Batman

Detective Comics #17

/ / Comics

Detective Comics #17While trying to hunt down and stop the Merrymaker and the League of Smiles before the Joker-obsessed group adds to the list of victims, Batman searches the past of the sadistic Dr. Byron Meredith who once treated all members of the group while employed as a doctor at Arkham Asylum.

Batman tracks the three mentally-unstable members of the League to the Gotham Children’s Hospital where he also finds the Merrymaker and reveals to his fairly angry followers the true reason behind the League’s murder spree. The issue also includes a backup story involving Meredith’s time at Arkham, how he used the Joker to further his own career, and the reasons behind his elaborate hoax.

Unlike much of the endless teasing, Bat-Family bickering, and grotesque nature of Death of the Family, the Merrymaker storlyine involves Batman doing a bit of old fashioned detective work and using his brains to take down another threat to Gotham City. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Batman and Robin Annual #1

/ / Comics

Batman and Robin Annual #1This is more like it. As the Bat-books continue to be mired in Death of a Family we get a short reprieve here with this annual that’s a breath of fresh air. After Damian arranges a scavenger hunt to keep Bruce Wayne and Alfred busy overseas for a few days, Robin creates his own Batman costume (a nod to the future adult version of Damian as Batman presented in Batman #666) and heads out to defend Gotham on his own as Batman.

What’s great about this story is nothing is wasted. Bruce’s trip isn’t a complete waste of time only to get him out of the way as Damian has put the time and the thought into crafting a very emotional journey for his father which should only bring the pair closer together.

And as for a pint-sized Batman ruling the night in Gotham, it’s a blast! Damian truly works in brutal, but Batman-like efficency, and never becomes the isipid murderous twerp some writers use as his fallback setting. I know I have been hard on the Bat-books recently, but this is a perfect example of what they can be when a little joy is inserted into the equation. Must-read.

[DC, $4.99]

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The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2
  • IMDB: link

the-dark-knight-returns-part-2-blu-rayThe second-half of DC Animation’s adaptation of Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns feels a little closer to the source material than Part One as the story shifts from Batman‘s (Peter Weller) return and dealing with the Mutant gang to the return of the Joker (Michael Emerson) and the arrival of Superman (Mark Valley) in Gotham to put his old friend back into retirement.

Where I felt Part One tried to fit Miller’s adult tale into a PG-13 framework this second-half delivers on Miller’s vision (including the half-naked villain whom I’ll always refer to as “Nazi Boobs“). Looking at the final cut of the film I’m a little surprised it got away with it’s PG-13 rating.

The real highlight of Part One was Carrie Kelly (Ariel Winter), who once again is terrific here although the story’s shift does push her into the background for much of the action as Batman takes center stage in his final battles with both his arch nemesis and the Man of Steel.

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Batman and Robin #16

/ / Comics

Batman and Robin #16In the latest Death of the Family crossover a captured Damian is pitted against a Joker-Venom-enhanced Batman in a battle to the death as the Joker gleeful watches to see how far the deadly new Boy Wonder will go to save his own skin.

Of course it’s not really Batman under that cowl. Something that is all too obvious to the reader isn’t even considered for a moment by the New 52‘s smartest 10 year-old. The Joker doesn’t get the outcome he wants, but he is able to torment Damian in yet another pointless crossover issue that feels more like a Saw-inspired Batman parody than an actual Bat-book.

There’s plenty of gruesome action here. And the comic has one highlight where the far too dim Damian makes a concious effort not to kill the man he believes is his father. Sadly it’s too little, too late. Pass.

[DC, $2.99]

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Batman #16

/ / Comics

batman-new-52-16-coverAnd I’m done. Writer Scott Snyder built up an extreme amount of good will with me with his terrific run on Detective Comics before the New 52 reboot. Shifting over to Batman with the launch of New 52 he’s delivered some individually strong issues but several forgettable and some downright bad issues as well. None, however, have lowered the bar more than Batman #16.

I’ve argued often that the entire New 52 seems to have been made off the gritty and hugely popular Arkham Asylum video game. DC proves me correct in this issue where it actually becomes Arkaham Asylum as the Dark Knight enters a Joker-controlled Arkham to stop the madman’s latest plans.

The Death of the Family issues dealing directly with the Joker have only gotten worse as the months have dragged on, finally hitting rock bottom here in this NC-17 horror fetish fantasy that’s so far removed from classic Batman stories it’s nearly unrecognizable. For those who enjoy it I’m leaving it to you. Mr. Snyder thanks for the memories, but I’m getting off this particular roller coaster with this issue. Pass.

[DC, $3.99]

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