Batman

Batman & the Outsiders #5

Batman & the Outsiders #5 comic reviewThe Outsiders have arrived in Khadym to search for the missing Sofia Ramos. The search ends up leading the team into not one but two separate traps. For the first, Black Lightning, Katana, and Kaliber walk into with their eyes open having found Sofia. The second is sprung on the remaining members of the team while the rest fight for their lives in the desert.

Sofia is both the goal and an obstacle after being brainwashed by Ra’s al Ghul. She puts up a spirited defense before Katana is able to get through to her. Or is this yet another part of the demon’s trap, with Sofia still under his control, which will reveal itself at the proper moment? There’s a good amount of action here, and also some team building as Black Lightning learns a bit more about Katana’s past and world view.

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Batman #78

Batman #78 comic review“City of Bane” catches up with Batman and Catwoman on the road back to Gotham City. On an unnamed beach, somewhere still far from home, Catwoman continues to help Bruce Wayne get back to full strength (both physically and mentally). This means a bit of training, and quite a bit of dialogue between the pair who recognize, but are not willing to give into, the attraction that still exists between them.

Other comic writers should take note of Batman #78 which works wonderfully well as a character-driven mid-arc story (and not simply another “City of Bane” issue that marginally moves the larger arc forward). Slow-paced, but important for both Batman’s recovery and his relationship with Catwoman going forward, Batman #78 is my favorite issue of the arc so far.

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Event Leviathan #4

Event Leviathan #4 comic reviewEvent Leviathan continues as the heroes are still no closer to identifying who is behind the attack on all the DCU’s spy agencies. The issue opens with Superman recounting his encounter with the apparent head of the organization, and his defeat as Leviathan was able to use some kind of temporal weapon to counter his super-speed and make off with Amanda Waller (who the group very much wants alive).

There are plenty of theories and unanswered questions here, but it’s Lois Lane who take some action when Batman‘s team of detectives comes up empty and looks for an alternate source (an intriguing group including the Elongated Man, Zatanna, Harvey Bullock, and the younger Question). Does this new team have a lead?

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Batman/Superman #1

Batman/Superman #1 comic reviewThe new volume of Batman/Superman launches with Superman being called to Gotham City. A young boy has gone missing and all evidence points to the return of The Batman Who Laughs (Bruce Wayne from Earth-22 who was infected by that dimension’s Joker and has since become a hybrid of the two characters). Loose again on Earth-1, Batman and Superman team-up to find the missing boy and the villain who has teased the idea of turning all heroes into something just like him.

I was never really sold on the character of The Batman Who Laughs, but he’s largely absent here having already put his plan into motion. His choice of a new Robin creates much larger problems for The Dark Knight and the Man of Tomorrow when they realize Billy Batson (and his alter-ego) are now completely insane.

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LEGO DC: Batman – Family Matters

  • Title: LEGO DC: Batman – Family Matters
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LEGO DC: Batman - Family Matters DVD reviewThe latest LEGO DC straight-to-video offers two storylines intertwined by the common theme of family. The more interesting of the two centers around the sudden appearance of the Red Hood (Jason Spisak) who picks off the Bat-Family one-by-one while enlisting the help of several other Bat-Villains including the Penguin (Tom Kenny), Riddler (André Sogliuzzo), Killer Croc (Nolan North), and Scarecrow (Steve Blum). Less deadly in LEGO form, the Red Hood still works fairly well as DC LEGO takes more family-friendly approach to the former Robin becoming a super-villain.

The other storyline involves Batman (Troy Baker) growing weary of being Bruce Wayne and deciding to sell off the company whose new invention Brother Eye falls into the hands of Two-Face (Christian Lanz) and becomes a problem the Bat-Family, with the Red Hood’s help, will need to solve. Just as Jason Todd will reconsider his revenge and reclaim a role within the Bat-Family, Batman will reconsider the importance of his alter-ego to Gotham City.

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