Detective Comics 799 (December 2004)

201568 Besides a vaguely amusing Jesus Christ Superstar reference in this issue, there’s not much else to it. Things continue to go wrong with Batman’s plans for the “War Games” crossover, the sidekicks continue to have panel or two cameos to remind readers to pick up their solo books and Leslie has a scene. Oh, and the new commissioner is stick of Batman.

In other words, the status quo for the crossover.

Batman’s plan this issue involves putting every Gotham supervillain in the same place at once. Did the Batman editors watch The Warriors before they decided to subject the world to this crossover? How Batman didn’t anticipate something going wrong… I mean, Killer Croc is there. It’s an absurd scene.

Gabrych can’t sell it. Woods and inker Cam Smith do okay though.

The Riddler backup finishes. Castillo’s art is a little better, but it’s still a terrible story. Just terrible.

CREDITS

War Games, Act 3, Part 1: Good Intentions; writer, Andersen Gabrych; penciller, Pete Woods; inker, Cam Smith; colorist, Jason Wright; letterer, Jared Fletcher; editors, Michael Wright and Bob Schreck. Low, Part 3; writer, Shane McCarthy; penciller, Tommy Castillo; inker, Rodney Ramos; colorist, Tony Avina; letterer, Nick Napolitano; editor, Wright. Publisher, DC Comics.

Detective Comics 798 (November 2004)

201567 It just keeps getting sillier. It’s hard to blame it on Gabyrch–he’s writing a company crossover issue, he had to not reveal the mystery villain, he had to move the pieces. The piece he moves the most here is Tim Drake. He’s quit being Robin because it’s dangerous or something, but then he decides to become Robin again.

Not quite “Spider-Man–No More!” Not quite Superman II. Not quite anything, actually. Gabrych doesn’t have any time to spend with Tim, since he’s got the villains to deal with, the action scenes, Batman and Oracle arguing.

Worse, the whole “urban legend” thing with Batman gets brought up at least twice here. It’s moronic.

Woods does okay on the art, except the panel revealing Tim as Robin. Woods can’t bring dramatic effect to a lame moment.

The terrible Riddler backup consists of Poison Ivy making fun of him. Big yawn.

CREDITS

War Games, Act 2, Part 1: Undertow; writer, Andersen Gabrych; penciller, Pete Woods; inker, Cam Smith; colorist, Jason Wright; editors, Michael Wright and Bob Schreck. Low, Part 2; writer, Shane McCarthy; penciller, Tommy Castillo; inker, Rodney Ramos; colorist, Tony Avina; editor, Wright. Letterer, Pat Brosseau; publisher, DC Comics.

Detective Comics 797 (October 2004)

201566 It’s a little hard to take this issue seriously. At one point, Batman is shocked the fighting gang members–this issue is part of the “War Games” crossover event–he’s shocked when the gang members abandon people in need. It’s a terrible, terrible scene. Gabrych goes through a lot of trouble for realistic gang behavior, then makes Batman absurd.

Otherwise, the issue mostly involves Batman and Batgirl running around Gotham fighting various gang members. Trying to calm them down, more like. It’s a lot of awkward, expository sequences. Gabrych’s Orpheus character (Batman’s plant in the crime world) is in it way too much.

There’s also the lame part where DC had decided Batman was an urban legend again and “War Games” revealed him on the TV news.

The backup, from Shane McCarthy, Tommy Castillo and Rodney Ramos, is bad. Riddler and Poison Ivy. Really weak proportions from Castillo in particular.

CREDITS

War Games, Act 1, Part 1: Flashpoint; writer, Andersen Gabrych; penciller, Pete Woods; inker, Nathan Massengill; colorist, Jason Wright; letterer, Pat Brosseau; editors, Michael Wright and Bob Schreck. Low, Part 1; writer, Shane McCarthy; penciller, Tommy Castillo; inker, Rodney Ramos; colorist, Tony Avina; letterer, Ken Lopez; editor, Wright. Publisher, DC Comics.

The Boys 12 (November 2007)

Ennis continues the quiet approach with the Russia story. Besides a bit of violence–and nowhere near the previous issue’s–there’s not much sensational. The Boys is calming down, with Ennis focusing on how the group operates. I don’t think Mother’s Milk has ever had so much to do and he’s just out asking questions here. The Frenchman gets a little scene, which Ennis plays for somewhat for laughs, before getting serious a moment later.

There’s a little with the villains and Ennis makes the Russian villain, Little Nina (she’s tiny), likable. Maybe because the American villains are such jerks, but also because it makes the comic a lot more enjoyable to have another funny character present.

The solid pacing continues. The issue takes place over a couple hours at most and only has a handful of scenes and fewer locations, but Ennis and Robertson make it feel full enough.

CREDITS

Glorious Five Year Plan, Part Two; writer, Garth Ennis; penciller, Darick Robertson; inkers, Robertson and Rodney Ramos; colorist, Tony Avina; letterer, Simon Bowland; editor, Joseph Rybandt; publisher, Dynamite Entertainment.

Contemporaneously…

The Boys 11 (October 2007)

366658 Ennis sends The Boys to Russia, which proves exactly what the series needs. He’s able to emphasize the characters while introducing the new material. Since they’re getting the information at the same time as the reader, the expository stuff is very smooth.

Robertson tones down the sensationalism too. The reason for the Russia visit is gradually revealed and always in dialogue. Hughie’s still the protagonist, but Ennis doesn’t emphasize it as much. The writing is very natural, very organic. The finale, for instance, is a complete surprise since Ennis isn’t raising any expectations.

So, while the issue is fun and well-done, it’s a little light on actual content. Ennis’s scenes are lengthy and full of natural dialogue. There’s really no action.

The most distinctive moment is the introduction of the new villain, which Ennis plays for humor. Actually, Ennis plays the whole issue for humor, even the humorless parts.

CREDITS

Glorious Five Year Plan, Part One; writer, Garth Ennis; penciller, Darick Robertson; inkers, Robertson and Rodney Ramos; colorist, Tony Avina; letterer, Simon Bowland; editor, Joseph Rybandt; publisher, Dynamite Entertainment.