The Week of June 29 Review

On the whole comics have been a little thin on content lately. Not saying stuff is horrible, but just thin. Of course the sad losing streak my Orioles have been in make my mood and a view a little darker, the impending DCU re-launch has caused many DC books to be filler running to artificial endings at times, but I still think in general comics have been off. One thing recently that I have found and enjoyed is a blog by Jim Shooter, who has been around and centrally involved in comics for the last 40 plus years. It is great stuff and probably as accurate an account of the events he was involved in as you will ever see. Click here to check it out.

This week DC swept all the books I want to talk about. Two Flashpoints, two Batman titles and one from Vertigo, Scott Snyder being associated with three of them is not a coincidence regarding their quality.

Flashpoint Green Arrow Industries #1 (of 3) – Writer Pornsak Pichetshote, Pencils Castillo & Guarra, Inks Acunza and Jose.

What I Liked – The pace of this Flashpoint stories are terrific. We jump right in and just move forward full steam ahead. Ollie is an arms dealer and is imitating a basketball player by having a lot of kids out of wedlock with various women. His base of operations is attacked and it turns out one of the attackers whom he fights is his daughter. She dies and of course you can see the writing on the wall that Ollie will now change.

What I Didn’t Like – It is pretty generic art and the story has an obvious ending of Ollie becoming the same save the whales Robin Hood character DC has made his for the last 20 years. Boring

Overall – I read a book about Green Arrow I enjoyed. Since it is Flashpoint and you can do anything I would have preferred Ollie just remain the same cavalier bastard he was portrayed as in the start of the book, do something different for these stories like many of the books are doing. I have a feeling the next two issues will be total filler type material.

Flashpoint Project Superman #1 (of 3) – Co-Plotter Scott Snyder & Lowell Francis, Script Lowell Francis, Art Gene Ha

What I Liked – Gene Ha on art. It has been awhile and I miss his work. Certainly not his strongest work, but quality work nonetheless. This was a nice twist on the super man type of story, where the government manufacturers a “Super” man and then fear their own creation. We have seen a lot of great stories about this theme with The Mighty, Irredeemable and others. This story adds a great moment with Kal-El’s rocket ship hitting earth and blowing up Metropolis at the same time as the endpoint of the first part.

What I Didn’t Like – The story almost moved too quickly and therefore I was left wanting more exploration of the breakdown in the relationship of Lt. Sinclair and General Lane.

Overall – An exciting start to a three issue mini-series that with Frankenstein look to be the best of what are for the most part fun books.

American Vampire #16 – Writer Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque

What I Liked – The story just moves and flows so easily. Snyder’s comics are often some of the easiest reads in the business. I also feel like each book could be read by anyone coming into the story and they could pick up the gist of the main story with no problem. Henry making a bargain with Skinner to break out of the Japanese prison camp was great and Pearl coming to the rescue was also very well done. Rafael’s art continues to impress.

What I Didn’t Like – The backup pushing the current Vertigo crime novel causes the feel of the book to be off. I thing I’m coming close to the end and in fact the issue is over.

Overall – This is one of the top ten series on the stands and is consistently a great read and strong art.

Batman Inc. #7 – Writer Grant Morrison, Art Chris Burnham

What I Liked – Burnham’s art makes this book so much better, I’m very glad DC has signed him to an exclusive. The Man of Bat’s story was also a good one as we see he is fighting to make his home a better place and his son, who acts as his Robin, wants to fight the big menaces. Bruce is still gathering his troops as Leviathan begins to attack his army.

What I Didn’t Like – Knowing this series is going on hiatus and then coming back as Grant has to incorporate some of the changes from the soft reboot. A good story is a good story and I wish DC just left this book alone. At least it is not being cancelled.

Overall - This is a cool concept, but the pace of it coming together has taken too long. Still I’m enjoying the ride, especially with Burnham on art.

Detective Comics #878 – Writer Scott Snyder, Art Jock

What I Liked – The story, the art.

What I Didn’t Like – That Dick as Batman is ending.

Overall – The best super hero book on the stand. Not a word or panel is wasted. I hear the sales on this book are climbing and that DC planned for Dick to not be Batman for a very long time, but this should be the exception to the rule. Scott has made Dick a unique hero and Jock’s art has made both the fantastic and the creepy work in this book. From jumping out of a Killer Whale’s mouth, to sexual tension with Sonya and to a dismembered person being tortured, every element works. DC has stated they want most of their heroes set back in time so they are not as infallible as they often appear today. With Dick as Batman we have a man who is believable as a hero, yet one not as accomplished as Bruce Wayne. Furthermore allowing characters to age can cause them to be more fallible as time progresses. Still I have been a fan long enough to know that I will enjoy these type of runs when I can and worry about the next book another day.

Well that is a wrap for this week. Have a safe and happy Fourth today. My list for this week Adventure, Batman & Robin, Flashpoint, Flashpoint Abin Sur, Flashpoint Batman, Flashpoint World of, Flashpoint Secret Seven, First Wave HC (hopefully), House of Mystery, Infinity Inc. Volume 1 HC, Izombie, Jonah Hex, Northlanders TP, Sage of Swamp Thing Vol 5 HC, Secret Six, Superboy, Sweet Tooth, Titans Annual, Fear Itself, Hulk, Thunderbolts, Chew, Dr. Solar, Godzilla and Locke & Key Volume 4 HC.

So I keep looking for a good sign off line and I found this in Gaelic, being half Irish I feel justified, “Go n-ithe an cat thú is go n-ithe an diabhal an cat”. Which translates to “May the cat eat you, and may the cat be eaten by the devil”. It is said to be an Irish curse, I like it.

Uncanny X-Men 141-142

Well, it's supposed to be The List today, but it's another short turn-around from the last Wednesday to the first Sunday, and on top of that I have jury duty on June 30, so The List will have to wait a week. I know, you're heartbroken, but the love will return.

Instead, I'll talk about this classic two issue story from 1980-1981. Being in rural PA I was dependent on luck in finding comics at convenience stores if I didn't get a subscription. Back then I was mostly reading Amazing Spider-man and The Incredible Hulk, but on the advice of the only other known comic book reader in sixth grade, I got a subscription to Uncanny X-Men. My subscription started with issue 143, though, so I later worked backward to get these two issues, entitled "Days of Future Past", and some others going back a couple years (which I'll look at later).

As I mentioned in another posting, for me this was the start of all the dystopian future stories that have since become predominant in super hero comics. Too bad most have not lived up to its standard.

The story is nicely straightforward, which is hard to believe about an X-Men story now. Kitty Pryde, all of 13 and just recently arrived for training with the X-Men, has a crush on Colossus, is afraid of Nightcrawler's appearance, and is a sort of surrogate child for both Wolverine and Storm. Angel's on the team at this point, too, but doesn't seem to have much of a relationship with Kitty. Cyclops is off the team at the moment, mourning the death (the first time) of Jean Grey. (Scott's preferred method of mourning Jean seems to be to hook up with either a woman who looks just like Jean or a woman who has the same sort of powers. What's the attraction these women have for him?)

Kate Pryde, 30 years later, is married to Colossus and imprisoned in an internment camp in the remains of NYC. Sentinels run the US and have killed off most of the super powered within the US (and maybe Canada). Among the dead are the Fantastic Four, Spider-man, the Hulk, Angel, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Banshee, Iceman, and Beast. In fact, the only remaining X-Men are Storm, Kate, Colossus and Wolverine, the last of who is not imprisoned but fighting with a Canadian underground against the Sentinels. Joining these survivors are two new characters, Franklin Richards (son of Reed and Sue) and Rachel, a telepath. The story never indicates what powers Franklin has.

With the aid of some device and some meditation, Rachel is able to send the mind of Kate back to Halloween 1980 and exchange her consciousness with that of Kate's 13 year old self. The plan is for the adult Kate to prevent the assassination of Senator Robert Kelly, who's running for president and has an anti-mutant platform.

The section set in 1980 starts with some traditional Danger Room action before moving into the larger story. This segment brings out, in short order, the personalities and nature of the releationships of the various characters. It's quite light hearted and fun, danger caused by Kitty's entry notwithstanding. At the end of the Danger Room scene Kate enters the mind of Kitty.

The assassins are the New Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (Mystique, Destiny, Pyro, Avalanche, and the Blob), but Kate doesn't know which one actually killed Kelly. His death leads to passage of anti-mutant legislation that eventually leads to the rise of the Sentinels and the holocaust of the super powered. Curiously, it's not the holocaust in the US that's the reason the future X-Men are trying to change their own history. It's that the Sentinels are about to take their crusade global and the other nuclear powers are prepared to nuke the US in response.

Kate and Peter (Colossus) are afraid of the mission because it might mean they never marry, but decide it's worth the risk, what with the Sentinels having killed most of their friends and all of their children. While Kate is in the past, successfully stopping Kelly from being assassinated (while also keeping Professor X and Moira MacTaggart from being killed), Wolverine, Colossus, and Storm are fighting Sentinels. I'm not clear on why. I think it's a diversion. Anyway, Franklin gets shredded/blasted before any powers are exhibited and Rachel is left to mind Kate's comatose body while Storm, Colossus and Wolverine are killed fighting Sentinels.

In the end, its uncertain if the mission was actually successful. For one thing, the reader doesn't know if the prevented assassination changed the future for Kate or just created an alternate time line. For another, Kelly and Sebastian Shaw still put in motion an effort to revive the Sentinels without legislation (and via a weirdly clandestine manner that doesn't have much to do with the way the US government is structured).

I love this story, and not just for nostalgia's sake. Sure, it has much of the awkward exposition of the time that required characters to continuously think in narrative form about what they were doing, but most of the conversations and even more of the narrative captions are very well structured. Of course, this was the heydey of Claremont and Byrne working on X-Men.

I also like that no time was wasted with having the X-Men not believe Kate Pryde when she inhabited the body of her younger self. They had doubts but they didn't dicker and engage in artificial delays. They went straight from their HQ to DC to try to prevent the assassination.

This also marked the first appearance of the New Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, certainly one of the best team names in the history of super hero comics. Of course, any team that puts Evil in its name has a leg up on everyone else.

Byrne's depiction of different body types for different characters was nice to see again. Kitty looked like a 13 year old, but beyond that Pyro was very thin, Avalanche muscular, and the Blob his usual obese self. Only Storm and Mystique really shared similar body types.

Of course, as with most stories, there's nitpicking to be had if so desired. It's unlikely a US Senator, who's not even senior on the committee in question, would be allowed to call hearings on a campaign issue just days before the presidential election. I'm never clear on how Rachel's psychic abilities were supposed to combine with a machine to allow some time travel of a person's consciousness, and even less clear on how the adult Kate was able to bring herself back to her present when the mission was over. I wonder why someone chose to use "slain" instead of "dead" or "deceased" on the wanted poster on the cover of 141, but I suppose the same could be said about "apprehended" instead of "captured". Slain and apprehended seem to me a bit pretentious for a wanted poster.

What I really liked about this, and which is more clear in hindsight, was that there really was change going on all the time in this title. Kitty was a new member. She was just a kid with a lot of growth, physical, mental and emotional, ahead of her. The other X-Men had just suffered a loss that, in those days, seemed like a "real" death. In fact, Jean Grey stayed dead about 7 years, which is an eternity by today's expected revivals. There were new villains all the time, this time being the reconstituted Brotherhood as well as Sen. Kelly. Future Magneto is depicted working with the remaining X-Men, a hint of things that would eventually come and go in the book's current setting and represented a humanizing of Magneto.

Best of all, the story showed possible future deaths for these much loved characters. Wolverine's death, in particular, was something to see, especially compared with his near immortality now. (He has grey at the temples, which seems silly now with his history supposed include having been born before the Civil War. Why go grey in 30 years if he hadn't gone grey in over 100?) The way things have developed with Wolverine it's unlikely his flesh being flayed from his bones would kill him, no matter that it should.

There are many personality developments with the characters that are mentioned by their future selves. Storm and Colossus becoming reluctant killers. Kitty getting over her fear of Nightcrawler.

It's inevitable that a corporate owned property would go back to that well, but I would have liked it if that future had just been left alone at that point. It would have remained a more coherent and enjoyable experience if this limited appearance was all there was. Or, a separate story line could have been developed for that world's stories, distinct and apart from the ongoing X-Men stories, much like the Ultimate universe eventually became.

Well, I get to keep my joy with this story by ignoring all the later convolutions that serve no more purpose than a moue on my face.

DC Preview Review for September Part 5 of 11

BATGIRL #1
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by ADAM HUGHES
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Yes, it’s really happening!
Barbara Gordon is back as Batgirl – and she’s going to have to face the city’s most horrifying new villains as well as the dark secrets from her past. You won’t want to miss this stunning debut issue from fan-favorite BIRDS OF PREY writer Gail Simone!

Gail talks up Babs as Batgirl

Jim: This is a total shocker. The plus is Gail Simone is writing it, the negative is losing Oracle, as she is a better character then Babs as Batgirl. I have a feeling that this is some sort of cybernetic suit allowing her to be Batgirl again or some such comic book science nonsense, but all in all this just feels wrong. Of course the proof will be in the story and I’m going to cross my fingers and hope Simone makes this book work.
Gwen: I think a few years ago I'd have been all for this. Now though, we finally had a character that worked as Batgirl with Stephanie and Babs was more established as Oracle than she ever was as Batgirl. Also, Babs is a bit old to be Bat"girl". If anyone can pull it off it' s Gail Simone but I also think it's a bad call.

Lee: I'm not sure what to make of this. I was happy with Barbara as Batgirl. And the last Batgril title was so beloved at the LCS that I was ready to get the trades and catch up. A down side of the relaunch, now I don't buy trades released in the past year.
Matthew: I don't care for any of the these ancillary Batman books (hence my silence on [most of] the rest of these solicitations). I don't see how the Bat-verse (or anyone's wallet) can sustain them. I like a little more variety in my comics. If I just followed Batman, I wouldn't be able to follow much else.
Thomm: Now we're getting to something more my interest in the Bat world. Simone's the draw, once again. I don't really care who they make Batgirl.
Greg: I think chucking the Oracle identity is a bad, bad idea, but Simone is an excellent writer with a lot of love for this character. In addition, her online interactions have demonstrated she is well aware of the potential problems with this particular character's reboot, so its worth a look, because if anyone can pull this off (and I'm not convinced they can), its her.


BATWOMAN #1
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
At last! Batwoman’s new series begins, from the multiple award-winning creative team of J.H. Williams III and Haden Blackman!
In “Hydrology,” part 1 of 5, Batwoman faces deadly new challenges in her war against Gotham City’s underworld – and new trials in her life as Kate Kane.
Who or what is stealing children from the barrio, and for what vile purpose? Will Kate train her cousin, Bette Kane (a.k.a. Flamebird), as her new sidekick? How will she handle unsettling revelations about her father, Colonel Jacob Kane?

Jim: If any books should be ahead of schedule it should be Batwoman. This book has been rumored since the end of the series “52”. I have so many questions about this book and how the retro-con is impacting this book. I also wonder how much DC paid on pages of art that had to be trashed to start over again, if any. I hope Amy Reeder is still attached to this book as the co-artist as I miss seeing her work. All in all I have grown tired waiting for this book.
Gwen: I don't care for this character at all - the only reason I was ever interested was because of Any Reeder's art.

Lee: Soooooo, don't care about this book. Isn't this the 3rd or 4th time it has been solicited. They, the powers that be, have wasted all good will with this stupid book.
Thomm: And another Bat character I like. It's trying to follow in the path Rucka took with her stories in Detective, so I'm interested.
Greg: Look, the art on this thing is going to be amazing. And the extra lead time means it'll probably be monthly forever. But its another artist written book and while it COULD be good, DC's recent record of these has been spotty as hell. I'm with Thomm here, I wish Rucka was involved on this. His take on the character was very interesting.


NIGHTWING #1
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and JP MAYER
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Dick Grayson flies high once more as Nightwing in a new series from hot new writer Kyle Higgins (BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM)! And as he embraces his destiny, Haley’s Circus, the big top where Dick once performed, returns to Gotham City – bringing with it murder, mystery and superhuman evil. Nightwing must confront his past, among former friends and enemies from his circus days, while uncovering a much greater evil!

Higgins justifies Dick going backwards.

Jim: I hate this book. Dick is back to Nightwing, how boring. Not only that but Kyle “I never heard of you” Higgins is the writer and Eddy “could not hit my Superman deadlines” Barrow is the artist. And oh joy, oh joy, we are going to the circus! This is taking this character so far backwards I can’t stand it. I guess they can never let anyone grow up. I may have to make this character radioactive and just retire reading about him like I did when Devin Grayson screwed up the character and was campaigning to make him gay.
Gwen: Not only is this a terrible idea but I hate the new costume. Was Dick like - wow - Batwoman's costume is just so amazing I have to have it for myself? Also, are we ever going to get away from the whole circus thing? I mean seriously I am tired of this angle.

Matthew: "As he embraces his destiny...[of never being Batman for long]" -- That's so pathetic.
Thomm: Didn't care about Dick Grayson much before. Don't care much now. No draw on the creative team, either.
Greg: Woah, woah, chill out guys. I'd rather have him as Batman too, BUT Gates of Gotham has been pretty good and its focus has been on Dick, so I'm actually interested enough to give this book a chance. I hope the costume color is just an artistic choice though, cause if he's a bad guy or at odds with Batman again, THAT'll be super boring. I'd rather watch a "Data goes evil/crazy" episode of Star Trek before I read about that again.

CATWOMAN #1
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Meet Catwoman. She’s addicted to the night. Addicted to shiny objects. Addicted to Batman. Most of all, Catwoman is addicted to danger. She can’t help herself, and the truth is – she doesn’t want to. She’s good at being bad, and very bad at being good. Find out more about what makes Catwoman tick in this new series from writer Judd Winick (BATMAN: UNDER THE HOOD) and artist Guillem March (GOTHAM CITY SIRENS)!

Will Winick be purr-fect for Selina? He says read it.

Jim: Guillen March’s work has always been just okay for me and in a good girl type comic the artist needs to be more akin to Dave Stevens. Winick can do some good stuff, so I have hopes for this series, but it feels like it could bomb because they seem to be pushing all of the characters backwards and Selina as pure jewel thief does not carry a series.
Gwen: Let's face it - 80% of the time Catwoman works better in a supporting role. I'd give the series a chance but Selina hasn't held my interest much in the past in her own book so I don't have high hopes for this one either. Still, Winnick is an interesting choice so I'm interested to see his take on the character.

Lee: I loved the last Catwoman series and it will be hard to top that. Then again, Brubaker wrote the last series so maybe it isn't a fair comparison. But, if this is anything like the recent Zatana series which was a DC t&a book, I shall pass. I officially became too old (still younger than Jim and Thomm though) when I felt that Zatanna was only marginally better than Tarot in terms of sequential story telling.
Thomm: Ha! I've only read other people's descriptions of Tarot, but Zatanna would have had to fall a long way to reach that level. I've never thought Selina was an interesting enough character to carry a series. Pass.
Greg: Oh Ed Brubaker, where art thou? Decent talent on this book, but I'm not sure either is a great fit. Pass.

BIRDS OF PREY #1
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
One is wanted for a murder she didn’t commit. The other is on the run because she knows too much. They are Dinah Laurel Lance and Eve Crawford – a.k.a. Black Canary and Starling – and together, as Gotham City’s covert ops team, they’re taking down the villains other heroes can’t touch. But now they’ve attracted the attention of a grizzled newspaper reporter who wants to expose them, as well as a creepy, chameleon-like strike team that’s out to kill them.
Don’t miss the start of this hard-hitting new series from mystery novelist/comics writer Duane Swierczynski (Expiration Date, Cable).

Jim: I never understood why DC canceled this book two times ago when Gail had it clicking on all cylinders. The last incarnation was only marginal, so I’m okay with seeing a different take on the group. Duane has been okay with some stuff and Saiz is a great choice for a good girl book. I’m hoping Zinda (Lady Blackhawk) is still floating around as she is a great supporting cast member.
Gwen: I think I'd probably be more open to this if I knew much about the characters outside of Black Canary (and is that Poison Ivy in the background?). I'm not sure if this book will work without Oracle as she was really what tied the Birds together before.

Lee: This is a book I am looking forward to. I've like Swierczynski's other stuff and I bet this is going to be grim and gritty as all get out. My only concern is how long will he stay. He's only done one long run on a series, 25 issues of Cable, there's a chance he won't be here for more than 6 issues. But, I am still excited and I'll be happy with 6 issues.
Thomm: This bears little resemblance to the predecessor books of the same name, which I guess is what DCNu is supposed to be about. With no Oracle I'm not sure what distinguishes this from a slew of other team books.
Greg: This creative team is a bit hit or miss, but the concept is intriguing. Probably worth a look.

Part 6 next---- Is this thing ever going to end?

.... no, it isn't, ~Lee

DC Preview Review for September Part 4 of 11

BATMAN #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Be here for the start of a new era for The Dark Knight from writer Scott Snyder (AMERICAN VAMPIRE, BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM) and artist Greg Capullo (Spawn)! A series of brutal killings hints at an ancient conspiracy, and Batman learns that Gotham City is deadlier than he knew.

Scott on staying in Gotham.

Jim: Well any book by Scott Snyder is a welcome sight and Greg Capullo doing Batman should be interesting. I’m avoiding reading all the interviews by various creators and trying to come at this stuff cold, but no matter what I’m disappointed that the Batman continuity is being screwed up since I was happy with the status quo. I still have a great love for this character and can’t help but think Snyder will do a great job with this book.

Gwen: It really seems that any "major" change in DC is really on fleeting and temporary. I agree with Jim - I liked the Batman stuff the way it had been going but it seems like a good team for the book.
Matthew: I finally got around to reading Iron Man: Noir by Snyder and really liked it. I haven't followed Batman since Hush, but if they can keep the story just to the core title I may stick around.
Lee: This is one of the easy hits of this whole event. Snyder was doing a good job before, he should continue to do so.
Thomm: I wasn't wowed by Snyder's Batman and only checked out a few issues. Could be he's one of those creators who's great with his own stuff (American Vampire) but just ok with the company owned properties. Could be I was just tired of Batman for awhile. Worth a look.

Greg: Look, Scott Snyder has been a revelation for me on Detective and I'm totally sold on any Batman book he writes. It even appears he'll be setting the tone for the Batman line from here on out and that is something to be very excited about. But c'mon DC, you can't stick me with Greg Capullo! Especially after giving me Jock on this book. Ugh. Can't stand the art, but Synder's good enough that I'll still be excited to read this. I just won't be able to take the amount of flowing clothes that will be involved in any scene with Batman and Jim Gordon's trenchcoat.

DETECTIVE COMICS #1
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
DC’s flagship title is relaunched for the first time ever, with new Batman adventures from acclaimed writer/ artist Tony S. Daniel!
A killer called The Gotham Ripper is on the loose on Batman’s home turf – leading The Dark Knight on a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Tony on searching for clues in Detective

Jim: On the flip side DC has whom I believe to be their strongest and one of their weakest writers on the main two bat books. Daniel is not a good writer from what I have seen. He tries to handle too many elements in every story. He has some fun ideas, but fails in his execution. He needs a better editor or he needs to be a co-plotter and hire a writer to work with him. To put him on this is a mistake.

Gwen: I think it's a mistake to have him writing and doing some of the art. What kind of delays is that going to cause?
Matthew: Another book that didn't need to be renumbered!
Thomm: Another meh.

Greg: As far as I can tell, Tony's main appeal is his ability to turn work in on time. Which has its merits, but his writing is definitely not up to snuff, and I'm not even that sold on his art, so this is a big old pass.
BATWING #1
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by BEN OLIVER
On sale SEPTEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Africa, a land of beauty – and of great horror. A land of creation and conflict. It is in desperate need of a defender, and from the ranks of Batman Incorporated comes a soldier to carry on the legacy of The Dark Knight in the most tumultuous region on Earth. Meet Batwing, the Batman of Africa!

Judd talks up the Bat and the Wing.

Jim: So Dick Grayson’s gets kicked to being Nightwing and since we can have only one Batman we get Batwing. This book screams loser. Still Winick has made some bad concepts into good stories before and what I can recall of Oliver his art should be good. I have hopes that this book could actually be interesting. A Batman like character operating in Africa will certainly be different.

Gwen: Eh, I can't help but share Jim's bitterness about the handling of Dick Grayson's character.
Matthew: Sounds like a plane and looks like Man-Bat. Not interested.
Lee: I'm trying not to be negative but there is no way this can compare to the latest Unknown Soldier epic. That was a real story about Africa. Anyway, I always felt the appeal of Batman was the darkness, and Gotham itself. It's hard to be fighting in the dark when your city, Cairo I assume from the pyramids, is basically in a desert.
Thomm: I don't think comparing this to Unknown Soldier is a legitimate comparison. Might as well compare Firestorm to American Vampire. They're entirely different genres. Besides, Unknown Soldier was confined to a story in Uganda. There's a whole lot more of Africa and a lot more cultures in Africa. A lot can be done with this and Winnick may be the right guy to do it.
Greg: I agree with Thomm here. This isn't going to be a revolutionary book, but its a new superhero in a new setting that we haven't seen a million times before. Winick's been on a bit of a roll lately (though I remain suspicious) and Oliver can be an incredible artist when he's not rushed. I think this could be a sleeper pick of the new DC line up.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1
Written by DAVID FINCH
Art by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
Cover by DAVID FINCH
On sale SEPTEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The Dark Knight struggles against a deadly – yet strangely familiar – foe in this phenomenal debut issue from superstar writer/artist David Finch (BRIGHTEST DAY, ACTION COMICS)!
As a mysterious figure slinks through the halls of Arkham Asylum, Batman must fight his way through a gauntlet of psychos, and Bruce Wayne faces the unexpected legal ramifications of Batman Incorporated!

Jim: David Finch has only managed to put out 2 issues of this book and now it is getting re-launched and DC is promising to have books ship on time and monthly. Good the heck luck with that Mr. Didio, especially on this book. I hope Finch can still knock out some covers for DC as he eventually will not being doing interiors as he does not seem to have the capacity to produce a monthly book, especially as he is learning how to write at the same time. I’m shocked that Finch is going to try and pick up on some of the Morrison elements with Batman Incorporated. Of course DC is probably going to rewrite all of that in a short time.

Gwen: This sounds a whole lot like the premise for the Arkham Asylum game - except the Batman Inc stuff of course.
Matthew: Maybe they should just make it a bi-annual comic like Simpsons Super Spectacular or OZ/Wonderland.
Thomm: This just seems like Batman overkill. No interest at all.

Greg: DC's apparently going to take a real heavy hand with late books. Which means this is going to be cancelled when issue 2 ships next year or they'll be using another artist, in which case, what's the point of putting out a Dave Finch book?

BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
On sale SEPTEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Battling evil with his son, Damian, at his side, Batman now realizes that the hardest part of the job may be trying to work together!
As Batman and Robin try to adjust to their new partnership, a figure emerges from Bruce Wayne’s past: His name is NoBody, and he’s not happy that Batman Incorporated is shining a light on his own shadowy war against evil...

Jim: Really? Are we really going to get this team doing this book? Big, big problem is that Damian works with Dick as Batman, in “reality” Bruce would never tolerate Damian and would fire him off the job in a heartbeat. Either Bruce or Damian’s character will be changed or toned down to make this work and either choice is a bad one. The dynamic of Dick and Damian was a perfect yin and yang, Bruce and Damian are more like yang and yanger.

Gwen: Aggh. This makes me sad inside.
Matthew: Aren't they de-aging Bruce? Will he still be old enough to father Damian? With so much changing there sure are a lot of carry-overs from the old pre-Flashpoint Bat-verse.
Lee: This actually appeals to me. I didn't like Morrison's take on Batman so there is a much better chance that I will like Tomasi's. And, I am probably more typical of the target for this book than most. A lapsed Batman reader looking for something that isn't quite so blood thirsty.
Thomm: I don't have Jim's visceral response to this, but neither am I particularly interested in Tomasi's take on things. It's all just too much Bruce Wayne. How many books is he in, anyway?

Greg: Agreed. The dynamic only really works with Dick. I think this represents DC realizing that its time for a young Robin again. Anyway, I've gotten a bit tired of Tomasi's books over the last few years. They're not bad and not good, they're just kind of acceptably there. Doubt I'll check it out.

Part 5 is coming – more Bat stuff.