By Luke Abbott
This weeks issue handled something very interesting: a finale of sorts. The end of the Penguin vs Falcone subplot. Interesting, yes. Good, no.
The problem with handling a franchise as massive as Batman is that it leaves you very restricted with where to take new stories. For example, the writers here felt very restricted by the fact that they were unable to kill off Falcone or the Penguin. It would have made a very bloody end to the gang war and would have made the build-up justifiable. However, seeing as there is the possibility that the fan base (as well as the writers themselves), would revolt if one of the more intriguing bad guys was written out of the canon, they felt unable to make that risk. As it stands, the gang war fizzles out rather than coming to an explosive end. The solution Bard came up with felt like the writers tying off an arc, rather than giving us a great ending to one of the main storylines of Eternal. The Penguin got to scene-chew, Falcone got what was coming to him and the gang war is finally over. As a reader, I wanted more. The Batman felt like an outside force rather than the hero of the story; I was happy with Bard doing the heavy work for a change, but Batman needs to actually progress some of the action, as it is his comic book series.
When we are dealing with a series as long as Eternal, we want assurances that the finale will be good, otherwise there is little point to investing time and money into the series. On the other hand, one good thing does come out of the finale: Bard’s character is a very interesting one. I actually thought he wasn’t going to make it. Seeing as I assumed Falcone or the Penguin weren’t going to be biting the bullet, I thought Jason Bard would be the major shock of the issue. Blossoming romance, check. A force of good in a corrupt town, check. A character minor enough to be killed off but major enough to deliver emotional impact, check. Maybe it is a good thing that the comics didn’t do the obvious thing, because now the Batman and Bard have an interesting relationship. Bard committed a crime to bring down the bad guys, something Batman couldn’t allow. It was a justifiable crime and the loss of life belonged to mobsters; it just doesn’t match up to Batman’s black and white morals. This brings the two major good guys at loggerheads, which could make some of the following stories much more interesting.
And now all eyes are turned to the Asylum. It has all but been forgotten about, but the Joker’s Daughter reappears for the final frame, kidnapping the Scarecrow. And when the Scarecrow begins getting terrified, you know you are in for something good just around the corner.
Quote of the Issue:
Mayor Hardy: (insulting) You’re just like Gordon, kid…
Bard: Thank you.
For more comic views and reviews follow Luke on Twitter at @LukeBbtt and check out his website at www.oracleoffilm.com
Posted on July 11th, 2014
Category: ORACLE OF COMICS, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman Eternal #14 review, Bruce Wayne, DC Comics, Jason Bard, Jim Gordon, Luke Abbott, Red Robin
By Luke Abbott
For once, I am more than happy to let Batman take the back seat on this issue. Jason Bard is a very fun hero to spend this issue with, especially as his plan goes full throttle and he turns into the smartest guy in the room.
The writing, pacing and dialogue of the thirteenth issue of Batman Eternal is terrific. I love Jason Bard as a character; he is the newcomer to the Batman franchise, but he instantly becomes a success with the reader. He takes a bad situation, and this issue spends a lot of time hammering home to the point that Gotham really is a corrupt nightmare, and works out a plan that could usurp Forbes corrupt rule of the police force, allowing Batman to properly take on the vigilantes, tearing up Gotham right now. I love his scenes with Vicki Vale; their back and forth banter is always delicious to read and adds a spark to the issues in a place I didn’t expect much excitement to be coming from. The Bard gang war storyline plays out incredibly well and again, even though Batman is essentially only here to look awesome in a handful of frames, I didn’t mind. I hope Bard becomes a major figure in the next few issues to come.
The other subplots are whittled down to brief recaps, which is fine, because they cover everything they need to. The Red Robin and Bluebird story is kept to a few pages, but its only job is to remind us that this is an ongoing side-plot, so when the issues are ready to tackle it, we haven’t totally lost interest. All we need from the writers is a few funny and charming moments from the two characters (Bluebird will end up a fan favourite for sure), to keep us happy. The Cluemaster storyline is still the best thing about Eternal overall. I love how the comic handles the Cluemaster, Vale describing him as a ‘second-rate Riddler’. However, everyone’s complacency is causing a massive problem for Stephanie Brown and the inability of anyone to take the Cluemaster seriously has a serious consequence for a few characters. Again, this side-plot is still my vote for the one to watch. I hope it plays a massive part in the finale.
Finally, Jim Gordon comes face to face with his renegade son. It will be a nice parallel between James Jr. and Batgirl and seeing how they both cope with Gordon’s imprisonment. I hope the two children of the Gordon family come face to face at some point in this series. I could criticise the scenes in the prison as scene-chewing. It is essentially the two characters reeling off monologues and justifications for their actions. If this was a movie, it would serve as nothing more than giving two good actors a reason to bounce off of each other. However, these scenes are far too fun to criticise. It opens up some interesting ideas and, most importantly, makes Jim Gordon the central figure once more, something that Eternal is always moments from forgetting.
And in the background, I cannot shake the memory that this gang war means little. It is killing time while the true nemesis, the nanobots, the real reason Gordon fired at an unarmed man, is revealed. We still have to explore the Joker’s daughter, Dr. Phosphorous, the mysterious first frame of the entire series. Batman Eternal is only just kicking off and we have a lot more great set-pieces waiting for us.
Quote of the Issue:
Stephanie Brown: Out of all of the super-villians in the world, why did my Dad have to be one of the crap ones?
For more comic views and reviews follow Luke on Twitter at @LukeBbtt and check out his website at www.oracleoffilm.com
Posted on July 5th, 2014
Category: ORACLE OF COMICS, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman Eternal #13 review, Bruce Wayne, DC Comics, Jason Bard, Jim Gordon, Luke Abbott, Red Robin
By Chris Fenn
This is the penultimate issue of Zero Year, and I quite enjoyed this issue. There are some bits I thought were really good, some bits I wasn’t too keen on and some bits that I didn’t get at all.
One of the bits I just didn’t get was the opening page of the issue. I don’t know who the homeless person is, if he is supposed to be anybody, and it isn’t made clear what favour Batman requested of him. I don’t know if this is something that will be made clear in the final issue.
This could be something minor, or perhaps a lack of thinking on my behalf; I remember there being the ‘Tokyo Moon’ references in the build up to Dr. Death and they were sort of lost on me until pointed out. It could just be the case that I’ve only been reading these issues as they come and not in one big sitting so the plot isn’t as fresh in my mind as it could be.
One thing that I really liked was the colouring of the issue. It’s rare to see Batman out in the day, and it makes sense in this story, but seeing such vivid colours of the Savage City reminds me a lot of the original colouring of The Killing Joke. The psychedelic backgrounds and multi-coloured robots really contrast with the oppressive nature of the story and it’s really pleasing to look at.
Capullo’s pencils are at his usual high standard, and I love the sleeveless Batman look; granted out of this story it wouldn’t make much sense but I do like the ‘Cowled Commando’ costume.
Snyder seems to have nailed The Riddler’s voice in this story; he’s intelligent and smug to the point of outright arrogance. I love how he distributes little fun facts to his victims when he thinks he’s about to kill them. This is definitely a villain I want to see come back in future storylines, especially in the capable hands of Snyder.
I like how Batman is portrayed as fallible and doubtful; I like how when he and Lucius are talking where to strike Batman guesses, and acknowledges that it’s a guess and if he’s wrong then it’s all over. Remember this is Batman’s New 52 version of Year One, and he is supposed to be making mistakes and not omnipotent or omniscient.
There’s a brilliant heartfelt moment where Bruce sends a message to Alfred admitting that Alfred was right and acknowledging his own mistakes. It always warms my heart to see Bruce show his true emotions to Alfred, and seeing him say “I love you Alfred” almost brought a tear to my eye. I haven’t been the biggest fan of Snyder’s Batman; I’ve felt in the past he has been too consumed by rage and unwilling to seek help from his extended family, but this moment has really sold me on Snyder’s ability to write an emotionally balanced and fleshed out Batman and I hope we can see more emotional responses like this.
I also really liked the scene where Bruce tells Alfred he loves him for a more cinematic reason. Seeing the air force prepare their jets adds real immanency and urgency to the story and pushes the pace on a lot quicker; now Batman has to beat the Riddler and be quicker than Jim in order to save Gotham from destruction.
This has been a really good issue of Batman, but I will still be happy to see the back of Zero Year. One more issue to go before I can get truly excited about Snyder and the main Batman series again!
For more comic views and reviews follow Chris on Twitter at @fenneth1989
Posted on June 26th, 2014
Category: OUT OF THE LONG BOX, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman #32 Review, Bruce Wayne, Chris Fenn, DC Comics, Greg Capullo, Riddler, Scott Snyder, Zero Year
By Luke Abbott
This was the issue I figured out I had been reading Batman Eternal all wrong. Rather than checking them out each week, I should have collected the entire series and marathoned them in a single evening. There is not a lot I shall say in this review that I haven’t said before. “We check in with everyone’s storylines.” “Something big is around the corner, promise!” The truth is Eternal is playing the long game and the people who will get the most pleasure out of this series are the ones who are content to wait until they have every issue in their hands, before even beginning. However, I have started this weekly review now and I will see it through to the bitter end.
The Good Man tackles far more of the ongoing stories than any of the other issues so far. Jim Gordon makes a return after a long absence. His trial gets underway and we get a savagely delicious courtroom scene. Meanwhile, Penguin and Falcone are going to greater lengths to win the city back, the first page showing Penguin’s thugs getting mown down by armed thugs. Jason Bard, Harvey Bullock and Captain Sawyer get together and come up with a plan to end the gang war once and for all, but it requires a risky step which is revealed in the last few pages. Also, Batgirl and Red Hood’s encounter is carried on from the last issue, but without the distracting art or silly humour. Also… takes deep breath… we check in on Red Robin and Bluebird, who haven’t shown up in forever. And on top of that, there is more drama in the Pennyworth family. Yes, this issue is action-packed, yet the writers even find time to slip in a cameo from a certain famous DC reporter.
It’s all good. It really is. There isn’t any part of this issue where I could point to a certain beat and say: “that’s wrong!” As far as issues of Batman Eternal go, that would make this particular episode a success. It is just always promising something interesting in an issue’s time. Every frame is orchestrated into making you buy the next issue, rather than focusing on this particular one in your hands. This is a common sin for any comic book collector. However, it works, because I am unable to stop buying this Batman comic now: I am in too deep. So yes, if anyone is still on the fence about buying these comics, do it! Just maybe read them in one go, rather than sitting through a single issue that seems perfectly content to inch along with its narrative.
Quote of the Issue:
Bluebird: “Just told me to ‘buck up’ or something like that.”
For more comic views and reviews follow Luke on Twitter at @LukeBbtt and check out his website at www.oracleoffilm.com
Posted on June 26th, 2014
Category: ORACLE OF COMICS, REVIEWS
Tags: Batgirl, Batman Eternal #12 Review, Bruce Wayne, DC Comics, Luke Abbott, Red Hood, Red Robin, Spoiler
By Luke Abbott
As much as I like the multiple narratives of Batman Eternal, I like how this issue doesn’t jump as much around as we are used to. We start with a brief catch-up with Forbes and Falcone, their partnership not as steady as Forbes wants us to believe. However, then we are thrust to Hong Kong, where Batman is trying to figure out why Falcone abandoned a successful criminal empire in Japan. Shen Fang has taken over where Falcone has left off and Batman needs to team up with his man in the Orient, Jiro, the Japanese Batman.
I quite enjoyed the change in scenery. While these comics are played at breakneck speed, we never really get a sense of Jiro’s gang wars with the Ghost Dragons, we see just enough to pique our curiosity. The writers also play with the idea of having a villain no one has heard of before, Shen Fang. We have no idea what this guy is like and it gives the writers a lot of breathing space with what to do with this new bad guy. He looks impressive too, literally bursting onto the page in a gut-wrenching fashion (you’ll understand what I mean once you’ve read it). There’s a neat little mystery, which is nothing more than a distraction from the overall Eternal story arc, but it is enough to make for an enjoyable side issue. Eternal throws so much conspiracy at you that there is something very pleasant about breaking from the story to beat up some masked thugs in Hong Kong.
The dialogue here is marvelous. For the first time in my Inter-Comics run, I have been stuck at what the Quote of the issue should be. Falcone is given some great lines, earning him a bit more respect in my eyes. Batman goes full-on Batman, with some scenes that remind people why he is the most famous of the DC superheroes. Even Catwoman pops up briefly for some meaty dialogue, although we expect nothing less for her character. Seeing as only a little happens this issue, lines like these make this issue so much more worthwhile.
And a new character enters the fray. I didn’t see that twist coming and for the first time, a week’s wait feels like torture.
Quote of the Issue:
Batman: You shouldn’t have done that. I just wanted to ask you some questions. (…) But now? Now I am going to hurt you!
For more comic views and reviews follow Luke on Twitter at @LukeBbtt and check out his website at www.oracleoffilm.com
Posted on June 7th, 2014
Category: ORACLE OF COMICS, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman Eternal #9 Review, Bruce Wayne, Catwoman, Comic Reviews, DC Comics, James Tynion IV, Luke Abbott, Scott Snyder, Shen Fang
By Luke Abbott
If every issue of Batman Eternal was like this, I would be a happy reader.
In fairness, it has been a while since Eternal has had a truly bad issue. There was fun to be had last time and the few issues before that added a few more layers to the mystery, hooking us right into the conspiracy of the story. However, it still felt a little inconsistent and jumbled. The eighth issue settles into what I thought Batman Eternal would be: inching closer to the answer hidden behind Gordon’s incarceration. This issue forgets Dr. Phosphorous, forgets the mysterious nano-technology and forgets the reveal of Joker’s daughter that has been mysteriously brushed away for the time being. We are back to the square roots of the Dark Knight: Batman, Falcone and a helluva amount of corrupt cops in between.
What I liked about this issue is that it focused on Batman beating up Falcone’s goons, but it seemed like it was more of an issue devoted to the supporting cast. We were still spending an issue with Batman, more than we’ve had in a long while, but it was through the eyes of other people. Jason Bard, the man who opened this whole story for us, gets a lot of development. His motives and personality are put on the table, hammering home to the point that he is a good cop in a bad town. We’ve seen this story before, but in Gotham, this plotline never seems to run out of material. Vicki Vale also makes a return, the feisty reporters character earning every streak of dialogue. Her scene with Bard was smartly written, Vale turning to her womanly charms to get the story out of Bard. Is a romance blossoming or is Vale up to something? It’s a small sub plot, and most might think it wastes precious frames, but, in my mind, it adds depth and lifts the story arc higher.
Stephanie Brown gets a mention too. She remains my favourite strand of storyline here, because it is so disconnected from everything else that I am left scratching my head at where the Cluemaster fits into everything. I am waiting for the twist with great anticipation. The story isn’t even brought up too much. We just see a shattered phone booth, two days after we last left Stephanie, covered in blood and bullet-holes. The following scene plays out really cleverly and I cannot wait to see where this leads.
I am still lost at how time fits into all this. Vicki Vale went from witnessing a twist with the nano-bots, another storyline that was harshly dropped, to appearing at a crime scene, as though she was making a first appearance. A character who popped up last issue is now in Hong Kong, in the space of a day. That will need explaining. It vaguely works at the moment, but seeing as Batman is heading off to Hong Kong, time needs to be planned a bit more carefully than it has been in past issues.
Quote of the week:
Tiger Shark: Do you want me to get rid of him, or get rid of him?
For more comic views and reviews follow Luke on Twitter at @LukeBbtt and check out his website at www.oracleoffilm.com
Posted on May 31st, 2014
Category: ORACLE OF COMICS, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman Eternal #8 Review, Bruce Wayne, Comic Reviews, DC Comics, James Tynion IV, Luke Abbott, Scott Snyder, Stephanie Brown, Vicki Vale
By Chris Fenn
The finale to a series and the end of a hero.
I followed the Nightwing comics from getting back into the genre around Death of the Family. I’ve always liked Dick Grayson as a character; to me he’s always been everything Batman can’t be as well as being everything Batman needs.
Being the final issue to Nightwing’s ongoing a lot of loose ends have to be wrapped up. We get a good amount of recap through all of Dick’s history; but interestingly we get some references to Morrison’s run on Batman, as Dick mentions that “eventually, when I was needed, I was Batman”.
This is something that really confuses and annoys me about the New 52; they seem to want their cake and eat it. On the one hand they want a clean slate, with new beginnings and new origins, but on the other hand they reference a lot of pre-Flashpoint events which are not canon or party of the current continuity.
I suppose though, this can be an inherent problem when using an organisation like Spyral in a story like Batman incorporated. For anybody who doesn’t know, Batman Incorporated started in the pre-Flashpoint universe and focused on Batman making a global organisation to tackle the League of Assassins, headed by Talia. The story spilled over and was continued in The New 52, as a New 52 title, without any reboots or retcons. Events that took place in Batman Incorporated, such as the death of Damian, have also tied into other titles across the DC universe meaning that they are indeed cannon.
I know that may seem like a trivial thing to complain about when I am enjoying the stories I read, but I honestly cannot see the point of resetting a universe, or in this case multiverse, when creators do not treat a reset like a reset.
Moving on, one thing I truly loved about this issue was the fight between Dick and Bruce. I think it’s symbolic that both characters fought as Batman and Nightwing, and spoke as though this was a mission briefing, to finally end with the two men unmasked, arm around each other sharing a moment when the son makes the father proud.
A beautiful touch in this is seeing Alfred continue to perform his duties, but to have tears streaming down his face. It’s simply heart breaking to watch Alfred in Batman comics; the amount of mourning he does for all the family he has lost, but he always returns to his duties and tries to help everybody as best as he can.
One thing I have ignored is the opening to this issue. As this is effectively an issue #0 for Dick Grayson, we get some villains and key characters established. It’s hard to properly react to a band of people who kill for killings sake, but as a device I suppose it’s interesting. I liked how the vehicle they drove was “Un Cheval Pale” – or “The Pale Horse” – as you can’t beat some biblical imagery, especially when it references Death from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!
For more comic views and reviews follow Chris on Twitter at @fenneth1989
Posted on May 31st, 2014
Category: OUT OF THE LONG BOX, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman, Bruce Wayne, Chris Fenn, Comic Reviews, DC Comics, Dick Grayson, Nightwing #30 Review
By Chris Fenn
This issue is all about Frankenstein; only since what happened in Batman and Red Robin I’m sure he won’t exactly be too happy…
But that’s the funny thing about Frankenstein, he seems very forgiving provided you say sorry and stop your dog nibbling his leg.
This issue felt like it went by very quickly, a lot of it seemed to act as a sort of recap; Batman relayed his tale to Frankenstein and told him why he had changed his mind on bringing Damien back, and Frankenstein gave Batman an update on the Justice League Dark and what happened in the Forever Evil: Blight story.
There was a small reference I noticed and appreciated; when Batman showed some knowledge of Nanda Parbat he informed Frankenstein that he had learned the Thogal ritual, which involved him simulating death through isolation. This is a lovely reference to Grant Morrison’s run on Batman as also ties into the greater themes of death and rebirth that Morrison touched upon; Batman reborn as Dick Grayson, Batman reborn through time, Batman reborn as the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh and batman reborn through Bruce Wayne.
Now the plot gets a tad unusual when Batman and Frankenstein seemingly come across a group of Wampa’s who help them find Ra’s Al Ghul after a display of peace, some drawing in the snow and a growl from Batman. I suppose though it seems a tad unfair to dismiss this as silly when Batman is walking around with a re-stitched Frankenstein in pursuit of a city that disappeared to another dimension in a whirlwind of feathers.
It seems as though the plot as a whole has progressed a lot more in two pages than it has done in the past few issues, as early on we see Ras submerge a sarcophagus into what appears to be a Lazarus Pit, and we close the issue with Batman saying he’s too late.
Another brilliant issue with some nice elements of humour injected in, and now I simply cannot wait for the next installment!
For more comic views and reviews follow Chris on Twitter at @fenneth1989
Posted on May 23rd, 2014
Category: OUT OF THE LONG BOX, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman and Frankenstein #31 Review, Bruce Wayne, Chris Fenn, Comic Reviews, Damian Wayne, DC Comics, Ras Al Ghul, Robin
By Luke Abbott
This episode is probably the most action-packed yet. Despite this series having a nasty little habit of dancing around conflict, this issue finally delivers not one punch-up, but two terrific fight sequences.
In a clever move by the writers of this issue, we strip away the Dr. Phosphorous taking on Batwing storyline for the time being, so the comic can actually highlight the characters it wants to discuss. Therefore, we zoom in on Batman, as he rushes towards the explosion that rocked Gotham last issue. When he gets there, it turns out that Professor Pyg is back and behind it all. After having his plan ruined in the very first issue, he has regrouped, got together a following and is marching out onto the streets of Gotham, intent on reducing the city to his idea of ‘beauty’. Meanwhile, we meet up with Penguin, as he tries to plan his assault on Falcone. He is confronted by Catwoman, however, who is not happy that the underbelly of Gotham is being torn at the seams by this gang war. A terrific fight breaks out, while the pair of them are unaware that Falcone’s next move might not be as far away as the Penguin suspects.
This episode is the right balance of fun and story progression. While the overall story arc isn’t brushed totally away, it struck me that the main goal of Issue #7 was to just deliver a bit of a punch to the comic series, especially as it was dragging its feet as of late. Penguin is always a fun character to tackle, because he has so many little tricks up his sleeve. Catwoman is the ideal person for him to face off against, because everyone is familiar with the character. She also has the benefit of not being a straight good guy, so we are unsure if the two are going to kill one another, or maybe join sides against Falcone and the Batman. On a lesser note, I didn’t buy into the fact that the writers tried to make Penguin a sympathetic character. They give him a monologue, where he tries to appeal to Catwoman (and the audience) that he keeps Gotham safer, under a united mob, while Falcone’s reign will equal chaos. Penguin has never cared about Gotham; he cares about power. While it was clear that the writers wanted us to have a favourite side in this little gang war, this isn’t a very good way of helping us pick one. Penguin the hero doesn’t sit right with this reader.
On the other side of the comic, we have the Batman. Finally, we get the issue Gotham deserves. While the fight between Penguin and Catwoman occasionally comes across as a cheap trick to get across some exposition from the bad guy’s point of view, Batman vs. Pyg is just pure action. Frames are devoted to portraying Batman in a bad-ass light. Pyg, while not a villain I am too familiar with, is delightful here, portraying the kind of madness that makes the Arkham games’ version of Batman so enjoyable. It also throws up some clever twists on Falcone’s part, which is appreciated. Falcone isn’t the most threatening villain, so he needs a good plan up his sleeve. If he carries on like this, I am Team Falcone over Penguin’s random sympathetic monologuing! Also, there is a neat little twist with Commissioner Forbes that surprised me and could mean chaos for Gotham, according to the cliff-hanger we are left on.
For more comic views and reviews follow Luke on Twitter at @LukeBbtt and check out his website at www.oracleoffilm.com
Posted on May 22nd, 2014
Category: ORACLE OF COMICS, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman Eternal #7 Review, Batwing, Bruce Wayne, Comic Reviews, DC Comics, James Tynion IV, Jim Gordon, Luke Abbot, Scott Snyder
By Luke Abbott
This issue opens up with Batwing caught in a mid-air with the Gentleman Ghost. The fight is short-lived, but it acts as a promise: this issue is action-packed.
Action-packed might be the wrong word to use here. It certainly moves along at a brisk enough pace. Within the first few pages, we have set up numerous storylines. A ghostly figure begins brewing below Arkham Asylum that looks truly terrifying. A new villain is introduced in one frame that will get the fan boys pumped. On top of that, the crime war between Falcone and Penguin rages on, with Batman tearing across Gotham, sleep-deprived and desperate. However, none of these conflicts are concluded. In fact, maybe that quick fight with the Gentleman Ghost was only featured, because Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV were getting very aware that this issue wasn’t containing a single punch. I don’t mind too much, because this issue acts as a set-up for what should be a great next issue. The pieces are in place for what should be a tense, and hopefully moderately chilling, action piece.
I am always cautious when Batman tackles the supernatural. While the mobster crimes of Falcone and Penguin do have a habit of getting stale, I am not really too keen on the Dark Knight taking on anything too otherworldly. For one, I like the detective side of Batman and when he ends up taking on ghosts like the mysterious figure shown here, it is hard to make him seem all-knowing. However, as far as those stories go, this one has balanced quite well. Batman is experienced enough to know how to take on Gentleman Ghost and when mysterious reports of supernatural disturbances going on in Arkham, he turns to the help of Jim Corrigan, guided by a mysterious force, known as the Spectre. And the plus side of magic getting involved is that this new, skeletal enemy has a way of getting under your skin that Falcone just cannot do.
I am still a little lost with Batman Eternal as a whole. While the main arc was struggling to keep me interested, it cannot just disappear completely. Other than a few name-drops, it isn’t brought up at all. What happened to the Cluemaster? Wasn’t Batgirl about to kick some ass? We seemed to have moved away from that totally, which kills the tension of that storyline. I am unsure where we are with the mystery as a whole. While I enjoyed this issue a lot more than some of the others, it puts the overall Eternal arc in a bit of a bad light.
And finally, I love the artwork here. Some of the bigger frames are astonishingly good. The spectre rising from the graves. The dark corridors of the Asylum basement. They will stay with you for a long while.
Quote of the Week:
Batwing: He said, if you start, like smoking from the eyes and mouth, I should run. He said I wouldn’t want to see what happens next.
Corrigan: Sounds like he covered the basics.
For more comic views and reviews follow Luke on Twitter at @LukeBbtt and check out his website at www.oracleoffilm.com
Posted on May 22nd, 2014
Category: ORACLE OF COMICS, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman Eternal #6 Review, Batwing, Bruce Wayne, Comic Reviews, DC Comics, James Tynion IV, Jim Gordon, Luke Abbot, Scott Snyder
By Luke Abbott
This issue moves away from Batman, Bard and ex-Commissioner Gordon and picks up a new strand of story. This time, we focus on the Red Robin, taking the investigation back to the first issue. While Batman and Batgirl take on Falcone and try to solve what happened to Gordon, Red Robin is focused on the children that were abducted by Professor Pyg. Turns out they were not infected by Pyg’s serum, but something else. Red Robin decides to head off on his own to get to the bottom of that riddle. In the meantime, Vicki Vale takes an intern and tries to find out what Falcone is up to. However, that gets her into trouble with some of the goons in the Narrows. Throw the Bluebird into the mix and the three sections of stories end up colliding in an explosive way.
I was a little apprehensive, as soon as I realized that we were going to be having a Batman-lite installment of Eternal. I came here for Batman and I want the god damn Batman. However, on the other hand, while I have been hooked on the mystery, I have to admit the series had been dragging its feet. A change of pace is just what the story needed. It helps that this additional strand of story has really upped the ante. Up until now, it was just another case of ‘gang war’ and who is behind it all? Now, we are introduced with a new element to the mystery, which throws in some more colourful ideas into the pot. As Red Robin says at one point, this is “more advanced than anything Pyg is capable of”. My interest has been well and truly piqued once more. Also, it was nice to have Vicki Vale added to the story. She is a character that often gets lost in the canon, but here, she makes up for lost time, especially in the final frame, where she shows the reader how a civilian woman stands up alongside all of these vigilantes. Bluebird was also a welcomed addition to the story, as I know very little about the character, but she bursts onto the pages, grabbing your attention and respect instantly. I look forward to what she gets up to.
Yes, I enjoyed this issue, but there were a few, minor details that confused me. The main one was the Batman’s only scene. Last we checked in, Batman was rushing away to stop Batgirl rashly interrogating a suspect. How does he have time to pop in on Red Robin? Is this a mistake as the writers change hands in between issues? Or maybe the two strands of story are told slightly out of order? Either way that can get confusing fast and needs to be better explained to the reader. The other thing that threw me was how Vicki Vale’s plan of action was to waltz into the Narrows to interview people. I get that Vicki is a headstrong reporter, but there’s a difference between headstrong and stupid. This is what happens when a writer needs to lay Vicki Vale out for the newcomers to Batman, without recovering old ground for old fans of the character, while progressing the story simultaneously. In the space of a few frames. It is tricky, but I think Vale needed to have her scene thought through a little longer. However, like I did say, her character redeems herself in the final page.
I also wasn’t sold on the art style. Sometimes Andy Clarke drew a beautiful portrait of the characters. The goons were very detailed; we could see every crevice and imperfection on their face. Red Robin looked very cool, illuminated by the glow of his holographic detective system. However, other times Clarke dropped the ball completely, mainly during the ‘talking head’ moments. When characters got through exposition, Clarke would draw Vale or Cullen with an expression that looked a little ridiculous. The overall style was good, interesting, and at times, the most beautiful we have seen the art in Eternal yet. However, it was a little inconsistent, which frustrated me at times.
However, that is just me nit-picking. This is a true return to form for Batman Eternal, maybe only being trumped by the very first instalment of the series. Batman Eternal isn’t quite at the quality I want it to be just yet, but as far as comic books go, this is a good investment.
Quote of the Month:
(when intern Joey Day meets the Red Robin)
Day: I have a picture of you on my wall.
Red Robin: Uh. Thanks?
For more comic views and reviews follow Luke on Twitter at @LukeBbtt and check out his website at www.oracleoffilm.com
Posted on May 10th, 2014
Category: ORACLE OF COMICS, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman Eternal #5 Review, Bruce Wayne, Comic Reviews, DC Comics, James Tynion IV, Jim Gordon, Luke Abbot, Red Robin, Scott Snyder
Review by Chris Fenn
Coming in to this issue I didn’t know what to expect. I have seen the front cover advertised in previous ‘Bat’ comics, and I read the preview from Batman #28, but in all honesty I sort of didn’t know what to expect.
I am happy to say that this seems like a welcome blend of suspense, action and mystery. I feel like I’m going to like this comic.
The beginning of the comic really made me think of Grant Morrison. Now I know I seem to say that an awful lot, but hear me out; the city being on fire with Batman at the heart of the destruction seems very reminiscent of Damian’s possible future from Incorporated. I love the disembodied voice talking at Bruce, and the intensity and pain in the eyes of the fallen Batman.
The set up with the new cop was really nice. I don’t believe I’ve seen the corrupt cop before, but he reminded me of Flass, or at least that sort of dirty, power hungry archetype. I found that despite most of the cops being new they all fit in well and felt familiar; they had enough depth and character that I could believe in them all without wanting an entire issue dedicated to the GCPD.
The obvious mystery of this story will be what happened to Jim. As the reader we saw the gun Jim saw, but seemingly nobody else did. Is this all a dream? Is there somebody manipulating perception? Does this mean that Gotham may not really be burning? I certainly don’t know; but I do intend to keep on reading and find out!
For more comic views and reviews follow Chris on Twitter at @fenneth1989
Posted on April 10th, 2014
Category: OUT OF THE LONG BOX, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman Eternal #1 Review, Bruce Wayne, Comic Reviews, DC Comics, James Tynion IV, Jim Gordon, John Layman, Ray Fawkes, Scott Snyder, Tim Seeley
Review by Chris Fenn
Before I start actually talking about the content of this book can I just say I love the front cover; I love the striking colours, I love the cropped Bat logo, I love the picture within a picture theme. I love this front cover.
As much as I love the cover I also love the fact that this comic feels like a detective story. I have to say; I have felt that Batman doesn’t act too much of a detective in Detective Comics. I feel this creative team is bringing some of that back.
Batman does not seem an infallible punching machine; he only hits four people in the comic, and he even gets stabbed in the shoulder. I know that the lack of punching in a Batman comic seems a bit stupid, but I do like the fact that it allows time to build character and show that this is just a man under the cowl, not a Kryptonian.
The story itself is very much a build up to things to come, the most obvious giveaway being that the title of this issue is ‘Icarus: Part One’. The set up seems pretty solid; there are (to my knowledge) no famous villains and this is more a street level opponent who would oppress the poor than a high profile threat to the entirety of Gotham.
I loved the interactions between Bruce and Elena as well as Bruce and Alfred. There is a brilliant moment when Elena tells Bruce that he will have a rebellious teen to look forward to and we just see a small sorrowful look on his face. Similarly Alfred gives Bruce some heartfelt advice when he is fixing Damian’s bike.
One thing that lingers in my mind is the fact that there is a recently orphaned, skilled, rebellious teenager who has been in contact with Bruce in this issue and I can’t help but wonder what role this person may inherit in later instalments.
All in all I have really enjoyed this issue, especially after the Gothtopia arc, and I cannot wait to see where this goes and what this new team can do when they have the reins on a Batman title.
For more comic views and reviews follow Chris on Twitter at @fenneth1989
Posted on April 7th, 2014
Category: OUT OF THE LONG BOX, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman, Brian Buccellato, Bruce Wayne, Chris Fenn, Comic Reviews, DC Comics, Detective Comics #30 Review, Francis Manapul
Reviewed by Chris Fenn
I know last week I really praised Batman and Two-Face but I’m finding it difficult to word how much I enjoyed this issue. This issue just seemed to have everything; action, drama, suspense. I think I can say, without lying or exaggerating, this is probably one of the best comics I have ever read.
This is the closing issue of the Two-Face story arc and it begins with a courthouse inferno. The interesting thing is, despite this being a highly tense action scene; complete with fire and guns, the main focus is on the dialogue between Two-Face and Batman.
Harvey reveals he knows it is Bruce under the cowl. This is almost underwhelming compared to the heart to heart the two characters have. It seems to take the same route as the arguments posed in The Dark Knight, but it just feels more meaningful on the pages – especially knowing Harvey knows who Batman is. One thing that really seems touching is the fact that Harvey has fought to not kill Batman over the years, and he accepts that he earned his scars.
Later on we get to see Harvey interact with Jim Gordon. I love the use of the colour scheme here; the use of blue and red is brilliant. The way I read it the colours don’t represent each aspect of Two-Face’s personality, but they do really show the internal conflict he has and the struggles he goes through to make decisions; especially towards Gordon someone who would have been a close friend then became a hated enemy.
The most memorable part of this book has to be the closing panels of Harvey Dent. It struck me as quite poetic that after years of using the coin, Harvey speaks about luck and then makes the first significant decision of his own accord. We won’t know if this is a permanent death, a comic book death or some sort of red herring but in my mind this is the end of Mr. Dent.
One of my favourite parts of this book is the emphasis on the coin. For once it isn’t used as some sort of ploy to delay or confuse Harvey, but it’s used in a way that I don’t think I’ve seen before. Instead of focusing on the duality of the coin, Batman forces Harvey to think of the edge; a compromise and joining of both sides. It is perhaps through this why we see Harvey act independently – it is in the interest of both sides of his personality to see Gilda again.
I can’t stress how much I enjoyed this issue. I hope that Tomasi continues to deliver such quality that he has done since I started to read his work.
For more comic views and reviews follow Chris on Twitter at @fenneth1989
Posted on February 24th, 2014
Category: OUT OF THE LONG BOX, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman, Batman and Two-Face #28 Review, Bruce Wayne, Chris Fenn, Comic Blog, Comic Reviews, DC Comics, Jim Gordon, Patrick Gleason, Peter Tomasi
Reviewed by Dave Robinson
By Tom Taylor, Robson Rocha, and Scott Hanna
DC has been teasing us with the new Batman of Earth 2 for months now, and even though the name was leaked back in October there were still a host of questions, starting with which one? As it turns out, it’s an almost wholly new version of a very familiar name. We see echoes of Dr. Hurt from Grant Morrison’s run, but the details are all new.
Robson Rocha pencilled this issue, with Scott Hanna on inks. I’ve seen his name before, he’s one of DC’s many fill-in artists, and I’ve always felt his work’s been competent if nothing else. Whatever the reason, he really stepped up this time. Maybe it’s because he’s drawing a new Batman origin, but he did the best work I’ve seen from him. The opening page captures that familiar moment in Crime Alley with the string of pearls in the streetlight caught in that mixture of motion and stillness only comics can do. Rocha doesn’t just capture the moment, he captures the seventies. He shows the new Batman at his best and his worst, and brings us along for a darkly brilliant ride.
Tom Taylor handles the story, clearly running from the same playbook as his predecessor on the title. Everything makes sense, from the new Batman’s bulkier physique to his enhanced strength. It’s hard to describe the story without spoilers, even though the biggest spoiler was out months ago, but I’m going to try. This is not a happy book, this is a story of family, of tragedy, of love and death. It is the story of a man who fails, strives for redemption, and finally steps back into the darkness, this time for the benefit of others. The new Batman is a fundamentally flawed man, and those flaws make him vastly more interesting than the name alone would suggest.
If you got the digital version, there’s a great Easter Egg with the mob boss – which is especially cool if you’ve seen the Batman of the 70′s art online…
I give it 5 stars out of 5
Reviewed by Dave Robinson
www.daverobinsonwrites.com
@dcrwrites on Twitter
Posted on January 31st, 2014
Category: REVIEWS, WORDS ON PICTURES
Tags: Batman, Bruce Wayne, Comic Blog, Comic Reviews, Dave Robinson, DC Comics, Earth 2 Annual #2 Review, Robson Rocha, Scott Hanna, Thomas Wayne, Tom Taylor
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