Brave New Worlds

Batman and Robin #12 Grant Morrison (w), Andy Clarke (p)

Bandwagon Jumping It’s not that I was a Grant Morrison hater, I was just not in love with him like so many others are.  Well, I finally discovered the awesomeness that is Morrison these past two months as Batman and Robin has really clicked with me.

Nice Foreshadowing After Damian is finished trying to kill Dick he has this to say about Sextion, “…there’s something funny about him.”  Wait until you see what that means.

How Come We Never Noticed That Before Bruce continues to leave new clues for Dick and the gang to find on the grounds of Wayne Manor, as we learn even more fun facts about the house that the Wayne’s built and just where the heck Bruce is.

Oh No She Didn’t If you thought it was messed up when Talia gave control of Damian’s body to Slade to kill Dick, wait until you see the next reveal up her sleeve when her son confronts her and makes a fateful decision.

Spirit Homage All it was missing was Denny Colt as every character on a two-page spread had a “Spirit” mask on.  Granted it was part of the story, I just liked how it was dress as your favorite DC character day, and everyone’s favorite was The Spirit.

Wait Until You See the Last Page Don’t want to give anything away, if I did not earlier.  But Dick has slowly been putting the pieces together and that last page is a doozy.

Thumbs Up or Down If you buy one book this week, Batman and Robin #12 should be it.

Uncanny X-Men #524 Second Coming Chapter 6 Matt Fraction (w), Terry and Rachel Dodson (a)

Pressure, What Pressure Well now that one of their own has died protecting her, there are a lot of pissed off X-folks who want to see Hope use her abilities to bring that person back to life.  Oops. No abilities yet.

Wakey, Wakey Magneto finally wakes up and has the line of the issue – “I have the strangest feeling … that something’s happened.  What have I missed?”

Did Not See That Coming I was curious to see how Bastion was always one-step ahead of the X-Men and was systematically taking out his telepaths.  Now I know.

New Mentor Do you think Hope would be as unimpressed with Magneto if she really knew who he was?  And since Cable has spent the better part of two years keeping her alive, don’t you think she would listen to him when he tells her not to talk to Magneto.  Just asking?

Memorial Service Nothing can ever top the funeral for Steve Rogers from Fallen Son a few years back.  That being said, Fraction’s funeral for Wolverine’s best friend was a nice piece of writing that honored the character and got me a little choked up.  Kudos to Terry Dodson who does a really nice job of drawing these two pages as well as the entire issue.

The Fan With eight more chapters still remaining, it looks like the proverbial defecation is really going to hit the oscillation unit in the next issue.

Thumbs Up or Down Second Coming has been a pure adrenaline ride from the start and has yet to disappoint.  However, jumping in the middle of this story might make you confused like watching an episode of Lost for the first time ever this season.
Superman War of the Supermen #1 James Robinson, Sterling Gates (w), Jamal Igle (p)

Have to Admit It’s Getting Better Is it me of has Igle’s pencils gotten better?  Maybe it’s me.  Whatever is going on, loved his two-page spread in the middle of the book – you’ll know the one.

Oh No They Didn’t (Pt 2) Speaking of that spread, ever wonder what was going to become of all those Kryptonians flying around after Superman freed them from the bottle a few years back, wonder no more.

Up or Down This issue was better than I thought it was going to be.  And it appears that a lot of plot threads that have been lying around since 2006 will finally be tied up to all those faithful readers.  Three more issues to go before a new Superman day is born, again.

Amazing Spider-Man #630 Shed Part One Zeb Well (w), Chris Bachalo (p)

Love, Love, Love When Bachalo pencils a Spidey book.  Especially when it has the Lizard and Black Cat.  Besides the cover, take a look at that final page of art with the Lizard.

Blink and You’ll Miss It Did I mention Felicia Hardy and Curt Connors?  There is a lot going on in this issue.

Star Trek Captain’s Log: Harriman Marc Guggenheim (w), Andrew Currie (p)

Remember Me? He appeared on screen briefly, but John Harriman joined a group of very elite people when he took command of the Enterprise B in Star Trek Generations.  Granted he helped kill Kirk, but that’s what this issue is all about.

Seldom Used Reserve Activation Clause Yep, that’s right, everyone’s favorite Starfleet doctor is back, “shanghaied” once again for the better good.

Lots of Awesome There are quite a few great moments that harken back to the original crew movies, which are nicely written by Guggenheim.

Why This Issue Works Not much is known about Harriman’s characters, who gets a shot of redemption and stops being the laughing stock Rick Berman allowed him to be in the movie.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #35 Twilight Part Four Brad Meltzer (w), Georges Jeanty (p)

Twilight Part Four Getting closer to the end, we find out even more about what is going on with Buffy and Angel.

Awesome Final Page Version Three That’s right, yet another book takes advantage of the final page to draw you back next month with a reveal that will either have you saying it’s about time or as the immortal Keanu Reeves goes, “whoa.”

John Byrne And just check out this homage to Byrne’s cover of Uncanny X-Men #138.  This is a sweet (thanks Brian) cover!

Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine #1 Jason Aaron (w), Adam Kubert (p)

Butterfly Effect If you love time travel stories where if you mess with the past it messes with the present, you’ll love this issue.

Butterfly Effect Part 2 Devil Dinosaur.  ‘nuff said.

Why Our Superheroes Should Shave Look at page 2 of this issue and you will have you answer.  This is really just a reason to draw attention to Kubert’s detailed and amazing pencils.  As always, this guy rocks.