Oh Brightest Day

But first...

Detective 876
This is a perfect example of everything I love about Dick Grayson being Batman. The commissioner shows up to get Dick's help with a whale that appeared in the middle of a bank. The age-old question of whether or not Gordon's figured out Bruce was Batman and Dick now is is, of course, still unanswered, though I'm sure he knows or is nearly certain. But he does know there's a new Batman, so you've got to give Gordon credit for being a fairly astute, intuitive investigator. He rose to his rank and has stayed there for a reason. And there he is, talking with Dick about more than the whale's sudden appearance. He has to tell Dick the case is connected to Zucco, the man who killed Dick's parents. And after that bit, which throws Dick for a bit, Gordon asks him to meet with his son James. I just don't see this scene happening with Bruce as Batman, or not with the emotion that fills most of the panels. This just felt so real. I don't see Gordon asking Bruce to meet James. Bruce is the father figure to Dick and Tim, and he's a playboy and he just isn't someone you'd want to casually get to hang out with your son to see if he's changed for the better. But you do ask Dick, who's more a contemporary of James and who can relate better. And I just got such a warm fuzzy from the scene. It might go down as one of my favorite scenes in the Bat books.

Dick, of course, is not quite the seasoned Batman Bruce is, and he's not quite the automaton Bruce can be in the cowl, so he makes a few more mistakes, which lead to the inevitable issue-ending cliffhanger with his life in great danger, which makes him a very human hero who continues to impress me in his new role.

Scott Snyder, who wrote the issue, deserves kudos, and I hope the story gives me the emotional payoff I'm now expecting. And I can't say enough about how perfect Jock's art is. The 2-page spread showing the whale in the bank is impressive and the facial expressions on Dick and Gordon during their conversation are perfect.

Brightest Day 24
I loved the original Swamp Thing. Swamp Thing was Alec Holland, no ifs, ands, or buts. I didn't read the Vertigo version, but I've read how he was changed into being some sort of plant that thought he was Holland, possessing somehow, Alec's memories. And that was just wrong. It took away the human part of the equation, a beast who was once a man and who can't reverse what happened to him. Alec had to cope with his loss of humanity while somehow retaining it. He couldn't become a monster, but he could never again be truly human. He was a tragic, yet noble character. A plant, no matter who he thinks he is, is not and never was human. He couldn't be tragic. So I am very happy that Johns and Tomasi restored Alec to the Swamp Thing entity.

I was, however, pissed at Shiera being dead and Carter without his love. We'd better get a Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman back soon. And while I loved Kendra, I prefer Shiera.

I wasn't happy to see poor Boston die again, but he is destined to be Deadman, I guess. But we do have Aquaman and Mera together, so that's nice.

Was this a big deal, year-long EVENT story, worthy of capital letters? Maybe. It sure seemed disjointed at times and a bit obvious, with the resurrected characters getting the chance to tie up loose ends, so to speak, and ultimately, the story was about bringing back the one, true Swamp Thing. I'm glad I read it, but it really didn't have to be drawn out like this.

Slew of Reviews

Gotham City Sirens 22
This is part of the Judgment in Gotham storyline running through the Bat books and it was fine, with Selina dealing with her crazed sister Maggie, but it interrupted the Harley storyline, so I'm less than happy with it.

Batman 709
This is what Judgment in Gotham was all about and it should have been a 2 or maybe 3-parter within this title only. It's a Dick Grayson story and shouldn't have involved Catwoman and Red Robin. The secret Dick's been carrying all these years, since before he was Robin, was rather poignant and the conclusion made reading the story worthwhile. I just wish we hadn't had to deal with all the extraneous stuff. Selina and Tim could've dealt with their personal issues in their own stories in their own books.

Batgirl 20
This continues to be a delight. Steph and Wendy have a nice working relationship, and Babs is being used well to fit her in both this book and in BoP. The story was fine, nothing special, but it's the characters and the sheer fun of this book that makes it worth reading.

Batman and Robin 22
There's a level of creepiness in this title that serves it well for some reason. And Dick and Damian make a great team. I think I prefer them over the Bruce/Dick team. And there's a lovely bit with Damian getting defensive about his family tree and Dick and Alfred explaining that he is who and what he makes himself, and Damian actually paying attention.

Zatanna 12
This has replaced Power Girl as my fun, adult female hero book. Batgirl's still just a teen, after all, and PG has become annoying since the original team left the book. Nice art, crisp dialogue, the magic of San Francisco (literally!), and wacky villains combine for a fun read. As a lover of palindromes, I was especially fond of this issue.

Supergirl 63
I'm still on the fence about this book right now. The story is fine and the art is okay, but the high quality set by the team of Gates/Igle is something the book hasn't come close to achieving since they left. Chang's art is fine, though his characters could stand gaining some weight. But Kara's hair seems to change length and curliness from panel to panel, but mostly, it's too short. I prefer it around her shoulders. Yeah, I can be that petty about a favorite character.

Green Lantern 65
I'm not reading all the Lantern books, so this is a bit disjointed. And I'm getting a bit tired of all the Lantern war storylines, but with those caveats, this was still a pretty good issue. nice art, too.

The Flash 10
Well, this is confusing. Flashpoint had better deliver, but I won't be reading all the side books, so the main story will have to suffice. This lead-in is intriguing. Another version of Barry warning him, mysterious deaths from accelerated aging... yeah, I'm intrigued.

I also peeked at the latest issue of Titans, because, yes, I'm weak. And it looks like Dick is kicking himself for not trying harder to help Roy. So, I'm wondering if an intervention is planned for the future. I can't decide if I'm hopeful they'll redeem him or if I just don't care anymore.

Lazy Blogger

I have been reading. Actually, I've been reading The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, a YA science fiction dystopian series that's better than I expected. I finished book 2, Catching Fire, last night and am starting book 3, Mockingjay. Well worth reading, especially if you, like me, enjoy young adult fiction.

Now, on to comics! There might be a spoiler or two, but I did wait a while before posting.

Secret Six 32
The things folks do for love, especially the Secret Six gang, and Knockout's in the middle of it. Just seeing Ragdoll so devious is a treat. This book continues to impress.

Birds of Prey 11
And speaking of Birds of Prey, Catman and Huntress finally hook up, sorta. Thomas is a real jerk, but for a noble reason. And he's still an idiot, but now I love him even more. And I can't help thinking about him and Cheshire and Roy and Cheshire and is it wrong to want to see the three of them in a story together? Provided it's a Roy not being written as a junkie who's given up on himself, that is.

Brightest Day 23
Wow. Did. Not. See. That. Coming. And I can't help thinking part of the reason I didn't is that I didn't is because I never read the Swamp Thing books with the whole tree of life or whatever it is storyline. I know only the original Swamp Thing. This should prove interesting.

Freedom Fighters 8
Uncle Sam is back and the team is victorious, except for Firebrand, of course. I really hate deaths of characters I like, but given the epic struggle, it makes sense someone would be killed, and Andre was really one of the lesser known characters. It worked in the story.

Green Lantern 63 and 64
The prologue for the War of the Green Lanterns and Part 1. This was a fairly good read, but I'm getting a bit worn down by all the epic GL vs GL kind of battles.

Booster Gold 43
The first of the interim team's issues that I actually enjoyed. Then again, it had the LSH and featured Brainiac 5, so what was there not to enjoy? Still, I'll be glad to have the book back on its more serious track.

Red Robin 22
I don't normally read this, but it's part of the Judgment on Gotham storyline, so I picked it up. Not bad. I do like Tim. The story's a bit murky and mysterious, and I don't like Azrael, but I'm trusting there will be a solid payoff at the end.

Untimely Reviews

Even when I read comics right away, I seem to get lazy about reviewing them. Here are 4 from last week. I think they're from last week, at any rate.

Detective 875
This did not go where I expected it to go and that's all for the good. A very solid story featuring Jim Gordon and a reminder about the dangers of jumping to conclusions. I hope we see more of James and a true follow-up to this poignant tale.

Green Arrow 10
Ah, the mysterious forest! I'm getting so sick of the mysterious forest. I'll be so happy when this story is over. The only thing I like about this book right now is the art. I'm sticking with it to see where it goes post-Brightest Day, but it had better be heading in a better direction or I'm dropping it.

Zatanna 11
Aside from how odd it is having the art changed mid-story, I welcome Jamal Igle to pencil chores. And that cover by Hughes is gorgeous. The story finished nicely, too. And while puppets and marionettes don't quite reach the level of clowns for scary/freaky, they do come close.

Gotham City Sirens 21
Oh, Harley! How could you? You've come so close, only to let that freak get under your skin again! I read this book for Selina, but it's Harley who keeps it interesting.