Monitor Tapes for 8/24/2009
BATGIRL #1
Written by Bryan Q. Miller; Art by Lee Garbett and Trevor Scott; Cover by Phil Noto; Variant cover by J.G. Jones
Spoiler up front (pun intended)! I’m sure you’ve already seen the identity of the new Batgirl, so I’m not going to bother with tip-toeing around it. After months of speculation, the mostly logical choice and unsurprising (well, to me at the very least) was made.
Stephanie Brown, the daughter of the Cluemaster, former girlfriend of Robin Tim Drake, former Robin, formerly dead (but not dead), formerly back to Spoiler (much to Drake’s dismay) is now the All New Batgirl!
To the nay sayers, I’m just going to say deal with it.
Stephanie takes over the cape and cowl from former Batgirl Cassandra Cain, who’s origin and history is fantastically muddled and complex in it’s own right. Cain, daughter of the assassin known as David Cain was taken in to the Bat-Family as a mute assassin and given the Batgirl costume formerly (and briefly) worn by Helena Bertenellie during No Man’s Land.
Anyway, this is Steph’s show, so I’m not really going to dwell in the past.
Batgirl, opens with Steph stopping a drag race and manages to do so in an extreamly sloppy manner, as she’s saved by the invisible intervention of Batman (Dick Grayson) and Robin (Damien Wayne).
I cant say the books it’s self really wowed me or blew me away, but I’ve got to admit I find the concept far more interesting than the former Snake-Eyes knock off. Not that there’s anything wrong with Cassandra’s character, I just think more should be done with her than running around as Batgirl every once in a while.
DC BOOKS YOU SHOULD BE READING!
I’ve already been all over BLACKEST NIGHT, so really at this point you should be reading both Blackest Night and Green Lantern! Now, Blackest Night is self contained (though I’d consider Green Lantern required reading as well) there’s more to read should you chose. And chose you should, just look at the other books available currently-
BLACKEST NIGHT: TALES OF THE CORPS #1-3
Written by Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Various
The three issue mini-series fills you in on all the headlining Lanterns of the various Corps.
Covering the following characters- Blue Lantern Saint Walker, Yellow Lantern Mongul, Indigo Tribe leader Indigo, Red Lantern Bleez, Star Sapphire Carol Ferris (explaining the references to her, mentions and brief glimpses in the GL/GLC series), Orange Lantern “Construct” (as he/she/ it was previously a living creature) Blume, Green Lantern Kilowog (and his drill Sergeant Ermey, clearly based on actor R. Lee Ermey), Green Lantern Aristia.
Plus, in addition to a great series of small character stories, you get the Blackest Night director’s commentary with Writer Geoff Johns, Editor Eddie Berganza, Associate Editor Adam Schlagman and un-inked pencils by Artist Ivan Ries. Among some of the commentary are some hints and previews of what’s to come in BN, such as why the Martian Manhunter was not part of the Justice League and more.
One of the things I love about this series, especially illustrated in the Director’s Cut is how it’s Barry (Flash) and Hal (Green Lantern) at the center of a huge story, as Johns mentions, “With Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman facing their own problems, Hal and Barry are at the center of the DCU.”
They are the Brave and the Bold on a super size adventure, like an unlimited mega summer blockbuster, up against unbelievable odds. Two cops from different worlds, against an unstoppable foe and their army of undead!
GREEN LANTERN CORPS
Written by Peter J. Tomasi; Art and cover by Patrick Gleason and Rebecca Buchman
The companion series featuring Green Lanterns Kyle Rayner, Guy Gardner, and John Stewart (not of the Daily Show) showcases the “earthling” GL’s in addition to the many additional GL’s making up the interesting and diverse characters that make Green Lantern Corps great.
The series it’s self is like Star Wars/ Star Trek (classic series) with Space Cops! Among recent events from the fall-out of the “Sinestro Corps War”, the GLC’s been after remnants of the Yellow Lanterns. Mongul, a constant yellow thorn in their side recently took the planet Daxam as a beachhead for this Corps. The recent issues have several story thereads including the previous, and the recent swarm of Black Rings destroying the crypt honoring the fallen lanterns, now newly minted Black Lanterns, ready to kill! Great series on its own, now with the Blackest Night adding to the mix, a great time to pick it up!
Coming up in the DC Must read’s series!- SUPERMAN: NEW KRYPTON, WEDNESDAY COMICS, and BATMAN (featuring STREETS OF GOTHAM, GOTHAM CITY SIRENS, and more).
For more, check out dccomics.com and DC’s Blog The Source for news, previews, and more!
Thanks for reading!
Mandroid