My Spider-Man Brand New Day Review

 My Spider-Man Brand New Day Review

Intro: OK, Sony and Marvel Studios, you got me with the bait and switch. Then again, I should be mad at myself for falling for it.

Spider-Man Brand New Day: This movie takes place four years after the events of the last film, and Peter Parker/Spider-Man is living in isolation. One day, he come across someone with the ability to hop into other people's minds and cause trouble. This discovery leads to a government conspiracy. So, Spider-Man has to figure out what it is before it's too late. 

Sony and Marvel Studios need a stunner! Why oh why is it so hard to make a good Spider-Man movie!?! This movie could have been better if it had focused on Peter dealing with being isolated from the world, instead of having other characters and subplots. Due to that, Peter's story feels secondary to everything else. The person behind the mind jumping is a Marvel character who isn't a villain, but this movie made this character look bad. I wish this person had a different name because I refuse to believe this is the character from the comics. Also, this character can open up a can of worms for the MCU. 

Speaking of characters, two other characters from the MCU should have been removed from this movie because they served no purpose in the film. Really, this movie should've used other characters from Spider-Man Lore instead of characters from the MCU. This movie has the nerve to poke fun at Thanos Plan. Why!?! Do I really have to comment on why I'm annoyed that Scorpion and Tombstone are treated as cameos? Don't get me started on the Hand. The movie is lacking in the fun or charm department. Plus, it could have done a better job with the theme of Loneliness and moving on. Don't get me started on the ending. 

Spider-Man in this movie is the best Spider-Man we've had in years! He's cracking jokes, and the city and police are on his side. I can't comment on Peter Parker because he's barely in the movie. We mostly see him inside his apartment. This begs the question, what is he doing for money? The other issue I have with this character is the subplot with his powers. Fans suspect that this would lead to something else. I'm glad that it didn't, because you don't want to scare away your target demographic. Then again, this could have worked, and the movie looked like it was going in that direction, but the people behind the movie got cold feet. If that's the case, why entertain that idea in the first place? I have a minor complaint with the web shooters; they stand out like a sore thumb 

Ned and MJ don't do much in this movie. I get that they are here to give Peter closure, but the movie handled it awkwardly. 

Bruce Banner/The Hulk is one of the two characters that should have been removed from the film. He doesn't serve much of a purpose in this movie; that's a shame because more could have been done with him. 

Frank Castle/The Punisher is the best part of the movie for me! He's funny in his own right. I like his dynamic with Spider-Man; they kind of have a love-hate relationship. I just find it odd that he's in the movie, considering how hard he's been separated from the MCU films. My only gripe with him is the conversation he had with Spider-Man.     

Despite my gripes with the MCU character in this movie, they do make the film feel like a comic book film. It handles the love interest don't remember me trope better than GOTG. VOL 3. I like the look and feel of New York and Easter eggs. Spider-Man's web swinging and action scenes in this movie look refreshing. The emotional scenes are done well. 

In closing, this isn't a bad movie, but it fell short due to too much fat. 

Rating = Average

  

My Supergirl review

 My Supergirl review 

 

Intro: Mr. Gunn, if you think the script for this movie is the best thing ever, congratulations, you played yourself. I can't wait for the reboot. 

Supergirl: This movie is centered on Kara Zor-El celebrating her twenty-third birthday. Her celebration gets interrupted when she helps a girl name Ruthye, and their paths intertwine when they both are looking for the same person for different reasons. So the two have to find him and figure out whether they want revenge or justice?    

This movie is lame! It didn't do the best job at copying True Grit, I mean, adapting the comic it's based on. The changes this movie made from that comic made no sense. Everything about this film feels generic and goes through the motions. Another problem I have with the movie is that it tries to make us despise the main villain, but the movie doesn't go far enough with it. There is a dire scene in this movie, but it amounts to nothing. There are barely any jokes or gags in the film. When we do get them, they don't land.  

The film could have benefit for a longer runtime because this movie feels like scenes were cut out of it. As far as this movie handled the theme of revenge, it's a joke compared to how The Last of Us 2 did it. Do get me started on the climax. Other complaints I have with the film are minor, like the color palette makes the movie look bland, the set pieces are unoriginal, and there are head-scratching moments in the film. 

Kara Zor-El is basically a female version of Hancock. As far as being a dunking mess. Seeing her like this is fun to watch. My issue with her is that her reluctant hero ARC feels empty. I mean, we don't know why she's like this, and the flashback didn't help fill in the blanks. On top of that, she did something that Superman wouldn't approve of.   

Ruthye is annoying and unless. There is a running gag about her announcing her intention and getting interrupted. That gag falls flat, and her dynamic with Kara leaves more to be desired.     

Lobo is the best part of this movie! Lobo is a dangerous life of the party bounty hunter. The actor playing him did a good job embodying this character. That's the problem, he's just in the movie for fan service. That's a shame because more could have been done with him, like he could have been used to parallel Kara or Ruthye.       

 

I also don't have much to say about Krem because he is a nothing burger of a bad guy. That's not a bad thing; however, he could have stood out more if he had a personality. Also, why does he look like Hellraiser?  

There are a few things I like about this movie, like the flashback to Krypton. They make Krypton feel like a civilization. I know people are bothered that you know who is in this movie, but it didn't bother me because he worked as a supporting character. I enjoy that action scene and some of the songs. 

Overall, this is one of those movies that could have been better. DC Studios should be ashamed of themselves.  

Rating = Rental 

My review of the Death of Robin Hood

 My review of the Death of Robin Hood 

 

 Intro: What's with Hollywood deconstructing iconic characters? 

The Death of Robin Hood: This movie is centered on elderly Robin Hood, who is haunted by his past. One day, he meets an old friend who wants Robin Hood to help him reclaim what belongs to him. Robin Hood agrees to help, thinking this task would kill him. Instead, he wakes up injured on an island. So Robin has to decide to make the best of his second chance or waste it? 

This movie is a Logan clone. The movie wants to be a character study of someone reflecting on their life, but the execution is off. One of the problems this movie has is that we don't know how Robin went from point A to point B. We are told things about Robin, but not enough to fill in the blanks. This could have been fixed with show, don't tell. The first half hour of this movie was brutal as far as how violent it is; after that, the rest of the movie is a slow burn. Everything that happened between then and the end feels pointless. I can't tell you if this movie is about revenge cycle, redemption, or legacy because the movie doesn't know. I wish the film would give the title a double meaning. Other issues I have with the film are that some scenes are too dark to see, head scratching moments, and one scene should have been cut out of the film.  

This is not the Robin Hood we know and love. This guy is a sadistic bastard to a degree. A minor complaint I have with him is that I don't like that he wears white because of what that color represents. I wouldn't mind that if it was done for irony. 

I like the look of the film and that it didn't bore me to sleep. I also appreciate the commentary this film has on myths, stories, and history. All in all, this movie tired and failed to do something new with Robin Hood. 

Rating = Rental           

The death of comedy

The death of comedy

Intro: I know this topic is redundant, but it's still worth talking about. My taste in comedy may be questionable, but that doesn't mean I don't see the problem.    

For over ten years, comedy has become lifeless. I don't remember the last time someone bragged about a comedy show or movie. Heck, I don't know the last time I rolled on the floor laughing. The only time I get that reaction these days is when I look at memes or see someone on the internet ranting and raving. (Heck, that has lost its novelty over the years.) Despite my issue with R-rated comedy films, they are starting to fade. After The Hangover, Hollywood didn't make an R-rated comedy that stood out. We have the Deadpool films, but I notice some restrictions with them. For example, the last movie wanted to make a Spider-Man joke, but couldn't. The same thing goes for teen comedies that has become a lost art.       

An actress from The Office was asked does she thinks that show would work today? She said no. That says a lot about the time were in today. There are two reasons why comedy is in the state that it's in. In case you're wondering, no! I don't blame Will Smith for why comedy has gone downhill, but he has become the face of what's wrong with it now. After the slap, there have been stories of this happening to other comedians. Granted, this isn't new, but it made the public more aware of it happening. 

One of the reasons why comedy is dying is that there is a disconnect, thanks to streaming. Before streaming, when we wanted to watch a sitcom, we were at the mercy of the network. You have to be home before the show airs on TV. If you miss an episode, someone will tell you about it at work or school. It may be annoying, but it created a shared experience. Now that we have streaming, that shared experience is gone. We have people watching old and new sitcoms, which makes it hard to know what is considered funny anymore. Heck, people are talking about The Office again thanks to streaming. We even got clones of that show, like Abbott Elementary and Jury Duty.   

Another reason is boundaries. Yes! We had boundaries in the past, but now it's getting out of hand. Everyone is so touchy and sensitive to the point where you don't appreciate or care to appreciate the nuance of offending someone. For example, there was a time where you call someone who has mental problems retarded. It's hard to appreciate why we shouldn't call people with mental problems that word, because that word is used to call someone stupid. People also project themselves onto the jokes. 

That's what annoys me about women when it comes to rape jokes. Like I said before, rape jokes can be funny because women do things to put themselves in that position even til this day. For example, there are videos of women getting flown out or going on trips with a guy, then be dump founded that he wants sex. Come on, ladies, you can't be this stupid. 

When you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one. That's why comedy has lost its magic. I find it funny that people want to play it safe when come to comedy but not have that same energy when it comes to world peace. In order to fix this, you have to be willing to push the boundaries. 

 We had films that got us to laugh at things we shouldn't laugh at. 

    

 

   Other movies failed to do that. 

That's another thing people don't know how to read between the lines when it comes to comedy. I'm not sure if comedy can get its magic back. Considering that we could get another lockdown, we need something to laugh at. That's all I have to say about this topic for now.   

My thoughts on the Lanterns series

My thoughts on the Lanterns series

 

Please tell me that this is an early April Fools prank. I mean, nothing about this trailer screams Green Lantern. This looks like 48 hours and Yellowstone combined. You need more than the rings, a character flying, and the suit hanging in a closet to get me on board for this series. Speaking of the suit, the fact that it's hanging in the closet tells me the people behind this series don't care or know nothing about the lore. I'm not crazy about Hal Jordan and John Stewart being paired together, regardless if this was in the comics. Both characters can stand on their own. Why is this series called Lanterns? Are we going to see more than one Lantern Core?  

We've waited years for this series, and this is the best you can come up with, really? If the people behind this series didn't have to budget to do this show, then why bother making it? I'm so sick of everything being grounded and realistic. When I think of Green Lantern, I think about them patrolling space, not a western. You can say what you want about the 2011 Green Lantern movie, but it had the look of Green Lantern. I hope this is a bait and switch; even if it is, it doesn't matter. They shot themselves in the foot by not putting their best foot forward. I'll give the first episode a chance, but they didn't do themselves any favors. 

My thoughts on the Persona Franchise

 My thoughts on the Persona Franchise 

 

Intro: Since this is the 30th anniversary of this franchise, and we're getting a new Persona game in a few mouths, it's time for me to give my thoughts on this series. I'll mostly be talking about one of the games in this series, so forgive me if you find the title misleading. 

Despite getting a PS4 late, my list of games for it is slim to none. So I looked up popular games for the PS4 to see which one interests me. Persona 5 caught my eye, so I gave it a chance. Man, oh man, you have no idea how this game frustrates me. Before I get into that, I'm sure you're wondering what is this series about? Persona is an RPG about a group of teens going through life while fighting people's dark desires in their minds with the power of their personas. This series has been around for 30 years, there are six games in this franchise, and it's one of two spin-offs of another RPG called Shin Megami Tensei if...  

The story for this game was insane in a good way. It had twists, turns, and world-building. The story is so thick that it left no stone unturned for the most part. It also deals with the ethics of the group changing someone's heart against their will. I'm not going to say that this is the best story in the franchise because I haven't played all of them. You can play this without playing the others because the games feel self-contained for the most part. There is one thing about this game story that got my attention; that is this is about a group of outcasts. I know what that feels like all too well. Despite that, they bounce back from their situations due to the connections they made. That helps the story feel uplifting. I also like the game's soundtrack. 

I'm surprised no one in Hollywood has entertained the idea of turning this story into a series. I mean, the game's story was good enough to get a manga and a stage play. I say that because this is something we need. Why make a big deal about mental health if we're not going to get stories that deal with the human mind? (If we do no one is talking about them.) heck, the movies that deal with dreams don't go far enough. When I reviewed Inception, I complained that it lacked imagination; this game made up for it. 

Before I address the elephant in the room, I have one minor issue with this game that is I find the demonic images off-putting. ( To be fair, that's a reference to Shin Megami Tensei if...) What drives me nuts about this game is how hard it is. It's not hard by design; it's hard by structure. When I first played it, it was a hassle. I couldn't do certain things because I didn't maxed out my stats. When I played on Game Plus, I was so close to beating it, but I ran out of SP, didn't stack up on items, and didn't find all my allies. When I played it the third time, I best it but I forgot to get an ally. This is why I dread playing it for the fourth time; this game scratches you so thin in so many different directions that you don't have time to yourself to train or craft. ( The last two things I mentioned also matter.) 

I know that there is an NPC that can help scratch time, but that didn't do much. Also, this game is long, even with fast-forward. The player's guide needs to make a comeback because this game needs one. If you don't meet certain people at the right time, you miss out on locations and opportunities. Despite how popular this game is, I can't be the only one who has this problem. Also, what's with the different versions of this game? ( I have to OG if you're wondering.) I mean, one of them is a sequel. This game didn't need a sequel. I hated it when game companies do that, you're not getting my money twice! 

This game could have been better if it had cut the fat, extended or slow-down time. That's all I have to say about this franchise for now.   

 

My Mercy review

 My Mercy review

Intro: Let me get this straight, people have been complaining about their lawyers being expensive, and doing them dirty. This movie gives you an idea for an alternative, and no one is going to watch it. What gives!?! 

Mercy: This movie is centered on a detective name Det. Raven, who is on trial for killing his wife. To avoid being executed, he has to convince an AI Judge that he didn't do it in 90 minutes or reduce that probability to 92%. As he pleaded his case, things got complicated when he learns about a conspiracy. So he has to choose between uncovering it or clearing his name? 

This is one of those movies that has an interesting idea but poor execution. Part of the reason why is because of how Mercy Court works makes no sense. If I can describe it, it's a bench trial with no decorum and no opposing counsel. Is that why it's called Mercy Court, because you don't have to deal with opposition? When we are introduced to the main extra, he's still drunk. Why!?! What's with the 90 minutes to plead your case? I know this was done for the movie to run in real time; however, it trivializes the court. It makes the movie feel like a game show. 

I can suspend my disbelief, but this is a big leaf. The AI judge must be outdated if it doesn't know the term trust your gut. The movie didn't ever try to be a social commentary on how AI can affect the justice system. I mean, no one finds it scary that you can have access to all this information? ( I can't wait to see real-life lawyers rip this movie a new one, but I digress.) This film is 90% bodycam footage and 10% movie. 

This movie could have been better if it had humor, played with our expectations, and had an epilogue. It's hard to appreciate Mercy Court because the movie doesn't show us the impact it has; instead, we get exposition. There isn't much to say about Det. Raven, because we learn things about him instead of getting to know him as a character. With all that said, I wasn't bored watching this movie. I did get a few laughs, not because the movie was purposely fun.  

All in all, this movie is fine for streaming. That's a shame because more could have been done with this concept. 

Rating = Rental 

My FOMO rant

 My FOMO rant

 

AM I the only one who thinks FOMO is ridiculous? For those of you who don't know, FOMO is the fear of missing out. That's self-explanatory. The reason why I find this fear ridiculous is because missing out on things happens to almost anyone. 

There are things that I missed out on because I wasn't born during that time, or didn't find it appealing.

   

There was an episode of either Hey! Arnold or Doug that deals with this. As far as one character missed out on a movie or stand-up comedy. Once he finally saw it, his peers moved on to something else. Other things that can cause you to miss out on opportunities, like circumstances, other people, and yourself. That's another thing that bothers me about the gaming industry; they enable FOMO by putting a time limit on DLCs and online services. Due to that, you don't get the full gaming experience. 

Fomo doesn't just create unnecessary pressure, but regret. I don't like the word regret because it's impossible to live a life without regret. Let's use MMPR as an example. The people who played Jason, Zack, and Trini left the show because they wanted more money ( allegedly). Years later, they express regret about doing that, or they should've waited at the right time to make that move. Whether you agree with them or not, they shouldn't have any regrets because most people who are involved in this franchise don't become successful outside of it. ( This is the same problem I have with sitcoms, but I digress.) Even if they did become successful, can they handle the stress of success? You have to view FOMO as 50/50; is the trade-off worth experiencing what you missed out?  

If you have regrets, that tells me two things; either you don't like your life or yourself. Sadly, there isn't much you can do about that. To be fair, I can understand why men could have this fear because we are the sacrificial lamb to society. No one, not even our family, cares if we don't have a lot of good experiences. If that's not true, then why are we taught to enjoy hardship and being mistreated? Why have that mindset if you have nothing to show for it? There are certain things that you shouldn't miss out, so you won't feel isolated like the rite of passage. 

Let's use the prom as an example. If I was running any school district, no school would have a prom unless every boy who wants to go can go. I'm not saying every girl has to go with them as their date, but they should have one dance with them. I don't want to hear the girls complaining, especially when they have no problem asking a boy with Down syndrome to the prom. If you have no problem getting pregnant by a guy you don't like, then you should have no problem dancing with a guy you don't like. I'm asking you to dance with them, not spend prom night with them.     

The fact that religious men and women in general don't appreciate how important it is for men to have a sex life is telling. Sidenote, I feel sorry for men who have foot fetishes because women think it's nasty; when really, sex is nasty when you think about it. That's another problem with FOMO, whenever something becomes popular, it gets ruined because of FOMO the gaming industry is a prime example of that. We also ruin things by over hyping it. That happen to me when it came to Pokemon.  

The bottom line is this; if you have FOMO, try not to let it ruin your life. There are things that I missed out on or may never get the chance to do, like playing every game that has a mascot, going to Comic-Con, traveling, and learning Archery. There are things that I missed out that don't bother me as much, like collecting Funko heads, going to Halo 3 midnight launch, being good at arts and crafts, and joining the Mile High club. I know you live only once, and there are times when I feel like life is passing me by. Keep in mind that life isn't fair; you have to make the best out of the life you have. Don't torture yourself, wonder what your life could have been, because you will do that regardless if things are going well or not.         

 That's all I have to say about the subject for now.    

My thoughts on the Supergirl movie

 My thoughts on the Supergirl movie 

 

Ok, despite Mr. Gunn not winning me over with his take on Superman, I'm willing to give this movie a chance. The reason why is because Supergirl is my favorite character in the Superman mythos. In the comics, she's kind of like Wonder Woman as far as being born and raised to be a fighter, and is not naive about some people needing to be put down. She's the type of person who shoots first and questions later due to her anger issues. Plus, she struggles to fit in with humanity to the point where she feels isolated and homesick. Heck, she has no problem turning her back on them, or doesn't see the point in protecting them. This creates tension between her and Superman.  

That's what bugs me about how this character was portrayed outside of the comics; she's a female version of Superman. (except for the animated stuff and Smallville to a degree)That's a huge disservice to this character. Another reason why I'm giving this movie a chance is because if this movie becomes a hit, it could lead to us getting more movies of other DC side characters. ( "Cough" Nightwing movie "Cough".) As far as the teaser trailer, it was fine. We see Supergirl not in the best state of mind; she's being hunted for unknown reasons, a little girl is involved, and we don't know what role she plays. What stood out to me in this trailer is when she said Superman sees the good in people, I see the truth. That line tells me we could get a comic-accurate Supergirl. 

Sadly, people online didn't like the trailer because it reminded them of GOTG. Look, you can say what's in the trailer is in the recent Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comics, but that doesn't change the fact that this makes Mr. Gunn look like a one-trick pony to the general public. I don't see how he could have done this movie differently, maybe picked a different comic book story to adapt to be on the safe side. Also, the general public should be able to appreciate these films without reading the comics. Then again, people shouldn't talk about something without knowing anything about the subject. 

They also complain about Supergirl being a flawed character. Why!?! Do you want her to be the female version of Superman? They are also worried that the comedy could undermine Supergirl's dealing with her trauma. I understand why people are worried about this movie; however, their complaints are disingenuous. A trailer paying homage to a different franchise is not enough to raise red flags. How many of you were wrong about Predator Badlands?   

      

Overall, the trailer didn't scare me away from wanting to watch this movie because I don't expect much from it. As long as I have a good time with it, I'm fine with that.      

My rant about Batman writers

 My rant about Batman writers 

 

Intro: In case you're wondering, No! I don't plan on doing this for other comic book characters. When I write about comic book characters, I already expressed my overall issues with them that could affect the writing or my ability to enjoy their stories. For example, it's hard to get into the Flash and Hulk comics because of how powerful they are. It's hard to get into the Punisher comics because the character is too bleak for me. It's hard to get into Wonder Woman comics because the writers don't know what to do with her. 

When it comes to Batman, the writers did things with the Batman lore over the years that bugs me. Another reason why I'm doing this is because the Batman Kool-Aid is stronger than my addiction to Cinnamon Toast Crunch as a kid. Find me ten reaction videos where people are annoyed that they're getting another LEGO Batman game if you don't believe me. Where's the hashtag give us a LEGO Justice League game?!? Warning! If you haven't read Batman comics from the past 25 years, don't read this post. 

I don't know about you, but the quality of Batman comics from the 2000s until now has been a rollercoaster for me. Part of the reason is because there isn't one writer that I enjoy reading most of his or her work. Since No Man's Land, the year-long stories are not up to par. (The same thing goes for the crossover comics.) We have War Games, Murderer/Fugitive, and I'll talk about the rest later. War Games is a mess, and Murderer/Fugitive wouldn't last a year if Bruce/Batman was proactive. (Also, Shadow of the Bat #55 did this story better.) 

 

If there were a Mount Rushmore of Batman writers, it would be Chuck Dixon, Paul Dini, Alan Grant, and I can't think of a fourth person. ( I was going to pick the late Dennis O' Neil, but his run has some goofiness to them.) The only problem I have with Paul Dini is that I don't agree with keeping Nora Freeze dead because keeping her alive makes Mr. Freeze more sympathetic. Greg Rucka is one of the worst Batman writers; like I said, he doubles down on Batman's worst traits, and it was all for nothing. 

Jeph Loeb is an overrated Batman writer. He hasn't given us a good Batman mystery: to be fair, that genre has lost its novelty. I'm surprised that The Long Halloween and Hush are popular Batman stories because we don't know who the Holiday killer is in The Long Halloween. I get that Mr. Loeb was trying to make the killer's identity ambiguous, but the execution was off. An episode of Law and Order called Patient Zero did it better. Dark Victory ( The sequel to The Long Halloween) could have been better if it didn't follow the same pattern as its predecessor. Due to that, it feels like a retread of the previous story but with a few changes.  

Hush is underwhelming. What's the point of the Riddler knowing Bruce is Batman if it has no payoff? Dead Reckoning from Detective Comics issues 777 to 782 is a better mystery than this. (It's a shame that it didn't get reprinted in trade paperback, but I digress.) I'm also indifferent to the character Hush. Thankfully, Paul Dini fixed that with Heart of Hush and Streets of Gotham. Hush 2 and The Last Halloween make him look worse as a writer. Do I really have to comment on how bad Hush 2 is? Plus, I want to put him in the most painful submission hold for doing Bane dirty. As far as The Last Halloween goes, he should have left that series alone. 

Judd Winick is an underrated Batman writer. I say that because he didn't get a fair run with the character. He only wrote two Batman stories; they are Under the Red Hood and As the Crow Files. Both of those stories were undermined by the crossover event at the time. I would like to see him get another run at Batman instead of Grant Morrison. Or write stories for other Batman characters. What he did with Dick Grayson in Batman: Long Shadow is decent, and I can't comment on what he did with Catwoman.  

  

Let's start with Scott Snyder; his run on Batman didn't do it for me. The only thing he wrote I like was Zero Year. That story shows that the Riddler can be a big threat and pays homage to three other Batman stories. I have mixed feelings about the Court of Owls saga. I like the idea of a secret organization that knows everything and everyone in the city; however, making it a part of Batman lore oversimplifies things. I mean, having them behind the crimes in Gotham or playing a role in Bruce's parents being murdered takes away any complexity in Bruce/Batman's efforts in saving the city from itself. Also, the Talons are far-fetched for this group. No writer has capitalized on how much of a threat they can be, as far as I know. 

I don't like the direction he took with the Joker in Endgame. I don't care about Batman Eternals; that story is about a series of events that are orchestrated by one person. That story had already been told twice, and Eternals didn't break any new ground. I couldn't get into the absolute Batman because the character models turn me off. The way Bane easily beat Batman in their first encounter annoys me because that's what I was expecting from Ra's al Ghul. Why is he called the Demon's head if he's not going to live up to that title? I'm still waiting for a Batman version of Wrath of Khan. Going back to Bane, I like what Scott Snyder has done with the character. I just wish this were done in the new 52 instead of this. 

Tom King's run was disappointing; I mean, I expected more from a former CIA Officer. I will say this; I like that his run has an overall story, and that story did a better job at what the Hush story tried to do. As far as having events in the story lead up to something. When the build-up to your main story is better than the main story, something is wrong. The war between Jokes and Riddles could have been better if A it didn't happen in Batman's early years, and B the conflict between The Joker and the Riddler wasn't lame. Tom King wrote three things I like; they are Cold Days, I am Bane, and Gotham Year One. Cold Days is a Batman version of 12 Angry Men, I am Bane made Bane scary, and Gotham Year One is what the Gotham series should have been. City of Bane could have been better if he was behind everything and only had Batman characters. Also, what's the point of killing off Alfred in that story if it does little to nothing for Bruce/Batman as a character? 

Chip Zdarsky's run is far-fetched, ridiculous, and retreads what was done before with no rhyme or reason. The first story, ARC, is a response to the Tower of Babel, as far as what is Batman's plan to stop himself from going rogue? His response is to create an A.I. called failsafe. I like the irony behind this story, but we didn't need it for two reasons. First of all, Nightwing and Black Bat can beat him in hand-to-hand combat. Tim Drake can rival his detective skills, and Oracle can hack his tech. Second, it makes Batman look stupid. I mean, whatever lesson he suppose to gain from this story, he should have learned in the Tower of Babel. Really, he should have learned this is War Games because that story is about a contingency plan they blow up in his face. Also, in that story, Batman fell from space and landed on Earth. I know you have to suspend your disbelief with comics, but there's a limit. 

Towards the end of his next story, Batman meets different versions of himself. This was fun, but everything around it wasn't. Do I really have to comment on Joker year one? I enjoyed his last story ARC, called The Dying City. That story is about Batman solving a murder that turns into a conspiracy. I just wish that story didn't make Jim Gordon and Thomas Wayne look bad. I also like the first story he wrote in Batman Urban Legends because it was a nice follow-up to Under the Red Hood. Chip Zdarsky could have been a better Batman writer if he had focused on writing street-level stories for the character and not play with past events.

  

Grant Morrison's run is polarizing. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what he tried to do as far as bringing elements from the Gold and Silver ages to modern comics. However, the end result ranges from being clever to messy. Also, you can't read a random story in his run without knowing what happened beforehand. ( Grant, that's a problem I have with comic books in general, but I digress.) Another thing that hurt his run is that Batman is OP with the contingency plans. 

 This is one of the reasons why Batman is hard to write; whenever he's in a dire situation, fans won't take it seriously because they know or suspect that he planned for it. 

I blame Mark Waid, the writer of Tower of Babel, for this. Ever since that story, the fans took Batman having contingency plans and ran with it. I hate to burst their bubble, but when it comes to prep time, he's not better than Dr. Doom. If Samurai Jack can make fun of how ridiculous and frustrating prep time is, why can't you see the problem with it? 

This run starts with Batman and Son, where we are introduced to the second most annoying character in the Batman mythos, Damian Wayne. Yes! I know Damian has become less insufferable over the years thanks to Peter J. Tomasi's and Joshua Williamson's run of Batman and Robin, but you know what they say about first impressions. Plus, he's not in any good stories to help us appreciate his growth. Peter J Tomasi's run, jump the shark, and Joshua Williamson's run is a mixed bag for me. I'm interested in the latest story because Bruce and Damian are finally in a good place in their relationship.  

Batman and Son was OK, but the direct-to-video movie was better. After that story and before R.I.P., everything else in between ranges from OK to meh. My gripe with R.I.P. is that the Black Glove didn't make the best first impression. Part of the reason is that we don't learn anything about the leader, Dr. Hurt, until toward the end of his run. Also, before R.I.P., the Black Glove had Batman dead to rights, and they blew it. The return of Bruce Wayne had a fun concept of Bruce traveling through different time periods, but the story around it can be confusing. Overall, Grant Morrison's run didn't impress me. 

Tom Taylor has only written two stories so far and is in the middle of his third. I don't care about the first story for two reasons. First of all, it plays with Batman's origin. Second, it explores his no-kill rule for the millionth time. That's another thing that hurts Batman stories is the no-kill rule fatigue. If you're not going to have Batman kill someone or let someone die, then don't explore his no-kill rule again. I'm also tired of people ending up dead after learning the hero's identity trope. I like the second story because it can work as a satire of Batman. The current story looks like a rehash of Contagion and Fear for Sale. 

That's the problem with comic books in general; when you write stories for a character that's been around for a long time, you tend to recycle stories that's been done before. 

The writer of Detective Comics before Tom Taylor had Batman fight against supernatural villains, which I find off-putting. Those villains are too powerful for him. We didn't need Joker Wars and Fear State. The Joker doesn't care whose under the mask, why should that matter now? We already have a story of Scarecrow pumping the city with fear gas; why do we need another one? I have nothing to say about Jace Fox as Batman because I think it's funny. How can DC give us Black Batman when Black men are too busy being Robin? 

For twenty-five years now, Batman writers haven't been batting a thousand. There are two recent Batman stories that I enjoy; they are Batman and Robin: Year One and Batman: Dark Patterns. Batman and Robin: Year One focuses on Bruce and Dick going through the growing pains in and out of costume, which is the heart of the story. The only complaint I have with that story is how Dick Grayson is depicted; he reminds me of Jason Todd at times. Also, that story went in a direction with Clayface that I've been wanting to see for years, that is, making its own version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Batman: Dark Patterns focuses on Batman being a detective. 

The only suggestion I have from the writers is that they need to be more creative with Batman's rogues gallery, other than killing them off, making them anti-heroes, or being second fiddle to the Joker. For example, the first mystery in Batman: Dark Patterns could've worked as a Hush Story. Really, that's what he should have done to the Joker in Hush 2. I would like to see more stories of Hugo Strange playing mind games with Bruce/Batman or turning the Bat-family against him. If you can't do anything new with Man-Bat and Mr. Freeze other than doubling down on what Paul Dini did with them in Batman TAS, then leave them alone. Heck, they don't use the villains Paul Dini introduced in the streets of Gotham. 

They also need to cut the fat with Batman's allies. Killing off Alfred and demoting Jim Gordon is not what I had in mind. I mean, get rid of Batwoman, Batwing, Bluebird, the Signal. Seriously, with Catwoman, Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Robin having their own series. Plus, Birds of Prey and The Outsiders, Batman can have his own Bat-verse ( Don't even think about Hollywood.) With that said, I would like to see Leslie Thompkins fill in Alfred's role. Also, how did Cassandra Cain go from Batgirl to Black Bat to Orphan? 

That's all I have to say about this topic for now.