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HotShot Pickleball @hspickleball is Live on @kickstarter

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Pick Your Pickle and Prepare for Puns: Pickleball's Board Game Just Launched. A fast, fun, irreverent board game that celebrates the joy of Pickleball. Fans of silly puns, pickles, and fast-paced games alike have a new game to add to their list of must-haves: HotShot Pickleball. This delightful card-drawing board game is quick to learn and gives a surprising amount of opportunity to lightly strategize as you race to the ball and attempt to hit it back over the net to your opponent. The debut release from indie studio Midnight Trading Co., HotShot Pickleball was made while game designer Robert Gelb was recovering from an Achilles injury sustained, ironically, by playing Pickleball. For those who haven’t heard of pickleball, it's the fastest-growing sport in the world, with over 32 million players last year. HotShot Pickleball is a lively, family-friendly game that combines the fun of the sport with a cast of quirky, pickle-themed characters like Stew Cumber, Kim Chee, and Corni

Guest Review: @DCComics Batman and Robin #16

Batman and Robin #16 Cover
Cast a Giant Shadow


“DEATH OF THE FAMILY” continues here!

Has The Joker broken Damian? Has Batman’s son met his fate at the hands of The Clown Prince of Crime?

Preview





Review


Cast a Giant Shadow Original Review by Batwatch at Comic Vine


The last issue of Batman and Robin was one of the best tie ins to Death of the Family thus far. In addition to having excellent interaction between Damian and Joker, it left us with a massive tease as it appeared that Robin was about to have to face off with the Dark Knight. Given that there has been no time for Bruce to attack Damian, I am even more skeptical now than I was last week that this is really Bruce Wayne, but still, this issue is primed for greatness. Does Batman and Robin deliver the fight of the century, or is it over before it even begins?

In this issue, Robin fights Batman for Joker's amusement.

Too Much Action

I know that comic books are often defined by their frequent need for violence, but one of the things that made the last issue of Batman and Robin stand above the crowd is that it focused more on creative dialogue between Damian and Joker, and by creative, I mean it went beyond the standard, “You are weakening the Bat King,” nonsense that Joker has been espousing. In contrast, this issue had almost nothing going on underneath the surface.

As soon as I saw Bats coming out of the pile of creepy crawlies last issue, I began to wonder if it was really Bruce, yet Robin never even considers the possibility. Damian is awfully young, and he is not known for his cool, calm analysis, so I guess it is not surprising that he failed to consider all the possibilities, but if Damian had considered that angle, it would have added some dimension to the otherwise flat story. Damian sort of fights Batman, sort of runs away, and sort of tries to reason with Bruce while Joker watches. That is ninety percent of this issue. If Damian had considered that it was a trick, at least that would have given something else for the story to explore.

Gleason Style Horror

Thankfully, Gleason and the rest of the art team did a good job with the visuals. Though, sadly, Joker does not do anything as creative as turning his face upside down, he still manages to look very creepy with black eyes and a face stretched so tightly it might tear at any moment. The fights have a decent sense of motion, and many panels manage to convey some surprise such as when Batman tackles Robin from out nowhere. The set pieces are neat though it seems like the zoo could have provided a more elaborate battle. There are lots of panels which really strike that horrific chord with the middle panel on the first page being one of my favorites. There is also one with a spider on Bruce's mouth which disturbs me. (I don't like bugs) The way Joker is lurking in the background of many panels is also disturbing since he is not the main focus, and you can miss him at a first glance making his presence more ominous when found.

The Serving Tray

(spoiler) This issue ends the same way as Batman ended, with Joker teasing something under a serving tray. I have a feeling that Batgirl, Nightwing, RHATO and Teen Titans are also going to end with that same image. We know that all Batman's kids except Damian are present and accounted after Death of the Family, so that would seem to imply that it is Alfred's head on the platter, but it would be so obvious for Alfred to die that I just can't picture it happening. The good writers always try to keep you looking at their right hand while pulling something out with their left. If it looks like Alfred is going to die, then he is probably the least likely person to buy the farm. The only other thing I can imagine is that it is not a head at all but some sort of secret being revealed, but what could that be? It looks like we have one more month before we find out.

Bat Dropping

(Spoiler) It was nice to see Damian show some character development, lay down his weapon, and make a sacrifice. Granted, he could have just run away, but still, it was one of the few substantive things that happened this issue.

Conclusions 8/10

I wish there was more to say, but there is not. This issue was light on the substance. However, it did deliver a fairly entertaining battle and some really good art without any glaring mistakes. (unlike this month's Batman) If you are a fan of Batman and Robin or Death of the Family, pick up this issue.

What I Thought


See the Review Rating Overview page for more information on how I rate each comic.

Cover & Solicit - 3/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 3/5
Layout & Flow - 4/5
Story - 4/5
Verdict - 3.6


While an interesting cover, I don't really find it appealing. I was also not a big fan of the art. It seemed to chaotic and the colors were a little over-saturated with reds and yellows. Also what's up with Joker's hair. It seems like the different artists working on this arc didn't communicate about that Joker should look like. The issue itself was nicely done. I was a little confused at first about the "Batman" that was attacking Damian because again this arc doesn't lay out a concise reading order and in the last issues of Batman and Robin, The Dark Knight and Batman they hadn't shown him being captured. Luckily things get cleared up and you get a nice cliffhanger at the end that if you read Batgirl and Batman #16 you already know about it. As Jeremy mentioned it has also nice to see over the last couple issues and the other Bat books, Damian evolve as a characters and not being as bloodthirsty and actually caring about people and listening to his fathers advice. Can't wait for the conclusion of this story arc next month.

Pre-Order Joker Death of the Family HC (Save 30%)
Purchase Batman and Robin #16

Jeremy Sims is a blogger at https://batwatch.squarespace.com/ and a comic book reviewer at Comic Vine. The use of this review has been authorized by the original author.

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