Wednesday Reads 5/9; 5/16/17
Batman: White Knight #8
Like many comic endings, Sean Gordon Murphy’s conclusion to Batman: White Knight feels a bit too rushed, a little too neat, and with a final page begging for a sequel.
Tag: the wicked + the divine
Wednesday Reads 4/4/18
Batman #44
It’s the morning before the big day, and Catwoman decides to sneak out before sunrise to “borrow” herself a wedding dress. And as she “shops around,” she reminisces on her and Batman’s long journey to each-other.
While he’s snuck it into this arc before, King finally writes an issue entirely from Selina’s perspective on this whole crazy story. On how she’s experienced her transition from and back to and away from again a thief to Batman’s confidant and eventual wife. All the times that one of them has beaten the other, or reached out or protected the other. It’s sweet.
Comic Reviews 12/13/17
Mister Miracle #5
Scott and Barda spend their last day together in LA before his scheduled execution by Orion on New Genesis. The two visit the Walk of Fame, and Jack Kirby’s star specifically (unfortunately, not real 😦 ); make love, visit Oberon’s grave, go to Scott’s favorite deli, the carnival, the beach, and get stuck in lots of traffic. Scott doesn’t talk much, his longest continuous thought in this issue being an explanation of Descartes’ “cogito,” and Barda speaks less. Their dichotomy is made apparent, Scott wanting to make his last day with her special, while she’d prefer not to face it; as is their love for each-other. King writes these gods as human, but Gerads manages to inject one very evocative divine image into the issue that approaches dangerous levels of on-the-noseness. I also like to think he snuck in a visual reference to Fraction and Aja’s Hawkeye. This issue is the calm before the storm, heavy with portents, words still to be said, and actions against inevitability to be taken.
Comic Reviews 11/15/17
The Batman Who Laughs #1
This issue is easily a contender for most disturbing Batman story, so, congrats to the team on their accomplishment!
The Batman Who Laughs, the Dark Knight who leads the other Nightmare Batmans (Batmen?) finally tells a completely bandaged-up hostage who he is and how he came to be. Like the others, he was a Batman pushed too far, this time, pushed into finally killing the Joker after the latter’s most horrifying plan yet. But Joker had one last punchline to deliver – his death would release the most potent version of Joker Venom yet, but only enough to infect someone next to him at the time of death, in this case – Batman. And has Batman suffers the mind-warping effects of Jokerization, he becomes the most dangerous man in the dark multiverse, combining Bruce Wayne’s perfectly honed mental and physical abilities with Joker’s conniving creativity and complete disregard of ethics.
Comic Reviews for 10/11/17
Dark Nights: Metal #3
The heroes have lost. Barbatos has risen, and he and his dark knights have dominated the Earth, plugging people into giant towers that will power the planet’s descent into the Dark Multiverse.
Meanwhile, Superman has been dreaming – dreaming that he’s fought Barbatos dozens of times, and died dozens of times. But in one of those dreams, he won; and even though that one too ends with Barbatos’ ultimate victory, Clark hears Bruce – the real Bruce – calling out to him from the darkness.
Comic Reviews for 9/6/17
Batman #30
In which Kite-Man becomes the most sympathetic character in the DC universe.
With his son dead by Riddler’s hands, Charlie joins Joker’s side of the war just as Batman decides to throw in with Riddler. Things do not go well for Kite-Man.
Comic Reviews for 8/9/17
Mister Miracle #1
Mister Miracle is a masterpiece.
Which, is to be expected from Tom King and Mitch Gerads at this point in their shared and separate careers. What’s really impressive is how they keep raising the bar, and this first issue already has deeper characterization and a more intriguing plot than some entire runs.
Comic Reviews for 7/5/17
Batman #26
Having recovered from being stabbed, Riddler declares that he will kill the Joker. Joker demands Carmine Falcone to kill the Riddler before Riddler gets the chance. And the war begins in earnest, with Batman, for once, steps behind.
Comic Reviews 5/17/17
Secret Empire #2
The underground attempts to regroup after the attack on Las Vegas, but a rift in the group threatens to tear it apart. Meanwhile, the heroes trapped in Darkforce New York do their best to keep the city alive.
This is probably the most enjoyable issue of Secret Empire yet, if only because Steve is in it the least. Instead, we finally get heroes acting like heroes, or trying to given their circumstances. Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and other heroes do their best to protect New York from the demons that surround it while also working to prevent valuable limited resources from falling into the hands of Wilson Fisk. And in the Underground, Black Widow and Hawkeye argue over whether or not killing Captain America is on the table, and the possibility of any other way to victory.
Comic Reviews 4/12/17
Sam Wilson: Captain America #15
Sam gives up the title of Captain America, and Nick Spencer tries his hardest to make Sam say the words that would excuse this as totally not disappointing.
Waldville 