Okay, here are my thoughts:
“Would you trust a tweet telling you that Batman is Bruce Wayne?”
I think it would depend on Superman’s previous history on Twitter (a statement I never thought I’d type). Like, it makes sense with the context of what Superman was doing in the moment, but is this a new account? Where’s that blue checkmark? How could they even verify that it’s the real him in the first place? What if his Twitter account was hacked?
It’s a clever use of modern aspects to tell new stories, but it also raises questions for me.
“Do you think #30 is commentary on anything? If so, do you agree or disagree with what you think it’s trying to say?”
I think it’s pretty obvious it’s a commentary on “grim and gritty” retellings of Superman, which I think definitely works with this story, but not a lot on others. Like, I think they’re commentating on the “Man of Steel” movie, and I don’t think the complaints they deliver here really applies to that at all. It kind of reads like the standard scree of hardcore fans who can only accept rehashes of Christopher Reeves as Superman and nothing else.
“Do you think Lobo stands a chance against Darkseid?”
I hear Lobo vs. Darkseid, and I think “unstoppable force vs immovable object.” I don’t think either one could really kill the other, but damn would that not be a great fight to see.
“Did you cry when Green Arrow died?”
No, because I knew it was going to happen, both from the game and the scene in particular being shared on social media in the past. I will say that it’s extremely well done, and a great way for Oliver to go out, both in terms of serving the overall plot, and feeling personal to the character himself. HIs last thoughts being on Dinah are heartbreaking and on-point.
“What did you think of the battle between Batman and Superman? How does it compare to other battles between the two that you’ve read?”
It definitely feels like the stakes are raised, and a genuine fight. I think there’s some truth to what Batman said, that this is the kind of situation that Batman has been planning for years. It’s a lot more personal and tragic in that sense.
That said, the real knock-down, slobber-knocker fight that really works? Superman vs Alfred, and Alfred whooping that ass. Surprising, shouldn’t work anywhere else, but does here.
“What was your favorite moment?”
Outside of the aforementioned stuff in the questions and Alfred mopping the floor with Superman’s teeth?
I loved the moment in the Annual where Lobo punches Harley and when she’s on the floor with Lobo looming over her, she basically says, “I just got out of an abusive relationship. I’ve had a lot of time for self-reflection and you know what I’ve decided? No one gets to hit me again.” I feel like out of all that we’ve seen up to this point, between this series and other takes on Harley going on at the same time, this was the moment where Harley really started her turn into a more anti-hero direction, one that I think works pretty well for her. I’d love to see Taylor take on a Harley on-going.
“What was your favorite moment out of the entirety of Year One?”
There’s a lot of pretty good stuff there, but I think ultimately, odd art aside, I would have to go with Catwoman coming to Batman’s side after the death of Nightwing.
