If you haven't been enjoying the Batman RIP storyline thus far this issue will not change your mind. However, those of you who enjoyed the first two issues but were slightly let down by #678 will be pleased with this. Morrison fills us in on the Batman of Zur-en-Arrh and I like what he did with it, but based upon who we receive the information from I'm not so sure we can totally believe it just quite yet. Similarly, we find out more about the Black Glove and Doctor Hurt, but who knows what will actually end up being true after another two issues. Regardless of whether it turns out to be true, which I highly doubt, it adds to the character of Doctor Hurt and the overall devilishness of the Black Glove which is important to this story. After multiple readings this issue began to feel more like set up for the big return of you know who, but a lot still happened and even if we can't believe it all as being true, it was entertaining, thought-provoking, and above all worked within the story. However, even though a lot happened and things were flushed out some more Morrison is still leaving a lot of things in the closet which is fine by me because he has me wanting more and believing that it will pay off. Relax, realize you don't need to know all the answers in advance, and enjoy the ride.
Secret Invasion #5
In my review of Batman this week I talked about how Morrison hasn't laid everything on the table even after four issues yet he has me confident it will all pay off and wanting more right away, but I can not say the same about this event. While this issue was an improvement over the previous two and has given me some slight hope I'm still not that interested in where Bendis is taking me nor am I totally confident that the ultimate pay off will have been worth the slow tedious wait which these first five issues have been. Like I said, this issue was an improvement even though the pacing was still far too slow, but maybe just maybe I'll be singing a different tune after next issue; I'm not totally dismissing that possibility like I did after issue #4. As many others have stated, a lot of things happened in this issue and they did .. sort of, but ultimately when I get to the last page too many characters are still in the same place. However, at least now we know they are FINALLY moving on. The highlight of this issue is a two page spread of very familiar faces which gives the Invasion the epic scale it should have had from the beginning before Bendis spent more than half the event in the Savage Land and a few blocks of Manhattan. Like in previous issues the scenes with Agent Brand and Maria Hill were very well done especially the one with Maria. The less said about the Savage Land the better. One final thing if you are going to tease something then please deliver, that was just annoying.
Astonishing X-Men #26
I'm not a huge fan of Bianchi's style on this book, but what makes the art really bothersome for me is the coloring. Everything on the page just has this sort of sameness to it, and I simply don't like the overall dark look they are going for on this title. I wish I had more positive things to say about Warren Ellis' writing but I don't it just isn't that good here. His handling of the characters is fine and I especially like how he wrote Cyclops in an exchange with Storm at the end of the issue, but the story he is telling with said characters just isn't interesting after these first two issues. I'll probably stick around for one more issue then drop it if things don't turn around.
Action Comics #868
My most highly anticipated book of the week does not disappoint at all. Geoff Johns is writing the hell out of this arc and Gary Frank sure is keeping pace with the pencils. On top of getting the awesome revelation about the true identity of Brainiac we get bits and pieces from all the other plot points Johns has set up. He didn't spend too much time in one place but instead left at just the right moments. The scenes with Supergirl are great again, and the cast of the Daily Planet perfectly adds just the hint of humor this arc needs because after all this is a gloomy story Johns is telling. Above all else this is perhaps what Johns is doing best in this arc, creating that sense of coming terror which we see on the faces of everybody including the Man of Steel himself.
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