Batman

Beware the Batman #2

/ / Comics

Beware of the Batman #2Expecting an eminent threat from Professor Pyg, Batman, Alfred, and Katana split up to protect likely targets. Capturing the super-villains minions, the heroes are unaware that his true target is a vacationing CEO and his family.

I’ve never been a big fan of Professor Pyg, but the various misdirection employed by writer Matthew K. Manning works well here and the villain’s motives certainly fit his profile. I was also very impressed with the art by Dario Brizuela (who also did the awesome Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #1) who takes some liberties with the cartoon’s all-black costume by adding some much needed grey, and gives us some cool sepia-colored origins panels for each of our three heroes.

Brizuela’s panels make this one worth grabbing (even if it is a story about the ridiculous environmental terrorist Professor Pyg). I hope to see more of his work both here and on Scooby-Doo! Team-Up. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Top 10 Comic Issues of 2013

/ / Top Tens & Lists

top-10-comic-issues-of-2013

Here’s my look back at the ten best single comic issues from the past year. Including ongoing series, one-shots, and mini-series, the only limitations I put on this list was that the comic had to have been released in 2013 (no reprints) and I limited myself to only a single issue from any one title. Because I was focusing on standout issues rather than consistently strong comics every month several of my favorite series missed the cut, but, if time permits, I may work up my regular list of best comic series of the past year as well.

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Top 10 Comic Issues of 2013 Read More »

Batman ’66 #5

/ / Comics

Batman '66 #5The latest adventure set in the world of the 60’s Batman television show pits Batman and Robin against The Sandman who puts all of Gotham City into a highly suggestive sleep to complete the largest robbery the city has ever seen. After catching the Dynamic Duo in his trap as well the villain attempts to pry the location out the Batcave out of them by controlling Batman’s dreams (which include a couple of really cool panels by artist Ruben Procopio).

Despite nearly giving away the secret location of the Batcave (and with it his secret identity), Batman eventually realizes and takes control of the dream allow the heroes to wake-up and put the villain to sleep (so to speak). The Sandman falls very much into the D-list category of Bat-villains, but the tale is fun and certainly fits the style of the comic.

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Batman ’66 #5 Read More »

Batman and Two-Face #25

/ / Comics

Batman and Two-Face #25“The Big Burn” continues as Two-Face prepares to go to war with the entire city to get his hands on Erin McKillen for the murder of his wife and the acid facial that changed Harvey Dent’s life forever. Both the current storyline and the flashbacks deal with McKillen’s escape from custody, although this time around she’s got the help of Matches Malone.

The layout of the issue as it jumps willy-nilly from current to past events (all which concern the same characters and situations) isn’t as well-handled as I like. More than once while reading the issue I mistook panels for one part of the story which were actually related an entirely different series of events. That’s a problem.

On the plus-side we do get an appearance by Matches (which means the character, and Batman’s use of his identity, is part of the New 52). Despite the promise the issue will have big revelations about Carrie Kelley (which I believe I’ve already guessed) the character fails to make even a cameo here. Given the false advertising and confusing storytelling this one is very much Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $3.99]

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Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #1

/ / Comics

Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #1Okay, there are two things you should know about me before we begin. 1) I love me some classic Batman. And 2) I love me some classic Scooby-Doo. What happens when you throw these two things together for the first issue of Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #1? You get the most fun Batman comic I’ve read in more than two years!

While checking out rumors of an man-sized bat-creature in the area, Scooby-Doo and Mystery, Inc. run into Batman and Robin who are chasing down scientist Kurt Langstrom who has transformed into Man-Bat. Fans of Scooby-Doo Meets Batman will enjoy the lighthearted tone and fun of the all-age comic that delivers plenty of action as the Scooby Gang help the Dynamic Duo take down a group of masked robbers as well as the creature himself. And I can’t tell you how much I love seeing Batman back in his classic costume (although with better art than in those Scooby episodes).

Both young and old fans should find something worth picking up here in a comic I couldn’t help but smile through as I turned every single page. Best of the Week.

[DC, $2.99]

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