April Fools and 1 Million Years Ago

Daily Ramble 47

In Batman today the Holiday Killer moves into April and he keeps fooling everyone as no one has a clue as to who he is, not even the Riddler who makes an appearance in this issue. I also took a look at the latest Avengers #1 where Marvel actually jumps back 1 million years to setup the story for Earths’s Mightiest Heroes.

First Look at Batman: The Long Halloween – Part 7

Batman: The Long Halloween – Part 7

April Fools Day by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. Published in 1997 by DC Comics.

The 7th issue of The Long Halloween takes place on April Fools Day and what better fool to drag into the story than the Riddler. Carmine Falcone has brought in Edward Nigma to help him figure out who the Holiday Killer is and a frustrated Batman gets advice from Alfred as to who it could be. Through the issue we see quite a few speculative possibilities of who the killer is ranging from Catwoman to Carla Vitti and from Maroni to The Roman himself. Alfred even throws out the idea that Harvey Dent could be the perpetrator. This last could prove an interesting idea since Dent seems more determined to draw a connection between Wayne and Falcone than to figure out who’s committing all the murders. With the generalized background of ongoing criminal mayhem throughout the city it makes sense Harvey would focus on the bigger picture but it’s interesting that he’s fixated on bringing down our hero.

We’ve now seen half a dozen of Batman’s adversaries and a bunch of organized crime lords and no one seems to stand out as Holiday. No one even seems like they could have been at all crime scenes. I’m with Batman – a bit frustrated at trying to figure out who done it – but I have to say this is a fun title. It even got more interesting as the killer refrained from killing the Riddler even as April Fools Day was passing.

I give this issue a First Look Rating of a B-.

This comic can be found on DC Universe when they rotate the series back into the service, Comixology at anytime, or at your local comic book shop.

First Look at Avengers (2018) #1

Avengers (2018) #1

Final Host – Part 1 by Jason Aaron and Ed McGuinness. Published 2018 by Marvel Comics.

This issue, according to Marvel, starts a new era for Earth’s mightiest heroes and the way I read it, there are parallel conflicts going on in this new era. One conflict involves a current list of heroes that from my understanding are not really Avengers any longer. Captain America went on a mental trip and became an agent of Hydra, Thor became unworthy and I still haven’t read anything that explains this yet, and Tony apparently dropped into a coma of some sort. Where have I been through all this? Apparently reading the younger heroes in the Marvel Universe but I don’t see Laura Kinney, Ms. Marvel, Amadeus Cho, or Kate Bishop in this issue or as part of this group of Avengers, rather these are the good ‘ole boys and girls. Steve Rogers, Thor Odinson, and Tony Stark are reassembling the Avengers and it looks like Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider, She Hulk, Black Panther, and Captain (Colonel) Marvel are gonna join in with the rehab project. By the looks of things they’ll need all the help they can get.

In the other conflict, we’re transported a million years into the past where the original avengers are fighting an enemy that even they fear might be way too much for them. By original Avengers, I don’t mean the old Lee and Kirby Avengers, these predate even those heroes. The original Iron Fist, Odin Borson, Starbrand, Agamotto, Black Panther, Lady Phoenix and the Spirit of Vengeance are presented as a team of fighters determined to protect the Earth from the same guys the new heroes are dealing with. The main difference seems to be that in the past, the Celestials are alive and ready to kick butt while in the present, something has killed off a bunch of them and sent them through portals to crash into the planet.

How are our new heroes, who are clearly flawed, gonna take on beings that killed the Celestials?

The set up looks pretty good though the fight appears daunting and it looks like the stage has been set for the modern Avengers who’ve fallen from grace to rise up and prove that they are worthy to be called Avengers once again. Hopefully they’ll be able save the Earth in the process.

I give this issue a First Look Rating of a B.

This comic can be found on Marvel Unlimited, Comixology or at your local comic book shop.