Today, Peter and Drew are discussing Batman Inc 1, originally released May 23rd, 2012.
Peter: Batman Inc. has been a very intriguing concept since the first issue came out last year. The idea that there could be others who work in the same style of Batman and share ideals and resources sounds like a good idea, right? I am inclined to say yes, but, I don’t think this first issue really gets the point across. Continue reading
Today, Patrick and Peter are discussing Batman and Robin 9 originally released May 9th, 2012. This issue is part of the Night of the Owls crossover event. Click here for complete NotO coverage. Not caught up on Batman and Robin? No problem! Get up to speed with our video Cram Session.
Patrick: I’m spending this weekend with my family in Fort Benning, Georgia. My older sister and her family live on post here, and my folks flew in for my little sister’s graduation from the Army’s officer training program. The ceremony is about what you’d expect: a lot of pomp and circumstance, Army pageantry and pride. The rest of the weekend has been spent playing with my niece and nephew. This month’s Batman and Robin is focused so tightly on both children and the military that I feel extra fortunate to have experienced it here, far from my Hollywood world. Continue reading
It can be hard to keep up with all the comics you love. But it’s damn near impossible to keep up with all the comics you’re interested in.
Retcon Punch got you covered.
The story of Batman and Robin coming to terms with Damian’s darkness is more heartbreaking than any title featuring Robin has any right to be. This one is one of the good Batman titles, but if you missed out on it, dig our video recap.
Today, Drew and Peter are discussing Worlds’ Finest 1, originally released May 2nd, 2012.
Drew: Superhero comics are well-known for their entertainment value. We turn to them for wild plotting or impossible feats or insane action. When handled well, they can also be home to themes that resonate even with their non-powered readers. Our favorite titles home in on the themes that resonate most with their characters, offering pointed, deliberate examinations of the human condition. With World’s Finest 1, writer Paul Levitz offers a compelling case for counting it among those titles, as it explores how two very different characters cope with moving on from the loss of their very way of life. Continue reading
The Retcon Punchers spend an awful lot of time looking for ways to celebrate our nerdy obsessions. This means a lot of time sunk into scouring Etsy, Deviant Art, Think Geek or whatever. Sometimes we see things so great we just have to share them… and then clutch them fiercely to our collective chest. Throw it in The Vault.
Website: The Art of Mark Dos Santos
Who Would Love This: Batman fans, Norman Rockwell fans, fans of irony and Americana
Price: $10.00
This edition of the Vault is special, because NOT ONLY did I get the distinct pleasure of meeting Mr. Dos Santos at C2E2, I actually purchased this fine print, along with two others. This is one of those sorts of prints that I call “secret nerd art.” These are probably more obvious than, say, my Firefly vintage travel posters, but they still count. I love things that, at a glance, are not nerdy at all. It’s only if you look closer and are a nerd that you see just how big of a geek I am. I am going to frame all three of these lovely signed prints and hang them proudly in my living room. Plus, Mr. Dos Santos informed me that is going to be starting a Kickstarter to make a coffee table style art book of his prints, so keep your eyes open for that.
Today, Peter and Patrick are discussing Batman and Robin 8, originally released April 11th 2012.
Peter: I recently went back and re-read the first sixteen issues of Grant Morrison’s run of Batman and Robin. This picks up right after the conclusion of Battle for the Cowl, with Dick taking over as Batman and Damian first appearance as Robin. Go read it right now, because it contributed to personal re-revaluation of Damian’s character. Combined with what we have seen so far in Tomasi’s run with Batman and Robin, Damian is proving to be an incredibly compelling and dynamic character. Baseline verdict: confused 10 year old ninja.
Today, Patrick and Drew are discussing Batwing 8, originally released April 4th, 2012.
Patrick: At its outset, Batwing was something incredibly new for the DC Universe. David Zavimbe is the first to open a Batman Inc. franchise and his is the first series to take place in Africa. The early issues explored dark dark dark themes, toeing the line of exploitation, but this gave these early issues a relevant, almost dangerous feel to them. With two whole issues in Gotham and in the presence of Batman, Nightwing, Robin and Batgirl, Batwing loses its identity, becoming a bland, by-the-numbers comic book adventure. Continue reading
Today, Peter and Drew are discussing Batman and Robin 7, originally released March 14th 2012.
Peter: This is it. I have been waiting several months for this story to come to fruition, and it is finally upon us. Batman vs. Nobody. Bruce Wayne vs. Morgan Ducard. This is a Bruce unlike any we have EVER seen before; not once in his entire history has Bruce been faced with losing is own flesh and blood. Sure Dick, Jason, Tim and Cassandra are his children; he adopted them, but never before has he had a biological son to lose. Based on the cover alone, I can guess that this is going to be a wild ride. I mean, when was the last time you saw and image of Batman that was so menacing, or so scary? I mean he is about to rip into Morgan with not one, but 14 knives sticking out of his back. Is this Batman going bat-shit crazy? Continue reading
Today, Drew and Patrick are discussing Batwing 7, originally released March 7th, 2012.
Drew: At the end of issue 6, I had mixed feelings about this title. I liked the stylized art, particularly Brian Reber’s atmospheric, almost dusty colors, and I appreciated the idea of distilling the idea of Batman down to it’s essence and seeing how it plays in different cultures. At the same time, I wasn’t sure I actually liked the approach writer Judd Winick had applied to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I complained that the title was exploitative, but it really isn’t guilty of doing anything any frank (or, more importantly, action-focused) depiction of subsaharan Africa wouldn’t do. I’m still not convinced that this title isn’t exploitative, but this month’s issue comes a long way in making me more comfortable with the world David Zavimbe inhabits. Continue reading
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