainiac 5. Uncool, man. I was looking forward to the Jimenez art this issue, but it looks like he’s only working on the one back-up tale. On the plus side is that the shorter stories for all the different artists seem to have been a good break for them, with an improvement in the art as a result. – Isaac Mills
Isaac’s rating: 3.5 out of 5
Morning Glories #3
Nick Spencer (w), Joe Eisma (a), Alex Sollazzo (c), Image Comics.
The first scene in this issue was stunning. Spencer and Eisma completely rocked it, giving it a twisted, V For Vendetta feel. Seriously, why is this school so creepy that it’s reminding me of V For Vendetta? Creepy! This issue feels more like set-up than the previous two, taking the time to show off more parts of Morning Glories Academy, such as the dungeon (?) and the infirmary. It’s…unsettling. This book kicks ass and you should buy it. – Owen Craig.
Owen’s rating: 4.5 out of 5
Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier #4
Ed Brubaker (w), Dale Eaglesham (a), Andy Troy (c). Marvel Comics
I’m glad this story has a small kicker into Secret Avengers at the end, otherwise this would have been a pretty big waste of my time. A big part of it, for me, is that Eaglesham doesn’t do it for me as a reader. I get why people love him, but I don’t think he worked well for this book. With a bit of a throwaway story, and art that fails to thrill, I can’t give this miniseries a terribly good rating. For die hard fans of Brubaker’s Captain America only. And even then you might want to save a few bucks and get something else. — Miles Baker
Miles’ Rating: 3 out of 5
Tiny Titans #33
Art Baltazar, Franco (w), Art Baltazar (a), Art Baltazar (c). DC Comics.
“Aw yeah, Titans!” Is a way better team cry than the too cheesy to live through “Titans Together” you get in the “real book”! I had so much fun with this — Robin wouldn’t stop yelling! Lil’ Cassandra Cain got her own Batgirl costume, Jason wore a red bucket on his head, baby Damian showed up! It’s all awesome! Exclamation! – Isaac Mills
Isaac’s rating: 4.5 out of 5
X-Factor #210
Peter David (w), Valentine De Landro (a), Jeromy Cox (c). Marvel Comics.
David makes a smart call by focusing on the Wolfsbane/Rictor story this issue. It’s far more effective — as an issue — to give the audience one story and move it dramatically over 22 pages. The opposite is Fraction’s Uncanny X-Men where, with the four pages each story gets, it feels like nothing is happening. Also, intentionally awkward dialogue between Wolfsbane and Rictor makes my day. Yikes. I’m glad I’m not them. — Miles Baker
Miles’ rating: 4 out of 5
As far as Legacies go- they actually fit in a whole other event in there- I forget what it was called.. but it’s the one where heroes were outlawed, the reason there wasn’t a Justice League before Justice League International formed up. This issue blew my mind for including that.
I don’t understand why anyone does anything in Batman & Robin.
Last issue it was set up that the real game was between Joker and Hurt, that they were the true adversaries…but in this issue all Joker does is release Robin and point him in Hurt’s general direction, where Robin does…nothing. Punches a few guys and then gets tied up.
Simon Hurt goes through all this INCREDIBLY complicated stuff to besmirch the names of the Wayne family, particularly Thomas Wayne, but it seems counter-intuitive to me to frame a man for murder and then surgically alter your face so that you look identical to him and then publically assume his identity.
Posing as Thomas Wayne, he addresses Gotham City directly in the midst of a state of national emergency where 20% of the population is mad with drugs and says he knows how to defeat this problem because of his doctor’s skills, but this plot point is dropped almost immediately…hopefully they come back to it next issue.
I don’t care how good a doctor you are or how good a shot you are (and I don’t think Hurt is that good a shot), you can’t shoot a dude in the back of the head with a low caliber bullet and be absolutely certain that not only will he not die, but he will be injured in a very specific way where your surgical skills can save him within a specified time limit.
Also, though I know you can survive being shot in the head with low caliber rounds, taking a bullet to the skull is guaranteed to have more of a negative effect than making you woozy for thirty seconds and allowing you to punch people out less than five minutes later.
I was a fan of Batman & Robin for a while — I really was. Even when it started to turn on me, I still thought it had some pretty good things going for it. But now it’s just falling apart, like almost everything Morrison does.
That being said, I loved a couple of the art spreads in this book. The full page pic of Robin with a clown nose was awesome, and lunging at the dog. Very cool.
DC Universe: Legacies could be a 20 issue series and I would welcome it.
Finally got and read Batman and Robin- you really underemphasized Robin’s role. Yes, technically he “punches a few guys” or you could say an 11 year old ran at a giant crowd trying to fight his way through, and it was awesome, if futile.
Although it succeeded in reuniting Batman with Robin, a meta requirement for winning the day.
And four of your paragraphery complaints derive from the position that if Dr. Hurt says somthing then it must be true.
“Ruining reputations is a good idea”
“I have shot you in such a way as to incapacitate you, but only I can save you”
Morrison is sticking to a long running criteria for a Batman villain: he’s a raving loon.
Personally, I’m not even really convinced Dick was shot with a real bullet. And of course he wasn’t, it being a comic book bullet.
That isn’t me saying to “sit back and enjoy the show it’s only comics” but remember that bullet versus ‘comic bullet’ is a significant difference… particularly to Morrison (yes yes, which is something you don’t like his work for. fair enough. It’s something I LOVE his work for.)
Legacies could indeed go for 20 issues.
Yes, bullets and comic bullets are different — and that’s really annoying. I don’t dislike Morrison because he doesn’t treat bullets with the severity that they should, every comic book and movie ever made does that. But this whole ’strategic head wound’ thing is really pushing it. I can grudgingly accept that a hero who gets a bullet in the arm can use his arm in a fight to some effectiveness a short time later, but if we’re going to start shrugging off bullet wounds to the head then what’s the damn point of pretending the hero is hurt in the first place?
And saying “So and so does stupid things because they’re crazy” is not a great excuse unless the character in question is someone like the Joker, who is already established as being crazy — and even HE, the biggest lunatic in comics, isn’t stupid. I’m holding out hope that the next (or next-next) issue will explain things, but I’m not optimistic, b/c Morrison seems to be the type of writer who goes for big, dramatic moments with no logic or reason supporting it.
How did I underemphasise Robin’s role again? I didn’t say he wasn’t awesome, I just said he wasn’t effective, especially as Joker’s attack dog, which is what they set him up to be. But who knows, maybe there will be some big awesome reveal that will make everything okay.