Review-apalooza

So it has been a long time since you have heard from the old Batmatt but I want to let you know I am still kickin and I am here to get you all caught up on the latest in the Batman and Robin saga. I also have a few surprises for you, so no peekin. First, I am going to change things up a bit in an effort to be less spoilery and just give you my thoughts on each book. Second I am going to add reviews from other Batman titles and Trade paperbacks and maybe a little something else once in awhile just to mix it up in the Matt cave. So let us start with Batman and Robin Issue 5.

Batman and Robin Issue 5

Story- 5/5 Great writing, I read the issue and was totally disappointed when I got to the last page. I want more and now I have to wait till next month. Dang Gina. Very fast paced and action packed and I have to say the best issue to date.

Art- 5/5 I think I am going to just use the name Philip Tan for five out of five. Oh that is some awesome art work I’m going to give it a “Philip Tan”. I mean come on Tan brings it month after month, I have seen so many artists over-use shadow… yah we get it Batman lives in the shadows. I mean a silhouette once and awhile is fine but other than that use detail… like Philip Tan. Wow how did I get on that rant?

Cover- “Philip Tan” Great close up of Batman and Robin looking down the barrels of Red Hoods Handguns.

Variant cover- “Philip Tan” Great action cover Batman and the Red Hood grappling with each other and shots missing Batman and going though his cape. Awesome, but I see why they chose the main cover for the release.

Batman and Robin Issue 6

Story- 5/5 I am really warming up to Damien and some of more subtle aspects of the stories as well as bringing in nods to things like the Death of Robin.

Art- 4/5 Now I did not give this issue a Philip Tan (see last review) and this is due to some panels were not as high a quality as other panels. I am not sure if this was artist’s prerogative but I did notice it. Maybe Philip is just resting a bit so the next issue just ROCK. With a cross-over like Darkest Night he will have to bring his A game.

Cover- 5/5 but I have to tell you I have little bias. I am a total freak for choppers and the old school on the cover of this month’s issue is sweet with the exception of the color. I’m not a fan of pink but it is the Flamingos bike so what you gonna do?

Variant Cover- 2/5 Now before you start yelling at me the art is fantastic and a total throw back to one of M.C. Escher’s sketches I just don’t like the Red Hood mask. It looks like a tube of lipstick. There I said it…whew, I feel better. So this is strictly a personal reason for not liking it so if you don’t like it I’m sorry you feel that way.

Batman and Robin Issue 7

Story- 4/5-ish I really like where the story is going and the re-introduction of Knight and Squire, which I found out they have a rather long history in the Batman Universe as peripheral characters. I also need to mention Batwoman was in this issue as well. The story takes place in London and really like the new local; Morrison shows that Batman is not stuck in Gotham. The story does flash to Damien going through a complete spinal replacement surgery under the close scrutiny of Talia Head. The biggest question I have for this entire issue is where did they get a spine matching Damien? I mean he is still a growing boy; did they rip it out of some other ten year old? The ish is because this was a total set up issue for the next few issues and because of this a lot of ground work had to be laid and it feels like the issue did not get to any kind of resolution.

Art- 5/5 There is a new artist for Batman and Robin and his name is Cameron Stewart. So I would like to have a moment of silence in respect for Philip Tan just to say he will be missed and I am forever hopeful that he will come back and draw my favorite dynamic duo… That said I am really impressed with Stewart’s work, it is very clean and not to cartoony. He does a fantastic job of showing the action of the story.

Cover- 5/5 Since the entire issue was located in London I would like to use one of my favorite British phrases “Brilliant”. The cover was very reminiscent of issue 620 of Detective from the 80’s. Batman and Robin was beautifully drawn by Stewart

Variant cover- 3/5 It is a fun cover and shows where the issue is but I can see why Stewart went the main cover. This issue had a dark undertone with the preparations for raising Bruce from the dead and the Variant just lacked that darkness needed to express   the issue.

Batman and Robin Issue 8

Story- 3/5 I am not very happy with the direction of this story. Ultimately this is a story of the failure of the resurrection of Batman and I think it could have been done so it does not fall flat. I really feel that this story arc is doing just that falling flat. The story does have some good action but why is Batwoman even in the story. IDK, I just hope it picks up in the next issue because I was not happy with where the characters ended up. SPOILER- Batman, Knight, Squire, and Batwoman are buried under a ton of rock and Batwoman is mortally injured. Zombie Batman is now in Gotham looking to kill wheelchair bound Damien.

Art- 5/5 Some more great artwork by Cameron Stewart. I have nothing to criticize in this issue. My favorite art from the issue was after crazy Batman came up out of the Lazarus pit and the fluid is dripping off his mantle and also the hit from the taser style bat-knuckles. This is an effect achieved in Photoshop to give the appearance of light and it makes the page pop.

Cover- 5/5 Awesome cover of Zombie Batman rising out of the Lazarus pit and facing off with Batman and Batwoman. I really like the use of the color orange it brings a sense of heat to the cover.

Variant cover- 1/5 the variant cover is just that a variation of the same cover, the characters are just in different positions and it does not convey the a sense of tension that the orange cover does.

Batman and Robin Issue 9

Story- 3/5 I am going to stay with the three because there was some good action and the last page that had any redeemable qualities. SPOILER of last page- Dick realizes that Tim Drake was right and Bruce is not dead.

Art- 5/5 Cameron Stewart is drawing this issue as well and he continually brings a high quality to the board, very nice work. My two favorite panels both involved Alfred; the first is when he is holding back Zombie Batman from killing Damien by grabbing his cape and pushing the up button in the elevator. Classic kill a zombie move and the next one is a throwback to Shawn of the Dead as Alfred uses a Cricket bat to fend off Zombie Batman.

Cover- 4/5 Not my favorite cover but the art is spot on and I have come to realize I have become invested in a new Robin. I did not want to see Damien leave the series and I am glad he is back and getting healed up for the continued fight.

Variant cover- 1/5 Just did not like this cover I don’t know why and I know they can’t hit a home run every month. I’m just glad I did not but the variant so I would not be disappointed.

There you go your all caught up with our favorite pair of crime fighters. As an added bonus I would like to review the latest issue of Batgirl. I have been reading this since it came out and I really like how the character is developing. If you are not up to date Stephanie Brown is the current Batgirl after Cassandra Cain decided to walk away from the crime fighting biz. Barbara Gordon “the original Batgirl” was not to keen on this but eventually relented and is backing up Stephanie from behind the curtain as Oracle.

Batgirl Issue 7

Story- 5/5 Bryan Miller is the author of this issue and I have really been enjoying the development of Stephanie as Batgirl. Steph is confident without being overconfident; she realizes that the bat on chest is a target that she did not have to deal with as Spoiler. I really like the almost sibling bickering between her and Damien when Batman and Robin cross into the story. I am looking forward to the next issue titled a reunion with the Red Robin; which is the persona that Tim Drake took on after handing over the mantle of Robin to Damien.

Art- 5/5 This issue was penciled by Lee Garbett. I have said it before there was a time that I was not a fan of certain types of artistic styles used in the comic industry. But I thank God that none of those artist are working for any Batman title I am reading. Garbett is a strong artist with very clean lines and a complete understanding of the anatomy of the human body. I don’t like blocky characters.

Cover- 4/5 As I said above I am not a fan of blocky characters and Batgirl came across as a little like that. The art inside the comic was much better.

My final review for Review-apalooza will be one of my favorite Trade paperbacks,

I was well-pleased with issue 4 of Batman and Robin. The last issue was iffy with the tie up of the Pyg story arc and the introduction of Red Hood.

I must now change my tune and say Grant Morrison is The Man. I don’t know what happened last issue maybe he was asleep, but he woke up. Don’t get me wrong.   I’m not trying to be hyper critical but the last issue was not my favorite.  Enough with the old, now on to the new:

Issue 4 starts out by introducing a new baddie  by the name of Lightning Bug. He is a thug running a protection racket backed up by some cool gadgets to help intimidate.  He gets scared off by Batman and Robin then runs into the Red Hood and Scarlet.   Scarlet is Sasha the unfinished Dollotron from previous issues, and she is now a psychopathic sidekick.  She clocks Lightning Bug and the Red Hood shoots him but does not kill him.   No, not yet, he has to check his iPhone and update his Twitter account.

“Excuse me, but I need to change my status  update to ‘murdering a wanna-be supervillain.’”

He then shoots Lightning Bug and tosses him out a window.   Bad guy has ceased to be, he is no MORE.

Batman and Robin are a little late to the action, because apparently they had to make a latte stop, and when they arrive it is raining bad guys and money. Floating down with the money is a red business card that Batman snatches from the air and it reads “vengeance arms against his red right hand.”  Batman is not happy that they missed the Red Hood again, so what does he do?   He goes to a fundraiser for Gotham Police.   That’s what he’s got to do.   I also found it interesting that the public, Lucius Fox included, does not know that Bruce is dead but thinks he is in hiding and trying to clear his name in his own way.   I’m sure he will die in a skiing accident or crash in a small aircraft accident when they are ready to figure that one out.   That’s how celebrities go out if it’s not drugs or a case of the crazies.

Dick Grayson is introduced to an odd looking man by the name Oberon Sexton.   Dick also stated an alias of Oberon’s as Gravedigger.   Being the Geek that I am, I looked up the name Oberon Sexton and it has several meanings. The one that stood out for Oberon was a legendary king of the fairies in medieval and Renaissance literature.   He is best known as a character in William Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream,  in which he is Consort to Titania, Queen of the Fairies.   His last name, Sexton, means the church official who looks after the graveyard and may act as a gravedigger and bell-ringer.   The connection makes sense now doesn’t it.   For a minute I thought he may be the Red Hood, but my theory was proven wrong because the story transitions to the Red Hood’s lair.

The next bit of writing was in my opinion done very well.  The interaction between the Red Hood and Scarlet is amazing and smart.  The Red Hood seems to be educated and has a respect and a gentleness for Scarlet that he does not hold for anyone else.   This is immediately followed by an interaction between Batman and Robin.  We get to see the mentor role Dick has taken on with Damion.   There is even a moment where Batman shows Robin how his hood can become a blindfold by yanking it over his head. Damion then shows Batman that he can fight blind, something left over from his training by the League of Shadows.

This is just some fine writing.

Batman and Robin swing into action, they are going to crash a business meeting of Gotham’s organized crime, but they are late to the party once again because Red Hood and Scarlet are already killing everyone in the room. The only guy left is Oswald Cobblepot, AKA, the Penguin.   Batman and Robin get in between the Red Hood and the Penguin, who by the way, is saying he is innocent and he was at the meeting by mistake, who saw that coming?  This is the first meeting between the Red Hood and Batman, and Dick utters the name “Jason?”   AKA, the second Robin who had once taken on the role of the Red Hood.

Art: 5/5 A homerun again!  I know I sound like a broken record but Philip Tan is amazing and should never stop doing what he does best, drawing.

Story: 5/5 The story really came back and grabbed me.   I may have to go and look some stuff up to get part of the back story but I like that kind of thing.   I can’t wait to see if it is Jason under the Red Hood and that’s what keeps bringing me back for more.

Covers:
Main cover: 3/5 It was okay it just a standard shot of the bad guys of the story.

Variant cover: 5/5 Stop the press what is that?  Why did this cover get shelved over the main addition?  The shot was a little like Spiderman but way better in my opinion.   I would have loved to see it colored and I would have bought that issue over the main issue.  Very cool cover.

Final Thoughts: This issue  was way better then the last by a mile.  It is far superior with a lot of little golden nuggets to dig out if you so desire.

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Hello fellow geeks, Batmatt here with the next review of Batman and Robin’s latest escapades. We left the last issue with Dick Grayson speeding off on a four-wheeler that would make any redneck jealous. As issue three opens we find out that Batman has been busy, he has Rex the flame head hog tied and is tearing down the road holding his face just inches from the pavement. He is doing this to loosen the circus freak’s gums and get him to talk. Rex spills the goods on his boss on the steps of Gotham PD, and Commissioner Gordon is a little upset by the tactics used and flat out demands to know who this Batman is. In response, Dick Grayson says the line made famous by Michael Keaton, “I’M BATMAN”. Batman also gives a clue to Pyg’s plan but we readers have to wait a little longer because we need to see what is happening to Robin.

Remember last issue the snot nosed spoiled brat was getting overtaken by a mob of creepy dollatrons and is now tied to a chair. As Robin wakes up he delivers the best line of the issue “so… whose neck do I break first?” I got to say this kids got guts, ten years old, tied to a chair, and he still knows he has the upper hand. So after I have a good chuckle I then get to cry big man tears as I have to read through some really bad writing. I suffer through 3 and a half pages of Pyg dialoguing in a way that only a lunatic can. Say what you will about any of Batman’s foes but you can always count on their dialogue to at least make some sense. Not so when it comes to Pyg. I finally got to breathe a sigh of relief when Robin removed his rope restraints and started to kick everyone’s teeth in. Then we go to Batman kicking the posterior of a dollatron that has an “Al-Qaeda special” strapped on, but there is no bomb only a sneezy dollatron that tries to blow his nose on Batman. Dick then realizes that the threat is biological. Robin is still fighting off the dollatrons and gets some help from an unfinished one named Sasha, the daughter of Niko, the drug dealer Pyg turned into a dollatron in issue 1. As Sasha burns Pyg he squeals and runs away. Robin pursues him and then gets knocked out. Batman rides in and saves Robin from getting skewered and both Batman and Robin knock Pyg out. In the words of the immortal Porky Pig “Th-th-th-that’s all folks!”

During the moments after the fight and before the police get to the scene Batman and Robin are talking and the realization that Dick saved Damien’s life settles in on Robin. It is my hope that some of the harder edges on the character of Damien are going to soften, at least to some degree. Right now all I see is a ten year old with a sardonic mouth twice his age. The end of the issue gets interesting as Batman and Robin are chasing down a lead on the guys that killed Bruce. Pyg is now in Arkham Asylum, and Sasha is killing off the dollatrons. The cops try and stop her, but they are gunned down by the Red Hood. The last time I read anything about Red Hood was in a genesis story of the Joker. The Red Hood was an idea, he was never just one man. The costume was passed around from thug to thug. The guy that was to become the Joker was wearing the costume when Batman pushed him into batch of chemicals, then poof, out comes the Joker. But in issue three, the Red Hood alludes that he is going to be a vigilante. Not like Batman, because the Red Hood carries a big red gun and does not have a problem killing cops.

Story- 3/5 This was a wrap up issue for the Pyg story arc and I have to say I did not like the villain at all which makes the experience harder to find good points in the story. The story lagged in a few spots, but it did have great action and some good dialogue between Batman and Robin.

Art- 5/5 Again great work, the art is so detailed and is one of the main reasons I enjoy reading comics today. A comic can have a great story and be completely ruined by poor, sloppy, lazy artwork. This does not happen in this issue and I hope it continues down this same path.

Covers- Main issue cover 5/5 it really conveys the Closterphobic feeling from the swarm of dollatrons as they close in on Batman and Robin.

Variant cover- 4/5 great cover I just felt that it did not have anything to do with the issue. It was just a good picture of Batman and Robin.

Final summary- This issue did not grab me like the first two did but there were several good moments in the story that helped redeem it. Not that I am complaining, I still get to read a comic and write about it. How sweet it is.

Batman and Robin 1 & 2:

To give a little background on myself, I started collecting comics in high school. A friend of mine took me to a hole in the wall second hand bookstore called Blue Moon Books. The store smelled of old parchment, not unlike the library. The owner had a wall of comics and I made my very first verbal contract and started with a subscription to Batman. This was during the introduction of Azrael the soon to be pretender to the cowl of Batman. During this time I became immersed in the DC universe and got to know many of the characters and their back stories. One such character was Nightwing as he moved out from under the shadow of the bat to break out in a new territory in the neighboring city of Blüdhaven. I really liked how Dick Grayson made the city his own, but when he was called back to take the cowl of Batman over during the prodigal son story arc I became disappointed in how the Dick Grayson character was written. He came across as whiny and unsure of himself and I could not wait for him to return to Blüdhaven so we could have Bruce Wayne back. Which did happen and I was able to enjoy Batman for many years until I stopped collecting comics for various reasons.
Steve asked me to review a comic for the site and this gave me the excuse to start collecting and reading the books I love. As I started reading Batman and Robin and I felt like Han Solo as he was released from his Carbonite prison “I’m out of it for a little while and everyone gets dilutions of grandeur.” BATMANS DEAD?!? Dick Grayson has once again taken over as Batman? Hang on while I clutch my chest and breathe deeply in to this paper bag. Oh and where is Tim Drake? Great now I have black spots floating in my vision.

I’m okay really I’m now over the shock.

The story starts out with a car chase and a new Batmobile that flies, very cool and Back to The Future-ish. The mantle of Robin has been given to Damien, Bruce’s son, who has a snotty attitude from the start which carries throughout the next issue. I am reminded of Jason Todd, who is the least liked Robin in the history of Batman. Damien and Todd share many traits, but I think Damien is smarter and more impulsive. These character traits land him in trouble later on in issue two. Batman and Robin take down a thug by the name of Mr. Toad; yes he looks like a walking frog. He is carrying a brief case full of dominos. This causes a big question mark with Batman and Robin. Toad is dropped off and given to the authorities. Then we go to a destroyed Batcave where Dick and Alfred are sifting through the remains and having a conversation about Dick being Batman. I started to worry a little right here and have flashbacks to “prodigal son,” but Alfred provides support with wisdom and strength for Dick to lean on.

One notable moment from this page is the panel of the gravestones as Alfred and Dick are leaving the grounds of Wayne manor. Next to Thomas and Martha’s marker is a headstone with no markings on it and the top is the silhouette of a batsymbol, it’s a nice touch. We are then treated to a view of the new Batcave under what looks like one of the Wayne towers. Poor Alfred now has to transverse 64 floors and then descends a ladder to deliver food to the Batcave. I was shocked that the elevator did not go all the way to the cave. I could not imagine balancing a silver tray in one hand and go down a ladder, Alfred’s got skills. Dick and Damien then leave to pay a visit to Commissioner Gordon also this is the first meeting with the police since Bruce’s death. When Dick and Damien reach the police station the department is attacked by some of Mr. Toad’s associates in a break out attempt. We leave the attack to be introduced to Niko who was with Mr. Toad during the car chase at the beginning of the story. Niko is overtaken in his home by creepy doll like people that all look alike. He is then tied to a table and is turned into one of the creepy doll people by the villain of this story. Whose name is Pyg; he looks like a crazed butcher wearing a pig mask.

Issue two starts with a flashback. On the first page Alfred is consoling Dick and asking what happened, on the floor is an “R” patch torn from Damien’s uniform. The flashback sequence starts with a meeting between Dick and Gordon on the rooftop of the police department. Gordon and his men are suspicious of Batman and Robin because they can tell they are not the original dynamic duo, but they go along with them as the call comes in about the attempted breakout. The team trying to break out Mr. Toad is as strange as he is. A man named Rex runs into the police department on fire and this causes confusion as the Fat Lady, “Big Top” launches gas into the building. Big Top, Rex and a trio of Siamese triplets enter the building. This is when Robin shows his impulsiveness by jumping right into the fight. He holds his own against the triplets for a ten year old. Robin backs off when Batman tells him to and then Robin starts to pursue Big Top. As he engages her he makes a reference to Jabba the Hut and then proceeds to get his butt handed to him. Batman takes out the triplets and then puts Rex out with a fire extinguisher. It is now very apparent that Mr. Toad and his cohorts are part of a sick group of crazy carneys. Gordon and his men find Robin beating the stuffing out of Big Top with a stick. Gordon basically tells Robin to stop or else. But Robin continues to beat Big Top over the head with a stick till Batman intervenes. It is then discovered that Mr. Toad is dead and in his hand is a single domino. The relevance of the domino is still unknown to me and I suspect it will come to light in later issues. Batman and Robin enter the Batcave arguing about methods for getting the job done. This escalates to Robin ripping off his “R” patch and leaves stating he will find a teacher he respects. This is when we come full circle to the beginning of issue two where Alfred is consoling Dick. He has a long conversation with Alfred about Damien, Gordon, and how being Batman does not feel right. Always the wise, Alfred comes to the rescue with sage advice to all of Dick’s issues and the final bit of advice is the most effective. Alfred tells Dick to go back to his roots as a performer and look at it as if it were a role like Hamlet, or James Bond, or Willie Loman. I was not sure who this was till I googled him, if you’re interested it’s the main character in Death of a Salesman. This is my favorite panel of issue two with Alfred holding Batman’s cowl in the same fashion that Hamlet held the skull of poor Yorick. I wonder if Alfred had been helping Dick out during the “prodigal son” story arc we may have never seen Bruce Wayne again. I am starting to like this version of Batman. I know, I know, I’m speaking blasphemy but I am starting to really like the direction of this story. I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid yet, but I am willing to keep an open mind for a while. By the way… Robin is getting mobbed by Pyg and his weirdo dolls.
Story – 5/5

Art – 6/5: Or an A+ very crisp and not too cartoony. My only criticism of the art work is the way Frank drew Big Top, that’s a lot of cellulite… yuck.