Writer: A.J. Lieberman
Art: Brad Walker
Inks: Troy Nixey

Part Two of Act Two of “War Games” has more going for it than most of the entire Act One. For starters Jim Gordon gets into the mix and that’s never a bad thing if done well. The scene with him and Batman in his garden is a gem and echoes a classic scene from “No Man’s Land.” There’s also a telling scene when Batman sees Tim back as Robin for the first time. Now Batman’s stoicism and the emotional distance he keeps is becoming central to the Bat-family’s reaction to the gang war. This is a welcome personality and character angle that was missing from Act One although it suffers a bit from being a rerun of a theme in the “Murderer/Fugitive” crossover. Brad Walker’s art is interesting and somehow in a weird way combined with the coloring scheme gives things a kind of early Seventies look.

Writer: Devin Grayson
Art: Mike Lilly
Inks: Andy Owens

Good stuff abounds as the momentum established by the previous chapter carries over to this issue. Batman finally begins putting some things together but it’s difficult to believe it’s taking him so long to recognize that at least the start of the gang war was based on a scenario of his. Nightwing has a lot of issues to content with and writer Devin Grayson is doing a good job bringing them to the forefront. There’s a great scene when he’s joined by Robin for a fight in a strip club and a nice encounter afterwards. This is the third issue in a row where Robin has a dramatic entry. There are also gritty scenes of heavy duty torture the set up the mastermind behind all of this as one formidable hombre but this, the issue and maybe the whole huge arc is undercut by the big reveal at the end. What a letdown.

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Michael Avon Oeming

When it’s hitting on all cylinders, as it is in this issue, it’s easy to see why this is one of the best books out there. While there are bits concerning Walker’s reaction to his discovery of the identity of the new Retro Girl and a neat one about life for people with powers now that using their powers are outlawed, the issue is really about the predicament Deena Pilgrim finds herself in. Bendis and Oeming convey a sense of a real and dangerous threat and based on the track record of this book readers know anything can happen. The first few pages and the supermarket scene seem to be purposely bright and colorful to make the literal darkness of the rest of the issue that much more foreboding. However some panels are a little too dark and interfere with the flow and some times the layout of the panels is hard to follow but that’s my only complaint. If the first two “Avengers Disassembled” issues and a few less than stellar “Ultimate Spider-Man” arcs have you wondering if Bendis has finally spread himself too thin this should dispel you of that notion.

Writer: Paul Jenkins
Art: Paco Medina
Inks: Juan Vlasco

This issue looks good only in comparison to the nonsense that preceded it. Last issue Peter was about half spider, half man and Mary Jane wanted him to go to the doctor! “Doctor, please take a look at my husband, he’s growing fur to go with his extra eyes and arms.” Right. Give me a break. Anyway this issue doesn’t contain anything that ridiculous and reads a little better. Still, the Queen seems ludicrously powerful and Spider-Man at times seems like a supporting player in his own book. Paco Medina subs for Humberto Ramos and any time Ramos and his exaggerated style are off this book is a plus but Medina has his own problems with out of proportion feet and misshapen faces. Also his Queen looks just like his Salamandra from his fill-in on the “Fantastic Four.” Jenkins, who pre-JMS put Spider-Man back on the right track, has been in a downward spiral for quite awhile and this isn’t helping.

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Art: Andy Kubert
Inks: Danny Miki/John Dell