If you like good comics, then December is already shaping up to be a memorable month. DC wowed us with the latest issue of Batman, while they also kicked off their latest Injustice comic and began a new chapter for Harley Quinn. Marvel offered up a terrific new installment of The Mighty Thor and the most shocking issue of The Clone Conspiracy to date. Archie Comics added another promising new series to its lineup with Reggie and Me, while the former Batgirl creative team found a great new home at Image with their creator-owned series Motor Crush.
Scroll down to check out our reviews for these and various other new releases, and be sure to let us know your favorite books of the week in the comments below.
Written by Tom King | Drawn by Mikel Janin
"The "I Am Suicide" story arc is nothing if not an experimental approach to Batman storytelling. Tom King and Mikel Janin's gambles haven't always paid off, as we saw in issue #10 last month. But the opposite is true in the case of Batman #12. This latest issue takes some very daring risks with the characters, risks that result in the strongest chapter yet of an already great comic." -Jesse
Click here to read the entire review!
Final Score:
Written by John Semper, Jr. | Drawn by Will Conrad
This issue attempts to shake things up by introducing Vic's female counterpart, Variant. DC originally revealed this character under the name "She-Borg," which speaks to the degree of subtlety readers can expect from her. Not that subtlety has ever been this book's strong suit. In addition to the familiar problems involving wooden dialogue and characterization, this issue suffers from the forced nature of the Cyborg/Variant relationship. She's too similar to Cyborg, and the deep, immediate bond that forms between them is very sudden and unnatural. She simply doesn't come across as a natural character. The final cliffhanger suggests this might all be intentional, so at least there's cause to hope for improvement. Will Conrad's art, while very clean and detailed, is a bit too stiff and static in most scenes. However, that approach actually lends itself well to to those scenes set in the digital realm "Cyberverse," with Conrad offering a closer glimpse of how Cyborg's semi-human mind perceives the purely digital flow of information. -Jesse
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Written by Sam Humphries | Drawn by Eduardo Pansica
It’s telling that a power-mad crazy with a rolodex for a ring is the least interesting part of this new arc. That’s not a knock, mind you –if anything, the character is a boon for this series, Sam Humphries using the Phantom Lantern as a tool to better explore the emotional makeup of those out to stop him. While issue #12 reads as a bit of a rehash in regards to the Phantom Lantern’s psyche, there’s enough new insight gained to make up for any perceived stalling. Asking the question “why me?” opens some interesting doors, and Humphries does a nice job of cracking them open here. Given that Simon and Jessica appear prepped to go two very different directions upon getting answers, this lends a sense of suspense stronger that anything the Phantom Lantern has drummed up. That said, Eduardo Pansica’s boisterous pencils do enough to provide the requisite visual engagement, his mind battles as well formed as any construct. -Jeff
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Written by Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti | Drawn by Brandon Peterson & Michael Kaluta
For a long time, the driving theme of this series and its predecessor was the idea that the manic Harley was being pulled in too many directions at once. Now writers Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti have honed their approach. It's less about Harley being overburdened and more about her battling a chronic sense of loneliness and malaise following Poison Ivy's rejection. Frankly, it's a more compelling direction that better emphasizes Harley's human side. This issue may be a bit scatterbrained in focus, with two separate dream sequences interspersed between a roller derby battle and various other set pieces, but it does the trick as far as conveying just how depressed and adrift Miss Quinn has become. I have my concerns about where this new arc is headed, but we'll have to see how it all plays out. This issue offers a change of pace in terms of visuals, as well. Brandon Peterson renders the bulk of the story. His Oz-inspired dream sequence is a hoot, but elsewhere his figure work proves too stiff and robotic for its own good. Michael Kaluta briefly steps in to tackle the other dream sequence, and his lush, flowing style is a gorgeous match for the book. -Jesse
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Written by Brian Buccellato & Christopher Sebela | Drawn by Pop Mhan & Tom Derenick
"DC's Injustice universe is trapped in a sort of limbo right now. The prequel comic recently wrapped up after devoting years to exploring the lead-up to the video game in painstaking detail. And while there's a sequel comic on the way, that series won't be debuting until closer to the release of the Injustice 2 game. So how to fill that gap? DC's solution is to introduce a new Injustice comic that directly adapts the events of the original game. It's not necessarily the most exciting angle, though the fact that Harley Quinn is the main protagonist promises that this series won't be a straightforward rehash." -Jesse
Click here to read the entire review!
Final Score:
Written by Tim Seeley | Drawn by Marcus To
Nightwing has been “back” for a while, but for long time Dick Grayson fans, this issue is just what the doctor ordered. At last returning to Blüdhaven (still arguably the coolest city name in comics proper), Tim Seeley allows Dick some downtime from the rigors of the last few arcs. Not only does this set up an amusing bit of soul searching, but it also sets Dick back up as a person in his own right. Seeley clearly intends to use this arc to reestablish Dick as well as Nightwing, and the early mystery and subsequent aftermath go a long way in getting that ball rolling. It’s also great to see Marcus To on pencils. His clean lines are a perfect fit to capture Nightwing’s acrobatic physicality, though he also acquits himself quite well to the more character driven moments. If you’ve been waiting for a time to jump back into Blüdhaven, this arc looks to be it. -Jeff
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Written by Peter Tomasi & Patrick Gleason | Drawn by Doug Mahnke
After a string of terrific issues that focused a great deal on the Clark family dynamic, this issue returns to more action-driven fare as Superman butts heads with Frankenstein. The series may be its own worst enemy at this point. There's really nothing wrong the execution here, but the script still feels a little too straightforward and spartan compared to what's come before. Still, there's a lot to be said for the idea of Superman battling SHADE's top enforcer. It's certainly a pairing that plays well to Doug Mahnke's storytelling strengths. Frankenstein has never looked better, with every seam and patch of mottled flesh being rendered in minute detail. Mahnke proves equally skilled at emphasizing Superman's emotional range, both his calm, confident defiance and his concern for Lois. Speaking of which, the real strength of this issue is its emphasis on Lois, who proves every bit the hero her husband is despite being badly outmatched by her undead opponent. -Jesse
Final Score:
Continues
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