Notes on Robin

Ok, I have a pretty strong feeling who this wierd assassin character in Robin right now really is.

Look at the clues.

Body size - though that really doesn't add up to much in comics
Skills
She's wearing a full face mask.
add apparent knowledge from the most recent issue and something just clicks in my mind.

This is Cassandra Cain.

I hate the fact that if this really is her that she is still being used as generic ninjagirl assassin villain. Then again, I may be way off.

All Star Batman & Robin is Awesome!

I'm going to get a lot of flak for this, but I think All Star Batman & Robin is awesome. I can't wait to see how the series wraps up. There is so much that could happen, and I can't wait to read it. Frank Miller is awesome.

Ok, this is where I take a breath at just the right moment and deliver an ill concieved punchline.

By awesome, I mean awesome like a car wreck. As bad as it may be, you can't help but watch as medics arrive and pull the bodies from the mangled wreckage. Issue two was a train colliding with the car wreck. Three was a plane making an emergency landing on top of the train. As for issue 4, I'll say Bizarro tossed a cruise ship on the whole mess becuase nobody wants to go on a cruise when they are sad.

The only redeming point in the issue, or the whole series so far, has been the six page fold out of the batcave. Still, even that was tainted by lots of Frank Miller homages. He is basically tagging with his hand that which he did not create - I seem to remember that being called vandalism. Problem is, DC gave him permission for this monstosity.

Still, I suppose I can be content in the knowledge that Frank Miller got Batman. Imagine what he would have created given access to Superman or Wonder Woman. Wait, he did have Superman running (running! Frank, the man can fly) and I think Wonder Woman is on the cover of an upcoming issue. Crap. This will never end...

Comics!

Yeah, it's been a while since I actually typed about comics that came out shortly after they actually came out. I have excuses and no need to make them online. Here's what I thought about yesterday's pull.

52 is still going strong.

Robin 150
Hmmm...well this is crazy. Cassandra has gone off the deep end - or so they want us to think. Thanks Kal for calming my nerves before I read it. Yes, she spoiled it before I read it, but I'm a bit glad. I think I would have seriously lost a nerve if Cass really is crazy.

Green Arrow 62
Spoiler: Ollie beats the crap out of Deathstroke tactically, and calls in the national guard to arrest him. Very very fun to read.

Man-Bat 2
Issue 1 had my curiosity with the wiping of the history the character had. Now with issue 2 I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. The plot didn't advance at all, and the little it did became more twisted. My biggest disappointment? Black Mask is alive, having admitted to surviving Catwoman's point-blank shooting. They don't explain it, but he is alive and has no real point in the series aside from exposition.

Conan 28
Retelling an alternate view to a previous adventure, as a nice homage to Robert E Howard. The art didn't seem quite up to par with the rest of the series to this point, but it was a nice read.

Now, for the lengthy look at Shadowpact #1.

First of all, Day of Vengence was probably the most enjoyable of the preCrisis miniseries. I'm a fan of disfunctional groups who try to act heroic, when pulled off well. The group that gathered in DoV was great, and I wholely enjoyed their antics. Out of the miniseries I have to say I liked Blue Devil and Nightshade. Blue Devil seems to be a lot like Hellboy in action, and Nightshade is just really interesting to me. The showstealer, however, was Detective Chimp. When I read that the group was getting its own ongoing series I was happy - more disfunctional magical adventure!

Reading the first issue I have to admit it didn't have the bite I thought it would have. It opens one year ago for the setup with Superman, who apparently isn't bothered at all by Infinite Crisis which should be going on (becuase, well, after IC there is no Superman and the Shadowpact formed on the brink of IC). The pact themselves seem kinda bland, almost very accepting of each other. Teamwork is one thing, but where is the spice that made them so fun before?

Another thing - the villains are basically the anti-Shadowpact. Same powers, different colors and clothes, and they are evil. Hopefully there will be some good witty banter in the next issue then the groups finally fully enounter each other. I still have hope for the series, but it isn't off to a great start.

comic run !

Note: I will be typing spoilers, so be warned!

Infinite Crisis #6
I'm still really enjoying Inifnite Crisis, but this issue seemed a little...I don't know...crushed together. A lot happened in this issue, so much that I think it could have been split into at least two issues and still flowed well. My problem is that the action wasn't nearly as intense as it should have been, considering the outcome. There are many different stories going on, each needs progression, and as this major event comes to a wrap sacrifices have to be made.

I suppose my biggest problem, was that Superboy's final fight didn't seem all that incredible. I know that Superboy Prime is now some nearly god-like corrupt hero. That battle should have been something absolutely breathtaking, and not the predictable blind-charge-into-tower thing. I would have thought he would have really become worked up after Wondergirl got smacked.

I guess Superboy in Infinite Crisis was supposed to be as shocking as Supergirl in Crisis on Infinite Earths. In any case, it makes for a very nice dark shadow to hang over everyone. Also, Infinite Crisis #7 should prove to be one incredible finale leading into 52.

Teen Titans #34
This single issue has impressed me more than any other single issue starting out OYL, even more than Green Arrow. I absolutely loved the opening, becuase it felt ripped right out of Robocop, being one of my favorite movies of all time. The pacing was really well handled, and the prospects are really interesting.

Raven and Gar no more? That's all Gar's fault, and was bound to happen. Maybe Raven will finally become interesting (she deserves it, well, I want her to be likable personality-wise and not just a tool or shadow). Ravage now a 'hero' fighting the good fight? Not so sure how long that will last since she's a little....eager to fight, and kill. Still, I've liked her in the stories I've read (plus, I like the white hair).

Finally, Tim is....possibly crazier in some ways that Bruce. Not in the insane way, but freakishly scary. He's been busy alright, but it isn't just what he is trying to do that makes me curious - you have to wonder how he got the technology to attempt the cloning, becuase I'm pretty sure Bruce doesn't know a thing about what he's trying to do. And, as Kal pointed out to me, Bruce didn't try cloning Clark when he was killed...

JSA #84
Fairly average fair, still. The Gentleman Ghost could be an interesting character, but his origin is pretty bland. Something just doesn't feel right about this story, and I think it is the missing characters I briefly was introduced to (I started reading around the begining of Infinite Crisis).

Honestly, of all the OYL stories, this one is proving to be the weakest I've read. Right now, I'm blaming Gent Ghost. I care nothing for him as a solo villain.

Been a while...

Been a while since I last posted. Health issues and such keeping me from various things I put on a lower priority, such as these weblogs. I didn't post last week about comics that came out, and instead of trying to backpedal and cover them as well, I'll just stick with this week.

Best of this Week: Robin #148
I think this will be tagged 'the Search for Cassandra' by people, expecially after the way Batgirl ended, and the OYL startup for Birds of Prey. There is a real mystery here thanks to the jump forward, and I am fully invested. Cassandra is alive, it seems, and is staying way under the Bat-radar for some reason. Robin is now wanted to murder. Batman is...accepting of opinions? Tim is proving to be stronger and stronger of a leader, much like Dick. I also want to know more about this bonding trip to Budapest Bruce took Tim and Dick on, becuase it seemed to work wonders.
5/5

Second Best of the Week: Catwoman #53
Lots of homages to Earth2, and pulled off well. Holly is going to make a fun Catwoman, getting stuck in bad situations and getting herself out of them. Also, the image of Batman holding a teddy bear will never leave my mind - it is burned in there. (yes, Kal, the father has every right to give his daughter a gift, but it looks really out of character).
4.5/5

So, what else was good? Well, I'll refer briefly refer back to last week to Birds of Prey #92. Refering, of course, to my feelings of 'holy crap Society guy defecting with info? What the...Lady Shiva is alive? Cassandra didn't kill her, so she's still ok! Dinah is getting schooled, but it is strangely touching. Wait, Shiva isn't the new member advertised? Sleathed?' So, yeah, that would have been my pick for last week's best.

Also, Batman #651 was a fairly good issue. I like how smooth the teamwork has become thanks to that retreat in Budapest, that I hope gets explained at some point (likely near the end of 52). I also find it interesting how the covers are building up to a big poster, but that's a whole different realm of interest. The story is decent, and broken up well episodically. I don't really know who the villain that was killed in this issue was though, as opposed to Detective #817

Future of Batman (wild idea)

Here's an insane idea that came to me at work. As crazy as it sounds, imagine the possiblities...

Remember how there's the rumor of Bruce giving up Batman for a while, and someone replacing him in the suit? Most people talk about how either Dick or Tim will have the cowl passed down to them. It's straight forward and has been the grand assumption for years.

Here's the twist I came up with, partially out of hope and partially out of the potential for maing myself giddy. Yes, I've talked earlier about Cassandra Cain, but imagine if she lives, she recovers, and Bruce hands her the cowl.

Tim has said he doesn't want to live in the shadow of the bat, as much as he has been led into the path and suggested in Teen Titans. He's the logical choice for many, to the point of it being nearly obvious.

Dick more than likely will have it offered to him and he'll turn it down. It's one of the reasons why he became Nightwing and became his own. Again, issues with staying in the shadow of the bat.

I don't see Cassandra as someone who would try to work her way out from under the shadow of batman. She easily has the skill to take over, and has the "spook" factor. He biggest problem, other than being unable to read, is that she isn't as strong of a detective.

Probably won't happen, but just imagine the possibilities...

Lost topics

Well, Lost has been postponed for some football match. I'm not too happy about that, becuase I had hoped to respond about the episode afterwards. Instead I'll talk about comics.

Comic delivery was postponed again this week until tomorrow, which is also a factor in my unhappy mood - that and a loss of sleep (not a very interesting topic, so I won't talk about it unless someone pressures it). Instead I picked up a number of back issues from last week and the week before. I'm actually starting to spread my tendriles out to pick up other titles (aside from the core Batman titles). First it started with Green Lantern, thanks to Kalinara, and now I'm bleeding into Wonder Woman and Catwoman while picking up odd issues of Robin and Superman.

Overall I have been happy with what I've picked up and read. I'm sort of jumping on the bandwagon as Wonder Woman heads to a conclusion (was able to get 223 and 224). I'm curious about what will happen, and I enjoy the extra background into what is going on in Infinite Crisis.

Robin 145 was a fun read, especially with the many small time villains getting in each others' way. best quote: "Behold, I am the wicker man!" - "Behold, I have a woking lighter!" - "I surrender."

Picked up Catwoman 49 and 50 as well. 49 was the end of a multiparter, so I was a little lost as to motives, but otherwise it wasn't half bad. 50 was, to say the least, a little disturbing. I have to admit I really don't want Selina to become chaotic enough to go back to her old self, or become as psychotic as Bruce is right now. I know Zatanna meant well, and is trying to make amends with her mistakes, but she should really just stop before she unravels other things. I did like an actual explination as to why Selina became a 'good guy' - but I would have liked it more if she was able to turn herself around under her own willpower (gives her more credit, and a stronger character).

Tomorrow should be a more interesting day, since I will actually get to read 'new' comics...