cosmo111687

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3.9 stars

Average score of 23 user reviews

Shut your eyes. Imagine you're floating. 1

Story/WritingUnlike previous issues, this one focuses more on building up to the final confrontation with Enchantress rather than on the characters themselves, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. There are a few character-driven moments, such as June Moon bonding with Deadman, even saying that he's "way cooler than Superman", and Madame Xanadu struggling to cope with JL:D's impending doom, and the guilt of having a hand in it. There are a couple of other fun moments, such as a scene with Dove a...

2 out of 2 found this review helpful.

The Coupling of Shakti and Shiva 0

Story/WritingOut of the first three issues, this one seems to have the least direction. There's some development of Zatanna and Constantine's relationship after Constantine arrives to unfreeze Zatanna from her protective spell, but it's only touched on very briefly. Madame Xanadu sends Shade to recruit Mindwarp to the team, who is supposedly quite threatening (I don't know much about Mindwarp outside of the Flashpoint series, Secret Seven), but he doesn't really catch my interest - even though I...

1 out of 1 found this review helpful.

You Must Protect Yourself 0

Well I said, "Lily. Oh, Lily, I don't feel safe. I feel that life has blown a great big hole through me." And she said, "Child. You must protect yourself. You can protect yourself. I'll show you how with fire." - Kate Bush, "Lily"Story/WritingThis issue mostly follows Zatanna, Deadman, and Constantine while Madame Xanadu narrates. Peter Milligan continues to examine how the characters are "damaged goods" primarily by focusing on how they inevitably destroy all that is innocent, including their l...

1 out of 1 found this review helpful.

C'mon, Let Me Live Girl 4

"Never, never say goodbye To my part of your life No, no, no...Let me live..." She said, "C'mon let me live, girl." "This moment in time," She said, "it doesn't belong to you." She said, "It belongs to me.And to your little boy and your little girl, And the one hand clapping. Where on your palm is my little line When you're written in mine As an old memory?"- Kate Bush, "Jig of Life"Story/WritingThis is one of those issues that I feel could benefit greatly from ten more pages in order to establi...

2 out of 2 found this review helpful.

Life Is Thundering Blissful Towards Death 2

Life is thundering blissful towards deathIn a stampede of his fumbling green gentleness.- Joanna Newsom, "Only Skin"Writing/StoryIn spite of the fact that this is written by the much lauded Scott Snyder, I feel as though the writing is actually the element that is most lacking in this issue. Snyder has developed a sort of formula to writing his stories that, though at first was quite original, now runs the risk of becoming hackneyed and tired-out. He opens this issue, as he has with many others,...

1 out of 1 found this review helpful.

Animal Collective 2

Story/WritingWhat I love most about this story is how easily one can relate to Buddy Baker's thoughts and feelings and how integral a role his family plays in his life. The book does an excellent job of avoiding many of the classic superhero tropes, done better by other superheroes (for instance, Buddy Baker doesn't have a contentious relationship with the law and his identity is well-known.), in order to keep it's focus on Buddy and his family. Certain scenes, such as one in which he confronts ...

4 out of 4 found this review helpful.

More Powerful Than A Locomotive 1

I would throw myself underneath the wheels of any train of thoughtRoaming the rails or sailing through the roadways of your brain.If I could bring a light to shine upon the dark and disobeyThe night so young, but I still say we're too old for cliches.Oh, and I can only dream of he dreams we'd share if you were so inclined.I would love to be the one to open up your mind.- Jeff Tweedy, "Open Up Your Mind"Story/WritingPerfect. This issue does everything that is needed for a retelling of the Superma...

3 out of 3 found this review helpful.

A New Beginning 0

StoryFor those going into this issue with the expectation of seeing all the members of the Justice League, I have to warn you that this one is very much centered upon Batman and Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), with pre-Cyborg Victor Stone and Superman making small appearances. Geoff Johns is taking his time to build the individual relationships of each character, and so it'll require patience and time to see how each of the characters have been changed with this relaunch and how they come into their...

3 out of 3 found this review helpful.

The Final Bow 2

Story/WritingThis is just the perfect little one-shot Zatanna story. Zee returns home to Shadowcrest after a red-eye flight from Frankfurt, Germany only to find her long-awaited slumber ruined by the presence of Uriah of Limbo Town (not to be confused with the similarly dressed Klarion). One of the aspects of Zatanna's character that appeals to me the most is the fact that, in spite of her vast knowledge of magic and power, much of her life is completely out of her control and her problems are, ...

3 out of 3 found this review helpful.

A Death-Defying Act 2

Story/Writing  The exciting conclusion to Deadman and The Flying Graysons. This issue simply gave me chills throughout. It's very inspiring watching Deadman's transformation from selfish blow-hard to hero. The ending line, especially, touched my heart. The most poignant scene, however, was between Dick and his father in which he teaches him the lesson that "you have to learn to miss the jump before you learn to make the jump." Lines like those only boost my esteem for J. T. Krul as a human being...

3 out of 4 found this review helpful.

Now For Our Next Trick 0

Story/Writing  The story continues on from the last one with Deadman, Dick, and Dick's father fleeing from the Amazons who are after Doctor Fate's Helm of Nabu. Ragdoll and King Shark fight heroically against the Amazonans, however Doctor Fate and Dick's mother are unfortunate casualties of the Amazon's lust for power - with Dick's father hanging on the line. The story does a good job of keeping the suspense from the previous story. And it broadens the dialogue of the importance of selflessness...

2 out of 2 found this review helpful.

Life is a Circus 0

Story/Writing Deadman and the Flying Graysons are the star performers at Haley's Circus, which is traveling from town to town throughout eastern Europe in flight from the Amazons and Atlanteans who have submerged and decimated the west. The story is essentially about the importance of union and cohesion between family and friends, especially in the midst of trying times, and a criticism of solipsism and arrogance. But it also offers some very interesting parallels between the relationships of De...

2 out of 2 found this review helpful.

The World Is A Bad Place 0

Story  At long last Thomas Wayne confronts his wife, Martha, who after the events of Bruce's death, has transformed herself into The Joker to deal with her grief. It's a beautifully structured story that jumps back and froth between the present and the past to weave an emotional and heart-breaking story of two people in love who's lives have been torn apart by the random viciousness of life while shedding some light upon the dual nature of Batman and Joker.Writing  Unlike other battles between J...

3 out of 3 found this review helpful.

Turn That Frown Upside-Down 0

Story  In this second installment of Knight of Vengeance, Thomas Wayne is recovering from his bout with Killer Croc in the previous issue while James Gordon speaks to this universe's Oracle, a mysteriously quadriplegic Selina Kyle, to gather intel on Joker's whereabouts while Batman follows his lead to a seedy, downtown bar. The grand finale brings James Gordon to the ruins of Wayne Manor and the answer to Selina's question, "Why, Jim, is that monster still alive?"Writing  The writing remains to...

2 out of 2 found this review helpful.

The Haunt of Roulette Dares 0

Story/Writing Knight of Vengeance is unusual in that what grabs the interest of the reader isn't so much of what content is within the pages as much as what is without. Much of the story is built around the question Thomas Wayne, the Batman of this alternate universe, asks Jim Gordon - "This world is a bad place. If you could change it, would you?" And that is exactly what the reader is asking of Brian Azzarello, the writer of the story - if you had a chance to re-write the Batman universe, how ...

2 out of 2 found this review helpful.

With Friends Like These 0

Story  The story moves along from scene to scene at a very quick pace, taking Batman from paralysis to full recovery within 22 pages. And yet it is so enthralling, it's difficult to notice. Writing The writing is very clever and touching at times. I loved it when Huntress showed up with such style, only to be confused for Batgirl. And it's touching to find Batman reminiscing about those who are nearest and dearest to him during his time of greatest need. True to form, the thugs in crime alley ar...

2 out of 2 found this review helpful.

First Unraveling 2

Story On the surface, the story appears to be fairly formulaic - Batman must rescue a boy from an affluent family who has been kidnapped by Killer Croc only to end up in a cross-Gotham chase with Catwoman, when things go awry. But it's simplicity is appropriate for a first issue because it doesn't overwhelm new readers while still capturing the interest of Batman veterans. Writing With the exception of the Odd One-Out, the writing for this issue is excellent. It's exciting getting into Batman's ...

4 out of 4 found this review helpful.

In The Line of Reality 0

The issue starts off with a chilling image of a man, seated in a truck, his eyes widened in fear and spikes of frost bursting from his mouth as if his very scream is frozen. Crispus Allen, Renee Montoya, and Marcus Driver are on the scene, gathering whatever details they can find. Although they discuss the gruesomeness of the scene, much of their feelings have been sublimated so that they can maintain professionalism and focus on capturing Mr. Freeze, establishing one of the major themes of Goth...

1 out of 1 found this review helpful.

A Normal Day In Gotham 0

Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker's Gotham Central is a unique take on the world of Gotham written from the perspective of the men and women who fight to protect it without high-tech gadgets or super powers to aid them along. Michael Lark's artwork grounds it in reality, emphasizing the mundane more so than the grittiness of life in Gotham, a style that evokes memories of Batman: Year One. At points, one can't help but smile a little at how silly Mr. Freeze appears to be when juxtaposed against a reali...

4 out of 4 found this review helpful.

A Normal Day In Gotham 0

Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker's Gotham Central is a unique take on the world of Gotham written from the perspective of the men and women who fight to protect it without high-tech gadgets or super powers to aid them along. Michael Lark's artwork grounds it in reality, emphasizing the mundane more so than the grittiness of life in Gotham, a style that evokes memories of Batman: Year One. At points, one can't help but smile a little at how silly Mr. Freeze appears to be when juxtaposed against a reali...

0 out of 0 found this review helpful.

To The Bloody End 1

*SPOILERS WITHIN*  Yet again Scott Snyder crafts another fine Dick Grayson as Batman yarn - tying the story together brilliantly with yet another anecdote told from Dick's time as part of the Flying Graysons. And it pays off, big-time, come the end of this issue. I will try my best not to ruin the ending of the story, but I can not stress enough that if you are the type of person who feels faint at the sight of blood and gore, be warned for the finale has it all packed together in a single, horr...

3 out of 3 found this review helpful.

Shallow End Of The Pool 1

* SPOILERS WITHIN *  In spite of having a very strong opening and ending, perfectly tying up the cliff-hanger left from the previous issue and leaving you desperate to pick up the next issue, this is definitely the weak-link in this story-arc. We are given some new plot developments, but are mostly kept in the dark save for a few names dropped, speedily, via exposition. The confrontation between Road Runner was very anti-climatic and left me feeling somewhat cheated. Roadrunner even said "Meep M...

4 out of 4 found this review helpful.

Hungry For More 0

There's been much praise for Scott Snyder's writing, and while I feel that it's excellent, I'm still holding my breath and waiting to read more of his work before I make my final judgment upon whither or not I like his overall approach to Batman and, specifically, Dick Grayson. Anyways, just as they say that "hunger is the best spice", I might be praising Snyder so much because Daniel's writing has been so dismal and it just makes me over-joyed to finally read something competently written that ...

3 out of 4 found this review helpful.