Red Hood: the Lost Days #3 and #4 - DC

So far, I really like the story that Judd Winick is crafting here. Basically, he's filling in the questions as to how, and when, Jason came back. And what did he do to prepare himself for when he finally revealed his return to Batman. All of which . . Talia is playing a large part of. I think she originally brought Jason back, with one of the Lazarus pits, to try to ease some of the pain and burden of the man she loves. Obviously she didn't think this all the way through, but . . I think it was as simple as bringing him back, returning him to Bruce, and hoping that in return pledge his undying love. Yeah!! Like that was going to happen. She didn't listen to a word her father told her. He's been doing this a lot longer than her. He certainly knows the risks and side-effects, but . . I think she was blinded by love . . or romance. Well, you know . . the kind of romance where 2 people try to kill each other as foreplay. Anyways, once she realized that he was psychotic . . although I'm not sure if that was a side-effect of the Lazarus pit, or window into Jason's actual personality . . but when she realized that, she knew that she was going to have to stall him. So she sets him up with teachers of the 'Dark Killing Arts' all over the globe . . weapons, espionage, chemists, close combat experts, bomb makers . . etc, etc. She sells it as her concern over his facing his former mentor. The element of surprise will only carry him so far. If he wants to best him . . he's going to have to be better than him. I think she's also hoping that over the course of this, maybe . . just maybe, Jason will develop a conscience or a heart. And surprisingly . . he does. In a way. After about 10 or 12 'teachers', she finds that he's already killed about half of them. But the reasons he's giving himself seem legitimate . . pedophile, murder, sex-slaves, mercenaries . . he seems to be willing to siphon their information, but not let them continue to pursue their 'hobbies'. I believe he thinks he's actually saving people, or . . making the world a better place for the ones that are left. Anyways, by the end of issue #4, Jason is knee deep in the scheme of the Russian Mob, in London. They've got MI5, Interpol and Police so far up their ass that it's hurting their business. They haven't really been able to pin anything on them, but . . they've created enough of a wake that other gangs, and criminals, don't want to do business with them. So . . they've hired a bomb expert . . the one who's currently teaching Jason, to set off a series of explosions around London and make it look like it's the work of terrorists. Once everybody gets aboard that wagon, the crime files will become second shelf. The problem Jason has with all this? In order to sell this, they're going to have to kill about 700 people in one afternoon. So Jason's trying to mess with their plan, without exposing himself. But he's making a lot of rookie mistakes. The issue ends with him starring down the barrel of the Russian mob boss's gun. 'I don't care who he is! Just kill him!' Like I said, so far it's been a pretty cool story. But Judd always does a good job with this type of theme. Jeremy Haun is doing the art, and his style is fitting perfectly with this story. And don't forget the beautiful covers by Billy Tucci. If you aren't buying this one . . you're missing a good story.

Red Robin #15 and #16 - DC

So, while Tim is out trying to check off this 'hit-list' of his . . it seems that Vicki Vale has been gathering information of her own. She's been trying to prove that Tim is either Red Robin, or Robin, and thereby who the identities are of the rest of the Bat-family. She doesn't really have any solid evidence, but . . she is making some pretty educated guesses. In fact, she's surprisingly close. So Tim sets himself up as a target. He was planning on 'outing' the 2 bad cops anyways, Cavallo and Wise, so he just does so in a manner that opens himself up as a target. He knows that someone will want to take him down, so he has M'gann pose as him, while he waits on the rooftops for the assassin . . Scarab. But he doesn't go after her until after she shoots Tim / M'gann. Then he takes down Scarab . . another one on his list, and switches places with M'gann and poses as a young man who had some serious spinal damage done. To really sell it, he makes a public statement saying that he's going to have to walk with canes, and assistance for at least the next year. That's the length that he's willing to go to try to protect everyone else. So hopefully that'll alleviate Vicki's interest . . at least for a while. But, it seems that Tim is of interest on someone else's list . . Anarky. Anarky has been mad at Robin ever since his brother and sister got killed. Yes it was Anarky's own bombs that killed them, but . . he doesn't' see it that way. Robin was trying to bring Anarky in, and he was using his siblings as leverage. But they weren't supposed to be at that place, at that time. Anyways, Anarky has been working off a list of possible Robin targets, and after eliminating the first couple, Tim Drake / Wayne is now at the top of his list. But with the recent events of his shooting, he's decided to skip him and move on to the next. Anarky is now Ulysses Armstrong. He originally came into Robin's sites as the General. But along the line he usurped Lonnie Machlin as Anarky, and is now using that identity for his own. But he's also got Lonnie in a chemical induced coma and is using him to get information on Robin. Apparently what he doesn't know though it that Lonnie has somehow connected with his computer, and has been communicating through it back and forth with Red Robin. Anyways, Tim is able to get the identity of Ulysses' next target and is there to stop Anarky. But before he can bring him in he activates a bomb back in his penthouse . . where he's keeping Lonnie. Tim has to leave him in order to save Lonnie. Fabian Nicieza has been doing a great job with Tim's character. He's got some great interactions between Tim and Stephanie, as well as his supposed fiance, Tamara. I also liked that little conversation between Tim and Digger Harkness when he goes to see him in jail. Basically he just wants him to know that . . now that he's back, he's going to need to pay for his father's death. And then there's the relation ship between him and Leslie Thompkins . . his personal physician. Without whom he wouldn't have been able to sell this whole plan. I think Fabian has a great handle on this character. And Marcus To's art gets better and better with every issue. The final page of issue #16, where Tim is visiting Digger in jail is awesome. Anyways, over all . . I'm very pleased with this book. Next month this title, as well as the rest of the Bat-titles will be skipping an issue for the Return of Bruce Wayne. There will be an issue next month . . The Road Home: Red Robin #1. But issue #17 won't be out until the month after that. But that's ok, because next month is going to be a really busy month in the Bat-family of books. Epic . . even!! I can't wait.

Red Robin #14 - DC

Do you remember how everyone in the JLA felt when they found out that the Batman was creating contingency plans for the rest of it's members? You know, just in case one of them decided to go rogue . . or someone took control of them? Well . . that's how Damian feels this issue. Tim is supposed to keep Damian company while Dick is out of town on JLA business. And I think Damian is feeling more than a little inferior next to Tim because . . right now, Tim seems more on top of his game than ever. And . . he's got a plan. A specific list of targets, and a means for apprehending them all. However, Damian is also a little to nosey for his own good. He hacks in to Tim's files, and finds another subroutine buried underneath and behind it all. In it, Tim is also started to put together plans for the various heroes he comes into contact with should he ever have to take one of them down. Included in that list is Damian. So, while out on patrol, Damian starts going mental on him and attacking. Luckily, Dick shows up just in the nick of time to put an end to the hostilities. When everything is put out there and explained, Dick understands where Damian is coming from. But . . he also understands Tim's concerns. Afterall, he went through pretty much the same thing with Bruce. Anyways, part of Tim's next step is to take down Det's Cavallo and Wise. So he's put it out there, in a very public press conference, that Wayne Industries is looking in to problems with the Wayne's youth center, because of corrupt GCPD. And that it has something to do with the temporary truce's that were called between gangs. His plans seem to be working because by the end of the issue we see that they've hired a hit-man to take Tim out. To me, Tim is one of the strongest characters in the Batman-family. Almost, if not equally as strong as Dick. Actually, I think they'd make the perfect team. Their strengths and weakness' would definitely balance each other out. The problem is . . they both make the perfect Batman, but for different reasons. I think eventually they'd be tripping all over each other. Which forces them to work better . . apart. Overall, they make more progress that way. It'll be interesting to see how everything changes in a couple of months when Bruce comes back. Anyways, my point is, I think Fabian Nicieza is doing a great job of working with, and developing this character. And I really think that Marcus To is coming along nicely with his artwork.

Batman and Robin #13 - DC

With this issue, we start to get a sense, or feeling, for how all the various story-arcs so far are connected. This one takes us all the way back to issue #1, with Professor Pyg, and even further as it connects into the story that led up to Bruce's break from reality. You know the one where Bruce's father seemed to have returned and he took on the persona of Dr Hurt, to drive his son insane . . and prove his superiority. That's what I love so much about Grant Morrison's scripts. You see story-arc, after story-arc, and they all seem a bit connected but you don't really know how. And then, a year or so later, there's one story-arc that seems to pull everything all together. And you start to have those little 'ah-ha' moments as you think back on previous stories . . and you start to recognize the patterns in what you thought was just chaos. Anyways, at the end of last issue it was revealed that Oberon Sexton was actually the Joker. He says he's trying to gain the Batman's trust . . that his 'feelings' changed when he found that the 'other' Batman has gone away. But as this issue progress', I think he's starting to realize the this 'new' Robin is more like the 'old' Batman than is Batman. So . . things will probably turn for the worse pretty quickly. I think it's interesting that when Dick is with the Commissioner, Jim gets word that the Joker has asked to talk to Robin. Dick is concerned that he'll end up dead. Jim responds, 'My god. Does the poor kid have any idea what he's dealing with?' To which Batman replies, 'It's not him. It's the Joker I'm worried about.' Anyways, we start to see that everything is all connected . . Pyg, the Toad, el Penitente and the Joker. It seems that Pyg and el Penitente had released some kind of gas on Gotham that could have a latent affect. It won't be triggered until they decide to. At which time, Batman is going to have a very limited amount of time to try to turn things around. The issue ends with Dick and Bruce crash landing in Gotham, and they find themselves immediately surrounded by Dollotrons. El Penitente has set loose Pyg. And Damian is beating the crap out of the Joker with a crowbar. And somehow . . this is all working perfectly into the Joker's plans. Everything has been set up like dominoes. I think this is a great book. I love this series. I think what I like so much about it is the differences between Dick and Damian. Really, they shouldn't be able to work together. Neither can really understand where the other is coming from. But . . they don't really have a choice. Good or bad . . they have to make it work. And it's those struggles, I think, are a part of what makes these stories so interesting. Frazer Irving steps in for the art this issue, and I think he did a terrific job. The covers are by Frazer and Frank Quitely.

the Red Hood: Lost Days #2 - DC

I like this book. I'm glad that we're finally getting the background story as to how and why Jason came back from the dead. But so far we've gotten the why, more than the how. Basically, Talia resurrected him using a Lazarus pit. Much to Ra's chagrin. After the using the pits for so many years, Ra's feels that there's repercussions, or side-effects, from it's use that Talia would not have anticipated . . or prepared for. He tries to warn her repeatedly, but . . she won't, or doesn't want to listen. Anyways, this issue we watch his adventure coming from Europe back to Gotham. And we see some of his motivating feelings and emotions. But I think the important part of this particular story is in Talia's realization near the end. Jason plots an elaborate scheme against Bruce, taking hours and days to set it up. But then when it comes time to hit the trigger . .'I just couldn't let him get off that easy. He'd never know what happened. He'd never know why. He's never know it was me.' Which is when Talia starts to question her own involvement. 'It wasn't simply that he tried to murder him . . he plotted it. Cold. Calculated. Days of planning. So much time to dwell . . so much time to reconsider. It wasn't an act of rage . . it was revenge. He doesn't even seem interested in finding out how he's returned. He's aware that he was murdered . . has come back from the grave and he's not even curious . . it's . .a bit sociopathic. My father was right. I've unleashed a curse upon this world.' I think Judd Winick is doing a great job of showing us not just the events, but also the motivations and characteristics that make up Jason's character. So far . . I love the ride. And Pablo Raimondi's art fits the look and feel of the book perfectly. And we're only on issue #2. We still have 4 issues to go. I have to say, going in to this, I was afraid that this was just going to be a rehashing of what we already knew. I'm glad say that it's definitely original and exciting.

the Red Hood: Lost Days #1 - DC

This is going to be a cool series. This issue we start to dig in to the story of just how it was the Jason was able to come back. But we don't see it from Jason, or even Batman's perspective. No, instead we see it from Talia and Ra's point of view. As it turns out, Talia was the one that originally found him. After Jason died Talia knew how much Bruce would be beating himself up, so . . she kept an eye on him. During this time, she learned of a boy who was found wandering the streets. After looking into his background, and running DNA tests, she determined it to be Jason Todd. 'Half dead, massive trauma, flash-burns from an explosion. Found wandering a road in a suit and tie, covered is soil, hands indicated that he . . dug himself out of a buried coffin.' She questions the Joker's old associates, and the hospital staff where he was put after he was found. He appears to have been in a vegetative state until one day he just walked out of the hospital. He's still catatonic, but . . it appears that he's maintained his fighting skills, kind of like a muscle reflex. When provoked he can take out 4 or Ra's assassins. However, when Talia slaps him . . he does nothing. She keeps this up for a year or so, until Ra's decides that it's a waste of her time and his resources. He's sending him away. He'll be taken care of, but . . Talia's got other responsibilities. However, before letting go, she decides to try one more thing . . the Lazarus Pit. However, from the beginning of this issue . . it looks like that's not going to turn out so well. Ra's has Talia in a death-lock and is screaming at her . . 'Do you have any idea what you've done?! Do you? You have defied me! You are a traitor to your own blood! If you were anyone else . . anyone else . . You have no idea what you've created . . what you have unleashed! You have set free a curse upon this world!' I have a feeling this is going to be a terrific series. I can't wait to see how it all plays out. Judd Winick is doing a fantastic job with the story. And I'm also really enjoying Pable Raimondi's art. I think this'll be a great addition to the bat-books.

Red Robin #13 - DC

Well . . Tim's back in Gotham . . home at last, but he has to figure out how to fit in with Batman and Robin, Dick and Damian. And he's trying to figure out what his path is going to be. First and foremost, obviously, is to find Bruce. It should be easier now that Dick and Alfred believe him. So he's made a 'To-do' list.

'1)Figure out where to live

2)Figure out what to do

3)Figure out how to do it

4)Figure out who to do it with

5)Figure out who to do it against'

By the end of the issue he's got a handle on out most of it. He's decided to start rounding up the villains in Gotham. One by one. Hence, the cover. So with that decided, basically . . #2, #3, and #5 fall right into place. Now he just has to figure out where to stay. Barbara and the Birds have taken up residence, and set up shop, in the manor. So . . I don't think he'd feel comfortable there. Tim's currently staying in Wayne Tower, but . . since Dick and Damian are working out of the Bat-bunker beneath it . . he doesn't really want to be a third wheel. Maybe he can find a place with Tam. Since they are currently engaged now. And . . she does know his secret. So it wouldn't require a lot of sneaking around. And his other question is . . who's he going to get for back-up. For what he's attempting to do, it would be a bit much to go at it single-handedly. And this issue he's already burned one resource . . Lynx. Lynx has helped Robin in the past, but . . Tim doesn't trust her. So when he has the opportunity this issue, he arrests her. The problem is . . she's an under-cover Police officer. She's with the OTCB division of the Hong Kong Police Force. She tells him this after he takes her down. Hoping that he'll let her go. 'I'm here . . to take the Dragons down . . give me time . . to reclaim my title . . or else things . . things will get worse . . without me.' But . . he turns her over to the police anyways. If he had let her go, maybe he could've used her to work the inside, while he worked the outside. But . . I guess that's moot now. So, we'll have to see who he decides to count on in a future issue. Overall, I thought it was a good it. It's definitely a good jumping-on point, if you aren't following this title. And since Fabian Nicieza has taken over the scripts with this issue . . you just know there's going to be great things ahead for Tim. Also, I think Marcus To is getting better and better with every issue. His framing and flow have improved dramatically, and he's doing a great job with backgrounds. I look forward to this title every month.

Red Robin #12 - DC

I'm really enjoying Marcus To's art. He seems to be improving with every issue. And I love that cover. This issue wraps up the Ra's al Ghul story-line. After Tim's trip to Europe . . and his involvement with the League of Assassins, Ra's has vowed to destroy all that Bruce Wayne holds dear, and everything he's built. Last issue he came to Gotham, with a squad of assassins . . and a lawyer. He had an assassin target everyone that Bruce, or Tim held dear. And while he was keeping Tim busy with that, his plan was to use the fake Bruce Wayne, Thomas Elliot . . Hush, and have him sign over all of Bruce's holding to Ra's. But Tim had a plan also. First of all he didn't try to fight Ra's or fix this on his own. He called in his friends for help. So while Ra's is setting up the board, Tim is mirroring it with his own teammates. Also, he worked with Lucius to set himself up as an emancipated minor. Therefore he could have Bruce's holding transferred to him. Tim is now the majority shareholder of Wayne Enterprises. As well as it's CEO. Tim ended up blocking him at every turn. And finally . . he engages Ra's in some banter, and a personal fight. Tim knows he can't win. But he has to keep Ra's busy long enough for Lucius to get all the paperwork filed, and to make sure that Thomas Elliot can't do any more damage. In the end though, we find out that it's all been a test. Ra's is once again looking for a suitable heir. And apparently he's got his sights now set on Tim. He just had to make sure that he was worthy. I'm not sure who he'll be 'mating' with, but . . I'm sure we'll find out in the near future. Also, Vicki Vale is causing a stir. She's been looking into Tim's 'adventures', and has a story circulating that he's about to get married. To who? To Lucius' daughter, Tam. I don't know how she put that story together, but she seems to be positioning herself as a huge thorn in the Wayne back-side. I don't care who Tim dresses himself up as, I think he's a great character. I think Chris Yost is doing a good job of chronicling his adventures in this title. And, as I said, I'm loving Marcus' work.

Batman and Robin #12 - DC

First of all, Andy Clarke's pencils are amazing. I really like the way he's so detailed and crisp with his art. The splash page, with Robin attacking Batman, almost seems like it has a bit of a Brian Bolland influence to it. Anyways, we really don't dig to much into the whole Return of Bruce Wayne storyline here. We do get a few clues . . a few things in the mansion, and below it . . not to mention this death garden thing, which I don't really understand. But not a whole lot that we didn't already know. Most of this issue is spent with Damian and Dick dealing with the dirty hand that Talia has dealt him. It appears that when she operated on his spine that she also installed some neural receptors that allows her to use a harness that she has back at her lair to control Damian and his actions. The problem is, she offers to let Slade Wilson use it to get a little payback for Dick. And with him . . a little is never enough. He wants more control, and the ability to control his voice also. The problem is if you push the receptors to hard, they can burn out pretty easily. But he does do enough damage that it's pretty easy for Dick and Damian to figure out what his mother had done to him, and who was in the driver's seat. They then head to Talia's secret island to give her a little piece of both their minds. Talia is still convinced that Dick and Alfred are brainwashing her son, and trying to indoctrinate him into the way of the Bat. But Damian insists that he's staying with Dick of his own volition. So Talia disowns him. It appears that she's already began cloning another version of her son, 'Made from the same augmented DNA combinations. He'll be 10 years younger than you when he's born. I offer you one last chance to accept your destiny my darling.' Which of course he doesn't, so her reply is, 'Ill always love you in my own way. And I will permit you to leave with your circus boy in tow. But from now on, you are no longer welcome here. You may consider yourself an enemy of the House of Al Ghul.' To which Damian responds, 'Very well. I hope I can be a worthy one, mother.' So that's it? He's done with Talia? I don't think she's going to let him get off that easy. Plus, what happens if somethings wrong with the new child that she's birthing? No, I definitely don't think this is the last we've seen of Talia. Anyways, when they get back they once again find themselves dealing with the Cult of Barbatos. They took a casket out of the cemetery and Dick and Alfred think that it might be the key to figuring out this whole thing with Bruce. There also seems to be a new player in town. Or . . the return of an old one. It appears that the Doctor Hurt is back. Or is he really Thomas Wayne as he claimed to be? And we finally get to the bottom of the mystery about Oberon Sexton. On the final page of the issue it's revealed that he's actually . . the Joker. In my eyes, this title gets better and better with every issue. I think Grant Morrison is doing a tremendous job. And I think Andy's crisp art is the perfect contrast for the dark mood that Grant has set here. Together, it paints a rather eerie picture. But . . it's cool. Right now, this is my favorite Batman title.

Red Robin #11 - DC

I enjoyed this book. I like the Red Robin character. Of course I am biased because I think Tim's character is fantastic. But I'm not sure why he hasn't figured out what it is that Ra's is after. I mean, when he told him that he was going to make him suffer, and destroy everything that Bruce had built . . he pretty much told him what he was going to do. So right now, the League of Assassins in painting a target on everybody that's close to Tim or Bruce. And of course Tim feels responsible for protecting them all. But he can't. However . . his attention can be split in many different directions allowing Ra's to pursue the avenue to his real target . . Bruce Wayne's money. I don't think he's necessarily trying to steal the money, or take it as his own. But . . he wants to take down everything that Bruce had built, so . . even the most altruistic of men need thier money for the maintenance of their lives. And with everything involved in Bruce Wayne's life . . both with the Wayne Foundation and his extra-curricular activities, it takes a lot of money to keep things flowing smoothly. So without his financial resources, everything that he's built . . everything that he supports, will come to a grinding halt. Which is why I think he abducted Thomas Elliot. He's been posing as Bruce for this last year. And with no one available to stop him . . Alfred, Dick. Lucius . . he can perform the final act in his Bruce Wayne identity. . help Ra's destroy his life. But really, this is all just minutia to bide over the reader until we get involved in this search for Bruce Wayne story-line. I have a feeling that event is going to take up most of the Bat-books for the next several months. Chris Yost writes this book, with Marcus To doing the art. I enjoyed this issue. I liked the reaction by Damian when he realized who Pru was. That little rascal is hilarious . . in a sick, twisted, psychopathic way. But . . I think he's the edge that the Bat-books need.

Batman and Robin #11 - DC

This is another fantastic issue by Grant Morrison and Andy Clarke. While I miss Frank Quitely's art . . he is doing a cover every issue . . I think that Andy's crisp clean style is the perfect contrast to Grant's dark, moody stories. I have to say . . I really like the feel of the book right now. A few things are happening this issue . . including the hunt for Bruce Wayne, but . . I really think the important part of this story revolves around Damian. Remember last issue when he appeared to attack Dick for no reason. Even he was surprised by it. At the time he'd assumed that Talia had implanted some kind of suggestions, or programming, when she had him in for repairs. Remember, he got a new spine installed? Anyways, this issue we find out it's so much more devious than that. It appears that through his new spine, she's able to take over control of all of his motor functions and operate him like a video game. However, that's not even the real problem. The real problem is that she appears to be working with Slade Wilson, and after she gives her son a test ride . . there's so many things that could be read into that statement, but I'm going to take the high ground . . after she makes sure that the equipment is working properly and able to be controlled . . she gives those controls over to Slade. The issue ends with Damian, under Slade's control, getting ready to attack Dick as he finally makes it out of the cavern that he's found under Wayne manor, and is coming up in the Death Garden. Anyways, also this issue, Dick and Alfred are exploring this new underground cavern that they've found. In it Dick finds a stalagmite sculpted in the form of a man-bat type of creature. They think it's Barbatos. A devil-bat of the Miagani tribe that Thomas Wayne was involved with in 1765. Which is somehow connected to the people that are attacking Damian and Oberon Sexton in the family cemetery. Somehow this all seems to revolve around the Death Garden on those grounds. And Damian also notices something odd about Oberon. His accent is fake. So he starts to question who he really is. At one point he even asks . . 'Are you Bruce Wayne?' Anyways, somehow these guys are all connected to the killer that Oberon has been chasing. But his only clue is a domino. I'm really enjoying the story that Grant is weaving here. He's taken this rather simple hunt for Bruce Wayne and turned it into this many faceted story that I think is going to keep up guessing right up until the end. This was a very entertaining and exciting issue. I can't wait for more.

Red Robin #10 - DC

This issue is the second part of this story. But . . luckily . . it doesn't end here. Unfortunately, it doesn't cross back over with Batgirl. The rest of this story takes place between now and issue #12 . . which will be the conclusion to Collision. That's where Tim faces his final battle with Ra's. But the good new is . . with issue #13, Fabian Nicieza takes over on the scripting chores. Nothing against Chris Yost. I think he's doing a fine job here. But . . I'm a big fan of Fabian's. So I can't wait until he comes on board. Anyways . . back to this issue . . I think that Marcus To is doing a good job with the pencils. From what I understand he's a relative newcomer, but . . I think he's progressing nicely with this book . . and Tim's character. So . . Ra's is in Gotham now, and he's mobilizing his League of Assassins against Tim, and everyone dear to him. In Batgirl he went after Leslie. This issue starts with Stephanie face to face with Prudence. And I have to say . . she kicks her ass. Tim's impressed. The problem is . . all of this . . the attack on Leslie's clinic, and Pru's arrival . . is all a ruse. It appears that Ra's real target is Bruce Wayne . . er, Thomas Elliott. Ra's knows who he is and I think he wants to use him to try to bring down the Wayne empire. Prudence claims that she's here to help, but . . after Leslie's clinic is blown-up, that alliance will be tested because the 3 of them come face to face with about 10 of Ra's assassins. I guess it speaks of his respect for them that he sent so many of his warriors after these 2 vigilantes. I don't know if he took into account that Prudence would be there. It'll be interesting to see if she stays true to her word. I think Tim is starting to put the pieces together though. He knows that he needs to get to Hush. And seems pretty adamant about getting to Lucius. And . . as if Tim doesn't have enough to worry about, Vicki Vale is also in Gotham doing some digging into our young mister Drake . . er, Wayne. She's not liking the answers that she's getting, so . . I think her tenacity will prove to be a thorn in Tim's side. I know some people aren't happy with Tim assuming the Red Robin costume, but . . Tim is the star of this book. Regardless of whatever costume he's wearing. And I'm getting into this title as much as I did the previous one. Thanks to all involved. I really enjoy this book.

Batman & Robin #10 - DC

First I want to say that I really enjoy Andy Clarke's art this issue. I really like how detailed and 'clean' his work is. It's got a really good feel to it, and I think he makes a great addition to this book. Not to mention the cool Frank Quitely cover. Anyways, this issue, after the events of the last issue . . Dick and Alfred are starting to take Tim's ideas and notions a little more seriously. You know . . about Batman being alive, and lost in time. It all starts with Alfred debugging the mansion . . after el Sombrero's booby-trapping of the place. He turns off the power to do so. Just to be safe. Anyways, with Tim's reasoning he started thinking about things. The manor is over 200 years old, and the caves underneath date back to 1000's of years before that. So they've reasoned that if Bruce were stuck back then, he would try to use the manor, or the caves to leave a message. Alfred's first clue comes to him when he arranges the patriarch's pictures in chronological order. It's the first time they've been hung in the correct order in years. And seeing them that way, they seem to start to tell a story. Dick also sees it, and when he starts following the clues, it feels as if the house is talking to him. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but . . they seem to be off to a good start. Before all of this started, Dick was consulting with Oberon Sexton. He's the renowned criminologist that has recently come to Gotham. He claims that he's following a killer, and the clues show that his next target will be in Gotham. Bruce Wayne to be exact. Dick has a hard time believing him because he knows that Bruce isn't even around. But . . there's something about Mr Sexton that seems familiar to him. Also, because of Damian's recent surgery, Talia feels that he's not going to reach his potential by being a side-kick. And more specifically by working with Dick. During their exploration of the mansion, it appears that there's some kind of pre-programming going on. There's one point where Damian picks up a sword and tries to swing it at Dick. He doesn't seem to want to do it, but he can't stop himself. Anyways, the issue ends with Dick falling through a trap-door in the floor, into a section of caves that he's never seen before. And Damian is outside the mansion in the family cemetery. There he finds Mr Sexton and becomes aware of the people chasing him. 'Shh! They're everywhere. Oberon Sexton the gravedigger at your service. And I'm here to help.' I really liked this issue. Grant Morrison is doing his usual shtick with all his clues and false-clues. Plus he's got his usual enigmatic figure in this Mr Sexton. Not to mention a fantastic story. Coupled with Andy's art, I thought it was a pretty good issue. It definitely left me wanting more.

Batman & Robin #9 - DC

I like this book. I know that Dick is like Batman-lite, or something, but . . the guy's trying. He's just not as gritty or ruthless as Bruce was. He just doesn't have that 'killer-instinct'. You know . . just, without killing. But, I think Damian more than makes up for it. Damian is a little scrapper. He's just had several internal operations, including a new spine, but when the Batman-zombie, that Dick just resurrected last issue from the Lazarus-pit in London . . when he comes back to Wayne-tower, Damian is ready to throw down with him. Granted he can't do the acrobatics of judo that he normally uses, but . . he can break Batman's nose with his wheel-chair, and he electrocutes him when he steps in a puddle of gas. Also causing an explosion and fire. Like I said . . he's a little scrapper. But then Batman picks him up and throws him over the edge of the building. Anyways, while this is going on, Dick, Knight and Squire have to dig out the rubble around the Lazarus-pit so they can resurrect Kate, Batwoman. She was seriously hurt in the cave-in last issue, and opted for the alternative treatment . . death and resurrection. Shortly after which her father shows up . . 'My . . ah . . military POC.' He leads them to safety and the British government helps get Batman and Batwoman back to the US. Dick arrives back in Gotham just in time to save Damian from his fall. And then with the help of Batwoman, they take out the Batman-zombie. Of course he was already deteriorating pretty bad. Anyways, because of this, Dick realizes that this was never Bruce's body to begin with. So that means . . 'Tim was right all along. Bruce is still alive. And all we have to do is find him.' Of course this was a great story by Grant Morrison. But I have to say, as I did last issue, I was really surprised by Cameron Stewart pencils. Not surprised that the guy's talented. Just surprised at how much I liked them. Not to mention Frank Quitely's cover. All in all, though . . I really like this book. I don't know if it will still continue after Bruce's return, but . . I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Personally . . I hope so.

Batman & Robin #8 - DC

I have to say, I'm really impressed by the style of art that Cameron Stewart is using for this book. He's always had this kind of retro-style to his work. Which set him apart. But, he's using a completely different style on this story-arc. It looks really good. I really don't mean for that to sound condescending. Obviously the guy has talent. It just amazes me that someone can draw this well in 2 completely different styles. Obviously this guy is more talented than I thought. Anyways, at the end of the last issue, Grant Morrison had Dick/Batman cooking Bruce/Batman's body in a Lazarus pit. Unfortunately they don't know that it's not really him. We get a bit of a flashback showing that Darksied had Simian cook up many duplicate Batman bodies. From this brief glimpse, it appears that Darksied wanted to fill him up with the memories, and emotions and scars of the original Batman so that he could have one of his own . . one that he could mold. The problem is none of the duplicates could take it. However, rather than destroying them all he instructed Simian to retain one. 'A perfect copy of Batman, Dead? I can use that.' And I'm guessing that's the body that Superman carried out of the warehouse. Anyways, Dick had stole the body from the crypt without telling anyone, including Alfred, what was going on. When it comes back to life, neither Dick/Batman nor Knight & Squire or even Batwoman can control or contain him. He's just to strong for all of them. Batwoman ends up showing up because she was on the trail of the Crime Coven, which intersected paths with Dick's because of the Lazarus pit. Anyways, the Batman copy makes it out but brings the cave down on top of them all in the ensuing fight. They all remain pretty much unscathed, except for Batwoman who is crushed under the debris. Dick tries to save her, but . . she wants to die. She says she has a plan. I assume it includes the Lazarus pit. But, wouldn't that be playing right into the Crime Coven's hands? Wouldn't this make the 'twice-named daughter', the 'twice-risen daughter'? Anyways, when the Batman clone escapes it heads straight towards Gotham. Damian has recently returned from his numerous surgery's at the hands of his mother's doctors, and Alfred has just recently figured out what Dick has done. The plane lands and he attacks Alfred. The issue ends as he's going after Damian. I like this book. Alot! I think Grant's doing a great job. And although Frank Quitely was only around for the first story-arc, there's been nothing but great art since. And Frank is doing covers. I also liked the team-up of Dick and Kate. Hopefully this'll be something that we see more of in the future. And with it coming out twice a month right now . . we're getting all the Batman & Robin we could ask for. Keep up the good work, guys!

Red Robin #9 - DC

Well . . Dick's back in Gotham. And despite all the negative stuff that people say about it . . he's happy to be home. However, he's not ready to run into any of the other 'costumes' running around Gotham right now. He and Tam seem to be developing a nice relationship. But technically . . they aren't in one . . yet. However, she does seem a little miffed when he takes off all of the time. But considering that she knows his secret, I'd think she'd be able to give him at least a little lead-way. My favorite scene of the book though is when Connor comes to visit Tim. He looks at him for a little bit, and then gives him a big hug. Connor says, 'Tim? Buddy? If you're trying to be all dark and grim now, this isn't going to help.' He's just happy that Connor is alive. He's known that Connor and Bart were back, but he's been very busy and he hasn't really had time to stop and soak it all in. However, he's got 2 concerns on his mind. First of all . . he's found proof that Bruce is still alive and he seems to be bouncing around through time. Secondly . . Ra's is still pissed about what Tim did to his organization so . . he's come to Gotham and thrown down the gauntlet. 'I am calling you to make sure you are ready for what is about to happen. Your punishment. The League of Assassins is my legacy. It seems only fair that I have everyone that Bruce Wayne ever loved, everything he ever built, destroyed. It has already begun. The first casualty has already been chosen.' So now Tim's' decided that he needs some help. He goes back to the Bat-cave hoping that he can get someone to help him start scouring Gotham. But . . the only one he can find is . . Stephanie. Batgirl. 'Hi! I'm not wearing the Spoiler costume anymore. Just like you asked.' This should be an interesting team-up. This story continues next into Batgirl #8. I like this book. No matter what costume he's wearing, I think Tim is a fantastic character. Probably one of the best characters to come out of the Bat-mythos since Dick. And Chris Yost seems to be doing a great job of chronicling his adventures. So far, I'm enjoying Marcus To's pencils also. He really has a great flow to his pages. If I have to pick one thing I don't like about the book . . I guess I'd have to say that it's Alfred's lack of involvement. But . . that could all change in an instant, so . . we'll see what happens.

Batman & Robin #7 - DC

Well . . next issue we're about to find out if the body that Superman carried out of Bludhaven was actually Batman's . . or not. This issue is spent with Batman trying to help some of his European counterparts, Knight and Squire . . kind of London's version of Batman & Robin. Anyways, they're trying to stop a plot of Old King Coal's to take out part of London. What they don't know is that King Coal is associated with the cults that follow the Crime Bible. All they know for sure is that he's after some abandoned mine. But they don't know why. As it turns out . . this mine holds one of the last remaining Lazarus pits in the world. The cult wants to use it to bring back their savior . . the person whom they think is trapped inside the body of Batwoman. Which is how she ends up in the mix here. But Dick has other plans. 'Me and Batman, we had an arrangement . . if he was in trouble, I got him out. If there was a death trap he couldn't handle on his own, I was there to get him free. He knew he could count on me. That's how we worked. He was my brother. My best friend. I had a job to do and I never let him down.' So that's what Dick is up to now . . trying to bring back his friend from this last trap he fell in to. And he's going to use a Lazarus pit to try to accomplish that. I'm just wondering if Tim knows about all of this. He might have a thing or two to say about this. And of course it begs the question . . is that really Batman's body? Or corpse. Dick's brought Knight and Squire along because if it is Batman, he'll probably be temporarily insane when he comes out of the pit. It may take all 3 of them to subdue him. I think Grant Morrison is doing a tremendous job with this book. But then, we all knew he would after his incredible run on Batman. And, although Frank Quitely hasn't been with us for this entire run, he has done a cover for each issue. This time the interior art is by Cameron Stewart. I have to say, I really liked the style that he used for this book. It's different from what he's done lately, and nothing like his recent Jonah Hex book. With all the dire consequences going on here, the book had a 'fun' kind of feel to it. I enjoyed it. But next issue? Next issue should be a doozy.

Red Robin #8 - DC

I knew Tim could do it. He's finally incorporated everything he's learned from . . well, everyone . . Shiva, Ducard, Dick, Connor, Jason and especially Bruce. 'Use it all now. Win the next fight and the one after that before you get there. Remember everything your teachers gave you. Don't be any of them. Be all of them.' At the end of last issue, Tim was surrounded by 7 assassins of the Spider-Guild. And he was standing over the dead body of Ra's al Ghul. The spider-girl, the Wanderer had just killed him. Tim notices before she does that it's not actually Ra's, but a body double. However, in the few seconds he has before she gets seriously pissed that she hasn't killed her actual target, he studies the killers around him and decides how he's going to use them against one another to create a path out of here. 'I need to survive the fight. I don't need to win it. What I need is . . an opening.' He creates that and makes his way back to the control room with Pru and the White Ghost. He also takes on the Wanderer, one on one. Which was pretty amazing. Anyways, while in the computer a couple of days ago, Tim installed a self destruct device. 'Their computers control their self sufficient generators. I over loaded everything the League had, worldwide.' So . . not only has he saved Tam, and eluded the Spider-guild, but . . he's also put a serious hurt on the League of Assassins. But there's no rest for the weary. Ra's has decided that since Tim has hurt his business . . he will repay him in kind. His next target is Wayne Industries. And the Spider-guild? 'We have new prey my friends. A new game. Something more . . challenging . . than assassins . . heroes!' So . . Tim and Tam are on the first plane back to Gotham. And there's a serious storm right on their heels. I thought this was a great issue by Chris Yost and Marcus To. I think Chris is doing a great job with Tim's character. And Marcus seems to be settling in quite easily. This guy has some serious talent . . and potential. I can't wait to see what the future holds . . for all involved. Oh yeah . . Tim is also still convinced that Bruce is still alive. Although he hasn't told anyone how he knows that . . yet!

Red Robin #7 - DC

This issue shows us some more of the game going on between the Spider's Guild and the League of Assassins. In it, we're getting bits and pieces about the girl from South America. The one that we learned was bitten by all the spiders and then became the woman with the poisonous touch. Everything except her name . . apparently. Anyways, she's been putting together her own band of assassins and over the years has come into contact with more than a few of Ra's operatives, when they cross paths over a job. They usually offer her a position in their organization, and then they end up dead. After a while, she's gathered up her own assassins and taken on several jobs. She's turned her misfortune into a career. But . . she's bored. As are most of her ilk. So, for some reason, she decides to up the ante and start going after the members of this League of Assassins that she's caught glimpses of over the years. She's been picking them off one by one, but hasn't gone for the Demon's Head. At least not yet. And then . . then Tim comes along. He decides they're going to strike back. So he draws up traps, and games, and gambits designed to draw them in and hopefully, somewhere along the line, help them to capture one of their members alive so that they might get some information. The problem is, that while the tactic is sound, Tim has to work past the power struggles with the White Ghost. Because of that infighting, she Spider's are able to slip one of their own inside, and gain the support of Ra's own Expiditer. Which is, I assume, how they gained knowledge of the Cradle. Now, after Lucius has sent his daughter Tam . . named after Thomas Wayne, Lucius' role model . . to find Tim, she has found herself caught in the middle of the escalating attacks. While Tim has everyone out running their ops to trap the Spiders, they attack the Cradle. Tim is almost to late before he figures this out. He ends up saving Tam, and attempts to get her out of the Cradle, but in the process he comes across Ra's. The problem is . . the Spider's got to him first. And it looks like they've killed him. Obviously all they have to do is get him to a Lazarus pit to bring him back, but . . I'm wondering if the Spider's even know that. They may not know the length and depth of Ra's organization. I'm thinking that maybe they just see this whole thing as a game . . a power struggle, if you will. Next issue we'll have to see if Tim can save Tam, Ra's and the League of Assassins. And, during all of this, how is he gaining the information, or clues, that's led him to believe that Bruce is still alive? And what are those clues? I think Christopher Yost is doing a great job with this book. I like the way that he's created, and given us the patchy history of this Spider's Guild. He's also put them in league . . er, I'm sorry . . they're on the same level as the League. The only outcome that I can see is . . either they all end up dead, or Ra's brings them into the fold. Marcus To is the new artist in residence. I like his work. It definitely shows promise. I don't think he's a 'superstar' yet, but . . he's well on his way. By the way, through all of this we get a glimpse of the working relationship between Alfred and Lucius. And a hint at the trouble Vicki Vale may present for the little deception that they're perpetrating. A 'nosy-nelly' may be the downfall of their intricate plans. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Red Robin #6 - DC

Well . . Tim has been granted full access to the League of Assassins. Well . . everything except for Ra's location. But . . they need his help. It seems that they themselves are being hunting by a new group . . the Spider Council. Last issue we got some of the background story on how a little girl in South America came to have all the venomous death at her touch of some of the deadliest spiders in the world. This issue we see how she first crossed the League, in South America and started despising them. But, if the Spider Council is a business now, as is the League, then how are they profiting from taking out other assassins? Unless they're just trying to corner the market so they can drive up the price. Anyways, Tim sets up a trap this issue . . actually 3 of them, to try to draw the Spiders out. Tim and Pru stop and capture the Assassin at their post, but . . the other 2 are completely annihilated. That's when they learn that there's actually 4 attacks. Earlier, when Tim was talking to the White Ghost, he told him that he was convinced that the leak in their organization was coming from none other than their own Expediter . . Ra's right hand man. He's the only one that would know where all of these assassinations were taking place. Anyways, when they're informed of the 4th attack Tim recalls everybody back to the Cradle. He sure that they're after Tam Fox, Lucious' daughter, who came to Europe looking for Tim. But it appears that they were actually after tying up some loose ends. The Expediter is killed, but . . that doesn't mean that they can't have some fun with Tam before they leave. On the final page Tam is confronted by Sac and Goliath . .'We have come to hunt.' I think Chris Yost is doing a great job so far on this series. The only thing I'm not sure about is this hunt that Tim's on to find proof that Bruce is still alive. But, if that's true . . that subplot is going to be dragged out for quite a while. So we're not going to get very much information very fast . . as far as Bruce goes. But, I actually kind of like that he's got Tim in bed with the League. It's an interesting turn of events. Also this issue, we're introduced to the new artist . . Marcus To. He shows a lot of promise. It's not overly exciting work, but . . it's consistent. Like I said, he shows a lot of promise. Everything is just a little vanilla right now. But I love Tim's character, so . . I'm willing to wait while Marcus' grows into his talent. It should be interesting . . as is this book.