Batgirl #21 - Two months ago they had Dustin Nguyen's name on the cover when Ramon Bachs drew the issue. Now Nguyen's actually drawing the issue, but Pere Perez' name is on the cover. Anyway, it's a very nicely done cover, especially considering the issue takes place in a cathedral. Appropriate.Inside, Batgirl fights Harmony, the second of the Reapers' super-suited lackeys. harmony's suit produces powerful acoustics, and she's trying to steal DNA from the remains of a nun who supposedly had healing powers. Which the Grey Ghost could have used, since Harmony trounced him before Batgirl defeated her. Clancy isn't terribly grateful, actually he's mostly annoyed with Steph for continuing to tell him to quit crimefighting. In other news, Wendy talks to a hallucination of her dead brother, and decides to travel to Nanda Parabat, which will possibly heal her spirit, if not her spine.
I still have no idea what the Reapers are planning, though it's a sure bet Clancy's going to regret dealing with them. Nice touch on Bryan Q. Miller's part, since this seems like a somewhat twisted version of Stephanie's screw-up that lead to War Games. Not that I particularly want to be reminded of that story (ever), but if it's going to be part of her backstory, this isn't a bad play off it. I don't always like Dustin Nguyen's figures, but he does some excellent expressions (Batgirl's smirk as she tripped her first trap on Harmony), and his page layouts are pretty good. Things flow really well.
Batman Beyond #5 - All the angry workers are red on the cover I have. It probably shouldn't, but I think that helps it. Certainly catches the eye more.WaynePowers is trying to hammer out a contract with their labor union. The regular negotiator has been fired, and now the workers are rioting. Which leads to some crowd control work for Terry as Bruce looks into the new negotiator. Also, Dana breaks up with Terry, just as her creepy-looking brother returns home. And Paxton Powers is released from prison only to be blown up along with Batman. Or not. Probably not.
It's kind of odd that Beechen offed so many of Terry's foes, but brings back one that had been left for dead. He was never confirmed dead, and they pointed that out in the show, but he also never made an appearance after that point. I'm left wondering whether Blight's reemergence has anything to do with Dana's brother. They don't seem connected, but you can never tell.
I've grown accustomed to Benjamin not drawing the characters quite how I remember them from the cartoon. Terry often doesn't look much like his cartoon self (maybe because he doesn't scowl as much). It's style isn't his style, that's how it goes. Dana's brother actually looks like he'd fit in the cartoon, he reminds me of someone I'd seen there. Maybe it's the smoothness of his face, combined with a sort of pointed chin. That was pretty common for the animation style.
Darkwing Duck #12 - Duckthulu is on the loose and surprise, FOWL high command can't control him. Of course not, he's beyond a force of nature, how could they think they'd control him? Putzes. Femme Appeal has some spell that might halt his rise, and fortunately all of Darkwing's friends have shown up to help, including his sorceress girlfriend. The spell alters reality, or sends them to a different one, because that makes it harder for Duckthulu, somehow. I honestly wasn't clear on that, or why Morgana chose a world that was essentially an old TV sitcom, like The Honeymooners. Duckthulu is eventually repelled, most of the FOWL agents (save Steelbeak) are rounded up, but Darkwing loses someone.I hope Darkwing doesn't go post-Death in the Family Batman on us now. Setting aside that I'm not clear on the significance of the reality Morgana chose, this was a pretty solid arc. The one thing that surprises me is I don't think it sets up as many future plot threads as the last two arcs did. The threat is down, FOWL is mostly down, and what's left probably ought to be more concerned about Steelbeak than Darkwing or SHUSH.
Heroes for Hire #6 - That's an accurate cover in the sense that Paladin would like to shoot Spider-Man by the end of the issue.In the aftermath of the Puppet Master fiasco, Misty's found it a little hard to get heroes to help her out. Sounds sort of reasonable, though people seem to forgive Logan for mind-control transgressions all the damn time. This has left her available roster at Paladin and. . . well, just Paladin. And he's being beaten by ninjas with bone clubs. Well, at least it's a moderately unique way to die. Enter Spider-Man, who saves Paladin, then won't go away. Much to Paladin's annoyance. Then Batroc shows up and kicks Paladin's butt. Fortunately, Spidey's been talking with Misty, and he's agreed to lend a hand, because he's a good guy and that's what they do.
Alright, Brad Walker's back on the art chores! Walker's a bit like Dustin Nguyen 9though their art looks nothing alike): I don't always love Walker's faces, but he also knows how to design a page so things flow naturally. He also does a good job with some of Spidey's poses, suggesting his sort of playful, relaxed manner. I've never given Paladin much thought, but I like what Abnett and Lanning are doing with him.
Tomorrow, the last of the comics.
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