Batman Beyond Unlimited #12

Once again Batman takes a back seat as the main story focuses on Superman Beyond where new fire fighter Clarke Kent meets up with his old JLA friend Martian Manhunter, it seems that an alien race called the Trillians have come to Earth looking for Superman. They want him to answer for what they believe are crimes against their world,  crimes that have led to a war between themselves and a cat like race called the Mangals a war that has almost brought their planet to destruction. In truth the Mangals were slaves to the Trillans and Superman freed them an act which led to the plant wide war, as the Manhunter points out it was a bold decision swooping in and turning their lives upside-down.

The Trillians have tried to take Superman down and failed, (issue #11) and have now called in help in the form of interstellar bounty hunter Lobo. What follows is a good old fashioned no holds bard battle between Lobo, Superman and the Manhunter its not subtle but boy is it fun. In the end Lobo is victorious over our two heroes,which enables the Trillians take Superman off world to stand trial for crimes against their society.



War Crimes is an interesting story as it asks should someone impose their sensibility's onto another race or people and also shows the consequences of the actions of doing so, something that we could debate on for hours and never reach an agreement so I will keep my thoughts to myself on that one.

The story is by JT Krul and its a credit to him that I find this version of Superman far more interesting than the one who is running or flying around the current DC Universe, and the inclusion of Lobo in the Beyond Universe was good to see although he is a one dimensional character when used right he is a joy to read.

Batman is one of the back-up story's as his continual fight with the Joker King nears its conclusion, as New Gotham burns the Joker King is preparing to kill Batman but as you would expect it doesn't go entirely his way. as the badly injured Batman struggles to fully come round while asking the question is this the life I want (hell yes), Dick Grayson is swinging to the rescue in true Knightwing style if you discount the fact he only has one eye and he has a bullet in his spine. Meanwhile the new age Catwoman and Vigilante are handing over the last of the Jokez to Commissioner Gordon before making their getaway, the story ends with a now fully conscious Batman fully focused and flying off to take down the Joker King. For me this story seems to have been going on for a bit too long and I am keen to see more Batman Beyond stories, its not a bad story I feel it could have been wrapped up a bit sooner but then I'm not a writer so what do I know.

The third story in the book is the origin of Micron the Beyond version of the Atom and as far as origin story's go it is very good one shot story, the artwork is by Fiona Staples who is doing fantastic work on the book Saga another book that is well worth picking up.


Batman Beyond is still one of my top reads of the month and I would recommend it to anyone, and it doesn't mater to me if Batman or Superman have the lead story as I see it as one big universe.

The award winning Bobby Nash

Writer Bobby Nash has been announced as the winner of the best author in the 2013 Pulp Ark Awards, and if that wasn't enough Bobby also was involved in two other winning categories.

Best Collection/Anthology- The Green Hornet: Still at Large by Various published by Moonstone Books which features Bobby's story, “The Gauntlet”

Best New Pulp Character- Rick Ruby created by Bobby Nash and Sean Taylor Rick Ruby is featured in The Ruby Files Volume 1 Published by Airship 27 Productions.

Bobby has posted his thoughts on been named best author at www.bobbynash.com where he had this to say, ''It is rare to find me at a loss for words, but that’s exactly what happened after the list of winners of the 2013 Pulp Ark Awards was posted at All Pulp earlier tonight. It took a while for the news to sink in, and even now I don’t think it’s really hit me. After years as a working writer I can now add the title “Award Winning” before my name, which is pretty darn cool, let me tell you''.

I had the honour of doing an interview with Bobby in the early months of my blog after becoming a fan of his work, and I am glad to say I have kept in contact with Bobby since then via social media. 

So from a personal note it gives me great pleasure to say congratulations Bobby its an award that is richly deserved.

Zombie Run 2013

Zombies will be invading the town of Barnsley on Saturday 19th October all in the name of charity, the exact location will be at the Worsbrough Mill and Country Park. It is all in aid of raising money for the Barnsley Hospital charity a worthy cause, details on how you can participate are below and on the attached poster.

There is also a link to a short film showing the zombie runs promotional video, have a look and if your interested give it a go it should be fun.

Promo video: Zombie run

Face book Page: Zombie Run

Batman & Robin Annual #1

The draft for this blog was written before the events of Batman Incorporated #8, I have decided to publish it to show just what a fantastic character Damian had become and morn the loss of story's we may now never get.

Damian is jetting around the world leaving clues for Bruce and Alfred to follow, the reason he is doing it is to help Bruce connect with his past a past Damian thinks he has lost touch with. As with all things that involve Damien not all is what it seems, while Bruce is jetting from country to country Damian is still in Gotham and leaving video clues for Bruce with the aide of a green screen.  And like any youngster left alone in the house he does nothing but party and get drunk while listening to David Bowie on the record player wait that was me many years ago, Damian been Damian just dons a very cool Bat costume and goes out fighting crime.

Over the course of several nights he becomes involved in a case involving a creature with very large teeth and a fire dispensing villain, while managing to annoy Detective Pierce who its safe to say is not a fan of the Batman.  Meanwhile Bruce is connecting with his parents past life a painting by his mother and visiting the place where his farther proposed while becoming increasingly more aware that not all is what it seems with Damiens jet setting, meanwhile Alfred is connecting with his past by treading the boards at the Old Globe Theatre.

Now you may think its a strange story to tell in the middle of all that's going on in the other Bat books but to be honest I found it a welcome break from all the darkness of those books, the interaction between Bruce and Alfred was very well written and had some nice comedic moments, While Damien dressed like a mini-me version of Batman made me smile while at the same time have me thinking I would like to see Robin in this costume. There is a particularly great scene where Commissioner Gordon activates the bat signal and Damien hangs around the shadows to make out he is Batman, but Gordon is not fooled and shouts Robin at him as he swings away. This is one of Peter Tomasi best work and shows how far the character of Damian has come particularly under his writing of the Batman & Robin Book, the art by Ardian Syaf is a joy along with the inks of Vicente Cifuentus there is nothing that I can criticise about this book at all.

The story ends with Bruce and Damian becoming closer as farther and son and Alfred discovering why he quit acting and took up been a butter, all in all a great Batman story and one of the best annuals of the new 52 so far.