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