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The W - Print - Comics Shipped: Batman Special Edition
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It's False
Scrapple








Since: 20.6.02
From: I am the Tag Team Champions!

Since last post: 2199 days
Last activity: 581 days
#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.78
With the total relaunch of the Batman franchise, this is a good time to look back at the new and relaunched titles (and man, there seem to be a lot of them). For the benefit of those who have and haven't gotten on board the new Bat-train:

BATMAN AND ROBIN #1: Right off the bat, the new direction hits a snag. This book definitely veers towards the light-hearted, simpler days of the Adam West era. The Toad chase was a lot of fun. But Grant Morrison just can't resist going for the mind-blowing, weird stuff and the problem with that is, it doesn't mesh well with the book's original concept. Having said that, I'm intrigued about this story arc, as Morrison does a great job of establishing the new Dick/Damian dynamic. Thumbs up!

BATMAN #687: The sad thing is, I had completely forgotten that Judd Winick wrote the "Under The Hood" storyline and can now only think of him as the guy who utterly ruined Green Arrow. This looks more at the aftermath of "Battle for the Cowl" and hammers home what the Batman mystique really means. Dick refusing a Bat-funeral because it would destroy the mysterious nature of what Batman is does a great job in comforting old fans while educating newer readers. The dialogue is great stuff, with Alfred's lines particularly hitting very hard. Can't say I'm excited about yet another round with Scarecrow, but we'll see if this title can keep up its momentum. Thumbs up!

RED ROBIN #1: This issue seemed to breeze by and gave the sense that nothing really happened. Outside of establishing Tim as the new Red Robin and Ra's Al Ghul as the book's first villain, it doesn't feel like much happened. I also can't say that I liked what led to Tim taking the mantle, as it feels like Dick just let him walk away too easily. Things will get more interesting, I'm sure, but this first issue's action consisting of Tim beating down generic thugs didn't catch my fancy so much. Thumbs down!

BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM: The opening pages with Harley Quinn proved to be the best part of this book, which leads to the inherent logical problem with this whole relaunch. Wouldn't any of the villains Batman's tangled with over the years be able to tell it's a different guy in the costume? I'm sure I'm overthinking this. The direction I do like is the idea that Batman's long absence has lead to perennial B-listers like Firefly getting bolder with their attacks. But at the end of the day, the arc's villain is still just Firefly and the arc only looks to establish Hush escaping his prison. Interesting for Damien's continuing development, but not much else. Thumbs in the middle, leaning down.

DETECTIVE COMICS #854: This is an interesting case. It doesn't tie in with the main Bat-arcs per se (though Batman does pop up), as Batwoman has proven to be her own character who just happens to dress in a Bat-costume. But as far as story and artwork (especially artwork) goes, this issue is fantastic. I'm a sucker for Rucka's work and the Question backup is the icing on the cake. It's no secret that I've wanted a Question ongoing and...well, this is the closest I'll get. Definitely recommended for the Batwoman/Batman meeting, the long overdue look into Kate Kane's character, and the Question backup. Thumbs up!

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #1: This logically continues where we left these characters in the Gotham Underground BftC tie-in. I'm more than a bit surprised at the base of operations used here and what happened to poor Riddler. There can't be much of Hush's money left at this point. Like Red Robin, this is getting off to a slow start, but I think it'll pick up soon enough. At the very least, the dialogue is a hoot. Can't ever go wrong with Dini's Harley. Thumbs in the middle, leaning up.

Overall, the new direction is going about as well as can be expected. I went in expecting total crap and while I still seethe over the loss of Bruce, I'm liking what they're doing with Dick and Damian. When Bruce inevitably returns, it'll be interesting to see where all these characters are.

There are a lot of Bat-titles to choose from, so if you're on a budget, I suggest sticking with Winick's Batman for the time being. Pick up the rest at your own leisure.




"So listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing that happens to you today."
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kentish
Andouille








Since: 19.8.05
From: My Old Kentucky Home

Since last post: 3414 days
Last activity: 1425 days
#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.63
Your's is the first review of B&R #1 that I have read that wasn't glowing. IMO, the less like the Adam West version the better.




"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

-- Mahatma Gandhi
lotjx
Scrapple








Since: 5.9.08

Since last post: 1681 days
Last activity: 1520 days
#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.43
Adam West swims with the fishes. I hated the Batman and Robin issue. It was almost paint by numbers with Dick and Damien at each other's throats. I am not a big fan of the art with this as well. I have seen glowing review and I totally disagree with them. If you wanted Dick to be Batman then will sorta of appeal to you. I still went someone to curb stomp Damien.
John Orquiola
Scrapple








Since: 28.2.02
From: Boston

Since last post: 3560 days
Last activity: 3560 days
#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.61
I'm an unabashed Adam West Batman lover, but I'm not looking for that from the comics. I dip in and out of comics in general and Batman in particular so the details of how and why Dick is Batman and Damien is Robin escapes me. I still want to know whether or not Jim Gordon notices it's a different guy in the suit. He's worked with Batman for years and is as close to him as a guy who doesn't know his identity could ever be. Surely a detective like Jim Gordon can tell the mouth and jaw are different, the overall demeanor is different. As for Damien, I'm in the curb stomp camp.
monkaaman
Weisswurst








Since: 13.5.09
From: Jungle

Since last post: 5117 days
Last activity: 5111 days
#5 Posted on
Thanks for the reviews. Batman comics are the only one I like to read, but I wait til they are release as graphic novals. Is there a second part of Gotham Underground? I just got and read it. Kinda leaves me hanging.
odessasteps
Scrapple








Since: 2.1.02
From: MD, USA

Since last post: 3571 days
Last activity: 3538 days
#6 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.03
    Originally posted by John Orquiola
    I'm an unabashed Adam West Batman lover, but I'm not looking for that from the comics. I dip in and out of comics in general and Batman in particular so the details of how and why Dick is Batman and Damien is Robin escapes me. I still want to know whether or not Jim Gordon notices it's a different guy in the suit. He's worked with Batman for years and is as close to him as a guy who doesn't know his identity could ever be. Surely a detective like Jim Gordon can tell the mouth and jaw are different, the overall demeanor is different. As for Damien, I'm in the curb stomp camp.


This is not the first time Dick has replaced Bruce in the suit, so Gordon probably realizes who it is.





Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine
The Affirmation, Baby Blog
John Orquiola
Scrapple








Since: 28.2.02
From: Boston

Since last post: 3560 days
Last activity: 3560 days
#7 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.61
    Originally posted by odessasteps


    This is not the first time Dick has replaced Bruce in the suit, so Gordon probably realizes who it is.




Oh, that's right. But do those stories remain in whatever the current continuity is?
odessasteps
Scrapple








Since: 2.1.02
From: MD, USA

Since last post: 3571 days
Last activity: 3538 days
#8 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.03
    Originally posted by John Orquiola
      Originally posted by odessasteps


      This is not the first time Dick has replaced Bruce in the suit, so Gordon probably realizes who it is.




    Oh, that's right. But do those stories remain in whatever the current continuity is?


Well, part of Morrison's whole raison d'etre lately has been that "all stories happened" especially in Batman.

So presumably, Prodigal still happened.



Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine
The Affirmation, Baby Blog
kentish
Andouille








Since: 19.8.05
From: My Old Kentucky Home

Since last post: 3414 days
Last activity: 1425 days
#9 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.63
    Originally posted by odessasteps
      Originally posted by John Orquiola
        Originally posted by odessasteps


        This is not the first time Dick has replaced Bruce in the suit, so Gordon probably realizes who it is.




      Oh, that's right. But do those stories remain in whatever the current continuity is?


    Well, part of Morrison's whole raison d'etre lately has been that "all stories happened" especially in Batman.

    So presumably, Prodigal still happened.

I think in Battle for the Cowl, or maybe the recent Batman issue that he has been batman before, so I assumed he meant Prodigal.
During Prodigal, Gordon say to Batman (Dick) something along the lines of "You are the 3rd one in the suit recently". I don't think he cares who is in the suit, he just knows Batman is needed in Gotham. I think he alludes to that in one of the recent issues, Streets of Gotham perhaps?




"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

-- Mahatma Gandhi
odessasteps
Scrapple








Since: 2.1.02
From: MD, USA

Since last post: 3571 days
Last activity: 3538 days
#10 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.03

read my new books last night.

Detective is one wonderfully-designed piece of work.

Also, on the other end of the Bat Book scale, the new Brave and Bold was pretty fun, with Bats and Kid Eternity vs General Immortus. Lots of fun guest stars.



Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine
The Affirmation, Baby Blog
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Guys, I'm in love with Batwoman. It's serious. When I read Batwoman #0 last month, I thought it was the best of the zero issues in that it was the only zero that made me want to read more about the character. So I hit Comixology and I did just that.
- John Orquiola, Batwoman (2012)
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