Last Week's Top 3 Future's End Issues (Part 1)

[zapbiffpow]

Hi! Splitting this into three parts - this one's text heavy enough as it is. Here we go!

Grayson, By Tom King, Tim Seeley and Stephen Mooney

I would have made this #1, if not for its first two pages. To be honest, I don't mind 'grimdark': what I'm not cool with is 'disturbing'. And Dick pleading for his life before being hanged is like, non-stop double that.

But this issue shines because of three things: one, its experimental storytelling: It’s set backwards, so your brain is fighting itself to classify the plot points. Callback? Foreshadowing? Also, the ending is set up for an Inception-like debate.

The second is this: Batman and Robin versus the Cluemaster.

Check out that page: it’s not Batman being a dick to, well, Dick. It’s a gentle rebuke, like a mentor teaching a student, or, uh, Don Corleone advising Michael. (Dammit, bad simile.)

Weird villain, crazy clue-solving, Robin learning crimefighting lessons from Batman: somehow, they recreated the core of an Adam West Batman episode in just two pages.

And if you need proof:

“QUICK. TO THE BATMOBILE!”

The third one is this panel:

I'm not exactly sure why I like this. I guess it’s the knowledge that in five potentally sucky in-universe years from now, Dick Grayson is still capable of sparing time to comfort and embrace a small, orphaned child.

But in the off-chance you'd like to lay on this heartwarming dramatic scene, let me start the festivities:

Anyway, surprisingly decent work all around - I don't remember the last time DC greenlighted a mainsteam issue as interestingly bizarre as how King and co. laid this out.

Except, I guess Morrison. Morrison is always the exception.

“I…I also happened.”

Anyway, special mentions to Green Lantern (decent ending), Green Arrow (great art) , and Detective Comics (decent twist, but iffy Calendar Man. Was he better as a creepy killer, or as the bouncer he is today?)