askye, your complaint about the art in Gotham Central is a common one. Most reviewers have been clamoring for a "roll call" page to help distinguish the characters. Aside from that problem (which I'm slowly getting around) I like Lark's visuals, because it really gives a gritty look to the environment, and I think that is an important element to the story. I thought this issue really rocked.

As for IC #2, an excellent, tough issue. Meltzer doesn't seem to be pulling any punches, is he? I do find it disturbing that this issue heaps even more punishment on Sue Dibny's character, even if it is in flashback. Adds more fuel to the "women in refrigerators" objections.

I was glad they finally showed that villains in the satellite scene - it had been previewed in Wizard a few months ago, so now I can see how it ties in. Did anybody notice that they are dispatching Firestorm to check the satellite out? More set-up for damage?

Fables rocked mightily. The penultimate scene with Bigby and the witch imprisoning Baba Yaga reminded me of the end of the Angel episode "Hell Bound".

Blech. The gender politics of IC#2 left me with a WORSE taste in my mouth than IC #1 did. Really, shouldn't we be able to tell stories in which women are more than the victims and/or objects of action by now? Wake me for the TPB, if that.

Oh, and Sequential Tart has a snappier response to IC #1 than I managed:

Do we have to have mini-series focused on dead women all the time? Aren't there any extra male characters around to off? I mean, Green Arrow has two male sidekicks, we've got three extra Green Lanterns ... why not just end that debate and leave only Alan Scott standing? And Snapper Carr is still alive. What's with that?

As to the rest of my surprisingly large haul this week -- Dark Knight #181 felt a bit rushed at the end, but it was a fun little Babs story. Am I misremembering, or have we seen that Indian girl before in a BoP story? Superman/Batman was as always fun. Gotham Central: I like the Bullock/Montoya conversation, and I like some of the storytelling, and I really like the way they get so much characterization across with so little. NW: I liked Catalina's voice, and I liked Dick's excitement at being called in to help. As to the marriage scene, I presume we're meant to think that she thought she could hold onto him through some appeal to his sense of honor. Or that she just wanted to say she married him when. I did like the snark about his costume size, and was reminded of Spidey 2. As there is no white font within whitefont, I will say no more.

Also, picked up the Eddie Campbell Elseworld, which I had to own, because it is Eddie Campbell! and Escapist #3, which has a VERY Marv Wolfsony Marv Wolfson story.

And, just because it made me laugh, Warren Ellis on what he'd do if he ran Marvel:

You can't publish things just because, you know, you've always published them. You don't keep a tumour in your head because, well, you've had it for years. THOR. No-one cares about THOR. No-one's ever cared about THOR. I wrote THOR. I wrote Thor in bed with a blonde woman wearing nothing but thighboots and opera gloves drawn by Mike Deodato. And still no-one cared about THOR. No-one's cared about THOR since Walt Simonson did the book. And what was the first thing Walt did? Got rid of Thor and replaced him with a horse from space. And the sales quadrupled.

That was weird.

I agree, ita. If I was in a position to get Nightwing drunk and a ring on my finger -- nah, I still go for the booty call. Honor, schmonor -- cannot compete with Batman, yo.

Warren Ellis on what he'd do if he ran Marvel

Dude, Warren Ellis playing himself in Powers had me snorting loudly in public. Note to self: do not read Powers in public again.

Me either, but I'd place good money

Victor, in regards to your white font, me too, especially given the previews for the coming Flash IC fallout.

Oh, yeah. NW thoughts I think this would have worked better as a three-parter, because the transition from the first part to the second felt rushed. That said, I enjoyed the issue a fair amount, to the extent of feeling reluctant sympathy for Cat. This does not, however, keep me from wanting to thump Dick upside the head and tell him "BAD! BAD IDEA! I don't care HOW much the tequila affected your reasoning."

I don't think IC#2 could have worked with a sidekick as the victim. Maybe a child, on the outside a parent, but I think the person needed to be complicit in the superhero game, just not playing. Part of the lifestyle by choice, but without power. That would then guarantee the response of everyone around. But as discussed a bit back, that's rarely a guy -- the superpowered chicks don't seem to be marrying mundanes.

ita, I'm with you.

It also in terms of initial reasoning behind the big secret, had to be something brutal and horrific enough to drive them to abuse their power like they did. I've tried to figure out what other route Meltzer could have used to get the characters where he needed them, and can't seem to think of an effective one.

I'm a little put off by the way Meltzer seems to be characterizing all the women except Black Canary as goody-two-shoes types that must be kept on a high moral pedestal. I mean, Superman and Batman have qualms about killing, but the only reason Diana even has recurring villains is because half of them are mythological figures that are immortal or can spring from the dead after she's lopped their heads off. And while Zatanna may be benevolent in comparison to magicians like John Constantine or Mr. E, she's not exactly one to use kid gloves in dealing with the opposition .

Who are the women in consideration, Matt? Black Canary, Zatanna -- who else has been shown to have a pure moral stance? Or are you including his work outside IC? What else does he do?