Comics

Red Hood and the Outlaws #16

/ / Comics

Red Hood and the Outlaws #16With both teams missing their leader Arsenal and Starfire help the Teen Titans take on a Jokerized mob. Writer Scott Lobdell continues the current trend of having Arsenal, not the Red Hood, be the voice of the book (of course he kinda has to do that this month as the Red Hood doesn’t appear in his own book). The issue is actually one of the better Death of the Family tie-ins. Of course that’s not saying much.

Arsenal comes up with a plan to find the antidote for the Joker Venom (in such a way that made absolutely no sense to me, no matter how many times I re-read the panels). While he and Bunker keep the mob at bay the rest of the team retrieve the supplies (something Kid Flash probably could have done quicker on his own, but oh well).

Aside from the main story, and its logic problems, Lobdell throws in tons of extras including a glimpse of the person responsible for getting Roy off of heroin (it ain’t Ollie), and the foreshadowing of not one but two DCU baddies coming their way once the Death of the Family crossover concludes.

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Batman and Robin #16

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Batman and Robin #16In the latest Death of the Family crossover a captured Damian is pitted against a Joker-Venom-enhanced Batman in a battle to the death as the Joker gleeful watches to see how far the deadly new Boy Wonder will go to save his own skin.

Of course it’s not really Batman under that cowl. Something that is all too obvious to the reader isn’t even considered for a moment by the New 52‘s smartest 10 year-old. The Joker doesn’t get the outcome he wants, but he is able to torment Damian in yet another pointless crossover issue that feels more like a Saw-inspired Batman parody than an actual Bat-book.

There’s plenty of gruesome action here. And the comic has one highlight where the far too dim Damian makes a concious effort not to kill the man he believes is his father. Sadly it’s too little, too late. Pass.

[DC, $2.99]

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Daredevil #22

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Daredevil #22Daredevil #22 is one of two Marvel comics released this week where the new “superior” Spider-Man (Doc Ock‘s brain in Peter Parker’s body) fights with, and against, other heroes of the Marvel Universe who are more than a little slow in figuring out this isn’t their Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

As with the latest issue of Avenging Spider-Man (where Spidey fights with Wolverine) our hero runs into someone with the ability to definitively determine the body is indeed Peter Parker. However in a world where mind control is common (see Winter Soldier), no one even suspects for an instant that Peter Parker might not be in control.

This issue features Daredevil vs. pseudo-Spider-Man who was sicked on Daredevil by Kristen McDuffie. The pair break it up long enough to take on an enhanced Stilt-Man before finally making peace with one another. Mark Waid also throws in an alternate explanation for Foggy Nelson‘s recent behavior. Although no more logical, it does open the door for an entirely new story for Daredevil and his best friend. For fans.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Ame-Comi Girls #4 (featuring Power Girl)

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Ame-Comi Girls #4The latest issue of Ame-Comi Girls (the alternate reality digital comics female-centric version of the DCU) takes us to the futuristic city of Metropolis whose heroine Power Girl saves Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen from Somali Pirates before taking on giant robots and dealing with the unexpected arrival of a female force of Manhunters and her cousin Supergirl.

In a world without a Superman, Power Girl works really well. Our heroine uses advanced Kryptonian technology to truly make Metropolis a city of the future but still has to deal with a xenophobic element that wants the alien (no matter how helpful she is) out of their city. She also kicks quite a bit of ass.

The retelling of Supergirl’s origin isn’t tweaked too much, but before out two super-powered Kryptonian females can get to know each other they’ve got an army of Manhunters to deal with. Goofy? Yeah, but it’s an awful lot of fun and I’m certainly willing to stick around to see where things go from here. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Batman #16

/ / Comics

batman-new-52-16-coverAnd I’m done. Writer Scott Snyder built up an extreme amount of good will with me with his terrific run on Detective Comics before the New 52 reboot. Shifting over to Batman with the launch of New 52 he’s delivered some individually strong issues but several forgettable and some downright bad issues as well. None, however, have lowered the bar more than Batman #16.

I’ve argued often that the entire New 52 seems to have been made off the gritty and hugely popular Arkham Asylum video game. DC proves me correct in this issue where it actually becomes Arkaham Asylum as the Dark Knight enters a Joker-controlled Arkham to stop the madman’s latest plans.

The Death of the Family issues dealing directly with the Joker have only gotten worse as the months have dragged on, finally hitting rock bottom here in this NC-17 horror fetish fantasy that’s so far removed from classic Batman stories it’s nearly unrecognizable. For those who enjoy it I’m leaving it to you. Mr. Snyder thanks for the memories, but I’m getting off this particular roller coaster with this issue. Pass.

[DC, $3.99]

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