You Don't Know Dick

"Dick. That's an interesting name.  My bottom hurts just thinking about it." - Madonna

Cover of Grayson #1

Okay, so other than his first name, that song lyric doesn't really have much application to the new GRAYSON series starring Dick Grayson (former Robin, former Teen Titan, former Nightwing, former Batman), but how often do I get the chance to use it?

When this new series/title was first announced, I was a bit disappointed that Nightwing was being cancelled, as Dick Grayson/Robin/Nightwing has always been one of my favorite characters.  I guess DC thought he needed some shaking up.  While I was unsure about this new direction, I was glad that Dick was at least getting another series (and that he wasn't actually killed in Forever Evil).  And I appreciate the fact that they kept the elements of the Nightwing logo in the new Grayson logo. 

I read the first issue of Grayson and was surprised that I actually enjoyed it.  The story was fast-paced, yet not too bogged down in action.  It was very Mission Impossible-esque, and the cover reminds one of James Bond.  I guess Grayson is supposed to be the next great spy along the lines of those two famous spies. 

Interior art by Mikel Janin.

Speaking of the cover, I question why DC didn't use an illustration drawn by the comic's regular artist, Mikel Janin, when -- to me -- his art and characters look so much better than Andrew Robinson's.  It's so great, though, that they went with a hot pink background to really make Dick's dark outfit stand out.  It's very eye-catching.  

There was also some character development and interaction in Grayson, including appearances by Stormwatch's Midnighter and Helena Bertinelli, in her first appearance in the New 52.  The new Helena is much more Italian/Mediterranean-looking, and I'm curious to see if she'll eventually assume the Huntress persona or leave that to Helena Wayne on Earth 2.  Regardless, I'd like to see more of these two as regular supporting characters for Dick to interact with on a personal level. 

Helena Bertinelli

So far, I'm sold on Grayson, and I can deal without a Nightwing in the DC Universe for the time being. 

Batman STINKcorporated

I'll say it again:  I am not a fan of Grant Morrison. And I still don't understand why DC chooses him over many talented other writers when he writes incomprehensible stories.  During the New 52 reboot, he was given the task of not only writing another Batman Incorporated series, but also the new Action Comics starring Superman.  I read neither.  

Now they supposedly go and kill off Damian Wayne in Batman Incorporated.  Let's discuss this.  DC chooses to do this dramatic story in Batman Incorporated and not in the Batman and Robin that I do read?  Isn't Batman Incorporated supposed to be about the many Batmans or Batman-like characters around the world?  Instead, the latest Batman Incorporated series has just been another Batman and Robin title.  WTF, DC?  Seriously.  

Whatever happened to the Batman Incorporated concept?  And why does this title even exist when it's just another Batman and Robin title?  Is Robin the Inc. in Incorporated?  

No, I'm not going to cave and start buying another freakin' Batman title just because DC decides to give Grant Morrison free reign with a title.  Kill Robin, see if I care.  But I won't read another Grant Morrison written comic again.   

Batman Overload

Batman #7 (volume two)

I just caught up reading three months of Batman (#s 5-7) where he is being "judged" by the Court of Owls.  Unfortunately, while the lead-up to the Court of Owls in earlier Batman issues was intriguing, these last few issues felt like a throwback to Grant Morrison's awful RIP story where Batman was delusional, hallucinating, etc. and the story went nowhere.  However, in the New 52, I'm not sure any of that RIP stuff even happened now.  But I do know that it's definitely re-happening in my head and giving me a headache and a case of the boredoms.  Let's hope Batman picks up soon before I drop this DC mainstay from my reading list.

While I'm on the subject of Batman and Grant Morrison, I'd like to comment that the latest Batman, Inc. series, with its first issue being released in May 2012. 

Batman Inc. #1 (volume two)

First issue summary: The series hits the ground running as BATMAN and ROBIN face off against the assassin GOATBOY! LEVIATHAN'S sinister mission revealed!

Second issue summary: This is the story of a man and a woman fighting over the heart and soul of their child. Unfortunately for the world, the man is BATMAN, the woman is TALIA AL GHUL, and the child is DAMIAN.

Where does the "Inc." in Batman, Inc. come into play?  I thought the intent was to be about an international web of Batman-related heroes?   Sounds to me like another Batman title to make money off the masses.  Because Batman, Detective Comics, Batman: The Dark Knight, and Batman & Robin weren't enough?  And that's not even including his appearances in Justice League or Justice League International.  Now that there's only one Batman in the New DC 52, where does he find the time?  If Batman needs a personal assistant to keep track of his calendar, I'm available.

Nightwing Swings Back Into Action

In reading the new Nightwing #1, I was pleased to see that there was basically no change to Nightwing/Dick Grayson's history and personality.  He's the same ol' Nightwing in the new DC Universe.  Whew.   

He's just coming off his gig as Batman and returning to the Nightwing persona.  The spiffy new black and red costume suits him well, better than most of the costume changes in DC's New 52.  His doesn't look like a 1990s redux.

In this issue, Dick mentions that he has "a thing for redheads," which, of course, is a wink-wink-nod-nod to the decades-long flirtation between Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon (Batgirl/Oracle).  I hope there's something in store for the two of them in the near future, after all these years.  Babs deserves some happiness.  She probably hasn't "gotten any" in years!

I like that Dick is living in Gotham City again and that, in this first issue, Haley's Circus is back in town.  Dick visits some old friends/co-workers of his and, fortunately, a gloomy cloud doesn't follow his visit.  People are more focused on Dick's life than his parents' death many years ago.

The characterization, plot, and writing weren't overwhelmingly wonderful, but they didn't suck either.  The story is better when Dick is in his street clothes than his Nightwing costume.  There's a real human aspect to him which, unfortunately, we don't see too often in comic books. 

I look forward to what's in store for one of my favorite characters in the DCU.

Batman's Girls

In reading the various Batman books recently, I've begun to notice a trend.  There seems to be an increase in the number of theme-costumed females making their first appearances.    Mind you, I'm not complaining.  I think it's fantastic.  It feels like a throwback to Batman villains of yesteryear, when Batman was a bit campy and fun, and the villains all had a particular, unique theme to their costumes, their mannerisms, and their methods.  The ones I've noticed (and liked) lately in the Batman books include:  Catgirl, Enigma, Peacock, and the Absence.  

Enigma

Catgirl

Catgirl and Enigma are like the Teen Titans: they're young proteges to older established characters.  In this case, Catwoman and the Riddler, respectively. I like that Catgirl is a more feminine version of Catwoman.  She's dressed like the pet that a socialite like Paris Hilton would carry around in a satchel, sporting a diamond encrusted collar and bright pink clothing.  Over the years, the Riddler has toned down his brightly clad costume, but not his daughter, Enigma.  She puts it out there, sporting a large, prominent question mark on her chest and bold striped pants.

Peacock

In addition to these two new teenagers to the Batman Family, two theme-costumed women have made their first appearances in the Batman books as well.  Like Bruce Wayne, Sasha Lo is a wealthy woman who also happens to have a different kind of nightlife.  She dons an Oracle-like mask, a vibrant costume, and goes by the name of Peacock.  Although we still don't know much about her, I'm looking forward to seeing her again from time to time.

The Absence

Last but not least, there's one of my new favorite villainesses: The Absence.  The woman has been shot in the head, leaving a gaping hole.  You know she's gotta be pissed.  Yet she's still a fully functioning (but short-tempered and unbalanced) person, now with heightened mental capacities. 

Goldie Hawn in
"Death Becomes Her"

She's extra pissed off because, as socialite Una Nemo, she used to date Bruce Wayne and she feels like she's been used and tossed aside.  (By the way, what's up with that name?  Una Nemo?)  She reminds me of Goldie Hawn's character from the classic 1990s movie Death Becomes Her.   

Kudos to the Batman writers for the introduction of these fun, new additions to the Batman Family.  I hope to see them around for many years to come, and I hope the tradition of introducing unique, themed characters continues.



And now, a parting glance from Batman. 

Hysterical.

The Anticlimactic Return of Bruce Wayne/Batman

In the crappy tradition of the Batman: RIP storyline comes the return of Bruce Wayne/Batman from the timestream in which he was caught.  That's not to say that the individual stories of the Bruce Wayne: The Road Home one-shots are crappy, but the manner in which they were released/are being released are.  First, there has been the ever-delayed releases of current issues of the supposed-monthly Batman and Robin and the mini-series Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne, both by the questionably talented Grant Morrison.  

This past week, I just picked up issue #5 (of 6) of the up-til-now-boring/lame Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne.  Additionally, I picked up four one-shots (yes, FOUR issues) of the Bruce Wayne: The Road Home one-shots, featuring (in no particular order) Batgirl, Red Robin, Batman and Robin, and Outsiders.  They were originally supposed to be released two issues per week, but apparently someone was slacking off.  Since they weren't labeled, I had to look at the back of each comic to see the "To be continued in..." box to figure out some semblance of order.  In each comic, Bruce Wayne appears to the other characters with no fanfare.  I take it that the people in his life already know that he's back, but we, the readers, have not seen this come about yet.  Maybe that's because DC Comics has only released issue #5 of the aforementioned Return comic.  For me, the "return" really lost its impact because of the delayed and crazy release schedules.  I'm going out on a limb here, but perhaps everything should have been pushed back to coincide?   And releasing four comics of the same storyline at $2.99 in the same week?  What about the Batman readers who are only kids who spend their allowance on comics?  Can they afford to shell out $12-$15 in a single week on a single character?  I know I wouldn't have been able to as a kid.  DC is really doing a disservice to its younger readers.  If kids aren't shown respect now, they're not going to show DC Comics respect later in life.  Those kids can grow up to be adult comic collectors, too, you know.  As an adult reader, I'm offended with being presented with all of this non-labeled material out of sequence.  I don't watch my Mad Men episodes out of order.  Why should I read my comic books that way? 

With all that said, I will say that issue #5 of Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne has been the best so far in that otherwise unnecessary series.  Bruce's parents have been recently murdered, and he learns some not-so-great details about their lives that he probably wished he hadn't.  I've only read two of the Road Home one-shots so far (Batgirl, and Batman and Robin), but both were well-written and enjoyable.  Perhaps, though, the stories would have fit better into their own series instead of one-shot issues so we the readers can, again, see some sequence to the events.  I would have liked to have seen the characters' reactions/reunion with Bruce Wayne.  I'm sure some were heartfelt.  

Sadly, since the Batman: RIP storyline, I've really lost interest in the Dark Knight and his cast of supporting (and not-so-supporting) characters.  Why?  The delays, the out-of-sequence releases, the nonsense storylines, myriad of one-shots, revamping of series titles (and starting over at #1 issues), Batman rip-off characters like Knight and Squire taking over the Bat-titles, the thought (and fear) of the too-many-to-name upcoming Batman series, the concept (and title) of Batman, Inc., etc.  Maybe I'll just stick to non-Bat titles until some of the titles fail and are cancelled and Batman becomes interesting again.