Not-So-New Comics: The December 20 Everyone-but-Marvel Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Batman #37: Honestly, every issue of this series is practically an issue of the year.  Along those lines, I love everything about this issue.  King just gets the dynamic of each couple - Bruce and Selena, Bruce and Clark, Clark and Lois, Selena and Lois - so perfectly.  Lois and Selena are obviously my favorite, as they fail to explain why they love Batman and "Kansas" so much but have a good time (with a flask) exploring the question.  The girls are more comfortable embracing the fact they don’t have good answers to this question than the boys are, who also fail to answer it.  Bruce points out Clark’s secret identity is his greatest secret but he’s married to the world’s best reporter, and Clark points out Bruce fights criminals but Selena is one of the world’s best criminals.  Meanwhile, they argue over whether Bruce can hit a ball Clark throws (he can).  It all happens against the backdrop of everyone switching costumes to get into superhero night at the fair.  Awesome, right?  (Yes, the scenes of the boys in their underwear in bathroom stalls was amazing.  “The bat stands for a bat.” Heh.)

Dark Nights: Metal #4: Unlike previous iterations, it’s not really worth laying out all the details of this issue, as we start to spin into nonsense on some level.  I'll try to keep it short and focused.

The three teams seeking the Nth metal encounter their own unique challenges.  Kendra is afraid to journey deeper into the Rock of Eternity because she knows the Nth metal there is in Hawkman’s mace and it will reveal...something to her.  Aquaman and Deathstroke follow whoever murdered the guards at King Arion’s tomb through a portal in his coffin.  Starro the Conqueror is working with the Thanagarians and their leader Onimar Synn to do...something with Plastic...egg.  (Apparently Synn was an enemy of the Thanagarians, but now he’s their leader.  He’s also consumed all the Nth metal, so he was the beacon that led the team there.  Yeah, I don't know either.  Also, the Thanagarians have some sort of “Phoenix Cannon” aimed at Earth so they can ensure it doesn’t fall into the Dark Multiverse, but I don't get why everyone thinks that's a bad thing.  Is that a good thing?)

Meanwhile, two alternate versions of Superman arrive to take Batman deeper into the Dark Multiverse now that they have Superman to power the battery, and it gives Bruce a chance (apparently the first one in 30 years) to use his Kryptonite knuckles to free Clark.  Bruce calls for Dream to help, and Dream creates a portal through which Bruce and Clark escape.  Dream eventually reveals Barbatos was the engine of destruction that the master of the World Forge used to destroy worlds that weren’t stable enough to raise into the Orrery.  Barbatos killed his master, allowing these worlds born of fears and nightmares to survive, for a time.  However, because their energy is no longer being returned to the Forge, it's begun to go dark.  (By the by, the Forge's master was the third being created at the start of existence - “a great spark of molten potential” - along with the Monitor and the Anti-Monitor.)  We also learn there’s a tenth metal at the Forge; it’s “the last, bright pure metal of possibility.”  Dream warns, though, Barbatos has a cosmic being in his pocket to tip the balance further in his favor.  Dream sends Bruce and Superman to the Forge, because they have enough “hope and wonder” in their hearts not to get lost along the way.  (I know, I know.  Apparently Bruce’s wonder is his family’s ability to be better than he is.  Gag me with a pitchfork.)  But, they find the Forge is dark and Carter Hall is now Barbatos’ dragon, defender of the Dark Forge.  (Does that mean the Forge is alive, but only spitting out "dark" worlds?)  Meanwhile, Kendra tries to destroy the Anti-Monitor’s brain at the heart of the Rock of Eternity, but she’s transformed into Lady Blackhawk instead.  (I thought it was Hawkman's mace that had the Nth metal?)

If you couldn’t tell, at least one of the wheels came off the bus here. Snyder had done such a great job previously in telling an ambitiously complex story that I could still follow panel to panel and issue to issue, but we lose that here. The story just has too many internal contradictions, like why the Phoenix Cannon isn’t the answer to everyone’s prayers, or random developments, like Black Adam revealing to Wonder Woman that he and Vandal Savage struck their own deal with Barbatos.  I’m not saying all hope is lost, but I am saying it’s probably time we wrapped up things here.

Nightwing #35:  This series has been cruising along pretty nicely lately, so I haven’t felt inspired to recap it for a while.  Humphries starts his initial arc here, as Dick confronts an old enemy called the Judge who has apparently previously eluded him.  The Judge gives golden casino chips to people that force (or help) them act out their allegedly greatest desires:  an old lady stabs a croupier to death so her friends will be afraid of her, and Svoboda shoots Nightwing for some reason.  Meanwhile, Dick has opened a CrossFit gym, which seems to mean we’re going to see a lot of his ass.  Hurrah!  I'm still not buying this idea of the Judge as some long lost archenemy (particularly after the Raptor business), but we'll see where Humphries takes us.

The Realm #4:  We establish a few things here that continue to build the world around us.  Will and Molly decide to bring the kid they encountered last issue to camp with them once he resurrects himself and all.  We learn he knows he’s done it (resurrect himself) previously (as we’ve seen), but he can’t remember any details about his life.  (My guess is he loses that information every time he resurrects.)  Rook is against taking him with the group, but Will and Molly overrule her, uncomfortable with leaving a kid on his own.  Eli takes the kid under his wing, and they head to a small city.  A guy named Everett runs it, and he and Will are friendly.  (How friendly?  I know I keep pushing for Will to be down with guys, so deal.)  His city is trying to start civilization going again, and the team is impressed by what they’ve accomplished towards that goal.  They have dinner, but the orc war band we’ve previously seen arrives at the gates and interrupts it.  On the way to the city, one of the orcs tells the leader he's concerned his “brothers” have gone missing on the march.  The woman with the bunny mask asks if it’s "him," and it’s clear the bearded guy we’ve seen a few times has been killing enough orcs to become their boogieman.  As the band arrives, the team throws its (considerable) support to the city’s militia, but they’re surprised when a many-tentacled creature appears above them.  Notably, we learned along the way that several party members are at least magic sensitive.  Rook and the kid had previously sensed a dark cloud coming over the party, and Eli and the kid both saw a black dog briefly appear in the woods.  At dinner, Will’s demon arm starts to hurt, and the kid gets a headache right before the many-tentacled creature appears.  Curiouser and curiouser.

The Wild Storm #10:  Okee-dokee, we have a lot going on here:

— Cole’s team is trying to figure out a way to take out an underground installation at IO.  (I’m assuming it's the room hosting Lynch’s simulation exercise, but I’m not entirely sure, because I’m not sure how the Wild C.A.T.s would know about that.)  They initially plan for John and Kendra to jump into the HQ to hack into IO's security systems and take down the event shielding so Adri can then jump Cole into the HQ with a bomb to destroy it.  (Cole ensures they’ll use some sort of environmental scare to evacuate the building, minimizing casualties.)  But, they realize they’re never going to get John and Kendra onsite without IO knowing, so Cole instead suggests they use the drones Angie threw at the Razor-3 team to hack into the systems.

— At the Skywatch satellite, Bendix (i.e., the Weatherman) tells Lauren (his aide-de-camp) that Trelane has reported that Cray doesn’t have a brain tumor, but instead something “reptilian”-related.  However, Lauren apparently doesn’t believe in “reptilian aliens” or “alien metamorphs,” even though, as Bendix says, they’re part of Skywatch’s core mission.  (According to Bendix, this mission includes creating an off-world breakaway civilization, colonizing space, and Bendix becoming Vice-President of the Universe.)  However, Bendix refuses to brief her, so they switch to the plans for getting their stealth tech from IO.  Bendix wants “punishment killings” since stealing is against the treaty, but Lauren suggests it would tip them into open conflict.  She confirms Lucy Blaze is handling the increased observation of IO, and Bendix is pleased.  He then takes some sort of drug and proceeds to manage all outer space from the deck.

— The Doctor has Jenny take her to her place for a drink, and she encounters, in her own words, Jenny's "serial killer" bulletin board.  Jenny says it’s her way to understand the state of the world; she was alive for part of the war between IO and Skywatch, but then she disappeared.  The Doctor tells Jenny she checked on her after accessing her vision and informs her the Daemon created the machine that created Jenny as the world’s defense mechanism.  (Jenny previously hadn’t been able to confirm the Daemon were real.)

— We’re introduced to the Mayor, a seemingly homeless guy who travels from city to city through manholes to check on whether shop-owners are doing OK.  (The shop-owner who tells Kendra this story says the Mayor often shows up just when he’s feeling like he doesn’t matter.)  As the Mayor runs up a wall and dives into a manhole, Voodoo sees him doing so and tells her friend it means “it’s all real” and a war is coming.

At this point, the only real nagging question I have about this series is how the Wild C.A.T.s learned about Lynch's operation (if they are in fact trying to stop it).  It's really remarkable if you think about it.  Ellis is telling a complicated story going back ten months, but I feel like I understand where we are and where we're going except for that one small detail.  In other words, man, it's a great series.

Also Read:  Quantum & Woody #1

Not-So-New Comics: The December 20 Non-Spider Marvel Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Champions #15:  I know it’s clichéd to say so, but Viv really is the heart of this team.  This series has been hit or miss for me for a while, but Waid does a really great job of putting everyone’s emotions on display in this issue.  He uses Nova deciding to quit the team as his lens for their despair.  Nova saw Viv as the only member of the team who didn’t condescend to him; without her, he just doesn’t want to be there anymore.  The Avengers make everything worse through their own condescension, and my only complaint here is Waid didn’t have Kamala and Scott realize they do the same thing to Sam as they complain Falcon and Thor do to them.  But, it’s a minor complaint.  Kamala rallies to remind Sam he -- and not all the geniuses -- saved the day on Counter-Earth.  He confesses to her he just misses Viv, in a moment that makes me tear up a bit just writing about it.  Similarly, the Wasp trying to convince the Vision not to activate the new body he’s constructing for Viv is equally poignant.  The Wasp says it would dishonor her memory, but the Vision’s grief is so real here you understand why he might not care.  We’re also introduced to a mystery I never realized was out there as the Wasp asks Vision whose engram is the source of Viv’s personality.  Meanwhile, Viv discovers she’s where the High Evolutionary is, some plane of existence where they’ve essentially becoming data streams.  They’re aware Vision is trying to rebuild Viv in his basement, and the Evolutionary wants to piggyback on Viv’s data stream when the Vision eventually unifies it with her (synthezoid) body.  Viv refuses and somehow discovers how to travel to her father on her own.  Waid does a good job with this moment, since you think it’s just the Vision activating her body.  You’d be wrong, though, because we now have two Vivs!  I've made the decision to call it quits with this series, because it's too inconsistent and I have other stories out there I'd like to follow.  But, this issue was a great way to end.

Marvel 2-in-One #1:  Chip Zdarsky is one of my favorite authors lately, so when I saw Marvel green-lit him taking out Ben and Johnny for a stroll I was on it!  I’m glad I was, because this issue is everything I ever wanted it to be.  In a way, this series should really be titled “Marvel Three-in-One,” because Doom is poised to play a pretty significant role in it.  He reveals to an appalled Ben he raided the Baxter Building in the days after the incursion ended (of course he did), but he couldn’t find a clue that explained the Richards’ disappearance.  The only clue he thinks might exist was in an orb he couldn't open; Reed left it for Ben.  Doom gives it to Ben, and he opens it.  Reed reveals the device will play a recording based on the circumstances of his death:  in this case, if he, Susan, Franklin, and Valeria no longer exist in the Universe.  He directs Ben to a place only they know -- the location of their first adventure -- to recover a device called the Multisect, which allows access to the nexus of the multiverse.  He's obviously concerned it'll fall in the wrong hands.  He also beseeches Ben to keep exploring with Johnny, and he becomes the third voice pressing Ben to resolve issues with Johnny:  Ben himself has memories of Susan pleading with him to take care of Johnny as Battleworld dissolved, and Spidey earlier expressed his concern to Ben that Johnny is losing control.  When Ben finds Johnny, he’s literally in free fall.  But, Johnny reveals it was a test because he’s losing his powers, something he sees as an existential threat.  The best part?  Allegedly reformed Doom is watching from the shadows, clearly wanting to get his hands on the Multisect.  It’s this revelation that proves to me this series is going to be great.  Zdarsky manages to advance this story on three axes — emotion, humor, and intrigue — and I can’t wait to see where he goes with it.  I wasn’t a regular reader of “Fantastic Four,” mostly because I wasn’t a fan of Reed or Sue.  (Sorry.)  As such, this series is tailor-made for me.  It seems obviously it’s laying the groundwork for an eventual relaunch of “Fantastic Four,” and I’m OK with that.  In fact, it’s exciting to be on the ground floor of that.  In other words, I highly, highly recommend this book.

Mighty Thor #702:  As always, the story here is excellent.  Odinson makes a lovely and impassioned speech to Jane, telling her she needs to take care of herself because the Realms need Jane Foster as much as they need Thor.  It inspires her to throw away Mjolnir...and confront Odin over his absence, which isn’t exactly what Odinson had in mind.  But, it works, though not because Odin agrees to her plea to dispatch Asgardia to save the Realms:  Jane’s speech awakens Freya.  She agrees with Jane that Asgardia must act, but it may be too late:  Jane collapses on the steps of Odin’s citadel as the Mangog arrives at Asgardia.  But, as compelling as that story is, the art is just spectacular.  From beautiful Hercules and Odinson to dying Jane, Dauterman and Wilson infuse every panel with life-like wonder.

Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #15:  RIP, Flufto.  This entire issue is great.  Triple-Zero gives Aphra a ship full of mercenaries as staff on a mysterious mission; the only catch is she has to jettison one of them to make the ship light enough to fly.  (She chooses a fairly obnoxious Alderaan prince pretending to be a mercenary; he was off-planet during Alderaan’s destruction at the Pleasuredome VII.  Of course he was.  He then has to face a group of rampaging brutes on his own.)  Along the way, she successfully guesses Tripe-Zero wants to swipe something from the workshop of Tambor, the Techno Union’s leader.  We learn the Union was the most successful separatists when the Empire took over the galaxy, though clearly "success" is a relative term there.  (Aphra put two and two together by realizing their guide was from Skako Minor, where the Union was located, and their last job on Somelik focused on Clone War data.  It doesn't necessarily make sense to me, but it did to her.)  However, the guide Triple-Zero hired to escort them on Skaka Minor betrays them, turning over the prospective looters into the Imperials in the hope they’ll leave Skako Minor.  (They don’t.)  But, Aphra has an ace up her sleeve as always, namely Flufto, the cute little Pokémon-looking creature she’s carrying throughout the issue:  he’s really a bomb, and she uses him to take out the Imperials.  Good times.  Meanwhile, now-Lt. Tolvan is saved form the firing squad after word reaches the executioner that Inspector-General Thanoth nominated her as his legatee.  (She was going to be executed over her three demerits for her failures at Eadu, Yavin, and Somelik.  But, she’s saved when it turns out the ”investigative branches” allow for four demerits, rather than three demerits like the field corps.  Her executioner was going to continue with her execution because he didn't know that, earning him his third demerit...and his own execution.  Sloppy, as Tolvan said.)  Her first order of business is to ID Aphra, who she previously dreamed was rescuing her.  (Sexy time!)  However, Thanoth’s reports are redacted with a code that she learns was only available to the man for whom he was serving as adjutant:  Darth Vader.  Dun-dun-DUN!

Uncanny Avengers #30:  Over the course of three volumes and 62 issues (by my count), this series has consistently been the Avengers title to me as far as I concerned.  It felt like the authors of this series were the only ones to hit the right formula for an Avengers book:  a clever villain thrusting some outlandish scheme on the unsuspecting heroes, interpersonal strife and personal shortcomings that almost doom the team’s attempts to foil said scheme, a romantic spark along the way, and a final stand of inspiring heroism that saves the day.  In particular, Remender's stories felt like Avengers stories because failure often drove them:  Thor’s arrogance as a young man set up the Earth’s destruction (by empowering Jarnbjorn to cut a Celestial’s armor), Rogue’s initial and profound distrust of Wanda opened the door to the Red Skull stealing Xavier’s brain and then almost ruined Wanda’s plan to save mutantkind from the Apocalypse Twins.  Zub continues that trend here, as Pietro’s arrogance led to Synapse’s injuries and consequentially his departure from the team.  But, we also have the heroes who rise to the occasion, often at great personal cost:  Havok restores Earth even though it costs him his daughter, his relationship with Janet, and his face; Rogue holds together the team after Steve Rogers disbands it to defeat the Red Skull; and Deadpool survives the Red Skull’s brutal assault on him to get Magneto’s helmet to Rogue, allowing her to escape the Skull's control and defeat him.  It’s all...Avengers-y.  The good news is the series is coming to a close as all the Avengers series converge as a weekly series.  I can’t say I’m bothered by that; I reluctantly came to admit I loved “Brand New Day” in “Amazing Spider-Man,” so if they can pull off something similar here, I’m all on board.  But, in case “Uncanny Avengers” doesn’t return after that series, I just want to take a minute to mourn one of the best corners of the Avengers universe.  To me, the creative teams preserved the Avengers during one of the more inconsistent times of their history, and I thank them for that.

X-Men:  Gold #18:  I'll say right off the bat that the Negative Zone War is leaving me happier than previous arcs in this series.  Guggenheim does a solid job of faking us out a bit here.  It makes perfect sense for Kologoth to offer back Kitty and Kurt since his plans for the planet don't involve a group of outside do-gooders poking around the place.  However, when the team arrives to collect Kitty and Kurt, they discover Kurt is missing.  (Guggenheim reminds us of Kurt’s status quo here; he’s immortal because he’s exiled from heaven.  As such, he survives the impaling from last issue.  It makes me less mad about it, retroactively.)  Kologoth informs the team Kurt is dead, mainly because he really wants them to leave.  The team realizes Kologoth is lying, since they know Kurt can’t die.  As such, they correctly deduce Kologoth just doesn’t want them mucking around the place.  A fight ensues (of course), and it seems Kologoth didn’t want them there because he's resurrected his god, Scythian.  Ruh-roh!  Also, I’d like to praise Guggenheim for including some critical letters in the letters page.  One thing I hated about “Brand New Day” was Steve Wacker’s child-like rejection of any criticism of the book.  Guggenheim publishes an extremely thoughtful critique of his decision to reunite Kitty and Peter, and he responds with an equally thoughtful justification that he also acknowledges might not satisfy the writer’s concerns.  Respect and dialogue: it’s nice to see.

Also Read:  All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #149; Generation X #85; Ms. Marvel #25

Not-So-New Comics: The December 20 "Spider-Affinity" Marvel Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #298:  OK, I like Zdarsky (see above), but it made not a lick of sense for Peter to web up the window in the taxi cab so the driver didn’t see him change into Spider-Man.  The minute he webbed up the window, the taxi driver knew it was Spider-Man; it didn’t make a difference if he saw Peter change into the costume or not.  He would still know the guy sitting in his back seat was Spider-Man.  COME ON NOW, PEOPLE.

Spider-Gwen #27:  Latour does a great job of showing all paths converging on a final confrontation.  First, Gwen hardly seems bothered by the symbiote’s push for revenge.  She tracks down the dirty cop who opened her father’s cell for the Rhino (who then beat him into a coma) and is on the verge of killing him when the Punisher appears.  He reveals he has Gwen exactly where he wants her:  isolated from her family and friends and ready to embrace his violent approach to crime.  IT WAS ALL HIS SCHEME!  (Though, I'm not honestly sure how he theoretically pulled the strings.  I don't remember him setting any of these events into motion, to be honest.  He didn't really know George would ultimately turn himself into the police to end his (the Punisher's) crusade against Spider-Woman.  That was the fork in the road, and I don't think he forced George to make the choice he made.)  Gwen is appalled on some level, claiming she’ll never be like him.  But, she also accepts his cell phone to stay in touch without too much hesitation.  Also, her decision to let the dirty cop go free (threatening him if he doesn’t confess his crimes) seems more a decision born of convenience than conscience.  Meanwhile, Foggy is finally confronting his handiwork, realizing he’s always allowed Matt to manipulate him as he sits by George’s bedside.  When the dirty cop calls for help, he stands by helplessly as Matt sends the Hand to kill him.  The surprise is Gwen’s decision to ask Uncle Ben for help, revealing her identity to him.  It seems an attempt to rein in her own impulses, using Ben's conscience in place of her own.  It's maybe a sign she's still in there somewhere.  To overuse the metaphor, Latour is very carefully weaving this web, but it’s hard to know its final shape at this stage.

Also Read:  Venom #159

Not-So-New Comics: The December 13 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #792:  This issue is pretty solid, to be honest.  Flash - now Anti-Venom - manages to siphon off the symbiote from Eddie and place it in a container Dr. Steve built.  Flash and Spidey flee, and Flash convinces Spidey (at least for the moment) to let the symbiote live, given the bond he shares with it and his faith in his training it to be a better “person” (for lack of a better word).  (It’s super-creepy to see it acting like a puppy.)  Flash expresses concern about the rogue symbiote out there, and it took me a minute to remember he was on the phone whit his protégée when Lee Price and his gang of symbiotes attacked her.  Pete uses part of the symbiote to conjure up a device to track other symbiotes, and Flash and Spidey follow the pings.  Meanwhile, Felicia is furious at her squad after they fail to rustle up something worthy of tribute to the Five Families.  (Can I just say how happy I was to see Killer Shrike in the mix?  MORE KILLER SHRIKE!)  But, Price and the symbiotes arrive, and, one-by-one, he infects Felicia and her crew.  (I really need a primer on how Price’s symbiote works.  It seems like he’s able to create new symbiotes really, really easily, without any inputs.  Is he eating 8,000 calories a day like cross-country skiers?)  Of course, Flash and Spidey arrive just in time for all of them to turn their attention on them.  Uh-oh!  As I said, it’s a really solid issue that captures some of the fun of the ‘90s era cross-overs as well as the excellent “New Ways to Die” story from a few years ago.

Ben Reilly:  Scarlet Spider #11:  We have a lot going on here, and I can’t say I’m totally clear on all the connections and details.  As far as I can tell, someone named Black Marvel put the new Hornet in touch with Prodigy, and Prodigy in turn told Ricochet to keep an eye on Thorne, without telling Ricochet about his (Prodigy's) connection to Hornet.  If he had, Ricochet likely wouldn't have sided with Ben at the start of this story, which he only did because Hornet was trying to hijack Cassandra's humanitarian convoy and Ricochet came to the fairly logical conclusion Ben was the lesser of two evils.  But, it's unclear why Prodigy wouldn't reveal that connection.  Ricochet is upset not only because he doesn’t know this new Hornet but also because Black Marvel is allegedly dead.  (That happens a lot, though, Ricochet.  I mean, if you're going to be in this business...)  Meanwhile, Death confirms Ben’s deterioration is due to his brutal attack on Thorne, but his face is the least of his worries when Cassandra makes it clear she knows he’s the Scarlet Spider.  Elsewhere, Thorne makes Hornet and Ricochet swear revenge, and Prodigy arrives on the scene just in time to arrange that:  they kidnap Cassandra Nova and have Slate tell Ben he has 24 hours to surrender to the police for his beating of Thorne or they’ll kill Cassandra.  A lot of the narrative until this point focused on Ricochet trying to be a stand-up guy and the Slingers being heroes, so it seems a little outside character for them to threaten Cassandra’s life in order teach Ben a lesson about morality.  Also, Prodigy is a little too conveniently all-knowing here.  In addition to his involvement in this mystery surrounding Black Marvel and his connection to Thorne, he also knows Slate was part of something called the Diogenes Initiative.  I always trust David to give us the answers we want, but it may be time to start doing that.

Detective Comics #970:  Tynion does a great job here of showing Tim barreling towards his future in a way consistent with the character he is now.  Instead of learning a lesson from the arrogance that led his future self to believe only he alone could solve Gotham’s problems, Tim is repeating this mistake by believing only the team alone can do so.  He wants Batgirl to bring the Birds of Prey into the team’s "system."  Then, they would hack the GCPD’s response system so the officers address less dangerous threats while the team’s strike forces respond to the more dangerous ones.  It’s exactly the kind of brilliant idea Tim would totally develop, but Tynion shows how Tim’s belief in his Utopia is dangerous.  Jacob warns Kate people are aware of Tim's attempt to supplant the government, and the military is preparing a strike force to take out the team.  Meanwhile, the Victims Syndicate makes its first strike, capturing Clayface to show the world Batman is working with a dangerous super-villain.  (It’s one of those moments where we’re supposed to believe no one’s put that together so far, and I could just suspend my disbelief enough to buy that.)  Meanwhile, Lonnie has developed a series of cyber-assassins who imitate the team’s movements, which spells trouble for everyone.  All in all, it’s a great second installment of the “Fall of the Batmen,” showing how serious of a threat not only the Syndicate working with Lonnie is, but Tim on his own is as well.

Falcon #3:  I wasn’t really digging Blackheart as the villain here, but Barnes has me convinced.  First, he represents exactly the sort of wish fulfillment that could actually tempt Sam, given how world-weary he is right now.  Blackheart offers a world where African-Americans aren’t second-class citizens, the same dream Blackheart offered Dre.  Moreover, he really develops the relationship between Sam and Shaun.  Sam approaches the struggle from an old-school perspective, telling Shaun being a hero isn’t about choosing your battles but fighting the ones you have to fight.  But, Shaun punches several holes through those arguments, pointing out taking on gangs isn’t the same as taking on demons, as much as Sam insists it is.  Barnes gives Shaun a really clear voice, particularly through using modern references (I loved him changing his shield’s name from Beyoncé to Rihanna because he realizes Beyoncé is probably going to stay with Jay-Z).  It makes him more than a superfluous sidekick, as Joaquin was.  I really look forward to seeing where we go from here.

Star Wars #40:  The best part of this issue is something we haven’t previously seen, namely Leia doubting the wisdom of Luke’s commitment to the Force.  Chulco and Ubin lead a Partisan assault on the mining citadel to distract the guards while Benthic and Luke break into the citadel to bring down the shield, allowing Han and Leia to torpedo it into oblivion.  Assembling at base, Chulco convinces Luke to accompany him on his pilgrimage to the void because he’s lost his connection to the Force.  Leia is furious at Luke for going, dismissing his desire to become a Jedi as a luxury they can’t afford.  Gillen makes sure to remind us Leia comes to this position honestly; we see the last conversation she has with her father, as he orders her to smuggle out the Death Star plans.  It also recalls the conversation Leia had in "Star Wars Annual" #2 where she admits she’d sacrifice Alderaan again to keep the dream of the Rebellion alive.  Gillen is reminding us of the burden of leadership she feels.  However, he’s also showing her as green; she thinks she sees the larger picture, but she doesn’t really.  That said, she’s not wrong they’ll miss Luke in the short term as Queen Trios reveals to General Kanchar the citadel was just a test run:  she’s now deploying the Leviathan, a “Continent-class crawler,” to break the crust.

Titans #18:  I wanted to love this series, but, at this point, I acknowledge I’m done.  This issue wraps up the Troia story in a remarkably simple way, with Donna just punching her into a portal and thereby snapping her connection to her avatars.  It’s supposed to be a big moment, where she refuses to accept she’ll become Troia.  But, everything implies she’ll totally become Troia, driven insane by her immortality.  Nothing Donna does here changes that.  Moreover, Roy admits he loves Donna to Troia, something Donna conveniently overhears.  Roy’s profession of love is a bad call on many levels, mostly because it fuels Troia's rage by reminding her how she loses everyone she loves.  Why remind her of love when it’s exactly love that hurt her so badly?  Moreover, Donna is open to Roy’s love, something Abnett hasn’t even remotely hinted in the past.  Everyone else is reduced to just shouting talking points.  In other words, it’s a mess, and I’m over it.

The Wild Storm:  Michael Cray #3:  We get a number of interesting developments here.  First, Michael is sent after Barry Allen, making it somewhat clear his series is going to be dedicated to taking out this world's DC heroes.  Here, Barry is a schizophrenic genius inventor; he’s developed an armor and pharma supplements that give him the Flash's powers.  He’s convinced (or his paranoia has convinced him) artificial intelligence is going to eliminate humanity, so he’s killing the geniuses working on it.  Michael is dispatched to kill him, and we’re supposed to believe he instead supports his vision.  (He's likely only saying he does to move Barry where he wants him.)  Moreover, Cray is able to deploy his power after the scientist studying it reveals it’s related to emotions; he imagines having sex with her and it deploys.  (We later learn she’s somehow able to see his thoughts.)  Finally, it seems the female member of the team who took out Green Arrow last issue might have a long list of metahuman kills.  It's not entirely clear how these stories tie into the larger story Ellis is telling in "The Wild Storm," but we'll see.

X-Men:  Blue #17:  We get a non-canonical take on 2099 here, showing us a world where the original X-Men took over Alchemax and put the focus on the “X.”  We’re not really privy to how exactly they did so, but the kids are horrified to learn they’ve subjected humankind to the same sort of bleak existence mutants suffered in the “Days of Future Past” storyline.  The X-Men 2099 are trying to right that wrong, stealing and distributing medication for the humans the new Legacy Virus has afflicted.  Cerebra eventually fixes their time-travel device and convinces Hank to travel to the past in the hope their actions there can ensure this future doesn’t happen.  The other X-Men resist, but Hank makes the decision to go, and they suddenly find themselves confronted with a past version of the Generation X team.  I wasn’t really a fan of the “Cross-Time Caper” when we first got it in “Excalibur,” and I can’t say I am here.  Although Bunn makes a good attempt to shock us with each new setting, we’re barely introduced to those settings, making it hard really to connect to those emotions.  Also, I still don’t really understand why the time paradigm has been unlocked.  Previously, the past was the past, but now it isn’t?  I’m not sure the answer is going to be all that interesting.

Also Read:  Bloodshot Salvation #4; Pathfinder:  Worldscape - King of the Goblins #1, Pathfinder:  Worldscape - Lord of the Jungle #1, Pathfinder:  Worldscape - Red Sonja #1, and Pathfinder:  Worldscape - Warlord of Mars #1; Youngblood #7

Not-So-New Comics: The December 6 Non-X Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #148:  This issue wraps up a little anti-climactically, to be honest.  Drax discovers the Shi'ar traitors within the Nova Corps:  a group of Corpsmen who released Thanos as part of a deal with the Fraternity of Raptors to make the Corps look bad.  (I'm not sure what the Guardsmen got from the deal, to be honest.)  Drax stumbles upon this secret when he saves a woman and her two children from said Guardsmen.  They were going to kill the woman and her children because the Ultron virus had infected them, but the woman reveals to Drax the virus activated telepathic powers that allowed them to escape the virus' influence (as well as discover the Guardsmen's plans).  It's a little simplistic, but it works, and Duggan makes it clear we're going to see this woman again.  Meanwhile, Peter and Rich return, lying to Adsit that everyone on the planet they investigated was dead in order to protect the information about the power stone from falling into the traitors' hands.  Duggan does spend some welcome time on characterization, showing Peter's futile effort to engage with Drax and Gamora.  Gamora claims she didn't tell Peter about Rich because she didn't know he didn't know.  I guess it's a sign of how bad their relationship is right now, though I'm not sure I buy it.  With the announcement the series is ending at issue #150 so Duggan can move onto his grand plans for the Cosmic Marvel franchises, it feels like he's just trying to close the curtain as quickly as possible here, distracting from the excitement of seeing Peter and Rich in action together again.

Amazing Spider-Man/Venom:  Venom, Inc. Alpha #1:  I didn’t have too high of expectations for this issue, but Costa and Slott do a good job bringing those of us who are unfamiliar with Venom's status quo up to speed.  Flash is FaceTiming with one of his former students in Philly (I remember that part), and we learn she’s a symbiote-possessed hero called Mania.  He watches as a group of thugs attack her with fire and sonics, stealing the symbiote from her.  Flash asks Spidey to help him get back the symbiote from Eddie Brock (who apparently stole it from him at some point), since he’s worried the attack on Mania presages trouble in Symbioteland.  Spidey refuses, so Flash follows Eddie into Alchemax, where he apparently receives treatments to keep the symbiote’s anger under control.  Spidey follows Flash thanks to an audio Spider-Tracer he tagged on him, so he’s listening when Flash confronts Eddie.  We learn the scientist in charge of the project developed a whole batch of antidote, saying (inexplicably) it would be convenient to have a lot on hand in case he actually kills the symbiote.  (I honestly have no idea what he means by that.  How would the antidote save a dead symbiote?  Wouldn't it just make it dead-er?)  But, it's convenient from a plot perspective:  as the symbiote struggles to pick between Eddie and Flash, Spider-Man pours the antidote all over them, turning Flash into Anti-Venom.  Meanwhile, the thugs who stole Mania’s symbiote appear at a bar where the Looter is regaling the crowd with his story of how he barely survived an encounter with Venom; they then forcibly infect him with Mania’s symbiote.  Of note, they’re all also bonded with symbiotes, which seems...bad.  I’m not sure why they chose the Looter as Mania's host, but I’m guessing we’ll find out more later.  As I said, it’s a solid start, and it’s made all the better by Stegman’s outstanding art.  I’ve always felt like the Spidey books were under-using him, and I’m glad to see him given a chance to strut his stuff here.

Avengers #674:   I haven't been a huge fan of this series in part because it's lacked a certain heart:  everyone has been more assholic versions of themselves than usual.  But Waid delivers heart in spades here.  In their long journey to the center of Counter-Earth to disable the vibrational device, Vision admits to Viv she's meant to live a normal, human lifespan.  After encountering the version of himself who lived thousands of years, that means he's going to have to bury her.  It's why he's so protective of her, because he can't imagine having to do so.  It's an incredibly touching moment, made all the more so when Viv sacrifices herself to save the day.  Waid actually seems to imply Vision could've saved her but Viv chose to sacrifice herself, as if she saw something on the other side, where we encounter her at the end of this issue.  Waid's work with Viv has been the highlight of "Champions" and I'm definitely intrigued to see where he goes with her.  In terms of the "Avengers," this cross-over event did indeed feel like an old-school story, in line with the Legacy goals.  Of course, at times it felt a little too much like one, essentially replicating the plot of Hickman's run on the title.  But, I'm cautiously optimistic about the upcoming weekly event.  The Avengers have been meandering for a long time, possibly since Bendis' run on the title.  (I wasn't a fan of Hickman's aforementioned run, as he essentially told a "Fantastic Four" story with Avengers characters.)  If Waid could manage to evoke Bob Harras' Gatherers story or Kurt Busiek's Kang War, we'll be on the right track.

Batman #36:  King yet again does a remarkable job teasing out Bruce's emotions as Lois and Selena press Batman and Superman to call the other one about the engagement.  Over the course of unknowingly investigating the same case, the two men admit why they can't bring themselves to do so.  (Clark and Lois are investigating why some company called "Twenty Corp" is profiting from railroad insurance speculation while Bruce and Selena are following a plutonium shipment.  To be honest, I had to re-read the issue to follow these storylines.  King is making the point the subject of their search is less important than the conversations they're having, but, as the reader, he might've done a little more to make the plot clear.)  Each man respects what the other one has done with the losses he's suffered:  Clark marvels Bruce isn't trying to burn down the world after his parents were taken from him, and Bruce is amazed Clark doesn't squish us all like ants.  Clark respects Bruce's decision not to trust him completely because his past doesn't allow him to trust anyone completely, and Bruce feels his engagement would be beneath Clark's notice because he respects him as essentially a god.  (They also view the other one as choosing to do what he does, whereas they see themselves as having to do it.)  King happily doesn't give short shrift to Lois and Selena here.  In case Bruce is hesitating in introducing Selena to Clark because Selena would deduce his identity, Selena lets Bruce know she's already done so.  For her part, Lois also tells Clark to stop worrying it means Catwoman will know his identity because she's clever enough to have put two and two together a long time ago.  It all comes to a head when the two couples emerge on the same floor of an office building at the same time.  (In case you're wondering, Twenty Corp was run by Dr. Axe and Dr. Echs -- i.e, two Xs adding to XX, or 20 -- and they were using the proceeds from the railroad insurance to buy the plutonium.  How'd they get the money?  Why, by using their powers to destroy trains, of course.)  Again, it's another excellent character-focused issue from King, particularly since King essentially allows the tension -- and misconceptions -- between the two men remain.

Captain America #696:  You should read this issue for Chris Samnee's art (it's a wonder no one put him on "Captain America" until now) and Joe Caramanga's great testament to the American dream in the letters page.

Hawkeye #13:  Marvel remains committed to showing the aftermath of "Secret Empire" in a way we usually don't see.  Normally, events are maybe mentioned once or twice in the first month or so after they end, and then we never hear about them again.  But, several series, like "Ben Reilly:  Scarlet Spider" and "Captain America," continue to explore the aftermath months after the event ended.  It's...refreshing.  Thompson gets into the game here, re-introducing Eden Vale from "Generations:  The Archers" and sending her after Clint after her daughter died in the Las Vegas bombardment.  ("Generations" and "Secret Empire!"  It's a two-fer!)  Eden tries to recruit Katie into killing Clint by offering to use her powers to pull people through the time stream to bring back Kate's mother.  I'm not sure how Eden knows Kate's mother is dead, but she doesn't seem to know Kate's pretty sure she's actually alive.  We'll see where we go from here.

Nightwing #34:  This issue has...problems.  An enraged Blockbuster attacks Dick and Raptor, but misses punching them, something Raptor himself notes.  But, then Raptor crumbles; he's drawn as if his bones all turned to jelly.  He eventually dies, but I honestly don't have any idea if Blockbuster actually did hit him or if something related to the Blockbuster serum killed him.  Meanwhile, the Run-Offs manage to save everyone in the casino by putting Orca's antidote in the sprinkler system, but it seemed to me like they probably should've focused on the bigger threat, namely Raptor successfully using Pigeon's birds to distribute the serum to the whole city.  Also, Pigeon is maybe dead, and Dick used the last bit of antidote on Blockbuster.  It's almost like DC is canceling this series, given how hurriedly Seeley seems to be wrapping up loose ends here.

Also Read:  Batman:  White Knight #3; Darth Vader #9; Spider-Man #235

Not-So-New Comics: The December 6 X Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Astonishing X-Men #6:  Soule delivers a solid ending here, revealing Professor X (not surprisingly) was playing the Shadow King all along.  He uses Fantomex, Mystique, and Rogue to engage in a frontal assault on Farouk, explaining their personalities are more suited to the fluidity needed to succeed on the Astral Plane.  Conversely, Angel, Gambit, Psylocke, and Wolverine live by identity-defining codes, making it easier for Farouk to exploit them.  It’s an insightful take on the characters, a sign Soule is looking to give us something more complicated than the smash-up stories we’ve been getting in “X-Men Gold.”  Farouk is overtaxed in defending himself against the assault and trying to spread his infection through London, allowing Charles to break free of the bonds Farouk placed on him.  With Farouk defeated, Psylocke instructs Archangel to stop the bombers the British government sent to destroy London.  She’s surprised when Fantomex appears next to her, since she didn’t remove him from the Astral Plane.  But, it’s really Charles, as we learn Fantomex seems to have provided him with his body as a shot at redemption.  (Good job, Charles.  If I had to choose a new body, I’d choose Fantomex’s.)  All in all, it’s a pretty solid first arc, made all the better in this issue by del Mundo’s dream-like art.

X-Men:  Gold #17:  At this point, I feel like Guggenheim is thumbing through some sort of book on X-Men history, picking two or three stories, and just taking them for a spin again.  I mean, are we really supposed to take Kurt's fear of death seriously, as he's already been dead at least once?  To make matters worse, he dies just the same was he did in "X-Men:  Second Coming," by getting impaled in the chest.  In another example, Amara and Dr. Reyes discuss how Rachel was just in the medical unit, as she is again here.  It's one thing to pay homage to the X-Men's history; it's another thing just to repeat it endlessly.  (Also, who the fuck is Ink?  I'm a serious X-Men fan, and, if I don't recognize someone, we probably need a little intro, particularly when he's drawn just like Professor X.  I spent half the issue feeling like I missed Professor X's actual resurrection in "Astonishing X-Men," rather than just him possessing Fantomex's body.)  This series has so much potential, but I just feel like we're not realizing it.

Also Read:  Iceman #8

Not-So-New Comics: The November 29 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Batman Annual #2:  King delivers another outstanding issue that delves into Bruce's relationship with Selena.  Early in their careers, Selena stole the Batmobile and repeatedly broke into Wayne Manor; each time she did so, she left behind a mouse (because the mouse, like Batman, didn't see the Cat coming).  At one point, Bruce confronts her and asks why she does it.  She tells him it's because he's still a rich boy living in the mansion on the hill; she's trying to make him stronger.  King then gives us perhaps the only vulnerable Batman we've ever seen.  When Selena breaks into a safe that contains a familiar pearl, Bruce tells her it was his mother's.  He offers she was murdered, Selena responds she knows, and Bruce remarks, "Everyone knows."  He says it like an upset boy who still hasn't come to grips with his fate.  She says she understands, because she, too, was an orphan who occasionally hated herself for feeling like she was happier alone.  At some point, he draws the charade to a close.  She discovers him at her place one night, and he reveals he's known where she lived since she left the first mouse.  (He studied the lead profile in the mouse's poop.)  He then confesses he let the game continue because, as she said, sometimes he hates himself for feeling like he's happier alone.  It's all a reminder of how unique Selena is in his life, the only lid to his pot.  Under any other author, I feel like this romance would be immediately retconned once "Rebirth" comes to its logical conclusion.  But, King is bringing out depths here in both characters - particularly Bruce - that will be hard for DC to ignore.  Batman is a better character for this relationship, and DC would be smart to keep it that way.  The fact it's happening in the main title and not a separate "Batman and Catwoman" series hopefully means DC's powers-that-be agree.

Darkhawk #51: OMG, Darkhawk!  Chris Powell brought '90s angst to a whole new level, and it was a trip seeing him here.  Did I understand the story?  Not really.  I mean, I even read "War of Kings," but a lot of it just didn't make sense to me.  I had to read it a few times to come close to following it.  Do I care?  Not really.  Darkhawk!

Chris Powell is now a police officer, trying to right the wrongs of his corrupt father.  His amulet hasn't worked in a year, and it's been giving him nightmares lately.  As such, his fiancée, Miranda, suggest he give it to the Avengers or X-Men.  He decides to give it to Project Pegasus after his shift.  However, he responds to a call of a disturbance at the abandoned Wonderland amusement park, where he first found the amulet.  A group of corrupt cops hear him respond to the call, and they meet him there, trying to force him onto their side.  (Honestly, I'm not really sure why they do so.  The ringleader mentions how Chris is smarter than his father, so I don't see what he stood to gain by risking exposing himself as a corrupt cop to a guy he seemed pretty sure wouldn't swing at that pitch.)  However, the ringleader is suddenly disintegrated by two Raptors, revealing they staged the disturbance to attract Chris.  During the fight, Chris realizes they're not really Raptors; they're just pledges wearing armor, not actually possessing Raptor suits.  We learn the pair are brothers -- Canorus and Aceptar -- and plan to turn over the amulet to Lord Talonar to win his favor.  Canorus grabs the amulet and summons the Darkhawk suit.  However, he fails to control it; instead, Chris recognizes the suit is controlled by Razor, "a murderous corner of Darkhawk programming fueled by a thirst for violence and war."  Razor took over the suit a long time ago (apparently during "War of Kings," but I don't really remember that) and committed atrocities throughout the Universe, ruining Darkhawk's reputation.  Razor puts Chris' hand on the amulet, allowing Chris to join him in the Datasong, "where the body keeps memories of you."  (The Raptors apparently call it the Perch, further complicating matters.  I'm not really sure what the difference is between the Perch, Null Space, and Datasong, but whatever.  It's the least of my worries here.)

Razor tells Chris how the Fraternity of Raptors started as a group who saw themselves as inheritors of the original order, seeking to gain control of the suits for their own dark designs.  The suits residing at the pods at the Tree of Shadows were thrilled at the prospect of getting freed.  However, inspired by Chris' heroism, Razor refused to yield and broke free of his pod, severing the link to the amulet (and Chris).  He apparently also freed other suits from their pods, reducing the number the Fraternity could possess.  However, these suits hunted him and came close to killing him, since he no longer had access to the Tree's restorative powers.  Razor wants Chris to join with him because apparently something about his DNA allows him to mimic the restorative powers of the Tree.  Chris does so and marvels at this unprecedented access to the armor, though it's a little unclear where his body is, assuming it's not in a pod at the Tree.  Aceptar returns to "the stars" and warns Talonar Chris is coming for him, prompting him to laugh.

As I said at the start, I'm not sure I understand anything happening here.  If Marvel was really committed to a possible relaunch of "Darkhawk," we probably should've gotten a three-issue series, giving Bowers more space to refresh our memories and set up stories for the future.  But, it is what it is.  It was fun to see Chris again, and I'm inspired to re-read "War of Kings:  Ascension."

Moon Knight #189:  Although Khonshu’s narration is awkward at times, Bemis delivers a really great issue here. Someone with the power to make people revel in their delusions and fears gets a subway driver to crash his train, apparently as a way to get Moon Knight’s attention.  But, it’s not Amon Ra on hand when Marc arrives like a moth drawn to the flame; it’s some huge dude called "the Truth.”  When Marc, as Moon Knight, is unable to defeat the Truth, we learn the shtick for this iteration of "Moon Knight" is Marc's ability to cycle through his personas.  For example, we saw him earlier adopting his Steve Grant persona to double his wealth and a company’s net worth all “from a yacht in the Cayman Islands, even without cell service.”  (He gave this wealth to his Lunar Lives Fund; he’s actually living in a run-down motel.)  Here, he lets the more brutal Jake take the reigns, and Moon Knight becomes Mr. Knight.  (The art throughout this issue is spectacular.  Not only does Marc have the best abs in comics, but Burrows’ visual cue of Jake pulling down Moon Knight’s hood to reveal just Mr. Knight’s mask is great.)  Jake dares the Truth to use his powers on him, and the Truth is so shaken by what Jake has done - including things Marc doesn’t know Jake has done - that Jake easily stabs him in the eyes.  Marc is worried about this revelation that Jake has acted on his own, telling Jake after he’s taken back control it’s exactly the sort of thing that isn’t supposed to happen anymore.  Bowers and Burrows don't really have us wallow in this sort of drama; he's upset with Jake, but Marc also makes the joke over the Truth's body that the truth hurts.  Khonshu and Steve Grant rolling their eyes helps emphasize how integrated these personalities now are.  Meanwhile, Amon Ra isn’t on hand for this fight because he’s busy tracking down the Bushman to get him to join his war against Moon Knight.  I just hope they don’t mess up his pretty abs.

X-Men:  Blue #16:  We're finally starting to get somewhere with this crew, but I'm not entirely sure where it is.  We learn Magneto has been communicating with Professor X about the need for the children to return to their original timeline, hence why he and Danger have been building the time platform in the basement.  Someone strikes at him, forcing him to reveal his hand to Jean before he disappears from the timeline all together, just as happened to Polaris earlier.  Complicating matters, Bobby was watching the Mojo Entertainment Channel earlier, and it ran a report on Magneto's original conflict with the X-Men as head of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.  During that conflict, he apparently died, something Bobby knows isn't true.  On one had, it seems to imply Magneto disappeared in the present because he died in the past, but I don't get why Polaris would also have disappeared, since she was certainly already born when he originally confronted the X-Men.  (Also, it raises the question how someone killed him in the past and made it stick in the present, given the Marvel Universe's time-travel rules.  Doom Platform?  After all, when the team originally traveled to their past, they were still there, because older Hank created a new timeline when he removed them from the past.)  At any rate, the team tries to follow Magneto's orders to return to their past, but find themselves randomly appearing in different eras.  They stop in 2099, where they come face-to-face with the X-Men of that era.  All I have to say is:  hurrah!  Readers of this blog know I love me some 2099 stories, so I'm all about this development.  In terms of the larger story, Bunn is still playing his cards close to his chest.  Again, Hank recalls they already went to "their" past, only to discover nothing had changed and they were outside their original timeline.  However, Danger cryptically warns him not to be too sure.  Time-travel stories are generally the worst, so I can't say I'm excited about the prospect of Bunn eventually ret-conning the previous attempt to address their status.  It feels like cheating.  I guess we'll see.  In the meantime, 2099!

Also Read:  Spider-Gwen #26; U.S.Avengers #12

Not-So-New Comics: The November 22 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Detective Comics #969:  Tynion has characters talk a lot about the tension in Gotham in this issue, and he does a great job of displaying that tension in almost every interaction, from Batman's confrontation with the new Mayor to Batwoman's conversation with Red Robin.  Kate is worried Tim is lying to Stephanie about going to Ivy University, as he's really decided to accept (and hopefully shape) his future as Batman.  But, he's hoping Stephanie will see the light along the way.  Meanwhile, Mayor Akins accuses Batman of usurping the justice system by running his own army, though Batman notes Akins is hardly one to talk, as he's accepted Hamilton Hill, Jr. as his Deputy Mayor to secure the mayorship.  Elsewhere, Stephanie is (weirdly) visiting Lonnie in prison, and he suggests people might be OK with Batman and Robin but a military strike force makes them wonder if it's time for them to take back the power.  (Lonnie is clearly trying to orchestrate such a movement, as some cops help him and the Victim Syndicate members escape from Arkham).  I have to say, I tend to agree with the dissenters.  Akins notes several of Batman's "five to ten" vigilantes appear to be teenagers, and he's not wrong in implying maybe they're a little young to be part of a team serving as the judge, jury, and executioner for the city.  That said, Akins admits crime is at its lowest level in years.  In Gotham, maybe it is worth giving up a little freedom not to be constantly bombarded with homicidal maniacs.

Doomsday Clock #1:  Johns gets right to work here, establishing the status quo on whatever Earth "Watchmen" occurred.

Although it doesn't happen according to the timeline implied at the end of "Watchmen," President Redford announces seven years after the "New York massacre" that it was all a hoax perpetrated by Ozymandias, who emerged from it as a powerful global figure advocating for nuclear disarmament.  Redford's announcement dooms an agreement the nuclear powers reached committing to a 20-year timeline for disarmament.  It's still unclear why Redford chose to reveal this information now.  "Watchmen" implied the "New Frontiersman" would reveal the contents of Rorschach's diary to the world; that seemed to have happened, but I guess no one took it seriously until Redford said it?  (Separately, we learn Seymour David, who published Rorschach's journal in the "New Frontiersman," was later found beaten to death and the journal missing.)  In terms of the large setting, Johns hints at a world spiraling into chaos:  the Vice President has shot the Attorney-General and taken 17 people hostage at the White House, and a Trump-like President threatens Russia with destruction if it invades Poland after the European Union collapses.  The Trump-like figure has taken over media, establishing the National News Network; it insists the Soviet Union isn't withdrawing from Poland, despite what "foreign press may claim."

Acting on Ozymandias' orders, a new African-American Rorschach breaks into a prison to free the Marionette and, reluctantly, her husband the Mime; they agree to go with him due to Ozymandias' knowledge of their son's location.  For his part, Ozymandias wants to bring Dr. Manhattan to Earth, and he's forced to work with the new Rorschach, Marionette, and the Mime since Night Owl and Silk Spectre refused to heed his call.  Then, shit gets weird.  Superman experiences a nightmare of the night his parents died, even though I was pretty sure only the DCnU Superman's parents died this way.  Isn't the current Superman the original DCU Superman, whose parents didn't die in a car accident?  At any rate, it's apparently the first nightmare he's ever had, and I'm assuming it's because he somehow just became aware Dr. Manhattan altered his reality as part of creating the DCnU.  (I think.)

As a sequel goes, it's really solid.  I know a lot of people are upset because Alan Moore isn't getting a dime for the use of the characters he and Dave Gibbons created.  I get that.  But, it's also clear this series is somehow going to answer the questions "Rebirth" raised, so DC has us right where it wants us.  Either way, for most of this issue, Johns and Frank do an amazing job of capturing the feel of that first series, and I tip my hat to them for it.  That said, the Superman part feels forced.  It's a significant failing, too, because it seems to confirm the sense someone long ago should've told Geoff Johns his dream of merging these universes was a bad idea.  I'm not saying I've given up all hope Johns will find a way to reconcile what seems right not to be reconcilable, but I am saying this story would've been a lot better as just a "Watchmen" sequel.

Star Wars #39:  Last issue, Leia, Han, and Luke offered to help the Partisans in their war against the Empire; they fully engage in that war in this issue.

First, I have to say it’s a great premise.  Jedha is a dying world (as anyone who saw "Rogue One:  A Star Wars Story" knows), and nothing the Partisans or the Alliance can do will change that.  Ubin Des and Chulco Gi take Luke on a run to provide air filters for the populace, and Luke marvels anyone is left on Jedha.  Ubin stresses most people don’t really have a choice.  Sure, some people are making enough to eat as smugglers of Jedha's remaining minerals, but everyone else is stuck, since it’s not like there are regular off-world flights.  While they’re making their way through the city, Commander Kanchar declares Jedha a forbidden planet, authorizing the Stormtroopers to kill everyone; he believes it will make the extraction of the kyber easier.  Kanchar is a great character.  We saw his brutality last issue, but Gillen shades in his character a little more in this issue, as he expresses a military man’s admiration for the Partisans’ late leader, Saw Gerrera.  (As in last issue, he bemoans the lack of competence in the galaxy.)

When the Stormtroopers start killing people indiscriminately, Luke attacks and manages, with the help of Ubin and Chulco, to stop this squad.  Previously, he expressed confusion about the Partisans' militaristic bent, noting they should be helping people find a better way to live and not just fighting the Empire.  But, the Stormtroopers’ attack helps Luke see the stakes involved, and Larocca’s extensive use of shadowing implies this lesson is going to lead to Luke to struggle with the Dark Side.  Along those lines, Chulco, an “aspirant to the Disciples of the Whills,” mentions all sorts of Force-related organizations and topics here:  the Cult of the Central Isotoper as well as the temple built near the ruins of Temple of the Kyber.  It’s a reminder of how early in his journey Luke is and how susceptible he is to the Dark Side.  He’ll have plenty of opportunity to be tested, as Kanchar drops one of Queen Trios’ Shu-torian “drill citadels” on the surface.  As Han says, destroying really expensive Imperial equipment is their specialty after all.

X-Men:  Gold #16:  I haven't been particularly thrilled with this series for a while, but I like where Guggenheim is going here.  First, I'm basically fine with whatever leaps of logic he has to take to get Kitty and Peter back together; as such, I'm particularly happy when they find themselves in a hotel room together.  But, Guggenheim amps it up a notch when he has Lord Kologath's troops arrive to retrieve him, forcing the X-Men to hunt for Kitty and Peter as they try to fight off the troops.  Kitty having to confess to Rachel that Peter is with her is one of the funniest moments of the year.  But, the action itself is also great.  Medina does a great job of conveying the scope of the attack, as the enormous spaceship lands on top of the mansion so Kologath can board.  The X-Men tried to protect the civilians (mostly supporters of the X-Men assembled outside the Mansion at the time of the attack), and Rachel is seriously wounded in the process.  Setting up the events of the next few issues, the ship departs with Kologath as well as Kitty and Kurt, leaving Logan to decide to go after them.  This type of storyline really feels like the old-school X-Men story Guggenheim promised us.  (Also, I totally appreciated the cut to "Uncanny X-Men" #450 showing the Kurt and Rachel kiss.  Deep cut indeed!  I take back all the nasty things I said about that!)

Also Read:  Generation X #9; Nightwing:  The New Order #4