Post by thwhtguardian on Oct 1, 2017 10:14:30 GMT -5
Extra pages for basically a primer book setting up the next major story arcs across the MU for at least the upcoming year and beyond. Jason Aaron handles the writing throughout with a wide assortment of talented artists handling the individual sections of their upcoming respective titles.
I guess your enjoyment of this type of issue depends on how well you follow certain titles. Major characters touched upon are Steve, Tony, T'Challa, Norman Osborn, Loki, and the return of a certain character whose been off the playing field for about three years now. The basic framing arc involves the Avengers of One Million BC confronting a deranged, sick Celestial on Earth. The condition and fate of that Celestial seems set up to affect quite a number of heroes and/or teams. (Frankly, I wouldn't mind a mini of these BC Avengers. Aaron handled them quite well and the art of that segment by Esad Ribic was great).
I'm most interested in the set-ups for Tony Stark (whose comatose body has vanished into thin air mysteriously) and the Avengers (their history appears to have been altered as there are signs now of a brand new Founding Member). But what's really sparked my interest is the small segment of Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm reuniting and apparently ready to continue the tradition of the FF even if it's just the two of them.
But if the last two pages of this issue are any indication, their number may grow back to four after all.
7/10
Detective Comics #965
Timothy Jackson Drake aka Robin aka Red Robin has been missing for over a year, presumed dead yet Batman has been consulting a wide range of staggering sources in searching for him for Bruce has never believed Tim to be dead. Instead, we see that Tim has been held prisoner by Mr Oz, who here interrogates Tim about why he felt the need to assume a mask and why he decided to quit on that mask. Tim uses his ingenuity and guile to escape his immediate prison cell to confront Oz who does reveal his identity to Tim. Stunned, Oz leaves Tim to despair alone in his immense prison. Seeking to call help, Tim reaches Batman whose also being held in the prison. Tim manages to unseal all the cells to free Batman only to find that this Batman isn't his, in fact, this Batman is a symbol of Tim's darkest fears. But they have to work together to face another prisoner that Tim has inadvertently released as well, Doomsday.
The best part of this issue is the re-establishment of the motivation and origin of Tim Drake. As Oz questions Tim over his need to help people, especially Batman, Tim reveals the basic story of the arc that inspired this current story, A Lonely Place of Dying. From Tim's deduction of Dick and Bruce's secret IDs to trying to convince Dick to become Robin again to ground Batman to suiting up himself as Robin to help the duo when they fall prey to Two-Face, it's all recounted here lovingly and well.
Tim also recounts his strong desire not to become like Batman, a strong fear he encounters personally when he frees the Batman trapped here too. Anyone familiar with the Johns/McKone' Teen Titans run will recognize this Batman and what he represents to Tim. It's an interesting addition as is the possible reasons why this Batman is there.
I've been waiting for Tim Drake to get back on track and this is a good start.
8/10
