Green Hornet #1

So maybe it's me. I just don't see anything that cool or original about the Green Hornet. I read this first issue to see if I was missing something, but it doesn't seem like I am. I like the banter between the Hornet and Kato, but that isn't really unique. The criminals were pretty generic. I was intrigued that the Hornet's wife knew about his secret ID, but I'm totally confused on the story structure. Two-thirds of the way through the book it says "Today" and I had to go back to see what the earlier sections were about. I don't know who anyone is well enough to care that Brit is getting walked out on. Or maybe that's the original Hornet's son at the end? I'm obviously confused. (Upon a re-read, yes, that is the son of the original Hornet, but man, talk about unclear!)

Kevin Smith's screenplay might have been a fun little actioner, and to be honest, I do like the way Phil Hester and Jonathan Lau lay out the action, but I'm really confused. Why is Kato a girl on that cover? I'd say this isn't my cup of tea.

Average

Batman: The Widening Gyre #4 of 6

Kevin Smith is pushing things too far in the other direction. Last issue I was amused that Aquaman took such delight in Batman's rekindled romance with Silver St. Cloud, but now I'm getting too many details. It turns out the dolphins were listening in when Bruce and Silver where "together." Or Bats was joking about that, which is wrong in a whole different way. I don't want to see Bats being so relaxed and pervy! Heck, Silver is hanging around in the cave wearing a bat-shirt and reading the bat-crime logs! Too casual, Bats! I don't see the need for Crazy Quilt to be so horrific either. Actually showing the guy sewing his eyes shut then running around with a bag full of eyeballs is a bit much. There's a line between "adult" and "trying to hard" and I think this crosses that line.

That said, Smith does have some nice insight into Batman, including a great bit where the new vigilante Baphomet wants to keep Crazy Quilt's helmet, and he apologizes to Bats for being silly. Batman is amused, knowing that he has a cave full of such mementos. The closing confrontation with Catwoman is nice too, although it does make Selina seem a little needy. Smith also has a nice handle on how Batman interacts with all three of his Robins. I'm not sold that Baphomet is cool enough to take his place amongst them, but certainly he could rank along with Azrael, Huntress, and Batgirl (just above Orpheus, maybe).

Walter Flanaghan is getting better. His early artwork was kind of loose, a bit too fluid, but his storytelling has tightened up and his characters are looking more and more like they belong in the DCU. I don't know if the gore-level is set by him or by Kevin Smith, but either way, that's a bit much for me. I don't need to see those eyeballs with bits of blood on the nerves. I also don't need to see dismembered victims of Joker venom poking out of trash cans. There's an interesting story here, but it is hiding under unnecessarily extreme details.

Fair

Batman: The Widening Gyre #3

I'm confused on exactly when this series is taking place. Bruce Wayne is clearly still Batman, and Aquaman is beardless and acting "classic." Tim Drake is Robin. Silver St. Cloud has been gone for years. I've heard rumors that the new vigilante Baphomet will be getting an ongoing series, but how long has he been off the scene comic-time wise?

Kevin Smith is doing some neat stuff in this series. I really liked the Robin reveal while Cornelius Stirk had Batman captured. The pacing was dead-on and Robin's appearance actually made me chuckle. The follow-up conversation between the dynamic duo was pretty funny too. Bruce starts to take it easy as the book goes on, spending his days on a tropical island with Silver St. Cloud and then jetting back to Gotham to keep doing his thing. Batman and Baphomet finally get a chance to speak and Smith gives Baphomet a nice voice. The guy is a smart mouth and very confident. I loved Batman taking him down a peg asking if he was a "stoner." Awesome. I really liked how the issue closed; Aquaman looks in on Batman and Silver's happy times and then swims away. Aquaman is pleased to see the "ghoul" so happy. I like the friendship apparent in their interaction.

Walter Flanagan is still a bit inconsistent, but he's getting better. I really like how fun he makes Silver with her goofy and affectionate facial expressions. There are actually a fair amount of guest stars in this that look good too. I'm not sold on Baphomet's mask yet, it seems like it would be too easy to grab.

Fair

Batman: Widening Gyre #1 & 2

If Kevin Smith wasn't trying so hard to make his comics feel hard core and "adult," I think I'd really like his work. Issue 1 of this series is filled with so much sexual innuendo that I can't even call it that. Poison Ivy is hanging around naked and trying to get Batman to hook up with her. She's so desperate she uses cannabis to try and get ol' Bats to do the deed. He resists, of course, but c'mon. I did enjoy the Demon showing up and "helping" deal with Ivy though. The interesting thing is that Smith has a good handle on the relationships of these characters. The Demon, Batman, Ivy, Robin, they all are acting how they should, just with the adult content ramped up to 11.

Issue 2 opens with Bats taking on Fun Land, a child abductor villain. Again, this is too much for me. Call me simple, but I like comic book villains with comic book goals. I don't need this type of villain in my Batman comics. The rest of the issue has Bats reuniting with Silver St. Cloud and actually considering other parts of his life. I really like the way Smith is leading the reader towards the conclusion that Bats needs a new partner. He is making a good argument with the Robin flashbacks that Batman really does excel with a partner, and bringing Silver back gives Bruce Wayne a good reason for needing more face time back from Batman. Cornelius Stirk was always a gross villain, although never this graphic. But again, while Smith goes too far with the gore, having Stirk give the vision of Bats' desire that the new vigilante arrive to help is a great argument that Batman should take on this hero as a sidekick. I am enjoying what Smith is doing here; I just wish he didn't feel the need to make everything so hardcore.

Walt Flanaghan is a good enough artist that the story is clear. He is good at mood-setting; the Silver scenes seem tranquil, Stirk's scenes are horrific, and the guest-stars all bring the appropriate sense of comfort.

Good

Batman: Cacophony #3

Kevin Smith wraps up his Batman story getting to lay down some fairly important stuff. Batman is once again faced with the choice to let the Joker die, but of course Bats can't do it. What I liked was that Commssioner Gordon wanted the clown dead, as any rational person would. But leaving Joker alive does lead to an interesting sequence where Bats and Joker face off, and Joker is so doped up he's almost rational. Joker explains that he doesn't hate Batman because he's crazy, but that he's crazy because he hates Batman. He tells Batman that if Bats were dead, he'd happily go to an asylum for the rest of his days. Joker feels like he MUST kill Batman, it drives everything about him. I'm kind of surprised this kind of confrontation was handled in a fringe celebrity based mini, but what do I know?

A weird element to this exchange is the black-haired beard Joker is sporting after months in a coma. I always thought all his hair would be green? Also, since this is Smith, Joker mentions that he took a peek at Bats' "equipment" while he was changing. Ugh. I did enjoy the closing scenes with Onomonopeia. Too bad Kirkman beat Smith by a few weeks with Powerplex in Invincible!

Walt Flanagan makes some odd choices like that black beard, but his art is servicable. He's not someone I would seek out, but he's fine.

Fair