DC Comics reviews for week of 9/21/16 – Batman #7, Superman #7, Justice League #5

Nightwing #5
Night of the Monster Men part 2

With the monsters trampling through Gotham, Nightwing does his part to evacuate the city and track down Hugo Strange.

Team Batman has faced a number of challenges over the years: The Court of Owls and their undead assassins, the Talons; an earthquake that turns Gotham into a No Man’s Land and a deadly killer virus. Skyscraper tall monsters aren’t necessarily in their wheelhouse and Steve Orlando’s story feels like a round peg/square hole scenario. Sure, theoretically you could place Batman and company against monsters, but that doesn’t mean you should. And just a passing reference to the Justice League’s whereabouts would be helpful.

The main thread for the crossover so far is Batman is back to being super overprotective in the wake of Red Robin’s death.’ While that makes sense for Spoiler and Orphan, it seems off for Batman to handle Nightwing with kid gloves yet treat Batwoman as an equal.

Roge Antonio’s art fits the tone of the story well. There’s a darkness to it yet Antonio doesn’t go to an extreme. Antonio’s artwork is reminiscent of Chris Sprouse’s work with a little more grittiness.

Two issues in and Night of the Monster Men hasn’t quite grabbed my interest yet. It’s not bad, but it’s not at the must-read status we’ve come to expect from the Bat titles since Rebirth started.

Rating: 6 out of 10