Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Batman #341 – “The Ghost of Wayne Mansion” – Gerry Conway/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin
This one starts with three kids running out of Wayne Manor during a thunderstorm, freaking out because they’re sure they saw a ghost. There is a strange shape flying out of the mansion, but it’s impossible to tell just what it is. The kids almost get run over by a cop and they tell him their story. Continue reading “Comics reviews: Batman 341, Detective 508, Brave & the Bold 180”
Batman #340 – “A Man Called Mole” – Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas/Gene Colan/Adrian Gonzales
This one starts with a trail being thrown up through the streets of Gotham, resembling the mound of earth left by moles in a garden … except this mound is in solid concrete. The trail leads to a stockbroker named Elder, who’s grabbed by something that emerges from the mound of concrete. Elder’s screams wake someone, who doesn’t see anything strange but notices a terrible stench in the alley where Elder was grabbed. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 340, Detective 507, Brave & the Bold 179”
Batman #339 – “A Sweet Kiss of Poison” – Gerry Conway/Irv Novick/Steve Mitchell
This one starts with Batman returning from patrol early in the morning. He almost misses his jump while coming in for a landing at his penthouse and Alfred suggests that his double life—fighting crime as Batman at night and being businessman Bruce Wayne by day—might be catching up with him. Batman agrees, but there’s not much he can do about it, since quitting either identity isn’t really feasible. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 339, Detective 506, Brave & the Bold 178”
Batman #338 – “This Sporting Death” – Gerry Conway/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin
This one starts with a boozy sportswriter named Hank Klugmuun waking up in Gotham Stadium, where he’s confronted by a weirdo in a mishmash of sports gear. The weirdo kills Klugmuun with a hockey stick and skates away … over the grass! Commissioner Gordon calls Batman in on the case, since this is the fourth sports-related death in the last couple of weeks. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 338, Detective 505, Brave & the Bold 177”
Batman #337 – “Where Walks a Snowman” – Gerry Conway/Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez/Steve Mitchell
This one starts with a gunman barricaded inside a sporting goods store. With all the guns and ammo inside, the guy can hold out against the cops for quite a while, so Commissioner Gordon asks Batman to help. The Caped Crusader slips into the store and finds a half-crazed gunman, freaking out about someone doing something bad to him, like they did to Jackie. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 337, Detective 504, Brave & the Bold 176”
Batman #336 – “While the Bat’s Away …” – Bob Rozakis (plot), Roy Thomas/Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez/Frank McLaughlin
This one starts with a goofy villain called the Bouncer busting out of a jewelry store that he just robbed and ping-ponging around to escape from the cops outside. A reporter asks the cops if there was any sign of Batman and it turns out the Caped Crusader has been missing for a few weeks … and Gotham’s criminals are taking advantage. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 336, Detective 503, Brave & the Bold 175”
Batman #335 – “Ashes to Ashes” – Marv Wolfman/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin
Last issue, Batman and friends (Robin, Catwoman, and King Faraday) were all captured and taken to a remote island in the Indian Ocean. Batman’s sometime love, Talia, was involved, but it turned out she had her own reasons for going to the island; she was aging rapidly and needed treatments to renew her youth … treatments that could only be administered by her father, Ra’s Al Ghul. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 335, Detective 502, Brave & the Bold 174”
Batman #334 – “Infinity Island” – Marv Wolfman/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin
Last issue, Batman was trying to figure out who was behind Gregorian Falstaff’s attempt to ruin Wayne Enterprises. As Bruce Wayne, he (and Talia) followed the trail to Hong Kong, where he was gassed aboard a ship. Meanwhile, Robin, Catwoman, and King Faraday followed a separate trail that also led to Hong Kong. Faraday was supposedly killed and Catwoman and Robin (in disguise) were captured by an informant (Chin) she asked for help. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 334, Detective 501, Brave & the Bold 173”
Batman #333 – “The China Syndrome” – Marv Wolfman/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin
This one starts with a shadowy figure in Kathmandu, Nepal monitoring a radio. He’s been listening every night for years and finally gets something for his efforts … a radio signal. In Montfaucon, Switzerland, we see Karlyle Krugerrand going into an ultra-secure bank on top of a mountain. After going through numerous security checks and making it to the vault, the banker tries to kill Krugerrand. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 333, Detective 500, Brave & the Bold 172”
Batman #332 – “Fallout” – Marv Wolfman/Irv Novick/Frank McLaughlin
This one starts with a bedraggled guy desperately fleeing Infinity Island in the Indian Ocean. Someone on the island is monitoring the guy and asks if he should send a retriever, but an unseen boss says to let the fugitive have some hope … then snatch it away. In Gotham, Dick (Robin) Grayson is moving out of the Wayne Building. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 332, Detective 499, Brave & the Bold 171”