At random I was flipping through the first issue of World War III, intruiged by the title.

Not only does Nightwing bust noses with plenty of blood, but the dude who looks like Namor crossed with Captain Marvel ripped a guy's face off. Like, ripped it right off, all skin and blood and flesh and whatnot.

Holy hell!

I expect to see that stuff in Vertigo books, but it really surprised me in what was, I presume, a mainstream title. I recall someone posted an arm-ripped-off thing here a few months back, too. That was a shocking image given the title.

How common is this at DC these days? Seems rather over the top for a mainstream title. I've no qualms about content like this in comics, but, you know, time and place. Holy gruesome, Batman!

In the big event books, it's become pretty prevalent. Infinite Crisis had Superb-- er, the young Kryptonian from Earth-Prime -- ripping people in half or other gruesome circumstances on a fairly regular basis.

It's not a trend I'm particularly fond of, but for the most part I avoid those titles.

Its so out of place in a DC mainstream comic,it takes me right out of the story.

Although Black Adam has always been a bit of a jerk.

I've commented several times on DC and dismemberment in their mainstream titles. It's really out of place, yet they seem fixated on it. Just means less for me to spend on new books (and more for old trades!)

I did a thread about this. In Justice League of America a major character gets their arm ripped off, on panel, lots of blood. In 52, Black Adam rips a guy in half. In Inifinite Crisis Superboy Prime punched through someone's head and ripped a guy's arm off.

It's funny that Marvel was the one who publicly abandoned the Comics Code shortly after Quesada took over, and their books aren't nearly as graphic as some of DCs.

Is that Hitler that Black Adam is snapping in half? If so, he's got it coming.

No.......I think its a policeman or security guard......thats why he's a jerk. He's got anger issues.

I like the way Black Adam has a sense of justice about him.

"For resisting me, you get a broken neck!"

"For that, I'll break you in half like a twig!"

It's always a quid pro quo.

Spoken like a true lawyer. I'm disappointed.

DC trying to make Black Adam the BIG evil guy he used to be. But Nightwing shouldn't be about maiming.

I think it's the Maytag repairman. He's got it coming too.

"We all got it comin', kid."

I enjoyed that too!

Infinite Crisis had the Black Adam versus Psycho Pirate "Death by Nyuck-Nyuck".

The kids these days love a good face ripping. It really speaks to the younger generation.

QUOTE of the day!

It's not for nothin' that UNFORGIVEN is Garth Ennis' favorite movie.

Yeah, DC lost me when they had Superboy turn into a raving, murderous lunatic. Just the Spirit and All Star Superman for me, thank you.

It's right up there for me. Top 3 maybe.

DC turned a character called superboy into a nutjob. Not Superman as a boy. This was a guy who appeared in like 2 issues of Crisis, and a couple issues of DC Comics presents. 3-4 appearances tops. I'm not defending the gross outs, but I have no problem turning Prime into a wacko.