Bat-Reviews

This week's comics came out today, thanks to labor day. This week we'll be looking at the two big Batman releases.

Batman #703

 The latest issue of Batman is a textbook example of a "filler issue". It's still too early to "officially" return Bruce Wayne to the DC universe, but they're gotta put out a Batman issue, so here we get a decent, if unmemorable, story from Fabian Nicieza and artist Cliff Richards.
The issue finds Dick Grayson, Damien Wayne, and Tim Drake (or Wayne now) dealing with the recent emergence of someone named "The Getaway Genius", an art thief whom Dick had tangled with way back when he was the original Robin. We also get an appearance from Vicki Vale, although not looking like Kim Basinger like I remember.
Everything about this issue was average. From the story to the art by Richards. While it was nice to get some of Damien's feelings on his relationship with his "dead" father, even the revelation that is revealed to him seemed like something I had read before.  Again, this issue is just "filler". It doesn't move the whole "Return Of Bruce Wayne" story forward nor add any new details or insights. It just exists. Unless you are an absolute die-hard Batfan, save your cash for something that actually contributes to the ongoing Batman saga.


Batman and Robin #14

Remember how I was complaining about Grant Morrison and his plan for Batman a few weeks ago? Well, it's incredible how he can come up with really stupid ideas and be completely maddeningly cryptic in one comic, but be easily accessible and firing on all cylinders in another. This is an example of the latter.
B&R issue 14 is the second part of "Batman Must Die!", in which the new dynamic duo must try and survive the deadly machinations of not only Dr. Hurt and Professor Pyg, but also The Joker. Fraser Irving's art is amazing in this issue, and his Joker is one of the creepiest recent incarnations of the character. I won't spoil the issue, but I actually enjoyed this issue and I'm anticipating the next issue, mainly because I really like the way Morrison writes the clown prince of crime. Plus I find Prof. Pyg to be delightfully disturbing. 
Morrison's pacing is spot on in this issue, and it almost makes up for the last issue of Batman that he wrote. Almost. It's really frustrating having a writer like Morrison sometimes, mainly because of his tendency for epic, potentially ground-breaking ideas. When they work, they are awesome, but when they don't work, they go train-wreck-meets-school-bus-accident horrifyingly wrong. The unfortunate thing is that it's extremely hard to tell what kind of book you're getting until you read it. Batman and Robin is still the safest bet for casual Batman fans, as it appears that Grant Morrison has YET to deliver a bad issue.

Heeeaaattt Waaavveee!!!!

It's officially September, and I'm officially sick of this heat. Also, the hubcap on my car fell off. I blame the heat, like I've been blaming everything else on. However, it's Wednesday, which means........NEW COMIC BOOKS!

Avengers: The Children's Crusade #2 (of 9)

Avengers: The Children's Crusade #2

First, let's get this out of the way: Marvel should have just called this "Young Avengers", because lets face it, this is the continuation of the Young Avengers comic series from a few years ago (which I HIGHLY recommend). Written by Allan Heinberg, the producer of TV's The O.C.,  the series offered a unique look at a group of teenage heroes who decide to create their own Avengers team while the "adult" team was disbanded. However, YA wasn't exactly a high seller, so perhaps Marvel decided that they could increase sales by tying this mini-series into the re-launch of their Avengers line of books.
Anyways, this issue finds the Young Avengers continuing their search for Scarlet Witch, who may or may not be the mother of Wiccan and Speedster. Of course Magneto, their alleged grandfather, shows up, and of course, fighting ensues, especially when the "real" Avengers show up, who don't trust Magneto's intentions. Wiccan teleports the team away from the Avengers and to the birthplace of Scarlett Witch, where they hope to gain some clues as to her whereabouts.
One of the cool things about this series is that even if you never read the previous Young Avengers comics you can pick this up and know what's going on. With the exception of knowing that Magneto is now a "good guy" (however long that lasts), this is a very continuity-light story. Some people may get hung up on which Avengers team this is, but I feel that this is the way to get new people into comics: stories that contain great characterizations and require a very limited background knowledge of the characters involved in the stories. Plus the final page guaranteed my purchase of the next issue. 

Deadpool Pulp #1 (of 4)

Deadpool Pulp #1

Even as a fan of the character, I will admit that there are way too many effing "Deadpool" titles in comic book stores right now. Last I checked, he was sitting pretty with around five different titles. Usually this type of exposure is reserved for the likes of Spider-man, Batman, and Superman, not for a mercenary whose only mainstream exposure has been in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.However, Marvel continues their policy of beating something even remotely popular to death and has released Deadpool Pulp, a new miniseries in the vein of their semi-popular "noir"-themed alternate universe line of comics.
After reading this first issue, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with how awesome it was. Perhaps it's because I've read so many Deadpool comics, but I really liked this characterization of the Merc with the Mouth, who actually isn't all that talkative in this series. Wade Wilson is still a mercenary, but in this universe he was kidnapped by Japanese soldiers during World War II, and the torture that he endured is the reason for the voices in his head. Wearing the mask of one of his captors, he performs covert missions for the American government.
Everything in this issue worked for me, from the artwork to Wilson's much more subdued insanity. In a way, it was pretty refreshing seeing a Deadpool that was much more serious and not acting like a Looney Tunes character. Also, the nods to the regular Marvel universe were really cool, not to mention the absolutely gruesome way that Wade Wilson escaped his tormentors. To say I was impressed by this opening issue is an understatement, and if the creative team of writers Mike Benson, Adam Glass, and illustrator Laurence Campbell can keep this exciting narrative going, then we'll have the best Deadpool book out of the fifteen that are on the shelves.

I Am Literally Melting

Dick Grayson as Batman and Damian as Robin

WOW. It is too hot out. Way too damn hot out.
Today was the first day at North Hampton, and besides melting in my shoes, it went really well! The student I'm working with is a pretty funny kid, and the staff are all really great. All in all it's been a pretty sweet day. But now we're going to get into some comic book news. News that I'm sure is going to cause a pretty big divide amongst my fellow nerds.

DC's blog "The Source" has revealed its plans for the "Batman" franchise when Bruce Wayne makes his inevitable return in a few months. Up until now, Bruce Wayne was thought to be dead, when in fact he was really just stuck in time, moving from one time period to the other. Meanwhile, in present day Gotham, Dick Grayson, the first Robin, took up the mantle of the Bat and became Gotham's new Dark Knight, with Bruce's alleged son Damian becoming the new Robin.

However, DC started publishing The Return Of Bruce Wayne, leading many Bat-fans (myself included) to ask themselves "so...what will happen to Dick Grayson?" Up until now, I was really enjoying Dick Grayson as Batman, something I will admit that I didn't think I was going to at first. But now that Bruce Wayne IS coming back, apparently there is going to be two Batmen: Dick Grayson will remain in Gotham, while Bruce Wayne will travel the world, assembling a team of "Dark Knights".

Bruce Wayne's "new" costume

To me, this could go two ways. It could be really cool, or really, really awful. And considering Grant Morrison's recent track record of Bat-books (Batman and Robin excluded) doesn't fill me with much hope. Maybe it's because I got used to Dick Grayson as Batman, or maybe its because Marvel already did this with Cap, but I've got a really bad feeling about this, especially when DC editor in chief Dan DiDio says that Bruce's intentions are to "build a Starbucks-style franchise of Dark Knights".

Maybe it's because I grew up reading 90's comics, but for me Batman works best as a character when he has fewer allies and more trust issues.  Creating a team of Bat-men does fit into Bruce Wayne's obsessive desire to fight crime, but one of his big deals and flaws is that he can't trust anyone. Bruce Wayne is Batman because he has trained himself to absolute perfection, and doesn't trust anyone to complete a task(see JLA: Tower Of Babel). Again, I could be completely wrong about this, but my initial reaction to this news is that it's really out of character for Bruce. Hopefully Grant Morrison has some crazy good idea for his motivations.

Decisions, Decisions (and Comic Book Reviews!)

So my interview with GameStop went really well. I'm supposed to hear back today at some point. But life can't be easy, can it?
As the one of you who read this blog know, I had a Staples interview today. To be completely honest, I thought I had botched the whole thing, only to have them offer me a job as a "Tech Solutions" rep/Salesman. Not entirely what I was expecting, but they'll pay me 9.05 an hour to do it, and train me. So unless GameStop can offer me something similar (or better), it looks like I'll be toiling away at Staples.

Hey it's Wednesday, which means COMIC BOOK REVIEWS!!!!!!

Superman #701
Okay, I'm going to preface this by saying that I'm not the world's biggest Superman fan. While I appreciate the character as a comic book fan, to me he's too perfect to really relate to, or read on a regular basis. However, here comes J. Michael Stracznski, the awesome writer of The Brave and The Bold, Thor and the first couple of years of his Amazing Spider-man run (before he had the reveal that Gwen Stacy had kids with Norman Osborn). JMS has made it very publicly known that he loves Superman, and now he finally has the chance to tell the story that's been festering in his brain for years. Issue 701 is the first act of "Grounded", in which Superman decides to walk...across America. He still flies when necessary, but is staying on the ground on a search to find America and what it means to be a hero. While the idea of him walking cross country until he "finds what he's looking for" (Cue U2!) is a little hokey, I really enjoyed the snippets where Supes is walking through small town America, particularly the old man on the porch with the heart problem. An enjoyable issue, but for now I'm keeping it on an issue by issue basis.


Batman #701
Grant Morrison is back on Batman, and depending on your thoughts on "Batman R.I.P." it may be a good or a bad thing. While I definitely understand the criticism of "R.I.P.", I found that it read a lot easier in collected form, and Morrison's Batman and Robin is a must read comic for me whenever it comes out. This issue has Morrison and artist Tony Daniel re-team to fill in the blanks on what happened to Bruce Wayne between the events of "R.I.P" and Final Crisis, where Bats got hit by Darkseid's omega beam and was thought to be dead but in fact sent back in time (yes, I know).
Perhaps it's cause I am in the clan of people who usually enjoy Morrison's work, but I felt this issue was very easy to read and enjoyable. It seems that maybe Morrison has finally started to listen to the criticism (both deserved and undeserved) being sent his way and is answering some of the questions that he thought people would be able to figure out. While I'm still not entirely sold on the "Dr. Hurt" angle here, I am glad we're seeing the pieces being put together, and Tony Daniel's art, as usual, is great. A must read for those who love everything Morrison touches or Batman fans, but unless you've been trying to catch up on this whole "Return Of Bruce Wayne" event via the trades, I'd say wait until the eventual "R.I.P." Omnibus.