Flash (vol.5) #49 (August, 2018)
"Flash War, Part 3"
Writer - Joshua Williamson
Artist - Howard Porter
Colorist - Hi-Fi
Letterer - Steve Wands
Assistant Editor - Andrew Marino
Editor - Rebecca Taylor
Group Editor - Marie Javins
Cover Price: $2.99
Heyyy... my DCBS order (finally) arrived, so we can finally rejoin the Flash War. I feel like I'm almost definitely going to have to "double dip" on issue #50... I'm sure Comics-Twitter is already chomping at the bit to spoil that... that is of course, if DC Comics themselves doesn't spoil it in some newspaper over the weekend!
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We open with Steve Trevor and Amanda Waller trying to track the racing Flashes across the globe... ya see, at the speed at which they're running, they're putting the Earth in one heckuva predicament. We pop in on those Flashes, who give us a bit of a quick and dirty recap... so, I will too. Hunter Zolomon promised Wally West that he could save his pre-Flashpoint children is he... get this, breaks the Speed Force.
Barry, being a dude who has messed with the timestream cautions Wally about his pending actions... and so, they continue to run. This activity does not go unnoticed throughout Earth... and we get cameos from several members of the Heroing Community.
Speaking of the Heroing Community... Steve Trevor has called in the services of both the Justice League and the Titans! Hey, I guess here's one way we get to see Cyborg work alongside his pre-Flashpoint pals! The Flashes continue to run, and Barry finally spills the beans about he and Batman investigating Wally's return... and the potential "others" he'd learned about during The Button.
As they pass by the heroes, Superman enters into the race... however, finds that he's not fast enough to keep up!
Elsewhere, Hal Jordan erects a construct wall to stop the Speedsters... this doesn't go according to his plans. Wally plows right through the wall, without any concern for Hal's safety... though, he does know that Barry would save Hal regardless.
Wally appeals to Barry to enter the Speed Force with him. He knows that between the two of them, they have enough power to smash through without getting "stuck" there. Also, he knows that they are each other's "lightning rods", and only together, they can be sure to remain "grounded" the entire time.
And so... they give it a shot! Coming out the other end, however... they find something completely unexpected. They didn't break through the Speed Force... they broke the "Force Barrier"!
After several KRAKings are heard, the Justice League and Titans collapse. It's revealed that Hunter Zolomon wasn't exactly forthcoming with what the result of this endeavor might be. Ya see, well... he lied. He still claims to know where Irey and Jai are, however. Anyhoo, he needed the Flashes to break the Force Barrier so he could "gain access to what lay beyond". He then, using Barry's original Flash Ring that Eobard Thawne's had stolen, becomes... the Flash?!
He then demonstrates his mastery of both the Sage and Strength Forces... and promises to kill Barry and Wally to save them from their own terrible futures!
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Pretty good... maybe a slight step back from the previous two issues (not as much fan-service, I suppose), but I'm still really enjoying this story.
I gotta say, I'm really digging just how much they're letting happen here. This actually feels like "an event", and we're not having to pay "event-level" prices... nor have there been skatey-eight hundred prelude/tie-in/frontline issues and series running alongside it! I feel like the modern fan has been sorta beaten into submission... where we expect every "event-level" story to be some overblown, overpriced mess... which may or may not even come with a conclusion! Flash War's conclusion still remains to be seen at the moment, but I gotta hand it to 'em for keeping the entire event quarantined to this series.
So... about this issue. Let's talk about Barry letting Wally risk it all, just to prove that he trusts him. That seems a bit weird, though Barry seems to be in this odd kinda penance when it comes to Wally. He was, after all, responsible for the Flashpoint... and forgotting his old sidekick, so his decision-making here is kinda wonky.
I suppose we've all been there... going along with a pal's cockamamie plan just so you don't hurt their feelings... or because you feel as though you "owe them" your loyalty... but, I mean... I don't think any of our situations had the potential to split the skies, right?
We get another mention of the "others", which really scratches me where I itch. The last "other" was Jay Garrick... so, oooh boy... there might be something really fun on the horizon!
Wally's still in the "tunnel vision" state he's been in since learning of Irey and Jai... and I suppose it's hard to blame him. I appreciate him mentioning that the children isn't something he wants to burden Linda with just yet... as he fears/knows that it would only bring her pain.
Zoom is still kinda playing at being something of an altruist here... which is a welcome sight. Rather than his just being revealed as "horribly evil", he still feels as though he's doing something "for the good". I'm not totally sure what to expect from this, however, I wouldn't be surprised if he somehow sacrifices himself... dying heroically to send things "back to normal".
When I saw the cover, I did kinda groan. I was afraid the League was going to be the focus here. I'm glad that they were more background noise for the race... interesting the reveal that Superman couldn't keep up with either Barry nor Wally. Wonder if that's a one-and-done revelation, or the hierarchy of speed going forward?
Overall... can't call it a "letdown", but definitely, at least to me... a step back from the previous two chapters. That might just be due to the lack of fan-service... it might be due to having the League involved. Either way, this is still (to me) the best DC book going, and I still highly recommend checking it out.
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Nightwing #89 (March, 2004)
"Avalanche"
Script - Devin Grayson
Penciller - Patrick Zircher
Inker - Andy Owens
Colorist - Gregory Wright
Letterer - Clem Robins
Editor - Michael Wright
Cover Price: $2.25
What if I were to tell you that we're about to discuss a comic that shows what happens when an oversized criminal kingpin discovers a costumed hero's secret identity... and uses that information to systematically take apart that hero's life?
You might say something like, "Hey Chris, I didn't know you covered Marvel books here!" or, "When did Daredevil join the DC Universe?"
Wellllllll.....
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We open with Dick Grayson waking up at his ex-girlfriend Barbara Gordon's apartment... since they're no longer an item, and because his staying there might get kinda weird... she gives him the ol' heave-ho. Dick hops on his motorbike, and heads back to Bludhaven. Along the way, he recounts recent events... he's lost his girlfriend, his day-job on the Bludhaven Police Force... and Haley's Circus has been burned down.
We shift scenes to the big-bad... Blockbuster, Roland Desmond. He's chatting up a couple of members of his gang, Giz and (don't call her Catwoman) the Mouse. Worth noting, because why not... Giz has his trusty pet squirrel (named Goober) sitting on his shoulder. Anyhoo, Rolly offers to double their pay if they make an upcoming... er, we'll just call it a demolition project... "memorable".
Dick returns to his Bludhaven apartment building, and runs into a fella named Yoska. At this point, Dick was discovering his Romany roots... something that really seemed to irk many of the readers of the day, though I can't say for certain why this was such a big deal for them. Granted, I never took the time to research either. Anyhoo, Yoska refers to Dick as "Ryeka" and offers him an adorned bottle of wine perfect for "popping the question". Dick mutters something about his current relationship status before graciously accepting the gift.
Dick then suits up, and heads out on a rare daytime patrol... he gets out just in time to see... his entire building exploded!
The building is literally gone in an instant... leaving nothing but a smoldering mess. Nightwing rushes back to sift through the wreckage for survivors... and unfortunately comes up empty.
Nightwing discovers Yoska's body... and finds the beads that once adorned that celebratory bottle of wine, then... walking through the smoke... Tarantula?
At this point in time, Nightwing was acting as something of a mentor for this new female Tarantula. She's been depicted as... let's say, unhinged (though, it's about to get worse), so Dick assumes that she's responsible for the blast. He lunges at her... and she pleads her innocence. She was only in the area because she knows that the original Tarantula (John Law) lived in the building, and she was trying to save him. She also reveals that the baddie behind this tragedy is... Roland Desmond.
Then... Aaron Helzinger, perhaps better known as Amygdala bursts from the wreckage. Ya see, Aaron's been released from Arkham, and has proven to be something of an ally and a pal (a pally?) to Nightwing. He was also a tenant of the building, and right now, isn't quite in his right (gentle) mind.
The Bludhaven P.D. train their guns on Aaron... and Nightwing throws himself in front of the poor rampaging goof. Captain Amy Rohrbach, Dick's former boss instinctively refers to Nightwing as "Dick"... and gives him a few moments to get control of the situation, which he does... by being brutally honest with Amygdala.
Rohrbach calls Nightwing over to see if he has any info... and he gives her the straight dope on Blockbuster.
Dick's taking this all as badly as you might imagine... and blames himself for the loss of life. It's not yet clear whether or not he knows this destruction actually is a result of his living here... but, Dick's a smart cookie (and he's being written by that other D. Grayson)... so, I gotta imagine he knows what's up. On his way out, he is approached by a very overzealous Maxine Michaels, who'd love an exclusive interview. Dick punches her... cameraman...'s camera.
We wrap up with Blockbuster watching the news of his Bludhaven Bombing... and greeting the next member of his gang who is to continue running Dick Grayson through the wringer... Shrike!
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So yeah... this is pretty much Daredevil: Born Again... again.
I must not have read "Born Again" before reading this the first time around, because I swear... I never noticed the similarities. Then again, I've never claimed to be quickest on the draw when it comes to reading comprehension.
That said, it's not a bad story... but, then again, "Born Again" has gone on to become one of my all-time favorites, so I might be biased. This story works really well... in a vacuum.
What I mean by that, is... I feel like we're supposed to forget that Nightwing might be the most well connected member of heroing community. I mean, his "father" is Batman. He's friends with Superman. He's been a member of the Titans, Outsiders, and the Justice League of America. What I'm trying to say is, dude's got this meta-powered army at his disposal... and he's going to spend the next several issues sweating Blockbuster?
I know a little while after this story hits we get Identity Crisis, that has a major focus on "mind-wiping"... so, maybe that's off the table (editorially) here... but, I mean... in the DC Universe, that's gotta be a go-to option in situations like this, right? Hell, right around this time Batman told his entire "family" that he set up dummy identities for all of them, just in case word got out. I dunno... maybe I'm thinking too hard... or, maybe this is a case of trying to force a square peg into a round hole story-wise.
Of course this all kinda culminates in that issue (which we've already discussed here)... so, I guess (if we throw this into that vacuum) taking Dick Grayson apart piece by piece kinda "sets up" that event from that issue. It doesn't really excuse it... but, I suppose I can't argue that it puts Dick in a particularly vulnerable and "broken" place.
The apartment explosion here... kinda left me cold. I feel like this was part of the plan for awhile, and so we were being introduced to more and more colorful tenants... forcing relationships between them and Dick. They just felt like cannon fodder... which I guess, at the end of the day... they were. Somehow, Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli were able to evoke so much more emotion when they blew up Matt Murdock's building... and (best I can recall) we didn't even know his neighbors.
Overall... I can't argue that this is an important issue... nor can I argue that this was a beautifully drawn issue! It might be worth a look, I suppose it's a "Your Mileage May Vary" sorta deal.
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Robin II: The Joker's Wild! #1 (October, 1991)
"The Funniest Thing Happened..."
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Penciller - Tom Lyle
Inker - Bob Smith
Colorist - Adrienne Roy
Letterer - Tim Harkins
Assistant Editor - Kelley Puckett
Editor - Denny O'Neil
Cover Price: $1.50
Happy Fourth of July!
I was originally planning on covering a more "patriotic" issue... had my eye on an issue of Fighting American from the early 90's, however, the state of my library is... well, not search-friendly at the moment.
So, instead of covering a book that reminds me of America... we're going to look at a book that reminds me of the Fourth of July itself!
It was about two-years ago, during a Fourth of July sale at a local shop where I came across the "Collector's Set" of this very issue in a dollar bin. The set, which I'll include pictures of below, included all five or six versions of this issue... including an "exclusive" hologram trading card... which is just a card version of the same (difficult to photograph) hologram that we see on the cover.
Anyhoo, sorry this one ain't a bit more Red, White, and Blue... but best Independence Day to all my fellow Americans. International friends, I hope you all have a great day too!
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We open at Arkham Asylum, and it's the Joker's Birthday! He'd like nothing more than to have a visit from his dear mother... who, herself would love the opportunity to set right all of the abuse she put him through as a child. The... uh, Warden (I guess) is arguing against this... proving to be the only person in the room with a modicum of sense. Dr. Strenstrom, a Psychiatrist, flanked by a lawyer is arguing for the event to occur... and he gets his way!
During the visit, Joker's mother hands her Son a Bible... which is, naturally, booby-trapped with gas, and the Joker gets away.
As the Joker hops into a waiting (paid-for) taxi, he instructs the driver to deliver him to Gotham City. Oh, and also... get this, it wasn't really his "mother"... just some dude in a dress. At the very same time, new-ish Robin, Tim Drake is on his first solo patrol. Turns out Batman's outta town.
He laments how nothing seems to be going down... just then, the Bat-Signal illuminates the night sky. He reports in to Commissioner Gordon who... is a bit tentative. He's not convinced that this kid can handle what he's about to tell him... and, with good reason.
The Joker is dropped off at his old base of operations... an abandoned circus, or novelty shop. Inside he reunites with his old gang... and learns that they're now answering to, of all people, Mr. Freeze?!
Joker makes quick work of the jerk, soaking him with a pair of water guns... then shocking him with a joy-buzzer.
We shift scenes to Gotham Heights High School the following morning, where a sleepy Tim Drake is approached both by the popular kids and the... not-so-popular kids about hanging out later on that evening. He turns down both invites, citing having "a lot going on at home".
What he really has planned is... visiting Arkham Asylum to comb the Joker's cell for clues. What he finds there is... a bunch of computer magazines. But why?
Back at the Batcave, Robin gives the magazines a closer look... deducing that most of them are either by or about one Dr. Osgood Pellinger... a noted fella in information circles, who writes about the potential danger of over-reliance on computers. Tim decides it might be in his best interest to pay the Doc a visit.
After staking out Pellinger's house for a time, the Doc heads out for a drive. Just then, a snow plow rumbles down the street... and nabs the Doc, car and all! The Joker pops his head out the driver's side window to make a "funny, ha-ha" before taking off.
Robin catches all of this, and hops onto the hood of the plow. This leads to a really good scene... as this is the first time since A Death in the Family, that the Joker has seen a Robin!
The Joker starts swerving the plow and throws Robin into the snow... all the while ranting about how he'd already killed the boy. Moments later Alfred pulls up in a van to pick Tim up.
Back at the Joker Compound, the man himself introduces Dr. Pellinger to the gang. Looks like the Joker might be interested in a digital crime spree?
We wrap up back at the Batcave, where Tim is taking his "failure" pretty hard. He realizes that Batman himself is the only thing the Joker seems to fear... and as such, he needs to figure out a way to convince the clown that the Bat is still in town!
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Man, it must be... yikes, a quarter-century since I last read this. It was a nice revisit... I really enjoyed it!
I definitely miss a Joker that isn't so "O.P." Its fun to see him just on a caper, rather than engaging in Earth-shattering shenanigans. And I gotta say, it was really cool to see how he reacted to seeing a new kid in the Robin togs. I'd forgotten that this was the first time he's seen a Boy Decoy since killing Jason Todd in A Death in the Family.
It was neat seeing Tim get into the "boy detective" mode here. During A Lonely Place of Dying (available in Collected Editions), he just seemed to "know" things... and came across as a real irritating so-and-so. Here, everything feels a bit more natural... and he's far less of an annoying know-it-all.
The story, so far, is pretty fun... if not a tad on the convenient side. I mean, really now... who is going to advocate for the Joker to have a visitor at Arkham Asylum? And, even then... who's not going to strip-search/wand said visitor? No wonder Arkham has such a rotten reputation!
The art is really good, though I must say... Tim's "pineapple head" is a bit off-putting. Everything else though, right on the money.
Overall, I'd say this is definitely worth a peek. If you're like I am, and miss the days of a non-overpowered Joker, this is as good an issue to check out as any. This issue is available digitally, and has been collected (along with Robin III: Cry of the Huntress) in the Robin, Volume 2: Triumphant trade paperback.
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