Goodnight Batman, JLA gets it back together, and speculations on “Who wants to be the next Batman” in this weeks Monitor Tapes.
DETECTIVE COMICS #853
(W) Neil Gaiman
(A) Andy Kubert and Scott Williams
Mixed reactions from fans of Batman regarding this final issue of the two part finally of “Whatever happened to the Caped Crusader?” On the one hand, you’ve got the Dark Knight/ Frank Miller Batman fans who expect a hard and gritty real-esque ending for Bruce Wayne (which they’ve gotten a few times, even in this story). Then there’s the Batman fans that like every other specific version of Batman (too numerous to list individually, really how many Batmen have we seen over the years?) and understand that he had a history prior to “Year One”. Realistically though, either way this book is a great read and you should in fact just sit down, relax and enjoy it.
Whatever the reason you read Batman comics, Gaiman manages to acknowledge every version, every “imaginary” story, and every “death” of Batman/ Bruce Wayne in his 70 years worth of stories, including comics, TV, film and more. Andy Kubert manages to beautifully render multiple versions of batman from many stiles and eras in addition to Bruce’s family, friends, and foes. The two part story is as much a send off to Batman as it is a celebration of the man motivated by a horrible tragedy.
I also found it interesting to note that the tale Ra’s al Ghul spins regarding the death of “the Detective” is factual (in the context of Batman’s comic series) in which he explains that Batman was finally taken down by the sting of a desert scorpion (originating in Batman #244). This of course makes me wonder if in fact every death in the story actually has a story counterpart, and how long it will take me to track down every single story to synch it too.
(If I can let my geek show for a minute, I’m more convinced that Talia slipped Bruce a “Lazarus Pit Juice Mickey” as opposed to a anti-toxin, of course that opens an entirely new can of worms if true…perhaps his “body” is only partially dead, despite the coming “Blackest Night, or is that Blackest Knight?)
In a way, it’s very Baron Münchhausen–esque in how his surreal funeral is handled. As Bruce remains his own personal “Doubting Thomas” to witness those close to him in life tell “tall tales” regarding his demise, despite the fact it’s all coming from his own mind. As a skeptic, atheist, and rationalist, Bruce “deduces” that he’s in fact unconscious and severally hurt, if not moments away from death (though just like when Superman died, if Death doesn’t show up, then I don’t buy it as “Death”). Also, within the confines of Darksied’s Omega Beam effects, Bruce is in fact destined to relive his life over and over again, I don’t know if this was an intentional influence on the story, but it works perfectly regarding the events of his death in Final Crisis.
I’ll admit, I read this a couple of times, as the first read I devoured the story without taking more time to really absorb both the words and art. It’s rare I find myself giving a new book multiple reads in one setting, even more so re-reading over and over during the course of several days. In the end, whether you agree with the demise of Bruce Wayne who was the Batman, you’ve got to admit this was a pretty fantastic read when all’s said and done. My only disappointment, viewing the sketch pages in the back of the book we see a drawing of Bat-Mite who didn’t make it into the story. As much as I like a more serious Batman, I wish Bat-Mite would have made it into the story, as I still love those old crazy Silver Age stories.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #32
(W) Dwayne McDuffie
(A) Rags Morales
While gearing up to write this review, I found come information regarding Dwayne McDuffie and the difficulties he’s had handling the series. Without going into specifics, as I’ve long suspected his JLA run has been worked around by events and new titles (like Final Crisis, Justice League), and storylines in other books as well.
Not that this news is all that shocking, anyone working in the comics industry as a writer at one of the major “shared universe” titles is bound to run into this type of situation. Titles are often at the whims of editors and other people working on other titles, most companies essentially have their universes written by committee. With that said, this is not a bad thing nor is “committee” a dirty word. It’s essential to the companies and their characters that they have diversity in talent and juggling stories, characters, and general continuity is a Herculean task in it’s self.
Despite these difficulties, McDuffie has handled the series well even with the restrictions placed upon him with other stories and events currently happening. Between Superman’s unavailability due to New Krypton, Wonder Woman’s crisis with Genocide and new champion of the Gods Olympian, Batman’s death, and Green Lantern Hal Jordan starting his own Justice League, it’s plain to see that some of the bigger guns being off the table cause difficulties when writing DC’s team “Flagship” title.
With the remaining rag-tag group of second and third-string characters in the JLA, the story has brought about an interesting story and character interaction/ dialogue. As a matter of fact, as we see in the page below, we get a current line-up-
Interesting to note even the members not active due to whatever situation,
which is great in it’s simplicity in presentation. Between a short snapshot and story dialogue, we get a quick recap on events more often left out in multi-issue arcs. In the hands of a lesser skilled writer, one can only imagine what would happen with the remaining roster. As I’ve said before, McDuffie is a great writer and even through it all, he’s still one of my favorite JLA writers, from the current title back to Justice League/ Justice League Unlimited (the animated series’).
Now, going back to the issue, the fallout of Black Canary “disbanding” the League, Superman drops in taking a break from “New Krypton” to question Dinah’s decision (as has been a theme with the “Trinity” in regards to her leadership role as JLA Chairman).
Meanwhile remaining JLAers, John Stewart (Green Lantern), Zatanna, Vixen, Dr. Light (Kimiyo Hoshi), and Firestorm (Jason Thomas Rusch) meet up in the “Secret Room” (one of the greatest new JLA additions) to discuss the future of the team.
Firestorm and Dr. Light follow up on the previous plot thread involving the Shadow Thief visiting him in Van Kull Maximum Security Prison. While pumping him for information while playing Good Cop/Bad Cop, things don’t go according to plan and set up the payoff we’ve been waiting for since the beginning of the storyline. How the current Team Roster will deal with this menace will be greatly anticipated on my end!
PURE UNADULTERATED SPECULATION- BATMAN BEYOND!
Now, be forewarned that I’m in fact not currently privy to any inside information regarding upcoming Batman series following Batman: Battle for the Cowl (though I’d like to be). Everything here is conclusions drawn on my own, from speculation, guessing, and “Detective” work (a little Batman humor).
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, I’d like to talk about my thoughts and speculation regarding Battle for the Cowl, upcoming Bat-Books (like Batman and Robin, Batman, ect), and DC solicitations for July 2009. I’m jumping in here despite June being the month for all the new titles and beginnings due to the second month revealing a bit more info.
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT BATMAN?
BATMAN AND ROBIN #2
(W) Grant Morrison
(A) Frank Quitely
“Batman Reborn” continues with the reteaming of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, WE3, New X-Men)! In a blazing Gotham City police department, the new Batman and Robin face the bizarre, fighting freakshow that is the Circus of Strange and find that they don’t make as good a team as Batman had hoped! Meanwhile, the mysterious Sasha escapes from Professor Pyg and vows vengeance on the people who killed her father.
Speculation? Well, I think it’s a given we’re looking at Dick Grayson, former Robin/ Nightwing (also considering the Kryptonian Nightwing running around the DCU) as the inheritor of the “Cowl”. This series will feature Dick and Damien as Batman and Robin respectively, Dick maintaining the Batman legacy both fighting crime and training Bruce’s son as a surrogate father. With Damien’s penchant for being a spoiled brat and Dick’s steadfast morality and niceties, expect the new “Dynamic Duo” to but heads as the DC “Odd Couple they’re destined to be. Also, with the new set-up expect to see a flying Batmobile (about time too!), new and strange villains, and a wholly different Batman and Robin. Sounds like fun! Plus, it ties into Batman #666 for those of you paying attention!
BATMAN #688
(W) Judd Winick
(A) Mark Bagley & Art Thibert
There may be a new Batman in Gotham City, but that doesn’t mean the city wants him. As Two-Face and Penguin take measures to keep the new Dark Knight at bay, one of the archvillains makes a startling discovery about the new Caped Crusader. Plus, Batman trains the new Robin, and Mark Bagley starts a 4-issue stint as guest artist!
As the first covers for both Batman and Robin and Batman 687 show, we’ve got two different looking Batman, and I don’t think it’s due to artistic license. More likely than not, we’ll see two “Batmen” post BftC. My guess? As Dick will most likely be the Batman in “B & R”, my guess is this Batman will be Jason Todd, crazy, resurrected, murdering whack-job possibly cleaning up his act, or not.
I’d also say it’s not beyond reason that possibly Tim Drake could be under the cowl either, though I think two Robins operating as Batman is unlikely.
Back to the likely suspect, though the listing may state he’ll be training the new Robin, I’m not 100% sure he means “The New Batman” of the title. I may be reading too much into it, but the solicitation refers to a “New” Batman and “Batman, draw your own conclusions. Going back to Batman #666 (again!), Damien is seen in his “Who’s Who” style origin page shows a “Batman” dead at his feet (or “knees” if you want to get technical). So, whoever the Batman is, at some future point he’ll die and Wayne JR will have to take up the big job of caring on the family business.
He also mentions “I knew I’d never be as good as my dad or Dick Grayson.”, possibly negating my speculations if I’m too take the story as absolute cannon. One way or another, there’s a new Batman in town, we’ll have to wait and see who.
BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #2
(W) Paul Dini (co-feature W) Marc Andreyko
(A) Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs (co-feature A) Georges Jeanty & Karl Story
In this second issue by the dynamic duo of Paul Dini (DETECTIVE COMICS) and Dustin Nguyen (BATMAN), Commissioner Gordon teams with the new Batman to combat the fiery threat that Firefly has spread across Gotham City. And to make matters worse, the mysterious adversary known only as Abuse makes his presence felt!
Meanwhile, in the Manhunter co-feature, now that Kate Spencer is the new District Attorney of Gotham City, will she use her legal power or her Super Hero identity to find the killer of the previous D.A.?
More new Batman! From what I know, the series will be more about the people surrounding Batman’s life as well as a “man on the street” view of him. How Dini will tackle the current Dark Knight is of great interest, despite not being a book specific to the title character. Speculation is the same for B & R above.
DETECTIVE COMICS #855
(W) Greg Rucka
(A) JH Williams III (co-feature A) Cully Hamner
“Elegy” part 2 of 4 by Greg Rucka and JH Williams III! Batwoman captures her enemy, a madwoman known only as Alice who sees her life as a fairy tale and everyone around her as expendable extras – including Kate! But when the tables are turned, Batwoman finds herself in a hallucination slamming the present into a collision with the past, and the hints of a threat that will claim the lives of every man, woman and child in Gotham City.
And in the all-new co-feature starring the Question, Montoya’s quest to find a missing young girl turns deadly.
I’ve got no speculation for this title, though I do hope that we do see more back-history on the connection to the Kane’s and Wayne’s. Plus, I do wonder if Barbra Gordon will return as a Bat/Girl/ Woman?
GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #2
(W) Paul Dini
(A) Guillem March
Tommy Elliott, a.k.a. the villainous mastermind known as Hush, has escaped the confines of Batman’s headquarters and is wreaking havoc throughout Gotham City all under the guise of Bruce Wayne. Will the loose assemblage of Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn be enough to stop the madman’s rampage? Or are Gotham’s femmes fatales doomed to fail before they even begin?
Not really Batman specific per say, but part of the family of titles none the less. And if you really want to be a stickler, it does feature Tommy Elliot, AKA Hush, AKA (replacement) Bruce Wayne. I love what Dini does with Hush, specifically beating, torturing, abusing, yet still giving sympathy to the horribly damaged former Doctor.
Speculation, Tommy wont be putting on a cape and cowl, but will try and take Bruce’s life and money again, only this time with no Wayne he may have a chance.
RED ROBIN #2
Written by Christopher Yost
Art by Ramon Bachs & Art Thibert
Red Robin continues scouring the world, searching for clues to Bruce Wayne’s final fate in this new series from writer Chris Yost (New X-Men, X-Force) and artist Ramon Bachs (Civil War: Front Line)! But now he’s been targeted by the League of Assassins. What does Ra’s al Ghul want with Red Robin? Why are members of the League of Assassins being targeted for death? And what happened to the life Red Robin left behind? Spoiler guest-stars as “Batman Reborn” continues here in “The Grail” part 2 of 4.
Most likely suspect for the Red Robin? Tim Drake since the identity has been seen in his title and very likely in my opinion (though Jason did use the costume in Countdown).
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #31
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Andy Clarke
A new five-part arc begins with an international bang! When a powerful Russian mobster sets his sights on Gotham City, Batman thinks he’s ready. But this isn’t any ordinary mobster, and he’s bringing backup in the form of…a bear? These unexpected foes might just be able to take control of the Gotham underworld – and then the whole city. Can Batman stop them?
Batman stories with Bruce taking place in past continuity (like the superiorly titled “Legends of the Dark Knight”). No change here, other than rotating creative teams.
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #62
(W) Michael Green & Mike Johnson
(A) Rafael Albuquerque
When the inmates take over Arkham Asylum, it’s a job for the World’s Finest duo – Robin and Supergirl! Rafael Albuquerque (BLUE BEETLE) joins the series as regular artist for a story we could only call “Sidekicked!”
Again, Superman/ Batman has gone the route of the previously mentioned series, rather than telling stories in the here and now, stories fitting into a loose past continuity. Though it looks like we’ll have the Mini-World’s Finest for this story.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #35
(W) Len Wein
(A) Eddy Barrows & Ruy Jose
The cards are stacked against the remnants of the Justice League! And those cards are the Royal Flush Gang! Can even Superman and Wonder Woman save a team whose luck has run out? Featuring the deadly return of an old foe.
A “Batman” appears on the cover, I’m guessing Dick?
WEDNESDAY COMICS #1-4
In July, DC Comics gives a fresh twist to a grand comics tradition with WEDNESDAY COMICS, a new, weekly 12-issue series by some of the greatest names in comics today!
WEDNESDAY COMICS is unique in modern comics history: Reinventing the classic weekly newspaper comics section, it is a 16-page weekly that unfolds to a sprawling 28” x 20” tabloid-sized reading experience bursting with mind-blowing color, action and excitement, with each feature on its own 14” x 20” page.
Spearheaded by DCU Editorial Art Director Mark Chiarello, whose past editing credits include BATMAN BLACK & WHITE, DC: THE NEW FRONTIER and SOLO, each page of WEDNESDAY COMICS spotlights the continuing adventures of DC heroes, including:
BATMAN, WEDNESDAY COMICS’ weekly cover feature, by the Eisner Award-winning 100 BULLETS team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso
Yeah, there’s a lot more than just Batman in the new Wednesday Comics series, but since we’re talking Batman, I figured we’d just focus on that (though I do plan to cover WC more in depth in a future column).
As I don’t think any of these series will have any effect on continuity, as these stories are not beholden to adhere to a strict DCU “Continuity”. Think more like All Star Superman/ Batman, with great creators on great characters. Most likely, we’ll get Bruce as Batman here as well.
DC Comics available on 4/29/2009
DC
* ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN: FOR TOMORROW
* BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL – THE UNDERGROUND
* BATMAN: GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #12 (OF 12)
* FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #4 (OF 5)
* GREEN LANTERN #40
* GREEN LANTERN CHRONICLES VOL. 1
* GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS WAR VOL. 1
* JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #26
* MANHUNTER VOL. 5: FORGOTTEN
* SUPERMAN #687
* SUPERMAN/BATMAN #59
* TEEN TITANS #70
* TRINITY #48
* WONDER WOMAN #31
Johnny DC
* CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #56
Vertigo
* THE LITERALS #1 (OF 3)
* MADAME XANADU #10
* UNKNOWN SOLDIER #7
Wildstorm
* FRINGE #4 (OF 6)
* GEARS OF WAR #6
* RESISTANCE #5 (OF 6)
* SUPERNATURAL: RISING SON
Of those titles, I’ll be picking up the following-
Batman: Battle for the Cowl – The Underground- I’m on the fence about this one, but as I’ve impulse bought most of the other BFTC books, chance are I’ll get this as well.
Batman: Gotham After Midnight #12– Final issue of the Niles/ Jones Gothic noir story.
Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #4– Possibly my most eagerly anticipated book this week.
Green Lantern #40- It’s pretty much a given considering no just Blackest Night, but how much I love Green Lantern and this series.
Justice Society of America #26– Final issue of the Geoff Johns/ Dale Eaglesham creative team. It’s sad to see them go as this series has been fantastic.
Question? I’ve been kicking around the idea of reviewing (or Retro-Viewing ™©® if you will…) Trade Paperback Collections and Older Single Issue Comics form my extensive collection of comics and things (amongst my many DC single issue comics, The Joker #1, Doom Patrol #114, Brave and the Bold presents Metamorpho #58, Batman #206, and Detective Comics #307, amongst several others and older runs as well, just to give a sample). Is this something that interests you, the readers of the Monitor Tapes? Please comment or email and let me know, because I love nothing more than sharing my love of DC comics from back to the early days up to current.
Want more DC info? Make sure to check out both http://www.dccomics.com and http://dcublog.com for up to the moment updates and more.
As always, thanks for reading!
– Love & Rockets: New Stories –
– Contract #1 –
Ok, in frank honesty, as a stand alone issue presented to someone as an intro to Marvel U Avengers, it’s got great writing by Brian M. Bendis, fantastic art by Jim Cheung, great action far beyond any movie you’ll ever see, and fun dialogue. So really, I’ve got to give it good marks as a FCBD book introducing kids and teens (and possibly adults as well) into Marvel.
Amidst the wreckage of the crumbling Ultimate Marvel Universe, stupidly faithful nerds such as myself search for insight into what the 1610 Universe will look like post Ultimatum.
