October 2010

Bruce Wayne: The Road Home – Batgirl

/ / Comics
  • Title: Bruce Wayne: The Road Home – Batgirl (One-shot)
  • Comic Vine: link

Out of all the Bruce Wayne: The Road Home One-shots so far this is my favorite. Fans of the regular Batgirl comic will get what they’ve come to know and love including some great comedic back-and-forth between Stephanie Brown and Oracle (and Stephanie and Proxy), including one scene which teases something I’ve been waiting for DC to touch on for months – why isn’t Batgirl in the Birds of Prey?

To get back to the story, Batgirl shows up to stop an intruder at Waynetech Research, one she seems sure is Amazo. If you’ve been reading these you know it’s in fact Bruce Wayne moving behind-the-scenes as well as testing various members of the Bat-family.

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Bruce Wayne: The Road Home – Batman and Robin

/ / Comics
  • Title: Bruce Wayne: The Road Home – Batman and Robin (One-shot)
  • Comic Vine: link

Even if The Return of Bruce Wayne mini-series isn’t finished yet, it seems like the original Batman is back in action…sort of. In the first of a series of one-shots Bruce Wayne sticks to the shadows as the mysterious “Insider,” checking in on various members of the Bat-family to gauge the readiness and test their abilities.

This issue finds Bruce offering some high praise to Dick Grayson (in narration) for not only taking on the mantle of Batman and wearing it with such confidence, but also making it his own. He also gives Dick high marks for how well Damian is performing as Robin.

As with the other one-shots the thread of Vicki Vale‘s search for proof of Batman’s real identity continues as she has dinner with Thomas Elliot and realizes for the first time the man parading himself around Gotham as Bruce Wayne is anything but.

The most interesting thing about these one-shots is who Bruce decides to tell he is back. He doesn’t let on to either Dick or Damian, but does reveal himself to Tim Drake (here) and a few select others.

Even if the issue jumps the timeline of Bruce Wayne/Batman’s return up faster than the rest of the DCU seems ready for, it’s still a good read, and worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

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Superman #703

/ / Comics
  • Title: Superman #703
  • Comic Vine: link

Wow. Just, wow. This might be the most hamfisted story writer J. Michael Straczynski has ever written (and if you’ve seen the last couple seasons of Babylon 5 you know that’s not an easy thing to accomplish).

After an opening scene where Superman basically tortures a random citizen we move straight into the Man of Steel lecturing Batman about needing to look out for the little people. Take a moment and think about that. Superman lecturing Batman about looking out for average citizens. Really? REALLY?!

If that isn’t enough we get the exact doomsday scenario Dick suggests could happen (Superman being attacked by a super-powered crazy in the middle of small town/suburban America) – in the same issue!

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Shadowland #4 (of 5)

/ / Comics
  • Title: Shadowland #4 (of 5)
  • Comic Vine: link

With this issue Andy Diggle‘s Shadowland moves one merciful step closer to a conclusion. To recap: Matt Murdock has been fully possessed by a “The Beast” of the Hand making him stronger, faster, deadlier, (and forcing the horns on his costume to grow?).

Issue #4 brings The Avengers sneaking into the Hand’s temple with the help of Elektra with the single purpose of taking their former friend down. Things don’t go exactly as planned (even with Wolverine going all stabby-stabby on the man without fear).

Oh, and Daredevil (or the Beast, or whatever you want to call him) has decided to resurrect Bullseye and make him an agent of the Hand. Gee, I wonder who could possibly have forseen that. And the Kingpin begins moving into position to grab power once the dust settles.

Other than the Avengers getting their butts handed to them by DD and the magic ninjas (well, what would you call them?) there’s really not much here. But at least we’re one step closer to finally ending this once promising but poorly executed mini-event. That’s something, right?

[Marvel $3.99]

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Never Let Me Go

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Never Let Me Go
  • IMDB: link

Most of us never know what our purpose is or why we’re here. The same can’t be said of the characters of Never Let Me Go, adapted from Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel of the same name. As children they understand more about their roles in the world than most who live a full century.

The story is told through the perspective of Kathy H. (Carey Mulligan) thinking back over her childhood at Hailsham boarding school and her two best friends Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley). Hailsham isn’t your average school. And these aren’t your average youngsters. Here the guardians (not teachers or headmistresses) encourage the children’s creative expression, enforce strict discipline, and prepare the students for a life already chosen for them.

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