DC Comic Review: Batman #686

Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics,

This month’s issue of “Batman” is a big one.  It’s part one of the two-part storyline, “Whatever Happened to Caped Crusader” which is written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Andy Kubert.  This story is an homage to classic Alan Moore Superman story “Whatever Happend to the Man of Tomrrow?”  Does Gaiman live up to the story?  In my opinion no, but it’s still a pretty good story with fantastic artwork by Andy Kubert.  DC has really dropped the ball in regards to the Kubert brothers.  Both of them have not had long runs on books and have been regulated to short stints or covers.  I hope this changes in 2009.

As for this story, it’s kind of like the stories that Grant Morrison has been telling over the past few months with “RIP” where it’s not your normal run of the mill Batman story and everything feels abstract or like a dream.  The only difference here is I didn’t like what Grant Morrison was doing with his Batman stories, but I do like what Gaiman is doing here in the beginning of this story.

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SNEAK PEAK: BATMAN #686 Neil Gaiman, Andy Kubert & Alex Ross

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,

HOLY BILL FINGER! If this is what happens when DC kills Batman, then by all means, please, kill him every 30 days. Batman #686 (“Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader?” Part 1 of 2) goes on sale February 11, just a few days from now, and while it’s great to see the caped geezer creak ever closer to issue #700, it’s even better when the road is paved with Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert.

DC’s promotional copy includes this phrase: “Delving into the realms of life, death and the afterlife, Gaiman leaves no stone unturned as he explores every facet and era of Bruce Wayne’s life.” But all you really need to do is check out the preview pages here. If you can’t spell “must have” from all the letters in the word balloons, you aren’t trying.

See how many geek references you can spot in just the sample pages. This two-issue story looks like a great treat for Batman fans, and fans who may have abandoned Robin’s bear in recent years.

DC has the menu of assorted cover gimmicks lined-up (one of them by Alex Ross even), but they don’t really need them. This’ll sell more than enough copies to cover Bob Schreck’s severance. I’m not even going to bother to wait for the inevitable trade; I’m on this Wednesday afternoon. Full color, 48 pages, $3.99. This is how to pry the rent money from my hands, DC.

(Artwork ©2009 DC Comics, Inc.)

Wally West Lives!

Posted by David Torres Categories:

For years we have been hearing that Barry Allen, the Silver Age Flash, is coming back to life.  The death of Barry Allen in Crisis on Infinite Earths angered many long-time DC fans.  As you know, Wally West, the former Kid Flash, took on the mantle of the Flash.  At first, Wally was not welcomed by the fans.  Although many had loved him as Kid Flash fighting alongside Barry and then in the Teen Titans, to them Wally was not the Flash.  It took a while, but finally many came to accept and even like that Wally was the Flash - a large part due to Mark Waid’s classic first run on the Flash title.

Over the years we’ve seen Barry Allen return in some form.  We would see him traveling through time just prior to his death in Crisis.  He would show up, fight, but always return to his own time because he would have to die to save the universe.  Now he’s back again.  With the current Final Crisis storyline we have seen Barry return once again, but this time it was announced that this would, in fact, be for good.  Even the NY Daily News announced his return. 

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