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
