Detective Comic (2011) #23.4 Review

A very descriptive piece on the problem of substance abuse and obsession.

This issue focuses on Kirk Langstrom, first fighting against his wife, who has stolen his formula and become She-Bat and then goes on to have him work obsessively to make himself into a better, faster and stronger Man-Bat in order to fight crime and corruption with the Batman gone.

I do love the descent Langstrom has into madness and the way he becomes addicted at the end, turning into the very thing he wanted to protect the world from... a "monster." The characterisation is strong as well, giving us a new and darker look at Francine Langstrom, who when she first appeared seemed to be neutral, having connections to people stealing Langstrom's formula. 

I do think the formula is a meant to be a reference to the powerful nature of drugs and the long term affects on the user and if it it, I think this comic is both entertaining as well as being a positive educator without being blatant and in your face. 

Overall I would rate this comic highly. It has one of my favourite characters and the story is simple, strong and effective in it's portrayal.

Dc Comics: The New 52 Villain's Month (Review)

I am going to review each one individually, but as I haven't read them all I will just to a collected on my thoughts so far of this event.

For those of you who don't know, the Villain's month is a group of comics that were dedicated to the villains of the Dc Universe last Halloween and lead into Forever Evil and I must say I wish they continued with other villains, because from what I have read currently, it is nice to see what goes on in some of the greatest evil minds in Dc Comics. They also are single issues that you don't need to know read any other issues and recaps what has happened in Forever Evil and the Crime Syndicate's pledge to the villains and chilling message to the world.

The idea is also great as comic books focus too much on the heroes, so giving the villian/ anti-hero a chance to take the spotlight is both exciting and fascinating.  Out of the ones I have read, I must say my personal favourite was either Ocean Master or Man-Bat, with stories that is both consice and fast paced with some very good charaterisation and a specific character doing something both heroic and sweet that it touched at my heart.

Overall I must say I am thourilly enjoying the set and I love this concept of bad guy being the front and center of a title.

Individual review titles will be posted as soon as I have done with them all (most likely as my Halloween posts)

Earth 2 (2012) #15.2 Transcript

WHERE THE RIVER RAN RED

SCENE #1: Earth 2: Now

AN R.V IS DRIVING THROUGH THE DESSERT IN THE DARK. A CHILD HAS HIS HANDS PRESSED AGAINST THE GLASS, LOOKING INTO THE NIGHT SKY.

BOY:

Holy cow! Look at that, mom!

HIS EYES AND MOUTH WIDEN IN EXCITED ASTONISHMENT. HE CAN SEE A BALL OF FIRE HURTLE THROUGH THE AIR.

BOY: (CON'T)

That's the brightest shooting star I've ever seen!

SCENE # 2:

A YOUNG COUPLE ARE LYING ON THE BONNET OF A CAR. THE MALE HAS HIS ARM SUPPORTING THE FEMALE'S HEAD BEHIND HER AND SHE IS RESTING ON HIS SHOULDER.

THERE FACES CHANGE TO EVEN MORE PLEASURE AT THE SIGHT OF THE FIREBALL, MOVING TOWARDS THEM.

YOUNG FEMALE:

Oh, my god! Look! A shooting star! Quick make a...

THERE FACE'S TURN TO FEAR AND ALARM AS THE FIREBALL CONTINUES TO HURTLE TOWARDS THEM AND THEY GRAB EACH OTHER IN TERROR.

YOUNG FEMALE: (CON'T)

...wish.

THERE IS A BIG EXPLOSION AS THE FIREBALL HITS THE CAR, KILLING THE COUPLE. A TYRE IS SENT ROCKETING FROM THE WRECKAGE, BOUNCING AND ROLLING AWAY. A CRATER HAS FORMED AND SUDDENLY A HAND ERUPTS FROM THE SMOKE AND FLAMES, HAULING THE OWNER OUT. THE SMOKE CLEARS TO REVEAL... GRUNDY.

HE MAKES SLOW MOVEMENTS TOWARDS A LONE CACTUS, THE ONLY SOURCE OF LIFE AROUND IN THE DESSERT.

GRUNDY:

Life.

IT PUTS HIS HAND AROUND THE CACTUS, TURNING IT TO GREY DUST ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, CRUMBLING AND TURNING INTO DUST IN HIS HAND.

GRUNDY: (CON'T)

Rot.

Klarion (Injustice Gods Among Us: Year 3)

First Appearance: Injustice Gods Among Us (2014) #3

He first appears in #3, where he is stroking Teekl (his pet familiar) on the floor in Jason Blood's house, while waiting for Constatine and Batman's speech to the Insurgency members.

He is confused when Teekl mews,  sensing that something is coming for them, just seconds before the deaths of Jason Blood and Harvey Bullock at the hand of the Spectre.

Injustice Gods Among Us: Year 3 (2014)- Overall Series Review

Four issues in and I'm hooked. To be totally honest I have been obsessed with the last two series that are the pre-curser of this title and the Injustice Gods Among Us Video Game.

Year 3 follows the events after the Green Lantern Corps war with Superman and the Sinestro Corps. A new hero has risen up from Liverpool to bring the powerful magicians together in an effort to hamper and stop the One Earth Regime that Superman is using to oppress the world and hunt down the "fugitive" Batman.

I seem to see a pattern with each year that passes, where first year of the comic uses meta-humans and criminals, the second year used some of the most well known extra- terrestrials of the Dc Universe and know in the third year we have the the magic useres. I don't know if this is just coincidence or if there is an actual reason for this, but I happen to love the occult world of Dc.

It is well worth reading, with some very familiar faces and several of my favourite characters including Harley Quinn, Teekl and Klarion.

(This will be updated at the end of the series with verdict of the series as a whole.)

Holiday (Batman Arkham Origins)

Quinton Flynn

First Appearance: ?
First Reference: Batman Arkham Origins

Holiday is the split persona of Alberto Falcone, the son of Carmine and the Black-sheep of the Falcone Crime Family.

Alberto went to sessions with Dr. Hugo Strange to try and help him, but eventually decided he was okay and skipped two appointments.

However the Holiday persona manifested itself and prior to the Christmas Eve incident and he made a threatening call to Roman Sioins late at night, telling him that he needed to get his affairs in order and that things are changing in Gotham as the "wolves descend." Sionis begins to make a threat but Holiday declares himself to answer to and be a much more powerful person than Black Mask, hanging up when Black Mask makes another threat.

Wyatt (Batman Arkham City)

First Appearance: ?
First Appearance: Batman Arkham City

Wyatt was an inmate in Arkham City, who went missing after he went investiagting in the sewers, which led to everyone believing him to have been eaten by Killer Croc, who had made his home there after being transfered to the prison.

Riddler Trophy (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

The trophy is a box, which stores gears and a small generator that powers a green neon light that lights up the question mark shaped top.

At some point prior to the Christmas Eve incident, Edward Nigma designed and created a prototype of the Riddler trophy, which he kept locked away in his secured room in his Burnley hideout. 

On Christmas Eve after Batman destroyed the data relay networks, hacked all the G.C.R Towers and collected all the data files that he had spread around Gotham, Batman investigates the room and finds the trophy at the very back of a secondary secret room, next to a prototype for the traps he developed at the same time to use in his future crimes against Gotham and Batman.

Talia's Elite Guard (Batman Arkham City)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham City (2011)

Talia's elite guard are a group of highly trained female assassins, who once picked from generations in advance by Ra's al Ghul go on to be trained to the highest level from birth.

The guard shadow her at all times to keep her safe, despite Talia being a fearce advisary already.

Batman Arkham City (2011) Overall Series Review

A five part series that shows a segment of what happened during the year long gap between Arkham Asylum and City. This is a good series, however I feel it lacks the same punch as Batman Arkham Unhinged, which focuses on more current sections of the universe.

To give a synopsis, the Joker is broken out of prison after an assassination attempt was made on his life by security guards, who survived the Arkham riots. 

Arkham City has been improved and prisoners are being rounded up and and incarcerated and Hugo Strange is revealed to be the big shadow that is pulling the strings to Arkham City.

I do like the character interactions, most notably the dialogue between Catwoman and Batman and the idea that Batman disguises himself to find out what is happening amongst the Penguin and Joker's gangs are fascinating, but it doesn't stop me wishing it expanded further on some of the elements that are left unclear or are mentioned in the in-game stories of Arkham City briefly.

But that is my personal opinion, I do like the series but it is not my favourite of the Arkham tie-in comics available. I would recommend it if you are interested in learning the "Arkham lore" or want to read a new comic but would say that Batman Arkham Unhinged (2011) is better in both storyline and information.

Clayface (Period of time between Batman Arkham Origins and Asylum)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

Karlo took up the mantle (de-powered) while killing members of the remakes cast and crew, however was stopped from killing Batman's fiancee, Julie Madison by Batman and Robin.

He attempted to kill her again, but that failed again. 

A couple of years later he teamed up with villains to form a group called "The Mudpack", who he betrayed after a defeat and stole DNA samples from each member, synthesising into a formula, which he injected into himself and gained the abilities of the team, including shape-shifting and size alteration.

He was eventually captured in Arkham Asylum, where they locked him away in the Penitentiary section of the facility, behind a cell of glass. He was deemed insane and hence was given a doctor to psychoanalyse him for possible rehabilitation.

Dr. Young's Personal Notes on Patient: (Most likely to be his doctor or was asked by either Warden Sharp or another doctor to make them)

"Clayface

Real Name: Basil Karlo

Dr. Penelope Young

While his bizarre ability to shape-change opens him up to the obvious-if controversial-diagnosis of multiple personality disorder, Karlo seems instead to be suffering from borderline personality disorder, with a special emphasis on identity disturbance. He is difficult to pin down on any subject, and defends his wild changes in affect as evidence of his dramatic abilities, which he considers to be wildly underrated. Rarely does he take his own shape, but frequently mimics me when I attempt to interview him.

Additional notes
His identity is at risk of splintering, due to the growing frequency of his adopting the identities of others to the exclusion of taking on his own.
I find his imitation of me to be especially unflattering; I am most certainly not the bitter, calculating academic he attempts to portray me as.

STRONG ESCAPE RISK!"

Basil Karlo (Period of time between Batman Arkhan Origins and Asylum)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

Before his transfromation into Clayface, Basil Karlo discovered a plan for a remake of "The Terror" and out of anger for the fact that they did not ask him to partispate, went on a killing spree of related cast and crew members using the guise of Clayface (a character from the original film) wearing his old costume. 

However he was captured by Batman and Robin, before he could kill Batman's fiancee, Julie Madison. His police van drove off a cliff, allowing him to esscape and put another atempt on Madison's life, but again Batman defeated him.

He formed an alliance with a group of shape-changing villains, who called themselves the Mudpack and went up against Batman.  After their defeat, Karlo stole samples of his allies and synthesizsed the DNA into a formula, which he injected into himself, giving him the powers to manipulate his flesh into any form and changing size.

Thomas Blake (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: ?
First Referenced: Batman Arkham Origins

At Gotham Zoo, Thomas Blake was advertised to present a show in which he entertain people with a rare selection of jungle cats at some point during the Christmas Eve period.

Multiple posters have been put up all across Gotham to pull in punters and investors.

Basil Karlo (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

Basil Karlo was an actor, who was putting on an impressionist show called "Funny Faces" at the Jezebel Theatre during the Cristmas Eve and had many posters put up around the Bowery.

He was a famous horror film actor, who starred in "The Terror."

Razor (Batman Arkham City)

First Appearance:?    
First Mentioned: Batman Arkham City

A second person took up the name Razor, who used to work for Joker but went to join the Penguin while they were imprisoned in Arkham City. 

Penguin interrogated him in order to learn any secrets about Joker, before dropping him in a pool of razor blades to die for his own personal amusement.

Jonathan Crane (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

Jonathan Crane was a psychologist, who specialised in fear and over coming it. 

He often frequented Blackgate Prison, signing in to the visitors book using the official channels. During his sixth visit to the the pentitentiary, Black Mask (The Joker) had broken into the prison on Christmas Eve in order to release Calendar Man and kill Gillian Loeb. 

It is unclear whether he was taken hostage or escaped in the panic as he had not signed out when Batman searches through the book.

During this period of time he was looking for candidates for a clinical research trial, sending out flyers to diffrent places including the Final Offer. 

It can be asumed this was the first test of his Fear Toxin and he was scoping Blackgate for prisoners to take part in the trials.

Batman Arkham Origins (2013) Video Game Review

Well this game is certainly another amazing game, this time set five years before the Arkham Asylum Riots. 

The map has increased further with the entire of Gotham becoming your scope. It has more puzzles for Batman to solve from a young Edward Nigma (Eddie Nashton), taking the name Enigma in his battle to bring down the city with leaking information.

The main story on the other hand involves Batman having to hunt down and stop Black Mask from trying to destroy Gotham, whilst having to deal with eight of the world's finest assassins. The twist... the Black Mask is Joker and he is the craziest villain that Batman has ever met. 

The story also has several side mission including an appearance from Mad Hatter and my favourite vigilante, Anarky.  With a large number of crime scenes, case files and collectible pieces to find this game takes a long time to complete, but is well worth it.

If the main game is not enough the DLC gives you the character of Deathstroke to play as, one challenge bundle called Initiation, where young Bruce Wayne is training with the League of Assassins and an additional story called Cold, Cold Heart, introducing Mr. Freeze to the world with a chilly flourish. It also introduces a multiplayer, where you can play as either Joker, Bane, Batman or Robin to fight real players online, almost like a Halo, C.O.D style of game.

I'm  impressed with this game as much as the others, but the controls are a bit hard to master after playing the Asylum and City. That being said a great game and I await the next game with just as much enthusiasm.

Batman Arkham City (2011) Video Game Review

Better than the first one and I didn't think that would be possible.

Arkham City has a much larger game map than the first game, meaning more hours to fight crime, gain experience and solve more of Riddler's puzzles.

The story continues one year after the Asylum riot and criminals have been locked away in a maxiumum security facility, which used to be an old part of Gotham.

Inside the criminals are fighting for survival and Batman determines to find out what is going on and stop it (after being taken prisoner by Hugo Strange and his Tygers.) 

The game has some great battles, but it is the twist that just blows the mind. 

DLC content allows you to play as Robin, Catwoman and Nightwing, with an array of maps and challenges, 4 side missions as Catwoman and Harley Quinn's Revenge, an added story of the events after the previous game.

To top off this game, characters like Talia al Ghul, the Mad Hatter and Harley Quinn just steal the scenes they are in.

This game is just... well out of this world.

Batman Arkham Asylum (2009) Video Game Review

I love this game ammensly and have invested alot of time into completing it 100%, a theat I don't do unless I have attachment to the game.

The game is the start to a series of games, with the last insatlment taking place next year (Batman: Arkham Knight) and it just is so wonderfully dark and twisted.

The game is entirely set in Arkham Asylum, crossing between the many buildings and exploring the whole Arkham Island. To give a brief idea of the story, Joker has escaped after being brought back by Batman (that same night.) With the help of inmates, he is seeking the TITAN formula, which had been developed secretly with his funding by Dr. Penelope Young.

Batman has to stop Joker as well as solve the many puzzles that Riddler has set around the island for his own amusement. 

The game has brillaint graphics and the most beautiful boss battle to ever grace the gaming world (my opinion with Titan Ivy.) The soundtrack is perfectly fitted to each section and has just the right amount of horror to already make Killer Croc's lair, turn into a house on Nightmares.

The games also has DLC, which allows players to play as the "Clown, prince of Crime" as well as have a host of other game maps, which can be uploaded online for a leaderboard system.

If I had to choose a favourite character I would have to pick Harley Quinn, who is just stunning in how she treats the Asylum like her own personal gynasium. 

Well worth playing, then again... I would say that about the entire series as a whole.

Forever Evil (2013) Overall Series Review

A comic book devoted to the bad guys,  what can I say other than refreshing.

Spinning off from the events of Justice League (2011) #23, the story follows the Crime Syndiacte of Earth 3 in there mission on conquering Prime Earth, with the opposition of some very unlikely individuals.

When you think Lex Luthor, Captain Cold, Black Manta, Black Adam, Bizarro and Deathstroke, you think villains down right. In this they are more anti-heroes, giving them a more human side and showing there is some good in them (Cold is the most human even before this event anyway.)

With the Justice League "dead" imagine the surprise when Batman and Catwoman turn up to join the party. The  counter parts are all truly evil and I love the stark contrast between Earth 3, criminal haven and Prime Earth with heroes fighting to stamp out crime.

This entire event has just been amazing, leaving the question what can Dc do to top off this. 

If I had to choose a favourite character I would probably go for either Superwoman or Johnny Quick, who take bad to a whole new level and gives us a fine twist during the series finale.

 Overall I would recommend people read this comic to go alongside the current heroe's titles as it proves that you don't have to be "good" to save the world.