Batgirl #7: This issue is uneven, with Larson making Barbara almost insufferable as a "social justice warrior to the maximum!" while at the same time injecting some excitement into the series with the introduction of Penguin's son, Ethan. The conflict in the issue revolves around the homeless in Burnside. Gordon Clean Energy has apparently turned Burnside into San Francisco, forcing out everyone in the 99 percent. Barbara feels guilty (since it's her fault) and launches into a tirade when she overhears two hipsters at a party complaining about the homeless. She attracts the attention of Ethan, whose company has developed an app to help move the homeless to "safer" locations. But, no one is vetting the volunteers, and a villain named Fright uses the app to procure homeless people as research subjects. (We're supposed to recognize Fright, because Barbara does, but I don't.) Barbara makes quick work of Fright and uses her date with Ethan to gather more information about his plans. The problem is Barbara doesn't do the thing she really should do to help, namely make Gordon Clean Energy a more responsible neighbor. If its location in Burnside is driving up rents, she should move the company somewhere else in Gotham or do something to address the problem, like making sure the company is investing in affordable housing. Even if she's not going to take over the company to do it herself, she should talk to Alyssia about it. (Is Alyssia still running it? Maybe it's time to rethink that?) She's behaving as if she sold the company to a private-equity firm and can't control its behavior. But, instead of doing something about the problem, she's actually washed her hands of technology entirely and enrolled in a library-science program. I'm fine with her doing that (it's a nice nod to her past), but it's hard to reconcile that with her outrage over a situation she caused. (Also, how fucking long was she in Asia. It seemed like two weeks, tops. How did Burnside gentrify so quickly?
Bloodshot U.S.A. #2-#4: I know it won't last, but let me just say how happy I am Lemire lets Bloodshot and Magic have their happy ending. Lemire wraps up pretty much every loose end since "The Valiant," from Kay emerging in control of Deathmate to the CEO of P.R.S. getting his comeuppance to the Bloodshot Squad getting to make their own futures. Lemire (or whoever picks up this series) could go a lot of different directions from here, and I'll admit I'm not sure if I'm going to follow. We so rarely get these sorts of wins in comics, and I may actually just let the win stay a win. If so, fare ye well, at least for now, Ray Garrison.
Detective Comics #949: It seems as if we've seen the end of Bruce's team of misfits here, as Batwoman decides to go to war with the organizations trying to obtain the monster venom. Combined with Red Robin's "death" during "Rise of the Batman" arc and Spoiler's defection during the "Victim Syndicate" arc, we really only Clayface and Orphan left. I'm disappointed, because I really loved this premise and would've been thrilled to see it last longer than nine months. But, I also have to admit Tynion and Bennett wrap up the story nicely, if we are indeed seeing the end of this group. Everyone is where they are at the end of this issue for specific reasons that evolved over the course of the last 16 issues. We don't often get that in comics, so I have to tip my hat to the authors, even if I'm disappointed with the outcome. Onwards and upwards.
Pathfinder: Worldscape #4: In the past, "Pathfinder" series have been pretty straight-forward romps. The plot usually hasn't been too complicated, generally a step above a smash-and-grab adventure. But, Mona really ups the ante here. In this issue, we learn Kulan Gath pulled Merisiel through the gates 20 years ago. His magic identified her as the "master thief" he and Camilla needed to unify the Scepter and the Crown. We learn Tarzan was one of the few people ever to come into possession of both items, but he thought it too dangerous to keep them together. He went into seclusion with the Crown and gave the Scepter to his ally, the warrior Queen Pha. Over a period of six weeks, Meris helps Camilla and her team recover the Scepter from Pha, conquering the city of Shareen in the process. Interestingly, this Camilla claims she wants to unify the two items to empty the Worldscape, allowing everyone to return to their homeworlds. It's unclear how she becomes the despot we saw at the start of this series. But, we'll surely learn. At any rate, upon arriving, Meris caught a glimpse of the jungle goddess, Fantomah. After a failed love affair, a distraught Meris begs for her help, and she appears, sending Meris home with no memory of her time in the Worldscape. Enigmatically, Fantomah says they can help each other before dispatching Meris, so it's clear Fantomah has plans for Meris this time. When Meris arrives again in the Worldscape, she remembers everything...including Kulan Gath, present at her arrival and announcing she'll work for him again. For how complicated it all sounds, Mona does an amazing job of presenting it coherently, and I'm really, really excited about where we're going from here.
Also Read: Reborn #4
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