Comic Book Case

Dark Days: The Forge (OH MY GOODNESS!)

In the Bermuda Triangle, a scientist is saved by Batman and Aquaman, Aquaman asks him about the Wayne Enterprises black site under the ocean to which Batman call him out on what he has been hiding. Ganthet tell Hal Jordan that there is a rumbling in the universe, something is coming to light and it cannot so he sends him to Wayne Manor where the signal is at its strongest. He goes to the Batcave and encounters Duke Thomas who is protecting the cave while Batman is away and after some prodding, Hal finds a secret cave. Meanwhile at another black site Batman is talking to Mr. Terrific who was previously on Earth 2 which he had been going back and forth to investigate a frequency that has been growing even on Earth 2. Batman realizes that they need someone specific, someone the two had agreed was too unstable but now it is time; to release Plastic Man. Back in the Batcave Duke and Hal explore the secret cave and find out about a mysterious metal that Batman has been investigating that has ties to a multitude of weapons like Fate's helmet, Diana's gauntlets, and Arthur's trident. It was also part of Dioneseum, a material that brought Joker and Batman back from the dead. The voice in the cave even tells that Batman had formed a team, the Outsiders; to investigate the metal covertly and all the time, Hal's ring isn't working properly. At the Fortress of Solitude, Batman goes to Superman and asks about the secret room he asked for, Superman says he's never been in it and there is no way in since Batman threw the key into the sun but Batman says that it is time to open the door and he reveals he brought Mister Miracle to open the door and reveals the Cosmic Tuning Fork that the Anti-Monitor used in the story Infinite Crisis. Duke and Hal go deeper into the cave, following the voice as Hal's ring begins to act strangely more and more until finally they come to the end seeing Joker writing numbers on a wall.

This story is pretty intense. We see Batman searching for something big, a secret involving nth metal that may or may not be key to a lot of things going on. This is clearly Scott Snyder holding true to what he said in an interview about just having lots of fun with all the toys he was allowed to play with. As well as starting up a new Dark Universe it is clear that this will be something big and loud with a lot of characters like the Outsiders, Plastic Man, Mister Terrific, and Hawkman coming out of the woodwork. It just looks SO FUN!

Wonder Woman #24 (Bittersweet Ending)

Diana and Cale emerge from the tree. Cale is no mood to talk to Steve who is demanding answers until he sees Diana as the two embrace while Cale leaves. Cheetah tries to enter the tree to reach Themyscira but no avail as her tears turn to rage. Later on Diana, Steve, and Etta go over what happened, Ferdinand going home, Sasha being in recovery, and the feds shutting Cale down. Diana and Etta are worried about Barbara-Ann and she goes looking for her. Cale meanwhile seems done as she doesn't care what happens to her, even ignoring Doctor Cyber, calling her a machine. She finds Cheetah in her room and while Cheetah wants to turn back into Barbara-Ann, Cale says the feds have shut her lab down so she can't help which causes Cheetah to attempt to kill her and almost does before Diana intervenes. Diana subdues Cheetah and takes her away as Cale lets her know that she and Diana will never be friends to which Diana accepts.

This issue was I felt a bit bittersweet and I think that was the plan as very little was changed. Cale has saved her daughter but she will never see her again, Diana found Themyscira but can never go there, and Barbara-Ann is back to being Cheetah. Looking at it this way you kind of wonder what has been accomplished as it seems we are right back where we started. The question now is what is the truth and what is a lie in itself? We know that Diana had never been home since she left, we know that her powers came from the gods, but we don't know about her parentage, we never get confirmation that she was made from clay and with new of the mystery her brother Jason coming soon, we may get more truth.

Detective Comics #958 (Went from neat to OH YEAH!)

While Luke, Jean-Paul, and Kate are at a basketball game, the whole thing is interrupted by a hairy, bloody creature looking for Jean-Paul who Jean says is named Nomoz and they leave to get him treatment. Meanwhile, Bruce is trying to get into a specific show at the Iceberg lounge, he needs answers and there is only one person who can help but it seems he's too late until Penguin finds out who he's looking for and invites him in if for no other reason to see him lose money at his casino. At the Belfry Jean-Paul reveals that Nomoz was created by the Order of St. Dumas and he talks about his suit and how he was created with help from Mother (antagonist from Batman and Robin Eternal) and how Nomoz trained him. Nomoz says that the Order is gone thanks to a new creation they have named Ascalon, no longer a man but a killing machine that does not doubt nor fail. Nomoz says that he knows where they are and also where Bruce is. Bruce is about to watch the show at the table begin before Ascalon attacks the casino but before Ascalon attacks he is stopped by the performer, Zatanna.

This is pretty interesting. I don't know enough about Jean-Paul Valley or the Order of St. Dumas other than what I saw in Arkham Knight so I'm the last person anyone should ask about it. The story itself sounds interesting and I'm kind of hoping this is a story where Batwoman and the others solve the problem without Bruce as he deals with his stuff with Zatanna though I don't think that will be likely. Zatanna almost takes away from the best scene in the comic which is the scene with Clayface and Cassandra acting out a scene from the Tempest and Clayface as he helps her communicate better. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Clayface and Cass are the real mvps of this book.

Superman ##25 (So he's a cow now?)

Everyone tries to calm Jon down who seems to be bombarded with anger and fear over his mom combined with Manchester Black messing with his head. Damian tells Superman that he is having an effect on him, Jon is still in there despite what Black is doing to him so they all try to hold Black back while Superman deals with Jon. It doesn't look like much is working, especially since Black is also releasing his powers more but it all changes when Lois shows up perfectly fine and that calms him down a great bit but it isn't enough to defeat Black until Jon teams up with Kate to defeat him. The aliens on the ship ask to stay in Hamilton which they will fix up to which Clark begrudgingly agrees. Jon's powers seem to be in remission due to what they did but Superman and the others say they will return when he is ready. This is shown best when he and Kathy resume their friendship and he is able to fly. Lois and Clark look on happily before they kiss.

The story as a whole I think was fun but I don't feel it was handled very well overall. This was teased all the way from issue 1 and I think that buildup while subtle didn't really do much. Manchester Black returning is a good thing but it looks like his consciousness is now inside........ a cow. I don't feel that Jon and Clark have really gotten anywhere in terms of the argument about killing to save lives and maybe they never will. Jon himself seems to be pretty all right but it is his scene with Kathy that I think really made it worth it at the end to see them resume their friendship.

Captain America: Steve Rogers 18 (wins and loses)

As Namor contemplates giving Cap his piece of the Cosmic Cube after an attack on his temple, Steve heads to a United Nations emergency session to discuss what to do about HYDRA. He looks the members in the eye and tells them that there will be no discussion, that they are here to listen. HYDRA will no longer tolerate covert actions against them and any country found involved in it will face embargo and exile. He talks about how the splinter groups in HYDRA that are operating may be brought to the table if things keep escalating the way they have. His speech seems to come to a glorious end before T'challa interrupts the speech via hacking, talking about how HYDRA's forces have been trying to get into Wakanda only to die and T'challa essentially calls Steve out to meet him. As Steve leaves he is greeted by Namor and the two talk with Steve saying that Namor should return what is his before Atlantis is razed to the ground.

This was a really fun issue but also requires you to be reading Secret Empire. HYDRA and Tony's team had been trying to get the Comic Cube shards and one of them were in Atlantis and an issue later we see Namor hand over the cube to HYDRA for peace. It's an interesting thing with Namor here as we see how conflicted he is. T'challa himself showed off how cool he can be, I always think Black Panther is better in books as opposed to being in his own. 

Batman #25 (Wow)

After the events of Zero Year Riddler is in Arkham, Joker cannot smile so his option is to kill comedians and Gotham is suffering a heatwave. Why? Because the Riddler can't solve the mystery of Batman and Joker is bored with fighting Batman because he knows the end result, they have unsolvable riddles and unfunny jokes. When Riddler breaks out of Arkham, he goes to see Joker and says that he knows what is coming, they both have to kill Batman but if they do it alone they will get in each others way, chaos will ensue and all Batman will have to do is beat down the weaker one when it's over. Riddler offers teamwork to which Joker shoots him and the Joker leaves before Batman shows up looking for them. The comic ends with Bruce telling Selina that this is the story he's never told anyone, the perceived truth about who he is. This is the war of Jokes and Riddles where Batman's darkest secret is.

This may be my favorite comic of the month and it has to be just in how it is done. Narrated by Batman and him telling us how he got all the facts from every side of the conflict we see what may be the first real consequence of Batman. Sort of like how The Dark Knight was Joker being a consequence of Batman fighting the mob and now we see the a consequence of Batman having defeated Riddler and Joker. The buildup to this was awesome as throughout King's run the War of Jokes and Riddles and is mentioned in one form or another. The war that will make everyone pick sides from Man-Bat to Poison Ivy, a choice will be made on whether to side with Joker or Riddler.