Tag: Brave and Bold reviews

Comics Reviews: Batman 361, Detective 528, Brave & the Bold 200, Firestorm 14

Batman 361 coverBatman #361 – “The Most Successful Species” – Doug Moench/Don Newton/Pablo Marcos

This one starts with Man-Bat sleeping upside-down in a bell tower, clutching a frightened Jason Todd in his arms. Man-Bat kidnapped Jason when he overheard him refer to Batman as his father, although Batman’s more of a surrogate father since Jason’s parents died. Man-Bat blames Batman for his own daughter (Rebecca) dying; of course, Rebecca’s not dead, but Man-Bat is so crazed he doesn’t know reality from fantasy anymore. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 361, Detective 528, Brave & the Bold 200, Firestorm 14”

Comics Reviews: Batman 360, Detective 527, Brave & the Bold 199, Firestorm 13

Batman 360 coverBatman #360 – “When Slays the Savage Skull” – Doug Moench/Don Newton/Pablo Marcos, Ron Randall

This one starts with a beat cop named Lew on patrol. A newspaper vendor reminds Lew that two other cops have been stabbed to death lately, but Lew’s not too worried about it. He should’ve been, as the killer comes after him next, spouting off about justice and how he’ll make everyone pay. The killing is interrupted by a car and the killer flees into the night. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 360, Detective 527, Brave & the Bold 199, Firestorm 13”

Comics Reviews: Batman 359, Detective 526, Brave & the Bold 198, Firestorm 12

Batman 359 coverBatman #359 – “Hunt” – Gerry Conway/Dan Jurgens/Dick Giordano

This one starts with Batman sneaking into the home of Filbert Hughes III, a fat cat who’s a big wheel in the Tobacconists’ Club. Batman knows the Club is full of rich men who profit from the criminal acts of others while keeping their own hands clean. Batman scares the hell out of Hughes. Asking him about Gotham’s newest mob boss … Killer Croc. Speaking of Croc, he’s holding a convocation of mobsters at the Reptile House of the Gotham Zoo. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 359, Detective 526, Brave & the Bold 198, Firestorm 12”

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”

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”