Comics Reviews: Batman 400, Detective 567, Adventures of the Outsiders 38, Outsiders 12

Batman 400 coverBatman #400 – “Resurrection Night” – Doug Moench

This is a special anniversary issue of Batman featuring multiple chapters, each illustrated by different artists. (I’ll list each artist for each chapter, but Doug Moench is the writer for all of them.) The basic premise is that someone has released a bunch of Batman’s villains (almost all of them) and he ends up fighting them all (with a little help from Robin, Catwoman, and Talia). This ties into the note Batman received last issue that told him to “Know Your Foes”, a note he’s still pondering as this story begins (which is also the anniversary of the night Bruce Wayne first became Batman). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 400, Detective 567, Adventures of the Outsiders 38, Outsiders 12”

Comics Reviews: Batman 399, Detective 566, Adventures of the Outsiders 37, Outsiders 11

Batman 399 coverBatman #399 – “Strike Two” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

Last issue, a nutcase named Spivey killed his ex (Mona Lamont) in a fit of jealousy, decapitating her and taking the head as a trophy. Batman is certain of Spivey’s guilt, but couldn’t find any evidence in his apartment (because Spivey took the head to the basement, where he put it in a bucket of chemicals to shrink it). Batman has been staking out Spivey’s place for over a month, getting Catwoman to cover his nightly patrols. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 399, Detective 566, Adventures of the Outsiders 37, Outsiders 11”

Comics Reviews: Batman 398, Detective 565, Adventures of the Outsiders 36, Outsiders 10

Batman 398 coverBatman #398 – “About Faces” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one continues from last issue, with Catwoman pissed off that Batman won’t trust her with the details of his plan for Two-Face and how Circe fits into it. She not really jealous of Circe, just mad that Batman won’t give her 100% of himself. They argue for a while about who has the bigger trust issues, and Batman admits he loves before revealing that he wants to try and change Two-Face back to the good person he was before his face was scarred. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 398, Detective 565, Adventures of the Outsiders 36, Outsiders 10”

Comics Reviews: Batman 397, Detective 564, Adventures of the Outsiders 35, Outsiders 9

Batman 397 coverBatman #397 – “Binary Brains” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one starts right after last issue, with Robin dragging a dope dealer (who’s been supplying dealers in local schools) into police headquarters. Robin informs Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Bullock that Two-Face is back and he took the dope dealer down in the process of robbing him. Gordon contacts Arkham Asylum while Bullock lights up the Bat-Signal. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 397, Detective 564, Adventures of the Outsiders 35, Outsiders 9”

Comics Reviews: Batman 396, Detective 563, Adventures of the Outsiders 34, Outsiders 8

Batman 396 coverBatman #396 – “Box-Office Smash” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

Last issue, a failed actor named But Weston re-invented himself as the Film Freak, staging crimes based on old movies. Batman and Catwoman got on his trail but always seemed to be one step behind. Robin and Harvey Bullock (who’s quite the cinephile himself) are working the case separately, since Robin wants to prove he’s a better partner than Catwoman. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 396, Detective 563, Adventures of the Outsiders 34, Outsiders 8”

Comics Reviews: Batman 395, Detective 562, Adventures of the Outsiders 33, Outsiders 7

Batman 395 coverBatman #395 – “The Film Freak” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one starts with a burglar robbing various places in Gotham, setting off the alarms so the cops will chase him down. He seems to be working off some kind of script, trying to set up a scenario where he’s cornered by the cops and has to shoot his way out. At police headquarters, Batman responds to the Bat-Signal only to find Catwoman waiting for him. After their strange night on the town last issue, she wants to talk about their relationship. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 395, Detective 562, Adventures of the Outsiders 33, Outsiders 7”