Birds of Prey 108 and 109

Birds of Prey #108
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott

Gail Simone's final issue on this title is a tear jerker. You really feel that the writer is saying goodbye to her characters this issue. I don't even know how to explain how good this issue is. Just read it. Characters from Simone's entire run come back to defend Oracle against Spy Smasher. The "core team" cries together as they say their goodbyes and we find out who Misfit really is. It was amazing. Gail, thanks for making Birds of Prey a great read through your entire run.

Birds of Prey #109
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Nicola Scott

Bedard begins his fill-in run with this issue. This was a very enjoyable read that I believe lives up to what Simone has done with this book. Oracle and Black Canary discuss the Green Arrow-Black Canary relationship and I like how Oracle basically says she shouldn't marry him. It was a nice way of looking back at each character's histories. There were some major continuity error though, the use of the Ventriloquist when Batgirl was around (he didn't come about until after she was crippled) and the mention that Connor's mother was Shado. Shado was not Connor's mother. Other than those errors, this was a great issue. My personal favorite about it must have been Big Barda playing with Pokemon Cards! Oh and this tied into Countdown perfectly.

Batman Confidential 7 and 8

Batman Confidential #7
Written by Michael Green
Art by Denys Cowan

This was an okay issue. I liked Batman's inner dialogue and it is always fun to see a Year One Batman. But I don't know how well this clashes with other Joker Origin stories and frankly, I think this is a story they need to stop telling. So he never was a failed comedian? Is his name Jack? Was he a gangster or a regular guy? This story takes the former approach but I feel like maybe they should stop re-telling the Joker's origin because in a couple of years someone will come along and tell a different version. Personally, I think they should either say that Joker is nuts and tells different stories or stick with the "killing Joke" origin.


Batman Confidential #8
Written by Michael Green
Art by Denys Cowan

This issue was a lot better. I am starting to get used to the art and the story was better too. Seeing the Pre-Joker Joker all excited to see Batman made me smile. The Joker enjoys having Batman around, it is a game to him. I love that. Bruce's relationship with Lorna Shore is kind of dull and forced and to be honest every new Batman story seems to introduce a new girl and they never stay for long and every time it is supposed to be Bruce's love of his life. I think writers should start using proven anchors like Vicki Vale and Julie Madison instead of introducting new girls of their own.

Hippolyta And Athena: Mega Bitches

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #11
Written by J. Torres
Art by Paco Diaz

Ya so it looks like everyone who used to be Diana's friend from her mythical life has become a bitch. Whether it is her mother or Athena herself. Its strange, I have a feeling Circe and maybe someone else is behind all this. Circe is certainly not dead by any means. I mean she can't be. There is no way. Amazons Attack is turning out to be a pretty cool event, I just hope that it is explained in the end why Hippolyta and Athena are a couple of bitches now. Mind-control? Posession? Doppelgangers? It can't really be them, it just can't be. I have to hand it to the artist, Diaz created some great art for this issue, espcaially with so many characters, landscapes, and such; he probably had fun doing it.

Batman 665 - 668

Batman #665
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Andy Kubert

Not sure why but the first time I read this I was very confused. Now I get it. It seems Batman is being visited by three ghosts- or versions of himself. The first one was the crazed cop Batman who shot the Joker, the second was the prostitute killing Bane-like Batman, and their is a third he has not yet met. That's pretty crazy stuff. I think Morrison's run is finally picking up after all.





Batman #666
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Andy Kubert

While I don't normally enjoy stories that aren't in continuity- this was pretty good. We meet the third ghost in this issue. It is Damian Wayne, who in the near future, long after his father is dead, has become an evil Batman who sold his soul. It was really cool and it was cool to find out what has happened to certain characters since Batman's death. I still have no idea how this is all going to play out, but that's typical Morrison fashion. It won't all make sense until the end.

Batman #667
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by J.H. Williams III

We take a break from the Black casebook storyline for this story, Morrison's new take on the silver age Club of Heroes concept. I loved it. I am not a big silver age fan but this update was really cool. We learn that their are a bunch of Batman-like heroes around the world who meet every so often as the Club of Heroes. They have really goofy names and such but Morrison write them in a completely serious murder mystery. It was almost CLUE-like in how they all meet at this house and have to solve a mystery. Awesome.



Batman #668
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by J.H. Williams III

Part 2 of the Club of Heroes story arc was in this issue. I didn't really enjoy this one as much as the first issue mainly because I had forgotten who was who. I will have to go back and read this story arc as a whole when its over. But it was good. The art is amazing. Williams is a great artist and perfect for this storyline.

Aquaman 54 and 55

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #54
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus

Haha I liked the reference to Seinfeld on the cover of this issue. Anyways, this was another great issue. The mystery deepens even more this time around as we learn the new Aquaman's dad believed his son dead, and even saw him die months before we first saw him in issue 40. Tempest meets an interesting Jelly-fish girl, Aquaman battles the Human Flying Fish, and more Topo fun. I am sad this series is ending, it's a lot of fun.

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #55
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus

Most people who are reading this won't even realize that this issue solved a mystery that has been going on for like 5 years. We now know why San Diego sunk into the water and why the survivors could breathe underwater. It was all part of a scary plan concocted by Vandal Savage. The whole thing being planned by Super villains totally fits this book in a way it doesn't fit the other books. The mystery being revealed wasn't anticlimactic at all. I hope Williams gets to do another book after this ends because he is a great writer.

Teen Titans 48 and 49

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #48
Written by Adam Beechen
Art by Al Barrionuevo

This Amazons Attack issue was just okay. It focuses on Wonder Girl and Supergirl trying to break Wonder Girl's mom out of one of the internment camps. It had a lot of politcal stuff in it, which I like, but I don't know. It kinda feels forced. I really hope they don't go any further with the WG/Robin relationship than that one kiss. That would be weird. I did like the Supergirl/Miss Martian fight though.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #49
Written by Adam Beechen
Art by Al Barrionuevo

Ew! They kissed again. Their relationship is just wrong in so many ways but whatever, this felt like filler before McKeever takes over which is what it was. The art here was really odd at some parts. The first time we see Robin and the last time we see Kid Devil, they both look like girls. Something about their lips. Anyway, I can't wait for next issue.

Superman Batman 38 and 39

Superman/Batman #38
Written by Alan Burnett
Art by Dustin Nguyen

Hmmm....not quite sure what was going on here. Maybe I should have read last issue first to refresh. But it looks like this cube device is driving Superman mad and Batman is on the case and darkseid is behind it all? And maybe Scarecrow too? I dunno...but it wasn't bad. Just confusing.

Superman/Batman #39
Written by Alan Burnett
Art by Dustin Nguyen

Well I can't say that Burnett wins any points for originality this time. Superman being controlled and pitted against Batman has been done like a million times, even Superman being controlled by Darkseid has been done a million times before. That is what made me not really enjoy this issue too much. Although, the Scarecrow parts were cool. I hope Burnett is building toward something cooler than a Superman/Batman fight because it has been done and I don't really want to see it again.

The Best With Just One Issue

Booster Gold (Volume 2) #1
Written by Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz
Art and Cover by Dan Jurgens

Who would've thought that a series starring Booster Gold would be my favorite series that DC is putting out. I know that is a bold statement to make after just one issue, but I think it is a justified statement. This was good....and I mean real good. Anyone who is fan of the DCU, who is a continuity buff, who loves the interconnectedness of this fictional universe, will love this series. It felt like 52 again reading this, it even had 52's time stamps. There were a lot of moments that made me smile in this issue. The background flashbacks to points in DCU history, Booster's rejection of Justice League membership, the last page spread, Rip Hunter's new blackboard giving away future DCU secrets in code, all of it was very exciting and promising. I can't wait for the next issue.

Brave and the Bold 5 and 6

Brave and the Bold #5
Written by Mark Waid
Art by George Pérez

This book is awesome! Waid hit another one out of the park with this issue. Batman punching Brainiac 5 was a total geek out moment. I love how Batman, a thousand years behind the Legion, can still outsmart them. I think we all know that is because Batman kicks ass. End of story. Really fun issue.

Brave and the Bold #6
Written by Mark Waid
Art by George Pérez

This was a suspenseful action-packed conclusion to the first story arc of this series. It was really good. I liked how Supergirl saw the future of the DCU but now doesn't remember it. I liked the Challengers of the Unknown (although I know next to nothing about them) and I liked the time travel aspect to it. It was confusing but a lot of fun. Congrats to Waid and Perez for such a fantastic opening arc for this book.

Atom 13 and 14

All-New Atom #13
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Mike Norton

I never read Sword of the Atom, but not I am interested to check it out. In this issue, Ryan journeys to see the tiny people of South America that Ray Palmer lived with in that series. Pretty crazy people. In fact, they were a bit comedic and played for laughs here. They all believed Ray Palmer to be a God or an Enemy. But It was all in good fun. The ending was cool and I am looking forward to seeing Ryan team up with Donna, Jason, and Bob.

All-New Atom #14
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Mike Norton

This was another spectacularly fun issue. We go to the City By the Atom's Dog's Ass as Ryan so eloquently put it with Bob, Donna, and Jason looking for Ray Palmer of course. And in that city they enter a place that seems like Heaven. It even has dead heroes and villains including some favorites of mine! But it isn't real at all. But for a moment there, it was really cool to see all those characters in one place. I liked it. Although I never thought it was actually real. It looks like Ray Palmer doesn't want to be found. I have a feeling he isn't even on New Earth anymore.

Action Comics 852 - 854

Action Comics #852
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art and Cover by Brad Walker

Well this was a fun little Countdown Crossover. It was cool to see the origin of Jimmy's signal watch. This isn't imperative to read if you are reading Countdown but it is a nice crossover and shows you how Jimmy starts thinking of becoming Mr. Action (Fitting that this is running in ACTION Comics). I liked seeing the Kryptonite Man again as he is a treat for the eyes. Other than that, no comment really.

Action Comics #853
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art and Cover by Brad Walker

Part 2 of this Countdown Crossover was awesome! This was a kick-ass issue. I loved Jimmy's feelings about being a superhero- the cowl hair, the hot girl fan- it was exactly what I would think if I all of a sudden gained powers and became a superhero. Jimmy's new power of knowing secret identities is cool and ends my problem with Jimmy knowing about Jason Todd over in Countdown. The ubernet is a cool concept and I hope it shows up more around the DCU. Wonderful issue. I think I am actually starting to like Jimmy Olsen.

Action Comics #854
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art and Cover by Brad Walker

This was a neat conclusion to the Countdown Crossover. Jimmy Olsen get to keep Krypto....and the biggest surprise of all, he knows Clark Kent is Superman. I actually like this development, it kind've makes Jimmy more Superman's pal then ever before. I do wonder where Krypto has been in space for the last year and why he came back at that exact moment. That stuff will be answered in time I suppose. This was a nice arc. Kurt is a great Superman writer and under appreciated for it.

Justice League 11 and 12

Justice League of America #11
Written by Brad Meltzer
Art by Gene Ha

Um...ya. Well, this wasn't really a Justice League Story. It was more of a story featuring two Justice League members but um..ya. Weird. But anyways, it was okay. You do get a very caustophobic experience reading this, you almost feel like you are right there with Red Arrow and Vixen, but that is more because of Gene Ha's amazing art and not Meltzer's writing. We learn that Vixen has lost her powers and is now using other metahuman's powers for her own. But ya, not a Justice League story.

Justice League of America #12
Written by Brad Meltzer
Art by Ed Benes

Thank God! This is Meltzer's final Justice League issue. After the wonderful Identity Crisis, I expected this run to be amazing. But it has been consistently slow, bland, and full of annoying narraration boxes where you are not sure who is speaking. Not to mention that no one in the League calls eachother by their code names. Now, this issue had all of those problems but there was some light in the darkness. I liked the whole day-in-the-life monitor duty thing and the art was good. I was also happy to see Martian Manhunter and Aquaman making their cameo roles but damn am I glad to see Meltzer leaving. Dwayne McDuffie will be much better than this (Let's hope). Oh and is Geo-Force a League member or not! And was Black Canary a founder or not!

Supergirl 18 - 20

Supergirl (Volume 5) #18
Written by Joe Kelly
Art by Alé Garza and Adam Archer

Well, the doppelganger wasn't Linda Danvers, it was Dark Angel trying to mess with Supergirl's mind. It seems the monitors wanna make sure Supergirl "belongs" on our earth and isn't an anomaly. I liked how what Dark Angel was saying was similar to the complains current fans have about this Supergirl. That was a nice touch by Kelly and I think he made his point in the end by proving this Supergirl is here to stay.

Supergirl (Volume 5) #19
Written by Joe Kelly
Art by Alé Garza

Supergirl flies across the country making amends with the people she has hurt. Beginning with Boomerang and ending with Superman. In this way, Joe Kelly caps off his run perfectly. I really feel like this is a new era for the character and she is going to be a lot less angsty now. Joe Kelly's run, while confusing sometimes, he did the best he could with what he was given. I applaud him for that. Great issue.

Supergirl (Volume 5) #20
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Renato Guede

Tony Bedard begins his fill-in arc by crossing over with Amazons Attack. Now that turned me off reading this at first but after cracking it open, I was amazed at how well-done it was. This was definitely the best issue of this series yet. Supergirl is more likeable than ever, which makes sense after the previous issue, and she is drawn anotimically correct and not anorexic. We get inside her mind and she doesn't seem like a total bitch. I loved it! Plus seeing the civilian side of Amazons Attack was refreshing. There was also nice use of Supergirl's powers with the Super-Breath and her weakness against magic. A very good start for Bedard.

Booster Gold Reviews

Issues:

#0
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#1,000,000

Hawkgirl 65 and 66

Hawkgirl #65
Written by Walter Simonson
Art by Renato Arlem

This was the penultimate issue of Hawkgirl and despite being on the cover, Hawkwoman doesn't make a single appearance inside the issue. Weird. But it was actually pretty good, I am glad that this book is going out on such a high-note. I liked the art and the banter between Hath-Set and the Hawks was well-written, there weren't anything that stuck out as bad as this series usually is.

Hawkgirl #66
Written by Walter Simonson
Art by Renato Arlem

Wow, Simonson sure knows how to end a book! I really really liked this finale. It wasn't pointless, we actually got closer to a long running Hawk arc. Shiera's soul has left Kendra and Kendra is just one woman again. Does this mean Kendra won't be reincarnated? Probably ya but it was great to see such a change happen. Hawkman and Hawkgirl can now go their seperate because they are not really the star-crossed lovers fated to be together now that Shiera has left Kendra. It was really awesome to see Shiera speaking to Carter through Kendra and sad at the same time. Thanks for giving a great finish Simonson to what wasn't the best series DC was putting out. Maybe I didn't give you enough credit after all.

Flash Reviews

Issues:

#231