Did anyone else find it strangely ominous that only a few days after the Batman winter special came out–in which Gotham was paralyzed by a record breaking blizzard–the east coast got swathed by a snowstorm as well? I found it slightly disconcerting; but maybe that just means the lines between comics and reality are blurring a little and I need to find another hobby during the colder months. Either way, I really wasn’t too excited to read it. Mostly comprised of up-and-coming writers and artists, the majority of the book had little impact on me. Some of the ideas were good, it just lacked oomph (in my opinion). I can’t help but feeling that it would have been a better strategy had they paced the book between some well knowns and freshman; let’s say, every other story. I must say, though, that I really liked the artist in the first segment. Really cool stuff. Though, Robin was a little muscular and lanky for a ten year old {smirks}. The writing wasn’t too bad on that one either. I also didn’t mind the Gordon/Mr.Freeze tale. The first picture with the snow on the batsignal was awesome. I could take or leave most everything else. And why was Steve Niles’ only one page?! The jaded part of me feels that all these six dollar specials are just another way for DC to craftfully get into our back pockets. Come on, aren’t you guys already doing that with the way you’re dragging out Blackest Night?
Now, I actually like Blackest Night, and Geoff Johns for that matter, and if you’re not reading it you are missing one of the better things in comics at the moment, but some of the books it’s bleeding into are pointless. I mean, Superman/Batman with Bizzaro and Man-bat? I’m kicking myself in the teeth for buying the first issue.  By the way; the next Green Lantern is out tomorrow, so make sure you grab that one because all the colors have teamed up to fight against the Black Lanterns (and yes, that includes Sinestro and Atrocitus!).
Moving on…Other than Batman and Robin, I strongly recommend Gotham City Sirens and Streets of Gotham. Both are being written by Paul Dini (of BTAS fame). Yeah, he might have let us down a little with Countdown, but I’m sure Batman: Arkham Asylum has restored any faith you’ve lost in him, and I believe these selections will do the same. The last arc in ‘Sirens’ added to Joker’s history in a cool way; shedding some light on a forgotten friend and the clown prince’s transitional period in the beginning of his career. Nicely done! In ‘Streets’ Dini is partnered back up with Nguyen and Fridolfs. They are a fantastic team. These guys saved my sanity during RIP, when I just wanted to read a good uncomplicated story after a while. They compliment each other so well. Met them too; very nice fellas. So far in the run Dini has managed to take a second string rogue (Firefly) and almost elevate him to Joker/Freeze status, as well as somehow making Zsasz even more twisted. You’ll see what I mean. So, that’s my piece on the Batman front.
I’d like to end on requesting you pick up the Hellboy one-shot tomorrow. It is written by Mignola and drawn by Richard Corben. Those of you that haven’t read the limited series Hellboy: The Crooked Man, should know that their collaboration won them an Eisner this year. It took creepy to a whole other level. I love road-tripping the southern back-wood areas, but that thing made me second guess it in a way Deliverance even couldn’t. Snatch up their new venture while it’s fresh off the shelves.
Alright kiddies, that’s it for me until I read this week’s lot.
Happy Holidays, from us at FHTI! Watch out for the mistletoe hat! Your pal, ExSleepyInk.

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