Static Shock #6

From the Random Stack of Unread Comics.

Title: Static Shock
Issue: 6
Date: April 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Scott McDaniel
Penciler: Scott McDaniel
Inker: Andy Owens
Colorist: Guy Major
Letterer: Dezi Sienty
Editor: Harvey Richards
Cover: Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez, Le Beau Underwood

Apparently, I bought six issues of this when it was released as part of the New 52 in 2012 and only got around to reviewing the first five. Looking back at that fifth review, I can see why I wasn't so enthusiastic about reading more.

Unfortunately, a lot of the phrases I used for the previous issue, phrases like "too many plot elements", "not enough character development", and "convoluted mess" apply to this issue, but even more so.

I like Static Shock a lot, but this climactic episode of the ongoing storyline featured about 85 villains, guest appearances by Hardware and Technique, various alien species, an interdimensional portal, alternate timeline versions of characters, and a climactic battle where it was impossible to tell what the heck was going on. Okay, probably not actually impossible. More like not worth the effort, which is worse.

The opening bit with static hunting for the bad guys who have abducted his sister was pretty cool, and the ending epilogue bit did a reasonable job of setting up for more stories moving forward. Unfortunately, the series only went two more issues after this. It could have used some more time to move in some different directions after this opening storyline.

Rating: 4/10

Batman and Robin #1

From the random stack of unread comics.

Title: Batman and Robin
Issue: 1
Date: November 2011
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Penciller: Patrick Gleason
Inker: Mick Gray
Colorist: John Kalisz
Letterer: Patrick Brosseau
Cover: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray
Editor: Harvey Richards, Mike Marts

The opening teaser has one of the Batman's "Allies of the Bat" in Moscow attacked by an unknown ("I'm Nobody!") villain in an armored invisibility suit.

From there it's back to Gotham and the Batman's first official patrol with Damian Wayne as Robin. If you read my reviews, you may know that I am not a Damian Wayne fan. This story didn't help his cause. He was the same insufferable jerk that he always seems to be, and furthermore, he just isn't particularly entertaining.

He griped his way through Bruce taking him to Crime Alley to pay tribute to Bruce's parents, and then he proceeded to go all Jason Todd loose-cannon during a fight with some generic terrorists.

The action was solid, but there just wasn't anything particularly appealing about where the story is heading, and I don't have the patience to wait around for some moment when Damien Wayne stops being the most annoying character in the DC Universe.

Edit: Apparently, I had forgotten that I reviewed this one previously. It was that memorable. And gave it the same rating, so at least it shows I have some consistency. The previous review is here.

Rating: 4/10

Batwoman #8

From the random stack of unread comics.

Title: Batwoman
Issue: 8
Date: June 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: J. H. Williams III, W. Haden Blackman
Penciller: Amy Reeder
Inker: Rob Hunter
Colorist: Guy Major
Letterer: Todd Klein
Cover: Amy Reeder
Editor: Harvey Richards, Rickey Purdin, Mike Marts

This is the last of an eight-issue run of New 52 Batwoman that I bought back in 2012. My reviews for the issues leading up to this one are here: Issue #1, Issue #2, Issue #3, Issue #4, Issue #5, Issue #6, Issue #7.

Based on how #7 ended, my expectation was that this would be the finish to the arc, but instead, it ended up adding another layer of complication.

Batwoman has to fight through Falchion's minions, including a more-mutated-than-usual Killer Kroc.

And again, much of the issue jumps around in time. We get to see Batwoman dealing with Maggie Sawyer on a professional, rather than personal basis. Not surprisingly, love between a cop and a vigilante and be a bit star-crossed.

This felt like it should have ended here, but it was still all pretty good, and the gaps in the overall plot continue to get filled in bit by bit. This issue was also a bit more gory than the series has generally been.

I'm curious to see how this wraps up. I may have to go searching to find #9 at some point.

Rating: 6/10

Batwoman #6

From the random stack of unread comics.

Title: Batwoman
Issue: 6
Date: April 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: J. H. Williams III, W. Haden Blackman
Penciller: Amy Reeder
Inker: Rob Hunter, Richard Friend
Colorist: Guy Major
Letterer: Todd Klein
Cover: Amy Reeder
Editor: Harvey Richards, Rickey Purdin, Mike Marts

I'm reading the early issues of this series in pretty random order (my reviews: Issue #1, Issue #2, Issue #3, Issue #4, Issue #5, Issue #7), and the fact that the story is loaded with time-jumps is not helping matters.

This issue brings us the origin of Gotham's Weeping Woman, a few bits of interlude including a nice scene with Kate and Maggie and their relationship, and a couple of fight scenes.

The art really stands out here. This has been my favorite Batwoman issue in terms of art. The use of splash pages and the flow of the action scenes is great, and the artwork on the quieter moments is pretty effective as well.

There is some nice character development, even if the overall progress of the plot is somewhat choppy.

Rating: 8/10

Batwoman #7

A cover variant that I got in 2012 when I was reading a bunch of DC's New 52 titles. It ended up in the random stack of unread comics after I hit New-52-burnout a few months in.

Title: Batwoman
Issue: 7
Date: May 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: J. H. Williams III, W. Haden Blackman
Penciller: Amy Reeder
Inker: Rob Hunter
Colorist: Guy Major
Letterer: Todd Klein
Cover: Amy Reeder
Editor: Harvey Richards, Rickey Purdin, Mike Marts

The last issue in this run that I read was #3 (reviewed here), which had Batwoman going up against the urban legend figure known as the Weeping Woman.

Now, the Weeping Woman has been revealed to be part of something larger, a criminal gang with supernatural abilities and connections led by a man named Falchion. The opening scene sets up their confrontation, but this issue is almost entirely flashbacks. There is enough here to piece together the basic scenario but it's got probably a few more parts in motion than it really needs to have.

I did like the modern urban fantasy vibe that smoothly meshes high tech cop drama with supernatural magic, and it sets up what looks to be an epic showdown that will hopefully be worth the convoluted path getting there. I do have issue #8, so I should get to find out soon.

Rating: 6/10

Static Shock #5

I had a bed feeling that this was going to happen sooner or later.

Title: Static Shock
Issue: 5
Date: March 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Scott McDaniel
Penciler: Scott McDaniel
Inker: Andy Owens
Colorist: Guy Major
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Editor: Harvey Richards
Cover: Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez

I know there were some issues with the creative team on this book, and I also know the book has been canceled. That's what happens when you're a few months behind on reading. John Rozum is no longer credited on the writing starting with this issue, and the writing took a serious nose dive. Probably not a coincidence, although this may have simply been the natural result of trying to incorporate too many plot elements without enough character development.

This issue is almost entirely taken up by squabbles and intrigues between a whole array of third-rate villains, and we're never given any reason to care.

The use of Virgil's sister as a generic damsel-in-distress doesn't help matters either, nor does the extended dream/flashback to Virgil's gang days, complete with stilted gangbanger jargon.

This issue seems to be the result of taking all of the weak elements that existed on the fringes of a pretty engaging story centered on Virgil Hawkins, and suddenly making those weak elements the main focus.

The only two redeeming points in this mess are that the opening fight scene still manages to be fun in the way that all of Static's fight scenes have been fun, and a brief glimmer of interesting personality from Guillotina (of all people).

Everything else is a convoluted mess.

Rating: 4.5/10

Batwoman #5

Title: Batwoman
Issue: 5
Date: March 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: J. H. Williams III, W. Haden Blackman
Artist: J. H. Williams III
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Todd Klein
Editor: Harvey Richards, Rickey Purdin, Mike Marts

Batwoman has her final confrontation with the Weeping Woman, and the battle is absolutely gorgeous, and incredibly detailed. I loved the changing face of the Weeping Woman, which shifted from panel to panel.

From there it's on to a confrontation of another sort, as Kate gets a visit from Mr. Bones and Cameron Chase. What follows is an offer that Kate can't refuse. And one that might just put her on a collision course with the Batman.

The first half was more interesting and creative than the somewhat generic spy-dealings of the second half, but this was still a good effort overall, and the concluding two pages were powerful.

Rating: 8/10

Batman #5

Title: Batman
Issue: 5
Date: February 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Scott Snyder
Penciler: Greg Capullo
Inker: Jonathan Glapion
Colorist: FCO
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Editor: Katie Kubert, Harvey Richards, Mike Marts
Cover: Chris Burnham, Nathan Fairbairn

Layout gimmickry abounds as a drugged Batman fights to stay alive and stay sane in a maze constructed by the Court of Owls.

The odd layouts manage to accomplish their purpose thanks to the excellent artwork by Capullo and Glapion. I like the use of story as a theme and the concept of the Batman's story as something that he needs to cling to and fight for, something that can be taken away from him.

The Court of Owls continues to be built up into an extremely powerful enemy, and that buildup continues to be effective.

Rating: 8/10

Batwoman #4

Title: Batwoman
Issue: 4
Date: February 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: J. H. Williams III, W. Haden Blackman
Artist: J. H. Williams III
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Todd Klein
Editor: Harvey Richards, Rickey Purdin, Mike Marts

Well, they went the predictable route with Flamebird, and they did it even sooner than I expected. That being said, the art and layouts of the (brutal) scene were good enough for me to mostly forgive the plot direction.

And the plot got more interesting once it got past the opening scene. The confrontation between Kate Kane and Cameron Chase is coming fast, and Batwoman is too distracted with other issues to see it coming.

Agent Chase has some particularly villainous moments in this issue, which follow from the opening scene and give the story some direction as they build up the tension.

Rating: 7/10

Batman And Robin #4

Title: Batman And Robin
Issue: 4
Date: January 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Peter J Tomasi
Penciler: Patrick Gleason
Inker: Mick Gray
Colorist: John Kalisz
Letterer: Patrick Brosseau
Editor: Harvey Richards, Katie Kubert, Mike Marts
Cover: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, John Kalisz

We open with our heroes (Batman and Robin, AKA Bruce and Damian Wayne) tied up in the front seat of a junk car and an abandoned drive-in theater.

Nobody (who, if you recall, is somebody; specifically, he's Morgan Ducard) proceeds to try to lecture the Batman about the foolishness of his code against killing.

And you know what? It's boring.

The moral dilemma of why the Batman doesn't just kill the Joker (or whatever other villain is sure to escape and cause more mayhem every time they are thrown in Arkham) was interesting around 1988 in stories The Killing Joke and Ten Nights of the Beast. It has ceased to be interesting, not because it's been resolved, but because it's obvious that it never will be. The whole thing is based on the patently ludicrous assumption that the legal system is incapable of ever keeping these psychos in jail, and thus the entire argument boils down to a thought experiment that has long since grown tiresome.

In this particular instance, the Batman really has nothing to say, and in fact makes the (valid) point that Ducard isn't worthy of an explanation.

Then things commence blowing up.

The Dynamic Duo makes it back to the Batcave and Damian argues with Bruce about the fact that Bruce is holding back information. Damian is probably in the right here (scratch that; Alfred sides with him so Damian is definitely in the right).

Damian leaves in a huff and displays a bit more of his cruelty to animals tendencies, although this time he's just squishing fireflies. On the bright side, Damian is actually taking a liking to his dog, and displays an interest in Shakespeare when choosing the name Titus for the pup. I'm hoping this will end well, but I don't think it's likely.

And speaking of not ending well, here's Nobody to try to seduce Damian over to the Dark Side. We end with the kid considering it.

Too much rehashing of old issues without any real creativity. A clever escape from the opening imperilment isn't enough to save this.

And Damian is still annoying.

Rating: 4.5/10

Static Shock #4

Title: Static Shock
Issue: 4
Date: February 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Scott McDaniel, John Rozum
Penciler: Scott McDaniel
Inker: Andy Owens
Colorist: Guy Major
Letterer: Dezi Sienty
Editor: Harvey Richards
Cover: Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez

Villain du jour is Guillotina. Aside from her silly name, her power is that she's covered in razor-sharp scales.

Static has a fun fight with her. As we've seen with this title, Static has a very Spider-Man vibe, cracking jokes while he thinks and improvises his way to victory. The only problem with this scene is that is has basically been done in each of the three previous issues. It's still fun, but it feels a bit meaningless.

We get some transitional scenes that keep subplots in motion without any real progress, and then it's back to brawling.

Unfortunately, Static seems to forget all of the tactical savvy he'd been using up to now, and just gets captured in short order to set up the rather cliched cliffhanger.

The problem with writing a comic that is fun is that sometimes it needs to have some originality here. This felt like the writers were running short on ideas and were just repeating what they had done previously.

Rating: 6/10

Detective Comics #4

Title: Detective Comics
Issue: 4
Date: February 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Tony Salvador Daniel
Penciler: Tony Salvador Daniel
Inker: Sandu Florea
Colorist: Tomeu Morey
Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher
Editor: Katie Kubert, Harvey Richards, Mike Marts
Cover: Tony Salvador Daniel, Tomeu Morey

When I did my review of last issue, I said that this title needed to show some improvement if I was going to keep spending my money on it.

Well, it did improve. This conclusion to the Dollmaker storyline spent a lot of time explaining and filling in gaps, and it spent a lot of time setting up future plotlines, and it did all of that fairly smoothly.

The Batman came off looking strong (as did Bullock and Gordon), and the stage is now set for the return of one the classic Batman rogues. Dollmaker is also still available as a future threat, and a number of smaller plot threads have potential to grow into major stories.

This didn't completely make up for the nonsense that preceded it, but it was a big help.

Rating: 6/10

Batman #4

Slowly catching up on the DC backlog. Today I start the #4's.

Title: Batman
Issue: 4
Date: February 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Scott Snyder
Penciler: Greg Capullo
Inker: Jonathan Glapion
Colorist: FCO
Letterer: Richard Starkings, Comicraft's Jimmy Betancourt
Editor: Katie Kubert, Harvey Richards, Mike Marts
Cover: Greg Capullo, FCO

Dick Grayson visits the Batcave, concerned that the Batman has been pushing himself too hard on the Court of Owls case. Interestingly, Bruce is the skeptical one. He is not convinced that the Court is real, even after finding evidence that they have been active for centuries. Dick and Jim Gordon are open to the possibility.

Why is Bruce unconvinced? Well, the answer is revealed in an incident from Bruce's childhood, right after the deaths of his parents. It might be considered his first attempt at detective work and it turned into a hard lesson and one that the boy who would become the Batman never forgot.

The flashback seemed a bit contrived, but it still held my interest as most additions to the origin story do. It's interesting how writers always seem to come up with gaps in the Batman's past that are in need of stories.

Other than the flashback scene, this issue was mostly transitional, bridging the gap between the closing peril of last issue and some new imperilment to end this one. The interaction between Bruce and Dick seemed a little bit forced. And the action consisted mainly of the Court being one step ahead of the Batman in the way that ancient and powerful conspiracies often are.

Rating: 6/10

Batman And Robin #3

Title: Batman And Robin
Issue: 3
Date: January 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Peter J Tomasi
Penciler: Patrick Gleason
Inker: Mick Gray
Colorist: John Kalisz
Letterer: Patrick Brosseau
Editor: Harvey Richards, Katie Kubert, Mike Marts
Cover: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, John Kalisz

Bruce Wayne is busy upgrading the Wayne Manor defenses (like THAT is going to help), and he's not letting Damian go out on patrol (which actually would have been a good idea if he'd done that from the start).

He's also bought Damian a dog, and Damian is getting repeatedly outwitted by Alfred.

Eventually, Damian heads out anyway, lays a severe beatdown on a couple of muggers, and then gets mugged himself by Nobody (AKA Morgan; can you explain to me again why the we know the identity of a villain named Nobody?).

The Batman shows up, mayhem occurs and we end with Batman and Robin waking up locked in a junk car in an abandoned drive-in theater. No, really! The only thing missing was a narrator to tell us to tune in "Same Bat-Time, Same Bat-Channel!"

This was a lot better than the previous two issues, mostly due to Alfred, who was awesome in all the right ways.

Unfortunately, the attempt to humanize Damian is handled in a clunky and inconsistent way. The boy-assassin is suddenly hesitant when Nobody tells him to go ahead and finish off one of the muggers. Sorry, not buying it. Not the way it was handled here. Accusing Nobody of "cold-blooded murder" is just about the most idiotically out-of-character line that Damian could possibly be saddled with. I realize the objective is to get Damian to be one of the good guys, but it needs to be done in a way that is consistent with the character as established.

Some improvements here. Still a long way to go.

And did I mention that Damian is still annoying?

Rating: 4.5/10

Batwoman #3

Back to the New 52. Closing in on the last of the #3's!

Title: Batwoman
Issue: 3
Date: January 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: J. H. Williams III, W. Haden Blackman
Artist: J. H. Williams III
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Todd Klein
Editor: Harvey Richards, Rickey Purdin, Mike Marts

Batwoman takes on the Weeping Woman in the Weeping Woman's own element. As one might imagine, that doesn't go well. To make matters worse, when Batwoman does manage to avoid drowning, she walks right into the hands of Cameron Chase and a team of feds. Oh, and she has to ditch her planned date with Maggie Sawyer.

Artist J. H. Williams III continues to excel in design, with some of the most interesting panel layouts in mainstream comics. There is always something going on in the art in this title, and the dialogue is excellent as well. A confrontation between Kate Kane's father and Cameron Chase was excellent (in spite of misusing the term "enlisted"; maybe we could get a military-jargon-checker?).

The only real weak spot in this is the relationship between Batwoman and Flamebird, which seems forced (and forced in a not-boding-well direction for Flamebird). Other than that, this was solid. Good advancement of multiple plots, good dialogue, and a a really nice tender romantic scene with Kate and Maggie ("If you're going through hell, keep going."; nice!).

Rating: 7.5/10

Batman #3

Title: Batman
Issue: 3
Date: January 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Scott Snyder
Penciler: Greg Capullo
Inker: Jonathan Glapion
Colorist: FCO
Letterer: Richard Starkings, Comicraft's Jimmy Betancourt
Editor: Katie Kubert, Harvey Richards, Mike Marts
Cover: Greg Capullo, FCO

The Batman begins to uncover the secrets of the Court of Owls, and their generations-old conspiracy to control Gotham.

This was a good issue for plot-thickening, both in terms of developing the backstory of the Owls and their connection to the Wayne family, and also in terms of developing some of the current post-New-52 Gotham underworld.

The actual gimmick of the hidden lairs of the Court (based on the idea that owls use the nests of other birds) was a bit implausible, but made for a fun revelation. There wasn't much action in this issue, but writer Snyder kept the pacing fast and I didn't find myself wishing for more fight scenes.

Rating: 6.5/10

Batman And Robin #2

One of the leftover #2's that I originally hadn't planned to buy. Probably should have stuck with that plan.

Title: Batman And Robin
Issue: 2
Date: December 2011
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Peter J Tomasi
Penciler: Patrick Gleason
Inker: Mick Gray
Colorist: John Kalisz
Letterer: Patrick Brosseau
Editor: Harvey Richards, Katie Kubert
Cover: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, John Kalisz

Welcome to the world of Damian Wayne, where common sense is the most uncommon trait of all. You know, given that Damian Wayne's problem is that he was trained from in-utero to be the perfect killing machine, one would think that the solution would be to have him in art therapy or something, or at least to, you know, not continually take him into violent situations.

Apparently, this is not quite so obvious to the Batman.

There are only two ways this mess can end. Either Damian becomes a full-fledged villain, and the Batman looks stupid for putting up with him this whole time, or Damian really does turn into a good guy, in which case the readers still won't like him because this series has spent so much time making him unlikable.

I suppose that he could also meet a horrible demise, as Robins are wont to do, but that is probably asking too much.

And while I'm on the subject of logical plot development or lack thereof, does it seem a bit odd to give a villain the (dumb) name of "Nobody" and then reveal his identity in the second issue? Nobody, as it turns out is somebody after all!

In between Bruce bemoaning Damian's scarred soul and the big reveal of Nobody, there's, well, not much. A generic action scene followed by the revelation that Damian engages in cruelty to animals. Wonderful. That's really going to make us care about him. Not.

Can we have Tim Drake back now? Please?

Rating: 3.5/10

Static Shock #3

Title: Static Shock
Issue: 3
Date: January 2012
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Scott McDaniel, John Rozum
Penciler: Scott McDaniel
Inker: Andy Owens
Colorist: Guy Major
Letterer: Dezi Sienty
Editor: Harvey Richards
Cover: Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez

This issue is almost all action, and it continues to be classic superhero fun. Static's battles are interesting, and there is a variety of villains that he's facing off against, all with their own agendas and subplots.

I'm continuing to enjoy the portrayal of Virgil Hawkins. He's a great mix of youthful confidence with inexperience, and he's really likable as a result. He doesn't sink into angst the way some teen characters seem to, and his intelligence comes through along with his courage.

I did think that some of the high school scenes in which Virgil tries to infiltrate the local gang culture seemed a bit contrived. These supposed gangbangers are awful quick to accept a newcomer they know nothing about. But I was willing to accept it for the sake of story pacing and keeping things light and fun, which has been a strength of this book since the first issue.

I got the news today that Static Shock has been canceled as of issue #8, and that's a disappointment to me. Out of 52 new titles, this was one of the best for just plain fun (the others I put in that category are Action Comics and Superman). In fact, in my opinion, Static Shock has been a more satisfying read than probably about 45 of the New 52. It's even more disappointing that of the six canceled titles, two of them featured African American lead characters (this one and Mr. Terrific, which I have not read). Hopefully the remaining five issues of Static Shock will bring the story to a satisfying end point. I intend to stick with this title to the end.

Rating: 7.5/10

Static Shock #2

Title: Static Shock
Issue: 2
Date: December 2011
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Scott McDaniel, John Rozum
Penciler: Scott McDaniel
Inker: Andy Owens
Colorist: Guy Major
Letterer: Dezi Sienty
Editor: Harvey Richards
Cover: Chris Brunner, Rico Renzi

We launch right into the action with Static being ambushed by Virule, who nearly severs Static's arm with some sort of disc-projectile (with a one-atom cutting edge, as it turns out!). Fortunately, Static has some abilities that even he wasn't aware of, and he manages to escape the situation.

Most of the rest of the story is set-up for the rematch. There are a lot of villains, and a pretty large supporting cast, many of whom have their own subplots already in progress (taken, I assume, from Static's previous comics).

The book juggles a lot this issue, but manages to keep things fast-paced and fun. Even the things that I had problems with were good in their own ways. Sure, Static gets information about a super-powered gang from a gang-affiliated schoolmate a bit too easily, but it was still nice to see the teenaged superhero not being portrayed as horribly socially awkward in his secret identity. Virgil's confidence is a refreshing change from a lot of similar characters.

I also like the fact that Static's powers get some respect, both from the villains and from the plot itself. Having some doubts about how to handle Static makes the villains a lot more human.

We end the issue pretty much where we started, but the book was definitely entertaining.

Rating: 7/10

Batman And Robin #1

Title: Batman And Robin
Issue: 1
Date: November 2011
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Peter J Tomasi
Penciler: Patrick Gleason
Inker: Mick Gray
Colorist: John Kalisz
Letterer: Patrick Brosseau
Editor: Harvey Richards, Mike Marts
Cover: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray

Introductory sequence introduces the new villain, Nobody (talk about a name with some epic potential!). Nobody can be best summed up by the words Tom Baker used to describe the monsters in an old Dr. Who episode: Big, bad, and invisible. Kudos to the art team of Gleason, Gray, and Kalisz for their handling of a really challenging opening fight scene. It still took me two readings before I figured out exactly what was going on, but I'm impressed they managed to successfully get it across at all.

From there it's off to (stately!) Wayne Manor and the Batman, who unfortunately has to share half the billing in this book with Damian Wayne. Damian manages to be both a liability AND a complete jerk for the entire book, which is just about par for the course for this character.

The problem here isn't so much the writing as the basic concept. And I freely admit that there are probably readers who love Damian. Those people probably also think Hit Girl is pretty awesome. I guess I'm old fashioned. Children as cold-blooded killers don't do much for me. Or maybe it's because I work with real teenagers in my day job. Heck, I didn't even like the Cassandra Cain version of Batgirl (Wonder where she'll show up in the DCNU? Teen Titans villain, maybe?).

So the writer isn't doing anything more than following precedent. Damian Wayne's unique talent for being both lethal and incredibly annoying is quickly becoming established tradition.

There are even a couple of decent moments. I already mentioned the opening scene that introduces Nobody. The bit with Damian lying awake on his bed waiting for the call to action was a great visual.

But the second half of the book is a generic takedown of random terrorists trying to steal nuclear material. Aside from the Batman's somewhat amusing solution to keeping the reactor from melting down, the only thing that distinguishes this from any other Batman/Robin brawl is Damian doing his loose cannon routine.

Can we just have Tim Drake back please? I'd ask for Stephanie Brown back (at least she manages to not be a jerk while she's being a liability), but they'd probably just kill her around issue 4.

Rating: 4/10