The Huntres #4: Enter The Librarian (Spoilers)

[WorstThingUS]

...better known as Barbara Gordon. And is that a mob party at stately Wayne Manor? We finally get moving again, people. That "Godfather" stuff was getting a bit dull.

[Mia]

Another great issue. I especially liked the interaction between Helena and Barbara in the bar. I found it neat that Madison didn't degenerate Barbara in order to make Helena look good. That's a sign of good storytelling. A good writer should be able to portray his or her protagonist being able to stand on their own two feet wihout denegrating the other characaters in the book/story.

I think the thing I love the most about the book is the potrayal of Helena. I love her icy and quiet confidence. Madison writes portrays her like a queen--which she was originally set up to be. What a marked change from the pathetic portrayl in BOP.

[juggling man]

I liked the Godfather stuff. And I love this issue even more than the first three. My only nitpick so far is the dialog in the first few pages. A little forced and clunky. (there was also a repeated caption that looks like an error...?)

Everything else was kick ass. Looking forward to writing a full review.

[Alexx1]

How's the art in this issue?

[Mia]

Same as the 3rd. Not as nice as number 1.

[juggling man]

To me the art was great!

[juggling man]

Wrote a review. (http://www.newsarama.com/common/community/forums/?plckForumPage=ForumDiscussion&plckDiscussionId=Cat%3a46ada8ea-92e4-4618-9265-5be7cad0342bForum%3afc51cb95-612c-4a9e-b623-5a04a2abbe4cDiscussion%3a127fadb8-1469-48cf-a4fa-6556ab3e1139&plckCategoryCurrentPage=0)

[Binker]

NOTE: Sorry for the delay. My new job sometimes can take its toll on my reviews. It looks like either I will just review what I can and what I would consider a "MUST REVIEW", or accept that all of my reviews won't be done until a day before the next week's comics. Or drop them all entirely.

By Nathaniel Ruff (also known as Binker, Binker2 and Nate on many forums)

HUNTRESS: YEAR ONE #4

Written by Ivory Madison
Art by Cliff Richards, Art Thibert and Norm Rapmund
Cover by Matthew Clark
Edited by Joan Hilty

PLOT:
A deadly battle with her family's assassin in the middle of Venice's Carnival leaves Huntress with no choice but to return to Gotham — sparking a fateful first meeting with Bruce Wayne!

REVIEW:
An okay issue, issue #3 had nothing wrong with the art, and Ivory continued to do well with her writting, but what was missing was that "snap". That's why it was an "okay" rated issue. But going from the first, to last three issues, the plots promise things like Gotham, Batman and the Bat-Family, basically the things that will end up making Helena who she is today in the DCU. That's what I wanted to see next, and that happens to be next for this series. So, here is issue #4!

As we move from Helena's homeland, we get into familiar territory as Huntress goes to Gotham City, at a time when Dick Grayson was still a grown-up Robin, Barbara Gordon was still Batgirl, while Bruce Wayne was and still will be Batman. The lackluster previous issue I felt as explained in my review for issue #3, issue #4 opens up with action, a shocking and sad moment for Helena, and as I pointed out, brings Helena to Gotham where she will be one of the city's heroes/guardians. Altogether, issue #4 brings this good story by a talented writer back on track; good. Batman nor Robin make an appearance in this issue, but Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl and Alfred do instead. And while Alfred's scene isn't much, there is a scene where Helena and Barbara do meet and talk to each other! Maybe as you might expect, their first meeting isn't anything positive, but I don't know if this series will go as far as to show how they get to become friends that will continue up to their Birds of Prey team. But one could wonder, right?

But back on Helena's side; continuing from the last issue, Huntress confronts Signore Mandragora, and while she does what she wanted in making sure Signore draws out some blood, she stops because she wants an answer to her question: who was the one who pulled the trigger at her family? And she does fight the murderer, but we don't get his name. But he is what sends Helena to Gotham for the first time. The sad moment she experiences, by the way, is of her friend, Tony, be married. But the excitement started right at the end; Helena was about to enter Wayne Manor where Bruce Wayne had invited also the mafia to join his party, Batgirl, Alfred, and Batman are all watching, with Selina Kyle making a cameo. Things are about to shake up!

Overall, this issue returned the series back its talented written story from the lackluster third issue, and I was really happy to get that back as we start the beginning of the second half of the series. Helena is in Gotham, has met Barbara Gordon, confronted but doesn't know the name of her family's murderer, and she's about to enter a party where she will soon meet Batman, Batgirl, and Catwoman! Man, now I'm really going to see excited. Issue #5 can't come soon enough!

RATING: Yay

Next Issue: Huntress meets Batman and Catwoman!

[AlistairCrane]

Finally got it, and I liked this issue quite a bit. The pace was perfect, I loooved the introduction of Barbara, and the action at Wayne Manor has me intrigued (glad to see Selina is there!!).

[HouseSolo]

I'm really diggin' this. I was surprised to see Babs already, but maybe that's because I know next to nothing about Huntress. All in all, I loved the mafia stuff as usual, and I love watching a badass woman kick the shit out of people, can't get enough of that.

The best part of this entire series ahs been the frequency with which it's been coming out though. That's what's really stealing the show here.

[juggling man]

Thing is, if it was crap. Twice a month would be too much. But it's awesome! So twice a month isn't enough!:biggrin:

[juggling man]

Here's Mark Oliver Frisch's analysis of the sales figures for Huntress

"These numbers are about as expected for a limited series starring a third-stringer character thrown out there without promotion. Usually, shipping the first two issues in the same month just postpones the typical second-issue drop until #3, so the book’s future prospects aren’t great, either."

[Slade Wilson]

This series has been a nice surprise to me. It's way better than I expected it to be. Good stuff all around.

[The Xenos]

Here's Mark Oliver Frisch's analysis of the sales figures for Huntress

"These numbers are about as expected for a limited series starring a third-stringer character thrown out there without promotion. Usually, shipping the first two issues in the same month just postpones the typical second-issue drop until #3, so the book’s future prospects aren’t great, either."

Well good. DC can put her back in the refrigerator where she belongs. :rolleyes:

[WorstThingUS]

Well good. DC can put her back in the refrigerator where she belongs. :rolleyes:

This is why I keep stressing the importance of keeping the Batman connection. She needs it.

[The Xenos]

Yeah. What good is a woman if there's not a strong authoritative man standing above her on the glass ceiling? :rolleyes:

[AlistairCrane]

This is why I keep stressing the importance of keeping the Batman connection. She needs it.

I agree. Huntress wouldn't be as interesting without the Bat-connection. Their dynamic when she first hit the scene in Gotham up until the end of No Man's Land was quite good.

[Mia]

I agree. Huntress wouldn't be as interesting without the Bat-connection. Their dynamic when she first hit the scene in Gotham up until the end of No Man's Land was quite good.

I don't agree that Huntress needs Batman in order to 'shine'. But the bickering between them was fun to watch. She was one of the few characters in the DCU who would stand up to him and tell him to shove it.

Unfortunetly the character was watered down, declawed and ruined the momment she was placed in BOP.

[juggling man]

Manhunter does fine without a connection to a major character.

[The Xenos]

Hmm. I didn't think she was too declawed in BoP. Just matured a bit. Heaven forbid a character develops. Plus maybe she worked out her daddy issues in Cry for Blood.

[AlistairCrane]

I don't agree that Huntress needs Batman in order to 'shine'. But the bickering between them was fun to watch. She was one of the few characters in the DCU who would stand up to him and tell him to shove it.

Unfortunetly the character was watered down, declawed and ruined the momment she was placed in BOP.

I agree about BoP, Helena lost her "oomph" that attracted me to her in that book.

[Mia]

Hmm. I didn't think she was too declawed in BoP. Just matured a bit. Heaven forbid a character develops. Plus maybe she worked out her daddy issues in Cry for Blood.


If you call being unable to make decisions on her own, showing a lack of judgement and breaking into tears when being disrespected. 'Maturing', then I guess we both have a different view of the word mature.The Huntress in BOP had virtually no spine and she was an idiot who needed to be told what to do.

And frankly I never ever saw any father daugter relationship between her and Batman. When the Question brought that up in CFB, she just laughed at him. Rightly so.

[The Xenos]

If you call being unable to make decisions on her own, showing a lack of judgement and breaking into tears when being disrespected. 'Maturing', then I guess we both have a different view of the word mature.The Huntress in BOP had virtually no spine and she was an idiot who needed to be told what to do.

Hey! Don't make fun of what I said. I'm a very mature person myself. -runs off to cry-

[WorstThingUS]

Manhunter does fine without a connection to a major character.

"Fine" is a pretty strong word for what Manhunter does. "Struggle to survive in a shrinking market" is a more accurate description and it's a shame for such a good book. A connection is no guarantee, but every little bit helps so why throw the baby out with the bathwater? I mean, it's not Manhunter on the cover of Entertainment Weekly this week. If you can get any piece of that, you do so.