Batman #98 Review

You Thought You Could Hide?!

Written By: James Tynion IVArt By: Jorge Jimenez, Tomeu Morey, Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 1, 2020

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Our latest issue of Batman was, let’s say, frustrating. It wasn’t bad, in fact, there were several things that I really liked about it. The biggest one being the new vigilante Clownhunter. That being said, it ultimately led to a big reveal (that wasn’t that big) and we ended up in the same situation that we were in just 2 issues earlier. To have gone through so much and come out the other side with so little is extremely hard to read. I honestly feel very cheated as a consumer. However, the creative team now has a chance to right the ship. They can take this Clownhunter character and deepen their story. They can capitalize upon this Batman/Alfred situation that we find ourselves in. They can strengthen the Joker’s plan and make it something we truly never want to see come to pass. However, will they? Let’s jump into this issue and find out.

Strange Adventures #5 Review

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mitch Gerads, Evan Shaner
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: September 2, 2020

Here we are again with another issue of Strange Adventures, and as with most Tom King books, four issues in and I am a bit confused about what the story is all about.  Mister Terrific is investigating whether or not Adam Strange was involved in war crimes on Raan, but what about the guy who was murdered in issue #1?  Adam gave his gun to Batman to look into that, but that plotline seemed to disappear.  Also, why did Adam ask to be investigated and know seems pissed off about it.  There are more questions, but let's get into this month's issue...

Justice League #52 Review

Dream Warriors

Written By: Jeff Loveness

Art By: Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Tom Napolitano

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 1, 2020

It's time to get back to the Planet of the Black Mercy, where previously we saw our team psychically led there without them knowing it and when they went to inspect the strange planet...... well, by that point it was already too late. That's right, even with the world's greatest superheroes all together, this parasite planet took them one by one and sent them into their ultimate dreamland. Let's jump into this issue and see what this entity plans on showing our Caped Crusader to keep him placated throughout its feeding. Let's check it out.

Shazam #14 Review

Rush Hour

Written By: Geoff Johns

Art By: Dale Eaglesham, Scott Kolins, Michael Atiyeh, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 1, 2020

It's the penultimate issue of Shazam!, where previously we saw our Shazam Family going up against Mr. Mind's Monster Society of Evil, but that wasn't all they were dealing with. On top of everything else, it turns out that Mr. Mind was in control of Billy's father, C.C. Batson the whole time and with that, is now the seventh champion and doesn't plan on relinquishing his power. So now it's up to Billy, who shrank down and plans on taking on Mr. Mind inside his father's ear to save the day by stopping this evil threat and closing off the doorways to the Magiclands. Let's jump in and check out Geoff Johns finale to his story.

Young Justice #18 Review

Daddy's Girl

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis, David Walker

Art By: Scott Godlewski, Michael Avon Oeming, Gabe Eltaeb, Wes Abbott

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 1, 2020

Young Justice has been a real disappointment to me because we just have the most basic idea of what Bendis thinks these heroes are thrown at us with sing-song dialog that really goes nowhere in the end and I have to wonder if we'll ever get real explanations about characters and where they've been, in a way that hopefully doesn't feel forced or worse........ completely wrong about where they've been or why they're acting a certain way. We're eighteen issues in now and that hasn't happened yet and with the cancellation of this title announced, I don't know if I should expect anything different at this point. Let's jump into this issue though, where Tim Drake meets up with Spoiler. Let's check it out.

DCeased: Dead Planet #3 Review

Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Trevor Hairsine
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 2, 2020

I have been enjoying Dead Planet enough so far, but I need something to kick the story into the next gear.  Hopefully, the shit going down in Australia does the trick and gives us something big and cool while we wait to see if our heroes can dig that cure out of Cyborg.  So, do we finally get something from Australia besides Men at Work, Vegemite Sandwiches, and Nine Million animals and insects ready to kill everyone?  Let's find out...

PREVIEW: Justice League #52

Written By: Jeff Loveness

Art By: Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Tom Napolitano

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 1, 2020

“The Garden of Mercy” part two of two! For the first time, the Justice League explores the planet of the Black Mercy’s origin. One flower is enough to incapacitate even the strongest hero, but with an entire planet full of them, the Justice League must steel their minds or else succumb to the withering effects of the great tree at the core. With Batman unable to cope, can Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, and Green Lantern survive the horrors of their souls?

PREVIEW: Young Justice #18

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis, David Walker

Art By: Scott Godlewski, Michael Avon Oeming, Gabe Eltaeb, Wes Abbott

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 1, 2020

At last, the coolest couple in the DCU gets the spotlight! Tim Drake and Stephanie Brown have sacrificed so much. For each other. For their families. For Young Justice. Now, Tim and Stephanie must take control of their destinies as Young Justice gathers together to help overcome their criminal pasts!