| |
| Author |
Message |
|
| Guy Ricketts |
 Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 4:00 am |
 |
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 822
"Before you stands Edward Nigma, a man reborn".
-- Edward Nigma, The Riddler
Another great standalone issue, and apparently Riddler is not only fine after his coma, he no longer recalls that Bruce Wayne and Batman are one and the same. Good. That was a mess really going nowhere.
Once again Bruce Wayne is a suspect in a murder case, and Nigma, who now fancies himself a detective, is there to clear Wayne and find the true killer. Oh, and Nigma is now free of his compulsive need to feed riddles to Batman and the police. If that is gone for good, I may just miss that aspect of him.
Anyway, the bulk of this issue has Riddler and Batman pairing up to solve the case. Amusing is Nigma's arrogance as he actually believes he is better than the World's Greatest Detective. Nicely done that instead of making Batman abusive to Nigma, he remains quite patient with him, even letting him ride with him in the Batmobile!
Riddler: So...nice car. First time I've been inside it concious.
Batman: Don't touch anything.
The sequence in the sex club was another highlight. Batman showing Riddler that he knows the owner in the face of Nigma's arrogance was quite good.
Of course the best part is the end where Riddler thinks he has the solution all figured out and tied up with a nice little bow. Batman keeps deducing until he finds the true killer. Liked Riddler all set up in a posh office, then having it pulled out from under him as his own client turns out to have done the deed. Accentuating this moment is Riddler first thinking Gordon had played his own hunch, then having it dawn on him that it was really Batman who solved the case.
And that gorgeous cover! Keep 'em coming! |
Last edited by Guy Ricketts on Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:14 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
   |
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 4:04 am |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 825
"Tell me what happened".
-- Batman
This was a fill-in issue, andas far as stories go, sometimes the simplest things are the best.
Way back in the 70's, Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers created Dr. Alex Sartorius, a brilliant scientist who was tricked into investing in a nuclear powerplant by Rupert Thorne and two other doctors. The plant exploded, giving Thorne and his cronies get the money, and Sartorius was left for dead. However, he still lived, becoming the villian Dr. Phosphorus. After a fight with Batman, he vanished from the comics for a while, before Neron gave his abilities a boost in Underworld Unleashed. He then met his apparent demise in the pages of Starman (I really miss that book!). However, for over twenty years (!), he wasn't seen again in a Batman comic.
Well, that is until this entertaining issue.
As this issue begins, Phosphorus is being used as a power supply at a Gotham-based branch of Cadmus Labs, run by one of the scientists who happened to be responsible for his original transformation. He breaks free and immediately sets about trying to get his revenge. Enter Batman, out to stop the not-so good doctor. Batman is dark, but not the psychotic paranoid we'd been seeing up until Post IC. This is best summed up by his line to Jim Gordon: "If I've learned anything living in Gotham, it's that only the good stay dead." Nice. McGraw balances it out with a Bruce Wayne scene that does not go for the useless playboy feel, but rather what Wayne is like when he's at home talking to Alfred. A dry wit if there ever was one, Alfred plays a part in the final pages of the book that proves to be a Godsend for Batman. Commisioner Gordon's feels like he has a distinctive voice in his small scene. Even the villian of the story is amusing, using cliches in a truly disturbing manner.
All in all, for a fill-in issue, this is a really enjoyable story updating an old member of Batman's rogues gallery. It is a pretty simple tale, yes, but it is a refreshing story that utilizes all sides of Batman, has some great interaction, and a wonderful ending. If nothing else, this is a good example of what a one issue story should be. |
Last edited by Guy Ricketts on Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:44 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 3:14 pm |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 826
This story actually belongs to Robin, not Batman.
As the story begins, Robin is on his motorcycle, racing away from some thugs who are shooting at him from a car in pursuit. As things go from bad to worse, Robin does his best to stop them, but it’s not looking good. So when someone in a car stops and tells Robin to jump in, he (like most of us probably would) decides that he doesn’t care who is driving the car, it has to be better than the situation he is in. So Robin hops in and finds himself in a car with the Joker. In an already bad situation, things just got as bad as they can possibly be.
The whole concept for this story is simple yet full of possiblities, and Paul Dini takes advantage of as many as he can in a 22 page comic. More happens in this single issue than, unfortunately, most 6-issue arcs that I see on comic book stands. Literally from page one, I was completely riveted to the book and I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next.
The flow of this story is about as perfect as it can be. Things moved quickly while still being deliberate. Every single thing that occurs, every word of dialogue, is important. Like a clever film, I felt that I couldn’t skip one word or artistic detail in this book, or I might miss something necessary to the story.
These are some of the best characterizations of both Robin and the Joker that I have ever seen. The depiction of Robin makes you understand how this teenaged kid could stand up to the constant challenges and heartaches of being a superhero, especially in Gotham City. He’s definitely the protégé of the Batman here.This interpretation of the Joker is most similar to the characterization from Batman: The Animated Series. He’s obviously a frightening psychopath, but at times he really is funny. In the midst of him doing something horrible and shocking, I caught myself smiling at something that he said or did, and then feeling bad for it. It’s also refreshing to see the Joker portrayed as being pretty intelligent. I think he would have to be in order to be a real challenge to Batman.
This issue of Detective really is a prime example of how superb Batman comics can be. I hope this creative team will stay on this title for as long as possible. |
Last edited by Guy Ricketts on Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:28 am |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 827
Everything clicks in this issue of Detective Comics. and the story acts quite well as a detective story, a successful unification of multiple incarnations of Batman and smoothly handles simple story mechanics.
Simone Bianchi's gorgeous cover leads the reader to believe that the tale is about Batman being too late to save a woman's life. While the cover depiction does play a part in the book, it's not entirely accurate. Selina Kyle, the woman on the cover, does not actually appear in this story. Her mention does however serve as the impetus for Batman's involvement. It turns out to be a ruse of a calculating villain.
Batman deduces the culprit behind the ruse in an instant. Hopefully the reader will have no trouble identifying the criminal. The only trouble is that the villain is supposed to be dead.
While this is the main gist of the story, there is so much more. Batman poses as one of his criminal alter-egos to crash an underworld meeting held at Penguin's club. It is here he discovers who has been behind the attempts on his life. It is a villain who has gone through a bit of a change.I didn't much care for this villain originally, but perhaps what Dini has done here will improve things. We shall see.
All in all, a well-written story done in a sufficient, single issue.
. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:03 pm |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 828
"And how would you categorize those other caped individuals with whom you associate on a regular basis?"
-- Alfred Pennyworth
I wasn’t really a fan of the Riddler’s going legit at first, but the way that Dini has handled it as a result of the Riddler’s coma and memory loss is fantastic. Here, Edward Nigma shows a brilliance and savvy his previous incarnations never really hinted at.
The motivation of the Riddler has always been to outwit his greatest threats... usually Batman. But his crime spree is over for now, and he has found a better way to get his personal satisfaction: beat the Batman at his own game. I love that Paul Dini creates a sense of respect for the Riddler where you don’t necessarily feel bad for him, but you do sense that he’s reformed and has regretted those past crimes. Edward Nigma, Riddler reformed, comes off as much more three dimensional.
Not only does this issue focus on the Riddler's humanity and a murder case, but there are subtle moments of Bruce Wayne’s own humanity as well. One of the best moments is when Bruce tells Alfred the ways in which he views people, the differences between the lives of Bruce Wayne the playboy and Bruce Wayne the Batman. What makes this moment even better is that Dini doesn’t make it all syrupy, but allows Alfred to make one of his wry comments.
One of the best features about this issue is the way that Batman and the Riddler are both on the same page while investigating the murder. The story follows Batman’s investigation, but he and the Riddler end up in the same place with the same information. Having another detective who is almost as astute as him, but is also one of Batman’s former rogues is enough to drive him crazy. It is certainly clear by the end of this issue that Batman may have accepted the Riddler’s new career, but it is also clear that he cannot stand it.
Another excellent standalone issue this month.
. |
Last edited by Guy Ricketts on Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:29 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
| George Mutch |
| Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:28 pm |
|
|
Senior Utopian and Iconic Member
Joined: 19 Jan 2007
Posts: 970
Location: Glasgow
|
the big reveal on the first page was well done, the riddler tearing of the mask to reveal bruce wayne, cut to page 2, not what you expected
i think the riddler's ego is going to cause a problem in the future, he's in the public eye and wants all the glory, I don't think he will take to getting upstaged by batman to often, reformed or otherwise,
this could follow the same path as 2-face |
_________________
Through teardrops and laughter
we pass through this world hand in hand....
______________________________
Great blazing bags of crap!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:54 pm |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 829
This is a very nice start to a two-part break in Paul Dini's run, and this one focuses more on Robin than Batman.
Bruce Wayne is holding a peace conference for Middle-Eastern countries that are riddled with terrorism. I really like the way that this issue plays out. Granted, it gives readers a familiar situation where Bruce Wayne is stuck being unable to change to Batman, but it really shows how he handles a terror situation. What also strikes me as great is that this is one of the few times that the heroes of the DC Universe are actually being attacked by real world terrorists. Even though this Vox character wears something of a costume, he still has a political agenda motivating him.
I like the way that writer Stuart Moore uses Robin, and how he has Bruce refer to Tim as his son. Nice touch. This issue also gives a decent insight into how Bruce manages a terror situation out of costume, forced to rely much on his partner. Not to say we don't have any Batman this issue - just not in costume. For example, there’s a great moment where Bruce goes over the intercom in his "bat-voice" and threatens Vox. The greatest and deadliest aspect to Vox’s character is that he simply wants to destroy the peace conference, and Bruce knows that this is a suicide attack, and without Batman, Robin is his arms and legs.
I love Andy Clarke’s artwork, and combined with Stuart Moore’s story, everything fits works together in this issue. While it is by no means the most original story featuring Batman, it is better than the Grotesk storyline, and it puts Batman into a “real-life” situation that we rarely see. This issue is not the most unique, but it is a pretty good story and as filler-arcs go, it is worth checking out at the very least.
I liked this issue very much.
. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:53 pm |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 830
This issue concludes the two-part story which pits new villain/terrorist Vox against the Dynamic Duo.
Poor Bruce Wayne is stuck in "civilian clothes", trapped in Wayne Tower with visiting dignitaries at a peace conference, as the criminal Vox sets off explosions which threaten to bring the building down upon them. His partner, Robin, is covered with the explosive C4. Vox wants nothing but the destruction to send a message to the world, so there isn't even negotiation to work with. And Commissioner Gordon is trying to reach Batman to handle this situation, unaware the Dark Knight already has his hands full.
Bruce talks Robin through the removal of the detonator and some of the C4, then is able to disappear to change to his alter ego. As Batman, he confronts Vox, and soon a mostly recovered Robin joins him. There is the inevitable scuffle between Batman and Vox, and when it is all over, Vox winds up falling to his death.
A decent filler two-parter, nothing too spectacular in my opinion. While it's always cool to see Batman in costume and in action, it might have been better storywise to have Robin (with assistance from Bruce Wayne) handle and defeat Vox. That might have been a better route I think. But still, it was a pretty good read. Stuart Moore, who just left Firestorm, turned in a nice filler story this month, and the artwork by Andy Clarke is spectacular. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:03 am |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 831
This issue read kind of like the Batman animated series to me.
I have never really cared for Harley Quinn, and her apparently going straight has not really changed that too much.
Bruce Wayne and the parole board reject Harley's bid for parole, but as she is being escorted back to her cell, she finds herself kidnapped.
Turns out she was snatched by the new, female Ventriloquist and Mr. Scarface, who claim to need Harley's talents to pull off some important jobs. Harley gets back into her old costume and seems to go through with a robbery at Cott Securities, but she calls Commissioner Gordon from there to alert them to the crime. Gordon in turn sends Batman...
While driving away in the getaway car, Harley turns on the Ventriloquist and crew, having figured out they meant to kill her in the end. Batman arrives as Harley is holding off the villains, and though a couple cops are killed in the course of the capture, Batman - and Harley - are successful.
In the end, with Bruce Wayne's convincing, the parole board reconsiders and grants Harley her freedom...
An okay story this time, in my opinion. Nice touch to have Harley relate to Batman why she actually had a fondness for the late, original Ventriloquist. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:39 pm |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 837
>sigh<
Frankly, I am tired of Countdown contaminating other books, such as Action Comics - and this title.
I say this in part because writer Paul Dini presents a story that doesn’t really fit with his current run. Dini has kept most of his Detective Comics stories self-contained while making a larger storyline. But unfortunately this issue Dini gets off track from his usual Batman stories and delves into the faulty realm of Countdown. This month Dini focuses on the Riddler and Harley Quinn.
Up to this point Dini’s stories have been pretty entertaining and every few issues, there is that single thread that ties everything together. One of the best things Dini has done with the current Batman mythos is present a reformed Riddler, one who has turned his back on crime and has opened up his own private investigations firm.
This issue has Bruce Wayne hiring the Riddler to investigate stolen chemicals from Wayne Enterprises. Bruce hiring the Riddler ties into the overall scheme of Dini’s Detective Comics run, but it just does not really get beyond that. The rest of this issue is unfortunately a Countdown tie-in, and the problem is that most of what has been presented in Countdown is not all that great.
The main crux of this story is fairly decent, it really belongs in the pages of Countdown. This story focuses primarily on Harley Quinn and the Athenian Women’s Shelter, one of the featured storylines in the weekly series. While Dini writes the Riddler portion very well, I am quite irritated that this issue feels much more like an issue of Countdown, and I feel it hampered Dini from telling a much better story. Trying to write a story that forces Countdown storylines into it and not just writing an entertaining story results in an issue like this, and unfortunately two major books, Detective Comics and Action Comics, have fallen victim to this forced tie-in status.
To be fair, the ending is a satisfying one this issue; not only does the whole Apokolips angle surrounding Countdown get noticed, but the final scene between Batman and Robin gets back to what Dini’s Detective Comics run started out as. And while I thought it was odd that the World's Greatest Detective hired Riddler to solve a mystery that Batman could have easily solved, I was relieved to see that he did this to put the Riddler through a kind of test.
So it is for this reason this issue should not have been an issue of Detective Comics. The Athenian Women’s Shelter storyline is not an interesting one and for it to take center stage here was a big let down for me; there was hardly any Batman and lots of Countdown, and that, for me, are two bad strikes against this issue. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:39 pm |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 838
"The Resurrection of Ra's aL Ghul" Part Three
Paul Dini - writer
Ryan Benjamin - pencils
Saleem Crawford -inks
Last issue, Robin and Damien were captured by Ra's and his ninja warriors.
This issue, we find that Tim and Damien were playing opossum until they were brought into the presence of Ra's himself. They fight the ninjas, bicker with each other, until Damien decides his strategy is to escape to fight another day. Alone with Ra's, the resurrected villain offers Tim the opportunity to restore his parents back to the living. He also offers to let him rule the world at his side. When Tim tells him he will need to think about it, Ra's knocks him unconcious, not believing Tim's response to be sincere.
In Tibet, Batman and Talia continue their journey. Batman wears a cloak and some armor supplied by Talia. They soon encounter a group of ninjas, and during the fight are joined by I-Ching. He finishes off the remaining ninjas.
In another part of Tibet, Nightwing and Alfred are held captive by the giant Ubu - and even more ninjas. Dick takes down the ninjas, but then Ubu grabs Alfred by the throat, holding Dick at bay. But Alfred knows some tricks himself and knocks Ubu unconcious.
Batman and Talia discover the hidden lair of Ra's, and after a brief sword fight, Ra's seems capable of forcing Batman to make a choice of whose body will serve as the new body for Ra's: Damien...or Robin?
Pretty good stuff, though there is no real suspense created here. It feels more like I am along on a journey with no real danger, just a fun story involving the Batman Family that brings back a major villain.
This story continues into Batman 671... |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 2:26 am |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 842
Written by Peter Milligan; Art by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs; Cover by Nguyen
In this story by Peter Milligan (BATMAN ANNUAL #26: HEAD OF THE DEMON), Batman takes a journey around the globe to investigate the origins of the mysterious suit of armor that Talia al Ghul gave to him. But when he unearths the startling secrets of the armor, will the Dark Knight be prepared for what lies next? |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:23 am |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 850
"Hush said that when I saw your heart die, part of mine would die, too. He was right, in a way. There has been only one woman who has really held my heart."
- Bruce Wayne (to Selina Kyle, Catwoman)
"Heart of Hush: The Demon in the Mirror"
Paul Dini - writer
Dustin Nguyen - penciller
Derek Fridolfs - inker
This issue, the conclusion to an arc featuring the final chapter(?) of Hush begins with a bloodied Bruce Wayne crawling into Wayne Manor. Alfred helps Bruce to his feet and carries him out of the study where the grandfather clock entrance to the cave is located. Alfred then punches Bruce in the face and then disarms him. We realize that it is Hush masquerading as Bruce - Bruce Wayne called Alfred from the Batmobile to warn him about Hush arriving at the mansion and trying to impersonate Bruce. Hush had a throwing star hidden up his sleeve and he stabs Alfred in the shoulder, then pulls Alfred back into the study. Hush opens up the entrance to the Batcave, then puts his gun to Alfred’s head and says that he no longer has any use for Alfred...
Flashback to twenty minutes earlier with Hush at his hospital and Batman strapped to an operating table. Hush reveals how he used some of his inheritance to purchase the services of Mr. Freeze in order to construct the machine to keep Selina Kyle’s heart alive when removed from her body. But even with Mr. Freeze’s incredible technology, Catwoman’s heart can only remain alive for a few hours.
Batman tricks Hush into getting close enough to free himself. Hush’s thugs then rush to Hush’s assistance. Batman grabs one of the saws from one of the thugs and cuts his restraints. Batman springs from the operating table and begins to brawl with Hush’s thugs. Hush makes a quick exit figuring that his thugs will be able to detain Batman long enough for Hush to get to Wayne Manor and kill Alfred.
Batman defeats the henchmen and then contacts Dr. Mid-Nite and Mr. Terrific and tells to come to the old Sacred Heart hospital immediately, that Selina’s heart is there and hooked into Mr. Freeze’s machine...
Flash forward to the present, with Hush about to shoot Alfred. Suddenly, Batman comes crashing through the window. He lunges into Hush and the two men tumble down the steps leading into the Batcave. Hush gets the upper hand on Batman by shooting him in the chest a couple of times. We then see Alfred at the Bat-computer, and the giant robot Tyrannosaurus Rex begins chasing after Hush. The villain fires a bunch of bullets into the giant robot’s head, causing it to collapse.
Suddenly, Nightwing and Robin appear in the cave. Hush runs from Dick and Tim and says that he is not going to waste time fighting when he can go ahead and make a quick getaway. Hush then climbs aboard the Bat-copter. Batman lunges and grabs a hold of the gyrocopter as Hush takes off into the air. Hush looks up and sees that his bandages are beginning to get caught up in the spinning blades. Batman leaps clear of the gyrocopter, just before it crashes into the wall and explodes.
Later, Alfred tending to Bruce’s wounds. Nightwing and Robin tell Batman that they could not find any sign of Hush’s body.
While Dr. Mid-Nite is finishing his surgery on Selina, we see her soul in the astral plane meeting with Zatanna, who explains that Catwoman is not dead.
In the hospital room, Bruce Wayne confesses that despite his best efforts, Selina broke through and was the first to touch his heart and remind Bruce that he still has one. He tells her that he does not know if they could ever have more than they have already had. And Bruce does not know if Selina would even want to have anything from Bruce after what happened with Hush.
Bruce then stands and tells her, “Tonight I’m only sure of one thing. Whatever the future holds, wherever life takes me, I will always love you.” Bruce then bends down and kisses Selina’s forehead. Bruce then turns and begins to walk out of the room. Selina, still with her eyes closed, says “I’m awake.”
Bruce turns around and asks her how long she has been awake. Selina answers from the moment that Bruce entered the room. Bruce and Selina then share a passionate kiss.
Moving forward two months, Selina relaxes on some tropical island. Selina is making a video recording to Hush. Selina states how there are happy endings even if they only last for one night like her happy ending with Bruce did. Selina then says that she is making this video to Elliot in order to give herself a sense of closure. Selina continues that she will hide this video in a place where Elliot could find it.
Selina states that Elliot struck at her and Bruce’s hearts, so Selina thought about what was near and dear to his heart: money. More specifically, the family fortune that Elliot murdered his parents to receive. So Selina vowed to separate Elliott from his family fortune. She then informs Elliot that she had Oracle uncover the account numbers and locations of where Elliot’s money was being kept. Then Selina had Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn steal all of Elliot’s money.
Hush is indeed still alive and watching the end of Selina’s video. Selina then concludes by stating on tape that she paid her friends some of Elliot’s money, then gave some to charity and then used some to help rehabilitate the drugged homeless hospital staff that Hush was using for his thugs. Oh, and Selina kept the majority of Elliot’s family fortune for herself.
Now penniless and defeated, he stumbles down a dark alley...
This issue was an enjoyable conclusion to this well-written Hush story arc. It is heavy with action, but there are also about two nicely crafted dramatic scenes. All of the fight scenes were done well. The fight scene in the Batcave was especially exciting. Of course, even though the action scenes were quite good, Dini also delivered solid dialogue and enjoyable character work, especially for Hush and Batman. Hush has always had potential, but Dini finally took that potential and made Hush a more compelling character in this arc. The flashback in this issue was perfectly written as Elliot appeared both sympathetic and horribly repulsive at the same time.
My favorite scene was between Bruce and Selina at the hospital. This was incredibly emotional as Dini displayed a nice feel for the complex and tempestuous relationship that Bruce and Selina have shared over the years. It was a refreshing change of pace to see Bruce open up so honestly and expose an actual caring heart that normally appears as cold and as ice.
Do I have any complaints? Only the one I have had before: the use of the Batman RIP banner across the top of the cover when it has nothing to do with that arc. It's just to sell more copies, but it misleads anyone trying to get any and all tie-ins.
Otherwise, I loved this arc and recommend getting this story when it is collected in trade format... |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:21 am |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 5:46 pm |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 658
She may have debuted in 52, but Batwoman is being nicely fleshed out here in DETECTIVE COMICS 858. Told mostly in flashback, we learn Katherine Kane and her twin sister Beth have military parents which cause the girls to be shipped all around as their parents are stationed from base to base. They are normal girls; mischievous, emotional and loyal to each other. Greg Rucka has really taken an interesting new heroine and given her a realistic feel, a well-developed past and history, and a painful incident that haunts her into her adulthood and career as Batwoman. His dialogue sounds real, the events flow naturally, and he has given me a real liking and soft spot for Katherine. I really feel for her. That's good writing for you. He does equally good with The Question co-feature, putting Renee Montoya through her paces as the mysterious heroine. These two stories this issue show that DC isn't just using filler for one of their flagship titles, but having a talented writer produce quality stories with two talented artists (J. H. Williams III on Batwoman, Cully Hamner on The Question), helping us ALMOST forget the big guy with pointy ears who used to reside here. That's quite a feat in my book. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Guy Ricketts |
| Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:53 pm |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 4672
Location: Detroit, Michigan
|
issue 860
I really like Batwoman and Renee Montoya, even more than I already had before. This is in no small part to issues like DETECTIVE COMICS 860. The main story, featuring Katherine Kane and her alter ego Batwoman, is a wonderful peek into how she receives her training, weapons, base of operations - even her costume. I love the relationship she has with her father, how understanding and supportive he is. Greg Rucka has a terrific way of writing scenes between people, quiet and meaningful scenes, that often stay with you far longer than most action sequences do. The second feature is also an enjoyable story with similar qualities that focus on Renee Montoya and Helena Bertinelli, as they try evading violent responses from organized crime. Just their brief discussion of Vic Sage alone was worth the price of admission. Again written by Greg Rucka, this is a terrific companion feature to the Batwoman driven main story. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|
