Batman

Detective Comics #19

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Detective Comics #19At $8 Detective Comics #19 is overpriced for anyone who isn’t a huge fan of Man-Bat. All but one of the stories (involving Bane created a Venom-powered army to continue his vendetta against the Court of Owls) contained in this issue deal with Batman responding new a Man-Bat outbreak (which includes a Man-Bat version of Zsaz) started by Emperor Penguin to steal Gotham blind during the chaos or its consequences.

In an inexplicable chronological snafu set by the launch of the New 52 (and Grant Morrison‘s insistence to keep using Man-Bats as Talia‘s soldiers), we get out first introduction to Kurt Langstrom (the scientist who invented the Man-Bat serum) and, in the New 52 version is far, far, far from being the first to transform into a half-man/half-bat hybrid.

Other stories involve Emperor Penguin’s soldiers bilking Gotham out of millions, the Penguin planning his escape from prison and revenge against his former assistant, Mrs. Langstrom’s plans to save her husband, and a disagreement between cops, one of whom was infected by the Man-Bat virus, over Batman’s proper role in the city. For fans.

[DC, $7.99]

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The All New Batman: The Brave and the Bold – Small Miracles

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The All New Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Small MiraclesSmall Miracles collects six comics from the two series inspired by the Batman: The Brave and the Bold animated series. The highlight of the collection is the inclusion of The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #13 which features all six Robins (Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, Damian, and Carrie Kelly) brought together through time by the Phantom Stranger to save Batman‘s life by taking on Ra’s al Ghul and The League of Assassins.

Also included in this collection is the entertaining adventure involving Batgirl fighting off the infatuation of Bat-Mite while helping Batman fight crime, Batman and Mister Miracle working to escape Darkseid‘s trap, and the Dark Knight Detective in a race with the Flash to solve a crime in Keystone City. The collection also includes the well-meaning but hamfisted true meaning of Chanukah, and several cameos from DC heroes.

It’s not a must-have but the inclusion of the Robin story, and a pair of fun team-ups with Flash and Batgirl made it worth adding this to my collection.

[DC, $12.99]

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News and Notes

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news-and-notes-batman-and-red-robin-19The New York Post has revealed the Robin on the cover of next week’s Batman and Red Robin #19 is Carrie Kelley (the character created by Frank Miller for The Dark Knight Returns) who will be introduced as an ongoing character in the New 52 (although it has yet to confirmed she will take up the role as Batman‘s new partner)

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting actress Zoe Saldana is in talks to play Gamora in Marvel Studios Guardians of the Galaxy

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Batman Incorporated #9

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Batman Incorporated #9As Batman, Alfred, Nightwing, and Red Robin lay Damian Wayne to rest Grant Morrison’s craptastic Leviathan storyline continues. Talia, her overgrown clone of a son, and the Leviathan troops are in control of Wayne Enterprises and issue demands for Batman to be banned from Gotham City and all of Batman Incorporated’s operations around the world to cease immediately.

Sure I could sit here and rip apart Grant Morrission’s “plot,” such as how Leviathan could ever make good on their threats, or the near-impossibility of removing all likenesses of Batman from a city in eight hours. Or I could simply point out the writer’s usual brand of mumbo-jumbo that the writer uses in place of actual plot.

Or I might mention how ridiculous the events covered in this storyline appear when (aside from Damian’s death) are completely being ignored in EVERY OTHER BATBOOK. You’d think Gotham under siege of a terrorist organization run by Batman’s former lover might be something that would effect other Batman-related comics.

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Batman #18

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Batman #18I really hope writer Scott Snyder is pulling a fast one on fans because I honestly dread what the Bat-titles may be like if the foreshadowing in Batman #18 holds true. Rather than give us Batman‘s perspective following the loss of his son Damian (even in Batman’s own title we don’t get Batman’s take on the situation?), Snyder gives us an entire issue from the perspective of street rat Harper Row, who, in the spirit of Carrie Kelly, takes to the streets in a costume of her own making to help Batman (whether he wants her help or not). At least it’s not a Robin costume… yet.

As in every single issue where Harper appears, there’s far too much of the character and her brother (whose defining characteristic still seems to be that he’s gay), and not nearly enough Batman. Although barely under control, Batman is running himself ragged and has begun to make small mistakes which cause the young woman to jump into the fray and confront the Dark Knight. The scene of Batman breaking the girl’s nose to teach her a lesson doesn’t play out all the well for either of them (or fans).

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