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 #49
Written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and Kyle Higgins
Illustrated by Fernando Blanco
Reviewed by Zach Wilkerson
News, notes, and debuts:
Hush’s brief resurgence as a thorn in Batman’s side comes to an end as “Eternal” #49 puts the pieces (mostly) back in order as we head towards the finale. Two characters achieve key victories in this issue; Jim Gordon and Julia Pennyworth.
After last issue I was unsure about Penguin’s intentions for finding Gordon, but this issue puts those questions to rest. The mysterious call was unquestionably a hit on the ex-Comissioner, one Cobblepot intends on carrying out himself. Of course, what he doesn’t intend on is being trapped in a cell with Gordon. In a scene that feels strait out of Bendis’ “Daredevil” run, Gordon confirms that he’s still not one to cross.
With Hush in control of the Batcave computer system and, in turn, all of the bat-family’s equipment, things seem rather dire. Of course, this is really just an opportunity for one of the family’s newest additions to prove her worth. Remembering that Red Robin is in possession of his own bat computer, Julia takes advantage of Tim’s paranoia to hijack Hush’s controls and set things aright. This also allows Alfred to give Hush some long needed comeuppance.
Finally, this issue features a strongly “Empire Strikes Back” moment as Cluemaster offers Stephanie the opportunity to “rule Gotham has father and daughter.” Stephanie obviously turns down her dear father’s offer, and I couldn’t help but notice a look of genuine sadness on Cluemaster’s face as he loses his daughter once again. It seems like even filicidal maniacs can still feel parental every once in a while.
Three Eternal Questions:
1.What is Stephanie’s “spoiler”
Once again we get indication that Stephanie has everything figured out, and that her father and his gang play a bigger role than we might expect. Last week I posited that Signal Man may be the Big Bad, but this issue seems to indicate that Cluemaster is ver much in on what’s going on in Gotham. Even so, Stephanie and her father manage to dance around the truth, sustaining the suspense for yet another issue.
2.Who will cross the finish line first?
In a bit of hero/villain banter, Hush and Alfred acknowledge the nearing finish line in this race to claim control over Gotham. The sides of good and evil have been neck and neck throughout the long run of “Eternal,” each gaining on the other when a sizable lead is taken. With just three issues left with the Bats still in the dark regarding the true threat behind these events, one has to wonder; “will Batman truly come out on top?” Things aren’t looking well for the Bat-family in either “Eternal” or “Batman” proper, another series which sees Batman facing seemingly impossible odds. With a major status quo change imminent, is it possible that “Endgame” is not the sole catalyst?
3. Who wins in a fight, Mecha-Bane or Kamikaze pilot Batman?
The reader, that’s who!
Earth 2: World’s End #23
Written by Daniel H. Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, Mike Johnson, and Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Scott McDaniel, Robson Rocha, Guillermo Ortego, Eduardo Pansica, Dan Green, and Jorge Jimenez
Reviewed by Vince Ostrowski
News, Notes, and Debuts:
– If “Batman Eternal” was consistently the highest quality of the three weeklies, and “Future’s End” was most often the most fun one, I think it’s time to label “World’s End” the dud for once and for all. I’m sure I’m way behind on this one, but I really did like the way it came out of the gates. It’s just that it’s been aggressively ordinary since then, and plenty dumb at times. For example:
Continued belowOne of the major turning points of the issue (and the battle at the center of the series, in truth), is Alan Scott realizing that he should take the shield he made out of all the avatar powers and turn it into an energy blast to break through Apokolips’ attempt to swallow the Earth. That’s one step above Ryan Reynolds creating a giant green fist to finally release us from the movie theater. It’s a realization that plays pretty dumb and simplistic on the page. I know this is a big, dumb event comic that doesn’t have to be Shakespeare, but it’s also as rote as a battle against a nebulous evil can get.
– Equally dumb is Kalibak turning on Barda while they’ve got the good guys on their knees, allowing them to escape.
– The one plot point of the issue had to do with Thomas Wayne threatening to show actual character growth. For the most part, “World’s End” has overdone Batman as a performance enhancement-pumping, gruff mad man. By reuniting with something resembling real family, he got a moment to step back and take a look at things. And maybe even let go of his obsessive quest for vengeance for a bit. It was actually handled pretty well, as far as these things go.
Three Worldly Questions:
1. Where did Michael Holt’s trump card go?
Last issue teased an impending moment for Michael Holt to step up and be the hero. This issue kind of bursts that bubble. Holt looked like he had something up his sleeve – something that isn’t mentioned at all in this issue, unless it was meant to be the radio call to Commander Sato wherein he learns of the survivors in Atom’s Haven. I suppose Michael still has a chance to be the hero of Earth 2, but his supposed trump card was never mentioned again.
2. Will Barda try to get back in the good graces of the Earth 2 heroes?
Early on in “World’s End”, Barda betrayed Earth to join the forces of Apokolips. Now that Kalibak has sold her out, does she try and get back into the good graces of the heroes of Earth 2? If she does, it’ll be on pretty thin narrative grounds. After all, her actions could have very well gotten everyone killed and she has no reason to join the team again aside from her own self-preservation now that Kalibak has no use for her.
3. What happened to Dick Grayson?
Nothing on Dick in this issue, so his story and the fate of his child are but a cliffhanger at the moment.
The New 52: Futures End #45
Written by Brian Azzarello, Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens, and Jeff Lemire
Illustrated by Stephen Thompson & Jack Herbert
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
News, notes, and debuts:
One of the tricky things about “Futures End” is that there is a need to wrap up all the stories, as unnecessary or boring as they might be. This issue is that problem condensed into twenty pages: there are moments that are touching, exciting, and downright boring all in one.
The art by Stephen Thompson and Jack Herbert is steady as a rock here – the issue lacks major action, so the artists are able to focus on the facial expressions of the characters, which are extremely important. We see Shazam, with pride, welcome the new Firestorm into the Justice League; we see the resignation in Frankenstein’s face; we see the relief in Lois seeing Superman being back. All of this is important and nicely handled, even if the art doesn’t exactly pop off the page.
The best sequence, hands down, was the Frankenstein and Amethyst scene at Castle Frankenstein. Their friendship has been one of the unexpected pleasures of the the series, and the last moments of Frankenstein’s life were touching; in fact, what’s nice about this series is that it allows someone like Lemire to write the definitive end to a character that will never really get one. That’s a nice side effect to the series.
Continued below
On the other side of the coin, all the bullshit with Farraday and Voodoo is so boring that I literally want to cry. The writers want us to believe that Fifty Sue is important, and therefore the collateral damage surrounding her is important, but we know that isn’t the case. Everything in this section falls flat, from the art to the dialogue to even the plotting – it just sucks, no other way to say it. This section seriously sucks.
The best case scenario for the storyline was the Professor Ivo/Metal Men from “52,” but this hasn’t lived up to 1/100th of the fun of that arc. Ick.
Aside from that, we got a nice Superman/Lois moment, a few nice Firestorm beats, and the big sequence of Brother Eye playings its true, evil, hand.
Is it bizarre to anyone else that this wraps up in 3 weeks and there are still a ton of loose ends, and yet they give ⅓ of an issue to Farraday? I promise I’ll get off this soapbox eventually.
Three Future Questions:
1. What does Farraday and co. have to do with this anymore?
I’m not off that soapbox just yet.
I really am trying to understand what’s at play here – will Farraday help the heroes against Brother Eye? Will their understanding of Fifty Sue’s physiology help in some way? Or is this just a case of Giffen and Jurgens feeling like they need to finish what they started? If that’s the case, can they please wrap this up next week?
2. Does Amethyst have a role going forward?
She ends her sequence by vouching to go back to Gemworld to fight, and she wields Frankenstein’s sword to do so – but is that a story for this book? I don’t think so.
Take note, other writers: Lemire knows how to tie up a loose end.
3. Is Tim Drake the new Batman Beyond?
We’ve been told that the new “Batman Beyond” ongoing will feature someone other than Terry McGuinness under the cowl. Could it be Tim Drake? In story, it makes sense that he has nothing to stay for anymore, and so would go to the future. Plus, “McGee” has his main squeeze Plastique here, so he might want to stay around for that.
But, how is that possible? If this is a potential future, can the potential Tim Drake travel into the future? What would happen to 2015 Tim? Would that Terry even exist anymore?
Sorry guys, my brain is leaking on the floor. Gotta go!
