100 Days of Batman, Day 97

Well I have just powered through Parts 3-7 of Rise of the Batman by James Tynion IV and art by Eddy Barrows. Thankfully the story did eventually get better and ends on a interesting note. I will likely be SPOILING the story so if its one you want to read for yourself then stop reading now.

Batman having been captured by the "Batmen" who we now know are part of a secret military organization called the Colony who have modeled their fighting tactics after Batman, manages to escape. Around the same time Batwoman, Red Robin and the rest of the team manage to infiltrate the colony's base to help Batman escape. Col. Kane tries to worn Batman that the League of Shadows are in Gotham and that he and his team are their to stop them and eliminate the threat they pose. Batman of course does not believe him stating that the League of Shadows is nothing more than a myth that was feared by Ra's Al Ghul and the League of Assassins.

Batman and crew manage to escape but not before Red Robin discovers the plans of the Colony. Believing their to be multiple League of Shadow agents in Gotham the colony planed to dispatch drones to kill those them. Now under the threat of being exposed by Batman Col. Kane gives the order to eliminate those people believed to be agents of the League of Shadow. It is a list of over 600 people. Returning to Wayne Tower Red Robin manages to hack into the drone protocols and change their targets to a single victim, himself. With the rest of the team trying to save the victims Red Robin just did he finds himself alone without back up to fight hundreds of killer drones.

Unable to get to him in time Red Robin is ultimately killed. With the death of their target the drones shut themselves down. The team is left to mourn and honor the sacrifice of Tim Drake aka Red Robin. Something strange is going on however as Tim wakes up in a strange cell. He is visited by a strange man in a robe who is evasive of Tim's questions. A much larger mystery and a bigger threat is likely on the way. How long before Batman and the rest of the team Tim is still alive and the captive of a strange man?

So their it is. A very action packed and enjoyable ending to a story that was very dull at the beginning. Having the focused switched from a character that I found to be annoying to a character I like of course helped. If I had my way Batwoman would be removed from the Detective Comics run. In the end Rise of the Batmen ended up being WORTH YOUR TIME.

N. S.

100 Days of Batman, Day 96

Well then. Chances are this will be a short post because I'm not really enjoying what I'm reading. Oh and chances are I will SPOIL this book. Rise of the Batmen Part 3: Army of Shadows by James Tynion and art by Alvaro Martinez sets th stage for Batwoman to take command of the team Batman gathered in the first two issues of the story arc. Batman has been defeated by the Batmen and is now missing. Batwoman assembles the team to go after them and find Bruce. She however brings her father, Col. Kane in as an advisor. Guess what he's the one running the bad guys. The team barely makes it out without being captured.

Ok so my biggest issue with this book is Batwoman. I've never really read anything with her before and I'm finding I do not like her and that she annoys me. I can't figure out why she does but I'm sure I will eventually. The rest of the cast is good and fun. Red Robin is especially well written. Sadly Batman did not make a signal appearance in the book and has essentially become the books "damsel" in distress which is fine. Because Batwoman annoys me so much this book is still only COMPELLING. Tomorrow I may just power through the remaining issues and move on to something else for the last couple days.

N.S.

100 Days of Comics, Day 95

Well on to Rise of the Batmen, Part 2: Apocalypse Now by James Tynion IV and art by Eddy Barrows. SPOILERS may come up in this post although maybe not. It does not seem to really go anywhere as it predecessor did. So Batwoman has begun her training of the heroes her and Batman have assembled to help fight this army of "Batmen". She however appears to be pushing them far to hard so Red Robin decides to put an end to it. He then goes and spend some time with Batman before heading in for the evening to spend time with his girlfriend Spoiler. Batman well patrolling the streets is attacked by the "Batmen" and that is where the book ends.

First thing is first. For some reason Batwoman rubs me the wrong way. I do not like her but I can not place my finger on why. Now the rest of the book was ok but again nothing really happened and it was overall a fairly dull book. The most interesting part was the cliffhanger with Batman about to face off against 50 or so "Batmen" I really hope the story picks up in the next issue. Part 2 however is simply COMPELLING. I really want to end the 100 Days of Batman on a great set of books so I will be disappointed if this one does not get better.

N.S.

100 Days of Batman, Day 94

So I have been hearing good things about the Detective Comics comic book so I picked up Rise of the Batmen Part 1: The Young and the Brave by James Tynion IV and art by Eddy Barrows. Azrael is being hunted by what appears to be a group of people dressing themselves as Batman. Knowing that he will not be able to face this group alone Batman begins recruiting the younger generation of vigilantes in Gotham and placing them under the command of Batwoman.

I was going to spoil this comic but honestly not a lot happened in this first issue. It was simply Batman and Batwoman recruiting a team of heroes to face this group of Batmen. I think the book shows a lot of promise and I am excited to read part two but part one was only COMPELLING. Ive heard good things about the story overall so I am confident it will get better. Sorry for the short post today but I just do not have much to say about this Issue.

N.S.

100 Days of Batman, Day 93

I am Gotham: Epilogue by Tom King and art by Ivan Reis is the somewhat lackluster conclusion to the story of Gotham and Gotham Girl. I will be SPOILING this issue so if you do not want it spoiled do not read on any further.

In the wake of her brother's death Gotham Girl has basically gone crazy. Shaving herself nearly bald, which I absolutely hate and think looks terrible, she heads back out into Gotham to perform heroic deeds. The entire time she is doing these heroics she is talking to her deceased brother almost repeating the same conversation over and over every night. Batman knows she is hurting from Gotham's death but she is also using up months of her life by using her powers, if not years. So he heads out to stop her. In order to bring her back into reality Batman reveals to her that he is Bruce Wayne and tell her the story of his own parents deaths and how it made and still makes him feel.

This was a really meh story. It did not really need to be in the story at all and does not add anything to it. At best I would say I am Gotham: Epilogue is COMPELLING. Your not missing anything if you stop with part five but it also will not hurt the story. It was just meh.

N. S.

100 Days of Batman, Day 92

With there only being nine days remaining with my 100 days of Batman I will likely try to stick to single issues from the most recent Batman comics. I don't want to start a epic arc and not be able to finish before the end of day 100. So for the next couple of days I will be finishing up the I Am Gotham story arc written by Tom King and art by David Finch. Tonights reading is Part Five of that story. I will be SPOILING  this issue so if you do not want is spoiled then do not continue reading on.

Gotham is on a rampage to destroy the city believing it is the only way to save it. Batman knows he will not be able to stop Gotham on his own so he does something that he has never done before. He calls the justice league to Gotham in order to help save it from a man who once wanted to do the very same thing. The justice league however is no match for Gotham and the situation looks bleak for Batman and his allies.

Gotham Girl still recovering from the fear that she has essentially been infected with tells Duke the source of her and her brothers power. It comes from their very life force. Depending on how much power they need they literally drain years of their lives away. She states that if they give themselves enough power to be like Superman for two years or could be a god for a few minutes. Gotham of course is using so much power it is unlikely he will live for much longer. Gotham Girl want to save her brother rushes to the fight just in time to prevent him from killing Batman but it is to late for her brother who dies in her arms.

That is how the book ends. I liked the idea of the source of Gotham and Gotham Girl's power came from. It was not something for free. It required them to sacrifice a great deal in order to use it. I did not expect Gotham to die when I began this story so it was a interesting twist that benefited the story. While not a home run Batman: I Am Gotham, Part Five is well WORTH YOUR TIME.

N. S.

100 Days of Batman, Day 91

Well it is part three and the final portion of the Batman: Crimson Mist story arc by Doug Moench and are by Kelley Jones. I must say it is kind of bitter sweet as I have been enjoying it so much. With Batman's attack on Arkham Asylum was the last atrocity that Gordon was able to let slide. Knowing it is only a matter of time before Batman runs out of criminals to feed on Gordon decides to combine forces with Harvey Dent.

Having joined forces Gordon, Alfred, and Two-Face enter Batman's lair armed with wooden crossbow bolts and explosives lining the roof as to let in the sun they sit and wait for their prey. Who however is truly the prey, Batman or those who seek to destroy him? Batman of course was aware of their intentions and sprung the trap killing many of Gordon's cops and Two-Faces gang. Gordon manages however to shoot Batman in the back with a wooden bolt sending him into the chasm below. Believing Batman to be dead Two-Face decides to betray Gordon and Alfred.

While fleeing Killer Croc alfred stumbles upon Batman who is severally weekend but still alive and moving as the bolt only grazed his blackened heart. Wanting his former friend to save Gordon from death at the hands of Two-Face and Killer Croc Alfred gives his life so that Batman may have the strength to save Gordon. Having drained Alfred's blood Batman kills the remaining gang members, Killer Croc and Two-Face. Knowing he does not poses the strength to let Gordon leave alive he forces his hand into destroying the caves roof allowing in the daylight sun. Gordon is unable to escape being crushed in the collapsing cave but does allow the sun in destroying the monster that Batman had become.

Well that was an excellent take on Batman. Absolutely a MUST READ. I highly recommend the entire trilogy of Batman and Dracula. It is super fun and has made its way into my list of top Batman stories of all time. If you have not read it you should.

N. S.