Written by Neil Gaiman.
Main Feature Art by Andy Kubert; Scott Williams; Alex Sinclair; & Jared K. Fletcher.
“A Black and White World” Art by Simon Bisley & John Costanza.
“Pavane” Art by Mark Buckingham; Nansi Hoolahan; & Agustin Mas.
“Original Sins” Art by Mike Hoffman; Kevin Nowlan; Tom McCraw; & Todd Klein.
“When is a Door” Art by Bernie Mireault; Matt Wagner; & Joe Matt.
Collection Cover Art by Andy Kubert & Alex Sinclair.
SUMMARY:
First released in 2010 by DC Comics, this 128-page trade paperback compiles the two-part “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” from 2009’s Batman # 686 and Detective Comics # 853. Out of the DC archives (dating back to 1989 and 1996) are a few of Gaiman’s previous Bat-tales: “A Black and White World” from Batman Black and White # 2; and “Pavane” from Secret Origins, Vol. 2 # 36. Lastly, there is both “Original Sins” and “When is a Door” from Secret Origins Special # 1.
In a stream-of-consciousness-like dream, Batman and an unknown female invisibly observe a long procession (mostly his arch-enemies) assemble within Gotham’s seedy Dew Drop Inn. Evidently, these mourners are from alternate realities, given a non-speaking cameo of the Joker from Batman: The Animated Series. With the Dark Knight posed in an open casket, the memorial service prompts guests to each solemnly relate his/her own claim of Batman’s fatal last moments.
The first of them are a Golden Age-like Selina Kyle/Catwoman and then Alfred Pennyworth. Prodded by his enigmatic companion, Batman soon realizes he is in a near-death experience. Subsequent guests include Bette Kane’s Batgirl; the Mad Hatter; the Joker; Dick Grayson’s Robin; Clayface, Harvey Bullock; Ra’s Al Ghul; and Superman.
Batman’s instincts guide into a poignant face-to-face encounter with his companion. Making peace with his origin, the Dark Knight seemingly bids farewell by a means reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon.
- “A Black and White World:” Depicted in ultra-cynical black-and-white (no surprise), Batman and the Joker break the fourth wall, as they are seemingly actors backstage on the set of a comic book.
- “Pavane” A married Suicide Squad recruiter is seduced during his research on an incarcerated Poison Ivy.
- “Original Sins” and “When is a Door:” A TV news documentary prepares a controversial exposé re-examining Gotham City’s sordid Bat-villains. During the news team’s research, the Riddler flips an interview on its star journalist. Despite Batman’s warning, the journalist and his production team find out why their ambitious project is a bad idea.
Note: This title is also available in hardcover and digital formats.
REVIEW:
The art squad’s visuals are admirably top-caliber throughout this two-part quasi-mystery. Neil Gaiman’s scripting, however, is a split-decision. His first half (including its derivative nod to Robin & Marian) is beautifully enigmatic. With the Dark Knight’s silhouetted companion telling him to figure it out, the tantalizing end of Batman # 686 seems spot-on.
Gaiman’s intriguing subtlety, unfortunately, then shifts into a drop-the-hammer approach setting up the story’s outcome. Per an ultra-obvious take on Goodnight Moon, Detective Comics # 853 implies Gaiman has penned the definitive epilogue to Batman’s saga. There is no further explanation as to what this stream-of-consciousness memorial service supposedly means to Bat-fans beyond the obvious. If anything, it would be exposed as a blatant bait-and-switch once DC’s inevitable ‘resurrection’ of Bruce Wayne was revealed months later.
As to the unimpressive back-up tales, the first instinct suggests to deem them the less said the better. However, one shouldn’t let DC Comics off that easy. These three unrelated tales are, at most, minor curiosities perusing Gaiman’s old DC resumé. As his quirky scripting doesn’t redeem the mostly grotesque artwork, none of them justify inclusion. Only “A Black and White World” even merits a possible reprint somewhere else.
Had DC utilized common sense (i.e. a belated homage to the late Golden Age Batman), then, for instance, why not reprint 1982’s The Brave and the Bold # 182? Adding other classy nostalgia along those lines from the Bat-archives would have been easy. Aside from Andy Kubert’s neat sketchbook, readers are instead stuck with a slim helping of Bat-dreck.
Kubert’s team deserves credit for disguising Gaiman’s plot holes by making everything seem as ethereal as possible. Such an approach somehow works, but owning the storyline’s two individual issues makes more fan-friendly sense. Otherwise, this skimpy compilation’s practical value belongs at the library.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Gaiman provides a two-page introduction. In a full-page format, the Kubert/Sinclair cover (and the Alex Ross variant) for Batman # 686 and both Kubert/Sinclair covers for Detective Comics # 853 are included. Lastly, there is Kubert’s ten-page, black-and-white sketchbook, which details scenes and character designs for the project.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
