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10
It’s nice to finally have a Batman writer again that doesn’t make him either talk to much or be a simp every issue
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9.5
Again a banger by the amazing writer Joshua Williamson, using what batman is made of into a villain against him is great. Batman has not been fully BATMAN for a while so it is good to see him be that again. really looking forward to who abyss is and especially about Shadow war in March.
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9.0
Another well done issue from the so far satisfying talents of Williamson and Molina. As Superman books seem to be spiraling out of control into becoming 100% excrement it is nice to see the Batman books heading back to a more enjoyable level. Even the Tower saga in Detective is proving to be decent.
Williamson also deserves a hearty pat on the back for presenting Luthor as he should be. The evil billionaire with his own obvious, yet secret agenda. So much better than when he's a mad scientist or trying to be a supervillain. Maybe they should consider this guy for a Superman run (providing there'll be anything left worth writing within the next year). It's been a long time since he's been up against a Luthor this crafty. One thing I must have missed is how'd he learn Batman's identity?
We also finally got to meet Abyss. Looks like Batman's up against a new enemy who may be too much for him. I just hope this guy doesn't keep coming back over and over for the entirety of Williamson's run. Today's writers have a bad habit of doing things like that and a new character with promise quickly outwears his welcome (Yes, I speak of Tynion's spotlight stealers throughout 2021).
Still, this issue, like the last was a good one and I'm looking forward to what's up next. It's been a while since I could say that in Batman. more
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9.0
Another great issue!!!
Thank you, Williamson, for saving Lex from the Superman titles. Such a great foil for Bruce (like Osborn was for Stark during the Fraction run). Absolutely loved when Lex spilled the wine just to be a dick. Total Lex. Also enjoyed the little Batman TAS “Blind as a Bat” easter egg at the end.
One minor critique is the art was a little inconsistent. At times, it looked like Jim Cheung. Other times… it didn’t. I dunno, it was just a little jarring.
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9.0
This issue was definitely better than the first one of this run. Art was great in the most part, and all Lex and Abyss story let me very interested in the reading. Can't wait for next issue, and to see Lex and Bruce working together - it has potential to be very chaotic in a good way.
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9.0
Incridible writing, the detective part was good and Abyss was a thretening when it showed up, the Bruce and Lex moments were great too.
Great art, but I'm not a huge fan of it changing during the issue, even though all artists did well
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8.5
Surprisingly good issue. I was on the fence about continuing after seeing Lex Luthor appear in the last issue, wary of another lame stunt. But I am pleasantly surprised to see that Williamson has a pretty good story here. I also liked the backup story by Karl Kerschl, as Mia "Maps" Mizoguchi (founder of "Detective Club") is a sympathetic character. This is the way The Batman stories used to be written with actual heroes fighting villains, not villains being glamorized. Hopefully, this trend can continue. Imagine a young character who does not hate the Batman.
But best of all, Batman and Bruce Wayne has shaved and looks like himself, not like a bum.
I like how Bruce would not tolerate any disrespect from Luthor towards Damian, even if I think Damian is a mess. (The Abyss storyline would also have been great for Dr. Mid-Nite.)
With the history of the Gotham Books disasters, I was sitting there mulling if Batman #119 would be worth $5.00 to see where this story goes. It was a good purchase, something that I have had a lot of trouble saying over the past year or two. more
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8.5
There's a whole lot to like here as Williamson continues his story that is very Grant Morrison influenced, both in plot and tone. The argument between Lex and Bruce was clearly the issues highlight. Positioning Lex as a foil to Bruce directly, rather than Batman was a stroke of genius that I hope (and expect) we'll see explored more going forward. The way Lex knew exactly how to push Bruce's buttons was great, attacking everything from his wardrobe to his surrogate son and you could see Williamson clearly having fun writing the sequence.
The proper introduction to Abyss was also enjoyable and well illustrated by Molina. Williamson and co have built a good bit of mystery in around the new villain that's been missing for a bit from the title and I'm 100% here for it. more
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8.5
So far, still good! I'm pleasantly surprised by Williamson's work here.
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8.5
As my first review of 2022 i got to say. This issue did not dissapoint me. Great art and writing as well as good chemistry between bruce and lex. I also likr how this shows bruce detective skills.
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8.0
The arts pretty good and the plot is more interesting than anything Tamaki or Tynion have done in all of 2021.
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8.0
The art and story are both great. Hope that the new villain Abyss is not some sort of replacement for the Scarecrow.
Also quite enjoy the art in the backup feature, with attractive drawing and painting.
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8.0
Solid action and a nice continuation from the last story. This is a good example of a new writer using what came beforenin an interesting way without feeling derivative. A little slow but it picks up at the end.
Art is once again gorgeous. The back up story is pretty fun thought I'm not familiar with the character.
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8.0
Está bem até aqui, diria que o melhor que vi de Williamson até agora.
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8.0
A pretty good second issue, I especially liked the very good art and the interactions between Lex and Bruce, I've always seen them as Sherlock and Moriarty. Bruce was pretty patient here, I would've punched Lex just for spilling that wine, very weird flex there. But in his defense he's right about Nightwing, he is an idiot for throwing all the money away without any real plan. I have to say though, not impressed with Abyss so far, we've seen very little of him in two issues now. And that backup was pretty bad. All in all, I'm happy I can enjoy Batman yet again and hope the next issues will start to provide more answers, so far we've got some interesting hints.
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7.5
Not as interesting and fresh as the last issue, but still perfectly enjoyable read. I liked the detective and mystery elements the most and the introduction of Abyss was great and suspenseful, thanks to the great art. Honestly the art is a big selling point for me. The stuff with Luther, while very curious is only going to get more interesting with the story progressing in my opinion.
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6.0
Ilustrado por Jorge Molina con Guion de Joshua Williamson, en esta segunda entrega seguimos con el misterio que se nos presenta en Batman 118 sobre el asesinato de The Abyss por Batman Inc.
Lo bueno
El dibujo de Molina es lo principal en este minirun de Batman, por parte de Williamson sigue jugando la carta de la nostalgia en los lectores con flashback sobre Alfred y diálogos perfectamente colocados para la escena presente.
Lo malo
Otro issue sin que pase completamente nada relevante, un par de palabras entre Lex y Bruce, una escena de acción del obviamente no muerto Abyss y todo por lo que el arco se desarrollo en un inicio pues se cayo en este segundo issue y con un cliffhanger pésimo por parte de Williamson con un Batman con los ojos afectados pero que en situaciones dos arcos atrás hemos visto como pelea con un vendaje en la cara.
De parte del club no es un comic que podamos recomendar es lento y sin una historia con un peso real sobre nuestro murcielago. more
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5.0
story is kinda ok. sort of. just a bit on the generic side. not a lot happens in this issue, except Lex wastes some expensive wine.
the cliffhanger ending is absolutely cringe.
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5.0
This isn't a bad issue, but it is an issue whose plot tropes push my buttons. I am especially tired of the villain saying "you'll see things my way and we'll be allies" cliche.
The issue starts with Batman, the female detective and Lex Luthor talking. Lex explains why he funds Batman Inc. now that Bruce Wayne is broke. Sorry, I mean living in reduced circumstances.
This is strike one. We have never really been shown what exactly those circumstances are and how they work. Is he broke. Is he living trust fund check to trust fund check? If Lex can say that the Wayne fortune was lost with the stroke of a clown's actions, how is that money lost. That's the thing about electronic money. It's not real. Deals that are done via unsrupulous means are easily undone. If it is public knowledge that the Joker stole the Wayne fortune, then the Wayne fortune really hasn't been stolen.
We also find out that the police force in the city Batman is operating in has a shoot on site order for any Batman. They shoot and Bats escapes. He later meets Lex at restaurant, saying that he got the subtext of Lex's talking about Bruce Wayne. Lex shows off by emptying a $12 million bottle of wine on the floor. I will admit this is an interesting way of dick measuring.
Lex also chides Nightwing for giving away his fortune without a plan. Bruce grabs Lex and then disappears. But the gist is that Lex says the world needs a Batman and Lwz will fund a Batman Inc. (I always thought Batman Inc was a stupid idea. The liability issues alone could bankrupt Bruce Wayne, even when he had his fortune. It also gave criminals a convenient target. Have Batman Inc troubles, cut off their funding by hitting Wayne Enterprises offices. Bankrupt the company, end of problem).
Bruce then goes to the morgue steals the body from the police and is engulfed in darkness after examining the body. A strange person attacks Batman in the special dark where Batman can see his body, but nothing else. The stranger explains he comes from Batman and hacks Bats up. We are left with the lights on and the detective standing over the battered Bruce body.
So this issue ticks a couple of my boxes - the we're the same one and the let's expose Batman Inc one. The whole Luthor saying Bruce will come around to my way of thinking just doesn't hold up. We all know that's not true. I also hate the hero and villain team up angle. It's a cliche and I like superhero stories that are about the hero. The villain is just flavoring. When you concentrate too much on the villain, it makes the hero look lame. Lex has kept his fortune, destroyed Gotham and been elected president. All under the noses of the heroes. It makes them look lame and ineffective.
I also don't think the writer knows what preserving a crime scene actually means. Bruce using gas to escape the cops shooting at him automatically contaminates the scene. The various shell casings and debris from firing bullets also contaminates the scene. The cops walking on the carpet contaminates the scene. You get my point.
So to sum up, Lex knows Bruce is Bats. Lex rubs Bruce's nose in the fact that Bruce lost the family fortune by emptying a $12 million bottle of wine on the floor. Batman Inc. is under Lex' control and they are wanted for murder, and yet another killer is on the loose because he somehow is created by Batman. We also see that Lex is able to buy whole police departments. He, apparently, knows how to get a proper bang for his bucks.
Am I the only one who has a problem with these issues I've brought up? The whole Bruce is living under reduced circumstances seems to have no lasting impact. He can still fly a bat plane around the world. That has got to cost a small fortune, just buying fuel and maintaining the plane with parts and storing the plane.
The whole Batman creates villains is one, counterproductive because when he does that, it really shows us that Batman does more harm than good. I don't think that's the message DC wants to present. Two, it's been done to death, starting in the early 1950s, when DC gave the Joker the Red Hood origin. I read that when I was 12 and I didn't like it then and I still hate it now. Given all the people the Joker has killed (it must be in the tens of thousands) that means Batman has vast amounts of blood on his hands. Again, I don't think that's the message DC wants to present.
I liked the art. Didn't like the fact that Luthor could push Bruce's buttons and have Bruce grab Lex by the throat. Again, shows that Bruce is out of control and easily manipulated by the villain. Another message that DC probably shouldn't be presenting.
So I stuck in the middle. I suspect I am not going to like this story for reasons I've stated.
But I could be wrong. more
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10
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10
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10
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10
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10
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10
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10
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10
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9.5
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9.5
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9.0
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9.0
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9.0
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9.0
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9.0
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8.5
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8.5
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8.5
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8.5
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8.5
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8.5
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8.5
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8.5
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8.0
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8.0
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8.0
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8.0
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8.0
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8.0
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8.0
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8.0
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8.0
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8.0
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8.0
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8.0
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7.5
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7.5
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7.5
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7.5
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7.0
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7.0
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7.0
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6.5
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6.0
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5.0
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4.0
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2.0