(Which is my main issue with the Kevin Smith run on Arrow: gratuitous fanboyishness.)

Heh. He gets pretty fanboyish toward the end of his Daredevil run too. But it's amusing.

Catching up --

Batman #629 - now that really kicked up the run! I though the tension was palpable while Bruce was trying to hold onto reality, then when he was trying to get back to the cave. It is rare that I feel that much tension in a book (maybe the Batman vs. Superman issue in the "Hush" run compares). I find it fascinating that Jim Lee's depiction of the older, faux-Jason Todd has been so quickly picked up. Good design.

Batgirl #53 - yes, Batgirl was a supporting character in her book this issue. I do like additonal Stephanie-as-Robin storylines, so I'm not complainig. This artwork is so much cleaner than that on Robin.

Batman: Harley & Ivy #3 - laugh out loud funny. I loved the inside joke of the "Joker's" response when Harley & Ivy took out the "actors" portraying Batman and the Joker.

Now, can someone please get me up to speed? Pardon the pun.

What do you want to know, victor? I've been reading since about #183 or so. I can fill you in on what's up since then.

There seems to be an ongoing debate among the DC writers and editors as to how old their characters are. Judd Winick, Brad Meltzer, Kevin Smith and others have Green Arrow, Batman and most of the old guard pushing 40, at least. (Green Arrow, particularly, may well be over 40.)

I think it's important to note that Mike Grell had Ollie celebrate his 43rd birthday right at the beginning of his run, and he was clearly one of the "elder statesmen" of his generation of heroes (non-JSA members). The body brought back in Kevin Smith's "Quiver" arc seems to be from just before the start of Grell's run, but the knowledge of all the years was eventually restored to Ollie.

Brad Meltzer, in Identity Crisis, upped the ante a bit by having Elongated Man say he's been a hero for nearly 20 years--which means Flash and the other original JLAers have also been active for about that long.

As Plei pointed out, the Flash that Ralph worked with was Barry Allen. The current Flash is of the next generation of heroes. I think Meltzer is bringing in his own take on the "age" of the superheroes, and is actually treading a little outside of established continuity to get a truer emotional impact. He did the same thing at the end of his Green Arrow run.

Batman: Harley & Ivy #3 - laugh out loud funny. I loved the inside joke of the "Joker's" response when Harley & Ivy took out the "actors" portraying Batman and the Joker.

I read through it in the store - really sharp dialogue and jokes.

Reminder for US comic fans.

Most shops will not have new comics today due to the holiday.

Yay! Finally got my B&N.com order, which means that I now have Batgirl: Year One in my hot little hands.

Excellent!!! I really enjoyed that one.

Oh, god, please help me.

Who the hell is wearing the Batgirl costume during NML? Is this something I should shut up about because it will be revealed later on in the story?

Who the hell is wearing the Batgirl costume during NML? Is this something I should shut up about because it will be revealed later on in the story?

Yes, it will be revealed later in the story.

There's prologue story in, IIRC, V5 that explains everything.

There's prologue story in, IIRC, V5 that explains everything.

V5??!?!

I'm gonna die, here. I'm only on #2. How long did this play out in our calendar?

At least I can stop hating her for being a bad Cassandra, and just hate her for not being Cassandra.

It's further explained in #3.