Tag: Batman reviews

Comics Reviews: Batman 415, Detective 582, Outsiders 27

Batman 415 coverBatman #415 – “Millennium” – Jim Starlin/Jim Aparo/Mike DeCarlo

As you can tell from the title, this is a crossover with the Millennium mini-series (as were the first two issues of every DC comic in 1988). This was a company-wide event designed to get people to but comics they normally wouldn’t bother with, just so they’d have the whole story. Basically, Millennium involves the Manhunters, who were created by the Guardians of the Universe a long time ago (pre-Green Lantern Corps) but went rogue. Now the Guardians are planning some big event (called the Millennium) that involves ten humans. But the Manhunters want to stop the Millennium and they’ve planted robotic spies around every superhero, so the big twist is that theoretically anyone (even a long-established character like Lana Lang) could end up being a Manhunter robot in disguise. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 415, Detective 582, Outsiders 27”

Comics Reviews: Firestorm 66, Warlord 124, Batman Annual 11

Firestorm 66 coverFirestorm #66 – “Out of Control” – John Ostrander/Joe Brozowski/Sam De La Rosa

This one starts a million years ago with some aliens destroying an entire planet just to eliminate something called Zuggernaut, which they see as a threat. But Zuggernaut manages to cling to a piece of the blasted planet, which tumbles through space for millennia until it approaches Earth. In Russia, Mikhail Arkadin is being examined by doctors after returning from his clash with Firestorm last issue. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Firestorm 66, Warlord 124, Batman Annual 11”

Comics Reviews: Batman 414, Detective 581, Outsiders 26

Batman 414 coverBatman #414 – “Victims” – Jim Starlin/Jim Aparo/Mike Carlin

This one starts with Batman and Commissioner Gordon checking out a crime scene: the body of a young woman has been mutilated and left in a dumpster, the third victim in recent weeks. But whoever’s doing it has left no evidence behind, so the cops are frustrated. As they’re talking, they notice a nearby building on fire and Batman goes to help. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 414, Detective 581, Outsiders 26”

Comics Reviews: Batman 413, Detective 580, Outsiders 25

Batman 413 coverBatman #413 – “The Ghost of Masahiko Tahara” – Jo Duffy/Kieron Dwyer/Mike DeCarlo

This one starts with a Japanese tourist getting collared by Batman. Turns out the guy is a known criminal in Japan and Batman wants to know why he’s in Gotham. He admits he heard about a museum robbery but isn’t involved, and Batman lets him go (even giving him back his tanto knife). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 413, Detective 580, Outsiders 25”

Comics Reviews: Batman 412, Detective 579, Outsiders 24

Batman 412 coverBatman #412 – “The Sound of Silence” – Max Allan Collins/Dave Cockrum/Don Heck

This one starts early Sunday morning, with Batman and Robin finishing their nightly patrol and stopping across from St. Martin’s church to hear the bells chime (which is apparently a ritual Batman observes every Sunday). But this time, the bells don’t ring and they find out someone has stolen the clapper. Commissioner Gordon tells them the same thing has happened to churches and cathedrals all over Gotham and Batman wonders if someone’s trying to send a message. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 412, Detective 579, Outsiders 24”

Comics Reviews: Batman 411, Detective 578, Outsiders 23

Batman 411 coverBatman #411 – “Second Chance” – Max Allan Collins/Dave Cockrum/Don Heck

This one starts with Two-Face robbing a bank (the Second National Bank, naturally) in broad daylight, figuring it’ll be safe since Batman only comes out at night. Sure enough, Bruce Wayne is attending a meeting at the hospital where he’s offering to fund some more free clinics. He hears about the robbery and goes to see Commissioner Gordon as Batman. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 411, Detective 578, Outsiders 23”

Comics Reviews: Batman 410, Detective 577, Outsiders 22

Batman 410 coverBatman #410 – “Two of a Kind” – Max Allan Collins/Dave Cockrum/Mike DeCarlo

This one starts with a montage of Bruce (Batman) Wayne training his new Robin, Jason Todd. It’s said to be six months since Bruce met Jason (last issue), but I’m not sure if that means we’re back in the present or not; I assume so, but six months seems too short if all the new Robin’s adventures are still Canon. Batman’s been educating Jason on his Rogues Gallery, with one notable exception—Two-Face. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 410, Detective 577, Outsiders 22”

Comics Reviews: Batman 409, Detective 576, Outsiders 21

Batman 409 coverBatman #409 – “Just Another Kid on Crime Alley” – Max Allan Collins/Ross Andru/Dick Giordano

This issue continues the revised story of how Batman first met Jason Todd, which means it’s set a few years ago. It opens with a recap of last issue, showing how Jason tried to steal the wheels off the Batmobile and how Batman promised not to call the cops if Jason attended Ma Gunn’s School for Wayward Boys. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 409, Detective 576, Outsiders 21”

Comics Reviews: Batman 408, Detective 575, Outsiders 20

Batman 408 coverBatman #408 – “Did Robin Die Tonight?” – Max Allan Collins/Chris Warner/Mike DeCarlo

Like the Year One storyline, this is another bit of revisionist history, giving us a new origin for Jason Todd and how he came to work with Batman. Years ago, the original Robin (Dick Grayson) was shot by the Joker. Batman captured Joker and Dick ended up being fine, but Batman realized how much danger he’d been putting Dick (who was just a kid when they first started working together) in by allowing him to be his crimefighting partner. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 408, Detective 575, Outsiders 20”

Comics Reviews: Batman 407, Detective 574, Outsiders 19

Batman 407 coverBatman #407 – “Friend in Need” – Frank Miller/David Mazzucchelli

This is the final chapter of the Year One story that redefines Batman’s origin. As you’ll see, this storyline is just as much about James Gordon’s beginnings as it is about Batman’s. This one starts with Gordon and his partner (Sarah Essen) still messing around, even though Gordon is married and his wife is pregnant. They both feel guilty about the affair and Essen has put in for a transfer, but in the meantime they’re still canoodling. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 407, Detective 574, Outsiders 19”