Week Forty-Eight
This week, another big story climaxes, and, for fans of Renee Montoya and the Question, it’s one heck of a climax. The week opens with Montoya and Nightwing on the hunt for the twice named daughter of Cain, aka Kate Kane, aka Batwoman. The duo rolls through a wide variety of Intergang thugs and monsters, only to find themselves a big ol’ bomb-looking thing that’s ready to blow. Meanwhile, Mannheim and Whisper A’Daire have Batwoman tied up and ready to be sacrificed in order to fulfill the prophecy from the Crime Bible. Can Montoya and Nightwing get to her in time?
As is usually the case, it’s not that simple. Abbot, an Intergang defect informs our heroes of a plot to set Gotham City ablaze, using those bomb devices around the city, to burn a hole in the heart of Gotham. Montoya hands out the orders, sending Abbot and Nightwing off to disarm the bombs, while she heads into the belly of the beast to rescue the Batwoman. Donning the Question’s face, Breathless Mahoney, ahem, I mean Montoya, makes it to the sacrifice just in time to stop it from happening. She fights it out with Mannheim, after he jabs a dagger into the Batwoman’s chest, and, when Mannheim gets the upper-hand in the fisticuffs, Batwoman stabs him from behind, killing him, and, perhaps, dying herself. We’re left with her lying in the New Question’s arms. Elsewhere, on Oolong Island, Chang Tzu’s Science Squad presents Black Adam to the world, asking the question, “How much am I bid?” In two weeks, they’re going to really regret this.
All in all, a fine issue. The art stinks in most places, but it’s not really that distracting. The story stands on its own, and I’m glad to see that they didn’t kill off Montoya. Maybe she’ll get her own mini-series after this is all said and done. Heck, why not?
With four issues left, there’s no room for any more filler or groundwork, folks. These final issues are going to sizzle, and this week’s is no exception.
See ya in seven.
Hey, did anyone else read JLA #7 and notice that in the JLA hall of trophies from villains (whatever it’s called), there was Skeets, floating around? Makes it seem like he’s at least going to be defeated in coming weeks, doesn’t it?
Also, what the heck is wrong with Chang Tzu’s grammar? Is a side effect of being a giant alien egg that you don’t know your pronouns very well?
I was just looking over that scene again, and, if you notice, in the upper-left of the picture, there’s that enchanted wheel that Ralph Dibny used in 52, hanging on the wall. WEIRD.
That happened in Week Forty-One, for those of you keeping score. It was last seen in Week Forty-Two, circling the Tower of Fate after Ralph cast the spell of binding to enclose himself, Felix Faust, and Neron in the tower for eternity.
Man, I’m relly looking forward to the resolution on the whole Skeets/Booster Gold/Rip Hunter thing. That’s been on the backburner for way too long.