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Batman #467 -
The Ghost Dragons are back in Gotham, led by some unknown figure.

Tim fears, not having seen Sir Edmund’s body, that King Snake is back!

Batman coerces info from a young Ghost Dragon member.

Too late to stop Lynx and her goons from stealing the guns back!

The same guy who Batman threatened winds up beaten to death… And in a Robin costume!

Interesting, they brought these characters back.

I don’t know why they skipped issue #466 in this collection but I reviewed it here.

Batman #465 -
I liked this issue. It was cool to see Robin make decisions and patrol on his own.

The art was great as well. I loved the bit with Bruce whistling.

The only thing I would have liked a little more of was Bruce’s apprehension with leaving Tim on his own, especially since Jason was mentioned.

Also, hilarious that Gordon used the Bat-signal so he could tell Bats he and Sarah are engaged!

Issue #275b -
A pretty cool pin-up page. Dark and broody.

Then there is a short about Tony’s pursuit of Su Yin.
She told him she would not leave her husband, she doesn't want to be with him.

But Tony goes to her home, where he meets her disabled husband…

It is the words coming from a man that convinces Tony to leave Su Yin alone.

The art was not the same quality as the rest of the issue.

Issue #275 -
As is typical of these giant-size issues, there is a whole lot of fighting!

I did think it was funny the conclusion to the fight was that Iron Man and the Mandarin had to hold hands…

But the blast was felt throughout the country and caused winds so severe they lasted for 16 hours!

6 weeks later, Tony returns home… alone.

And we learn the Mandarin is in a coma and has lost his hands!

Issue #274 -
This issue felt long. Maybe it was the telling of two different origin stories.

Then, Tony and Su Yin JUST met and they’re saying ‘I love you’?!!
That’s bad but also Tony is Su Yin’s patient AND she already has a husband!

Anyway, Chen Hsu and the dragons want their rings back.

Mandarin finally taps into the full power of the 10 rings!

The ‘real’ Iron Man arrives… as his old foe's ally!

Issue #273 -
We learn there’s a lot more creatures like Fin Fang Foom in the world.
And they all converge, called by Chen Hsu!

Before that though, we see the unmanned suit attempt to battle. Its reactions come a little too delayed.

With the suit flying away, Rhodey thinks Tony has abandoned him…

Nat determines Steve and Jen aren’t the ones to help her.

Issue #272 -
Hints of who Chen Hsu truly is…

Tony blurs the line between doctor and patient (of course).
Su Yin accepts a dinner invite, as she’s been instructed to keep Tony in China.
She’s a wife?!

Soon enough, Tony learns what’s happened to Rhodey and calls another suit to action!

Oktober has been activated! Natasha won’t sit idly if there is even a chance to stop the sleeper agent…

Issue #271 -
Rhodey’s Iron Man against Fin Fang Foom!

I think this is the first time I’ve read a comic with this ‘dragon’.

As Rhodes fights for his life, Tony is tested by Dr Su Yin.
Who doubts she can help him!

He thought he won, but FFF smashes Rhodey into the ground…

A plot opens with Natasha, worrying about ‘Oktober’.

I liked how there was a panel that looked like the cover!

Issue #270 -
Tony and Rhodey (as IM) have come to China to get the help of a Dr. Su Yin.

In exchange for her help, the Chinese government wants Iron Man to tackle… the Mandarin!

Before that reveal, Rhodes gassed Tony to keep him from danger…

Some talk of communism and people’s freedoms. I appreciated that there weren’t rose-coloured glasses around the American government.

Issue #296 -
Skimmed this one too. More of Stick’s protogees arrive to help Daredevil beat the Hand.

Sadly they also interrupt an important meeting between Matt and Karen…

The end sees the defeat (and end?) of Inzanami and DD’s determination to once and for all take down Kingpin!

I’m glad I at least partially read these comics as they set up the next storyline.

Issue #295 -
Was skimming this issue.

Ghost Rider is everywhere.

I did like that he was stumped by the mystical energy the Hand deals in.
And it made him weak enough to revert back to Danny!

Fisk continues to build his news station on sensationalising and scaring the masses…

Issue #294 -
I only read this for the return of Karen Page.

I definitely understand why she’s still mad.
It makes me sad that it sounded like she fell back into bad habits. For a time anyway.

Also, Kingpin wants to be legit but will still use illegal means to get his way…

Between issues, there's a TPB cover showing The Fall of the Kingpin.
Why’d they put it there when it starts in issue #297?

Issue #46 -
John spent two days wasted while he dealt with the success of his plan.
And the thought of what he almost submitted the world to…

Stumbling outside, he bumps into Kit, Brendan’s ex. They raise a coffee to their old friend.

Another run-in with Chas has John remember those he said goodbye to.

Though alive when John arrives, Matt loses the battle John cheated to win…

Kit holds John in the rain.

Issue #45 -
The Three of the Three learn they’ve been played the fool…

They cannot go to war. But it still takes some more deliberating before the decision is made.

John is healed (painfully) then boasts he’ll have a great life, with them watching out for him.

Can’t say that last page wasn’t a bold choice…

Issue #44 -
John spends time saying goodbye to those he can.

Then he begins Summoning. Talking business to those we don’t see.

Guess John’s plan didn’t have him waiting for Death to come to him…

The ‘first of the three’ does though… The one John tricked into drinking holy water!

Issue #43 -
John tries to get help from both sides… Neither angel nor demon are willing to.

After drowning his sorrows for a couple of hours, John realises he can only rely on himself…

He comes up with something ‘sneaky and crazy’.

Issue #42 -
John travels to Ireland to catch up with old friend Brendan.

Brendan shows off his impressive wine cellar. Then shows John his real prize…
A pond full of holy water!

He creates the best beer John’s ever tasted.

They share a laugh at their grim fates, hoping the other would help them.

John meets Satan. And saves Brendan’s soul by tricking Hell’s ruler.

Now, John’s determined NOT to die.

Issue #41 -
John has terminal lung cancer.

He relives when he was told and the horrible nightmare of all his friends who blame him for their deaths.

In the end, he’s determined to find a way around this. Though deep inside, he feels he will fail…

I’ve had family members pass from cancer so this wasn’t an easy issue to read. I’m reading this because it’s a big moment in Constantine lore.

Maybe I intentionally skipped Dead Boys’ Heart because I remember looking up the Magus story and deciding not to read it.

I did not read it this time round either. (Issues 39 and 40).

Issues #37/38 -
A terrible father mistreats and forces his son to do things he really doesn't want to do.

Mercury meets and begins to like Martin. She wants to help him.

Though she realises when Martin is comatose over his mistreatment, she cares for him as Marj looks after John...

Merc uses her ability on the dad, making him lose his mind.

Martin's mum leaves her husband and joins the group in the van.

Issue #36 -
Mercury is so mad at John that she pulls him into his subconscious to confront the thing that he’s afraid of…

It becomes a vision of a possible future. One that very nearly kills John in the present.

Not sure why they had to make John start strangling Marj but anyway…

John tells Merc they’ll talk after breakfast.

Issue #35 -
I liked the art in this one. But I can’t say I gave it my full attention.

John finds the bones of a young child, and a stone he calls the dead boys’ heart.

Eventually, believing the heart is making him do bad things, he throws it away.

There was something about a Bogeyman too.

Issue #34 -
I obviously did not look at the issues included in this because I didn’t realise it included the Dead Boys’ Heart storyline.
I hadn’t realised I ‘skipped’ those issues.

This issue was basically John raving to old friend Marj.
And her daughter Mercury does not want whatever is eating at him to infect them.

But even though she left them, Merc feels John pulling her into his subconscious!

A few years ago, I said my tolerance for horror and the like was increasing. I think I was lying to myself.

But I am attempting to push through this collection. One because I own it. And two because this is, I feel, a pretty big story for Constantine.

I predict that I will be skimming some of the story.

Amazing Spider-Man #348 -
IS Jonah back at the Daily Bugle? Maybe I missed something!

Both Sandman and Spider-Man feel like they don’t belong…

Maybe being a reserve Avenger isn’t all that great.

They both get a tip and deal with a domestic threat… Which is against current charter rules.

Thinking he was getting fired, Sandman quits.

Peter realises he’s got a lot going for him in his life.

Daredevil #293 –
I'm so glad the whole ‘Matt broods over every decision’ thing is over.
He feels bad for what he does, sure, but he’s not whining!

And he’s not totally battered by a single opponent.

Anyway, Daredevil fights more with the Punisher than Taskmaster or Tombstone.

But in the end, neither villain gains membership to… The Hand!

Oh and Stang with an unknown are trying to take all of Fisk’s money.

Daredevil #292 –
Daredevil gets information from an unwilling Mad Dog. About Taskmaster….

Apparently, he and Tombstone are in some sort of killing competition.

Which has captured the attention of the Punisher!

But Daredevil wants those who put them up to this deadly task.

The heroes fight each other and end up in dire circumstances…

Also, Foggy is determined to get Matt’s law licence back!

I skipped the first story in Annual #7.

I only read ‘The Dark Lady’ to get a little more backstory for Ben Urich.

I don’t know how I feel about his depiction here.

I also looked it up and this was not followed up on so what was the point?

I skipped the rest of the annual.

Daredevil #291 –
Clearly, Nocenti was not up to date with Spidey comics. (JJJ is not at the Bugle.)
Oh well, this is her last issue as writer!

Anyway, I liked the overall story.

DD is getting his life back, starting with the opinion of the people.

Kingpin is making plans to improve his image. No matter the cost.

I liked following Urich and his issue with being an ‘ethical’ reporter.

Old friends reunite!