FBOTU’s Weekly Comics Load: All Batman All the Time
By Chance
June 11, 2009 at 10:52AM EDT
I find myself talking about Batman a lot lately. Well, more like raving. I was at a party last weekend and trapped some cute guy into a discussion about Battle for the Cowl for, like, an hour. I don’t know what’s driven me so batty lately. I think it’s the emotional weight of the story right now. Or maybe it’s the realization that no matter what Bruce Wayne‘s intentions were, Dick, Tim and even Damien are really f**ked up. I read three Batman-related titles this week, and it really came down to Batman #687 versus Red Robin #1 for the FBOTU Comic of the Week title. Red Robin is certainly a great read, gut-wrenching in its portrayal of Tim Drake’s mental decline. However, Batman #687 has some really hot art of Dick Grayson and Nightwing, so…
FBOTU Comic of the Week
Batman #687: This issue fits nicely between Battle for the Cowl #3 and Batman and Robin #1. It fills in more of the emotional process for Dick and how he came to his decision to be Batman. The issue starts with a flashback to happier (well, earlier) times, when Bruce was Bats and Dick was Robin, and all was right with the world. It’s a great set-up, showing Dick’s youth and enthusiasm and eagerness to please Bruce and even take on the Batman role someday. It’s a sharp contrast to the brooding, tortured Dick we see now, who suddenly faces the enormity of replacing his mentor/lover on the streets of Gotham. Well, Dick finally breaks down and admits what we’ve known all along. He loved Bruce and “just wasn’t ready to lose him.” I..um…excuse me, I think I have something in my eye. Great book, powerful stuff.
Action Comics #878: Wow, we’re treated to some hot Kryptonian-on-Kryptonian action in this issue, as two sleeper Ks go on a killing (and boinking) spree. Nightwing and Flamebird recover and reunite to stop the baddies, while General Lane continues his over-the-top plan to annihilate everything and everyone related to Superman. I would be enjoying this more if General Lane weren’t so obviously insane. He possesses sort of a Dick Cheney-esque single-mindedness, but he’s so one-note, he doesn’t make for an interesting villain.
The Amazing Spider-Man #597: Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can! Can he swing from a web? Osborn shot him in the head! Lookout! He squashed Spider-Man!
Booster Gold #21: The second Bat-related title this week features Booster Gold, who must break into the Bat Cave and retrieve some incriminating photos of himself dallying in the time stream. There, he comes face to face (or mask to mask) with the new Batman. He figures out who he really is pretty quickly, which is kind of funny, since Dick is doing his best Christan Bale impersonation. Black Beetle arrives to mess things up, and soon Booster realizes he must go back in time to save Batman…the new Batman, not the old Batman. It’s a clever set-up and a nice way for Booster to become involved in the Batman saga. Following this story is a mini-comic featuring Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes). Since he lost his own title a while ago, it’s nice to see him back. It’s a good idea to pair him with Booster. Hopefully, they’ll meet up someday. Finally, check this out. Even though he’s Batman now, they’re still paying tribute to Dick’s glorious ass:
Doctor Who “Autopia”: The (sort of) return of Donna Noble! She’s not back from amnesia, though. This story pick up during her travels with the Doctor. It’s a lighthearted (even a little dull and predictable) tale of robots gaining sentience, etc. But the real joy here is having Donna back in some way, shape or form. Artists do a pretty good job of rendering David Tennant in these books. Maybe because he already has a cartoonish look to him. But I was disappointed that the artwork on Donna was so far off. You’d never guess they were depicting Catherine Tate. But it’s a testament to her greatness, that I still saw or imagined her on every page. More Donna Noble!
The Flash: Rebirth #3: I admit I’m a little confused by the whole Speed Force thing. Like, how do people become trapped in it? Why does it kill some speedsters, but not others? How does it decide who gets to wear red tights and who gets to wear yellow tights? One of our Flash experts can hopefully fill me in. As a layman, though, it’s still a fun read. And I’m enjoying getting the Barry Allen backstory. Though I never buy the hot/hunky/blonde guy as the quiet/shy/mild-mannered scientist. No offense to scientists, of course.
Green Lantern Corps #37: Enough with the preluding! Let’s get to the Black Lanterns! Daxam’s sun is now yellow, the Green Lantern trainees are no good in a fight, Scar is a megabitch, we get it! The Emerald Eclipse storyline wraps up in the next issue, then I presume the preluding is over.
Red Robin #1: The last of the Bat-related titles this week. Tim Drake/Tim Wayne is not so happy that Dick chose crazy Damien the demon child over him for his sidekick. But as Dick tells him, “You’re not my protege, Tim…you’re my equal, my closest ally.” Still, Tim needs some time away from the Bat boys, so he embarks on a worldwide search for…. the Batman. Convinced his mentor is still alive, he begins to question his own sanity as he dons the Red Robin costume and promises to “cross the line” in his pursuit of the truth. Which just goes to show that being raised in a cave by a crazy costumed vigilante may not be as fun and healthy as it sounds.
Uncanny X-Men #511: I’m glad this whole crazy Sisterhood storyline is coming to an end. At least, I hope it’s at an end. The battles were cool enough, and it was interesting to get some history on Scott’s terrible taste in women, but ultimately, I’m more interested in the political intrigue than in crazy Maddie’s quest. Fraction is still delivering, though, and his playful use of words (or lack of words) make this title a pleasure to read. In a possibly too-cute bit of self-reference, Beast warns Emma and Scott of “these awful, fractious times.” Get it? Fractious? Fraction? Get it? Shut up! I love him!
That’s it for this week! Feel free to share your own thoughts and reviews in the Comics Forum. Happy reading!
FBOTU’s Weekly Comics Load: All Batman All the Time
By Chance
June 11, 2009 at 10:52AM EDT
I find myself talking about Batman a lot lately. Well, more like raving. I was at a party last weekend and trapped some cute guy into a discussion about Battle for the Cowl for, like, an hour. I don’t know what’s driven me so batty lately. I think it’s the emotional weight of the story right now. Or maybe it’s the realization that no matter what Bruce Wayne‘s intentions were, Dick, Tim and even Damien are really f**ked up. I read three Batman-related titles this week, and it really came down to Batman #687 versus Red Robin #1 for the FBOTU Comic of the Week title. Red Robin is certainly a great read, gut-wrenching in its portrayal of Tim Drake’s mental decline. However, Batman #687 has some really hot art of Dick Grayson and Nightwing, so…
Batman #687: This issue fits nicely between Battle for the Cowl #3 and Batman and Robin #1. It fills in more of the emotional process for Dick and how he came to his decision to be Batman. The issue starts with a flashback to happier (well, earlier) times, when Bruce was Bats and Dick was Robin, and all was right with the world. It’s a great set-up, showing Dick’s youth and enthusiasm and eagerness to please Bruce and even take on the Batman role someday. It’s a sharp contrast to the brooding, tortured Dick we see now, who suddenly faces the enormity of replacing his mentor/lover on the streets of Gotham. Well, Dick finally breaks down and admits what we’ve known all along. He loved Bruce and “just wasn’t ready to lose him.” I..um…excuse me, I think I have something in my eye. Great book, powerful stuff.
(More of the Load after the jump!)
Action Comics #878: Wow, we’re treated to some hot Kryptonian-on-Kryptonian action in this issue, as two sleeper Ks go on a killing (and boinking) spree. Nightwing and Flamebird recover and reunite to stop the baddies, while General Lane continues his over-the-top plan to annihilate everything and everyone related to Superman. I would be enjoying this more if General Lane weren’t so obviously insane. He possesses sort of a Dick Cheney-esque single-mindedness, but he’s so one-note, he doesn’t make for an interesting villain.
The Amazing Spider-Man #597: Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can! Can he swing from a web? Osborn shot him in the head! Lookout! He squashed Spider-Man!
Booster Gold #21: The second Bat-related title this week features Booster Gold, who must break into the Bat Cave and retrieve some incriminating photos of himself dallying in the time stream. There, he comes face to face (or mask to mask) with the new Batman. He figures out who he really is pretty quickly, which is kind of funny, since Dick is doing his best Christan Bale impersonation. Black Beetle arrives to mess things up, and soon Booster realizes he must go back in time to save Batman…the new Batman, not the old Batman. It’s a clever set-up and a nice way for Booster to become involved in the Batman saga. Following this story is a mini-comic featuring Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes). Since he lost his own title a while ago, it’s nice to see him back. It’s a good idea to pair him with Booster. Hopefully, they’ll meet up someday. Finally, check this out. Even though he’s Batman now, they’re still paying tribute to Dick’s glorious ass:
Doctor Who “Autopia”: The (sort of) return of Donna Noble! She’s not back from amnesia, though. This story pick up during her travels with the Doctor. It’s a lighthearted (even a little dull and predictable) tale of robots gaining sentience, etc. But the real joy here is having Donna back in some way, shape or form. Artists do a pretty good job of rendering David Tennant in these books. Maybe because he already has a cartoonish look to him. But I was disappointed that the artwork on Donna was so far off. You’d never guess they were depicting Catherine Tate. But it’s a testament to her greatness, that I still saw or imagined her on every page. More Donna Noble!
The Flash: Rebirth #3: I admit I’m a little confused by the whole Speed Force thing. Like, how do people become trapped in it? Why does it kill some speedsters, but not others? How does it decide who gets to wear red tights and who gets to wear yellow tights? One of our Flash experts can hopefully fill me in. As a layman, though, it’s still a fun read. And I’m enjoying getting the Barry Allen backstory. Though I never buy the hot/hunky/blonde guy as the quiet/shy/mild-mannered scientist. No offense to scientists, of course.
Green Lantern Corps #37: Enough with the preluding! Let’s get to the Black Lanterns! Daxam’s sun is now yellow, the Green Lantern trainees are no good in a fight, Scar is a megabitch, we get it! The Emerald Eclipse storyline wraps up in the next issue, then I presume the preluding is over.
Red Robin #1: The last of the Bat-related titles this week. Tim Drake/Tim Wayne is not so happy that Dick chose crazy Damien the demon child over him for his sidekick. But as Dick tells him, “You’re not my protege, Tim…you’re my equal, my closest ally.” Still, Tim needs some time away from the Bat boys, so he embarks on a worldwide search for…. the Batman. Convinced his mentor is still alive, he begins to question his own sanity as he dons the Red Robin costume and promises to “cross the line” in his pursuit of the truth. Which just goes to show that being raised in a cave by a crazy costumed vigilante may not be as fun and healthy as it sounds.
Uncanny X-Men #511: I’m glad this whole crazy Sisterhood storyline is coming to an end. At least, I hope it’s at an end. The battles were cool enough, and it was interesting to get some history on Scott’s terrible taste in women, but ultimately, I’m more interested in the political intrigue than in crazy Maddie’s quest. Fraction is still delivering, though, and his playful use of words (or lack of words) make this title a pleasure to read. In a possibly too-cute bit of self-reference, Beast warns Emma and Scott of “these awful, fractious times.” Get it? Fractious? Fraction? Get it? Shut up! I love him!
That’s it for this week! Feel free to share your own thoughts and reviews in the Comics Forum. Happy reading!
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