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Post by dragonbat on Feb 16, 2006 0:08:20 GMT -5
S P O I L E R S P A C E >:(And we thought the pros were jerking us around at WonderCon... The second half of the Payback offer starts out strong. Batman questioning his methods (for the umpteenth time... fine. I can deal with it.) Hush gets humiliated by Joker, goes chasing after him and finds him in a bar. Meanwhile, Batman discovers that the first letters of the surnames of the four pacemaker victims to date spell out HA HA. Meaning (AHAH!) Joker's behind it. Hush discovers that Joker managed to implant a faulty pacemaker into his (Hush's) body and kept him under for 3 weeks. Now... I'm not exactly sure where Joker found a surgeon to do the deed, unless between breakouts, he took the Sally Struthers Surgeon Training correspondence course or something. I'm not going to nitpick about when he's had 3 weeks to work on Hush, what with being tortured by Jason Lazarus Todd, even though it's tempting. Batman dangles Joker from a rooftop. Joker taunts Bats saying that they both know he won't drop him. Bats wallops him... and lets go saying "You're right. I don't do that. But maybe I should start." He did angle it so Joker hit the roof of a lower building rather than the pavement. Hush finds out that the pacemaker was implanted in his femoral artery. He tries to remove it using heroin as a local anesthesia. Joker confronts him and gives him a heart attack. (In more ways than one). He tells Hush that he'll kill him when he wants to but not before. Meanwhile, he'll have fun manipulating the pacemaker. Hush decides that since Bruce is the only person he can trust, Bruce will have to help him get te pacemaker out. Bruce agrees, provided Hush puts himself in a cell at Arkham. Hush refuses until Bruce wishes him luck with Joker. Batman arranges for a surgeon at Arkham to do the procedure. It seems Arkham has an OR because some patients aren't allowed out for any reason. (Except to become the villain of the month, in case of earthquake, Bane, plothole, etc.) Surgery's a success. Hush breaks out minutes after recovery and goes Joker hunting. Bats finds him first. Hush lambastes Bats for his misplaced sense of duty. Every time he lets Joker live, he takes partial responsibility for every life Joker takes. Giving credit where it's due, it's an excellent speech. Best thing about the issue. But then... Bats: So I should just let you kill the Joker? Hush: Yes Bats: Fine. But before you go, ask yourself this--how did you recover so fast? Why didn't you have any post-op effects? And how did you get out of a maximum security cell so easily? Hush: What are you talking--what did you do? Bats: Nothing. Hush: What are--you left it in? You're bluffing. Bats: Am I? Joker (arriving): This is SO exciting! Hush: YOU LEFT IT IN?!? Bats: You wanted new rules. Hush: You don't do this! It's not who you are! Bats (Internal monologue): The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. And it seems that's all I've got left. Hush: You... Bats (IM): Intentions Hush: ...can... Bats (IM): Which makes me wonder about the way I've protected this city. Hush:...not... Bats (IM): That maybe I've caused more pain, more sorrow than I've prevented. That when you get right down to it, everything I've done, everything I've tried to do for this city has somehow been... wrong. Hush: ...leave... Bats (IM): And if that's true, then there's only one question left: Hush: ...me... Bats (IM): What do I do now? Hush: ...here!!! THE END? Final blurb on solicit page: So, what do you think Batman ended up doing? And what's better than some healthy debate to end the series?  Gee, AJ, I dunno... how about... an ENDING?!? This is NOT how you end the series! What happened? You found an interesting situation to get Batman into but couldn't figure out how to get him out of it in the final issue, so you want the fans to bail you out? This is NOT what a final issue is supposed to be! Rant over |
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Post by dragonbat on Feb 16, 2006 0:14:41 GMT -5
S P O I L E R S OK. I was all set to complain about how Gabrych handled this and what he did to Cass... but I just read Gotham Knights, and that got me a lot angrier! OK. The good: Gabrych did NOT phone this one in. He put in an honest effort and delivered a highly readable attention-getter of a story. I just didn't like where he ended things. Finally, confirmed: something most of us suspected: Cass is the biological daughter of Shiva and David Kane. Cass IS alive The line "I gave you life 3 times. There won't be a fourth." The bad: Shiva has been the obvious reader choice as Cass' mother since the character's first appearance. I'm not saying she's a bad choice, but this strikes me more as the "who is Hush" type of red herring. (it's so obvious it's Tommy. Wait, Tommy's dead. Ok, he was too obvious, anyway. Hold on, Tommy's alive! And he's Hush... or is he? Who's that guy chained up in Hush's base of operations? Tommy? Then who's under the bandages? Hang on... that was a clayface in shackles. Hush is Tommy. No kidding. Wow. That... was... 'fun'." Lazara remains at large >:(Cass kills. >:(Cass kills Shiva! Cass doesn't seem broken up over it... and she doesn't seem to be insane either (though that can be a subtle thing). Tiny glimmer of hope, I suppose (very tiny): Cass leaves Shiva's body impaled on a meat hook over a laz pit. I suppose if someone else happened along... or the body decomposed and fell off... maybe... Scale of 1 to 10: Entertainment and interest: 7 Plot: 3 Art: 7 Overall: 5.67 |
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Post by brigante133 on Feb 16, 2006 1:57:24 GMT -5
wow that was a really enternaining recap and evaluation of the bat titles. you should do that more often! ;D
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joker51087
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Aren't they a nice couple?
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Post by joker51087 on Feb 25, 2006 0:19:45 GMT -5
The ending to Batman #650 was inconclusive as well. Before I get to that, I have to say something about the artwork of this issue. I don't usually critique art, because I'm not a very good artist myself, but there were some panels that just didn't look right. For instance, at the bottom left of the third of forth page, the is a panel of the Joker with his nose not only long, but incredibly wide as well, and it looks very rushed. There were some odd drawings of Jason at the beginning too, but the strange thing is that the artwork isn't like that throughout the issue, and seems to improve throughout the story. Ok, sorry about that. Here's what happened:
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In very short summary, Batman wants to rush to Bludhaven to see if Dick's ok, but Todd delays him extremely. Jason tells Bruce that he doesn't hold his death against Batman, but rather the fact that he let the Joker live against him. He (Jason) grabs a gun, throws another gun to Batman, takes the Joker as hostage, and gives Batman a choice to kill the Joker or Jason. Instead, Batman throws a Batarang at a pipe behind Jason, and it bounces off and slices Jason's throat. JT starts bleeding profusely, and then the Joker takes a gun and shots a can of C4. There is a big explosion, and the last thing we see is different versions of Batman from different universes all yelling "Jaaassoonn!!!"
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Post by giantevilhead on Feb 25, 2006 2:16:42 GMT -5
I'm really not too keen on the whole Lazara idea. Freeze needs a semi-happy ending.
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Dr Dread
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The Odious-1
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Post by Dr Dread on Mar 2, 2006 19:20:56 GMT -5
Anyone read the Batman Annual yet?
I personally was pretty disappointed. I thought there might be a really clever way JT returns, involving all (or most) of Batman's enemies. Instead, the solution presented reeks of deus ex machina.
By the end, I just wondered why kill off Jason Todd in the first place.
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Post by Lantern Lad on Mar 2, 2006 19:22:00 GMT -5
So...
Have we all read the Batman annual?
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OK... so, as a whole, what a damn cool book! My only complaint: Superboy's temper tantrum is what brought him back to life??? I knew it had to be some big magical continuity altering whammy-jammy... but Superboy pounding on his crystal prison? They could have come up with something better than that!
Otherwise, excellent! The scene where he dug himself out of the coffin sent shivers down my spine! The way his finger nails broke off... gah! The Lazarus pit! Talia! Ra's!
One question though... where did his white lock of hair disappear to? I originally thought that was just there because Clayface had taken a liberty... but then there was Jason with it too. So, he had it during Hush & used some Clairol?
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Post by brigante133 on Mar 2, 2006 20:55:34 GMT -5
where did his white lock of hair disappear to?
ever seen something about mary?
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Post by Lantern Lad on Mar 2, 2006 21:59:45 GMT -5
Eeeeewwww...
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Post by starlord on Mar 26, 2006 23:02:19 GMT -5
So what do people think about Batman and Tec OYL?
I'm impressed with the first issue's of both. Robinson is one heck of a writer and the art work has been good. I love seeing Batman and Robin working together again, as well.
SPOILER!!!!
But what makes me the happiest is seeing Gordon back where he belongs. Can't wait til 52 to find out how it all happened.
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joker51087
Full Member
Aren't they a nice couple?
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Post by joker51087 on Apr 18, 2006 20:08:29 GMT -5
On the subject of Batman and Detective OYL, let's look at who died so far.
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Let's see: KGBeast, Magpie, and the Ventriloquist (and Scarface).
I wonder who gets killed next. Any thoughts on the next death in FACE 2 Face?
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Post by HoM on Apr 19, 2006 13:48:09 GMT -5
Someone who's not big... Hmmm.... Uh... Dr Death?
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joker51087
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Aren't they a nice couple?
Posts: 113
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Post by joker51087 on Apr 19, 2006 16:43:59 GMT -5
Someone who's not big... Hmmm.... Uh... Dr Death? You probably right about it being someone not to big, and maybe it will be Dr. Death. The Ventriloquist was the only really surprising death. The other villians (Magpie and Kgbeast) hadn't really made appearances for years. Scarface has been been a big gang boss at one point. But still, they're only B and C list villians. |
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Post by HoM on Apr 21, 2006 9:35:18 GMT -5
I wonder what Batman's plans are for Robin in Detective Comics and Batman... Hmm...
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Post by Admin on Apr 28, 2006 18:32:25 GMT -5
Never a fan of the Bat-titles in the past, but I'm buying Batman and 'Tec now--- and loving them! IMO, this is the best the character's been written in years.
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Post by starlord on Apr 30, 2006 17:11:59 GMT -5
Agree with you one hundred percent, Sir! I'm in the middle of the Starman trades right now and am rapidly coming to the conclusion that James Robinson is one of the best writers I've had the priviledge to read.
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Apprentice
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I really need a new avatar...
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Post by Apprentice on Apr 30, 2006 17:41:46 GMT -5
Robinson's Starman and Batman are excellent. I want him, Gail Simone, Geoff Johns, and Grant Morrison to team up and write everything DC. I mean everything.
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Post by darkknightdetec on Apr 30, 2006 21:21:43 GMT -5
S P O I L E R S P A C E >:(And we thought the pros were jerking us around at WonderCon... The second half of the Payback offer starts out strong. Batman questioning his methods (for the umpteenth time... fine. I can deal with it.) Hush gets humiliated by Joker, goes chasing after him and finds him in a bar. Meanwhile, Batman discovers that the first letters of the surnames of the four pacemaker victims to date spell out HA HA. Meaning (AHAH!) Joker's behind it. Hush discovers that Joker managed to implant a faulty pacemaker into his (Hush's) body and kept him under for 3 weeks. Now... I'm not exactly sure where Joker found a surgeon to do the deed, unless between breakouts, he took the Sally Struthers Surgeon Training correspondence course or something. I'm not going to nitpick about when he's had 3 weeks to work on Hush, what with being tortured by Jason Lazarus Todd, even though it's tempting. Batman dangles Joker from a rooftop. Joker taunts Bats saying that they both know he won't drop him. Bats wallops him... and lets go saying "You're right. I don't do that. But maybe I should start." He did angle it so Joker hit the roof of a lower building rather than the pavement. Hush finds out that the pacemaker was implanted in his femoral artery. He tries to remove it using heroin as a local anesthesia. Joker confronts him and gives him a heart attack. (In more ways than one). He tells Hush that he'll kill him when he wants to but not before. Meanwhile, he'll have fun manipulating the pacemaker. Hush decides that since Bruce is the only person he can trust, Bruce will have to help him get te pacemaker out. Bruce agrees, provided Hush puts himself in a cell at Arkham. Hush refuses until Bruce wishes him luck with Joker. Batman arranges for a surgeon at Arkham to do the procedure. It seems Arkham has an OR because some patients aren't allowed out for any reason. (Except to become the villain of the month, in case of earthquake, Bane, plothole, etc.) Surgery's a success. Hush breaks out minutes after recovery and goes Joker hunting. Bats finds him first. Hush lambastes Bats for his misplaced sense of duty. Every time he lets Joker live, he takes partial responsibility for every life Joker takes. Giving credit where it's due, it's an excellent speech. Best thing about the issue. But then... Bats: So I should just let you kill the Joker? Hush: Yes Bats: Fine. But before you go, ask yourself this--how did you recover so fast? Why didn't you have any post-op effects? And how did you get out of a maximum security cell so easily? Hush: What are you talking--what did you do? Bats: Nothing. Hush: What are--you left it in? You're bluffing. Bats: Am I? Joker (arriving): This is SO exciting! Hush: YOU LEFT IT IN?!? Bats: You wanted new rules. Hush: You don't do this! It's not who you are! Bats (Internal monologue): The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. And it seems that's all I've got left. Hush: You... Bats (IM): Intentions Hush: ...can... Bats (IM): Which makes me wonder about the way I've protected this city. Hush:...not... Bats (IM): That maybe I've caused more pain, more sorrow than I've prevented. That when you get right down to it, everything I've done, everything I've tried to do for this city has somehow been... wrong. Hush: ...leave... Bats (IM): And if that's true, then there's only one question left: Hush: ...me... Bats (IM): What do I do now? Hush: ...here!!! THE END? Final blurb on solicit page: So, what do you think Batman ended up doing? And what's better than some healthy debate to end the series? Gee, AJ, I dunno... how about... an ENDING?!? This is NOT how you end the series! What happened? You found an interesting situation to get Batman into but couldn't figure out how to get him out of it in the final issue, so you want the fans to bail you out? This is NOT what a final issue is supposed to be! Rant over Yeah, the first six issues of Lieberman's run were pretty good. The ending was terrible. It's an example of everything I hate about endings. Lieberman doesn't leave any suspense DURING his arcs, but decides to end his 20 issue story with one of the worst endings I've ever read. Great job, Lieberman. You've managed to take 20 issues worth of money from me. But, with the way things are going OYL, it seems as if we can all breathe a little. After a semi-good Return of Jason Todd arc, a pretty atrocious twelve issues of "City of Crime" (which had good potential, judging by the first three or four issues), and an even worse Return of Hush arc, this is what we really needed. |
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joker51087
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Aren't they a nice couple?
Posts: 113
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Post by joker51087 on May 1, 2006 18:31:32 GMT -5
So, who read Batman 652?
**SPOILER SPACE**
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I'm still happy with the way OYL is going so far. Batman and Bullock seemed to have settled their differences, and Robin fought Killer Moth (I don't think it was the original one though). The major thing was the ending, though. I doubt Harvey's dead, but I do think the explosion might turn him back to Two-Face. Any thoughts?
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Post by brigante133 on May 2, 2006 1:15:10 GMT -5
definitely two face reborn and i haven't even read it. you have no idea how much this aggrivates me. since long halloween I have hoped and hoped they would keep him as dent and each time they put it out there he turns. its a damn shame.
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joker51087
Full Member
Aren't they a nice couple?
Posts: 113
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Post by joker51087 on May 2, 2006 17:14:12 GMT -5
definitely two face reborn and i haven't even read it. you have no idea how much this aggrivates me. since long halloween I have hoped and hoped they would keep him as dent and each time they put it out there he turns. its a damn shame. Sure is. They could have at least made an attempt to writing some good Dent stories. After he was changed back to Harvey in Hush, there were no stories that included Harvey Dent reformed, and the first story he's in, he's gets changed back into Two-Face. When you think about it, was there a point to change him in the first place? |
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Post by HoM on May 26, 2006 15:03:18 GMT -5
BEST. BATMAN. ISSUE. YET. Detective is still the better book though  |
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Post by starlord on May 26, 2006 15:27:38 GMT -5
I'm lovin' both Bat titles at this point. Two-Face is back!!!
Although it does seem weird that they changed Harvey but then never did anything with the character. Does seem like a waist.
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Post by chris on May 30, 2006 5:21:30 GMT -5
Can someone give a run down on whats happening for those of us not buying this? Please and thank you.
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Post by HoM on May 30, 2006 15:34:41 GMT -5
It's been revealed that Harvey Dent has been the protector of Gotham for OYL, and now that Batman is back, he's not needed. With Batman back, it's been revealed that someone is killing villains with Two-Face's MO. Batman confronted Harvey and asked him to tell him that he didn't do it, and Harvey refused to, because they should be able to trust each other, and with that Harv blew up his apartment. The last issue of Batman was dedicated to Harvey talking to Two Face through pieces of mirror, and revealing how Batman trained him for a month to protect the city. Harvey takes out his double sided coin, flips it, and it comes up scarred, so he takes out his handy bottle of nitric acid and scalpel, and turns himself into Two Face once more!
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Post by Admin on Jun 4, 2006 11:55:57 GMT -5
Can someone give a run down on whats happening for those of us not buying this? Please and thank you. All I know is that, for the first time ever, I am buying Batman and 'Tec regularly--- and really enjoying them! |
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Post by chris on Jun 5, 2006 5:30:18 GMT -5
Well it's not that I don't want to believe me. Comics are just not in my budget at this time. I read what I can in Borders book stores.
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Post by Admin on Jun 19, 2006 22:37:54 GMT -5
As much as he is driving Nightwing into the ground, I thought Bruce Jones did a pretty good job on the recent issue of Legends of the Dark Knight. This is not a side of Bruce Wayne we see very often (for good reason--- this is the kind of story you can only do once every few years).
Pretty neat artwork, too.
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joker51087
Full Member
Aren't they a nice couple?
Posts: 113
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Post by joker51087 on Aug 28, 2006 10:43:42 GMT -5
I'm enjoying Legends of the Dark Knight right now as well. It's a shame that the title is coming to end soon. I think 212 is the last issue. It's being replaced by Batman: Confidential, which will be similar to Legends, only it will focus on the important events and secrets of Batman's past.
SPOILER SPACE
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And since no one has posted it yet on this board, what did people think of the end of OYL? I know some people on the "other" DC board didn't like that the Great White Shark was revealed to be behind it all and was the new crime boss is Gotham. Personally, I liked it. I thought that Arkam Asylum: Living Hell set the character up nicely and I'm glad that he is not going to waste.
Besides that, Dini has been doing a great job on Detective Comics, and Morrison's Batman has been interesting so far. Between the two, I have to admit that I like Dini's Detective better, but I am biased to anything Dini writes.
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Post by starlord on Sept 28, 2006 17:47:16 GMT -5
So is anybody getting the current run of Batman? I'm interested to know others opinion about... SPOILERS
the kid. I'm personally on the fence with it. The first issue was pretty cool but this last one made me go: huh? Some things seemed slightly out of character for me. Anyone, anyone?
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