Batman (USA) di James Tynion IV, Tony Daniel

[Man of Steel]

Letto #89
Numero abbastanza importante per...erm...coloro a cui frega qualcosa di pg che debuttano in un dato numero per poi vendere quel numero su ebay a cifre assurde.

Vediamo Punchline, una HQ 2.0. sperando che non sia per davvero una HQ 2.0.
Ma anche il main villain, un certo Designer.

That's...pretty much it...

[Azrael]

Batman #89
Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Carlo Pagulayan, Guillem March, Danny Miki and Tomeu Morey
Lettering by Clayton Cowles
Published by DC
Review by Pierce Lydon
'Rama Rating: 5 out of 10

There's a part of me that really wants to love what James Tynion IV is doing with his Batman, but the trouble is, it's hard to see it as anything more than the sum of its parts. As Batman and Catwoman's investigations of the Designer finally collide, Tynion keeps hitting his marks in terms of progressing the story and making this feel like the kind of Batman book that we weren't getting 80-plus issues before he began. But in that straightforwardness, there's something cold about Tynion's execution. It doesn't help that the art has not maintained any sort of consistency during Tynion's tenure. Artist Carlo Pagulayan and Guillem March's work don't feel like a conversation, and Danny Miki's work feels like it's getting lost, like he's unable to put that indelible stamp on this issue like we've seen him do before. The result is a book that feels as though it's not truly reaching its full potential.

When you look at James Tynion's best work, you'll find common threads of found families banding together against seemingly impossible odds and struggling to maintain their own unique identities while looking for acceptance. Unfortunately, those themes are absent in this Batman run, and Tynion's already proven that they don't have to be (just look at his recent work on Detective Comics). The longer that Tynion's Batman run has remained insular, limited in scope and number of characters with emotional ties to Bruce Wayne, the more and more it feels like the writer is just going through the motions. A quick fight scene here. A couple of throwaway new villains there. An overarching threat that feels undefined and removed from the narrative. Yet another new piece of Bat-Tech. Tynion's issues are starting to feel remarkably similar.

That said, Tynion's work here isn't bad as much as it's lacking in innovation or imagination. The voices of his characters feel fairly on point. He skews Harley Quinn away from the full-on jokey meta interpretation favored by her solo series to give us a character that feels like she belongs in this world, even if she remains the silliest thing about it. Batman and Lucius Fox, meanwhile, have a great rapport that feels different from his one-sided banter with Alfred. But Tynion is somewhat betrayed by the art here. If the Designer already seemed like a hackneyed idea, Pagulayan's design for him cements it. A blank mask with a stylized "D" on it, a military tunic (?) over camo pants and a cape with a big fur collar call to mind a kid playing dress up more than the imposing presence of this arc.

Pagulayan's pages bear out a similar sort of haphazard inconsistency. He acquits himself well when the characters in question don't have much emoting to do. His work with Batman and Mr. Teeth proves that he excels with an expression that requires a certain level of grimness or gritted teeth. But as March tags in for the scenes featuring Catwoman and Harley Quinn, he too frequently relegates his female characters to blank stares if the script isn't calling for particularly big emotions. The action sequences work well enough throughout, however, even if some of the body language is a little off-putting or impossible. In a lot of ways, the effort that both artists put forth here feels like they're just drawing two completely different books. Try as he might, inker Danny Miki isn't able to bridge the gap between them and it makes the book a really inconsistent read that fails to deliver on even the meager emotional stakes presented.

There is no doubt that this is some fans' ideal type of Batman book. It's one with a mysterious villain, that features Batman getting ever closer to revealing their identity and doing all the Batman business of punching bad guys, using his detective skills and some new tech to do so. But it is a disappointment given the skill level of the creators involved. The hallmarks of a great James Tynion book just aren't there, as the writer seems to be forcing himself to write an answer to fans' expectation of what a Batman book should be, rather than deliver a title that feels uniquely his. It's possible that this is an aberration, a necessary evil to build toward "Joker War" and allow Tynion to spread his wings a bit. But right now, Batman doesn't feel like the essential reading that it usually is in the DCU.

[Azrael]

BATMAN #90 Gets Reprint Ahead of Release

Press Release

Batman #90 has sold out ahead of its March 4 on-sale date and is rushing back to press for a second printing! This marks the second straight pre-on sale sellout for the series, following Punchline's debut in Batman #89.

Batman #90 Second Printing reprints part five of "Their Dark Designs," written by James Tynion IV and illustrated by Jorge Jimenez and Tomeu Morey. This issue is a special flashback to the early days of the Designer's plan and will arrive in stores with a recolored version of its original cover by Jimenez. 

Batman #90 shows how the Designer started pulling the strings of Gotham City's greatest criminal minds: The Joker, Catwoman, the Riddler, and Penguin. Along with Jimenez's take on the classic versions of those villains, the issue also includes the artist's depictions of modern-day Batman and Catwoman, plus Harley Quinn.   

Also coming up in Batman: Punchline's next appearance, set for Batman #92, on sale April 1, 2020 featuring a stunning portrait variant cover of The Joker's new partner in crime by Stanley "Artgerm" Lau.

The second printing of Batman #90 is available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

https://www.newsarama.com/49240-batman-90-gets-reprint-ahead-of-release.html

[Man of Steel]

Tynion: Honestly, it's been a weird long road. I've been at DC 8 years, but my first comic ever was the back-up story to Batman #8 in the Snyder/Capullo run, which I co-wrote with Scott 12 years ago this spring. From there going from writing back-up stories to Batman, to working on supporting characters, to working on weekly Batman comics, then bi-weekly with Detective. Coming into -... I did the math once, I've written over 200 batman comics since I started this BATMAN run.

Tynion talks about the new villain Designer which in #90 he'll reveal why he didn't come forward sooner, and more about the Designer's plans.

The writer talks about the "shaky position" Batman is in now without Alfred, and with the Designer coming forward.

When asked what makes Batman special, Tynion said "he represents something we all relate to: he is about overcoming. The worst thing happened in his life when he was 8 years old, and he's designed himself to make sure that didn't happen again. Then six months ago, that happened again with Alfred."
When talking about the large reception to Punchline, Tynion said he was surprised. "She was created by necessity, building towards 'Joker War.' Part of my angle into Joker very early was departing from how he's been depicted as a singular character, without a gang. I wanted to bring that back in, and realized I needed him to have a #2 - someone that takes Joker's plan and directs the henchmen."

[Azrael]

Preview: Batman #90

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2020/03/02/catwoman-has-some-splainin-to-do-in-batman-90-preview/

[Azrael]

Batman: Punchline Isn't the Next Harley Quinn, She's the New [Spoiler)

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Batman #89, by James Tynion IV, Carlo Pagulayan, Guillem March, Danny Miki, Tomeu Morey and Clayton Cowles, and Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #3, by James Tynion IV, Steve Epting, Javier Fernandez, Nick Filardi, and Travis Lanham, on sale now.

https://www.cbr.com/batman-punchline-new-mercy-graves/

[Man of Steel]

Letto #90
Sempre più vicini al milestone issue!
Tynion vuole raccontare un blast from the past e...ci sta, per ora sta posizionando tutte le pedine, poi vedremo cosa farà.
Tuttavia questo villain non mi dice molto, cioè Bats è noto per prepararsi a tutto, quindi...

Ottime matite di Jimenez, molto bello averlo su Bats!

[Azrael]

Best Shots Review: BATMAN #90 'a Breath of Fresh Air'

8/10

https://www.newsarama.com/49307-best-shots-reviews-batman-90.html

[Azrael]

Batman Just Handed His Newest Gadget to... Harley Quinn?!

https://www.cbr.com/batman-gives-harley-quinn-bat-swarm-drones/

[Azrael]

First Look: JOKER and HARLEY QUINN Meets PUNCHLNE In New Variants

DC has released artist Francesco Mattina's variant covers for Batman #93 and #94, April 15 and May 6's final two chapters of "Their Dark Designs" by James Tynion IV and Guillem March, Tomeu Morey, and Clayton Cowles.

The issues precede the launch of "Joker War" in May 20's Batman #95.

"Their Dark Designs" will feature "a cutthroat confrontation between the Clown Princess of Crime and the Joker's new Second-in-Command, who has already propelled sellouts and social media buzz!"

"Meanwhile, Batman faces off with the Designer without Alfred (R.I.P.) or Bat-Family to lean on. In these thrilling issues putting a spotlight on the chaos in the Dark Knight's life, he stands alone against the ascendance of his greatest adversary!"

https://www.newsarama.com/49314-first-look-joker-and-harley-quinn-meets-punchlne-in-new-variants.html

[Azrael]

DC's Joker War Introduces a 'Brutal' New Batman Character: Clownhunter

https://www.cbr.com/batman-joker-war-introduces-clownhunter/

[ctbomb]

Ciao.

Come vi sembra finora questa nuova run di Tynion?

Volevo arrivare almeno alla fine della run di King (anche se mi pare che le ultime saghe non siano granché) ma poi non so se continuare la testata.
Magari varrà poi la pena seguire solo DetCom, che mi pare al momento prometta ancora bene...

Grazie.
Gianpaolo.

[Man of Steel]

La sua gestione su Det Com mi piacque un botto, qua mi dice poco per ora.

[Number Six]

Ciao.

Come vi sembra finora questa nuova run di Tynion?

Volevo arrivare almeno alla fine della run di King (anche se mi pare che le ultime saghe non siano granché) ma poi non so se continuare la testata.
Magari varrà poi la pena seguire solo DetCom, che mi pare al momento prometta ancora bene...

Grazie.
Gianpaolo.

Da l'idea di essere un filler, come ho già scritto sembra di leggere Detective Comics invece che Batman. Saltabile, a mio parere.

[Azrael]

Inside BATMAN's Breakout New Character PUNCHLINE (And the Coming of CLOWNHUNTER)

https://www.newsarama.com/49352-inside-batman-s-breakout-new-character-punchline-and-how-she-came-to-be.html