DC Round-Up: THE QUESTION: ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER #1 sends Renee Montoya into orbit

THIS WEEK: DC All-In continues with a look at who watches the new Justice League Watchtower. (Hint: It’s Renee Montoya.) Meanwhile, the Milestone Universe gets a new miniseries, Catwoman continues to run for her life, and Batman and Robin: Year One cements itself as a classic Dynamic Duo story.

The Question: All Along the Watchtower #1

Writer: Alex Segura
Artist: Cian Tormey
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letterer: Willie Schubert
Cover Artists: Tormey and Fajardo Jr.

The Question: All Along the Watchtower #1 is this week’s big DC All-In debut, and it certainly does go big at times. For example, pages two and three provide a beautiful double-page splash of the new Justice League Watchtower – the space station at which Renee Montoya’s the Question now serves as Head of Security.

However, it’s this issue’s intimate moments, and Segura’s take on Renee Montoya, that make this book worth a look.

When DC announced this six-issue miniseries, I had two initial reactions. The first was, “Yes, Renee Montoya’s getting her own book!” The second was, “Why in the heck would Montoya take this job?” Segura quickly and deftly answers my question, by catching us up on Renee’s recent, tumultuous past over the course of a few early pages. But he also makes sure to point out that Renee is wondering the same thing. The Question is not sure why she is on the Watchtower, or if she should be, and that affects her attitude toward her new position.

Those the Question is working with, including Animal Man, both Blue Beetles, and yes, ex-girlfriend Batwoman, find her a bit abrasive. That abrasiveness is both a cover for Renee’s insecurity and a reaction to the absurd circumstances in which she finds herself. Moving from Gotham City to outer space would throw off most anyone’s game, even if they hadn’t just been fired from their previous job. So, like us, Montoya is getting her bearings in this issue – and in true Renee Montoya fashion, she’s not always doing so with charm and grace.

Renee’s characterization and reaction to her new circumstances, as well as Segura’s hard-boiled PI-style narration, is this issue’s primary strength. Its primary weakness is the not-fully-sketched-out mystery and murder plot that Renee is attempting to unravel. Someone is attempting to weaponize the Watchtower (what, exactly, that means is left up to the reader to decide) and so far, they’ve caused some energy surges and enlisted a facsimile villain to help them. There aren’t many clues as to what’s actually going on or who is behind this plot in this first chapter. The issue’s cliffhanger was also a bit of a dud for me, but I’ll likely still come back for more, mostly to check in on Montoya and see more of Tormey and Fajardo Jr.’s slick art.

The Round-Up

• Also debuting this week is a new Milestone Universe miniseries, Milestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet, from writer Joseph P. Illidge, artists Darryl Banks and Atagun Ilhan, colorist Christopher Sotomayor, and letterer Andworld Design. It’s been more than a minute since I checked in on the Milestone books. Did you know Brainiac invaded the Milestone Universe? I didn’t. But thankfully, this book’s recap page caught me up effectively, and it gave me enough info to enjoy this look at what Milestone mainstays like Rocket and Hardware are up to now that their world has been upended by Brainiac. Illidge does a great job getting us inside Rocket’s head, showing us why she continues to be a superhero despite the public’s distrust. And the creative team’s portrayal of Rocket and Hardware’s complicated and not-quite-grudging alliance is this issue’s primary sell. However, fans of other Milestone characters and concepts will likely also find something to grab onto, as this issue sets up threads and cliffhangers that bring other familiar groups into the fray.
• Catwoman #70 continues writer Torunn Grønbekk, artist Fabiana Mascolo, colorist Patricio Delpeche, and letterer Steve Wands’s international tale of intrigue in bold fashion. If, like me, you missed chapter one of this story, don’t worry. You can dive into this issue and quickly understand the trouble Selina has found herself in. From there, you’ll probably find yourself reading this issue without taking a breath, thanks to the creative team’s smooth combination of plot, page layouts, coloring, and lettering. This issue barely ever takes its foot off the gas, which is just what I want out of my action thrillers.
• And finally, Batman and Robin: Year One #2 is a strong second entry in what’s shaping up to be a classic Batman and Robin tale. Artist Chris Samnee and colorist Giovanna Niro’s art, packed with delightful character acting, crisp lines, and bold colors, is worth the price of admission alone. But Samnee and co-plotter/writer Mark Waid’s story is just as effective, highlighting both Bruce and Dick’s differences in attitude and their commitment to each other. This series is a must-buy for any fans of the Dynamic Duo. (And for those already missing Samnee’s Batober posts, DC also released Batman and Robin: Year One – Noir Edition #1 this week, reprinting the first chapter of this story in black and white.)

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