Game Ender: Friendship

Well that was creepy. 

So today I am going to be taking a look at Batman Annual #3 which also happens to be a tie-in to the current story arc, End Game. And man, does this story get really dark. We have plenty of themes here with friendship, obsession and haunting on a massive scale. But like the title implies, what is the end game to it all? Are we going to get any closer to understanding the Joker in this universe of Batman. A character who is very much close to the concepts of chaos and disorder, we see here is haunting a reporter consistently through out his life, crime after crime, the Joker pays his "friend" a visit. I am curious to see how this will all play out in the big story at the end, but I have the feeling it might just be a cool dark side story that takes place here. And as any one off story should, this one holds up really well on it's own. The Joker has been crafted and transformed into a sick and twisted monster, a monster that can't be explained, which for us is probably the scariest thing in the world. We are a culture of questions and answers, when we can't find or explain the question, well, we panic. So much for The Riddler though, Joker is truly the question without an answer. 

A great tie in story is able to fall seamlessly with the main story, even with different heads at the creative steering wheel of each book. The writer and artist on this issue I am unfamiliar with their past works, but I would be inclined to look around and see what upcoming projects they have, because they do a damn good job on this book. And while being a Batman book, it feels more like a psychological horror film, with our main character being unable to escape this beast. The writer, James Tynion IV, does an excellent job here with introducing the safety and confidence of the journalist and takes us along the fall of his own sanity and reality, one could almost call it a Stockholm syndrome kind of ending. Helps with the overall creepy tone. And the artist, Roge Antonio complements the story as well along the way with some very amazing art, I loved the way he used the shadows to make the Joker look more and more like some kind of demon from the depths of hell. The pages with the "faceless" Joker are absolutely incredible looking, although I am huge fan of the look and concept of the deranged faceless freak. I almost wish he kept that look sometimes. Although not with the art itself, I would have liked to have seen more evolution with the different outfits and styles for the Joker, this is a story that takes place through different years and months, it would have been really cool to have seen that play out in the art as well. I also found it weird he never had the red lips in any of his looks. That aside though, these guys do some great work here.

Seeing as I am not sure how much impact this story will have overall, I am curious about a few things here. The journalist, Thomas Blackcrow, gets haunted for a few years in this book and I have to wonder, could he have signed up for witness protection or something? Why did he never try to get in touch with Batman? How come Batman never contacted this guy or even knew about him? Seems a bit strange, but this is me looking to deep into it, trying to find answers to all my questions. This still doesn't stop the issue from being a great and solid read, if you like your Batman books really dark with a side of horror, this is your cup of tea. I got to say, I highly recommend this one for everyone following the End Game story right now and if you get into it later, be sure to give it a read. It will also likely be included with the collection when it comes out later in the year. A haunting good time.

I wasn't sure if I was going to review this book first or issue 37, and by this time issue 38 should be out as well. It's been a blast reading this story so far, and I can't wait to see where Scott Snyder will takes us. As far as DC Comics go, this is the story to be reading right now. What do you guys think? Did you get a chance to read Annual #3 and if so, what did you think? Leave a comment below, tell you friends and be sure to follow this page for more and more comic book reviews and even little updates on my own projects. Thanks again as always, until then, keep chasing the storm! 

Game Ender: Super Kumite

Thanks Loot Crate for the exclusive variant!

Hey there storm readers, so just a quick heads up before I start this review off, this is a look at Batman #36 and part 2 of the Endgame storyline. I just wanted to give a heads up that there might be a few spoilers here and there, so if you haven't read this one by now, go out and get going on this run of Batman. A lot of surprises are coming to the Dark Knight and you don't want to miss it! Also, I took a look at the first part of Endgame, you can read that review right here. But come back and see my take on everything that went down in this issue.

That said, round 2, fight!

So after the cliff hanger ending in issue 35, we start off this issue with another round in the Batman vs Superman chronicle of fighting. And I am guessing that maybe a few, not everyone, but a few fans of comics could be sick of this idea by now. Don't get me wrong, but this scene was done and done brilliantly in the classic Frank Millers The Dark Knight Returns. You see a Batman that won't go down without a fight, we see Superman get his pretty perfect face turned to pulp and an overall classic fight that is part of comic book history as we know it. And it really did capture the hearts and imagination of many, people arguing this fight up and down. Not to mention DC Comics trying to find new and different ways to have these two, really good friends, go at it time and time again. Why can't they just be friends? Well not here, we have the Justice Buster ready Batman against an unhinged killer Superman. A lot of great things displayed here in this quick fight between the dark knight and the man of tomorrow, the idea that under the influence of someone as twisted as Joker, Superman is not going to care much about city damage and body count. This isn't Man of Steel Superman here, the Superman most of us knows to take the fight outside or to space, he is always aware of the little people. So that idea of making him a pure unstoppable killing machine, yeah that is something to worry about. But the best point and maybe the most important is a line Batman says as he and Superman fall down from the sky after using some hidden kryptonite; who wins in a fight between Batman and Superman...? No one does. And when you think about it, yeah, it's true. Regardless who wins, you have one really important hero out of the picture. You have a hollow victory over a friend, and an opportunity for all your real foes to come and pick off the bones. These guys make a way better team then they do as enemies. 

With the Justice League and Superman now out of the fight and healing up, Batman is now desperately trying to find Joker. Taking over all his friends and team mates, Joker has displayed that no one is out of his reach of influence and corruption, that Gotham will be taken over in a snap if Batman can't stop him. So on the hunt for the clown prince of crime, we see Batman back in the old Arkham Asylum at the old cell of his nemesis, looking for any hints or clues. And in comes Eric Border. A pretty recent new character, a medical staff of the new Arkham Asylum, always seemed like a pretty tame character, he would always say that everyone can be saved and such. Jokes on you...

Well played Joker. And well played Mr.Snyder. 

And God damn it, I hate to say it, but this a really awesome intro and design for Joker. I feel like this character gets enough air in his tires, but holy crap was this really great. Batman falls into the Jokers trap and we get a very creepy explanation to his latest plan and his reasoning, if we can even call it that, this guy is a psychopath after all. The best part of it all, this is only the beginning. The devil is here and is going to turn this city into his own kingdom of hell. Get hyped people, get hyped.

We also get more of the back story going on as well with the Arkham patients who have been looking for Joker, each with their own disturbing story in which the Joker has appeared before them as something more then human, a powerful influence of evil. But Joker is just a crazy guy...right? How much do we know about this guy anyway? Maybe that is the biggest joke of them all. There is more backstory as well in Batman Annual issue 3, so be sure to check that out and see how this all plays out in the Endgame. 

Okay so needless to say I am really looking forward to this storyline and see how it all plays out. While issue 35 gave us a big fight with heroes turned crazy, the reveal of Joker was really well played and makes me really excited to see what is going to happen next. The absolute landmark title for DC Comics right now, Batman is the series you want to be following issue per issue. As far as the mainstream big hero goes, you can't go wrong here. And you know I will be looking at all the rest of these issues as well, so come back and join in the conversation, what do you think about issue 36 of Batman? What do you think is really going with the Joker? Leave a comment below and let's talk about this. And be sure to check out all the other comic book related blogs and reviews coming up and already posted, until then keep chasing the storm! 

Game Ender...

I think everyone has their own version of a devil and an angel on their shoulders, appearing in times of making a big decision, when you have to do the right thing or something to that degree. Whenever I sit down and decide to do a comic book review, I generally go to my Marvel collection and try to find a book that I want to share with everyone. But then I hear it, the little voice of DC Comics. A small whimper, a plea that says, I've got great comics to you know. You do? Sure. Really? Batman. You can't go wrong with the Batman. It actually surprises me a bit on how incredibly successful the Batman franchise alone is, that series and all the characters to come out of that world are an absolute gold mine. I love the Detective Comics series, I enjoyed the Dark Knight series, the new Batgirl is shaping up and a lot of the different Batman comics just kick ass. So I decided I would do some Batman today, and we are going to be taking a look at the next big event for this flagship series from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, End Game. 

First off though, I want to make something perfectly clear here, there will be massive man boob spoilers here. But I think at this point everyone knows what's up.

It's issue 35 for this run of Batman and so far we have seen Batman go through the Court of Owl and the Year Zero event. Not to mention the big event that was, Death to the Family. And I wanted to address my feelings on that event in particular before I talk about this issue. While the story was an interesting idea, looked great and had some pretty kick ass moments, the sum of it all was...not much. Maybe I missed something here, but after all the issues and the crossover issues as well, he gets everyone together for a dinner and makes it seem like they all got defaced permanently. And the only "death" happen after the whole event. Joker came, Joker went. I was just wondering what was the point of it all. 

So after a year long event in Zero Year, we come back to find Bruce Wayne looking for his long lost foe, The Joker. The last time he saw him was in the Batcave, when he fell down the waterfall, so he could be anywhere at this point. But be careful what you ask for, you might just get it or something much worse, like the entire Justice League in your city and ready to skin you alive. The first one into the action is Wonder Woman, smashing through the glass and forcing Batman into a Hulkbuster kind of suit, will call it Superbuster...? (Note: Superman called it "Justice Buster" that is a better name now that I think about it) You figure it's made to deal with the Man of Steel, so might as well call it something to that degree. But apparently he has something for everyone of the league members, and we get to see it play out against Wonder Woman, Flash and Aquaman. Then Superman arrives, and the picture becomes very clear, the Joker has infiltrated the mind of Batman's friends. Well shit.

So in general, how do I feel about this issue overall? Well, I got to say Greg Capullo has been extremely consistent in delivering amazing looking issues time and time again. Great designs on all the characters, weapons vehicles and the world in general. And he has done a lot of different theme so far with each story, and it works. He can captured the creepiness when he needs to and show the kick ass moments of being Batman. When judging this book and this story, we need to look over to Scott Snyder. My beef with this story so far, is the way Batman deals with his friends turned enemies. A rope of lies to trick Wonder Woman, okay makes sense to a degree, except the whole when did get his hands on such a legendary weapon. He brings Aquaman back to being a laughing stock by covering him in bubble gum. Legit. That's all it takes. King of Atlantis everyone. But then we get to the Flash and I am not quite sure what rules apply to him now in the New 52, because last I remember, this was a guy who can turn people into dust with one touch. He must be de-powered now, which would explain how a batarang caught up with him and took him out. I need to figure this out. But I don't get it, why nurf Flash but keep Superman as a walking God. Maybe this why I am not getting paid to write comics, I don't know. And don't get me wrong, this is a great set up and a great build up in general, I just really hope this will lead up to something. An end, a conclusive answer to the fight between Joker and Batman, something. Here's hoping though. And also it goes without saying, this is the premier Batman book on shelves, this is the series you follow. 

So there you have it, I will be doing every issue of the End Game plot, so be sure to come back and check often. I really hope for this to be a modern day classic. But hey, what do you think? Are you enjoying this story so far? Also, any comments or book suggestions, let me know, I love to hear back from you guys. I will be back as soon as possible and do the best I can to keep this engine running. Until then, keep chasing the storm!