DC's New 52: Reviews and Discussion (Spoilers welcolme and likely)

[OdoWanKenobi]

Man, some serious "Holy shit!" moments this week.

The Wingman reveal in Batman Inc. for one. Now I need to go back and reread Morrison's run to see if I should hitting myself for not realizing it.

The second was Gorilla Grodd ripping the Trickster's freaking arm off!

[Derishton]

I didn't see the Wingman thing coming either. I hope we get an issue exploring how that came about.

[Admiral_Young]

We kind of did. Just we haven't seen him as Wingman until now. Like I said Morrison set this up way back at the end of his run on "Batman and Robin". I don't remember exactly when or what issue, but there was panel where Bruce comes up to a man wearing and tells him this has to be kept a secret.

[Derishton]

I remember that; I guess I mean something that ties it into Red Hood and the Outlaws, although the more I think about it, the more I think it has been, and I just need to go back and re-read it. I don't quite recall how we got from Angry "I really have red hair" to this.

As I said before, though: brilliant. Batman Inc makes me actually literally glad I read comics.

[Admiral_Young]

I agree. We're heading to an epic finale. I can't wait for Future Damian next week. From the cover and description it kind of looks like Morrison's take on Arkham City...since the entire city of Gotham is supposed to be Arkham Aslyum literally now.

I too was thinking that it would be nice to see how it ties into Red Hood and the Outlaws if at all. I also noted Jason had dark hair again. Last time we saw him in "Batman and Robin" he still had his orange hair.

[OdoWanKenobi]

I think Jason's hair is another New52 change. Pre-crisis it was red. Post crisis it was black, then Morrison brought it back to red. Now it's black again.

[JD]

I just looked up the identity of Wingman on the DC Comics Database, and I'm confused.

Is Wingman an identity Jason took on in addition to Red Hood, or has he given up the Red Hood identity?

EDIT: I meant to post this when I was on here before. Tor had an article about a writers' tips panel Morrison, Brian K. Vaughn and Jonahtan Hickman did at NYCC. I thought there were some pretty interesting insights into all three writers methods.

[Admiral_Young]

I see where the confusion would come in. Bruce approached Jason sometime prior to Batman Inc and gave him this "mission". It would appear to be sometime after his confrontation with Dick and Damian (when he had Scarlet as his sidekick) and prior to his current Red Hood gig with the Outlaws, that's just my own theory though based on what we've seen so far.

[OdoWanKenobi]

JD wrote:

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I just looked up the identity of Wingman on the DC Comics Database, and I'm confused.

Is Wingman an identity Jason took on in addition to Red Hood, or has he given up the Red Hood identity?

Wingman is an additional identity. He's still Red Hood. He just acts as Wingman when he's working in a capacity for Batman Inc.

I think it helps if you don't try to rationalize anything that happens in Batman Inc. with the rest of the DCU. Think of it as its own thing.

[Admiral_Young]

We do know that the second volume has at least acknowledged a couple of New 52 plots (the stuff from the first New 52 Batman and Robin arc for instance) and that book referenced the bounty on Damian's head that Talia put...but I think that's been about it. It's been mostly unclear where things are supposed to fit in with the New 52 timeline.

[OdoWanKenobi]

Yet certain things are out of order. Damian killed Doctor Daedalus in Leviathan Strikes which takes place before the New52. Yet in an issue Batman Inc, Batman speaks as if this occurred after Damian killed NoBody. Damian killed NoBody in the first New 52 arc of Batman and Robin, so the timeline here is kinda messed up.

[Admiral_Young]

Oh I agree, it's a complete mess. Plus of course without Final Crisis occurring that means we don't even have Bruce's original reason for starting Batman Inc intact any more! LOL. Plus Dick's year as Batman in the five year timeline. Anyway. Just a magnificent issue and I think my favourite one of the second volume so far.

[Derishton]

So it's not just me? The red hair thing may not have happened, thereby not requiring an explanation?

[Mr Light]

Maybe he decided to dye his hair for awhile?

[Hound of UIster]

DarkRishton wrote:

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I didn't see the Wingman thing coming either. I hope we get an issue exploring how that came about.

That one was kinda obvious from the start since 1) the character had to be male and 2) had once done time as a villain. Jason was the only one who fit the role plus in his own book and in B&R he is on friendly terms with Bruce.