And, also, it's worth noting that half the freaking Batfamily have blood on their hands of some sort or another. It's a shift, but not something the character can't be brought back from. In fact, it's fairly obvious to me how they will bring him back, based on Blockbuster's big last speech. I'm just looking forward to seeing it done.

I also think that not very much time passed -- from one thing to the next. When would he have had time to shop and you know what Michele said (about the kevlar and being hunted.)

Mish -- nah, the stuff does. not. breathe.

This doesn't seem to be a problem for anyone at any other time, though, so I'm gonna discount it as an argument in comicbookworld, though it's a good one in Realityville.

Wait, Realityville?

Damn, I knew I shoulda taken that left at Albuquerque.

Also, Nightwing is the persona in which he's "free" to battle the badguys, in which he feels some ownership/mission/relationship to Bludhaven - it's an important psychological prop for battle, but that doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't want to be Dick anymore. I see his telling Amy not to call him by his name as (a) sheer ingrained caution and (b) a reminder to her that she doesn't know him as well as she thinks he does. In fact, you could make the argument that his refusal to take the gun and the badge from Amy is his attempt to *protect* his non-costumed persona, not that he's walking away from it.

I also don't agree that Babs is becoming more Bruce-like, which I don't have to whitefont since it's not anything to do with the current issue.

What is The Fear which is being alluded to? Batman's fear of loss?

Er. This isn't an attempt to derail Nightwing convo, but: reason #1,057 why one shouldn't ask Bart to do surveillance, unless one thinks he looks pretty in pink.

Er. This isn't an attempt to derail Nightwing convo, but: reason #1,057 why one shouldn't ask Bart to do surveillance, unless one thinks he looks pretty in pink.

Heh. Bart Allen. Sort -of Master of Disguise.

Don't know if Nightwing will be more than tangentially involved, but DC has the first few pages of the "Identity Crisis" miniseries up, and I'm dying with anticipation.

The scoop--and no one knows the full details yet--a murder of someone close to the JLA threatens to reveal a secret they've been keeping for years. Brad Meltzer (a novelist who also did a good run on 'Green Arrow") is writing.

Also, Unclear Thesis City. I mean, I've laughed and I've cried (really), but from page to page I'm not sure what the author's point is, or what Spider's point is. Which is okay for Spider; he's inconsistent and just maybe on one long tear-assing rant. But Warren Ellis seems to have some points to make, and I'm having a hard time pulling them out. Do people suck? Are people basically redeemable?

There is a lot of target of opportunity ranting, but on the whole, I think he is going somewhere. I still have to score the last bundle myself, so I don't know how it ends, but I'm not really worried about a letdown. Any specific parts that seemed jarring?

DC has the first few pages of the "Identity Crisis" miniseries up, and I'm dying with anticipation.

Yeah -- that was in last month's Wizard (I can't believe I'm buying Wizard again -- I feel so dirty). I'm pretty intrigued, and want them to HURRY UP.

Also need them to reboot the hell out of the X-verse.