I did not expect to see a display full of comics entering Dollartree a couple of weeks ago. I also didn’t expect it to disappear when I went back for more two weeks later. That was a lousy Free Comic Book Day (5-3-26) for me. I did find the comics on my next trip. There were a few stuffed into the rack in the kids section. I had no shame, as I rifled through them to pick up a few more.
The selections were random DC comics in bags for $1.25. Looking online, these comics were apparently specially produced for Dollartree. They are full comics, but rather than straight reprints, they are basically promotions for DC trades and online comics.
Batman in Detective Comics: The Victim Syndicate #1
Certainly this one had the best artwork of the four comics I originally got. This title, in this itineration, is sort of a Batman Family book with the various Batman-related heroes. Really though, it’s a Batwoman comic with enough Batman in it to make it sellable. With the multiple versions of Batman, Robin, and Batgirl, all you apparently need to do is put on a cape and suddenly you’re a superhero. Like all of those Spider-Man derivatives, what’s the point? They feel like an unnecessary distraction.
Hand Batwoman’s creators credit for making a very visually striking superhero. Regrettably, she just boils down to an angry lesbian Batman-knockoff. What a waste. That goes for the rest of this beautifully drawn comic. It’s sort of soft-core Woke. (It can’t go all the way and still be a Batman comic book. It’d be a joke.) The villain group in this is the Victim Syndicate, which blames Batman for their unfortunate conditions. This is sort of an interesting take. I hate to say it; I’d likely read more of this (with reservations).
There’s an Absolute Batman preview in the back. This is the hot book of the moment. It’s Batman, but he’s not rich and he’s built like the Hulk and he’s super-violent. I don’t get it. I’ve looked over a couple of issues online. I just don’t get it.
JLA: Tower of Babel #1
Ra’s al Ghul attempts to take out the Justice League, so that he can then prune down most of humanity to save the planet. I guess in modern times, that makes him a hero, like Bill Gates. But nah, this isn’t the reason why this story is sort of famous. Ra’s is using Batman’s secret plan to take out the Justice League. This is the twist ending, which I’m totally spoiling. This isn’t the best artwork and story isn’t that clever. Apart from the ending, this isn’t a classic story. I was unimpressed with it.
In the back of this is an Absolute Wonder Woman preview. She reminds me of Taarna from the movie, Heavy Metal. That’s probably intentional. It’s a bulked-up Wonder Woman with a big sword. I don’t get it.
Supergirl #1
This character has been rebooted so many times it makes me sick. (Don’t even get me started on the Legion of Superheroes, a comic book I loved.) The upcoming movie will be the tramp iteration of Supergirl . . . errr . . . liberated, modern woman version.
This version is, at least, pleasant, if not sweet. This is sort of a kids comic, so that may account for this more likeable version of the character. Certainly it’s better than the rebellious for-no-reason b*tch version with a Kryptonite tattoo. The Joelle Jones-drawn version was stunning (9-30-18), but was a weak teen girl novel in reading. (All it needed was a future dystopian setting to make more sense.)
Anyway, this is firmly set in the classic Superman milieu with Krypto, Streaky, and the bottle city of Kandor. Kara heads off to her teen home in Midvale (also home of Josie and the Pussycats), where she finds herself replaced by a pudgy girl, not only as Supergirl, but also as her alter ego, Linda Danvers with her foster family. Good grief! This is cute enough, but I’m definitely not the audience for this one. (Shudder. Good Lord! What are they going to do to Supergirl in her Absolute version?)
DC Finest: Batman Year Two #1
This one was the best of the bunch and, unsurprisingly, it came from the 80’s, when they knew how to make entertaining comic books. The cover also said, “Free,” on it, which made me cringe having to pay for it. (It was a “Batman Day” giveaway. Why isn’t this holiday on my calendar? When’s Superman Day?)
This series isn’t anywhere near as iconic as Batman Year One, but it sets an interesting premise. There was a vigilante proceeding Batman, the Reaper, who cleaned up the streets in a violent manner. Reaper’s departure led to Gotham becoming the crime cesspit of Batman’s time. It also explains the difference between Batman and a vigilante. Batman works with the police and turns criminals over to them. A vigilante kills criminals.
Batman is not willing to debate the ethics or practicality of Reaper’s approach to crime and goes after him and gets his butt kicked. What’s worse, this Reaper guy’s outfit and kit is wildly impractical-looking, so it’s doubly humiliating. In the cliffhanger ending, Bruce takes up a gun to go after Reaper.
I do like that this comic features real Batman. He’s a suave billionaire playboy by day. At night, he dons a grey and blue outfit with a yellow oval around the bat symbol and fights crime. As God intended.
I’ll cover more comics in a ***Part 2,*** later.
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