Hello again GEN readers! It’s Jill a.k.a. The Nerdy Bird back with this week’s installment of DoubleDCoverage. Is Batman the new Paris Hilton? I can’t believe I just wrote that. Also, when should you read Wednesday Comics? Reviews for Batman #688 and Wednesday Comics #1 are ahead, also, check out my star ratings for my other pulls from last Wednesday!
BATMAN #688
What’s this? Batman playing for the cameras like some rich socialite?? Oh wait. Well, this may not be the Batman we know and love but he’s definitely a PR firms dream. Should the villains be more or less scared now? Honestly, I don’t know.
Ok, let me explain. After being M.I.A. for…a while, “Batman” is back getting his hands dirty on the streets of Gotham. In the process of disrupting a few crimes, Dick has left security cameras intact purposely to attract an audience. Not only that, it allows for definitive evidence for a trial down the road, almost ensuring prosecution. Penguin, who had been doing quite well for himself recently, is noticeably perturbed by the new technique but doesn’t look past the surface. Two-Face on the other hand, has been collecting the plentiful footage of “Batman” to dissect. He knows “Batman” is not Batman.
Commissioner Gordon might be onto something himself. He’s been turning on the Bat-signal every night even though Batman has yet to show up. He’s also invited another officer along because as he says, “things change and I think he wouldn’t mind the extra company.” Dick is still having a few technical issues in his transition into the Dark Knight. Mainly, the costume. It’s a bit more than he’s used to, the cape, the cowl, all need to be adjusted to suit his fighting style. While he’s learning to be Batman he’s also breaking in his new Robin. Dick lets Damian know that he doesn’t expect him to become the Robin he once was because he sure as hell isn’t Bruce.
Surprisingly, I’m enjoying the transition that’s going on with Dick. It’s all happening very organically which makes things feel much more comfortable. He had the pressure on him at first but now he’s slowly working out the kinks so he can truly step into his new role. What I don’t like is he isn’t doing the same out on the streets. I realize he doesn’t want to be exactly what Bruce was but having “Batman” smiling at cameras after being missing is not exactly the smartest move. Mark Bagley has taken over the art on this book and personally I’m not a fan. I don’t know what it is exactly but I wasn’t enjoying his work on Trinity and while I think this is better, it’s still not my cup of tea. I do like his Penguin and Two-Face though.
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WEDNESDAY COMICS #1
DC’s new weekly series is something completely different than anything I’ve ever seen. This time around it will only last 12 weeks instead of a lofty, and sometimes needless, 52. Wednesday Comics was created with the olden days weekly newspaper comics section in mind. It’s printed like a newspaper and folded up to the size of a regular comic book. Fifteen separate stories, with different characters, get one page each to shine. Seeing as how that’s a lot to cover, I’ve decided I’m going to review in full the first and last issues only. Here are my highlights and lowlights of the first ever Wednesday Comics.
I’m gonna hit you with the bad first. Truthfully, none of the stories were strictly bad, some just got off to a strange start. With the very limited space offered in WC, you’ve got to hit a high note pretty quickly and some of the stories just didn’t manage to do that. For example, Brian Azzarello’s “Batman” tale got me very interested in what is to come next but did very little to tell me what that might be. Eddie Berganza’s “Teen Titans” was more perplexing and less intriguing. The mish-mosh of Titans past and present felt a bit clumsy. The Adam Strange tale was literally out of this world but not in a good way. Then again, I’ve never been a Strange fan anyway. Ben Caldwell’s “Wonder Woman” had the most content out of all of the pages but left me utterly lost. His art however, looked straight out of a Disney animated feature. I’m not a Sgt. Rock fan so I’m neither here nor there on that one. Lastly, Kyle Baker’s “Hawkman” story being narrated entirely by birds was utterly bizarre.
Now onto the good. I don’t really enjoy Kamandi but Dave Gibbons did an excellent job detailing his story in a brief amount of time for those who may not be familiar with him. John Arcudi’s “Superman” is classic but it’s Lee Bermejo’s art that really stands out. “Deadman” Boston Brand has annoyed me the few times I’ve read about him but it looks like Bullock and Heuck have him set up for a classic pulp, which is always fun. Bringing Hal Jordan back to New Frontier territory was a smart move by Kurt Busiek, especially considering the wild adventures going on with the Green Lantern in continuity right now. And who doesn’t love a highball? Neil Gaiman is just getting “Metamorpho” started on his adventure but seeing Sapphire stuck in a giant clam was worth it. Supercat, Superdog, Supergirl – need I say more? Dan Didio loves his “Metal Men” and it looks like poor Doc Magnus has gotten himself into another sticky situation by bringing them out in public again. It’s Barry Allen who stars in “The Flash” page but Iris may wind up stealing the spotlight. I don’t know if they’ll each get their own half of the page each week but I like that they did this time around. Last but not least, I love that Selina Kyle is trying to seduce Jason Blood in order to steal from him. That looks like it’s going to be pure fun.
In a rather large nutshell, that was the first issue of Wednesday Comics. I was extremely skeptical at first, mainly due to the size and format concept but it’s certainly won me over. I still despise the feel of newspaper but the art and talent on this book is tremendous. The nice thing about it is it’s not in continuity and I don’t feel the urgent need to read it immediately like I do some books. I had a lovely time reading it outside on a leisurely Sunday afternoon. Wednesday Comics is great entertainment; I definitely give it my stamp of approval.
BOOSTER GOLD #22 – Booster checks out the Teen Titans and their bodacious beach bods. Blue Beetle goes Harry Potter on Paco and Brenda.
GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY #22 – BC takes down Sonus pretty easily. Well, he is just a violinist after all.
GREEN LANTERN #43 – Ewwww! Who would kiss Black Hand?! I am so scared for Blackest Night.
RED ROBIN #2 – Dick is acting like a dick. What? That’s Tim? Ohhh. Yeah, still acting like a dick.
SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #5 (OF 12) – The trial of the century! I mean, the year! Ok, maybe just the month. “Death to Zod,” my new favorite death metal band name. (3stars)
My pull list for next week:
ACTION COMICS #879
BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #2
BLACKEST NIGHT #1 (OF 8 )
BLACKEST NIGHT: TALES OF THE CORPS #1
WEDNESDAY COMICS #2
Which two should I review for DoubleDCoverage #17?
July 15th, 2009 at 4:20 am
I read somewhere that the Flash/Iris story will be a half-page for each of them for most of the story, then eventually by the end they’ll hook up and meet and ‘team-up’ for the whole page.
July 15th, 2009 at 4:34 am
I loved the humor with Dick and the Bat costume but I’m over Damian already. I want him gone.
I had similar feelings about WC. Some stuff I really liked, some stuff I could pass on which is nostalgic because that’s exactly the way I was reading the Sunday funnies as a kid. I was surprised by the ones I did like: Flash, Metal Men, Metamorpho and Deadman. I loved the usuals (Batman, Supergirl, etc). I really loved the WW art but found it insanely difficult to read. They need to enlarge that or something. I’ve heard others say the same. But I also heard guys rave about Adam Strange. So what makes it great is that there is something for everyone.
Yay! Blackest Night starts! Queue ominous music.
July 15th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I had considered the whole Batman RIP and Battle for the Cowl concepts a little gimmicky, but seeing the transition the old boys are having to make in their new roles is definitely turning things interesting… and on another side, I was revealed to find that Black Canary and Green Arrow seem to be alternating backup features- I had been afraid DC had managed to sideline Dinah from her own co-title. Plus, for the first time since this story arc began, Dinah and Ollie started appearing slightly more natural and competent, apart from Ollie’s remarkable move closer towards bloodlust.
Wednesday comics looks cool, and I love the old school feel.
As for next week, no matter what else you do, it has to be Blackest Night 1. I figure it was already on your list, but now that I’ve read it, it HAS to be on it! Geoff Johns is my hero for the year already!
I like Tales of the Corps, but it’s more like personal histories for some key figures, so I’d rather see a review of Streets of Gotham. Just to see the dynamic duo dealing with Firefly’s ridiculously successful plot from the last issue, and find Hush come in to play the role of Bruce Wayne (at last I understand the editorial reasons for the ridiculous plastic surgery with relation to RIP…). Plus, there is Manhunter’s backup.
July 16th, 2009 at 5:51 am
After squeeing with Jill yesterday over the brilliance that is Geoff Johns (and I’m sorry to say I was told he’s married), we should form some sort of Cult of Geoff and have litter his babies.
July 17th, 2009 at 2:30 am
That’s it for Green Lantern coverage? Something wrong with this Double DCoverage if all the coverage for green lantern is this small.. Oh my, I can’t believe that I’m saying this, but these double D’s need to be covered more.
July 17th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Randy, Oh good!
Wow Beth, over Damian already? And yes, the WW was difficult to read. As to your other comment, I can neither confirm nor deny any such conversation…
Wik, I was also relieved about the GA/BC second feature thing. I still think it’s kind of silly to do it at all but we’ll see how it shakes out.
Haha Javier! I actually thought I was doing too MUCH GL for a while there so I laid off. But don’t you worry BN #1 for sure next week. And a full coverage bra just for you.
July 20th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
I’m not so sure about the whole Dick Grayson as the Batman concept and Bruce being dead. Part of me likes the transition - but I think that might be story programming - something similar to the Phantom’s back story. But, to kill off Bruce? I don’t think that I’m all that fond of it.
A smiling Batman? Isn’t that kind of like Mr.Burns getting a picture with a smiling child?