The
news coming out of DC – or rather about
DC, 'cause DC themselves are being rather mum except with excited
“great news” type damage-control announcements that invariably
turn out to be premature or not the whole story at all – seems
dominated these days by continuing word of chaos among DC editorial.
The most disconcerting came within a handful of days just this past
week (I'm starting this on 25 March) was that Andy Diggle is leaving
Action
Comics
after only one issue as Grant Morrison's successor. Since Diggle's
announced plans and vision for the greatest super-hero of them all
seemed a step in the right direction, this is bad enough. Worse was
the corollary news that Tony Daniel was to take over writing the
title as well as art. The anguished “NOOOOOOO” you may have
heard mid-week was me. Daniel is a decent artist. His writing in
the New 52 has invariably sucked, and frankly before that was seldom
more than adequate. Yeah, I couldn't wait to see Action
Comics
end up looking like the first year or so of Detective
Comics.
A
couple of days to contemplate that bleakness was followed by the
announcement that, no, Daniel won't be lasting but a three-issue arc
then moving on to a preplanned, “major” project. No word that
I've seen so far as to what Action
Comics
might look like four months hence ....
During
roughly the same period came word that Joshua Hale Fialkov, whose
writing I've really liked on the just-ending I,
Vampire
would not
be taking over Green
Lantern Corps
– because editorial sucker-punched him with the mandate that John
Stewart die. Fialkov walked and made no secret why. Whereupon DC
crawfished and announced that there are currently “no plans” to
kill off John Stewart.
See?
Chaos. Do those people have a clue? It's ultimately quite
disturbing, especially with rumors coming out of Bleeding
Cool
of other lame stunts under consideration – “Villains Month” in
which, e.g., Batman
#24 would be renamed “Joker
#24” for that month only; mass cancellation of sixteen titles to be
replaced by four weekly titles. And how is that last supposed to
help?
Morons.
The only thing to do is sit back, not
think about that kind of stuff, just read and enjoy what we're
getting … where it's enjoyable. Some's getting a little marginal
on that score, though.
On to the comics....
“The
Tower of Fate: Prologue – The Man Who Was Scared”
The introduction to the New 52 Dr. Fate.
Somehow this issue seemed a bit more “in your face” with the fact
that these are markedly younger versions of the Justice of Society
heroes, which is quite jarring given that their role all my life has
been as the elder statesmen of the DC Universe (originally, of the
Multiverse). Maybe it was that Jay Garrick's mother certainy does
not look old enough to be his mother. She looked more like his girl
friend.
Umm, creators, please be aware that “New
Orleans” is not swampland with isolated shacks. You don't have to
go far from the city, granted, but a better caption would have been
just that, e.g. “Near New Orleans” or a general “South
Louisiana.”
“Raid”
Raiders
attempt to steal
back
tech that Karen Starr stole from Michael Holt. Yeah, Helena looks
just as shocked that Karen's a thief as you
do.
“Superman
and the Fiend from Dimension 5”
/ “Goodbye”
Another
“all timey-wimey” issue, to use the Doctor's term. Man I'm going
to miss Grant Morrison, with much less prospect of continuing
greatness than I thought even a week ago (see above). A touching new
twist on the death of the Kents, and the Adult Legion of Super-Heroes
continues to be right in the middle of everything. But once again,
as has happened a couple times already, ultimately the best part of
the issue was the quieter back-up by Sholly Fisch, in which adult
Clark gets to say a proper goodbye to Pa Kent. DC
– your new writer for Action
Comics
is right here!
– or if not “Action”
Comics,
since he excels at quieter stories (although he might do just fine
with more slam-bang too), at least put him on some other title,
preferably Superman-related.
“Worlds
Most Dangerous, Chapter One”
The
one with the 52 alternate covers, one for each of the states plus
Puerto Rico and DC. Of which I got three: Louisiana, Texas, and
Mississippi. In retrospect, I wish I'd also plunked down a little
for the really low population states. I bet there weren't that many
of those printed, and they may
end up being worth something in future.
Well,
it's a workmanlike first issue. But no more than that. Basically,
Amanda Waller (someone on the Internet refers to her as “Slimfast
Waller”) and Steve Trevor negotiating to set up a team, with little
illustrative character vignettes about their various candidates. And
Green Arrow is almost killed on some secret mission. After a page
basically recycled from Justice
League
#1.
Altogether unmemorable. Frankly, this
issue did not do its job, and were I buying these things as they came
out, there was nothing to bring me back for the next issue. DC are
lucky I'm on a pre-order system and have already essentially
purchased at least the next two issues.
I've
still not come across a stars-and-bars faux-variant
of the cover.
“The
Pursuit of Happiness” / “Doctor's Orders”
This
is what Detective
Comics
ought to be – Batman the Detective.
Bravo!
The best issue of the series.
With
an insightful statement (by the villain) regarding Arkham Asylum:
“You
know, Gotham is probably the only city on the planet where criminals
don't
want to be found guilty by reason of insanity.
/ I've
seen Arkham. I know
what goes on in there. I'll take Blackgate any day over that place.”
Too bad the doctor's orders say otherwise....
“H'El
on Earth: Lost Cause!”
“This
world has plenty of hope
–
/
–
and his name is SUPERMAN!”
So proclaims Superboy,
showing just how much kinder this story has been to him than to
Supergirl. This story really signifies his emergence as a hero.
Earlier in the issue, his inner'logue while standing with Superman
and Wonder Woman: “I
got dragged into this mess against my will
– / –
and was swept up by the momentum of the moment.
/ The
time has finally come for me to take an active stand – //
–
for my world
and myself!”
But
at least you can
see the pain in Supergirl as she continues to be deceived by H'El.
On some level she has to know that she is being played, even if she
won't let herself believe it.
“Death
of the Family, Conclusion: The Punchline”
When, oh when is Bruce going to learn
that keeping secrets from the family is not a good thing? Because
this time the Joker has succeeded in breaking the bond of trust which
had to have existed, and I'm not sure how this is going to play out
going forward. There is a nice scene between Bruce and Alfred, but
his relationship with the rest of the family is going to take
rebuilding.
Granted,
I'm thinking
that in the end it's revealed that the Joker never made it into the
Cave all those years back, but how did the Joker discover all their
identities? – Or did he? – It sure seems to me like the
narrative depends on him knowing. But I do
not
think that Bruce really knows the Joker's true identity – I think
he was turning the tables on him, tormenting him as he tormented
them.
There
is an interesting incorporation of the old chemical symbol for
Hahnium (Element 105, now known as Dubnium)
into the story as a component of the Joker's new blend. That has to
have some lingering effects on the Bat-family.
Of course, there's no way the Joker is
really gone.
“Life
is But a Dream”
Basically, a series of nightmares
experienced by Damian, Bruce, and Alfred. Alfred's ends with a smile
after he blows the Joker's head clean off with his trusty shotgun.
It all culminates with a dream that Damian finally does not want to
wake up from, himself and his father doing what they do best through
the Gotham night to sun-up.
“Endure
the Flame”
This
title briefly gets a new writer, a result of the Gail Simone faux
pas
on the part of DC a few months ago (see here at “Holy Boomerang, Batman!”).
Immediately apparent is a totally different tone to Barbara's
inner'logue – not bad, just different. Babs' efforts to bring in
the Joker's fugitive henchmen are punctuated by James Junior's
attempts to torment Barbara and their mother, and the advent of
Firebug.
“Throne
of Atlantis, Chapter Five”
The
conclusion, in which Arthur confronts Orm, defeating him and
reclaiming the throne of Atlantis, which leads to a tearful parting
from Mera. And the war is over. The Trench are driven back.
Vulko's motivation is frankly pathetic – basically to screw things
up so bad that Arthur will have
to take back the throne. Nonetheless, I do find this the most
enjoyable arc of a frankly disappointing series that should be much
better than it is. I'm sure it's because I'm more predisposed to
like it because it's Aquaman-centric.
By
the way, regardless of the issues' release dates, the end of this
story is chronologically prior to Justice
League of America
#1. Time was, as recently as a couple of years ago, release dates
would be a good guide to chronology – not perfect, but now it seems
to have little or no relevance.
Hey,
no “Shazam!”
I didn't miss it.
“H'El on Earth: Girl vs. Goddess”
Kara
gets whupped by Wonder Woman but finally
sees the truth, that she has been cruelly manipulated by H'El, that
their actions are dooming
Earth in hopes of saving Krypton.
So
what is up with the sudden appearance of the symbol on H'El's chest?
She reacts to it. Is it something that he had been consciously
hiding from her? – That's the most obvious answer, but if so why
does he so quickly cave by revealing it? Or, could it be that it was
always there but we were seeing what she
was seeing, that she was so enthralled by him that she refused
to see what was staring her in the face.
Kind of like H'El's overall plan.
“World's
Finest V: Mercy”
Man, that title still grates on me a bit.
“World's Finest” are Superman and Batman, or at least a pairing
of representatives from those respective families. Not a Bat- or a Super- and Wonder Woman.
This is the conclusion of this arc. With
the breaking of the spell and the Perseus-like defeat of Medusa, Ceto
appears – but not as a monster, rather as a woman freed from the
ages-long stigma of monstrosity. Batwoman convinces Wonder Woman to
spare Ceto, and apparently Diana gets another hanger-on. I wonder if
that will be in any way reflected anywhere outside this book. The
abducted kids also reappear and Batwoman is able to lead them to
Maggie, whereupon she reveals her identity and asks her shocked lover
to marry her. Oh yeah, we find out that Bette's new code name is
Firehawk.
So the issue of homosexual marriage
appears here, too. It was inevitable. I do feel compelled to say a
couple of things. First off, at the near-certain risk of being
denounced as a bigot, homophobe, general all-around awful person, I
make no pretense that I find that behavior acceptable as a
“life-style choice.” It is not part of my Judaeo-Christian,
traditional Roman Catholic heritage. Nor has the pretense of
homosexual “marriage,” contrary to the claims of some dubious
“historians” in the past couple of decades, ever been an accepted
societal institution in at least five thousand years of civilization.
Yes, I support “traditional marriage” – let the insults begin.
Having
said which, am I going to reactionarily drop this book? No. I've
addressed this issue before, although perhaps not so bluntly.
Batwoman
is one of the finest comics being published today. The characters
are well-developed, the art is amazing if sometimes overly complex.
The misfire of issues #6-11 notwithstanding – a story-structural
experiment gone horribly wrong – it never fails to enthrall me.
These characters seem real,
with all their human (and super-human) heroism and failings. Sin is
part of the human condition. We are called to love the sinner while
hating the sin. It's not just a cliché – it's a mandate. And, as
I've said before, unless and until this book transforms into nothing
more than basically a piece of homosexual propaganda, as long as the
quality remains, I'm staying. Her sexual orientation is simply part
of Kate Kane's fascinating, tortured character.
And I do wonder what Maggie's answer is
going to be.
“Heartstopper”
Whew!, Starling is okay. But Strix
perceives quickly that something is up with Black Canary, and
ultimately Canary tells her a little – that it's always been
related to her husband Kurt Lance, but she doesn't understand it now
because Kurt is dead …. We also learn that Starling is a plant by
Amanda Waller, spying on the Birds of Prey – which tracks with an
unfortunate rumor I've come across, that Starling is soon going to be
moving over to Waller's own team, the Suicide Squad. I don't buy
that book. I may have to start. Damnit, DC, I'm not made of money.
You know, after the implosion of this
book with the advent of Ann Nocenti, I couldn't even bring myself to
read this issue.
Moving on....
“The
Long Week”
Why is Nightwing beating up on Valiant's
X-O Manowar on the cover?
Dick
uncharacteristically broods over the Joker's contention that his
trusting nature makes him weak, until Damian of all people talks some
sense into his head. There are some ironic parting words from
Damian: “...
Assuming you survive the rest of the week …”
Why does Babs call Dick “Richard”?
Does it signify a new distance between the characters? Or just that
this issue seemed a bit off in characterization?
“Don't
Let the Door Hit You On the Way Out!”
Is that title a metatextual comment by
Lobdell? He's on his way out as writer, right?
This
issue is maybe most notable from the perspective of someone always
looking for how the various series fit together as introducing a big
chronological impossibility, because despite Jason's “memory”
here, there's no way the Batman,
Incorporated
arc that's in process, where he takes the identity of “Wingman,”
could possibly take place before Death
of the Family
and this issue. Lobdelllll!
Anyway, Jason has a lot of seemingly
out-of-character interactions with his fellow Bats … yes, he seems
to be back within the fold … before unexpectedly falling victim to
the Joker's parting shot, a sabotaged red helmet.
“The
Beginning of the End”
I
do not
like that title and its implications. I was recently astonished –
and depressed – to see that this book is languishing well below the
conventional-wisdom minimum for viability as a DC mainstream ongoing
title, 20,000 copies per month. Well
below. And there are rumors of major changes to come. Most notably,
the conversion of the Legion as a future version of the Justice
League. What the hell does that even mean? Other than it won't be
my
Legion.
Anyway, this, what turns out to be Keith
Giffen's one-issue return to the title as partner to Paul Levitz, is
a predictably wild and crazy thing. I had my doubts. I always am
tentative on whether I want Giffen anywhere near the Legion – he's
as likely to give into insanity and produce genius (kind of like
Brainiac 5, there, come to think of it). But here it works, in
spades. When they are at their best, there is a unique synergy
between Giffen and Levitz in which, pardon the cliché, the whole is
more than the sum of the parts. Even Giffen's affected Kirbyesque
art, which I usually find less than appropriate for the Legion, is
entirely appropriate given the centrality of the Promethean Giants to
this story.
But,
oh, Giffen, what are we going to do with you? I bet everyone was
(and still should be) worried about Karate Kid, but I think it's
clear ever since your “Five Years Later” run twenty years ago
that you have something against Sun Boy too. I'm not sure you were
still around on that run when he suffered the final indignity of
fatal radiation poisoning and euthanasia, followed by reanimation, if
I recall in some kind of zombiesque fashion. But you were
the one who made him the United Planets' bitch
which led to his discrediting and disgrace as a collaborator with the
Dominators, if I recall correctly. At least here he doesn't go
through any of that – just a sudden … is "decapitation" the word? –
it looks like his head is literally obliterated.
In
spirit, his sudden death successfully landing a crashing ship so that
his passengers survive, reminds me of nothing more than Wash's
untimely end in Joss Whedon's Firefly
movie, Serenity.
“Throne
of Atlantis, Epilogue”
Epilogue? – it's as much a Prelude to
what comes next. Again, the shameless decompression via wasted
pages. It ain't like they've got that many! So why essentially
waste the whole first page?
Anyway, Aquaman the King still finds
himself trapped between worlds. The New 52 Sea Devils are introduced
as eco-terrorists. Arthur has a seemingly sympathetic conversation
with Amanda Waller – seemingly, because as soon as he dives below
the waves, she orders a strike team to bring Mera in. Huh? – Why?
Reluctantly separated by circumstances, that cannot but piss Aquaman
off … royally.
Or maybe this is the start of an arc that
will see Mera recruited by Waller for the Justice League of America
or some other of her “projects.”
“H'El
on Earth, Conclusion: Fury at World's End”
Okay,
there's the Oracle, front and center on the cover. But what was the
purpose
of the Oracle for all that buildup?
This
is an overall satisfactory ending to a so-so story. At least
Supergirl belatedly came to her senses and is instrumental in
defeating H'El, through an act of self-sacrifice that I hope
has her resistance to accepting Earth as her new home almost
literally burned out of her. Ultimately, I hope
this arc is for her, as for Superboy, a catalyst for emerging
heroism. If so, it was a worthy story, even if it was ultimately not
told very well.
“The
Boy Wonder Returns”
Well,
this story was spoiled – by DC itself – weeks ago. Even if I
were picking comics up weekly and thus got it pretty much as quickly
as I could have, rather than waiting until the end of the month
(which in this case, wasn't long since my it was released near the
end of the month anyway), the effect would have been robbed utterly.
It's an unfortunate effect of today's Internet-driven intense news
cycles, compounded by DC's desperate need to keep some new Big Thing
hitting virtually every
day.
Whatever, it's annoying.
Of
course, this issue has the … brutal
… death of Damian. Damn. I'm going to miss that snot-nosed little
pecker. We do get at least a few good character moments between him
and Dick, most notably just before they head into the climactic fray:
“This
is our last chance to prevent a catastrophe.
/ Are you with
me, Nightwing?
/ The odds are completely
against us.” – “When did we
ever let something like that
get in the way? / Robin the Boy Wonder, Damian.”
– “So
far I'd say you've been my favorite
partner. / We were the best,
Richard. / No matter what anyone thinks.”
Damian Wayne, R.I.P.
“Churning”
At
some unspecified time, but presumably soon after the end of Death
of the Family
because Nightwing is still vocally resentful of the Joker incident,
we see that Batman is aware of Calvin Rose and is investigating.
In the main story, we get a bit of a nice
interlude with Calvin, Casey, and Sarah in hiding, but almost living
as a family completely with Sebastian who seems to have a way with
kids, then the war is back on with an attack on Casey's father's
island, now the center of the Owls' security. The Butcher is still
on Calvin's trail.
“Sweet
Obsession”
You
know, I still don't see the need for a third Batman-solo title in
continuity with nothing really to distinguish it from the others. Is
there, really, any reason this story could not be told in Batman
except that Snyder is working wonders there? But I must say, I keep
swinging back and forth on Dark
Knight
in recent issues. I actually kind of like all aspects of this issue,
especially a bit more in-your-face dry humor.
There's
no real indication that I can see in the pages as to when this takes
place relative to the events of Batman,
Incorporated
#8.
“The
Death of Magic, Part 3: Prisoners of Epoch”
The Hunter goes to war … while Dad
comes from our world to give him a vital message. The issue picks up
a bit from last time, but it's still not that interesting a story
line. I am liking Frankenstein here, especially how an element of
the story is how out of place he is in a magic-based book.
“Grey
Matters: A Prologue to A Tale of Light and Dark”
So.
Did the trauma of what ever the Joker did to him lay Tim open to
being possessed, perhaps by Trigon since Raven is coming in (looking
absolutely stupid), and
make
him schizophrenic/bipolar as well as at least able to trilocate on
top of being a horndog snogging Solstice and Wonder Girl at
the same time?
So it seems to me, at least. It's not really clear. At least the
Barrows art is a notch up.
DIGITAL
I,
Vampire
#17
“Title”
To be added.
“Title”
It's sad that these Gray-Palmiotti “New
52” reimagined versions of the old Quality stable of characters are
languishing at the bottom of the sales list. I generally like the
“Freedom Fighters.” True, the Human Bomb never was my favorite,
and here of the three titles (five characters [?]) so reintroduced he
remains my least favorite, but after the first issue I found this a
pretty good series and I'd like to see more, including at least a
culminating “Freedom Fighters” team mini-series. I doubt that's
in the cards, though.
Still
the place to go for the closest thing you're going to get to
“old-fashioned” Superman
action. Really seems strange to say it given it comes out of the
Smallville
continuity, but there it is.
It
is so cool how much of Superman
lore is incorporated, refashioned, or alluded to here … even,
visually at least, “Electric-Blue Superman” from the '90s. Not
an incarnation of Superman I got (either literally or
philosophically), but it is nonetheless part of the rich heritage of
the character. I've seen the name of Bryan Q. Miller bandied about
on message boards as an unlikely writer for Action
Comics,
and I could live with that if he could handle that job and
continuing this masterful series.
Cheers! – and thanks for reading!
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