The art is pretty good, but the writing, once again, is pretty weak. Spurrier can’t even coherently write a straightforward throwdown between Flash and Weather Wizard, and the kid-babble is so overdone and confusing. I still don’t really understand what happened!

Simply breathtaking. The story and character work on display here trumps the previous 2 issues, and is a grandly successful swing for the fences. One of the year’s best titles. Kudos to the entire team that put this story together. It’s the very essence of what an “absolute” title should be.

Nobody has written Superman better, or injected so much creativity and character development into the supporting cast,than Williamson over the last few years. Each issue is a blast, and the interludes presented in this issue starting with a date night between Lois and Clark, is a fun and surprisingly emotional read.

Another stellar issue! Waid does a great job of seeding some new mysteries this issue while advancing some of the prior ones. I’m loving this new JLU premise in which both the primary characters as well as more background and tertiary characters can also thrive. They pack a lot in for the $3.99, and Mora’s art is the icing on the storytelling cake!

Taylor and Janin are a fantastic team: the most consistently entertaining story to be featured in this book for years. Right up there with the Greg Rucka run from 25 years ago. An intriguing premise, an excellent mystery, good use of Damian, interesting new characters, and Bruce Wayne front and center.

While this issue’s story felt a bit slow-moving and decompressed, and the art was a little rough in places, it was still an entertaining read with a few nice twists. While I enjoyed Williamson’s super-hero/JLA version of Ollie and family, it’s nice to see a return to the Mike Grell/Denny O’ Neil style of storytelling: more grounded in reality and social injustices, and shrouded in mystery.

Best issue yet!

Wow. A surprising, gritty, street-level detective tale from the guy who brought us crazed terminators and Batman falling to earth from a satellite. I’m pleasantly stunned. This might just be Zdarsky’s redemption arc on his way out the door. If so, it’s shaping up to be quite a mike drop. Not to mention the gorgeous, Year One-esque artwork. Eager to see where this goes!

Taylor and Janin are a magnificent team, and their work feels like it’s going to really have some dramatic long-term implications. Some may complain that the story is unfolding too slowly, but for me, with a story like this, it’s about the journey and not just the destination.

Good issue, but I feel like we’ve seen many of the story elements done before, both in this book and Tynian’s Batman run. Time will tell if this story exceeds its trappings or not.

*Gabe Hernandez should be fired out of a cannon, shot directly into the centre of the sun.

Upon his contact with the sun, the sun itself explodes - disintegrating Gabe Hernandez from being a comic book critic in this timeline and all others.

Perhaps there is a timeline in which Gabe Hernandez is not a joyless twat. He has the critical observation skills of a rodent with no eyes.

For all the great comics he has ruined with his shite, I feel he should be taken to task. Join me friends in slating him henceforth.

A bit of friendly banter we'll call it.





Batman turned up to 11.

How much more Bat? None. None more Bat.

For those disillusioned with the Zdarsky run, read this. It's over the top, it's fun, it's bombastic and it has some fascinating takes on familiar faces.

Scott Snyder reasserts himself as the best modern Batman writer.

The names that have failed to capture Snyder's excellence - Tom King, Joshua Williamson, James Tynion, Chip Zdarsky. Most of these authors have had the odd moment of excellence. However, none of them had a Court of Owls moment.

So excited to see his Absolute run continue.
Between Matt Reeves Batman Universe and Scott Snyder returning - it's the best time to be a Batman fan in ages. more