Comic of the Week

This week, the best book I read has a bittersweet taste to it because I'm not sure how much of what I liked about it will be explored down the line. Batman: Gates of Gotham #2, written by Scott Snyder and Kyle Higgins, with art by Trevor McCarthy, continues to tell the story of the builders of Gotham back in the 1800's. Meanwhile, in the present day, we have Dick Grayson as Batman, Tim Drake as Red Robin, Damian Wayne as Robin and Cassandra Cain as Black Bat, working together to figure out who's targeting the first three families of Gotham. The plot itself, and the way it gives us this history of Gotham is fine and solid. The mystery is intriguing enough. But what makes this book stand out for me is the relationships between the Bat family. This is exactly the type of thing that's made the Bat books so great the past couple of years and I hope the reboot in a few months doesn't waste what's been built.

Where the first issue was a showcase for how Dick and Tim work together, this issue is about Damian and Cassandra. Damian is a character that, in the right hands, brings a lot to the table. He's not a snot nosed punk. He has an attitude, but he's also well equipped to back that up. He's arrogant, judgemental and rash, for sure. But he's not stupid. He's also not afraid of anything, including offending anyone, with his version of the truth. And no matter how much the rest of the Bat family may bristle at his comments, they can also be affected by the grains of truth that come out of Damian's insults. His presence  adds an element of conflict that makes the relationships between the Bat siblings come alive. Seeing him team up with Cassandra and not be impressed is fodder for a whole series. One that we will likely never get.

Scott Snyder will continue writing Batman when the reboot comes, which is a good thing. However, he'll be writing Bruce, not Dick. I'm more than confident in his abilities as a writer, but I'll miss his take on Dick as Batman. Interestingly, Kyle Higgins will be writing Dick as Nightwing, so it's good that he seems to get the character here. I only hope the Nightwing book doesn't overlook Dick's time as Batman. Even though he is going back to his previous identity, his time as Batman has been a defining moment in his life. His relationship with Damian should also not fall by the wayside.

All in all, this book may not be mindblowing, but it is solid. It's a perfect example of what good comics are supposed to do. It delivers a solid story that comes through with consistent characterizations and interractions that ring true. It's really that simple.

Comics of the Week - So Far

Maybe I unknowingly left the best for last, but I have 3 books left to read this week and I still haven't been knocked out by anything. They haven't been horrible (for the most part), but they haven't wowed me either. Here's some of what I've read.

Superman #710 - I actually stopped reading it several pages in and skipped to the ending to get to the point. Bruce and Clark in the past, with a retcon of how they first met, before they were Superman and Batman. The problem is, we get a different version of their first meeting every so often and it just becomes the same thing over and over again. Let's move on.

Batgirl #20 was solid, with a couple of fun moments, but not nearly as much fun as it has been in previous issues. This wrapped up the two part arc started last issue, with Stephanie and Proxy on their own in a brand new, high tech HQ courtesy of Batman Inc. This may actually be the best issue of the week for me, so far. Batgirl has really come into her own and now is a contender in Gotham, without Oracle watching over
her. She's grown up and I look forward to reading more.

 
Red Robin #22. Tim Drake is a badass. Really, that's all you need to know. There have been better issues of this series though. However, there are some really great moments that detail just how much of a badass Tim is. Overall, it was solid, and no complaints. I can't say I was blown away by anything though. In coming issues, he'll be dealing with Ra's al Ghul, which was great fun the last time it happened when this series first started.

 G.I. Joe Vol. 2 #0. Yeah, that numbering can be a little confusing. This is basically an intro to what's to come in IDW's G.I. Joe line after the death of Cobra Commander. They are starting all the numbering from scratch, which I'm not sure is necessary. However, this line of books has not disappointed me yet. This wasn't a full issue, though. It was several small preludes to the new series, tying directly from the previous titles. Not enough to sink into in any story, but certainly enough to whet your appetite or get a feel for what this is all about. I am really looking forward to the full 

relaunch in the coming months.