Reviews

"World Dissection, Part 1"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Leonardo da Vinci is ready to unveil his greatest masterpiece: World Harmony. Putting the population of the Italian Peninsula to sleep with an audio signal, the Renaissance Man traps each person, including Lupin's group, in a challenge at whatever they are best at, to gauge their worthiness to live in the new world he plans to build. Is Lupin up to the challenge? Is everyone else? A mind is a terrible thing to waste on this penultimate episode of the new Lupin series!

Hey... hey, Tim, now, no grouping yourself with characters that do things. You hang back with Jason.

The guys flex their detailed pecs and check the specs of the enemy's tech and begin to peck as they crack their necks, so what the heck, give it a sec and they'll wreck Mother's deck! Er, so basically MIdnighter and Spoiler get in on them Duke Boys'... I mean Robin Boys' plans to rescue Harper and Cass and defeat Mother. Midnighter plays keyboard jockey and triangulates the coordination of the polarity velocitator, or something, while Steph guards Scarecrow until Jason can escort him to his new laboratory. Oh, and I guess Batgirl's in this, too. And Katana. And Batwoman. And... Duke Thomas, I think. And Catwoman. They completely disregarded Luke Fox, however, and I am oh so glad. Time to punch some toddlers!

This issue needed more Goliath.

Damian slaps the eldes chap when he's tired of his rap, 'cuz he won't take that crap and would rather scrap with Cassie's Pap, who's a sap and gets thrown out through a gap, and that's the hap, so shut your yap, and prepare to clap as the story is recapped, Harp and Cass are still kidnapped, and Mother springs her trap! All this in the twenty-second movement of DC's weekly Batman symphony. Damian gets to be the Golden Child all the Morrison fans like him as, we see the (possible) end of an antagonist, and the gal pals on the outs share a tense moment.

No snarkiness here, just... that Cass reflection is AMAZING.

"I'm Going to Get You, Lupin"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Rebecca Rosellini is determined to steal Lupin III! Challenging Lupin, she springs trap after trap to capture and claim our sideburned stealer. Lupin is nonplussed by the matter, as he has his own mission, and is breaking into a secession of tanks to obtain a certain bill. However, Rebecca's snares become increasingly elaborate, and Lupin may actually be caught! Will Rebecca collect the ultimate prize? Hail to the thief in this competition where even a safe isn't very safe!

"From Japan With Love"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Lupin jets off to Japan when it seems like Fujiko's in danger, but as usual, it's a ruse by her to get him to steal something for her. Unexpectedly, however, it turns out the ruse is on her as well, because it was all a trap by Detective Ackechi Holmes Kousuke to capture Lupin without her knowledge! While Lupin is in captivity, Fujiko scrambles to correct her mistake and prove that underestimating her is a mistake! It's a contest of deception as the woman called Fujiko Mine shows she's every bit as formidable as the man who loves her!

What a tragedy... now she can't see Batman v Superman in theaters this March!

Mother, who's hoary, has one gory back story, and how she became predatory makes Batman take inventory, all in this twenty-first installment of DC's weekly Batman serial. The entire issue takes place in the past, whether it be Bruce following up on his encounter with Mother or the new villain's background being told to him by some one she "helped". And from this we see the parallel between Batman and his foe and the very different, yet similar directions they took. We also get some pretty solid art from Tony S. Daniel, making the story more palatable.

SPOILERS AHOY!