Comics reviews: Batman 329, Detective 496, Brave & the Bold 168

Batman 329 coverBatman #329 – “Twice Dies the Batman” – Marv Wolfman/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

Last issue, a guy named Carl Ternion sent Batman a tape claiming he killed a man named Anton Karoselle … twice. Karoselle’s death was ruled accidental by the courts, so Ternion figured he was protected by double jeopardy from being prosecuted again. When Batman started looking into it, he found clues that an old foe of his was behind the whole mess. Continue reading “Comics reviews: Batman 329, Detective 496, Brave & the Bold 168”

Comics Reviews: Batman 328, Detective 495, Brave & the Bold 167, Warlord 38

Batman 328 coverBatman #328 – “Double Jeopardy” – Marv Wolfman/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts with Batman viewing a tape of a trial re-creation sent to him by a defendant in a recent trial. The death was ruled accidental and the defendant acquitted, but he admits he really did kill the victim (a guy named Anton Karoselle) … in fact, he claims to have killed him twice. He taunts Batman with the failure of justice to convict him for his crimes, saying his admission is legally useless since double jeopardy prevents him from being tried twice for the same crime. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 328, Detective 495, Brave & the Bold 167, Warlord 38”

Comics Reviews: Batman 327, Detective 494, Brave & the Bold 166, Warlord 37

Batman 327 coverBatman #327 – “Asylum Sinister” – Len Wein/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

Last issue, Batman disguised himself as a criminal named Shank Taylor to infiltrate Arkham Asylum. Recent crimes had been committed by people who were supposed to be incarcerated at Arkham, so Batman figured he’d investigate from the inside. He pretended to be a homicidal maniac and was taken to Arkham, drugged, and tossed in a cell … before discovering the new administrator was his old foe, Professor Milo. As soon as he’s recovered, Batman shimmies out of his straitjacket and uses a lockpick he had concealed under his tongue to break out of his cell. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 327, Detective 494, Brave & the Bold 166, Warlord 37”

Comics Reviews: Batman 326, Detective 493, Brave & the Bold 165, Warlord 36

Batman 326 coverBatman #326 – “This Way Lies Madness” – Len Wein/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin

This one starts with Selina (Catwoman) Kyle breaking up with Bruce Wayne. Selina’s pissed off that Bruce didn’t trust her when she was dying and was accused of robbing the museum. Bruce tries to apologize, but Selina says they’re through and heads out of town. It’s obvious they both love each other, but they just can’t get past their trust issues. After Selina leaves, Bruce wonders if his life as Batman has made it impossible to have a real relationship—and if being Batman is worth losing that. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 326, Detective 493, Brave & the Bold 165, Warlord 36”

Comics Reviews: Batman 325, Detective 492, Brave & the Bold 164, Warlord 35

Batman 325 coverBatman #325 – “Death—Twenty Stories High” – Roger McKenzie/Irv Novick/Steve Mitchell

This one starts with Commissioner Gordon in his office at police headquarters. A crime wave has hit Gotham, just as Gordon is up for re-election and now someone’s making threats against Batman, so Gordon activates the Bat-Signal and waits on the roof. He figures someone is trying to ruin his chances at being re-elected and wonders if his opponent (Brand) is behind it. He also wonders if it isn’t time for him to step aside and let someone else be commissioner. Batman shows up and scoffs at the death threat, but notices the gleam of a sniper scope on a nearby roof. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 325, Detective 492, Brave & the Bold 164, Warlord 35”

Comics Reviews: Batman 324, Detective 491, Brave & the Bold 163, Warlord 34

Batman 324 coverBatman #324 – “The Cat Who Would Be King” – Len Wein/Irv Novick/Bob Smith

Last issue, we found out Catwoman is dying of some rare disease (which she hasn’t told her boyfriend Bruce Wayne, though he suspects) and she was suspected of stealing some ancient medicinal herbs from an Egyptian exhibit at the museum. Catwoman and Batman tracked the theft to an abandoned warehouse, where they were captured in a polymer spider web coated with super-strong adhesive. Their captor (and the real thief) turned out to be Cat-Man. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 324, Detective 491, Brave & the Bold 163, Warlord 34”

Comics Reviews: Batman 323, Detective 490, Brave & the Bold 162, Warlord 33

Batman 323 coverBatman #323 – “Shadow of the Cat” – Len Wein/Irv Novick/Bob Smith

Last issue Selina (Catwoman) Kyle found out she was dying of some nameless but deadly disease. Her doctor mentioned that the Ancient Egyptians might have found a cure, so Selina was very interested in an Egyptian exhibit that contained jars full of ancient healing herbs that hadn’t been opened for thousands of years. Later, that exhibit was robbed and the guard was scratched by a familiar-looking figure. Following the clues to their logical conclusion, Batman shows up at Selina’s place to arrest her. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 323, Detective 490, Brave & the Bold 162, Warlord 33”

Comics Reviews: Batman 322, Detective 489, Brave & the Bold 161, Warlord 32

Batman 322 coverBatman #322 – “Chaos—Coming and Going” – Len Wein/Irv Novick/Vince Colletta

This one starts with Selina Kyle looking through a scrapbook of her exploits as Catwoman and feeling a bit wistful at leaving that life behind. Elsewhere, a newspaper van delivering bundles of the Gotham Guardian is assaulted (and sliced in half!) by Captain Boomerang. He’s pissed off at the Guardian’s owner, who he says owes him a million bucks and has 24 hours to pay up. Batman shows up to tackle Boomerang, but the villain uses the old “endanger-the-innocents” ploy to distract Batman long enough to escape. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 322, Detective 489, Brave & the Bold 161, Warlord 32”

Comics Reviews: Batman 321, Brave & the Bold 160, Warlord 31

Batman 321 coverBatman #321 – “Dreadful Birthday Dear Joker” – Len Wein/Walt Simonson/Dick Giordano

This one starts with Commissioner Gordon at the police station, opening an invitation to a party thrown by the Joker. Naturally, Gordon dismisses it as one of Joker’s stupid pranks, but he’s forced to take it seriously when all the cops in the building start laughing uncontrollably. Batman shows up in response to a call from Gordon and sees the Jokermobile outside the station. The roars of laughter from inside warn Batman the place is filled with laughing gas, so he dons a rebreather device for protection and busts in. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 321, Brave & the Bold 160, Warlord 31”

Comics Reviews: Batman 320, Detective 488, Brave & the Bold 159, Warlord 30

Batman 320 coverBatman #320 – “The Curse of the Inquisitor” – Denny O’Neil/Irv Novick/Bob Smith

This one starts with a mail carrier delivering some stuff to an office belonging to a guy named Sigerson. The mailman and a cleaning lady both think it’s strange that they’ve never seen the mysterious Mr. Sigerson. We soon find out why; Sigerson is an alias used by Batman, and the office is a mail drop. Batman subscribes to a clipping service that sends him info about crimes all over the world, but he doesn’t want that correspondence addressed to Bruce Wayne. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 320, Detective 488, Brave & the Bold 159, Warlord 30”