Written by: Scott Snyder
Backup Written by: Scott Snyder, James T Tynion IV
Art by: Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope
Backup Art by: Alex Maleev
Cover by: Greg Capullo

DC Comics’ contribution to April Fool’s Day  are a series of “WTF” covers that are series wide. Some might call it a cheap stunt, but there was no way I was going to miss an issue with Bruce holding a gun. That isn’t even the real surprise. When you unfold the special gateway cover, it reveals that Wayne is actually holding the gun on . . . Commissioner Gordon. When I started reading it, I expected it to be some sort of dream sequence and Bruce was going to wake up at any moment. He didn’t. Instead, the reader is taken to six day prior, one of Batman’s last adventures before Robin is murdered (something that still rips my insides to pieces). Batman is facing the Reaper (see Batman: Year Two: Fear the Reaper) I’m sure it was no coincidence  that story by Mike Barr was the first issue I had ever seen with the Batman actually wielding a gun. With so many reboots and retcons, I chose to leave that series out of my personal Batman mythos. I digress. Mid issue, Batman discovers that Clayface has returned, but it’s not the Clayface of old. In the past, his alter ego of Basil Harlo always retained a trace of his DNA. This new Clayface is a true mimic which means if he can somehow come in contact with his target,  he also duplicates their DNA. This spells big-time bad new for the Caped Crusader and the rest of Gotham. Great issue. I’m a huge fan of Scott Synder and Greg Capullo. There is also a secondary story entitled Ghost Lights that feature Batman and Superman. It’s a two parter and I’m forward to see how the storyline wraps up.

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray
Cover by: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray

I really wasn’t sure to expect from this issue since the title had been Batman and Robin since the start of the New 52. To be honest, this wasn’t a title I read until Robin’s death. In fact, I didn’t event like Damian Wayne until he showed up in Nightwing #18, to help former Robin, Dick Grayson, deal with the issues surrounding Death of the Family. I liked the bond he forged with Nightwing when he was at his lowest point. Robin gave him hope for the future and they even made plans to meet later and play a video game together, something that real brothers would do. After Robin’s death, I picked up Batman and Robin #18  and it was one of the best issues I’ve ever purchased. Notice I didn’t say one of the best I ever read. The entire issue is silent. The only words are from a letter Damien wrote to Bruce before he went on his last mission. It’s truly heartbreaking but I couldn’t put the issue down. If I could only buy one Batman comic book this year, it would be that issue. Moving forward into #18, their WTF gateway cover is Batman swooping down with his new partner . . . Carrie Kelly. For long-time Dark Knight fans, you know Carrie Kelly actually become Robin in The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller. It turns out that she had secretly been tutoring Damien Wayne. When Bruce attempts to return some items to her house, she is in the middle of a costume party and yes, she is dressed as Robin. This pushes Bruce even further off the edge. Batman then sets out on a top secret mission involving Frankenstein: Agent of Shade. I haven’t read this series, but according to the DC comics website, It’s Frankenstein as you’ve never seen him before, in a dark new series from acclaimed writer Jeff Lemire and artist Alberto Ponticelli! Frankenstein is part of a network of strange beings who work for an even stranger government organization: The Super Human Advanced Defense Executive! But can he protect the world from threats even more horrifying than himself? And since he’s vilified for who and what he is, will he even want to take on this mission? I won’t give any more away but what do you thinks happens when a man stricken mad with grief, kidnaps a monster that neither truly alive nor is dead?

What  do you think? Please leave a comment below or ask me directly on twitter @clue_writer