Category DC Comics

Brothers and sisters! Pay heed to the actions of the Joker for he will cause madness in Gotham! They will drink and stagger and go mad because of the poison that he has sent among them! So sayeth the book of Batman, chapter 98, verses 1-32!

This is the scripture according to the prolific James Tynion IV.
As envisioned by the not-as-prolific Jorge Jimenez

The official plot:

““The Joker War” part four of six! Batman is at his most vulnerable following a massive dose of an experimental new Joker toxin. With the Dark Knight haunted by demons and visions, it’s up to Harley Quinn to protect him while he recovers-because Punchline is on her way!”

DC Comics

This one should have had “Harley Quinn” graffitied over Batman in the title. The Harley/Punchline rematch is where all the action is. Batman spends the majority of the issue stuck in his own head, talking to Alfred.

My Impressions:

• Harley/Punchline: I dug it…more than just punches and insults, there’s some real girl talk during the fight.
• Alfred dealing out some tough love! (Even if he is a figment of Bruce’s drugged mind.)
• I’m Batman: Nice presentation, but not quite as powerful as intended. Sorry, you’re not going to shake the meme with this one.

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Batman (Bruce Wayne)
• Harley Quinn (Harleen Frances Quinzel)
• Punchline (Alexis Kayne)
• Alfred Pennyworth
• Catwoman (Selina Kyle)
• Penguin (Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot)
• Riddler (Edward Nigma)
• Scarecrow (Jonathan Crane)
• Joker
• Killer Croc (Waylon Jones)
• Mad Hatter (Jervis Tetch)
• Professor Pyg (Lazlo Valentin)

Bottom Line: 3 Stars!

Harley and Punchline steal the show in this one. It wasn’t quite as campy as I thought it would be. As for Batman…can we PLEASE move on from pining after Alfred now? I think that’s the set-up here…but I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of our favorite butler.

On that day, I saw the Beast and the Kings of the earth and I KNEW things were coming to an end. Hear the story of our hero John Constantine from his book of Hellblazer, chapter 9, verses 1-32!

This is the gospel according to Simon Spurrier. Who is FINALLY doing Hellblazer the right way. (It only took him six issues to figure it out!)
As envisioned by “not a lot of mainstream experience,” Matias Bergara

The official plot:

“The British royal family has always had an interest in breeding the world’s finest racehorses. When one disgraced royal cooks up a scheme to re-create the most magical of all horses, it’s up to John Constantine to stop him from unleashing a bloodthirsty horror!”

DC Black Label

Fortunately for us, Mr. Constantine fails to stop the arrival of said “bloodthirsty horror.” (Disclosure: Only one horse was harmed in the writing of this comic. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the barely legal virgins.)

My Impressions:

• What is good: This is the second story arc in a row that does a really good job of living up to the Sandman Universe umbrella. I was just about to give up…but my hope has been renewed!
• But how did it look?: Dark, grainy, and artistic. Just like all of the other Black Label titles.
• The not so good: There are only three issues left for John Constantine: Hellblazer. Spurrier himself says the title “wasn’t renewed” but we all know that DC is cutting the bottom 25%. Coincidence? Who knows?

Notable Appearances/Events:

• John Constantine
• Tommy Willow-Tree (Tommy)
• ‘Olde Man Constantine’
• Bita Ghul
• Nat (Hellblazer)

Bottom Line: 3 Stars!

I had high hopes this would be a great title, and when it started it was bad. Unfortunately, I’m a true collector, so I was in it until the end…which is now nigh. Maybe knowing the end is near is what boosted the quality of the writing. In the end…I’m both happy and not happy to see John hit the bricks.

Woe to he that walks too close to a storm drain in Gotham City! Listen carefully to our discussion of Detective Comics, chapter 1026, verses 1-32! “Monsters of Men”

The word, though not as good as other issues of Detective Comics, according to Peter J. Tomasi
As envisioned by the, trying to hard, Kenneth Rocafort

The official plot:

“As “The Joker War” rages on, the casualties are mounting, and the underground residents of Gotham City must deal with the devastating effects of the Joker toxin that’s been pumped into the old city’s tunnel system. Batman must risk everything to guide them to safety, but a familiar face has mobilized these forgotten souls to rise up in anger…and Killer Croc takes no prisoners!”

DC Comics

Not exactly. It’s less guiding them “to safety” and more incapacitating and imprisoning them. As to Killer Croc taking no prisoners…slight fib, they are willing participants.

My Impressions:

• The Good: … He’s Batman? I guess…
• The Not-so-Good: Definite filler issue that feels very quickly thrown together.
• Contemporary Artwork: Bleck! Everything is too skinny, squashed or otherwise malformed. This was not a joy to behold.
• Palette: Can we lose the brown please? The whole issue just looks dirty.

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Batman (Bruce Wayne)
• Killer Croc (Waylon Jones)
• Ratty Riz (1st appearance)
• Hardback (1st appearance)
• Gup (1st appearance)
• Ally (1st appearance)
• Garter (1st appearance)
• Bandit (1st appearance)
• Joker War Tie -In

Bottom Line: 1 Star!

This issue is for fanboys and dedicated collectors only! Detective Comics was in my top 4, unfortunately this issue really damaged our relationship! I honestly feel like this story has been sitting in a drawer for ages. A small dialogue change to incorporate the otherwise missing Joker War and BAM! deadline met. Come on DC, you can do better!

Thou shalt not betray thy non magic wielding friends! Pay attention as we discuss Books of Magic, chapter 22, verses 1-25! The story of “Dwelling in Possibility” part 2.

This is the word according to the almost unknown David Barnett
As envisioned by the adequate Tom Fowler

The official plot:

“The powerful tome known as the Book of Possibilities has fallen into the hands of Tim’s schoolmate Ellie…but what will she do with it? Only one thing is certain: she doesn’t seem eager to hand it over to Tim.”

DC Comics

Pretty close…but not perfect. At no point was there a consideration of giving the Book of Possibilities to Tim. In fact, they don’t even interact.

My Impressions:

• Issue’s finest: Destiny of the Endless!
• Finally some maturity: For once, Tim isn’t acting like a petulant brat!
• Contemporary Artwork: Nothing stunning. Fowler did make it very easy to tell which scenes took place in each setting. Good use of panel shapes and colors.
• It’s a grind: The dreaded slow burn of almost all Sandman adjacent books. (It’s all or none baby!)

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Tim hunter
• Destiny of the Endless
• Dead Boy Detectives

Bottom Line: 1 Star!

Let’s face it. With the exception of Sandman fans hoping for a glimpse of the Endless, no one cares about Books of Magic. It doesn’t even appear in the top 100 sales for the last few months running. I’m predicting it won’t survive the coming purge of DC titles.

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” If you want to avoid becoming one with the Legion, pay heed to the words of the book of Plunge, chapter 6, verses 1-32!

The official plot:

“Sixty fathoms below the ocean’s surface, a massive hatch waits to be opened…Something within wants to emerge; wants to be born; wants to rise; wants to feed. The child is coming, desperate to fill its belly-by devouring reality itself!”

DC Black Label

Should add that the humble humans don’t feel like being devoured, but otherwise, quite accurate. Also – ugly baby!

My Impressions:

• What works: It’s a horror book…and yeah, it’s one of the more disturbing. I mean, being infested and possessed by extra-dimensional worms. No thanks.
• What I could do without: The threat to “reality” was totally unnecessary. It would have been more effective for the child to have been a giant monster intent on eating all the humans.
• But how did it look?: Confident. Horror titles don’t usually get big names, so the art always seems tentative. Not the case here.

Notable Appearances/Events:

• The child (1st appearance & death)
• Captain Gage (Death)
• Bill and Moriah (The only survivors)
• Clark (Last remaining worm food)

Bottom Line: 4 Stars!

Plunge was one of the better Joe Hill titles. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him end up a staple of the Black Label imprint. I recommend grabbing up the eventual TPB. I really enjoyed the setting of a sea rescue gone bad. It really reminded me of something I would have watched on a Saturday afternoon, when I was a kid…one of those Elvira movies. Individually, this issue wasn’t as good as the rest of the series, but it does leave us open to the possibility of a follow up.

My fellow comicphiles, attend as we discuss Batman / Superman Volume 2, chapter 11, verses 1-32! “Atomic conclusion!”

This is the word according to Joshua Williamson
As envisioned by Clayton Henry

The official plot:

“It’s Superman versus Batman as the deadly machinations of the Ultra-Humanite crash to their end! The Dark Knight has been transformed into a human atomic bomb, all in the name of wiping Superman from the face of the Earth! As Batman struggles against the urge to kill his friend, Superman must undo the damage done and help the other victims of the Ultra-Humanite’s experiments. It’s the thrilling conclusion to “Atomic” that will reverberate across the DC Universe for months to come!”

DC Comics

This is a pretty fair assessment of the story, though I do think that “thrilling” is a flat out lie. The “other victims” is a bit of a stretch too…they get one panel.

My Impressions:

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Superman (Kal-El/Clark Kent)
• Batman (Bruce Wayne)
• Ultra-Humanite (Gerard Shugel)
• Atomic Skull (Albert Michaels)

Bottom Line: 1 Stars!

Fanboys and completionist collectors only. Everyone else…skip it!

Fire and Brimstone fall from the sky! It is the end times! Pay attention as we discuss Batman: Three Jokers, chapter 1, verses 1-54! It may just save your soul!

This is the word according to the infamous Geoff Johns
As envisioned by Jason Fabok

The official plot:

“Three Jokers reexamines the myth of who, or what, The Joker is and what is at the heart of his eternal battle with Batman…find out why there are three Jokers, and what that means for the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime. It’s a mystery unlike any Batman has ever faced!”

DC Comics

The official story has a lot more pomp and circumstance than this…but I edited out all of the self serving stuff. I’m also going to go out on a limb and say that this description is intended to cover the whole series…because we certainly don’t get the promised explanation.

My Impressions:

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Batman (Bruce Wayne)
• Joker
• Joker
• Joker
• Red Hood (Jason Todd)
• Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)
• Death of a Joker

Bottom Line: 5 Stars!

Everyone, who’s anyone already has multiple copies. May I suggest the Red Hood (Jason Todd) variant cover?

My fellow comicphiles, attend as we discuss Superman in the book of Action Comics, chapter 1024, verses 1-32! The House of Kent part 3!

This is the word according to Brian Michael Bendis
As envisioned by John Romita, Jr.

The official plot:

“The city of Metropolis has been rocked by Luthor’s latest attack and the drama surrounding Superman’s truth, and that gives the invisible mafia a new foothold to change the City of Tomorrow forever. Meanwhile, the Daily Planet is under siege! The fallout from Superman: Villains continues as Clark Kent steps out into the world as a reporter for the first time.”

DC Comics

Almost all of this is untrue. Only “Meanwhile, the Daily Planet is under siege!” is correct…and the siegers are the FBI!!!

My Impressions:

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Superman (Kal-El/Clark Kent)
• Superboy (Jonathan ‘Jon’ Samuel Kent)
• Supergirl (Kara Zor-El/Kara Danvers)
• Superboy (Kon-El/Conner Kent)
• Red Cloud (Robinson Goode)
• Character Death: Deputy Fire Chief Melody Moore (off panel)

Bottom Line: 4 Stars!

You’ve got to love a pissed off Superman! Go look for parts 1 & 2…and get on board.