This was an oddly rough week and I didn’t get to read all of the comics I wanted. Or I did read them, like Absolute Martian Manhunter, but was too lost in the sauce to do a proper review. So you’re stuck with classic standbys like Iron Man and Fury of Firestorm.

Comic Book of the Week goes to Absolute Batman #20, because you don’t change an industry without being able to maintain quality at your 20th issue. Plus Robins.

Meanwhile, your boy remains deep in the paint on Crimson Desert. Loving the game. Been playing for weeks and I still feel like I’ve barely sank my teeth into it. Just enjoying the pedantic stuff like building up my camp, taking care of animals, exploring and all the good stuff. I’ve got a long weekend, though, so maybe I’ll try to dive in deeper. Beyond that, I really enjoyed The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins and Rooster!

Comic Reviews: Absolute Batman #20, Fury of Firestorm #2 and Iron Man #5.

Absolute Batman #20
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Nick Dragotta

The big new storyline has kicked off and we’re into it now, boys and girls!

The files that Gordon gave Bruce are full of information about how his life was manufactured to become Batman, and it’s driven him a bit mad. He breaks into Blackgate Prison to confront Joe Chill for information of his role, but the Scarecrow is there and he taunts Bruce with the truth. He says turning Bruce into Batman was a big joke against his mom, who was in the Court of Owls. Scarecrow also uses his fear ‘powers’ to have Chill hang himself right there in the cell. Batman is forced to flee the prison and is ambushed by the Robins.

Meanwhile, we check in with Waylon, Eddie, Harvey and Oswald.

Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.

Personally, I’m not a fan of the idea that Bruce becoming Batman was manufactured by anybody, let alone the villains. But I’m willing to let that personal take slide because we’re in the Absolute Universe and I trust Snyder’s storytelling. So I’ll set that aside for now. It definitely makes for good drama, at least. And gives the Scarecrow plenty to work with in terms of taunting the Batman. The Scarecrow is again in fine form this issue. Snyder is clearly having fun writing this character, as he should be. And I’m having fun reading his adventures. It’s a shame Batman was stopped by simple metal bars, buuuuut that’s just me being nitpicky to an unnecessary degree. Great scene that gave us some info, teased some more and showed a lot more of Scarecrow’s darkness. More of that, please.

This all makes for good drama, and the exact sort of thing you’d expect the Joker to throw at Batman. Really helps flesh out and expand the Absolute Universe, which still feels like it’s building even at 20 issues in. Batman is pushed into a corner, he’s scared and suspicious and closing in on himself. That’s a great place to put your protagonist at the start of a story, and its paying off nicely. Then we get the Robins showing up in force to end the issue, with the promise of something big and awesome and Robin-centric for next issue. I can’t wait!

TL;DR: The mystery and creepiness deepen in another excellent issue of this industry-defining series.

Fury of Firestorm #2
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Rafael De Latorre
Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo
Letterer: Lucas Gattoni

Two issues in and I’m pleased to say that a Firestorm comic is one of my most anticipated each month!

We open with an extended flashback into the origin of Firestorm, and how Ronnie Raymond met and befriended Dr. Martin Stein. It’s a solid origin flashback. And afterward, the current Firestorm turns his faceplate completely black and the military freaks out — but then the Justice League show up to handle it.

Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.

My only nitpick is that this issue doesn’t exactly build on the first issue. I was so jazzed after that first issue, but we immediately slow down to get the character’s origin story — which, honestly, is appreciated. Because who the heck knows anything about Firestorm? I’ve always known of Firestorm, but I don’t know the nuts and bolts, and that origin flashback was a big help. It’s probably important to know and understand Raymond and Stein for this series to work. And the flashback does a great job of showing off and fleshing out both characters for a complete newbie like me. I get a good sense of them as people and characters, and that will fuel the rest of the series going forward when we actually get to meet them in the story.

The Justice League showing up on the final page is a good cliffhanger. Firestorm has caused some real trouble on this poor town, and Firehawk probably wasn’t the best superhero option available right now. The Justice League has the whole Unlimited angle going, and sending a group of heavy hitters to get into it with Firestorm is the right call. I wonder if Firestorm appeared in any of those early issues of Justice League Unlimited. I wonder how far back DC has been planning this particular series and this particular change for the character. That might be fun to explore.

TL;DR: The second issue is mostly flashback, but it’s important information for a character that simply isn’t that well known to mainstream readers.

Iron Man #5
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artists: Carmen Carnero and Jan Bazaldua
Colorist: Nolan Woodard
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

With the end of issue #5, I think this series is ready to kick into a higher gear.

With the helicarrier crashing and Fixer wearing the Advanced Iron Man armor, Tony Stark and the surviving kidnapees fight and outsmart their way to freedom. The media blames Tony for the crash and everything AIM was up to, but he takes it all in stride because he’s starting a new venture: a science academy with the kidnapees!

Meanwhile, Madame Masque and Fixer survived the crash and have fixed up Adam Ware with technology. Adam outsmarts them, however, and uses his imbedded technology to take over AIM Command and kill Fixer. He’s in charge now!

Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.

I think this issue settles the uneasy feeling I had about this series over the past four issues. The idea of Masque using Tony’s nightmare to create a new Tony felt like one of those big ideas that was supposed to blow everyone’s mind…but the execution felt lacking. Felt like we were really rushing through it. Now that we’re at the end of the first storyline, I can see that it was all set up, and that works for me. I like the idea of Tony teaching a group of genius inventors, and I appreciate the time that was put into developing this concept and these characters. Granted, I don’t think we’ve had a lot of development on these specific characters, but enough has been done that we’re set up and ready to really dive in.

I also appreciate the effort put into building up Adam Ware as a villain — though his heel turn doesn’t feel earned. The dude was a straight up saint in the previous issues, a real selfless dude. I know he’s been essentially revived from the dead by bad guy technology, but that doesn’t explain his super evil attitude at the end of this issue. Will that be explained or will we just have to roll with it? I guess we’ll find out. I definitely like him in this role and like the set up he’s been given — though he could use a more original identity than just King AIM, or whoever he’s supposed to be. Nobody cares about AIM.

Oh, also, all the action, dialogue and artwork was excellent this issue.

TL;DR: The first storyline comes to a satisfying ending and sets up what could be even more exciting stories!

The comics I review in my Hench-Sized reviews are just the usual comics I grab from Comixology any given week, along with a few impulse buys I might try on a whim. So if there are any comics or series you’d like me to review each week, let me know in the comments.

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