Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual #2

An encounter with an impostor St. Nick at Wayne Manor sends 10-year old Jason Todd and his friends Starfire and Roy Harper on a trek to the North Pole to find out why the real Santa Claus didn't come to visit Red Hood and the Outlaws. 

The New 52 had a lot of memorable moments. However, the fun moments were few and far between as this incarnation of the DC Universe was much more dark and gritty. This holiday annual was lots of fun as it seems that fans of the Red Hood, Starfire and Arsenal got to explore an untold tale from their early days as youths. Only something just doesn't add up and it's not Dan DiDio and Jim Lee playing fast and loose with continuity. 

Scott Lobdell gifted fans with a festive story that was gritty, violent and absolutely bonkers. Yet, it was a wild ride that I will definitely visit again in future Christmas comics reading seasons. Jonboy Meyers' art was great and while the cover by RB Silva and Walden Wong is deceptively cute, it made for a great wrappage for this package full of New 52 twists and turns!

I've never read any of the Red Hood and the Outlaws books previously. Thanks to this 2015 annual, I may just start. I didn't really understand the concept of the series. I'm still not 100% understanding of why Starfire is with Jason Todd and not the Teen Titans; but I now have a better grasp of this series' concept enough to give it a go.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Superman: Doomed

I haven't been overly enthralled with everything New 52. Batman: Zero Year was decent and the #0 books that tie-in about 2 dozen members of the DC Universe to that incident was fantastic. But when it came to the portrayal of the Man of Steel in the pages of Superman and Action Comics left me frigid. That all changes here in Superman: Doomed!

A clandestine group that thinks Superman is a threat to our planet, makes the brilliant decision to free Doomsday from the Phantom Zone projector located in Kal-El's Fortress of Solitude. At the exact same time, the entire town of Smallville has been rendered unconscious under mysterious circumstances. When Doomsday arrives on the outskirts of the town, Superman takes things personally and unleashes hell on the colossus!

In a show of unlimited power, Superman lands a punch that vaporizes Doomsday. And then the Man of Tomorrow inhales him! Always thinking of others, Superman absorbs his foe in order to prevent the creature from reforming and possibly mutating any of the by-standers of the battle. As a result, Superman has infected himself with the most deadly killing machine in history and he's turning into a version of a Kryptonian powered Super-Doom!

Three things really impressed the heck out of me in this 500 page plus book:

1. The relationship between Superman and Wonder Woman. This is a great power couple and they work very well. Not liking the other Superman books, I never went for the Superman/Wonder Woman team-up title. That will change.

2. Taking a page from The Incredible Hulk, readers get a chance to see inside the mind of Kal-El. There's this amazing banter between the Clark Kent and Doomsday sides that are battling for control. Yes, I know it's a swipe from Marvel's most well-known dissociative. But the massive creative team headed by writers Greg Pak and Charles Soule, among others, managed to make these scenes extremely fresh and entertaining. 

3. The Maid of Might. I love Supergirl and I am doing my best to get the entire run of her New-52 title. I don't quite understand why she's with the Red Lanterns. But I like it. I also don't understand why half-way through this story Kara stops being a Red Lantern. Did she renounce membership? Is she on hiatus? It's not made clear. But I'll find out one day. I guarantee it!

As for some of my other questions, like if the Big Boss at the end of this book is really the one behind the release of Doomsday and if the infection of Superman was pre-planned or just a happy accident are questions that I doubt I'll ever get a definite answer on.

Lots of different artists, inkers and colorists are involved in this story. Really too many to mention. I didn't feel like a single page was wasted. This was a massive read and I got one fantastic discount having found this $30 book for less than $10 at Ollie's. If you love Doomsday and are a giant fan of the epic 'Death of Superman' storyline, this is a book you cannot afford to miss. Even if it is a part of the New 52!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

O.M.A.C., Vol. 1: Omactivate!

The non-Fourth World world of Jack Kirby is given the New 52 treatment in this oh too brief miniseries. I'm typically not impressed with the grandstanding style of Dan DiDio. He's self-indulgent and smarmy. Plus, DC Comics wouldn't be in half of the financial mess that they're in right now if not for DiDio. Yet, this time around, I was more than impressed. It's probably because of the assist by Keith Giffen (Larfleeze) on the script. But I will give kudos where kudos are due. 

Not only does this book retool the character of OMAC, this book also ties in another Kirby classic, Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth. Add in Project Cadmus from Kirby's Jimmy Olsen tenure, Max Lord (a Keith Giffen creation) and Dick Giordano's Sarge Steel, this felt like a tribute to classic DC Comics. 

I did not want this book to end. It was so very fun. I would love for this to be turned into a movie. Heck, I would love for there to be a sequel. Though, with this being New 52, I'm not sure how connected to continuity this is and I don't want to support something that would contradict DC canon. But if a sequel doesn't do such a thing- please, oh please, continue the story!

With artwork by Scott Koblish (Scotch McTeirnan's Halloween Party), this is a fantastic story for those who like their DC Comics to be a little off-the-wall. A reluctant sci-fi superhero in the vein of Neo from The Matrix. You don't have to be a Kirby fanatic (of which I am). But it helps. And for those established Kirby-ites, as long as you understand that this book isn't trying to replace Kirby's OMAC, they should enjoy this as well!

Don't ask me why this is listed as Volume 1. There is no volume 2. This sort of oversight infuriates me and is about the only thing about this book I dislike.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars. 

Batman #21-27, 29-33 & DC Comics: Zero Year One-Shots (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

(DC Comics Zero Year contains: Detective Comics #25, Batgirl #25, Batwing #25, Batwoman #25, Birds of Prey #25, Catwoman #25, The Flash #25, Green Arrow #25, Green Lantern Corps #25, Nightwing #25, Red Hood and The Outlaws #25 and Action Comics #25.)

When DC Comics rebooted its entire line-up in 2011's New 52 campaign, almost all of the major players seemed to be retooled. That is with the exception of the Batman. For one reason or another, most of the Bat-Family history was the same as before the change which occurred on August 31st. Making drastic changes to Batman, the publisher's most popular character, might have destroyed DC's loyal fan base. Another reason for keeping Batman's history from being completely rewritten as opposed to the newer, grittier version of Superman, was the need to keep some of the established DC characters from looking too different. Regardless, the ultimate decision was all about money.

Batman writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV both noticed the need to incorporate a little bit of New 52 backstory into the Batman Family. Not wanting to erase any of the amazing lore crafted about the legend of the Dark Knight, especially Frank Miller's Batman: Year One, the writing duo went even further back with Zero Year! 

DC Comics had already explored this 'zero year' in 2012 in commemoration of the 1-year anniversary of the New 52 in which all existing series were given an issue #0 that delved into the origins of these rebooted characters. In follow-up, Snyder and Tynion crafted an entire storyline based around the 'zero month' concept. 

Batman #21 would see Bruce Wayne returning to Gotham City after years of a self-imposed exile. This occurs 5 years before the beginning of the storylines of the New 52 lineup. Many believe Wayne is dead and Bruce wants to keep it that way. That is until the billionaire discovers that a menacing force known as the Red Hood Gang has infiltrated the Wayne family business and is using Wayne Enterprises technology and funds to organize a criminal vice over the city. 

Bruce Wayne attempts to stop the Red Hood Gang by acting as a standard ski-mask wearing vigilante. But his early attempts don't do much to intimidate crooks. Building upon his childhood phobia of bats, Bruce Wayne creates a high-tech suit resembling a giant chiropteran and begins to strike fear into Gotham's criminal element. 

As Bruce Wayne/Batman fights the Red Hood Gang, another player is working in the shadows. Edward Nygma has positioned himself as a trusted advisor to current Wayne Enterprises CEO, Philip Kane. This gives Nygma not only access to a vast enterprise of advanced technology, but also the ability to manipulate the Red Hood Gang after Batman seemingly kills their leader. 

With Gotham in a power vacuum and a deadly super storm hurricane zeroing in on Gotham, Nygma makes his play. Now touting himself as the Riddler, Nygma detonates scores of bombs, shutting off the metropolitan area's power.  Effectively Gotham is cut off from the rest of the world. 

It is at this point that a dozen New 52 series take a brief pause in their current storylines and revert back to Zero Year. Clark Kent learns that despite having god-like powers, he's nothing compared to an act of God. Rookie Keystone City policeman Barry Allen volunteers to beef up Gotham's depleted police force and learns that all saints are sinners and vice versa. Marine John Stewart assists in the evacuation of citizens that have flocked to the Gotham coliseum. These are all episodes that will define these heroes years later.

Meanwhile, the members of the Bat-Family are also learning important lessons on the eve of Zero Year. Barbara Gordon gets a first hand look at mob mentality and displaced trust when the public shelter she has fled to begins to flood. Dick Grayson learns about bravery and to never trust someone with the last name Falcone. Cassandra Cain gets her first taste of vigilantism while making a chance encounter with a member of the Metropolis police department. But most perplexing of all is the back story of Jason Todd. His story sees him infiltrating the Red Hood Gang and running afoul of an alluring member of the League of Assassins all for the chance at cheap thrills!

After the Zero Year one-shots, the regular storyline commences. It sees Gotham isolated with the Riddler ruling the megalopolis through the use of deadly drones and the only power source in town. Batman comes to grips with his past distrust of Jim Gordon and along with Lucius Fox, seeks to restore power and order to Gotham.

Zero Year was a unique crossover event. To only have to purchase 12 single issues, each comprised of a stand alone story that occurs with such devastation in a major location in the DC Universe was actually a rare thing. For example, if one wanted to read all of the material of 1988-86's Crisis on Infinite Earths, the first major multi-issue crossover event, they'd have to buy the 12 issues of the maxi-series plus an astounding 38 supplemental issues. Compare that to Marvel's 2015 Secret Wars event where fans had to purchase nearly 100 issues in order to complete their wish list. 

Though fans' pockets weren't as assaulted with Zero Year as with other in-house crossovers, the story itself was a bit jarring. There are flashbacks splattered all throughout the series, many of which don't get addressed properly, if not at all. The final issue takes place in 3 simultaneous perspectives; one of which is at least 5 years (or more) in the past, just as Batman seeks to finally wrestle control of Gotham from the Riddler while a team of Air Force jets approach with warheads armed and ready. 

Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV do manage to create a Batman origin story that does not contradict Batman: Year One. The whole idea of the coming super storm and Riddler's role in the crippling of Gotham City were plot devices used in 2022's The Batman. 2012's Batman: Death of The Family and other previous works might have established the Joker as the Dark Knight's most deadliest foe. But, a lot of that is personal vendetta type stuff. Batman: Zero Year establishes the Riddler as Batman's most destructive enemy, willing to sacrifice millions at the cost of saving face in order to prove just who is the smartest man in Gotham City!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #35 (An Entire In-house Crossover Event like Civil War or Final Crisis) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Justice League of America's Vibe, Vol. 1: Breach

Next to the character of Wells and his various incarnations, my favorite character on The CW's The Flash is Cisco Ramon. Played by actor Carlos Valdes, the character is witty, smart and super chill. With his love of pop culture and Star Wars, I think we'd make great friends if we were to meet IRL. But when it comes to the comic book version, I know very little about the superhero known as Vibe. That interest in knowing a little bit more about the hero is why I chose to pick up this book a while back at my local Ollie's store.

The New 52! incarnation of Vibe/Cisco Ramon is similar to what little I know about the character. He's Latino. From Detroit. Has some sort of ability to alter the vibrational frequencies of not just our Earth; but the entire gambit of the multiverse. And he was a part of the Justice League of America- the original version.

Here we get Vibe's origin of how Ramon obtained his powers as a young boy when he's unfortunately sliced in half by a boom tube during an early invasion from Darkseid's parademon forces. Cisco survived the incident. However, his older brother died in the rescue attempt. Due to his ultra-close encounter with boom tube technology, Cisco Ramon's latent meta-human genes were unlocked and the ability to command the multiverse was now his.

As Cisco's powers strengthen, this puts him in the crosshairs of ARGUS. The feelings of the clandestine agency is that if Cisco can't be used as a super-powered weapon against potential foes that slip into our dimension then Cisco too is a potential threat to global safety. 

Now training to be an agent of ARGUS, Cisco is given the codename VIBE. Vibe's powers help him to sense when someone has breached the barriers between our universe and their own. Things seem to be going great as the newest wunderkind at ARGUS until Cisco is tasked with apprehending a mysterious woman named Gyspy who seems to have familiar air to her.

I felt like this book had two tones to it. Vibe was originally a 10 issue series. The first 4 or 5 issues in which Vibe is learning the ropes of being an agent of ARGUS feels like the Denzel Washington film Training Day or something similar. Cisco learns that being a hero doesn't always mean being a good guy. Then when Vibe meets Gypsy things shift over to The Fugitive (pick your version). Add some DC Comics touches like Apokolips and some forgotten characters from the 60s and 70s getting a modern retouch and you've got the basis for one of the more enjoyable titles to come from the New 52! experiment.

I did have one problem with this book and it's more of a design flaw or issue with the marketing/editing department. This book is touted as Volume 1. As I said early, the Vibe series lasted 10 issues, from 2013-2014. All 10 issues are reprinted here. So, why call this a Volume 1? The back cover even confirms that this book contains the 'full 10-issue series' and there's a 1 on the spine of the book!

This isn't the first time DC has done this. They did it a lot with the Showcase Presents B&W reprint collections and some other works. It irks my OCD to no end and it kinda ruins how my bookcase display looks. I know this is a small thing. But it makes my brain itch to no end.

A good story poorly marketed. Definitely a reason NOT to judge a book by it's cover!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Larfleeze, Vol. 2: Revolt of the Orange Lanterns

YOU WILL BELIEVE A JACKASS CAN FLY!

That should be the tagline if they were ever to make a film starring Larfleeze, the Orange Lantern of Avarice!

I came across this book for just a few dollars at an Ollie's. Having first been introduced to the character in the pages of the Larfleeze Christmas Special, I took a shot on this book. And then after adding it to my collection, I promptly filled it in one of my short boxes and immediately forgot about it. Jump forward a couple of years until a few days ago, I was in the mood for something light. Thankfully, I had this Larfleeze book on hand for such a moment as that!

Larfleeze is in a panic. Oh, and he's tremendously upset! That's because someone has stolen all his stuff- including the Orange Lantern that fuels his power ring. With time running out, Larfleeze, along with his newly acquired butler, Stargrave (I.E. kidnapped), will stoop to nothing to retrieve his lost loot!

Featuring a nearly forgotten sci-fi team, the Star Rovers, a bunch of deceased aliens, and a peak behind the creation source point, I really enjoyed this cosmic romp. Pretty much, if you attach Keith Giffen and JM DeMatteis to a project, I'm going to want to read it and I'm going to enjoy it. I think it's because they just think a little bit differently about things. So I have found some kindred spirits. The co-creators of Justice League International are quirky, a little odd and a whole heck of a lot funny!

This collection of stories were part of DC's New 52 experiment. Yet, the stories inside don't read like it. The book was completely insane, mostly because after being a billion years old and under the influence of the greedy energy of the orange lantern, Larfleeze is just about as completely nuts as one can be. 

There is quite a bit of violence. The level of blood red ink is almost equal to the orange that highlights literally every page. There's quite a few 'damns' and 'hells'. But I was more surprised by gratuitous use of the a-word; especially for a 2011 book that boasts a Teen rating on the cover.

As comical as this first volume was, it's not for kids. But it was definitely a book for me. There's a volume 2 out there and I really want to get my hands on it before I start to forget what happened already. 

Darn that getting old!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Dial H, Volume 1: Into You (New 52)

I’ve always enjoyed the premise of Dial H for Hero. Anybody with the right rotary phone can spell out the words H-E-R-O and for a little while become a superhero. Some of the heroes were super cool and some made the Inferior 5 look like Mohammed Ali.

Here in this New 52 reboot, an overweight slacker and an elderly woman learn that not all super heroes are meant to be seen in public.

With fantastic art and some mysterious villains that want the dial for themselves, I was hooked. I cannot wait for future volumes. I also wonder if the series will allow readers to create new heroes as they used too in the old series.

Awesome stuff!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Batman, Volume 10: Epilogue (The New 52!)

 
    Scott Snyder closes out his epic run on Batman in this final volume of the New 52! 
 
    As Gotham City rebuilds from Mister Bloom's reign of terror, Bruce Wayne returns to Wayne Manor. Has he also returned to the Bat Cave, as well?

    Featuring a wide array of tales that span Bruce Wayne and the Batman's past, present, and future, this was a fitting end to the New 52! era Dark Knight. 

   Worth Consuming!

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman, Volume 9: Bloom (The New 52!)

   

There's a terrifying new villain in Gotham City. Calling himself Mister Bloom, this new enemy is supplying the gangs of Gotham with bio-engineered 'seeds.' In reality, these seeds are a sort of nanobot steroid that are turning the criminal element into superhuman powerhouses. Claiming to be the Joker to Jim Gordon's Batman, Mister Bloom just might have what it takes to destroy the Bat and his city forever.
    Meanwhile, the fate of Bruce Wayne is revealed. But what about the Joker? Did he too survive Endgame?
    Bloom is a brutal character and I quite like him. Despite being Gordon's Joker, he's the direct opposite, if anything. Mister Bloom seeks order in the face of chaos where as the Clown Prince of Crime is quite the opposite. Refreshing- though I wish Bloom's identity would have been revealed- or was it I missed all the clues?
    As for the return of Bruce Wayne- I like how he's basically got a new lease on life. Of course, you know he's eventually going to return to the mantle of the Bat, but for right now having a completely reborn Bruce Wayne without the scars and wounds of years as a vigilante hero, is pretty awesome. Plus, the theory of how a Bruce Wayne Batman can continue on for decades to come is perhaps the most unique twist on the future of the Dark Knight mythos since the introduction of Terry McGinnis in Batman Beyond.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman, Volume 8: Superheavy (The New 52!)

   In the wake of Endgame, the threat of the Joker is over but Batman has fallen. Without its protector, the citizen's of Gotham City are in peril from the scores of gangs and members of the Dark Knight's Rogue's Gallery that are fighting for their piece of the pie.

      Enter the Powers Corporation, a conglomerate that has the crazy idea to fashion a new Batman. Combining the latest technology and the best of Gotham City Police Department's finest, Powers Corp hopes to create the ultimate Dark Knight. But when the members of the force wash out, the company's CEO has her wackiest idea yet- make Jim Gordon the new Batman!

       When it was revealed a few years back that Commissioner Gordon would be the next Batman, I felt like Gordon did: it was the stupidest idea I've ever heard! But writer Scott Snyder did a fantastic job explaining away how it was possible a 45-year old man, who smokes a pack a week, could get himself in shape to become the ultimate physical specimen, Batman. 

    Short answer: lots of implants, surgery, and intense training.
    Another classic segment of one of the few shining spots in the New 52. Superb writing. Excellent art by Greg Capullo. And tons of action and adventure.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Batman: Harley Quinn

Love her or hate her, but there was no denying that Harley Quinn was the DC darling of 2016. She was everywhere- the big screen as a member of the Suicide Squad, at least 2 new series hit shelves, bringing her total to 3. She guest starred everywhere from the pages of Batman to Scooby-Doo. Facebook was crammed pack with cosplayers and aspiring artists paying tribute to the Joker's girlfriend. So of course DC Comics was going to reissue this treasury of essential Harley Quinn stories originally published in 1999.   
    The book covers Harley's first official appearance in the DC Universe in Harley Quinn #1. Why Batman Adventures #12, the ever so more demanded first appearance of Harley in print wasn't covered is beyond me?! But this is a nice collection of stories covering Harley's initial whirlwind romance to her attempts to break away from Mister J and become her own woman. Poison Ivy, the Riddler, Scarface, and the Dark Knight make extremely memorable appearances here. 
    I read the third edition of this anthology. Being the third print, DC added some new work, including a reprint of Detective Comics #23.2. Part of the New 52 Forever Event, this story reboots the character's origin, as well as her look and locks in her affiliation with the Suicide Squad. As a Harley purist, this was perhaps my least favorite of the collection. But it was interesting getting to finally explore the ins-and-outs of this change.
    A very good collection featuring great writing by Harley Quinn creator Paul Dini and a score of other writers and artists like Joe Kubert, Alex Ross, Neil Googe, and Bruce Timm.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars. 

Batgirl, Vol. 1: The Batgirl of Burnside

After an experimental surgery involving electrodes placed along her spinal cord, Barbara Gordon regained the ability to walk after being crippled by the Joker. Inspired by how the new technique maps her brain, Barbara created a security system that mimics her photographic memory rich mind. In time, her computer program wins Barbara a place in a lucrative doctoral program. Seeing a chance to make a new life outside of Gotham after her apartment burns down, Barbara enrolls in college in the neighboring borough of Burnside to complete her dissertation.

   But with new friends who work for a popular online dating app and a new university, Barbara struggles to balance her academic life with her blossoming social life. On top of all that is her duties as Batgirl, which have kicked into high gear as she's mysteriously attacked by another, more glitzy Batgirl who seemingly knows all of Babs’ secrets. Is there an impostor to the title of Batgirl of Burnside? Or is Barbara slowly losing touch with reality.

  Batgirl of Burnside is essentially a re-branding of the superhero, making her more trendy and hip. It was an interesting read that attempts to tell Batgirl’s story to a new target audience. But the image shuffle of Batgirl that left me with a lot of questions. The penultimate chapter of this book does explore how Babs regained her ability to walk but her past as a pre-paralysis Batgirl is left in doubt. In fact, it's hinted that this may very well not be her actual reality and that her life is a fraud.

  When this book started to explore the possibility of the coming DC Universe Rebirth, I started to enjoy this series. But the first third of this book was really not my cup of tea. What with the characters constantly texting and going to raves or trendy art shows, I, an older comics' reader, felt a disconnect. But by the midway point, Batgirl started to return to her roots as a martial arts practicing Nancy Drew and things started to click here.

  So is this re-branding of the Barbara Gordon Batgirl a Gen-Xer’s allegory on the overly pervasive nature of a social media driven culture? Or is it a millennial’s cry for a personal voice in a multimedia flooded society on the verge of dystopian collapse? It's up to you, the reader, to decide. Hey, it might even be a little bit of both. But no matter how you look at the revitalized Babs  one thing is certain; the seeds of DC's Rebirth begin in this volume!

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Justice League United, Volume 1:Justice League Canada (New 52!)

    Former members of the Justice League find themselves pitted together against an alien invasion in the Canadian wilderness in this opening chapter of Justice League United. Also known as Justice League Canada, this short-lived series didn't get very much love, lasting only about 16 issues, along with an annual and a Futures End tie-in one-shot. But I don't know why- I liked it! (Okay- that reason alone is probably why JLU was canned.)

   The events of this volume take place after Forever Evil with the government sanction disbandment of the Justice League. Now I've read Forever Evil, but I don't remember the group splitting up. In fact, I thought the League carried on having Lex Luthor as a member! So, when and where this happens is something I've not come across. But that lack of knowledge didn't keep me from enjoying this book.

   The way these heroes come together is reminiscent of how the Justice League first came together way back in 1960. A would-be alien conqueror (Starro) sends forth creatures based on the elements to subjugate mankind. In the New 52! reboot, a rogue Thanagarian scientist is kidnapping humans in the Great White North in order to create a being that would be so undefeatable that whoever possessed it would literally being the ruler of the universe. His mission is carried out while under the protection of a heavy that can change from fire to stone, and then wood much like in the first appearance of the Justice League of America in Brave and the Bold #28

   Another twist is the role of Adam Strange and the love of his life Alanna. Here, Alanna is a human but due to a zeta beam malfunction, the two must switch places on earth and Rann or the two will die thanks to close proximity. This twist with Adam most often stuck on Rann gives Alanna a chance to be the hero for once.

   One more thing surprised me about Justice League United that I think was grossly underreported. This series introduces the new character of Equinox. Equinox is a female member of the Cree nation whose powers change with the seasons. Being how the media has gotten so excited over diversity in comics, such as a black Spider-Man, a female Thor, and a lesbian Batwoman, the addition of Equinox got swept under the rug. What, is it only news if an established character becomes more diverse? Hypocrisy, I cry!!!

    Justice League United was quite good. Writer Jeff Lemire paired up a great mix of wisdom (J'onn J'onnz), youth (Stargirl), muscle (Supergirl and Hawkman), and the much needed comic relief (with the roles of Blue Beetle and Booster Gold going to Animal Man and Green Arrow.) Mike Mckone has a deft touch with just about all of these characters as series artist though his Martian Manhunter seems to be artistically fluid as the alien team leader looks strikingly different in every issue. 

   I managed to snag volume 2 which I'll be tackling very soon. This issue made me excited for Justice League titles again and not since Giffen and DeMatteis were the League this much fun.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman, Volume 7: Endgame (The New 52!)

   This volume collects the epic Batman storyline that changed everything you know about the Dark Knight!

   The Joker has returned to Gotham City and he's completely changed. He's more cunning, more insane, more deadly, and more powerful than ever before. Along with a newly reconstructed face, the Joker also carries a deadly virus in his system that has turned him into a walking biological weapon- along with now bearing seemingly instructive regenerative properties. 

   The Joker's virus has turned the people of Gotham into raving lunatics. With the sickness spreading, the Caped Crusader must call in all of the members of his Batfamily along  with some of Gotham's must dangerous to save the city before the America military carpet bombs the entire burg as a containment measure. But first, Batman must defeat his allies in the Justice League who have been infected with the Clown Prince of Crime's contagion.

   Issue #40 marked the final confrontation between Batman and the Joker. I had read it before as I received it as a gift during Free Comic Book Day weekend from my brother-in-law. I was so thrilled that I couldn't wait for this volume to come out. It was a good decision as I consider it one of the best issues of 2015. 

   But just as I read that issue with a little bit of confusion having not read issues 35-39, I was a little bit confused here when I started this book. During the Death of the Family storyline, the previous Joker appearance in the comics, the Joker severely beat Alfred. As a result, his daughter came to help him recover and fill-in as Batman's right-hand man. 

   Now, in issue #40, Alfred was in the hospital, so I figured that one of the chapters of Endgame (I didn't read yet) was when this mystery daughter came into the picture. Yet, she's almost on page 1 of volume 7 already helping out (and Alfred's recovering from the Joker's assault in Family.) So, where in the heck did she come from? She didn't show up in volume 6 of Batman, which is a collection of random tales, so again I ask, where did she pop up and what did I not read first before Endgame?

    Questions aside, this was a fantastic read that adds mystery to the Joker mystique and ushers in a new phase in the Batman mythos. 

   You don't want to miss out on Endgame!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

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.

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.

Detective Comics Volume 6: Icarus

   

 A dangerous drug has hit the streets of Gotham. Like all drugs, it has the potential to be deadly. But unlike cocaine or heroin, 'Ick' is radioactive and can set you on fire!

    But the narcotic isn't the main focus of this volume. The main story involves the death of an idealistic social activist and Detective Harvey Bullock who's on the case. His main suspect is Bruce Wayne who agreed to fund her philanthropic endeavors. Of course (for obvious reasons) the Dark Knight's instincts lead him to two rival gangs that were involved in a deal with the dangerous Icarus that somehow went south.

   My friend Brandon has a real beef with the Batman films because they don't feature him as the master detective that the Caped Crusader is. To paraphrase Gary Oldman's Jim Gordon from 'The Dark Knight,' this is the graphic novel Brandon asked for. Batman really gets his chance to prove his masterful Detective skills in this whodunit that has so many twists and turns that the final chapter of this volume actually takes place one week prior and reveals the hows and whys the Icarus drug deal went bad. 

   This noirish chapter of the New 52! Dark Knight returns the hero to his roots while putting him back on the outs with the GCPD and Harvey Bullock. The art was striking and it was colored in muted watercolors than bleed sorrow, anger and greed throughout every page. The only thing missing was someone telling Bullock at story's end, 'Forget it, Harv, it's Gotham City."

   Finally, Detective Comics is actually about detecting again!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Batman/ Superman, Volume 2: Game Over (New 52!)

 

   A new video game pits Batman and Superman in a real life battle for the Earth when Mongul returns. After vanquishing the enemy, the duo are challenged by Mongul's son for retribution, with planet earth once again in the crosshairs. Teaming with members of the Superman and Batman families, the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel are entered in a deadly tournament of champions. The winner becomes the leader of Mongul's Warworld. The loser has their home planet vaporized into atoms.

    Then it's a collision of World's Finests when Earth-2's Huntress and Powergirl infiltrate the Batcave and run amok. When the nano virus afflicting Powergirl  infects Superman, the heroes must form a quartet or both Powergirl and the alternate earth version of her cousin will ignite as Kryptonian bombs.  Echoes of Bruce and Clark's cross-earth capers from volume one bleed into this new reality with a central foe behind the alternate earth drama- Darkseid!

    This volume was heavy on action and I'm enjoying the uneasy dynamic between Batman and Superman. Their relationship seems very well established by having the two meet when they were youngsters and I'm okay with this as it plays on a Superman/Batman: Secret Files story that I just thought was aces. What I felt wasn't very clear was some of the histories of the New 52! in general.

   It's mentioned that Mongul has returned to conquer earth. But I'm not sure when he did that. For New 52! books, I've read just about everything Batman published, along with the opening chapters of Action Comics and this series (up through here.) So far, Mongul's name hasn't come up once and what little research I've done into Justice League doesn't mention the character either. So when did this happen? The classic use of tiny boxes on the bottom of pages to denote when past events occurred by the editorial staff was sorely missed by this avid comic collector.

   For a reboot, there have been some really awesome changes. I enjoyed the introduction of Powergirl and Huntress to the New 52! I felt that Powergirl was sorely missed during this reboot and it appears with her starring in a new miniseries with Harley Quinn that the editors hope to correct this oversight.

   I also enjoyed that Batman and Superman 'forgot' that they had travelled to Earth-2. In the classic DC Universe, everytime characters from earth-1 and 2 got together, it was more and more like a reunion that had to deal with a rowdy guest than any sort of earth shattering crossover that the covers would hype. That's gone here and having the two pairs of World's Finest learn to work together made for a better story. But never would Batman fist bump the Huntress- ever.

   Another change that I enjoyed was the new version of the Toyman. Instead of a dweebish nerd who uses toys to cause mischief, he's rebooted into a hip video game creator who isn't so much a bad guy as much as an entrepreneur who got mixed up with the wrong crowd. I like that he's later used as a tech expert for Superman trying to make amends for almost destroying the earth in a Mongul backed trap.

    Along with the story and character reboots, the art was very good. Jae Lee continues to thrill with his whimsically scary style. I love the watercolor effect of the coloring too. It adds to the haunting appeal of Lee's work.

   The artist is joined by Brett Booth who pencils the first act of this volume. His art is drawn in a 'widescreen' style, meaning you have to read the book sideways and the art is less contained. I liked it, but there were times when you almost needed the giant key to Superman's Fortress of Solitude acting as a directional arrow to guide the reader to which panel to view next. (PS- they had these in the olden days of comics too, kids!)

  A very good chapter in the New 52! adventures of Batman and Superman that just could've used a few tricks from the days of the classic DCU!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

 
 
 
   

Batman #40 (The New 52!)

  This is it- the epic showdown between Batman and the Joker!

   Using the combined might of Gotham's superhero and villain community, Batman leads an army against the Clown Prince of Crime to prevent him from poisoning the entire city with an ultra-lethal level type of Joker toxin. The battle culminates with the two enemies battling each other mano-y-mano in the underground caverns of Gotham. With explosives detonating and the caves crumbling, the duo has an ultimate battle to the supposed death.

    That's right- I said death. But this isn't really a spoiler as the possible demises of the two characters have been covered in detail on Yahoo!, CNN, Facebook, Buzzfeed, and dozens more social media sites. However, I have a theory that one character survived. I won't tell you who but one of the two combatants suffers an injury to their left side of their chin and their right eye. At the end of the book, you see a man in shadow with a bandage to his left chin region and a patch over his right eye. So whoever it is... SURVIVED!

   I thought that this was the definitive final battle of Bruce Wayne's Batman and the Joker. Getting villains and heroes together to fight for the fate of Gotham City was brilliant. The utter carnage the two unleash on each other was epic! And the banter- oh my gosh...It was awesome. The Dark Knight literally forcing the Joker to cry uncle after the villain has made so many members of the Batman Family beg for their lives- classic!!!

   Now is the time of Jim Gordon as the Bat. I don't quite know how that's going to work out nor if it will be successful. But I almost want him to thrive because with this (possible) ending chapter to Bruce Wayne's story was in my opinion the only way Batman and the Joker should go out- together and at each other's throats!

   A fantastic job by writer Scott Snyder that is capped by a dynamic pencil and ink job by Danny Miki and Greg Capullo that channels the legendary Frank Miller. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Batman/Superman, Volume 1: Cross World (New 52!)

The first volume of the New 52's 'first' teaming of the World's Finest is a trippy adventure that spans both the DC timeline and the multiverse.

  When the living embodiment of chaos decides to have a little fun by bringing the younger and less experienced Earth-1 Man of Steel and Caped Crusader to Earth-2 where a more matured Man of Tomorrow and Dark Knight have turned their world into a virtual paradise, all hell breaks loose. Separated by age and ego, the two groups of heroes eventually make nice once they discover that they are from different universes. But when the two teams also discover that combined militaries of Earth-2 have created a Superman killing device using Wayne Techology the heroes must decide- Save Superman or Save the world from the oncoming storm known as Darkseid.

    This story took a little while to build up steam. That's mostly because the New God sprite Kaiyo has all four heroes switching places from world to world before having all four wind up in the Smallville of Earth-2. But once the players were finally set on the board, the story ramped up to a Nth degree of action, adventure, and pure wicked fun.

   The art is by the terrific Jae Lee. Lee has such a whimsical but haunted style. It works well for these four heroes who're haunted by their own pasts. With terrific finishes by Ben Oliver that give these pages an almost painted quality, both he and Lee take the reader to the farthest reaches of the DC Universe all under the masterful pen of Greg Pak.

   This collection also includes an 'Unleased' Forever Evil tie-in from Justice League #23.1. It features an origin story of Darkseid and the New Gods. I've read some of Kirby's original New Gods stuff that explained the early days of Apokolips and New Genesis but I've never read a definitive story as to how the old gods died to make way for the newer deities of Darkseid, Highfather, and the rest. Until now! Say what you might about the New 52 but this single issue story was fan-tastic and perhaps the single best New 52 story I've ever read.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.