From Evernote:

Thor: God of Thunder #6 Review

3 / 5

I complained last month that I don't like it when I think I'm getting to the end of a story in comics only to have the rug ripped out from underneath me. In last month's case it was regarding the fact that this series was going to continue beyond the 5 issue arc that had been advertised. What we get this month is an appropriate beginning to what I'm going to call Part 2 of Thor vs the God Hunter. The entire issue is dedicated to telling the story of the God Hunter. As you would expect, it's appropriately tragic with lots of unanswered prayers from a dying race of aliens. It's not very engaging, but I do appreciate the fact that it's finally being established. There is one possible new twist at the end of the book, though I'm not discounting the fact that I might have just missed a detail about his family before now. 

All-in-all, a perfectly okay book. Nothing at all special about it, but definitely nothing wrong here either. If you're already invested in Thor: God of Thunder (which you should be), you'll be happy to see this story continue. 

From Evernote:

Aquaman #17 Review

5 / 5

It's funny how the epilogue to the Throne of Atlantis series is actually more interesting than the event was! This week we have Arthur dealing with his new life as the king Atlantis (once again). We open with him stopping an illegal whaling operation, which is simply the stage for exploring the difficult spot he's in. Just as he's discussed since the beginning of the series, he's not welcome on land or in Atlantis. The recent war with Atlantis has only made things worse for him. Even humans with similar goals to his own as far as stopping the whalers are concerned don't trust him after the war. Meanwhile his guards clearly don't respect him beyond his title. It's a terrible situation for a guy that has dealt with as much as Arthur has in the last couple of years. It's also what's making a bigger Aquaman fan month-by-month. Some day I trust he'll get what he deserves. It's exciting reading this series as it stands out from all everything else on DC's shelf by not being afraid to break some new ground for the character. 

Highly recommend. 

From Evernote:

Star Wars #3 Review

4 / 5

This is probably the best issue in the series yet. Without having to focus on all of the introductory material we're finally getting some good adventure stories. First of all, kudos to the good writing. I comment very often about how disappointing it is to see good books tear themselves apart by trying to do too many things. Star Wars has very successfully straddled the line of having more than one story going on at a time while not becoming a mess. 

With that said, let's talk about what we get this week. Han and Chewie are still on Coruscant preparing to make a trade for supplies. As you can expect, things don't go according to plan and they have to scramble to survive an ambush. One of the things that works best about this section of the book is that it provides almost all of this week's action and humor - something you kind of want to see from Han. It's good stuff, and I can't wait to see how they escape their current predicament next month. 

On another side we have Leia dealing with leading her new squadron of fighters. Notably, she's struggling to corral in a cocky, young Luke Skywalker who feels pretty awesome having just destroyed an imperial super weapon called the Death Star. He's starting to play a little fast and loose with the rules, which drives her crazy. Meanwhile, she's struggling with the complexities of managing the rest of her team and keeping herself together despite everything going on around her. It's actually a pretty endearing story, and I look forward to seeing more of this. 

Finally we have Vader who is still getting publicly humiliated by the Emperor for losing the Death Star. His command is be relegated to the 2nd Death Star, which is a less than thrilling job for him. We get some reflection on his frustration, but little more. 

All-in-all, a great book. The art leaves a little to be desired for me, but it's not terribly distracting. While I'm really liking the book, I'm looking forward to the first big adventure. Everything is still in prep mode (except for Han and Chewie), which is interesting in its own right, but hard to recommend as a must-have book. Keep up the great work Dark Horse!

From Evernote:

Batgirl #18 Review

4 / 5

Batgirl continues this month's trend of glancingly acknowledging Robin's death, and then moving on to the ongoing story. Frankly, that's fine with me other than the big covers DC is putting up that make it seem like the focus is going to be on Damian's passing affecting the different Bat Family members. Whatever the case, we get a continuing story of Barbara and Jim Jr. pursuing one another. Barbara's truly impressive when she pushes herself as hard as she does in stories like this, but she's at her best when she's going after Jim Jr. She's not quite perfect when it comes to her family as she can get a little distracted. I wish we'd see more of this. I can accept Batman being trained and molded into such a hard-ass that he can't see straight sometimes, but I like seeing other members of the Bat Family falter and make mistakes. It's nice to bring these characters down to Earth every now and then. I hope we see more of this in future issues. 

This issue falls in an awkward spot in that the Jim Jr. is continually being interrupted by other events in the Batman Universe. I hope that we'll get to focus on this a little more in coming months as he's always been her greatest adversary. 

From Evernote:

Batman #18 Review

5 / 5

Batman #18 is in some ways the perfect book about Bruce dealing with Damian's death. While B&R 18 shows us the gut-wrenching depression setting in, Batman 18 shows us the immediate, visceral reaction to the situation. Batman is on a spree, sometimes working past dawn. He's brutally attacking criminals and is getting to the point that he's getting sloppy. Enter Harper, the plucky orphan introduced in previous issues. This issue is actually told pretty much entirely from her perspective. She's concerned about Batman and is doing what she can to help him. It certainly plays itself like a book preparing to introduce a new Robin, and that may well be the case, but it ends up being an outlet to show how poorly Bruce is coping with his current situation. Instead of being the patient, in-control, hero he's always been, we get a Batman who has been rubbed so raw, he's not even particularly useful any more. He needs help, and Harper plays a nice role in that regard. I comment once again, however, please don't introduce another Robin too soon. Let's give this some time. 

I should note that the art for the first half of the book is top-notch, while the 2nd half takes a bit of a knock. I'm not sure why they decided to change artists throughout the book, but it doesn't do any favors to the book. 

All-in-all, this is the best book I've read following Damian's death. The other family books haven't really dealt with Damian's death very directly (despite very graphic covers making it seem like they're going to focus on it). If anything I feel like B&R 18 and Batman 18 are two books that should go hand-in-hand - different chapters of the same story. It's good stuff. Get out there and read!

From Evernote:

Batman & Robin #18 Review

5 / 5

B&R 18 is a unique book. Obviously Damian's death was going to be the focus of this issue, but how to go about showing this was an interesting question. Tomasi decided for a fun minimalist approach, letting Pat Gleason and Mick Gray's art tell the story. There is no dialog in this book. Instead, much like Wayne Manor at the moment, all is silent. Bruce isn't just brooding as his usual self. He's wandering around the manor trying come to terms with what has happened. After finding Alfred at the "family" portrait (Bruce and the other Robins), Bruce storms off to go on patrol, which floods him with memories not only of Damian, but Dick and crew as well. It's chaotic and dark, just like you would expect to feel at the time Bruce is going through. What follows is the absolute catharsis Bruce needs right now.

I could go on with how the story plays out, but what's important to know is that it's a great book. This is the story I've wanted to see since the last Batman Inc issues, and I'm not disappointed. This is a tough time for Bruce. I'm still not sure how the writers at DC are going to get him out of this slump. I hope they find a way to not rush it, and I certainly hope we don't see a new Robin any time soon (though things are starting to point towards the girl introduced in previous Batman issues). For now B&R is in a good place, and I can't wait to see what the next few months bring as he hunts in Gotham with other Robins and Batgirl. 

From Evernote:

Earth 2 #10 Review

2 / 5

This month's Earth 2 continues the same whacky trend the previous issue established. We now know that the "wonders" of Earth 2 are magical instead of tech-based or anything complicated as on Earth 1. Our heroes are scattered all over the world still, but we do have a plot being laid down finally. The Flash's mom is being held hostage while he and Khalid try to find a magical helm in a sort of magical limbo. Meanwhile Green Lantern is trying to find Sam's killer, and Hawkgirl makes an appearance toward the end of the book for the sake of showing up. It's a disjointed mess that doesn't do any favors to its source material. 

 

The real problem with Earth 2 right now is that there are lots of cool ideas, but no one seems to know how to reign all of them in. I'm interested to see Green Lantern investigate why his lover was killed. I'm interested to follow this odd magic story. I'm even interested to see some of the high-level government stuff from previous issues. I'm getting tired of jumping around between so many groups of characters and getting so little done each issue. We could explore Earth 2 so much more easily and more satisfyingly if James Robinson would just settle down and focus on our heroes through an adventure. Let's get the team together already and do something! We're 11 issues in and almost nothing has happened since this series started, and that counts a #0 issue that used for setting more of the stage! I really liked Earth 2 when it started because I saw a great opportunity to tell a new story. Unfortunately this has just become a mess. I hope someone at DC gets their act together and straightens this out, because it could lose me as a reader soon if it doesn't happen. 

(By the way, DC editors need to kick it up a notch. I noticed 2 typos on one page at one point in the book)

From Evernote:

Detective Comics #18 Review

3 / 5

The picture above is actually a better indication of what this issue is about than the cover on the physical book. The cover to the book shows Batman holding a tattered Robin uniform which the title, "Requiem." The truth is, this book has nothing at all to do with Robin, his death, or anything beyond the plot that was already active. Knowing this, I think it's easier to appreciate the story this book tells. 

This book tells the story of the moment Emperor Penguin finally pulls the rug out from under the Penguin completely. By the end of the book the Penguin has no assets, funds, or protection. What's more, some of the personal projects he had been pursuing over the last few issues have been twisted against him. It's a fittingly downfall for a villain without much sympathy. We know, of course, that he'll find his way back the to the top, but for now he's hit rock-bottom, and a new villain is in town to take his place. 

The epilogue story connects Victor Zasz to what's perhaps about to come. We see the role that both Penguin and Emperor Penguin play in his terrorizing Gotham. It's actually something of a highlight for me. I don't know if his backstory has been covered before, and I like the way this one goes. 

The reality is that the cover / title are very misleading and the plot of this book aren't very engaging. It's not a boring book, it just doesn't do much. Totally necessary for continuing to read Detective Comics, but nothing interesting is happening here this week. 

From Evernote:

World's Finest #10 Review

3 / 5

World's Finest #10 demonstrates one of the interesting dangers of team books like this. We get a story involving Huntress and Powergirl doing two different things for most of the issue. It unfortunately feels a lot like a filler issue that was thrown together in light of the Damian Wayne death from last week. There's a passing moment in which Helena gets to pay her respects, but it doesn't really pay off towards much of anything. When I originally saw the cover, I was skeptical. I just didn't think it made sense for Helena - no matter how powerful blood is - to care too strongly about the death of Damian Wayne. There just wasn't a reason. This book actually handles it a little better than I expected, but rips the rug out from under us before it gets to go where we want it. 

I still think World's Finest is a very solid series, and these are good characters to be on top of, but this was a weak issue for the series. Let's hope next month we can get back to our girls kicking butt!

------------------------------------------------------ROB'S TAKE -----------------------------------------------
I totally agree, this issue just fills space between one issue and the next. BUT, one big take away here...Bruce knows Helena and Kara have been there. He may not know who they are but he will be on the look out for them. Helena was grasping for family on this new Earth and Damian was as close as she ever got. She knows that one day she'll have to encounter Bruce and she knows she's not prepared for that day.
Also, there have been more than a few future DC covers that depict Kara going back to her Pre-New 52 "boob window." I guess the masses have spoken. Too bad, I liked her new look!

From Evernote:

Animal Man #18 Review

4 / 5

This week's Animal Man is the epilogue to the Rotworld event. As noted in the Swamp Thing review from this week, this is an arc that's dragged on perhaps a little too long. It shows this week when there's such a relief to just see Buddy with his family again. Before he can fully reunite, however, he has to stop one last group of Rot monsters, this time with the help of Maxine. It makes for a fun adventure, that ends on a solemn note. Things are not going to be happy for Buddy Baker when we return to Animal Man next month. It's evident early on in the book where it's headed, but it's disappointing none-the-less. Not disappointing as a reader, of course, but just feeling for the character. Much like some of the other books from the week, I'll not be elaborating too deeply as there are some big plot points (that's what happens when you conclude longer arcs and there were quite a few arcs finishing this week!). I'm looking forward to seeing where the consequences of this month's issue take the series from here. Can't wait to see next month's issue!

Superman #17 Review

From Evernote:

Superman #18 Review

3 / 5

I'm sad to say that H'el on Earth ended as kind of a dud. I don't think it was a bad story by any means. It was definitely an improvement from the first stories following the New 52 relaunch. It just feels like it fizzled out under its own weight in the end. The real problem is that instead of this being a Superman story, this is a Super-family story, with Supergirl taking most of the spotlight. While I'm generally okay with that, I feel like the Superman book deserves better. I also think that considering Superman's role in the DCU, it's time he had an appropriately great role in the New 52. As it is, most every one of his adventures have paled in comparison to everyone else's in the Justice League, and that just shouldn't be happening. 

Superman #18 picks up right where Supergirl #17 left off. H'el's ship is preparing to launch, taking with it all of the EM energy from the solar system. The book opens with Superman face-to-face with Oracle, the intergalactic entity that has been barreling towards Earth since this event began. The Oracle communicates with Superman for just a moment before fading away without explanation. My assumption would be that this character will play a more important role in the future, but good lord did Lobdell and crew spend a lot of time showing this entity making its way to Earth only to have it fade away after a couple of panels and making no direct change in the story. 

I'm looking forward to the next arc. Hopefully there won't be the pressure to do something huge and instead we can have just a good Superman storyline. Like I noted before, I think the real problem is that there was too much focus on including every member of the Super-family, which didn't leave a lot of space for anyone to shine (except maybe Supergirl, but she's always shining in the New 52). 

From Evernote:

Green Lantern #18 Review

3 / 5

GL 18 is the 5th part in the First Lantern storyline. One of the fun parts of this book is that we get to see quite a bit of Hal and Sinestro (who have been AWOL for the past few issues). We also get to see a bit more of being trapped in the Black Lantern's ring, which, if nothing else, provides an opportunity for some really good art work. Most of the issue is a conversation between Hal, Sinestro, and Baz about what's going on, who's fault everything is, and how they're going to get out of the ring. It leads to a pretty fun encounter, but concludes on a very questionable note. I'll not discuss this until the next review, but it looks like Johns is about to go off the deep end with the GL story. I know I should trust in Johns like we do Snyder, but this is kind of an iffy realm for them to be heading. Read it for yourself and let me know what you think. 

From Evernote:

Green Arrow #18 Review

4 / 5

Damn! This series is shaping up to be something special! This month Ollie continues to pick up the pieces of his ambush from #17. Queen Industries is ruined. Oliver is wanted for murder. His companions are still captured (and presumed dead by Ollie). It's almost downright stressful just how serious a situation this is. All the while, we're getting a taste of some serious conspiracies in the Green Arrow world. The whole mood of this character is about to make a 180 from the looks of things. I won't spoil anything, but there are some aspects of Ollie's past - or more specifically, his family's past - that are going to make him a more interesting character. 

I liked the art better in this issue than I did in the previous one. I'm not sure if that's adaptation, if it's improved, or if I was just more critical before. There you have it though. 

I wish I could comment further, but the book's just too plot heavy. Get out and read it!

From Evernote:

Swamp Thing #18 Review

5 / 5

The Rotworld storyline concludes this week with big stories in Swamp Thing and Animal Man. Both start where last month's Swamp Thing ended - the Parliament of Death has promised to send Swamp Thing and Animal Man back to the turning point that led to the Rot's victory in the past. Swamp Thing arrives at the Anton Arcane's castle just moments before he kills Abby (as seen in previous issues). What follows is a true conclusion to this storyline. 

Animal Man and Swamp Thing both suffer from the same issue with this storyline. From the beginning it's been evident that this was going to be one of the kind of arcs with little consequence. Because Rotworld involved an alternate timeline, and the heroes were conveniently returned to the moment before everything went to hell, there aren't really any consequences from the last few months we've spent watching their adventures in Rotworld. 

That said, Swamp Thing nails it. There are some major shifts in the future of the Swamp Thing universe that begin right here. Not only are these events big though, they're filled with emotion. The last few pages are some of the most emotionally-driven pages I've ever read in a comic book, and I can't wait to go back and do this series again. None of this really changes the fact that Rotworld itself could have been substituted by any other major adventure and you could have ended with the same result. What's important though is that in the end, there's one hell of a payoff. This is undoubtedly the best issue of the series so far, and probably the book of the week. Get out there and read!

From Evernote:

Action Comics #17 Review

4 / 5

As an initial heads-up, I didn't even read AC 16 until this week. Until this point, I was disgusted with Grant Morrison. I've come to learn in my few years of reading comics that Grant Morrison is truly divisive - you either love his work or hate it. For some reason it doesn't leave much space for anything in between. I LOVED his initial arc in Action comics. When this most recent arc began, I loathed him. Month-to-month I was getting more and more confused by what I was reading in each issue. It finally got to issue 16, which began in the future with characters I didn't know doing things I didn't understand for reasons I couldn't grasp. After just a few pages I put the book down and decided I'd reapproach the series when it was complete. And I have. Sort of. You see, his run of Action Comics was supposed to end this month. So much so, as a matter of fact, that the end of issue 16 promises the conclusion in the next issue. But DC just couldn't get enough Morrison before he left so we now have an extra issue. For me this isn't a big deal. It gave me a chance to sit down and recap on everything before next month's issue hits the stands, which is good because now I'm excited again. Remember, I LOVED the beginning of his Action Comics run. I'm excited because in a very unexpected way we're seeing some things pulled all the way back from his first few panels in Action Comics #1, which makes this a little rewarding. 

On to the review though. What we get in this issue is more random, back-and-forth in time and space jumps that tie into the idea of Superman fighting a being of the 5th dimension. It's confusing and jarring in a way only Grant Morrison could appreciate. What this issue does cement, however, is the glue that ties this and all previous issues of the series together into a cohesive (if not still super confusing) story. It's very satisfying to see everything coming together, and I'm eagerly awaiting the conclusion now. 

I would say this, however: I think this should have been a graphic novel, not an ongoing series. These aren't stories meant to be read back-to-back. This is one long, involved story meant to be experienced as a whole. There's no way you can read this month-to-month and realistically catch everything that's going on. I remind you once again, I was HATING Morrison and the direction of the book up until this week when I finally sat back down and read the issues from this arc in one sitting. 

And I guess that's kind of the point of where this is heading. Grant Morrison's run on Action Comics can't be judged on a book-to-book basis. It's fair to review and criticize individual issues considering they're being released monthly and people plopping $5 down to read them as they're released, but it's just not that kind of series. This is something you need to read as a whole. I realized that this was the case with Batman Inc as I was reflecting on what led up to its major events this week, and it's even easier to see that reality in this series. As such, I'm inclined to consider and recommend books written by Morrison differently. Happy, Batman Inc, Action Comics - these are stories that you should enjoy in a collected volume. They're fun, and they're sharp, but Morrison is always looking so far ahead at where he wants to go with a given book that sometimes the present can be downright dirty. I'm glad I've had the opportunity to turn my thoughts on him around, but I'll be glad to see Action Comics move into someone else's hands after he finishes this next month. I kind of want good adventures that I can pick up and just enjoy. 

From Evernote:

Batman Inc. #8 Review

4 / 5

Here it is - the book everyone has been talking about. Hidden so well that DC still doesn't have the book cover on their site. Spoiled by news sites earlier this week and has stormed the Internet. If for some reason you have not heard what this is about and want to live spoiler-free, you should move on. Otherwise, here we go. 

The fight between Batman Inc and Leviathon has intensified to the point that it seems everyone is stuck. Damian breaks curfew (so to speak) and pulls Nightwing and Red Robin out of some tight spots before catching up to Wayne HQ. It's here that we get the perfect hoora! for Damian as he lets Dick know how much he likes and respects him. It's a touching scene that carries good weight, especially if you've read the old B&R run with Dick as Batman. What follows is the moment that we've all heard about, which I'll not discuss further here. 

Let's face it, it's a big deal. There's no telling how this is going to ripple throughout the rest of the DCU in coming months. Jason dying on Bruce's watch was tough enough for him as it was. Losing Damian is sure to break something we've never seen in Batman before. Who knows how Alfred will feel as the person who encouraged him to go out that night - against Bruce's instructions. Who knows how this is going to affect the relationship between Jason and Bruce. Will they come together or will this drive them further apart? There are a lot of really things to see in the next few months, but for now we have only this - Damian is dead. 

I wish there had been a little more time leading up to this moment - not in the sense of more adventures, but in more development between Bruce and Damian. This was a big deal, and I honestly just didn't see it coming. The last year and a half has been really good in B&R. I'm going to miss the growth we saw for the two of them. 

This is a big deal, and definitely a book worth picking up. The story is solid as always. I'm still not a fan of Chris Burnham, which is my only negative on the book. Pick it up. Enjoy it. Share your thoughts.

------------------------------------------------- ROB'S TAKE -------------------------------------------------------
This smacks of "Grant Morrison is leaving and he's taking his toys with him." It's pretty much accepted that the fans were just starting to fall in love with Damian's character, so it's no surprise that he is snatched away before we really get to see what he can do. He stood a more than decent chance of finally replacing Dick Grayson in the hearts and minds of the readers. And you can't help but see resurrection coming a mile away via his family's Lazarus Pit. The emotional bite of what happened will linger, only to be cheapened when they bring him back...and they WILL bring him back. We've been through this with Jason Todd and it took 20 years to make him interesting again. DC really screwed the pooch in this one.

From Evernote:

Arrow #4 Review

(I'm assuming this is just promotional stuff since the covers are released months in advance, but the silhouette on the cover is Huntress on the real version)

5 / 5

Arrow is another book that I suspect no one is reading, but that I think everyone should. To put it kindly, the New 52 has not been very kind to the legacy of Green Arrow. Thank God in its place we've gotten the TV show, Arrow, which has actually been pretty fantastic. Accompanying the show is a very clever comic book that goes by the same name. The comic isn't an individual storyline, however. Instead, its purpose is to complement and augment the show. It fills in gaps that would be inappropriate to show on TV - not because they're too violent or risqué, but because they'd just drag down the pacing. In this issue for example, we see where and when Huntress got her training - something of an important fact in the context of the show. I remember distinctly it not making sense when she made her appearance. Now it's more sensible. 

So what do you get with this issue? Three stories from three perspectives. We get one from Diggle, who is watching Ollie take some serious risks while he decides when best to stand back and when to stand in. We get one on Huntress's background. We get another in which Ollie faces some personal ghosts while working one of his beats. All three are good short stories. 

I cannot stress enough how much I think people should be reading this stuff. Top notch work. If you put this as an individual book it's worth only a 4 / 5 to me. If you do this like it's supposed to be done, which is complementing the TV show, it's a 5 / 5 book. 

From Evernote:

Talon #5 Review

4 / 5

Talk about the book no one is talking about, but should be. Talon is getting better and better with each issue. What started as a series that I picked up strictly out of curiosity and respect for Snyder has become one of the freshest, and intriguing books in my pile (and I whole-heartedly expect to eat those words when this series turns to crap). 

Issue #5 brings our hero back to Gotham. It also deals with two firsts - 1) Bruce becoming aware of the new Talon situation, and 2) Continuing fallout from the Death of the Family arc from Nightwing. It's a good scene, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Batman plays into more of this story. Calvin has established a new home in Gotham where he's both licking his wounds and tasting a bit of normalcy for the first time in a long time. He likes it, and you can tell that he's reluctant to get back out into the field. It's pleasing when Sebastien helps him realize that that is the reason why he needs to work (and kind of a reason for the book) - so that he can end the Talons and he can lead a peaceful life without them hunting him. 

We also get a nice look at the Butcher, who has come on some interesting times. He lost Cal in New York. He's tracked him to Gotham, but is now stuck until Cal reveals his position. Being the professional that he is, he's able and willing to wait this out, but the Court is badgering him to do more. It's in this moment that we get to see him unleash some of his more primal rage and cause a little chaos. I think have a recurring villain like this is going to make this book phenomenal. I just hope they don't kill him off in the next few issues. This guy is seriously scary, and a great adversary for Cal. 

I really enjoy Talon, and highly recommend anyone who hasn't started to get going. We're only 5 issues plus a #0 issue in at this point. The writing is top-notch. The art is B+/A- work. The story has real potential to blossom into something special. Most of all, this could be the first new addition to the DCU that sticks in quite a while. 

From Evernote:

The Flash #17 Review

3 / 5

The Flash #17 finally concludes the Gorilla Grodd story arc. I'm hoping that the arc fares better in the future when I reread these from beginning to end, but I was just plain relieved to be finished with it today. I like the villain just fine, but the arc just drug on too long for me. Like I said, I'm hoping I'll be able to appreciate this more when I reread it as a set. 

As for the issue itself, #17 is actually pretty satisfying. Art is still solid with its watercolor feel. Writing is sharp. The conclusion is satisfying, if not epic. I love what they're doing with Barry and Iris / Patty - especially since I really like the Patty relationship. Like I said, I think the best part is just being done. It's nice to know I'll have a chance to regain my bearings and hopefully dig into the next arc with the excitement I had for the first arc. 

The epilogue does reveal the next villain, and it's exciting. It's someone we haven't addressed since Flash Point, and it'll be VERY interesting to see how the New 52 handles this character. If for nothing else, seeing the reveal for this villain was worth the price of entry. 

From Evernote:

Batman: The Dark Knight #17 Review

5 / 5

This is the 2nd or 3rd issue in the current DK arc revolving around the Mad Hatter. First of all, it's just fun to have story lines with the Mad Hatter. He's not what I would call an old standard for the Batman villain line-up, which leaves him a lot of room for growth and development - and on that note we're seeing some development. Much like the previous arc's focus on the Scarecrow, we're watching Batman hunt the Mad Hatter as he sets his developing plans into motion. What sets this book apart from the other books on the shelf currently is that more focus is put on the villain than Batman, which makes for a good read. We all know what Bruce goes through as Batman. We know his motivations, his fears, his short-comings. What's more, continuing character development happens in other books. This book gives a lot of time with the villain first and Batman second. This week we look into the Mad Hatter's past when he was a child (much like we did with Scarecrow previously). Though we've not seen a turning point, we know that it's coming. It's wildly entertaining to watch these things develop with time. 

Another thing that we're getting in The Dark Knight books that kind of separates them from the other Bat books is a healthy dose of humor. It's not quite as off-the-wall as the Morrison stuff in Batman Inc., and I like it! 

The only "negative" is that the art's not quite as solid as the other Bat books. I like it, and I think it does a good job of distinguishing this book from the other ones on the shelf, but it's no Batman. Not enough to knock the book in any way though. 

All-in-all, this is a series, arc, and book that I highly recommend. I hope that the trend continues with this writing style, because at the moment, this is one of my favorite Batman books.