New Comics! (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Batman Incorporated #7:  OMG, I liked this issue!  No, really!  Crazy, right?  Morrison gives us a Native American Batman and Robin, and it's probably the strongest issue of this series.  He presents the plight of reservation life in a matter-of-fact way, avoiding the sermonizing, patronizing approach that usually accompanies such stories.  He portrays Man-of-Bats as a man who's unaware he's fighting a losing fight against crime (Bruce is going to love this guy) and shows (not lectures) how the lack of government presence made it easy for Leviathan to infiltrate the reservation.  Little Raven is a more reluctant and restless Robin than Dick, Jason, Tim, or Damian ever were, and his relationship with his father is poignant.  ("I'd kill to fight just one giant robot or master-villain...")  Burnham's art is great as always.  I would totally buy a series based on these two.  Thanks, Grant, for finally throwing us a bone!  On the larger Leviathan plot, the mystery deepens here, in the sense that at least one of Leviathan's goals (if not Leviathan's main goal) is taking down Bats.  Morrison's not going to give us an answer to that mystery anytime soon, so I'm glad he's now at least giving us enjoyable stories as he goes.

Detective Comics #878:  Not to put too fine of a point on it, but holy fucking homicidal maniac, Batman.  We'll get to that.  First things first, though.  The first 18 pages of this issue wrap up the storyline involving Tiger Shark and Sonia Branch.  Dick confronts Tiger Shark, a pretty-insane pirate who (allegedly) comes from a long line of pretty-insane pirates who seek to destabilize civilizations.  Tiger Shark manages to outwit Dick not once (capturing him in the first place), but twice (sabotaging the yacht after escaping).  One of my favorite moments of the issue is when Dick narrates his almost-unbelievable escape from Tiger Shark's yacht, observing (as he's swimming from an amazing depth to the surface) that he had been trained to be overcautious and, as such, boosted his oxygen levels before starting this "seafaring" mission.  It's a subtle nod to the past, and Snyder manages to convey in Dick's thoughts a sense of how hard Bruce drove him as a kid but also how much Dick owes him, and how Dick balances those two realities every day.  It's again a testament to Snyder's skill that he can do all that in just a few lines.  

The story switches gears when Dick meets James Gordon, Jr., something the Commissioner had previously asked him to do.  James has been volunteering at Leslie's clinic, and the two talk about the last time they saw one another, when a bully named Ben Wolff had stolen James' glasses.  During the conversation, Dick has an epiphany about the Branch case.  He confronts her later, correctly guessing that she had deleted the information on security tapes so that he would go after Roadrunner first then Tiger Shark, eliminating two of her enemies, despite the fact that Roadrunner had nothing to do with her assistant's death.  (By the way, this conversation occurs at Ms. Branch's rooftop pool, where she's clad only in her bikini.  Dick, man; he's a sucker for the troubled, hot girls.)  Snyder is an expert at portraying morally complicated people.  Sonia Branch used Batman to get two criminals off her back; she didn't really engage in serious criminal activity herself (other than a little obstruction of justice), but she shows a certain amorality in achieving her ends.  Moreover, I enjoy how no one really gets his or her comeuppance here.  Branch used Batman to scare off Tiger Shark, who was trying to get her to launder his money.  Tiger Shark escaped.  I'm not sure Bruce would've been manipulated this way, but it's why Snyder has such a great touch when it comes to being perhaps the only Bat-writer to remember Bruce isn't under the cowl.  Conversely, Bruce probably wouldn't have been able to let Branch walk.  Something about this issue just reminds you that Dick is playing a long game here, getting to know Gotham, getting to know how he fits.  He's careful and methodical while being loose and adaptable all at the same time.  I can't put my finger on exactly how we see it in his interaction with Sonia, but we do.  He doesn't feel the need to drag her to prison just to have a win, but he gets his point across nonetheless. 

Again, you'd think we'd be done.  However, Snyder doesn't stop here.  In the last two pages, we watch James go to Ben Wolff's house, pick up his mail, and enter his basement, where, we discover, he's been slowly removing Ben's limbs while keeping him alive.  Yup.  The question of whether or not James Gordon, Jr. is a sociopathic nut job has been answered, and it's a big ol' YES!  Snyder is just so brilliant when it comes to pacing a story, and I found my heart simply racing as James made his way through the silent house.  The reveal on the last page was made all the more amazing by Jock's depiction of James, making him reminiscent of his father, showing us in a way a weird, sick, twisted version of James Gordon, Sr.  I have no idea where Snyder is going with the James story, other than my previously voiced hunch that we're seeing the birth of a new Joker here.  Dick seems to see the evil in James, since the epiphany he had during their encounter was that people don't change, leading him to believe that Branch, the daughter of the man who killed his parents, was at heart a criminal.  As such, he probably doesn't buy James, Jr.'s rehabilitation.  I hope the reboot doesn't sweep James, Jr. under the rug.  Honestly, no one writes a better comic book than Scott Snyder, and someone should use this arc as a case study for how you write a comic-book series.  Simply amazing.  This issue is possibly the best one I've read all year and this arc is right up there with Snyder's "The Black Mirror" arc from a few issues ago.  Awesome.

Uncanny X-Men #539:  Part of the reason I don't like Wolverine stories is that they're all the same:  Logan is the tough guy who has to make the hard decisions, but he's also a soft touch who feels the pain of those decisions deeply.  This story is exactly that.  We learn that Logan is avoiding Hope because, if she goes "the bad way," if you will, Wolverine will be the one likely to have to kill her (see "Jean Grey").  His words also imply that he'd normally be drawn to her, in a way that he was similarly drawn to Kitty and Jubilee (hopefully in a non-gross way).  I don't disagree with Logan's assessment, really, but, at this point?  Yawn.  Gillen still manages to write an entertaining issue despite his two main characters being not exactly the fun sort.  But, let's just say I'm glad it's a single-issue story. 

Venom #4:  With each new issue, Remender tightens the noose around Flash's neck a little more, building an increasingly suffocating sense of doom.  The interesting part of this issue (and series so far) is that the symbiote isn't the only one making life complicated for Flash.  As Crime Master predicted, he neglects to tell the military that Crime Master knows his secret identity and he lies about losing control in the Savage Land.  Flash knows he's digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole, so much so that it's looking increasingly unlikely he's going to find a way to escape it.  However, beyond the intriguing moral decisions Flash has to make, this issue had some down notes.  I'm confused why General Dodge, who, after all, pushed the detonate button to kill Flash last issue, in the end decides to let him live.  He knows that, if Flash has in fact been infected by the symbiote, Flash is not going to be able to tell him that, so why does he take Flash's word that the symbiote was only in control for a short time in New York?  Moreover, how does Spidey totally ignore the duality of Venom, who on one hand wants to kill Betty and on the other hand is begging him to save her?  Peter doesn't realize that the symbiote has bonded with someone who's fighting for control?  Peter's a smart enough guy to realize the symbiote and the host are two different entities, so it's bizarre that he has absolutely no sympathy for the host, particularly since he has no idea who it is.  Remender has to tighten up that side of the story, particularly if the main theme of this series is going to be the moments when Flash loses control and the symbiote takes charge.

X-Men:  Prelude to Schism #4:  Anyone who reads this blog knows that Wolverine is pretty much my least favorite character ever, so it should come to no surprise that I liked this issue least of the series.  It's a tour of Wolverine's past, ground we've already seen covered pretty much everywhere else, so it doesn't really do much to contribute to the story.  We also don't learn the source of the threat that will be the focus of "Schism."  It's time to get this show on the road. 

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

Generation Hope #8:  For the first 9/10 of this book, Gillen gives us a fairly typical "Generation Hope" story, with the Lights supporting Hope in her efforts to get Teon to stay with them.  However, he throws what could be the curve ball of the year in the last 1/10, when Kenji and Laurie realize that Hope may well be sub-consciously (or consciously) forcing them to follow her.  Gillen has toed this line extremely well for the entire series, not losing sight of the fact that the other side of Hope's potential future is that she would kill millions of humans and give rise to the bleak future of Bishop.  (He also had previously given us a physical reminder of Hope's darker side when we see a flash of anger in her eyes as she fights with Cyclops and Evangeline about legal strategy.)  Gillen is creating a complicated character here and anyone who's dismissing this book as being a junior version of the X-Men is missing some really fascinating stuff.

Uncanny X-Men #538:  Wow.  This issue felt like three because around every page another plot twist brought the story somewhere I didn't expect it to go yet made perfect sense.  (OK, maybe not "perfect" sense when you reflect on it, but at least enough sense while reading it that the story flowed really well.)  Gillen has really crafted an intricate story that unfolds beautifully.  He clearly knew where it was going to end, so the issue didn't have the "plotting by the seat of his pants" feel that a lot of Fraction's stories seemed to have to me.  Moreover, it didn't just feel like a cheap way to render Kitty tangible, since Haleena's decision to sacrifice herself for Kitty is based on her need to save Kruun and the Breakworlders.  I had figured Kitty would somehow get back her powers thanks to Kruun's mutant "cure," but Gillen's way was a lot better.  (I will say that I'm not entirely sure why Haleena decided that only Kitty could stop Kruun and that it was worth sacrificing her life to make her tangible so she could do it.  I mean, presumably she could've just, I don't know, gotten Psylocke or something.  But, whatever, I've decided I buy it.)  I'm glad Gillen has wrapped up the Kitty storyline because I think it's high time we get to see Colossus and her just enjoy being together (as Kitty suggests on the last page).  Gillen has portrayed their relationship better than anyone I've ever read and I'm really excited to see where he takes them.  This arc rocked and I continue to be thrilled with Gillen's stewardship of one of Marvel's flagship titles.

X-Factor #221:  Seriously, I heart this story.  I heart everything about this story.  Shatterstar and Wolfsbane fighting off demons set on stealing Rahne's baby?  Awesome.  Rahne letting Shatterstar sneak a peak at her naked?  Awesome.  Feral NOT cheesily being returned from the dead but instead being a creepy ghost who keeps appearing creepily and creepily helping the demons find Rahne?  Awesome.  Madrox reading "Sybil?"  Awesome.  Getting resolution on Pip's mysterious benefactor (huh, I hadn't seen a "Great Expectations" connection there before writing that)?  Awesome.  "X-Factor" continues to be one of my favorite books right now and, if you're not reading it, you should be.

X-Men #13:  This story continues to be split between past and present.  In the present, we get some background on the Evolutionaries in the form of one of the Evolutionaries expositing their story to someone (though, to whom, I'm not entirely sure).  We learn they were created by an Eternal to help species set to become dominant evolve (though I thought in an earlier issue we established that the Eternals had washed their hands of this job, since they were tasked by the Celestials with containing the Deviant threat and nothing more).  Meanwhile, the X-Men continue trying to defend Cyclops from the Evolutionaries, who view him as responsible, as leader of the mutants, for the reduced number of mutants in the world and want to eliminate him.  In the past, Magneto has accepted the Evolutionaries charge to eliminate homo sapien.  I can't say either plot -- the X-Men defending Cyclops or Magneto accepting the Evolutionaries' task -- is particularly interesting, since neither really advances all that much from where it was at the end of last issue.  However, it's not what Yost does here that's interesting, but what he seems poised to do, which is seriously flesh out the history of several major characters.  First, I'm intrigued by the Scarlet Witch sending the past X-Men to find Emma Frost, since it implies that the Evolutionaries' appearance was the cause of (or at least contributed to) Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch breaking with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.  Second, we seem poised to delve into Emma Frost's back story, something that I don't think we've ever really been given all that extensively.  In the present, we seem on the verge of Magneto remembering his dealings with the Evolutionaries, with Emma warning Iceman that he may indeed get a chance to fight Magneto as a result.  Despite some of questions I have about the Evolutionaries and their origin, Yost has done a great job of building up the suspense in this issue, even if we don't really end with a change to the status quo.  I can honestly say I can't wait to see what happens next issue.  (I have no idea who the crew that appeared at the end of the issue were, so I'm hoping to get some clarity on that, too.  Also, the Storm/Magneto splash page was FANTASTIC.)

X-Men:  Prelude to Schism #3:  Jenkins continues the pattern of previous issues of framing this issue around Cyclops seeking advice from an advisor, this time, from his dead mother.  It's an interesting conceit, and it gives us insight into Cyclops' emotions that I can't say I've ever really seen.  Moreover, it pointed out something that had never dawned on me, that Cyclops -- despite being leader of the X-Men -- can't actually control his power.  Even more interestingly, Jenkins also calls into question whether Cyclops can't do so because of the concussion he suffered when he parachuted from the plane with Alex when they were children or simply because he hasn't focused enough on controlling it, raising the hint of the possibility that Cyclops could go the way of Rogue and actually learn how to control his power without his visor.  Other than this possibility, the issue doesn't really cover that much ground, leaving us to wonder what threat exactly the X-Men are facing.

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

Generation Hope #7:  Gillen continues to do a great job with these characters, really hitting the nail on the head when it comes to conveying them as ordinary kids who just happen to have super-powers.  I enjoyed that Hope, the Great Messiah, was completely unable to convince the Fetus that life didn't suck.  It's nice to see that she can't solve all the problems the Lights encounter.  Similarly, Laurie's recitation of facts about Germany's excellent education system and highly-progressive work hours and vacation allowances was funny, as was Kenji telling the kid he couldn't really help him.  The ending is cute, keeping with the light-hearted nature of the stories we've seen so far.  Gillen isn't sending the kids against Mr. Sinister in these stories (though I'm sure those days are coming) but he manages to keep me interested, giving us an interesting meditation on life without being overly expository or lecture-y.  All in all, I continue to be pleasantly surprised by this series. 

X-Men:  Prelude to Schism #1-#2:  OK, so I don't know anyone who doesn't have event fatigue, a feeling made worse for me by the pretty awful "Chaos War" and isn't being helped by the somewhat meandering "Fear Itself."  But, that being said, these issues of "Prelude to Schism" were actually pretty interesting.  We see the X-Men facing an unnamed threat that could wipe out Utopia (it could possibly be Bastion, I think), but waiting for Cyclops to make some sort of decision.  Cyclops, meanwhile, is given advice by Professor X (in the first issue) and Magneto (in the second one), both of whom spend most of the issues reflecting on their own failures of leadership and their relationships with Scott.  Although it could've been done cloyingly, Jenkins actually handles it superbly.  He's got a real skill for portraying emotions without inducing eye-rolling, a talent that I wish more comic-book writers had.  I'm excited to see where this event is going, which, honestly, I don't think I've ever been able to say before, at least not recently. 

Uncanny X-Men #537:  This issue starts off angry and just keeps getting angrier.  Gillen really builds the suspense here, giving the issue an awesome Hitchcockian vibe as Kitty wordlessly and frantically stumbles through Utopia seeking someone to save Peter.  I'm going to have to re-read last issue, because I'm not entirely sure why Kruun's knife can magically injure a phased Kitty (maybe it's coated with the cure?) or the significance of Haleena striking what looks like the M'Kraan crystal.  But, seeing Peter in his underwear more than compensates for those questions.  I really like what Gillen continues to do with this book, because he never takes the easy road.  When the Breakworlders appeared a few issues ago, I didn't think we'd see the X-Men on the ropes like we do here.  I'm excited to see how it all resolves itself, because it's anyone's guess at this point.

X-Factor #219:  The General Ryan mystery arc wraps up here in a fairly dark way.  Monet shatters Ballistique's mind, but decides to allow her to live.  JJJ, Jr. is sleazy as ever, revealing that he had held back information from the team.  Layla leaves Guido's hospital room in tears when it's revealed that Guido is, indeed, probably soulless, given that he's talking about the "weight" he feels has been lifted off him.  Unfortunately, despite a lot happening, I can't say I particularly liked this arc.  JJJ, Jr. and the Black Cat seemed more or less oddly wedged into it, distracting from the story .  Monet, Shatterstar, and Wolfsbane also all seemed particularly blood-thirsty here, which isn't exactly out of character for any of them (and understandable given the Guido situation), but it felt little over-the-top at times to me.  Honestly, I'm looking forward to putting this arc behind us.

X-Men Giant Size #1:  Um, OK, I bite.  Wow.  My heart sank when I saw that the Neo were (at first glance) the enemy in this issue, because, after rummaging around my mind a bit, I remembered that it was the terrible Neo stories in "Uncanny X-Men" that partially led me to give up the X-books entirely.  So, I was a bit nervous as I continued reading, despite the fact that I actually found myself enjoying the first few pages.  The art was impressive, and Yost did a great job of giving us an epic battle without the action getting convoluted because of the significant number of characters involved.  Then, just when I was coming to the conclusion that maybe Yost was rehabilitating the Neo as not totally ridiculous villains, we get transported into the past, where we see the original X-Men fight the Brotherhood of Mutants.  (I wasn't as impressed with the art here.  I know they're going for a retro style but I think this section would've been even better if Medina had just done the whole issue.)  Despite feeling like a non-sequitur, the battle between the young X-Men and the Brotherhood was enjoyable.  Just when I'm wondering why exactly we're given this trip down memory lane, though, BAM, we get the Evolutionaries appearing and all Hell breaks loose.  Yost foreshadows the events that are about to happen by giving us a scared Cyclops, something I now realize I don't think we've ever seen before, at least not to the extent we see here.  The reason behind Cyclops' fear becomes readily apparently when the Evolutionaries wipe out the Neo.  When I say "wipe out," I mean, "destroy totally."  All of them.  Yost really shines here, giving us a story that slowly reveals itself to great effect, culminating in a spectacular cliff-hanger that leaves me counting the days until "X-Men" #12.

X-Men Legacy #249 (Age of X Epilogue):  This issue is a bit...odd.  Magneto takes Rogue to a museum of the Holocaust in Los Angeles to show her a photo of a man he killed after the war.  The man was a scientist who experimented on Jews held in the concentration camp where Magneto spent time as a child, and Magneto forced him to hang himself lest Magneto injure his family.  He relates this "parable" to Rogue because, to his mind at least, it has something to do with her conflicting emotions about him and Remy and tells her to choose Remy.  I'm still not entirely sure what it means, though.  Is he saying he'll kill Remy if he hurts Rogue or something less sinister?  However, we never really get resolution, because the issue then turns to Frenzy and Legion.  Carey is, I believe, building toward creating the permanent team for this series -- Professor X, Magneto, Rogue, Gambit, Legion, and Frenzy -- but I think he tries to do too much here.  I didn't really buy that Magneto would take Rogue all the way to Los Angeles just to show her a photo, and, again, I'm not even sure what the parable really meant.  At any rate, we'll see what he has in store for issue #250 next month.  Hopefully it'll wrap up the post-"Age of X" stories and move us into the new status quo.