Monday, August 31, 2015

Astro City: Shining Stars


   This Astro City volume collects the origins of some the super-powered residents of Kurt Busiek's metropolis.

    Up first is a glimpse of Astro City's pride and joy: the Samaritan. But the real star of this story is his arch-enemy, an ageless sorcerer called the Infidel. This story was an interesting game of cat and mouse between the two adversaries as they search for weaknesses in each other's armor during a meal. Their uneasy truce reminds me of the strange relationship that the Wally West Flash had with the rogues. It was quite a good read. (Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.)

   Next is the history of a heroine called Beauty. She's a life-sized version of the famous doll beloved by millions of girls worldwide. But where did she come from? And who built her? This was an intriguing mystery that I didn't want to end. Once I learned of her origin, I wanted to know what happened next. Plus, the art was an amazing rendering of another famous doll that name also starts with B... (Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.)

   Our third tale stars Astra Furst of the First Family, an amalgam of the Fantastic Four and the Doom Patrol. Astra is the eldest granddaughter of the team's leader and she just graduated college. The sky is the literal limit for this budding young woman with superpowers as she's offered numerous positions on superhero squads, potential appointments to the throne of a mystic underwater kingdom, and much more on her first night of freedom. It was an enjoyable tale, but a little predictable and a tad too technical in some of its explanation of scientific phenomena. (Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.)

   Lastly, we travel through time with the Silver Agent. Though this wasn't quite my favorite story in this collection, I really appreciated getting to learn about the hero's journey across the timeline. In the Dark Age storyline, the Silver Agent keeps jumping through time, warning of a terrible coming holocaust. But I didn't know what he was talking about or why he kept leaping back and forth in time- until now. Another story with some great art and a super awesome origin to boot. (Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.)

   All four stories were released as either one-shots or two-parters. Since they were originally meant to be read as a group, I felt it was fair and unnecessary to rate each story individually. With an overall average rating of 8.75, this book mighty not seem to be such a good read. But don't let that score fool you. This collection was engaging, engrossing, and a read not only Worth Consuming but something I just couldn't put down.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

The Pulse #4


 

  With evidence mounting, Ben Ulrich gets not only the blessing of the Daily Bugle to go after Terri Kidder's murderer- he's also got Spider-man watching his back too! 

   A great chapter is which one of the biggest baddies (and biggest jerks) in the Marvel Universe finally gets what's coming to him. 

   This story is over 10-years old, but it's got a major spoiler that if you haven't read this by now, you must be really new to comics. I'm not even going to reveal the cover to this issue as what happens here is something that truly devoted fans of Spidey and the Marvel Universe had waited for since the early 60s. 

   I really am enjoying this series. Bendis has done a fantastic job. I'm just a little confused about one thing. The first issue seemed to imply that Jessica Jones was going to be the star of this series. But she's been grossly underused since that premiere issue. In fact, this has been more of the Ben Ulrich show than just about anyone else. Well, the star of this series is really the Daily Bugle. It's got a great ensemble cast feel to it like the TV shows Cheers or ER.

   But why add Jessica Jones to the mix, along with boyfriend and baby-daddy Luke Cage, if their role is nothing more than background scenery? It just doesn't make sense. Maybe Bendis just didn't find a connection between those two characters. But it really isn't like him to just avoid certain characters especially since just about every superhero and villain ever created by Marvel is used by Bendis is some form in the Ultimate comics universe. Maybe the master has something up his sleeve for a later issue in this awesome series...

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars. 

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Kurt Busiek's Astro City: The Tarnished Angel



   Rough Neighborhoods.

   Every city and town have those places where family members warn you not to go alone or at night... OR BOTH! These are communities that due to drugs, alcohol, and crime and rampant unemployment, have very little hope left in it's citizens and future. 

   Even with its host of superheroes and bustling cityscapes, Astro City isn't immune to the phenomena. It's called Kiefer Square and because of it's noted reputation of being the headquarters of scores of B-list super villains, the Square is where you go to hire your goon squad for your next heist or plot to take over the world. It's also where old villains and ex-cons go to die. And right now, someone is killing off those villains, one by one.

   Just fresh from parole is Carl Donewicz. You might remember him as the Steel-jacketed Man AKA Steeljacket. He grew up in Kiefer Square, turned to a life of crime in Keifer Square, became a super villain in Kiefer Square, and would like to retire in Kiefer Square if his past would just let him. 

   It's bad enough trying to get a job as an ex-con, but Carl has an even harder time because of his appearance, in which a medical experiment gave him shiny silver skin and super strength. Unable to find a job and not wanting to break parole, Carl reluctantly takes on a role as an amateur private investigator to the recent string of serial killings of old associates and neighbor's of Steeljacket. 

    With the cops refusing to even enter the neighborhood, Steeljacket will need any and all resources available to catch the killer referred to by residents as the 'Black Mask Killer.' But Carl is going to have to act fast as his snooping has put him not only back on the radar of the ACPD but the killer as well.

   I love Kurt Busiek's Astro City stories. They are fun, exciting, and great tributes to the works of legendary DC and Marvel writers and artists. The Tarnished Angel is all of that plus it has that gritty noir element added to it. This was like reading a graphic novel based on the works of Dashiell Hammett with Robert Mitchum starring in the lead (All-time favorite artist Alex Ross even based the look of Steeljacket on the late actor.)

   But the Tarnished Angel also has something more to this story than other Astro City works- it has a human element that is unbridled and raw. It's that quality, which is rare and ironic to find in a superhero book, that knocked Astro City: the Dark Ages out of first place of my favorite AC stories. At 224-pages, this is one of the longest Astro City works to date, but it is worth the read. Every panel oozes pathos and the entire book is nearly flawless. I just wish a few certain characters in this book had lived. AND I kinda wished Steeljacket's story never had to end.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9.99 out of 10 stars.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Comics Squad: Recess! (Family Comic Friday)



Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Babymouse) and Jarrett Krosoczka (Lunch Lady)
  team-up to bring some of Random House Publishing's best and brightest graphic novelist's together in a collection of short stories devoted to the most sacred of elementary school activities: RECESS!


   Some of these characters may be familiar you. The most well-known property in this anthology is the Holm sibling's Babymouse, who has trouble getting her act together so she can go outside and play. I'm also a little familiar with Lunch Lady, but she doesn't even appear in her story, as she's called in sick and needs her assistant to fill in. Add to the mix some athletic veggies, a super secret ninja club, and a budding playground romance and you've got a perfect mix of unique stories and eclectic writing and art styles.

   When I was a kid, I loved to get my hands on comic digests. They were small collections of reprints that featured a host of titles and characters. DC, Marvel, Archie, and even Disney would produce these book as a way for kids to get their hands on cheap reprints and to build up potential readership for current titles.That marketing concept is captured perfectly here though I think every story in this books is brand new. 

   Along with this title, be on the lookout for the next Comics Squad collection entitled: lunch coming in January 2016. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

   (Note: here's a list of all of the awesome creators featured in this collection, in case you are interested in discovering more of their works: Jennifer Holm & Matthew Holm * Jarrett J. Krosoczka * Dav Pilkey * Dan Santat * Raina Telgemeier * Dave Roman * Ursula Vernon * Eric Wight * Gene Yang )
 
  

Thursday, August 27, 2015

The Pulse #3


Pulse (2004-2006) #3


   The staff of the Daily Bugle reels at the death of one of their own.

    It's ironic that I review this book today. Just yesterday, a very troubled man killed two reporters live on Virginian television. Though journalist Terri Kidder wasn't killed on TV, her murder occurred while she was on the clock and it makes the other Daily Bugle reports feel vulnerable as if it happened to her, it could happen to them.

    Both the community at the Bugle and the reporting community in real life have a dual role that is very difficult to perform. They have to report the story and grieve at the same time. Ben Ulrich and the staff at the Bugle have the added task to memorialize the fallen journalist while getting to the bottom of who committed the crime. But in real life, the colleagues of the fallen in Roanoke, Va. don't have the added benefit of Spider-man to assist them in bringing down the villain responsible. 

   A powerful and moving story that hits that much more closer to home in light of current events. 

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Pulse #2


Pulse (2004-2006) #2

    Meet Terri Kidder... She's the newest beat reporter at the Daily Bugle and she's not having a good first week. None of her stories has been approved by the editors. She's in danger of losing her job. And her biggest scoop results in her body being dredged from the Hudson River. 

    This issue was a fantastic story that was brilliantly written by Brian Michael Bendis. It was engaging from the very first page up through the final tragic panel. Oh, and if you didn't know, the folks as the House of Ideas killed Lois Lane!

    Take a look at our intrepid reporter's name: Terri Kidder. Lois Lane was played in the movies by Margot Kidder and on TV in the 90s by Terri Hatcher. Then take into account that she mentions that she moved from a big metropolis to the even bigger Big Apple and that the pictures of her husband on her desk look an awful lot like a certain farm boy from Kansas with glasses and a curly cue. 

    A fantastic chapter in a series that hasn't disappointed me. Yes- this is only the second issue but I feel really good about what I've read so far and with Bendis at the helm, I don't think I'm going to be either. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

The Manhattan Projects, Volume 2: They Rule


Manhattan Projects (2012-2014) #TP Vol 2

    The scientists of Los Alamos have declared their independence from the United States. Now teaming with the scientists of Star City, the Soviet equivalent of the Manhattan Projects, the world's most brilliant minds seek to become the masters of not only the world but the universe as well. But it will not be easy as President Truman has unleashed the Illuminati, a mad assortment of super-powered humans upon the base with only one mission- take the base- leave no prisoners- kill everyone!!!

    I'm still a fan of the groundbreaking series by Jonathan Hickman, but I didn't enjoy this volume as much as the previous one. For one thing, last volume seemed to follow the timeline of 1940-1945-ish pretty well. Yes, this is a fictional account of the Manhattan Project but the plotting was so well done that I was able to appreciate my knowledge of World War II history in regards to the events that transpired in the comics.

    But in this volume we jump from President Truman to newly appointed Commander-In-Chief John Kennedy. Where did Eisenhower go? If in this timeline Kennedy became the 34th president instead of the famed General, then it was Hickman's responsibility to inform the readers that Kennedy's presidency begins in 1952. That's just one of several diversions from our timeline that the author neglects to alert us to. Instead of captions stating 'now' and 'then,' I really could have used some dates.

    Another problem I have with this volume is the level of violence. If this edition was Spinal Tap's amp, the violence would be set at 11. Volume 1 wasn't for the faint of heart, but compared to this collection, the last book was an anthology of nursery rhymes. I also felt like the shock factor added to the mix detracted from the story itself.

    Thankfully, the last chapter opens the Manhattan Projects up to a new dimension of possibilities. For some time, the deranged mind of Robert Oppenheimer has been like a vault that isn't water tight and every once in a while the safe's contents leak out, allowing the reader to catch a glimpse of his fractured psyche. But the last chapter titled 'Finite Oppenheimers' we see just how many multiple personalities the demented physicist has absorbed throughout the multiverse. Let's just say it's a lot and they're not all happy to have become a part of Oppenheimer's think tank collective.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Wolverines #13


Wolverines (2015) #13
   In the wake of Logan's death, someone has been buying up stolen memorabilia of his. But it's not to take advantage of the post-mortem  craze that usually occurs when a celebrity dies. Instead, this buyer is looking to become the new James Howlett of the Marvel Universe... and that can only mean one person: Deadpool!!!

   Looking to become the mutant hero nobody deserves (or asked for) Wade Wilson takes up a passion for hockey, drinking Canadian beer and calling everyone 'Bub.' Wolver-Pool even tries to make his first appearance complete by taking on the Hulk, but all he can find is She-Hulk and she's busy getting ready for a major court deposition in about 30 minutes. Just wait until the original owner of the memorabilia comes calling because he's got a strong list of contacts from his years of special-ops that can make life very difficult for the Merc with a Mouth.

    I'm not at all sure to rate this book. This is my first dip in the Wolverines wading pool (neat pun, huh?) According to the first page, which provides a type of  'Meanwhile..." backstory of the previous 12 issues, the Wolverines is comprised of Mystique, Sabretooth, Logan-clone X-23, Lady Deathstrike, and Wolverine's son Daken. But none of those characters appears in this issue. 

   This story is strictly about Deadpool and perhaps his most insane scheme yet. Why he is the star of this issue and not the line-up of five I mentioned earlier is beyond me. I got this issue out of a grab bag and thanks to the loony cover, I just had to read it. I'm very glad I did, but it doesn't give me any real idea about what this series is really like. Maybe Wade joins the Wolverines in the next issue. But, without any of the established set of teammates appearing in this book, if someone on the street were to ask me if this was a series worth collecting, I honestly couldn't give them a yes or no answer.

    But if you love Deadpool...if you love She-Hulk...if you love Marvel's zany side, then yes- but all means, BUY THIS ISSUE!!! The story by Chris Soule is fresh and funny. The art by Jason Masters and grittily colored by Guy Major is awesome. It's a home run and thus far my favorite issue of 2015!

    It's Worth Consuming that much!

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Batman, Volume 6: The Graveyard Shift (New 52!)



    One problem I have with the New 52 Universe is that the timeline of stories is so skewed. Justice League and Action Comics take place 5-years ago whereas Wonder Woman is set in the present and God knows when and where Earth-2 is really set. The Batman Family stories are just as bad. 

    Think of it like this- in the supposed 6 years of Bruce Wayne's tenure as the Dark Knight, he's gone through not one, not two, but three Robins. No, wait, I forgot Damien- 4 freakin' Boy Wonders as Batman's sidekick. That's an average of 1.5 years per teammate- that's just ridiculous and that insanity is highlighted in this edition.

    This volume is a collection of short stories that take place in the past, present, and future. Essentially, every story is quite good and lots of great background detail is revealed in them. For example in a story set during the Zero Year storyline, we learn a little of the past history of Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake before they each become Robin. 

   But the stories that take place just prior to last year's Batman Eternal event (and occurs at least one year into the future with numerous flashbacks) are jumbled as best. I know that the 52-issue series is supposed to contain a bunch of twists and turns, but some of these shockers seem out of place. For example, Selina Kyle has become the crime lord of Gotham. That's all well and good, but again it jumps the Catwoman comic a full year into the future meaning once again, DC played fast and loose with continuity with very little notice (or concern for the fans.)

   That's one thing that Marvel NOW! doesn't seem to do wrong. They do an amazing job keeping almost every one of their titles set within the same week that the issues drop new in stores. Yes, there is one or two exceptions to that rule but their core timeline is a lot easier to decipher. Unlike the DC timeline in which I once saw a diagram that tried unravel the whole mess. At the end of all the timelines, there was a giant ball of 'wibbly-wobbly, timey wimey... stuff' that just pointed to a giant question mark.

   Where's the Riddler to answer this humongous puzzle when you need him?

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Steam Wars



  In a not too distant galaxy, not too very long ago the rebel leader, Duchess Imeon, has stolen the formula to making warp coal. This fuel is what powers the massive ships of the Hegemonic Crux, an evil empire lead by the mysterious Lord Baron. The Duchess escapes with a space cowboy and his giant bear copilot in their spaceship, the Twentieth-Century Fox.

   It looks like the Duchess is to become the evil Baron's captive when the Fox is shot-down. But her salvation comes in the form of the last laser-sword swinging Dragoon, Bo! But can the young mud farmer be trusted when it's revealed that Bo is actually the estranged son of Lord Baron?

     If this book sounds an awful lot like the adventures of the crew of the USS Enterprise from the Star Trek franchise- you're not very far off...

     Okay- I kid. But you know what sci-fi franchise this series is really based on. Just substitute junkyard chic with steampunk and craft it in the style of manga and you have Steam Wars. I just want to know how artist/ author Fred Perry and the folks at Antarctic Press got anyway with this?!

     As such an obvious twist on a timeless classic, this book is clearly an homage to the original Summer Blockbuster. There are a few funny moments in Steam Wars, but it's not a parody of the movies in which this book reboots. So, I don't see how this manga series could be covered under federal parody law. Plus, since Disney now owns the rights to that original property and Disney has been know to threaten lawsuits against pre-schools that paint Mickey Mouse murals on their wall, how did Steam Wars ever see the light of day?

     I'm not really a fan of manga but based in the source material I just had to give this a go. Thankfully, I enjoyed this book and though it borrows heavily from that other series, it doesn't copy it 100%. There are some changing plot threads and really neat differences that made this book seem exciting and new. Plus, if you are fans of a certain bounty hunter, I think your going to enjoy the fresh new take on him.

    If you can find this book, it's Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Friday, August 21, 2015

Family Comic Zzzzzzz.....





Very busy week at work. Had lots of caterings and a retirement party for over 250 guests. So, I am catching up on sleep. Family Comic Friday will return next week...

Thursday, August 20, 2015

The Pulse #1


Pulse (2004-2006) #1

  With sales lagging due to the internet and 24-hour news, the Daily Bugle must do something fast or face shutting down. Since stories about superheroes sell papers, The Bugle looks to increase coverage. But readers don't like publisher J. Jonah Jameson's rants against them. So, the editor Robbie Robertson has decided to run a weekly insert devoted to positive stories focusing on the superhero community called the Pulse

    Along with veteran reporter Ben Ulrich, Jameson and Robertson have hired former superhero cum private investigator Jessica Jones as a consultant thanks to her numerous superhero contacts and experience. This sort of thing normally isn't Jones' sort of thing but her client base is near zip and she just found out that she's pregnant with Luke 'Power Man' Cage's baby. And she gonna need the health insurance badly...

     A very good but interesting premiere issue. It's not heavy on action. In fact, except for a couple of flashback panels, there are no superhero vs. supervillain melees here. But if you like a comic that's heavy on plot while focusing on those with amazing abilities, then this is the Marvel comic you've been looking for. Plus, the final page cliffhanger sets you up for a great mystery to be solved in the next issue.

   Marvel writer extraordinaire Brian Michael has done in again with the Pulse and the almost 2 years to collect the entire series (before reading it) was worth the wait. Assisting Mr. Bendis is the awesome Mark Bagley, whose art is just superb and a brilliantly painted style cover by Mike Mayhew.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Fairest: In All The Land


  Fairest: In All the Land (2013) #HC

 Someone is killing the beauties of Fabletown! Working on a list of potential victims from the seer Woman of the Ford, super-spy Cinderella must become a gumshoe (as Bigby is still missing and Beast is forced into exile on the farm due to his unpredictable changes back into a monster.) Reluctantly, Cindy accepts the mission and along with Hadeon the witch turned magic car and several animals from the farm, the princess is tasked to find the murderer within 7 days or those slain can never be returned to life. 

   Meanwhile, in the missing Mayor's office of Fabletown castle, the Magic Mirror and several of the Barleycorn Women work to try an assist Cinderella from afar. Someone found a way into the office and stole a vanishing cloak and a powerful sword from the armory. But without an entrance into the room, how could anyone have gotten in and out without being seen by the Mirror?

   'In All the Land' was a great read. As a stand alone graphic novel from both the Fables and Fairest titles, this book seeks to fill in some important gaps before writer/ creator Bill Willingham concludes Fables with issue #150. Helping him along is over 20 artists, inkers, and colorists, including series regular artist Mark Buckingham, Gene Ha, and Ming Doyle.

    The book does start off a little slow. The first dozen or so pages are in text form (with illustrations) but by the second act, the book really gets going. With flashbacks to the 60s and 70s, readers will finally get a better understanding of the motivations of some of the series most famous and infamous characters. (Hopefully, we might get a return to the Fables universe from time to time with several miniseries being devoted to the history of Fabletown, USA. Fingers Crossed!!!)

   Lots of great Easter eggs, cameos, and loose plot threads almost a decade old are waiting for loyal readers of Fables like myself. I just hate to see that dynamic series go, but I'm glad to delay its demise a little longer thanks to gems like this.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.


Tuesday, August 18, 2015

FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics, Volume 1: The Paradigm Shift



    The laws of physics have been severely broken. With time paradoxes, quantum tornadoes, and gravity failing as often as the sun rises and sets, things on planet earth have changed. For example, when you call 911, you are asked if your emergency is in regards to medical, fire, or physics.

   Enter the FBP- Federal Bureau of Physics and agent Adam Hardy. For the government agency, these calls seem like just another day at the office. But when Adam becomes temporarily stranded in a bubble universe, he learns that their may be something sinister behind the weakening of the fabric of the universe. In a world where the 'impossible is always possible' Adam and his team must get to the bottom of the quantum entanglements or the fate of not just the world, but the entire universe is doomed. 

    If it seems like I've been on a science graphic novel kick lately, it's not my fault. My library just happened to get in a bunch of science themed books in recently and I decided to snatch up several volume 1s in order to decide if there were any new series to get into since 'Fables' is almost through. So far, I'm batting 2-2. 

  FBP was exciting and unexpected. The book has so many twists and turns and shocks that I was pleasantly surprised that I had no idea where the members of the FBP were going to go next. So many comic series these days are about as predictable as the weather in San Deigo but that is not the case here. Also, with so much happening in the realm of physics, not every mystery is revealed and that is a good thing as I'm set up and ready for volume 2.

   Another good thing about this book is that the writing is so good that even the 'boring' parts are great. In The Phantom Menace, the Star Wars prequel was ruined by lengthy scenes involving intergalactic trade treaties. But in FBP, even the agency's struggle to achieve federal funding is as interesting as the time vortexes that haunt one of the characters in this book.

    If you like the X-Files, CSI, Doctor Who, and science in general then this is the series for you.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars (as the art was a little rough at times but it still made for an engaging read.)

Monday, August 17, 2015

Deadpool by Posehn & Duggan, Volume 2



 Still possessed by the spirit of slain SHIELD agent Preston, Deadpool seeks to find the answers behind her death and the discovery that someone's been harvesting Wade Wilson's organs for decades. Their search will take them to some of the furthest reaches of planet earth, including North Korea, a duplicate helicarrier made by an evil spy organization, and Wolverine's bedroom! Plus, go back to Deadpool's early days as he team's up with the Heroes for Hire in the 1970s and takes a much-needed vacation in 1960s Wakanda.

   The team of Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan continue to take the Merc with a Mouth to new levels- of insanity, action, and lots and lots of gore. I see lots of critics of modern day Deadpool on social media with fans saying he's too goofy, too weird, and too over-the-top. Yet, Deadpool continues to be a fan favorite, so Posehn, Duggan, and the editors at the House of Ideas are obviously doing something right. 

   Along with the outstanding writing, Scott Koblish does a fantastic job on the art adding lots of great Easter eggs throughout. Added to the mix are the awesome regular covers by Mark Brooks (issues 21-25.) I just loved this whole thing- especially the epic parody of Aliens! Game Over, Man!!!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Batman- The Dark Knight, Volume 1: Knight Terrors (New 52!)


 

   Someone has released all of the inmates of Arkham back into Gotham City. Making matters worse, the escaped inmates are given a toxin that removes their fear and gives them super strength. Batman's quest to find the culprit will pit him against some of his most deadly foes- including the Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, and Bane.
   
   But perhaps his most deadly foe is a new one known only as the White Rabbit. Looking like the Inferior 5's Dumb Bunny, only sluttier, the White Rabbit puts the Dark Knight on notice that she cannot be caught. As Batman gets ever so closer to catching his new foe, the number of bat-villains and their level of deadliness increases, meaning that the Caped Crusader will need to call in some allies for help, including the Justice League. 

   For some reason, my library obtained volumes 2, 3 and 4 long before volume 1. It didn't make for uneven reading nor did it make me feel like the story had been spoiled for me. But, I'm a little disappointed with this volume as the White Rabbit is still on the loose by volume's end, yet she doesn't pop up in any of the following books (in this series) that I've already read. Since her story really isn't over, I feel like this book is incomplete when you look at the series as a whole. 

   However, the story itself was quite good. I liked having several of the Justice Leaguers guest-starring in this book. Those characters gave this book another dynamic missing in most of the New 52! Batman titles. A good story by David Finch but it was Ed Benes' art that really stole the show.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.