Welcome, friends to another 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 #30
Written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and Kyle Higgins
Illustrated by Jason Fabok
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
News, notes, and debuts:
This issue features the return of Jason Fabok, perhaps for one of the last times before his “Justice League” run starts, and the issue uses the return of its original artist to re-set the deck for the next run. This happens every ten issues or so, and we are nearing the ⅔ finished point of the year-long story, so things are getting ramped up.
Wrapping up the Deacon Blackfire storyline, we see Batwing rescued, but still no sign of Jim Corrigan in the Arkham rubble. We also see Jason Bard for the first time in a few weeks, and initial thoughts about his story being, more or less, done proved to be incorrect. He and Hush are continuing to plot against Batman, with some rather, ahem, explosive results.
There is a nice emotional beat between Alfred and Julia when they reunite, and this book continues to build on the idea of the Bat-family reforming, especially as the rest of the world seems to be growing further and further from their good graces.
But the real centerpiece of the issue is the opening sequence of Batman and Spoiler battling Hush in the alleyway. Fabok continues his excellent action work, and shows some real chemistry between Bruce and Stephanie. The highlight, however, has to be Steph pulling a Batman, by not being there when Bruce turns around.
That was a gorgeous touch, and a bit of a throwback to one of my favorite sequences of Scott Synder’s “Detective Comics” run, where Gordon comments to Dick-Batman that he isn’t used to him being there when he turns back around.
Three Eternal Questions:
1. A new Spectre?
The total lack of Jim Corrigan in the past few issues leads me to believe that he is going to swoop in and save the day after being presumed dead. However, there is the more cynical part of me that believes that this is DC’s way to shine a light on some corporate synergy.
You see, another man who bore the spirit of vengeance is Crispus Allen, another G.C.P.D. member. A G.C.P.D. member that happens to be on Gotham right now. Could this be a way to lure some some viewers over to the comics or vice versa? I don’t think it will work, but I could see that being the idea.
2. Is this how Batman loses the trust of the G.C.P.D.?
We see in “Batman” that, after the events of “Eternal,” Batman has lost the trust of the G.C.P.D., even longstanding allies like Harvey Bullock who, as recently as last issue, saved Batman’s life. By having his weapon cache used against the city, this seems like a pretty clear final straw. As I said before, the series is just about ⅔ done, and we need certain issues to be resolved sooner than later.
3. When does Vicki Vale wake up?
We are supposed to believe that Vale is a great reporter – Gotham’s answer to Lois Lane – and yet, she’s fooling around with a criminal and has no clue. Granted, how long was Lois in the dark about Superman? Regardless, Vale is one of the few people who can nail Bard that isn’t a vigilante. It seems like she is the lynchpin to getting control of the G.C.P.D. back to someone who isn’t working for Hush, and so far, she’s been rather inert.
Continued below
Earth 2: World’s End #6
Written by Daniel H. Wilson, Marguerite Bennet, and Mike Johnson
Illustrated by Jorge Jimenez, Tyler Kirkham, Joe Weems, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Jan Duursema, Drew Geraci, Eduardo Pansica, Walden Wong, and Jaime Mendoza
Reviewed by Zach Wilkerson
News, notes, and debuts:
So, that giant fat monster lady on the cover, plaguing the Flash with her wasting aura? Dispatched on the first page. How about that for some anticlimax?
Perhaps due to the series shorter duration relative to its weekly brethren, the “Worlds End” team appears to be wasting no time in progressing the story. This issue progresses both the Green Lantern and Superman story threads in some interesting and meaningful ways. Fans of James Robinson’s time on the series should rejoice, as a particular character makes a dramatic return. It’s the sort of thing I would expect to makes some rather large waves across the interwebs, but things seem surprisingly quiet.
This issue quite notably reintroduces a classic Justice Society mainstay to the Earth 2 universe. Ted Grant, a.k.a. Wildcat, makes his debut as a Mr. Clean-esque body builder. He joins Dick and Barbara Grayson as one the Chicago Stronghold’s few shining knights of virtue, as most everyone else seems intent on stealing rations from children.
It’s hard to talk about art in a book that features such an inconsistent style. With a weekly book, the goal is primarily to get the book out on time, and the artist choices are mostly a means to that end. However, I want to take some time to call out Jorge Jimenez, who is doing particularly strong work each issue. Jimenez just came off of a rather enjoyable stint on “Superboy” with Aaron Kuder, and it’s a delight to have him on this book. For reference, if I’m not mistaken, Jimenez draws the opening segment with Doctor Fate, Flash, and Hawkgirl, as well as the scene in Chicago.
Three Worldly Questions:
1. Is this the end of Famine?
As I alluded to earlier, Doctor Fate appears to make quick work of Famine in the opening page of this issue. However, in doing so, he seems to have taken on her abilities, causing those around him to waste away. Is this the last we’ve seen of Famine, and does her quick disposal undermine the threat of the four furies? Or is her demise a one off occurrence, setting the stage for the next phase in the strange evolution of this incarnation of Doctor Fate?
2. Earth 2: Attack of the Clones?
Last week I questioned whether the Superman seen at issue’s end was the real deal. That question is answered rather quickly with a resounding “no.” It turns out, like Brutaal, he is but one of many clones of the original Superman. Some of these clones look fairly accurate, but a few bear a striking resemblance to Lex Luther’s B-0 on the New 52 earth. Last week I also alluded to apparent coincidence of a child of Darkseid popping up on both earths. Now we have two parties, Luthor and Darkseid, attempting to clone Superman. Is this mere coincidence, or crucial plot point?
3. So…was this the plan all along?
Folks made a big deal with it was announced that James Robinson would reimagine Alan Scott as a homosexual man. They made an even bigger deal when Robinson fridged Scott’s partner, Sam. Now, as happens in comics books, the story comes full circle, as Sam is reborn as the avatar of the White (or White Lantern, if you will). With all the hands that “Earth 2” has passed through, from Robinson, to Taylor, to Wilson and company, one has to wonder if this was the plan all along? It certainly seems thematically pleasing, and has a lot of potential moving forward. Regardless, good on the “Worlds End” team for honoring the work of the writers that have preceded them, making the “Earth 2” universe feel distinct and cohesive.
The New 52: Futures End #28
Written by Brian Azzarello, Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens, and Jeff Lemire
Continued below
Illustrated by Andy MacDonald
Reviewed by Vince Ostrowski
News, notes, and debuts:
– Andy MacDonald’s art lends a playful side to the issue. I can’t remember whether we’ve seen his work in “Futures End” before, but he does a good job of replicating the general look and feel of the series with a looser style. The art in “Futures End” has been cinematic at its best and workmanlike at its worst – MacDonald lends something different to the book this time around. Take this panel of Lois Lane arriving on Cadmus Island and being confronted by an O.M.A.C. It’s a little cartoonier and stylized than what we’ve seen from “Futures End” up to this point, but not unfitting and not unpleasant.
– Sgt. Rock’s inclusion in all of this continues to kind of tickle me pink, even though his part in this particular issue was basically to serve up some exposition and continue Fifty Sue’s streak of being corny all the time. I see the potential of Fifty Sue, but she’s fairly annoying. I suppose she’s written that way on purpose, but this is one case where I’d actually prefer a more straight-laced voice for a character.
– Lois stumbling onto Cadmus Island has quickly become the storyline that I’m most fascinated in, especially now that she’s run into her Earth-2 facsimile. The focus of “Futures End” having switched to Cadmus Island has turned what was easily my least favorite thing about the plot into a most intriguing focal point. More on that in a bit.
Three Future Questions:
1. Is Bruce too old for this shit?
I know it’s only 5 years into the future, but Batman sure seems to have lost a step. After all, would Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo’s barrel-chesting bat warrior allow himself to be thrown around by his scrawny future predecessor? They’re really playing up Bruce’s age, which is interesting when you think about Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Terry McGinnis and the legacy of the cowl. All of this stuff will probably get put back in the box once “Convergence” is over and these weeklies have ended, but for right now, DC Comics seems interested in going back to the well of having the various members of the Bat Family take up roles as future heirs to the throne, so to speak.
2. Is this the reformation of the Cancelled Comics Cavalcade?
We’re starting to see teams forming all across “Futures End.” First, there’s the bearded Green Arrow and his band of bleeding hearts roaring towards Cadmus Island in the most phallic conveyance I’ve seen since the Dominator spaceships of the New 52 “Legion of Superheroes” comic. Second, there’s the team being led by Slade Wilson that’s looking to take on Fifty Sue. That’s causing Fifty Sue to want to put together her own team, which is apparently going to consist of characters from cancelled New 52 comics?
Voodoo shows up here with a bone to pick about OMAC. The way she talks about him makes it sound like this could be the unique OMAC from the titular New 52 launch comic. If so, this team is starting to remind me a bit of the cast of rejects we saw in the “DC Universe Presents” Zero issue from a few years back.
3. What is Dr. Yamazake’s major malfunction?
I alluded earlier to the fact that other storylines were starting to fall off now that the real action focal point has hit Cadmus Island. The Firestorm plot has suffered the most because of it. It doesn’t feel like Dr. Yamazake has a strong connection to the current events of “Futures End”, but rather is more of a revenge-hungry product of the war between Earths that we weren’t privy to. In other words, it feels like his role in “Futures End” is solely born out of what’s already happened, but doesn’t have much to do with what’s going to happen – save the fact that Firestorm will likely converge with the other characters and serve some sort of purpose. So what will Dr. Yamazake’s role ultimately be? Probably not much more than a distraction for Firestorm until the other heroes of the story need Raymond and Rusch to get their act together and get their asses to Cadmus.
