Batman’s utility belt includes lollipops and so many other mysteries

For decades, people have asked “What does Batman keep in his utility belt?” The answer has always been Schrodinger’s necessity: Whatever the story needs him to have or lack at that precise moment. Recent stories required him to keep lollipops.

Why? Because he joined a Justice League search party to figure out if Superman’s lost son had been kidnapped by a supervillain or swallowed by a time vortex or broken through to an underground mole civilization — a perfectly reasonable worry to have. Jon went flying at night, just like his parents told him not, and got lost.

Poor Jon.

Were there other things happening within the pages of comics we love? We’ll tell you. Welcome to Monday Funnies, Polygon’s weekly list of the books that our comics editor enjoyed this past week. It’s part society pages of superhero lives, part reading recommendations, part “look at this cool art.” There may be some spoilers. You may not have enough context. There will still be some great comics. You can also read the previous edition if you haven’t seen it yet.

Nightwing #89

Image: Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo/DC Comics

There’s a run of four entire pages in this issue of Nightwing that all have a moment worthy of putting in the roundup, but the purpose of the whole flashback to the first time Batman and Superman’s oldest kids met each other is to remind the reader that this is what being Robin was all about for Dick. He was only trying to make Batman scare the people he cared about, and not those he wanted to.

No 24: New Mutants

Image: Vita Ayala, Danilo Beyruth/Marvel Comics

Fans of Grant Morrison’s X-Men run will be pleased to know that No-Girl finally got her own body instead of being a floating brain in a jar! Cerebella is her new mutant name! This is so adorable

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #8

Image: Tom King, Bilquis Evely/DC Comics

The final issue Supergirl: Woman of TomorrowIt is clear that this book has been slapped from the front, and I am able to confirm it. SandmanSpace adventure with Supergirl, starring Supergirl. The best thing Tom King’s done since Mister MiracleBilquis Evely and Bilquis Jones just dropped mics on every page. The collected volume is out in July so if you’re a person who waits for the trade put it on your freakin’ calendar.

Crowded Vol. 3

Image: Chri Sebela, Ro Stein, Ted Brandt/Image Comics

A second favorite of mine was concluded with the last issues of CrowdedAfter many Covid delays, I went straight to the trade paperback. I could do a full “Dorothy saying goodbye to Oz” routine of all the things I like about this series: The action, the comedy, the biting satire, the “acting,” the color work, the cast of predominantly queer women in a story that isn’t really in any way about queerness — but it would end with me saying “But you, “every time Vita takes off her jacket and gives us the gun show” … I’ll miss you The majority of all.”

Batman: The Knight #2

Image: Chip Zdarsky, Carmine Di Giandomenico/DC Comics

Batman: The Knight is a great modern take on Bruce Wayne’s adolescence, a wide-open space that’s always got more room for adventures and secrets. But I want to shout out this panel, with the fleeing master thief’s silhouette flung huge against the building, where the reader can see it but not Bruce. Not too subtle, not too obvious — just wonderful stuff.

Suicide Squad: Blaze #1

Image: Simon Spurrier, Aaron Campbell/DC Comics

Writer Si Spurrier is great at what he does, so it’s no surprise that he and artist Aaron Campbell have figured out how to make the Suicide Squad feel fresher than the team has in a long while: Focus on some brand new cannon fodder prisoners who just got superpowers, not the usual faves like Harley or King Shark. Also the villain — an idea I won’t spoil — is a great twist as well.