Comics Reviews: Batman 429, Detective 596

Batman #429 – “A Death in the Family Chapter 6” – Jim Starlin/Jim Aparo/MikeDeCarlo

Last issue, Batman found out Joker had killed Jason Todd (aka Robin), but before Batman could go after him, he found out Joker had been appointed Iran’s official Ambassador to the United Nations. Not only does that mean Joker is untouchable (because of diplomatic immunity), but apparently he’s been retroactively pardoned for all his past crimes. I don’t think that’s how diplomatic immunity works, but whatever. Batman is ready to ignore the law and go after Joker anyway, so the United States government brings in Superman to keep him inline. The government is in some tense negotiations with Iran and doesn’t want Batman screwing things up. (Batman cynically asks if it’s another arms-for-hostages deal.) Batman tells Superman that Joker killed Robin, but the Man of Steel still won’t let Batman go after Joker. As Bruce Wayne, Batman manages to get an invite to the UN General Assembly, figuring Joker will try to kill someone there … possibly the entire delegation. Batman ponders his options, thinking he might have to break his personal code of honour and kill Joker, but wonders if Joker’s insanity should get him a pass. Batman actually goes to Joker’s hotel to warn him against whatever scheme he’s planning, but Joker is unmoved, taunting Batman about killing Robin. That makes Batman’s mind up about what he’s doing and he shows up at the UN the next day as Bruce Wayne. When Joker comes in, he sees Bruce and stares at him, making Batman wonder if Joker has figured out his secret identity. Joker gives a speech that’s a cross between Nixon and Khrushchev before revealing that he has canisters full of Joker Gas strapped around him. He triggers the gas and everyone panics (giving Bruce a chance to change into Batman), but Superman is there disguised as a security guard and sucks all the gas into his lungs. Naturally, Joker has a back-up plan: explosives planted in the Assembly room. Joker tries to take off in the confusion, but Batman goes after him, trailing him to the roof where a helicopter is waiting. Batman jumps on the chopper as it takes off and pounds the guys inside. The last thug starts shooting indiscriminately, killing the pilot, wounding Batman in the arm, and hitting Joker in the chest before Batman takes him out. As the chopper spirals downwards, Batman bails out right before it hits a building and blows up. Before they even search for Joker’s body in the wreckage, Batman knows they won’t find it.

Detective #596 – “Video Nasties” – Alan Grant, John Wagner/Eduardo Barreto/Steve Mitchell

This one starts with a college kid getting jumped and beaten by three punks in an alley. But this isn’t a regular mugging, since another guy is filming the beating with a video camera, giving directions to the punks. Batman happens by and pounds the punks, but the “director” (who was wearing a disguise) gets away … although he does leave the camera behind. While examining the film at police headquarters, Batman spots what could be a clue. Meanwhile the director (Oscar Lampet, a video store owner) reports to his boss Milton Sladek), who he was making the “movie” for. Sladek isn’t happy about Oscar losing the camera, and is even more upset that Batman might be onto their scheme (which seems to be filming real-life violence and showing it to people … kinda like snuff films without the death, I guess). Batman tracks Oscar down through his boots (very expensive and one is bigger than the other because Oscar’s legs aren’t the same length) and prepares to follow him. While waiting, Bruce Wayne goes to a gym where young street kids are learning to box and tells some reporter that boxing helps the kids learn discipline, channel their aggressive energy, and gives them a healthy respect for the rules. I guess this is meant to be a contrast to Oscar and Sladek’s mindless “violence for its own sake” brand of violence. Oscar heads out with a couple thugs to get some more footage, followed by Batman. But Sladek is worried, so he sends his own thug (Tonka) just in case Batman shows up. Tonka seems like a nutcase (or maybe whacked out on steroids), always bragging about how he’s tougher than everyone; he kinda reminds me of Man-Mountain Marko at Marvel. So, when Batman jumps the thugs who are grabbing an innocent bystander, Tonka shows up and attacks Batman. It’s a tough fight (and Oscar gets it all on film), but it’s interrupted when an explosion of black light fills the sky. This is the detonation of the Gene Bomb in Invasion, which activates latent meta-genes in humans all over the world.