New Comics!: The Bat-Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Batman #713:  The first hint that the narrator of this issue wasn't exactly detached was when he described the third Robin -- Tim Drake -- as a "tragic mistake."  At first, I thought I had missed something, some tragedy that befell Tim, since, after all, he has arguably surpassed even Dick Grayson as the quintessential Robin.  (Even Dick says so in "Batman:  Gates of Gotham" #3.)  The second hint was when he twice mentioned what an honor it was for people to be friends with Dick.  The reveal that the narrator was Damian made sense in those two regards, though I'm not sure it did in regards to the rest of the book.  Damian is a little too...sappy in this issue, even if we accept the premise of the issue, that Dick has changed him.  My guess is that Nicieza went with it to underline the impact Dick has had on Damian's life, given that their partnership will at least end with the reboot, if not be entirely erased by it.  But, in the end, it just doesn't sound like Damian, Dick's influence or not, making the reveal at the end fall flat for me.  All that said, I'm not entirely sure anyone could find a way to end "Batman" in a way that didn't feel at least partially artificial, and I think Nicieza does his best.  However, I was disappointed that Stephanie Brown was never mentioned as a Robin.  It makes sense that Damian wouldn't have mentioned her but DC has so criminally mishandled Stephanie's brief tenure as Robin that it was disappointing that it continues to do so even here, what could be her last shot at inclusion.  I guess all we have left now is seeing what the reboot really does.  Fingers crossed it doesn't suck.

Batman:  Arkham City #5:  OK, anything I was going to say about this book's plot or story was completely obliterated when I saw the blonde Robin?  WTF?  Is it Chris O'Donnell?  Are we bringing back suit-nipples?  I just don't know what to say.  Where the "inFAMOUS" series did a pretty great job stoking my interest in the game, I can't say this mini-series has had an effect one way or another.  Unlike the "inFAMOUS" series, we're probably going to see most of what happens here recapped in the game itself, since it's unlikely the game's authors are just going to throw us into the plot.  Dini and D'Anda do some nice character work on the full-page spreads of the main villains in terms of setting up the game, but it squanders the opportunity, in terms of the book, to develop the story, which feels sort of abandoned halfway through this issue.  At the end of the day, I'm excited about "Arkham City" because the first game was awesome, not necessarily because of anything done here.  (A blonde Robin?  Really?)

Batman:  The Dark Knight #5:  What can I say about this book?  These five issues have been so terrible that I can't believe they actually managed to get published.  Harsh but true.  Did DC not ask Finch to provide scripts with enough time to realize they made a mistake?  I don't even know where to start.  The dialogue continues with "Insolent fool!" type of comments, Bruce has apparently become a bleak, bad poet, and the Ragman...yeah, well, the less said about that whole mess the better.  Let's just say, I've canceled this book for the reboot.

Batman:  Gates of Gotham #5:  Wait, who?  Who the hell is Dillon May?  I had to re-read the entire series to discover the answer, that we never actually meet Dillon May.  He was the last owner of the Architect's suit, though it was reported stolen six months before the events of the story take place; Tim and Damian encounter the Architect at May's apartment, in issue #3.  When Dick somewhat nonchalantly mentions that he's the Architect on the first page of issue #5, however, I felt like I had missed an issue.  Although now, reading the whole series again, I see the direction Snyder and Higgins were going, it makes me realize that this series, like a lot of mini-series today, seemed written more for its inevitable trade-paperback form than for a monthly format.  I think it's a lot to expect us to remember the details of a character we never actually met two months after he was (theoretically) introduced.  Moreover, Higgins seemed to be leading us to believe that the trick of this mini-series was some sort of time-displaced villain (maybe a revived Nicholas had stolen the suit), but instead it's actually just that the Gates family produces delusional nutjobs.  I think part of the problem here is that Higgins didn't really connect the dots for us.  Not only did we never meet May (thereby never getting a chance to make our impression of him), but the Bat-family also makes a lot of connections based on information we never see them get.  How did Dick find out those suits caused mental illness?  Tim doesn't mention it when he's briefing him on the suits in issue #3; moreover, Dick couldn't have had time to read all of the Nicholas' journal in issue #4, since he pretty much goes right from discovering it to the Kane bridge.  Had he learned about it before?  Did he simply deduce it from the "Property of Arkham Asylum" stamp on that back of the journal?  Given that the whole plot of the mini-series relied on that piece of information, you think Higgins would've seen fit to show us Dick discovering it (or at least have him exposit how he discovered it).  Also, how did he know the Architect was this May guy?  Did he just guess that it was a descendant of the Gates?  How did he know he lied about the theft?  This mini-series started with a lot of promise, but it really fizzled over the last few issues, and not only in terms of the mystery's reveal.  Snyder and Higgins did some interesting work in the first two issues using the story of the Gates to parallel Dick's own struggles in becoming Batman.  But, they dropped that focus for the next two issues, so when they return to it at the very end of this issue it doesn't really work.  Unfortunately, the story, with its orientation toward being read as one continuous story, ultimately proved hard to follow and, even when reading it all at once, contained too many questions to make it enjoyable.  It's a shame, because seeing Dick, Tim, Cassandra, and Damian working together was fun.  I just wish they had gotten a story befitting that fun. 

Batman Incorporated #8:  This issue is pretty cool, actually.  The plot is occasionally hard to follow, but Morrison does a fun job playing up the interaction of Bruce and Barbara while adding in some great moments ("Internet 3.0 access comes installed with free 'Batman Incorporated' anti-virus software.").  Although some people may disagree with me, I'd say the art was the main drawback of this issue.  Clark is clearly using a graphics program to create the digital effects, but at times it looks like an early computer-generated comic (paging "Iron Man:  Crash") and not something from 2011.  (The problem, of course, is that, by going this route, you've actually got to look like something from 2015, because Bruce Wayne would have something from 2015, even if the artist himself didn't.)  Looking to the rebooted version of this title, Morrison essentially promises more of the same.  Whereas other last issues this month are making an attempt (usually awkward and/or rushed) to tie up loose ends, Morrison clearly has the stature to keep on doing what he's been doing.  He seems to connect Jezebel Jet to Leviathan here, and we're promised to find out the reason why Batgirl was sent to boarding school.  The last few issues of this series have really redeemed it, bringing me past my initial dislike of this series' first arc.  I can't wait to see what happens next.

New Comics!: The Bat-Edition

Batman #712:  If you've read this blog a while, you know that I usually wind up sorely disappointed with Tony Daniel's endings.  He generally spends the first few issues setting up an interesting story, but he drops the ball at the end, usually because he's trying to do too much.  In this issue, the Two-Face/Gilda reunion goes pretty much how I expected it would, with Two-Face (and Batman, for that matter) not entirely sure whether it is actually Gilda and, if it is, what to make of her.  However, Daniel leaves a huge question mark (heh) when it comes to the Riddler.  I'm somewhat perplexed by the importance of the documents Riddler found in the Falcone's library.  First, why would a bunch of files detailing who he was/is lead to his "restoration?"  Second, why would Falcone have them or, to put it another way, what did Falcone's files have that the Riddler couldn't find elsewhere (like, you know, Google)?  I'm assuming they're the files that Gilda implied she had at the end of the Sensei arc, but Daniel doesn't exactly make that clear.  But, even if they are, what would they have that the Riddler himself wouldn't know?  I'm also unclear as to why he had to kill (seemingly) Enigma?  Is it because the Riddler of old -- who he seems to be trying to re-become -- didn't have a sidekick/daughter?  As usual, Daniel leaves me annoyed and not intrigued by these questions.  Whenever Daniel sets up these twists they almost always feel like they're being done just for the twist's sake and not because the plot organically went there.  Moreover, Daniel -- as he has in other arcs -- takes up space he could've used to actually sell the twist by adding a random and totally unnecessary Catgirl sub-plot.  Although this arc is an improvement over other arcs, I'm still surprised DC is allowing Daniel to helm the title, given the significant number of authors who could be doing a much better job with it.

Batman:  The Dark Knight #3:  Reading these issues, I'm transported to 1990.  The style of plotting, writing, and artwork is almost identical to "Torment," the first arc of Todd MacFarlane's "Spider-Man."  Unfortunately for Finch, I don't really mean that as a compliment.  It's hard to find something positive to say about this arc.  Finch's characterization of Bruce is just...bizarre.  He's playing him like some rank amateur, showing more emotion over Dawn Golden than he has over anyone ever.  Moreover, the plot is just...yeah.  Penguin appears to have made a deal with a demon (who may or may not be Ragman), for reasons that have yet to be clarified but involve Golden.  Golden herself is implied to be more than just a Gotham socialite, and I'm assuming we'll find out more now that Batman found her.  Sub-plots include Etrigan (about whom I'm clearly supposed to care or know more) confronting the aforementioned demon (who's eating homeless people) and a little girl (who looks like Golden) stealing the Batmobile.  In other words, this whole story is a huge mess.  It's of course made worse by the fact that it's the third issue in SEVEN MONTHS.  The real chutzpah, though, is that we'll barely finish this introductory arc only to have the title reboot itself.  It seems kind of unbelievable to have two #1 issues of the same title in the same year, but I guess DC is just that shameless.  I sincerely doubt I'm going to be still getting this title in six months...

Batman:  Gates of Gotham #3:  OK, so, to be honest, I think something should probably happen soon.  I mean, not that blowing up a bunch of buildings isn't "something happening," but, at this point, I'm feeling a little ho-hum about this series.  Basically, the only real mystery is whether the guy in the suit is in fact Nicholas Gates or a descendant equally set on revenge.  I can't say I'm really dying to find out the answer.  But, the more notable aspect of this book is the portrayal of Dick Grayson as a mopey failure.  The first few issues of the Bat-books in which Dick took over the cowl did a good job of showing Dick go through an adjustment phase while, at the same time, giving him credit for the fact he's been a superhero since he was, like, twelve.  However, recently, the Bat-book writers seem to actually be taking a few steps back when it comes to portraying Dick as Batman.  Both Higgins here and Daniel in "Batman" (he gets clocked by Gilda) show Dick as mildly incompetent.  We only have a few more months of Dick as Batman, so this lament is soon to be overcome by events, but I'd like Dick to go out winning not whining.

Batman and Robin #25:  Oh, Jason fucking Todd, you are just sex on a stick.  I mean, first, you're naked, like, A LOT.  But, you're not naked in the usual pin-up way, the casual showering-as-if-no-one-was-watching way that we usually see in comics.  Oh, no.  Not you.  You're naked in the "Yeah, I may be gay, I may be straight, I may be bi, but any way and every way you'll have a good time with me" way.  Yum.  I had my doubts about Winick's Todd, only because Tomasi is so good that I wanted to see what he could do with Jason.  But, by sexing up Jason, as he has in this series, Winick has really let Jason shine.  He's not just a smart-ass anymore.  (Winick also portrays that part of Jason's personality better than anyone; see his taunting of Bruce in issue #23 and his needling of Dick and Damian in this issue.)  By making him into this edgy, sexualized bad-ass, Winick has moved him past just being the angry young man seeking revenge.  He still fills the anti-Dick role (or, more accurately, the "Dick without a moral compass" role), but in a more organic way.  This arc is the first time I've really felt Jason Todd is a character in and of himself and not just a MacGuffin created to move along a plot like he has been in the past.  Of course, God only knows what DC is going to do to screw up his character in the reboot but, at the very least, Jason Todd finally got to be a real boy at long last.  Lest I be accused of gushing, I will mention a negative here.  In fact, it's a pretty big negative:  Winick never actually tells us what the hell is happening.  Why, exactly, did the mysterious woman want Jason in the first place?  Winick never tells us.  That happens sometimes with Batman comics, but it didn't really feel like Winick was doing it on purpose, creating a sense of the futility of Batman's efforts to control the world around him.  Instead, it honestly felt like he was so busy focusing on the characterization he actually just forgot.  I can't say it ruined the issue for me -- since the characterization WAS so good -- but it's that sort of inattention to detail that makes Winick not quite raise to the level of Scott Snyder or Pete Tomasi.

Batman Beyond #7:  This issue moves the series forward nicely.  Terry faces a real challenge as he attempts to stop Blight and Bruce stops playing "creepy guy in a dark cave" by deciding (for the first time) to fully take the reins of Wayne Enterprises.  The problem, of course, is that the DC reboot is wiping out this series, so the fact that this series shows such promise makes it all the more difficult to accept.

Detective Comics #879:  C...r...e...e...p...y.  I've said several times that I felt like Scott Snyder is creating his own Joker in his characterization of James Gordon, Jr. and this issue confirms that, since, for most of it, I thought the guy strapped to the gurney was James, not the Joker.  It's that sort of implied parallel that makes what Snyder does here all the more gripping; the crime James is planning -- turning needy children into psychopathic killers -- is, quite frankly, totally something the Joker would do.  Jim's discover of the box of keys of James' victims advances the plot, with the Commissioner now aware of what we've known since last issue, that James is in fact a homicidal psycho.  By my reckoning, Snyder has two more issue to go before the reboot, so God only knows where this story is going.  He's been building it on a slow burn for so long that I assume it's just going to explode.  I can't freaking wait.  I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Francavilla's art is an equal partner in these stories, and I applaud the editor who put him together with Snyder for the James Gordon, Jr. stories.  Doing so required knowing that Jock (who's amazing) wouldn't convey the same creepiness as someone like Francavilla would.  Given that I feel editors so often screw up stories, it's nice to applaud their ability to help make one every once in a while.  It bears repeating:  best book on the market.

New Comics! (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Batman #711:  Daniel reveals here that the "teensy little job" that Gilda Dent asked the Riddler to perform was helping her fake Two-Face's death in front of Mario Falcone.  Allegedly, according to the Riddler, Gilda is trapped in a relationship with Falcone and needed Two-Face's help in removing herself from it.  Obviously we've got more happening here than anyone is revealing.  Gilda needed Mario to believe Harvey was dead, for unclear reasons, though it seems like it has something to do with allowing her to have a freer hand in arranging something related to the mysterious Jade Society.  I'm not entirely sure what game Riddler is playing at this point, but he appears to be back to his old tricks so it's anyone's guess.  Daniel sets up a good story here, but Daniel always sets up a good story only usually to disappoint me in the end.  So, I'm reserving judgment until we see where this arc goes.  In the meantime, it's a treat to see two of Batman's iconic villains working together.

Batman:  Gates of Gotham #2:  One of the best parts about the Bat-books (and, paradoxically, one of the reasons why I didn't become a regular reader until recently) is that they have a mythos and a history you have to spend some time getting to know.  Whereas the X-Men are pretty easy to get (to paraphrase Bill Murray, "humans and mutants, living together!"), the Bat-books require an understanding beyond just the basic origin story in order to fully enjoy them.  Snyder and Higgins really get that, on a basic level, and it's why "Gates of Gotham" is as enjoyable as it is.  They've woven together the Waynes, Cobblepots, and Elliots in a really intriguing way, tying their histories together in a way that makes their presents all the more complicated.  I mean, having to save Tommy Elliot or Wayne Tower?  Tough call.  They've also given us a main villain who could be either Gates brother (or both) returned from the dead or a descendant of one of the brothers seeking revenge for a reason we don't quite yet understand.  But, perhaps best of all, our protagonists in this story are four of Bruce Wayne's five children:  Dick, Tim, Cassandra, and Damian.  I'm also assuming Jason will appear at some point, just as I'm wondering under what circumstances will Bruce eventually appear.  Snyder and Higgins have built the suspense, and I'm excited to see how it's all going to go.

Dungeons & Dragons #8:  This issue may be the best yet.  It is just non-stop.  I really honestly marvel at how Rogers makes each of these characters unique.  It's hard to write good banter, but it's even harder to write good banter that isn't just banter for banter's sake, but actually reflects the personality of the speaker and allows you some insight into the character.  Rogers manages to accomplish this task and sustain it throughout this issue, and it's a marvel to behold.  Moreover, the action is gripping.  Fell's Five are stuck in the Feywild and fall victim to a traitorous (with good reason, but still traitorous) gnome.  But, in typical Fell's Five fashion, things go from bad to worse when Juliana's evil father makes an appearance.  I think it's probably time for Rogers to start connecting these dots, since I wound up being more, rather than less, confused about Juliana's origins than I was after the last arc.  (We could also use a little bit more on Varic.  He has implied a few times that he's Earth-born, but we saw him in the last arc already in the Feywild -- and attached to Juliana -- when Adric arrived.)  But, I trust Rogers to get us what we need, so I'm not rushing him.  In the meantime, I'm just enjoying the good, clean fun.

New Mutants #26:  OK, so, first, I have to say, I love the new approach to the New Mutants, giving them the responsibility of being the team cleaning up the X-Men's loose ends.  The X-Men definitely have some fascinating loose ends, so it should keep the book running for quite a while.  Second, Abnett and Lanning really chose to begin with a great loose end.  Sugar Man using Nate Grey to power his Omega Machine to find a way home?  Awesome.  It totally makes sense in the context of the characters, so it doesn't feel like they're forcing anything to create a loose end.  Plus, the pared-down team helps a lot.  The book was getting a little crowded, so removing Cannonball, Karma, and Magik (who've been the focus of the last 25 issues) really gives some of the other characters room to grow.  The only note of caution I'd give them is not to go to the "X-kids" well too often.  It worked a few years ago, but the New Mutants have really graduated from that role, so making them feel like they have something to prove really makes it feel like we're going backwards rather than forwards.  Focusing on Dani learning how to handle a leadership role is fine and interesting, but having the New Mutants feel like they have to prove they're competent is a little 1980s.  All in all, though, it's a great start to a new era. 

X-Men Legacy #251:  OK, to be honest, I can't say I'm overly intrigued by this arc.  I'm a little Legion-ed out lately, and Carey seems to have forgotten rule #1 of team-book writing, which is to include some comic relief.  Given that no one's used Iceman in, like, forever, I really feel like substituting Bobby for Frenzy would've made this book a little less maudlin.  The story itself is fine, but, as I've felt about this series since I started reading it, I can't say it's enjoyable.

New Comics! (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Avengers #13:  I've been very unhappy with Bendis for a very long time at this point.  Between the split-personality disorder "New Avengers" has been suffering and the overly-cosmic adventures of "Avengers," I just haven't really felt like either of these book has been worth reading (let alone $3.99).  "Avengers" has always emphasized the team and its members' relationships with each other, and Bendis hasn't really focused on that, giving us instead time travel and Kang and Ultron and Parker Robbins and Infinity Gauntlets and...well, you get the picture.  This issue?  I love this issue.  Maybe it's because I've been so starved for good characterization, but I feel like Bendis gives us 13 issues' worth of it in just one.  I love the conversation between Ms. Marvel and Spider-Woman because, OMG, finally they both get to be real people.  ("It's a bad idea."  "Go away."  "Bad."  "Disassemble."  I mean, hilarious.)  I love the flirtation between Hawkeye and Spider-Woman because, honestly, I actually think they'd be a lot better together than Hawkeye and Mockingbird, which I never before realized (and feels like heresy to say).  I love that the best pick-up line Clint has is "You've got amazing hair" and I love that Bendis finally stopped ignoring Hawkeye and Spider-Woman.  I love that Bendis incorporates the oral history he's been delivering into the actual narrative and that he manages -- better than anyone ever on this title -- to give each and every member his or her own distinct personality.  I love that, on top of all the other things about this issue that I love, Bachalo, my favorite artist, drew this issue, icing on the cake.  I love even the things I didn't love about this issue, like Spidey (yet again) puking in his mask again.  So, thanks, Bendis, for finally giving us back the Avengers.  Huzzah!  (One quick note:  is someone ever going to mention that Bucky is gone?  We dropped him from the title page a few issues ago -- in the middle of an event, for Pete's sake, -- and no one, not even Spidey, noticed?  No, "Hey, I wonder how Bucky-Cap is doing in that gulag in Siberia?  Anyway, pass the eggs."  It seems weird, particularly given that this issue is essentially about how much the Avengers are a family.)

Batman #710:  "Long Halloween" is, to this day, one of my favorite Batman stories ever told, second, possibly, only to its sequel, "Dark Victory."  Throughout this issue, I got a "Long Halloween" vibe, a vibe that totally reached its crescendo when Gilda Dent stepped from the shadows and shot Harvey.  Harvey is at his most deranged here, and Steve Scott captures that beautifully, giving us two fairly grim shots of Harvey shooting people in the face.  Daniel not only builds on the foundation laid by "Long Halloween," but he draws together stories told in at least two different series over the last few months.  Harvey is searching for his coin in this issue, which, if I'm not mistaken, he last possessed in "Batman:  Streets of Gotham" #15, when one of his henchmen gave it to a homeless guy after he and another henchmen supposedly killed Harvey and ditched his body.  We, however, last saw it in "Batman" #707, when a woman (who I thought was going to be a female Two-Face) was casually flipping it.  It's pretty clear that "female Two-Face" is Gilda, and it's interesting Daniel hasn't fully shown us her face yet.  Gilda, in that issue, asked Riddler to help her with one "teensy little job," which I'm guessing has something to do with Harvey's predicament at the end of this book.  Daniel generally does a great job in the beginning of a story arc drawing me into the story; this arc is no different.  Hopefully, he won't do what he also generally does, which is leave me disappointed at the end.  Fingers crossed.  At any rate, this issue is a great start to the return of one of Batman's classic villains and sets up Dick's first time really dealing with Harvey as Batman.  We'll see how it goes.

Batman:  Gates of Gotham #1:  OK, in a pique of annoyance over getting EIGHT different Bat-books, I canceled this series a while ago.  But, then I realized it was being written by Scott Snyder, so I put it back on my pull list.  I'm glad I did.  Snyder is a genius when it comes to pacing a story, and this issue is a great example of that.  He builds the plot on two levels, giving us the central event-- a shadowy figure, a few explosions, and a questionable motive -- as well as some overarching questions -- how said event ties to Gotham's dodgy past, particularly its prominent families.  I wasn't aware that Penguin came from a storied Gotham family and I didn't see the possibility of Hush getting pulled into the mix, even though it makes sense, given the Elliots' historic prominence in Gotham society.  I'm intrigued to see where the series is going, particularly after all the revelations about the Waynes during Morrison's "Return of Bruce Wayne" as well as the exploration of the Elliot family tree in "House of Hush."  More importantly, I always enjoy seeing Dick and Tim work together, so I'm excited we're going to get a whole five issues dedicated to it.  (Damian is awesomely arrogant here as well, as usual, so I hope he's also part of the mix.)  Snyder also manages to work in some character development vis-à-vis Dick here.  His principal theme in "Detective Comics" is how taking on the mantle of the Bat is affecting Dick, and he continues that here.  Higgins pens a great scene where Commissioner Gordon encourages Dick not to blame himself for the explosions and Dick is more or less not able to do so.  This title is a natural extension of the stories Snyder is telling in "Detective" and if you like that series you'll be quite happy with this one.

Hawkeye:  Blindspot #4:  We get a pretty satisfying conclusion to this mini-series, with Clint using his wits (and a little emotional blackmail) to defeat his brother Barney and chase off Baron Zemo.  Zemo is his usual weird self, deciding to honor his "agreement" with Hawkeye and depositing all of Barney's ill-gotten gains into Hawkeye's bank account since he won the battle.  The only discordant note for me in this issue is that Barney agrees to allow Donald Blake and Tony Stark to use his bone marrow to repair Clint's sight, but then repeatedly threatens to kill him when Clint thanks him.  It doesn't really make sense, unless McCann wants us to think that, deep down, Barney doesn't really mean it and might still be looking for redemption.  It's also unclear, in the end, if Clint is using the money Zemo gave him to set up his own version of the WCA, which would be awesome.  We shall see.  Or, unfortunately, we won't.  I searched for some news on what happens next for Hawkeye and didn't find anything.  So, it looks like the end of the road for Hawk and his own series.  Hopefully Bendis will start using him more in "Avengers" while we wait for McCann to convince Marvel to give him another go.

New Comics!: The Bat Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Batman and Robin #22:  This issue wraps up the "Dark Knight vs. White Knight" storyline.  It's a more or less satisfying conclusion, but Tomasi leaves a lot of loose ends.  First, we're never really given insight -- throughout the storyline -- into how Batman and Robin know where and when to go to find the victims.  They save the Langstroms in issue #21 and an entire group of people in this issue, but we're never told how they deduce where they are and when they're going to jump.  I guess we're just supposed to take that on faith.  Second, it remains unclear what the liquid the White Knight was using does.  He uses it to illuminate Arkham Asylum in this issue, but it's unclear how the liquid does so.  In issue #21 he uses a bomb of sorts to do the illuminating, but here Commission Gordon said they just saw a bunch of "bright sticks."  Is this liquid the same liquid he uses to try to drown the inmates?  Finally, Tomasi never returns to the creepy tree we see the White Knight tending in issue #21.  It's clearly important -- we see him tending a smaller version of it in his cell in this issue -- but Tomasi just sort of leaves it hanging there.  I mostly liked what Tomasi did here -- the first issue of the storyline was particularly strong -- but the loose ends leave me feeling a little disappointed.  I'm hoping he tightens up his story telling as his run continues.  All that said, I'm looking forward to his handling of the Red Hood, because his depictions of the relationships between the Batmen and the Robins were top-notch. 

Red Robin #22 ("Judgment on Gotham:"  Part 2):  This issue isn't bad, giving us probably the most coherent explanation of what Azrael and the Crusader want Batman, Catwoman, and Red Robin to do.  Nicieza provides a meditation on faith that frames the action and also gives us some insight into Tim.  He does it in a way that never gets excessively preachy or cynical, which is a tough dance for any discussion of religion.  I raised an eyebrow at two comments, though.  First, Nicieza seems to be saying that the current Azrael -- Michael Lane -- was the former "insane Batman."  But, he wasn't; Jean-Paul Valley was.  I'm surprised the editors would let that sort of mistake slip, so maybe I missed something?  Tim also notes that the Mayor was "torching a part of the city so the construction companies he owns rebuild it."  He seems to be referring directly to the Ragman secondary feature in "Batman:  Streets of Gotham," which unfortunately didn't get finished before the title was canceled.  I don't think we actually knew why the Mayor was setting the fires, so we seem to have DC giving us that here.  Both eyebrow-raising moments, though, sent me to Wikipedia and my back issues, distracting me from the main story.  It's a shame, because, again, it was a pretty solid issue.  I'm also still unclear on Ra's role in the story, but I'm sure we'll get more clarity on that next time. 

Gotham City Sirens #22 ("Judgment on Gotham:"  Part 3):  OK, at first I was kind of annoyed with the fact that Selina Kyle gets to defend the orphanage, because, really, it seemed to have that twinge of sexism.  Why can't Selina fight for the Mayor and leave Red Robin to save the orphans?  He is one, after all.  But, eventually, it made sense, given that it ties into the central plot point, Selina being asked to kill the sister who went to live in the orphanage.  I'm not a long-time Catwoman fan, so I'm not really sure what her relationship with her sister is.  But, this plot point seemed a little forced to me, like they just dug up her sister so that she could be all Women in Refrigerators and ask Selina to kill her for God.  Selina actually gives as good as she gets on the religious banter side of the house, but I'm still not really sure what Azrael and the Crusader's motivations are.  Why now, suddenly, have they decided to hold Gotham responsible for its sins? 

Batman #709 ("Judgment on Gotham:" Part 4):  The ending of this story is disappointing for a few reasons, unfortunately.  First, throughout the series, we seem to have unreferenced references to the "Azrael" series:  Dick commenting that Azrael was supposed to have taken care of Fireball, Azrael stabbing Dick with his sword (heh) as we saw in flashback in "Batman" #708.  I really hate those sorts of moments.  I get eight (nine, maybe?) Bat-titles.  They already forced me to buy "Gotham City Sirens" #22.  Implying I've got read yet another side-title (about a character I have never, ever liked) just to understand what's happening in the flagship title is showing a hell of a lot of chutzpah.  Second, Ra's al Ghul's role in this whole affair is still unclear.  Is he the source of the "visions" that sent the Crusader, Selina Kyle's sister, and the Prodigy to Gotham?  If he wasn't directing Azrael, then why did Azrael suddenly decide to put everyone through these tests in "Batman" #708?  Finally, how did Azrael get his hands on Fireball, since Ra's al Ghul was last seen amping up his powers?  Azrael had to have known that, since he knew Fireball could destroy the city.  Yet, he seems totally bewildered to have been under Ra's thumb.  Third, Dick is totally an amateur here.  I mean, yes, I get that he's disturbed by visions of beating up the Prodigy, but I don't really believe that he'd fall apart so utterly and completely as he does here.  As Tim says, if it weren't for him, all of Gotham would've been destroyed.  This sort of story would've worked better in the first few months after Dick became Batman, showing his learning curve.  But, here, it's a pretty significant step backwards for Dick and, as Bruce himself implies, makes you wonder whether he's able to handle being Batman.  Finally (yup, I've got more), the Prodigy's comments to Dick at the end -- where he tells him that he knew his friend Dick was watching and left him -- are just absurdly pat.  This arc had some potential, but, in the end, I'm just left felling meh about it, which is, unfortunately, pretty par for the course for this title lately.

New Comics!: The Bat Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Ok, we've got a lot of comics this week, so I split them into three different editions! 

Batman #708 ("Judgment on Gotham:"  Part 1):  This issue throws a lot at the reader at once, resulting in a dizzying story that has a lot of potential.  When Dick suffers from some sort of spell after getting hit in the chest by a mugger, I assumed it was the result of the poisonous gas to which he was exposed in "Detective Comics" #872.  However, instead, it's the result of a "wound" inflicted by Azrael.  (I subscribe to eight Batman comics and I don't remember him getting wounded by Azrael.  I'm assuming it happened in "Azrael," which annoys me not only because we don't get an editor's note telling us when/where it happened but also because apparently reading eight Batman books isn't enough.)  I'm intrigued by Dick's "Prodigy" dream, since the Prodigy looks like it could be Jason Todd (assuming Hine keeps his reversion to red hair), who's been quiet for a while.  The rest of the issue sets up the cross-over issues in "Red Robin" and "Gotham City Sirens" (another book I'm going to have to get just to stay with the cross-over).  I've never been a fan of Azrael stories, so I can't say I'm particularly enthused.  But, the appearance of Ra's al Ghul at the end gives me hope that the storyline will pick up a little.  At the very least, Guillem March's art is really spectacular in this issue and I can't wait to see what he does next. 

Batman and Robin #20-#21:  These issues are great.  (I seem to have neglected to review the first one.  Oops.)  This arc is really a return to form for the book, a welcome relief after we all had to suffer through the previous arc.  Tomasi builds the story well, revealing some clues in the second issue but also raising new questions at the same time.  The best part, though, was the opening sequence, seeing the family all together.  Tomasi really "gets" everyone here:  Dick and Tim's engaging in affectionate brotherly banter, Damian pretending to want to be somewhere else but still being there, Alfred getting to fuss over all them, Bruce actually relaxing.  The best part of "Batman and Robin" had been the Dick/Damian relationship, and Cornell (and a lot of the writers of the other Bat-books) ignored that in the last arc.  So, I take off my hat to Tomasi for returning to what makes this book special and taking the time to develop the characters a bit before diving into the mystery.  Speaking of the mystery, I really didn't see coming the connection between the victims of the White Knight and the inmates of Arkham Asylum.  Tomasi shows real skill in making that revelation not only feel organic (and not a stunt, which it could have easily felt like) but also making it call into question who the White Knight is and what his motivations are.  I can't wait to see where this story goes.  The art is also great.  The scenes of mostly white near the end of the second issue really leapt off the pages and underscored both the creepiness of the White Knight and also the mystery behind his identity. 

Batman Beyond #1-#3:  I just got a chance to read these issues and they're a great start to the series.  Beechen gives a lot of hints of where future storylines could go while giving us an engaging and fun read.  Batman v. the Justice League?  It's a pretty cool way to start a series.  As a guy who can get obsessed with continuity, I found myself wondering how closely the series will tie to the animated series and the various comic series.  I haven't seen all the animated series or read any of the other comics, so I was wondering if I should be buying up back issues or making my way through the TV show.  So, I was glad to see Chris Conroy himself address the issue in the letters column, suggesting that the book is going to combine the best of both the TV and comic series.  As such, I'm going to try not to be OCD about it and just enjoy how the series develops.  I know there are a lot of Bat-books out there now, but, if you've got an extra $3, I'd say this one is actually one of the ones worth your money. 

Red Robin #21:  This issue, in theory, continues from "Teen Titans" #92, but I was left feeling like I had missed an issue somewhere between the two.  At the end of "Teen Titans" #92, Red Robin had re-joined the team and it appeared they were going to go after the Calculator for ultimate control over the Unternet.  However, in "Red Robin" #21, we only see Tim, and he's fighting a group of four super-villains called "the Madmen," who are the living embodiment of the Unternet.  Um, OK.  Once you get over the sudden shifting of gears, though, the issue is fine.  It's just weird that Nicieza totally abandoned the Teen Titans and the Calculator.  At any rate, I'm glad we've put the Unternet to rest, because it was definitely getting old.  We've spent a lot of time on it, and I'm not really sure it was worth it.  Part of the answer to that question will be the extent to which anything that's happened in the last few issues will have repercussions in future issues.  The next issue is yet another cross-over -- this time with "Batman" and "Gotham City Sirens" -- so it'll probably be a while before we have an answer.  I'm looking forward to us getting back to basics and focusing more on Tim, particularly as he handles his transition to being a superhero in his own right and not just someone's sidekick.

New Comics! (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Batman #707:  OK, to be honest, I'm still not entirely sure what happened in this arc.  So, Peacock had to save her brother, Loki, from Sensei, who kidnapped him in order to find the location of the Beholder, despite the fact that Peacock actually wanted Sensei to find the Beholder so she could destroy him and it.  As such, why didn't Loki just tell Sensei where the Beholder was?  Maybe him being kidnapped wasn't part of her plan?  Maybe he didn't know of her plan?  To make matters worse, she was introduced to us when she tried to buy from Bruce Wayne the strip of buildings that included (presumably) the archives where the Beholder was located.  Why was it necessary for her to buy the buildings if she was just going to let the Sensei find the mask anyway?  I'm also still not sure where I. Ching falls in the story.  She mentioned him hiring her in issue #705, but, based on the denouement of the story, she was the one most directly involved with the Beholder, not him.  Did he not know her connection to the Beholder and really just thought he was hiring someone to protect the mask?  Doubtful.  Plus, why didn't he just defeat Sensei before he threw Batman, Loki, Lucius, and Tam in the water?  Why hide in the shadows?  (I've decided to give a pass on Sensei just not killing the four of them in cold blood because I'd never read a Batman book again if I held the ridiculous, convoluted death traps against them.)  Also, how the hell did the Riddler and Enigma fit into this story?  Why does the female Two-Face care about the Jade whatever Society?  I was looking forward to this issue, because the first three were at least fun and I was figuring that all the loose plot points would get resolved.  But, I wound up just more confused than I was after the first issue.  It shouldn't be left to us, the reader, to infer the answers to as many of the questions as I lay out above.  Daniel needs to tighten up his plots, particularly given his weak dialogue, if he wants me to keep reading.

Chaos War #5:  OK, the whole "Chaos War" series, frankly, has been a hot mess.  I mean, I'm more or less used to these sorts of cross-overs being hot messes, but this series really took the cake.  (I'm not sure what the "hot mess" equivalent of "took the cake" is, so forgive the mixed metaphor.)  For example, I read "Blackest Night" without reading any of the tie-ins and I never really felt like I didn't know what was happening.  With "Chaos War," on the other hand, I read the main book and every tie-in and STILL had no idea what was happening.  (OK, I had an idea, but you get the point.)  I think part of the problem was the ordering of the releases.  The first three issues of the prime series were released in quick succession, but then you had one issue released in the middle of 14 (!) tie-in issues.  By the time you got to issue #5, you more or less forgot where you had left the characters in the prime series.  Of the tie-ins, the "Chaos War:  Dead Avengers" series was far and away the best.  I hope Yellowjacket stays resurrected, since she was the character I was most excited to see return and stay returned.  "Chaos War:  X-Men" had potential, but probably needed another issue to develop it.  I was really intrigued by the first issue of the Thor tie-in, but felt like the second issue squandered some of the potential.  Finally, given that Alpha Flight seems to be the only ones definitely resurrected as a result of the Chaos War, I'm surprised they only merited a one-shot.  Anyway, it's another Marvel cross-over that I find myself happier to see over than happy I read.

New Mutants #21:  Wow.  I've loved Zeb Wells' contributions to "Brand New Day" as I make my way through 100+ issues of "Amazing Spider-Man," and he really delivers here.  The New Mutants are near and dear to my heart; they're one of the touchstone comics of my youth.  Although I was overjoyed when I heard they were (finally) getting their own series again, I was worried about how they'd be handled.  I was worried the writers would ignore what happened in the first series, since it happened 20 years ago, and present the characters as stripped-down versions of their old young selves.  This six-issue arc ("Fall of the New Mutants" and "Rise of the New Mutants") proves that I was very, very wrong.  Almost every conversation and scene and event that occurs in this arc draws from the past 30 years or so of the New Mutants' history.  In doing so, Wells makes the New Mutants maybe the most real characters in the Marvel Universe.  As opposed to the X-Men and the Avengers -- who've been invented and re-invented so many times I've lost count and who have to stay somewhat caricaturized to keep a broad appeal to old and new readers -- the New Mutants carry with them the real scars and guilt of previous battles and losses.  It's a dark but emotional book and this arc clearly established a new status quo for the gang.  Sam has seemingly killed a lot of people, Illyana has put her teammates in danger just for revenge, Doug continues to be creepy.  I have no idea where we're going, but I'm excited to see what happens.

Uncanny X-Men #532:  "Uncanny" continues to be the best of the three core X-Men books.  I actually like Scott in this book.  I've pretty much never liked Scott, so I applaud Matt Fraction for that feat.  Fraction continues to juggle the three storylines running through the "Quarantine" arc without dropping a ball; I feel like any number of writers out there could learn a thing or two from him.  I'm a little bored of the Emma storyline, but the "New X-Men" one has serious potential and the Collective Man battle was good fun.  It's also great to see Dazzler in the mix.  She's always been one of my favorite X-Men; I hope we get to see some more of her, and not just as aging hipster comic relief.

X-Men #7:  OK, so, the whole "Curse of the Mutants" arc was interesting, but, God, it seemed to drag on and on forever.  (It didn't help that I pretty much wanted to smack Scott 90 percent of the time.)  This issue?  MUCH better.  It was clever and funny.  Plus, anything that adds Chris Bachalo AND Spider-Man to the mix makes me a happy camper.  I also almost liked Emma in this issue.  (Almost.)  If we could find a way to introduce Iceman, I'd have to take back almost all the bad things I've said about the X-books lately.  (Almost.)

New Comics! (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Avengers:  The Children's Crusade #4:  Ok, I love the Young Avengers.  I do.  I'd love them even if they didn't have the most functional gay couple depicted, like, anywhere in fiction.  The first few issues of this arc were great, because the Young Avengers are at their best when they're doing what adults tell them not to do.  But, here's the thing.  This series feels more like a companion series to what should be a much larger series, one detailing the return of the Scarlet Witch.  I mean, at the end of the day, we don't know that Billy and Tommy are the Witch's "spiritual" children, so it's still a little weird every time they're presented as such, no questions asked.  Plus, the bi-monthly format is really starting to get to me.  Is it really going to be a year before it's resolved?  At this point, given that the story is spinning its wheels a bit, I feel we probably could've had a six-issue monthly series and felt satisfied.  Hopefully Heinberg's got some great stuff in store.

Batman #706:  The latest installment in the "Hear No Evil/See No Evil/Speak No Evil" story arc is great.  I've really enjoyed this arc, because it's fleshing out Dick's cast of characters.  Catwoman, Catgirl, Robin, Peacock, I Ching, Sensei:  some old, some new, all awesome.  I loved Dick noting Damian's sudden interest in girls and Damian denying it in a perfectly adolescent way.  Their dynamic is the best part of "Batman and Robin" and I'm really glad to see Daniel keep it going in "Batman."  (Plus, can you imagine how much trouble a horny Damian could find?  The mind boggles.)  I liked how Dick defied Bruce by asking for Catgirl's help.  It shows that he's still running the show in Gotham and he'll do what he needs to do, even if it's not exactly what Bruce told him to do.  Like most Batman stories, I'm still a little lost with the plot mid-way through the arc, though I'm sure all will be revealed in the end.  I'm still not sure who actually walked into the antiques shop in issue #704 (I thought it was Sensei, but, based on his comments in this issue, I think he had already killed the proprietor before the shadowy figure arrived) and I'm still not sure how Dick knew to go to Prof. Sinnot's home in #705.  The Riddler connection is intriguing, and I hope we get to see some great Riddler/Robin banter in the next issue.  In other words, it's vintage Batman.

Batman: Streets of Gotham #19:  The "House of Hush" story arc continues here.  It's kind of been on a slow burn, and it doesn't get faster here.  The bulk of the story is a recollection by one of Judson Pierce's henchmen of his teenage encounter with the Joker.  It's a pretty good story, but I have to say that I'm ready for something to happen in this arc.  Despite being billed last issue as the primary feature, the "House of Hush" story actually took a back seat, page-wise, to the Ragman second feature (which doesn't appear in this issue at all), so it's been a while since something, you know, happened.

Dungeons & Dragons #3:  This series is seriously well written.  The characters are really well defined, despite the series only being three (well, four, including #0) issues into the run.  Rogers does an excellent job, for example, making Bree Three-Hands into a really fun character while, at the same time, setting up the possibility that she's going to sell the entire team down the river at some point.  The running jokes about Adric's poorly-laid plans haven't gotten old, and I'm always surprised how, at the end of the issue, Fell's Five find themselves in a worse position than they were at the end of the previous issue.  It's occasionally a little hard to follow what's happening, given how fast the action moves, but I'll forgive that just because the action is so well depicted.

Legion of Super-Heroes #9:  Um, I think I'm kind of done with the Legion.  I subscribed to the stand-alone comic based on the Legion back-up features during Superboy's run in "Adventure Comics."  But, I just ended "Adventure Comics" because I have no interest in the Legion Academy and I can't say the Durlan assassination plot is really all that interesting.  This storyline clearly could've been handled in one or two issues, rather than four or five.  Watching everyone just stand around the United Planets hall waiting for poorly-executed assassination attempts isn't exactly worth $2.99 a month, to my mind (nor, apparently, to Timber Wolf's).