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What I Bought Today – Batman #20, Batman and Robin #20 (Batman and Red Hood), JLA #3 (WARNING – SPOILERS) + DC Universe Online Update + Changes to Comics I’ll Be Buying
So I got a LOT I need to cover today, so let’s just start off by looking at…
I bought three comics, one fun, one kinda depressing, and one…well, I’ll get to that. Let’s begin with the fun one, Batman #20.
I feel so bad for Clayface. Poor Karlo had this perfect frakking plan, and it all fell apart before his very eyes, though not for the reason I thought. Clayface’s plot was to become Bruce Wayne and cause crimes, which would get Batman’s attention in a hurry, and then he was going to make contact with Batman’s skin, thus becoming whoever Batman was under the cowl. Well, it seemingly works, and right in front of Gordon and his men, but it turns out Batman’s wearing a fibre mask under his cowl coated with the DNA of Bruce Wayne (which is actually his own, if yer following along) in order to sort of trick Clayface. Meanwhile, Clayface is now stuck in a light-screen panic room that can only be opened by the one man who Clayface doesn’t have the sufficient DNA to assume the form of: His own. Also, HOLY SHIT, Batman Beyond!
…Man, the writers for DC must REALLY love Batman Beyond, between this and Batwing, and I’ll explain that in a later post.
Batman and Red Hood, AKA the anger phase…Umm, Bruce is a serious asshole in this comic. I know that’s probably the intent, so points there, but he is a SERIOUS asshole to Carrie Kelley, who comes looking for Damian (turns out he was paying her for acting classes, likely after the thing with Alfred in Batman and Robin Annual #1). He then recruits Jason Todd to go hunting bounty hunters who had previously come looking to collect on Damian, during which Batman INTENTIONALLY CRIPPLES THEIR HANDS FOR LIFE. And from there, it gets even better, because then he takes Jason to the place where he’d died all those years ago, hoping it would jar his memory and help him learn the method for bringing Damian back…So his plan is to make Jason remember the worst day of his entire existence so he can learn to use a method that is probably highly unethical and dangerous as shit to raise the dead. Again, Bruce is an asshole, and Jason pretty much spells it out like it is and punches him out, leaving for Red Hood and the Outlaws #19 (LET’S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!).
JLA #3…Yeah, I might be dropping this book in a month or two. There’s still some fun to be had with it, and I don’t blame a single person who wants to stick with it, but unless I’ve missed my guess, I can see where this book is going, and it’s not a happy place. Basically, Amanda Waller is forcing Stargirl to be their public face person and not allowing her to go on missions, Martian Manhunter appears downright diabolical or just needing serious emotional help sometimes, Simon Baz STILL has not shown up, and Green Arrow is pretty much bribing his way onto the Justice League of America by agreeing not to tell people Catwoman is on the team. Oh, about that? There was some confusion over the fact that the plot the JLA had in Catwoman #19 hinged on the Secret Society not knowing Catwoman was on the team, which made no sense since she was with them on their mission in this issue and the previous one. Thing is, though, apparently Vibe’s powers make it so that the robots occupying the location they went to couldn’t relay visuals of the team back to the Society, so yes, #19 of Catwoman actually DOES make sense…but it still sucks. lol
Anyway, that’s all for what I bought, but there’s something I gotta address. Like I said, I may be dropping JLA, but it won’t be the only book I drop. Obviously, one other book I’m for sure going to stop buying soon is Batman Incorporated, since the book is ending in July. However, in addition to that, I think I may be dropping Batwoman in favour of Supergirl. No offence to the character, but the story itself has gotten kinda iffy with me, and I just find Supergirl to be more solidly written with more interesting villains. I’ll still be following along with what happens, and if anything noteworthy pops up, I’ll let you guys know about it, but otherwise, I’m pretty sure I’m done with it. Also, don’t think I’ll be picking up Red Hood and the Outlaws again, though there is a MASSIVE improvement in the quality of the stories for anyone who would like to, and I’m thinking that when Batman Incorporated ends its run, I may decide to start buying Batwing.
As for DC Universe Online, I cannot play it. Why? Well, first off, the disc didn’t work right, which may or may not have to do with the fact that apparently Sony has been giving the game away to download for free…OY…On top of that, it seems that my graphics card and processor are both unable to handle the game. Good news is, if I ever get a new computer, I know where to find the game for free. So really, not a big loss.
So that’s all for today. Next week, we check in on Batgirl following the horrific events of last month, we see how Nightwing’s handling the change of scenery, and we find out how Supergirl is handling the whole her-own-base-is-trying-to-kill-her thing. Ja né!
What I Bought Yesterday – Justice League #13 & 14, DC Universe Online (WARNING – SPOILERS)
Well, I bought some stuff while I was out for Free Comic Book Day, so let’s go ahead and go over…
So let’s begin with the comics I bought, Justice League #13 & 14, AKA The Secret of the Cheetah.
Okay, let’s start off with what I didn’t like, so we can end my look at these two issues on a high note. While Superman being eager to help Wonder Woman with her problems involving Cheetah would usually appear noble, the problem is this comes a few days after they kissed, and based on his characterization in the New 52, he’s clearly only doing it because he’s crushing hard on her, whereas back in the old days, he’d do it regardless because he’s that good a guy. The ending where Batman is spying on them and looking displeased came off as more flavours of wrong than Baskin-Robbins has flavours of ice cream, but we later got clarification that he’s just concerned for them, so that’s alright. The Shazam back-up in #14 continues to annoy the crap out of me, since Shazam comes off as a badly written idiot/con man. Oh, and I’m sorry, but I have to deduct points simply for the mere appearance of the TMZ logo. lol
So with all that said, what did I like about this? Pretty much EVERYTHING else. I love the visuals, as the jungle they explore is well detailed, and of course when they’re up in the Watchtower in outer-frakking-space. I like the scene with Flash and Cyborg, where Barry is trying to help Victor out and reassure him that he IS human, not just a machine. I like how Batman and Aquaman, while still trying to work out who is the leader, are able to work well together, showing they can put whatever issues they have on hold. I like the back-up in #13 that acts as a lead-in for Justice League of America. But most of all, I love what they do with Cheetah. She’s made into a credible threat to the League, and not by being overpowered (though I think her speed and strength is a little higher), but by being SMART. First she goes for Batman, because he’s likely the easiest to take down at the start of the fight while letting him stick around for later on would be a disaster. Then she goes for Flash, slashing him at the heels so that his speed is cut in half. Then, to really mess with them, Cheetah bites Superman to turn him into a Cheetah monster. Now before you call shenanigans, remember that Cheetah’s transformed by magic, which is something Superman is vulnerable to, so it stands to reason that her fangs COULD puncture his skin. How they beat Cheetah is smart too, in that Wonder Woman manages to get her into the lake where Aquaman can bring her down. There’s a twist regarding her back-story that I don’t want to give away, but it pays tribute to the various characters who have been Cheetah in previous continuities, and I really like that. So overall, not a great two-parter, but what works well in it is worth buying it.
Oh yeah, and I also got DC Universe Online for like 5 bucks. ^_^ I haven’t had a chance to play it yet, but when I do, I’ll let’cha know what I think. I’m hoping to be able to create one of the characters from my Superhero Tales, like Green Defender, The Bard, or Strix.
Anyway, that’s all for today…erm, yesterday, I guess. lol Check in Wednesday when I FINALLY get JLA #3, along with Batman #20 and Batman and Robin #20. Ja né!