Retracing even more of Robin’s roots

Robin: The Bronze Age Omnibus hardcover
DC Comics
Creators: Gardner Fox, Mike Friedrich, E. Nelson Bridwell, Frank Robbins, Denny O’Neil, Elliot S. Maggin, Bob Rozakis, Cary Bates, Gerry Conway, Jack C. Harris, Paul Kupperberg, Marv Wolfman, Mike W. Barr, Ernie Chan, Sheldon Moldoff, Chich Stone, Ross Andru, Gil Kane, Irv, Novick, Dick Dillin, Rich Buckler, Bob Brown, Mike Grell, A. Martinez, Al Milgrom, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Praise Be His Name), Jose Delbo, Curt Swan, Don Newton, Marshall Rogers, Don Heck, Lee Elias, Jim Aparo, Juan Ortiz, Kurt Schaffenberger, Alex Saviuk, Charles Nicholas, Trevor von Eeden, Joe Giella, Mike Esposito, Murphy Anderson, Vince Colletta, Frank Giacoia, Dick Giordano, Frank McLaughlin, Jose Massaroli, Terry Austin, Bob Wiacek, John Celardo, Dave Hunt, Bruce Patterson, Dan Adkins, Frank Chiaramonte, Jack Abel, John Calnan, Larry Mahlstedt, Steve Mitchell, Mike DeCarlo and Rodin Rodriguez
Publication date: March 20, 2020

This is the latest volume I’ve read in tracing the history of one of my favorite characters – Dick Grayson, the original Robin and later Nightwing. Last spring, I read the two-volume Robin Archives, which collect Robin solo stories from Star-Spangled Comics in the 1940s and 1950s, which I talked briefly about on Facebook. A few months ago, I discussed the massive Showcase Presents Robin trade collection, which reprints a number of stories featuring Robin from 1969 to 1975.

Now I’ve finished reading through this even more massive Bronze Age Omnibus of Robin reprints. This volume collects stories featuring Robin from Batman, Batman Family, Detective Comics, DC Comics Presents and World’s Finest Comics originally printed between 1967 and 1983. As one might expect from comparing those original publication dates, there are a number of duplicate stories reprinted in both the Showcase and the Omnibus. In fact, out of the 49 stories in the Showcase volume and 79 in the Omnibus, 35 stories are reprinted in both. I admit that’s quite a bit of overlap, but there are still enough stories unique to each volume that it is worth it to own both, at least to me.

The stories reprinted in the Robin Omnibus take the character from being The Boy Wonder, fighting alongside Batman and in solo adventures across Gotham City, to becoming The Teen Wonder, first at Gotham High School, then later at Hudson University in New Carthage, and beyond. Robin teams up less and less with the Dark Knight in these stories, but he goes through a period of frequent pairings with his Dynamite Duo co-star, Batgirl. And later stories in the Omnibus collection coincide with the formation and early years of The New Teen Titans.

In fact, if there is a failing in this Omnibus collection, it is in the scattershot inclusion of some of these later stories. For instance, Dick Grayson and Robin spend a great deal of time in New Carthage on the campus of Hudson University in these tales. Dick attends classes and works at the campus newspaper while also solving crimes alongside the campus police.

In the very first preview appearance of The New Teen Titans — first printed in DC Comics Presents No. 26 (released on July 10, 1980, according to Mike’s Amazing World of Comics) and not reprinted in this volume, by the way — it is mentioned that Robin has left college. In “The Gotham Connection,” reprinted from Detective Comics No. 495, which came out shortly before The New Teen Titans debuted with their own first issue, Dick is threatened with expulsion for missing classes and opts to leave campus to pursue a ring of drug runners instead of dealing with the academic troubles. But that storyline goes nowhere. Other plot threads from Dick’s time at Hudson U are simply dropped, never to be addressed again, including a new romance with a girl named Jennifer Anne. The end of “The Gotham Connection” story seems to indicate the tale will be picked up again next issue, but it doesn’t appear that it ever was resolved in any story. At least not one I could find reference to anywhere.

I guess you can’t really fault this volume for not reprinting a story that was never printed anywhere to begin with. But other choices for what is included are not as easily ignored. The very next story in the Omnibus, “Shanghaied” from Batman No. 333, teams Robin with Catwoman in search of a missing Batman. I assume this story was selected for inclusion as it features Robin heavily and teams The Teen Wonder with someone he’s not usually paired with. But “Shanghaied” is a middle chapter of a multi-part story that begins and ends with cliffhangers, but no other chapters of this multi-part epic are reprinted here. Readers of this volume are simply dropped into the middle of the action and given no resolution.

Despite a few odd choices like that here and there in this hardcover volume, I can still heartily recommend it to any fan of Robin’s. Many of these stories show the beginnings of both Robin’s and Dick Grayson’s character development that later creators like Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Chuck Dixon would build upon to great effect. For instance, Gerry Conway pens an arc that begins in DC Comics Presents and continues in backup stories in five issues of Batman from 1981. First Robin runs into Superman and an old circus performer friend while visiting the Sterling Circus appearing in Gotham City. Later, Dick Grayson follows the circus clown, the old friend, to Hill’s Circus, where the young aerialist stays for a time, performing and rediscovering his circus roots. No mention of the Titans is made in these stories, but they all coincide with the issues early in the second year of The New Teen Titans comic.

As evidenced by the extensive list of creators above, this volume is an excellent showcase for a number of fine writers and artists, each lending their talents to shaping the character Dick Grayson and Robin would become and making it possible for other characters to take on the name Robin while Grayson moved on to become Nightwing. Some of these stories I’d read before in single issue form, either when they were first published or later after buying them as back issues. But many of these stories were new to me with this reading.

If you share my love of the character of Dick Grayson, you might also enjoy a podcast I discovered not long ago. “Taking Flight: A Robin and Nightwing Podcast” is by a gentleman named Tom Panarese. The podcast covers a lot of the stories and history included in this volume as well as other stories about The New Teen Titans and fellow Robins Jason Todd and Tim Drake. I heartily recommend you check out both Robin: The Bronze Age Omnibus hardcover and “Taking Flight.”

I think they gave too much away last time

Batman: Earth One Vol. 3
DC Comics
Creators: Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Jon Sibal and Brad Anderson
Release date: June 2021

I bought and enjoyed the first two volumes of the Batman: Earth One series. The twists and turns these creators took with the familiar Batman origin tale kept me guessing a little bit, entertained even when I saw twists coming, and left me feeling satisfied with the final product. This third and final chapter is still a good read. But something feels just a little bit off or not quite as good as the first two installments.

I’m not a fan of the Earth One idea, in general. I tried the first two volumes of Superman: Earth One, and while I found them — especially the first one — entertaining, the stories just didn’t quite feel like "my" Superman. They didn’t feel quite right. Your specific reaction might have been different. That’s part of the fun of comics. Not every comic is every reader’s cup of tea. But for me and Superman: Earth One, something was off.

I tried Teen Titans: Earth One and hated it. Several of my favorite characters were excluded, and the story was so different, that I didn’t recognize the characters that were “included.” Based on those two experiences, I’ve never even tried Wonder Woman: Earth One or Green Lantern: Earth One. Flash: Earth One and Aquaman Earth One graphic novels were planned at one point, but neither has been printed to date.

But when I decided to give Batman: Earth One Volume 1 a try, I was pleasantly surprised.

First, the creators wisely opted to ignore the Joker right out of the gate. Too many similar projects feel a need to make the Joker the premier Bat villain, and that has led to the Joker being way overused. He’s no longer exciting if he’s everywhere and in every story.

Second, this Gotham was different from previous iterations of Gotham City. Bruce Wayne was different from previous iterations. And Alfred was introduced in a different way. That set the stage for many great changes to come — changes to heroes, to villains and to supporting cast members.

I normally try to keep spoilers to a minimum on this blog, but there will be a few here, especially for the earlier volumes of Batman: Earth One. Stop reading now if you want to avoid spoilers, and just know that I liked the series overall, but the most recent chapter a little less than the others.

******** SPOILER WARNING! ********

You’ve been warned.

The first volume of Batman: Earth One begins with Thomas Wayne running for mayor against a corrupt opponent. His campaign staffers are celebrating some early polling victories when Alred Pennyworth arrives at Wayne Manor. Alfred is a former member of the Royal Marines. He and Thomas Wayne served together or worked together in some unspecific capacity. They forged a friendship, and Thomas has sent for Alfred to head up his campaign security team. But first, Thomas and Martha have promised their young son a night at the movies.

That sense of foreboding you now feel is well-deserved as Bruce’s parents never make it back home from the theater. But rather than being killed by Joe Chill or a random mugger after seeing “The Mark of Zorro,” the Waynes never even see the film they planned to see. Instead, the theater’s electricity is cut before the movie begins, and the Waynes are attacked as they exit the theater through an emergency exit.

Bruce is left an orphan. Alfred, who wasn’t even certain he wanted the security job, now finds out that the Waynes have entrusted Bruce’s care to him in their wills. He feels honor-bound to accept the responsibility to keep the boy from becoming a ward of the state, but he has no real interest or knowledge of caring for a child.

Bruce vows vengeance as readers expect and is firmly convinced that the corrupt mayor was behind the hit on his parents. That mayor — Oswald Cobblepot — wins re-election, at least a couple more times, as he is still the mayor of Gotham when Bruce returns from boarding school a young man with a plan built on revenge.

The Batman that begins his career in this tale is new and inexperienced. He makes some mistakes. He has very few detective skills to draw upon, but he is smart. Alfred thinks the entire idea is ludicrous and tries to talk Bruce out of his plans. When that tactic repeatedly fails, he insists on training Bruce in a number of fighting techniques.

The big bads of that first volume are a new creation called The Birthday Boy and Cobblepot, who I don’t believe is ever referred to as Penguin in the story at all. But there are a number of other familiar names with not-so-familiar backgrounds and roles. Some of these include Jim Gordon, Barbara Gordon, Harvey Bullock, Lucius Fox, Harvey and Jessica Dent and Killer Croc.

The second volume continues the trend of giving readers familiar names and faces, but often throwing them into the mix in unfamiliar ways. For instance, I strongly suspected that Barbara Gordon might become Batgirl in the second volume of the series. She was introduced in Volume 1 and was shown to have a keen interest in the Batman’s activities. Instead, the creative team sidelines her throughout this second story with an educational trip abroad.

The villain of this second installment is the Riddler, but he sets himself up as a punisher of Gotham’s ongoing corruption. Mayor Cobblepot is no longer in the picture, but others have taken his seat of power and continue to benefit off the citizens of the city.

Batman faces off against the Riddler, but he does not do so alone. He continues to grow his team of misfits, or Outsiders, as more familiar names and faces are added to the mix. And along the way, the creators do a bit of foreshadowing that easily telegraphs the villain for the third installment, at least in my mind.

The third and final original graphic novel under the Batman: Earth One banner begins with a new “mystery” villain supplying weapons and materials to all the criminals of Gotham. No secret is made about this being Two-Face; but who is Two-Face? That is the question the characters in this story face. But most any reader who read Volume 2 already knows the answer to this question. There’s no mystery here.

Johns, Franks and the crew try to mask that fact by also adding a long-lost relative of Bruce’s and some Wayne/Arkham family history into the mix. But ultimately, while this is still an engaging read, this third installment in the series feels weaker, in my opinion, because of the too-early reveal.

As I said at the top of this post, this is still a worthwhile read. More familiar faces make an appearance, including some not usually associated with the Batman family of titles. More characters are introduced or fleshed out within the story itself. The wrap-up also shows where the story would likely head next, further expanding Batman’s team of Outsiders and finally bringing the Joker into the mix.

Overall, this is a good series, and the best of the Earth One titles I’ve read. But if I’m being honest, this third installment is the weakest of the Batman series.

The partnership continues for another generation

Batman & Scooby-Doo! Mysteries No. 3 of 12
DC Comics
Creators: Ivan Cohen, Dario Brizuela, Franco Riesco, Saida Temofonte and Michael McCalister
Release date: June 2021

A little shorter post today, but be sure to read to the end for a small announcement.

The Caped Crusader and the canine crime-buster have worked together on many occasions. Batman and Robin first teamed up with Scooby and Mystery Inc. in two episodes of “The New Scooby-Doo! Mysteries” in the early 1970s. The pairing made sense as Hanna-Barbera, the creators of Scooby and the gang also owned the rights to the Super Friends. The reaction was so positive that Batman and Scooby have continued to cross paths on television in more recent shows, including “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” (2009) and “Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?” (2019).

These team-ups have also happened in the comics. Batman and Robin were the first guest stars in the Scooby-Doo! Team-Up comic book that began in 2013, which I discussed on the blog here. The title paired Mystery Inc. with a variety of DC superheroes and other Hanna-Barbera characters during its 50 issue-run, and members of the Bat-family appeared in several of those issues.

Is it any wonder that DC has returned once again to that very popular idea for this new 12-issue limited series?

To be sure, these are simpler stories than one might typically find in a modern Batman comic book. Keeping things fun and light is the entire point. But that doesn’t mean these are childish or dumbed-down stories.

Ivan Cohen does an excellent job capturing the voices of each of the familiar characters, even making this Batman seem to be a believable mix of all past interpretations. Dario Brizuela’s art maintains the cartoony look of the Scooby gang while not making Batman look out of place. Also, Brizuela was the artist on many of the Scooby-Doo! Team-Up issues, so he’s no stranger to this task.

This issue centers around Scooby-Doo and Ace the Bathound being invited to serve as honorary guess judges at a Gotham City dog show. The abundance of two-themed items in the story make it pretty clear for any long-time readers that the villain of this issue is Two-Face, but readers are left to wonder how the heroes will thwart the villain’s schemes.

My only complaint with this issue — or the series so far — is hinted at in the page above. Fred and Velma are missing from the events in the beginning of this issue, although they show up before the end. Read Daphne’s explanation to Batman on the pair’s absence and tell me that wouldn’t have been the perfect moment to at least name-drop Swamp Thing. But sadly, that isn’t the route the writers take.

I have no problem recommending this series to fans of either property as a fun, enjoyable read. And who among us couldn’t use a little more fun in our lives, right?

And now, briefly, to the announcement: I’m going to switch the blog’s frequency to every other week rather than weekly. When I started the blog back up a few months ago, I had a number of comics I wanted to write about, making for a nice backlog of possible posts. But my time to read of late has been a bit more limited. Rather than having the posts become sporadic, I thought I’d try to post a little less often, but still maintain a regular schedule.

So, I hope to see you back here in two weeks for another, somewhat lengthier post. Until then, happy reading, and make sure you are enjoying the comics you are reading. Otherwise, what’s the point?

It’s an intense, worthwhile package

Batman: Creature of the Night tpb
DC Comics
Creators: Kurt Busiek and John Paul Leon
Release date: May 2021

I had pretty low expectations when I pre-ordered the trade collection of this miniseries. Not because I have been disappointed previously by the creative team. I was not familiar at all with John Paul Leon’s art, and I’ve rather enjoyed a number of projects written by Kurt Busiek, so no problems there.

I’ve read several other tales loosely based around a particular comics character’s mythology yet supposedly based entirely in the real world, without super-powered heroes. The conceit has yielded some good stories and some I haven’t cared much for.

This story focuses on Bruce Wainwright, a normal boy in the aforementioned real world who loves Batman comics, based in part by the similarity of his own name to that of his hero. But when crime makes Bruce an orphan, he becomes obsessed with the idea of Batman preventing crimes like the one that took his family from him. He wrestles with the unfairness of life and a yearning for a vigilante who can tip the scales in favor of justice. Bruce wishes so strongly for such a hero to exist that one suddenly, inexplicably does.

This story is populated by a number of other similarities between Bruce’s life and that of his comic book hero’s — some of the similarities are real while others are conveniently created by Bruce himself. These parallels don’t really detract from the story or stretch a reader’s suspension of disbelief too much, simply because Bruce himself is aware of his tendency to “create” some of them.

Rather the young boy’s intensity of emotion, his earnest yearning for justice and a hero who can make the world right with his fists and his intellect draw the reader in and make him or her hope right along with the protagonist. John Paul Leon’s moody illustrations emphasize that very intensity and passion. Even the back matter, of which this trade includes a lot, enhances the experience of this book.

This was a truly enjoyable read I did not want to put down until I finished it. If you enjoy a good Batman story, I think you’ll like this one, too. Give it a try, and let me know what you think.

More early adventures of the first kid sidekick

Showcase Presents Robin, the Boy Wonder tpb
DC Comics
Creators: Too many to mention
Release date: 2008

I marveled recently about how Robin, the Boy Wonder, had a number of solo adventures in Star-Spangled Comics as early as the 1940s and 1950s. Dick Grayson is one of my all-time favorite characters, and I had not known that he headlined his own solo series that far back. Those stories are collected in the Robin Archives Volumes 1 and 2.

I bought this giant phone-book sized black-and-white trade paperback collection when it came out back in 2008, but at that time, trades like this one were tossed onto a pile of stuff to read when I had more time. I decided to make the time after reading those Robin Archives volumes, and I’m glad I did.

This collection covers stories from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s. It begins with a re-telling of Robin’s origin from Batman No. 213 from 1969. From there, it drops back to 1964 for World’s Finest Comics No. 141 and the formation of a Robin-Jimmy Olsen team. The junior partners fake their own deaths in an effort to aid their respective mentors.

Several other Robin-Jimmy Olsen team-ups follow from the pages of World’s Finest Comics and Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, as well as Robin solo stories and team-ups with Batman, Batgirl, Superman and the Teen Titans from the pages of World’s Finest Comics, Batman and Detective Comics.

The adventures also see the Boy Wonder leave high school and Wayne Manor for the campus of Hudson University and the new name, the Teen Wonder. There’s even a two-part adventure with the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America in 1971 in issue Nos. 91 and 92 of the League’s own title. That last even has the Earth-1 Dick Grayson meet his Earth-2 counterpart and briefly adopt a new costume.

As sometimes happens with Silver-Age stories, some of these tales seem a bit dated now. But most all of them are fun reads showing the continuing growth and development of a classic comics character. I’m definitely calling this a worthwhile purchase!

His inclusion was a nice bonus

Batman Beyond Vol. 5: The Final Joke
DC Comics
Creators: Dan Jurgens, Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Cully Hamner, Marco Santucci, Evan “Doc Shaner, Andrew Dalhouse, Val Staples, Jordie Bellaire, Travis Lanham, Viktor Kalvachev
Release Date: July 2019

My history with “Batman Beyond” has been very bumpy.

I was curious when the concept for the new television show was announced in the later 1990s, and I tuned in for the series debut in January 1999. The opening scenes with an aging Batman were thrilling, and it was a nice nod to continuity that Neo Gotham still had a Police Commissioner Gordon in the future. But I wasn’t completely convinced by Terry McGinnis as the new Batman, and I wasn’t a fan of the techno-influenced music that ran throughout the show and its theme song.

I gave the next few episodes a try. Some of the villains were more interesting than the Jokerz gang from the premiere, and it was nice to see the Royal Flush Gang was still around; they’ve always been a favorite villain team for me. But there just wasn’t enough to hook me full-time on the show. I pronounced it “Not my Batman” and moved on.

I grew curious from time to time when I would read that the show was popular in various comic magazines or online. But I stayed away until after the show ended and it was controversially tied into the animated Justice League continuity. My reaction to that episode was mixed, but it prompted me to buy the entire series on DVD, although I still haven’t watched all of the episodes.

I also had very mixed reactions to the direct-to-video “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker” movie in 2000. It was fun to see the Joker back facing an aged Batman and his new protégé, but I did not care for how that film treated Tim Drake or how it mashed together his and Jason Todd’s origins and stories.

With all of that, I don’t think I’ve ever picked up an issue of the comics based on the concept. But I’ve again been curious a time or two. I’d heard interesting things about this arc, focusing as it does once again on the return of the Joker to Neo Gotham. And I know I’ve mentioned before that I am a fan of Dan Jurgens. So I decided to give this trade a try.

I was not disappointed. This was a solid story with some nice added bonuses. For one thing, we got the genuine, real deal Joker this time. We also have Terry’s younger brother, Matt, assuming the role of Robin. All of that I knew going into this trade. The best bonus of all, though, was the inclusion of the mayor of Bludhaven, Dick Grayson, in this story. That was a pleasant surprise.

One of my complaints about “Batman Beyond” on television was that I had always wondered what became of Dick. I believe he was name-dropped in the pilot episode when Commissioner Barbara Gordon fills Terry McGinnis in on her history with Batman. But what she said was vague. I don’t believe Dick ever appeared previously in either the show or one of the comics. He’s one of my favorite characters; I always wanted to know what became of him in this continuity.

There are still questions here regarding the former Nightwing and first Robin. For instance, there is no mention of a spouse, but Dick’s adult daughter, Elainna, also appears. Dick and his daughter are not relegated to mere cameos either. Both play pretty prominent roles in this tale. Enough so that I really do wonder if this is Dick’s first appearance in the world of Batman Beyond, if Jurgens has used him in a previous arc, or if some other creative team first dreamed this up, and this crew is simply building on what has gone before.

Someone please leave a comment if you know more about Dick’s role in Batman Beyond; I’d appreciate the info. But either way, this was a fun read, and this trade has made me seriously think about hunting down more of Jurgens’ run on the title.

Something to watch you might find interesting

“Batman: The Scheme Is Sound”
Parkview Elementary School (Van Buren, AR) Music Club
Release date: 2019

 
It has been a crazy couple of weeks, both personally and professionally, and I haven’t had as much time as I would like to read or blog about what I have been reading. Along comes this group of talented fourth- and fifth-grade students to save the day, once again completing a project that touches on topics near and dear to my heart.

The Parkview Elementary Music Club videos are pretty famous in this part of the country, and they have garnered some celebrity attention for their efforts in the past. But there may still be parts of the nation and world who are unfamiliar with these talented students.

Each year, they complete a video project employing acting ability, singing talent, choreography and so much more. Last year’s project was the Easter-themed “The Adventures of the U.S.S. Parkview: A Star Trek Fan Film.” It followed the crew of the starship Parkview as they tried to free the kidnapped Easter bunny from a crew of ruthless Klingon warriors. That was when I first heard of the group. Among the luminaries who applauded the students for their video was William Shatner, who tweeted that the video was “impressive.”

This year, the students created “Batman: The Scheme Is Sound,” a video modeled after the cast and themes from the campy 1966 “Batman” television program. All the favorites are there from Batman and Robin to villains Riddler, Penguin, Catwoman and Joker, heroic associates like Commissioner Gordon, Chief O’Hara, Alfred, Aunt Harriet, the Batmobile, Stately Wayne Manor, and even Bruce and Dick and their “fishing trips.”

Check out the Parkview video channel on YouTube for these and many other hilarious, nostalgia-filled, fun videos. They’re great!

More pleasant surprises to be found

Batman No. 250
DC Comics
Creators: Frank Robbins, Irv Novick, Dick Giordano, Elliot S. Maggin and Frank McLaughlin
Cover date: July 1973

Frequent visitors to this blog know I have purchased a number of back issues and trades throughout my comics collecting history that get tossed on a pile to read “sometime.” During times when my monthly collecting habits ebb, I manage to get more of those “sometime” books read, and this happens to be one of those times.

Most recently, I’ve been reading some older issues of Batman and Detective Comics, specifically ones from the 1970s. Several of these books have held promise of one form or another, be it an oft-seen, familiar cover for which I’m finally getting to read the story behind or a fondly remembered childhood read I’m re-experiencing. Of course, it is always best when the actual read lives up to the anticipation.

The main story in this issue, “The Deadly Numbers Game!” by Frank Robbins, Irv Novick and Dick Giordano, is a decent, entertaining tale about the Dark Knight that showcases his detective skills nicely. But I was surprised to find that this regular-sized comic included not one story but three.

The second story in this magazine is a quick six-page Robin story by Elliot S. Maggin, Irv Novick and Frank McLaughlin. I’m a huge Dick Grayson fan, so I was delighted to see a Robin solo story. But the plot of this story involves Dick’s pre-Robin life, as indicated by its title, “Return of the Flying Grayson.” The story begins with two young boys marveling at an old poster of the Flying Graysons circus act. The boys know Dick Grayson as the Hudson University student tutors one of them, but they doubt the tutor is any relation to the acrobats depicted on the poster. Dick overhears their comments as he is in the same store, staking it out, hoping to catch some art thieves. Then later, when Robin stops the fleeing art thieves, he must also save the two boys who happen to be nearby during the take-down.

As fun as the Robin story is, though, the gem of this issue is the six-page final one. The story, “The Batman Nobody Knows,” by Frank Robbins and Dick Giordano is a simple tale of philanthropist Bruce Wayne taking three inner-city youths camping. Sitting around the campfire, the boys see a bat flit by in the moonlight and begin to share their ideas of who or what the Batman is. If the story sounds familiar to more modern audiences, it is because it was adapted into an episode of “Batman: The Animated Series,” specifically “Legends of the Dark Knight,” episode 19 of the third season of the show. The framing sequence and the children’s tales differ in each version, but both stories involve Gotham City youth relating how they each see Batman.

I had no idea such a significant story was hiding in the back of this issue, or at least, I don’t recall knowing that when I bought it. So it was a very pleasant surprise indeed to “discover” it.

It’s a mixed bag, but a good read

Batman Vol. 7: The Wedding
DC Comics
Creators: Tom King, Mikel Janin and Tony S. Daniel
Release date: October 2018

I’ve been reading recent issues of Tom King’s Batman Rebirth run in trade format and enjoying them. The entire courtship and developing relationship dynamic between the modern Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle since the former proposed has been an interesting read even though the title of this particular trade is a bit of a misnomer.

That’s right: If you’ve been living under a rock and missed the news after the release of Batman No. 50, Batman and Catwoman did not end up going through with the wedding. That was several months ago now, in real time, and the “secret” was spoiled for me long before I read this trade, too, so you might have even heard the news while living under a rock. But that’s not what makes this outing such a mixed bag — not exactly.

First the good stuff: The Batman (or rather, the Joker) short from DC Nation No. 0 is included in this collection. It focuses on the Joker showing up at a random house and holding the owner hostage until the mail arrives. The Joker is waiting to see if his wedding invitation will be delivered. And King handles the Clown Prince of Crime quite deftly in this eight-pager. The stream-of-consciousness dialogue and daft motivation make sense coming from this insane character. There’s more of the same on ample display in Batman Nos. 48 and 49 as Joker faces off against the happy couple one at a time. The running exchange between Joker and Catwoman especially is both mundane and hilariously off-kilter while still ringing quite true to form.

I also credit King with writing a very minimalist yet spot-on interpretation of Batman, especially his caring. That’s not a side a lot of writers focus on with Batman. But that is what makes the character be his best self. As grim as things look, as dire as the situations grow, as murderous as his foes become, Batman hopes they can still change. Why else would he continue to confront them and foil their schemes time and again. Without his belief that they could still reform, there would be little to keep Batman from simply killing his foes. King seems to get that as Batman kneels when the Joker asks him to pray in the image above.

I have some issues with the first half of this trade, though. The premise of the first three issues collected in this trade are that Booster Gold, a time-traveling hero, wanted to get Batman and Catwoman the perfect gift. So he went back in time and saved Bruce Wayne’s parents from being killed. The idea was to give Batman a “For the Man Who Has Everything” moment, an “It’s a Wonderful Life” revelation that shows the Caped Crusader that his life is how it was meant to be and that it is better for how things unfolded. The result is much worse than Booster anticipated, a reality where nothing is as it should be.

My first problem with this scenario is that such a story has been done before several times. Maybe Bruce has the chance to save his parents lives. Maybe someone else does it on his behalf. Things never turn out well, and Bruce is forced to relive his parents’ murders all over again to right things.

Secondly, even if Booster has no first-hand knowledge of any of the times when this scenario has played out for readers, what sense does it make to prevent the tragedy that led to the creation of the Batman in an effort to show Bruce Wayne that his life is perfect as it is. Booster refers in-story to the time when Superman went through a similar life re-imagined event in the story “For the Man Who Has Everything.” Anyone who has read Superman annual No. 11 knows the Man of Steel did not find the experience pleasant. Why on earth would Booster think this was a good idea?

Then thirdly, it is truly bizarre just how wrong things go in this revised history where Thomas and Martha Wayne live on. We are told most of the Justice League was killed in battle with Starro the Conquerer because the team was missing the strategy of Batman. If the League lost that battle, why is everyone on Earth not wearing a Starro face-hugger? Dick Grayson, Selina Kyle and Jason Todd all make appearances in this new reality, but as twisted parodies of their traditional selves. Yet if Bruce is not Batman, why are these characters even connected to him?

If one simply accepts events as they unfold, this isn’t a bad story arc. It’s just that there are a lot of oddities within the reality that results from Booster’s actions that don’t seem to add up logically. I can’t help but wonder if this arc was stuck in here simply to explain the trauma Booster is supposed to experience that leads him to treatment at Sanctuary in the new miniseries, Heroes in Crisis. Neither that story nor Sanctuary are mentioned in these issues of Batman, but I just can’t find any other reason for its inclusion here.

But by and large, my biggest issue with this trade is the final issue, Batman No. 50, in which the wedding falls apart. First the Joker, then Holly Robinson, manage to convince Catwoman that marrying Batman would be a mistake. If she marries him, he will be happy, and a happy Bruce Wayne cannot be Batman, they reason.

I find that logic flawed. Bruce Wayne is a traumatized individual and there is a lot of anger and vengeance wrapped up in the origins and the workings of Batman. But to say that he can never be happy and continue to function as Batman is to insult the relationships he has with his surrogate family — Alfred, Dick, Barbara, Jim, Jason, Tim, Damian, Clark, Diana, etc. Are those relationships strained at times? Yes. Adult relationships are sometimes strained. But there is genuine love and affection at the root of those relationships or they would have fallen apart long ago.

This doesn’t ruin the stories presented here. Joker and Holly make these arguments, but neither of them is the most sound or logical of minds. Selina comes to accept their arguments; but that doesn’t make them right. People often act on false information or incorrect assumptions. They don’t always do what is right.

I enjoyed reading this trade, and think it is worth checking out if you are a Tom King, Batman or Joker fan. It’s worth a read even if you’re just a comics fan in general. I just wanted to point out my take on some of what happened between the panels.

Everything old is new again Vol. 2

Superman No. 353
DC Comics
Creators: Bob Rozakis, Curt Swan, Frank Chiaramonte, Milt Snapinn, Gene D'Angelo and Julius Schwartz
Cover Date: November 1980

I'm still making my way through that large purchase of old Superman comics from the 1970s and early 1980s as I have time. But I came across one story the other day that proved to be very serendipitous timing.

Let's back up. About three weeks before, I was talking comics with a co-worker who shares an interest in the hobby. I honestly don't remember how the topic came up, but I was asking him if he'd read an Elseworlds one-shot from 1993 titled Superman: Speeding Bullets by J.M. Dematteis and Eduardo Barreto. The vast majority of the Elseworlds titles from the 1990s were Batman-centric comics with a few Superman and Justice League titles thrown in here and there. This one had Superman right in the title, but seemed to depict Batman right there on the cover.

The story posits that the rocket from Krypton lands not in Kansas, but on the outskirts of a much smaller Gotham City. And instead of Jonathan and Martha Kent finding the rocket's sole occupant, young couple Thomas and Martha Wayne happen upon the child. Being wealthy and childless, they decide to keep the child and raise him in the seclusion Wayne Manor provides. Martha teaches the young boy about compassion and the need for those who are able to help those who are less fortunate. Thomas teaches the boy to care about the law and doing what is right. And they are a happy family until one night when the boy, named Bruce Wayne by his adoptive parents, is 9 years old. The family is leaving the theater when they are mugged by a small-time hood named Joe Chill.

The parents are killed, and the anger, hurt and pain that Bruce feels explode out of him in the form of hot death from his eyes, something that traumatizes the child even more. Guilt and shame consume the boy to the point that he forgets the details of what happened, and he lives in seclusion until he reaches the age of 21. More powers and abilities have developed in the meantime, but it is at this point that the Wayne's butler, and Bruce's surrogate father, Alfred, tries to help the young man by revealing what is known about his origins. The shock of seeing the rocket brings back the traumatic memories of the night Thomas and Martha Wayne were killed, and Bruce swears to take out his anger and loathing on the lawless as a creature of the night named Batman.

Bruce pursues that mission in the daytime by buying the Gotham Gazette and serving as its crusading publisher and in the night by brutally punishing all who would prey on others as the Baman. Only by making a new friend does Bruce come to realize that his brutal nighttime methods make him little better than the criminals he opposes, and he chooses to follow a different path.

Of course, I didn't recall all of those details in the conversation with my co-worker. It had been several years since I last read Speeding Bullets. But about a week after that conversation, I came across the book while going through part of my collection looking for something else. I re-read the issue, then took it to work to let my co-worker borrow it since he seemed interested and hadn't previously read the story. Then, just a few days later, I sat down to read Superman No. 353, the next in my stack.

Those familiar with the nearly 40-year-old comic might recognize that the page pictured at the top of this post is not from the main story. Rather it is an eight-page backup story from the issue titled "The Secret Origin of Bruce (Superman) Wayne," and I was happy to read a very similar — but also very different — story to Superman: Speeding Bullets.

In the 1980 tale, as in the 1993 one, the rocket from Krypton again (or previously) crashes on the then-outskirts of a smaller Gotham City. In this instance, however, the young baby Kal-El breaks out of the rocket on his own and begins to crawl toward town when he is spotted by a young Gotham City patrolman named James W. Gordon. Gordon makes a report to his desk sergeant, asking if anyone has reported a missing baby. Finding no such reports, he decides to take the child to his friend, Dr. Thomas Wayne, to ensure the child is uninjured. Dr. Wayne and his wife, Martha, decide to keep the baby until his real parents can be located rather than having the infant sent to an orphanage, and Gordon agrees. When no one comes forward, the Waynes adopt the child and name him Bruce.

True to Superman's earlier origins, this child from Krypton already has most of his future powers even as an infant rather than developing them over time and exposure to earth's yellow sun. The Waynes notice evidence of Bruce's unusual abilities right away — his impervious skin, his ability to fly and his X-ray vision — but keep quiet about them until the fateful encounter with Joe Chill.

In this instance, the quick-thinking young Bruce uses his super speed to reach out and grab the bullets before they can strike either of his adoptive parents. Chill, spooked by the turn of events, tries to shoot the boy directly and is instead hit by a ricochet off the boy's invulnerable chest. Patrolman Gordon, alerted by the sound of the gunshots, arrives on the scene in time to hear Chill's dying words, a confession that he was hired to kill the Waynes by mobster Lew Moxon.

Moxon is jailed. Gordon is promoted to sergeant for his part in the case. And the Waynes finally decide to confide in someone — their friend, Gordon — about young Bruce's abilities. The three adults continue to be a guiding influence in shaping the man young Bruce will grow into. Then, on Bruce's 21st birthday, at a party thrown for him by his parents, the recently paroled Lew Moxon shows up to take his revenge. Bruce quickly disguises himself and thwarts the mob boss, thus beginning his career as Superman, aided by his parents and their friend, now Commissioner Gordon.

I know a lot of stories and ideas get recycled in comics, and the longer a reader is involved in the hobby, the more instances you will find. But it was particularly fun and timely to discover this version of Superman being Bruce Wayne so soon after talking about and re-discovering a later story that starts in the same place but takes a much different route to get to a similar ending. The simple germ of an idea can go in many different directions depending on the creators and the time in which it is developed. 

Everything old is new again

Deathstroke the Terminator Nos. 6-9
DC Comics
Creators: Marv Wolfman, Steve Erwin and Will Blyberg
Cover date: January-April 1992

Among the April 2018 solicitations for DC Comics is this blurb for Deathstroke No. 30: "'Deathstroke vs. Batman' part one! Beginning this month, a six-issue series-within-a-series featuring the ultimate showdown between DC’s fiercest rivals!"

I've read some issues of the current Deathstroke series and enjoyed them, so I mean no disrespect to writer Christopher Priest or artist Carlo Pagulayan when I raise the question: Are fans really clamoring for this face-off? Isn't this a bit of old news? These two characters squared off long ago in a truly excellent tale that avoided a number of potential pitfalls. Go check it out; it's well worth your time!

Let's give this tale a little bit of context. Deathstroke debuted alongside Marv Wolfman's and George Perez's The New Teen Titans in 1980. Longtime Titans foes the H.I.V.E. tried to hire the mercenary, Slade Wilson, to slay the teenage heroes, but he refused, preferring to avoid conflict with costumed vigilantes. So the H.I.V.E. set about engaging Deathstroke's services by involving his estranged son, Grant. Grant accepted the contract, but died while attacking the Titans, and Deathstroke, a man of honor, felt bound to complete his son's contract against his own better judgment.

This touched off a long antagonistic relationship between the Titans and Deathstroke that reached its conclusion in "The Judas Contract" storyline in 1984. Deathstroke finally fulfilled the terms of that original contract by successfully capturing all of the Titans and turning them over to the H.I.V.E. The heroes survived and escaped, but Deathstroke saw his obligation as fulfilled when he turned the Titans over. That wasn't the end of the character's history, however.

Deathstroke proved popular and was used as a villain in many other DC Comics. Some of those appearances made for good stories; some were less well conceived, especially in light of the character's ongoing appearances in the New Teen Titans title. Deathstroke made amends with the various Titans characters following "The Judas Contract" and even served as an ally to the team in the "Titans Hunt" storyline several years later. The character was still a mercenary for hire, but one with a rigid code of honor and ethics. Not everyone, especially a superhero, would agree with all of Deathstroke's decisions and actions, but the character was given more depth by Wolfman's continued use of him. He certainly wasn't a hero, but he could be someone readers could root for in a number of situations.

Following the "Titans Hunt" storyline, Deathstroke was given his own title. Many of the stories in this book took Wilson to foreign countries, often ones at war, where killing and mercenaries could be viewed outside the moral absolutes of most superhero stories. Wolfman's continued great writing and characterization made Deathstroke a more multi-faceted character, and Steve Erwin and Will Blyberg gave the art a crisp, clean, dynamic appearance.

The first story arc of the title re-examined Deathstroke's origin and added details to it while taking Wilson on an emotional journey through all of the tragedies of his life. I'm sure the addition of Batman in the second story arc was an attempt to pull in more readers with a more superhero-centric tale. But including a character like Batman could have backfired for the book.

Deathstroke is the title character of the book, which is also a new book to comic stands. It wouldn't be good to have the title character losing a fight. But neither is Batman a character DC would want to see put to shame in a matchup. Remember, the height of Batmania began in 1989 and is still going very strong in 1992. So they could fight to a draw? That wouldn't be satisfying for fans.

Instead, Wolfman smartly avoids having the characters go head-to-head. Remember, this Batman was very different from the Batman of today in one key regard. He's the world's best detective, an excellent combatant and a brilliant tactician. That has been — and always should be — a part of the Batman mythos. But in the early 1990s, Batman was still willing to work alongside other heroes, to trust other heroes and to listen to what other people had to say. Also, remember that Deathstroke at this point had very recently been an ally of the Titans.

In the "City of Assassins" storyline, Wolfman has Batman and Deathstroke working toward a common goal rather than at odds. There is an initial confrontation, and Deathstroke, an enhanced human, does have the upper hand against the Dark Knight, who while in peak form, is still human. But from the outset, Batman suspects that Deathstroke might be on the side of the angels after consulting with Nightwing for information about the mercenary. When others are quick to assume Deathstroke to be one of many bad guys in the scenario, Batman looks at the evidence of what has happened and rightly concludes that assumption is incorrect.

As an added bonus, this storyline also is the one that introduces the third character to bear the name Vigilante in the DC Universe. I strongly recommend it if you've never read it before. And even if you have, it is well worth another look if you haven't read it in a while!

And Happy New Year's, too

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year's celebration and many more comic. And in the spirit of starting the year off right, here's another comic-themed happy New Year's illustration for your enjoyment. Come back next week for more comics talk!

Merry Christmas, everybody!

No new post this week. Just wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday. Read some comics; you'll be glad you did!

You want to talk dark? Now this is dark!

Dark Knights one-shots
DC Comics
Release dates: October 2017 onward

Short post today, but I had a couple thoughts to share about the Dark Knights: Metal one-shots I've read to date. As of this writing, I have read Dark Knights: Metal No. 3 and the various crossovers and one-shots through Flash No. 33 and The Drowning.

Overall, I'm liking the series and looking forward to how it is all going to play out. Of the various tie-in crossover titles, they've been decent; the more you care about the characters involved, the better they read, but that's usually the case with tie-in titles. I'm sad to say that The Drowning has been the weakest of the one-shots so far. It was the first one I pre-ordered because the title indicated that it would be Aqua-centric. And it was an OK story, just not quite as good as some of the others.

But dark story lines seem to be all the buzz these days, how dark is too dark, is dark good or bad, etc. I'm not here to say that just because something is dark it's automatically either good or bad. Depends on the story, and whether or not it works for me as a reader. Let me tell you, this series earns the label "dark," to be sure.

The Red Death and The Devastator were the two most strong. Want to know just how dark these books are? I read a number of them in one sitting. I came away entertained and satisfied that I had gotten my money's worth. But after reading about six of these Dark Knights titles one after another in one evening, I came away feeling a little depressed. That's how dark these books are. And I have not yet received my copy of The Batman Who Laughs, which I fully expect to be the darkest yet.

That's my two-cents' worth.

Batman: In Color

Tales of the Batman: Carmine Infantino (2014)
DC Comics
Gardner Fox, John Broome, Cary Bates, Gerry Conway, Don Kraar, Mike Barr and Geoff Johns, writers
Carmine Infantino, Joe Giella, Murphy Anderson, Sid Greene, Bob Smith, Steve Mitchell, Mike DeCarlo, Sal Trapani, Mike Esposito and Neal Adams, artists

I tend to run hot and cold on my opinions of Carmine Infantino as a comic book artist. At the height of his career, he was an incredible penciler, as evidenced by many of the stories in this very volume. He is most known for adding the yellow oval to Batman's chest emblem, defining the "new look" of the character in the 1960s, and for his well-known and lengthy run as the artist on The Flash. But to my eye, a great deal of his later work lacks the definition I prefer to see. Often his later comic pages could look sketchy, rushed and unfinished.

So why spend money on a tome like this, celebrating an artist whose work I don't always appreciate? The vast majority of this book comes from the aforementioned height of Infantino's career, when he worked on Batman and refined the Darknight Detective's "new look."

There are a number of covers from both Batman and Detective Comics from the mid-1960s era, but another plus of this book is that most of the interior work presented here, Infantino did for Detective. Those stories have a history of focusing more on Batman's deductive prowess and less on super-heroics. In fact, many of these stories eschew the more colorful members of Batman's rogue's gallery for costume-less street thugs and gangs. There's a later Riddler tale, as well as appearances by the Joker, Cluemaster and Blockbuster, but more often than not, the Gotham Guardian is matching wits with characters like Frank Fenton, General Von Dort, Eivol Ekdal, Frank Pragnel, Doc Hastings and Mr. Brains.

The biggest draw for me, however, are the covers of this era and the stories they inspired. Often the cover idea came first, presenting some horrific or startling scene, and then it was up to the writer and/or artist assigned to the book to build the story around that cover image. Julius Schwartz was very well-known for this technique as an editor at DC Comics, and it led to some very eye-catching covers that made young readers want to pick up the book and learn how such a thing could happen. Many of them still make me want to read the issue in question if I haven't already.

Often what was depicted on the cover might end up being a red herring for the story presented within or hint at the solution to some mystery the hero has to figure out, but often, the comics stories behind these covers were well worth a reader's time, otherwise the cover trick wouldn't have worked for very long. But one such Infantino cover presented in this book, along with the story behind it, handles things in a rather unique way. I can't say I've read every issue of DC Comics from this era — far from it — but I know I've never come across a story quite like the one associated with the cover above.

This tale pits the Caped Crusaders against a foe named the Bouncer, who has fashioned an outfit out of an experimental substance that allows him to safely rebound off any surface. The Bouncer escapes Batman and Robin in their first encounter because the unique properties of his suit catch them off-guard. After their first defeat at the hands of the criminal, the Dynamic Duo use their ingenuity to figure out how the Bouncer was able to achieve his stunning feats and devise a way to counteract his abilities. Despite Batman and Robin's resourcefulness, the Bouncer escapes from a few more encounters with the pair. But they use each new defeat to learn more about their foe until they successfully apprehend the Bouncer on Page 8 of this 14-page story. Nowhere in the span of that eight pages is Batman dead or even believed dead. Not even for a moment.

But then Page 9 is taken up entirely by images of Gardner Fox, the writer of this particular Bat-tale, in his home. Fox explains that after finishing such a story, he often retires to his "What If" room to reflect on a story before polishing and sending it to his editor. In this scenario, Fox wonders "what if" the Bouncer was prepared for Batman and Robin's latest attempt to foil his crimes. Naturally, in that case, the Dynamic Duo's plan does not work, Batman is gunned down, and the scene from the cover plays out, complete with cameos by several members of the Justice League and a surprise twist that leaves Robin still working with a partner at the end of the "what if" version.

I won't spoil all of the details of the story — the cover image is practically ordering me not to — but this was definitely one of my favorites from a thick 500-plus page hardcover that I very much enjoyed and highly recommend. Who knows what surprises you might find inside?

Who Knew Ultimate Evil Could Be So Good

Batman: The Ultimate Evil prose novel (1995)
Aspect/Warner Books
Andrew Vachss, writer

This isn't your typical Batman story, but it is a very good read. The ultimate evil in the title refers to child abuse and the use of children in human trafficking and the international sex trade, so it's not light fare for younger readers.But if you're a fan of the character, this novel is well worth seeking out.

I've also read "The Further Adventures of the Batman," an anthology of Dark Knight prose stories written by a number of authors not known for tackling superheroes before. The book first came out around the time of the 1989 Tim Burton-Michael Keaton "Batman" film and was popular enough to have a number of sequels spotlighting Batman, the Joker, Superman and Wonder Woman. All of the contributors to these anthologies were well-respected, previously published authors, and most of the tales offered some unique takes on the characters presented. Some handled the superheroics better than others, though.

In this book, Andrew Vachss handles the superhero genre like a pro, keeping a number of the Batman's signature tropes — things like the Batcave, the Batmobile, Batarangs, his stick-to-the-shadows motif, his keen, analytical mind, among others — but also uses the best aspects of prose fiction to craft a Batman that feels unique while familiar at the same time. And Vachss makes the Dark Knight's mission in this novel all the more personal by tying child abuse and child prostitution into the very origins of the Batman in a way that adds depth but doesn't disrespect anything that has been done before with the character.

I don't want to reveal specifics and spoil too much for anyone who hasn't read this book before. But I stress again that this book is well worth seeking out for any fan of the character.

The Curious Case Of The Charlatan

Detective Comics Nos. 777-782 (2003)
DC Comics
Ed Brubaker, writer
Tommy Castillo and Wade Von Grawbadger, artists

This is an excellent Batman story for a number of reasons: it introduces a brand new villain; the plot of the story allows the creators and the readers to visit a number of familiar rogues along the way; it focuses on the detective nature of the hero, a facet of his personality and procedures that can easily be overlooked; and it grabs your interest and holds your attention throughout.

Ed Brubaker spent most of his time in Gotham City writing Batman, but he did do a brief stint writing Detective Comics in 2003. At the time, DC was trying to differentiate the two books by emphasizing superheroics in Batman and deductive reasoning in Detective Comics. Hence, this mystery titled "Dead Reckoning."

The plot stems from a tragedy eight years in the past, yet still during Batman's career. It's rare for writers to pin down past events so concretely in comic stories where the passage of time is so elastic, but this tale does just that. It's not impossible to still fit that timeline into the typical 10-year span of Batman's career, but it does seem a little tight to me. Eight years ago would put it pretty early in Batman's career, yet portions of the story dictate that these events can not have happened too early in the criminal career of Two-Face. That distinction serves to narrow the window of occurrence for these events, because Two-Face first worked with Batman as crusading Gotham district attorney Harvey Dent. They had a great working relationship -- one depicted at times as almost closer than that between Batman and police commissioner Jim Gordon -- until Harvey was assaulted by a criminal in court and transformed into the two-obsessed Two-Face. Two-Face must have pulled at least a few criminal capers pitting him against his former ally, Batman, for the Dark Knight to become familiar with Two-Face's habits, and that familiarity is important to this modern story.

As for the villain, Charlatan, he's a master of disguise and a truly tragic figure, at least at the beginning. His obsessions lead him down a rather dark path, and ultimately, his poor decisions lead to his own downfall, but a great deal happens to this man that leaves readers feeling some sympathy for him. I don't believe he has ever appeared in another Batman comic since this initial appearance, although he would make an excellent addition to the Gotham City rogues gallery.

It's no secret I enjoy Ed Brubaker's writing, and he is a large part of why I like this story so much. There are a few bits of this six-issue arc that could have been shortened a tad; maybe four issues could have been enough to tell this tale without it bogging down in a few scenes.

The art is great for this type of story. I'm not familiar with Tommy Castillo's other art credits, but here, his illustrations recall the look and feel of "Batman: The Animated Series." Not identical, but still quite similar. That makes for a nice touch as Batman and Charlatan make their way through various familiar Gotham faces such as Commissioner Gordon, Renee Montoya, Penguin, Scarecrow, Killer Moth, Catwoman, the Joker and Two-Face.

This story is good comics!

Remember The Time .... ?

Welcome to a special second post this week; and in honor of this being a special post, here's a special comic!

Scooby-Doo! Team-Up No. 1
DC Comics
Sholly Fisch, writer
Dario Brizuela, artist

I didn't know anything about this title a few months ago when I was doing my monthly comics pre-order. But it looked like a fun title that maybe harkened back to the old "Scooby-Doo Movies" cartoon show. This animated classic took the original Mystery Incorporated gang of Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred, expanded their initial half-hour adventures into an hour-long program and paired them with a different guest-star each episode. Sometimes the guest was a real personality such as Sandy Duncan, Don Adams, Don Knotts, Jerry Reed  or Jonathan Winters animated for the show. Other times, the guests might be real people starring in their own animated shows, like the Harlem Globetrotters, or fictional characters like the Addams Family and the Three Stooges. Some episodes even starred other cartoon characters such as the casts of Josie and the Pussycats and Speed Buggy.

Two episodes of this series teamed the Scooby gang with the Caped Crusaders, Batman and Robin, and pitted their combined forces against both the Penguin and the Joker. Those episodes of "Scooby-Doo Movies" were so popular and fondly remembered by fans, that the much more recent "The Brave and the Bold" animated Batman series included a tribute to them. In that episode, Bat-Mite, the imp from another dimension who idolizes Batman, tells of some of the Dark Knights strangest team-ups, one of which includes Batman and Robin crossing paths with both the Scooby gang and "Weird Al" Yankovic in a "Scooby-Doo Movies" style mystery.

Back to this comic, the advance solicit information promised that the team-up in this first issue of this comic series would again pair the Scooby gang with Batman and Robin. Sign me up!

And what a romp this issue is! It fully acknowledges the previous team-ups from "Scooby-Doo Movies," as well as including a number of other "in jokes."

The Mystery Incorporated gang travels to an unnamed mall to investigate reports of a "giant bat creature." Once there, they see Batman and Robin. Daphne greets the Caped Crusaders with, "Long time, no see, Batman -- ever since our run-in with the Joker and the Penguin!" Fred, shaking hands with Batman, adds, "Yeah, we kept running into all sorts of people back then. Singers, basketball players ... It felt like we were teaming up with someone different every week!" And Batman responds with, "I know the feeling."

In the few months between ordering this issue and receiving my copy, I have since learned that Scooby-Doo! Team-Up is scheduled to be a three-issue bimonthly series. You can bet I've pre-ordered issue Nos. 2 and 3 and am anxiously awaiting them, too!

I'm Not Too Old Yet

Batman: Earth One hardcover
DC Comics
Geoff Johns, writer
Gary Frank, artist

I have "known" some comic-fans who have stopped keeping up with the current slate of comic books and continuity developments. They often are still actively re-reading books from their respective collections, just not reading the new stuff. They are still fans of the medium and often dabble by remaining a part of online communities that by their nature are most concerned with the current stuff, but such fans have found their own personal golden age of comics and prefer to stop reading the more recent books that aren't doing anything for them anymore.

The older I get, the more I understand those feelings; many of my favorite books were ones published in the 1970s. But I don't know that I'm quite ready to label that era my personal golden age yet. I also have favorite comic stories from each of the subsequent decades, and more modern times have truly been great with regards to comics turned into animation and film.

Having said that, I don't try as many new comic and graphic novel titles as I once did. When Marvel announced the Ultimate line, I half-heartedly picked up the Ultimate version of Spider-Man and X-Men, but I didn't stick with either long. I had more of an interest in the New 52 when DC launched that project, but those books were replacing, not running along side of, the already established continuity. I stuck with my favorites but didn't stay long with many of the newer titles and characters. So my reaction when DC announced their "Earth One" line of stand-alone graphic novels re-inventing their heroes for a modern era, my reaction was, "Good luck and I hope it brings new readers in as created to do, but I think I'll just pass." Not worth the price of admission for me; I already know the origin of Superman and Batman, so far the only two characters to get the Earth One treatment.

Then I went in search of a copy of the trade collection Superman: Exile, and found a nicely priced copy for sale online. That particular seller also had a copy of the Superman: Panic In the Sky trade, which I decided to pick up. And also for sale by this individual was a $5 copy of the Batman: Earth One hardcover. That's the hardcover. In nice shape. For $5. I'm not as interested in trying this book for the initial hardcover price tag, but I'm not going to turn down a chance to try it for a fraction of the cover price, either.

And I'm glad I took the chance!

This volume is a great example of what the old Elseworlds and What If ... ? series could be at their best. I don't want to ruin some of the many story surprises Geoff Johns and Gary Frank have crafted in this volume; a large part of my enjoyment reading this graphic novel was in discovering these gems on my own. But these men have created a powerful story that changes the established facts longtime readers know about the Wayne family and gives a satisfying read. There are many familiar faces such as Bruce, Thomas and Martha Wayne and Barbara Gordon. There are familiar names like Oswald Cobblepot, Alfred Pennyworth and Harvey Bullock that are used in brand new, fascinating ways. And there are more subtle changes to familiar characters like James Gordon and Gotham District Attorney Dent that add to the tapestry of this story. Johns has written a powerful origin story for this not-quite-the-Batman-we-know that lives up to the high standard set by his other writing. Gary Frank's artwork is crisp and adds visual nuances to Johns' script, as usual. Well done! Very well done, indeed!

Rucka Is The Master

Detective Comics 757 (2001)
DC Comics
Greg Rucka, writer
Rick Burchett, artist

I have mentioned before in this space that Greg Rucka's run on Wonder Woman from 2003-2006 is one of my all-time favorite runs for the character. Not too long ago, I also re-read and discussed Rucka's great run on The Adventures of Superman between 2004 and 2006. Rucka also handled a great run on Detective Comics from 1999 to 2002, a fact reinforced for me recently when I re-read those Detective issues.

There was a lot going on in this run to like. Rucka took over at the end of "No Man's Land" and did a lot of what would become groundwork for the later Gotham Central series he and Ed Brubaker co-wrote. The concept of the Wayne Enterprises board of directors insisting that Bruce Wayne accept a bodyguard allowed Rucka to introduce the character of Sasha Bordeaux, a character who he made a key part of the Bat universe for awhile, and later a big part of the overall DC Universe. The regular artist for much of the run, Shawn Martinbrough, is pretty great, too.

Rather than talking about this entire run this time out, however, I want to narrow the focus a bit to this excellent done-in-one stand alone issue that falls in the middle of Rucka's run on Detective Comics. None of the various subplots make an appearance in this issue at all. It is so very stand alone, it could almost be a fill-in issue, but Rucka's name is still in the credits. As for the art, Rick Burchett's Batman looks close enough to Martinbrough's usual pencils that it isn't jarring because none of the other characters in this issue are seen in the series again.

The first page introduces us briefly to a family of three approaching Gotham on a lonely stretch of highway late one night. We don't even get their names except the father calling his wife Hannah.

Turning the page, we get a seemingly unrelated voice-over by Batman. The Dark Knight is very annoyed by the direction his night is going. We also see four thugs fleeing a drug deal and gunning down at least two Gotham City Police officers as they go. Batman is in pursuit as soon as possible but is not able to catch the felons before they meet and force the family of three to drive off the road, their car dropping off a cliff into open water.

Batman has no idea of the plight of this family as he continues to pursue the thugs. Subsequent pages switch from showing Batman taking down the villains to the family fighting to survive as best they can. The parents are surprisingly calm and resourceful, but they can't get out of their car as it continues to fill with water. Batman finally becomes aware of the presence of another car and questions the final criminal before knocking him unconscious.

I like that the family in danger in the submerged car is able to survive as long as they do because they don't panic. Often in these kinds of stories, the heroes are all-knowing and brave while the people they save are helpless victims. That isn't exactly the case here. But the ending is also excellent as Batman saves the family and then apologizes to them for taking so long. The Dark Knight seems genuinely distressed by the inconvenience to these people.

But the mother replies, "You arrived just in time. Any sooner, the water pressure would have kept you from opening the door."

And Batman simply says, "I hadn't considered that."

Yeah, I just ruined the ending for you if you've never read this issue, but it's still worth your time to check out. There are a lot of details skimmed over in this synopsis, and this issue holds up well to multiple readings.

This is a fantastic story that shows Batman is NOT always infallible, but rather than making him less of a hero for that, it makes him all the more heroic for all he accomplishes without being perfect. This issue is definitely good comics!