Batman : Streets of Gotham #2

Sorry for the lateness of this, I have been working and fighting off a cold recently and still have not finished off last wednesdays comics.

After commenting on how well Judd Winnick was doing on Batman I found it only fair to say that I also am really enjoying Streets of Gotham. Writer Paul Dini made his name from the 90s Batman : The Animated Series which I own every season of. He is responsible for bringing us Harley Quinn and revamping oldies like Mr. Freeze into great characters.

Streets has the story going in a few different directions and poses some great scenarios for readers. I like to see the B-grade characters done well and Dini is using people like Firefly and Mr. Szazs in a good way to keep the big picture moving. The two main plots going on revolve around the new (or original?) Black Mask and Hush. Black Mask's war on Gotham after breaking a bus full of villains free is keeping Batman's hand full, and now Hush is free and pretending to be Bruce Wayne.

Dini does the little things well and after almost two decades of writing for Batman, for television or comic, he is quickly becoming a favorite. Streets #2 was sold out at my comic shop but if you can find it, read it.

Weekly Comics Review

Finally my love has swung back towards DC Comics this week. Batman #688 was probably my favorite read, even though I haven't tied into Wednesday Comics. The only real competition was Dark X-Men and it has yet to really grab me. (Possibly too many Namor shower scenes)

What did I like about Batman this week?

Judd Winick seems to be the only writer involved with Dick Grayson actually doing some character development. I have really enjoyed his interactions with Alfred, Damian and James Gordon. The talks that Dick and Alfred have about his taking on the role as batman are great. They are almost like father/son pep talks and have a family feel to them. In the development of the new Gotham City crime scene, I enjoy the use of two classics in Penguin and Two Face. Grant Morrison has gone in a different direction with Batman and Robin and is creating new villains for a new era. Being the age I am I tend to stay with the classics, and those two are great characters. Having them competing for Gotham's underworld will make a great read. There have been no real big action sequences yet under this Batman run, but the effort going into setting up what looks to be a great story should pay off in the end. Gotham City has its savior back, but more than one person has noticed that he is different. How each person, good or bad, will react to this noticeable change has me looking forward to this series.

Thumbs up for Judd Winick, you are doing a great job.

Restaurant Rant Episode I

I have been waiting for a long time since I started this blog to have something to say about the restaurant industry. Today we finally hit a nerve, the walk in large party.

Here is a little heads up for anyone who has not worked as a server, call ahead. Unless you really want to make a lot of enemies fast do us and yourself a favor and call the restaurant well ahead of time. I'm not talking as you are loading up the bus or getting into your cars, I mean hours and preferably days ahead of time. Of course, if your goal is to make my epic douche bag list then showing up unannounced is a great first step. Nothing makes me happier than turning away a large group on a busy night when they waltz in at peak times. Honestly, do you think that a magical room appears to accommodate your group? Even better is when they get upset that there could be a wait upwards of an hour. I guess I could set off an air horn and scream for everyone that's ahead of you to pack it up but that doesn't strike me as good business. You won't see it this way, you're a douche bag.

You know what is even better?...when you call ahead like a good trooper and then show up anyways when your reservation has been turned down. By golly! It's a two hour wait, just like we told you it would. I can appreciate the determination and willpower you are exerting in being a douche bag, but believe me it's not helping your cause. In your eyes there are five tables all near each other that are all going to finish up just in time to help you out. Here is a heads up number two : It doesn't work that way, and if it does a simple thanks would be much more appreciated over the rudeness and disregard for property that will ensue.

Another strategy that won't pan out for you is arguing with the person when they decline your reservation. It is not our fault that you planned a get together and neglected to actually pick a place until four hours before. Fun fact number three : There are always other people out there that have their shit together better than you do, and they are enjoying a nice meal at the back.

Once you are seated and ready to rock, hopefully because of a successful reservation, there are other courtesys you should adhere to. Just because you don't want to be seated near your children to have a nice quiet dinner doesn't mean that we are a baby sitting service. Watch your own fucking demon spawn, letting them take it out on a server is not the proper course of action. You would not know this as you are enjoying yourself across the room blocking out your child's shrieks.

The last piece of the puzzle is the random hours walk in. It's 10pm and your are on the way home with the team from a tournament and hunger strikes. Being a shrewd manager, I tend to send people home when it slows down and sadly I don't have five server ninjas who swoop down from the rafters when your unsuspecting ass rolls in. The two of us that are left would love to run around like chickens and potentially have a stroke making sure you get every demand. A quick call on your way down ,or heaven forbid pre-game may have saved us a few grey hairs and a substance abuse problem. You don't care though, obviously servers don't have a soul. Let's treat them like a common whore and move on.

So cheers to the large groups of douche bags headed out to eat this summer, I hope having your head up your ass that long doesn't cause too much discomfort.

The Dick Grayson Era Rolls On

So Batman and Robin #2 came out this week, and being a recent Morrison hater I was reluctant to dive in. The premier issue was good and they are trying to introduce some new villains to the Batman rogues gallery. Morrison has stated that he wants to build up new villains and not dig into the deep bag of characters in the Gotham scene. So far I am enjoying the new plot that has Dick using some of his circus history to uncover the villains course of action. The problems he is having with Damien and a lack of confidence in himself are also good building blocks for the future.

I like that they have moved out of the cave and away from Wayne Manor. The are making an attempt to give Dick his own identity and not stick to the same old Bat-tricks. He has reconnected with James Gordon and is ready to wage a new war on crime, he is just missing his sidekick...

The Pick of the Pile

This week when I got my stack of comics, the first thing that I read was the new Uncanny Xmen Utopia. Ever since Norman Osborn took over SHIELD/HAMMER the new Dark Reign titles have been fantastic. Utopia is the Xmen/Dark Avengers crossover that builds up to the new Dark Xmen title. I am not too fond of the new lineup save for Emma Frost and Mystique (as Prof. X in public) but it will be different to see the original line up on the run from Osborn's new agenda. There were some odd choices for the Dark version that I found interesting and am curious where they are going to go with them. Cloak/Dagger, Mimic, Dark Beast, Dakan, Weapon Omega and Namor don't strike me as real team players, but under Osborn who knows what will happen.