2018.009 Batman - Detective Comics Vol 4: Deus Ex Machina

I like that James Tynion is rotating the focus of his arcs on this book to different members of the Batman Family.  Last time it was Cassandra Cain, this time it's Azrael.  I've never liked Azrael in the past, and this book does nothing to make me like him much more, but it was still an enjoyable read.  I

The biggest part of this book for me was seeing Zatanna again, back to her regular self.  It looks like the Justice League Dark nonsense was stripped away from her and she's the Zatanna we used to know again.  This book gives us a look at the secret history of Zatanna and Bruce Wayne.  They've known each other since they were teens when Bruce was studying and learning the things he needed to know to be Batman.  It's kind of cool seeing this connection they have from way back.

Detective continues to be a top notch Batman book and I look forward to more.

Batman - Detective Comics Vol 4: Deus Ex Machina

Written by: James Tynion IV, Christopher Sebela

Illustrated by: Alvaro Martinex, Carmen Carnero, Raul Fernandez, Karl Story, Richard Friend

DC Comics

179 Midnighter: The Complete Wildstorm Series

One of my favorite characters, especially when he's written correctly.  This book was mostly fun, but then we came to the Keith Giffen era.  His stories were fine, but they were NOT Midnighter stories.  He doesn't get the character and it shows.  Garth Ennis GETS the character and that's why his stories more than make up for the Giffen stuff.

Midnighter: The Complete Wildstorm Series

Writer: Garth Ennis, Keith Giffen, Christos Gage, Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Brian K Vaughan

Artist: Chris Sprouse, Lee Garrett, Karl Story, Rick Burchett, others

DC Comics

045 Zatanna By Paul Dini

The title of this collection is slightly misleading.  It should be Zatanna By Paul Dini and Others.  LOL.  It's primarily written by Paul Dini with fill in writers here and there.  But it's mostly Paul Dini.  And I must say, this collection was a bigger joy reading in this format than it was monthly as it was originally published.  There has never been a writer before who knew how to write Zatanna like Paul Dini does.  He gets her.  He makes it clear he gets her.  And he turns out such great stuff.  It's clear he was slowly laying down things that he was going to address later in the series, but it got cancelled before he could get to any of it.  Besides the entire Zatanna monthly series, this book includes the Everyday Magic special and a Halloween story.  I was so sad to see this book get cancelled.  It's not often a B List character gets such A List treatment.  I highly recommend this book.

Zatanna By Paul Dini

Writer: Paul Dini, Adam Beechen, Matthew Sturges, Derek Fridolfs

Artist: Stephane Roux, Jamal Igle, Chad Hardin, Cliff Chiang, Rick Mays, Jesus Saiz, Victor Ibanez, Wayne Faucher, John Sibal, Karl Story, John Dell, Robin Riggs, Travis Moore, Dustin Nguyen

DC Comics