Flash Friday!

Nightwing #12-  This issue of Nightwing shows Dick's final fight with Paragon.  It really shows that being is important to Dick Grayson but it isn't easy.  He has to struggle with criminals and he gets hurt.  His victories are not easy but he earns them and he earns the respect of those around him.  Dick believes so strongly in doing what is best for Gotham that he is willing to ruin himself to prove it.  He wants to rebuild the Amusement Mile, to return it to it's glory days, and he's putting his money where his mouth is.  He's willing to work with the daughter of the gangster who killed his parents.  Whatever it takes.  This is one of the reasons that I love Dick Grayson.  He is faced with the ugly truth of the world at every turn but he remains positive and hopeful.  He is the embodiment of what Robin is to Batman (even if he's no longer the Boy Wonder).  Robin is the light that keeps Batman from slipping off the deep end.  Dick has that light.  He is just so full of light and love.  He has his down times and he faces challenges like we all do but he's just such an overall positive character.  I give this issue 4 Flashes for a great book full of the Dick Grayson that we all love.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digitally on Comixology.  

DC Universe Presents #12: Kid Flash-  I've been waiting for months for this Kid Flash-centric issue!  The Flash family was the thing that first got me reading comics and I fell hard for Bart Allen in his Impulse series as well as all of this other appearances before the Reboot.  It's taking some getting used to now that Bart is in the New 52 Teen Titans.  His origin story appears to have changed and he is a little more brash and rough around the edge in this incarnation but I still love Kid Flash.  In this special issue, he deals with three dinosoid teens who somehow came with the Teen Titans from the Mysterious Island that they found themselves on after their escape from The Culling.  Bart is on his own this time but we'll see this story continued in the next issue of Teen Titans.  This book has a great feel for Bart's new part in the Flash legacy.  He is snarky but also you can tell he's all about helping.  He may do some dumb things but he's genuine about being a hero.  I really liked seeing Bart on his own in this issue.  I give this book 3 Flashes for a good book about one of my favorite DC characters.  I just hope that Bart's character will grow in Teen Titans.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digitally on Comixology.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #12-  Red Hood and the Outlaws #12 is narrated by Roy Harper.  I love his voice in this comic.  It's good to see him standing on his own two feet in this issue and not just being the butt of Jason's jokes.  Roy really shines in issues 11 and 12.  The art in this issue is a bit different but it's not totally awful.  I mean, a new artist has a learning curve.  The one thing that annoyed me in this issue was the flight attendant.  She's still there.  Now it sounds like Jason is warming up to her and we're never going to get rid of her.  Great.  Urgh.  Starfire was actually pretty awesome in this issue.  That's big coming from me as I basically can't stand her comic book character.  The next issue will be the 0 issue which will show us how Jason Todd died and came back.  That should be super interesting.  I may need Kleenex for that one.  I cry when I watch Under the Red Hood.  Poor Jay!  Then issue 13 in October will probably be taking us back to space to see if Starfire and Blackfire have saved Tamaran.  I give this book 3 Flashes.  It was a good issue but not perfect by any means.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digitally on Comixology.

Blue Beetle #12-  This issue is the one we have all been waiting for!  Things are finally starting to look up for Jaime!!!  Yay!  He teaches Kaji-da about self sacrifice, saves the day and gets acclaim as a hero.  He also spends time with his grandma and gets spit on as a blessing.  That's the crazy life that he lives.  The next issue will be the zero issue which will tell the story of "Kaji-da's secret origins."  I'm not clear as to how it is a secret but I think we'll be seeing more of the Reach in the zero issue.  I'm also hoping that in issue 13 we'll see Booster Gold again.  He needs to make up for being an idiot.  Really.  I also hope that things keep looking up for Jaime in the upcoming issues.  He's such a positive character and all the negativity that we've seen in the New 52 issues of this title don't really show him at his best.  We'll see, I suppose.  I give this issue 5 Flashes for a great book about a great character.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digitally on Comixology.

Next week will have my pull for this week and next so we'll be getting Batman Incorporated, The Flash, The Savage Hawkman, Teen Titans, Aquaman, Justice League, Young Justice, Super Family Adventures, and the Flash Annual!! 

Flash Friday!

This we was a pretty good week for comics!  We got Nightwing #11, Red Hood & the Outlaws #11, Blue Beetle #11, Young Justice #18, Birds of Prey #11, Justice League #11, and some sweet The Dark Knight Rises swag on our trip to the comic shop this week.  I also dug through the 25 cent comics box and found a good haul of old Green Arrow and Teen Titan comics.  It was a good trip!

© DC Comics

Nightwing #11-  Dick Grayson is having a bad week.  I mean, he's been told that he's a hazard to the city by a cop, some villains, and the bank president who stuck her neck out for him- and it's barely Thursday.  Yeah.  It's going well, especially when Damian shows up and can't bring himself to kick Dick's butt because poor Nightwing is just that pathetic- ouch.  But Damian does show that he learned plenty in the time that he's worked with Dick.  The little demon is wise beyond his years and helps Dick through his low point.  LOVE THAT!  It's awesome to see Big D and Little D together!  It was my favorite part of this book.  I really hope that Dick pulls through this low spot and accepts the help of his brothers in dealing with this crack pot villan.  I give this one 4 Flashes for great art and Big D & Little D back together!

Find It:  In Print on MyComicShop or Digitally on Comixology!

© DC Comics

Red Hood & the Outlaws #11- Roy narrates this installment of the Outlaws.  It's a pretty wild ride as he is telling Starfire's flashback within his own flashback at one point.  It gets kind of confusing but I love Roy and he really shines in this one.  He has a beautiful moment with Kori that is ended abruptly by Isabel wandering in and telling Jason off.  I really wish that Scott Lobdell had the ability to write women who were actually characters.  They don't all have to be awesome heroic women but he can't write anything but whiny, selfish and nasty women.  I think he has issues with women given how universal this habit of his is.  I really wish someone else was writing this book and Teen Titans.  I love Roy and Jason but they so often fall flat. The one thing about Jason that I liked in this book was that he sounded like he was attempting to understand and forgive Bruce for not avenging his death.  I'd like to see Jason able to interact with his brothers more.  He and Bruce don't need to hug it out or anything but it'd be nice to see more like his behavior from the Night of the Owls.  I give this one 3 Flashes for (as always) lovely art and at least decent story this time around.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digitally on Comixology!

© DC Comics

Blue Beetle #11- Well, this issue of Blue Beetle might be a turning point for Jaime.  Booster Gold did  royally screw up on meeting Beetle but it's not unexpected.  I just hope he pulls his head out of his behind and fixes it so that things can start looking up for Jaime.  Booster's JLI book is nearly at it's end so he could be the mentor that Jaime desperately needs.  (Also, I'm surprised that the Blue & Gold shippers didn't jump on the newspaper headline of "Booster to Beetle: Call Me.")  I was glad that Jaime finally has someone that knows his secret and is willing to help him.  His grandma seems like a great lady.  Things aren't going so well for Jaime's friends Brenda and  Paco though.  The government has inadvertently caused Paco to turn into the Blood Beetle.  Way to go government agency.  Let's hope that Booster and Beetle can team up to help poor Paco in the next issue.  I give this one 4 Flashes for finally showing the possibility of a light at the end of the tunnel for Jaime Reyes.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digitally on Comixology!

© DC Comics

Justice League #11-  This issue was pretty crazy.  The Justice League continues to deal with Graves, who is totally out of his gourd.  It causes in fighting and he attempts to discredit the league.  Wonder Woman gets some awful news about Steve.  Flash and GL have a classic bromance moment.  Batman and Superman have their own issues in this one.  All in all, it was a great issue for showing lots of character development in with the action.  And, of course, the art is pretty!  This issue includes the next installment of SHAZAM too.  It was scary at first with Black Adam (I don't like him much but the guy I buy my comics from loves him.)  Then we get to see Billy as he helps Freddie and ends up on his way to see the Wizard.  Of course, they give us a clif hanger right before Billy actually sees the Wizard Shazam.  I can't wait to see the new Captain Marvel/Shazam!!! I really like Billy Batson in the new 52.  He's relevant but retains the essetial selflessness that makes him a hero.  Love it.  This issue gets 4 Flashes for a lovely book with great stories.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digitally on Comixology!

Birds of Prey #11- This issue was full of crazy.  Ivy has forced the Birds of Prey to do her bidding (can you hear Batman telling Black Canary "I told you so"?)  This is not going to end well for her but hey- it's her funeral.  She's all about needing assistance to save the planet.  I love this book.  I love female heroes who are being treated right by their writer and artist.  This book shows you how female heroes should be written and drawn.  All of the characters are great and they really work together in a great group dynamic. The art in BOP is great and the story is compelling.  I give this one 4 Flashes for a great title, all around.

Find it: In Print on MyComicShop or Digitally on Comixology!

Next week, we'll have Aquaman, Batman Incorporated, The Flash, Teen Titans, Superman Family Adventures, and The Savage Hawkman in our pull box.  It should be an exciting week in comics!  Hope to see you then!

Flash Friday!

Howdy everyone!  It's that time again for new comics!  This week we got: Nightwing, Birds of Prey, Red Hood & the Outlaws, Blue Beetle, Young Justice and of course, Astonishing X-Men #51.  The cover of the milestone Astonishing X-Men is gorgeous and the writing within is beautiful too.  I can't say I'm a fan of the last page because Northstar and Wolverine have had a pretty rough past but let's hope that Northstar will be afforded some amount of respect in this series.  Now, on to the other comics!

Blue Beetle #10-  Jaime is still having a tough time of it in New York.  His parents have to resort to calling in the cavalry to try and find him.  Poor Jaime needs some help figuring out this hero thing so he resorts to contacting the government.  Big mistake or great idea?  The creeps at Super Fail are still on Blue Beetle's case.  Jaime just can't get a break! The last page is my absolute favorite because it reveals a character who should have a lot to do with Blue Beetle.  I want to know what he's up to and if he's there to help Jaime or to hinder his progress.  I guess we shall see next month.  I really enjoyed this month's Blue Beetle but I miss the joy that Jaime used to have.  In some ways I think taking the reboot as dark as DC did might not have been a good idea. I don't know.   Blue Beetle #10 earns 4 Flashes for good art, an interesting story line and an EPIC cliff hanger!

Find It:  In Print on MyComicShop.com or Digital at Comixology.

Nightwing #10-  Dick Grayson leads a strange life for sure.  He owns a circus.  He has a night job that can be a real pain.  He doesn't want to ask his sort of dad for money for his new business idea.  He met his undead great grandfather who didn't like him much a while back.  Oh, and someone is trying to frame him in a murder.  I love that Dick has this hope to fix things for Haly's Circus and for Gotham and that he's his usual optimistic self.  It's nice.  I also appreciated that Dick wants to do something on his own without Bruce's help.  He's trying so hard to be his own man.  It's really crazy though to see how stacked the odds are against him right now.  The one thing that I really find lacking in the current Nightwing series is Dick's humor.  He's usually the one to make the quips and puns that keep things from being far too heavy.  He recently showed more humor in one issue of Batwing than he has in his entire series.  I can't wait to see how Dick finds his way out of this latest mess and I have a feeling that he's going to need some help.  (Hopefully Damian or Tim will come to their big brother's rescue.)  I give this one 4 Flashes for a good comic that can only get better.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop.com or Digital at Comixology.

Red Hood & the Outlaws #10-  This issue was another one from RH&TO that had me shaking my head a bit.  This issue is just one improbable event after another.  Note, there are spoilers ahead.  First, we get a full page reminder that Roy and Kori are sleeping together.  But at least she's covered in the sheet.  Then Jason gets attacked by the flight attendant he took out on a date.  He's trying to give her the brush off and she's refusing to get it. Then things get wild at the hotel and while Roy has the time to completely dress before grappling down the building to deal with the threat, Kori is only wearing the bed sheet.  Really?  I get that she has no body shame- and power to her.  But common sense says that you face a threat either armed or at the very least not with one arm holding up a nasty hotel sheet.  Then suddenly they are being wisked into space- with the girl Jay has been trying to get rid of.  Then the boy look at each other and say "who knew Kori was so bad ass" and "that's MY girl."  Really?!  You can't have it both ways, Lobdell.  Either they know she kicks butt and they're proud of her for it or they don't and they're shocked to see it.  I really want to like this book because I love Roy and Jason.  I love seeing Roy as more average.  As Red Arrow and Arsenal before the reboot, he's always beyond built and his character is always big and loud on the outside and it was like the only time we really saw Roy was when he was with Lian.  Now, we see more of the real Roy again.  Roy who is trying to be something better than what he was.  He's such a great character in this incarnation but I feel like he gets passed over in favor of Starfire.  Jason... Jason is lovely when Rocafort draws him.  Just lovely.  And it's nice to see Jay as something other than a raving psychopath (like he was in Batman and Robin back prior to the reboot).  But Jason has so much depth and promise that we're not really seeing.  I really expect more from this book.  I want more from it.  This one gets three stars for dynamic and beautiful art without a lot of substance.

Find It: In Print onMyComicShop.com or Digital at Comixology.  

Birds of Prey #10-  Wow.  Birds of Prey is a book that we picked up late in the game.  I'd heard great things about this title all over Tumblr before I added it to our pull and it has been so worth it.  I love this book.  It features strong female characters doing amazing things wearing sensible outfits that you believe that they actually designed.  The on thing I do not like about this book is, unfortunately, Batgirl.  I'm not sure that I really like Barbara as Batgirl.  She's really... I don't know how to desccribe it but not right.  In this book she gives Dinah crap for telling Bruce off after the events of the Night of the Owls.  Yeah, we get he had a hard couple days but so did EVERYONE ELSE.  I didn't like the way that Barbara spoke to Jason after he came to their aid on the Night of the Owls.  I really wish she was still Oracle.  I'd feel more comfortable about her in that position than as Batgirl.  Especially since a 20 something is hardly a girl.  But I digress.  I love Black Canary in this one.  She's fulfilling a promise to a friend.  She's like Batman on the best of days.  Strong, faithful and trustworthy.  Ev is a great character too in much the same vein.  I love that the core ladies of the BOP are all about being themselves- strong women with baggage just trying to help out.  It's so awesome to see this title in the New 52.  I wish Catwoman was this great.  Birds of Prey #10 earns 5 Flashes for a great book with a strange twist in regards to Black Canary's abilities.  


Find It: In Print on MyComicShop.com or Digital on Comixology. 

Next week we'll have Teen Titans, Savage Hawkman, Aquaman, Batman Incorporated, Justice League, The Flash and Superman Family Advantures.  I also plan on taking an extra trip to the comic shop Friday after my doctor's appointment to dig through the older comic boxes for some Wonder Woman books for my daughter and the Birds of Prey #8 that we some how missed.  Last week I found tons of great Anita Blake books, a Red Hood: Lost Days, a Robin I needed and the rest of the Dark Reign: Young Avengers book I needed.  Hope your weekend is lovely and see you back next week!

Flash Friday!

Well, it has been a crazy couple of weeks in comics!  We're in the middle of the Night of the Owls event that is occurring across the Bat-world and The Culling event that is going on between the Teen Titans, Superboy, Legion Lost and Ravagers books.  We've been having some trouble getting our books on time as well.  There have been pretty severe damages at our store over the past two weeks.  We are still missing our copy of Batman from last week and our store had no usable Catwoman books in the boxes for today.  They also must not have gotten the memo that the genius Marcus To has been moved to Batwing because they did not order enough books to cover all the new readers.  Our is still on order.  So, today I have reviews for Batman & Robin, Red Hood & the Outlaws, Birds of Prey, Batgirl and Nightwing.  Night of the Owls, here we come!

Batman & Robin #9-  Damian is on his own in the city, apparently searching the sewers, when Alfred's All Call to the Bat Family goes out.  His first instinct is to rush to his father's aid.  (Love this!)  But Alfred gives him the mission of protecting one of Gotham's top military men from a Talon.  There is nothing about this issue that I don't like.  Damian loves his dad, gets a jet pack and kicks some butt.  We get to see his leadership abilities and his swordsmanship skills put to the test.  I love Damian Wayne like no one's business and this title's reputation for being solid gold continues with the Night of the Owls.  You have beautiful art, great characterization and tons of action.  Tomasi really knows his characters and how to make them shine.  This one earns 5 Flashes because it is perfection.  Absolute perfection.

Batgirl #9-  I don't usually read Batgirl because honestly, it's hard for me to see Barbara Gordon as Batgirl.  She's been Oracle so long and so well that it's ... uncomfortable to see her as Batgirl again.  But with the Night of the Owls, I really want to see everything from all sides to get the whole picture of this epic event that has the Bats taking Gotham back from the Owls.  I actually enjoyed this book as we watch Barbara try to protect her father.  She has to fight a Talon with an incredible origin.  Barbara had plenty of classic Batgirl attitude but the art felt a bit flat.  Especially Alfred's face... he was not himself.  Overall, this crossover edition was worth the read and really brought a great bit of the story together in the overall picture of the Night of the Owls.  This book earns 4 Flashes for a great story with tons of action, interesting plot points and a great characterization of Barbara Gordon.

Red Hood & the Outlaws #9-  I really don't want to like this book as much as I do.  Scott Lobdell is to me what Dinkleberg was to Timmy Turner's dad on Fairly Odd Parents.  But Kenneth Rocafort is amazing.  His art is gorgeous and his layouts are super dynamic.  The only artist who can out dynamic him is Francis Manapul, king of The Flash.  This book showcases the beauty of all of the characters in this book.  EVERY ONE.  We get close ups of Roy's face that make me want to hug him.  His eyes are so big and expressive.  Jason and his Talon have a "you died and came back and it sucks?  I know that feeling, bro." moment that will just tear your heart to bits.  Jason is back in Gotham and reaching out to his family, even if he has convinced himself that he's here for the city and not the people he left behind.  Roy was really looking like his old self in this one.  He has some wicked trick arrows and he proves that he is not dead weight on this team.  The whole book even made Starfire palatable and she is my least favorite comic character of all time.  So, I have to give this issue of RHATO 5 Flashes for a gorgeous book with an epic story.

Nightwing #9- WOW!  This issue continues where we left off in Nightwing #8.  Dick is fighting his Talon to keep the mayor and his deputy safe.  It's a heart wrenching battle that leaves the reader at least as drained as it leaves Dick Grayson.  The dialogue is so classic Dick that you find yourself smiling a bit as he lays out his feelings on destiny. What an epic battle for the ages.  The action is dynamic and the story is fascinating.  Dick Grayson is easily one of my favorite characters in the DC comics universe and this book just reaffirms that.  The art is lovely and the details are great.  I still don't love the new suit but it's a small complaint.  This one earns 5  Flashes for an epic comic that has it all.  I will warn those who have issues with blood that there is a fair amount of it in this book.  Dick's fight is not easy.

Birds of Prey #9-  Birds of Prey is a new title on my pull list.  The comic girls on Tumblr have been raving about it and I love Black Canary so I gave it a try and I am absolutely loving it.  I love strong willed ladies working together to kick some butt.  The girls have each others' backs no matter what and they face some insane challenges.  Watching them beat their Talon into submission is pretty great.  He calls them strumpets and street vermin and they cut him in half.  Batgirl comes rushing in to help the Birds get their creep on ice and Poison Ivy proves useful.  All in all, the girls show their mettle as they band together and put down the Talon.  It's a rousing ride from the Birds of Prey that will leave them owning Poison Ivy and it doesn't sound like a thank you card will do.  Who knows where the Birds will head next!  This book earns 4 Flashes for plenty of butt kicking and girl power!

Next week, we'll have Justice League, Blue Beetle, Arkham Unhinged, and Superboy.  I can't wait and I hope you'll join me right back here!

Flash Friday!

This week was an amazing week for comics!  Our pull box had Justice League #8, Blue Beetle #8, Batman #8, Nightwing #8, Red Hood & the Outlaws #8, Young Justice #15 and I bought the three latest Birds of Prey books.  Nightwing and Red Hood & the Outlaws contain a prequel story to the epic Night of the Owls event.  Batman features the beginning of the Nights of the Owls event.  Blue Beetle features a guest appearance from Green Lantern Kyle Raynor.  Justice League has a cameo from Green Arrow and features tie in to the Night of the Owls.  Young Justice includes the final part of the story of Kaldur's trip home that occurs before episode 10, Targets.

Justice League #8- Green Arrow confronts the Justice League about the possibility of membership.  His repeated attempts are rebuffed by the League even though some of them do seem open to the idea of GA as a member.  In the end he's recruited for another team.  It's kind of disheartening to see Green Arrow getting rebuffed by the league.  They also allude to an encounter with Martian Manhunter.  My two favorite moments in this one are the CLASSIC Ollie that we saw from beginning to end and Barry being a classy guy while Hal is a jerk.  There's also another segment of Shazam! in the back of the book.  The new Billy Batson is a lot more rough around the edges than the traditional Billy Batson.  This kid is in the foster care/orphanage system.  He wants to be left alone to his own devices but he keeps getting shunted from one foster home to another.  I think I kinda like this Billy Batson but I'm wondering why Shazam will choose Billy for his power.  In the Golden Age when Captain Marvel first appears, Billy is chose because of how pure and genuinely good he is.  But we live in the modern age where things are a little more complicated and less cut and dried.  I can't wait to see more from Shazam and Billy Batson.  I give Justice League #8 four Flashes for awesome GA/JL interaction and for the dark new beginning of Shazam!

Blue Beetle #8-  Jaime has found his way to New York City.  But things still aren't going his way.  He and the scarab are doing better at working together but the scarab still gets him into some sticky situations.  When he arrives in New York, Jaime happens upon a kid robbing a store in a tech suit that makes him invisible to everyone- well, everyone but the scarab.  This leads Jaime stay at a home for homeless teens.  He ends up tracking down the kid's boss, a creep named Stopwatch.  At the very end of the book, Jaime notices a green lantern of all things in a nearby apartment which causes the scarab to freak out.  As he is trying to figure out what the heck is going on, Green Lantern Kyle Raynor rolls up.  Uh oh.  Things are still not looking up for Jaime.  I really like Jaime as Blue Beetle.  His outfit is cooler than the past Ted Kord Blue Beetle's and he is just so cute and lovable.  How can you not feel for him!  I am hoping that things start looking up soon but you just know that the scarab is going to get him in deep with Kyle.  I give Blue Beetle #8 three Flashes for an interesting, if a little disheartening, story and a lovely lead character.

Young Justice #15-  The action in this book continues the story of Kaldur's trip to Atlantis with Megan and Superboy that occurs prior to the start of school at Happy Harbour High in episode 10, Targets.  The three friends have learned of a race war begining to crop up all over Atlantis and when Queen Mera is taken by Ocean Master, they have to save her.  This one has some great friends supporting a friend through a hard time as well as some pretty big SuperMartian moments.  I really enjoy reading the comics to see what we don't see on the cartoon but by now, even with the previous ridiculous hiatuses, the comic is about a year behind the cartoon.  We're at the end of season one now and the first episode of season two, Invasion, will begin before the end of the month.  I was also sad to hear that they are going to cancel the making of Young Justice action figures by Mattel.  The stupid action figures were hard to find in our area and we STILL don't have a completed Hall of Justice.  But I digress.  Young Justice #15 earns 4 Flashes for being a fun and interesting tie in.

Nightwing #8-  The Talons are loose in Gotham and they're targeting the most important and influential people in town.  Dick is comtemplating how one of Nightwing's eskrima was found at the scene of a double murder when Alfred's call for help from "the family" comes in.  He rushes off to save the mayor before the Talon gets to him.  This book includes some interesting backstory on Dick and his ancestor.  The ending will have you screaming at the cliff hanger.  I really enjoy this book.  It is consistantly good and even though I don't really care for the return to the red suit, I do like the portrayal of Dick Grayson, one of the greatest comic characters of all time.  The writer really has a great handle on who Dick is and why he does what he does.  The Night of the Owls is beginning and it is going to be amazing.  Nightwing #8 gets 5 Flashes for great art and characterization.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #8-  I know my review of this one is going to be opposite of what a lot of people are saying after this book but please bare with me.  Jason Todd and his friends are in Gotham when Susie Su makes the Red Hood an offer that he can't refuse.  Answer her call or the children at Gotham Childrens Hospital get it.  The Red Hood is pragmatic and ruthless but he NEVER lets a child get hurt if he can avoid it.  After dealing with that issue they intercept Alfred's call out to the family for help in dealing with the Talons.  Tim breaks in and asks Jason directly to help them.  As you can tell from the cover already out for Red Hood and the Outlaws, Jason chooses to answer the call.  All hurt feelings aside, he chooses to help Bruce, Alfred and the rest of the family.  Now, a lot of people seem to be saying that Jason would NEVER help Batman and especially not Tim.  I disagree.  It has been at least a year of living and training since Jason came back at this point.  It would seem that little if anything of the Red Hood that we saw prior to the reboot happened BUT Jason prior to the reboot was not only the crazed creep that we saw him as in Batman and Robin (2009-2010).  Jason as Robin routinely saved street kids from pimps and rapists.  He was implicated in killing a man who preyed on young girls.  He has always been inherently good, just rough around the edges from life on the streets and deep betrayal by the parents who should have loved and protected him. Jason also is continuing to grow up.  No one should stay angry and teenage angsty forever.  Time heals all wounds when you let it.  Not to mention that if you've seen Under the Red Hood, then you see that Jason is not angry with Bruce, he's angry that Batman won't kill Joker.  Not the same thing.  I am really glad to see that it looks like Jason is growing up and maybe going to end up as some part of the Bat Family.  He doesn't have to change to become that.  He's no worse than Damian.  He and Bruce just need to agree to disagree and work loosely together.  I think it can and should be done.  Jason needs to grow up emotionally and this seems to be a step in the right direction.  This book earns 5 Flashes for being so great that I really don't believe that Scott Lobdell wrote it.

Batman #8-  Bruce has returned to the cave and Alfred has treated his wounds from his first run in with the Court of Owls but they don't have time to relax.  The Talons have been unleashed on Gotham City.  Wayne Manor is beset by the Talons and Bruce has no hope of fighting them all off AND stopping the assassinations that the Talons have been ordered to commit all over Gotham.  Alfred puts out a call to "the family" asking for help and the Bat Family jumps in to take on the court. Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Robin, Red Hood, The Birds of Prey, Catwoman and Robin race to save the influential men and women of Gotham.  Bruce and Alfred have a theory on how to take down the Talons but nothing in this battle for Gotham is going to be easy.  The Night of the Owls is beginning and its going to be a long night.  It's heart warming and intense to see the Bat Family from all over pulling together to try and save Gotham.  I can't wait to see what all happens over the course of this month long event.  Batman #8 earns 5 Flashes for great art and an epic cross over event.