FISTFUL of COMICS [Mini-Reviews]: Evil Batmen & The Return of Jack.

Hey geeks and geekettes! Welcome to GHG’s renewed Fistful of Comics, where — rather than focusing at length on a mere handful of drops for the week — we’ll be giving quick thoughts on the majority of important funnybooks released.

Hopefully our swift blurbs will give you a swifter idea whether the book is worth the trip to your Local Comic Shizzop or not. Let us know what you think of this new, rapid-fire feature at GodHatesGeeks on Facebook and on Twitter @GodHatesGeeks.com !

A wise(ass) once said “it’s all in the reflexes.” But what do you do when your (questionable) reflexes have dulled? It’s now 2020 and OLD MAN JACK is living the retired life in Florida. Not a care in the world. Plenty of greasy foods to eat, cheap booze and dirty magazines that  any single bachelor in his 60’s could ever want or need. There’s a reason Florida is called “God’s Waiting Room”. Yep, ol Jack has not a care in the world. Just as long as he stays in his own little slice of heaven inside the wall of fire. Wall of fire? Is this Heaven or Hell?

-Sean Farrell

The great thing about these “dark universe” Batman stories is cause we get to see Batman in a whole new light. In this case, Dan (Horus Rising) Abnett, Philip (The Savage Hawkman) Tan and Tyler (Green Lantern) Kirkman give us a gender swapped Batman –so, Batwoman? — avenging the death of her beloved Sylvester Kyle. While it was an interesting issue, and yes, her wanting to drown the whole world in intriguing (like, seriously, how would you do that?!), this issue doesn’t get really good until Abnett brings in “The Man Who Laughs” because after this issue, I am dying to see how Batman becomes the Joker in ‘hellraiser-esque’ leather. 2/5 Dead Fish Bibles.

While it has been fun seeing these dark versions of Bruce Wayne, Batman: The Merciless is tied to your favorite Dark Universe Batman. This isn’t one where “he’s lost everything”, this is one where he has become corrupted. After a battle against Ares, Bruce Wayne becomes Ares and kills Wonder Woman! Then he makes General Lane, Amanda Waller and Steven Trevor bow to him. Peter J. (Batman and Robin) Tomasi  and Francis (The Flash) Manapul give us an amazing story that has a wonderful 180 in the story. They also did a great job of putting everything in one issue and really, I don’t need another issue. This is the perfect example of a stand-alone. 4/5 Ares inspired Bat Bibles.

-Robert Bexar

Award winning Lit writer Ta-Nehisi (The Beautiful Struggle) Coates  kicks off the latest issue of Black Panther not with T’Challa, but with the return of Klaw. In fact, the entire book is about Klaw and his return to wage war on Wakanda—the titular character doesn’t even appear until the last page of the story. Coates weaves words spoken by Klaw to his lobotomized sister with visuals of attacks on Azania’s rebels — and the occasional flashback — from new artist Leonard (Captain Britain and M13) Kirk. It’s a move designed to make Klaw more sympathetic to the reader, but it ain’t working. 2/5 Chunks of Reverbium.

Boom Studios’ WWE series continues, at #10, with Roman Reigns deciding to finally let go of two-year-old Shield drama—despite still wearing the tactical vest and complaining about Seth and Dean both stealing his thunder by cashing in their Money in the Bank briefcases. The “Big Dog” spends most of the issue behaving like a spoiled brat and Papa Hunter is as annoyed at him as I am reading it. The back-up story features Becky Lynch trying to out-pun some loan sharks. I laughed more than I should’ve. 2.5/5 “Stupid-man” Punches.

-Destiny Edwards

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