Month: December 2020

Written by J. Michael Straczynski

Art by Cliff Chiang; Rob Leigh; & Trish Mulvihill

Cover Art by Jesus Saiz

SUMMARY:

Entitled “Ladies’ Night,” it was published by DC Comics for June 2010 as a prequel to Batman: The Killing Joke.  Zatanna Zatara ominously wakes up late one night, sensing her dream-in-progress was really a premonition.  Recruiting Wonder Woman/Diana, a somber Zatanna coordinates a special girls’ night out.  In Gotham City, the duo double-teams Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) into joining their excursion.  Decked out for exploring Gotham’s nightclub scene, the ladies enjoy much-needed downtime. 

Over breakfast, after a gauntlet of all-night clubbing, Diana tells her friends of the Greek oracles, gently alluding to Zatanna’s guilt over sensing Barbara’s imminent fate.  As Zatanna & Diana’s private exchange is poignantly revealed in its full context, Barbara spends a quiet evening at home with her dad in the moments leading up to The Killing Joke.  In the present-day, Oracle/Barbara wistfully confides her favorite recurring dream.

REVIEW:

It’s kudos for writer J. Michael Straczynski, as he does a beautiful job delving into the psyches of both Zatanna and Batgirl.  Limiting Wonder Woman’s contribution as the supportive friend is a smart creative choice, as giving her Zatanna’s heartfelt, oracle-like role would have been far too predictable.  With artist Cliff Chiang in vintage form, this story’s low-key visuals are elegant and appropriately subdued.  The top-caliber cover image is another considerable asset.  Quite impressively, The Brave and the Bold # 33 delivers a complete storytelling package. 

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The single-page “DC Nation” column by Dan DiDio promotes the DC Comics Super Heroes and Villains Fandex, as well as discussing DiDio’s own fond memories of growing up with super-heroes.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:               10 Stars

Written by Mark Waid

Art by Scott Kolins; Rob Schwager; & Rob Leigh

Cover Art by Scott Kolins

SUMMARY:

Entitled “Tempted,” it was published by DC Comics for October 2008.  Filling in one night for an absent Batman, the Man of Steel reluctantly pairs with Catwoman to infiltrate a Gotham City underworld auction.  At stake is a covert map to a hidden underground cave that will surely irk Batman, should it ever be possessed by criminals.  Yet, could an uneasy alliance between these DC icons lead to a potential double-cross or two? 

REVIEW:

At the top of his game, writer Mark Waid amusingly plays up Superman’s Boy Scout persona, as he squirms from a conniving Catwoman’s instant crush.  The fun gags (i.e. Superman’s chaffing at a not-so-subtle auction disguise; not to mention, his blushing at Catwoman’s sultry ‘threat’ to bring a friend visiting Metropolis next time) Waid conjures up are a real treat for fans. 

Even more so, Superman & Catwoman’s awkward who’s-tempting-who? ‘odd couple’ chemistry gives the story some wonderful spark.  The story’s best plot thread comes with a well-played bait-and-switch re: a mysterious cave linked to familiar Bat-lore.  Although the interior artwork is somewhat inconsistent (as if alternating between two styles), the issue’s overall visuals are solidly produced.  Its best visual asset is that spot-on cover image. 

With its inspired premise, The Brave and The Bold # 16 would make for a delightful TV episode, if adapted for animation.         

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Dan DiDio’s half-page “DC Nation” column promotes Icon and Shadow Cabinet’s upcoming appearance in Justice League of America.  Thumbnail cover reveals are for The Brave and the Bold # 17; Batgirl # 2; Legion of Three Worlds # 1; and Justice League of America # 24.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:             8½ Stars

Written by Dennis O’Neil.

Art by Steve Erwin; José Luis García-López; Tom McCraw; & John Costanza.

Cover Art by Dave Dorman.

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics in 1992, this 64-page Batman Returns adaptation pits Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne/Batman vs. multiple foes threatening Gotham City during the Christmas season. 

The Dark Knight contends with Michelle Pfeiffer’s sultry Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Danny DeVito’s ghoulish Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin.  Christopher Walken’s devious Gotham City mega-industrialist, Max Schreck, also seeks his own convenient power grab with the Penguin’s help.  A desperate kidnapping gambit by the Penguin’s gang forces the Dark Knight to take decisive action.

REVIEW:

Even a quick perusal will confirm that none of the creative team brought his ‘A’ game to this project. More so, it’s a shame that writer Dennis O’Neil didn’t devise the film’s screenplay, considering his notable track record of delivering far better Bat-stories. 

Still, O’Neil’s expertise can’t fix how underdeveloped Batman Returns’ script is, as so little actually makes sense (i.e. Batman’s ludicrous identity reveal in the climax).  Just like with the film, Michelle Pfeiffer’s wonky Catwoman steals the adaptation’s best scenes, making one wonder if Pfeiffer’s acting helped inspire writer Paul Dini’s creation of Harley Quinn. 

Yet, short of Selina Kyle’s off-kilter anti-heroism, the other characters (especially Batman himself) suffer from an inexplicable lack of substance.  Ironically, depth is a reliable O’Neil asset, but he doesn’t come close to making up the difference in this instance.  The art squad supplies, at best, passable visuals to convey the cast’s likenesses.  Unfortunately, the sole artistic highlight is the back cover’s right-side painted portrait of Catwoman & Penguin.  Let’s consider it a sign of far too little too late. 

This kid-friendly Batman Returns adaptation, to no one’s surprise, is an instantly forgettable read.    

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

None — other than some film credits on the front inside cover.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    3 Stars

Written by Grant Morrison

Art by Chris Burnham; Nathan Fairbairn; & Pat Brosseau

Cover Art by JH Williams & Yanick Paquette

SUMMARY:

Entitled “The Kane Affair,” this issue was published by DC Comics for April 2011.  Batwoman (Kate Kane) chases down a triple-homicide suspect, Johnny Valentine, at a carnival that once belonged to the original and subsequently murdered Batwoman, Kathy Kane (who was Kate’s relative by marriage).  Though Valentine escapes, the current Batwoman ends up in battle with an unknown imposter dressed as her predecessor. 

Glimpses of Kathy Kane’s past with Agent-33 (aka El Gaucho); the Dynamic Duo; and her romance with Bruce Wayne are seen.  Kathy’s involvement with the nebulous Spyral organization is revealed.  It’s hinted that Kathy’s possibly real father is a deranged Nazi war criminal.  Batwoman is motivated to uncover the truth of her predecessor’s death.

Holding three young boys as hostages, the Sombrero and Scorpiana taunt Batman and El Gaucho (both packing electrified ‘brass knuckles’) into instigating a bloody fistfight.  This case has instantly become all too personal for an infuriated Batman, as time runs out for the Sombrero’s evidently doomed hostages.      

Note: Though the image isn’t provided here, there’s a variant cover by artist Yanick Paquette.

REVIEW:

Although writer Grant Morrison’s narrative is muddled (i.e. the abrupt jumps in and out of the Kathy Kane flashbacks), he conjures up an intriguing reboot of the Silver Age Batwoman.  Deploying a welcome aura of unpredictability, Morrison’s inclusion of the present-day Batwoman and El Gaucho into this volatile mix is compelling, as his plot twists generally make sense. 

The retroactive changes Morrison applies to Kathy Kane’s history (re: Spyral, among other elements) also prove well-played.  Including the top-caliber cover image, Morrison’s storyline is capably supported by the art team, particularly some well-devised switches in visual styles.  Though this issue is likely too violent for kids, the near-flawless Batman Incorporated # 4 makes a stellar read for long-time Bat-fans.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The single-page “DC Nation” column is merely a Catwoman-themed ad for the DC Universe Online video game.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    9 Stars

Written by (See Credits Below)

Art by (See Credits Below)

Cover Art by Dustin Nguyen

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for October 2011, this 80-page one-shot consists of seven 10-page tales where Bruce Wayne’s Batman stars in six of them.  The stories are:

“Intervention.” Writer: Eric Hobbs, with art by Ted Naifeh; John Kalisz; and Dave Sharpe.  In a Gotham City slum, Bruce Wayne is frustrated in his efforts to aid young drug addict, Jade (not DC’s emerald super-hero). As Batman, he combats the new drug, ‘Intrepid,’ which may have infected Jade.  The Dark Knight suspects this insidious substance is related to Scarecrow’s fear toxin.  

“Short Straw.” Writers: Troy Brownfield & Matt Brady, with art by Thomas Nacklik; Rachelle Rosenberg; and Dave Sharpe.  Wearing his employer’s enhanced armored suit, a paramilitary mercenary named Deckard is hired to test an irritated Dark Knight by knocking off Gotham’s diamond exchange.  Calling this heist a ‘bad idea’ is an understatement.

“Unspoken.”  Writers: David Skelly & Jennifer Skelly, with art by Cristina Coronas; Bill Sienkiewicz; John Kalisz; and Sal Cipriano.  This narrative-free romance depicts a restless Bruce Wayne’s jealousy over seeing Selina Kyle with a suave gunrunner prior to a Batman vs. Catwoman confrontation.

“On the Waterfront.”  Writer/Colorist: Guy Major, with art by Eric Nguyen & Wes Abbott.  The psychotic Mister Zsasz finds that he now has his own Harley Queen wanna-be.  Worse yet, Batman mistakenly believes Zsasz is holding this female psychiatrist-turned-serial killer captive.    

“Danger Drive.”  Writer: Terrance Griep, with art by Peter Pachoumis; Rodney Ramos; Dave Sharpe; & Wes Ozioba.  The Riddler and his entourage hold the Jeopardy-styled Imperiled! TV game show’s mustachioed host (who curiously resembles the Prankster), the blonde hostess, and studio audience hostage at gunpoint.  Another of their captives is contestant Dick Grayson.  It’s left up to Renee Montoya’s Question to serve up the necessary answers. 

“Fearless.”  Writer: Caleb Monroe, with art by Geoff Shaw; Jack Purcell; Chris Beckett; & Dave Sharpe.  Coolly making a play against the Scarecrow, would-be super-villain Nick Pierce reveals his origin as Batman’s next nemesis: the Falcon.  Pierce is fully aware that his occupation remains a work-in-progress.

“One Lock, Many Keys.”  Writer/Letterer: Joe Caramagna, with art by Joe Lauch; Jack Purcell; & Wil Quintana.  Blue-collar parents Evelyn & Jack bicker over their handicapped young son’s inability to speak.  Late that night, the boy becomes involved in a Batman vs. Solomon Grundy showdown.    

Note: Despite their presence on the cover, Batwoman; Huntress; Black Canary; Zatanna Zatara; Man-Bat; Stephanie Brown’s Batgirl; Oracle; Tim Drake’s Red Robin; and Damian Wayne’s Robin don’t actually appear in this issue.

REVIEW:

All seven stories are coherently written, but some (i.e. Short Straw and the vile On the Waterfront) are definitely not kid-friendly. 

Unspoken’s romanticism is the issue’s highlight, as Bruce & Selina’s timeless bond is creatively left open to interpretation.  The sole comedy is the amusing Danger Drive, as Renee Montoya’s Question is a spot-on adversary for the Riddler.  The story’s sole gaffe is: why would the Question stay and chat with her long-time boss, Commissioner Gordon?  One can only presume, if Gordon supposedly couldn’t ever recognize Bruce Wayne & Dick Grayson as Batman & Robin — let alone his own daughter as the original Batgirl, then Montoya’s secret identity must be safe, too.  

Intervention is an intriguing read, though the actual backstory of Jade meeting Bruce Wayne isn’t addressed.  Judging by his black-and-gray hair, the art team oddly depicts Bruce Wayne as middle-aged in this story for some reason.  Still, Intervention offers something for DC Comics to expand upon, in terms of Bruce Wayne’s approach to aiding poverty’s victims in Gotham City.  The grisly On the Waterfront, however, would have worked better had Zsasz’s new female groupie faced either Batwoman or the Question.  Short Straw and Fearless are both audition stories, as the villain’s narrative takes precedence.  If developed further, either villain might be worth adding to the rotation of Bat-villains.     

As for One Lock, Many Keys, this one is the hardest to analyze.  One could assume the Batman vs. Grundy battle occurs in the boy’s imagination or a dream (inspired by a comic book he has just read).  Yet, correlating a breakthrough in the boy’s severe speech impediment due to meeting Batman is much too self-congratulatory to DC Comics.  Unfortunately, despite the writer’s good intentions, this story is insulting to real world struggles with this medical condition.      

To this one-shot’s credit, all seven stories are nicely illustrated (including Dustin Nguyen’s cover montage).  Their diverse visual styles make for a considerable creative asset.  The different writing approaches, however, aren’t cohesive enough to make a compelling read.  Unspoken and Danger Drive are the most deserving to merit inclusion as back-up tales padding a Batman hardcover or trade paperback.  The others, less so, to varying degrees, with On the Waterfront meriting a parental advisory label.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

This issue’s Table of Contents proves a helpful aid to navigate through these Bat-tales.  The single-page “DC Nation” is a Green-Lantern themed ad for the DC Universe Online video game.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    6 Stars

Written by Grant Morrison

Art by Lee Garbett; Trevor Scott; Guy Major; & Jared K. Fletcher

Cover Art by Alex Ross (Cover A)

SUMMARY:

Published for January 2009 by DC Comics, “What the Butler Saw” is evidently the conclusion of Last Rites storyline, as an abducted Batman’s brain-drain torture takes some unexpected twists.  Further hyped is Batman’s ominous “last adventure” in the imminent sixth issue of writer Grant Morrison’s Final Crisis series. 

As seen in his fragmented memories, Batman’s evolution continues to be analyzed.  In addition to glimpses of Bruce’s affair with Talia and the rise & fall of Jason Todd’s Robin, among other scenes, a weird alternate reality is depicted where Bruce Wayne never becomes Batman.  Instead, he is his aging father’s weak protégé as a doctor. 

Yet, this reality’s disturbing kidnapping-homicide of a young Dick Grayson by the Joker only reinforces the Dark Knight’s resistance.  Reacting to an unexpected development, Batman’s ruthless captors desperately improvise. 

Note: There is a variant cover available by artist Tony S. Daniel, but a copy of the image isn’t provided.

REVIEW:

Considerably bolstered by artist Lee Garbett’s high-octane artwork, Morrison’s narrative hits just enough cylinders to make this issue a worthwhile read.  It’s advisable that readers should peruse the Last Rites storyline before diving in.  Suffice to say, Morrison doesn’t bother much updating the audience re: how Batman fell into this macabre predicament.  If anything, Batman # 683’s visuals (including the stellar Alex Ross cover image) far outclasses Morrison’s muddled stream-of-consciousness storyline.    

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The cover of Batman # 684 is revealed.  DC Senior Vice President-Executive Dan DiDio’s DC Nation column hypes the imminent “Flash: Rebirth” mini-series.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                      6 Stars

Written by Grant Morrison

Art by Lee Garbett; Trevor Scott; Guy Major; & Jared K. Fletcher

Cover Art by Alex Ross

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for January 2009, it’s entitled “The Butler Did It.”  As the second-to-last installment of the Last Rites storyline, an abducted Batman’s torture includes being mind-searched by his mysterious captors attempting to unlock his most privately guarded secrets.  This issue serves as one of the final lead-ins for Batman’s entry into Morrison’s muddled epic known as Final Crisis.  

Depicting Batman’s evolution from the day Bruce Wayne first conceived his alter ego, there are glimpses of the Dark Knight’s original storylines.  After Bruce’s relationship with Julie Madison ends, Dick Grayson becomes his surrogate son.  It’s revealed that Batman’s captors have secretly plugged a Clayface-like parasite, the Lump, into his mind to trigger certain memories.  Their sinister game plan is to collate a drugged Batman’s memories and biological data to serve as the basis for an army of cloned Batmen.  Yet, a defenseless Batman’s psyche must defy the gruesome planned fate awaiting him.       

Note: Though an image isn’t included with this comic, a variant cover by artists Tony S. Daniel and Guy Major features the Joker.

REVIEW:

Writer Grant Morrison delivers an intriguing overview of Batman’s career (dating back to the Golden Age), as seen through a stream-of-consciousness dream/nightmare.  Supported by artist Lee Garbett’s capable visuals, Morrison coherently delivers the goods without relying too heavily on graphic depictions of Batman’s torture.  As long as readers have some prior knowledge of this storyline, Batman # 682 is certainly worth the read.  The Alex Ross cover is a major plus!  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

A thumbnail cover for Batman # 683 is revealed in the single-page DC Nation column.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:               7 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE