Tag: Batman reviews

Comics Reviews: Batman 358, Detective 525, Brave & the Bold 197, Firestorm 11

Batman 358 coverBatman #358 – “Don’t Mess With Killer Croc” – Gerry Conway/Curt Swan/Rodin Rodriguez

This one starts with Killer Croc busting in on a meeting of the Tobacconists Club. Croc knows it’s a front for the crooked businessmen and politicians who pull the strings in Gotham and mentions the recent fall of Boss Thorne and gangster Tony Falco. Croc says he’s stepping into the power vacuum left at the top and they can either support him or get wiped out. (He makes quite the impression when he takes off his coat and hat, revealing his freakish reptilian appearance.) Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 358, Detective 525, Brave & the Bold 197, Firestorm 11”

Comics Reviews: Batman 357, Detective 524, Brave & the Bold 196, Firestorm 10

Batman 357 coverBatman #357 – “Squid” – Gerry Conway/Don Newton/Alfredo Alcala

This one starts with Batman beating the hell out of some gangsters and capturing their leader, a guy named Lester. Batman wants to know who gave Lester the drug concession in Gotham. Lester says that since Batman put the old mob boss (Falco) away, a new guy has moved in to take over the action … a guy called the Squid. Across town, Commissioner Gordon is undergoing his first physical since being reinstated. He’s in pretty good shape for a sixty-year-old, but the doctor says he has high blood pressure. He’ll have to stop smoking, cut down on salt, and take pills. Gordon isn’t too impressed with her list of demands. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 357, Detective 524, Brave & the Bold 196, Firestorm 10”

Comics Reviews: Batman 356, Detective 523, Brave & the Bold 195, Firestorm 9

Batman 356 coverBatman #356 – “The Double Life of Hugo Strange” – Gerry Conway/Don Newton/Dick Giordano

This one starts with Hugo Strange (who, as we saw last issue, is very much alive) indulging in his favourite hobby … dressing up like Batman. Strange has pulled this trick before, but this time he’s got doppelgangers of Alfred and Dick Grayson as well. Elsewhere, Bruce Wayne is on a date with Vicki Vale, who ditches him to go finish a story. Bruce can’t complain too much, since his love life usually takes a backseat to his crimefighting career, so he tells her to come by his place when she’s done. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 356, Detective 523, Brave & the Bold 195, Firestorm 9”

Comics Reviews: Batman 355, Detective 522, Brave & the Bold 194, Firestorm 8

Batman 355 coverBatman #355 – “Never Scratch a Cat” – Gerry Conway/Don Newton/Alfredo Alcala

This one starts with Catwoman freaking out about Bruce Wayne dating Vicki Vale. Last issue, Catwoman showed up at Vicki’s place to scare her off, but Vicki and Bruce kept dating, which is really putting Catwoman over the edge … even though she’s he one who dumped Bruce and left Gotham in the first place. Speaking of Bruce and Vicki, they’re driving home from a date when a cat-themed car appears on the highway behind them. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 355, Detective 522, Brave & the Bold 194, Firestorm 8”

Comics Reviews: Batman Annual #8, DC Comics Presents Annual #1

Batman Annual 8 coverBatman Annual #8 – “The Messiah of the Crimson Sun” – Mike W. Barr/Trevor von Eeden

This one starts in a sleepy farming village called Shinn Corners, a few hours outside Gotham. The residents are up early to get on with their business, but the sunrise brings only death, killing everyone where they stand with its unusually strong red rays. We see a thug in a high-tech control room reporting success to his boss, a guy in a red mask. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman Annual #8, DC Comics Presents Annual #1”

Batman 354, Detective 521, Brave & the Bold 193, Firestorm 7

Batman 354 coverBatman #354 – “Showdown” – Gerry Conway/Don Newton/Alfredo Alcala

This one starts with Batman tearing down a wanted poster of himself. Apparently, Commissioner Pauling has canceled Batman’s special status with the police and declared him an outlaw, ordering the cops to shoot on sight. Batman sneaks into City Hall to confront Pauling and Mayor Hamilton Hill. Batman knows they’re working for Boss Thorne, Gotham’s secret puppet-master, and that Thorne tried to have Deadshot killed in prison to cover up the fact Thorne hired Deadshot to kill Bruce Wayne. Continue reading “Batman 354, Detective 521, Brave & the Bold 193, Firestorm 7”

Comics Reviews: Batman 353, Detective 520, Brave & the Bold 192, Firestorm 6

Batman 353 coverBatman #353 – “Last Laugh” – Gerry Conway/Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez/Dan Adkins

This one starts with the Joker practicing with a mini-crossbow for his next confrontation with Batman. Joker goes to a condemned hotel to meet up with his gang of henchmen. They weren’t expecting him and one guy is rather abrupt until he realizes who he’s talking to. Joker squirts him with his trick flower and the guy freaks, thinking it’s loaded with Joker Venom, but it’s just water. Unfortunately the snake hiding up Joker’s sleeve is genuine and the guy dies from its poisonous bite. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 353, Detective 520, Brave & the Bold 192, Firestorm 6”

Comics Reviews: Batman 352, Detective 519, Brave & the Bold 191, Firestorm 5

Batman 352 coverBatman #352 – “The Killer Sky” – Gerry Conway (plot), Paul Kupperberg/Don Newton/John Calnan

This one starts with Batman going to visit Jim Gordon in the hospital. Gordon was roughed up last issue by some crooked cops as a warning to him and his private eye partner (Jason Bard, who also got pounded) to stop investigating the recent mayoral election. To reinforce the message, the new Commissioner (Pauling) and one of his bent cops (McClosky) stop by to warn Jim again. Barbara Gordon is there and almost goes for Pauling’s throat, but it’s Batman showing up that gets Pauling and McClosky to leave. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 352, Detective 519, Brave & the Bold 191, Firestorm 5”

Comics Reviews: Batman 351, Detective 518, Brave & the Bold 190, Firestorm 4

Batman 351 coverBatman #351 – “What Stalks the Gotham Night?” – Gerry Conway/Gene Colan/Tony DeZuniga

Last issue, Batman was turned into a vampire by a guy called the Monk. The Monk’s sister Dala, is also a vampire and she turned Dick (Robin) Grayson into a creature of the night as well. This issue opens with Batman watching as Dick drops off Vicki Vale, Bruce Wayne’s current squeeze. Dick tries to give Vicki a goodnight bite, but he notices Batman swinging down and pulls back. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 351, Detective 518, Brave & the Bold 190, Firestorm 4”

Comics Reviews: Batman 350, Detective 517, Brave & the Bold 189, Firestorm 3

Batman 350 coverBatman #350 – “Nightmare in Crimson” – Gerry Conway, Paul Levitz/Gene Colan/Tony DeZuniga

Last issue, Dick (Robin) Grayson found out his ex-girlfriend (Dala) is a vampire. Unfortunately, he found out the hard way, after being kidnapped by Dala and bitten on the neck. He escaped and almost got run down by a priest on the highway. The priest took him to a hospital, where he’s now recovering. Robin has a fevered dream about Dala turning into a gothic monster and trying to kill him, and he wakes up to find Father Green watching him with worry. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 350, Detective 517, Brave & the Bold 189, Firestorm 3”