Batman 8 :: The Call

The "Night of the Owls" has begun, and so Batman has summoned his allies to help him against the immortal power of the Talons!  Alfred Pennyworth sends the call to the entire Bat-Family to help against the Court of Owls' deadly servants.  Batgirl is joining the fight!

"The Call"

Batman #8 and "Night of the Owls" booklet

Art by Rafael Albuquerque

Batgirl 8 :: No Darker Shadow

Written by: Gail Simone

Art by: Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes, and Alitha Martinez

The retelling of "The Killing Joke" continues in a story written by Gail Simone. Rather than presenting readers with a mere flashback, Simone makes a great effort to offer an interesting plot that naturally leads to the remembering of that atrocious night for Barbara Gordon. This is not a light story, or one with funny remarks here and there; this one is dark, personal, and tragic. Without taking much away from the original tale, great strides are made to actually build on it by slightly shifting the focus away from the main players. Then there is the other big elephant in the room: Babs' mom and her justification for her actions. There is something about it that felt somewhat flat; then again, Barbara's inner thoughts show she feels something is missing; so perhaps it is indeed an intentional move to be elaborated on later. That last page was creepy to no end and can't wait for what's next!

Batwoman 8 :: To Drown The World III

Written by: J. H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman

Art by: Amy Reeder

Batwoman takes on Falchion's myth creatures as they threaten "To Drown the World" in a story written by Williams III and Haden Blackman. The pieces of this time-spanning adventure continue coalescing while questions are answered, and characters and their relationships are developed. Events from the massacre in issue #2 are elaborated on, Batwoman's dynamics with agent Chase get the spotlight, and Kate keeps digging herself in a hole from which she will not be able to get out of. After almost two years of much fanfare, Amy Reeder's short-lived run in the title comes to its end. Her style, although very different from Williams III's, had its own charm and fit perfectly fine with the theme and tempo of the arc. It is sad that creative differences did not allow the story to be delivered in its entirety with the consistency expected of such high-quality book.

NOTE:  Chronology has been updated with this entry 

I Vampire #7

Chapter II of the "Rise of the Vampires" crossover

Batgirl makes a cameo in "I, Vampire" #7

Art by Andrea Sorrentino

Justice League Dark #7

Chapter I of the "Rise of the Vampires" crossover

Art by Admira Wijaya

Batgirl guest-stars and fights alongside the JLD

Art by Daniel Sampere

Many thanks to Blog follower Anonymous for the information

Batwoman #8 Preview

"To Drown the World" - Part III

Art by Amy Reeder

Young Justice #14

Mera guest stars in "Under the surface..."

Written by Kevin Hopps & Greg Weisman

Penciled by Christopher Jones

While Aqualad takes his friends around Atlantis, an enemy breaks into the Queen's chambers in order to kill her and her unborn child so there is no legitimate heir to the kingdom.

It's the Ocean Master and his minions.  Mera has no idea that the Ocean Master is in reality her brother-in-law, Orm.
To be continued...

Not Aquawoman

Batwoman #10

Ambushed by KILLER CROC! The penultimate chapter of “TO DROWN THE WORLD” reveals the true nature of the villain BATWOMAN has been searching for all this time!

Written by: J.H. Williams, III and W. Haden Blackman

Art by: Trevor McCarthy

Cover by: J.H. Williams, III

Color | 32 Pages | U.S. $2.99 | On Sale Jun 20 2012

Birds of Prey 7 :: Brain Damage

"Brain Damage" is the seventh chapter of the Birds of Prey's first arc written by Duane Swierczynski and penciled by Jesus Saiz.  The Birds have found Choke, but their enemy proves to be smarter and pulls an ace under his sleeve: Sterling.

For the time being, there should be a strict mandate at DC:  Batgirl is not to be shot.  Gail Simone is doing all this work rebuilding Batgirl's character through experiences that echo the brutal attack she was subject of, and then some other writer gets her shot at? and by an ally, of all people?  It feels like Swierczynski crossed the line.

At least Batgirl knocked some sense into Sterling.

This scene between Batgirl and Black Canary was quite powerful.  Not even a bullet in the arm hurt as much as Dinah's words to Barbara.