BATGIRL #17/ Written by HOPE LARSON/ Pencils by CHRISTIAN WILDGOOSE/ Inks by JOSÉ MARZÁN JR. & ANDY OWENS/ Colors by MAT LOPES/ Letters by DERRON BENNET/ Published by DC COMICS

Reviewed by MATT MORRISON

Nightwing and Batgirl have puzzled out the identity of their new enemy but they must still face the so-called Red Queen in a game of her own devising. Hope Larson and Chris Wildgoose have breathed new life into the adventures of Barbara Gordon and this issue proves a wonderful conclusion to a story that redefined one of the best relationships in comics – the will-they/won’t-they romance between Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson. They also told two great mysteries in two separate time periods. Required reading for any Bat-Fan.

DETECTIVE COMICS #969/ Written by JAMES TYNION IV/ Pencils by JOE BENNETT/ Inks by SAL REGLA/ Colors by JASON WRIGHT/ Published by DC COMICS

Reviewed by MATT MORRISON

With Red Robin returned and The Spoiler back in the fold, The Gotham Knights are wholly united and going gangbusters on Gotham City’s criminal element. This prompts the villains to think maybe they could benefit from an alliance of their own. Detective Comics is easily the best of the various Batman books and that’s largely due to James Tynion IV’s command of all the characters involved. The action sequences are great but it’s the character-building scenes that make this series so wonderful. The new art team prove equal to the task of matching Tynion’s scripts, making this one book you shouldn’t miss.

THE FLASH #35/ Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON & MICHAEL MORECI/ Art by POP MHAN/ Colors IVAN PLASCENCIA & HI-FI’s BRIAN MILLER/ Letters by STEVE WANDS Published by DC COMICS

Reviewed by MATT MORRISON

With the Negative Speed Force energy drained from his body, Barry Allen is back to his usual self. Unfortunately, that energy is now in the body of his treacherous ex-girlfriend, who has dubbed herself The Negative Flash. Even with Kid Flash there to help, can the two stand against this new enemy and her allies in the criminal collective of scientists known as Black Hole? The story in this issue is unfortunate on several levels, with one of the more interesting female characters introduced into this series in the Rebirth era randomly rushed into villainy for the sake of pure drama. Based on the issue’s ending, it seems that another supporting female character may have been fridged as well. Throw in the rest of the cast sounding not like themselves (the result, perhaps, of two writers at work on this issue’s script) and this is far below this book’s usual high standard. The artwork, at least, is good, but it’s a pretty layer of paint on a disappointing shell.

Buy these comics at your local comic book store (don’t know where that is? here you go) or digitally via comixology.com!