Snake, Bats, and Spiders Oh My!
This is my first review post for the Wonderful Waiting for Wednesday (eat your alliterative heart out Stan Lee). I got a pretty good line up of titles last week so if you did not make it to your local shop its time to get it in gear. If you did not figure out the title this week I have three Batman titles up along with the Amazing Spider-Man and. YES THERE WILL BE SPOILERS!
Amazing Spider-Man 530
~ Ok I will admit it, Straczynski aggravated me with the "Gwen Stacy has pity sex with Norman" thing, but he has really started to turn it around. Despite the less than spectacular "Other" arc Spidey's new powers are ok. I hated that Straczynski got rid of the Parker house too but I have a grown on the idea. Anyways enough of the recap, lets get into the review.
~ Spidey starts off meeting Tony as they prepare for a trip to Washington to discuss the new Superhuman Registration Act as well as version 2.0 of Spidey's new suit. There is a nice little joke about Tony having 49 variations of the Iron Man armor. On the plain ride there is a plug for the illuminati story so buy it or else Marvel will slaughter a kitten.
~ Once the plain lands Spidey gets to check out the additional upgrades for the new costume. I really like the upgrades and Straczynski does a nice job setting up the return of the classic webs. Spidey can now change what the costume looks like so he can go with any variation of his costume ever (bagman anyone?). Hopefully Straczynski will keep up on this and use the glider capabilities as well as the body armor and new "Waldoes" (the tentacles).
~Peter and Tony head over to the Senate to discuss the S.R.A. but 'GASP the Titanium Man is watching them. Now for one of my favorite scenes in the issue, the Senates actual discussion. I am a whore for Tony Stark to begin with so I was already loving him being in Spidey's life. After he told the Senate they were getting off cheap by heroes causing only two hundred billion dollars of damage over 60 years I loved him even more. I don't know if the numbers are true but Tony basically beat them over the head with facts of other departments budgets and came down to nullifying their point. Peter then jumps in at a point and gives a nice speech about heroes and villains but ends up proving the need for the S.R.A. which makes him feel like an idiot.
~Tony then gives some nice insight into the world of politics and, I really liked the dialogue throughout this whole issue. Here is an example of the awesomeness of Tony:
“Mr. Parker, do you know what time it is?”
“It’s 10:35.”
“Wrong Answer.”
“But it’s the truth.”
“Yes but it is still the wrong answer to “Do you know what time it is?”
“The correct answer is “yes” and you leave it there. If they want more information then let them ask for it. Never volunteer anything”
~After this the meeting ends and Tony and Peter leave, but wait the Titanium Man attacks! O NOES! Peter changes into version 2.0 and starts fighting. There is some typical witty Spidey banter and then the issue ends as most issues do, with a cliffhanger. Spidey webs onto the Titanium man as he tries to fly away.
Overall Issue: 9/10 – I really enjoyed this issue the whole way through; while I am not an immense fan of the Titanium Man I do love Tony Stark. I am interested to see how Peter stays with Tony and advises him in the upcoming Civil War. The issue was funny and had good dialogue; it is one the best issues by Straczynski.
Batman Detective Comics 817
~Ok, it is officially one year later in the world of Batman and the first face we are greeted with JIM GORDON! The one true police commissioner of Gotham has returned in all of his glory sporting a wife beater.
~Gordon gets a call about the KGBeast getting killed in mid assassination attempt. The figure appears to be Harvey Dent since Dent is shown in the next scene wearing almost the same clothes as the killer.
~Gordon takes a female cop with him up to the roof of the police building and turns on the Bat-signal. BAM! Double splash page of Batman and Robin arriving on top of the light. Apparently Poison Ivy is alive and has received a significant power upgrade. Ivy has turned the entire top of a building into a plant garden.
~Gordon becomes almost sympathetic because Ivy is taking the CEO’s of a company hostage to stop the killing of forests. Gordon realizes she is going about it wrong though and needs Batman’s help to stop her.
~As Batman and Robin prepare to leave the female police officer tells Batman that she is glad to have him back. Batman does not really care though and some of the familiar Bat-jerk comes out. Robin picks up after Batman though and talks to the officer and tells her that Batman was glad to hear it.
~Batman has a nice exchange with Gordon here and the two shake hands and give a little hint about 52. They basically have a nostalgic discussion, they say it seems as if nothing has happened since the last time Gordon turned on the signal. Batman tells him that it did but all they can do now it make sure it never gets as bad again. The last page has Gordon saying that he will sleep well since he knows Batman will take care of it.
Overall Issue Rating: 7.5/10 – This was a pretty interesting issue but nothing to freak out about. It was nice to see Batman and Robin in the same book again because it has been so rare over the recent years. The dialogue was alright and the art was decent. It is a better start for Batman OYL then I expected.
Batman 651
~ Part two of the first Batman OYL story; I liked this issue even more than the first. The issue starts from the citizens of Gotham perspective and how many of them think it is good that Batman is back.
~Next scene you see is Batman’s jet ripping through Ivy’s plants into the building she is holding hostage. Batman and Robin rise from the crash and then split up and it looks like Bruce is smiling at Robin, it could just be the art but the whole issue seems like Batman has a slight grin on his face.
~Batman and Robin both run into different plant monster pets of Ivy’s but Batman ends up actually getting to Ivy. Ivy makes a remark about being surprised Batman is even back in Gotham and she raps him up in plants.
~Ivy says she won’t reveal yet how she came back to life and the two talk about how big business is tearing down forests and the entire planet. Ivy becomes suspicious that Batman is just talking to her and even agreeing that she is fighting for the right thing.
~Batman’s plan was to have Robin put a powerful defoliant in the water system, specifically the sprinkler system. Batman breaks out of his plant prison and lets Ivy surrender. He offers her his hand and tells her that she was just doing the right thing in the wrong way.
~Later in Gordon’s office Batman has a feeling the night is not over and apparently he is right since lame villain number two…umm… magpie…was killed (who cares/10).
Overall Rating: 8/10 – I enjoyed this issue more than the first part of the series. I liked that Ivy and Batman did not physically fight, that they more or less came to an understanding to resolve the issue. I also like that Robin served a purpose and acted like Batman’s sidekick instead of the leader of the Teen Titans. The two seemed to have good chemistry through out the issue and it was a more lighthearted Batman tale instead of ZOMG JASON TODD IS BACK WTF HOW!?!SHIFT!11! I like the darker Batman sometimes but it seemed like DC got to a point where they wanted to do nothing but make Batman’s existence more miserable. It is refreshing to see Batman work with Robin and actually find a solution to a problem that did not involve beating someone within an inch of their life.
Robin 148
~A new costume for Spider-Man and a new costume for Robin. It is OYL and Robin now swings around Gotham in a predominantly red costume with black gauntlets, boots, and outside underwear along with accents of yellow on his Cape that now has the spikes like Batman’s.
~The issue starts with Robin fighting an unknown assailant who he soon tags with two of his…Robinrangs? Anyways his eyes adjust and to his surprise he apparently killed Batgirl (NOOOOOOOO), this can’t be true though can it? The boy wonder goes to check and luckily it is not the real Batgirl. Someone dressed up Lynx in a Batgirl suit, but Robin has deduced that she has been dead at least three hours.
~Robin does not get a chance to do inspect more since two cops show up and accuse him of going crazy like Nightwing (hopefully a reference to Jason Todd Nightwing not Dick Grayson Nightwing…if they crap on Dick anymore I may have to stab someone Jason Todd style). Robin gets away from the cops and makes it to a roof top where he changes into street clothes so he can get back to Wayne Manor.
~Oracle is apparently back after the events of War Games and she lets the bat family know that Tim is the chief suspect in Batgirls murder. Tim makes it back to the manor and lets Alfred know he didn’t do it (If there is one man to go to, it is Alfred (What? He makes amazing tea, so says Hal Jordan in Green Lantern 9).
~My favorite part of this issue is the talk between Bruce and Tim, right off the bat Bruce lets Tim know that he could not beat Cassie. I also like that Robin told Batman that the last year was about building trust in the family and that he would not want someone else to clean up his mess. Despite a sprained shoulder and a black eye Tim still takes on the challenge and decides that he has to sneak into the police station to get a better look at the costume Lynx was wearing. The issue ends with Robin holding himself on the ceiling as 2 officers walk below him.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10 – It was a fun issue and has a more interesting murder plot then the current Batman series. I don’t really care that Batman’s story is killing of D-list characters; it will be interesting to see how Tim finds out who framed him. I also like the new costume; it has a stealthy look to it. Brighter colors like yellow and red are still dark and he seems to blend in better to darker surroundings. The art is ok here, nothing stellar but it works pretty well with the book but I don’t like how Kerschl draws faces. It is a great jump on point for new readers.
Amazing Spider-Man 530
~ Ok I will admit it, Straczynski aggravated me with the "Gwen Stacy has pity sex with Norman" thing, but he has really started to turn it around. Despite the less than spectacular "Other" arc Spidey's new powers are ok. I hated that Straczynski got rid of the Parker house too but I have a grown on the idea. Anyways enough of the recap, lets get into the review.
~ Spidey starts off meeting Tony as they prepare for a trip to Washington to discuss the new Superhuman Registration Act as well as version 2.0 of Spidey's new suit. There is a nice little joke about Tony having 49 variations of the Iron Man armor. On the plain ride there is a plug for the illuminati story so buy it or else Marvel will slaughter a kitten.
~ Once the plain lands Spidey gets to check out the additional upgrades for the new costume. I really like the upgrades and Straczynski does a nice job setting up the return of the classic webs. Spidey can now change what the costume looks like so he can go with any variation of his costume ever (bagman anyone?). Hopefully Straczynski will keep up on this and use the glider capabilities as well as the body armor and new "Waldoes" (the tentacles).
~Peter and Tony head over to the Senate to discuss the S.R.A. but 'GASP the Titanium Man is watching them. Now for one of my favorite scenes in the issue, the Senates actual discussion. I am a whore for Tony Stark to begin with so I was already loving him being in Spidey's life. After he told the Senate they were getting off cheap by heroes causing only two hundred billion dollars of damage over 60 years I loved him even more. I don't know if the numbers are true but Tony basically beat them over the head with facts of other departments budgets and came down to nullifying their point. Peter then jumps in at a point and gives a nice speech about heroes and villains but ends up proving the need for the S.R.A. which makes him feel like an idiot.
~Tony then gives some nice insight into the world of politics and, I really liked the dialogue throughout this whole issue. Here is an example of the awesomeness of Tony:
“Mr. Parker, do you know what time it is?”
“It’s 10:35.”
“Wrong Answer.”
“But it’s the truth.”
“Yes but it is still the wrong answer to “Do you know what time it is?”
“The correct answer is “yes” and you leave it there. If they want more information then let them ask for it. Never volunteer anything”
~After this the meeting ends and Tony and Peter leave, but wait the Titanium Man attacks! O NOES! Peter changes into version 2.0 and starts fighting. There is some typical witty Spidey banter and then the issue ends as most issues do, with a cliffhanger. Spidey webs onto the Titanium man as he tries to fly away.
Overall Issue: 9/10 – I really enjoyed this issue the whole way through; while I am not an immense fan of the Titanium Man I do love Tony Stark. I am interested to see how Peter stays with Tony and advises him in the upcoming Civil War. The issue was funny and had good dialogue; it is one the best issues by Straczynski.
Batman Detective Comics 817
~Ok, it is officially one year later in the world of Batman and the first face we are greeted with JIM GORDON! The one true police commissioner of Gotham has returned in all of his glory sporting a wife beater.
~Gordon gets a call about the KGBeast getting killed in mid assassination attempt. The figure appears to be Harvey Dent since Dent is shown in the next scene wearing almost the same clothes as the killer.
~Gordon takes a female cop with him up to the roof of the police building and turns on the Bat-signal. BAM! Double splash page of Batman and Robin arriving on top of the light. Apparently Poison Ivy is alive and has received a significant power upgrade. Ivy has turned the entire top of a building into a plant garden.
~Gordon becomes almost sympathetic because Ivy is taking the CEO’s of a company hostage to stop the killing of forests. Gordon realizes she is going about it wrong though and needs Batman’s help to stop her.
~As Batman and Robin prepare to leave the female police officer tells Batman that she is glad to have him back. Batman does not really care though and some of the familiar Bat-jerk comes out. Robin picks up after Batman though and talks to the officer and tells her that Batman was glad to hear it.
~Batman has a nice exchange with Gordon here and the two shake hands and give a little hint about 52. They basically have a nostalgic discussion, they say it seems as if nothing has happened since the last time Gordon turned on the signal. Batman tells him that it did but all they can do now it make sure it never gets as bad again. The last page has Gordon saying that he will sleep well since he knows Batman will take care of it.
Overall Issue Rating: 7.5/10 – This was a pretty interesting issue but nothing to freak out about. It was nice to see Batman and Robin in the same book again because it has been so rare over the recent years. The dialogue was alright and the art was decent. It is a better start for Batman OYL then I expected.
Batman 651
~ Part two of the first Batman OYL story; I liked this issue even more than the first. The issue starts from the citizens of Gotham perspective and how many of them think it is good that Batman is back.
~Next scene you see is Batman’s jet ripping through Ivy’s plants into the building she is holding hostage. Batman and Robin rise from the crash and then split up and it looks like Bruce is smiling at Robin, it could just be the art but the whole issue seems like Batman has a slight grin on his face.
~Batman and Robin both run into different plant monster pets of Ivy’s but Batman ends up actually getting to Ivy. Ivy makes a remark about being surprised Batman is even back in Gotham and she raps him up in plants.
~Ivy says she won’t reveal yet how she came back to life and the two talk about how big business is tearing down forests and the entire planet. Ivy becomes suspicious that Batman is just talking to her and even agreeing that she is fighting for the right thing.
~Batman’s plan was to have Robin put a powerful defoliant in the water system, specifically the sprinkler system. Batman breaks out of his plant prison and lets Ivy surrender. He offers her his hand and tells her that she was just doing the right thing in the wrong way.
~Later in Gordon’s office Batman has a feeling the night is not over and apparently he is right since lame villain number two…umm… magpie…was killed (who cares/10).
Overall Rating: 8/10 – I enjoyed this issue more than the first part of the series. I liked that Ivy and Batman did not physically fight, that they more or less came to an understanding to resolve the issue. I also like that Robin served a purpose and acted like Batman’s sidekick instead of the leader of the Teen Titans. The two seemed to have good chemistry through out the issue and it was a more lighthearted Batman tale instead of ZOMG JASON TODD IS BACK WTF HOW!?!SHIFT!11! I like the darker Batman sometimes but it seemed like DC got to a point where they wanted to do nothing but make Batman’s existence more miserable. It is refreshing to see Batman work with Robin and actually find a solution to a problem that did not involve beating someone within an inch of their life.
Robin 148
~A new costume for Spider-Man and a new costume for Robin. It is OYL and Robin now swings around Gotham in a predominantly red costume with black gauntlets, boots, and outside underwear along with accents of yellow on his Cape that now has the spikes like Batman’s.
~The issue starts with Robin fighting an unknown assailant who he soon tags with two of his…Robinrangs? Anyways his eyes adjust and to his surprise he apparently killed Batgirl (NOOOOOOOO), this can’t be true though can it? The boy wonder goes to check and luckily it is not the real Batgirl. Someone dressed up Lynx in a Batgirl suit, but Robin has deduced that she has been dead at least three hours.
~Robin does not get a chance to do inspect more since two cops show up and accuse him of going crazy like Nightwing (hopefully a reference to Jason Todd Nightwing not Dick Grayson Nightwing…if they crap on Dick anymore I may have to stab someone Jason Todd style). Robin gets away from the cops and makes it to a roof top where he changes into street clothes so he can get back to Wayne Manor.
~Oracle is apparently back after the events of War Games and she lets the bat family know that Tim is the chief suspect in Batgirls murder. Tim makes it back to the manor and lets Alfred know he didn’t do it (If there is one man to go to, it is Alfred (What? He makes amazing tea, so says Hal Jordan in Green Lantern 9).
~My favorite part of this issue is the talk between Bruce and Tim, right off the bat Bruce lets Tim know that he could not beat Cassie. I also like that Robin told Batman that the last year was about building trust in the family and that he would not want someone else to clean up his mess. Despite a sprained shoulder and a black eye Tim still takes on the challenge and decides that he has to sneak into the police station to get a better look at the costume Lynx was wearing. The issue ends with Robin holding himself on the ceiling as 2 officers walk below him.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10 – It was a fun issue and has a more interesting murder plot then the current Batman series. I don’t really care that Batman’s story is killing of D-list characters; it will be interesting to see how Tim finds out who framed him. I also like the new costume; it has a stealthy look to it. Brighter colors like yellow and red are still dark and he seems to blend in better to darker surroundings. The art is ok here, nothing stellar but it works pretty well with the book but I don’t like how Kerschl draws faces. It is a great jump on point for new readers.
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