Thursday Night Thinking #131

As usual: Thursday Night Thinking!

I don't think mirrors work that way...

Week in Review

I think I can say that this was one of the finest weeks of comics in recent memory. Consider: this week I got to read Blackest Night, JSA, Superman, and Detective Comics. What god have I pleased to deserve such a bounty? Here's some quick thoughts on each of those:

Blackest Night #5: I think it's safe to say that the $#&% has officially hit the fan. There is really bad stuff going down. And that last bit? I totally didn't expect it.

I think the reason why the rings didn't work is that they were all being employed separately. The colors weren't united. As we all have been expecting, one person is going to have to wear all the rings to get it to work.

Justice Society of America #33: Not only was this a rollicking good superhero action story arc, it's set things up nicely for the future. I think I'm actually going to have to buy All-Stars now.

My favorite bits? Doctor F'ing Fate taking out everybody and Mister Terrific taking out Karnevil like the punk that kid is. Good stuff.

Superman #694: Have I mentioned how much I love Mon-El and what James Robinson is doing with him? I read an interview where Robinson talked about how sad he was going to be when they had to put Mon-El back in the Phantom Zone. I'm right there with him.

Mon-El's gone from being a character I really didn't know much about to being one of my absolute favorites. Still hate the new costume, though...

Detective Comics #859: Rucka and Williams continue to tear things up with this story. It made me mad as hell to see the reason why Kate got kicked out of West Point. And that stuff happens all the damn time. There's no good reason to we should be doing that.

On the other side of things, I loved seeing Kate's initial meeting with Batman. That guy sure does leave an impression. I can't wait until he comes back.

New Detective

Batwoman in Detective Comics kicks off tomorrow. I for one am ridiculously excited.

I am a great admirer of Greg Rucka's work, especially when he's let loose to do whatever the hell he feels like. He's had that freedom with Action Comics so far, and if you read the recent annual and don't agree that he's doing something amazing with a couple of nobody characters, well... You have my sympathy.

I get the feeling that Detective is more or less the same deal. I don't think there are really many restrictions on what Rucka's going to be doing. Kathy Kane and Rene Montoya are more or less Rucka's characters. And I have no doubt that he'll manage to tell a heck of a story with them.

What do you think?

Looking Good

Have you seen these gorgeous sketches of Renee Montoya as the Question? Go take a quick look and then come back here to hear me gush.

Ready? Good.

Holy crap, those are phenomenal. To me, it looks as though Renee's getting her own look as the Question rather than simply apeing the look of Vic Sage. The hat and the clothes look just slightly different in Cully Hamner's art. But this new look really seems to fit Renee better than anything has so far.She looks comfortable in those sketches. I haven't seen her look comfortable in a long time.

I also love the short hair. Greg Rucka is exactly right: it makes sense that if she's going to be fighting in the thick of things she'd keep her hair short. It follows along with the same reason why Aquaman should keep his hair cut short. You've got to dress for the occasion.

Look's like the Question is doin' fine.

Back in Black, Part 2

Tonight: Detective Comics #553 and part two of the first appearance of Black Mask! When we last left our story, a man had been murdered with poison makeup in a mask. Not unlike this:

Yes, Black Mask has struck again, sending his "False Facers" to slay another new member of Janus Cosmetic's board of directors. But neither of these murders have passed unnoticed by Gotham City's vigilant defender... The Batman is on the case!

Despite the comic's title, no detective work is necessary. Batman knows exactly who has been comitting these murders. Black Mask isn't exactly discreet.

But it's worse than simply murder (if any murder is simple). Black Mask is raising an army, and in a short span has risen to be the central figure in Gotham's underworld. It seems that you just can't cut it as a mobster in Gotham anymore without a gimmick, a mask, or a name like "Dr. Fang." What is the world coming to?

Black Mask's murders have had repurcussions not just for Gotham City and Batman -- Bruce Wayne has also been affected. After all, both of the murdered men were members of the Wayne Foundation. And the aura of fear surrounding Janus Cosmetics is threatening to pull the entire foundation down with it.

In order to keep things running smoothly, Bruce Wayne agrees to attend a big benefit dinner. Really, he only does it so the reader gets a good look at the latest dame to attach herself to Bruce Wayne's arm. While the benefit goes on, Black Mask's secondary revenge plan is set in motion. It's time for Black Mask to move on the woman who spurned Roman Sionis.

Yes, she made him lose face. So in a logical extension of that Black Mask locks her in his mother's coffin. For a whole day. Craaaazy. Then he prepares for her a very special mask...

Meanwhile, Batman and Robin have tracked down a pair of Black Mask's "False Facers." The dynamic duo promptly beat the crap out of the thugs and demand answers. No answers are forthcoming. Black Mask has been far too careful at covering his tracks.

Back at the Sionis family crypt Circe hides her face and weeps in shame. Her face has been ravaged by the poison makeup. Black Mask forces her to make a choice: die or wear a mask. She makes a choice.

With his "queen" now at his side, Black Mask prepares to set his final plan in motion. Revenge against the man he blames for all his misfortunes: Bruce Wayne!

Tomorrow: the stunning conclusion of Black Mask's origin story in Batman #387. And of course there's a masquerade ball!

Detective Action

I want to thank everybody who commented on last night's post. Sometimes I just have to rant a little. That little manifesto was just such an occasion. If anybody has any more thoughts on the subject, go ahead and put in your two cents.

Tomorrow I have a big post planned, so I'm going to keep it short tonight. I just wanted to comment on something I noticed: very soon here Greg Rucka will be writing both Action Comics and Detective Comics. As far as I know, that's the first time that's happened.

Am I right? Or have there been other occasions where a single scribe has written both of DC's flagship titles?

This Week in Azrael

The Order of St. Dumas was mentioned in this past week's Detective Comics. It was a brief mention only, and You-Know-Who tried to laugh it off by making some references to some "Order of the Pure."

Let me tell you, there's nothing pure about the Order of St. Dumas. And if you don't believe me check out what Scott has to say about them over at Polite Dissent. According to Scott, not only is the method for creating Azraels twisted and evil, it's also completely scientifically unfeasible. And Scott would know, because he's a doctor.

So yeah, my secret origin is that I was grown in a glass jar full of monkey juice. And people wonder why I'm crazy.

In lighter news, the good Scipio has provided me with an image of my latest HeroClix figure. It's a convention exclusive figure, and as Scipio says, that's a high honor. It's a beautiful sculpt, but honestly... What in the name of St. Dumas was I thinking with that costume?