Dial 'H' for Hero #15

A fairly satisfying end to the series.  I would've liked to have seen more but I knew the series was destined to come to a logical conclusion.

Things I liked: the dial mythology is very interesting.  The heroes were always terrible but the story was good.

Things I didn't like: how calmly Roxie and Nelson are reacting to being stuck in another world.

Dial 'H' for Hero #14

I was right, they didn't stick around long.

Things I liked: Nelson isn't so nebbish now.

Things I didn't like: a lot of the action took place off screen.  It feels rushed now.

Dial 'H' for Hero #13

I think Open Window Man is dumb, but he's not stupid.

Things I liked: the dial mythology is very interesting.  I like how they're piecing together worlds.

Things I didn't like: I want to know more about the other dialers but I don't think we'll get the chance.

Penguin #1

The Penguin has probably been the most improved villain in the new 52.  He actually seems competent now.

Things I liked: the Penguin is evil.  Not like the Joker, in a much less comic book way.

Things I didn't like: I wish they hadn't tried to draw vomit.

Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins #1

Ra's does seem the most likely to stand Gainst the Secret Soceity of Supervillains.

Things I liked: that nobody can tell him what to do.  That's the sort respect a villain like him demands.

Things I didn't like: he had to be there for the start of World War I?

Scarecrow #1

Scarecrow as the mastermind is so etching that I feel they picked up from the Nolan Batman movies.  It doesn't not fit.

Things I liked: this one tried to tell what was actually going on during villains' month.

Things I didn't like: it seems to have ignored most of the stuff I've actually read.

Clayface #1

This is a departure from all the Batman villains.  Most of those have been trying to show just how crazy these people are.  Clayface isn't crazy, though he is very small.

Things I liked: I almost feel sorry for Clayface.  He wants to be so much more than he is.

Things I didn't like: so if the Secret Soceity is so powerful, why doesn't it know where all the superheroes are?  Seems like a convoluted plan that Clayface broke up.

Shadow Thief #1

I don't know who Shadow Theif is.  There aren't too many DC characters that I don't know so it's odd when I run across one.  I think this is a case of gender switching.  The shadow character I know that works like this is male.

Things I liked: kinda interesting story.  There's a lot of background here.  She doesn't seem quite a villain though.  Unless spies are just actomatically villainous, but that doesn't explain James Bond.

Riddler #1

I didn't think I'd enjoy this one.  It's hard to make the Riddler anything but a joke.

Things I liked: he came across as actually crazy in this issue.  Not just obsessed with riddles but with other issues as well.

Things I didn't like: the last two riddles don't make sense to me.  I get who they're referring to, but they don't work as riddles.

Court of Owls #1

I like the Court of Owls.  They're a great villain, but I don't think they're a premiere villain.  They're crazy, but not Joker crazy.

Things I liked: trying to give an overview of the long history of the Court.  They're really trying to stick this group into Gotham's history.

Things I didn't like: it just wasn't a good story.  It jumped around too much and tried to focus on too any different aspects of the Court.

Mr. Freeze #1

The definitive creepy Mr. Freeze was already done in one of the annuals so this feels like a retread of sorts.

Things I liked: they remembered that they'd just given him a new origin and didn't try to do it again.

Things I didn't like: it didn't make sense.  I get the mommy issues, but why would he want to be the head of a whole new family?

Harley Quinn #1

Not a fan of the new 52 Harley.  She's too sexualized.  This story wasn't bad though.

Things I liked: it gave Harley purpose again.  She's not there to be used.  She's nor a sex toy.  She made decisions that seemed rational at the time.

Things I didn't like: I hate her costume.  Mostly the top.  I can look past the short shorts and long socks but the bustier kills me every time.

Lobo #1

Interesting... Lobo's not Lobo.  Huh.  I can see where some people are upset.

Things I liked: actually I kind of like that concept.  I was never a big fan of Lobo.  This guy seems much more calm and collected.  Much more like he was before Simon Bisley got a hold of him.

Things I didn't like: I liked this issue quite a bit.  It was tight.

Killer Frost #1

I'm not that familiar with Killer Frost, but I did enjoy this one.

Things I liked: she's another villain that's not so bad.  She is a murderer, but not on purpose, and she's more connected to Firestorm than I thought.

Things I didn't like: Caitlyn Snow is such a 90s name.

Trigon #1

There's something right about Marv Wolfman writing Teen Titans.  I almost hate to say something bad about it.

Things I liked: seeing Marv Wolfman give a background to one of his biggest villains.

Things I didn't like: unfortunately, it wasn't the best background.  It's too bad, really, but Trigon sucking the evil out of something that sucked out evil was lame.

Forever Evil #1

I'm pretty sure that the Justice League weren't quite dead at the end of Trinity War, so where are they?

Things I liked: Nightwing is a good choice for the Crime Syndicate to use to get to everybody.  He knows everyone and they all like him.

Things I didn't like: they revealed him as Richard Grayson, that means that eventually this will all have been a dream or something so that things will be normal again.  It won't have an effect on the DC Universe for the future.

Joker #1

I was really hoping this would be Scott Snyder.  It wasn't and I'm a little disappointed.

Things I liked: it was suitably crazy for the Joker.  They've still kept his identity secret but added in this child a use last that makes sense.

Things I didn't like: the ape was too smart.  I can see the a joker wanting something like this and even getting a gorilla to try it, but unless this story was told through the lens of his insanity it went too far.  DC loves apes so maybe it was even a super intelligent one, but why find it in the zoo?

Poison Ivy #1

I almost feel sorry for her.  Her past doesn't excuse her present though.

Things I liked: I like getting inside her head.

Things I didn't like: I'm not sure.  This was a solid issue.

Two-Face #1

It's too bad they couldn't make this start with issue #2.

Things I liked: I've always liked Two-Face as a villain.  He's a very interesting psychopath.

Things I didn't like: the story faltered right near the end.  It was going along well and then lost the way.

Darkseid #1

I don't know the origin of Darkseid so I can't say how this stacks up.  I have a suspicion that this is the only origin of Darkseid.

Things I liked: gave a reason for him to be a new god.  I always thought that was weird.

Things I didn't like: that his main purpose is destruction.  That's going to be a problem for him at some point.

Count Vertigo #1

This is a very similar story to Deadshot's and yet I don't feel the same sympathy.  Vertigo is a much nastier villain.

Things I liked: they're trying so hard to give him a reason to be royalty with a chip on his shoulder.

Things I didn't like: I'm pretty sure Calgary doesn't have brothels.

Deadshot #1

I'm actually feeling empathy for Deadshot.  Weird.

Things I liked: nice work on why he uses one bullet.  Gotham knows how to make a villain.

Things I didn't like: Deadshot has never been a favourite of mine.  It's still nice to see the exposure for him though.  I think he has potential.

Ventriloquist #1

I'm a little confused.  I haven't read anything about the Justice League being dead, or where this Villains month is coming from.  This was a creepy issue anyway.

Things I liked: Gotham produces the oddest villains.

Things I didn't like: I think this is supposed to be Batgirl, not the Dark Knight.

Batman: the Dark Knight #23

How can it be almost good every time?

Things I liked: at least Clayface didn't develop psychic powers.  The Penguin telling him made much more sense.

Things I didn't like: Clayface has a very poor plan.  Worse than usual for him.

Justice League #23

The Secret Society, huh?  And from Earth 3?  They can't get away from multiple earths.  They tried and now they're all back again.

Things I liked: it's a good intro to villains month.  All those covers I've been seeing make sense now.

Things I didn't like: Phantom Stranger, dead.  Cyborg stripped of his cybernetics.  Superman with a sliver of kryptonite in his brain.  But mostly the Atom being evil.  It wasn't that long ago she was moaning because she was a double agent, but now it was all a game?  Why bother with thinking about how she didn't want to screw people over when it was the only thing she wanted to do.

Justice League Dark #23

Whew!  That was a big fight.

Things I liked:Constantine being able to hold the box because he's already corrupted.

Things I didn't like: there's just too many characters here for any of them to really get any time.  It's almost hard to keep track because they did try to show everybody.

Teen Titans #23

I miss Wally West.  The more they do with Bar Tor the more I miss Wally.

Things I liked: seeing them out of costume.  They feel more like whole people.

Things I didn't like: Beast Boy and Bunker leaving.  Hopefully it's only temporary because I do like these characters.

Batman and Robin #23

I've been expecting Nightwing for a while.  I wasn't disappointed.  Although, no fair DC, too many tears this month.

Things I liked: the easy relationship that Bruce and Dick have.  It's not always there but when it is it feels right.  The bit with Alfred was just perfect.

Things I didn't like: getting here has taken too long.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #23

Kori really is the reasonable one here.  No matter how she dresses.

Things I liked: they've really move away from "slutty Starfire".  Plus, Cheshire and Roy make a cute couple.

Things I didn't like: Roy was very pigheaded.

Wonder Woman #23

Hades is right - Diana will make an interesting God of War.

Things I liked: they won me over.  I wasn't sure where they were going with this storyline but I'm pleased with the resolution.  It made me tear up when she killed War.  And I hadn't even liked him.

Things I didn't like: I don't like the goddess stories with Diana, but I'm willing to give them a chance.

Nightwing #23

This is one of those issues where they're forced to move the pieces into place.

Things I liked: Nightwing's very chatty.  Higgins even managed to get a Holy X in there.

Things I didn't like: seemed a little too far into the action.  The last issue a train blew up and here he's trying to rescue a girl from a ledge.

Batman #23

There are certain moments in Batman's origin that work best without words.  Snyder knows which ones those are.

Things I liked: contrasting Bruce's beat down by the Red Hood gang with his discovery of the Batcave as a boy.  The lack of dialogue adds nicely to that.

Things I didn't like: tying the Joker to the death of the Waynes.  Even just a little.  I agree with the Red Hood - the tragedy of Martha and Thomas is that it was completely random.

The back up story was also very good.  Batman has a line that he doesn't cross and I think that's to be respected.

Batgirl #23

I can only envision this arc to end with Commissioner Gordon knowing that his daughter is Batgirl.

Things I liked: Gordon's partner is showing signs of intelligence.  She was originally willing to finger Batgirl for anything, now she's playing the caution card.

Things I didn't like: Barbara is being careless with her identity.

Justice League of America #7

I thought by reading Justice League Dark that I wouldn't miss anything from this crossover.  Guess I should've read the Phantom Stranger as well.

Things I liked: it's all falling apart for Waller.  Hopefully the whole thing between the two leagues will be dropped.

Things I didn't like: issuing bits of the story.  I wanted to hear what Light had to say, but I don't want to buy the Phantom Stranger as well.

Justice League Dark #22

This is why I dislike crossovers.  It's not so bad when I read all the titles that are involved, but I stopped reading Justice League Dark because it was uninteresting.

Things I liked: Wonder Woman is all kick ass here.  She just wants to kick ass and chew bubblegum.  She's all out of bubblegum.

Things I didn't like: everyone squaring off.  I know they'll all be on the same side in the end.  The teams are arbitrary at best.  At least Cyborg's team is pretty much just made up of the leftovers.

Green Arrow #23

Green Arrow is a hero for the 21st century now.  I stopped reading before because it seemed too dated.  I'm really enjoying this team.

Things I liked: the art is amazing this issue.  I love the way the flashbacks were constructed.  S much movement.

Things I didn't like: Arrow gets off easy on the killing thing.  The TV show acknowledges that arrows are deadly, here they try to avoid him making the kill shot.

Detective Comics #23

Layman may become another of my favorites.  Actual detecting in Detective Comics.

Things I liked: when Batman uses Bruce to find things out.  This is why he has a secret identity.

Things I didn't like: Alfred was playing it a little fast and loose.