Robin #150 
DC Comics
Writer: Adam Beechen
Artist: Freddie E. Williams II
Prison Break has a lot to answer for. This issue, Robin breaks David Cain out of jail in order to interrogate him concerning the whereabouts of his missing daughter Cassandra/Batgirl Cain. The break-in is well-written in terms of plot and the protagonist’s internal monologue. After that, everything slowly veers off the rails. Readers are subjected to two wacky interludes that foreshadow events down the road, but make little sense on their own. The idea that Tim Drake, easily the most cerebral and type-A teen in the DC canon, would need an academic tutor is ludicrous even given his current grief. The stoolie interlude, while told from an interesting and unreliable first person perspective, is probably much longer than it needed to be. In addition, considering the hints involved, the mystery contact is most likely a well known Outsider, and OYL, apparently a hero. Tough to get excited as a reader about someone hunting Robin who most likely means him no harm. The fighting finale is well-executed, but the closing revelation rings false even given the OYL finagling. The character responsible for everything has never demonstrated the overall intelligence for such a plot and even given a year’s activity and study shouldn’t have been capable of all the covert maneuvering found in this arc. The book’s two silver linings are the art, which perfectly fits the hero’s adventure and mindset, and Robin’s reaction after the truth is revealed; not handling it very well is fitting considering the circumstances.
Score: C
Superman/Batman #25
DC Comics
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Ed McGuinness
I’d like to say I bought this by accident, but it’d be a filthy lie. I was gifted with a S/B #1 for free comic book day and while the last dozen or so issues have been unpalatable to those that would rather have an original plot than a collection of linked in-jokes, the premiere issue of the title made me give this series a second chance.
I needn’t have bothered. The art is still poppy and fun, but the plot and dialogue (including the now timeworn dual internal monologues) just can’t be enjoyed unless your mental comics reference files are exhaustive and easily recalled. Otherwise, this is just a story about two heroes battling two teams of villains loosely based on perverted versions of themselves, overseen by the Joker and the imp my spell-check loves to hate, Mr. Mxyzptlk. There is a nifty Infinite Crisis reference, and a hint at another Darkseid encounter, but otherwise it’s very thin.
Score: D
Green Arrow #62
DC Comics
Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Scott McDaniel
The Mayor Queen storyline takes an interesting turn this issue. In most contexts, heroes in government (Captain America, Nick Fury, Captain Atom) are either a law unto themselves as the head of some hotshot international IMF squad, or are rank-and-file field agents completely beholden to the politicians in charge. Queen’s position as the mayor of a city that has been economically and politically ignored for a year puts him in a unique role, the city’s most able protector and its head legislator. That’s a lot of weight to throw around, and readers witness exactly how far Ollie is willing to push the envelope this issue. The book also makes an attempt to explain why Ollie is acting so differently OYL. The probable motivation is unoriginal but logical; three other Silver Age heroes also did the sabbatical thing, and while the enhanced skill sets evidenced by the Emerald Archer seem a bit random, at least longtime readers have new hope of seeing a certain Zen progeny either in flashback or down the line if the speculations are true.
The Deathstroke/Green Arrow donnybrook is interesting in both its choreography and its revelations. The idea of the mastermind behind it all being exactly the last person a reader would expect plays much better here than it did in this week’s Robin. The McDaniel artwork makes the rococo gadget aspect a bit more believable as well. Overall, this was a good bordering on great issue, giving readers a hint as to how far Winick is willing to push the Ollie as the Man idea.
Score: B
52 Week Two
DC Comics
Writers: Johns, Morrison, Rucka, Waid
Artist: Giffen/Bennett/Jadson
The second installment of the released in real time maxi-series 52 begins to actually flex some narrative muscle. There are mysteries revealed (at least three by my count) investigated by three separate characters. The character interactions combined with the intrigue make the book a more substantial read in its sophomore installment. The art continues to veer away from the crowded event driven layout and more towards servicing the series of simultaneous ongoing plots, which gives hope to even the jaded among the DC readership that this book is not going to just sink into the multiple heroes fighting multiple villains quagmire. While there’s still a too large ratio of introductions to events in 52 it’s beginning to shift gears towards greater forward momentum. With luck the stultifyingly boring addendums found in the Donna Troy saddled back up feature, History of the DCU will give the main plots more pages per week. While two issues do not a reliable trajectory make, this issue makes a better case for this series as a great story.
Score: B
