People, I'm reading comics like it's my job. This double shipment is killing me! OK, onto the show...
Avengers #10: I'm digging the Infinity Gems storyline. It occasionally gets a little confusing keeping track of the three different teams of Avengers involved in the pursuit of the gems, but Bendis does a reasonable job keeping everyone well defined. It's fun to see characters who don't normally interact get to do so (Ant-Man and Iron Fist, etc.). Although I normally enjoy JR JR, the art in this issue looks a little rushed, particularly the fight in the Danger Room. Again, it's probably hard to draw that many characters in one book, but the sloppiness of the art did kind of detract from the plot, since it was occasionally hard determining who was doing what to whom. At any rate, I'm looking forward to the Thor/Parker throw-down coming next issue!
Captain America #614: OK, it's kind of a ridiculous complaint, but I think Ed Brubaker is actually doing too good of a job here making me care about the characters and the story. I'm fully invested in the Bucky Barnes story and, honestly, it's starting to get stressful to read. I mean, we really haven't had a win in a while. After the "Trial of Captain America" arc ends, I'm kind of hoping Bucky gets to go to Tahiti with Natasha to investigate, I don't know, a cult of evil bunny worshippers or something. You know, face something a little less stressful than having to decide to let a super-villain spring him from jail, where he's cooling his jets while he's on trail for murdering thousands of people while under mind control, so that he can save his girlfriend and best friend from dying when the daughter of his arch-nemesis blows up the Statue of Liberty with them in it. I mean, hell, having to fight Dr. Doom naked would probably be a vacation at this point. But, stressfulness aside, this arc continues Brubaker's amazing work on this title. Also, the Nomad back-up feature continues to be a great surprise. I didn't think much of Nomad when her back-up feature started, but I'm definitely reading as much for her as I am for Bucky. This book is one of the few that merits the $3.99 price tag.
Detective Comics #873: Scott Snyder continues to write Dick Grayson better than anyone out there, making "Detective Comics" far and away my favorite Bat-book (which, after all, is saying a lot, considering how many of them there are). When Daniel and Morrison focus on characterization in "Batman" and "Batman and Robin," it's generally just on the Dick/Damian relationship. "Detective Comics," however, is much more about Dick Grayson as Batman, and I really find that storyline the most compelling. In terms of the plot, this arc wraps up really nicely. It's the kind of straight-forward detective story done really well that you expect from the title. We see the totality of Dick's world here (his interactions with Commissioner Gordon and Babs are both poignant and funny), and it's a difficult one, with glimmers of hope but still a lot of shadows as he struggles with becoming the Bat. I loved the art (and not just because Dick was so often in his underwear). Jock really conveys a gritty, unseemly Gotham City that is all its own and matches Snyder's vision of the city perfectly. It's not just a dirtier New York City that I feel like most artists give us; it's its own monster. Honestly, this arc is going to be considered a classic in a few years; it's the best Batman story I've read in a long, long time. Well done all around, gentlemen!
Red Robin #20/Teen Titans #92: Yay, Teen Titans cross-over! Nicieza has done a great job of keeping "Red Robin" moving forward an ongoing storyline, issue by issue. Everything builds off the previous stories, and the first issue of this cross-over is no different, bringing us the repercussions of Tim's shenanigans in Moscow from the previous arc. This issue sets up the plot of the cross-over, with Tim needing to track down the Calculator, who's trying to maintain his control over the Unternet. I'm a little confused why the Calculator doesn't take the same approach to Mikalek, who appears to be controlling the Unternet now (which you'd figure would piss him off more than Tim's cyber-squatting). But, at least it makes sense that he wouldn't be happy with said cyber-squatting regardless. The second issue of the cross-over, "Teen Titans" #92, reminds us just how bad the Tim/Damian relationship has gotten. I've got a soft spot for Damian, so it's tough to see him get rejected by the Titans and, implicitly, Tim. But, the title is "Teen Titans," after all, and it's totally believable that a group of teenagers would have less patience for a kid like Damian than Dick would. I'm glad to see Tim re-join the group, because I could only handle the Cassie/Conner drama for so long. It'll be nice to have a new element to shake up the title a bit.
Secret Avengers #9: I keep forgetting Ed Brubaker is writing this title until I get to the end of an issue, realize how much I enjoyed it, and look to see who wrote it. The first few issues had me whelmed, but I've enjoyed this arc. As he does on "Captain America," Brubaker keeps adding layers of complexity to the plot without getting lost in the details. (Most of the Bat-book writers could really learn a lesson from him. I'm looking at you, Tony Daniel.) Mike Deodato keeps giving us shirtless Steve Rogers, so I'd be remiss if I didn't thank him. I'm excited to see what happens next issue, particularly if we get some more insight into the Shadow Council.
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