Barack Obama, Final Crisis, Locke & Key - Comic Book Reviews for 11/15/09

[timeywimeylord]

I re-read Final Crisis and it is better when you read it all together, not as bad as I thought a couple months ago.

[deathpool209]

Trust Me Guys, Final Crisis #7 Is The Most Confusing And Pointless Issue Of Them All...Lets Just Say Nothing Is Truly Accomplished In This Crisis; Except For Some Pretty Cool Heroes, Dying Very Lamely!

[jdbzkh]

I loved Final Crises I just think its iconic that a common criminal created Batman but it took a God to finally kill him. Not to mention the parallels of Joe chill a nobody holding a gun to the most powerful person in Gotham (aka Thomas Wayne) & Batman pretty much a nobody in the universe holding a gun to a God.

[masonTganes]

Boy I truly LOVE DC comics but the editorial has been horendous since 06.

COUNTDOWN,the leadups, & now FINAL CRISIS have been not only BAD but an incoherent mess.

FINAL CRISIS has some great scenes & concepts but the basic story telling is HORRIBLE!!! its totaly inexcuable.

How can DILDO or MORONSON hold their heads up and be proud of the mess the DC universe has become thanks to them.

LOL & readers thought the DCU was a mess before 1985...sheesh

[drock285]

look at the final 3 page it Batman of Earth Prime...

[AintRealProductions]

what?

[MenMoneyComics]

Hopefully, "Final Crisis" WILL be the final crisis. I'm sick of this crap being used to generate sales. It's nauseating. Fix the DC universe once and for all and move on. BTW, the set needs work, guys. 3 guys on an ugly couch and surrounded by an ugly set? At least, put super-hero posters up in the background.

[scottkicksyou]

It's so weird they basically call the writer a five year old. Writers write in different styles to achieve different objectives. It's what I find most exciting about writing. People think there's a "right way" to write things, but it's all theory, similar to science. Maybe, you should stick to more pedestrian fare.

[AllegroRubato]

Darkseid is the god of evil, and Batman killed him.

Its a great way to go.

[AintRealProductions]

I agree and how he wounded him too.

and best part he's not dead!

[Araqnidm]

If you go back and re-read DCU #0 and Morrison's Mister Miracle 4-part mini-series, and then you read FC all together, FC makes a lot more sense and actually shapes up to be a really great series. As for Morrison writing only the highlights, I had read somewhere that it was his goal to write this series as like the comic book equivalent to dance music, where everything is stripped down to only the interesting stuff.

[Lilsniffs109]

Something just tells me Batman won't stay dead.

Almost all dead comic characters return sometime-Jason Todd, Green Arrow, etc.

[rmoonyose]

Batman is dead! At least until Blackest Night.

I've also heard a great deal trying to connect the Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle miniseries to this moment in FC #6, but no matter whose opinion I read they always seem to overlook the fact that Batman's SHRIVELED CHARRED CORPSE is trotted out at the very last page. No one is reliving laternate lives here, he's friggin dead. DC's out is Blackest Night where Batman will become a Black Lantern and not another of Morrison's half-baked ideas.

[IHateWallyWest]

im sorry but if you think there gonna hand batman from the hands of grant morrison into geoff johns just so he can become part of the geoff johns green lantern trilogy your crazy. Grant morrison will be back in the summer to finish off the "Batman Epic" That he started with the less than stellar batman and son.

[HPUzerGuy]

obama is in youngblood too

[SithHound]

Really? Hm... who reads Youngblood?

[timeywimeylord]

Final Crisis #6 was terrible. Beyond belief terrible. How could Morrison let Batman die like that? HOW could he let him die?!

[IHateWallyWest]

get over it. While i do not belive final crisis has lived up to its promises overall issue six was phenominal. Grant morrison finally delivered on his promises of both a mary marvel VS supergirl slugfeastand the "Death of Batman". Batman is Not dead by any means. Read the Seven Soldiers-Mister Miracle Specials and you will understand. The Omega Sanction Places its victim in a series of Traumatic and terible lives, each one worst that the last. Shilo Norman Escaped from it so will Bruce wayne.

[AllegroRubato]

He could only die. Can't people see? Batman KILLED DARKSEID the god of EVIL. He won. Batman defeated evil. Batman killed evil. That's why FC andRIP are the same thing. A man with a gun. Only now the one dead is "the bad" itself.

There's no more need for Batman once evil is dead.

It makes all the sense in the world.

[Drammm]

I know you're being metaphysical, but it really doesn't apply to the reality of the situation.

Darkseid is not an actual God. The New Gods are a race of highly evolved beings, with extremely complex technology that makes them seem like Gods.

Evil just isn't going to disappear without Darkseid around. There will still be muggings and villains and all sorts.

also; Personally, I'm tired of this BatHAX crap. He may as well be superhuman. He's not down to earth anymore.

[nepadude]

Oy.

[eeeyan53]

Love the show. Couldn't agree more about how bad FC is and how its written like a 5 year old. I'm surprised no one has a problem with batman using a gun a killing someone. It's completely against his character.

[2b4r0k]

Don't mean to sound all geeky and what-not but Bob Kane's had a gun and killed lots of people with it. So Bat's using a gun isn't that foreign.

[eeeyan53]

OK thats true but the vast majority of his time being published he was against guns and didn't kill. Its become a part of the character otherwise he's just a really rich version of the punisher or vigilante and so on only with better gadgets.

[SithHound]

Really, which issues?

[Death2Fanboys]

I'm glad and almost proud of you guys. To say that Morrison writes like a 5 year old feels like justice is been done. Really love the review and so glad you guys say like it is...without fear of retalition...which of course would come from the Morrison fanboys.

Looking forward to next week review.

[SivartAlappes]

ok... Justin mentioned the idea of Batman being elevated to godhood...

but...

Isn't there an event coming soon where the dead come back as Black Lanterns? :D

[maerdaporue]

as much as my favorite "comic book club" character is Pete i have to say... Pete has to pay 1,000,000.00 Usd to alex because he read the Final crisis... also guys please talk about the walking dead!! and who did meet mccain? the Ambiguously Gay Duo?

[neshannockfez]

Gee, I wonder if Obama would make a deal with mephisto to bring his dead gramma back in exchange for never being president

[JMan1380]

Final Crisis seemed like it would be about the monitors, and Barry from the first issue. Yet so little was done with them. So little was done with the outcomes of Infinite Crisis and 52. Justin said it best, we're getting side bits, IC at least put you in the action. I really hope the Death of Batman is put into Geoff's hands before Blackest night, Bruce would rule as a Black Lantern.

[illersz1]

OBAMA=33rd Degree Freemason

[davidnathanwilliams]

'the old western high noon days' is the single best sentence in vlogosphere history

[volumedealer1]

OBAMA=FRAUD

[potmanbox]

Great show, DC is really a cluster fuck right now.

[pobra17]

how does DC expect to gain any new readers when they churn out shit like final crisis? if you're not a hard core DC fan then you will have NO idea what is going on. even long time readers are having a hard time with this one. and killing off bruce wayne right on the heels of the dark knight's success is just plain fucking retarded. fans of the movie want to see the batman that they've come to know, not fucking nightwing or hush. goddamn DC, smarten up.

[AllegroRubato]

Actually, i think itd be as much about supes as it is about bats. He just wasn't writing on superman for so long prior to this.

[bryanss3]

I couldn't get this it was sold out of both covers because of obama:( i have to wait till next week

[AllegroRubato]

After reading Final Crisis 6 i find Batman RIP even better. They're the same book, really. Other than that, i totally disagree with you guys regarding FC and RIP, as usual though :P

And saying Morrison wrote it like a 5 yo is totally out of line. Morrison is for sure one of the best writers around. He knows what he's doing. If you don't (which i still don't see why) then that speaks a lot more about you as a fan than of him as a writer. This book makes sense in SO many ways. Perfectly circular.

[AllegroRubato]

I agree, however, with Justin(as usual, kinda) when he says this is a book about highlights, ellipsis all around. But that still says nothing about the story other than a stylistic choice, which also makes sense in a simpler way if you think he's trying to show us the end of the world. He's showing us the characters, not telling us about them. FC is about the DCU, not about any character. So he tells us through IT. IF FC should be red as a char piece, it'd be about Bats(2) and Supes(3). The DCU.

[TheDemonPazuzu]

The dude on the far right is so ugly that he must be Jewish.

[PeteSandusky]

wow. go die, dude.

[TheDemonPazuzu]

No insult was intended, but it's just that I have noticed that people of the Jewish persuasion are extremely homely, with a few notable exceptions (and those tend to have far more European blood than Middle Eastern Semitic blood).

[fernandoDcampos]

Final Crisis is a brilliant job, bringing all Kirby work to the DCU continuity. It could be sometimes a bit odd or confuse but Morrision did a great job paying tribute to the Fourh World, Kamandi and Omac.

The biggest problem with Final Crisis was more on an editorial level.

[thestrongwall]

My prediction for FC #7: Batman becomes the new High Father. Take it to the bank, yo.

[hellointernet]

Congrats on the cover quote. That's freaking sweet.

[ramseyrocks]

I'm a BIG Grant Morrison fan but BATMAN RIP & FINAL CRISIS despite having bonkers exciting ideas and scenes did not really amount to a story. It's such a shame because the prior Morrison Batman arcs & ALL STAR SUPERMAN were excellent. Maybe all insane positive fan & critic reactions made him lose his focus?

PS: Locke & Key is brilliant but I think I'll wait for the trade becuz the 1st book is such a gorgeous hardcover!

[nightwing722]

Thank you for talking about Batman's death. There was no news on any comic site or even the news itself. Yet, Obama on the cover of Spider-Man has people going to LCS in hordes.  I guess Batman wasn't as important as we all thought he was.

[Jugglingdude]

Times Justin looks to his right: 35

[widowmaker85]

In Seven Soldiers: Mr. Miracle, Shilo Norman survived the Omega Sanction, so Morrison's already letting us know that Bruce Wayne's death isn't going to be permanent. Great show, by the way. I never miss an episode.

[DEATH2REDNECKS]

wow justin. yeah superboy dying was so predictable! and nightwings town getting blown up yeah everyone knew that was going to happen. what the hell are you talking about predictable! did we know the good guys were going to win. yeah. was superman batman wonder woman going to die? probably not. i wouldn't call infinite crisis predictable and i sure wouldn't call it a bore.

[JustinTyler13]

I'm not saying the story points themselves were predictable but the way the action unfolded and the way the multiverse was used didn't have a lot of surprises in it. Also the fact that a minor major character would die (Superboy) that would make only some people sad is an industry standard these days

[theescapists777]

Final Crisis to me reads just like one of those great Science Fiction stories do in literature. Really think about it. Grant Morrison writes a crazy universe full of science and metaphysical elements. It is really reminiscent of sci-fi fantasy authors like Kim Stanley Robinson or Octavia Butler.

[listo65]

Brewed in Lancaster, PA baby!!!!!!!!!

[XxFloggingMollyxX]

Final Crisis is awesome IMO. Its really creative and interesting. Secret Invasion was anti-climatic and a waste of money. Batman's death is gutsy. Especially with the success of TDK and all. However I doubt hes actually dead. My only complaint is, that if your gonna get rid of Bruce Wayne it should be done in his book and not in Final Crisis. It worked with Flash because hes not as big an icon as The Dark Knight.

[HotRodakaMadMax]

Batman RIP

[masonTganes]

Ok Batman dying in a far fetched superhero battle is like Superman dyink at the hands of a common thug.

As cool as it was... its not as epic because he is out of his element. Batman is lame when he is sideby side with the rest of the DC U.

[masonTganes]

You know i love this show guys. Faithfull weekly watcher for 2 yrs now.The price hike is a serious crisis you guys need to make a bigger stink about.

PUNISHER #1 : The price increase with only 16 pages of story is absolutly INEXCUSABLE! How can any reader condone this????

Would you pay extra money for only half the newest Harry potter book?

Pete -this is why waiting for the trade makes more sense.

Its like paying a hooker for her to get ontop of you naked but then leave you hanging.

[srwapo]

Meh, Amazing Spider-Man was okay, but you will not really miss anything if you skip this issue. Especially at $4.

I haven't been reading Final Crisis (nor much in the DC universe), but I've read a lot of reviews/spoilers. Every time it gets mentioned, the story seems to get weirder and weirder. It's like people are reading 14 different comics and talking as if they were the one and same.

[subfighter316]

Batman died???/ NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chovengo]

I think that showing Batmans dead body is just a cheap trick to make some impact because Final Crisis is just so confuse and boring, and Likalaruku ...good thinking lol, so Dc has to cancel trinity and Batman and superman now? very dumb idea just when the Batman movie make so many people buy Batman comics againg really bad idea to kill Batman now

[ahfldsj]

i just think that fc did a great job of building a tight rope suspense up until that very last moment of bats death and this whole issue full of battles.

mabe if pete and alex bothered re-reading the series from the start then they'd start to understand, not that they're illiterate or some such thing.

[JStrips]

Good decision Pete!

[disface]

hey alex did know paul giamatti stole your look at the golden globes he took your sideburns and everything you two could be twins or somthin wait a sec...OOOOoSNAP i think we have ourselves another Chameleon situation lol

[LikaLaruku]

Since Darkseid ripped Batman's sould from his body, I think he'll end up posessing Hush's body, so Hush will not only be the new Batman, but the new Bruce Wayne...he already has his face.

[LikaLaruku]

typos typos....

[grkpektis]

i think it would be pretty cool if batman becomes a god and I am not talking temporarily.

[BandartheEnchanter]

Is that I Kill Giants 7 on the table over there by Pete. I hope you point out that issue this week. It was amazing.

[Mahzian]

they really messed Final Crisis up, from the sounds of it (being all over the place) was because it was designed for trades. Morrison's stuff is usually pretty complex and between the lines so when editorial has it with a shotgun it makes it barely readable.

I just hope bruce wayne stays dead for awhile

[NJFSpidey616]

I wonder if next week's T-Bolts featuring Norman meeting Obama will be as successful ;)

[illersz1]

The guy wait in line for a comic ...and tell us do not pick it up

GREAT PETE

[Bojac]

Stephen Colbert got it right, Obama can sell shit.

[ComicBookOverkill]

Secret Invasion was ok. Just had some pacing issues. Final Crisis had a great build up and is escalating to a proper climax. Great stuff from Morrison. Now for those complaining about Batman's Death not being explained I suggest reading Crisis on Infinite Earths and Flash's death.

[theAstud]

I think final crisis was rushed. But it was eons better than secret invasion.

[ComicBookOverkill]

The feeling it was rushed is sort of odd since they delayed a couple times. Secret Invasion is better than it is given credit for, but not the best story arc ever.

[BigBangBear]

Yes, Final Crisis has been confusing as hell. But I still have to say I have enjoyed what it has been building to and I enjoyed issue 6. Have to agree that I wish it did have more story and was less like a clip show.

[prodigy00073]

Final Crisis has been so bizarre. I know secret invasion was mediocre at best but I enjoyed reading that a lot more than I did Final Crisis.

[stupidboy187]

yeah the death of batman itself is a major event and one i dont think that should be included in another event. epic fail on dc's part

[deraickripper]

final crisis!!!!

heroes die! legends live forever!

[Guido5595]

grant morrison and final crisis is brilliant. Secret Invasion is written like a 5 year old. Final Crisis is brilliant.

[deraickripper]

yeap! secret invasion was made for zombies, brant morrison did a GREAT work, seven soldiers was important, 52 was important, and the rock saga in his JLA was also important to undestand final crisis... this is a huge event, is Different to anything, grant make think, something most LOEB fans can't really do...

[thestrongwall]

I'm not recommending SI by any means but at least it was easy to understand. Even for this longtime DC fan, FC is like trying to pass a mental kidney stone the size of a cannonball. I can't recommend either story.

[deraickripper]

easy to understand = not always a good thing

[XornyGodi]

first