Batman Inc. in the eye of Leviathan #1

Batman Incorporated is back and in full swing within the new 52 universe.  And it now comes with 100% more Batcow!

Review: Batman & Robin #7

The past few issues were a bit boring, at least when they focused on Nobody’s history.  This issue though is amazing, start to finish.  To such a degree, that I’ll be shocked and apalled if fellow read/RANT member ikeebear rates this lower than a 4 (really, I’d say 4.5) for his upcoming ‘One Sentence Review, Part 27′. 

SPOILER WARNING! - seriously

Batman Inc: Leviathan Strikes!

Stephanie Brown kicks butt as Batgirl!  Dick Grayson is Batman… Wait what??

Review: Batman and Robin #4

Amazing issue.

Review: Batman and Robin #3

So I loved the first issue, the second left a slightly sour taste in my mouth though for how Damian was portrayed.  How will this one stand up though?

SPOILER WARNING!

Review: Batman and Robin #2

The newest Dynamic Duo races off in this second issue by Peter Tomasi!

SPOILER WARNING!

Retrospective: Teen Titans vol 3 (part 8)

Time for another Retrospective!  Issues 55-78.  For the few who have kept up with my Retrospective, I’ll be going at these issues a bit differently.  Mostly I’m going to try to go through each arc rather quickly.  This is mostly for the next few arcs I didn’t find that enjoyable.

Retrospective: Teen Titans vol 3 (part 6)

I’ll be looking at the One Year Later stuff now with issues 34-49.  And I’m going to say now that some of these issues have to be Johns’ worst in this series.

Retrospective: Teen Titans vol 3 (part 3)

I’m continuing my Retrospective for the Teen Titans with the Teens Titans/Legion of Superheroes crossover and issues 16-19 (collected in trade as The Future is Now).  Handling a lot with these issues, so I’ll try to keep it from being too long.  I do want to state though that these issues are some of my favorites of this Teen Titans group and Johns is joined by writer Mark Waid for the Legion cross over.

Retrospective: Teen Titans vol 3 (part 2)

 

Superboy #1 is rebooting Superboy from scratch.  That and answers from Scott Lobdell in a Comic Vine Q/A session also points that despite the new Universe having a Teen Titans, that the last incarnation of the team is having their history completely erased.  So with that in mind, I’d like to continue with my retrospective taking a look at issues TT 1/2, and 8-15  (also collected currently in trade form Family Lost and Beast Boys & Girls).

Review: Batman and Robin #1

Last week I felt Daniel had dropped the ball when writing Detective Comics #1 (though some newer readers like Comic Kata thought otherwise).  This week Tomasi is the one taking on the Batman oriented issue in Batman & Robin.

SPOILER WARNING!

Retrospective: Teen Titans vol 3 (part 1)

I’m a fan of the Teen Titans, especially the latest incarnation that went from 2003-2011 and as this relaunch makes it seem their entire history may be erased, I wanted to give them a farewell starting with issues 1-7 (also collected in trade form as “A Kid’s Game” or the soon to be released Teen Titans Omnibus 1).  Like usual, beware of spoilers.

DC Relaunch: Batman and Robin #1

Batmonth: Batman the TV Series

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying the huge cultural impact of the 1960′s TV Batman.  Who doesn’t know the series’ theme song?

More than 4 decades later, this is how a lot of people see the Caped Crusader and by extension super heroes in general.  For that reason, Batmonth would be incomplete without a nod to the most influential Bat-series of all.

Review: Batman and Robin #14

Wow.  That was intense!

Spoilers after the jump.

DC’s August 2010 Solicitations Preview

Batman and Robin #13 Cover

There hasn’t been much chatter about this series on this site, but I’m here to remedy that.

Spoiler warning for Batman and Robin 12!

Young Justice Cartoon!!

Cartoon Network announced a new slate of cartoons (including a 21st-century relaunch of the Looney Tunes).  Top of the list: Young Justice!

Here’s a quote:

“Also debuting at that time is the 30-minute animated series Young Justice. Loosely based on the DC comic series created by Todd DeZago and Todd Nauck, Young Justice centers on a group of teenage capes out to prove they’re ready for The Justice League. Robin, Kid Flash, Superboy, Artemis, Miss Martian and Aqualad make up the squad. No footage of the series was screened, so it’s unclear what the tone of the show will be. The comic, under DeZago and later Peter David’s direction, often infused comedy into the drama and action.”

Review: Booster Gold #25

25 is sort of a signficant number for Booster Gold.  His original series ended with issue 25.  Do this issue officially ties Booster Gold’s personal best run for a solo series.  Pretty cool, huh?

The issue itself is also pretty cool.  It’s billed as the “aftermath” of the recently concluded “Day of Death” storyline.  “Aftermath” may be overselling things a little.  This is more of an epilogue.  Last issue, Booster fixed the timeline and saved the day.  But he still hadn’t accomplished the main goal he set for himself at the start of the “Day of Death” story.

During Geoff Johns’ run on Booster Gold, Booster went back in time to try to stop the Joker from crippling Barbara Gordon.  But try as he might (and he tried a lot) Booster failed.  And unfortunately for the fledgling time master, Batman had pictures documenting his failure.

Since no one is allowed to know about Booster’s time travelling mission, it is important that Batman’s pictures don’t fall into the wrong hands.  With Bruce Wayne gone, Booster decides to break into the Batcave to steal the pictures.  In the first issue of “Day of Death” Booster got busted by the new Batman.  This time, it’s the new Robin’s turn to bust Booster.

Once upon a time, Dan Jurgens was a super star in the comic book industry.  After the “Death of Superman”, the spotlight on Jurgens burned bright.  And then it cooled.  Eventually, it seemed like Jurgens was out of the spotlight enturely.  Now he’s the writer and artist on his own creation.  And the amazing thing is, his work is better than ever.

Jurgens has always been a great artist.  And his pencils are as strong as ever.  The style may be a little old-school, but it doesn’t feel dated at all.  Where Jurgens has improved is in his writing.  Back in the 90′s he had a way with plotting.  But I always found his pacing off.  And his dialogue could be really bad.  These days, his dialogue is actually quite strong.  He nails the characterizations of the new Dynamic Duo, for example.  His pacing can still be a little slow at times, but I guess that’s what the next 25 issues of Booster Gold are for.

I’ve been a supporter of Booster Gold (and the Blue Beetle back-up feature) since the beginning.  Both are fun comics that provide a pleasant change of pace from the grim comics that dominate the shelves these days.  Unfortunately, it’s easy to loose sight of Booster Gold.  The book doesn’t really interact with anything else and that leads to the book seeming less relevant.

Next issue, both Booster and Beetle will be delving into the Blackest Night crossover.  While I’m not the biggest fan of Blackest Night as a whole, I’m hopeful that the crossover will get some people to sample Booster Gold again.  I’m confident that once they see what they are missing, some readers will stick around.

Booster Gold #21

read/RANT

Review: Adventure Comics #3

The Superboy reunion tour continues with this issue.  After reuinting with his ex last issue, Conner finally spends some time with his best friend.  As much as I enjoyed the soapy Conner/Cassie issue, seeing these two best buds together again was even better.

It’s been tough times of late for Tim Drake.  In story terms, he’s lost just about everyone he’s ever been close to.  But more importantly, no one has done a very good job writing him in the last few years.  And the Red Robin gig ain’t helping things.

It was refreshing to see Geoff Johns’ take on Tim Drake.  For the first time in a long time, the character was familiar to me.  THIS is the guy I want to read about.  Not that borderline psycho he’s scowling in Red Robin these days.  Like Conner says in this issue, Tim has never been a “cowl guy” before.

Johns does a great job paralleling what’s going on with Conner and Tim.  Both of them are on somewhat desperate quests that other might consider ill-advised or even a little crazy.  And it’s great to see them put judgement aside and help each other in pursuit of their goals no matter how crazy they might be.  The Conner/Tim friendship realy rings true and the dialogue is less melodramatic than last issue.

As always, the book looks great.  Francis Manapul is the perfect guy to be drawing a book set in Smallville.  He infuses every panel with a wholesomeness that stands in stark contrast to just about every other book on the shelves.

The issue was a little bitter sweet in a way.  When I finished the main story and moved on the the Legion back-up, I couldn’t help but be reminded that soon the Legion will be taking over this book.  I know that Conner will be featured in the Titans and Superman books, but I’ve been enjoying his story in this book so much.  It’s a shame it will be so brief.

As for the Legion back-up, I remain mostly unimpressed.  It’s a personal thing.  I just don’t really care for the Legion.  And these back-up stories are too slight to really spark my interest.  I’m sure they are great for Legion fans who probably can’t wait for Superboy to get out of their book.

In the meanwhile, I’m just going to enjoy Conner’s run while it lasts. 

Adventure Comics #2

read/RANT