tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89755527291026076362024-02-20T02:36:48.081-08:00Batman Comics GeekOne very enthusiastic geek's crusade to write reviews on everything Batman in comics as well as for other mediaFrankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.comBlogger334125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-5470249170138091962022-06-08T04:50:00.002-07:002022-06-08T04:50:34.310-07:00Detective Comics issue #998-999 by Peter J. Tomasi<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSEeVJQb2rM0Gs8NM8VQ16NDPJdMQJ3ySb9Lz3CpnIzAN4VlRflfqT1OOzWJ3MmjphVLm2TRj_wGk8rycsQwr_C9L4zQj3qzh1BtPJBq-kBrNzOC_Bm6zX-DUplceeCkN_DTjMNghcJIwCvacjxcsPJkc8U8j7UebV-l8C3w3lIBklPOZIbrKqYLK/s730/998.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="475" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSEeVJQb2rM0Gs8NM8VQ16NDPJdMQJ3ySb9Lz3CpnIzAN4VlRflfqT1OOzWJ3MmjphVLm2TRj_wGk8rycsQwr_C9L4zQj3qzh1BtPJBq-kBrNzOC_Bm6zX-DUplceeCkN_DTjMNghcJIwCvacjxcsPJkc8U8j7UebV-l8C3w3lIBklPOZIbrKqYLK/w416-h640/998.jpg" width="416" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ32W9sQK-7_m0kjhhBWYVRkNmPX864revHtxB0X01EBDfz534gJ1ACWp6mrdQXCVQekQsBN46oH_9To9OFYa62xalO6MHSTyJaDPfWcIKDdpJAo2Sa1T41ee2X1TmX0p5VHWOTQNw2c_1q2RjpYm18q7LGzdvP-8xrYoYinTgSz0ejuvHO3HvAB80/s720/999.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ32W9sQK-7_m0kjhhBWYVRkNmPX864revHtxB0X01EBDfz534gJ1ACWp6mrdQXCVQekQsBN46oH_9To9OFYa62xalO6MHSTyJaDPfWcIKDdpJAo2Sa1T41ee2X1TmX0p5VHWOTQNw2c_1q2RjpYm18q7LGzdvP-8xrYoYinTgSz0ejuvHO3HvAB80/w420-h640/999.jpg" width="420" /></a></div></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm once again combining a single review for two issues which are the penultimate and finale. That's mostly because I have less to say about each, and given that my long absence (in spite of the fact I did read and review <b><i><a href="http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Batman%20Who%20Laughs" target="_blank">The Batman Who Laughs</a></i></b> last year at least) had kept my writing muscles atrophied when it came to comic books, I want to slowly build my way into budgeting my tim better so I can get used to reading comics once AND ALSO writing reviews. I mean, I still read comics during my three-year hiatus; I just wasn't sharing my insights and thoughts as religiously as I used to do when I created this blog (and two more others for X-Men and Hellblazer).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A recap: Batman stumbled upon a series of crime scenes that featured corpses that imitate murder of his parents from the clothes they wore down to the grisly details like matching gunshot wounds. As he and Commissioner Gordon tried to make sense of this, he gets a call from Dr. Leslie Thompkins who was used as bait by a morphing monstrosity that shot her withthe Joker's laughing has. She expired several minutes later even after an antidote was administered. Alfred, too, got stabbed a moment later when he answered the door. He described his attacker as 'Zorro'. Naturally, Batman deduced it could have been Henry Ducard, one of his former mentors who happened to be a criminal and a master of disguise. The same monstrosity came to kill Ducard, all while wearing the faces of the infamous Rogue's Gallery, every villain that Batman defeated and put in Arkham Asylum--some of whom he recently took his anger on after he lost Leslie and almost Alfred (thankfully Damian, Bruce's son, came around to help). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By the time Batman encountered another former teacher, Thaddeus Brown (a.k.a Mister Miracle), his suspicions were confirmed that this creature seems to be interested in harming people who had trained him. I, too, was already suspecting something longer before I reached the last two issues. The fifth installment featured Dr. Hugo Strange, </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Demon Etrigan, and Dr. Silas Stone, and that's why it's such a clunky issue for me overall. The panels are quite busy. Mahnke and co. are working overtime here!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhlqlT5GGdksqbnae7h09XkNwDNF4jZ-yLfT2z3g_QiL4rn2k7hs2U6CVTWRQHCPYf0VN3663WSw8NweZygn4wOcG1JPVdcyJX8iAAaFmmOmXvNV4GFxl8gHcK-DKqfx27J5cv8qNLaqP233fGd7HXz5WwBxtfBOyyc1MDp3L0rf4ZRRia6lbx13P/s720/obs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhlqlT5GGdksqbnae7h09XkNwDNF4jZ-yLfT2z3g_QiL4rn2k7hs2U6CVTWRQHCPYf0VN3663WSw8NweZygn4wOcG1JPVdcyJX8iAAaFmmOmXvNV4GFxl8gHcK-DKqfx27J5cv8qNLaqP233fGd7HXz5WwBxtfBOyyc1MDp3L0rf4ZRRia6lbx13P/s16000/obs.png" /></a></div><p style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't want to get to it because during my first reading, I got lost halfway and even somewhat bored after page after page of fight scenes that sidelined actual storytelling. My second time reading it? I understood it much better but I was also underwhelmed and unimpressed. I suddenly ot flashbacks of </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">PEARL</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> which was the only lackluster arc Tomasi had written in New 52 for B&R. Much like for that, this </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Mythology</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> storyline was beginning to lose me, which defeats the purpose of a penultimate!</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here's the only bright spot amongst the incoherence: a callback to the Hellbat and its history!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOUZuKIdhoJ4wQzkge2UCIVG1hY4KtHKQEIAaqWyqnzi2_A7CJlQD5grWTmSxysJrPvwJb6FZlC_IBWCNdoVBFWEXesIxKk0vnMdxL2UJ21l-7cxky_hbbvi-Xco_887ukx9DKPnRsliOowzuNbBubfvZjDrLQ-TVNHFFfg4-blO8RrJfD99Vd78X/s859/998-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="557" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOUZuKIdhoJ4wQzkge2UCIVG1hY4KtHKQEIAaqWyqnzi2_A7CJlQD5grWTmSxysJrPvwJb6FZlC_IBWCNdoVBFWEXesIxKk0vnMdxL2UJ21l-7cxky_hbbvi-Xco_887ukx9DKPnRsliOowzuNbBubfvZjDrLQ-TVNHFFfg4-blO8RrJfD99Vd78X/w414-h640/998-1.jpg" width="414" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0ofztF5hA_EO_1WquZoWNm5sgghVcq2l90TeGM6CiwjP3tXV-r-s9idFh5ZGteZ8xle02-3Ry-OOYSg_PYIWauo_CSqf19xClwM1Q_GzRmLerzKzyI4emxqYrAGrt1u3lnNtNz3Po-rs1YUdzCduTE8dTEbmNOSe-8SjDoXIh9AWYEzRXEjHJgze/s853/998-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="558" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0ofztF5hA_EO_1WquZoWNm5sgghVcq2l90TeGM6CiwjP3tXV-r-s9idFh5ZGteZ8xle02-3Ry-OOYSg_PYIWauo_CSqf19xClwM1Q_GzRmLerzKzyI4emxqYrAGrt1u3lnNtNz3Po-rs1YUdzCduTE8dTEbmNOSe-8SjDoXIh9AWYEzRXEjHJgze/w418-h640/998-2.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>RECOMMENDED: 7/10</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwDanLi7U1ViibPuyDhfBn4yL2QJu6hfV5rw4kLyAzK4roU_Y3vot0bsPsnYniiFtlgo9M8w-tMF50QUA8fdlP0b12G8H7qeRWPXwPuSthMPn7u9f2-VM34IQxRNbt03m2uOiXRXjfCk/s1600/3.5stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwDanLi7U1ViibPuyDhfBn4yL2QJu6hfV5rw4kLyAzK4roU_Y3vot0bsPsnYniiFtlgo9M8w-tMF50QUA8fdlP0b12G8H7qeRWPXwPuSthMPn7u9f2-VM34IQxRNbt03m2uOiXRXjfCk/s1600/3.5stars.png" /></a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The finale was...a bit of a letdown only if you, as a reader, may have already guessed what the heck was going on all along. I may have my suspicions, but I was also hoping they'll be disproved. Sadly, they weren't. </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Apparently, Bruce subjects himself to a psychological nightmare sequence for EVERY BIRTHDAY of his. And this is what it looks like; his loved ones dying over and over again so he could face the sacrifice he has to make to become the Dark Knight. Really, though.<i> Every. Birthday. </i>And people used to wonder why they cast Robert Pattinson in the role for the latest Bat-flick, when the original emo heartthrob vampire was not Edward Cullen but Bruce Wayne. That scene where he buries young Bruce in order to become Batman was bad enough, but really? EVERY BIRTHDAY, BRUCEY? It doesn't nearly resonate</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">, something I wouldn't expect from Tomasi, but even the seasoned Scott Snyder has his duds (TBWL being the latest one, in my opinion). What I can say about the closing chapter was that it provided us with very great scenes that involved Batman being confronted by his child-self. A tiny Bruce in Batman costume? It's cute and freaky all at once! I also like these particular pages below (and the one at the cemetery which I didn't bother to screenshot. Those were bittersweet</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> panels if not morose).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNq5vGlGBIa3X0_C7ed3YzTzfVDOm2VYVi-pqp245ZtCiZdfvTwmqLV8HvmvoSC_LGq2cPorTiCzxjcHtMiwL0BQS30Q4EACGtANpJvHl3oryr4647YNBN6JmVCzoLwxk39rDUirFBU-aVBF1zf4UoE7J_YTuGI6PZ_HIRvItoYsEKkd9G7EXz2gxi/s1210/999-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNq5vGlGBIa3X0_C7ed3YzTzfVDOm2VYVi-pqp245ZtCiZdfvTwmqLV8HvmvoSC_LGq2cPorTiCzxjcHtMiwL0BQS30Q4EACGtANpJvHl3oryr4647YNBN6JmVCzoLwxk39rDUirFBU-aVBF1zf4UoE7J_YTuGI6PZ_HIRvItoYsEKkd9G7EXz2gxi/s16000/999-1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgl-XdADZ1A5DJtq9rws90YBrCs_4xbN37eurwTUfESWHZzMfQZpEQN2CsHQ0SuDwvBi_leeAFKbDpAvd_jJiVZ9rMFD3DGYNFomoTnywsDkwYIg8rgzIl33W4LLxMOfZ_g4uvA1Laf3t0Xv85NTFr2Rb5mKX32tcR6Qhn0WW-gga-zf40QO8UnfR7/s1214/999-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1214" data-original-width="791" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgl-XdADZ1A5DJtq9rws90YBrCs_4xbN37eurwTUfESWHZzMfQZpEQN2CsHQ0SuDwvBi_leeAFKbDpAvd_jJiVZ9rMFD3DGYNFomoTnywsDkwYIg8rgzIl33W4LLxMOfZ_g4uvA1Laf3t0Xv85NTFr2Rb5mKX32tcR6Qhn0WW-gga-zf40QO8UnfR7/s16000/999-2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75nklK5nKACKe551w-P_Gc7kg2EHjMF6btM40LrcXqqVvGHpra0ZZ_GnJoAJvYogqe6DGg24kr0rxgzIp8TNlKsbGJxJwTaQT4ltn4-EUjtosNIoCC81yYdK-ARXMIrQLOHtQcD7YKSbonQggVuQK2OfHCcQFB1Fh_Lekn_I83zldQyZuwo-8xFF9/s1218/999-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="796" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75nklK5nKACKe551w-P_Gc7kg2EHjMF6btM40LrcXqqVvGHpra0ZZ_GnJoAJvYogqe6DGg24kr0rxgzIp8TNlKsbGJxJwTaQT4ltn4-EUjtosNIoCC81yYdK-ARXMIrQLOHtQcD7YKSbonQggVuQK2OfHCcQFB1Fh_Lekn_I83zldQyZuwo-8xFF9/s16000/999-3.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't have anything else to say, really, except that even though the first two issues and the fourth had been great in building up the suspense and giving us some dark camp, the entire <i>Mythology</i> was simply not going to Peter J. Tomasi's finest work. I'm not even excited for the #1000 issue of <i>Detective Comics, </i>but you know, I'll be an optimist. It could get better. It has to!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>RECOMMENDED: 7/10</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwDanLi7U1ViibPuyDhfBn4yL2QJu6hfV5rw4kLyAzK4roU_Y3vot0bsPsnYniiFtlgo9M8w-tMF50QUA8fdlP0b12G8H7qeRWPXwPuSthMPn7u9f2-VM34IQxRNbt03m2uOiXRXjfCk/s1600/3.5stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwDanLi7U1ViibPuyDhfBn4yL2QJu6hfV5rw4kLyAzK4roU_Y3vot0bsPsnYniiFtlgo9M8w-tMF50QUA8fdlP0b12G8H7qeRWPXwPuSthMPn7u9f2-VM34IQxRNbt03m2uOiXRXjfCk/s1600/3.5stars.png" /></a></span></span></p>Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-59618526374282871052022-06-08T04:01:00.003-07:002022-06-08T04:01:17.880-07:00Detective Comics issue #997 by Peter J. Tomasi<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWyw_8Evf7LdkTChlZJqpJxc6dwAkhsu73sN5NWWk2DKrt_553F2KYGmPo97J0Qtchd6ombmZVcOlmyXFlEFdciDSa3zXNbe_BWq3RjTMYc3V14z77APHvzLUBLTkckZu9gefuG8v_FV9SR5dGdwpLr_163EwCTnRkTpQC0u0KnQlLGfuYwClPih3/s732/997.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWyw_8Evf7LdkTChlZJqpJxc6dwAkhsu73sN5NWWk2DKrt_553F2KYGmPo97J0Qtchd6ombmZVcOlmyXFlEFdciDSa3zXNbe_BWq3RjTMYc3V14z77APHvzLUBLTkckZu9gefuG8v_FV9SR5dGdwpLr_163EwCTnRkTpQC0u0KnQlLGfuYwClPih3/s16000/997.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Since the last issue wasn't anything worth writing home about, I was glad it was remedied by this one, my most favorite installment of the <i>Mythology arc</i> mainly of two things, which I will discuss henceforth below. But first, let me try and tackle the art first since I don't think I've dwelt on Doug Mahnke's work that much.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I don't want to make unfair comparisons between him and Patrick Gleason, who was Tomasi's partner during the<i> Batman and Robin </i>run for New 52. The styles were so inherently different anyway. Also, what I noticed more for this fourth installment was the great detail in the art , credited to Mahnke and co. And oh boy, were there great scenes that occurred here, and they've been made visually striking, which is a credit to the main artist for delivering.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To recap: After Batsy's run-in with former mentor Herny Ducard, he began to notice a pattern, which was the fact that someone (or something) had been targeting men and women who acted as his teachers or even surrogate parents much like Leslie and Alfred. Naturally, my mind went to Ra's Al Ghul, so imagine my pleasant surprise when they brought in THADDEUS BROWN instead, also known as MISTER MIRACLE. This is a very obscure piece of fanlore that I only recalled because I'm still in the middle of reading the awesome <i>Mister Miracle </i>(2018) graphic novel which was, coincidentally, written by Tom King himself (Rebirth's writer for the flagship Batman title). I was already eating it up!<br /><br />When you're a Batman writer, you need to take bigger risks like the Dark Knight, including the misses more than the hits. This, to me, was one of the most awesome hits!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, his Prime Earth version was said to have "educated a young Bruce Wayne in the art of escape". Hence that glaring cover! To keep up with the parallelism, Tomasi had Batsy and Thads chained underwater and surrounded by sharks. If it wasn't for the serious tone of the entire ordeal, this could have easily been featured in Adam West's Batman 66 show or comic! It was pretty funny as it is gruesome!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All I could think about during this scene was, 'Am I really just reading Batman surrounded by piranhas feasting on sharks and he uses a chunk of the shark meat to slide down the chain fastened around his ankle so that the carnivorous fish can chew around the leather strap? Right before Mister Miracle chewed on that strap too?' which was followed by a bemused, 'Why, yes, I am.'</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d_me8qpuchDXUz2RfuV7jOV6MPjYGLKujelYaNjagcGTiMRtAVD5_HVKCDo_H1aHACjrW9zlyk2EGCtHKRSAk2UDyvvSuJLMcjhrfhlYjtNMPEQt6zp--39y87x3bTc6PSKORQPq9abGAPRus6-Rsbz4J0YJfSNM2CyLPqKqAZa7Npa4aT_I5hod/s850/997-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="560" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d_me8qpuchDXUz2RfuV7jOV6MPjYGLKujelYaNjagcGTiMRtAVD5_HVKCDo_H1aHACjrW9zlyk2EGCtHKRSAk2UDyvvSuJLMcjhrfhlYjtNMPEQt6zp--39y87x3bTc6PSKORQPq9abGAPRus6-Rsbz4J0YJfSNM2CyLPqKqAZa7Npa4aT_I5hod/w422-h640/997-1.jpg" width="422" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbMFMMC-QrF8Q8BkfIsF4UIOYClu9iWqVxYVrlnHsL1TYOkPQxOmE1NdPgXrLLxwlII_fxaWnVaerkHme17A82wWbuJQbtFM9lm596NfN9l9xQaJ-_2SWcD0q47F13iLBp-imF0S9mbEb5DnyfTS_3u9ZiCuOwSeuXlcQlEjybuQiJqFSiiYWmRrf/s847/997-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="558" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbMFMMC-QrF8Q8BkfIsF4UIOYClu9iWqVxYVrlnHsL1TYOkPQxOmE1NdPgXrLLxwlII_fxaWnVaerkHme17A82wWbuJQbtFM9lm596NfN9l9xQaJ-_2SWcD0q47F13iLBp-imF0S9mbEb5DnyfTS_3u9ZiCuOwSeuXlcQlEjybuQiJqFSiiYWmRrf/w422-h640/997-2.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The second thing that made this issue my favorite was the appearance of that morphing monstrosity (I'm just gonna call him MoMo as my personal shorthand from now on). Unlike in the last issue, it didn't just try to kick Batman's ass, MoMo decided to get even further metaphorical by shapeshifting into the Waynes and the rest of the Bat-family. Because, again, it's fuck-you-Bruce all the day, all night for this particular arc, and I guess that's why it's called <i>Mythology. </i>It revisits what makes Batman himself through a nightmare.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKO5VYL49mIubjNPb9dVt6nepw1-FqvOPN4OfttSuBYf-SBjFkhi5aaGO03wJmFxhyW_Uiu-Amy1c-Bpy1_dVqEPRdzlUFDUoo5ld7AUzY70Qa7tgeIbNrEiJL0usz27wRJspfF1bGAYIXcXx3W98Uw7r08p_TDq3We8KUJlHRbkCSqBU_mc2YcAMe/s847/997-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="556" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKO5VYL49mIubjNPb9dVt6nepw1-FqvOPN4OfttSuBYf-SBjFkhi5aaGO03wJmFxhyW_Uiu-Amy1c-Bpy1_dVqEPRdzlUFDUoo5ld7AUzY70Qa7tgeIbNrEiJL0usz27wRJspfF1bGAYIXcXx3W98Uw7r08p_TDq3We8KUJlHRbkCSqBU_mc2YcAMe/w420-h640/997-3.jpg" width="420" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nUkfx-rx1UI0AAQdXN06n_fELyt33HboPbsul-W_2tGojfEKkoYaIXgGOwS9wsTliqLyLICRCLgK4edJY1jz-zqJRNN_c830RWX57EH081JgjTcDgjJkr2GaaS3QQZxy5IC6PRaMlQlFWr63pN7kMyzTWXZuS3JmwCmVvxkZhQQzCWeeODXRZPUp/s869/997-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="559" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nUkfx-rx1UI0AAQdXN06n_fELyt33HboPbsul-W_2tGojfEKkoYaIXgGOwS9wsTliqLyLICRCLgK4edJY1jz-zqJRNN_c830RWX57EH081JgjTcDgjJkr2GaaS3QQZxy5IC6PRaMlQlFWr63pN7kMyzTWXZuS3JmwCmVvxkZhQQzCWeeODXRZPUp/w412-h640/997-4.jpg" width="412" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am rating the highest because it's my favorite of all, so there's nothing objective about that!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>RECOMMENDED: 9/10</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWo0LBRpO8pUdyIUSMqI5p5ildUJd8mzXar6GXOOJAIfisAQDNaWloDKM88uMdzJTay57n0fgXeTQDhj3GRIxIbgCR0Ab38JjnRZmmPyp251DuoO8AvWc57cEnZ5ZZCWOb6ND2pVX44Q/s274/4.5stars.png" style="color: #e06666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="274" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWo0LBRpO8pUdyIUSMqI5p5ildUJd8mzXar6GXOOJAIfisAQDNaWloDKM88uMdzJTay57n0fgXeTQDhj3GRIxIbgCR0Ab38JjnRZmmPyp251DuoO8AvWc57cEnZ5ZZCWOb6ND2pVX44Q/s0/4.5stars.png" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="274" /></a></div><b><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Hanuman; font-size: 15.84px; text-align: center;" /></b></div></span><p></p>Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-31913982183241241002022-06-08T02:56:00.001-07:002022-06-08T02:56:15.859-07:00Detective Comics issue #996 by Peter J. Tomasi <span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcr5OdCDS3NGyQaxpt58t2M3esDVnYwY_DGhhS54LcN7NVfCwVqAdYqKfAgx28bodVI9OK5LvYKtBM9O9wsDhYBYgJi92i08fEyYvJqq5opBqtAzYAFXX55RaTYphUnR3WHHCcUj-kunyNgVXGQzE-o_7A7_4FGYEAQOtou4_w3uWzjsJcx9CuzhcG/s734/996.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcr5OdCDS3NGyQaxpt58t2M3esDVnYwY_DGhhS54LcN7NVfCwVqAdYqKfAgx28bodVI9OK5LvYKtBM9O9wsDhYBYgJi92i08fEyYvJqq5opBqtAzYAFXX55RaTYphUnR3WHHCcUj-kunyNgVXGQzE-o_7A7_4FGYEAQOtou4_w3uWzjsJcx9CuzhcG/s16000/996.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p style="text-align: justify;">It just wouldn't be <i>Detective Comics</i> without Batman being a detective, and this third installment showcases exactly that. I don't really have anything much to say for this issue because I think of all six, I liked this the least, mostly because after the fast-paced excitement of the first two issues, this one slows down the momentum to set up necessary exposition again. Not that Tomasi didn't try to expidite the process by breezing through a couple pages of Batman, in several disguises, traveling Europe until he finds the man he'd been looking for.</p></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And that man is no other than Henry Ducard. </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Because it's been so long, I barely even recall what more recent confrontation he had with Bruce until 'NoBody' was mentioned. That character was created during the initial run of Tomasi's Batman and Robin where Damian Wayne is the fourth Robin and also Bruce's son. It was definitely a callback that I can appreciate even though that particular wasn't the best Tomasi had to offer back then (that will come later on once he's polished his interpretation of Damian further and built up the father-son relationship more). So, to recap, Henry Ducard, according to online sources, '<i>is often credited in teaching him both detective/investigation skills and how to hunt enemies. Ducard's relationship with Wayne is often shown as strained, due to him being involved in the criminal underworld</i>'.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Batman thought of him as the primary suspect after he got Damian to come so he can operate on Alfred. Damian is apparently still a pre-teen boy? I thought he at least reached his late teens, but then again Rebirth is like New 52 in a sense that it restarted stuff in canon again, so whatevs. Apparently too, Damian and Bruce aren't in the best of terms lately because of some issue I never got to read about because of my three-year hiatus after 2017, but it doesn't matter. Right now Batman is looking for Ducard because he has the most motive. OR DOES HE?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As if to blatantly disprove this theory, the morphing monstrosity from the first issue comes back, and this time it became a hydra of many heads, only that each head corresponds to the face of the villains Batman has fought in his Rogue's Gallery, including the ones he just beat up in the beginning of this issue. At this point, I'm getting suspicious that this might all be metaphorical. Oh, and it also killed Ducard, and with his dying breath, Ducard was like, "Yo, I'ma die on you out of spite especially cos you killed my son too!" </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That was pretty much it. In comparison to the first two, this was a bland monthly release. Even with the Damian cameo.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>RECOMMENDED: 7/10</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwDanLi7U1ViibPuyDhfBn4yL2QJu6hfV5rw4kLyAzK4roU_Y3vot0bsPsnYniiFtlgo9M8w-tMF50QUA8fdlP0b12G8H7qeRWPXwPuSthMPn7u9f2-VM34IQxRNbt03m2uOiXRXjfCk/s1600/3.5stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwDanLi7U1ViibPuyDhfBn4yL2QJu6hfV5rw4kLyAzK4roU_Y3vot0bsPsnYniiFtlgo9M8w-tMF50QUA8fdlP0b12G8H7qeRWPXwPuSthMPn7u9f2-VM34IQxRNbt03m2uOiXRXjfCk/s1600/3.5stars.png" /></a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p>Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-44456390470599055642022-06-08T01:51:00.003-07:002022-06-08T02:01:59.641-07:00Detective Comics issue #995 by Peter J. Tomasi <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fk6J3yJ5gxfHGOHR0XnHBtI0nC2RW1Za3J0NL_ws245SPaGbEN4B_slyXocCLPyaJkIo5-R6aFZV72_IZsK4aLL_dB1uEguCoHivaA2kYktivvU_WFFf2_uuFhmPVvGo4Xy-ac82GzhvaqpPmeoqq1bZtb7jpsUio8G5ejpncIWbdj7JfUAVazLq/s772/issue%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fk6J3yJ5gxfHGOHR0XnHBtI0nC2RW1Za3J0NL_ws245SPaGbEN4B_slyXocCLPyaJkIo5-R6aFZV72_IZsK4aLL_dB1uEguCoHivaA2kYktivvU_WFFf2_uuFhmPVvGo4Xy-ac82GzhvaqpPmeoqq1bZtb7jpsUio8G5ejpncIWbdj7JfUAVazLq/s16000/issue%203.jpg" /></a></div><span style="text-align: justify;">Batman thought that the most haunting call he's gotten tonight was when Commissioner Gordon asked him to check a crime scene where uncannily accurate copycat versions of his parents' corpses were left inside a water tank for display. However, it got worse when a close associate, Dr. Leslie Thompkins, called him while she's under attack by a creature that seemed to be using her as bait to draw him out. Shit hit the fan when she got shot by the Joker's laughing gas. </span><span>Desperate, Batman calls Alfred so his trusted butler can get the antidote ready by the time he reaches the Wayne Mansion to save the woman who had saved his life as a child long ago. And that's where we pick up for the second issue.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p style="text-align: justify;">There isn't much that happens to this issue as far as action is concerned. And by action, I meant the usual fodder of Batman kicking ass. We got plenty of that from last issue. However, what makes this installment a compelling one nevertheless was how it tackled Bruce Wayne's relationship with the good doctor herself. While using the trope in which a soon-to-expire character started frantically monologuing as she fights to stay conscious and alive, Leslie tries to reassure the scared little boy she knew so well that's concealed by that mask he wore as the Dark Knight. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I also thought it was pretty creepy seeing her with 'Joker face' the entire time, wheezing with laughter, all while delivering dramatic statements about how proud she was of Bruce and not just because of his work as Batman. It's downright cruelly ironic in a sense that the woman who became a second mother to Bruce wore the face of his arch-nemesis, the Clown Prince of Crime. I couldn't think of anything more sadly fatal than that. It's like being traumatized all over again.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There was also a beautiful sequence later on that was drawn as a two-paged spread in the issue in which Bruce tries to revive Leslie, and we get fragments of shared memories between them going as far back as his childhood, when Leslie tried to help him mend what could have stayed broken inside the young Bruce forever but didn't, because she came to his life. This kind of earnest emotional aspect to Tomasi's writing is very familiar to me. It was the reason his 40-issue run for <b><a href="http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/search/label/tomasi%20batman%20and%20robin" target="_blank"><i>Batman and Robin</i> </a></b>made me such a huge, raging, bawl-my-eyes-out fan.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_NbO7ldjXQR8O11Njn-gKDkRWU_tQWY7C6blF6V6UUnNWCJ2QSlAxFt2TYZB-YPsnEYNuuOX7c6a4yKkAVjtjhNtr9rPvPqKyv940ujd0fWkJI4O_txEnxJ5ybxBOGDtEvbB_2WzdRMlaVmLYyfwgEgidzsRxiuEUcGOljKz7FPCXmSieWxYF4Ok/s735/FUpWX_9VUAAgqLR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="479" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_NbO7ldjXQR8O11Njn-gKDkRWU_tQWY7C6blF6V6UUnNWCJ2QSlAxFt2TYZB-YPsnEYNuuOX7c6a4yKkAVjtjhNtr9rPvPqKyv940ujd0fWkJI4O_txEnxJ5ybxBOGDtEvbB_2WzdRMlaVmLYyfwgEgidzsRxiuEUcGOljKz7FPCXmSieWxYF4Ok/w418-h640/FUpWX_9VUAAgqLR.jpg" width="418" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgLk-Kx9i8COorD8UrIhgBu85aE6A4CqfM5LyGCLdsvWY8sacX9ozQnstS7_PBqnVg7MZsmUf_YGEBofAuSa7SR_ej-H0TpMIx6hnSOW3u2X-DQZjrrrB-M-qr09G_npObuJibfB15M5SgX7jeXHAkxHRxaldsfRENTkLnoF1J9osx4nmH07N7D-w/s731/FUpWY0-UUAAd5Nt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="479" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgLk-Kx9i8COorD8UrIhgBu85aE6A4CqfM5LyGCLdsvWY8sacX9ozQnstS7_PBqnVg7MZsmUf_YGEBofAuSa7SR_ej-H0TpMIx6hnSOW3u2X-DQZjrrrB-M-qr09G_npObuJibfB15M5SgX7jeXHAkxHRxaldsfRENTkLnoF1J9osx4nmH07N7D-w/w420-h640/FUpWY0-UUAAd5Nt.jpg" width="420" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirc5MlKvLLoMzlbX3OJ5jEyscGCZRB47-NmQbjlLQiQI_-LUIEf7nPKnRmHSbu1SwVgfKfXCJlaoYRrX29yoMfhaR_EQ7aZuUDlBge5HE9XZ8_xHj1k6PUXIpLMZR1Opth_28-qvAXFlj2i387peZQx8h-yBXDiPuYcGSXRqrC_SCzov4W4yYvOprC/s798/FUpWZ4IUYAAO56m.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="798" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirc5MlKvLLoMzlbX3OJ5jEyscGCZRB47-NmQbjlLQiQI_-LUIEf7nPKnRmHSbu1SwVgfKfXCJlaoYRrX29yoMfhaR_EQ7aZuUDlBge5HE9XZ8_xHj1k6PUXIpLMZR1Opth_28-qvAXFlj2i387peZQx8h-yBXDiPuYcGSXRqrC_SCzov4W4yYvOprC/s16000/FUpWZ4IUYAAO56m.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Of course, since this is Batman we're talking about here, he hasn't even caught his breath and properly grieve Leslie's passing before Alfred is getting stabbed in another scene after he answered the door to what he believed was supposed to be Commissioner Gordon. But no...it was...<i>Zorro</i>? Because, fuck you, Bruce, that's why. As any Bat-fan knows, the Waynes went to see THE MARK OF ZORRO on the night the parents were gunned down. In and out of comics, Zorro or his archetype did inspire the creation of Batman.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I think the issue's end is the best yet for this arc, which isn't really saying anything. Fueled by grief and rage after losing Leslie and almost losing Alfred, Batman goes to Arkham Asylum to meet his old friends and rehash the past: <b><i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;">"I want you all to think this place as like a carnival of funhouse tonight, except the only monster in here with you IS ME."</span></i></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaNRWafLoKvG9NscdxnqcyrMlU5LGYH_xf4Vl7LNkVaPSOYuKlOQUnvx56dJ1YRXRwmjPYD5W8O5vsLc3uEfgHlLh7jRBkQeGD3WwiEhkf0bDrgOTNG2PGWYrTkvAyveDDpIw81hN2SeTiVYUMJE-cUwdZVhyirhXsXkz34pruMm7LdMkU7x4tWep/s594/FUpWc27VEAA90LM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="397" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaNRWafLoKvG9NscdxnqcyrMlU5LGYH_xf4Vl7LNkVaPSOYuKlOQUnvx56dJ1YRXRwmjPYD5W8O5vsLc3uEfgHlLh7jRBkQeGD3WwiEhkf0bDrgOTNG2PGWYrTkvAyveDDpIw81hN2SeTiVYUMJE-cUwdZVhyirhXsXkz34pruMm7LdMkU7x4tWep/w268-h400/FUpWc27VEAA90LM.jpg" width="268" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7hERuCWyO9qaemkYTExik2lTsHCHP53SlrfsWV3HoraYYpSPWZtBgnOcZZSMUEMDHTGdArrJxE5GDYs1HBbcjDcut2Pw1kNhmu5krJibUqkZvFdMPciwwlFdL2UCuAob-SqfKXCkUPYGGm9xHggYZxj8XqrI6zTN6IlnX9u--Qdoya7prOD53ebT/s622/FUpWdisVUAECjuT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="397" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7hERuCWyO9qaemkYTExik2lTsHCHP53SlrfsWV3HoraYYpSPWZtBgnOcZZSMUEMDHTGdArrJxE5GDYs1HBbcjDcut2Pw1kNhmu5krJibUqkZvFdMPciwwlFdL2UCuAob-SqfKXCkUPYGGm9xHggYZxj8XqrI6zTN6IlnX9u--Qdoya7prOD53ebT/w255-h400/FUpWdisVUAECjuT.jpg" width="255" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnM_-tMRhxBQhpqqOrcniVYTejre92wuYpT7oONqK740Kct8BewEtcyLM_GuLOWkeXvsHQssDjhBIi28rQCD0W0VMXUfNrhYizDonY9baRvdPTS5XhnDjFJd4QLCZPZ7zq5TZphmWib33JVm8qslVTT1BdBzNRmIPbzVANse8jHuVvD9fmkyLKmVnO/s640/FUpWeNkUAAA0AdP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnM_-tMRhxBQhpqqOrcniVYTejre92wuYpT7oONqK740Kct8BewEtcyLM_GuLOWkeXvsHQssDjhBIi28rQCD0W0VMXUfNrhYizDonY9baRvdPTS5XhnDjFJd4QLCZPZ7zq5TZphmWib33JVm8qslVTT1BdBzNRmIPbzVANse8jHuVvD9fmkyLKmVnO/w250-h400/FUpWeNkUAAA0AdP.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>RECOMMENDED: 8/10</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VGtwcTkAcJu7MAtsCsxb7I44tA2z4iVkG7h8lvX7Igh-no6lIddWMuWuRN-4pW_eDdUlgICWIUIc-XssUMFpU2rxG-ftGjWeuPUic-2DgxEbjpkqSKA71AmMXwGSV8uuFecDTdppQuw/s233/4stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="50" data-original-width="233" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VGtwcTkAcJu7MAtsCsxb7I44tA2z4iVkG7h8lvX7Igh-no6lIddWMuWuRN-4pW_eDdUlgICWIUIc-XssUMFpU2rxG-ftGjWeuPUic-2DgxEbjpkqSKA71AmMXwGSV8uuFecDTdppQuw/s0/4stars.png" width="233" /></span></a></b></div><div><br /></div><b></b></span></div></span><p></p>Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-33060682585106921732022-06-07T23:38:00.001-07:002022-06-07T23:38:17.622-07:00Detective Comics issue #994 by Peter J. Tomasi <div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vKCpeDjqczbnseLy_BepazNVkSKqvraN7C16O591myLIILDfWJSnSUDS8Me1j41Ji0R1j6htQKeYxYi3PiNA5Jhz7w1bdp_ZiGKDLDZwvaGU9BU16C25EUD6y6KSvkVryBaWR-myrKnm4sIBaGJsxakvaJFl_W1VfX-hBQFxldrpzD6JIxo8QN1G/s728/FUpWRASUcAIk7L2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: helvetica; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vKCpeDjqczbnseLy_BepazNVkSKqvraN7C16O591myLIILDfWJSnSUDS8Me1j41Ji0R1j6htQKeYxYi3PiNA5Jhz7w1bdp_ZiGKDLDZwvaGU9BU16C25EUD6y6KSvkVryBaWR-myrKnm4sIBaGJsxakvaJFl_W1VfX-hBQFxldrpzD6JIxo8QN1G/s16000/FUpWRASUcAIk7L2.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I have been a fan of most of Peter J. Tomasi's work, particularly of his New 52 BATMAN AND ROBIN run. Granted, it's been YEARS since I followed the current line-up of DC's REBIRTH save for that <a href="http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Batman%20Who%20Laughs" target="_blank">seven-issue oneshot Scott Snyder did</a> that wasn't compliant to the canon at the moment. This is why I think it's only right to come back to my readings by selecting the Bat-writer I have the most interest in, a sort of relearning the ropes. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><br />The thing about Batman comics is that there's an overwhelming amount of shit to read, but like with most long-running series especially in the comics medium, the best thing to do is to pick an era and stick with it. That's what I did with New 52 even if I was solely following Bat-related stories and not the entire DC lineup (unless to contextualize crossover events; but even then I merely just do minimal research). </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><br />I disclose this because reading the first six issues of this MYTHOLOGY arc for </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Detective Comics</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> meant there were a few head-scratching instances because I cannot recall a certain callback to a previous storyline that had been covered before. However, it's a good thing I have this blog because Tomasi actually pulled from his own canon from BATMAN AND ROBIN that happened to have been influenced by Grant Morrison's BATMAN INCORPORATED events as well. One of these days, I'll read my reviews so I can refresh my memory. In the meantime, let's contend with my initial assessment for the debut issue of Tomasi's Detective Comics arc called '<i>Mythology</i>'.<br /><br />Everyone grew up with Batman; the post-millennials may had been the last batch who were aware about the 'mythology' of this superhero, and that knowledge was mostly derived from the DCEU films, if not the Nolan trilogy. So we can all collectively say that Batman's origin story of trauma and trying to cope/rise above it by becoming a vigilante had been done <i>to death</i> already. And that's the task Tomasi decided to tackle here; how do you make something as common knowledge as the recipe for, I don't know, <i>casserole</i>, and mix it up so it can be made fresh for not just new readers who will pick up <i>Detective Comics</i> for the first time ever, but to the devoted fanbase who have close to twenty or more years of reading Batman? The answer, apparently, was something <i>macabre</i>.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">(Oh, and it's worth noting that this Bat-title has now been numbered according to how many issues there have been from the beginning of its publication, hence why this is #994. I think it's actually pretty cool. I'm not sure if the flagship titles is doing the same.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After the pages open to a young Bruce Wayne seeing his parents die then years later he's Batman, gracefully moving across the skyscrapers during patrol night, the next pages cut to Commissioner Gordon and our hero looking at a pair of corpses preserved inside a large water tank. They've been dressed as no other than Thomas and Martha Wayne--except that the uncanny likeness went so much deeper than designer wear and accessories. These victims had even undergone extensive cosmetic surgery, and the bullet wounds they each sustained were an exact match from the original crime scene. Now, who would be cruel enough to do this? (I actually started typing this review of the first issue of the arc <i>already</i> <i>knowing</i> how it ends because I finished <i>Mythology</i> in one sitting yesterday. Usually, I start typing a review after I finish an issue to build up excitement, so you can imagine how much I'm trying not to hint my overall opinion for now until I finished typing all the reviews for the six issues). Whoever it is, I speculated they must have known Batman <i>is </i>Bruce Wayne. This was clearly a theatrical way of explicitly stating such a well-guarded secret. Honestly, any of the Rogue's Gallery would have pulled it off, if they knew who Batman is under the cowl. A few would have such attention to detail, however.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUi-YAcrH2kK2m9LQk_5GrLcwqPs5sqJE5gknq-V91ALC4qK7XI72IsCEnDAbZt-ZztFcCsuczBgUKn8VjdAQJsIOfMkBOG943DovdL-dlgpHjqKqVHIL05LRSLr1AV7Jb_RZYXWnLQi4GxBaxO6etOVhDMOL1jMTOKYYsjmPAZIAqp2HyZx-_XZKB/s976/FUpWRoqUEAQF6ou.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="631" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUi-YAcrH2kK2m9LQk_5GrLcwqPs5sqJE5gknq-V91ALC4qK7XI72IsCEnDAbZt-ZztFcCsuczBgUKn8VjdAQJsIOfMkBOG943DovdL-dlgpHjqKqVHIL05LRSLr1AV7Jb_RZYXWnLQi4GxBaxO6etOVhDMOL1jMTOKYYsjmPAZIAqp2HyZx-_XZKB/w414-h640/FUpWRoqUEAQF6ou.jpg" width="414" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5swC7pIrRChephYbzJWryyZoklnpIzUbGlWwi4CN8RuCs4mNp0CDWzFPiUq9Et2RGV0wFHlVB6MjQ3M-7W9e66r6tRvQ5nnVKlzewFFZJIFv0Rrc0IZ_Z7r1h4vo0VJkr_2sGAn7p_1h1uihiYWDghy6s6b5NgERaAHfIBW723uPQQhxRBAokRpC/s972/FUpWSZ-UcAAM0CT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="630" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5swC7pIrRChephYbzJWryyZoklnpIzUbGlWwi4CN8RuCs4mNp0CDWzFPiUq9Et2RGV0wFHlVB6MjQ3M-7W9e66r6tRvQ5nnVKlzewFFZJIFv0Rrc0IZ_Z7r1h4vo0VJkr_2sGAn7p_1h1uihiYWDghy6s6b5NgERaAHfIBW723uPQQhxRBAokRpC/w415-h640/FUpWSZ-UcAAM0CT.jpg" width="415" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Normally, I'd say I can only imagine what it must have felt like for Bruce (even as Batman) to examine dead bodies that were specifically made to resemble his parents right down to the most dastardly detail of violence. But since I lost my own father two years ago, I know exactly how I would feel if it was me in his situation. I'll be rightfully pissed and vengeful. Losing a parent unexpectedly was bad enough; losing <i>both</i> to a murder <i>you witnessed</i> <b>as a child</b> is a thousand times worse. And now as an adult man dressed as a vigilante trying to make something out of the grief, you find yourself staring at copycat versions of people you love most in the world being paraded as ghoulish attractions? The absolute WORST! Still, that's probably only the cherry of this shit-cake.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wile still in the middle of putting things together with Gordon, Bat's attention abruptly shifted to a drastic call from one of his secure com lines. The issue reached an action-packed climax in which he's trying tor rescue Dr. Leslie Thompkins, who was his psychiatrist as a child, and one who made such a huge impact in his journey of recovery. She was chased by a...morphing monstrosity that looked generic and yet terrifying all at once. Why did it try to lure Batman using Leslie as bait? Did it have anything to do with the copycat Wayne corpses back at the crime scene? In any case, it was ravenous and seemingly unstoppable. One of the things I like about Doug Mahnke's art so far was that it had the right kind of 'broody' that was definably Batman: dark shadows against surprisingly clean lines even during more kinetic sequences. As far as action goes, the issue delivered well, though nothing groundbreaking, really. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5dRTjOqRUl5YUZT32Jd8omc4dbIQFTxUyGZBia7rCiKBkQ521X5Yjk-nAUe368SnydTVwlCcwC7M_BUJpW4S7oIC1oU_eabe0gP7Cmrc6nRXP5thyGUYLfpZ_qxYSzKD5o8xSCrdtEZI_tOrHMyp6cCAEJanLSlfCIu9wc-Jwd_E34IGaI_drmbi/s980/FUpWVAVUsAElI4r.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="631" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5dRTjOqRUl5YUZT32Jd8omc4dbIQFTxUyGZBia7rCiKBkQ521X5Yjk-nAUe368SnydTVwlCcwC7M_BUJpW4S7oIC1oU_eabe0gP7Cmrc6nRXP5thyGUYLfpZ_qxYSzKD5o8xSCrdtEZI_tOrHMyp6cCAEJanLSlfCIu9wc-Jwd_E34IGaI_drmbi/w412-h640/FUpWVAVUsAElI4r.jpg" width="412" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR13l-3Ud6kKLgslu_Iga6bPu61BTn_MHlqIM6DG3iPH8ibZl8bHWNOL3oiSQo3ibQ3D61kd2QJeMM7SvN-h769Rsqu1KJm6HtBymeCZ3hLG0JF2TQ1_vd9J-eyUyc_J0m9GFBBjPIBuXdVFFelW_5bE0w2HbrWAnvJdQfdW3RC2swgNeqiem1aHRp/s976/FUpWWIaVEAMb8OE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="632" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR13l-3Ud6kKLgslu_Iga6bPu61BTn_MHlqIM6DG3iPH8ibZl8bHWNOL3oiSQo3ibQ3D61kd2QJeMM7SvN-h769Rsqu1KJm6HtBymeCZ3hLG0JF2TQ1_vd9J-eyUyc_J0m9GFBBjPIBuXdVFFelW_5bE0w2HbrWAnvJdQfdW3RC2swgNeqiem1aHRp/w414-h640/FUpWWIaVEAMb8OE.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I thought that the twist at the end with Leslie, as horrible as it had been, was very well done and certainly made me look forward to the next installment. For a monthly release, that's always the goal of a single comic book issue. Exposition and Rising Action were both established for <i>Raze</i>, the first of a six-chapter arc. Like I said, I read all of the issues, so my next reviews may be shorter than usual (or combined, depending on my mood), on account that the middle installments didn't engage me as much.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>RECOMMENDED: 8/10</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VGtwcTkAcJu7MAtsCsxb7I44tA2z4iVkG7h8lvX7Igh-no6lIddWMuWuRN-4pW_eDdUlgICWIUIc-XssUMFpU2rxG-ftGjWeuPUic-2DgxEbjpkqSKA71AmMXwGSV8uuFecDTdppQuw/s233/4stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="50" data-original-width="233" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VGtwcTkAcJu7MAtsCsxb7I44tA2z4iVkG7h8lvX7Igh-no6lIddWMuWuRN-4pW_eDdUlgICWIUIc-XssUMFpU2rxG-ftGjWeuPUic-2DgxEbjpkqSKA71AmMXwGSV8uuFecDTdppQuw/s0/4stars.png" width="233" /></span></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;"><br /></span></b></span></div>Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-90090755722615032782021-09-27T06:13:00.002-07:002022-06-07T22:47:16.773-07:00The Batman Who Laughs by Scott Synder issue #6-7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiix0C7_e9wC_Ufb5kSfQXjgvZInBW4SH79Zm7whcb2IfDf-8EodtMagTRuGok7T3Q2paeL6_O1Tege9dqIbBqxx-oLzfEyAGfN9frf5PIxzCYbK4X6r1dqfi1Iht8Yidl9RktyVuReCyM/s909/Untitled.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="909" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiix0C7_e9wC_Ufb5kSfQXjgvZInBW4SH79Zm7whcb2IfDf-8EodtMagTRuGok7T3Q2paeL6_O1Tege9dqIbBqxx-oLzfEyAGfN9frf5PIxzCYbK4X6r1dqfi1Iht8Yidl9RktyVuReCyM/s16000/Untitled.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;"><i>This review covers both the last issues of the series.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><b>The Batman Who Laughs, </b></i>in some ways, could have been an interconnected arc to <i>The Black Mirror,</i> which was the previous collaborative work for a Bat-title between writer Snyder and artist Jock. Perhaps they've always intended it to be that way. In fact, a</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> few of its elements had seeped into the narrative of BMWL including James Gordon Jr. himself, the primary villain for TBM. As I look back on all the seven installments I've read, I must say that there were glaring missteps that, to me, held back the series from becoming a full-fledged amazing Batman standalone story. The supposed core of </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">The Batman Who Laughs</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> is reminiscent</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> to Darwyn Cooke's shorter work entitled </span><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/2014/05/best-of-batman-ego-by-darwyn-cooke.html" target="_blank">EGO</a>. </b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I believe TBMWL delivered a hefty serving of a rather intimate psychological horror in which Batman came face to face with his worst self (literally and figuratively) in this hybrid of nightmares and insecurities known as the titular villain. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">However, after finishing all the seven issues, I found that overall production of the story underwhelming (if not convoluted at least) for two reasons which I will cite separately below w in m respective sixth and seventh issue mini reviews.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: helvetica;"><b><u>ISSUE NUMBER 6</u></b></span></h3><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The penultimate issue was probably the most suspenseful installment that attempted to connect all the pieces found in the earlier issues while ensuring the suspense was both taut and smooth sailing. Ninety percent of the time, it truly was an outstanding exploration that was brisk and nuanced particularly when it came to Bruce Wayne/Batman's tenacity as an individual. We see the inevitable unraveling between Batman and his worst self page after page of visually striking panels that conveyed the horror in bold strokes that bleed red.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Regardless of my reservation and nitpicks about the series, I will say that a lot of these illustrations are atmospheric in such a cinematic way that from the final rating I'd give <i>The Batman Who Laughs</i> out of 10, the four stars of that solid 7 belongs to the art of this comic book. I have my reasons why I think the art outweighed Snyder's narrative, which I'll touch upon now.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This story was immense in the scope it tried to embody which was essentially more psychological than the fanfare found in other titles since no other comic book superhero ever created can carry the weight of something like this than the the Dark Knight Batman. His very mythos and history had time and time again covered archetypes found in both noir and gothic literature. Batman stories can become not just detective stories but also ones that are steeped in psychological suspense and a dash of superlative horror if and when said standalones land in the hands of talented writers and </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">artists. There's a reason why DC movie-verse seems so obsessed manufacturing the same gritty atmosphere that only really flourishes in a Bat-title, forgetting, of course, that such a macabre flavor is unique to the Dark Knight alone among all DC character. You can easily see Bruce Wayne/Batman jumping into Vertigo titles, which I believe did happen in stories I can't recall at the moment (like that one with John Constantine). But I digress. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What I believe was the missing ingredient that would have elevated <i>The Batman Who Laughs</i> into another classic was the diminished portrayal of its titular villain. After seven issues, BMWL was utterly one-dimensional. Not once did I feel he was that big of a threat to Batman save for the dark alternate reality he supposedly embodies; this twisted image that married the Joker and Batman in a depraved shell that only knows how to deceive and win. But I never connected with him at all as a reader, which is the point of any horror story. Readers must be invested in the fears and risks that characters face and must resolve, or feel either dread or relief when the characters were changed at the end. There just wasn't a lot of that for <i>The Batman Who Laughs</i>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OIySa6EYEpguw3gXiIC-Aa2FXK5QhgJprkxNjNl_2kUoEnc2suLLqSR9BDd20VZZACEAjwq02Q8YIo_fsT3yEdNDh6kQyTzf1Su8l1BJ4Q9OkiawGdNALuB8I2721MpwRiZZ7DbyMlE/s954/FAMM7kNVkAMhz53.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OIySa6EYEpguw3gXiIC-Aa2FXK5QhgJprkxNjNl_2kUoEnc2suLLqSR9BDd20VZZACEAjwq02Q8YIo_fsT3yEdNDh6kQyTzf1Su8l1BJ4Q9OkiawGdNALuB8I2721MpwRiZZ7DbyMlE/s16000/FAMM7kNVkAMhz53.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><u>HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ISSUE:</u></b> The parallels between scenes for BMWL and Batman, and the Gordons and the Grim Knight are incredibly layered. As Batman struggles to hold onto his sanity with Alfred on the comms urging him never to give in or give up, Jim Gordon is confronted by the Grim Knight in regards to how he really feels about his psychopathic son. What I found most interesting for the latter scene was that it definitely feels like the encore for the finale in <i>The Black Mirror</i>. James Jr. has been fractured a long time, and some might say his disease of the mind and heart is incurable. The confrontation revealed that perhaps his own father was beginning to believe that, and his lack of faith that his own progeny can overcome the nature of his Beast was quite heartbreaking, far more so than the push and pull between Batman and his worst self. Still, there was a correlation between these scenes.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;"><b>RECOMMENDED: 8/10</b></p><p style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VGtwcTkAcJu7MAtsCsxb7I44tA2z4iVkG7h8lvX7Igh-no6lIddWMuWuRN-4pW_eDdUlgICWIUIc-XssUMFpU2rxG-ftGjWeuPUic-2DgxEbjpkqSKA71AmMXwGSV8uuFecDTdppQuw/s233/4stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="50" data-original-width="233" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VGtwcTkAcJu7MAtsCsxb7I44tA2z4iVkG7h8lvX7Igh-no6lIddWMuWuRN-4pW_eDdUlgICWIUIc-XssUMFpU2rxG-ftGjWeuPUic-2DgxEbjpkqSKA71AmMXwGSV8uuFecDTdppQuw/s0/4stars.png" width="233" /></a></b></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: helvetica;"><b><u>ISSUE NUMBER 7</u></b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The second reason I thought held back this entire</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> series from being a classic was the overreaching plot point about the Last Laugh and infecting Gotham citizens with toxin (?) that would transform them into the worst versions of themselves. Isn't that the plot adapted from a fairytale written by Hans Christian Anderson? Because I'm pretty sure I watched that same kind of storyline unfold in one of the seasons of ABC's <i>Once Upon A Time</i>. It felt as if Snyder fell back on what he knew best, because he used this at least three times in his original run for the flagship <i>Batman</i> title, and they worked in their own way with a few deviations. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">However, that same shit shouldn't roll for this one too. That was a nitpick of mine that could have been scrapped during the cutting floor. It felt so unnecessary and only dragged down what could have been a mesmerizing and intimate exploration of Bruce Wayne's ongoing damage and Batman's endurance in spite of the trauma and pain of the boy nobody saved until he became a man who must do it for others in the shadows. What should have been expanded some more are those alter Bruce Waynes. As the story was concluded, those other Bruces felt to me as if they died dishonorably, their legacies untarnished. I suppose that was the point BMWL wanted to make when he murdered all of them, but it never went beyond the cheap thrill and shock value of seeing these better, more successful, more proactive, happier versions of Bruce Wayne cut down. They became nothing but collateral damage to a strife as old as time.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I would give credit to <i>The Batman Who Laughs</i> for the way Snyder and co. depicted Batman's tenacity against his own darkness because it had been a fun ride. The action was pulsating every page but the unfortunate byproduct of that was how any other meaningful points in the narrative and development had to take a backseat. Characters didn't exactly flourish where the main hero and villain are concerned, but at least we got to wrap up James Jr.'s arc from <i>The Black Mirror</i> which was a gratifying spin-off.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5BFPfXAbGPYMn_HUhmivuVmWEBudP-aXbcwahdRMVtEgBeJbl0F1cEuaw9y1YWHNtP_2CUDljP8CstS8jHYcAqEPIEczxHYRT6JErsEbs3KI7L5KH9ljAcWaxRoKPrKLNQh0QOFNdMk/s956/FAMN1PBUcAAJ1ke.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="956" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5BFPfXAbGPYMn_HUhmivuVmWEBudP-aXbcwahdRMVtEgBeJbl0F1cEuaw9y1YWHNtP_2CUDljP8CstS8jHYcAqEPIEczxHYRT6JErsEbs3KI7L5KH9ljAcWaxRoKPrKLNQh0QOFNdMk/s16000/FAMN1PBUcAAJ1ke.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: helvetica;">I may read the accompaniment oneshot featuring The Grim Knight since it is included in the story's seven issues so it's sort of like an interlude. In any case, even though <i>The Batman Who Laughs</i> had a few missteps, the vision and scope of its story remained ambitious. Visually, there's also a lot to feast on for every issue, thanks to Jock and co, but as far as the narrative goes, I think at this point I expect more from Snyder if he ever wrote another Bat-title some time in the future.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><div style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b>RECOMMENDED: 7/10</b></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwDanLi7U1ViibPuyDhfBn4yL2QJu6hfV5rw4kLyAzK4roU_Y3vot0bsPsnYniiFtlgo9M8w-tMF50QUA8fdlP0b12G8H7qeRWPXwPuSthMPn7u9f2-VM34IQxRNbt03m2uOiXRXjfCk/s1600/3.5stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwDanLi7U1ViibPuyDhfBn4yL2QJu6hfV5rw4kLyAzK4roU_Y3vot0bsPsnYniiFtlgo9M8w-tMF50QUA8fdlP0b12G8H7qeRWPXwPuSthMPn7u9f2-VM34IQxRNbt03m2uOiXRXjfCk/s1600/3.5stars.png" /></a></div>Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-36324144045180911532021-09-20T07:39:00.001-07:002022-06-07T22:47:16.772-07:00The Batman Who Laughs by Scott Synder issue #5<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnBl9YkQoUdQU52BTANpM4-Dlr9BjcconLxJ3X_3oi8RFyIeX9FQyCnjWbFm2yKmyFkMMrj4S-tVEbwJJnkO3lcp0-4wlA3-B6LyQ4tD9IeRcnjrx_jwtTStnOcB3O3h92vHnn7oACFo/s1146/E_jpIM3VgAMix2O.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="745" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnBl9YkQoUdQU52BTANpM4-Dlr9BjcconLxJ3X_3oi8RFyIeX9FQyCnjWbFm2yKmyFkMMrj4S-tVEbwJJnkO3lcp0-4wlA3-B6LyQ4tD9IeRcnjrx_jwtTStnOcB3O3h92vHnn7oACFo/w416-h640/E_jpIM3VgAMix2O.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Now that I'm five issues into this seven-part mini series, I feel confident enough to say that this might not be a favorite Scott Snyder Bat-story. It's possible that my full appreciation is impeded by the fact that I've been so out of touch of Batman comics for the last five years. If I were to be honest, a lot of the content here felt as familiar as it is too comfortable for me. I acknowledge that Scott Snyder will always be one of the three writers that made Batman s enjoyable, nuanced, and thrilling for me. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But for this title? A lot of it makes me think about his earlier stories when he was still the head writer of the flagship title that was DC's Batman. It borrowed a lot of the elements I recognized from his previous arcs as well as G<i>ates of Gotham </i>and <i>Black Mirror</i>. I suppose I could always view it as a pastiche of Snyder's own mythos which he cultivated and crafted as far as 2011, but is that all there is to <i>The Batman Who Laughs</i>? A collection of formulaic elements that he's already explored and became known as?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are few nuggets of brilliance that had occurred in the five issues, honestly, but it's in this next part of the narrative that made me feel even more disconnected than ever before instead of feeling as if I'm about to solve a mystery or peel another layer of intrigue and mystery that was the metaphor and significance of Batman as a caped crusader. Is it possible that I have grown Batman/Bruce Wayne himself? I would hate to turn this review into an existential analysis of my overall relationship to this fictional character, but I supposed I might need some soul-searching about what Batman still means to me now that I'm in my thirties.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Save for the abandoned run of Tom King's early issues back in 2017 when I did take an unexpected hiatus, I'm not comfortable not thoroughly finishing what I started, which was why I wanted to pick up from where I left off and resurrect this blog. But after the initial rush of the past four weeks has now dispersed, it made me rethink of how I'll approach my next batch of reviews before the year ends and a new one begins. The truth of the matter is that after this one, I might combine my reviews for the last two issues of TBMWL. And that format may be more doable for me with other titles found in my <a href="http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/p/current-shelf.html" target="_blank">Comics Shelf</a>. It's simply not feasible for me to do reviews of individual issues, no matter how much I want to keep up with the new stuff soon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, a couples things first. Snyder and co. delivered something that was familiar territory for me, based on the kind of themes he and the artists had touched upon during his flagship run. That said, the interactions for this fifth issue are pitch perfect, if you were invested enough to see the terse interplay among Bruce Wayne/Batman of our universe versus BMWL and the Grim Knight. I'm still unsure how to fit the Gordon father and son add to it, aside from the far too on-the-nose association between them and the Waynes, but they're there along for the ride anyway. Once again, Snyder revisited what Gotham means to Batman, and what Batman means to Gotham and everything caught in between that push and pull relationship. It's a wonderful concept that fueled Synder's original run, and one that I ate up alongside many fans; we cannot separate the city from the Dark Knight and vice-versa.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Too many times we neglect the setting in which stories operate, but the most classically oriented novels that made an impact in history has treated the setting as another character to root for and sympathize with, and this is precisely what Snyder did for Gotham City. So what did Gotham City symbolize? How does that connect to Batman and the crusade he was fighting for? What happens when everything he believed was real and true about the justice he safeguards to protects its citizen had been nothing more but a delusion?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixdeWbNzfyOOlefifFqCaDJejpUAVDltIesEu2EGvtxfbxqm08dlQ0GuGRIKP2LGjf-3jnixr3qpn38tRzr6IM2t-9ptQEAKZJwMWoQfhemRO4OVVM83KhibhKSJHhp1kqb13iFX5jUk/s689/E_joNdUVgAAfnRy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="689" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixdeWbNzfyOOlefifFqCaDJejpUAVDltIesEu2EGvtxfbxqm08dlQ0GuGRIKP2LGjf-3jnixr3qpn38tRzr6IM2t-9ptQEAKZJwMWoQfhemRO4OVVM83KhibhKSJHhp1kqb13iFX5jUk/w640-h460/E_joNdUVgAAfnRy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The notable thing I want to bring up next was this sideline plot device to the overall narrative of The Batman Who Laughs, which would be the trail of dead Bruce Waynes. If I'm recalling the order correctly, the first one featured in the morgue was a Bruce Wayne in an alternate reality in which he married, had a family, and was happy. The next one was a Bruce Wayne who was a politician who made a real difference in the city through bureaucratic channels; then we get one who was in competition with the Penguin's criminal enterprise and then another who took over Blackgate Penitentiary. Now, for this issue, we have a Batman who became the leader of the Talons of the Court of Owls. I don't know if anyone else saw a pattern here, but I believe BMWL ranked the best to the worst alternate Bruce Waynes here, including himself and The Grim Knight who are the extremes of the spectrum.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now I'm not really sure what that entailed, and what it could all mean in the grand scheme of things, but it was fascinating to me, much more so than the plan BMWL has in which he made Batman lose hope in himself, the city and everything else he stood for. That's how this issue ends, on that not-so-original cliffhanger. With a lot of things running in the background, this major revelation was a tad underwhelming. Like, really? Gotham is not a beacon but rather the darkness itself? Can't imagine why. It is a violent and corrupt city where the most rutheless and depraved of killers and criminals exist. How could it be anything else but a bad place? Because Batman's there? Hell, Batman can be viewed as the bad guy who has to give it worse so the the worst monsters will keep in line.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eRapDNnUkhRuZfjkdsXAMaa0eB39qOAfBB7u-_6IZSGfI1PljFDkVuuEFpzZkzvLCA2OCa_bKG_EjWM3nkVb7ZGa4NhfFKpTt0TNy5PYeBwDyk5fV8GvrP3JCuesjbb5SNoEmZJbM2M/s1200/E_jpIs6VUAAIjb7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eRapDNnUkhRuZfjkdsXAMaa0eB39qOAfBB7u-_6IZSGfI1PljFDkVuuEFpzZkzvLCA2OCa_bKG_EjWM3nkVb7ZGa4NhfFKpTt0TNy5PYeBwDyk5fV8GvrP3JCuesjbb5SNoEmZJbM2M/s16000/E_jpIs6VUAAIjb7.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlu2JCfsRfBLJN5wGeOrI8Ym1XmKym9dg67J0TbWNXlWaY2u7-GT8JRNB5cWxBCGALYxUI4X_p73l5XZMUmUPojNGbWDZs5LTymUf2zTx-PRNOcyk3ha_yhkjVamaBYYFvzu_qS-LblQ/s1200/E_jpJNJVkAEo128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlu2JCfsRfBLJN5wGeOrI8Ym1XmKym9dg67J0TbWNXlWaY2u7-GT8JRNB5cWxBCGALYxUI4X_p73l5XZMUmUPojNGbWDZs5LTymUf2zTx-PRNOcyk3ha_yhkjVamaBYYFvzu_qS-LblQ/s16000/E_jpJNJVkAEo128.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX80_Q8aorTkZ5JjBXyv0fAp60YJMw9CiQX4EYh9-8xMC3FbwQGNFzAqJyPED8mSfJo-UanFjv2FqhAnSm-XIA44EgwcpgJQ2ZQ3ppAiC2vnkvb2Mc9j47s6n-Lx-IrXBNNHb9Qq8kbVM/s1200/E_jpJuqVEAUq-Jx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX80_Q8aorTkZ5JjBXyv0fAp60YJMw9CiQX4EYh9-8xMC3FbwQGNFzAqJyPED8mSfJo-UanFjv2FqhAnSm-XIA44EgwcpgJQ2ZQ3ppAiC2vnkvb2Mc9j47s6n-Lx-IrXBNNHb9Qq8kbVM/s16000/E_jpJuqVEAUq-Jx.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I don't really know what to do with that last few pages. For issue #4, I commended the visuals team for the tireless and creative delivery they've achieved for this title. However, I feel as if they may have overdone it here and missed the mark. Some of the panels put a strain in my eyes as I read on. Too many details are going on in certain scenes but also sparse on the parts in which detail does matter. I am also getting sick of BMWL. I'd take DCEU's the Joker played by Jared Leto at this point because I am not entertained or interested in him as a villain. Maybe the Grim Knight should have had the starring role instead of playing lackey.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b>RECOMMENDED: 7/10</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwDanLi7U1ViibPuyDhfBn4yL2QJu6hfV5rw4kLyAzK4roU_Y3vot0bsPsnYniiFtlgo9M8w-tMF50QUA8fdlP0b12G8H7qeRWPXwPuSthMPn7u9f2-VM34IQxRNbt03m2uOiXRXjfCk/s1600/3.5stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwDanLi7U1ViibPuyDhfBn4yL2QJu6hfV5rw4kLyAzK4roU_Y3vot0bsPsnYniiFtlgo9M8w-tMF50QUA8fdlP0b12G8H7qeRWPXwPuSthMPn7u9f2-VM34IQxRNbt03m2uOiXRXjfCk/s1600/3.5stars.png" /></a></div></div></span><p></p>Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-88505221954065858522021-09-12T00:24:00.006-07:002022-06-07T22:47:16.772-07:00The Batman Who Laughs by Scott Synder issue #4<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFGYwBlNcyGtNFY2yXUyQEIwZ6tEGKvye00hyaG5cwjx3Hl7poLq9cSB4-lfsA45KRqFCqZi1Ol93chQWswfzCA13v2-amSecbQemuCAqV2e401_QA4bf8AVzJ_hWfQeErZI5j4v7wUM/s1147/E_ALVIcUUA8Vu0R.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="739" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFGYwBlNcyGtNFY2yXUyQEIwZ6tEGKvye00hyaG5cwjx3Hl7poLq9cSB4-lfsA45KRqFCqZi1Ol93chQWswfzCA13v2-amSecbQemuCAqV2e401_QA4bf8AVzJ_hWfQeErZI5j4v7wUM/w412-h640/E_ALVIcUUA8Vu0R.jpg" width="412" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Infected with the poison from the Joker's heart, Batman had been gradually giving in to the darkness that was always there, lurking in the fringes of his well-cultivated sense of control. It's the pinnacle of the Abyss Staring Back.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This installment from a very splendid mini series written once more by my favorite Bat-writer gave us more than just a few passing glimpses; instead it took us through an unnerving journey that was greatly supported by one of the best visuals I had seen drawn for a single Batman comics issue to date.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My reviews for the previous three issues substantially tackled Synder's writing chops. The man does know how to write compelling exposition, and more so for dialogue. All the Batman issues he's written have chock-full of glittering examples, regardless if there were inconsistencies in the plot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, at the risk of sounding repetitive at this point in time, I instead would like to review the other equally important side of a comic book issue which are the visuals. The synergy among Jock, Baron, and Cipriano was fully realized for this installment in particular. While it's possibly ninety-percent leaning on text blurbs since the dialogue for all scenes served to push forward the developments of the second half of the story, it wouldn't have worked if it wasn't for the engrossing art. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I more than appreciated the use of red for some panels, especially since it conveyed effectively the state of mind Batman/Bruce was undergoing as the toxin has spread across his mind. It's truly horrific to watch him lose sense of reality bit by bit each time he looked at those he loved and cared about such as Alfred and--to a lesser extent--the ordinary folks of the city he wanted to safeguard. The metaphor for this issue, too, talked about how Bruce often tried to see the world through 'the eyes of children' or the innocent whenever he felt discouraged or too fatalistic. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That was why the opening pages had Dick Grayson as the first Robin swooping down happily in the Gotham cityscape in all his bare innocence. But this time such an attempt to utilize the same practice was failing, since Bruce can hardly differentiate between what he truly sees and what the toxin wanted him to see. And the images are frightening, splattered in red and chaos. The notable adoption of the same visor BMWL wears made me uncomfortable; Bruce reasoned out it was a way for him to see what his enemy sees, but methinks it's just another manifestation of his dark side slowly taking over his defenses. But much like Alfred, I am placing my faith that Batman/Bruce can survive this. He's proven himself strong where lesser men are their weakest.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Red yet again was used to differentiate the text (courtesy of Cipriano) wherein certain terms or phrases were color-coded like that to indicate that Batman/Bruce was slipping while he's talking. After all, BMWL's own blurbs are colored purely as red, which I haven't noticed until now. He and the Grim Knight had abducted James Gordon, because he was Batman's 'best friend'. The Grim Knight doesn't share the sentiment, however, because in his world, the Commissioner was the one adversary that kept getting in the way of him claiming victory as a caped crusader. Going back to the well-known saying of how the Abyss Stares Back, it's also aligned to Synder's recurring metaphor of seeing things through 'the eyes of the innocent', which was twisted in this case.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The climactic confrontation in Blackgate was my favorite scene. The second would have to be Batman's quaint temporary 'truce' of a sort with the Joker. The installment ends with a grand soliloquy from BMWL which hits the right notes when he claimed, <b><span style="color: red;">"You're trying to see things through the eyes of your Robins, aren't you? Through the eyes of your so-called children. But they knew, Batman. The hope you saw in people, it was a lie. That's why Dick, why all of them, stayed high above. Yes, the hard truth is you're finally seeing things clearly. Because of the first time ever, you're looking at Gotham through the eyes of your real child..."</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvWqWYCaOX6AbHXdLTFXsv_rmMWhfXsLRTPvrRBo032SIBo-2XJ29xkxDYq6c33uABsAeCt2gBQ-moS8bRCcQGwXCQDGDXdQMIEVp3yIn_5lQ7UNdPnFQg0mYavCiy4He9V_EvIzpRLI/s750/E_ALYzDVQAcdPPc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvWqWYCaOX6AbHXdLTFXsv_rmMWhfXsLRTPvrRBo032SIBo-2XJ29xkxDYq6c33uABsAeCt2gBQ-moS8bRCcQGwXCQDGDXdQMIEVp3yIn_5lQ7UNdPnFQg0mYavCiy4He9V_EvIzpRLI/s16000/E_ALYzDVQAcdPPc.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I don't know how James Gordon and his son would play into this, but I have a feeling it has to tie up with the ongoing parable between Batman and his darker alters. It's worth mentioning that there's a Grim Knight oneshot that's connected to this, so I might have to look for that and read. Overall, this was far more impressive than the previous issue which I have a few nitpicks in my review. The loose ends were being tied up here while it also has more room to surprise readers yet again. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two more issues to go before <i>The Batman Who Laughs </i>hopefully wraps up amazingly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p style="text-align: center;"><b>RECOMMENDED: 8/10</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VGtwcTkAcJu7MAtsCsxb7I44tA2z4iVkG7h8lvX7Igh-no6lIddWMuWuRN-4pW_eDdUlgICWIUIc-XssUMFpU2rxG-ftGjWeuPUic-2DgxEbjpkqSKA71AmMXwGSV8uuFecDTdppQuw/s233/4stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="50" data-original-width="233" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VGtwcTkAcJu7MAtsCsxb7I44tA2z4iVkG7h8lvX7Igh-no6lIddWMuWuRN-4pW_eDdUlgICWIUIc-XssUMFpU2rxG-ftGjWeuPUic-2DgxEbjpkqSKA71AmMXwGSV8uuFecDTdppQuw/s0/4stars.png" width="233" /></a></b></div><div><br /></div><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"></b></div></span><p></p>Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-20582251397796551522021-09-04T21:47:00.005-07:002022-06-07T22:47:16.771-07:00The Batman Who Laughs by Scott Synder issue #3<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NYY6VOvA2a75MFDeuo54pOFvSRf93r5hyphenhyphenqk8BJH4maggZVkjBi-JTllEU8FFhMutArCSn0FlcdiIF0H1AFWwxTlnDvwUKx-PwDVVZSSB4FTvLJfeXEv1WLCSmFOUxbppBtOkWvJXT_Q/s1145/E-bojuvVcAIY4Wi.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NYY6VOvA2a75MFDeuo54pOFvSRf93r5hyphenhyphenqk8BJH4maggZVkjBi-JTllEU8FFhMutArCSn0FlcdiIF0H1AFWwxTlnDvwUKx-PwDVVZSSB4FTvLJfeXEv1WLCSmFOUxbppBtOkWvJXT_Q/w420-h640/E-bojuvVcAIY4Wi.jpg" width="420" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Much like the last two issues, we open with yet another flashback; this time it was a familiar (if not already iconic) scene when a young Bruce Wayne fell in a hole and encountered bats for the first time, prompting his phobia for them. It was a monumental moment for a child, who will one day become a caped crusader, overcoming primal fear of the dark and unknown. Thomas Wayne was quoted saying, <i>"See it in your head, Bruce. See the rope, see yourself climbing out, see yourself being brave.</i>" </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This act of visualizing carried on as the boy became a man and then the Bat. Bruce stressed that this was how he learned to build on plans especially contingency ones. More than the trauma of seeing his parents killed at gunpoint in one of the alleys of Gotham, or seeing a bat sweep across the window of his private chamber, the memory of being trapped down that hole and hearing his father's voice to be brave, to imagine getting out and then doing it--that singularly propelled him to daring heights as the Dark Knight. It's all about being ready and having plans to outwit and outmaneuver the most intelligent of his foes.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After all, what's a predator without its habits? Batman wasn't just a brute force hammering down on thugs; he's also a well-trained sleuth with a keen eye for detail and patterns in the crime. This time, however, certain things elude him. And when he's fighting a toxin slowly pumping madness into his veins, Batman definitely has a lot to overcome for this story arc alone. He would need a little help from his friends.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Speaking of allies, Commissioner James Gordon set out to find </span><a href="https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/James_Gordon,_Jr._(New_Earth)#The_Black_Mirror" target="_blank">his son</a><span>, a confirmed megalomaniac psychopath that bore his name. James Jr. has been institutionalized and carefully monitored for years after he was revealed to be nothing like the man who rasied in. James Jr. was sadistic and </span>merciless<span> and at some point during </span><i>The Black Mirror</i><span> arc, he even wanted to poison an infant nutritional facility. Because, you know, if you want to prove you're one malicious sick fuck, you always must go after the innocent children. This issue featured a more mellowed out J.J, however. He didn't try to reverse his medication anymore to 'increase his psychopathic tendencies' while he's...I don't know, a clerk in some shop, in charge with packages? </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It didn't matter to his dad; at this point, Commissioner Gordon has given up hope that his son can ever be cured. His psychopathy can only be prevented through his medication and a current banal routine, but he was still never going to be the young man his father hoped would inherently pursue goodness. That didn't mean James Sr. would diminish the real progress his son made, even if meeting said young man was only possible right now because Batman required J.J's knowledge of the city's hidden pathways that BMWL and the Grim Knight are after. To be honest, I don't know what James Jr. is even doing in this issue aside from the fact that Snyder and Jock featured him on their previous collaboration. In the end, the Grim Knight wanted the commissioner, not his son. After all, it was stated in the last issue that Batman used his DNA and that of the other older man whom he trusted aside from Alfred. I actually lost track of the story's momentum because this issue also has another cameo appearance that I felt run on for too long that necessary.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm talking about the Penguin. While it always delights me to see Oswald Cobbleplot hobbling his way into the pages to be an utter nuisance of a menace, I didn't see the point of BMWL having that big monologue explaining to the readers that another version of Bruce Wayne became rivals with Cobblepot instead of merely stopping said crime lord's illegal activities. In the end, BMWL made yet another example of this Bruce Wayne much like with the others. Is there something particularly more significant to this Bruce alter than the last two? Are we going to see Penguin again later? That goes the same for James Jr.? There are only four more issues left for this series, so anything could happen, and there may be a lot more in store. However, with this break in the main narrative that contributed nothing except some action sequence whose violence felt somewhat lacking, I daresay this issue is the weakest instalment so far.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The plot was definitely meandering for this issue. What saves it from being completely dull of a read was the grand reveal at the end which supposedly has to be a game-changer, and I want to see what direction Snyder wants to go for. Not only has Batman succumbed to the toxin, but the Joker got away from Alfred's operating table in spite of all the sedatives. With the Joker, he always requires even the most pragmatic of readers some hefty suspension of belief. I can excuse Joker once more eluding capture because he is not a man of flesh and bones but more of a mythic bogeyman. I think it's fair at this point to subscribe now to that belief.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF02DFrn3NpOwQeRv3ZdbG5DjcFGl-DTpnofQumLh3Rlm8cxrPQZGvpsh_yeFAA5iFbgVx-JSFeA3hgZ12tSjLUb5OGf46Nde-fwah4qLao3V0Bt3ml9mZNLnHqSa1cj1jG-O4Oe-rNg8/s1200/E-bokrLUUA0RT28.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF02DFrn3NpOwQeRv3ZdbG5DjcFGl-DTpnofQumLh3Rlm8cxrPQZGvpsh_yeFAA5iFbgVx-JSFeA3hgZ12tSjLUb5OGf46Nde-fwah4qLao3V0Bt3ml9mZNLnHqSa1cj1jG-O4Oe-rNg8/s16000/E-bokrLUUA0RT28.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAdjWlwGpXxMbon2oA2M4_drFwiUHlDt0ZRaVaK7igeb9SnazCo-sQxwFIWA4TZ59jMLnXKikZKs6L3WVBnDOPF_3escZDrKWTYHA8IRgDoCUH4DXji30rppWPjrWr6-DwNWc1_6qrY0/s1200/E-bolMFVIAUQeSV.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAdjWlwGpXxMbon2oA2M4_drFwiUHlDt0ZRaVaK7igeb9SnazCo-sQxwFIWA4TZ59jMLnXKikZKs6L3WVBnDOPF_3escZDrKWTYHA8IRgDoCUH4DXji30rppWPjrWr6-DwNWc1_6qrY0/s16000/E-bolMFVIAUQeSV.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In spite of how underwhelming the overall content of this installment, I'm still looking forward as to how this all ties up and how exactly Batman plans to visualize himself climbing out of this clustefuck of a hole.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b>RECOMMENDED: 7/10</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwDanLi7U1ViibPuyDhfBn4yL2QJu6hfV5rw4kLyAzK4roU_Y3vot0bsPsnYniiFtlgo9M8w-tMF50QUA8fdlP0b12G8H7qeRWPXwPuSthMPn7u9f2-VM34IQxRNbt03m2uOiXRXjfCk/s1600/3.5stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwDanLi7U1ViibPuyDhfBn4yL2QJu6hfV5rw4kLyAzK4roU_Y3vot0bsPsnYniiFtlgo9M8w-tMF50QUA8fdlP0b12G8H7qeRWPXwPuSthMPn7u9f2-VM34IQxRNbt03m2uOiXRXjfCk/s1600/3.5stars.png" /></a></div></span></div><p></p>Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-51020648226995770602021-08-30T00:15:00.003-07:002022-06-07T22:47:16.772-07:00The Batman Who Laughs by Scott Synder issue #2<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3QApbLW2aoc4ouVOrAsuQFNieZoeGsEE3oaXCenFFVYRlQ_QaSVCEtCfw2-2gkefpxKOPdg9NEGT6-d_0SEVmcIFK-493ZMMu5Dk37nY44imcyccApFToxr6vVX0C3QnWaeLiqEcV1w/s1149/E-A7S0NVkAQv4XU.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3QApbLW2aoc4ouVOrAsuQFNieZoeGsEE3oaXCenFFVYRlQ_QaSVCEtCfw2-2gkefpxKOPdg9NEGT6-d_0SEVmcIFK-493ZMMu5Dk37nY44imcyccApFToxr6vVX0C3QnWaeLiqEcV1w/w418-h640/E-A7S0NVkAQv4XU.jpg" width="418" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Much like with the first issue, Snyder opened with yet another metaphor concerning the functionality of hearts and the sentiment that Bruce has infused it with while he recalled the last action his father Thomas Wayne ever did seconds before the man was shot to death--he covered his son's chest on instinct where the heart dwelt. Poetic prose like this lives on in Synder's other comics, and his Batman deserved such poignancy too, considering that more than the standard fanfare of a superhero comic book, Batman was also always the story of a fractured man whose privilege and trauma go hand-in-hand as he pursued a dark path to become the beacon of justice in a very violent city filled with disturbed individuals who often bled from the same vein as his own grief and slice of madness.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This second issue picked up immediately after the previous one's final moment, with Alfred operating on the Joker's heart where the toxin supposedly was released and infected Batman. Meanwhile, an understandably sluggish Bats (who was doing his darndest to curtail the spread of the toxin by injecting an array of syringes bearing antidotes) convinced his butler and most loyal friend not to even think about allowing the Joker to die, as tempting as that sounds. With deadly poison coursing through his body, he still went to work like the champ he was, disguised as Harvey Bullock, to talk to Jim Gordon. Yet another Bruce Wayne was killed, this time thrown from several stories up in a Building That Doesn't Exist, at least not in this version of Earth. This Bruce Wayne became Mayor after the death of the second Robin Jason Todd. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The working theory was that Batman Who Laughs had been picking out different Bruce Waynes from several intertwining universes to make a point to our Earth's Batman. He also brought along The Grim Knight, the Earth-22 Dark Multiverse version borne from when a young Bruce Wayne picked up the gun in the alley and shot his parents' killer with no remorse. That's why this Bats has no problem carrying firearms, something we all know Batman has always been against. Because I was missing this context from the last issue, I actually thought they are the same twisted version of Batman, but no, The Grim Knight was an ally of BMWL, acting as reinforcement. Someday, I'll touch upon this Dark Multiverse storyline across Bat-titles. Like I said, it's been five years, and I'm a bit rusty now that I haven't kept track of things. Moving on...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Batman would then share to Jim Gordon something called the Last Laugh. Apparently, the founding families of Gotham, after 1780 when a plague wiped out a third of the population in the city, feared that what they saw at the heart of the country could become the means to the infection. Just like your average Gothamite then and now, they decided to prepare for the worst, vowing never to allow Gotham to become the source of such darkness. That was how they set up a system called the Last Laugh. It's apparently a defense system "in which Gotham can be protected if anything terrible spread inside". Essentially, Batman installed something to that effect on Wayne Tower. It's a way of purifying the air in the city, restoring waterways and the overall health of its citizens independently. It can only be accessed through DNA, which would be Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne's. <i>Any</i> Bruce Wayne, as it turned out.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">BMWL and the Grim Knight entered the premises of the tower and went to work to disable the controls. It's worth nothing Batman was still under the influence of the Joker toxin which will turn him into BMWL if he didn't fix that shit soon, but he's got other concerns. Crime likes to multi-task after all. This below is my favorite set of panels because they harkened back once more to what Snyder opened up with regarding the functionality of hearts while also allowing readers to glimpse BMWL's twisted logic.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWvCr0z0Gg2RHIWe19EpWCM2nYqPImEjJX8ljbtX6dCR1Rz1aq3OvtTY-VjUa-0uvXQHGt2ySpfHcB26PgzyZupXTDX10qeFYITo32GKCu-FKuP1sPcGC50Q4sX44tEc4lk1aKoBGY9Y/s774/E-A7UhgVUAACzdI.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWvCr0z0Gg2RHIWe19EpWCM2nYqPImEjJX8ljbtX6dCR1Rz1aq3OvtTY-VjUa-0uvXQHGt2ySpfHcB26PgzyZupXTDX10qeFYITo32GKCu-FKuP1sPcGC50Q4sX44tEc4lk1aKoBGY9Y/s16000/E-A7UhgVUAACzdI.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i>"You're an old man over a child's heart--weak, soft, protecting nothing."</i></b> Well, shit, when you put it like that...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In his warped mind, he actually thought that he was doing Batman a favor by killing all these different Bruce Waynes and gift-wrapping them here in this Earth for some rude awakening. BMWL stressed that this world's Bruce Wayne/Batman was the least accomplished of all the versions of himself because he's caught in the same cycle unlike other Bruces who either chose to domestically be happy as a husband and father or politically effect change as a public servant. Hell, at least BMWL is...a social change crusader himself? In any case, he does make sense the same way the Joker's rhetoric often did if you stop long enough to stare into the abyss.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This mini series is slowly shaping itself to be another masterpiece for Scott Snyder, but it's only been the second issue so I will try to curtail my expectations. I have four more to go and I'm looking forward to reading and reviewing within this week!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">RECOMMENDED: 9/10</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWo0LBRpO8pUdyIUSMqI5p5ildUJd8mzXar6GXOOJAIfisAQDNaWloDKM88uMdzJTay57n0fgXeTQDhj3GRIxIbgCR0Ab38JjnRZmmPyp251DuoO8AvWc57cEnZ5ZZCWOb6ND2pVX44Q/s274/4.5stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="274" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWo0LBRpO8pUdyIUSMqI5p5ildUJd8mzXar6GXOOJAIfisAQDNaWloDKM88uMdzJTay57n0fgXeTQDhj3GRIxIbgCR0Ab38JjnRZmmPyp251DuoO8AvWc57cEnZ5ZZCWOb6ND2pVX44Q/s0/4.5stars.png" width="274" /></span></a></div><b><br /></b></div><p></p>Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-46390072405393124592021-08-29T09:06:00.004-07:002022-06-07T22:47:16.772-07:00The Batman Who Laughs by Scott Synder issue #1<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSysMx22li3zdgHByQGstBtOCL8jzD3z2NvarQVkutJYmLdaLkx790KNeGLphzKLldEY_mLOEOuYBltLpfCC6D9cTs8kFut_uX3i5G2DjE8FDklmUaDRfekpZEXvnTFdf7krv19H7Ggg/s1200/E98j_fSVgAAHkEU.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSysMx22li3zdgHByQGstBtOCL8jzD3z2NvarQVkutJYmLdaLkx790KNeGLphzKLldEY_mLOEOuYBltLpfCC6D9cTs8kFut_uX3i5G2DjE8FDklmUaDRfekpZEXvnTFdf7krv19H7Ggg/w400-h640/E98j_fSVgAAHkEU.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My gateway to Batman comics was during The New 52 when Scott Snyder became the head writer of the series. Considering the mixed bag that was New 52 in general, I barely could even remember the specifics of what made it great or bad because all I cared about was the main title and the accompanying Bat-related ones in the roster for that run. It seemed befitting then that I come back to this blog again to read and review his 2018 series, <i>The Batman Who Laughs</i> which he also collaborated with the artist Jock. This is exciting for me because I cannot stress enough how much I loved <i><a href="http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/2014/07/best-of-batman-black-mirror-by-scott.html" target="_blank">The Black Mirror,</a></i> their previous collaboration. And since I have no idea what's new with DC nowadays, my review of this series may lack some much needed context, but I will try to compensate by giving enough insight as I could based solely on appraising <i>The Batman Who Laughs</i> as a standalone.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The most gratifying thing where Synder's writing is concerned will always be his deft ability to weave immersive narrative. From the very first pages in which Bruce Wayne asked the reader what they recall was their earliest happy memory, Snyder also managed to set up ambiance and theme, elements which would play throughout a single issue and possibly for the rest of the arc itself. Jock's phenomenal art is complementary of the prose, and the skill in which he could draw can be found during the car chase scene, the exposition's opening action sequence that was engaging from start to finish.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I've pointed out in the past, however, that Synder has a tendency to chew the scenery too much as well. I recall certain issues from his arcs in his <i>Batman </i>run in which he indulged in exposition for way too long that the text overshadowed the sequences of the panels, rendering the visuals almost static in contrast to the words. But for the first issue of <i>The Batman Who Laughs</i>, it's never been more clear how much writer and artist understand each other's styles and how best to work around their flaws so that they could bring out their strengths together for each page.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Something that struck me in a lot of Synder's writings for Batman and Bruce Wayne was how frequently he employed horror tropes, particularly Batman as a noir detective. As much as I also enjoyed the colorful flamboyance and utterly insane stories that Grant Morrison have penned for titles like <i><a href="http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/search/label/batman%20incorporated" target="_blank">Batman Incorporated</a></i> and his run for <a href="http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/search/label/batman%20reborn%3A%20batman%20and%20robin" target="_blank"><i>Batman and Robin</i></a>, I think I still much prefer the disquiet and gloom that permeate in Synder's overall version of the Dark Knight since it's able to distinguish itself from earlier works post-Frank Miller era by not parroting the morbidity of said content. What we have in his version was a Batman that still clings to a more hopeful message of overcoming personal adversity in a city that time and time again could destroy you, and yet said destruction can also yield, even bloom, worthier developments in its people and the home it embodied.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In <i>The Batman Who Laughs</i>, certain pages delivered on the atmospheric horror mainly because Jock knew how to make each panel look subtly sinister. There was that moment in the morgue where a disguised Batman was examining the cadaver of his alternate self who made different choices after Bane broke his spine. But it's not all gloominess either; there was also that lighthearted banter exchanged between Batman and Alfred as they investigated. It made me feel safe in ways that were nostalgic and far too familiar, as if the dialogue was written to reassure me these are the good guys who will always save the day. Nothing felt forced about it, and when the twist midway leading to the cliffhanger came, it was even more bittersweet to look back on the lighter moments of the issue, such as that opening regarding a young Bruce and his parents playing a game. Synder has connected the thematic resonance of those earlier panels with that of the disturbing revelation on the last page.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But what is <i>The Batman Who Laughs</i>? He was apparently a Batman who went insane after he killed the Joker. There was a toxin released in the Joker's body which drove him mad, but he would also have the same memories, abilities, and level of intelligence, all while bereft of the moral code and values he had lived by as a caped crusader. This Batman (also known as 'Metal') was simply concerned less about imposing righteous justice but more about winning. It's a terrifying hybrid of what Batman never chose to stand for and what the Joker dreamed of in his most twisted, wildest fantasies.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIJuSlIAbB4GsdkxocqqUJaAhi7FoeIY-NAgDPRNUMgbxW78w_5lXr_l8yRCEe4SdMJ2BAOltVVDWeTKvoPkVbsg-mRkLLUGzK1-ZmD7ObPyg1panYra0mhY4F4g9iHU7u7wZzLhWxz0/s1200/E98j_9OUYAAn8ZU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIJuSlIAbB4GsdkxocqqUJaAhi7FoeIY-NAgDPRNUMgbxW78w_5lXr_l8yRCEe4SdMJ2BAOltVVDWeTKvoPkVbsg-mRkLLUGzK1-ZmD7ObPyg1panYra0mhY4F4g9iHU7u7wZzLhWxz0/s16000/E98j_9OUYAAn8ZU.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh7V1AmZiFA_39eL6R2w0i8oQ6IRoQGF4lwx0ld7JG1RHeNKIVS-XfUGtGb2hovCALiwlasC8ziA-t2WWQZcH5TiNvh0SlGlCKoI2XqNjO_bCsUGMiUTz-QHE0lne3QCJ0f3kbor8tWE/s1200/E98kAf1UUAIKmIO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh7V1AmZiFA_39eL6R2w0i8oQ6IRoQGF4lwx0ld7JG1RHeNKIVS-XfUGtGb2hovCALiwlasC8ziA-t2WWQZcH5TiNvh0SlGlCKoI2XqNjO_bCsUGMiUTz-QHE0lne3QCJ0f3kbor8tWE/s16000/E98kAf1UUAIKmIO.jpg" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To be honest, a lot of the premise that still eluded me, but I'll gladly chalk that up to the fact I'm a little rusty reading and reviewing Batman comics. Hopefully, I will have more substantial stuff to say for the next issue. I know this mini series only has six, and I intend to finish them even if reviews might be slow due to other commitments. I may resurrect this blog this year with more consistent material, such as following up on my readings of Tom King's run for the flagship title, but there are no guarantees.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">RECOMMENDED: 8/10</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VGtwcTkAcJu7MAtsCsxb7I44tA2z4iVkG7h8lvX7Igh-no6lIddWMuWuRN-4pW_eDdUlgICWIUIc-XssUMFpU2rxG-ftGjWeuPUic-2DgxEbjpkqSKA71AmMXwGSV8uuFecDTdppQuw/s233/4stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="50" data-original-width="233" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VGtwcTkAcJu7MAtsCsxb7I44tA2z4iVkG7h8lvX7Igh-no6lIddWMuWuRN-4pW_eDdUlgICWIUIc-XssUMFpU2rxG-ftGjWeuPUic-2DgxEbjpkqSKA71AmMXwGSV8uuFecDTdppQuw/s0/4stars.png" width="233" /></span></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><br /></b><p></p><p></p>Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-89695085121527741402017-04-30T01:24:00.000-07:002017-05-02T01:29:38.900-07:00All Star Batman by Scott Snyder issue #8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The original plan was to review the next two issues in Tom King's <i>Batman </i>run, yet issues #8-9 were co-written with another writer named Steve Orlando which was all about the <i>Night of the Monster Men</i>. This story arc was a crossover which meant that certain installments appear in other titles like <i>Nightwing</i> and <i>Batwoman</i>. And I had no real interest to read this arc completely which was why I decided to do away with it and officially end my Batman comics diet for this April 2017 on a Snyder issue about the Mad Hatter for the third chapter of <i>Ends of the Earth. </i>If there ever were any good Jervis Tetch stories out there, this might be one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's rather difficult to fully describe the experience of reading this issue. The narrative itself was written in the stream-of-consciousness style where Batman became prey to a rabbit-hole mind fuck courtesy of the Mad Hatter. The result of which is an odd and brilliant mixture of elements that paid little homage to Lewis Carroll's Alice stories as the inspiration while also still holding itself as its own standalone topsy-turvy. With splendid illustrations by penciler Giuseppi Camuncoli, inker Mark Morales, colorist Dean White and letterer Steve Wands, this third installment for <i>Ends of the Earth</i> truly is a fascinating feast for the eyes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mr. Freeze released a pathogen that attacked thousands of people who lost their lives in the process. Ecologist Pamela Isley (also known as Poison Ivy) agreed to give Batman a cure to prevent further casualties. But Batman, being Batman the ever vigilant, still wanted insurance that the pathogen will not grow again and infect more lives, so he goes to a residence where he encountered a formidable threat. Back in the early beginnings of <i>Zero Year</i>, Jervis Tetch had approached Bruce Wayne about a certain project and it would seem as if he had possessed the same strain of virus which Mr. Freeze years later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That's why Batman followed this lead all the way back to whom he thinks is the source. There was still a matter of the Blackhawks, though, who are a unit of mercenaries seemed to determined to get in Batman's way. They even disguised themselves as the Bat-family, and Batsy was having none of that and managed to unmask the pretenders. One scene of it was done in a rather comedic way, with Batman using a mechanized flamingo to slam against the fake Nightwing. It was easily one of the most spectacular things I've seen in comics! So anyway, Batman goes down a rabbit-hole and things just get plain weird.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As I've said, the uniquely rendered illustrations and the overall composition of the art for this issue was refreshing and visually appealing. The four artists who have collaborated in this really showed quite the craftmanship. Each panel sequence was dream-like and insane, and readers just don't know what is happening but they are nonetheless mesmerized which was even strengthened by Snyder's subtle and often enigmatic choices of narrative and dialogue. You are seeing everything but not understanding what it is as well. The issue ends ambiguously too. We don't get immediate resolution just yet, such as Duke Thomas being captured by the Blackhawks, but that makes me look forward even more for the next installment. It may not be a straight-up ghost story ambiance like the Mr. Freeze issue but I found certain parts of this issue...unsettling. And I really like it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The next chapter for <i>The Cursed Wheel</i> is still a slow read but I think that this might be all a set-up for something I hope would be fulfilling much later on. Duke Thomas is starting to be sympathetic for me too which is probably a positive highlight for me at this point. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A very splendid issue, the third installment for </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Ends of the Earth</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> should make readers crave for more.</span><br />
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-53066212292291847552017-04-28T22:15:00.000-07:002017-04-27T22:16:08.783-07:00All Star Batman by Scott Snyder issue #7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">First and foremost, the extent of how Poison Ivy was depicted for this issue alone was incredibly positive, partly because of how careful Snyder was in writing her dialogues and mostly due to the beautiful illustrations drawn by artist Tula Lotay who made Poison Ivy at least visually less lewd and sexually charged than most more modern comics have been shamelessly parading her as. The sensual and classy version of Poison Ivy is something I remember watching and enjoying in the animated series which was why any other take on her sexuality that is often too much of her defining trait is something I tend to steer clear away from. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Aside from being one of the memorable Bat-villains from the Rogues' gallery, Poison Ivy embodied female sexuality like no other fictional woman in comics, I believe, because she's also intimately connected with plant life ergo nature itself so she became unavoidably a conduit for everything feminine in its supposedly most empowering form. Nevertheless, she was still portrayed as a villain most of the time; a grand seductress with vengeful, reactionary tendencies towards anyone, especially men, who would abuse and trample on the environment which often put her in the role of a simple eco-terrorist. She cares so much about nature that she was willing to sacrifice humanity, her own race, either to sustain or improve plant life in earth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That's her deal and to achieve writing her as a nearly sympathetic character can be a challenge for writers, and one that Synder attempted for this issue and actually succeeded, in my honest and humble opinion. The second installment of <i>Ends of the Earth</i> is a slow read and quite substantially just as expository as the first one with Mr. Freeze though this one also has many dialogues and discussions between Batman and Pamela Isley (Poison Ivy). Action also occurred less here and only one confrontation at the closing pages happened. Overall, the main story dealt mostly on Batman appealing to Isley to help him contain the epidemic that Freeze spread last issue. He sought her aid by personalizing it for her by telloa young girl aspiring to be an ecologist just like Isley but whose contact with the disease and subsequent death with label her only as the carrier and nothing else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Isley, of course, would take issue on that, sympathizing with said girl but had at first didn't show it just so she can put up a strong front before Batman. What I really enjoyed about their simple yet nuanced interaction is that Batman genuinely believed that there is goodness in Isley that he knew he can connect with and even rely on, as well as the fact that he was willing to humble himself before her and admit to himself and especially to her that he cannot do this all alone and he expresses a desire to work with someone who has great knowledge about how to counter this viral attack, even if that someone is one whom the world considers nothing more but an antagonist, all for the sake of saving lives and avoiding more losses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For the way their relationship alone was depicted for this second installment, I'm giving this issue high rating. As for the eight-paged backup story, there isn't much to say at all which was disappointing. Artist Francavilla wasn't also given that much material to work with so his usually great illustrations didn't strike as anything notable. I only liked one panel and it's about Duke Thomas and how his insecurities were spelled out by Snyder. I liked that brutal honesty at least.</span></div>
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-33724203675843720342017-04-27T21:28:00.000-07:002017-04-26T21:29:00.778-07:00(DC Rebirth) Batman by Tom King issue #6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Why do I have to care about Claire? She wasn't as fully fleshed out as her brother or have any other compelling qualities aside from her superpowers that lend themselves some potency by shaving years off her life. She wasn't really that impressive to me by herself either because it's been made clear she was just emulating her brother about being a vigilante. Her behavior in the last two issues had also not been pleasant. It made sense, considering the psychological scarring she had been through in the hands of Psycho Pirate, but other than that it was still quite easy to see that she had been nothing more but a supporting character in every sense of the word. She was there to give her brother Hank more gravitas and in the end she became responsible for killing him. I suppose I should be fair and give the girl a break, so I will. I might, at least, with this final installment for <i>I Am Gotham</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I found Claire a wee bit interesting here as she slowly unraveled due to the crushing weight of grief and guilt over her brother's unfortunate passing. Claire essentially began losing what little grasp she had on sanity to begin with and started talking to herself quite loudly while addressing said dearly departed sibling. What was so intriguing about King's approach here is that he also used it as an opportunity to bring about villain cameos. These villains are obscure and old enough to make the nerdiest of fans feel a sense of delight and maybe even some slight smug entitlement that they themselves easily recognized who these villains are and what issues they appeared in. I haven't been reading Batman in comics that long (I only began to seriously digest and dissect his stories since 2014 with my Bat-blog), so these references didn't click with me at all until I've done my research.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm not going to discuss said cameos because I'm not an authority about their appearances and I frankly didn't give a shit. I was focused on Claire because for Chrissake why would a casual reader of present comics care about her if Tom King can't make even the veteran readers in general settle down enough to give a damn about her and stop going "Oh my god, that's a cameo from an old issue back in..." or something like that? This issue's central idea is to deal with Claire's grief over the loss that was her very own doing and yet a good percentage of readers would probably rather focus on those obscure villains. It just seemed like a disservice to whoever Claire should be. She never had a fair chance even from that start and now an issue which supposedly focuses on her was also a tribute for other things. Poor Claire. That being said, I enjoyed the idea of her still going about superheroing while losing her mind in the process. Girl at least can multi-task. And then we get a nice emotional wrap-up later on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Nice share, Bruce, but this shouldn't be about you! This issue wasn't as awful as the one that came before it. But it's not a good one either and only had a few redeemable qualities to keep it from being worse. I want to see more or Claire after this. We have been spoiled in Issue #5 that she and Duke Thomas get married so I guess she stopped using her powers and became a normal person after that because she didn't die too soon or anything. Well, that's it for Claire, I guess. </span><br />
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-46469594371061465402017-04-26T22:30:00.000-07:002017-04-25T22:30:54.285-07:00All Star Batman by Scott Snyder issue #6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Snyder's five-chaptered arc <i>My Own Worst Enemy</i> which focused on Two Face/Harvey Dent had been an off-beat, kooky spectacle of an action-adventure story which had amusing hijinks and colorful sequences to match it as illustrated by <i>Kick Ass</i> artist John Romita Jr. It had been a wonderful ride with a rather neatly tied ending that made sense yet also not nearly as satisfactory as one would hope. That being said, I was ready to embark on Snyder's new arc which would have another Bat-villain as a focal point and this time it's Mr. Freeze. Imagine my gleeful surprise to discover that the artist for this issue is no other than Jock whom Snyder had collaborated with in one of my favorite Batman volumes of all time, <i><a href="http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/2014/07/best-of-batman-black-mirror-by-scott.html" target="_blank">The Black Mirror</a>.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The immediate change in the tonal approach for this issue's narrative (an atmospherically bleak and gothic vibe) was unexpected but most welcome on my end because this is the Scott Snyder I'm more accustomed to whenever he's writing a Batman story. Combine that with the staggering breadth of Jock's lingeringly creepy illustrations about ice and zombies and you got the perfect ambiance for a ghost story. There was nothing specifically paranormal going on for <i>Ends of the Earth</i> but it's also recognizably a <i>Frankenstein</i>-eque story. Mr. Freeze brought back to life dozens of cryogenically frozen people to do his bidding as Batman ventured to the Arctic Circle to hopefully put a stop to nefarious plans. At the center of it all was Nora, Mr. Freeze's beloved, whom he still wished to wake up someday. Batman tried his best to convince Freeze not to go through his diabolical machinations for the sake of the only person he had ever truly given a damn about. It's all very touching until one remembers something.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And that's no other than the fact that DC rewrote the backstory regarding this couple. In current comics continuity, Nora was no longer Victor's legal wife; in fact she was just a woman he was pining over and so this meant that the 'love' was unrequited on his end. And it's quite frankly a disrespectfully dumb rewrite of what used to be such a moving story about a desperate husband driven to desperate measures in order to save his wife that he was willing to cryogenically freeze her for a while until there was a cure for her disease. Nora was Victor's last piece of humanity; the only one who can possibly thaw the ice in his heart once she is awaken. To remove the 'married couple' dynamic from their story now reduces Mr. Freeze as nothing more than a deranged stalker willing to do whatever it takes to gain the affection of a woman whom he has no personal history with unlike in the story as featured in <i>Batman: The Animated Series, Heart Of Ice</i>. That remains to be hands-down the best Mr. Freeze origin story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't know why DC rewrote what Victor and Nora had; I mean, at least the show <i>Gotham</i> had the decency to keep their marriage intact in their own version of Mr. Freeze's origin story. What I will tackle about instead was how Snyder managed to 'fix' this rewrite by claiming that in symbolic spirit, Nora is Victor's 'wife'. If you have no idea about the rewrite, this won't even register as an odd choice of phrase because I bet the version that most Batman fans know about Mr. Freeze is the one they have watched take place in <i>Heart of Ice</i>. Anyway, I like how Snyder wrote this issue strictly more in narrative form than in dialogues. The exchanges mostly happen in narration boxes so everything is expository in that sense. And I think it worked brilliantly, especially since Jock was the artist who brought to life some of the most creepy panels ever put in a comic book's pages. His art style has such a seething horrific yet subdued vibe that looking through them can give someone chills. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That revelation at the end pertaining to how Batman duped Mr. Freeze was so out-of-this-world it was a proud mark of genius. Sure, it's disconcerting that Batsy would attempt something so fatal to his life but that's just part of how Batman usually operates so it shouldn't be that much of a shock. I definitely enjoyed this issue at last. I think it's the finest of what has come out from this title so far. I read that the next issues would be standalones like this one and would feature Poison Ivy, Mad Hatter and Ra's Al Ghul.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The second cycle of <i>The Cursed Wheel</i> story also fared better than I would have counted on. Yet another artist (Francesco Francavilla) managed to make it work. He had very interesting choices for panel layout and the visual impression that was created is one that for me fits the overall 'enigmatic' charm that is the Riddler. Much like the main story, this was relied on exposition which I had no problem with because it actually took the time getting readers into the story's fundamentals unlike the first cycle. Duke Thomas is once again the focal point of the story alongside the bad guy Riddler and this I hope becomes consistent because I'm slowly warming up to the idea of Duke becoming a part of the Bat-family and I'd like to see how he holds himself up to that pedigree. So in a nutshell, issue #6 had been a very impressive installment.</span><br />
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-50628399727070991652017-04-25T23:20:00.000-07:002017-04-24T23:21:41.995-07:00(DC Rebirth) Batman by Tom King issue #5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This issue was an absolute dud, and just knowing I still have to review it is a little disheartening which was why I delayed it for a few days. Yesterday was my birthday but the celebration came in with three installments starting on the 22nd. This was why I didn't submit any Bat-reviews, but now I'm back and I at least can finish the first volume of Tom King's run and do more of Snyder's <i>All Star Batman</i> and realistically be able to reach issue #8 before this month ends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The fifth chapter for <i>I Am Gotham</i> was a dud, like I said, which was disappointing since King has delivered capably enough so far and he was also quite fairly consistent with his narrative. This issue, however, completely detracts from that consistency which made it utterly baffling, more notably at the last pages. The cover promised readers a violent showdown between Batman and Gotham, but it had been a gimmick because the Justice League apparently swooped in and was a part of the mission. I'm all for a long-winded superpowered battle with a person taking a team of competent fighters which is what happened here with Gotham vs. JL and yet at the same time it came off as an afterthought. We got this technicality that Gotham can increase his powers based on his opponent's own ability but doing so earns years off his lifetime. That I can get behind with too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But what I find rather hard for me suspend my belief upon was how easily Gotham managed to defeat every leaguer---including Superman and Wonder Woman. Perhaps I would have been more open to the idea if there was any build-up to Gotham's formidable prowess as a threat even to the big players. This wasn't the case. He was just simply too powerful for even Sups and Diana to handle, regardless of the brainwashing thing and blind rage or whatnot. I mean, do we really have to diminish the league just to show Gotham is strong? But Batman holds his own against Gotham, at least for a while before Claire as Gotham Girl saves the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I say 'saves the day' very loosely at this point because she was still a hot mess. Leave it to the psychologically impaired superheroine to handle her own brother, I suppose, whatever. But she didn't handle it that well since she ended up killing him which sucked because Hank had a real fleshed-out motivation to begin with than his sister and yet we're stuck with that sibling now. I'm still not impressed about Claire. She had more screen time and autonomy here, I can acknowledge that, but again it felt too rushed and too perfect of a timing just to kill off Hank. There's nothing more I can say for this issue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I just didn't like it overall; except only for that small scene at the beginning with Alfred dressing up as Batman.</span></div>
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-48545938623387505522017-04-21T20:12:00.000-07:002017-04-20T20:13:00.247-07:00All Star Batman by Scott Snyder issue #5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The fifth installment of this series is also the conclusion to the <i>My Own Worst Enemy</i> arc concerning Two Face/Harvey Dent. And I liked it a lot, the way everything was tied up neatly, including the vital loose threads. For what it's worth, it's been an audaciously fun ride! Everything was fast-paced and the few parts that were humorous were campy and never bashful about being so. I liked the presence of KG Beast and the tug of war happening between Batsy and Two Face as well as Two Face and Harvey Dent themselves. But even with all the topsy-turvy shenanigans going on, Snyder still managed to deliver a character-centric story that has some impact, and it's in the moments he can craft that when <i>All Star Batman</i> truly shines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This final piece to the Two Face arc was not perfect but it had brilliant markings. It held enough gravitas, sure, but if you start nitpicking at each layer you will come to realize that it was a flawed conclusion even though Snyder and co did a fine enough job with the landing. This series overall was offbeat and experimental which was why I opted to forgive some oversight and weak plot devices here and there, especially since this issue had a share of those. My enjoyment didn't lessen at all once I start inspecting these flaws because for the last four issues I was vigorously entertained and amused which means something. Snyder wrote a Batman story that actually made me giggle here and there, and in comparison with his grim and poignant run when he was still the writer for the flagship Bat series, this for me was a refreshing angle to experience concerning his writing for the character. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">John Romita Jr.'a art style is not for everyone, but for an action-packed and gimmicky adventure story with lots of fight sequences and landscape shots, his style worked pretty well to complement the punches that Snyder never hesitated to pull for every issue. The breadth of the illustrations for <i>All Star Batman </i>is remarkable; very dynamic and colorful and so easy to get lost in, most notably those lush flashback sequences about Bruce and Harvey's childhood. That unforgettable action scene on the train as well as the steamboat escapade for this issue were definitely easy stand-outs and Romita Jr.'s rendition of the scenes contributed to that memorable factor. I wouldn't say he's a favorite artist but I enjoyed the body of work he produced for this series alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That being said, I wanted to point out the increasingly unbelievable feats of physical strengths that Batman displayed for <i>My Own Worst Enemy.</i> The attacks he had to endure and soldier on have been massive and should have taken a toll on him, but Batman was still walking and kicking ass and I don't think that I can buy into that crap because Bruce Wayne is no Sups or Diana. He's a normal guy who has just undergone extensive training but even he should have limits. He has ruptured and fractured so many parts of his body so I don't understand how he can still stand up! At no point was this inhuman invincibility was addressed though, so let's chalk it up to simple oversight or casual negligence. It's not that important unless you dwell on it anyway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But I want to talk about the two dangling threads which were introduced in the first two issues then abandoned later on and finally resolved here in the last installment. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm referring of course to the reason why Alfred shot the bat-plane in the first issue and why Gordon and the rest of the GCPD are in the Wayne Manor right now and are apparently going to investigate a possible 'man-cave' underground. Both are consequential of each other as it turns out. Let me just show you this page of Alfred being uncharacteristically flippant and weird. Seriously, I don't recognize this Alfred. He's too easily rattled:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Gordon fared better, canon characterization-wise, because he got to me witty in those few pages he appeared in. His dialogue with Alfred </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">subtly hinted that he knows Batman is Bruce Wayne but he's still tiptoeing around it for the sake of discretion and I like it because it shows Gordon is a competent and smart enough detective to figure out the real deal, but also upholds that he should keep Batman's identity a secret. So now we know why Alfred shot down that plane and then when the GCPD arrived underground, they didn't find the batcave at all but just some ordinary 'man-cave'. Gordon had a little laugh with that deception yet was relieved that Batman's secret gets to live another day. So those loose threads were tied up in a sort of anticlimactic yet acceptable way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And now we come to the main event which was Two Face's treachery regarding the cure:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And Batman flipping the chessboard on him all along:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Good stuff. Two Face thinks he had the upper hand but Batman has it all along. I liked the angle that they were childhood friends but it didn't really contribute anything that meaningful in the story except maybe the fact that Bruce becomes privy about Harvey's daddy issues and how his abusive father would use a coin toss to determine whether or not to beat up Harvey. But the twist about that cure was a good one, I can give Snyder that. I like the fact that Batman modified it so that Two Face and Harvey are locked in a permanent battle of dominance. He's essentially stuck at being dissociative. It's a little cruel but also poetic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The next villain arc is going to be about Mr. Freeze. That should be promising.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And yes, I know my review of this issue may have come off as lazy and rushed but I've been in a weird place in my life right now that not even reading and reviewing Batman cheers me up. I promise that my next reviews would be on-point again and less scattered. I'm slowly getting the feeling that I've been subpar in my analyses and insights ever since I came back from my trip. It must be mental fatigue, I don't know. Anyway, things will look up soon for tomorrow with my review of King's issue #5.</span></div>
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-22525994334681508052017-04-20T20:37:00.000-07:002017-04-19T20:47:22.762-07:00(DC Rebirth) Batman by Tom King issue #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The scope of David Finch's art for this issue in particular is outstanding, and that is not at all an understatement. Certain illustrations stood out, most notably pages that depicted gore and violence. I'm never that squeamish when it comes to seeing blood and guts in any medium I consume such as in television shows and comic books, but Finch's illustrations definitely made me stop and stare for a while just to appreciate the quality and breadth that he had contributed solely for this fourth issue. I don't think Tom King's story would be nearly as effective in form if Finch wasn't the artist who drew its scenes to life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The fourth installment for <i>I Am Gotham</i> was provocative, especially since it made such a complete turn for the worst since last issue. The body count is unapologetically high and committed by the one person I never wanted to become bloodthirsty and possessed. The detestably fruitful alliance between Dr. Hugo Strange and Psycho Pirate yielded some terrible consequences. These two assholes managed to capture and inflict serious psychological damage on aspiring superheroes Gotham and Gotham Girl (Hank and Claire) who did not stand a chance so now the former has went on a psychotic rampage while the latter was reduced into a sniveling weak mess and had to be put under Alfred's care. It was a rather shocking escalation. I know things will go bad---but I did not expect that it would become even worse so soon. This was an overall spectacular issue, given the tight suspenseful drama at its core and Finch's impressive body of work for each page. King was also winning me over as a writer at this point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">However, there are a few things that didn't make sense to me, such as the participation of Amanda Waller in all this clusterfuck and apparently an appearance by the Suicide Club might just take place somewhere down the pipeline. But I digress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What I want to tackle is Hank's regressed state which happened so quickly and so violently that I had to flip back and forth between pages just to make sure I'm witnessing such gruesome events unfold for real, and that they were all because of his doing. From a promising earnest idealist, Hank had now become a deranged killer who are doing things that go against everything he wanted to stand for as Gotham and according to what he wanted to emulate from Batman. It was mortifying and I hope to all the gods this can be fixed soon because I actually like him and his sister. Claire also needs to get back in shape and stop crying because I've grown tired of females being portrayed as broken damsels after a villain had took possession of their minds or some shit like that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was pretty disappointed that she just broke down into an emotional mess. Not that going on a rampage like her brother did would be an improvement in her characterization but at least then she would be doing something instead of clinging onto Duke's arms for consolation. But then again, it needs to be pointed out that Gotham Girl seems to exist because Claire herself was said to be mirroring whatever her big brother wants to do, so she doesn't have a lot of things going for her in the first place already, so is it really such a surprise she would be so easy to manipulate and discard? I sure hope King can fairly resolve Claire's part in the equation. I know Hank well enough but I don't really know that much about Claire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On more pressing matters, Batman tried his best to get through Hank but he was beyond reasoning with at this point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can't wait to see how this drama would resolve and devolve yet again in the next issue.</span></div>
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-51159156793515224632017-04-19T20:05:00.000-07:002017-04-18T20:06:35.284-07:00All Star Batman by Scott Snyder issue #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Snyder's <i>All Star Batman </i>continues to be a worthwhile adventure, and the definition of which is that it's bat-shit insane! Still forty pages per issue, Snyder's series is packing a lot of heat and gimmicks balanced out by his sincere storytelling with emotional weight. <i>All Star Batman</i> is shaping out to be a thrilling bombastic ride that can get campy when it wants to be and, much like KG Beast, won't give a fuck if shit starts falling apart as long as it's for the sake of chaos and fun. I'll tell you who was not falling apart though and that's no other than Batman who had suffered so many physical attacks and injuries that I have no goddamn clue how he still manages to kick ass. Well, he's Batman. I suppose that explanation alone should suffice, amirite?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To recap, Two Face poured acid into Batsy's face mask. So his vision is impaired pretty badly. But hey, he's Batman.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I won't be doing a blow-by-blow description of the action sequences that happened for this issue because I shall maintain from here on out that one should experience <i>All Star Batman</i>'s craziness firsthand because no amount of explanation can truly capture the spectacle that Snyder and Romita Jr. had produced for every issue. Granted, this issue wasn't as uneven as the first two which is an improvement because now there's an actual clear plot we can follow, and characters' actions and motivations do make sense in the long run---except for those distractingly colorful Talons. Fuck those guys. Also, check out them PECTORAL SPEAKERS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That was, hands-down, my most favorite moment of this issue! Second only to that heartfelt dialogue piece between Batman and Duke which I will tackle later on. I mean, pectoral speakers, guys! That's <i>All Star Batman</i> in a nutshell. If you ever want to sell this wacky series to friends, just flip through the pages which illustrate the most ridiculous gadgets Batman had ever packed here in the series alone and we're all good to go! Nothing will ever beat that long-ass batarang from issues ago though. That shit can reap damage like a motherfucker! Ah, there are so many fun memories I can associate with <i>All Star Batman</i> already. But this mind-boggling yet entertaining series is not all just giant monsters beating the shit out of Batman and Penguin burning random people using his umbrella that apparently can shoot out fire in such fine precision, oh no. This series also has a central character conflict which is all about Harvey Dent and Two Face's ongoing rivalry as to which part of him has more claim over the other. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>My Own Worst Enemy</i> is an episodic arc that builds up this tension between the two fragile sides of Dent; his earnest do-gooder persona and the twisted malicious alter ego who wants to destroy whatever goodness is left in Dent. Batman serves as the mediator, expressing a hopeful desire to save his friend from completely losing himself to the darkness. This was why he was willing to endure through brutal lengths just to ensure he can save Harvey Dent from Two Face---even if that means tying him at the back of one of his personal jetliners while he has some insightful dialogue exchange with his current protégé Duke.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I thought that this is one of the most brilliant writing achievements Snyder had put in paper. It worked both ways too in showing Batman's insight and investment on the conflict as well as Duke's own sympathetic angle in regards to the shit going down with his parents (who were still suffering the effects of Joker's toxin back in <i>Endgame</i>). Here we understand that Bruce is someone who believes in people and the goodness that they are and the greatness they can still become. He asserts that everyone has a potential to be redeemed even probably the worst of mankind. Nothing is ever black and white and even the most depraved and morally unethical may even do the right thing if they try hard enough to change their ways. Bruce appreciates the irony of holding onto such a notion, but it's by trusting in the humanity of people that gets him up every night to fight crime after all. This was in relation to Harvey's complicated relationship with his abusive father and to a lesser extent, Duke's staunch belief that his parents can escape the poison that is still hijacking their biology. Bruce expresses the same kind of optimism over Harvey's identity crisis. He wants to believe his friend is not beyond saving because life is all about second chances and unexpected miracles after all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This fourth issue also concluded the side-story at the end of every issue entitled <i>The Cursed Wheel</i> which wrapped up in a flat note, if you ask me, but at least I no longer find myself that detached to Duke anymore. I think the side-story did a fine enough job establishing him as competent and driven by himself, and that his heart is in the right place even if he tends to make haste and commit small errors along the way. He can learn and grow especially since Batman chose him for a reason, and I have a lot of faith in Bruce's judgment so I'll give Duke more chances to prove himself. I hope to see more of the artist Declan Shalvey's work though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I think more people should read <i>All Star Batman </i>as long as they consider it a standalone series since it's more effective that way!</span></div>
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-88972656702289889322017-04-18T19:32:00.000-07:002017-04-17T19:32:50.673-07:00(DC Rebirth) Batman by Tom King issue #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The first pages of this issue was an unexpected serving of deja vu---in the most gruesome yet also moving way possible. For a split second, I thought King was giving me yet another rendition of the Wayne murders but the essential details about the scene are altered which led me to conclude quickly that this wasn't about Bruce Wayne's childhood trauma at all but another child's tragedy. A young boy was walking with his parents on a dark alleyway in Gotham. A mugger tried to rob them. He beat the father and was now getting handsy with the mother's jewelry. The scene was playing out exactly in a horrible nostalgic way until that crucial last moment when everything would have ended in blood and grief. At the last second, Batman appeared and saved everyone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was a victory that was satisfying on an emotional level because of how much it means for Bruce Wayne as Batman to save even just one life in the hands of a petty crime. Most people forget that Batman was always about stopping street-level crimes. His night patrols were always composed of impeding organized crime or even the smallest crime committed in some alleyway in Gotham. Tom King showed us that in this flashback and reminded us that behind the Dark Knight will always be that traumatized boy who lost his parents one bad night where it changed the course of the rest of his entire life afterwards, and in becoming Batman he was channeling this loss into something demonstratively righteous and inspiring. He may not have been able to save his parents, but he can symbolically avenge their deaths by ensuring no one will ever lose their loved ones the same way he did particularly in cases where a tragedy can just happen in the most mundane way possible such as during a late-night mugging.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Speaking of inspiring life-changing events, let's talk about these specific panels for a moment:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm sorry, but I was in goddamn tears right after reading this. How could I not be, seeing as how much Batman is my own childhood hero whose brand of justice and truth resonates with me to this day? Watching him prevent the same crime that claimed his parents' life was cathartic, and being able to talk to the boy who could have been him was a rather powerful moment. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Later on, the readers will discover that this flashback sequence was about Hank Clover (and to a lesser extent, his sister Claire) who will become the superpowered fans named Gotham and Gotham Girl. This was their origin story which Bruce found out by himself while he was in FBI disguise to interview their parents who were more than eager to share their children's aspirations to become defenders of the city since they have been motivated and inspired by no other than Batman.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was all the more reason why I was so moved about those panels above because I feel as if this was Batman not only speaking to Hank Clover as a young boy but also speaking to his child-self. These were the words he wished someone had said to him when his life changed after witnessing his parents' brutal murders in front of him, and he had no idea how to start picking up the pieces just yet. This was Bruce Wayne now as an adult and a vigilante wishing to reassure a kid just like him from before that hope blooms even in the most wretched of places, and that he doesn't have to stay powerless forever because one day he may even get the chance to fight back and rise from the adversity of his own fears and insecurities. That's the message a hero like Batman imparts and one that people should never forget or tarnish. This is why we read his story. At the heart of it all, this is about one man's victory over his own demons every time he becomes Batman and defeats his enemies. He is an inspiration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Just ask Hank and Claire Clover. They decided to become Gotham and Gotham Girl because of him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was really happy about this issue because it humanized Hank and Claire and gave them convincing character motivations. I readily accept that they are simply noble and decent people who just want to give back to their city and help anyone who needs a hero at the end of the day. That fateful meeting between Hank and Batman that night was a hallmark for the former who found a role model to emulate and an altruistic purpose to share with his sister. It's so beautiful and I dread how they're going to be broken down once Hugo Strange and his Monster Men get to them. I know it's going to happen and I can only hope they survive the ordeal because at this point it has become rather easy and natural to root for these kids. Earnest idealists who want to do good being thrown into a gritty situation never fails to break my heart. The next issues are bound to get crazy and sad.</span><br />
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-33004432099851664342017-04-07T10:16:00.000-07:002017-04-06T10:16:46.486-07:00SHORT HIATUS ANNOUNCEMENT<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm going on an overseas trip from April 8-15 so I'll be unable to post new Batman reviews starting today so I can focus on getting ready mentally while also arranging a few tasks at home before I leave. But I shall be back with a vengeance around the 16th with new posts for King's <i>Batman </i>and Snyder's <i>All Star Batman</i>. Until then, I bid you all adieu!~</span></div>
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-83437411345978987792017-04-06T22:29:00.000-07:002017-04-05T22:30:17.905-07:00All Star Batman by Scott Snyder issue #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Things seemed to have settled down for <i>All Star's Batman</i> third issue where the dust has cleared for a bit and the action has to take a backseat to make way for some overdue exposition and narrative focus. For that alone, I think this issue feels more grounded and understandable as it also allowed Snyder's writing for the characters and the plot itself to shine. I definitely feel as if I'm back in familiar territory regarding his style of approach when it comes to crafting a beguiling Batman story. I thought it was pretty entertaining, of course, all those crazy shenanigans of Batsy fighting of hired muscle and other kooky mercenaries so he can travel upstate and save Harvey Dent buried somewhere within the malicious persona of Two-Face.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But the core strength in Snyder's writing are the small nuances of characterization that personally make his stories worthy of prolonged emotional investment in. If <i>All Star Batman</i> becomes a resonant piece that is not just all about spectacle and explosion, then I'm most certainly going to keep looking forward for the next installments. This issue had some great humorous moments in it still in spite of it having a more serious tone. Romita Jr.'s art continues to grow on me, and since his earlier illustrations portrayed fast-paced ass-kicking, it's commendable to see how his style can adapt when it comes to more subdued scenes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Standout scenes here that I liked are anything with hired assassin KGBeast whose identity I didn't even reveal in my last review for the series. All you need to know is that he's an absolute doll and even though Batsy and Two-Face were able to get away from him for now thanks to Duke, I'm certain KG my man will make his surprise appearance later on. Another scene I enjoyed was that over-the-top Penguin scene since it reminded me so much of <i>Gotham</i>'s own version played by Robin Lord Taylor. I can totally picture that version opening a personalized umbrella that breathes fire and turns annoying extras into a burnt crisp, which is exactly what Snyder's Penguin did here during that amusing scene. I don't know why I don't have a screenshot of that moment here. Damn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is also that unexpected yet sensible appearance of the Talons who are sporting new colors that can only be described as flashy. Does the color change have anything to do with who they are? I feel that maybe they are a bunch of freelancers and don't serve the Court of Owls but Two-Face. Anyway, I'm mentioning the standout scenes first before I tackle the main attraction later. The last standout scene was the welcome appearance of Harold Allnut. This character is someone I recognize easily from <i>Hush</i> whom I recall had sold out Batman to Tommy Elliot with the promise of getting a voice since he's mute. Originally, he used to work for Penguin's crew before Batman decided to give him a new purpose leaning more on the righteous path. He's certainly talking here in this issue and I think his role is essential, considering he's a mechanic genius which can explain how Bruce is able to maintain the inner workings of the Batcave. Harold's participation can be a believable reason for that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So let's get to the main story for this issue. In that wonderfully drawn flashback sequence, we find out that Bruce and Harvey know each other in childhood when they were both sent to a facility that I think deals with troubled children. Bruce had just lost his parents, and apparently Harvey has an abusive father who liked to beat him up by the whim of a coin toss. They reconnected as adults later on when Harvey became a District Attorney and Bruce became Batman. It took them a while to realize who they are to each other, but at that point it didn't seem to matter. Or does it? Two-Face <i>remembers</i> Bruce from childhood which is telling since Harvey and Two-Face don't know the same things as each other. They are completely disassociated from each other's memories, so the fact that Two-Face can remember this piece of Harvey's childhood can possibly mean HE was the one Bruce met as a child.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's getting really fascinating and nerve-wracking at this point, especially that cliffhanger at the end where Two-Face administers the 'cure' that Batman will supposedly use to restore Harvey. Two-Face proclaimed that perhaps that 'cure' will instead make him permanent and not Harvey Dent---before he pours it all over Batman's eyes. So I don't know what the fuck that would entail but I'm excited to know soon! I also like the idea of Bruce and Harvey going way back. I feel as if it's a key to something.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The Cursed Wheel</i> backup story, fortunately, has received some more grounded storytelling as well. This is shaping out to be Duke-centric piece which I don't mind at all because I want to be given a reason to like this character and so far being able to see him attempt to be a detective and follow the trail was great. It's making him more real while hopefully fleshing out his personality. That flashback scene about his mom waking him up in the middle of the night to tell him about a murder was rather awkwardly handled though, but other than that, the story is finally picking up steam, and Declan Shalvey's art is becoming rather engrossing to look at. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This was a satisfying installment overall so I will give it a much higher rating than the first two.</span><br />
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-54798729514866219312017-04-05T23:22:00.000-07:002017-04-05T01:29:36.471-07:00(DC Rebirth) Batman by Tom King issue #2<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From what I can tell so far into the second issue for this flagship series, a lot of the classic mythos from the long run of <i>Batman</i> is being constantly rehashed here and rendered as something new, most possibly for the benefit of the fresh readership. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This re-telling does not bother me, and I'd like to think that what Tom King is merely doing is paying tribute to the Bat-canon by allowing new readers to experience a version of one of its classic stories. This narrative choice makes sense too for DC's Rebirth theme in general since I believe the whole point of the re-branding is to revisit the roots of DC comics, and that includes some form of nostalgic appeal when it comes to framing the stories of their popular characters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That being said, I would like to fully disclose that Dr. Hugo Strange is a Bat-villain I have loathed for a long time since reading </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Batman: Prey</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. He just rubbed me off the wrong way. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And this was back in 2014 when I read it. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So as soon as I got to the last few pages of this second issue where it was revealed that we'd be tackling Hugo Strange and the 'Monster Men', I was understandably torn. I seriously let out an audible grunt of dismay and annoyance to find that I'm going to have to deal with Strange again. Still, I actually have learned to appreciate the character more as years went by, mostly because of his recent adaptation in Fox TV's </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Gotham</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> show during the second season. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Actor B.D Wong nailed the character very well, or at least presented him in a way in which is villainy was convincing as well as his relevance to the canon altogether. The same thing goes for his exposure in the <i>Arkham Asylum</i> games which I didn't mind. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I suppose my negative bias still holds in comics, however, but I will reserve any more critical judgments until I see how King plans to utilize him here for his story arc, <i>I Am Gotham</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now I want to talk more about the other characters here, but first I want to get a cameo appearance out of the way. Solomon Grundy was featured in the beginning action sequence for this second issue. New superpowered heroes Gotham and Gotham Girl join in the mix to aid Batman in bringing down Grundy. It went as well as expected with a few hiccups here and there. I think I recognize Grundy from his appearance in <i>The Long Halloween</i>, if I'm not mistaken. Anyway, I liked the angle in which these superpowered newbies actually do look up to Batman and recognize the important work he had done for Gotham City. They weren't there to get into some trite macho contest with him or challenge his authority as a seasoned crime fighter or anything like that. So I like Gotham and Gotham Girl so far because they have shown humility by asking for Batman's tutelage as well as passion in what they want to do so they can help the city, even if they tend to get a little enthusiastic about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If all goes well, these two can even become dependable allies for Batsy, mainly to aid him in catastrophic events in which superpowers can make a difference in avoiding such disasters. Batman, of course, can acknowledge his fallibility; that he is not an invincible man physically---just someone who is resourceful and determined to fight. This was he told Alfred as to why he was willing to give Gotham and Gotham Girl a chance, and why he even introduced them to Commissioner Gordon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I would be remiss if I don't point out how witty and dry Alfred and James Gordon have been for this issue. It's refreshing to read Alfred being snarky as it reminds me of his </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Gotham</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> counterpart. Gordon makes the best expressions too, especially after meeting the two superheroes aforementioned. What really takes the cake, though, was the fact that Batman pulled the Disappearing Act and even got the best of the two who were baffled that even they can't find him when they have superpowers at their disposal. That earned a chuckle from me. I think I'm going to have fun reading more Tom King if he keeps this up for the series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I look forward for the third issue since Dr. Hugo Strange made his appearance at the last page, and I'm curious to see what direction King plans to take for the Monster Men storyline as well as how the presence of the two new caped heroes can serve the rest of the arc. I will hold off on giving higher ratings since I want to save them for issues that will truly stand out and shine. So far, it's all been a steady build-up to what I hope will be something spectacular!</span><br />
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-83306307811520018442017-04-04T23:19:00.000-07:002017-04-03T23:20:31.231-07:00All Star Batman by Scott Snyder issue #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I liked this issue. Sure, it still had the same format concerning a non-linear approach to the narrative such as time skips, which I maintain was problematic during its debut. Luckily enough, for this second issue, Snyder was able to utilize the style better to suit the storytelling, giving him a good advantage to make most of the plot threads presented. His Batman even cracks me up because he made the silliest joke ever imaginable and I don't even want to repeat it because it's so rare for Bats to have a sense of humor. Still, I would also argue that if Batman ever had a sense of humor, he would be a total cornball. And Snyder just proved me right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The real selling point of this issue was the fact that we finally get more nuanced moments between Batman and Two-Face. Sure, most of the time they bickered their way through the issue like a couple of dum-dums, but the interaction was very believable and even a little sad. There's an unspoken camaraderie between Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent that we are too quick sometimes to gloss over to make room for punching and stabbing and whatnot, and yet the friendship itself was effectively rendered in that one page of art for this issue which featured an ambiguous flashback. I must admit it was beautiful to look at, and I need to see what happens in that flashback because I can smell some genuine bromance brewing. My radar is hardly wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The narrative flows better in <i>My Worst Enemy Part 2</i> even if there were panels of dialogue here between Alfred and Duke that sort of slowed down the well-oiled machine of the issue's pacing. They didn't necessarily ruined the fun, though, because they at least gave good commentary concerning the relationship between Batman and Two-Face. I suppose my gripe for that scene is mostly just me becoming a little embittered about Duke Thomas in general. I'm trying my very best to like the kid, but no one is making it easy for me at the moment, so I'll just continue to ignore him until he proves worthy of my attention.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">John Romita Jr. is an artist I knew best from the <i>Kick Ass</i> comics, and his art works best for action sequences very well especially for this second issue which featured exciting confrontations on the roof of a speeding train where Batman had to face an array of cameo villain characters who all want to set Two-Face free. The dialogue and most of the fight scenes were balls-out hilarious! How can it not be when you have Killer Croc, King Shark and Amygdala in one scene? These muscular beasts all have an axe to grind with Batsy and they were not afraid to make him their punching bag. My favorite moment had to be this panel which never fails to make me snicker because there is just something campy about it that I rarely get to see in modern <i>Batman</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As I've said, what I like about this issue is the pacing which kept me engaged the entire time. We have Bats and Two-Face never getting along as a bunch of bad guys try to interrupt their quality time and make Bats suffer---but in the most entertaining Western way possible. Most importantly, there's a real story developing and progressing as we move further along the line. The time skips make more sense now too and a very good way to build up the suspense because it has a future scene stamped with <i>Two Days From Now</i> and it featured Gordon and the rest of GCPD staking out the Wayne Mansion for reasons I think will soon come to light as we find out what happens in Batman's mission to take Two-Face upstate. I have no problem whatsover with this foreshadowing because I always find the small moments of conflict between Batman and law enforcement to be a given in comics, and it certainly makes things more tense and realistic whenever the GCPD don't always have Batman's back, even Gordon who should be allowed to voice against his caped crusader ally every now and then. Speaking of tension and conflict...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I really appreciated that scene among the Penguin, Black Mask and Great White as they all hired a common assassin to take out Batman. I won't reveal the identity of said mercenary, but I sure hope he would become a consistent player who will keep stalking Batman and Two-Face for the rest of the issues. Said dude's cool attitude is also quite growing on me so I want to see him again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This series in entirety is 30+ pages long for every issue and this is where that backup story <i>The Cursed Wheel</i> comes along. Nothing about it has yet to impress me, really, aside from the artwork done by Declan Shalvey. Other than that, the characterization for Batman here seemed almost like he was the Batman I knew and loathed a little during the first few issues of <i>Batman and Robin</i> by Peter J. Tomasi. He was aloof, dismissive and even outright uncaring about anyone but the crime he must solve. He's not exactly showing his best foot forward here, especially if he truly wants to establish a good partnership with Duke Thomas whose motives to fight crime and join Batman were at least given some context here. I also enjoyed reading this panel below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That right there summarizes my small complaint about Duke Thomas as a character and I'm glad Snyder was self-aware enough to address what I believe are most readers' grievances about him. I can't help but smirk a little when even Batman himself admits that perhaps he also thinks Duke is not cut out for this line of work but keeps him around for reasons he would not discuss as of yet. I don't know, it may be a tad petty of me to take cheap pleasure that Duke was knocked down a peg here, but it's not like I have any reason to like him or root for him at the moment. I just don't know what to feel about the character. Soon enough, Snyder might just turn <i>The Cursed Wheel </i>into a legitimately compelling Duke-centric story next to its mystery case, and I hope he can convince me to perceive his original character in a better light once it's all over. Fingers crossed but I don't have the highest hopes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Overall, this second issue was a vast improvement from its debut because it's just tons of fun without necessarily sacrificing good storytelling. I'm more than eager to see what's in store for Batman and Two-Face as they continue with their road trip.</span></div>
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975552729102607636.post-1407483872163170082017-04-03T22:29:00.000-07:002017-04-02T22:30:49.305-07:00(DC Rebirth) Batman by Tom King issue #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's the very first issue of Tom King's run for <i>Batman</i>, and I didn't know what to expect but it certainly isn't an airplane about to crash Gotham, and the fact that only Batman has to stop it since the Leaguers who can prevent such a crash by using their superpowers (Sups and Lantern) are currently fighting their own monsters. As far as an action-oriented piece of story goes, this first issue had been spectacular. David Finch's illustrations were gripping to look at even if his overall style so far hasn't been at his best, at least as far as comparing it to his earlier work in his own line for <i>The Dark Knight</i> series during the New 52 lineup. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Since this issue was action-based, there is not much content to talk about regarding the plot itself as of yet except of course the revelation at the end which definitely proves rather promising to see unfold by the next issues. What I would like to discuss first is the underlying commentary regarding Batman as the self-appointed hero and defender of Gotham City. Unlike the aforementioned Leaguers, Batman, of course, does not possess superpowers. His speed, agility and strength came foremost from a rigorous training regimen that Bruce Wayne had explored all his life. He had to travel through continents to learn and hone several fighting techniques before even coming back to his city so he can start his one-man crusade. He has immense wealth and above-average intelligence to match his physical prowess and this was why he was regarded not just as a formidable fighter but also as a great detective. But it's mostly about his wealth as a Wayne heir that enabled him to sustain a crime-fighting nocturnal career. How else can he build his own Bat-cave and other gadgets if he didn't have serious cash to burn?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are many obvious reasons why Batman is a lot of people's favorite go-to hero and they mostly have something to do with state-of-the-art weaponry, gritty person as the Dark Knight who stalks the criminal underworld, his incomparably unique Rogues' gallery; villains who are just as off-beat and compelling as he is, and---the primary reason we often hear nerds would say---the fact that he was not blessed with superpowers but had rather acquired his skills through sheer will and discipline alone. We can also add his personal tragedy into the mix; an orphaned boy who had to watch his parents get gunned down by a mugger one fateful night and how that traumatic experience and his survivor's guilt changed and tempered him into a badass steel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So why do I tackle something that's already general knowledge about Batman? It's because this first issue by Tom King seems to have the makings of exploring why Batman is the hero Gotham needs/deserves. It's a theme that had been written countless times in the long 75 years run for the character in comics. It's something of a staple now too that in the hands of a capable writer who may have great insight to share, the story of examining why a flawed, human and determined crime fighter like Batman appeals to us (by the simple reason that he lacks superpowers and yet gets shit done anyway and does it so with style) can be a worthwhile read once more for both old and new fans who are reading this title. Sure, it's been done to death, but who says it can't happen again and be magical just the same? Say, you've read this issue yourself, and then you got to those crucial pages where the airplane is guaranteed to crash and burn straight into the heart of Gotham. Now, tell me honestly as you read it---</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">---did you ever doubt that Batman would be unable to pull off something awesome and save everyone at the last minute?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Superhero comics are a wish fulfillment designed to tell stories of heroism and vibrant hope where one man or woman's fierce dedication and strength of will can make a difference in a city often bereft of redemption in the first place. Since they operate that way, a hero saving the day is no strange feat and may even be formulaic and predictable. And so when Batman was able to swing the direction of the malfunctioning airplane by riding it like a badass (the mechanics of which you need to read for yourself so pick up the issue), readers like me are willing to suspend belief and just say, "Yes, of course he can do that shit. He's Batman!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's the same sentiment that Jim Gordon has. He had rather comedic lines for this issue, the most notable of which is when he contacted Batman to ask where he is in the middle of all this commotion, and Batman confidently answers, "I'm on the plane." And Gordon's ready if not snarky response was, "Of course you're on the plane." He knows that Batman is already about to prevent the latest disaster as it strikes Gotham City. Of course he is! With an almost cynical scoff yet grateful relief, readers do the same thing too every time Batman rises up to the challenge and we don't have to pretend anymore that it's anything we can expect otherwise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The last two pages has Batman about to crash the airplane on sea to hopefully avoid more casualties, but suddenly two flying caped crusaders came swooping in to lift it from under Batsy. His reaction was to call out Sups' name because who else can do that? He was mistaken, however, and instead came face-to-face with these amusingly clad champs who apparently are the new heroes for the city. They even named themselves appropriately in case to make the representation as clear and concise as possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This should be fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>RECOMMENDED: 7/10</b></span></div>
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Frankh Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08256065850655289424noreply@blogger.com0