DETECTIVE COMICS 1 :
As we start the issue we have Batman ( Bruce Wayne ) running along Gotham's rooftops and going over his past with the Joker from the past six years. With that timeline that would put his first encounter with the Joker a year or so before meeting Green Lantern to help form the Justice League. He received a tip on a probable location for the Joker and as he barges in he finds the Joker in a first fight with some thug that looks like he came out of a Hostel movie. Joker makes a few legal wisecracks then creates a diversion to escape but before Batman can go after him he discovers there is a young girl trapped in the building which is now on fire because of the bomb used by the Joker to escape. The Police Dept. arrives on scene and opens fire on Batman while he trying to get the girl out. He notices that she is being taken care so he takes his leave and we are left with Commissioner Gordon on scene wondering why Batman was being shot at.
As he drives back to Wayne Manor/Batcave he goes over in his mind what had just happened that night. Once in the cave he talks to Alfred and is informed he will be upgrading the Batmobile with some new software. He is also informed that he has stood up another young lady (typical) and asks for Alfred's opinion and in response he says maybe she lose the "cat" he as been hanging around lately. Obviously implying Catwoman (Selina Kyle).
Batman goes and meets up with Gordon as he was requested by him using the Bat Signal. He is informed by Gordon that the little girl who was saved actually was the niece of the man who the Joker was fighting with early in the evening. She is now out of police custody and back with her family.
Batman assumes his pursuit of Joker and ends up at a building which the police have surrounded and as the police approach someone sitting in a chair in one of the rooms Batman figures out it isn't the Joker but the police have no time for that same conclusion and find out that "the person" is really a big doll and blows itself up. Batman continues to track the Joker onto a train. The fight goes back and forth and makes it's way onto a building which after the Joker inflicts multiple knife wounds on Batman is finally thrown off and is defeated for the time being.
Joker is transported to Arkham Asylum (crazy house) and once alone is confronted by someone that is hiding in the shadows. Joker said you were going to send your best family member (referring to the in beginning of the story) and the shadowy figure responds by saying that was my son and you would have enjoyed working for him. Joker said lets get this over with and we are shown the figure to be verbally named the Dollmaker and has taken a nice to Joker's face and cut it off leaving both men to comment on this is a rebirth for the both of them.
Rating : 3.75/5 - Always loved Batman and having the Joker in this reboot is smart. I enjoy how Batman is shown as not polished yet and is not capable of doing everything correct all of the time. Having the Joker allow himself to be altered by someone is something new as usually he walks by his own drumbeat. But at the same time knowing him he has something in his sick mind that this will ultimately profit him in some way. A very good start of a series that should never been renumbered.
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL 1 :
The story starts off with a man named Andre Briggs standing in front of monitors of world leaders during a conference call. He states that now is the time to organize a group of super powered people to form an international team that works on its own and not under someone. They must be known people ( no masks, secret identities ) and are controllable to a point. The goes through a list of people ranging from Plastic Man ( no) Batman ( no as well ) to Booster Gold (yes) who Briggs sees as a leader he can control
Next we see Booster flying towards Briggs at the Hall of Justice saying he is ready to join up with Superman and Wonder Woman in the Justice League. He is informed that he is misinformed. He is then told he will lead this new "Justice League International" for U.N. sanctioned problems that need to be addressed that normal authorities can't handle. As he is walked towards a conference room we see the rest of the team has been assembled. Guy Gardner, Fire, Ice, Vixen, Red Rocket, Godiva and General Iron. Of course Guy is already complaining. Where is Batman when you need him to punch him in the face. On cue as Guy leaves the team and building he runs into Batman who trys to persuade him to stay and says Booster can lead the team which Guy again disagrees with. Guy believes this team is beneath him as Batman, Superman etc are on the "major" Justice League team. Batman suspects there is another motive behind this JL grouping by the U.N. and he plans to find out what it is.
The team is shown its new jet and all are impressed. They are sent on their first mission which is to find out what happened to a research team. Booser is having a problem finding a seat in the jet while airborne and is introduced to its pilot, Batman. We flash back to the Hall of Justice as we see two men set a bomb to one of the walls and explodes. As they run away they converse stating they won't know what hit them. Back to the team which have been attacked by what looks like lava men from under the ground. They fight them back and then all is quiet on the home front til a giant robot bursts itself from the earth as the team trys to escape it's grasps and regroup.
Rating : 2.5/5 - A decent start to the book. Having Batman in the book will only help. It looks like they are trying to have him set up as an unofficial member of the team that the U.N. does not know about at the same time allows him to keep tabs on this other "Justice League". Though a team book it really focused on only Booster, Guy (at present moment not on the team) and Batman. There was a little interaction with the other characters but this being the first issue I hold out hope that more depth will be allotted to the other members. Overall the book has promise but being "second" tier heroes they are already at a disadvantage.
NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL 1 :
Starts off with Wonder Man (Simon Williams) speaking to a group of super powered people saying that the Avengers caused or created the five most devastating things in earth's history. Ultron, Scarlet Witch, Hulk, Dark Avengers and the Civil War. The group consisting of Anti-Venom, D-Man, Atlas, Ethan Edwards, Goliath, Devil-Slayer, Captain Ultra and Century contemplate what he has to say and whether like him should be proactive instead of reactive as Wonder Man sees the Avengers as.
We next see Atlas and Anti-Venom in disguise outside the Avengers Mansion being directed by Wonder Man to spy inside to see what the Avengers are doing. As tradition when there is down time they are playing cards. Wonder Man decides it is time to attack and Atlas grows and literally rams himself to whole front of the mansion. Battle ensues as Wonder Man tells the Avengers the minute they stop he will stop. Victoria Hand trys to help the Avengers by doing recon on her computer to identify the threats and possible weaknesses. They are able to slow the team down a tad but the building has taken on so much stress it finally crashes down on the Avengers as Wonder Man's team is outside of it. The Thing pops up out of the rubble and one by one of Team Wonder Man takes a lick on him til Atlas finishes him off by pounding him into the ground.
Even though never named, The Revengers, sit back now and survey what the accomplished and pat themselves on the back. They want to unmask the Avengers but Wonder Man stops them and say he knows who they are but what matters is what they are. The Revengers ask Wonder Man what next and we see the team turn its focus to Avengers Tower in the distance. To be continued...
Rating : 3.75/5 - For an action issue I would rank it at least a 4.25 out of five as it was fast paced and with enjoyable destruction with no slow spots. But dialogue was little to be found as I read the comic in less time than the other two reviewed today. A Bendis special. Overall though it was great fun and it's nice to see a team that can stand toe to toe with the Avengers and hand them theirs. I look forward to how this story continue in the Avengers Annual.
No comments:
Post a Comment