Jayson > Recent Status Updates

Notes:
(1) So, I like that Kitty has pretty much become the main character in this issue, or at least 60/40 over Nemesis.
- What I don't like is that she's solved the big mystery all of a sudden and out of the blue.
(2) I don't like the supernatural element. Nemesis is always most interesting and compelling as a kind of supervillain Batman.
- Magic just feels like cheating.

Notes:
(1) I still don't know what the point is of Nemesis' seemingly wanton murder and destruction, but situations here are definitely interesting and high-tension.
- I just wish Kitty, the undercover CIA agent, was the clear-cut protagonist. Then not knowing Nemesis' master plan makes sense.
- As it is, since we get no answers, seeing Nemesis' POV just muddies everything.

Notes:
(1) Two issues into this and there's still no real plot nor point to this series.
- It's even referenced in the story how nobody knows what the point is of all the chaos and destruction.
(2) There is a subplot about a female CIA agent going deep undercover to take Nemesis down from the inside.
- While interesting, it gets drowned out by all the over-the-top violence.

Notes:
(1) This issue is entirely setup.
- I mean, there isn't an inciting incident nor even a discernible plot.
- Just seemingly random chaos.
(2) The only notable thing about this issue is that Matteo Scalera totally changed up his art style.
- It had been very brushy, expressive and Disneyesque, whereas now it looks like a cross between R.M. Guéra and Werther Dell'Edera.

Notes:
(1) Joker goes on a Christmas murder spree and Robin's along for the ride... literally.
- Specifically, Robin rides shotgun... not literally.
(2) This was surprisingly violent for a mainstream title—not "Killing Joke" violent, but a lot of people die.
- Not that I'm awarding bonus points for being edgy, but more so because it's different, higher stakes and memorable.

Notes:
(1) I don't know what to make of this... it's not campy exactly, but it does have Silver Age sensibilities.
- It's sort of like a cross between "Batman: The Animated Series" and "Batman" 1966.
(2) The art's also odd. It looks kind of mixed-media, like digital color pencil or oil pastel.
- I'm usually into more painterly styles, but this just looks not-quite-finished.

Notes:
(1) The problem with reading issues out of order is that I'm already spoiled on twists, character fates, etc.
- On the other hand, it does pique my curiosity about how things happened—like, why is Batman so pissed off at Zatanna later on?
(2) Overall, a fun Penguin issue with nice cameos and pop culture parodies.
- We see this universe's Paris Hilton and Criss Angel.

Notes:
(1) So, we get a pretty dramatic style shift from the last issue, both in terms of story and art.
- The last issue was pure detective mystery, with very little supervillain elements. This is the exact opposite.
(2) As for art, Benitez seems to be doing his best McFarlane impression.
- Characters notwithstanding, if you told me this was early "Spawn," I'd believe you.

Notes:
(1) It might just be me, but I don't recall Paul Dini stories ever being so dense and convoluted.
- I guess he's really leaning into the "detective" aspect of "Detective Comics," but it's not a great fit for comics nor for Batman.
(2) Hey, Roxy Rocket's in this!
- She's Paul Dini's other notable, if far lesser-known, "Batman: The Animated Series" villainess creation.

Notes:
(1) The plot here is really dense and possibly too complex for a single issue.
- Though, this was the very start of Dini's "Detective Comics" run, so I'll cut him some slack.
(2) Williams III brings his usual Mucha-esque art style, but in two different forms.
- A very bare-bones coloring style for Bruce Wayne scenes.
- His usual painterly style for the Batman scenes.

Notes:
(1) A cat-themed collection
with sequel injection.
- Cat in the Hat-verse plots,
wherein junior versions
seek desperate reversions
and trouble's born of thoughts.
(2) Middle one's a Yertle spin,
so alike they could be twins.
- A conceited king as well.
- Just with tails instead of shells.
(3) So, overall, not really new,
as well, too little plot ensues.

Notes:
(1) Kind of like "Green Eggs and Ham,"
different ways-and-means are spammed.
- Though, herein, not offering food,
but standing still and being shooed.
- So, not exactly thrills achieved,
just different ways for one to leave.
- And none of it is even real,
a dreamed up hyperbolic deal.
(2) Art's weak too, it's real phoned-in.
- A kid's book, sure, but still it's thin.

Notes:
(1) Feels not-coherent (disparate parts),
like patchwork/quilted random art.
- Could be repurposed sketches/pieces.
- All solid/pleasing strange caprices.
(2) Lyrically, it's awful hazy.
- Rhyming nonsense words is lazy.
- It doesn't really have a point.
- Thematically feels out of joint.
(3) Though, story-wise, it doesn't jive,
the art is great and where it thrives.

Notes:
(1) Neither any plot nor real feeling,
so, while well done it hits a ceiling.
- I find its simpleness appealing.
- For kids, but still, there's not much meat:
the subject matter's just on feet.
(2) The rhyming's crisp and not absurd.
- No cheating using nonsense words.
- Less Seussical but still preferred,
as one who rhymes, it's more a feat:
intuitive and easy beat.

Notes:
(1) It feels dialed down, hardly weird nor exciting,
no eye-catching art nor exceptional writing.
- Really, making up words just to end on a rhyme
is awfully lazy, if no lyrical crime.
(2) With no proper story nor dazzling art,
it gets pretty dull, even lifeless in parts.
(3) As a childlike daydream, it's fueled by bizarre,
but weirdness is muted—low gas in this car.

Notes:
(1) Magazine stories, much wordier rhymes.
- Penned for adults, less for children this time.
- It's comic strip humor, a thinkier mood,
less silly and lively—it's all more subdued.
(2) Echoes of plots, be them future or past.
- Some outright recycled with players recast.
(3) The artwork's alright, not his signature look.
- A style more in line with his earlier books.

Notes:
(1) Not about luck, more on not feeling strife:
listing misfortunes, compared to your life.
- Mostly just jobs, yes, a work day is rough;
vis-à-vis kids, being young's luck enough.
- There's no luck examples at all in this story,
just relative hardships, no luckiness glory.
- Moral: when you grow old it really does suck,
and so unemployment is where you'll find luck.

Notes:
(1) A poem set to pictures: commencement address.
- On life's ups and downs (re: success and distress).
- No rose-tinted glasses nor too pessimistic,
a median tone more-or-less realistic.
(2) Illustrations aren't great, very simple and loose,
but I'll give it a pass as the last Dr. Seuss.
- Amorphous/abstract, as if fuzzy/unset,
symbolic of future encounters not met.

Notes:
(1) On constructing tall tales, reality-loose,
just kept very simple—the earliest Seuss.
- Illustrations in profile, real 2D routine,
if quite cinematic (done long in widescreen).
(2) A Pre-War aesthetic, from pictures to words.
- Restrained, while it's silly, it's never absurd.
(3) And a good moral too, on not being bad:
while imagining's fine, you don't lie to dad.

Notes:
(1) Unfinished story—it is what it is,
found in a box, neither flavor nor fizz.
- Proto "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish."
- Hardly well done—a really rare (bleu) dish.
(2) Not more than an outline and awfully plain.
- Pets imagined and real—did not pick a lane.
(3) The ending's okay, but for kiddies not nice.
- "What Pet Should I Get?" Non-reveal won't suffice.

Notes:
(1) We have here a story on cleaning a stain
that comes off but transfers, so effort's in vain.
- That's all that it is, a repetitive plot,
not twisty nor wacky—creative it's not.
(2) The most notable things here are Mini-Me Cats,
twenty-six (for each letter), kept each in a hat.
- Matryoshka doll logic, these cats in their hats,
a visual gag overdone and falls flat.

Notes:
(1) All seemingly silly, but really thought through,
a rhyme book of substance, no randomness stew.
- Far more than mere nonsense (haphazardly strewn),
it much more resembles political toons.
- All clever and pithy, if ludicrous fare.
- Not simply a'rhyming up sawdust and air.
(2) As well, illustrations are prime Dr. Seuss.
- All expertly rendered, not lazy or loose.

Notes:
(1) It all feels very Aesop, old animal fables,
wherein pride is a sin and delusions disabled.
- Very Icarus too, too close to the sun,
forgetting mortality: fallen/undone.
(2) There's also a theme of the weakest of souls
inducing collapse of imperious goals.
- Whether the cleverest worm making foolishness sting,
or the lowest of turtles who can humble a king.

Notes:
(1) Quite un-Dr. Seuss, all visually loose.
- Its scribbly artwork just doesn't have juice.
(2) Writing for kiddies is no good excuse,
it's still very lazy and narrative-hazy.
- Erratic and random, and never gets crazy.
(3) "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut"? Awful ironic.
- "Read with eyes open" is the whole moral/tonic.
- I hate to be scathing, but the title's moronic.

Notes:
(1) Another one not made for me,
a preschool pre-word echo spree.
- See an animal, read the sound,
then ask the kid to do a round.
- It's ipso facto not profound.
(2) All interactive stuff, I guess,
but nothing for me nonetheless.
- At best, I find the concept mid.
- But, once again, I'm not a kid.
- But, maybe if I have a child,
I'll find the concept more than mild.

Notes:
(1) Entirely concept, not stories but hooks.
- All intros and heating, but none of them cook.
(2) The bookended ones have endings, at least,
but ending the tales all-famine-no-feast.
- Jokes minus punchlines, momentum is ceased.
(3) Good morals to tell, but once again, merely,
just hinted, not shown nor hammered out clearly.
- Not satisfying nor played out sincerely.

Notes:
(1) A lot like before in "If I Ran the Zoo,"
this goes on too long—'round a factor of two.
- Concept's quite decent, but real repetitious:
roll call of bird names all silly/fictitious.
- That's fine if a twist or a turn is thrown in,
but doesn't switch gears and gets watered down thin.
(2) Still, above average creature array.
- I'd read it again, just not right away.

Notes:
(1) It's nothing I would read again, but then I'm not a child.
- Just all alliteration rhymes, alright if fairly mild.
(2) Pictures here are pretty good, well done if unexciting.
- Alphabet examples shown are mixed with nonsense writing.
(3) Good fun, I guess, for younger kids: all silliness, no plot.
- Bit twisty—though not frequently—might tie your tongue in knots.

Notes:
(1) Real absurd, but hardly grand,
it's simple stuff to understand.
- A plain request dressed-up, you see,
to the most ridiculous degree.
(2) And catchy verses, like a song
with chorus bits to say along.
- Indelible, it's impact-strong,
you memorize it as you go,
(3) The moral: try new things and grow.
- Appearances are only show.
- All said and done, you never know.

Notes:
(1) All very unique, well, comparably so
(re: most Dr. Seuss books) in artwork and flow.
- A lyrical downer, like Shelly or Poe.
(2) Also a '70s-style and feel
Bakshi-like anti-industrial deal.
- Pretty politically conscious as well,
a "do your part" fight against capitalist hell.
(3) Well done overall, if too on-the-nose.
- An activist handbook with mission imposed.