Monitor Tapes for Tuesday, September 8, 2009
BATMAN AND ROBIN #3
Issue 3 wraps up the first part of the 12 issue arc (4 arcs, 12 issues in total) and weaves into the next, Revenge of the Red Hood! Why do I mention that first? Due to the neat wrap up of the introductory story within issues #1-3 that still leaves lingering questions and inquiries floating in the either. Don’t get me wrong, it was a great story, but it’s really the setup for the series.
Robin begins to actually grow on me quite a bit. Despite the attitude, the annoying behavior, and the general arrogance, he is his father’s child. Frankly, I’d be more concerned with Robin than Batman if I were a criminal of the night. That said, in stark contrast to Miller’s borderline psychotic Dick Grayson Robin, Damian is vicious, but he’s vicious due to nurture, unlike All Star Robin who’s vicious in nature.
Also, if you go back and read Batman #1, in the story that first introduces the Joker, Robin’s capture mirrors that of Dick’s way back when he was Robin. The major difference though, is Damian escapes and brutalizes Pyg and his Dolltrons not unlike his father would have. ”Lil’ Wayne” brutalizes Pyg and his drugged up Dolltron hench-things not unlike his father would, however, while promising to save partially mutilated
Sasha, ends up leaving her behind while perusing Pyg.
Meanwhile, Batman after his “ride” with Phosphorus Rex, discovers the intentions of Pyg’s plan to infect Gotham with an airborne desease that leads to crippling addiction, while also learning of Pyg’s hideout. As he rushes in to Robin’s rescue, who’s been knocked in the head by Pyg and about to have his face pulped off. While they both knock the foe through a wall, Robin who is taking everything in realizes Dick has saved him, as he offers Damien back his “Badge”, and back into the Batman & Robin team.
And speaking of the Joker, where is he in the scheme of things? When we last saw the Clown Prince of crime, he’d transformed himself once again into the Thin White Duke of Despair. Is he the Red Hood, changing his appearance and MO once again? Perhaps he feels as though it’s his right to be the new defender of Gotham, blasting away cops, criminals, Batmen and Robin’s or whoever he feels so inclined to. Or maybe he really is Jason Todd, still using the Red Hood motif now trying to make a mockery of Dick’s Batman in his “Grown up” murderous vigilante motif. Time will tell soon enough!
As for the bits and pieces of the overall mystery of the criminal mastermind of the arc with a domino fetish, who could that be? With all the clues and hints in the background thorough the three issues, I could speculate up a storm. Rather than hear my interpretation, I’m curious to hear what you readers suspect and expect!
DETECTIVE COMICS #856
The jigsaw of Kate Kane’s background begins revealing more of the puzzle of Batwoman’s history. Skipping ahead, Kate joins her father and stepmother, Colonel Kane and Catherine Kane respectively at the 129th Annual GCPD Charity Ball, where her cousin, Bette Kane (formerly Flamebird) is also in attendance. Though it’s not spelled out, it seems Kathy Kane (Pre-Crisis Bat-Woman, retconned) once romantically linked to Bruce Wayne, who was murdered in the past, is in fact the mother of Kate and Aunt of Bette, linking all the characters together. Also taking into account the flashbacks to Kate’s mother dying, it seems within continuity (well Post-Crisis continuity) with some updates and tweaks to fit it all together.
Back to the story, Abbot and his “associates” (as previously mentioned, turns out the snake woman is not Whisper as previously assumed) are in fact there to “save” Batwoman, as it turns out they are no longer part of the “Religion of Crime” though call themselves “The true believers, Once upon a time at least”. As Abbot and the Colonel make their escape wit Kate from Alice and the Order, they determine the poison is opioid in nature and manage to neutralize it and make their getaway.
As Kate licks her wounds with her father’s help, he urges her to take the night off from her “nighttime” activities with her injuries and attend the fundraiser at his and her stepmother’s invitation. Finally agreeing to attend, much to her stepmother’s dismay, she arrives in a immaculately tailored tuxedo, not to “draw attention” to herself as Catherine states, but rather to make sure she doesn’t stay “hidden”, in her sarcastic remark. As Bette strikes up a conversation with Kate, the Colonel is called into the Army Base as Kate finds herself distracted by a possible familiar “face” that turns out to not be who she expected.
While Kate finds herself alone and awkward after mistaking the identity of one of the party-goers as that of a former lover, Maggie Sawyer (Former Metropolis PD, now GCPD) introduces herself to Kate as a fellow “Tuxedo” aficionado, asking for a dance after quips about names and work. While flirting and getting to know one another, their dance is cut short by the “cutting in” of Abbot the wolf-man, dressed for the party and backed up by associates seen previously in the rescue of Batwoman.
While Kate allows the interruption with “one dance”, Abbot explains he’s not there to reveal the secrets of the “Twice-Named” and hopes his rescue the previous night shows his intentions to be true and assuring. Asking for a bit of trust due to said act, he elaborates on why he dose not follow the current Order or its mad leader, the enigmatic Alice. Going back to the Crime Bible’s prophecy of the death of the “Twice-Named daughter of Cain”, he believes the prophecy is wrong and believed Kate should in fact live, an assurance to his actions. Still stating he believes in the dark faith, he contends that the current order is wrong regarding their interpretation, making the plot and story behind the “Crime Bible” more complex and layered in context to the story and characters. While Kate questions if it’s not about her, Abbot informs her that Mannheim and the order see Gotham as their “Sodom & Gomorrah…Their Vatican City, their Mecca, Their Jerusalem”. Kate realizing what this all means, as Alice plans to destroy Gotham, she attempts to contact her father, though it may already be too late…
THE FLASH: REBIRTH #4 (OF 6)
The only bad I can give this series is the “slowness” of which it comes out! Seriously, it’s two months between issues! OK, now that that’s out of my system, I can live with it due to the quality, rather than have a mish-mash of fill-in artists. Hell, I buy and read ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN, and I don’t even know when or if the next issue is coming out (though admittedly I read these two series for to completely different reasons).
As I was saying, the story has a break-neck need-for-speed pace along with final pages leaving you begging for more (this issue included). As revealed previous issue, “Prof. Zoom, the Reverse Flash AKA Ebord Thawne stands revealed as the sinister Devil Ex Machina behind Barry’s current predicament (disintegrating other speedsters when he touches them) as the Black Flash (the herald of “Death” for speedsters).
The biggest revelation this issue not only explains Barry’s return, it also adds another layer to the Flash/ Speed Force mythology while posing more questions. As for what it is, you’ll just have to read the issue yourself!
JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #3 (OF 6)
On the opposite end of the spectrum (opposed to the Flash: Rebirth) James Robinson takes it slow building the story in “Justice”. By the end of this issue, the majority of characters have assembled a team (with the exception of Congo Bill and Starman, who end up attacked by robots, and Batwoman, yet to be introduced) in addition to revealing the “Big Bad” Prometheus.
Robinson is taking his time crafting something here, everyone thus far is looking for “Justice”, but are frankly walking the borderline need for vengeance. Even though the intentions of the characters are inherently noble, centered on Hal and Olie, these are characters who will kill in the name of justice to protect others. Also going down the same road is Ray Palmer, who’s now had his life darkened tenfold and probably picked up a thing or two from Hawkman in applying pressure, as he bounces around Prometheus’ head giving him “The mother of all headaches”. While bits of information come forth in third person from “Prometheus”, it’s quickly revealed that he’s not the man they’re looking for, rather an impostor for the purpose of destroying the new League.
Meanwhile, the “Real” Prometheus working on his secret plot with I.Q. AKA Ira Quimby (the Solar Powered Mad Scientist), unaware to Prometheus’ true intentions, his inquiry into “the Plan” turns out to be his last for the moment. Prometheus gives an account of his origins, plan, intentions, and the recap of the slaughter recently perpetrated upon the Global Guardians (resulting in his new “animal” rug made from the skin of the hero formerly know as the “Tasmanian Devil”). While not revealing the full intricacies of his plot, he establishes that the items stolen (the kidnapped gorilla scientist, Cosmic Treadmill, Time Pool, and Zeta Beam tech from Rann) are part of a greater whole, while the drugged I.Q. loses his faculties and memory due to a chemical cocktail administered in the glass of wine he’s drinking, reverting his mind to that of an infant. Prometheus doesn’t screw around.
Also included, another one of Robinson’s great prose pieces, extrapolating upon the greatness of a fantastic and underused villain, Prometheus, the “Anti-Batman” who’s origin mirrors the “Wraith”, a similar opposite Batman previously from an old DC Batman special (and recently seen in a Batman: Confidential Arc). As before in previous issues, JR goes into what makes the specific character great in his own discovery and observation of said villain in this case. The two page “Who’s Who” bios and JR’s behind the scenes bits about the characters and story are true labors of love by him, and add an extra special something to the series. Not necessarily needed to enjoy it as a whole, but defiantly adds to the reading experience and I’m glad he took the time to do so.
BATMAN: WIDENING GYRE #1 (OF 6)
Batman’s face gets really mussed up, mussed up real bad. Like Legends of the Dark Knight, another off the cuff Mini featuring your monthly dose of Bruce Wayne Batman with a “fit in where you will” tale. Nazis, the Demon, a mysterious vigilante and stuff stew in a pot in this Kevin Smith penned story.
With the beginning of the story, in flashback Batman & Robin, Robin’s never been this joyous and funny to read. Robin’s always intended to be the “Kid you could be” hanging out with Batman, having crazy adventures, but I think that element has long gone away from the character some time ago.
As the memories fade into the here and now (or rather then and at the time I guess), Dick as Nightwing quips to Batman as they cover themselves behind grocery shelves while being shot at by Neo-Nazi robbers. As a goon emerges wearing the worn, patch-worked, and salvaged former battle-suit of Barron Blitzkrieg, Batman and Nightwing strike the inexperienced goon, making quick work of him and his cohorts.
Nightwing reveals the reason he called Bruce in with showing him the remains of Gavin Adam, once a Psych Major at Blüdhaven Med, now a corpse with stalks growing out of the body. Clearly pointing to Poison Ivy, the mystery leads to Arkham Asylum, where Ivy’s been in lock-down for the last year. As Batman speeds to the Asylum, things get strange and stranger, leaving readers with questions, and Batman with questions and a terrible beating to overcome.
I’ve got to say, reading Smith’s Robin/ Nightwing in this issue, I could really see a great All Star Batman & Robin from Smith with an excellently written, fun, and exciting Robin. He surly fits the All Star criteria and looks to be getting back into comics with completed runs, if DC takes ALL STAR off hiatus and finishes the Miller/ Lee run, I’d defiantly read a AS book written by him. I’d even imagine it could be the “All Ages” Batman series under the banner of AS, if Smith sticks with a less “Adult” humor shtick, as seen with the aforementioned Robin in this issue.
Be sure to check out dccomics.com for more news, previews, and more! Also, make sure to come back Thursday for the full list of new DC, Vertigo, and Wildstom books on shelves 9/10/2009!
Thanks for reading!