For those who haven’t been keeping up with the web-first comics in the Beyond-verse, Batman Beyond Unlimited provides a monthly round-up of the “Beyond” titles (Batman Beyond, Superman Beyond and Justice League Beyond). The latest issue brings the Justice League’s recruitment drive around to Central City…but how they get there is half the intrigue…
SOME MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD – PLEASE READ THE ISSUE BEFORE CONTINUING!
Salutations Speed Readers,
So now that DC Comic’s own in-house collectibles company, DC Collectibles and the owners of the master DC Comics toy license, Mattel have both released their own version of the New 52’s Scarlet Speedster we finally get a chance to look at both and compare and contrast:
Earth-2 issue #9 pulls off an impressive feat – introducing a major character without making it feel like a stunt, all the while pushing forward an excellent storyline. Jay Garrick fans get to see a lot more of his character in this issue, and we find out more about the depths to which the World Army will stoop in an attempt to capture these new “Wonders”.
SOME MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD – PLEASE READ THE ISSUE BEFORE CONTINUING!
This issue of Teen Titans continues the “Death of the Family” story arc that has hit the Bat-titles with the Joker’s return to Gotham after a year’s absence. He is creepier and more dangerous than ever before. The Outlaws and Titans have begun to work together to stop the Joker’s attacks, but as we start this issue, Red Robin has been captured by the Joker and finds himself waking up next to Jason Todd! As noted in the solicits, this issue also brings us the return of…Raven!
SOME MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD – PLEASE READ THE ISSUE BEFORE CONTINUING HERE!
The “Gorilla Warfare” story arc is moving quickly toward next issue’s final chapter, and Barry Allen believes he has finally found the way to fight back against a very powerful King Gorilla Grodd. The multiple story threads we’ve seen so far in this story are quickly coming together, and we are once again in for a very wild ride in Flash #16. The solicitation for this issue promised a trip into the Speed Force, the “introduction of a major villain”, and the story of the “one and only date between Barry Allen and Iris West”. Once again, the team of Manapul and Buccellato delivered on that and much more. And, strangely enough, Occam’s Razor takes a significant role in this issue.
As we get ready to start this issue, Barry has been recovering from a vicious beating at the hands of King Grodd, carefully watched over by Patty Spivot. At the end of last issue, Barry’s Speed Mind hit high gear, playing through several potential plans of action and their outcomes, with Barry awakening at the end of issue #15 with the realization that his only course of action was…to turn himself over to Grodd!
SOME MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD – PLEASE READ THE ISSUE BEFORE CONTINUING HERE!
The Flash makes a rather significant guest appearance in Supergirl #16, which continues the “H’El on Earth” storyline that is being carried throughout the Superman line of books. For those who aren’t following this arc (you should), a mysterious Kryptonian named H’El has appeared with an amped-up power set that seems to eclipse even all our combined Supers. He has put a major wedge between Superman and Kara, rearranged Superboy’s DNA to the point that he has to wear Superman’s armor just to stay alive, and now plans to go back in time and “save” Krypton…at the cost of all life in our solar system! At this point in the story arc, H’El has taken over the Fortress of Solitude and attempted to block everyone other than Kara from entry. The Justice League has been helping Superman break in – including The Flash, who in the last issue of Superboy briefly appeared while trying to vibrate into the Fortress itself.
SOME MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD – PLEASE READ THE ISSUE BEFORE CONTINUING HERE!