Batman: Reborn – So Far, So Good

When Batman died I figured, “Sure he is.  No doubt he’ll be back in a few issues.  All else fails, he can come back as a Black Lantern.”  For the record, being a cosmic zombie is something I would wish for all my loved ones.  That’s just plain awesome.

In the meantime, I get the pleasure of reading the entire new Batman: Reborn tie-ins.  My heavens, it’s been a lot of fun these past couple weeks.

Let’s start with Batman #687-Dick Grayson picking up the cape and cowl.  Well, we all knew it was coming.  Good on you, Judd Winick for making a predictable storyline into an emotional passing of the torch.  You write a mean Alfred Pennyworth.  Whom, I believe the story is really about.  The guy loses his son, yet still carries on to tend to the Batcave For Orphaned Young Men and Boys.  It’s like a constant evolution and redefining of fathers and sons.  I dig it.

Next, Red Robin #1.  Where does Tim Drake/Wayne fit in?  Answer: Not really anywhere.  He’s off in Europe trying to find Bruce Wayne all the while taking up Jason Todd’s old namesake Red Robin.  Chris Yost wrote an enjoyable story.  Socks were by no means rocked-off though.  It’s very focused on the brooding vulnerability of a boy without the father that chose him.  Honestly?  The “woe-is-me” character development reminds me a little too much of a Japanese Role Playing Game.  Not really my cup of tea yet but you can bet I’ll buy issue #2 when it hits the stands.

I’m sure you all heard how super Batman and Robin #1 was.  I won’t need to reiterate that fact.  Just know that Damian Wayne is an asshole and I adore him.  A new character by the name of Pyg hits the panels along with his henchman Toad.  As of right now I’m not impressed; but who knows?  Maybe he’ll seem like more than an insignificant weirdo when it’s all said and done.  After all, if you’re going to read about weirdos, make sure Grant Morrison wrote them and NEVER judge his work issue to issue.  It’s a lesson I learned over time.  Don’t worry, Mr. Morrison.  I’ll hang in for the long haul. <Insert Thumbs-Up Here>

Batman: Streets of Gotham-I’m a lady who loves her Paul Dini.  So, in this issue I got a harkening back to a Batman: The Animated Series cartoon entitled “Harley’s Holiday”.   Oh, there was more to the comic book than that?  Fifteen more pages than that?  I see.  Okay, there was a run in with child prostitution and Firefly’s back.  Boooring. Now let’s get back to talking about Harleen Quinzel.

Know what Paul Dini also wrote? This week’s Gotham City Sirens #1.  Damn.  I loved this book.  Let me just throw this out in the open…my favorite character to ever be inked is Harley Quinn.  Especially when Dini’s writing her-which stands to reason since he’s the creator.  If Bruce Timm would have drawn this comic, my head may very well have exploded.  All that fangirl-dom aside, this book was a whole lot of fun.  Who here ever watched the Flash animated web series “Gotham Girls”.  Anyone?  No? Okay, it was just little one-shot shorts about the antics of Harley, Ivy, Catwoman, Zatanna and Batgirl.  No real continuity-just something to watch while I ate my Lucky Charms in the morning.  This book had a lot of that feel.  I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.  I’m sure it would have a little more credibility if the story line became more than just an outlet for “The Wacky Adventures of Three Female Villainous Roommates”.  Either way, I’ll be happy.

The last stop on the Batman: Reborn ride was this week’s Detective Comics #854.  I’ve never read a Batwoman book.  I went into this knowing that she was a lesbian and that’s it.  So, it might have been great.  I don’t really know.  I felt like I just watched a tv show in the middle of its third season.  The good news is J.H. Williams III is an amazing artist.  At least I had a lot of pretty pictures to look at.  I love the layering this man puts into his work.  I don’t think he could do a three tier/nine-panel grid if he tried. There’s a splash page involving a boot and some general ass-kickery that I wouldn’t mind framing.  I knew his work from Alan Moore’s Promethea but this just goes to show his versatility. He uses very distinct styles when drawing Batwoman, Katherine Kane, and then her flashbacks. All in all, it is a pleasure to look at.  I’ll let you know about the story when I figure out what the hell is going on.

There you go.  That was the telling of one lady’s love of life after Bruce Wayne.  Things ain’t so bad!  Now I’ll just dream of the day Blackest Night hits the stands.  You can’t tell it by looking at your computer screen, but I’m giddy with excitement.