William Martin Comic Reviews

Conceptually this event feels less creatively bankrupt than the last few (admittedly that's not too hard to pull off) and I'm interested in seeing where Waid takes things. On the other hand,I worry that, in the end, this will be nothing more than a contrived mess with beautiful art if more clarity isn't reached.

This chapter ended up entertaining as a spectacle but whatever promise issue one held for this being something a little more than the average event was lost. The plot feels predictable and I'm mostly reminded of minor events like Bloodlines, Armageddon 2001, Legends, etc. In a few years, this will be one more forgotten event as it joins its siblings Knight Terrors, Beast World, and Lazarus Planet in a dollar box near you. (Dan Mora's art is still nice though.)

This was a lackluster issue that I was barely able to summon up any interest in. It's never terrible but often uninspired and tedious as the events of the previous issue are undermined and the inconsequentiality of the modern event is put front and center. They might as well start using the tagline "Everything will always be the same.

I certainly can't recommend this comic. It has no value and, unfortunately, this seems to be the case with far too many DC books these days. Everything feels redundant, solutions come too easy, there's no development, and there's nothing deeper to the story than the surface-level fights you see on the page.

This comic still sits squarely in the realm of prelude but by the time it's over it does feel like we're properly primed for the actual event. On the other hand, the stories contained are not all strong, so despite the fact that it is an important part of the buildup, I think my ability to recommend it depends heavily on a reader's context. If you're jumping into the event proper without reading Batman, Suicide Squad, or House of Brainiac I don't think this is a necessary read. If you have been following all the outside context, there is some value to be had here. At the end of the day, this is more of a curiosity rather than an essential comic and that's fine. I'm just looking forward to the event truly getting underway.

Gotham War has been a low point in DC's history as a publishing company and a story I hope I can excise from my memory as soon as possible. In short, I'm disappointed and I seriously hope the next Batman event has nowhere to go but up.

I didn't enjoy this but I am still planning to buy a copy, if only for the art and because I want to see more projects like this. I can't say I'm surprised at the outcome. McFarlane has never been a good writer. His strength lies in not only art but ideas. Spawn is conceptually brilliant. His development of the world in the early days was great as well. McFarlane just doesn't have the writing chops to execute it. To a certain extent, I feel the same way about this story. Lurking somewhere below the surface there is a good idea here.

I didn't want to get too deep into the story for this first issue because it seems more focused on the basic setup and building atmosphere. It is well done but the art is definitely the star so far. I think it's worth picking up just for that. I'll have to reserve judgment until the next issue to gauge the true quality of the writing. At this point? Big recommend!

This comic is a great time. It isn't the most profound story ever but it isn't supposed to be. It's just well written and brilliantly drawn. Strongly recommended.

This is a great comic. I don't believe Silvestri has any intention of writing something that will make some sort of huge splash. He just wants to tell a good story. I'm totally happy with that and I respect it as well. I think we're all tired of stories that talk themselves up and then fail to deliver. That's not what this is. We were only promised a well-written, well-drawn, entertaining story. Silvestri already delivered on that and is now busy exceeding my expectations. This is the kind of story that makes new readers.I strongly recommend it.

I'll keep it simple. There's no reason any Batman fan should be avoiding this book. It really is worth your time and money. I highly recommend it.

What else can I do to sell people on this comic? In a lot of ways this feels like the kind of comic that got me into the character in the first place. From the art to the writing it really does everything right. There's no need to be verbose.I enjoy it and I think you will too.

Sometimes I feel like I'm saying the same thing every month when reviewing this book but it deserves the praise. Shoutout to everyone who helped bring this comic to print. I'm really glad I can add it to my collection.

Deadly Duo is a story that consistently gave me what I want from a Batman comic without ever pandering to me. It has some influence from classic stories but still feels modern and it's the best drawn book on the stands. If you're a Batman fan, even one tired of the Joker, you're doing yourself a disservice if you haven't read this comic. It shouldn't be too long before the collected edition comes out. Give it a shot!

I had a great time with this issue, though the quality of sequential storytelling and aesthetics sometimes made it a difficult read. Despite that, I'm interested enough that I'd pick up the second issue if I was buying monthly (If I enjoy a comic that I'm reviewing, I trade wait). The characters are well-written and treated with respect. The plot has me interested as well, but the second issue is the key. That's where I know if I'm going to like a series going forward. So, we'll see how I feel next month but for the moment, I recommend giving this a shot!

I wasn't super impressed by this issue but I'm holding out hope that things will pick up. Even still, it's mostly enjoyable, and as long as the artwork isn't a dealbreaker for you, I still can comfortably recommend it.

This issue left me with very little to talk about because so little happened in the story. I still want to enjoy this book because it has the potential to be something much better and Williamson is great at writing Damian, but as of right now, it is working out to be a pretty big disappointment. With a different artist and more focus on character and less on action maybe things can turn around.

This was a weak issue just like the last one but there is at least some hope again that things will get better. Hopefully, with a different artist, next issue will mark a change in direction for this series.

This issue was serviceable. It takes several steps in the right direction and then turns around and takes a few back in the wrong one. I don't know if I can recommend it since everything here is still built on a pretty weak foundation but maybe this is a sign of better things to come. Let's hope.

This series is not terrible but it's not good either. At this point, I don't see that changing. Every issue does a few things right and a few things wrong and it just depends on which side of the scale outweighs the other each month to determine whether I'm left feeling frustrated or just bored. Today, we have the latter.

This is a comic that I can't hate because of how much I enjoy the portrayal of Damian and Bruce (plus Flatline), no matter how much the plots make me want to. Until a new plotline takes center stage I don't see that changing. For the foreseeable future, we will most likely be stuck in this world of uninteresting mischaracterized villains, nonsensical story choices and weak sequential art. Oh well, at least Bruce is still a nice guy.

I did enjoy this issue more than usual but it still isn't selling me on the book, especially as it proves that this title slots right into the same mold as every other "in-continuity Batman series on the stands. Still, there is potential here and I hope that, at some point, it will be realized.

I've gotten some enjoyment from previous issues but reading issues 9 and 10 made clear to me all the core problems of this arc and which retroactively make the whole thing more exasperating. If I was one of these creators, I would not want readers to look at this book and think that this is the most I'm capable of. Di Meo has drawn some very dynamic covers over the years, Williamson is currently writing a great run on Superman, and imeija's work on Sword of Azrael was beautiful. It's so frustrating because I expect better from these creators.

Balancing the positives and negatives, I can say this is an okay issue but it's, unfortunately, the kind of thing you read once, throw in a long box, and forget about the next day. While the good elements remain refreshing against the current backdrop of the Batman line, it just isn't a strong enough comic to justify a recommendation.

This is a marginal Batman story. I felt this review would best serve as an exploration of some of the context behind the series and what that could mean for it. Having also pointed out what I consider to be the potential deal breakers, I think the quality of this issue can be assessed. Going forward, we will see if the actual plot line can break out into something truly intriguing.

In the end, this is by no means an incompetent comic, just a mediocre one.

Boring comics are incredibly difficult to write about because you have to unpack and attempt to analyze something that doesn't interest you. If I wasn't reviewing this, I certainly wouldn't be reading it and I wouldn't have anything more to say about it than "It's not for me.

Look, I focused on the positives. I've got four more issues to complain if need be. I do still think this is a fairly weak story that didn't need to be told and even if it does continue to improve it'll be tough to get past those first three issues. For the moment, though, I'm just happy to say I see significant growth and I can imagine this ending up an enjoyable tale by the end.

With tighter writing, it could have been salvaged and been a decent comic but as it stands it's just one more unnecessary Batman story that no one will remember when it ends. It isn't aggressively terrible but the sad truth is that the worst of the worst are remembered for all time while stories like this may as well have never existed.

I've now realized my problem with this comic is in its poorly conceived premise and lack of complexity. Rather than being the climax to a well thought out story, the fortress break-in seems to be where the story germinated. Everything else was written to serve this one idea which has resulted in a book that is lacking in interest. It isn't worth writing any more words about at this point so hopefully something noteworthy happens in the next two issues. On the other hand, I should be careful what I wish for. I might get it.

This isn't the worst comic I've ever read but it's possibly the most "whatever. What little interest I did have at any point has evaporated and I'm left looking forward to the end so I can move on and never think about it again. If I wasn't assigned this book, I would have dropped it after issue one or two and saved myself the frustration. Since that isn't an option, here's my consensus: please read Detective Comics instead.

Fortress still isn't the worst Batman comic ever published but it might be the least essential. I'd rather read the Dark Knight Strikes Again or Batman: Odyssey over this any day. At least those are entertaining in their insanity. This is just a dull half-story that didn't need to be told. Save your money.

I don't have many complaints about the story itself and I enjoyed reading it in the moment. However, I don't think it's something that will stick with me. TheOne Bad Dayconcept is terrible and Howard Porter's art isn't my thing but I don't think either of those complaints break the story. Some people will love this comic and others will be indifferent, but I don't see anyone hating it. If it sounds like something that will interest you, I say give it a go!

This is good. As spinoffs go the White Knight universe has a great track record and I don't see this as the one that changes that. The art problems are the main piece holding the comic back but it's not enough to be a deal breaker. For fans of White Knight, this is definitely worth your time. Even if you aren't, I think it stands alone well enough to be an enjoyable read.

This is a comic that does what it's trying to do very successfully and remains a very fun read. It may not be the best Bat family story or even the best of the White Knight universe, but that doesn't mean it's bad! I think it's well worth a read if you enjoyed anything from Murphy's world.

This comic is integrally tied to an awful event and even if it wasn't, it would still be a pretty weak issue. It's low on content and makes a few moves with characters that throw me off regardless the context of the overall plot. The high points would be the art and some of the better moments of dialogue but neither of these things are particularly impressive either. In the end this is the best The Gotham War has to offer so far and that's unfortunate.

The art in this issue is frequently solid but between the lack of many backgrounds and the highly suspect nature of others, I don't think I can really list that as a selling point. The writing of this title remains slightly better than Batman but still isn't doing anything to redeem this event. The Gotham War has been a huge miss and I for one am more than ready to leave it in the past when it wraps up this month. Hopefully, we'll be on to better things then.

This issue was a pleasant surprise after giving such low scores to Howard's Gotham War segments. The art is attractive and stylistically suits my idea of Catwoman though it isn't always as consistent as I'd like. Meanwhile, the writing was enjoyable but rather slight. The new status quo has my attention as well so, all in all, I'd say I'm excited to see what the next issues have in store for me. Because I haven't had positive experiences with Tini Howard's writing before I'm still cautious but as of now, I'm going to recommend giving this story a try!

This Catwoman arc is shaping up well with each issue offering up a complete story, strong art, and a fun gimmick in Selina's nine lives. While there are still some negatives here, they don't significantly detract from the story and, as an entertaining diversion, this series is delivering. Recommended!

This is easily the best comic I've read from Tini Howard's pen. It has a bit more to say about the character than I've come to expect and makes excellent use of this arc's concept. Small issues aside, I will happily recommend this comic. Going forward, all I can say is, I hope Howard keeps it up! This may be Stefano Raffaele's final issue on this title but that doesn't have to mean the stories have to suffer. I have high hopes for the rest of this arc!

I absolutely do not recommend this issue and I'm shocked that we could go from such a strong story last month to this. The only explanation I can give is that this issue may have been rushed but that's no excuse for how sloppy everything here feels. At least each issue of this arc is a standalone complete story, so next month may bring something better to the table. Well, let's hope.

This was a passable issue. Nothing special or remarkable, though it features a plot line that seems out of place for the character. I won't necessarily recommend it but I also won't advise against reading it. Certainly, there are better books on the stands this week but I'm sure there are worse as well.

I hate to say it, but as much as I was enjoying the beginning of this arc, I'm ready for it to be over. For a few months now, we've been sitting comfortably at this crossroads between poorly thought-out stories and boring stories. Things don't seem to be getting better but I do still think there's potential here to finish strong. Hopefully, Tini Howard proves me right.

As a whole, Idon'thate this arcbutit will not be somethingI'll ever read again. It has had great moments howeverall too oftenwe get issues like this that are more"contentthan storytelling. Seven issues deep,there's no way to save this arc buthopefully, there is still some fun tobe hadin the coming months.

The devil is in the details with this book. There's nothing wrong with the basic plot, though it isn't anything groundbreaking, but the specifics of the execution are what cause everything to fall apart when you look a little closer. If you can turn your brain off, it's not so bad. If not, well, it's a rather annoying comic.

This arc started out with a few strong issues but has fallen hard. It doesn't feel like DC has much respect for the title either and with how inconsequential everything feels, it's difficult for me to either. One issue left and we get a new creative team. Hopefully, the quality of this book can rebound at that point because it certainly won't be happening in the next and final part of "Nine Lives.

We're looking at an issue and a run that will be utterly forgotten sooner rather than later. It's not good enough to be remembered nor is it (consistently) bad enough. I sometimes think back to issue #61 and the hope I had for this arc at that point. It's unfortunate how lackluster it ended up being but hopefully next month Torunn Grnbekk can inject some new energy into this series. As for me, this will be my last review of Catwoman. Akash will be covering the title going forward and I'll be looking forward to his take on future issues!

I think my biggest disappoint here is how uninteresting it was. This is by far the shortest review I've written for Batman News as a result. Is it better to provoke a negative response or write a middling story that doesn't leave much to talk about? I guess that's up to you. All I can say is that at least with this story I have hope for the next issue.

This title fails on multiple levels. It fails to write an engaging social commentary, to support the event that it is a part of, and to write an enjoyable story with these characters. Outside of the art, I cannot find any redeeming qualities here. A bad second issue is when I consider dropping a title. Unfortunately, a drop recommendation is exactly what this issue warrants.

Last month, I recommended against reading on and that still holds true. This isn't a good comic and I don't see that changing. Despite the writing being slightly less offensive this time out, the suffering artwork takes away the primary thing Dark Crisis: Young Justice had going for it. If you are just reading this to complete the event, let me just remind you: events are expensive. Don't spend more than you have to. This tie-in is wholly inessential. It does nothing to support the event and, in fact, actively works against it. I've honestly been loving all the other tie-ins so do yourself a favor, skip this one, and put your money toward the rest.

This comic is utterly worthless. Initially, it had the art going for it. Now that's gone. The writing was at least mildly intriguing in the first issue but it sunk with part two. This issue spends most of its time on an incompetent fight, taking away any chance it had for interesting developments. This is, indeed, a comic that exists.

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.

Perhaps surprisingly, I had a great time reading this special. While I wouldn't claim it's the most unique or special comic out there it adequately sets up the Absolute universe and is simply fun from end to end.

This isn't how I wanted this review to go. I would have loved to tell you this book is great but there's no way to talk around such a weak script. Even outside the mishandling of Tim's sexual orientation, a story that unintentionally makes the title character look this bad should not have been published. All I can say to close this is that I hope the stories that follow are much better.

This anthology wasn't too bad. Not every story was great but enough were a fun time to make it worth reading, I'd say. It may be far from necessary, but if you are looking for some holiday fun, I don't think you'd be steering wrong with this collection.

With an average score of just 5.6, this anthology isn't the most promising but there are a few gems hidden away and in general, nothing is unreadable. If you have some spare cash floating around, maybe you could justify giving it a go but for my part, I don't feel like this anthology as a whole deserves a recommendation.

Overall this seems to be another reasonably enjoyable anthology. DC doesn't swing for the fences with these, of course, but it's a nice distraction from the constant oneupmanship of standard comics and sometimes 10 pages is all you need to tell a story. So, that's that! Maybe I'll be back for the next anthology but in the meantime I'll get back to working on those op-eds I've been promising. Happy Valentine's Day!

This looks like one of the better seasonal specials DC has put out with our crew averaging a decent score. These kinds of releases do provide something you don't get from any other books published by DC (outside the Black and White backups in The Brave and The Bold). While not every story hits, I, personally, am glad we continue to get these, as a reminder of an earlier era of comics.

This isn't a book I can recommend to just anyone. It isn't strong enough to interest a casual reader and Its appeal is too specific to interest a decent chunk of heavier readers, given its characters of focus having small fan bases. It really is too early to say what direction it's heading. And that seals it. I am happy that this is my first review. A story I wasn't planning on reading before, that is shaping up to be a wild card. Perfect. Who wants to review a book with no surprises?

I don't care about this story and I don't think I ever will. How can you when it's so slight and there is no effort given to writing anything below surface level. That said, It remains a fun diversion. This is the kind of book you pick up and enjoy, set down and forget. No one will be talking about Justice League vs. the Legion of Super-Heroes at any point in the future.

This comic isn't much of anything but it's fairly entertaining, the art is great and it's just a lighthearted romp at the end of the day. I gave the last two issues a 5/10. I still think that's fair but thanks to the art and the fact that I had fun reading this issue, I'm going to give it an extra point.

This is one of the most decompressed comics I've ever read but it focuses mostly on creating a sense of fun and I've come to enjoy it for what it is. If you're a fan of silver age comics especially, this will probably appeal. On the other hand, I think anyone can enjoy this if they go into it with the right mindset.

This is a fun comic that doesn't take itself too seriously. Sometimes that's what we all need. It has no depth but the art and the quick pace make up for it. I'm happy I got to review this book and it is worth a read for anyone who knows what they're getting into.

I really liked Williamson's “Abyss” arc when he was briefly writing Batman a while back. Even “Shadow War,” which I wasn't a fan of, was much better than this. So, it's very disappointing that this half-baked nothing of a comic is the best Williamson could put together for this event. I know he's capable of better but he also has a bad habit of writing comics that are "content, don't have any depth, and seem hastily written. Unfortunately, that's exactly what this is and I can't recommend it.

I'm quite happy with this as an issue #1. While I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous story it still satisfied and I'm just as excited for the next issue. This is an easy recommend for me!

I really don't have too much else to say this time around. This is an action heavy issue that also manages to pull previous stories together and lead the way forward. I'm expecting next issue to feature much more plot progression now that we have an established direction. In the meantime, I still highly recommend this comic!

This is a great comic. I never expected to see Azrael get this kind of spotlight again (especially with such a high quality creative team) so I feel lucky every month just to be getting this book. It is still an easy recommendation for me. Buy it!

I am very happy with this series. As I've said before it's not something I ever expected to get, so for it to be one of the best things DC is currently publishing makes me very happy. To sum it up, the writing and art are both great. It's that simple. You should be reading this.

I don't know how else to say it. This series is great! If you haven't been reading it, I sincerely hope you grab the trade when it comes out. I've given nothing but praise for the series already and issue 5 is the best yet! It truly is a good time to be an Azrael fan.

It has been a pleasure covering this book and I hope Dan Watters continues Azrael's story soon. I will also be checking out anything that Nikola Cizmesija works on in the future. He's a brilliant artist. If you haven't been reading this comic, I strongly recommend picking up the trade when it's released. Especially if you're an Azrael fan, this is a must-read!

This is a fantastic comic and my few complaints are nitpicks to the extreme. Whether you care about Azrael or not, I can only give this a strong recommendation!

While I have some problems with this comic's core identity, It doesn't change the fact that it's always a good time when two of my favorite franchises cross over. I can recommend it to most anyone but it remains to be seen whether it has enough depth to be particularly memorable for most.

This is a pretty good comic. I always value a comic writer who can tell a complete story in 21 pages. It has become so rare in the last ten-plus years. This story not only has that but also remains respectful of both franchises and tells a fun, engaging story. I can and will continue to ask for more because I want the best from this series, but for most people, I don't expect there will be anything but a good time to be had. Recommended!

This is a great comic. I haven't been buying the last few issues but I'm going to pick up a copy of this one. So far, each issue has been better than the last. Do I smell a 10/10 coming up? Hopefully!

I'm not sure I recommend this issue. Especially after how much I enjoyed issue #3, this one feels rushed and lacking in polish. It's not a bad read by any means but if you're looking to save a little money this month, I think this should be on the chopping block. Hopefully, next month gets back to the higher standard that I was expecting.

The last issue was particularly disappointing but now we're back on track with one of the best yet. This one is especially funny, makes some interesting choices, and exhibits all the best traits of this series. Part of the beauty of this comic is the ability it affords readers to jump in and out between issues and only pick up the ones you want to read. This is one of those worth picking up. Recommended!

This was another solid issue! I wouldn't say it's the best the series has offered but it's delivering everything you could want from the title. I admit, outside of issue 3 I haven't felt the need to buy any of this series myself but it is great fun and if that's what you're looking for, I definitely think it's worth a gander.

As I've said, this issue isn't downright bad or anything. It just isn't good. Given some of the highs we've seen so far, it stands out even more. So, I can't recommend it but I would be shocked if next month I'm not back with a much more positive review. On average, this is a great series.

I had a lot of fun with this issue. It offers an interesting premise, really fun art, and balances its characters well. What's so great about this series is that it allows you to jump in randomly and pick up issues that interest you without worrying about missing previous events. Last month I recommended skipping. This month, I say give it a read!

At its core, this is the least interesting script this series has had to offer by a decent margin. Much of what takes it from uninteresting to bad is in the details. Then when you throw some of the worst art I've ever seen in a big two comic on top of it there's just nothing left to like. It get's one point for being a comic that exists and half a point for including the Ghost Clown. Don't buy this comic.

I can't complain too much. Here we have one of those issues that misses the potential that this series has and settles for good enough. It's an enjoyable enough read but I think most people will forget about it as soon as they close the back cover.

I thoroughly enjoyed this issue. It provides all the components I look for in a standard Scooby-Doo story and makes good use of Batman as well. While it does have flaws, they aren't deal breakers, and the art and humor make up for them most of the time. Recommended!

This has been one of the more interesting series I've reviewed. That's partially because the quality has varied so much. We've been all the way from a score of 9 to a 1.5 throughout this series! That's not something I experience very often and it has made it a fun journey. Thankfully, we're finishing out the series with one of the stronger issues, which makes it all the more gratifying. This series may make a return for a third year but if it doesn't, this is as enjoyable a conclusion as I could hope for. Recommended!

This is a very inessential comic that is mostly a cash grab. I could be wrong but I expect Tom King's The Penguin #1 will be easily readable without this. If you already own the Batman issues this story comes from don't buy it. If you like well-written comics, I'd recommend you skip this as well. The script isn't terrible and the art is good but it's just so dumb in concept that everything falls apart.

This comic handily surpassed my expectations and despite not always being perfect I think it's well worth giving a chance and will likely only get better as it develops. The art is equally strong and as I guessed last week, you absolutely don't need to read The Penguin #0 to understand this comic. Hopefully, you skipped that one and saved your money last month, because this month, I recommend spending it on The Penguin #1.

There is still enjoyment to be had with this issue and I wouldn't call it bad, but it isn't nearly as engaging as the first. The story assumes too much about the reader's knowledge and even without that, Penguin as a character is significantly less likable or sympathetic, making staying engaged a hard sell. The art is still beautiful but that isn't enough to keep me invested if the writing doesn't get back to what worked in part one. This isn't a good sign but I still hope that this comic justifies itself and proves this is just a bump in the road.

This is shaping up to be my least favorite project written by Tom King in a long time. With this whole first arc being a boring recruitment plot meant to build up to what I assume will be another overdramatic attack on Gotham, I've lost interest. With the exception of my continued enjoyment of Rafael De Latorre's art, all the goodwill issue one of this series brought me has by now evaporated. I'll just keep buying Wonder Woman for my King fix and hope he moves on from this project soon.

I'm just so bored with this book. It isn't incompetent so I can't score it any lower but there is nothing to interest me here and the "story has been dragging since issue two. According to the soclicitations, Penguin is going to spend the next two months rounding out the arc by recruiting more people and then, instead of something finally happening, we're going to change gears and get a flashback story to Penguin and Batman's first meeting (Something I have never wondered about before and still don't). So, in short, nothing is going to get better anytime soon and I recommend all but the most ardent Tom King superfans skip this comic.

It's not that DC needs new characters. What they need is new angles and perspectives and as it happens, new characters are sometimes the best way to get that. This issue is a strong start for this troupe and I'm very excited to see what it could grow into. Come on, DC readers, let's make this series sell well enough to become an ongoing!

I don't think this series is as good as it could (or maybe should) be but that isn't to say it's bad. The potential just needs to be realized. That primarily means a stronger focus on character going forward. I hope that can happen because if it does, we could have something really special on our hands here. For now, I recommend it but there are other DC books that may be better worth your time if you're on a budget.

Each issue of this comic worries me more. I want to see it succeed and I was very excited for it when it was announced, but as of now, I can no longer recommend it. I'm starting to suspect it will be nothing more than an extended ad for an ongoing series that will never happen. There isn't enough time left to sufficiently develop the characters and as the plot meanders, what time remains is vanishing.