Enjoying being in the moment

Infinite Frontier Nos. 2-4
DC Comics
Creators: Joshua Williamson, Paul Pelletier, Jesus Merino, Xermanico, Norm Rapmund, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Tom Derenick, Raul Fernandez and Hi-Fi
Release date: July and August 2021

I’m a big proponent of not judging a story based solely on a single chapter or collection of chapters. I’ve said that before, and I stand behind it. Don’t decide a story is crap based on something not making sense in the first or even second part when the author might have a perfectly valid rationale waiting for a reveal in the fifth or sixth installment.

With that said, I read these three middle issues of a six-part series in one sitting the other evening, and I had a definite reaction to them that I wanted to share.

To be fair, this story isn’t finished yet. I know at this point that the story won’t even be wrapped up after I read the sixth issue of this six-issue series because advance solicits have already revealed that it will lead directly into another limited series, a modern comics trend I tend to find very frustrating.

But I wanted to go ahead and share this particular reaction because at this precise point in time, I am enjoying this story as it unfolds.

The 2021 limited series Infinite Frontier is a follow-up to the standalone Infinite Frontier No. 0, which was released back in March 2021 in the wake of Dark Nights: Death Metal. It introduced the new DC concept of an Omniverse. After it ends in Infinite Frontier No. 6, the story threads will be picked up by another limited series, Justice Incarnate.

Now I don’t read all of DC’s titles each month. In fact, I don’t read most of them. But I read several on a monthly basis and have for a very long time. So it is safe to say that I am fairly familiar with the main DC continuity. And that is what had me enjoying this title when I sat down to read this middle chunk of story. I feel like I’m in on the overall story. I’m invested in the universe and its characters. I’ve been along for the ride through most of the Crises and reboots through the years.

I enjoy seeing Roy Harper in this title, and I’m invested in his safe return. I’ve read of his adventures alongside Green Arrow and the Titans for several decades. And I know who Lian Harper is to him, and would be happy to see her safe return, too.

I remember when D.E.O. Agent Cameron Chase had her own short-lived series, and it was nice to see her brought back for this series.

I didn’t read about Jade and Obsidian when they were first introduced in Infinity Inc., but I did read a lot of their adventures as part of Green Lantern, the Titans, Manhunter and the JSA. So they, too, are welcome returnees to my reading matter.

It was even nice to see old characters in a new light, like the re-imagined Hector Hammond in this story. I recognized the name before the in-story reveal that this was an old character being used in a new way.

I have concerns, too, to be sure. Everything seems to be headed toward a big Darkseid confrontation, and I’m not a huge Darkseid fan. But like I said, I just really enjoyed reading this story chunk the other night. I felt a little moreso than normal that this story was written with me and my sensibilities in mind. That’s not always the case, but for this brief bit of time, it was. And it was nice.

I hope that feeling continues. That’s what I read comics for — the enjoyment, after all.

His inclusion was a nice bonus

Batman Beyond Vol. 5: The Final Joke
DC Comics
Creators: Dan Jurgens, Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Cully Hamner, Marco Santucci, Evan “Doc Shaner, Andrew Dalhouse, Val Staples, Jordie Bellaire, Travis Lanham, Viktor Kalvachev
Release Date: July 2019

My history with “Batman Beyond” has been very bumpy.

I was curious when the concept for the new television show was announced in the later 1990s, and I tuned in for the series debut in January 1999. The opening scenes with an aging Batman were thrilling, and it was a nice nod to continuity that Neo Gotham still had a Police Commissioner Gordon in the future. But I wasn’t completely convinced by Terry McGinnis as the new Batman, and I wasn’t a fan of the techno-influenced music that ran throughout the show and its theme song.

I gave the next few episodes a try. Some of the villains were more interesting than the Jokerz gang from the premiere, and it was nice to see the Royal Flush Gang was still around; they’ve always been a favorite villain team for me. But there just wasn’t enough to hook me full-time on the show. I pronounced it “Not my Batman” and moved on.

I grew curious from time to time when I would read that the show was popular in various comic magazines or online. But I stayed away until after the show ended and it was controversially tied into the animated Justice League continuity. My reaction to that episode was mixed, but it prompted me to buy the entire series on DVD, although I still haven’t watched all of the episodes.

I also had very mixed reactions to the direct-to-video “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker” movie in 2000. It was fun to see the Joker back facing an aged Batman and his new protégé, but I did not care for how that film treated Tim Drake or how it mashed together his and Jason Todd’s origins and stories.

With all of that, I don’t think I’ve ever picked up an issue of the comics based on the concept. But I’ve again been curious a time or two. I’d heard interesting things about this arc, focusing as it does once again on the return of the Joker to Neo Gotham. And I know I’ve mentioned before that I am a fan of Dan Jurgens. So I decided to give this trade a try.

I was not disappointed. This was a solid story with some nice added bonuses. For one thing, we got the genuine, real deal Joker this time. We also have Terry’s younger brother, Matt, assuming the role of Robin. All of that I knew going into this trade. The best bonus of all, though, was the inclusion of the mayor of Bludhaven, Dick Grayson, in this story. That was a pleasant surprise.

One of my complaints about “Batman Beyond” on television was that I had always wondered what became of Dick. I believe he was name-dropped in the pilot episode when Commissioner Barbara Gordon fills Terry McGinnis in on her history with Batman. But what she said was vague. I don’t believe Dick ever appeared previously in either the show or one of the comics. He’s one of my favorite characters; I always wanted to know what became of him in this continuity.

There are still questions here regarding the former Nightwing and first Robin. For instance, there is no mention of a spouse, but Dick’s adult daughter, Elainna, also appears. Dick and his daughter are not relegated to mere cameos either. Both play pretty prominent roles in this tale. Enough so that I really do wonder if this is Dick’s first appearance in the world of Batman Beyond, if Jurgens has used him in a previous arc, or if some other creative team first dreamed this up, and this crew is simply building on what has gone before.

Someone please leave a comment if you know more about Dick’s role in Batman Beyond; I’d appreciate the info. But either way, this was a fun read, and this trade has made me seriously think about hunting down more of Jurgens’ run on the title.