Batman

Batman ’66 #6

Batman '66 #6Okay, I love the 60’s Batman TV-show but I’m freely willing to admit not all the show’s villains were winners. For instance: The Bookworm. Two-thirds of a comic centered around the character is far too much (he would have been much better used, if at all, in one of the back-up stories).

The Bookworm’s main story has to do with the literary-obsessed criminal gathering every piece of evidence on the existence of Batman and Robin to determine their true identities. Not surprisingly, Batman tricks the villain into mistaking someone else (Alfred?) for the Caped Crusader and eventually apprehends the Bookworm.

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Batman: Black and White #4

Batman: Black and White #4The black-and-white anthology series puts out another strong issue highlighted by the final story from writer Sean Galloway and artist Derek Laufman involving a classic Batman and Robin adventure (and the 60’s television show’s Batmobile) as the Dynamic Duo set out to save a missing Superman from Brainiac. Laufman’s style and use layering panels to suggest motion is pretty damn cool.

Without any real weak stories this month, Black and White #4 also boasts a Mad Hatter and Penguin tale from Michael and Lee Allred where Cobblepot attempts to out-wit both the Hatter and the Dark Knight Detective (which features Micahel Allred’s trademark smooth but quirky style), Dustin Nguyen does double duty writing and illustrating an average night for Batman in Gotham City ending with an appearance by Catwoman, Nathan Edmondson and Kenneth Rocafort offer up a tale of Batman taking on an invisible enemy, and David Macho and Rubén Pellejero deliver a tale of Batman getting the help of a homeless veteran (and his pet rat) to take down Killer Croc. Worth a look.

[DC, $4.99]

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Damian: Son of Batman #2

Damian: Son of Batman #2Damian: Son of Batman #2 begins with explaining the confusing ending of the first issue as a criminal-killing Damian is confronted by his father (a man the comic had told us was dead). Long story short, the Batman that died was Dick Grayson and not the long-retired Bruce Wayne who shows up to give his son (who he apparently abandoned for weeks after Dick’s death) a beating that leaves the old man hospitalized.

The rest of the issue deals with Damian’s guilt over almost causing his father’s death, his vow to be the kind of hero both Bruce and Dick would be proud of, and donning his own version of the Bat-suit (as seen in Batman #666) to become the new Batman.

The confusion aside, the comic does give us Damian donning the costume for the “first” time, but the moment lacks any real gravitas (although I liked the “nice coat” comment the new Batman gets while jumping into action chasing a sighting of the Joker later in the issue). Andy Kubert delivers some moments, but the entire issue feels like a train wreck. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $3.99]

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