Green Lantern Corps #27 Review

Written by: Robert Venditti and Van Jensen
Art by: Bernard Chang
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 15, 2014

CSI: Space Sector 0422

John Stewart and the Corps get their David Caruso on and investigate a destruction and kidnapping at a Sector House. The baddies that escaped from the Oa Sciencells join together and are given an ultimatum and the true threat to the Lanterns is revealed and it may look just like you.  Yes I'm pointing at you, blog reader.

Fatality: "Why would they kidnap Lanterns?"

John Stewart: "I don't know, nothing RINGS a bell."

(John dramatically  takes off his sunglasses, cue Roger Daltrey scream)

Van Jensen and Robert Venditti are getting the Corps back to the basics.  They are intergalactic space police and finally they are acting like it.  That doesn't mean this is a slow moving, do nothing issue, though. No breather here.  What we get is a huge dose of mystery, investigation, forensics and deducting.  This is the Corps I've been waiting for.

John Stewart is the star and he is a Sherlock Holmes with a ring.  They way he figures out the "crime" is so cool and really points out how smart he is.  Those smarts are going to be put to the test, because the threat to the Corps is huge and some of it comes from within their own ranks.  I have my bet on who is the traitor, but I'm sure I'm wrong.

Bernard Chang's art is really good.  He does such a good job with varying aliens and gives the book such a great sense of scope.  There are a couple panels when the Lanterns are a mere speck on the page compared to the threat they are facing.  Awesome.

The only downside of the issue is it is not new user friendly at all.  In fact, long time readers may have to do a little research while reading.  I know every issue can't play catchup for the reader, but it's such a good issue that I wish I could recommend it to new readers.

Bits and Pieces:

Green Lantern Corps #27 is such a great step in the right direction.  John Stewart and the Corps are back being Space Cops , but all is not well in the Universe.  In fact, they are about to face their greatest threat from without and within.  Highly recommended.

8.5/10

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Green Lantern Corps #24 Review

Green Lantern Corps #25 Review

Green Lantern Corps #26 Review

Justice League United begins in April 2014

In an interview with USA Today, Jeff Lemire discussed the upcoming Justice League United. Originally leaked as Justice League Canada and making the rounds on the Internet as JL, Eh?  The title's new name reflects it's new scope.

Lemire told Brian Truitt, "It's very much a swashbuckling, world-jumping space adventure, We decided it was a good idea to expand the scope of the series."

Now that's a Team

Justice League United #0 will hit shelves in April 2014 and feature a team including Martian Manhunter, Adam Strange, Green Arrow, Animal Man, Stargirl and Supergirl.  I'm sure others will be joining them including the Cree teenager Lemire spoke of last year when the book was initially announced.

Mike McKone will handle the art duties of the book and though he's recently worked mostly Marvel titles, his time spent on New Avengers and Astonishing X-Men among others is pretty impressive.

I personally love Adam Strange and the whole pulpy, adventure aspect promised by Lemire. I'm going to have to wheel and deal to persuade Eric to give me this book to review. Maybe I can trade him Catwoman...

Justice League 3000 #2 Review

Written by: Keith Giffen and J.M DeMatteis
Art by: Howard Porter
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 15, 2014

Don't Call Me Shirley, Francis or Clark

The Justice League tries to figure out their mission while trying to figure out themselves.  Hal feels naked, Batman is a jerk, Superman does his best Buzz Lightyear impersonation, Wonder Woman wants to kill children and Barry is speeding towards death.  Oh yea, don't call Superman, Clark.

Justice League 300 is like a four legged Frisbee.  It's weird at first, but once you get your head wrapped around it, it's one helluva good time.  Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis are slowly unraveling the mysteries of the year 3000 and the why and what of the Justice League being there.

I mentioned in my review of last issue that the bickering between the team members (especially Batman and Superman) was bound to get old real fast.  Well, I was wrong.  It is here again in issue two and it is hilarious. The highlight of the book for me was how many times Batman called Superman "Clark" even though he knows Superman hates it.  Coming in a close second was the delight Batman found in watching Superman fail. Weird Wild Stuff.

On a serious note, Giffen and DeMatteis are really delving into the concept of our favorite heroes formed in a cloning vat without the experiences that made them the heroes in the first place.  Superman is a brutish clod without the humanity the Kent's gave him.  Batman just seems like a antisocial psychopath and Dianna is a cold blooded killer.  So much for the Trinity.

Also, we find out this issue that our heroes don't even have the powers we, and them, think they have.  This leads to a bunch of laughs and near deaths as the members, and one in particular, insist they can do things that they really can't

The story is still being laid out, but what we have so far is intriguing enough to keep me wanting more.  The main villain is a bit too comical for my liking, but her power set is pretty awe inspiring and quite frankly, unfair.

The art of Howard Porter is great as are the colors of Hi-Fi (love the name).  Everything looks future tech and pops off the page.  I am really enjoying the designs of this future Justice League alot.

Bits and Pieces:

Justice League 3000 #2 continues the fun and adds a bit more story to boot.  The humor is spot on and the mystery surrounding the team is interesting.  The art and story combine to make this one of my fun picks of the week and a book I am beginning to look forward to each month.

8.5/10

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Justice League 3000 #1 Review

Stormwatch #27 Review

Batgirl #27 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Gail Simone
Art By: Robert Gill
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 15, 2014

Sweet Dreams

Gothtopia has started, and that means Batgirl is smack dab in the middle of it, or for this issue Bluebell.  Now if you've been reading Gothtopia, you need to understand that at this point, this story doesn't matter to the main Detective Comics story.  But you know what it is?  It's great, so sit back and let me.....

Explain It!:

To begin this issue, we are introduced to a woman named Angela Ramirez, who has a happy perfect life.  You know who else has a happy perfect life?  Barbara Gordon that's who.  Barbara is awoken by the promise of bacon, and jumps out of bed to have breakfast with her father Commissioner Gordon.  Her mother's out shopping, and James Jr. is out helping the homeless.  A brother who isn't a psychopath, a mother who didn't run out on her, and bacon.  Yup pretty perfect.  Only thing that could make it any better is to swing through Gotham, as her alter ego Bluebell.  Now this is the fun loving Batgirl I've been missing, only problem is, it isn't my Batgirl.  I can never win, but let's continue.

At the Joker Ice Cream factory, Angela Ramirez, (being a high up at the company) is getting all her work taken care of, so she can give a tour of the factory to a school's field trip.  Please tell me if any of you in interwebs land, ever had a field trip to a ice cream company?  That would be ridiculously awesome!  All I got was the lousy educational trips, but I did get a sweet set of Star Wars figures from the Baltimore Aquarium once.  But there sure as hell wasn't any free ice cream.  Nonsense.

So Bluebell is out, and patrolling the city, when she is joined by a friend, Daybreak (Knightfall).  As the two are joking around, they hear a scream in the distance.  When they go to investigate they find that a boy was killed by the ice cream he had eaten.  Bluebell looks around, and sees Joker Ice Cream trucks all over, and apparently their radios are down for service, so there is no way to contact the rest of the trucks to stop selling ice cream.  Bluebell decides to go to the source, and sends Daybreak to get the police involved.

Back at the Joker Ice Cream factory, Angela Ramirez takes the children into her office, and kills her assistant.  She then puts on a homemade clown mask, and tells the children that she won't let anything happen to them, and that they will be a family forever.  She also tells them to call her Mother Mercy.  Mother Mercy tells the children how she was married, and had a little girl, but one day they went out to the movies while she had the flu, and then she got a call from the police later to identify the bodies.  A man had killed them, and her whole life was gone, but she was happy, everyone was happy.  Her family was dead, and all she felt was joy.  She tried to forget about them, but every time she looked at the Joker Ice Cream symbol, it reminded her of what happened to them.  She tells the children that she doesn't want to be alone anymore, and they're all going to sit down together and eat some ice cream.  Oh man this is so good.

Bluebell crashes through the window of Mother Mercy's office, because she didn't agree with the police using a sniper with all the children around.  The two tussle, and when Bluebell looks at the Joker symbol, she remembers all of her time as Batgirl in the Death of the Family story arc.  Even though Bluebell understands what Mother Mercy is going through now, it's too late.  A sniper bullet enters the office, and kills Mother Mercy.  In the end Bluebell holds onto Mother Mercy as she dies, and tries to put the memory away, because it's too hard to face, and wants the world to be the way it is.

Bits and Pieces:

It's kind of sad how much I love this issue.  I has everything I want in a Batgirl title, a fun loving capable hero, with a grim dark story.  The only problem is it takes place in a dream world, and I'm afraid that it will have no bearing on future issues.  But my fears aside, this was a fantastic issue, and would recommend it to anyone, who has an appreciation for good stories.  By far my favorite issue of the new year, and I hope it continues in this fashion, dream worlds aside.

9/10

Superman/Wonder Woman #4 Review

Written by: Charles Soule
Art by: Tony S. Daniel and Paulo Siqueira
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 15, 2014

Blog Party Two: Pajama Jammy Jammy Jam Jam

The secret is out and so is Zod.  Superman and Wonder Woman begin to deal with the World knowing about their relationship while Zod tries to reunite with his love.  Clark wants to know who leaked the story, but Cat just wants to party all the time (my girl likes to...)

Charles Soule has done such a good job with this book by concentrating on what makes Superman and Wonder Woman tick.  It's just as much about who they are as what they are together.  Superman/Wonder Woman #4 continues the greatness.  We get one of my favorite explanations of why Superman keeps the Clark Kent identity going.  It makes so much sense...but so does Wonder Woman's reasoning to drop it.  That is the key.  The book shows just how different these Heroes (and lovers) are and also how good they are together at the same time.

The book is called Superman/Wonder Woman, but the star of the issue is Zod.  He shows how conniving and badass he really is.  Seriously, he pretty much mocks Superman for how stupid he is and he's pretty much right on the money.  Why is Zod doing what he does?  Money?  World domination?  Nope.  He wants his lady back.  Badass.

The second part of the issue involves Clark bugging Cat about who sent the Superman/Wonder Woman story to her and Cat bugging Clark to cut loose and party. They both come off as a bit annoying in their own lovable way.  Seriously, how hard would it to be for Cat to say she doesn't know and Clark to pretend to have a little fun.  It's a bit of a let down from the action packed first part, but it doesn't ruin the issue.  We do get a full page spread of the global reactions to the news with some funny cameos and a little later, Batman crazy reaction.

Tony S. Daniel does the art in the first part and all is good.  Paulo Siqueira does a good job in the second half though it's hard to get a grasp of what he's capable of since not much action is happening.  I must give a shout out to second part colorist Hi-Fi for having such a kick ass name.

Bits and Pieces:

Superman/Wonder Woman #4 continues the greatness of Soule and Daniel.  This is the comic to read if you want to know who Superman and Wonder Woman are as super people, super heroes and a super couple.  With Zod now fully in the mix and the World aware of their relationship, the stuff is about to hit the fan.

8.5/10  

Superboy #27 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Marv Wolfman
Art By: Andres Guinaldo, Mark Irwin
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 15, 2014

Head Games!

Did you miss Kon in the last issue of Superboy?  Well you're probably going to continue missing him here.  Last issue we saw Jon Kent pass himself off as Kon to the rest of the Teen Titans, while continuing his quest to murder all meta-humans.  But it looked like Raven might know that something is going on.  Let's see if Raven figures it out, and if Jon Kent continues to be a psychopath.

Explain It!:

On a strange world in the 31st century Superboy is led to a building full of stasis tubes.  Something in his mind is telling him to open a certain one, and when he does, this crazy son of a bitch (sorry Lois) gets a bit crazier.  Superboy flies around smashing walls, and screaming.  This leads to a squadron of colonial marshals coming after Jon Kent, but these marshals aren't exactly normal.  They have blank dead eyes, and smiles on their faces.  We find out that the person he let out of the tube is named Schiz, and she has the power to control others around her, based on her mood, which is based on other people.  Weird right?  So if that wasn't confusing enough, the layout of this story is all over the place, and I'm trying to give you the story the simplest way I can.  Hopefully this isn't a complete fail.  So as Superboy is being overrun by happy soldiers, he finally nuts up, and TKs them down.  But now Schiz comes out, and wants to play.  Using her strange powers she makes Superboy stick a gun in his mouth, and right when he's about to pull the trigger Raven shows up and saves the day.  I really wanted to be happy as I wrote that, then I remembered this isn't my Superboy.  Oh well back to depression.  

Raven teleports her and Superboy to the other side of the planet so the two of them can have a talk.  Yep you guessed it, she knows that he isn't Kon, and she continues to tell him that she has need of the Titans still, and will not let him hurt them.  Before she disappears she tells him that they share a common goal.  BAMF!   Oops wrong universe.  

Superboy heads back to the Echo base where the Teen Titans have been staying since being thrown into the future.  In the last issue Superboy went and killed a meta-human in the medical bay, and is shocked to find out that the murder hasn't been discovered yet.  But that mystery is solved when Schiz enters the room, and tells him people see what she wants them to see.  Now that the two are on proper speaking terms, we find out that Schiz isn't a true meta-human, she was given the power she has, as were all the other people left in the tubes to rot.  So if Superboy helps her, and the other tubers get their revenge, he'll have a army to travel back to the past and kill all the metas just like he wanted.  In the end we see that the voice that led Superboy to Schiz was actually Raven, and her plans are working out the way she wants, and it's all for the great Trigon.  My mother always told me not to trust the daughter of a devil, and up until now, and my last girlfriend I didn't know what she meant.  Thanks for the advice mom.  So psychopaths, and demon daughters, looks like Superboy and the Teen Titans have a dark time ahead.

Bits and Pieces:

I really found the layout of the story hard to follow.  At one point we're at the middle of the story, then we move back to the beginning, and we're given no indication of what's going on.  That might work for Tarantino, but Honey Bunny doesn't really work for Superboy.  As it's been for a couple issues now we're given the psychotic Jon Kent, which really takes away my enthusiasm for the title.  I actually got upset when he almost died, and then didn't.  That's not the way I'm supposed to feel about Superboy.  But if you're going to read this issue, take what you will from it, but don't get your hopes up.

4.5/10

Constantine #10 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Ray Fawkes
Art By: Beni Lobel
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 15, 2014

Heaven Help Us.

Continuing Forever Evil: Blight, from Phantom Stranger #15, we saw the Stranger try and fool Blight in believing he switched sides, and was all Team Blight.  But the ruse didn't last long, and The Stranger found himself among the JLD once again.  In the end of last issue Phantom Stranger opened a portal to get answers from god about why heaven would let this evil continue.  Wow, this should be fun.

Explain It!:

This issue begins with the Phantom Stranger taking the team to the gates of heaven, but they're not alone.  Waiting for them is The Spectre, and the archangel Zauriel, and if you remember the last time the Stranger went to heaven Zauriel erased him from existence.  The Stranger is ballsy as hell.  Since the JLD is trespassing the Spectre doesn't find anything wrong with killing everyone, starting with Constantine.  But lucky for our heroes, that Scottish Terrier god shows up.  

So Constantine being Constantine begins mocking the voice of god, or god, whatever you want to believe, I tend to side with David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam killer.  God likes to take the form of a dog, and tells you to do things.  Think I'm wrong?  Ask the Stranger.  But it's never a good idea to mock a god.  So Constantine is put in a sort of stasis field, and shown hidden truths about his team, and himself, while god asks mysterious questions.  Mysterious ways people, mysterious ways.  During this enlightening experience, Constantine plans on capturing The Spectre, and using him to destroy Blight, but then he realizes that god can read his mind, and thinks twice about it.  

Having enough of god's quirkiness, Constantine escapes, and Zauriel follows in a attempt to bring him back.  Falling through the aether, Constantine quickly summons the House of Mystery, and Zauriel and him fall back through the mirror they entered to get to heaven.  Once there Constantine uses a binding spell to trap Zauriel.  

In the end Constantine realizes that the rest of the team were transported back as well, and each of them were given their own experience on the edge of heaven.  Zauriel tells Constantine that since he fights for the love of Zatanna, that he will help him on his quest to destroy Blight.  God works in mysterious ways.  So now that the new Justice League Dark is complete, it's time to find Blight.  Hopefully this next attack works out better then the previous.  Join me in Pandora #7 to see how it all works out.

Bits and Pieces:

Even though I accused Forever Evil: Blight of just being a thrown together story, so that the Dark characters would have something to do, I find myself enjoying it more and more with each issue.  We now have the newest member of the team, giving us the lucky number seven, we've become accustomed to for a Justice League team, and I'm really excited to see where this goes.  Beni Lobel left a lot to be desired with his artwork on this issue, but the story more than makes up for it in the end.  Go and get this issue, and join the fun of Blight.

7.8/10

Worlds' Finest #19 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Paul Levitz, Scott McDaniel
Art By: RB Silva, Joe Weems
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 15, 2014


Disappointment's Finest!

Last issue Power Girl and Huntress took down a tattooed god named Xazdi, the Tattooed Woman got away, or didn't, it was kind of hazy on that, and Power Girl's powers are still going haywire.  But this is the issue!  The issue that will give us everything we ever wanted since this title began.  Huntress meets Batman, Power Girl meets Superman.  Well that's at least what we were promised.  Let's see if they made good on that.

Explain It!:

The issue begins with Power Girl collecting diamonds at the bottom of the ocean.  Since the takeover of Starr Industries, Karen has had a little money trouble.  So that killed a few pages, let's move on to Karen and Helena sitting around a hotel room talking about Desaad, and Karen thinking her powers are back to normal now since she hasn't had a incident in over a week.  To prove this point Power Girl takes Helena and flies her out the window, and into the park.  Then of course her powers fail, and the two crash land.  A few more pages killed.  Alright we're now ten pages in, and are given no new information, and the story has gone nowhere.  Boo!  I just don't see how this title can continue, if this is the way the story is presented to us.  almost half a book, and nothing happens of consequence.  I say boo again sirs.

So I bet you were wondering how Karen's legal team were handling the takeover of Starr Industries.  I know I sure was, but before we can get to any legal goodness, Karen's heat vision starts frying the boardroom table, and everyone has to evacuate.  Eventually Karen gets control of herself, and decides she needs to meet Superman.  See you next issue Karen.

Meanwhile Helena is eating an eclair, and thinks that she needs to meet Batman so he can help Karen, and her.  So Huntress suits up, and breaks into the Batcave, where our favorite caped crusader was waiting.  In the end Huntress gets herself caught in a cage, and Batman is asking who she is.  This is not the way I expected this story to go.  Mostly because nothing happened.  Once again.  Boo!

Bits and Pieces

I don't know how this happened, but I just read a comic where nothing happened.  Yeah the last couple pages were fun, but not worth the hype leading to this issue.  Once again we're given a sub par Worlds' Finest, where you come in expecting things to happen, because they haven't for the last couple of months, and you think to yourself things can't go on like that forever.  But no they continue like that some more.  I guess all the mind blowing awesomeness I was anticipated will be held until Batman/Superman #8.

3.5/10

Green Lantern #27 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Robert Venditti
Art By: Dale Eaglesham
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 8, 2014

This Means War!

Alright so the last couple of issues the Green Lantern Corps. started their new mission to stop the use of the emotional spectrum in the universe.  They went after Prixiam Nol-Anj and got her to give up her new Star Sapphire ring, and captured a bunch of her Braid Clann.  Now it's on to the next adventure.

Explain It!:

On Mogo, the new command center for the Green Lantern Corps. the Lanterns are trying to get everything up and running, and trying to take care of their wounded.  Relic really packed a punch.  But whats this?  Some good news?  No way.  Looks like Saint Walker finally woke up from his coma.  But the good news dies down, when he finds out that he is the last of the Blue Lanterns, and Kyle Rayner sacrificed himself to refill the emotional spectrum reservoir.  His ring leaves his finger, as Saint Walker declares "All is not well."  

Back at the command center, Hal decides his next plan of attack against the emotional spectrum bearers.  Next target, the Sinestro Corps., the only problem is he has to find them first.  Outside the Braid Clann prisoners have arrived, and attempt the first escape on Mogo.  Most of the Braid Clann were captured, but a few made their way into the woods, where they meet up with a cook that was hired by the Green Lanterns.  But we find out that this cook has been waiting for this, and even collected construct penetrating guns.  I'd like to see the screening process you'd have to go through to work for the Corps., obviously looking at this, it's a little lax.  The cook leads the Braid Clann to a access point that he believes to be abandoned, but when they open the door, they find themselves in the med lab.  All hell breaks loose, and Soranik Natu, tells all the other Lanterns, as the head of medicine, she orders them to stand down.  The Braid Clann moves on, not wanting to injure anymore of the wounded in the med lab.  But that doesn't save Hal Jordan from getting knocked out, when they came up from behind him.  

Now that Hal is down for the count we find out that the cook was one of those shape changing aliens the Durlans, that were giving John Stewart, and Fatality so much trouble when Venditti, and Van Jensen first took over.  Now that he is here, the cook takes the form of Hal Jordan, and opens a all access space channel throughout all the sectors.  Now we have a problem.  Hal Jordan has been trying to keep the fact that every time they use the rings, it damages the universe a secret, so what do you think the first thing this fake-Jordan tells the universe?  Then he goes on to say that the universe is the Green Lanterns to control, and anyone who opposes them, will have hell to pay.  Then he shows a bunch of what I'm saying is fake Lanterns torturing folks to stir the pot a little.  Hal comes to, and tries to stop the broadcast, but the intruders set off a bomb destroying the command center.

In the end we see a number of sector houses throughout the universe being attacked, and Lanterns being killed.  It seems that this shape changing race just declared war on the Corps., while the rest of the universe declared war against them as well.  Bad times ahead boys and girls.

Bits and Pieces:

Well I have to say I was not a fan of the last story line, but this seems like it's building to something epic.  All we need now is to tell the difference between the regular Lantern title, and Corps.  Without the title on the cover, they're pretty interchangeable.  But man I really enjoyed this, and can't wait to see how it progresses.  So grab your wallet, leave your willpower at home, and go get this issue.

8/10

Adventures of Superman #38 Review

Written by: B. Clay Moore
Art by: Gabriel Rodriguez
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: January 13. 2014

Exposed: Part 2 of 3

Clark Kent has coffee with his stalker and finds out the reporter has put two and two together and come up with eight. The reporter then follows leads to Stryker's Prison and interviews a colorful cast of Superman's rogues gallery.  Metallo escapes using said Mr. Hobson as a human shield, but does the he have information Metallo can use against the Man of Steel?

B. Clay Moore continues his Exposed story arc with Adventures of Superman #38.  I have to admit, the story is not really grabbing me.  In fact, it's pretty boring.  The reporter who may or may not have information tying Clark to Superman comes off as delusional and pretty stupid.  He doesn't seem like a threat, except to himself.  The bit where Hobson interviews Superman villains is pretty funny, but a little too late.  This is part two of a three part arc so I expected the story to move along a bit quicker than it has. Maybe Moore will amaze me with part three, but I am not expecting it at this point.

Gabriel Rodriguez does about the same with the art this issue as last.  That means I still don't like the look of Superman.  However, I must give props to his Atomic Skull.  He looked awesome.

Bits and Pieces:

Adventures of Superman #38 is continuing the mediocrity of the Exposed arc.  The story is not interesting and the comic itself is boring.  Maybe the final issue will "wow" me, but so far this arc is a big disappointment.

3.0/10

Wally West to Make New 52 Debut in Flash Annual #3

The Flash news keep coming out and this is one sure to put a smile on Eric's face here at Weird Science.  Wally West is set to finally make his New 52 debut in Flash Annual #3 on April 30, 2014.

Flash Annual #3 Cover

Wally was the third Flash in the old continuity, but how he fits into the New 52 is still a mystery.  Iris West has been involved in a love triangle with current Flash, Barry Allen, and had her own Speed Force Powers. Her brother, Daniel West, was revealed to be the Reverse Flash, before being defeated by Barry.  It will be interesting to see what the Jensen and Venditti do with him.  It will certainly give the new creative team a big push.

New Creative Team Announced for The Flash

Flash...Ahhh...He'll Save Every One of Us

The Flash is one of my favorite books in the New 52, even taking two slots in our 2013 Awards (read that Here, if you wish.)  When it was announced that Brian Buccalatto and Francis Manapul were leaving the book to go to Detective Comics I was upset.  Mainly because Eric reviews Detective Comics and the two of them are such an awesome team.  Well, instead of a new team coming onboard, Brian Buccellato continued on the book for a few more issues and no announcement was made...until now.

Starting on Issue #30, the Flash will be written by Robert Venditti and Van Jensen with art by Brett Booth. Venditti and Jensen have been working together on Green Lantern Corps and have done a really good job. Brett Booth is a personal favorite here at Weird Science having kicked butt on Nightwing, Teen Titans and Batman/Superman.

Batman '66 #25 Review

Written by: Jeff Parker  
Art by: Craig Rousseau  
Cover Price: $1.99  
Release Date: January 8, 2014

Caught By The Cape

Good (Great?) ole' Zelda the Great.  She just wants to be the greatest escape artist in the World.  Like Dewey Finn, she just wants to put on a kick-ass show.  Problem is, she just isn't good at figuring out new escapes.  So, what is a girl to do?  As we saw last issue of Batman '66, you kidnap Batman and Robin, put them in fantastic and deadly traps and then watch how they escape so she can repeat it onstage.  Simple.

Jeff Parker concludes the Zelda the Great arc with another good issue.  We pick up where last issue started and ended...the Dynamic Duo up to their necks in sand with scorpions bearing down on them.  They escape with some unique singing by Batman, but Zelda is not impressed.  The rest of the issue involves another escape and a surprising turn from camp to seriousness, delving into why people risk their lives and the who and why of being a hero.

This arc has been one of my favorites of Jeff Parker's run.  I really enjoy the campiness of Batman '66, but that can only take you so far.  If the series is going to continue, we need more issues like the last two.  It doesn't just rely on a wacky villain or camp, but mixes those in with a good story.  Keep up the great work, Jeff.

I haven't been a huge fan of the art in the last two issues.  Craig Rousseau's panels just didn't seem to fit the Batman '66 Universe.

Batman '66 #25 shows again that the book doesn't need to rely solely on camp to be good.  The jokes are still their, but so is a good story that touches on the issues of being a hero or villain.  Good stuff, I just wish the art was a better fit for the book.

8.0/10

Batman '66 #24 Review

Written by: Jeff Parker  
Art by: Craig Rousseau  
Cover Price: Re $1.99
Release Date: December 24, 2013

Zelda's Great Escape

Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson double-date at a show of escape artist, The Great Griselda.  Hmmm...that can't be Zelda the Great, the infamous Villain and escape artist, could it?  Can the Dynamic Duo stop whatever evil Zelda is up to, save Dick's date and get back for the encore?

Jeff Parker continues the fun of Batman '66.  Twenty four issues in and you think that the villains and stories might wear thin, but I like this issue.  Parker seems to have stepped back a bit on the campy humor (though it's still there) and has given us a story that could have been in  TV series.  

What I like is that Batman and Robin actually fall right into Zelda's trap.  Yep, Zelda the Great isn't just there to inconvenience the Caped Crusaders and be the butt of jokes.  No, she means business.  You see, her business is escaping and she needs the two heroes to test out some death traps.  I really like the premise.

Despite having a B-list Villain or because of it, I really liked Batman '66 #24.  Jeff Parker dials back the camp just a bit to give us a good story that has the Dynamic Duo on the short end of the stick.

7.5/10