The Next Batman: Second Son #2

USER REVIEWS

• 8.5
  

  Spacey Medicine

  Jun 23, 2021

  I'm intrigued!

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  • Psycamorean
• 8.0
  

  Psycamorean

  Mar 04, 2021

  Wow, look at all these idiotic user reviews. We get a chapter full of character, and the book is ruined. Why can't we just have action scenes the entire time? It's probably got to do with the writer's race or his politics.

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  Bats44121 - Mar 5, 2021

  Psycamorean - users can review a comic's storyline, writing, without it being an issue of "race or politics." I didn't spend $34 to criticize John Ridley's writing based on his "race or politics," but to see a story about the New Batman. $34 later, we still aren't getting that story yet. It is not reasonable to me as a reader, and it has nothing to do with action vs. non-action part of story, but moving the Batman story forward.

  

  Bats44121 - Mar 5, 2021

  Reminder: The Batman's origin was revealed in just two pages in Detective Comics #33 (November 1939). By that point, readers had 60 cents invested in six prior issues. There is a considerable difference between 60 cents and 34 dollars.

  

  Psycamorean - Mar 5, 2021

  I wasn't necessarily referring to you, but there are reviews that are clearly what they are due to race and politics.

  

  Psycamorean - Mar 5, 2021

  As for what you said, I think you shouldn't compare comics from the 30s and 40s to comics today. Technically, the New 52 origin of Batman didn't come till issue 21 of the New 52 with Zero Year, and that in itself was several issues. This Next Batman series is supposed to be his origin. He's got 12 issues to get into the mantle. These chapters are half an issue each. We've only had one issue proper of this origin story.

  

  Psycamorean - Mar 5, 2021

  The original Next Batman series, like all Future State books, focused on the future of the DCU. This series, like all Infinite Frontier titles, is focusing on how we get there.

  

  Psycamorean - Mar 5, 2021

  An origin that lasts more than one issue isn't anything new or preposterous for modern superhero comics.

  

  Bats44121 - Mar 5, 2021

  That was a great argument $32 ago. Among those $32, DC gave us 20+ pages of "Akham Knights" (eyeroll), but can't give us 2 pages of an origin. I simply question Ridley's writing capabilities and DC highway robbery of sincere readers. IMO it has been counterproductive. But we all have different opinions, which is why we are here to express our opinions, different as each of us are. I am not giving another $ to Ridley/DC, until they figure it out.

  

  Psycamorean - Mar 5, 2021

  I think the issue you're having is solely on DC editorial/sales, and the way they chose to market and sell their product. Not on John Ridley or his writing capability, since his writing is fine, he's just not writing the part you want him to write.

  

  Bats44121 - Mar 5, 2021

  Batman is not a metahuman character, like many of DC's other sci-fi based characters. His origin and motivation to drive him to do this IS his "superpower." Not a side issue, but core. Same with Black Lightning and most other non-metahuman heroes. In 1977, I knew origin of Black Lightning in issue 1 (30 cents). Imagine paying $34 and still not knowing the origin. Writing "scenes" very different from writing organized "stories" for new costumed heroes. Need discipline, structure, organization.

  

  Psycamorean - Mar 5, 2021

  I don't think we're going to reach an agreement here. You've got a very reductionist idea of how comics should be, clearly, and I don't subscribe to that. I hope you like whatever Batman comic you read next.

  

  Bats44121 - Mar 5, 2021

  CW's The Batwoman with Ryan Wilder- I know her origin in episode 1. Quirky, but I know why she wants to wear the Batwoman suit. I understand her motivation and compulsion for justice. Now maybe DC thinks CW writers are better than John Ridley, but I seriously doubt that, as most of the stories are all over the map. But despite all of my concerns about their random writing, at least I understand why. They have basic level of story-telling organization. How many CW viewers would pay $34 for that?

  

  Psycamorean - Mar 5, 2021

  I don't know what you want from me? Origins don't have to be told right out of the gate. The original Batman didn't do that. It seems like your problem is the pricing, which has nothing to do with John Ridley or the rest of the creative team. I don't think there is such a rigid standard of storytelling, and while I agree that $34 is a lot to spend on a story you don't enjoy, if you *do* enjoy the story, then I guess you can decide whether you enjoy it enough to spend $34 on it.

• 7.0
  

  EDiakota

  Mar 09, 2021

  " But i guess nothing lasts forever, does it....Jace." - TAM FOX

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• 7.0
  

  mrDovydas

  Mar 31, 2021

  Continuing from the previous chapter, the majority of this chapter has been spent on the characterisation of the cast, which has been executed quite well. So far so good.

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• 3.0
  

  Bats44121

  Mar 02, 2021

  Second Son Issue ("Chapter") # 2 . Hamster Rage artist draws Batwing standing (with force field on) in front of lunatic; police arrest insane person with gun. Tim (call me Jace) Fox actually does nothing. Gets off a plane. Talks to some family. Minimal story; art goes downhill. OK - there was someone with a Bat suit on in this issue. Not Tim (excuse me Jace) Fox, but at least someone. Now the Bat suit wearer is the same Luke Fox, who is going to betray the Bat family to the Magistrate. But in this issue Luke stands in front of Mad Magazine level parody of white supremacist madman and turns on a Batwing suit force field to stop him from shooting at people... or as they are writing Luke has "a prior engagement with an armed madman." Par ody of "white supremacist" random crazy with gun. Not even attempt at any plot, simply thrown in. Eye roll. But it has to be short (aka brief to the point of nonsense), so we can get back to a few random pages of Fox family soap opera (again literally telling us nothing on story). I know I said after first Second Son Issue ("Chapter") # 1, I was "out." I was suckered back after $33, when there was a bat face on the cover. Sucker me. Ha ha. Fooled me. The pencils are done by Tony Akins, famous for his work on Hamster Rage, Dirk Gently, Manifest Destiny, and Fables. Looks like something drawn by artist from Hamster Rage too. And this is where John Ridley is going. DC Comics and John Ridley are taking us for a ride here. This issue should have been the first several pages of the $8/issue Future State The Next Batman. The art is crappy, but still there was at least something coherent as a beginning of a story. And the "origin" (whenever that is going to be) needed to be part of the same Future State The Next Batman Issue #1 or at least issue number #2. Not $34 later... dragging it on. I have a suggestion for DC Comics and Mr. Ridley - stop selling these issues as "chapters," consolidate an actual comic book with some coherency and an origin story, and get back to us when you have plan already. You have had readers. Stop literally taking them for a ride, and respect the money they are paying you. Otherwise, maybe on Second Son Issue ("Chapter) # 1001 they will start to get the story actually started. Who knows? But there is a point at which this has been absurdly drawn out. That point was a good $20 or so ago. Reminder: The Batman's origin was revealed in just two pages in Detective Comics #33 (November 1939). By that point, readers had 60 cents invested in six prior issues. There is a considerable difference between 60 cents and $34. At a cumulative rate of inflation of 1781.9%, 60 cents in 1939 would be $11.29 in 2021. NOT $34. Now DC and John Ridley just want you to send him money for nothing. That's a fact. We can have lot's of "professional reviewers" tell us how meaningful and bold this endless soap opera is. But in terms of a costumed hero comic book story, wake me up when John Ridley wants to get started. Rating 3, which is about 2 points more than it deserves, but the cover was OK. more

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  • Merlyn
  • Mingthemerciless
  • RKS
  • MyNameIsNotJohn
• 3.0
  

  Stormwrath

  Mar 03, 2021

  John Ridley has everything to be an amazing Batman writer, but Tim Fox as the Next Batman is just a boring idea...

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• 1.5
  

  Merlyn

  Mar 02, 2021

  Unfortunately after a first decent issue it went back to classic Ridley territory.

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  • Bats44121
  • Sup3rsa1yan1990
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  Sup3rsa1yan1990 - Mar 3, 2021

  Political ideologue who constantly hangs on race is a hack, go figure

  

  Bats44121 - Mar 11, 2021

  So I had not read much of Ridley's work, & was basing my comments just on Batman series. But this week I looked at his writing for Wildstrom's "American Way"... and I said... "oh." I knew about his writing on " The Other History of the DC Universe," but I hadn't gotten around to reading it. I know the history on Black Lightning was really wrong with Superman, so I was not that interested. But "American Way" is an eye-opener. He knows how to write a "story" alright, but he has a very rigid "POV"

  

  Merlyn - Mar 11, 2021

  I haven't read American Way but based on his Batman and The Other History of the DCU, I can guess what the subject of the book was there, too. :)

  

  Bats44121 - Mar 12, 2021

  It also explains a lot about plot, pacing, etc., that I couldn't understand before, but do now. Clearly, DC Comics wants "name" writer, but he is obviously being coached to "channel" his writing in ways that DC mainstream will accept with its branding. Imagine hiring Sid Vicious or Marilyn Manson to be high school concert band teacher. Great "PR" to get "attention," but then what? DC wants brand more relevant, but needs restraint. Dragging out story allows more review, while also more $$ for DC.

  

  Bats44121 - Mar 12, 2021

  Completely different level of energy from writer John Ridley when he believes in and feels freedom to drive storyline in direction to tell his story. At this point, Batman is just a job. We'll see if that changes.

  

  Merlyn - Mar 13, 2021

  @silence: Unfortunately in today's world your type of thinking is pretty rare. But I'm glad to see that there are still people who refuse to eat up the bullshit that companies throw their way.

• 1.0
  

  Sup3rsa1yan1990

  Mar 03, 2021

  Maybe "the acclaimed writer of 12 years a slave" should make a sequel to "the acclaimed film 12 years a slave" and GTFO of comics

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  • Merlyn
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  Mingthemerciless - Mar 8, 2021

  The interaction between batwing and the cops is typical of Ridleys racial skew in his writing. Batwings entire face is covered there's no indication hes black yet the cops are instantly brusque and suspicious of him even as the real criminal is present. Ridley masks this with the idea that it's because "capes" are under suspicion in Gotham but it's not very believable.

• 1.0
  

  Jurooo

  Mar 03, 2021

  THIS IS NOT BATMAN !!!!

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  • Mingthemerciless
• 9.5
  

  Justin Ray

  May 17, 2021
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• 8.0
  

  Radar

  Mar 08, 2021
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• 8.0
  

  Josecab79

  Mar 30, 2021
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• 8.0
  

  Pantheon36

  May 02, 2021
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• 7.5
  

  ed1138

  Feb 17, 2023
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• 7.0
  

  tonpas1989

  Mar 09, 2021
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• 6.0
  

  Klaushenna

  Mar 09, 2021
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• 3.5
  

  retcon_D

  Mar 02, 2021
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• 1.0
  

  RKS

  May 12, 2021
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