Welcome, friends to the second installment of “The 3cap,” our weekly recap of DC’s three weekly titles: “Batman Eternal,” “Earth 2: World’s End,” and “New 52: Futures End.” Each week, we will take a look at the each issue released, while recapping the action and asking the burning questions. If you spot something we missed, make sure to leave a note in the comments!
Batman Eternal #29
Written by Ray Fawkes, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Kyle Higgins, and Tim Seeley
Illustrated by Simon Coleby
Reviewed by Vince Ostrowski
News, notes, and debuts:
– It didn’t factor in for this issue of “Batman Eternal” at all, but I wanted to briefly mention “Catwoman” #35 this week, and how well it paid off all of the stuff that her story has been leading to in the pages on this weekly. Genevieve Valentine seems like a huge get for DC Comics and a star in the making, if her first issue is any indication. She manages to write the beginning of a gripping mob story without any of the cliches that are so often present in mainstream comics that try to tackle gangsterism. Anyone who’s been enjoying that aspect of “Batman Eternal” or who is intrigued by where Catwoman’s story is going would do well to check out “Catwoman” #35.
– Simon Coleby’s art was well-suited for an issue that dealt mostly with the supernatural aspects of “Batman Eternal.” I’m not sure if we’ve seen his art in this series before – he seems to pop up here and there in the ‘New 52’ rather than staying on any book for a length of time. I won’t be surprised at all to see him on art for “Gotham by Midnight” when Ben Templesmith inevitably needs a break, or leaves the book entirely.
– Aside from how good it looked, this was probably actually one of the lesser issues of “Batman Eternal” that we’ve had in its entire run. “Supernatural Batman” is tougher to pull off than “street crime, detective Batman”, and this issue felt especially chaotic. All of the moving chess pieces kind of got tossed around, but none of the stories really moved forward. Unless I misunderstood something, nobody really learned anything new.
– Was that Swamp Thing haunting Alfred’s crazed nightmares?
Three Eternal Questions:
1. Does the Riddler’s “Riddle” even matter?
Speaking of not learning anything, the Riddler’s riddle was really anti-climactic, wasn’t it? Again, unless there is a deeper meaning or riddle here, that riddle didn’t tell anyone anything. “Arkham is just a piece of the plan. If you can read this you are smart enough to know our foe”? I’m guessing everyone had figured out that this goes far beyond Arkham Asylum. Furthermore, Nygma kinda sounds like a dick doesn’t he? “Hey, if you figured this stupid code out, you should be able to figure out who’s behind all this.” So unless this is the Riddler trying to stall Batman’s team with a really dumb answer to a puzzle (which would be brilliant), no one gained anything at all from answering it.
2. Is this all linked to Hush? Who is pulling the strings?
Batman wants to link everything that’s going on back to Hush. Julia (Penny-Two) isn’t so sure. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that there’s a piece missing here. For any of this to make sense, and to be able to extend “Batman Eternal” to its conclusion, there’s almost got to be someone even higher above Hush and Deacon Blackfire that’s pulling the strings. That’s the only way The Riddler’s riddle is of any value. That’s the only way to ensure that Batman doesn’t have it all figured out at this point. Having Batman making a guess that it’s all because of Hush and having him be right would be too easy, wouldn’t it?
3. Can we get rid of the Joker’s Daughter?
Okay, so if I’m being honest, her inclusion in “Batman Eternal” has not been offensively bad or anything. She’s not ruining anything by being here, but it occurred to me after reading issue #29 that she isn’t actually serving any purpose. What was she doing this week anyway? Beating some random dude with a crowbar until she got a message to go back underground to Blackfire? Whether there are plans for her down the road or not, it really feels like she’s mandated to be there.
Continued below
Earth 2: World’s End #3
Written by Daniel H. Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, and Mike Johnson
Illustrated by Eddy Barrows, Tyler Kirkham, Paolo Siqueira, Jorge Jiminez and Eduardo Pansica
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
News, notes, and debuts:
This issue is very much falls in line with the first two issues, which is to say it is still setting the stage for what the series is going to be. What feels odd about the book thus far is just how this is, essentially, a direct continuation of “Earth 2,” with no “fresh start” really to speak of. “Batman Eternal” gave us a new Bat-story and “Futures End” takes place in the future. This, on the other hand, feels like “Earth 2” is just coming out 5 times a month. This is a good thing and a bad thing. It is good because “Earth 2” more or less works; it is bad because this story doesn’t, at least not yet, feel special enough to merit its own weekly. I’m sure that’ll come with time, but right now, it seems like the story is a little slight for this treatment.
In terms of debuts, this issue brings Constantine onto this Earth – an event that, according to the editor’s note, doesn’t happen until next month’s #19. His one panel appearance is basically just a “hey, we’ll get back to this soon” teaser, but it is a portent of things to come for the series.
Outside of that, the book is pretty much a straight up continuation of last week’s issue. The art team gains Eduardo Pansica and loses breakdowns by Scott McDaniel, but overall handles things more or less the same. I am curious to see, over time, how this art jam of a team works together. “Eternal” has been the class of the weekly art class, and “Futures End” has had a pretty consistent, if sub-fantastic, style. This book doesn’t feel like the work of five pencilers, but it doesn’t not feel like that, either. This is probably the most ‘house-style’ book in the weekly spate, and that is exactly what it sounds like – nothing stands out in either a good or a bad way. Everyone here is a fine draftsman, and the story moves along reasonably well without too much flair.
Three Worldly Questions:
1. When will we see the purpose in the Graysons?
So far, the Grayson family has served one purpose, story-wise, and that is to give us a ‘boots on the ground’ view of what the world is like. If that is their only purpose, I’ll be disappointed. To make Dick and Babs characters in this world, they need to have some sort of significance, or else what’s the point?
2. Do You believe in Sloan’s redemption?
Sloan claims in this issue that by having Bedlam in his head, he is a little more “at peace” with his past. He claims this as a point towards his trustworthiness, but Sloan is a devious bastard. I think the more likely outcome is that any guilt he once felt is now done away with, taking him full-sociopath. He will be a force to reckon with, even more than he already is, if that is true.
3. Is Jimmy the key?
Everything seems pointed at Jimmy Olsen being the key player here, and that is really interesting. Jimmy has been grossly misused by DC, more or less, for 30 years. This is the highest profile thing we’ve seen from Jimmy, outside of that short-lived backup by Nick Spencer, since his odd (and terrible) starring turn in “Countdown to Final Crisis.”
So, is DC finally giving Jimmy a place to shine, or is this just a temporary situation that won’t carry through all of “World’s End?”
The New 52: Futures End #25
Written by Brian Azzarello, Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens, and Jeff Lemire
Continued below
Illustrated by Patrick Zircher, Jesus Merino, and Dan Green
Reviewed by Zach Wilkerson
News, notes, and debuts:
In true “Futures End” form, the best part of this issue involves Stormwatch. However, most every story in this issue works together to propel “Futures End” into some pretty interesting places. Hints and teases abound regarding the multiverse and Brainiac, and a major showdown appears to be brewing between the Justice League and a villain I spoke much of last issue.
Interestingly, to my recollection, this marks the first issue of “Futures End” since the #0 issue to feature more than one penciller. While Patrick Zircher works his magic throughout most of the book, Jesus Merino and inker Dan Green fill-in on the issue’s Cadmus Island segment. It’s certainly impressive that the creative team has managed to make it over halfway through the series without the need for this sort of fill-in. As always, Zircher’s work is slick and impressive, especially in this issue’s intense confrontation between Superman and the robot angel Brainiac…thing.
There have been a lot of defining issues of “Futures End” over the past month or so. Even so, this particular issue seems to mark a real turning point for the series. I can honestly say that the series continues to surprise, moving in directions that I never would have expected from the outset.
Three Future Questions:
1. Where in the Multiverse is Stormwatch?
This issue saw the Engineer restart the Carrier’s bleed drives, but with no multiversal navigation system the team was launch into universes unknown. I’ve said week in and out that this is the most interesting section of “Futures End,” and it’s now more true than ever. Assuming we catch up with Stormwatch next issue, we could find them literally anywhere. How long until “Futures End” starts to intersect with “The Multiversity”?
2. Just who is the real Brainiac?
In this issue we get confirmation of what was heavily implied, all the Brainiacs we’ve seen in the New 52 (and boy, does it seem like there’s been a few?) are avatars of the true Brainiac. This being is described as a god, older than the god-like beings that currently inhabit the New 52. We now know that the robo-angel Brainiac is just another avatar, but what about the one currently residing on Bloodmoon? Is he the series’ ultimate big bad, or is there an even greater monstrosity circling the multiverse?
3. And why is he so interested in Superman?
Superman and Brainiac have been opposing forces for years, as showcased by the issue’s cover, so the fact that the Brainiac Prime would have a beef with Superman is no surprise. What is worth questioning is, “why this Superman?” We first saw an aspect of Brainiac tangle with Superman in Grant Morrison’s “Action Comics.” In that series, we learned that Jor-El managed to repel a 5th dimensional attack, a truly impressive feat that Superman managed to repeat. Did this capture the attention of the prime Brainiac? Or is this simply the inevitable clashing of two primal forces of good and evil?
