Batman Eternal #51

[history79]

Comments

[espanolbot]

Hm, on the hand hand Arthur's death was a foregone conclusion as soon as he took Bruce's mask off, but on the other, him dying in a way that doesn't really result in Steph getting any closure is kind of sucky.

Also Thomas Wayne Jr... if that's his real name, him coming back was kind of telegraphed but unnecessary. Arthur's explanation for how he essentially managed a year long version of Bane's plan from Knightfall was kind of impressive on its own (him and his collaborators being so B-list that even Batman assumed that he wasn't actually the one responsible, thus allowing him to get away with more).

[captainbellman]

Well, if it isn't Dr. Hurt 2.0. I certainly missed him and his great big black gaping owl-eye nipples.

*Stifled Yawn*

[mrstatham]

Yeah, this. And it's not like Hurt was anything special to begin with.

"I'm Thomas Wayne Jr!"

"No, you're not."

"I've ruined your entire life!"

"No you really haven't."

"I'm actually this guy who's centuries old!"

"I just travelled through time."

"I have a big 'W' literally whipped into my back. And.. And - and look! Grant though he was being clever because he thought he was the only possible person who could remember the 'first' Batman costume!"

"...."

"I'm actually part Darkseid-monstrosity designed to kill you!"

"And I just helped kill Darkseid. Next."

OH FUCK OFF!

[drexer]

Really?

You know, I've always had a slight dislike of Harper Row but I kept it to myself. I felt like it wasn't worth it to kick one of the few female bat-family characters just because I still felt annoyed due to the lack of Stephanie and Cassandra.

But this? What the heck Snyder.

He's capturing the one character, the one single character whose most central character trait has been that she never gives up, that she has always kept on fighting for herself, for her friends and family, always rose up with a smile on her face and a quip on her lips not because she felt she was particularly excepcional, but because she NEVER GAVE UP. And this was her personality in-story and out-of-story, because one thing that always made the Stephanie Brown fans so resilient was that the struggle to get the character its due recognition and five minutes of fame demanded the same work, the same dedication of never giving up.

And he's throwing that away to show us how awesome Harper is.

In the beginning what made me take the decision to not follow Eternal was the awful art. Now I see no point in going back for the paperbacks, because I do not want to read a story meant to elevate a character by kicking another one down.

Re: OH FUCK OFF!

[espanolbot]

Eh, having read the issue they at least seem to be setting up Steph coming back again.

But then, this New 52 version isn't really as likeable as the old one, so maybe she IS legit wandering off to pastures unknown.

Re: OH FUCK OFF!

[drexer]

I see that pannel with her riding away and I give it it 50/50 chances of she coming back in the final issue.

The problem is that if she stays away it is a portrayal of her running away, which is an antithesis to the character.

If she comes back, it will be to prove Harper right, and not to reflect on her own character arc(which again, is the wrong kind of character arc to have with this character whose core concept already encompasses resilience).

Re: OH FUCK OFF!

[zechs80]

Nah. She's gonna pull a Han Solo. Detective Comics: Endgame #1 showed Stephanie with the Bat Family and is the one Batwoman sends to watch over a group of kids (including Lonnie aka Anarky) looking for their parents. I look at it as she stopped her father, but realized at when Hush went after her the bounty wasn't going away and she was over her head. With no allies and only herself to depend on. Hence why she wanted to stay with Selina and then get the heck out of dodge (while giving Vicky the jump drive).

Re: OH FUCK OFF!

[jaybee3]

"But then, this New 52 version isn't really as likeable as the old one"

Outside of Jason Todd, couldn't you say that about literally every "new 52" DC character/hero? Its so across the board that it seems to be some kind of Editorial rule.

Re: OH FUCK OFF!

[cricharddavies]

... have you seen The Dark Knight Rises?

Does the image of Stephanie on her motorcycle really not echo Selina on hers to you?

Re: OH FUCK OFF!

[drexer]

Yes I have.

I've also consumed a lot of other media and yes, I obviously recognized that the iconography of the build on the page fully allows for Stephanie to come back in the final issue having changed her mind.

However:

Its a thing that might happen, it's not certain that it will happen, as the image can also serve as a send-off of Stephanie from the series.

It still contains all the problems I mentioned above. It's still a character going against its core to prop up another character. Even if Stephanie comes back now, it will be more of a reflection on "Harper was right" than "I never give up".

Re: OH FUCK OFF!

[lencannon]

I know what you're saying, but I think it is important to remember this isn't the Stephanie of the old universe. I'm not even talking about personality-wise. She's had literally zero preparation and training before this all started. It's a small miracle she's even alive and she's only come this far out of a stubborn belief that she was right.

She really can't be expected to do anything else right now. Harper is just being smug and annoying.

Re: OH FUCK OFF!

[ablackraptor]

Yeah, that's pretty much my reaction. I basically didn't mind Harper too much, but she's quite easily became a pretty bad creators pet by the course of the last few issues, ever since she became 'Bluebird'.

Re: OH FUCK OFF!

[jekylls_salvation]

Not kicking a female character because she's female is definitively sexist. Anyhoo.

I agree. I dug that about her. Personally I like where her mind is here, but I don't think this is in character. I like generally not agreeing with her. The switch here ruffles my feathers a little.

[redmagpie]

So glad I wasn't the only one annoyed by Steph being so not-Steph.

[lieut_kettch]

Whatthefuck Synder? Who is this quitter wearing the Spoiler costume? That sure isn't the Stephanie Brown I know. This iteration is a disgrace to the purpleeggplant she wears.

She can't be the "real" Stephanie.

[7dialsmystery]

Original Stephanie's mom was named Agnes Bellinger who was a plump brunette. Then some she turned into some blonde woman named Crystal. Now in Batman Eternal she's a middle-aged, skinny brunette. Much like Helena Wayne isn't the same person as Helena Bradley, the current Stephanie isn't the same person as the original. Much like Nu52 Amanda Waller isn't the "Real" Amanda Waller. They just have the same name thanks to timey-wimey shennanigans.

[icon_uk]

Hmm, I sense a lot of "pet character syndrome" here.

Thomas Wayne Jr. (A character whose origin is excrutiatingly awkward) shows up in shades of, as others have already noted, Dr Hurt, or Hush, who are seemingly awesome mostly because we keep being told they are rather than anything they do on page, (as opposed to their off panel Heath Robinson plotting to achieve something a bit outside their apparent pay grade)

Meanwhile Harper is supercool and more inspirational and more dedicated and more everything than anyone else, which can get tiresome, but it does become annoying when she's in the same scene as an old fan-favourite like Steph, who basically had the superpower of "stubborn determination" for a long time until the New52.

Just throw in a reference to the Joker and the Gates of Gotham and the gangs all here!

And yet Snyder's supposedly the best Batman writer in years

[chortles81]

Suuuuure, DC...

[lucean]

First of all, to me the claim that Thomas Wayne Jrs origin is similar to Hush's or Dr Hurts is really stretching it.

Second, the pet character syndrome is a difficult one in a lot of ways, especially here when the accusation comes because they are not promoting another character. In the Nu52 Harper is a more established and connected character than Steph is, especially since Steph is most likely coming back to save the day. Besides let us be quite honest that Steph was treated as a pet character to almost insane degrees at times. That is the name of the game, sometimes unfortunately so. And I admit I am biased as I had never been that big of a Steph fan, the complaint that Harper being treated as superinspirational is somewhat amusing considering we are discussing Steph here.

This isn't to say someone has to enjoy what is being shown here, far from it, but simply that I feel that some of the criticism evidenced here is somewhat unfair.

[mrstatham]

'Pet character syndrome' is as easy to throw around as 'Mary Sue'. All Batman writers *clearly* have their favourite toys - Morrison with Damian, Rucka with Renee and Harvey, etc, etc.

[beyondthefringe]

Surprise! The true evil mastermind we revealed last issue isn't actually the true evil mastermind! Betcha weren't expecting yet another twist!

And the true -true- evil master mind is.... THIS GUY!
And everyone once again goes, "Who?" "Who?"
"That's right, he does look like an owl..."

Thank you, I'll be here all week.

[mrstatham]

We've already had this hinted all along, though. This was literally foreshadowed several issues ago with Steph's revelations that 'Bruce Wayne' was in on her dad's gang and their work. Lincoln March is specifically meant to look a lot like Bruce.

So.. Yeah. It's not like this wasn't to be expected and most people were already questioning Cluemaster's status as the big bad.

[drtechnobabel]

And at the end of the next issue, after Thomas Jr. gives his speech about how his plan was so elaborate and complex Batman would have never seen it coming, his throat gets slit, and out of the shadows steps the real mastermind: Lock-Up.

And then at the end of the issue after that...

[jekylls_salvation]

I really don't think this is a correct characterization of Stephanie, but if it's a development in her character, I approve.

Also, is she older now? I've seen a couple panels now where her butt's thrown out there, and she seems more mature. I didn't so much like when she was a teenager throwing on a cape and going out to fight supervillains, but she seems more... womanly now.

I'm really wrestling with the fact that I'm starting to like her for the first time. Maybe it's just time.

[shadowpsykie]

I doubt steph is gone.