Official Batman Titles thread 2.0 - Part 1

[Mystirious]

Last rites was pretty neat I dug that

 

[Mr. Earle]

Last Rites was great. Using the Lump Morrison explores many themes, like what would have happened to Dick had it not been for Bruce (he would have died trying to fight crime by himself). Its a really great revision of Batman's entire history and it ends with the awesome climax where Batman uses his own memories to kill the clones.

How can you not scream "**** yeah Batman"?

 

[GlasgowBat]

^Agreed, I also love how it follows the last issue of RIP in the hardcover. I mean, the entire last issue of RIP just makes you scream "**** yeah Batman!", and dance around cheering his awesome greatness.

So, Batman was kind of poor; Daniel's dialogue is weak but getting better, but I'm not a fan of his plots. Also, do we really need janice porter back? Really?

Batgirl was once again superb. Can't get enough of that book.

B&R had some decent moments..... we'll wait and see.

RR/Teen Titans was decent, particularly the Damian and Tim interactions.

Detective is so good, it may be genuinely bad for you.

BOP was ok, although I'm sort of fed up with the idea that every male bad guy is a pervert. It just comes across as formulaic villian talk, what with it being used so frequently in the title.

 

[Mr. Earle]

I wasnt impressed by Detective.
1) Nothing really happened there.
2) I didnt know about Gordon's son and it feels pretty bad to learn about him now. Even more so when he's a psychopath.
3) I heard that people liked the art. It wasnt bad, but the digital is clearer, plus all the red hurt my eyes. It felt like i was reading a very old comic book.

B&R was mediocre. Its definitely not the fun and adventurous book it was when GM was writing it. It's Tomasi's first issue though so i guess we'll see.

 

[GlasgowBat]

Well, the whole point of the James jr thing is that we don't know what kind of person he is. Remeber the LOTDK issue way back that had him witness the brutal slaying of some guys? That's the only real thing that could be identified as a set-up. This is a new angle, so you wouldn't have known.

I felt there was a strong change of tone between the two halves of the book, and I applaud the creative team for making it work so cohesively. The first part had a very real sense of dread about it as Gordan and his son continue their conversation from the backups that had been running the first two issues of Snyder's run, and was one of the most tense bits of writing I read all week. A real complement considering the entire thing was a single conversation! Of course, the tension was built by inter-cutting the dialogue and the art, with that water slowly creeping under the restroom door. In fact, It was hard for me to focus on the conversation in parts because I just wanted to know where it was coming from! The payoff released the tension in just the right manner considering this is just the beginning of this story arc and left an ambiguity that leaves me wanting more.

The second part of the story had a bit lighter tone to it without losing the mood from the first half giving the whole book a more cohesive flow, which I appreciated. Batman and Red Robin go after some smugglers relating to events in the past arc as Tim vocally, and Dick more internally, questioning how ready Batman is to be back on the streets after the incident with the fear toxin in the last issue. The art does most of the heavy lifting in this section, which is greatly appreciated considering it's much more action oriented than the first half. There's some nice JHIII influenced splashes, and some spooky hallucinations(?) that makes what is really just a set up story into a very enjoyable read.

There really is very little you can find that is as intense as the conversation between Jim and James. Masterful, exemplary storytelling.

 

[CrimsonMist]

Well, the whole point of the James jr thing is that we don't know what kind of person he is. Remeber the LOTDK issue way back that had him witness the brutal slaying of some guys? That's the only real thing that could be identified as a set-up. This is a new angle, so you wouldn't have known.

I felt there was a strong change of tone between the two halves of the book, and I applaud the creative team for making it work so cohesively. The first part had a very real sense of dread about it as Gordan and his son continue their conversation from the backups that had been running the first two issues of Snyder's run, and was one of the most tense bits of writing I read all week. A real complement considering the entire thing was a single conversation! Of course, the tension was built by inter-cutting the dialogue and the art, with that water slowly creeping under the restroom door. In fact, It was hard for me to focus on the conversation in parts because I just wanted to know where it was coming from! The payoff released the tension in just the right manner considering this is just the beginning of this story arc and left an ambiguity that leaves me wanting more.

The second part of the story had a bit lighter tone to it without losing the mood from the first half giving the whole book a more cohesive flow, which I appreciated. Batman and Red Robin go after some smugglers relating to events in the past arc as Tim vocally, and Dick more internally, questioning how ready Batman is to be back on the streets after the incident with the fear toxin in the last issue. The art does most of the heavy lifting in this section, which is greatly appreciated considering it's much more action oriented than the first half. There's some nice JHIII influenced splashes, and some spooky hallucinations(?) that makes what is really just a set up story into a very enjoyable read.

There really is very little you can find that is as intense as the conversation between Jim and James. Masterful, exemplary storytelling.

Well put.

Snyder's story telling abilities have been great through and through. What I love about Detective is that it's character driven. The action is very subtle, but extremely effective. It's not spectacle driven like Morrison's stuff.

And like you said, the conversation between Jim and James Jr. was pure intensity. Very seldom do you see tension built like that in comic.

This is the kinda comic I live for.

 

[Mystirious]

Was not digging the first issue of Tomasi's Batman and Robin found it kind of disapointing going to stick with it for a bit though

 

[Mr. Earle]

Gleason's art was pretty bad too. I thought that he was supposed to be great, having received so much praise for his work in GL. But then i read a GL book of his and it was the same crap.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

That just means you have bad taste in art.

 

[Mr. Earle]

I dont think so. Many people share my opinion. I think DC is just hyping him for whatever reason like they re doing with Daniel and Finch.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Many people also have the opposite opinion, given that Gleason's GLC sold pretty well and Batman & Robin is still selling pretty well. Whether he's worth the hype is debatable, but he has been doing something right to bring in the sales lately. I mean, it boggles my mind that people would shell out good money for, say, Ethan Van Sciver's awkwardly proportioned art, but the fact remains that artists are usually hyped because they can draw a crowd.

 

[Mystirious]

Gleason is no JH Williams III but his art was not that bad I thought

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I actually thought he was a poor man's Doug Mahnke initially, but his art has a much more energetic feel than Mahnke's.

 

[Mystirious]

Do you mean Gleason or Williams Corp

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Gleason. Williams' art doesn't look anything like Mahnke's.

 

[Mystirious]

That was who I thought you meant

While not a big fan of Gleason's artwork i thought it was better than the writing in the new issue of Batman and Robin. The story did not grab my attention

 

[Mr. Earle]

Many people also have the opposite opinion, given that Gleason's GLC sold pretty well and Batman & Robin is still selling pretty well. Whether he's worth the hype is debatable, but he has been doing something right to bring in the sales lately. I mean, it boggles my mind that people would shell out good money for, say, Ethan Van Sciver's awkwardly proportioned art, but the fact remains that artists are usually hyped because they can draw a crowd.

I guess i caught an issue where he underperformed then.

Ethan Van Sciver is pretty good though.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I disagree. He's very detailed, but not a particularly good technical artist or storyteller in my book.

 

[Saint]

Gleason is absolutely solid.

 

[Mystirious]

He is solid but not spectacular

Snyder's Detective Comics has been pretty neat so far looking forward to the next issue of that

New Batman Inc this month guest starring Batwoman and Gaucho that is going to be

 

[Scarecrow_King]

I actually thought he was a poor man's Doug Mahnke initially, but his art has a much more energetic feel than Mahnke's.

didn't they used to share a studio or something? I used to think the same thing, then someone said that and it all made sense.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah, I think they still do share a studio.

 

[sandwraith]

As far as I'm concerned Pete Wood is a solid artist who did a handsome Batman and Co. and still could tell a good storyline. So is Don Kramer and many other underrated artists.

I have to admit I wasn't a fan of Scott McDaniels Batman but I warmed up to his work around Batman: Fugitive.

Guillem March is a great artist though. Have you guys seen his other artwork? Most aren't safe for work but are artful and respectful of the female form.

 

[Mystirious]

Neat I'mma check that out

 

[Scarecrow_King]

As far as I'm concerned Pete Wood is a solid artist who did a handsome Batman and Co. and still could tell a good storyline. So is Don Kramer and many other underrated artists.

I have to admit I wasn't a fan of Scott McDaniels Batman but I warmed up to his work around Batman: Fugitive.

Guillem March is a great artist though. Have you guys seen his other artwork? Most aren't safe for work but are artful and respectful of the female form.

Scott McDaniel will never be as good as he was on Nightwing. that stuff was just fantastic. he's gotten less detailed since them, and while I still love it, it doesn't hold a candle to his Nightwing stuff.

and Pete Woods has been one of my favorites since his Robin run with Chuck Dixon. I've been wanting that team back on Tim's book for ages.