New 52

Batman Incorporated #1

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batman-incorporated-new-52-1-coverPlease, for the love of God, would somebody at DC stop letting Grant Morrison write Batman stories. Morrison resurects several of his Batman Incorporated supporting players and throws them haphazardly in the New 52 for the new (but not really improved) Batman Incorporated.

The issue starts with a group in animal masks mutilating livestock to lure Batman and Robin into the crosshairs of the assassin known as Goatboy. Sigh. Goatboy, it seems, has decided to cash in on the hit Leviathan has laid on young Damian.

Morrison gives us the Dead Heroes Club (Batwing, El Gaucho, The Hood, Wingman, and Halo) almost all of whom I didn’t even know existed in the New 52 before now. He also gives us Dark Knight Returns mutants (for no more reason than he gave us Goatboy), and one hell of a bullshit ending even an newbie first-time comic book reader could call. Seriously, I can’t believe Morrison went for such an obvious sleight of hand in the first issue of a new Bat-title where we know damn well nothing bad is going to happen to the Dynamic Duo.

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Nightwing #9

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nightwing-new-52-9-coverNightwing battles his great-grandfather William Cobb, the greatest of the Talons, and tries to save Mayor Hady from assassination as “Night of the Owls” continues. During the bloody battle which Nightwing barely survives we get Cobb’s backstory and his reasoning for joining the Court of Owls.

Although the battle between Nighwing and Talon works, the flashbacks take up far too much of the comic (you’d almost think Cobb was the comic’s main character). Neither Dick Grayson, nor the reader, really needs this amount of back story for the Grayson’s zombie assassin ancestor.

The Court of Owls storyline, which started in Batman, is working far better in than title than most of other Bat-titles it’s spread to this month. In terms of “Night of the Owls” this tie-in certainly isn’t a must-read to keep up with the main story, but for fans of Nightwing the action may, may be enough to still warrant picking it up. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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Captain Atom #9

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captain-atom-new-52-9-coverWhile searching the future for the cause of the end of the world Captain Atom comes to face-to-face with the destructive god-like force known as Chrono Mota and he’s shocked to see the unintended effect his time on Earth has had on those he’s saved.

While Captain Atom finds little war and bloodshed he’s at a loss in trying to process the fact that he’s become a god to those like Ramita and Mikey Parker. Mikey has become a doomsday prophet ready to destroy and remake the world in his name, and Ramita has become a warrior using the power unknowingly gifted to her to help those who can’t help themselves.

But it’s in the final pages where Captain Atom looks into the heart of the time-space paradox and world killer known as Chromo Mota that he learns the truth about his own future and the destruction of the Earth.

Another good issue of the series that gives us some answers but raises even more questions. Now that Atom knows what his future holds, the question becomes how will he use that knowledge, and what can he do to prevent it? Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Red Hood and the Outlaws #9

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red-hood-and-the-outlaws-9-cover“Night of the Owls” continues as the Red Hood finds himself in Gotham doing a favor for Batman and protecting Mr. Freeze from an man brought back to life as an assassin. The irony of the situation isn’t lost on Jason Todd.

As Todd gets reacquainted with his hometown, and deals with his conflicted feels with helping his former boss who he is adamant he now hates (although it’s clear his feelings are far more complicated), Starfire and Arsenal try to keep Freeze under control so the Red Hood can deal with the Talon sent to kill him.

Although I’m not thrilled with the redesign of Freeze or the conclusion of the Red Hood’s battle with Talon there are several nice moments here including Kory’s reaction to being attacked by Mr. Freeze, Todd’s inner struggle and walk down memory lane, and his confrontation with Batgirl in the comic’s final pages. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Justice League #9

/ / Comics

justice-league-9-new-52-coverAs Batman calls in Superman and Cyborg to help quash an uprising in Arkham Asylum caused by The Key, The Flash, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman take down the Weapons Master who was terrorizing Central City. Although they don’t realize it, both attacks are connected to the mysterious Graves who is amassing information about all the league’s members.

Near death and running out of time, Graves kidnaps and tortures Steve Trevor for information about the League and how to get into their satellite. When the torture doesn’t work Graves threatens the soldier’s family to get what he wants.

The return of artist Jim Lee means the overall quality of the art improves, but once again we get odd group shots where characters are presented and posturing at odd angles while in battle or attempting to communicate with each other. The back-up story gives us Billy standing up for his foster siblings (but still being a jerk), and Sivana unearthing a mystical tomb. It’s certainly not great, but for JL fans it is worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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