comic

"I'm the worst character in this book!" "No, I am!"

The situation's dire as Tim's plan backfires, but you have to admire of all Batman's squires, he's inspired to inquire about the man covered in wires while in flashbacks Batman's a liar. All this and less in the fairly dry fifteenth installment of DC's weekly Batman escapade. Less compelling, less exciting, less informative than the previous issue! It's almost as if the Tim/Jason/Jean-Paul subplot is... pretty boring overall. But hey, that flashback is neat.

"It was Scott Lobdell. Much worse. Got me, too."

Well, they'd both qualify for Yellow Lantern rings...

Scarecrow's new gas, a lass holds a lass, Cass kicks robot ass, and one giant blast are all featured in this fourteenth installment of DC's weekly Batman annal. In this issue, it's a race to avoid being blown up in Mother's nursery or killed by her robot minions. It doesn't help that David Cain, ever loyal even in the face of death, is trying to slow Dick and the others down when they want to escape. But we also get more of that pursuit of Scarecrow by the Dynamic Duo, and discover that Batman enlisted his hooded rogue in his fight with Mother.

"Oh crap, is this an AIM base? Did we crash into Marvel?"

The problem is that Cass had to start stealing from the Red Cross to keep up with the mask blood.

A loving embrace, a father disgrace, and a blood mask on a face in this thirteenth issue of DC's weekly Batman bildungsroman. As usual, much of it is in a flashback, which is where we get the best material in this, but what we have in the present is good stuff, too, with Cassandra confronting her killer father. We see that whatever happened between Batman and Mother in the past, Cass' memory shows his compassion. But somebody without such mercy is David Cain, who's been cleaning house... er, messily.

Ooooh aah, mother, should I build the wall?

A dark revelation shakes the foundation of Grayson and he must chasten as the plot hastens without Tim or Jason. It's the twelfth issue of DC's weekly Batman chronicle, and my much delayed review covers an issue where we see the Sculptor's origin story and Batman make a decision that shocks Dick to his core. Could it be that Batman really agreed to Mother's idea, and what's more, to carry it out himself? Well, probably not, but it will look like it for a while, I think.

I have to admit, this is the best comic cover I've seen in a while. It's the perfect pyschedelic for this issue.

No time to unwind, there's a trip into the mind, and once you're there you'll find, Harp and Cass are entwined, but for now, nevermind, the past is so unkind, and before the truth's defined, Bluebird's trip is resigned and Dick's next, as he's inclined. Scrambled brains and dozens slain in the eleventh entry in DC's current weekly Batman chronicle. The new continuity's Cassandra origin is told (and it seems mostly the same, but taken up a few levels in horror), we get some not-so-subtle clues that she ties into Harper's backstory, and Dick is desperate to know what Batman did all those years ago (as am I). So let's take this mind trip, because it's a huge step up from that last stinking issue.

Oh shit, now Bane's punching the wall of reality! Somebody alert Donna Troy!

Axe me no more questions, tell me no more dies!

Someone's in the kitchen with Grayson, someone's in the kitchen I know-ow-ow, someone's in the kitchen with Grayson, landing a lot of blows! Who isn't in there, though? It's a regular kitchen nightmare in the fourth episode of DC's weekly Grayson extension, I mean Batman tale. Bruce is still addled, the Robin group battles, and an angry Steph taddles! It looks like Tim Drake has a secret allegience, Dick doesn't mind walking around in public with the Hypnos implant, Harper prefers Cass's company to Spoiler's (who wouldn't?), and Duke Thomas is now a somewhat relevant character! So activate your sleeper agent, it's time for me to snark about this issue.

Not pictured: The actual current Robin

It's time to review Eternal 2, where Cassie debuts, does some badass kung-fu, and when things come unglued, shocking things ensue! It's DC's new weekly Batman saga, hot on the heels of Jim Gordon becoming Batman and Dick Grayson's spy career's growing complications. With Bruce Wayne out of action, Gotham's streets are defended by a group of costumed teens and young adults that the new Caped Crusader has no patience for, and the first Robin uncovers a startling secret his mentor had kept for him for years.

He took the time to put lipstick on the T-Rex. That is commitment.

- The Bat Family & rogues gallery vs Joker was great. Loved the chaos of it all.

- Joker quips, makes dark jokes, etc. People are always bitching about Joker being too dark, never being funny anymore, and I guess it all depends on how "funny" you want the clown to be, or in what way, but I think we see that Mistah J isn't just some horror beast

Batman is just doing what you want, Joker. He gave you the Dick.

I really like how they captured the skepticism and mixed reactions the world would have should somebody like Superman turn up in the world. And of course the nod to The Dark Knight Returns. But please refrain from the shallow "IT'S TOO GRIMDARK" blanket criticism. You know the two heroes are going to end up friends, they just don't want to give away what that looks like in the FIRST TRAILER, FFS.