Tony S. Daniel

I'm loving Tom King's Wonder Woman run so much, I didn't even care when the battle against the Sovereign was abruptly set aside halfway through so some silly Absolute Power crossover tie-in issues could take over the end of the volume.

The book actually starts with a stand-alone tale of Wonder Woman and Superman hanging out as they look for a birthday present for Batman. Funny and heartwarming. King is a master of the superhero playdate.

Then poor Diana gets tortured by the Sovereign for show more multiple issues, having been taken prisoner last volume. They are well-done tales of indomitable spirit and a sort of tribute to the numerous times William Moulton Marston tied up the Amazon in the original comics back in the 1940s.

And -- whump! -- we're dumped into Absolute Power, a crossover series I haven't been following. The Amazo attack is the only time I was bored in the book. Things picked up when Diana had some one-on-one time with Damian Wayne as she and Robin tried to dig some information out of Captain Boomerang. The subsequent jailbreak had some good moments too, but I really enjoyed the alternate take of the last two stories Damian provides in a short epilogue set in the future.

FOR REFERENCE:

Contents (All stories written by Tom King): #7. Gifted / Guillem March, illustrator -- #8. Sacrifice, Part 1 / Daniel Sampere, illustrator -- #9. Sacrifice, Part 2 / Daniel Sampere, illustrator -- #10. Sacrifice, Finale / Daniel Sampere, illustrator -- #11. Absolute Power: The Worst of Times / Tony S. Daniel, illustrator -- #12. Absolute Power: The Stick and the Carrot / Tony S. Daniel, illustrator -- #13. Absolute Power: Reunion / Tony S. Daniel, illustrator -- #13. The Secret Origin of Trinity, Daughter of Wonder Woman / Khary Randolph, illustrator show less

I love the Teen Titans. My favorite run is the legendary years of Wolfman and Perez. It's in that run that we first meet Deathstroke, the Terminator. I describe him to people as Captain America if if he was a mercenary. He loves America but he loves money more. The character that I grew up with and than read when he had his own series is not in this book. This story is about someone trying to figure out who he is. The thing that made Deathstroke such a great antagonist is that he knows show more exactly who he is. There's no doubt or hesitations about why he does what he does. This Deathstroke spent too much time overthinking everything. The appeal of the old Deathstroke was that his confidence was earned. He could fight Superman if he had to and he believes he would win. He could toe to toe with Wonder Woman and beat her. Batman is even intimidated to fight him. The comic where Deathstroke says to Batman, "the difference between us is that I fight to kill. You fight just to fight, therefore I'll win because I'll do whatever it takes to win." That's the Deathstroke I remember this one needs more work in going into that direction.

I read this book through NetGalley. I thank them for this book. #NetGalley show less

Batman R.I.P. is one of those collections that had me flipping backward through the panels, inspecting each panel for something that will lead me to understand its conclusion before I get to it. Much like Watchmen - and at the same time, very much unlike it - Batman R.I.P. allots you a lot of important information in small doses.

The superb writing is greatly complimented by the awesome artwork. The sinister Joker's qualities are intensified within these pages, reminiscent of something show more diabolical - at times, I swear I could picture Marilyn Manson's face (even though, he's probably the least diabolical singer in the "industry"). The torn identities carried by Bruce Wayne/Batman, the loyalties between family and friends - they all play the part of who we are and who we want to be and what we use in order to stay sane.

Batman R.I.P. won't find it hard to garner a place within the Gotham mythos and the canon of comic book fans everywhere. It should be read by anyone wanting to know how to write a story, be it prose, script or a graphic novel. show less

every time dick grayson puts on that damn cowl i like it way more than i should, and given the exceptional run it led to with him as bats & damian as his robin, part of me will always wish he never took it off.

also, the narration on those last few pages of him donning the cowl gives me legit goosebumps.