Death of the Family Part 4: Batgirl #14 and Suicide Squad #14 reviews

Sorry for the busy amount of blogs coming up, but the greatness of Batman #14 required its own review.

Now, on to the remaining DOTF crossover books this week!

Batgirl #14

On any other week - any - this would have been the strongest book in the bin. Honestly, in many ways, this book has a more interesting storyline in place because of Barbara Gordon's history with the Joker.

Much like the Court of Owls could be seen as both a Batman and Nightwing story, Death of the Family feels like both a Batman and Batgirl story. Gail Simone has done well to keep Barbara's history in each issue so that this showdown feels like a true culmination of events.

Barbara comes to realize what has happened to her mother, and upon being attacked she goes from terrified to enraged quickly. She is very clearly on the brink of being unable to stop herself from going on a murderous rampage, and that feels apparent the whole way through.

Ultimately, it is revealed that what she perceived to be happening was not the actual turn of events, and she ends up coming face to face with the Faceless One himself, who ends the book with a kind-of cliche but nonetheless compelling finish.

Joker is written just as he is in Snyder's book, so this really feels like it's part of the same story, which is great. And the twists really take a reader for a loop, especially when it's revealed who Barbara has been in communication with. It raises questions, but I'll give Ms. Simone time to let it develop.

My only real issue with this book was that the artwork didn't feel as strong. The replacements did a nice job, but not amazing, and juxtaposed against the Batgirl Annual (which I finally got to read and will review this week), it was really shown to be a less-than-excellent effort.

Overall, this book gets a high recommendation from me. It's certainly a must-buy. Is it as good as Batman #14? No, but honestly, I wasn't expecting anything to be.

Suicide Squad #14

Ok, full disclosure: I know nothing of this team. I have the basic premise and the fact that Harley Quinn has been on the team since early in the New 52.

As such, I'm only going to give basic thoughts on the non-crossover portions. And that works out perfectly since that's all but the first and last scenes.

Amanda Waller reads like a total b****. Sorry to say it, but I was just irked by the character to no end. The line about being accommodating equaling weakness deeply offended me and she came across as disgustingly irresponsible.

The rest of the team was involved in storylines that made no sense to me as a new reader and I frankly did not care about anyone in the book to look further into their stories.

The only part of this book I came for was Joker and Harley. The first scene connected itself to Batman #13 and gave nice background, but really added nothing.

Honestly, more than 90 percent of this book was either inaccessible to me or just pointless nonsense. The only things that make this worth buying is the awesome die-cut cover with Joker's face over Harley's, and the final scene, which gives just enough incentive to pick up the final Suicide Squad crossover issue to see what's next for Harley.

Unless you're collecting all the DOTF books, this is one to avoid. You gain very little from it and although I won't say it definitively because I don't know the book, it's not a very good or even pleasant read.

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Death of the Family Part 3: Batman #14

I think it's safe to say that all three of these books will be nearly sold out of most stores by the time they all open tomorrow morning.

Heck, I had to go to multiple stores to find Suicide Squad, and that one is of the least consequence in the crossover this week.

The proper reading order for these three issues is Batgirl, Batman and Suicide Squad, but I'll review Batman first since that is the one I know you're opening this page to see.

Batman #14

Really, what the hell else can I say that isn't already plastered on a million other sites? I'm glad I saved this book for last because I had my fill of reading material after reading this one; nothing was topping it.

It's like when Shawn Michaels had his WrestleMania match with Bret Hart and he yelled "Top that!" to his wrestling brethren when he went to the back, only to remember that he was the main event.

Yes, Scott Snyder is the Shawn Michaels of Batman writers right now. If you thought that the hype of this being the next great Batman-Joker story was overblown, you are really hoping for an awful payoff now because this was a home run in every sense of the term.

The book opens with Batman trying to make a daring escape from the clutches of Harley Quinn, only to lead to a chilling scene where Bruce is wandering his mansion, getting progressively unsettled every second that he can't find Alfred.

The audio tape and the art around it really captures the pathos Snyder was going for and Greg Capullo should be given a freaking medal for his work on this one.

Every scene hit. The attack on Gordon, the dialogue with Nightwing, and especially the rehashing of the first Joker-Dynamic Duo clash ever were brilliantly executed. I especially love how Joker pointed out he knew how the first mission went so well that he just skipped to the end of the clash ahead of time.

But what I think really hits the mark in this book is that Snyder truly understands the Batman-Joker relationship. Joker's relationship with Batman is that of a jester to a king. Batman wants to achieve perfect order in his society and Joker is trying to show him how pathetically wrong he is.

It's a misstep that even Jim Gordon in this book can't pinpoint. It's not that Joker is chaos or even that he desires to spread it - both Batman movies with Joker missed this as well. Those are all fun side plots in his ultimate goal: To corrupt the Bat.

The two are extremes that exist because of each other. Each wants to break the other's will; Batman won't kill, so he just hopes that Joker just breaks down mentally, while Joker will kill or do anything to make Batman break his code or just recognize the futility of his struggle.

I've only encountered three stories that ever truly understood this: The Killing Joke, The Dark Knight Returns and A Death in the Family. In the first, Joker tried to break Batman by breaking the will of his closest ally, Commissioner Gordon; the third showed him trying to break Batman by killing his partner in hopes of driving him to homicidal rage; and the second showed the Joker literally ceasing to function until Batman was available to fight again.

Snyder has the understanding of this character down, and Capullo is doing amazing at conveying both emotion as well as how grotesque Joker's face is now that it's back on him.

The back-up story is a great escalation as well, as Joker brings Penguin in to set up another element of his plan. It's a great scene, and although I've seen some who love this back-up and others who are lukewarm to it, let me say that I'm in the camp that loves it and wants to see where it goes.

Overall, the next three issues of Batman should be amazing. If you can get involved with this book, I'd seek out Batman #13 (which just released a second print with an equally awesome cover) and this one. Waiting for a trade paperback will be a disservice to you.

This is a must-buy for anyone who ever enjoyed a Batman vs. Joker story.

Batgirl and Suicide Squad reviews are next up. Stay tuned! And follow me at twitter.com/seantherebel/Like my page at www.facebook.com/SeanNetworkBlogs.

Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 3 review

I'll admit: I've kind of been putting this one off.

I've been waiting for a while to do the Avatar: The Last Airbender's The Promise Part 3 review, mostly because this one is going to require a LOT of my thoughts, time and ability to rant, so I've been waiting for ample time to reveal itself, and here it is!

Ok, so those who read my thoughts on Parts 1 and 2 know that I've been really enjoying this printed successor to the original series, and I actually was starting to hope that this series could gain enough traction for the creators to make this a made-for-TV movie.

And then I read the conclusion. Oh, boy do we need to have a talk about this one.

Before I begin, I'd like to note that the only review I've read/listened to prior to this is the From the Spirit World podcast on dongbufeng.net. If you haven't heard the podcast before, they do an excellent job providing intelligent discussion to Avatar-based stuff they love and, in this book's case, ripping that which they hate to shreds.

I'll say this about this story, though: I do not hate this book. It has MAJOR flaws and is an insanely botched book, but when the book hits, it hits out of the park.

Case in point: the beginning, where you get an "Oh crap!" opening to... Armageddon. Zuko and Aang survey the waste that has been lain to their world, and then their mentors appear as mental ghosts and tell them to take The Precious kill each other.

It's at this point that you realize (and it's confirmed three panels later) that it's a dream. Contain your shock.

I joke, but this is one of the few scenes where it's hard to complain. I really got a feel for the inner turmoil between both, and the shared dream hearkens back to the fact that the Avatar and the Firelord have a strong spiritual link in these incarnations.

Where I can complain, however, is the following scene where Aang and Katara are under attack while entering Yu Dao. There's some really nice action sequences, and it felt like an ATLA action scene, but it was marred by dialogue.

This is a problem with moving TV programs to the print medium. Dialogue has to become more expository in places, and it weakens the product. Smallville is seeing a similar problem in its comic form.

The bipolar nature of this comic can be reflected in one panel of the follow-up scene. On the left side there is a pretty good joke about a revolutionary who joined for his mochi vendor – one I could have seen in the series. On the right side, Aang is talking to Sneers about his significantly better looking girlfriend, and we see a lead-in to the second-dumbest panel in the entire book:

Avatar Aang
Defender of Pimping since 12 years
before the Great War

I think that the image on my left speaks for itself, but if it doesn't, let me illuminate you.

Avatar Aang, the last of a race of monks, a child who knew little if any about the traditional guy pride kind of things, a person who in a few panels will be complaining about defacing of his peaceful, bro-less culture... has apparently channeled his inner-wingman and is giving the thumbs-up to his friend stepping up a level?

This is truly this book's "I'm the Goddamn Batman!" moment – a moment so widely and offensively out of character that you actually have to step away from the book for a moment to laugh at the absurdity of what you've just witnessed.

This is not the last of this joke, either. It is done twice more with Longshot and Sokka. I will say, though that while this one was irritating, the other two I actually did find funny.

Longshot never really had much dialogue, so his giving of the thumbs up isn't out of character and provides some levity in what was becoming a tense situation.

Sokka has a history of breaking seriousness for borderline sexist humor, and I don't subscribe to the theory that it was etched away in "The Warriors of Kyoshi" because he clearly still showed it in "Jet," "The Fortuneteller" and continued being overprotective of his female counterparts up through "The Serpent's Pass." So yeah, no complaints on those two besides the fact that the joke was starting to wear out its welcome.

After Aang's CBS-sitcom moment, he meets his other chapter of fangirls, these ones complete with tattoos. OK, I think these fangirls are starting to get a little too obsessive.

Aang apparently has a line too as he turns his back on everyone, does a "hold rage between his teeth" kind of rant and walks out. This is one area that got debate on the FTSW podcast that I'd like to address.

When I first read it, it felt like an overreaction to what was clearly a well-intentioned homage. But when I thought about it, Aang is the last of a race and spirituality. The tattoos are a sacred bond with his people.

As a black belt in a martial art and a Confirmed Catholic, I know what kind of work goes into reaching high goals on both a religious and a secular level. Both mean a tremendous amount. For Aang to see a group of people adapt a major tenet of his spirituality for their fandom not only insults his identity, but throws the fact that he's the only one that understands the egregiousness of this action (because everyone else is dead) right back in his face.

I consider his actions in the moment to be completely reasonable. Where I take issue is where the talk goes next.

Katara checks on him and raises the point I've been calling for – that Aang knows from the Guru that nation separation is an illusion, but Aang responds by yelling that he doesn't want the nations to be one and the same.

And this is my problem with this book. Aang is so clearly motivated by the wrong cause. He wants the nations separate because it's HIS will, because HE finds Yu Dao to be an abomination, and he's willing to violate the moral code he so wants to cling to by killing Zuko, if it means that he can feel better about how unique his culture is.

Ozai should be sent over to Aang in this book. I think they'd be great friends this time around. They're saying the same deranged things!

Ok, I need a minute to rage on something else. Since Katara and Aang have impending war to go to, Sokka needs another ride. And here comes the death of your dreams:

HAHA! You Tokka 'shippers just got trolled.

Thanks for the couple months of hope there, Gene Yang. I can totally see the point in making Zuko single again...

Anyway, this side plot is pretty well-done. It's basically the basic "hide underground, hit pressure points to subdue military vehicles, pretend Sokka's still a 'plan guy' despite the fact that all his plans are the same freaking thing on various scales."

The scene where all the insanity comes upon the town is also pretty cool, and the double-page spread of both armies staring each other down is the best couple pages in the book (possibly due to the non-dialogue on the spread.)

There were some fun moments in-between this like Smellerbee being played competently by outmaneuvering Aang and a sneak attack inside a Fire Nation tank, but I still have rants to go.

So Aang goes into ANOTHER supernatural rage when he sees Zuko coupled with the battle, so Katara has to take him aside and say that seeing this town showed her the future of Kataang:

I guess Aang's facial hair was some kind of midlife crisis.

Aang goes into seclusion to talk to Roku when he realizes (Three issues too late) that he is, in fact, in a cross-nation relationship, adding yet another contradiction in his actions to consider.

Following a battle where the Earth King has a panic attack and Toph's students attempt to perform Shakespeare during battle, Aang finally realizes he's full of crap and that Zuko was right.

He appeals to the Earth King's emotional side, and we get one final highlight for this story: Kuei doesn't just agree right away. He acts like a competent leader and is willing to consider his actions.

Leadership! Realism! I love it!

A story like this shouldn't resolve so quickly, and I'm glad Gene Yang treated this situation and the reader base like adults on this one.

So things start to unwind, as Aang tells Zuko that he was right the whole time and that he's a flawed Avatar for being unable to let go of people he cares about... Wait, What?

Talk about a contradictory scene. What are you trying to say? Aang's flawed because he didn't kill the guy who was advocating for the morally correct position? Are you saying that Aang still believes he's right but bent to Zuko's will so he wouldn't alienate himself from his friends?

Unless Aang's ideal was what you think is correct (and even then you've played him off as not only flawed, but pathetically incompetent), he did what an avatar should: Take the proper moral action and bring peace with as little collateral damage as possible.

Oh and I should have brought this up before, but Aang is upset with Roku for pushing for murder and decides he can no longer get advice from him. So he burns the fire nation portion of his necklace...

WHAT?!

Ok, first of all, I thought he could summon past lives to consult with at any time. How does burning one link of a necklace sever that?

Second, why did he need to burn it? Couldn't he just, you know, not summon him?

Third, this moment is a monumental development for Aang: the point where he forges his own path as an avatar and moves from constantly needing help from past lives. It should be played as a passing of the torch; a conversation where Roku accepts his decision, but cannot be of service anymore as it's uncharted waters. He would leave the out to receive advice at any time, but he tells Aang that if he wants to follow a new path, it's best he make his own calls.

This did not come off as a teacher passing the mantle on to his student. This came off as a high school girl breaking up with her boyfriend because he doesn't like that she joined a club outside of their social circle. WHAT. A. LOAD.

And so the book ends with Zuko (who apparently is just now getting over being suicidal for some reason) calling for his sister (fresh from Arkham Asylum, evidently) to help him search for his mother. My guess is the Zuko's break-up will be addressed in "The Search" because this is clearly going to be a Fire Nation/Royal Family story with the rest of the cast worked in as supporting characters.

Overall, I can't say that I hate this book. What it did well was done brilliantly, the goals in terms of plot were achieved and enough was left unresolved that anyone who read this trilogy will feel obligated to see the plot points resolve in "The Search."

However, this book soured me on the actual execution. Interesting ideas like Tokka and Aang actually having a philosophical debate with his past lives were killed, and I couldn't help but feel like Gene Yang was using the characters' motivations and ideals from Book Two instead of the end of the series. Zuko felt like he'd regressed back to needing to travel solo, Sokka didn't have the warrior's fortitude he had in Book Three battles, and the Earth King clearly learned nothing in his travels about wanting peace.

FTSW said Gene Yang 'shipped Zutara, so maybe he held their motivations at the last point that that relationship made sense, but something felt off about this part.

With some dialogue work, this could still work as a made-for-TV movie, but I wouldn't push that hard for it. As for whether you should buy it, I'd say so simply because it concludes what had been a good first two parts and teases what should be an excellent follow-up. The art makes it worth getting and there's a lot to like. Just know that while the good outweighs the bad, that doesn't mean there isn't an obese level of bad.

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Comic Book Reviews: Detective Comics #14 and Green Lantern #14

I LOVE voting!

That seems a little like a non sequitur, but thanks to my "I Voted" sticker, I was allowed one free comic, so I was very happy to be able to gain a second review this week.

And for those curious, the store where Batgirl is set for the pull box was shorted on Batgirl Annuals, so that review is coming... at some point. (Get on it, DC!)

Anyway, on to the reviews!

Detective Comics #14

Detective is taking an interesting stance in its latest arc in that while most books are focusing on one central villain and theme for a few issues, each villain is leading into another each month, with all the stories linking together. And it's an awesome idea.


Following the attack on Bruce Wayne at the end of last month's issue, Penguin knocks out the assassin before Bruce can even put his plan partially into action. This makes him look like more of a hero in Gothamites' minds and puts a temporary end to his part of the story.

This leads to a dialogue between Bruce and Damian (though for some reason Damian's dialogue sounds like a weird hybrid of Dick's and his own) and I see the second thing in Detective that I like: actual detective work.

Batman finds out that businesses owned by Penguin are the link in a series of attacks by Poison Ivy, who I guess left the Birds of Prey a few months back because she's an environmental zealot.

Deduction, seduction and scientific development dominated this story, and it was awesome. The back-up story also had real purpose, as it helped to explain the bizarre development revealed at the end of the main story.

I like the idea to make the back-up story a way to add depth to the main story has been a good call for this book the last couple of issues, and I hope that trend continues.

Overall, it was a very nicely done story that makes me want to see the next stage next month, even if I know it's going to get tossed around with the pending crossover issues over the next few months.

This isn't a bad jump-on point for new readers, and though it's not the strongest Batman book right now, it's finally at least worth the price of admission.

Green Lantern #14

The strangest thing here: My biggest debate is whether this book is better at $2.99 so it's more accessible or whether another dollar for eight more pages would be the best thing here.

That is an EXCELLENT position for a book to be in, as Green Lantern has hit a home run with Simon Baz. If this guy doesn't get to keep a solo book for himself, DC will have found yet another way to sacrifice money for the ability to piss people off. (A trait which will see itself discussed at length in a few weeks with my Batgirl Tribute, by the way)

Baz is absolutely amazing in this role and his meeting with the Justice League was perfect. The League was cordial enough to not spook Baz while still being the intimidating force they should be, and Baz reacted exactly how he should, with a desire to cooperate mixed with pure awe.

Also, because Baz really isn't a set Lantern yet, the crossover stuff is limited enough to get readers interested while not confusing them. The hippie Guardians appear to not be forgotten and I'm excited to see where their story goes, especially with a Black Lantern in their area.

Also, while the Third Army is basically an extension of the clearly corrupt current Guardians, they still feel threatening on their own. I like how the First Lantern is making sure the Guardians have to acknowledge his presence and I'm excited to see his reveal as well.

But the star of this book (as it should be) is Baz, as his story is the kind of origin that is so rare in an age of already-established heroes. If you can find Issue #13 and Issue #0, this man's story is just a great read.

It's already starting to reach that point where the arc will get too deep for new readers, so if you want a look, look now.

Death of the Family continues Wednesday. See you then!

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NO! The Timberwolves are NOT too white!

I nearly had an aneurysm on two separate occasions today. The first came while I was listening to "Gridlock," a Las Vegas-based radio sports talk show, and they talked about stories like this one.

A fresh blend of American black, white and international talent? KILL IT!

If you don't want to click that link (and not doing so may be better for your well-being) the article basically talks about how there is outrage in Minnesota that ONLY one-third of the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA squad is Black. The other two-thirds are evenly split between American Whites and Europeans.

It is being called racially motivated in order to sell to the Minneapolis-St. Paul market.

Let me just answer this question right now: Are the Timberwolves too white? NO! NO! NO! WTF IS THIS CRAP?!

First off, let's get into what this insinuation implies. First, it implies that because the NBA is 75 percent Black, teams have to meet a quota well above 50 percent or else it's racially motivated.

A third of this team – 5 out of 15 players – is black, including one of the team's two star players (Brandon Roy). The team is in the business of winning in order to generate profit; clearly hiring black athletes isn't an issue.

Second, even though we've been continuing to hear about the growing skill of international players, and GMs like that they may come cheaper, this implies that black NBA players are SO genetically superior to white ones that you couldn't possibly be hiring these players to be effective within the salary cap and win games.

I'd just note that Kevin Love is the other star of this team. He's an American white and he is awesome. It will be a work trying to keep him around if the team is not winning and can't pay him well. OF COURSE the team is trying to win and save cap room for that day!

Lastly, even if we assume that what they're saying is true, that Minnesota is pandering to the white people by hiring talent on race and not talent, Minneapolis-St. Paul is a town that seeks winners and town pride, not to feel similar.

The Twins' attendance dropped off when they started to suck. The Wild had decent attendance, but it took off when they started winning. The Vikings have had support whether Dennis Green or Mike Tice was coach; whether Randall Cunningham or Gus Frerotte was quarterback.

Heck, even the Timberwolves got HUGE numbers there with Kevin Garnett and Latrell freaking Sprewell!

If the talent is SUCH a bad move, they'll start losing, the town will grow tired of them and they'll have to make moves to fix the team. By saying they're pandering, you'd have to think that your city is the most patently racist that they'll take losing as long as more whites are on the court than blacks.

It says great things about our society that we've reached the point that white is no longer the status quo in all aspects of life.

At the same time, however, it says terrible things no matter what the status quo is, those involved will throw massive tantrums if their position is questioned.

This b.s. was wrong in the 1960s when Don Haskins was mocked for having a mostly black Texas Western basketball team, and it's wrong here and now.

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Death of the Family Part 2: Catwoman #13 and other book thoughts

OK, so I think we all know why you clicked this, so let's get to that review first.

Catwoman #13

This story... oh wow, this story!

To put it bluntly, this book attempted to make the Joker's plan seem like it's been going for a while, but while it introduced some good ideas, I can't figure out for the life of me why anything was happening.

I am willing to accept that someone (Joker) planted a possession of Selina's dead friend to mess with her head. What I don't get is why a second one was introduced via a gigantic exploding chess piece.

For that matter, why was there a gigantic game of chess being conducted around the city? Is that just something that Gothamites who spend a lot of time at the Chess Club do? And why does Catwoman have to be part of it?

I know this whole thing was probably a setup by the Joker, but just because Joker's actions behave randomly doesn't mean they ARE random. He knows what he's doing and he has a grand scheme. The scheme may be random chaos but he gets you need to be organized to gain chaos.

Yes, I hear how that sounds, but that's how Joker differs from a villain like Carnage in Spider-Man. Carnage is just about chaos and suffering, and therefore just kills without any care for who or what is in the way. Joker is trying to prove his point of chaos to Gotham and Batman, and therefore needs to have that goal in everything he does. Joker wants chaos everywhere, Carnage is chaos embodied.

But yeah, the bottom line is that in a DC Universe where Tony Daniel and Scott Snyder's Joker exists, I don't really buy a story this crazy existing unless it's some deep-rooted fear for Selina or she's under hypnosis thanks to the Mad Hatter.

It's an interesting enough read, and for those collecting DOTF stories, I'm sure that news of an attack on Selina will be relayed to Batman, which means it doesn't hurt to follow this storyline.

But man-oh-man, do I ever wonder what happened to the Catwoman story that sat pretty high in the "Night of the Owls" crossover rankings?

Anyway, while at the comic store, I did catch a glimpse of some other books that may be of interest. I won't go into full reviews, but I'll share brief thoughts.

Green Lantern Corps and Green Lantern New Guardians #13

Both are in the Third Army crossover, but are very hard to follow if you haven't been into GL books for a while.

I am looking forward to seeing this in TPB, but you do need to actually sit down to follow it in its current form. Skimming does not work for a story this complex, so either buy all-in or wait for the trade.

Phantom Stranger #1

After reading Jesse Scheeden's review of this book, I had no desire to buy it, but I took a look anyway.

And Jesse, all I can say is: WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?!

No, not because the book is good. It's actually kind of average. What upsets me is how this reviewer somehow glossed over (and by that, I mean ignored entirely) the fact that this was RAVEN'S DEBUT IN THE NEW 52!!!

How do you not bring that up? She's been a prominent and popular figure in DC and the fact that both she and Trigon debut in this issue and that gets no play is mind-blowing.

As I said, the tale of Judas Iscariot, er, the Phantom Stranger is not that interesting overall, but sets up what I'm guessing will lead to an important part of the upcoming Trinity War (given that what occurs is part of a "bargain").

I personally didn't buy it because a book that is so clearly a universe-builder will inevitably lead me into a ridiculous amount of books just to follow what is going on. For this issue, though, Raven and Stranger fans will definitely want a look.

No reviews of DC next week, but keep an eye out for my review of Dark Horse Comics' The Promise Part 3, as well as my thoughts on the Marvel NOW! Initiative.

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Comic Book Reviews: Nightwing #13 and Red Hood & The Outlaws #13

Neither of these books have any connection to "Death of the Family," and yet they both had more references to the issue than Batgirl. Heck, this week's Nightwing book had more references to a Joker-Batgirl showdown than Batgirl!

A week has passed and I'm really seeing how little of a prologue that book was.

Anyway, on to the real reviews!

Nightwing #13

I was really amped up for this one because Lady Shiva was supposed to be used, but I only wound up with one present-day page about her, and so I was left feeling disappointed.

And it's not just that there was only one page; the one page was nowhere near Nightwing. This showdown is playing out like it's not going to last very long, which is a terrible move if that's what happens.

The first volume of the Batgirl comic (with Cassandra Cain as Batgirl) built up a showdown with Lady Shiva for more than a year's worth of issues. And when the showdown happened, it got most of the book and was a tremendous fight. Shiva is supposed to be one of the few villains who can do serious damage to Batman, and I think that trying  to squeeze the Joker into this equation will wind up cramming this story into being a total waste.

Thankfully, one scene that wasn't crammed was Nightwing's dialogue with the Penguin. Penguin did a nice job of getting under Nightwing's skin, and I was really into it. (Unrelated note: I find it interesting that some writers like John Layman give Penguin a feeling like the one in the Arkham City game, while other books like this one give him the Burgess Meredith feeling. I like both, but I wish they could better reconcile those two.)

Nightwing's exchange with Batgirl was a fun read, but it was so inconsequential that it just felt forced. The timeline of that scene also creates an interesting path of reading to follow. Reading next month's Batgirl hopefully will help that scene feel more natural.

Overall, it isn't a bad read, and Shiva definitely proves competent (even if I could have called the twist ending the second they spotted the boat). That said, it was not one of the better efforts for this book.

I wish they hadn't burned Shiva now because her arc is going to be forgotten once Joker gets into the picture. Buy if you collect, but otherwise, you're not getting a strong arc nor are you getting anything that really affects DOTF.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #13

I think I brought this up two months ago, but these covers are GROSSLY misleading. The cover this month has Blackfire choking Starfire and the title says she is at her mercy – a really compelling lead-in to the story...

If it was what was happening. What actually is going on is the two sisters are fighting side by side and (SPOILER) there is literally no betrayal or infighting anywhere in this book.

If you can get past the egregious false advertising, though, this is actually a really fun read. Starfire's friend has to make a tough decision to help end the war and it really feels like a big deal.

Additionally, it was nice to see the human characters assimilate so nicely with the Tamaranean army. Even Isabel (who is quickly becoming a must-retain character) has gotten over her initial confusion and freak-outs.

What I don't like is how we had to listen to the ENTIRE rally for the opposing army, even dragging the Green Lantern Corps into the story. This was dull and could have been cut down to maybe one word bubble and gotten the desired feeling.

But let's not lie: What people will care about is the final page or two. It becomes clear that DOTF will be coming to the book, and aside from the fact that I wish I had just looked at the spoiled page (this last page isn't THAT great), it will at least whet your appetite for what is coming.

It's the end of an arc so don't buy if you haven't been keeping up, but definitely read if you have and get ready for a Superman appearance next month!

A second blog today will be up for Catwoman #13, so keep an eye out. Lastly, as always, follow me at twitter.com/seantherebel and Like my page at www.facebook.com/SeanNetworkBlogs.