Muppets, Seaguy, and Not-Quite-Batman
The characters act exactly like you remember. And in a neat artistic choice, Langridge draws them as Muppets. While his own style still comes through, and is much more expressive than the standard soulless licensed art you see, he generally avoids drawing characters below the waist. Their arms and mouths are jointed where the actual puppets would be, which adds to the feeling that you’re reading an episode of the series. It’s a clever trick, and takes the final product to a higher level.
Oh, and get this. There are actually musical numbers in every issue. That’s right, in a comic book. That’s freaking genius.
Seaguy: Slaves of Mickey Eye 1 & 2 (DC/Vertigo) – This is the weirdest thing you’ve ever read. A sequel to the former weirdest thing you’ve ever read, 2004’s Seaguy. Essentially, 
Seaguy is a scuba-themed superhero who’s afraid of the water. Also, everybody’s a superhero, but ever since Anti-Dad was vanquished, they don’t have anything to do anymore. Mostly, they enjoy their time at Mickey Eye’s amusement park, and sometimes play chess with Death. Also, Seaguy’s trying to impress a bearded woman named (of course) She-Beard. This insanity comes from writer Grant Morrison and artist Cameron Stewart, and believe it or not, the sequel gets even stranger.
Seaguy is a scuba-themed superhero who’s afraid of the water. Also, everybody’s a superhero, but ever since Anti-Dad was vanquished, they don’t have anything to do anymore. Mostly, they enjoy their time at Mickey Eye’s amusement park, and sometimes play chess with Death. Also, Seaguy’s trying to impress a bearded woman named (of course) She-Beard. This insanity comes from writer Grant Morrison and artist Cameron Stewart, and believe it or not, the sequel gets even stranger.During the first series, Seaguy traveled to the moon and learned enough about existence to make him dangerous. Mickey Eye wiped his memories and set up both physical and mental impediments to keep him from leaving the amusement park. When the ghostly apparition of his dead sidekick (a floating, talking fish) finally motivates him to escape, Seaguy goes on the run. In the second (of three) issues, a mysterious benefactor sets 
him up with a new identity, El Macho – King of the Bulldressers. And yes, that’s like bullfighting, only he puts clothing on a bull instead of taunting it with a cape.
him up with a new identity, El Macho – King of the Bulldressers. And yes, that’s like bullfighting, only he puts clothing on a bull instead of taunting it with a cape.Yes, it’s incredibly strange, but it’s also solid storytelling. All the weirdness feels like it means something, and you can read almost any meaning into it, like some sort of Rorschach test. (Stare at “1/2 an Animal on a Stick” and tell me what it means to you.) But at its heart, Seaguy is a story about a guy who wants to be more than he is. It’s really completely accessible to anyone who looks past the fact that the villain is a sentient eyeball in Mickey Mouse ears. There’s one more issue left in this series, and then a projected finale, Seaguy Eternal. I’ve enjoyed the first two issues more than just about anything else I’ve read this year – anything with the Seaguy name gets my highest recommendation.
Batman: Battle for the Cowl (DC) – In case you’ve forgotten, this is A Beautiful Gory Display, and this is a place where we talk about Batman. As we mentioned some months back, Batman was apparently killed back in the Final Crisis crossover. Of course, since then we’ve seen that Bruce Wayne ended back at the dawn of time, where he’s helping primitive man craft heroic legends. The readers know this, but to his friends and comrades, Batman is dead. The various Battle for the Cowl tie-ins have focused on what Gotham is like without Batman, as well as the struggle to fill his boots.
For the most part, the Battle material hasn’t been great. Part of that is simply because, well, if 
there’s one thing I like to see in Batman comics, it’s Batman. A lot of it seems hurried, particularly an Oracle miniseries that should qualify as a war crime. That’s not to say there haven’t been some good bits, of course. The portrayal of a Batman-less Gotham City has been appropriately dark, with every crimelord in town stepping up their game. In particular, it’s been great to see old favorites like Penguin and Two-Face go back to their roots. And the issue of Secret Six that tied in to the story was fantastic, with former Bat-villains Bane and Catman trying to honor Batman by putting a stop to some kidnappers.
there’s one thing I like to see in Batman comics, it’s Batman. A lot of it seems hurried, particularly an Oracle miniseries that should qualify as a war crime. That’s not to say there haven’t been some good bits, of course. The portrayal of a Batman-less Gotham City has been appropriately dark, with every crimelord in town stepping up their game. In particular, it’s been great to see old favorites like Penguin and Two-Face go back to their roots. And the issue of Secret Six that tied in to the story was fantastic, with former Bat-villains Bane and Catman trying to honor Batman by putting a stop to some kidnappers. Strangely, the actual flagship Battle for the Cowl miniseries managed to feel inconsequential. Sure, the series culminates in the reveal of the new Batman, but there’s very little in-story justification for the choice. It felt like they just ran out of pages and had to end where they did. Sure, if you have to have a Batman who’s not Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson is the only acceptable choice, but the story didn’t actually earn that conclusion. Instead, it just got there.
While I’m eagerly awaiting the return of the real Batman, the creative teams on next month’s rebooted Bat-books are pretty amazing. And the former Robin has long been a favorite of mine, and he could use a chance to shine again. But don’t get any big ideas, DC. This is Batman’s 70th anniversary, and Bruce had better be back in the mask before the end of the year. Or else. (Please note, I make this vague threat from a position of no power whatsoever.)
Join us next week for more reviews! These reviews may or may not include a little tiny Punisher shooting his way out of a man’s head. I’m just saying….
