Batman Annual #2

Batman Annual #2 was interesting.  This was the story of Arkham Asylum, an orderly’s first day and the asylums first patient.  We also had Batman because without him there would not be a Batman comic book.  Batman was at the Asylum to test some new security features.  The new orderly was there on his first day to try and help people, there was a joke about him being from Metropolis.  The first patient was there because she felt guilty for accidentally killing her parents back in the day before there was an Arkham Asylum.  She was still alive because she had a power that let her travel through walls and the rest what we call solid objects.  She was unhappy with Batman for turning her home and place of healing into a place of punishment where people such as the Joker are sent.  So she decides this time she will try to kill Batman in payment for how he changed her safe place.  It was an interesting and sad story, well done.  But the tie-in to the Zero Year was clumsy and not more than a single page – basically Zero Year was mentioned simply to help sell this comic.  If you bought this comic just because of the Zero Year tie-in you were robbed.

All Star Western #22

All Star Western Featuring Jonah Hex #22 – I admit to not really being a fan of this story line.  Having Booster Gold show up in the past could have continued for another issue or two before wearing out the storyline.  But having Jonah Hex in the future and no one believing that he is a time traveler even after checking out his gun and clothes were authentic.  Not to mention if this is an unaltered timeline for the DC Universe time travel happens all the time so someone should be able to check his time particles or something to prove he was out of time and not just another Gotham nut job.  Why the JLA or Justice League or Superman was not called is just not believable.  I realize the writers were trying to contain the story but not having other heroes called just breaks my suspension of disbelief needed to read this comic.  What is worse is the fishy way Batman was finally contacted to see if Hex was telling the truth or not.  The escape from Arkham Asylum and eventual fight with the bank robbers was much appreciated as it got us the readers to some action.

All Star Western #18 Feature Jonah Hex!!

All Star Western #18 Featuring Jonah Hex – the Hex story was good but with the one problem that the story could have easily been included in the previous issue.  The entire story was actually just a page or two stretched out over 20 or so pages.  The bad guy could deflect bullets with a sword; he caused a plague to descend upon Gotham City to get his way.  He fathered many children.  The bad guy left his mark on Empires throughout history but he could not avoid a shotgun blast.  The end.  Jonah Hex is next seen on a train heading west and with luck the writers will stop trying to make him into Batman.  The backup story about Stormwatch was interesting, but Mr. Thirteen is even more annoying than Dr. Arkham from the Jonah Hex stories.  The tale is very short and unsatisfying as there was no follow up at all with the town that hired Mr. Thirteen to solve a murder mystery.

All Star Western!

All Star Western #16 Featuring Jonah Hex – The art has improved!  I like the slightly more realistic (for a comic book) look.   The story itself was great, I like the nurse was well written talented and ready to stand up to Hex.  Also actually getting to see Arkham’s mother and some of background was very interesting.  I was glad to see the end of the Hyde storyline.

All Star Western #15: Was rather disappointing.  This issue was all filler and boring filler at that with no plot advancement.  The new artist vision is lacking in the same quality of detail that was in previous issues.  In essence the artwork sucks; I have friends that do better artwork.  I’m not even going to bother describing the blatantly racists depiction of Native Americans in the backup story.  I guess it is time to stop getting this title.