New Comic Day 3.16.2011

So, yeah...I never picked up my books last week. So, the "review" blog will be coming, at some point. as usual, when I get involved with a show, my time starts to get harder and harder to manage.

Batman #708 $2.99

Written by TONY DANIEL
Art by ANDY CLARKE
Cover by TONY DANIEL

Batman uncovers just how deep the Falcone Crime Family has penetrated the inner (and outer) workings of Gotham City, while Kitrina Falcone – a.k.a. Catgirl – is tempted to take over the family business. When she finds herself in hot water, she'll need Batman's help or all of her nine lives may run out.

I really like how the Falcone crime family has become a major recurring factor in the Batman world. It's always easy to throw out elements that other creative teams have introduced, in favor of your own stuff, but having writers go back to the Falcone family has helped establish a real multi-generational feel to Gotham's underworld.

Brightest Day #22 $2.99

Written by GEOFF JOHNS & PETER J. TOMASI
Art by IVAN REIS, PATRICK GLEASON,
ARDIAN SYAF, SCOTT CLARK & JOE PRADO
Covers by DAVID FINCH
1:10 Variant covers by IVAN REIS

As the end of BRIGHTEST DAY approaches, our returned heroes and villains begin converging in one area as the ultimate protector reveals itself against the ultimate menace! 

I used to laugh at the concept of "event fatigue." I always said, "if you're not enjoying it, just stop." I mean, I've never been one to buy something I wasn't enjoying, and there's plenty of events I never even started, because they just seemed vapid.

Yeah, I see you pointing out I still buy Justice League.....

Then I met Brightest Day. Just show me who the White Lantern is, and get it over with.

Red Robin #21 $2.99

Written by FABIAN NICIEZA
Art and cover by MARCUS TO
& RAY MCCARTHY

Unable to control the Unternet, Red Robin is determined to destroy the villains' communications grid. Once the hero learns that the Mad Men have unwittingly become "roaming sentient servers," Red Robin will have to decide between severing Earth's connection to the Unternet before it kills the Mad Men – or leaving them in the throes of insanity forever! 

I'm really liking how the mission for Time Drake/Red Robin has shifted to this "undernet" angle since the return of Bruce Wayne. It's a smart track for a young, yet capable character like Tim.

The Spirit #12 $2.99

Written by DAVID HINE
Art by MORITAT
Cover by LADRÖNN

Death is coming for Commissioner Dolan – and it wears The Spirit's face! The assassin sent to Central City by the South American cartels is a master of deadly automatons, but do The Spirit and the cops even know what they're looking for? They'd take a bullet for Dolan, but can they stop a killer who's taken countless lives without touching a gun?

This book has found it's groove, riding the line between whimsy and noir that marked the best of Will Eisner's work, as well as Darwyn Cooke's run. It's a consistent, solid read, it reminds me of Jonah Hex that way, but Hex has moments of utter genius this creative team hasn't found...yet.

I do really miss the Spirit: Black and White back-up feature.

Ultimate Avengers vs. New Ultimates #2 $3.99

Written by MARK MILLAR
Pencils & Cover by LEINIL YU

DEATH OF SPIDER-MAN! IT. IS. ON! The two most powerful super teams in the Ultimate Universe collide in the brawl of the century! A misunderstanding has brought these two colossal teams to blows and their battle may just spell the end for the Ultimate world! MARK MILLAR and LENIL YU bring you the issue that EVERYONE will be talking about. DON'T MISS OUT!

Yeah, yeah...Let's hope this series is more Mark Millar's run on The Ultimates, and not his Ultimate Avengers minis.