Not-So-New Comics: The February 14 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Dark Knights Rising: The Wild Hunt #1:  Honest to God, I have no idea what’s happening here.  I’ve read every issue of this cross-over event, but I still don’t get it.  [Sigh.]  Let's just get to it.

We start this issue focused on a detective chimp named Bobo.  (Seriously, if you think that part is excessively problematic, you might just want to check out here.)  His continuing loss of IQ as well as water now boiling at 106 degrees give his (human) scientist colleagues their first hints that something is wrong with...physics.  (It seems related to Barbatos’ scream to the Armies of Darkness, but I can’t be sure.)  Then, we move onto Cyborg, Flash, and Raven aboard a ship called the Ultima Thule, which music apparently powers.  (The authors present everything here -- from the Thule itself to Cyborg, Flash, and Raven being on board it -- as information I should already have.  In fact, I couldn't remember the last time I saw Flash in this series; in searching my previous posts, I discovered it was in "Justice League" #33, when Cyborg convinced Flash and Raven to join him on this "Hail Mary" pass of a mission.)  They’re looking for the frequency that will lead the Thule to the House of Heroes (whatever that is).  We learn the Thule is apparently the Monitor’s ship and it’s searching for him, but Flash can redirect it because of his ability to control frequencies (I think).  However, the Batman Who Laughs is on their tail in a ship called the Carrier, which is powered by a baby universe.  (Yeah, just go with it at this point.  It gets worse.)  The Drowned reminds us her goal is to recreate her Universe, which is the only reason she’s helping the Batman Who Laughs.  (I wonder if she's going to side with heroes at the end and get her Universe resurrected.  This comment seems too specific to be random.)

Cyborg and Flash somehow realize they might be able to get the Multiverse back on track if they un-cage the baby universe in the Carrier.  (I don't know why.  If you do, hit me up in the comments.)  Flash speeds onto the Carrier and frees the universe, and the wave of positive energy results in the Red Death expunging Bruce’s persona and thus freeing Barry from their cohabitation.  (Sure.)  Barry-the-former-Red-Death agrees to stay on the Carrier until the baby universe is too big to contain, and Barry-our-Flash flees.  However, it turns out the Batman Who Laughs wanted the Thule to escape so he could fire warheads equipped with baby dark universes at it, turning the ship into a poison dart aimed at the center of the Universe (presumably the House of Heroes).  Meanwhile, analogues from the 53rd Universe contact Bobo, though the Dawnbreaker reminds us the 53rd Universe doesn't exist.  It turns out it does; they come from 2067, and they apparently have the answer to save the Multiverse.

Yes, talking chimps from the future are going to save the DCnU.  And comic-book fans wonder why people make fun of us.

I'm not really sure where we go from here.  We only have one issue left, and it seems impossible for Snyder to accomplish everything he set out intending to do.  In theory, he was supposed to show how he had left all these Easter Eggs scattered through his run on "Batman," and they were going to reveal how Barbatos has been planning his assault for a long time.  After all, we learned all the random metals mentioned during Snyder's run -- like batmanium, dionesium, promethium, etc. -- were part of Barbatos' plan to turn Bruce into his gateway to our world.  However, the metals and Barbatos himself quickly faded into the background after 'Dark Nights:  Metal" #2.  Barbatos seems little more than a mindless pawn of the Batman Who Laughs, and the metals have been replaced by a random collection of objects -- Hawkman's mace, Plastic Man's egg, etc.  Now, it's simply a matter of a series of deux ex machinas inevitably helping our heroes defeat the Batman Who Laughs and his hidden agenda.  It's a far cry from where we started.

Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42:  This issue is a perfect annual story:  the main story ties up a loose end from a previous event that would be difficult to do in the main title, the back-up story is charming, and the pin-up feature at the end is funny.  Even if you're not a regular reader of "Amazing Spider-Man," it's a great issue if you just want a casual Spider-Man story.  (OK, you probably are going to be a little confused by all the clone references, but otherwise it's pretty solid.)

The story involves the now-resurrected Enforcers informing a mysterious figure that Ned Leeds warned Betty Brant about something called "Blood Creek" during the period of time he was resurrected during "The Clone Conspiracy."  Peter is angst-ridden as he watches Betty consult a psychic to try to connect with Ned again, as he knows she's not crazy.  But, he's playing up his role as a skeptic in part to get her to put Ned's call behind her.  Of course, Betty also reasonably points out they live in a world with Norse gods and Dr. Strange, so it's not insane to think she could speak to her husband in the afterlife.  (Good point, Betty.)

After some sleuthing on both their parts, Betty and Peter realize Ned's original source works at Empire State University.  He informs Betty the supposed Battle of Blood Creek from the Revolutionary War never happened.  Dun-dun-DUN!  Before he can elaborate further, the Enforcers arrive and take them hostage.  (Ain't that always the way?)  Spidey helps Betty escape, and they later head to City Hall to talk to Glory, who apparently still works there despite the Kingpin now being in charge.  (Would I want a former investigative journalist on staff with access to classified records if I were the Kingpin?  No.  No, I would not.)  They learn the statue in the park outside the building dedicated to Blood Creek was commissioned for millions of more dollars than it should've been.  Before they can learn more, they flee when the Kingpin and his security guard arrive, after an alarm alerted the Kingpin someone was looking into the Blood Creek records.  Yet another source helps Betty escape into "hidden New York," the vast network of tunnels laid for various unrealized purposes.  He informs her the statue is made of pure tritium, a particularly explosive material.  But, the Enforcers arrive before he can tell her more.  (These guys' timing has really improved over the years.)

Thankfully, the villain -- Ernesto Karnelli, the "long-hidden leader of the shadow arm of the Maggia, the Undermob" -- narrates the tale.  The Undermob built the sculpture at a significant loss outside City Hall as the ultimate Doomsday device; if one of its leaders is poised to be convicted of a crime and go to jail, the Undermob could blow up City Hall and the courts.  Devious!  Karnelli takes the Enforcers with him and flees, planning on detonating the bomb from a distance, but Spidey hears Betty's screams and arrives on the scene to stop them.  (In a public-service announcement, Spidey tells us always to scream.  Now you know!  And knowing is half the battle.  G.I. Joe!)  Meanwhile, Betty escapes to stop Karnelli's right-hand man from proceeding with the detonation using a control panel in the statue, and she arrives to find a homeless guy trying to stop him as well.  Once the dust settles, it turns out the homeless guy was Ned Leeds, who fades into the crowd!

You can tell Slott has been wanting to tell this story for a while, as it not only makes it a little clearer who escaped from "The Clone Conspiracy," but also firmly establishes Ned Leeds as one of the clones who survived.  One of the more frustrating parts of "The Clone Conspiracy" was Slott's decision to leave who survived intentional vague, so this issue at least goes some way to addressing that.  Plus, it's some time well spent with a supporting cast we haven't seen lately, with some great Spidey zingers to boot!

Avengers #680:  This issue is another solid installment, as the Avengers reel from the loss of Johnny Storm.  The authors do a great job showing everyone's emotions.  In fact, Voyager's speechlessness at the news (and particularly her struggle to convey her sympathy to Rogue) makes me feel like she may be a real character after all and not just some temporary plot device.  Voyager teleports Rogue and her team to Antarctica where the ice/water Pyramoid has appeared, and Rogue murders Corvus Glaive in a fit of rage and revenge.  Meanwhile, Sam has to address the fact he's not only down Johnny but also Red Hulk, as the General's "hour of power" expires.  Thankfully, Voodoo and Wanda use a spell with "difficult to source" ingredients to switch places with the General, bringing Sunspot and the Wasp with them.  (The "difficult to source" part is important, because Voodoo warns Sam -- and the reader -- he's not going to be able to do so again, complicating the Avengers' ability to arrive on time to meet the game's threats as they appear.)  Sam's team heads to Los Alamos via an awaiting Quinjet where the air Pyramoid has appeared.  (Separately, Toni has started to figure out the elemental connections.)  Meanwhile, Simon stops by the hospital where Hank and Nadia are caring for Jarvis.  Pushing his powers to the limit, Wonder Man confirms Jarvis isn't afflicted with radiation, undermining their "Avengers flu" theory.  Also, it seems pretty clear the Challenger's back-up guy is the Hulk.  In other words, it's bad out there, folks. 

Captain America #698:  This arc might've been OK if we hadn't just come from "Secret Empire," but Waid makes Cap way too over the top here when it comes to his fanboyish devotion to freedom.  We learn Rampart had Cap frozen so its leader -- now "King" Maximilian Babbington -- could set off a series of nuclear blasts that killed 90 percent of the population (i.e., "The Forty Minute War").  Earth's "do-gooders" all died containing the bulk of the radiation.  The remaining 10 percent of America's population is now forced to buy the necessities of survival -- treated water, hazmat suits, etc. -- from the new elite, who live in a castle floating above the ruins of Washington.  It's like "Elysium" meets "Hunger Games."  Cap awakens in 2025 after Liang, the rebel leader, liberates his statue from the castle, where he's been used as a symbol of America (but "America" now being defined as the elites themselves). They're surprised when it turns out he's the real deal.  A troop of "Rapidtroops" arrives to take out the rebels, and Cap is appalled when Liang has to sacrifice one of them because he didn't flee fast enough.  He then randomly lectures her about the Bill of Rights.  It's obviously tin-eared, given they're climbing through the ruins of Washington as he does so.  It's like Cap appearing in "The Road" and complaining the Father just had to have more faith.  Moreover, it comes after "Secret Empire" pretty extensively covered similar ground.  I thought he was still reeling from how easily everyone followed Captain Fascist.  Is his faith in freedom really that strong?  Does he really believe in the Bill of Rights, given how quickly it was discarded during "Secret Empire?"  After all, Captain Fascist made the point recently he never broke any laws; Congress gave him the power to do everything he did.  I thought the whole point of this series right now is to portray a shaken Cap trying to rediscover his faith, not a resolute one seeing freedom everywhere.  If I were Waid, I would quickly put aside the optimism we see in this issue and keep Cap focused on the challenge at hand, like in Remender's Dimension Z story.  

Detective Comics #974:  This issue is emotional, as Tim faces total collapse under the weight of the last few days.  He’s frantically trying to recreate the Belfry even though the team has decisively fractured:  Batman has expelled Batwoman, Azrael and particularly Batwing seem likely to go with her, and Spoiler leaves to get some time on her own.  Bruce tries to help, but Tim breaks into tears, feeling he can’t escape the curse of the dark Future Batman he now feels destined to become.  But, Tynion’s at his best when he pushes against comics’ most frequently cited tenet, that superheroes are supposed to be held to a higher standard when it comes to killing.  Kate justifies her actions as something any police officer or soldier would do (and be celebrated for doing), but Bruce, Cass, and Tim stress they’re supposed to be better than that.  Importantly, though, Kate points out they weren’t.  They don’t have a response to Kate’s assertion that they had already let Clayface kill a number of people, and they just sputter when she stresses he could’ve killed an untold number more while they were looking for an answer that allowed them to keep the moral high road.  Jake’s offer of a new outfit to Batwoman seems to presage the war between the Batpeople that Future Tim said was coming.  Tynion makes that an exciting prospect, given his commitment not to ignore the emotional undertones here.

Falcon #5:  First, I love the idea the personality Sam shed to leave Hell was Snap Wilson.  Unless Barnes is undoing the Remender ret-con of the Englehart ret-con, the Red Skull created the idea of Snap Wilson to strike at the heart of Sam’s perception of himself as a hero:  Snap is the man the Sam we know would never want to be.  But, even the possibility he could be someone like Snap has successfully worn down his spirit for years; shedding Snap in Hell is a sign he’s confident in himself in a way he hasn’t been previously.  Moreover, it creates a great antagonist, if Mephisto plans on resurrecting Snap as a real person to get revenge on Sam for bringing hope to Hell.  (He and Steve could bond over both having evil twins.)  Moreover, this arc wraps up nicely.  Barnes cements Sam’s relationship with his two protégés, building out the supporting characters who made his run as Captain America so strong.  In fact, Sam's ability to speak about his love for the boys seems a sure sign he's shed his baggage, embracing his role as a father figure in a way he hadn't previously (partly, I think, because of his conflicted feelings about becoming a father).  I love the three of them joining Daimon Hellstrom and Dr. Voodoo for a nice meal after everything.  I was skeptical when Barnes started down the supernatural road, but it’s hard to argue with his results.  Sam is the Falcon once again, with his baggage firmly checked.  It’s a great starting point for this next phase.

Marvel 2-in-One #3:  We learn in this issue that the Fantastic Four gets its powers by being tethered to one another, meaning the prolonged absence of Reed and Sue will soon leave Ben and Johnny powerless.  That’s some brilliant shit right there.

Also Read:  Ben Reilly:  Scarlet Spider #14; Bloodshot Salvation #6; Darth Vader #11; Ms. Marvel #27; Old Man Hawkeye #2; The Wild Storm:  Michael Cray #5; X-Men:  Blue #21; Youngblood #9

Daredevil #595-#597

I decided to pick up "Daredevil" for a few reasons.  First, he's the sort of street-level hero I love, and I'm not sure why I've never consistently read his various titles.  Second, I heard they were exploring Wilson Fisk becoming the Mayor of New York (as makes sense), and I was definitely interested in that story.  Third, I have problems keeping myself engaged in the Netflix series, so I figured reading the actual comic would ease my guilt.  Happily, I was not disappointed.  These issues are great, and I highly recommend them to anyone.  Soule paints a complicated portrait of two adversaries upping their game, promising what seems to be an explosive confrontation somewhere in the probably distant future.

Daredevil #595:  This issue is nothing short of brilliant.  In fact, it’s essentially therapy.  Matt was in China when Fisk was elected Mayor of New York, and he’s in an advanced state of shock.  (Aren't we all?)  Now serving as an Assistant District Attorney, he wants the District Attorney to green light an investigation into voter fraud.  The District Attorney acknowledges Fisk is a monster, but he also notes few of the allegations against him have ever been proven.  (Earlier, Foggy told Matt that Fisk didn’t deny who he was to the people.  In a way, he turned his villainy into a true New York story:  he was just a guy who knew how to work the angles.  It's funny because it's true.)  The District Attorney encourages Matt to find justice where he can, so he goes to his paralegal, Ellen, to start building a case.  Instead, she tells him about how she used to have a car.  On some of their first dates, she and her girlfriend would go to the mountains with her little piece of luxury, helping them escape a tough city.  Then, Spider-Man threw it at the Rhino.  She tells Matt he sees the heroes differently than other people do.  This point is important because the Kingpin won the election in part due to his promise to take out the “superheroes,” despite Matt having just won a Supreme Court decision recognizing the role they plan in the legal system.  Matt is so distraught he winds up bumbling into a trap three cops set for him, and they bring him before Fisk.  Soule is particularly brilliant here, as he has Fisk tell Daredevil they both believe themselves to be the city’s saviors, except the people actually gave him the power to do so.  Daredevil not-so-cryptically tells him he’s mayor “for now” before breaking a window and escaping.

Daredevil #596:  Soule does a great job of showing how off his game Daredevil is.  After his escape at the end of last issue, he’s too busy trying to figure out a way to take down Fisk to realize the enormous police deployment is targeting him, not a disaster he thinks is occurring.  Matt’s so delusional he decides to go “help” the police, to show the city what a hero is.  It’s only as he’s fleeing the cops that he realizes Fisk arrested him (and let him keep on his mask) because he wanted him to become a fugitive.  Daredevil uses a protocol he developed with Blindspot to escape the police; Blindspot puts on a Daredevil costume and leads them to the Ed Sullivan Theater, where he then turns invisible.  But, Daredevil’s relationship with Blindspot appears to be strained, stoking the sense of him as isolated.  (I only know Blindspot through advertisements about the post-“Secret Empire” “Daredevil,” so I’m not sure what their deal is.)  Ellen doesn’t help the next day when she tells Matt the District Attorney wants a Daredevil indictment on his desk sooner rather than later.  Just as you expect everything is going to go pear-shaped, the Kingpin offers Matt a job as Deputy Mayor, to win over the skeptics like him.  Matt accepts.  Dun-dun-DUN!

Daredevil #597:  Matt settles into his role as Deputy Mayor, which Fisk intends to use as a way to lead him on wild goose chases.  His assistant starts reading him the policy binders Fisk sent to his office, but Foggy arrives just in time to save him.  Matt explains to an outraged Foggy that he knows the position is largely ceremonial, but it allows him proximity to Fisk.  Underlining the point, Matt later uses his radar hearing to eavesdrop on Fisk, who’s getting a briefing on the "Sarnos project" just as Matt’s assistant returns to continue reading to him.  Matt later goes on patrol to show how he’s not afraid of Fisk, but his new reality becomes clear to him when the bodega owner he saves from two would-be robbers turns his gun on him to get the reward Fisk has put on his head.  But, Frank McGee from New Attilan arrives not only to save Daredevil (which he does), but to warn him the Muse has broken free.  The Muse is apparently a serial killer who uses his victims as art, and he apparently gouged out Blindspot’s eyes in an earlier confrontation.  Matt calls Sam to warn him, but he says he already knows, as there’s a huge mural on City Hall of Daredevil flashing peace signs under the phrase, “I am not a crook.”  Soule is obviously playing the long game here when it comes to Fisk.  As Foggy says, if you think you’re playing the Kingpin, he’s probably playing you.  As such, we seem destined for a prolonged stalemate as Matt gathers the information he needs to (maybe) take down Fisk.  Meanwhile, the re-appearance of the Muse shows life isn’t going to stop for Matt while he does so.

Also Read:  Daredevil #598

Not-So-New Comics: The February 7 DC and X-Men Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Batman #40:  King really uses the premise of this story to full effect.  Bruce and Diana don’t kiss (as it seemed they were going to do last issue), but King uses that tension to tease out their relationship.  Bruce admits he loves and misses Selena, and Diana tells him that, as his friend, she’d kick his ass if he fucked up that relationship by kissing her.  :)  Perhaps the most delightful part is Bruce talking about missing Ace and Diana saying she misses her kangaroo, Jumpa.  No, really.  Also, Selena is amazing as always, forcing the Gentle Man back into the breach even when most people would’ve felt bad for forcing him to end his precious time with his wife.  It’s a reminder of how strong she is as a character.  Generally, I hate these stories that pretend decades pass and the character isn’t really any worse for wear.  At least Rick Remender had Steve Rogers age during his 12 years in Dimension Z.  I mean, he raised a child even!  But, here, Bruce is basically just like, “Wow, that was a long 34 years!  Can we get a burger?  I’m famished.”  (If you do, Jokerize the fries, Bruce.  It’s worth it.)  But, King throws in enough great moments to make me look past that original sin.  All that said, it's probably time for some detective-ing.

Iceman #10:  Grace does the best with the cards he’s dealt here, as he has to abort his plan to move Bobby to Los Angeles as a result of the imminent cancellation of this series.  That said, Judah not unreasonably decides Bobby’s life is too insane for him, recalling Colossus has punched him and Daken has stabbed him in just 24 hours.  Moreover, Kitty says she's failed as a boss, acknowledging Bobby has been underutilized; as such, she offers him leadership of a team.  All that works.  The problem is the fight between Daken and Iceman still makes not a lick of sense to me.  I just don’t understand why Daken had such a mad-on for Bobby, unless I’m missing some significant shared past beyond his appearance in this series.  Based on his comments in the letters page, Grace seems to be using this conflict to work out his own personal demons, with Bobby refusing to embrace nihilism like Daken does.  I'm all for that, but it would've been nice if the conflict itself made sense.  Is Daken just mad Bobby is happy?  But, this optimism, if you will, also has Bobby weirdly assert that he refuses to be mad at Daken over killing his boyfriend (as far as he was aware at that time) lest he stoop to his level.  Um, no.  Being sunshine and light doesn’t mean that you just let the murder of your significant other roll off your back.  I get Grace is essentially writing this issue under duress, but the whole problem this series has been trying to address is Bobby’s inability to live his own authentic life.  (Has Grace read the "Velvet Rage?"  I feel like he has.)  Artificially repressing his emotions to make sure Daken doesn’t “win” is the same as him staying in the closet lest he upset everyone else:  it’s still letting someone else dictate his feelings.  In other words, the resolution to their fight undermines the narrative Grace has been pushing, and I don't see how he resolves it in the last remaining issue.  (Also, in a case of pet peeve #1, Bobby doesn’t save Anole from a fire, not only remotely, in this issue, which is a shame, because I'm pretty sure Anole would've enjoyed that.)

Nightwing #38:  Sam Humphries, whatever you do with this series, thank you for giving us Dick Grayson as a stripper.  You really understand us.  (That said, I was devastated Guppy actually killed his father.  Humphries is really playing for keeps here.)

Rogue and Gambit #2:  I don’t have a lot to say about this issue, because it’s so great it really speaks for itself.  Thompson does a thoroughly amazing job of making you feel like you’re eavesdropping on a conversation between two real people.  Rogue’s confession to Remy that she doesn’t acknowledge the first time they met — under the sway of the Shadow King — is electric; she’s standing close to Remy in a dark room telling him she wants their first moment to be something only they own.  Remy is so overwhelmed even he’s speechless.  Also, the art is some of the best I’ve ever seen, honestly.  You can tell how much care Pérez put into each panel, and it augments the sense of reality Thompson’s dialogue conveys.  This series is one of the best ones of the shelves, and, if Marvel knows what it’s doing, they’d hand the keys to Thompson full time.

X-Men:  Red #1:  This issue is fine, as Taylor does a good job establishing Jean's team's modus operandi.  A young child is left in a car as it's carjacked, and his sonic scream manifests itself given the threat to his life.  It blows out the windows for a city block before Jean's able to use her powers to calm him, and she's later appalled when she sees a man on TV using the incident to suggest genetic testing in utero so mutant children can be aborted.  She decides the United Nations need to recognize mutants as a nation, since it goes badly when they try to become a state, so she gets Namor and T'Challa to recognize them.  However, during a conversation with the British Ambassador (in full view of video cameras), she comes face-to-face with a disturbing presence who lets Jean know she doesn't approve.  Brilliantly, it's Cassandra Nova, and she explodes the British Ambassador's head, making it look like it was Jean's fault.  It's an intriguing premise and a helluva start.  My only real (though significant) complaint is we're barely given any time with Jean.  I'd be thrilled if Guggenheim was using this premise, as we don't really need to get to know Kitty anymore than we already do.  Guggenheim could focus entirely on this intriguing plot at hand and Kitty's response to the threat.  But, we haven't seen Jean for years.  Kurt makes a comment about being thrilled Jean is back, and I felt the same way.  In fact, Taylor does a great job of conveying the sense only Jean would think up this plan to turn the mutants into a nation, making you realize what the X-Men have been missing in her absence.  But, given how big of a deal it is that we do have her back, you would've thought we would've spent a little more time focused on her resurrection, particularly in terms of what it means for her personally and for her friends.  Like, are we not going to get a girl's night with Ororo?  Instead, we're thrown immediately into a team dynamic and global plot, and it feel premature.  I assume Taylor is going to address these issues as we move forward, but it felt like a mistake not to do so right from the start.

Also Read:  Batman:  White Knight #5; X-Men:  Gold #21

Not-So-New Comics: The February 7 Non-X Marvel Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #795:  OK, I may not be Dan Slott’s biggest fan, but even I have to admit the Red Goblin (Green Carnage?) is pretty fucking cool.  I love the idea Norman is so arrogant he thought he could control the Carnage symbiote, using it to conquer the world instead of it using him to destroy it.  Oh, well, Norman, you win some, you lose some.  Moreover, Slott really handled the end of Peter’s relationship with Bobbi in a believable way.  Once Peter became just the regular ol’ science editor for the Daily Bugle — and not the globe-trotting head of Parker Industries — Bobbi and he realized they didn’t have much in common.  In a way, it’s actually Slott admitting Peter has always been a street-level crime fighter.  In fact, Slott eventually made it clear he had no intention of permanently turning Peter into Tony Stark; he was setting up Peter for failure so he himself could have this epiphany.  With the boom lowered, we have our Peter back, and his relationship with Bobbi ends with that.  Also, Loki was great here, and I have to wonder if Slott having Peter vaguely remember his deal with Mephisto is a way of telegraphing MJ might be returning to these pages sooner rather than later.  I mean, if Marc Spector can have a kid, can’t Peter?

Avengers #679:  First, I didn’t realize last issue that Lightning was coming from Rome to warn the Peru-based Avengers of the Pyramoid's danger.  (If you recall, I was wondering how he magically knew touching the Pyramoid led (supposedly) to disintegration.)  Focusing on this issue, the authors do a spectacular job conveying how beaten the Avengers feel.  You can feel the air rush from their sails in Peru, with everyone going through the motions in the wake of Johnny’s apparent death.  Lightning is inconsolable for failing to stop him in time, and the creative team - both authors and artists - really convey that hurt, just as they do when Lightning arrives in Rome to tell Rogue.  They really use small moments to convey the breadth of the damage, like Hercules encouraging Falcon in sotte voce to talk to Lightning in his grief while he helps Simon with the lava flows.  The authors also convey Rogue’s fury at their situation (even before learning of Johnny's death).  She once again doubts why she’s with the Avengers, since they’re all strategy and tactics while she wants to burn everything to the ground.  (I can’t imagine how she’s going to feel after learning about Johnny.)  Moreover, the authors somehow manage to fit in here an explanation of the game itself:  Grandmaster is opposing the original Grandmaster.  They were brothers once, but Grandmaster became furious when he learned the Challenger, as he’s called here, started to call himself the Grandmaster as the other Elders (such as the Collector and the Gardener) started to chose names.  As the stakes of their games grew, Grandmaster finally defeated the Challenger in a game whose stakes were nothing short of exile from existence.  The Challenger waited in “the Far Shore” until time ended and (for a reason I don't totally understand) was then able to return to the present to challenge Grandmaster.  With the first round now concluded, the Challenger chooses the Air Pyramoid, leaving Grandmaster with Water (or, as he calls it, Ice).  He also reveals he's been keeping a member in reserve (explaining why the Black Order was down a member vis-a-vis the Lethal Legion).  Dun-dun-DUN!  Also, I love the idea Jarvis has the “Avengers flu,” because he’s been exposed to all sorts of weird stuff during his time with the team.  That said, I don’t get why it’s affecting him now.  I thought he was just hurt saving that kid?  Honestly, this series is kicking ass; it really does feel like the Avengers story to end all Avengers stories.

Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock #1:  Any issue involving Kang and Adam Warlock is destined not to make a lick of sense, and this one is no different.  As we saw in “All-New Guardians of the Galaxy” #150, Kang has resurrected Adam Warlock.  Cool.  We learn he has done so at the end of time.  Um...less cool, I guess, just because, ugh, time travel.  Duggan then spends several pages (helpfully) reminding us of Warlock’s history.  In sum, he was the most advanced artificial intelligence humanity ever created, and he received a temporary soul after he lived inside the Soul Gem for a time.  Somehow, upon exiting the Soul Gem, he got his own permanent soul, though I didn't totally follow that part.

After telling Adam his own life story, Kang recalls Warlock’s stand against Thanos and informs him someone is again trying to collect the Infinity Stones.  Warlock wants Kang to rush him to the Guardians of the Galaxy, but realizes they’ve probably tried that and failed.  In fact, Kang admits they've unsuccessfully tried to change the past 112 times.  However, this time, he sends Adam to Rama-Tut in ancient Egypt, hoping it'll be a better staging ground from which to prevent disaster.  Kang instructs Warlock to collect the Soul Gem and give him (Kang) the Time Gem.  Shortly after Warlock departs, an unknown figure kills Kang.  If it’s possible, Rama-Tut is even more inscrutable than Kang.  He takes Warlock to a planetarium he's built, tells Warlock he has located the Soul Gem in 2018, and points out a planet where the heavens will crack.  Rama-Tut warns Warlock they have to be careful, because Kang’s death at the end of time means someone already possesses the Power Infinite (i.e., someone has assembled all the gems together).  As such, Rama-Tut can’t just send Warlock to 2018, since this person would know.

(OK, let's just pause here a bit.  This part makes no sense.  Somehow, the mysterious figure didn't know Kang sent Warlock to Rama-Tut, but knew Kang sent Warlock...somewhere?  After all, he killed Kang presumably for sending Warlock...somehow, but I don't get why he couldn't just trace where Warlock went.  His omniscience seems wonky.  Also, wouldn’t it have been a better idea for Warlock to get his hands on the Soul and Time Gems before 2018, when we’re allegedly at the point of calamity.  After all, Kang says - before he’s annihilated - he’s changed the past.  Why not change it all the way if the goal is to avoid the premature end of time?  Wouldn't it make more sense to send him to, say, 2017 when no one was looking for either gem?  Ugh, time travel.)  

At any rate, apparently Magus will be there to great Warlock.  Warlock is surprised, but not as surprised as he is when Rama-Tut stabs him in he back (literally, but not figuratively).  Rama-Tut informs Warlock it’s the easiest way to get him to 2018 without the mysterious figure's notice.  He won't die; they'll just slow his regenerative process so he awakens in 2018.  (I’m also not sure why the mysterious figure couldn’t notice that either, but whatever.  It's part of his crappy omniscience.)  At any rate, it’s probably best just to focus on the fact that someone successfully puts together the Infinity Stones in 2018 and brings about an end to all time, except Kang has now changed the past by successfully inserting Warlock into a more advantageous time.  Let’s just go with that, shall we?

Spider-Man #237:  This issue is supposed to be an emotional tour de force, as Lana is verbally beaten into submission by her abusive mother and Aaron tries to have a man-to-man talk with Miles.  But, something doesn’t work exactly.  The scenes with Lana are the most affecting, as I totally believe her evil mother uses her love for Miles against her.  But, Aaron and Miles’ interactions fall flat, as it’s Aaron monologuing and Miles sputtering.  Miles coyly admits he knows why Aaron was resurrected, but otherwise it’s mostly just Aaron pontificating like he’s a freshman hipster who just took his first philosophy class.

Star Wars #43:  This issue is an excellent conclusion to Gillen’s equally spectacular opening arc.  We pick up where we left off last issue, with Trios holding Leia at gunpoint.  However, Trios has Leia punch her and then blast out the camera feed so she can reveal she’s the one who leaked the Leviathan's plans.  She tells Leia about her hatred of the Empire given Vader’s murder of her father, and she’s excited about the fact the Empire is the weakest it's been in 20 years.  However, she also says she can’t jeopardize Shu-Torun any further, as they’re already being punished for their previous rebellion.  As such, she prefers, if you will, to remain strictly anonymous.  That said, she says the Empire is unaware of Shu-Torun’s true production and that they have quite a stockpile of material.  Leia notes the Rebellion is in need of a fleet, and Gillen gives us a hilarious moment where Threepio expresses excitement about being able to engage in diplomacy to negotiate the deal.  At that point, it’s just a mater of executing the plan to have the Leviathan walk into the hole the Imperials blew in Jedha.  Ubin offers to sacrifice herself and a rearguard to prevent the Imperial troops from taking command of the Leviathan before it falls, but Han has Ubin come with him to get the Falcon, using it to rescue everyone from the bridge before it plummets.  Later, Leia encourages Benthic to join the Alliance, noting the point of an Alliance is he can still do his thing while they do their thing.  The best part is Han giving Ubin his medal from “A New Hope” (though he denies it’s actually his medal).  He tells her the benefit of surviving is medal ceremonies, but he’s really telling her to have hope (i.e., to stop trying to sacrifice herself.)  Gillen’s done such a great job with their dynamic that this moment is really emotion.  It shows a new side of Han, not something easy to do.  I can only imagine how popular this TPB will be, but, honestly, Gillen never made it feel like he was writing for the trade.  Every issue was great and, like Voltron, they’re even better together.

Also Read:  Hawkeye #15

Not-So-New Comics: The January 31 Edition! (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Avengers: #678:  Whoa.  We’ve got a lot going on here.  Both Avengers teams eventually realize the Legion and the Order are after the Pyramoids, but come to those conclusions in different ways.  Rogue’s team in Rome continues to take on the Blood Brothers, Mentacle, and Metal Master from the Legion.  They also manage to secure Quicksilver before the Blood Brothers kill him, but he remains paused.  To make matters worse, Cannonball is concussed after he flies straight into Mjolnir to prevent Metal Master from hitting Thor with it.  (Yes, Metal Master can control Mjolnir.  Surprise!)  Rogue sends Voyager to HQ with Cannonball and Quicksilver, but it exhausts her transportation powers, leaving both teams stranded.  To make matters even worse in Rome, Black Dwarf, Black Swan, and Supergiant arrive to take the Pyramoid.  Black Dwarf mentions the game, which clues in Rogue that they should focus on the Pyramoid (a little late, to be honest, as Gamemaster himself suggests).  Supergiant takes down Metal Master, freeing Mjolnir, but Black Dwarf makes it to the Pyramoid first and disintegrates (allegedly) upon touching it.  In Peru, Sam recognizes Ebony Maw and instructs Synapse to go “brain-to-brain” with her fellow telepath, clueing them into the fact both sides are after the Pyramoid.  Lightning speeds after it, while the Avengers leap into action to save Ferene the Other from Corpus Glaive.  Red Hulk and Torch both realize the point of the game and leap after the Pyramoid.  Torch is particularly motivated after we saw him earlier thinking about how Reed would've immediately had a plan to save the day (as opposed to Sam, who seems to be struggling to develop a successful approach).  Lightning somehow knows they shouldn’t touch the Pyramoid, but Johnny does it for the Four, wanting to show they’re still in the game.  He then also disintegrates (allegedly).  I'm guessing the team isn't going to take that well.

Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #13:  This issue is just weird.  Black Marvel is revealed to be a demon who brought Cyber from Hell with him because he (Cyber) wanted a shot at being a good guy.  When “Black Marvel” took over Black Marvel’s identity, including his abilities and memories, he became intrigued by Marvel’s unresolved relationship with the Slingers.  He tells Prodigy he wants to help finish teaching them (as Black Marvel was apparently doing) in order to really mold them into a team.  (Yeah, I don’t get it either.)  Anyway, it turns out Prodigy didn’t really know Marvel was a demon and “Hornet” was Cyber; he was just so happy Marvel was alive he didn’t ask questions.  (Right, because if someone I knew was dead just suddenly appeared alive, I'd be all, "Dude, you're back!  Let's get drinks, but don't tell me why you're alive again!")  Slate then knocks down the wall of the theater to rescue Cassandra, and the team splits:  Ben and Kaine go after Marvel while the Slingers go after Cyber.  Cyber escapes the Slingers while Ben finds himself in a death match with Marvel in the Bellagio's fountain.  Marvel helpfully exposits that the Diogenes Initiative is the one who rescued him from Hell and that it has great plans for Vegas.  (But, it was totally OK with him adopting the Black Marvel persona, putting back together a superhero team, and then telling an entirely different superhero all about their plans?)  Kaine arrives and cleverly uses his invisibility to pretend to be God, convincing a priest watching the fight to sanctify the water.  Marvel tries to escape, but Ben holds him under the now-holy water until he dissipates.  The teams (such as they are) regroup, and the Slingers let Ben off the hook for attacking Thorne since they’re not exactly sure they’re 100% good guys anymore either.  (Given Prodigy had Ricochet watching Thorne, presumably under Black Marvel's orders, I assume Thorne is somehow connected to the Diogenes Initiative as well.)  Dusk warns Ben about Mysterio while, later, Kaine gets Cassandra to write a check for the veterans clinic.  If you're a hard-core Slingers fan this arc was probably awesome for you.  But, I had to take a lot on faith just to get through this issue.  Moreover, I get the sense that, even if I understood Slingers' history, I'd still be left scratching my head over developments like Black "I'm a demon now!" Marvel.  It's a rare miss from David, to be honest.

Falcon #4:  This issue is great.  I wasn’t really sure where Barnes was going with this Blackheart story, but it now makes total sense.  Barnes condemns Sam to Hell because he doesn’t know who he is anymore:  he’s been pulled between too many beliefs and people to know himself.  He must confront his seemingly perfect father (who admits he was more focused on adulation than salvation), the AIDS-ridden nephew he ignored as he died, and both good and bad Steve Rogers.  In so doing, Sam accepts they all have their baggage and he has his baggage.  It allows him to break free of Mephisto and seek his escape.  Thankfully, Falcon has allowed Voodoo to possess him so he can use Falcon and Sam's mutual connection to Redwing to communicate with Sam.  (It makes sense when you initially read it.)  But, most importantly, Shaun serves as the portal between our world and Hell, allowing his respect for Sam to keep it open.  It’s a great moment when Sam returns, confident in who he is.  Watch out Blackheart!

Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey #5:  Rosenberg really sticks the landing here, essentially reconfiguring Jean’s relationship with the Phoenix.  Logan does his job, reminding Jean who she is.  Then, it becomes a grudge match between Jean and the Phoenix, as the Phoenix shows her all her loved ones who have died since she's been dead and offers her the possibility of resurrecting them.  But, Jean tells the Phoenix its attempt to protect her from loss and pain means it’s trying to protect her from being alive.  She tells it she accepts that she was supposed to die in that shuttle all those years ago.  She used to feel special because the Phoenix chose her then and kept on choosing her, despite all its other possible hosts in the Universe.  But, now, she just wants to live.  The Phoenix then plays its last ace, throwing a real Scott at Jean.  But, it miscalculates, as it gives Jean what she really wants:  one last moment with her husband.  It’s the epilogue Jean and Scott deserved, and, with this moment, Rosenberg shows he really got the point of this series and what it needed to do.  But, it doesn't end there.  We get a truly lovely moment between Jean and the Phoenix as the Phoenix shrinks to the size of a bird and cuddles in Jean’s hand.  They part ways, and the X-Men welcome Jean home.  Jean returns as her own character, no longer overshadowed by her relationship with Scott or the Phoenix.  In fact, perhaps the most important part of this sequence is Jean’s insistence that she was better off dead, because she was supposed to die.  She’s returning almost grudgingly, and it’ll be interesting to see how that unfolds.  In the meantime, Rosenberg really accomplished what he said he was going to do.  It’s the rare mini-series I can recommend, but I definitely do, particularly for Jean fans.  “X-Men Red,” here I come!

Spider-Gwen #28:  We’ve been waiting for this issue for a long time.  Not only does Gwen reveal her secret identity to Ben, May, and the Mary Janes, but Murdoch also walks us through his history.  We learn Murdoch was essentially like the Murdoch we know until the Hand successfully defeated Stick earlier in his past.  The Hand then raised him, turning him into a living weapon.  Even they became afraid of him, so they sent him to New York.  After he stole everything the Kingpin had, he was close to suicide, realizing he had nothing else left.  But, he saw Spider-Woman swing past his window, and he found a new purpose:  he wanted to corrupt her with power, to confirm he wasn’t the only one power corrupted.  But, as we learn, the difference in their fates is that Murdoch didn’t have family and friends.  Gwen tells everyone she had to let them know who she was because she’s going to give herself to Venom to get revenge.  The Mary Janes think she’s crazy, but Ben doesn’t:  he says everyone else has paid a price - Ben, Peter - for Gwen’s powers except Gwen.  He’s...not wrong.  We end the issue with Punisher storming Murdoch’s building, and I can’t wait to see where Latour goes from here.  Each issue builds on the last one brilliantly, and I honestly have no idea how any of it is going to get resolved.

Also Read:  Detective Comics Annual #1; Moon Knight #191; Quantum & Woody #2; Star Wars:  Doctor Aphra #16; Tales of Suspense #100-#102

Dark Nights: Metal #5 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

This issue is well constructed, though I’m not entirely sure I enjoyed it.  This story has gotten so sprawling that Snyder is more focused on hitting all his steps than showing us the emotions the characters are feeling.  Only Diana’s scathing glare at Kendra at the end of the issue, when Kendra starts to tell her (and then wisely stops) that there is no hope, comes close to conveying any emotion that feels real.

Sprawled across the Multiverse, the teams are waging war on a number of fronts:

- In Gotham City, the Batman Who Laughs gets Barbatos to issue a war cry, which will apparently bring forth the Armies of Darkness.  Something about the Batman Who Laughs’ narrative implies he’s manipulating Barbatos, but it’s unclear to what end.

- At the Forge, Superman has lost all hope, while Bruce remains convinced the Forge isn’t dead.  As they drop further into the Forge, Superman continues to express doubt while Batman tries to goad the now-monstrous Hawkman into remembering who he is.  They find a spark at the bottom, and Bruce is convinced they have to leap through it.  (I have no idea why he comes to this conclusion, particularly since they're essentially leaping into magma.  But, I have bigger fish to fry here.)

- Aquaman and Deathstroke arrive at the center of the Earth to discover some sort of orb made of Atlantean and "other" technology.  Aquaman tells Deathstroke that legend holds King Arion saved Atlantis “through ancient magic spun at the center of the Earth.”  Deathstroke senses Nth metal in the orb, and for reasons that aren’t clear to me decides they should activate it.  (Just like in Bruce's case, I don't understand why they decide it's going to end well if they do.)  Aquaman frets King Arion might’ve saved Atlantis through some sort of dark deal, but Deathstroke encourages him to focus on the matter at hand.  The orb is apparently a centrifuge, and, now activated, it distills Nth metal.  However, at this moment of victory, Black Manta unexpected shoots both of them with harpoons.  (It’s a great moment.)  He reveals himself as another villain who struck a deal with Barbatos (or, probably more accurately, the Batman Who Laughs), and he tells Aquaman he’ll rule a vast underwater ocean where Atlanteans are enslaved.  Then, the Drowned, Murder Machine, and the Red Death arrive.

- On Thanagar Prime, Green Lantern and Mr. Terrific are stuck in prison, and Terrific explains to Hal that Plastic Man is important because he’s a super-conductor of cosmic energy.  Before “Dark Nights” began, he was helping Terrific, but he eventually reverted to egg form when the nightmares of every living being that were suddenly running through him became too much.  To everyone’s surprise, Martian Manhunter reveals he has been posing as a guard, searching for answers to the same questions as everyone else.  He busts Hal and Terrific free, and they take on Starro off-panel.  Synn relents, allowing them to take Plastic Man, and they make their way to the Phoenix Cannon.  However, Terrific realizes the polarities have been reversed. Then, the Dawnbreaker, Devastator, and the Merciless arrive.  (Notice a pattern?)

- Diana fights Black Adam, whose deal with Barbatos makes him believe he’ll rule Khandaq in a dark world where it thrives.  (At one point, Black Adam tells Diana there are only reasons to comprise, and she punches him, telling him she’ll give him “five reasons not to.”  She’s really on fire in this issue, the only one who seems to be feeling any emotions.)  Adam tells Diana Hawkman's mace isn’t here, but, after blasting her through a wall, she (very conveniently) discovers it.  She reminds him it stores and absorbs energy, like the kind he’s using, and then bashes him over the head with it.  However, in her moment of triumph, the Batman Who Laughs shoots her in the head.

At this point, the stories converge.  The Batman Who Laughs helpfully narrates the plan.  The three remaining pieces of Nth metal were too “dangerous” for the Dark Batmen to approach by themselves (which I totally don’t get, but whatever), so the Justice League had to lead them to them.  They activate the Phoenix Cannon thanks to Plastic Man's egg, and it darkens the Earth’s core, allowing Hawkman's mace to pull the Earth fully into the Dark Multiverse.  (I’m really not entirely clear on how a mace is going to pull down the planet, but we seem to long ago have given up the attempt to explain the physics behind the dark metals.  Also, was the Phoenix Cannon really necessary to darken the Earth’s core?  Someone couldn't have figured out another way to to do so that didn’t involve a cannon on a distant planet?)  Batman and Superman take a leap of faith through the spark, but the Batman Who Laughs says it’s too late, since the Earth is now low enough for the Armies of Darkness to hear Barbatos’ war cry.  Superman begins to lose faith (yet again), but Bruce pushes him forward as Wonder Woman uses the Lasso to remind Kendra who she is.  She and Kendra go through a portal and arrive on Earth, where the Armies of Dark Wonder Women have gathered.  Diana falters for a minute, but then emits her own war cry, leading Kendra into battle.

I can’t say I’m really enjoying this series all that much.  I’ll give Snyder credit:  I’m not sure how the heroes are going to save the day in just two remaining issues. That said, that’s usually not a good sign.  In fact, I’m not really sure what the goal is anymore.  For most of this series, we seemed to be trying to prevent Barbatos from dragging the Earth into the Dark Multiverse.  But, we failed at that, so now it seems to be more about defeating the Armies of Darkness.  Even if the heroes do so, it’s not clear to me how we move the Earth back.  Hope?   Hugs?  Bruce and Clark making sweet, sweet love?  Given we know they’ll save the day, I liked the focus on Bruce and Diana’s steel wills here.  But, we either need more of that or more focus on the mysteries at hand, like what all the metals mean.  (That was a major focus of the first few issues, but now we seem to have put it aside, as more and more mysterious metals are added to the list.)  Without the emotions or revelations, we’re just sort of spinning our wheels, listlessly hitting our marks and getting a paycheck.

Not-So-New Comics: The January 24 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Avengers #677:  The authors keep up the pace admirably in this issue.  Just before the explosion hit, Voyager managed to teleport the team to a back-up Avengers headquarters Tony Stark built in the early days of the Avengers.  It provides Toni Ho with a place to work, and she goes about setting up a communications system from fiber-optic cables and TV towers.  Meanwhile, we get our first sight of the actual combatants, as the Grandmaster and a mysterious figure choose from a set of pyramid-shaped objects; Grandmaster chooses earth and the other figure chooses fire.  On Earth, columns of blazing light appear in Cuzco and Rome, and Sam and Rogue put together teams to address the threats.  Cuzco is facing a firestorm, so Sam takes Torch, Red Hulk, Synapse, and Wonder Man.  Meanwhile, a group of “aliens” the team mistakes for the Black Order appears in Rome, so Rogue chooses "heavy-hitters:"  Thor, Hercules, Lightning, and Cannonball.  Dr. Voodoo and Wanda decide to stay to investigate the heroes in stasis, and Quicksilver fumes over Rogue not choosing him.  We’re then treated to one of the funniest sequences of all time when Sam defends his selection as a “heavy-hitter” because he’s “nigh vulnerable when...” and Quicksilver begs him to stop since he’s known him since he was in shortpants.  Rogue’s team arrives in Rome and takes on the Lethal Legion, which makes quick work of them.  Quicksilver arrives to help just as Voodoo and Wanda’s attempt to “unpause” the Vision works.  But, it pauses Quicksilver, and the Blood Brothers seize the moment to pound on him.  Meanwhile, Sam and his team arrive in Cuzco to find other members of the Lethal Legion taking on the Black Order.  In other words, it's all pretty epic.

Detective Comics #973:  From the moment Batwoman’s father gave her the gun capable of killing Clayface, it was pretty clear she was going to have to use it.  But, Tynion does a solid job in making that not seem a foregone conclusion (even though it was), as the Belfry team tries everything it can to save us from the inevitable.  In the end, though, you’re left with the sense Clayface himself wanted it this way.  After Cass injects him with the serum Dr. October developed, he’s appalled by the havoc he’s wrecked and the lives he’s taken in his rage.  Cass tries to convince him he’s a good person, but Clayface refuses to hear it; he realizes he doesn’t get a happy ending.  (In "Detective Comics Annual" #1, "monsters" not getting a happy ending is a theme.)  After all, no one has an answer for the actual problem, namely that he’s absorbed too much clay after the Mud Room collapsed on him.  Even Dr. October’s serum can’t account for the added mass.  So, Kate takes the shot, and we’re going to see where the chips fall now.  With the Belfry destroyed, Tim’s realized his dream is dead.  Tynion made sure to show us how important that dream was to him, as we see in a flashback him telling Batman it was the only time he really felt like he belonged in Gotham.  It nicely sets up the conflict between Tim and Batwoman that Future Tim predicted.  Meanwhile, Lonnie turns on the First Victim for using the protesters as cannon fodder and flees Gotham.  But, before he does so, he gives Spoiler a thumbdrive with clues he’s assembled about the First Victim’s origin.  All in all, Tynion wisely takes out a few irons before adding new ones to the fire.  It helps you feel like you're getting a glimpse into the chaotic lives these characters live, opposed to other series where it feels like you jump from isolated arc to isolated arc.

Doomsday Clock #3: We’re still tracking a bunch of stories here, so I’ll group them together for convenience's sake:

- For reasons we’re not told, Dr. Manhattan moved the Comedian to the DCU (or DCnU, I'm still not sure) before hit the ground after Veidt threw him from the window in the original "Watchmen."  (Wouldn't Veidt be curious why he didn't splatter?)  It seems pretty clear he did so to use him against Veidt, since the Comedian knew exactly when to meet Veidt at Luthor’s HQ.  If so, it seems to mean Manhattan knows Veidt's plan and doesn't want to be found.  Veidt and the Comedian spar, and the Comedian eventually throws Veidt out the window (just as Veidt did to him).  Veidt manages to break his fall, but he’s arrested (in his comatose state, presumably) for the attempted assassination on Luthor, who survived.

- Rorschach gives Batman Korvac’s journal.  We learn Rorschach's family died in Veidt’s attack on New York, so he’s appalled he’s working with him.  After Alfred shows Rorschach to a room while Bruce makes his way through the diary, Rorschach scrubs his head in the shower until it bleeds, trying to scrub away the stain of Veidt.  Rorschach dreams of being stuck in traffic desperate to get to his parents the moment the alien arrives in New York, and it seems the monster's psychic assault is responsible for his mania.  Bruce awakens him from his dream, telling him he knows where Manhattan is.  But, Bruce just really leads him to an empty cell in Arkham Asylum, telling him he belongs there.  (Cold, Bruce. Cold.)

- In a returning motif, a man waits in a nursing home for his daughter and son-in-law to arrive on Christmas Eve while the other residents watch an old black-and-white film.  It stars Carver Colman as gumshoe Nathaniel Dusk.  The case involves a cop’s brother-in-law who was murdered while playing chess with another man.  It’s unclear which one of them was the target of the attack.  A guard at Arkham is also watching the movie, and he tells a friend that one of them was actually a murderer.  (The friend tells him not to spoil it for him.)  Meanwhile, in the annex, we learn Colman "in real life" was beaten to death with the Oscar he won.  In investigating the crime scene, the detectives found a hidden room full of clocks and watches as well as a letter from Colman's mother blackmailing him.  He had told a story of being a simple farm boy who left for Hollywood full of dreams but that story was obviously untrue (particularly given his mother's mob ties).  At this point, it's unclear to me why Johns included this part of the story, but I'm sure we'll see.

- Marionette and the Mime go to a bar, and one of the gang members there threatens her for dressing like the Joker.  She doesn’t recognize the name, and a fight ensues.  I have to say, Frank does a brilliant job here.  We get a hint of sunlight reflecting off the "gun" the Mime fires at the gangster holding Marionette, the only hint he’s actually touching item when he mimes them.

I'm still not sure where we're going, but Johns and Frank make the right call keeping this issue more focused on the "Watchmen" characters and less on the DCU ones.  I found the use of Superman extremely jarring in issue #1 where Batman barely registers here.  Once Johns really starts integrating the two worlds we'll see how happy I am.

Nightwing:  The New Order #5-#6:  I'm not sure what story Higgins wanted to tell here.  

First things first, he does a solid job wrapping up the story.  We learn Superman killed Batman under the influence of Black Kryptonite, and it’s the reason Dick detonated the device to remove everyone’s powers.  After he and the Titans successfully break out Jake, they flee to Metropolis, where a depowered Clark is working with Lex Luthor to try to reverse the bomb’s effects.  They believe Jake's DNA possesses the key for Lex to fashion a cure (for reasons I don't know if Higgins every reveals).  But, once Jake donates his blood, Dick is furious Jake has agreed to stay with the Titans and not flee with him.  He calls in Kate and uses a device to induce sleep in Jake; Kate allows them to escape as she and the Crusaders assault the Titans’ HQ.  After awakening, Jake tearfully laments he couldn’t support Dick the way Dick did Bruce, where he (Dick) reminded Batman that the world still had light.  It inspires Dick to have a change of heart just as Luthor is able to repower Clark.  However, Lex has an ace up his sleeve (obviously); he’s created a bomb that will give everyone superpowers.  Unfortunately, it’ll destroy Metropolis in the process.  (Of course it will.)  Jake calls everyone to arms to stop the bomb, and they manage to do so.  Huzzah

If the book ended here, I'd be OK with it.  It wouldn't have been the most scintillating mini-series ever, but it would've told a coherent, contained story.  However, the epilogue confuses the story I thought Higgins was telling.  For some reason, this incident results in the undoing of the power restrictions; the Crusaders stay in place to keep metahumans in check, but for the most part restrictions on their activities and movements are removed.  Conversely, I could see this event reminding everyone why they put the restrictions in place in the first place.  After all, whether they intended to do so or not, the "heroes'" shenanigans almost destroy Metropolis.  Moreover, we get a personal happy ending here — with Jake graduating from college with his parents at his side and naming his infant son after his father, the best man he’s ever known — that feels woefully unwon.  Part of what I liked about this series was that Dick was a complicated and conflicted character; it seemed to undermine the narrative by turning him into a paragon of virtue.  After all, Jake didn't raise an eyebrow that his father happily put people like him into stasis for years?  He also just suddenly forgave his mother after her absence from his life for years?

All in all, I'm not sure I can recommend this mini-series.  It's an intriguing idea, but Higgins just muddies the waters with the random happy ending.

Phoenix Resurrection:  The Return of Jean Grey #4:  OK, now we’re getting somewhere.  The team enters the egg and encounters a group of dead X-Men.  Older Hank comes to the conclusion the Phoenix created this world as an incubator for Jean.  It's realized only Jean works as a host, but it bumbled its previous attempts to control Jean, so it's trying to get it right time.  It fits with Jean’s conversation with Annie earlier in this issue that she had a dream she was a goddess and the goddess was tying to prepare her for something (as we saw last issue).  Kitty hypothesizes the Phoenix lured the X-Men into the egg because it wants a fight to finish Jean’s conversion into the Phoenix (in a violence-begets-violence kind of way).  Younger Hank wonders if the manifestations in the real world weren’t Jean trying to send a warning to the X-Men.  Kitty suggests they send in someone to talk to Jean, to try to convince her not to succumb to the violence.  Young Scott offers to go, but Logan tells him that Jean isn’t the Jean he loves: it’s the Jean he loves.  Kitty reminds Logan he’ll have to kill Jean if she starts to become the Phoenix, and he confirms he knows.  I have to say, Rosenberg really nails down one of the key questions this miniseries had to answer with the Phoenix finally realizing only Jean will do.  It answers the “why now?” question:  it’s time because the Phoenix has explored other options (as we saw in “Avengers vs. X-Men”) and has now settled on Jean.  But, I’m curious to see if that means Jean is going to somehow be able to control the Phoenix?  I guess we'll see.

The Wild Storm #11:  Man, this series gets creepier and creepier.

- The Doctor and Jennie Sparks are lying in bed together (yay!), and Jennie tells the Doctor IO and Skywatch are going to go to war.  She sought out the Doctor because she believed she’d be one of the few people like her on the side of the human race.  The Doctor asks if there are others like them, and Jennie says there are; the Doctor suggests they go find them.

- Mitch and his team reveal they have a plan for stealing information from Skywatch.  They obviously can’t launch any more satellites into orbit, because it’s not part of the Treaty with Skywatch.  But, they plan on using the satellites' "information exchanges" against them.  (I think.)  They'll fake a global hack of satellite communications, flooding Skywatch with North Korean bots and slipping in an infiltration package amidst the bots.  The package would then steal the information it needs, and then be ejected with the bots as Skywatch's defenses expel them.  (I couldn't help but think of the "float away with the rest of the garbage" line from "Empire Strikes Back.")  The incursions' goal seems to be confirming Cole and his wild C.A.T. are working for Skywatch, an obvious breach of the Treaty.  They plan on using that information to essentially offset IO’s theft of the Breslau suit; in other words, they're trying to equal a wrong with a wrong.  Miles OKs the plan.  (Of course he does.)

- The Ginger, as Henry calls her, asks Bendix why he’s so eager to break the Treaty, since it means exposing IO and Skywatch to an unsuspecting public.  Henry acknowledges that it would be a disaster for the public to learn that all these agencies have medicine and technology they don’t have, particularly given humanity outnumbers them.  Bendix then reminisces somewhat fondly when the two sides came close to war before, when Skywatch attacked a science city IO was operating with the USSR because it was building launch facilities (something the Treaty didn't allow them to do).  It was supposed to have been a non-casualty event according to Bendix, but it’s hard to believe that, as we see their ships were armed to the teeth.  The city fired on the incoming ships, and Skywatch returned fire, leaving only 35 people alive of the 20,000 who lived there.  One of the survivors, to Henry’s regret, was John Lynch, the IO director.

- At Halo, Angie perfects her suit due to Marlowe’s facilities, though ominously has some leftover liquid after taking out the suit and reconstructing it.  (I’m sure that’s not significant at all:  just “leftover screws,” as Angie says.)  Meanwhile, Kenesha is planning their incursion into IO when Cole gets a call.  He meets Zealot on a rooftop, and she warns him IO knows he’s alive and believes he’s working with Skywatch.  He says that’s insane, but she notes he has a teleporter so it’s not so crazy.  Cole asks for more information, grabbing Lucy’s arm, and she reminds him she taught him pretty much everything he knows about combat.  He backs off a bit, and she tells him to remind Marlowe she has a code and to say hi to Kenesha.

X-Men:  Blue #20: As everyone says in this issue, we’re dealing with a time-travel story, so everything I write here is going to be complicated.  The X-Men make short work of the Brotherhood, primarily because Hank pulls in the previous teams they’ve met — X-Men 2099, Generation X, etc. — to help.  The Brotherhood flees, and the kids reunite with a now-freed Professor Xavier.  Xavier explains how he sent a post-temporal suggestion through the timestream once he realized the Brotherhood’s plan, which is why Magneto built the time machine.  The kids point out time has changed, since the original Brotherhood are now dead in the past (murdered by the future Brotherhood posing as the X-Men).  But, when they return to the future, the original Brotherhood isn’t dead.  Jean takes it as confirmation Xavier was right when he said it means the children are destined to return to the past the exact moment they left, as if they never left.  It’s the only way to explain why the present (their future) doesn’t change due to their presence in the present.  They’re all bummed by that, particularly Bobby, who would be destined to remain in the closet for at least another decade if they return to the past.  It’s definitely an interesting open question I'm intrigued to see them explore.  Bunn doesn’t just end there, though.  Magneto uses the time machine to catch the future Brotherhood trying to return, and Bunn implies Magneto kills them.  It raises the question what happens to the team and Magneto now that the main point of his desire to work with him seems to be resolved.

Also Read: Amazing Spider-Man #794; Marvel 2-in-One #2; X-Men:  Blue Annual #1

Not-So-New Comics: The January 17 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Venom, Inc. Omega #1:  (Man, that’s a title.)  This issue is fun.  That said, I can’t say this event has been the best plotted one I've ever read.  I’m pretty sure if I re-read it I’d be able to find all sorts of glaring plot holes.  (Like, I still don't really understand how Maniac just happened upon his spitting power and how it didn't really require any effort or resources.  Also, I’m not sure I buy the idea Price could only possess someone once because they developed anti-bodies in their blood after the first exposure.  That just seems...convenient.  See?  Plot holes.)  But, Spidey is pretty hilarious in this issue, from his abortive attempt to rally Flash (only to realize Anti-Venom's healing factor would heal Flash's wounds and eliminate the need for Spidey to rally him in the first place) to Spidey tripping on his way to tell Flash about the anti-bodies.  So, overall, I’m going to call it a win.  As I said earlier, it recalls the excellent “New Ways to Die!” story from the “Brand New Day” era, and that alone is reason to give it a read.  Also, I’m glad to see Peter and the Cat in a better place.  I mean, it makes no sort of sense she'd suddenly stop hating him.  After all, it was Dr. Octopus (as Spider-Man) taking everything from her that inspired her to hate Spidey.  It doesn't make a lick of sense she'd be so blasé about it happening again, particularly when he's more directly responsible for her downfall this time.  (Again.  Plot holes.)  But, I'm just glad the feud is over.  Similarly, I’m glad Eddie convinced her to give up her attempt to become a crime boss, because I never really bought that either.  (Man, I have not been happy with "Amazing Spider-Man" for a while.)  Again, Eddie’s appeal doesn’t really make sense — in a way, he’s just mansplaining to her that she never wanted to be a crime boss in the first place — but I’m just glad she’s no longer a bad guy (#bringbackthecat).  In other words, Spidey is fun here and the Cat is who she should be, so I'll take it.

Avengers #676: The authors dive right into the mysteries the first issue of this event raised, namely who the mysterious Avenger is and why the Earth was planet-napped.  Color me impressed and intrigued.

The Avenger is revealed to be Valerie Vector, a.k.a. Voyager.  She was (allegedly) a founding member of the Avengers and (allegedly) stayed with the team for a long time, including the transition to the Cap-led team in issue #16.  However, in the "Let the Game Begin" arc (according to Comic Vine), the Avengers were forced into a competition as part of a wager between Grandmaster and Kang (as happened in those days).  In issue #70, Voyager (allegedly) faced Victory, the Electromagnetic Man, but her “portal field” reacted with his powers and she was (allegedly) thought lost in the ensuing explosion.  In the present, she tells the gathered Avengers she wasn’t lost, but “removed from normal existence."  She watched time pass helplessly from the void.  It was only when the Earth was stolen that she was somehow re-synced with the Earth again.

First, I have to give an incredible amount of credit to the art team here.  A lot of Valerie’s history is told through flashbacks to famous moments in Avengers’ history.  Valerie is inserted into these moments in the same art style as was prevalent at the time, and it’s fun to see.  But, the best moment is her depiction as lost in time, where she floats above a series of “Avengers” covers, showing the passage of time through the progression of issues.  It’s so remarkably clever.  It makes it clear the entire creative team is bringing its A game.  Moreover, the editors successfully use some winks and nudges in the “as seen in” boxes to hint it’s not the full story.  Everyone (allegedly) remembers Valerie when she appears, so it almost seems like her story is true.  But, her appearance is obviously way too convenient, and I can’t wait to see what the authors have planned.

Meanwhile, in Egypt, we get to the heart of the matter:  the Black Order and the Lethal Legion appear and immediately engage in battle.  However, two disembodied voices (who I wouldn’t be surprised to learn were Grandmaster and Kang again) remind the parties of the rules and send them to their respective corners until the “Pyramoid” appears.  (I again have to praise the art team.  The fight sequences are spectacular, so life-like you feel like you’re right there watching them.)  At the urging of the disembodied voices, the two teams go their corners, and we learn Earth was chosen as the location of their conflict because of its “designated obstacles,” i.e. the Avengers.  The Black Order decides to take out the Avengers preemptively, and they explode Avengers Mansion just as the team was coming to some agreement on how to survey the situation in a world without communications systems.

I can’t say I’m thrilled to see the Black Order, because I associate it with the terrible incursion storyline Hickman forced on us.  (I know I'm in the minority on this one, but I'm still not buying it.)  Looking at its previous appearances on Comic Vine and Wikipedia, I've actually read almost every issue where its members have appeared, from the "Infinity" event to "The Unworthy Thor."  But, I still don't understand anything about them.  They're all pretty much interchangeable amoral bad guys.  I’m not familiar with this alien Lethal Legion, and I’m doing my best to avoid going to Wikipedia to do research, because I feel like it could spoil the surprises the authors have in mind.  But, this initial fight sequence shows how great of adversaries these two teams can be, so I’m perfectly happy to give the authors a chance to rehabilitate the Order for me.

Given everything that happened, you’d be forgiven for thinking this issue was confusing, but it’s really not; the authors did a great job of keeping up the momentum while not rushing anything.  They don't address all the mysteries, obviously.  We have smaller ones, like why Beast was so concerned over Jarvis’ scans or how the folks pulling the strings decided which heroes to “pause.”  We also don’t know what the stakes of the conflict are.  But, after two issues, I have to say my expectations are high now for one of the best Avengers stories of all time.  (No pressure, guys.)

Generation X #86:  Strain is clearly clearing the decks before this series’ last issue, but she manages to do so in a way that doesn't feel rushed.  Jubilee visits Quentin on Krakoa and remembers Nathaniel’s warning, that Quentin wants to feel like he’s wanted even if he doesn’t admit it.  Quentin is terrible as usual, bragging to Jubilee the Phoenix gave him part of its power (in “Mighty Thor”) so he doesn’t need anyone.  But, when Jubilee learns the school has disappeared, he’s right there with her as they race to the scene.  Meanwhile, as Monet goes all horror-movie villain on the kids, hunting them like prey, Chamber and Husk try to buy the kids some time to escape.  Benjamin saves Nathaniel from falling debris, and the confluence of his heroism and their impending death inspires Nathaniel to kiss Benjamin through his shirt.  When Monet eventually touches Nathaniel, we see moments from his past, where he’s abused by his mother (with his father’s knowledge) and learns his boyfriend is attracted to someone else (even though he hasn’t acted on it).  Nathaniel has alluded to these moments in the past, so it’s nice to see Strain get the chance to make Nathaniel a fully formed character before the series ends.  Speaking of happy endings, Jubilee and Quentin arrive, and Monet strips Jubilee of her amulet and throws her into the sun.  Panicked at the thought of losing Jubilee and her promise to give him someplace to say, Quentin exhaust his Phoenix powers to cure her of her vampirism, probably the nicest thing he’s ever done.  I can’t wait to see how everyone rallies to take down Monet next issue.

Mighty Thor #703:  I haven’t written a lot about this series lately because it’s going so smoothly.  But, I had to compliment this issue.  Everyone is on fire here.  First, other than Peter David, I just don’t know if anyone plays the long game as well as Jason Aaron does.  The moment where Jane is standing in front of the hammer, with her friends standing there wondering what she’s going to do, brings together a storyline he’s spent years crafting.  I legitimately had no idea what she was going to choose, but I expected to see Jane as Thor saving Asgard from the Mangog at the last minute.  Seeing her return to her hospital bed instead makes me happy, because, as everyone keeps telling her, the world needs Jane Foster just as much as it needs Thor.  Dauterman and particularly Wilson bring their A game here, and it’s a helluva A game.  I didn’t know half the colors Wilson uses to show the Mangog’s march to Odin existed.  But, it all comes together spectacularly, as Odinson arrives to convince Odin to at least die wearing his boots and swinging his sword.  Father and son bonding time to come!  It seems pretty clear Odinson is going to prove worthy again by defeating Mangog.  But, Aaron has also been implying Mjolnir has its own agenda, so we shall see.  What a great time to be a Thor fan.

Nightwing #37:  This issue is...terrible.  In theory, it should be a great issue, because it’s the origin of Dick’s beef with the Judge.  But, it's just not.  We begin with Dick approaching a casino owner he knew in his early days as Robin; she was known then as Baby Ruthless, a teenager fighting crime in Blüdhaven to save her dad’s bodega.  Bruce and Dick were investigating a series in murders in Gotham committed by unsuspecting pawns in possession of the now-famous golden casino chips.  The people they killed were responsible for building Blüdhaven’s first casino, and we learn the Judge, at least then, was mostly focused on stopping the casinos.  The Dynamic Duo and Baby Ruthless foil his plan to crash a barge carrying radioactive material into the construction site (thereby rendering it uninhabitable).  However, Robin’s overeagerness allows the Judge to escape.  Dick also alludes to fighting him in college, a story I’m sure we’ll see.  But, the big development is Baby Ruthless reveals she quit her costumed career when King Sturgeon took over the Judge’s gang.  (I’m not sure why she quit being a crime fighter when Sturgeon took over the gang; she states it like they were connected, but I don’t see the connection.  Also, I'm not entirely sure why the Judge left either.)  Dick realizes Sturgeon might be the key to stopping the Judge, but Guppy is poised to kill him (his father) now that he's in possession of a certain casino chip.  Guppy's plight really infuses this issue with emotion.  We see some thugs bullying him into helping retrieve something from the bay, and then he's embarrassed when they won't give him a share of the take.  He tries to tell his dying father he's running his own gang, but he also doesn't have the money to buy the medicine his father needs.  But, Guppy's plight is overshadowed by the terrible narration Humphries uses throughout the issue.  In theory, we should believe Dick and Ruthless are having a conversation about the good ol' days, not just spouting text blocks as they are here.  It’s the problem when you try to retroactively create an arch-nemesis and ally for a character all in the same arc; you’re going to have to rely a lot on flashbacks.  But, the narration is so awkward it’s hard to focus on anything else.  We’re supposed to believe Dick feels great guilt for allowing the Judge to live and continue to kill people, but mostly I just rolled my eyes.  I'm not hopeful it's going to get better either because we still have to get through the college incident.  [Sigh.]

Rogue and Gambit #1: All I know is I would’ve loved to have seen the looks in the pitch meeting when Kelly Thompson suggested sending Rogue and Gambit to a couples retreat that may also be a mutant-conversion camp.  I honest to God cannot think of a better premise of any mini-series ever.  I love Thompson’s work on “Hawkeye,” so I’m so excited to see what she does here.  From the start, she gets down Rogue and Gambit’s relationship perfectly:  not too clear, not too vague.  The awkward space between those positions is front and center here.  It’s hard to do that, particularly with dialogue that sounds natural and not a recitation of talking points, but Thompson strikes exactly that balance here.  (I loved Rogue teasing Gambit that Deadpool is a better kisser.  But, I also appreciated the vulnerability Gambit showed when he told Rogue it felt like he was the only one trying to lift their mountain of baggage anymore.)  I was caught by surprise when Rogue said she’d lost control of her powers, because I don’t remember that from “Uncanny Avengers.”  (Wikipedia says I should've known that.)  Regardless, I can’t wait to see where we go here.

X-Men:  Gold #20: I’ve been hit or miss on this series for a while, and this issue is a good example why.  Guggenheim rushes the ending in a way that makes no sense to me here.  He’s got a pretty great “out of the frying pan, into the fire” scenario, with the X-Men trapped on a hostile desert planet somewhere in the Negative Zone.  Kitty is with a dying Peter in a sandstorm, Storm has to fight off a spider-like creature, and Logan is with the rest of the team in the ship trying to find a way off the planet.  Instead of drawing out the dramatic tension for two or three issues, we get deus ex machina after deus ex machina.  Storm somewhat miraculous stumbles upon Kitty and Peter in the storm, Ink has a healing touch that stabilizes Peter, Kurt finds an inter-dimension portal generator he just happens to recognize from his time on the Dartayan ship (even though I imagine he was in the brig and not the engineering bay), and Storm “digs deep” to summon electricity to power the generator (even though we firmly established her powers don’t work on this planet).  Despite everyone’s doom and gloom predictions, they’re basically in “danger” for 15 minutes or so until the problem is solved.  It’s all just too easy.  So far, everything about this series is like that:  we stop just short of something significant or profound happening every time.  Hopefully “X-Men Red” soars.

Also Read:  Batman #39, Peter Parker:  The Spectacular Spider-Man #299, Star Wars #42