Batman

The key is blood, Bard should have gone "thud", and the Batsuit has crud on this thirty-second chapter of DC's weekly Batman hullabaloo. The new Commissioner of Gotham apparently hasn't learned his lesson and is still working with Hush. Batwing is finally rescued from the hole that was once Arkham Asylum. Julia is reunited with her father. Finally, Hush exploits Batman's own devices in a scheme to frame him. But the issue doesn't feel too jam-packed with events.

"Eh, it waxes and wanes. Look at Jason Todd."

Kicking ass with brawn and class! With brutality and sass, they break the black mass, and boy do they have the brass for the task! It's the team up that, frankly, I never would have thought of wanting! In this thirty-first issue of DC's weekly Batman happening, Alfred Pennyworth fights his way from out of the wreckage of Arkham Asylum with the help of the masked beefcake Bane, who, despite not actually being very insane, was being housed at Arkham, probably for the safety of other prisoners (I think it's that case for a number of Batman foes). Meanwhile, Hush brings the hurt to Spoiler and Batman develops a rapport with Julia. This issue does a great job making up for that lackluster previous one.

Spectre makes Blackfire humble, Arkham Asylum crumbles, Batwing takes a tumble, and Batman feels like he's fumbled in this thirtieth entry in DC's weekly Batman (melo)drama. With Blackfire's plans stomped by an irate Spirit of Vengeance and Arkham a giant crater, it's possible that we're finally seeing the finish line for all this supernatural nonsense that's getting in the way of the battle with Hush, Catwoman's rise to power, and Jim Gordon's situation (when was the last time we even saw Jimbo?). And frankly, this issue seems a little padded. Just like this particular part of this series.

Yeah... this needed a full page. Just like it needed two issues.

Arkham is glowing, Blackfire's power's growing, so what was Riddler knowing, in this twenty-ninth of who knows how many parts in DC's weekly Batman shindig. I know we haven't really been back to the supernatural Arkham storyline in a little while, but I'm already glad this part of it will be done soon, because it's the least interesting part of this series. Batwing is just Batman as a young Iron Man, the Joker's Daughter needs to go away as soon as possible, and it's weird that with all this going on, The Spectre hasn't come out of Corrigan to stomp the crap out of Deacon Blackfire (though that's set for next issue, it looks like). We know that, based on the beginning of DC's new Arkham Manor series that the asylum is not long for the world, so let's blow this pop stand, already, guys.

Red Hood spills beers, Jason Bard's almost smears, and there's a whole lot of tears, in this twenty-eighth episode of DC comics' ongoing Batman saga. Jason Bard pays a price for his betrayal, Croc loses a friend, Batman arrives too late, and Catwoman gives in to the family business. I mean, moreso, I suppose. This issue will see big consequences in Catwoman's solo title, and I'm sure probably some influence on Batgirl's new arc.

"I'm Batman and I hang out in graveyards."

Ahhh, it's Schwarzwald! BIG O!

Selina rejects, Steph directs, Barbara aims to correct, and Croc? Croc just wrecks. All this happens in this twenty-seventh installment of the weekly Batman escapade. A new player called the Ferryman, or "Mr. Bone", appears, hoping to punish Catwoman for past encounters. We also see the return of a Grant Morrison villain, Eduardo Flamingo, a face-eating maniac with flamboyant tendencies. But the bulk of the issue deals with a crime boss looking to leverage what a child knows about Catwoman to get his own vengeance against her. But honestly, he's not a very compelling character.

Bruce's wounds gush, the origin of Hush, and Steph's bravado is crushed, all features of this twenty-sixth entry in DC's weekly Batman series. Batman's about as good at keeping track of Alfred as he is the evidence he gave Jason Bard to clear Jim Gordon, because damn, poor ol' Al ends this issue in some deep trouble. But Batman is a busy guy taking on the chaos all around the city thanks to Hush and Bard's machinations. Will Batman find his nemesis in time to stop him from his greater plan? And more importantly, is he even the grand mastermind behind this all?

Hush taunts, Harper vaunts, and Bard plays commandant in this twenty-fifth chapter of DC Comics' weekly Batman affair. With Alfred hospitalized and the city in chaos, our Caped Crusader makes a bold move, but his emotional state causes him to slip up. Meanwhile, Julia discovers how frustrating playing Bruce's operator is, Tim and Jason come this close to bonding, and Babs is confused as to why her father hasn't been cleared yet. The Bat-Family is gathering in Gotham, but is Hush too many steps ahead by now?

Spoiler makes jumps, Cluemaster's a chump, and Batman's in a slump in this thrilling twenty-fourth installment of DC's weekly Batman tale. Behind the scenes of Hush's master plan we see the rest of the C-listers work their magic to escalate the disaster, but one plucky purple pubescent stuns her super bad dad as well as me in her efforts to derail his part in the greater scheme at work. Am I really reading a comic with Stephanie Brown in it and actually enjoying her in it? Wha? How is that a thing?

Pictured: Awesomeness

What's new, pussy cat? Woah, woah, wh--oh, you're dead.

Selina's feeling shitty, failed to save a kitty, born to rule the city, and things aren't looking pretty, all in this twenty second entry in DC's weekly Bat-epic, which sees The Architect's inadvertent (?) victory, Jason Bard making his next move, and Selina crawling through a quarter mile of poo-smelling foulness I can't even imagine. (Maybe I just don't want to.) Nguyen is full-on Nguyen with his uniquely stylized art and it's almost like I'm reading Heart of Hush again. Well, actually I have been rereading that recently, coincidentally.