Batman/Superman #11 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Karl Kerschl & Daniel Sampere (art), Tom Derenick (pencils), Vicente Cifuentes, Marc Deering, Wayne Faucher (inks), Hi-Fi (colors)

The Story: When you’ve got even the ghosts in a panic, things aren’t going well.

The Review: Unenthused as I am by Doomed, it was with some dismay when I saw that Batman/Superman would be also be participating in the crossover. It shouldn’t have surprised me, what with Pak being an architect of this storyline and all. And on the plus side, at least I’ll be mostly up to speed on everything going on Doomed, which, as my recent frustrations with the Batman/Superman–Worlds’ Finest crossover show, isn’t something that happens very often.

Interestingly enough, even though Doomed is a Superman-centric storyline, he features hardly at all in this issue. I approve. At this point, there’s really nothing left to do with Superman except to see him decline further, and there’ll be plenty of that later on. If Superman has a presence at all, it’s in spirit; his friends spend a lot of the issue considering what he’d do in their shoes: Batman putting his faith in others; Wonder Woman repressing her warriors’ instincts; Ghost Soldier exchanging loyalties to stand up for what’s right; Steel risking everything to save everyone. It’s a sweet testament to Superman’s impact on the world, and a reminder of what’s at stake if he’s lost.

Nightwing Annual #1 – Review

By: Kyle Higgins (writer), Jason Masters with Daniel Sampere & Vincente Cifuentes (art), Chris Sotomayor (color)

The Story: Play it again, Alfred. Play ‘As Time Goes By’.

The Review: Have two characters of such high profile ever had such uncertain fates? Months after her writer was fired and swiftly rehired, Batgirl is wanted for the murder of her sociopathic brother. Hunted by her outraged father, her boyfriend in a coma, Barbara has forsaken the bat. Meanwhile, Dick Grayson is having a swell time in Chicago, but rumors of his demise and a creative change on his book swirl. Rather than pretend that there’s certainty one way or the other, Kyle Higgins has cleverly called upon that very uncertainty to drive his extra-sized story.

Higgins seems to have a good grip on both of his protagonists. Dick is the same character that readers of Higgins’ monthly work have come to love, but we get to see a slightly different side of him thanks to Barbara’s appearance. Higgins’ take on not!-Batgirl is similarly strong. Barbara’s wit and natural affinity for superheroics come through loud and clear. There’s something hungry, biting in her words and actions. The issue deals with Dick and Barbara’s relationship and, as such, its greatest accomplishment is allowing them chemistry. Honestly, this is a girl who makes the boy wonder play not only boy scout, but straight man to her fiery wisecracks. Dick Grayson is a smart lad, he knows that the proper response to finding a woman who can kick your ass is to hold on tight.

Batgirl Annual #1 – Review

By: Gail Simone (story), Admira Wijaya (art), Daniel Sampere (pencils)

The Story: Cats, and bats, and owls better scurry.

The Review: Simone and I went through a kind of rough breakup on Batgirl.  It just wasn’t the same between us anymore.  Maybe I had changed, maybe she had changed, but I had grown disenchanted with the situation.  The fire was gone, or had reduced to some drifting embers dissipating into the smoky air.  I don’t think I’m alone in saying that what I read in Batgirl was hardly recognizable as coming from the same woman who gave us Secret Six and Birds of Prey.

Even though I don’t have much interest in going back to that relationship, the split is still fresh enough for me to be curious as to how the ex is doing.  From the looks of it, things are going okay.  Certainly the tone and rhythm of the writing feels a little more sprightly than I remember.  The issue starts off with a mix of humor and snark that is classic Simone: “Bad night in Gotham.  I know what you’re thinking…it must be Wednesday, right?”