Detective Comics #965
I sat down and opened this issue to the very first page, and going no further than that, I already felt in my gut that I was holding something special. Something that hand been painstakingly crafted with love and an attention to detail that was not to be underestimated or underappreciated.
-Brandon (read full review)
Batman: The Murder Machine #1
What a delightful surprise this was. Rather than settling on the “easy” story that pits man against machine, Tieri and Tynion instead craft a story about grief and what it means to be human. This is as much a Cyborg story as it is a Batman story, and by using those two men to parallel each other this Metal tie-in makes the Murder Machine a terrifying yet sympathetic villain. A lot has been made about how brutal and scary this issue is, and rightly so: there are scenes of almost shocking violence, as gorgeously illustrated by Riccardo Federici, and the cold menace of the Dark Knights is unmistakable. It goes deeper than sheer terror, though, with a story that, at its heart, is remarkably sad and undeniably human.
-Jay (read full review)
Batgirl #15
Hope Larson brings her A-game to the second installment of a storyline that finally brings Nightwing back into Batgirl’s life. They’re on a case and it is closely entwined with something that happened to them in the past, so there’s plenty of time here for reflection over their years together fighting crime under the cowl (and/or the domino). This raises a lot of questions about how exactly Barbara came to be part of this crime-fighting family, but I don’t expect we’ll get a lot of answers: Larson’s thrust is firmly focused on their immediate case–and their immediate “relationship” in all the presumed meanings of that word.
-Elena (read full review)
Suicide Squad #26
Rob Williams delivers a solid chapter of “Gotham Resistance” that balances a number of plots and characters quite well! There’s humor, action, suspense, and heart, all of which are accompanied by Sejic’s impeccable art. There are some low parts in the issue and arcing story – mainly stemming from a lack of knowledge concerning the Batman Who Laughs and his pet Robins – but I ultimately find this to be a redeeming read if you’re already invested in Metal and all of its tie-ins. And even if you’re not enjoying “Gotham Resistance,” you really should just pick p this chapter for the art. Am I making it clear that the art is incredible? No? Well, it’s amazing!
-Josh (read full review)
Justice League / Power Rangers #6
This story and its creative team feels like it just ran out of steam. Justice League plays second fiddle to the Power Rangers–and perhaps both play second fiddle to Alpha Five in this final epic battle that feels less epic than just a whole lot of heroes eager to wrap up and go home. So much promise at the outset, but one can’t help but feel there’s more than derailed this than just delays over the release dates.
-Elena (read full review)
Batman / The Shadow #6
The narrative presented in issue #1, 2, and 3 feels like a completely different experience than that offered up in 4, 5, and 6. Earlier this spring, Batman/The Shadow was literally the best thing I was reading. So, to have it go from that to just another comic that I’ll all too soon forget is pretty disheartening.
-Brandon (read full review)
Batman Beyond #12
Batman Beyond #12 is ok at best. Orlando and Ayala introduce a few interesting concepts in this issue, but they’re not enough to make reading this chapter worthwhile. As much as I love Barbara and Max, and hope for the potential of Nissa to come to fruition, this issue is completely skippable. Do yourself a favor, read the original introduction of Nissa as Batgirl, and hold on to the hope that this time she’ll be fully integrated into current continuity. As a character, Nissa has a lot to offer, and we deserve to get those stories and relationships in the future.
-Josh (read full review)
Nightwing: The New Order #2
The ideas are there, it’s just that the execution isn’t quite delivering yet. Higgins starts off strong with a gorgeously illustrated and engaging flashback sequence that’s much more interesting than the actual narrative, which is rather slow, cold, and dare I say boring. There’s still plenty of time for the story to come together, and Higgins has been hinting at some pretty interesting developments in upcoming issues, but as a whole Nightwing: The New Order has yet to take off.
-Jay (read full review)
Justice League of America #15
Two factors will decide how much you like or dislike this issue. The positive aspect is that Ray Palmer is back, and he gets the spotlight here! Unfortunately, there’s practically no plot progression. You literally would need to make an argument as to why someone needs to read this issue to complete the story. It’s also frustrating that the one question all of us came into this issue wanting to be answered, remains unanswered. As happy as I am to have Ray Palmer back, and as beneficial as it is to learn what Ray has been up to during this time, I can’t help but feel that this issue was a let-down. It’s not bad, just extremely disappointing.
-Josh (read full review)
