If you wanted to pull off something impossible—insanely impossible, even—who would you get on the job? If you’re Batman, and you want to break into the hell-on-earth that Bat-breaker Bane calls home, you find your crew at Arkham Asylum. If that sounds like a story you want to read, look no further than Batman #9, the first part of the “I Am Suicide” arc. Tom King is joined by Mikel Janin, June Chung, and Clayton Cowles (who previously worked with King on Marvel’s The Vision) for a beautiful, gripping opener. Other than maybe Superman #9, this was my favorite this week.
We got another strong issue of Francis Manapul’s Trinity, with some especially nice work from letterer Steve Wands. Harley’s band is gaining traction, as well, and after staring death in the face and saying “EAT ME!”, Nightwing got to spend some time with his old pal Tony. Dark Knight returned after a gargantuan hiatus, but the wait may not have been worth it. All-in-all, I’m happy with what I’ve read this week, but I still have some catching up to do on my non-Bat books. What did you think of this week’s haul?
Batman #9
This bears repeating, so I’m saying it again: this comic gets my official pick as the best issue of Batman since Tom King took on the character. Sure, anything that has a heaping ton of references is always going to turn my head, but it’s so much more than just that. This comic is a shinning example of proper character portrayal.
– Brandon (read the full review)
The Dark Knight III: The Master Race #6
With the interminable delays and seemingly aimless narrative…it’s getting harder and harder to get into this book. The recently announced extended order of nine issues instead of the original eight isn’t helping matters either. Things may turn around in the future, and I’m hoping that it will, but with a haphazard release schedule and an unfocused, derivative structure, I’m finding it hard to care.
– Jay (read the full review)
Harley Quinn #6
While I feel like this arc was off to a rocky start, the plot is thickening in interesting ways and even though this issue was short on good guy vs. bad guy throw-downs, I actually enjoyed the interaction between Harley and the punk scene (dog poop notwithstanding).
– Elena (read the full review)
Injustice: Year Five #20
So no: there is no final resolution here, just a springboard for the next thing. It takes away nothing from the Shakespearean scope of this epic, however: Buccellato’s work toward this summit has been an achievement, and the score of artists who have contributed along the way deserve all praise.
– Elena (read the full review)
Justice League #7
I was not pleased with the first part of “State of Fear,” but sadly, this conclusion is even weaker. In addition to the series’s dialogical and narrative problems that have been present since July’s #1, this installment brings the two-part arc to a grinding halt without any satisfying resolution.
– Brian (read the full review)
Nightwing #7
Solid fun from beginning to end. With snappy dialogue, great visuals, and phenomenal character work, Nightwing continues to be a grand swashbuckler of a superhero book.
– Jay (read the full review)
Robin Vol. 1: Reborn
Although this showcases Tim’s transformation into Robin, the story is more about who he is as a person, what inspires him, and the lengths he’ll take to do what is right. This isn’t a story about Robin the sidekick, or boy wonder, or hero. No, this is the story about a kid who wants to make a difference, can make a difference, and is determined to do so with the utmost integrity.
– Josh (read the full review)
Teen Titans Go! digital issue #36
Come for the clever references, stay for Silkie as your new favorite late-night talk show host. A quality installment that isn’t quite as good as its predecessor, though they tell one whole story so you should probably read them together anyway.
– Jay (read the full review)
Trinity #2
The plot is moving, and there’s enough mystery and tension to make sure we don’t forget that this is a superhero comic, but Manapul has clearly got most of his chips on exploring these characters, and it works as well this time as it did before.
– Brian (read the full review)
