Where fiction collides.
This May, you can read about the Batman: Arkham City video game in a comic of the same name … or you can just play the game when it comes out later this year.
Luckily, there are two convincing incentives: Paul Dini as writer and Carlos D’Anda as artist. Sounds good to me.
Learn more at Examiner.
Just look at that awesome cover art of Mr. Zsasz, one of my personal favorite rogues from Batman’s gallery. The actual comic should be just as great, right?
It’s somewhere in between good and bad, I’d say. Batman: Streets of Gotham #4 follows up on the Black Mask’s seemingly generous donation to Zsasz’s criminal interests, which led to a new look and the means to fulfill it. Logically, the next issue would more deeply explore the results of Victor’s new-found fortunes, but instead the comic takes an outside view—starting with Hush and working its way to none other than the Broker. There’s nothing wrong with the narrative technique, really, and Paul Dini’s decision to take his time reinventing Zsasz, but strangely nothing seems to progress, either.
Hush is on a tight leash now that Zatanna’s illusions allow Bruce’s astute allies to keep a close watch on Tommy and his sudden passion for charity and public image. Knowing the villain, it won’t be long before he figures out a way to slip past their careful detection.
Quickly, we’re taken to a scene that works its way in later, but is perhaps needless. The connection is loosely made, and acts more as background filler than a crucial part of the issue. Likewise, the events with the Broker—while making for an interesting character story, especially later on—don’t feel essential, either, nor necessary to the current, larger storyline Dini is creating. After dealing with the Great White Shark, the Broker (aka Sherman Fine) recounts Gotham’s days as the Wonder City of amusement parks, wax museums, and other gaudy attractions that eventually died out, leaving manufacturing and crime to expand in its absence.
The following scene with Zsasz shows his first steps at the expense of Black Mask, and shortly after the story wraps up and moves on to the secondary feature with Manhunter and Jane Doe (still enjoyable, but not as solid this time around) and a cheesy preview of R.E.B.E.L.S. Annual #1: Starro the Conquerer (writer Tony Bedard and artist Karl Moline).
Streets of Gotham #4 doesn’t satisfy as much as it did previously, but it wasn’t bad enough to caution that the book might be in any sort of danger. Dustin Nguyen and Paul Dini still make an excellent team, and I’m eager to see what the writer does with Zsasz and Hush. Let’s just hope there’s more of a focus next time.
Recommendation: As good as one of Tommy’s sappy public speeches as Gotham’s most popular bachelor. Sniff. Beautiful.
Curious how the Bat-books stack up here on the blog? Look here.
I asked, you answered: Some Bat-Reviews are coming your way!
Oh, Tommy Elliot … I just can’t quit you.
Paul Dini is making me one happy camper—and not to mention the Dustin Nguyen/Derek Fridolfs duo makes for drool-worthy art. Not only has Hush made his grand return in style ever since Heart of Hush, but now Zsasz is tearing up the scene, too? I’m either going to die happy or run away screaming, or both—and perhaps not even in that order.
The best thing, in my opinion, to come out of the mess that was Batman: RIP is nothing other than the new, not-so-improved Bruce Wayne … aka Tommy Elliot, aka Hush. The cunning, jealous childhood friend of Bruce turned Aristotle-quoting, dual pistol-wielding villain is putting on his most convincing masquerade yet, and it’s under the guise of Gotham’s resident billionaire playboy. But what appears to be a change of, ahem, heart for the city’s hottest bachelor—who now dishes out the family money to various charitable organizations and useless companies in a false act of philanthropy—is nothing more than an obvious act of mockery to those who knew the real Bruce Wayne.
Elliot relies on the knowledge that the new Caped Crusader, Dick Grayson, and his violence-happy sidekick, Robin aka Damian, can’t lay a finger on him without arising suspicion about their own connections to Wayne—but the Dynamic Duo have other plans in mind. With the help of some costumed friends, they’re going to be keeping a very close eye on the devious Mr. Wayne.
While the post-intimidation exchange about the nature of criminals gave me a good laugh that was unexpectedly refreshing, I can’t help—and I’m certain many feel the same way—but foster the concern that Damian is going to be the next Jason Todd, or worse … the Todd who lived. Erm … well, you know, in a “never died and thus never resurrected by the Lazarus Pit, but instead rebelled and became dangerous” sense. Okay, that made my brain hurt a little.
Meanwhile, Black Mask and Mr. Zsasz—oh yeah, creepy, good ol’ Zsasz—discuss the scarred psychopath’s role in the new Gotham. The city’s puppeteer is giving the killer a chance to dream up something bigger for himself in order to rain more terror down on the populace. I loved this issue of Streets of Gotham down to the very detail … except certain threads. I love Nguyen’s style, but I have to admit, I’m not exactly crazy about Zsasz’s new outfit. It doesn’t really fit his character in my mind, but then again, maybe that’s the point: out with the old, and in with the new. Guess we’ll just have to stick around and find out.
Streets of Gotham #3 also co-features “Under My Skin” (written by Marc Andreyko with art by Georges Jeanty and Karl Story), the continuation of the Manhunter secondaries that pits Kate against a skinless Jane Doe, who needs some new “threads” of her own, if you catch my meaning. The co-feature is a fun romp, but Buffy artist Jeanty makes Doe look like a female Warren.
Recommendation: Buy it! And while you’re at it, get Mr. Zsasz here a clean knife, would you?
Kevin Conroy might stun with the awesomeness of his voice acting as Batman, but Paul Dini is someone many fans, including myself, admire. His creativity spans years and never ceases to be fresh and entertaining. I’ve interviewed Dini before, but never face-to-face, so it was a pleasure to talk to him about his storytelling in Batman: Arkham Asylum, which comes out this Tuesday. (Holy guano, Batman!)
Yeah, if Dini wrote it, you know it’s gonna be good. So rest assured, gamers.
You can read my interview with Paul Dini over at the Girls Entertainment Network. Part 3 with Rocksteady Studios developer Sefton Hill should be up on Monday.
In line for Hall H
When Saturday arrived, I knew the trip was going way too fast. After meandering the floor, I eventually headed outside to add to the massive Hall H line. Saturday brimmed with television and movie extravaganza, and I hoped to make the Lost panel—rich with cast members and secrets. But the trek up and down the lawn by the convention center told me I wasn’t going to snag a seat in time, so I ended up attending the next panel, which focused on the upcoming Solomon Kane movie.
After meeting Dan Panosian and earning a Wolverine sketch, I eagerly met one of my artistic idols, Dustin Nguyen. Both artists remembered me from past interviews, and Nguyen let me have a sketch for free and kindly joined in for a photo.
Dustin Nguyen and I
After chatting with a few of his industry peers, I zipped across the floor and outside in a direct line for the Omni Hotel. There I met and participated in a roundtable with Watchmen director Zack Snyder. Later that day, I also interviewed Batman: Arkham Asylum developer Sefton Hill, writer Paul Dini, and Batman voice legend (oh my god squee!) Kevin Conroy—roundtable style. Conroy’s voice is even smoother in person, mind you.
Creator David LeVack and I ate dinner at TGIF’s and then I joined him for his portfolio review session. An hour or two later, Jill Pantozzi (aka TheNerdyBird) joined us and we met and chatted with dozens of creators—such as artist Ben Templesmith, Geoff Johns, Zuda writers/artists including David Gallaher and Steve Ellis (High Moon), and James Robinson (Starman), to name just a few. Oh, the stories I could tell …
That night I crashed at the hotel in preparation for the last day of SDCC.
More in-depth write-ups of the panels and interviews mentioned will be coming soon!
A pirate cosplay group
