motorik's Profile

I have said it a lot on this site, King's start, like the first 24ish issues are amazing (some falter a little bit and I don't count that awful Monster Men crossover). After that... it's not my favorite. He fell into his own tropes a bit too much and doesn't write women all that well. But Gotham Girl and trauma? Very very solid writing there.

The Gotham Girl story was beautifully told. I also skipped the Monster Men this time round. I gave up reading around issue 30. The combo of waiting between issues and the quality variance wasn't ideal. Now though, I'm going to read all of it right through with a fresh perspective.

Do you recommend reading from the start of the run? I read all the KO crossovers and was a bit lost!

It is utterly superb.

The critics reviews on this are a bit of a head scratcher. Probably unhappy with heroes murdering people.

Bloody Gabe Hernandez. That dude is a blight on comic reviews.

I’m ok with Kate killing people. She was a marine. Not every character has to have Batman’s ethics. Also this is Ruckas character. He created Kate. I feel like he should be able to do what he wants. Rucka is an exceptionally good writer. Some people might be bothered by the fact he relies heavily on the artists execution. Doesn’t bother me.

As am I. I sigh at people applying the mainline Batman code to Absolute Batman. It's different, he is different. Get over it. He created Kate?! Had no idea. That's bad ass. I'm definitely sticking with this.

Honestly on absolute Batman I kind of hate read it…. lol.

Yeah Kate has never been of the same moral code as Bruce. They fought over it constantly. I'm kind of surprised they never did more with her and Jason because I think she could have ironed him out a lot better than Bruce literally beating him into submission. Kate doesn't kill because she is good enough to not have to but will when it is NECESSARY. She also doesn't constantly beat herself up over it (aside from her sister) because sometimes it is required. And that's fine.

You know, with Absolute Batman I genuinely understand why people don't like it. It is so drastically different to such a shocking extent that it's untenable for classic Batman fans. However George, hate reading is not something I understand. My time is too precious. Power to you if you have the time my friend.

Hex, I had no idea her character was so interesting until I read this. The situation with her sister is tragic and compelling. Is the previous Rucka run good?

Batwoman elegy is the first story and a must read. The other stuff is good but not a must read.

Elegy and pretty much everything Rucka and JH Williams III did are great. Unfortunately, DC editorial meddled and they left the book in protest and frustration.

I was also a big fan of her portrayal in Tynion's Detective Comics run. Not as good and Rucka and JHW3 but still good. That's where I thought they could have used Jason.

Completely agree on the Jason thing. On absolute Batman: hate is a strong word. It’s more like the entertainment of “oh no what will Snyder do next that is dislike?” I don’t take it serious enough to hate it. I probably don’t hate anything. But I am confused as to why so many Batman fans love it and I don’t. So I keep searching through it to find that…

I think it's simply that it's something different and long form. Batman has become pretty paint-by-numbers. It's not shocking or surprising anymore. Absolute IS shocking because as grotesque as it is, how much Snyder perverse our perception of what we know, it's fresh.

I like when it’s fresh. That doesn’t bother me. And I loved the annual he didn’t write. But making penguin, riddler and two face all his childhood friends, and having all of their criminal turns due to Bane is lazy writing.

How do you rank this against the Zdarsky run?

Difficult to compare after one issue. Zdarsky had a great first two years. Neither artist from the two runs is my favorite, which complicates things.

I'm hoping you don't put this over Grell, O'Neil, the 2001 run or even Lemire's New 52 run

I don't think it's going to be over Grell, O'Neil, or Lemire New 52 Run. But I think I should have reworded it as it's my definitive 2020s Green Arrow run. Chris Condon's run was cut too short and had only 13 issues for it to have a lasting impact. For me, the best Green Arrow runs are: Grell, 2001, New 52, O'Neil, this, Ben Percy, and Joshua Williamson's run.

Lemire's run is untouchable.

Most of what Lemire does in untouchable. It's weird though that he isn't regarded as well as those like Hickman, Johns, Morrison, Snyder, etc. He is very consistent. Not everything will blow you away but it's ALWAYS good. Even on that list, all of those writers have duds. I haven't read a dud of Lemire's. Brubaker is the same.

Massively agree.

It's actually just too good eh? The wait between issues is genuine anguish. I really wish Marvel would pull out the stops and try and compete with the Absolute line. For a time, it seemed the new Ultimate line would do exactly that but the quality drop off for that was insane. Looking forward to Absolute Catwoman launching later this year.

Yeah, it's incredible, and the wait each month is killing me! And we still have a lot more to come (Penguin, Two-Face, Joker, Court of Owls). There's so much going on, and every idea so far was executed so well that it's just all so exciting. What a time to be a Batman fan. When it comes to Marvel's Ultimate line, then yeah, it was a total disappointment. I enjoyed USM overall, but was honestly shocked that they ended it so fast. Just a wasted opportunity.

And yes, I'm also waiting for Absolute Catwoman. I always wondered what she was up to, time to find out. Also waiting for Absolute Greew Arrow, the previews look incredible. The writer also described the series as "I know what you did last summer, but for billionaires". Which makes me even more excited.

Oh wow!! I didn't know that about Absolute Green Arrow. That sounds fantastic. Yeah, I enjoyed USM. Not as much as the original US M(my favourite Spider-man run ever). Glad yer enjoying the Absolute universe, good the converse with a fellow passionate fan.

If you like rucka you owe it to yourself to read - 1. Lazarus and 2. Gotham central. Both of which are amazing. Also check out his Batwoman origin story published in detective comics 15 or so years ago. Queen and country is also good.

Hey mate, oh yeah! Apologies, I own the Gotham Central Omnibus which is Ed Brubaker and Rucka (I am obsessed with Brubakers work - Criminal and Reckless are insane. I just bought this Cat Woman Omnibus, gonna start it after I finish the Grayson Omnibus.) So I have read him but not a full run by himself. Lazarus. I've heard great things about that, thanks for reminding me to check it out!

Reckless is so good. I put reckless and Lazarus in my top ten of the past decade.

Reckless! 10/10 series. But 100% Gotham Central is a must read.

And the winner for most pretentious review ever written goes to.... you!

What a load of bollocks.