[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Tom Taylor, Marv Wolfman and Michael W. Conrad
Art: Daniele Di Nicuolo, Bruno Redondo and Howard Porter
Colors: Adriano Lucas and Hi-Fi
Letters: Wes Abbott

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

It’s Dick Grayson’s birthday, and after a mission with Tim and Damian he faces a bigger threat…receiving the Key to the CIty of Bludhaven.

Positives

Some have criticized Tom Taylor’s run on Nightwing for not moving fast enough and settling into too many stories that are no more than “look how great Dick Grayson is” plots.  A couple issues ago I commented that it was clear that Taylor had settled in for the  long game with the Heartless storyline.  Taken together, this is a defining run for Nightwing.  Nightwing #113 not only continues to focus on Dick Grayson’s character and relationships, for my money the most significant part of any story, but also throws in some celebration (this SHOULD be issue #300) as well as a tease for what will be a definitive encounter with Heartless in the upcoming “Fallen Grayson” arc which will also be Taylor and Bruno Redondo’s swan song on the title.

Nightwing #113 opens with a fun action sequence with Dick, Tim Drake and Damian Wayne as they work a mission together.  Taylor peppers it with revealing and purposeful dialogue that not only propels the issue, but works the overall characterization of the three as well as supporting characters like Batman and Barbara Gordon.  This sections absolutely sings and is a “how to” balance story and character.

The majority of the issue is similar.  Dick receives the Key to the City from his sister, the mayor, and along the way Taylor makes the character bits stand out.  Not only does Bruce Wayne get a compliment on his parenting from Melinda’s mother, but Dick forces Barbara into the spotlight as he makes sure she is honored for her work as well.  These bits build these characters and the relationships between them.  It seems like a no brainer that Dick and Babs will at the very least be engaged to be married by the end of this run.  It’s a logical conclusion.

Positives Cont’d

Taylor turns over the scripting duties to comic book legend Marv Wolfman for a short sequence (illustrated by Bruno Redondo) that is as much from Marv’s own point of view as it is his in-story stand-in Marv (of Marv and George’s Pizza- George Perez that is).  It serves not only as a tribute to Nightwing/ Dick Grayson, but also to George Perez who passed nearly two years ago.  It’s a special moment that might get you a little misty.  The issue concludes with Heartless commencing the final stage of his plan to take out Dick Grayson.  

The second story by Michael W. Conrad and Howard Porter is a neat “silent” story in the tradition of “Silent Interlude” from G.I. Joe- A Real American Hero #21 and the opening sequence of Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 (1968).  Conrad and Porter present a five minute incident as Nightwing has to get on a train and defuse a bomb.  Slow down with this one in order to experience the excitement and Porter’s art.  Conrad uses a ticking clock throughout to give the reader a sense of the passage of time that is very effective.  Porter, inking himself on this story, appears to be channeling the legendary Gene Colan.  Porter’s linework and use of shadows seems evident of Colan’s influence.  It also serves as an argument that Porter should ink himself.

Negatives

While Di Nicuolo turns in a fine job on most of the art on the main story, Redondo has been missed for a lot of recent issues.  He’s as much a part of the success of this series as writer, Taylor.  It’s a shame the legacy numbering will only appear as an acknowledgement on this issue and won’t be reflected on future issues as the only numbering.  Dick Grayson deserves that.

Verdict

Nightwing #113 is a wonderful set up for the final Taylor/ Redondo arc.  Taylor reinforces the focus on character and relationship (including some not mentioned above), but prepares the reader for what will surely be a massive encounter between Dick and Heartless.  To top it off the issue is rounded out by a well conceived and beautifully illustrated story by Conrad and Porter, respectively.

The post Review: Nightwing #113- Legacy #300 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Tom King
Art: Daniel Sampere and Belen Ortega
Colors: Tomeu Morey and Alejandro Sanchez
Letters: Clayton Cowles

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Wonder Woman faces off against her rogues gallery as recruited by Sarge Steel and Trinity can’t sleep in another adventure in babysitting with the Super Sons.

Positives

The best thing about Wonder Woman #6 and this series is the art by Daniel Sampere.  That’s about all that’s good about this issue.  I mean, there are a lot of aspects that Sampere excels at, but it’s important to know that his art is not only THE best thing, but perhaps the ONLY thing as well.

Negatives

It’s hard to know where to begin….  Six issues in and almost nothing has happened in this series.  To say that the pace has been glacial is an understatement.  We should’ve been at this point in issue #4.  King has spent so much time on set up and developing The Sovereign that this has become one of the most tedious and boring series I’ve ever read.  Like Brian Michael Bendis’s run on Superman King has a faulty premise and his execution of that faulty premise is not only going nowhere fast, but the approach is slowing the already slow plot down.

Even if you believe the idea that Amazon’s make up a large enough demographic to be a threat in America, and somehow the people of the United States would turn against Wonder Woman because of the actions of a single rogue Amazon and the hatred and bigotry in America stems from the machinations of a shadow monarchy, it doesn’t make up for the fact that the narration of this tale by The Sovereign drags the decent ideas down.  Wonder Woman #6 is a perfect example of this.  As a big action issue with Diana battling all the rogues that were recruited last issue, the narration takes all the excitement, tension and fun out of it.  It’s a story that should rely on Sampere’s story telling and art.  However, King is too in love with the sound of The Sovereign’s voice and he HAS to talk over the entire conflict.  It’s not even exciting narration!  The Sovereign is reflecting on his mistakes as he narrates to Lizzie in a future time, and it’s a very dry and from his perspective disappointing sequence of events.  King definitely makes this come through, because it’s wholly uninspiring.

King has the ability to write a gripping and engaging story.  Human Target for all its faults in characterization of the Justice League International characters is a tight, intriguing noir-style mystery.  For that it’s quite good, but the personalities are so far afield, the JLI characters are like actors cast in a movie playing roles and they clearly aren’t themselves.  In Wonder Woman, the characters are off, but the story doesn’t even hold the reader’s attention.

Negatives Cont’d

This run, the story and even the execution by King has made me think of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”  In that story, an emperor is told by some con men that these “new clothes” will make him look great.  Of course, there are no clothes and the emperor goes before his people completely naked.  For whatever reason, many people want to believe Tom King is writing a great comic here.  King believes it and he’s telling us how great Wonder Woman is as he brainwashes the reader with The Sovereign’s narration.  Unfortunately, there’s nothing beyond the beauty of Sampere’s art.  Every aspect of the execution is slow and downright boring, and most of the set up just doesn’t work in the context of Amazons in the DC Universe.  Readers want to believe the analogy is deep and meaningful, but it just doesn’t line up.  It’s a poor analogy.  

If readers aren’t actually familiar with Wonder Woman, Steve Trevor and the Wonder Girls then I can understand why those readers might be drawn to this sort of thing.  It all sounds very dramatic, but there’s no real drama in last issue’s showdowns between Diana and the Wonder Girls.  That whole bit made no sense.  It’s not just Diana’s problem, ALL Amazons have been targeted, it’s natural for the Wonder Girls to be involved.  Additionally, not everything on Themiscyra is decided by rite of combat.  That whole bit demonstrates how little King understands Diana’s relationships with the people she’s closest to.  This goes hand in hand with her awkward dialogue with Steve Trevor at the beginning of Wonder Woman #6.  King writes Diana like she’s new to Man’s World and English.  Let’s just forget that Amazons know a multitude of languages, but she’s been around for a while…she shouldn’t have stilted dialogue.  Plus, recapitulating her “No thank you,” response in this issue doesn’t work as King thinks it does.  It’s another example of style over substance, as if saying “no” is somehow emblematic of Diana’s persona.

The adventures in babysitting with the Super Sons backup in Wonder Woman #6 is no different than the other chapters.  Jon and Damian don’t seem to have matured and there’s no endearing quality to Lizzie because we know how she turns out from her first appearance in Wonder Woman #800.  As we learn why Lizzie is a brat, it doesn’t do much for creating anticipation for her appearances as an adult.  King killed any hope for Trinity to be likable in her first appearance and he’s not changing anything with these stories.

Verdict

The appeal of this series is to readers who are easily impressed by superficial ideas and manufactured drama and for those who aren’t really familiar with Wonder Woman and her supporting cast and world, readers who are just familiar with the idea of Wonder Woman.  I guess that describes King as well, since that’s what he’s given us.  For those fans of Wonder Woman who know what a Wonder Woman story is supposed to be like I recommend the previous run by Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad or the post-Crisis George Perez era.

The post Review: Wonder Woman #6 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Becky Cloonan & Michael W. Conrad and Tom King
Art: Joelle Jones, Alitha Martinez, Mark Morales, Nick Robles, Todd Nauck, Skylar Patridge, Cully Hamner, Jen Bartel and Daniel Sampere
Colors: Jordie Bellaire, Tamra Bonvillain, Jen Bartel and Tomeu Morey
Letters: Pat Brosseau and Clayton Cowles

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Wonder Woman #800 wraps up “Whatever Happened to the Warrior of Truth?” that concludes the Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad run on the character while also introducing the new team of Tom King and Daniel Sampere in a story called “Trinity” that introduces readers to Wonder Woman’s daughter.

Positives

Wonder Woman #800 opens with Diana in the jungles of Brazil with Yara Flor, and the art is simply incredible.  Joelle Jones who did the heavy lifting on Yara Flor in her solo series makes you lament the short life that series had.  The art is simply BREATHTAKING.  Daniel Sampere also does a nice job on “Trinity,” but Jones is the standout artist of this issue.  The design on Trinity aka Lizzie Marston Prince is good.  She has enough references that she feels like a legacy character.  Plus, her name is a tribute to William Moulton Marston’s (Wonder Woman’s creator) wife, Elizabeth. 

As Diana continues what she began in Wonder Woman #799, she traverses the hopes and dreams of her super-powered allies, Yara, Donna Troy, Cassie and of course, Bruce and Clark.  Again, we get personal insight into how these characters view Diana and vice versa.  Not surprisingly, they each have a slightly unique angle, but they all skew positive which makes sense.  Combined, it’s a fitting tribute to Wonder Woman in the vein of “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” as mentioned in the review for #799.  

Positives Cont’d

As Diana visits her friends, there are some interesting passages that stand out.  What is said between Donna and Diana almost sounds like an apology for Donna getting left by the wayside as her place in the Wonder Woman mythos has been supplanted twice.  Donna has never been able to get her due on her own like Dick Grayson, despite being just as deserving of it.  It’s a nice acknowledgement of what’s happened to her character over the since Crisis on Infinite Earths made her more and more difficult to explain.

Additionally, when Diana meets her mother on her journey, her mother speaks to her in a way that references her original origin as a clay figure molded by Hippolyta’s hands into which the gods breathed life.  We know Diana is still currently the daughter of Zeus, but it’s a nice touch by Cloonan and Conrad to reference this traditional origin.  Somehow, Hippolyta’s speech also works as a backhanded critique of the daughter of Zeus origin.  Hippolyta’s words of encouragement outline how the original origin makes Diana a more unique and special character.  This is a very clever bit of writing because it works as straightforward encouragement of Diana by Hippolyta, but it is also clearly an argument for restoring the clay figure origin.

Negatives

While some of the art sequences in “What Ever Happened to the Warrior of Truth?” appear to be a bit rushed, the bulk of the negatives for Wonder Woman #800 come from “Trinity.”  Tom King is a polarizing writer, at times even being divisive to a single reader in a single issue.  Often, he can execute a script with technical excellence, but fail to capture the spirit of a character.  Despite this he can sometimes capture Beauty as seen in Superman: Up In the Sky and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.  With “Trinity,” King leaves this reader with an overwhelming sense of dread.  Not excitement, not engagement, simply dread.

The idea of Wonder Woman having a daughter to pal around with Damian Wayne and Jon Kent sounds like a good idea on paper.  The trio doesn’t even look bad together.  However, you can only make a first impression once, and Lizzie doesn’t come off well, here.  There’s nothing wrong with a confident, strong and independent female character…look at Power Girl.  Unfortunately, there’s nothing charming or endearing about Lizzie.  She seems to be a classic “Mary Sue.”  But, it goes even further, she tells Jon and Damian how great she is spending the first half of the story belittling the erstwhile Super Sons.  King knows what he’s doing, he even has Damian make a comment under his breath that reveals what Damian thinks of Lizzie.

Negatives Cont’d

While it’s always great to have the Super Sons together, and I do want to see the babysitting story that’s teased, King writes these adult versions of Jon and Damian as if they were still 10 and 13 respectively.  Their banter shows no signs of maturity and they are far too deferential to Lizzie as they appear to be drinking her Kool Aid.  King manages to cobble together bits and pieces of a mystery, but with the little we get it feels like waiting for a car wreck.  Will readers not be able to turn away when Wonder Woman #1 (Legacy #801) hits the stands in September?

It’s hard to put my finger on it exactly, but when reading “Trinity,” I was reminded of what happened 200 issues ago in Wonder Woman #600.  DC attempted to do an in continuity reboot of the character with the “Odyssey” storyline complete with new costume.  With Lizzie, it looks like DC will finally get long pants on Wonder Woman.  “Odyssey” retooled everything we knew about the Amazons and Diana.  While King’s upcoming run doesn’t appear to be of that order, it feels jarring already.  It has a very different spirit than what I associate with Wonder Woman.  I suppose the good news is that the “Odyssey” iteration didn’t last very long as it was replaced by another reboot, The New 52 just fifteen months later.

Verdict

Wonder Woman #800 is a story of well…two stories.  “Whatever Happened to the Warrior of Truth?” Part Two is a loving look at Diana and her relationships with her super-powered friends.  It will make you smile and remind you why Wonder Woman is important and special.  As it wraps up and Hippolyta gives Diana her “pep” talk, the language brings the reader full circle with the character as we are meant to see Diana as that figure of clay brought to life by Hippolyta’s love and the will of the gods, reaffirming the themes of love and compassion.  Instead of whetting the appetite, “Trinity” leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.  I don’t really want to know what happened to get these characters to this point, especially when it would be more entertaining for Damian to shiv her when Jon’s not looking.

The post Review: Wonder Woman #800 appeared first on DC Comics News.

Announced at Megacon 2023, “The Dawn of DC” era will include a new Batman and Robin ongoing title this fall, and it turns out that Bruce Wayne’s willful son, Damian, won’t have to ride shotgun anymore with his dad. A “Robin Mobile” will debut in the pages of this new book, spinning out of the current Lazarus Planet story and Batman Vs. Robin. The Robin Mobile will be designed by series artist Simone Di Meo. DeMeo’s regular collaborator on the book will be writer Joshua Williamson.

Robin Revs Up Robin Mobile After One Long Bat-Year!

As fans of the 90s will remember, the third Robin, Tim Drake, was the first to have his own vehicle. Dubbed “The Redbird,” it debuted in the first issue of his ongoing series back in 1993. For the 1996 Batman And Robin feature film, however, The Redbird was assigned as the name of Dick Grayson’s motorcycle. And we will leave that comparison there.

The Bat-family have seen their share of difficult times these past several months, as chronicled in Batman Vs. Robin. Batman had been forced to go up against his young charges, who had been put under the sway of The Devil Nezha. Further, a resurrected Alfred Pennyworth that had appeared from the start of this adventure turned out to be merely an agent of Nezha, created from Pennyworth’s soul. The climax and conclusion of this story saw the explosion of Lazarus Island’s volcano and kicked off Mark Waid‘s Lazarus Planet before the family could catch their breath. Drawn by Riccardo Federici, the volcano’s Lazarus Resin rained down upon the world and either endowed, nullified, or transferred the abilities of metahumans and magic users. Possessed by The Devil Nezha, Batman became a bat-like creature, while Damian found himself in possession of Superman’s heat vision for example. After dying from injuries Nezha inflicted upon him, Batman was resurrected by Damian and a handful of mystics, Zatanna chief among them. Gothamites offered a part of their soul to bring him back, declaring in a unified chant “We are Batman!” After a year of being blacklisted after Joker War, this was the recharge that Bruce Wayne needed along with his son back by his side.

Batman And Robin is set to hit the stands in September 2023

Official Source – Robin Gets His Own Batmobile in New Batman and Robin Series (cbr.com)

The post Robin Revs Up In Upcoming “Batman and Robin” Title! appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artists: Daniel Sampere, Daniel Henriques, Danny Miki

Colours: Alejandro Sanchez

Letters: Tom Napolitano

Reviewed By: Derek McNeil

Summary

Dark Crisis #3: The battle of the Emerald Army has begun! Hal Jordan has launched all-out war on Pariah and the Dark Army to avenge his fallen Justice League teammates—but how can one man stand in the way of the Great Darkness? Meanwhile back on Earth, Titans Tower has burned and Deathstroke’s army has continued its scorched-earth march across the planet. To stop Slade Wilson, the young heroes of the DCU might have no other choice than to turn to the brutal tactics of Black Adam…

Positives

Dark Crisis #3 begins by showing us the aftermath of Deathstroke’s assault on Titans Tower. His Secret Society of Supervillains continues to hunt down heroes, causing some to run, some to lay low, and some to retire altogether. But we are also told that some still have hope as we are shown the new character Red Canary donning a mask, presumably marking the start of her career.

This appearance only shows part of her face, but the variant cover does show this mysterious new character n full costume. But nothing more is revealed about her this issue. This is a tantalizing mystery, and I can’t help but wonder how big a role she will play in the remainder of this miniseries. If not here, I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty of her elsewhere in the DC lineup very soon.

We also see the Titans and other heroes reacting to Gar Logan’s severe injuries at the hands of Deathstroke. This seems to be hitting Nightwing especially hard, with him feeling responsible for Gar’s situation. There were some nice little nods to previous history in this section. It was nice to see Jason Todd giving support to his friend and former teammate from Red Hood and the Outlaws, Roy Harper. And Jason makes sure to pledge to help Roy locate his daughter Lian, who was recently revealed to be alive.

I also appreciated seeing that Gar received flowers from the Doom Patrol. Newer fans who only know the Doom Patrol from the TV show might not realize that Beast Boy first appeared as a member of that group in their original title. Williamson is making legacy a central theme in this series and these nods to past history demonstrate that Williamson is respecting that history in this story.

Positives Cont.

Jon Kent’s new Justice League isn’t doing so well either. Black Adam gives up on leading the team when they push back against Adam wanting to kill the villain Count Vertigo. I think the best part of this section is seeing Jon finally stand up to Black Adam. Jon has been somewhat unsure of stepping into his father’s shoes, which led him to letting Black Adam step in and take over.

But when Adam wants to cross this line that’s sacred to both Superman and Batman, Jon is having none of it. Adam sneeringly states, “I did not ask your permission, boy”. And Jon gets right in his face, his eyes literally blazing, and simply says “Stop”. And Adam is actually taken aback by this, even if only momentarily. This leads to Adam quitting the team and going off to find another team more aligned with his way of thinking. The issue’s ending sees Adam’s encounter with that team.

Wonder Girl Yara Flor shows up to join the League, having changed her mind after refusing Jon’s earlier invitation. I wonder if the new Batman, Jace Fox will have a similar change of heart. But there may not be a team left for Yara to join, as Robin quits, and several other members don’t outright quit, but head off to take care of other business.

But even if there is no Justice League, we do see the return of their predecessors, the Justice Society. The makeup of the Society as shown here doesn’t have any surprises. Any new faces will presumably show up when Geoff Johns’ Justice Society series debuts later this year. One notable absence is Jay Garrick, but he is busy with the rest of the Flash-Family searching for Barry Allen in the pages of The Flash.

We also see that Deathstroke is now fully under control of the Great Darkness. But the Darkness has only been controlling the Secret Society indirectly through Deathstroke up to now. But now the Darkness takes that direct control. Presumably this will amp up their power levels considerably. This is a grave concern, considering how they already currently have he upper hand over the world’s heroes.

Positives Cont.

Also, I have to wonder about the lasting impact  on the characters possessed by the Great Darkness. This could leave them deadlier threats than ever once the even concludes. Also, it could leave them severely traumatized. Would that make them even more evil, or perhaps leave some feeling remorseful, and looking for a shot at redemption. I think Williamson is a bit too good of a writer to just have everyone return to their previous status quo across the board.

And given the issue’s ending, have we reached the end of Black Adam’s redemption arc. It certainly appears that he’s returning to his old villainous ways. Or is this a momentary bit of backsliding before he reaffirms his intention to redeem himself. I suspect the latter. I don’t think DC will allow his re-establishmnt as a villain with the Black Adam movie imminent.

We also see Hal Jordan leading a contingent of Green Lanterns  in a direct confrontation with Pariah. There is a bit of dialogue that is particularly telling. Pariah states, “Soon a new Crisis will pull me and my Dark Army to your world, where I can use the rest of the heroes there to restore what was lost. The Great Darkness would rather all this go away. A return to nothing. But I keep it’s power under my control”.

But Hal asks in response, “You sure it’s not controlling you, hotshot?”. There’s the question. It’s looking like the Great Darkness calls the shots rather than Pariah. However, I suspect that Pariah will manage to achieve his goals to some degree by the end of the story. After all, it’s a pretty safe bet that the Great Darkness will fail to achieve complete and total nothingness.

Negatives

I have no complaints beyond having to wait an entire month to see what’s coming next. But at least there are the tie-in specials and Flashpoint Beyond to tide me over until then.

Verdict

Williamson is doing a phenomenal job of building an epic story despite the absence of several of DC’s most prominent characters. Taking the Justice League off the board is proving to be genius decision that allows for Williamson to focus on DCU’s entire legacy of fantastic characters. And the artwork by Daniel Sampere, Daniel Henriques, and Danny Miki truly adds to the epic feel of this series.

The post Review: Dark Crisis #3 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Daniel Sampere

Colours: Alejandro Sanchez

Letters: Tom Napolitano

Reviewed By: Derek McNeil

Summary

Dark Crisis #1: Crisis on Infinite Earths. Infinite Crisis. Final Crisis. And now…Dark Crisis! The epic event years in the making is finally here! Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the rest of the Justice League are dead. The remaining heroes are left to protect the world from an onslaught of violent attacks by DC’s greatest villains! Can the legacy heroes step out of the shadows of the classic heroes to form a new Justice League? And will that be enough to stop a darkness greater than anything they’ve ever faced from destroying everything? Don’t miss out on the first issue of the blockbuster event of the summer!

Positives

With Dark Crisis #1, Joshua Williamson’s major summer event has now officially begun. However, DC has actually been building up to Dark Crisis for months now. Infinite Crisis, Justice League Incarnate, and Justice League #75 have been paving the way for this story.

From the first page, we get introduced to one of this series’ central themes: legagcy. We see a re-enactment of Dick Grayson swearing the oath that began his career as Robin, making him the first sidekick in comics and the first of DC’s second generation of characters. This is immediately followed by a two-page spread that summarizes the legacy from Batman and Robin up to the newest generation heroes.

And while this may seem like a celebration of DC history to fans, this is actually a rather sombre occasion, as Dick’s narration is revealed to be a eulogy for the Justice League who are presumed dead following the events of Justice League #75. However, Dick’s words exhort the gathered heroes to fight on and continue the League’s legacy.

And the question of how to follow the League’s legacy is an important question that falls upon the shoulder’s of Jon Kent. And he does so by assembling his own League. His first impulse is to form a new Trinity at the core by enlisting a new Batman and Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, neither Jace Fox nor Yara Flor are inclined to take him up on his offer. Thus, we see Jon talking to a succession of candidates. some of which turn him down, while others accept.

Positives Cont.

The team Jon puts together are a rather ragtag selection of heroes. Some make perfect sense, while others seem to be rather odd choices, as Jon was getting desperate to fill the roster. I suspect that this team will not serve as the permanent roster, but that some of them will stick around. I like that the reformed Killer Frost has joined the team, and Frankenstein makes a very intriguing addition. However, there seem to be some redundant selections. Black Adam raises the question “Do you really need two Blue Beetles?”. But he could also have asked if they needed a Superman and a Supergirl.

I think we will see some shakeups in the team’s roster as this series progresses. It’s unclear whether or not the original League will reform when Dark Crisis is over, but I suspect some of these characters will remain on whatever incarnation of the League arises out of this event.

I find the role of Hal Jordan in this story rather interesting. As the only original member of the Justice League remaining, Hal now represents his generation of heroes. He has been thrust into the position of the elder statesman, whom even Dick Grayson defers to. This seems a bit at odds with Hal’s personality, but I believe he can rise to the occasion and provide an example for the younger heroes to emulate.

And Hal gets right to work and doles out the assignments. He directs Wally to search for Barry, while he sets off to “find the perp” responsible for the League’s disappearance. This leaves Jon to deal with the rise in supervillain activity around the world.

Positives Cont.

Speaking of which, the issue ends with Deathstroke and his Secret Society of Super Villains launching an all-out attack on Titans Tower. Deathstroke states his intention to “Kill legacy once and for all”. Deathstroke has settled firmly into the role of a villain and has declared himself the enemy of the Titans and the very idea they represent. This gives the upcoming conflict an interesting edge. It’s not just a typical fight between heroes and villains, but a war of ideologies.

We also see what looks to be the first casualty in that war, as Deathstroke appears to execute Beaxt Boy with a bullet to the head. However, I suspect this isn’t the end of Gar. Readers of Teen Titans Academy will remember that he and Cyborg currently share a merged body. They appear to be separate, but this is an illusion generated by Raven. And Cyborg is is elsewhere when this happens. I suspect Deathstroke merely killed an illusory duplicate controlled by Gar’s mind.

Daniel Sampere’s visuals for this issue are astounding. Many of DC’s greatest characters are represented here, and they all look absolutely iconic. I loved every image: young Dick Grayson swearing his oath before Batman, the throng of heroes gathered to mourn the Justice League, and Deathstroke’s attack on Titans Tower. Sampere’s art really sells the idea that this story as a major event.

Negatives

Some of Jon’s selections for the new League seem rather odd. For example, Harley Quinn seems an outright bizarre choice. However, I understand that Jon was likely getting desperate to find enough heroes. And, as I said above, I suspect this lineup will change as the story progresses.

And actually, I think that Harley’s presence could prove interesting. She has been going through a redemption arc in her own title. Also, Harley is actually very intelligent and an expert in criminal psychology. She could be a disruptive influence, or she might actually turn out to be a valuable addition to the team – or quite possibly both. While her being on the team may or may not be a good idea, it will almost certainly prove entertaining.

Verdict

Dark Crisis #1 serves as a fantastic opening chapter for Williamson’s story. It has me hooked and I am eager to see what twists and turns this story will take over the next few months. Strap in, folks, as it looks like we’re in for a hell of a ride.

The post Review: Dark Crisis #1 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artists: Howard Porter, Trevor Hairsine

Colors: Tomeu Morey, Rain Beredo

Letters: Clayton Cowles, Willie Schubert

Reviewed By: Derek McNeil

Summary

Batman #122: Ra’s al Ghul is dead, and Talia is out for revenge! Batman is on the case to find Deathstroke before Talia’s elite killers do! But Batman starts to piece together that not everything is what it seems in Ra’s’s death…and knows whom he must interrogate to get answers…Talia herself! Can the two former lovers ever work together again? Plus, a backup tale showing the secret first fight between Batman and Deathstroke!

Positives

Joshua Williamson’s Shadow War crossover event continues from Shadow War: Alpha #1. In that opening chapter Deathstroke has been framed for the assassination of Ra’s Al Ghul. His death leaves Talia in control of the League of Assassins. And Talia declares war on Deathstroke Inc., intending to kill Deathstroke in revenge for her father’s death.

This story is particularly notable for bringing Batman and Robin back together as a team. Damian ended their partnership recently, and had left Batman and Detective Comics for his own title Robin. But this current story has brought Bruce and Damian together to deal with this mystery. But will their partnership be re-established in this story? Or will it drive them further apart?

And Ra’s death is an enticing mystery. There’s many ways this story might end. It’s possible that some as yet unknown person masterminded this plan, and posed as Deathstroke. However, it seems quite possible to me that Deathstroke might actually have somehow orchestrated the villain’s death. However, it’s also believable that Talia might have killed her own father to take control of his organization and to move in on Deathstroke Inc. And there’s also the possibility that Ra’s masterminded his own apparent death, and that he’s not really dead.

Such a mystery will undoubtedly require Bruce to exercise his skills as a detective. And it will also give us opportunity to see how much Damian has learned those skills from him. And with them caught between the League of Assassins and Deathstroke Inc. their fighting prowess will be sorely tested as well.

Positives Cont.

There is an interesting encounter between Bruce and Talia in Batman #122. The encounter starts off confrontational with each taking an accusatory tone. However, it segues into a tender moment and they end up in a kiss. They clearly still have unresolved feelings for each other. Will this story lead to a resumption of their former romance? And if so, what about Bruce’s relationship with Catwoman?

Ultimately, I could see Bruce ending up with Selina, but I can’t see his relationship with Talia going anywhere. Bruce clearly is attracted to bad girls. I think Bruce might be able to build a relationship with a thief like Selina. But Talia is an assassin. And killing goes against Bruce’s most basic beliefs.

At his core, Bruce has an unshakable belief that killing is never acceptable. For Bruce to commit to Talia would be a betrayal to himself and all he believes in. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel desire for her. This conflict between Bruce’s core beliefs and his desire is rife with possibilities, and it would be interesting to see if Chip Zdarsky picks up on this thread when he takes over the title.

There is also a backup story in this issue which reveals the previously untold story of Batman and Deathstroke’s first encounter. In this story, Deathstroke comes to Gotham to carry out a contract on the original Robin, Dick Grayson.

Positives Cont.

I find this quite interesting, as originally, Deathstroke was a Teen Titans villain. Dick encountered Deathstroke multiple times before Bruce first faced him. But this story turns that dynamic around, with Batman being the first to face the assassin. However, this change is not done in a way that negates the Teen Titans stories. It’s still quite possible for Dick to have those same run-ins with Deathstroke at some point after this story.

The story also gets at a perennial criticism levelled at Batman. First Commissioner Gordon asks of Batman, “You wear black and hide in the shadows. But your partner wears bright colours… Doesn’t that make him an easy target?”. And Deathstroke downright accuses Batman of using Robin as bait. This gets under Bruce’s skin. Perhaps Bruce fears that on some level that is exactly what he is doing. I wonder if this story will have Bruce coming up with a justification for Dick seeming to be an easy target.

Negatives

I have no complaints about either story. Williamson’s writing is on point, and the artwork of Howard Porter and Trevor Hairsine is gorgeous in each of their respective stories.

However, the fact that this is a crossover between multiple titles might cause annoyance for some readers. To understand the full story, one has to buy regular titles Batman, Robin, and Deathstroke, as well as 3 Shadow War one-shots (Shadow War: Alpha, Shadow War Omega, and Shadow War Zone). So, they might have to buy more titles that they usually would.

However, it is a fairly small crossover event. It’s not like you have to buy the entire Bat-Family of books or the entire DCU lineup of titles. And with Joshua Williamson as the current writer on all three regular titles, this event is a lot more cohesive than most crossovers.

Verdict

Shadow War is shaping up to be an engaging mystery. I am really looking forward to seeing where Williamson’s story is leading. And also seeing what the status of the Batman and Robin partnership will be as Chip Zdarsky begins his run on Batman.

The post Review: Batman #122 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi

Artists: Viktor Bogdanovic, Daniel Henriques, Scott Hanna, Matt Santorelli

Colors: Ivan Plascencia

Letters: Tom Napolitano

Reviewed By: Derek McNeil

Summary

Superman & Robin Special #1: As the Super Sons, Jon Kent and Damian Wayne put evil to bed…past its bedtime. But a new day has dawned, and Jon Kent is now the Superman of Metropolis—all grown up and fighting for truth, justice, and the kinds of grown-up things that Superboy was only beginning to understand as a child. Now a ghost from Jon’s past has reared its head, and to battle this evil, he’ll need to reunite with Robin for one last mission into the heart of darkness. This time they’ll be battling not as Super Sons, but as Superman and Robin! This thrilling adventure is written by acclaimed Super Sons scribe Peter J. Tomasi!

Positives

Peter J. Tomasi ushered Superman into the Rebirth era in his eponymous title (along with Dan Jurgens in Action Comics). It was primarily in the pages of Superman that Jon Kent was established as Superboy. And it was there that Jon first met Damian Wayne and began their friendship. Tomasi further carried on their partnership through 3 Super Sons series. Now Tomasi returns to the Super Sons, but this time, but this is the first time Tomasi’s written them since the major changes in their status quos.

Tomasi touches on the changes to Jon’s life early in the story in an exchange between Jon and his mother Lois. Jon is shown enjoying watching one of his favourite childhood cartoons, and reminiscing about his lost childhood. He tells his mother, “Sometimes I like to zone out on stuff I enjoyed whan things were…simpler…back when I was a kid…which really wasn’t that long ago”.

Tomasi thus gives a gentle rebuke to DC for the incredibly bad decision to allow Bendis to instantly age Jon up from a ten-year-old to near adulthood overnight. Tomasi was pushed off Superman and Jon’s instant aging made the continuation of the Super Sons titles problematic. So, Tomasi would be justified in being a bit salty. But he chooses a more subtle way of expressing his displeasure. Merely reminding readers of how unfairly the characters have been treated, and the great stories that might have arisen from letting Jon age organically over a number of years.

However, this special allows Tomasi to discover if he can recapture any of the old Super Sons dynamic given the changes both characters have undergone. And while it isn’t quite the same, a lot of that same magic is still there. Despite the fact that Damian is now the younger partner, this doesn’t change his interactions with Jon in the slightest.

Positives Cont.

Jon, on the other hand is a bit more sure of himself, but his interactions with Damian help him recapture much of his younger self. It is clear that their respective changes have not diminished their friendship in the slightest.

I also like that there are some call backs to both Tomasi’s Superman and Super Sons series. The time device that took Clark and Jon to Dinosaur Island and later gained sentience in  The Adventures of the Super Sons is central to the plot of the story.

And I love that the humour in the Super Sons stories is still in abundance. The sequence with Damian peering into the bottle city of Kandor and saying, “I must really be scaring the hell out of them right now… Damian the sun god rises!” was hilarious. As is Damian’s delight upon learning that the time device has brought Nazis into the Fortress of Solitude. At this point, he happily declares, “Nazis. Kicking their asses is going to be fun”.

And the story ends on a happy note, with Damian stating that he misses his friend. To this, Jon declares, “I miss you too, buddy. but remember I’m just a call away and we’ll still always be…the Super Sons. This happily leaves the door open for further adventures together. I’d love to see Tomasi continue writing the pair – preferably set before Jon’s rapid age change. But continuing in the present would be great too.

Unfortunately, Marvel has Patrick Gleason under an exclusive contract, as it would have been great to Tomasi and Gleason reunited for this. However, Viktor Bogdanovic, Daniel Henriques, Scott Hanna, and Matt Santorelli have done a great job with this story. Jon and Damian look exactly as they do in their own titles. And the action sequences are impressively illustrated.

Negatives

As great as this story was, I’d still rather see the classic version of the Super Sons. However, that’s not Tomasi’s fault. The blame for that lies with DC and Bendis, so I won’t count that against this title.

Verdict

Superman & Robin Special #1 was a great chance to see one of my favourite writers revisit an all-time classic title. But it also serves as a sad reminder of what could have been if Tomasi had continued on Superman and the Super Sons. I hope that this is not Tomasi’s farewell to Jon and Damian, and that we will see more Super Sons from him in the future.

The post Review: Superman & Robin Special #1 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Tom Taylor

Artist: John Timms

Colours: Hi-Fi

Letters: Dave Sharpe

Reviewed By: Derek McNeil

Summary

Superman: Son of Kal-El #6: Superman has recovered from the devastating attack against him. After the life-changing events of issue #5, Jon Kent and his new ally Jay Nakamura are ready to strike back. They are on a collision course with the type of power that is used to swatting problems out of the way. But Superman is not so easily swatted!

Positives

In Superman: Son of Kal-El #6, Henry Bendix continues to be a malignant influence in Jon’s life. We don’t know the full details about “The Rising” yet, but we see Bendix’s operatives kidnapping homeless teens in Bludhaven for his metahuman experiments.

There are also a couple of notable guest-stars. Batman puts in another appearance, following up with Lois about Bendix’s  attack on the Kent farm. While the Dark Knight insists on hiding the Kents somewhere safe, Lois refuses to do so herself. Unsurprisingly, Lois prefers to do her investigation into the matter.

And Batman’s son also appears, also doing his own investigation. It’s interesting that both Bruce and Damian make an appearance in the same issue, without actually crossing paths in the story. It makes me wonder if Jon is going to be instrumental in reuniting the estranged father and son soon.

Jon and his boyfriend Jay also carry out their investigation. I liked seeing how Lois, Jon, and Jay’s investigations all converge at the same point, bring all three together at S.T.A.R. Labs. And of course, Lois and Jay are a bit chagrined to find that Damian has already found the information they were all seeking.

I like that we see that Jon and Damian’s friendship hasn’t diminished any despite the reversal in their respective ages. Damian even figures out Jon and Jay’s budding relationship without being told about it – or even that Jon is bi. He says to Jon, “You know I’m on my way to being the greatest detective in the world. And I’m also your best friend and quite perceptive?… And I’m really happy for you man”.

Positives Cont.

And Damian’s happiness for Jon is evident in an uncharacteristic smile, prompting Jon to tell him, “Can you stop grinning? It’s a little disconcerting coming from you”. And I had a chuckle when moments later, Lois repeats almost the exact same words to Damian.

We also learn some interesting information about Jay. Jay tells Jon that his mother was Sara Nakamura was the president of Gamorra before Bendix’s takeover. He also reveals that he received his intangibility powers from Bendix’s metahuman experiments. And another shocking revelation comes when Jon discovers that Jay’s mother is still alive, despite her apparent death.

I was quite amused to see the threat Jon used to get that information from the Gamorran ambassador to the US. He tells him, “The Kent farm was under Justice League protection. I hear Batman is pissed. You’ve made barely contained anger in a Batsuit even angrier. He’s going to question you He’s going to get the answers he’s after. But I have a question first.

I am really enjoying John Timms’ artwork on this series. I loved his depiction of Jon and Jay’s picnic atop the Daily Planet globe. His illustration of this important piece of the Superman mythos was breathtaking. And his depictions of the issue’s characters is spot-on perfect – especially Jon. There are visible similarities between Jon and his father, but Jon is depicted as more than a younger image of Clark. He’s clearly his father’s son, but he’s also his own individual. And this reflects how Taylor is showing the same about Jon’s character. Jon has learned much from his father’s example, but he’s charting his own path as Superman.

Negatives

While Henry Bendix makes for an interesting villain, I hope that either the Bendix storyline is wrapped up soon. Or if Taylor intends on carrying on this arc for an extended period, I hope that Jon has some unrelated side adventures along the way. I would really like to see Jon pitted against other foes, whether they be established DC villains, or new characters. But I’m sure that Taylor will add some variety to Jon’s enemies as the title continues to keep things from getting stale.

Verdict

Superman: Son of Kal-El #6 is another stellar issue from Tom Taylor and and John Timms. While I’m still unconvinced that aging Jon to adulthood was a good move, Taylor is producing some great storytelling based on it. While that decision is still somewhat a bitter pill, Taylor’s series is making it somewhat easier to swallow.

The post Review: Superman: Son Of Kal-El #6 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Elliot Kalan, Kenny Porter, Calvin Kasulke, Dave Wielgosz, Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, Ed Brisson, Terry Blas, Jeremy Haun

Artists: Mike Norton, Max Dunbar, Rob Guillory, Pablo M. Collar, Jesus Hervas, Christopher Mittens, Garry Brown, Tony Akins, Moritat, Dan Hipp

Colours: Allen Passalaqua, Luis Guerrero, Wil Quintana, Eva De La Cruz, Tony Avina, Marissa Louise, Moritat

Letters: Simon Bowland, Becca Carey, Dave Sharpe, Clem Robins, ALW’s Troy Peteri

Reviewed By: Derek McNeil

Summary

Are You Afraid of Darkseid? #1: Gather ’round the fire, fellow campers, because it’s time for that most terrifying of traditions—campfire stories so scary you’ll never sleep without a night-light again! The Teen Titans guide those brave enough through tales of Batman and the hidden killer, Superman and Lois Lane and the killer in their back seat, Harley Quinn and Darkseid versus a furious Bloody Mary, and four more stories so hair-raising you’ll call your momma to come pick you up. So toast your marshmallows, pull up a s’more, and answer the only question that matters this Halloween: Are you afraid of Darkseid?

Positives

Are You Afraid of Darkseid? is DC’s Hallowe’en special for 2021. The tales are presented as a succession of ghost stories told by the Teen Titans. The Titans each take turns trying to scare the others with a scary tale.

Due to this being an anthology title, the stories are of varying quality. There are a couple of real gems, but no clunkers. Even the least inspired are entertaining, and the collection overall is a fun read. I don’t recognize a lot of the names of the creators on this book, so I suspect that DC is also using this special to try out new talent, much like their New Talent Showcase titles.

The title itself is a nod to the kids’ TV series Are You Afraid of the Dark? – so it’s appropriate that the terror level is rather kid-friendly. Each story has some element of horror, but nothing here’s should give an adult any nightmares. That’s not to say that an adult won’t enjoy the stories however.

My favourite of the stories has to be the Phantom Stranger story. The Stranger has always been one of my favourite characters. This story is reminiscent of how the Stranger was once used as the being who would lead the dead to their final reward. But in this story, the Stranger removes specific threats from the world.

Positives Cont.

As the narration tells us, “For most of us we are lucky to find death. Death is the reward for a life lived. But there are a some who earn a different reward. An extended hand. Five words. And oblivion”. One notable soul removed is Joe Chill, who the Stranger removes after he kills Thomas and Martha Wayne, but before he can also kill their son.

But we do see the Stranger saving the last dodo before the species extinction, which seems to indicate that some of the souls he takes up the “Endless Staircase” are preserved rather than obliterated.

Are You Afraid of Darkseid? also includes a story with the titular character himself in a truly bizarre team-up. Darkseid and Harley Quinn join forces to put an end to the rampage of the vampiric being, Bloody Mary. Well, they don’t join forces so much as Darkseid allows Harley “the pleasure of serving my goals”. In either case, Harley aids the dark god in corralling his wayward servant in a wonderfully strange tale.

Negatives

It appears DC has been sitting on these stories for a while, as some of them are slightly out of date. The roster of Teen Titans is one notable example. While this team is mostly intact as part of the Titans in Teen Titans academy, both Robin and Crush have departed the team. This isn’t major issue, however. It just means that the framing sequence story must have happened in the recent past.

And the stories the Titans would presumably be even further in the past – if they happened at all. For some of them, here’s no way the characters could know about the events they are describing – at least not in the detail they describe them. So, it makes sense that they might be exaggerating them or making them out of whole cloth. So, we don’t have worry about how they fit into DC continuity.

Negatives Cont.

One thing that bothers me a bit is how DC has forgotten a fundamental rule of  Phantom Stranger stories. He might be referred to as the Phantom Stranger in the book or story’s  title, but originally, he was only referred to as “the Stranger” in the story – just like the Doctor is never directly called “Doctor Who”. But in recent years, writers have him being directly referred to as “the Phantom Stranger” by other characters. It just sounds wrong.

Verdict

Are You Afraid Of Darkseid? is a fun Hallowe’en collection of stories that is well worth checking out. And it is not too scary to share with any kids in your household. And DC, isn’t it about time for a new Phantom Stranger ongoing series?

The post Review: Are You Afraid Of Darkseid? #1 appeared first on DC Comics News.