Tag: Brave and Bold reviews

Comics Reviews: Batman 297, Detective 476, Brave & the Bold 140

Batman 297 coverBatman #297 – “The Mad Hatter Goes Straight” – David V. Reed/Rich Buckler/Vince Colletta

This one starts at the taping of a lavish TV commercial for the Great Excursion Travel Agency. During the taping, the marquee lights up with the word “give” and everyone in the theatre comes forward like they’re hypnotized or something and puts all their money and jewelry into a hat. The commercial’s star takes the hatful of loot backstage and passes it to Mad Hatter. He goes back to his hideout with his new-found fortune, but his victory rings hollow. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 297, Detective 476, Brave & the Bold 140”

Comics Reviews: Batman 295, Brave & the Bold 139

Batman 295 coverBatman #295 – “The Adventures of the Houdini Whodunit” – Gerry Conway/Michael Golden

As you can tell from the title, this is one of those murder mysteries that pop up rather frequently in Batman. This one involves the Mystery Analysts of Gotham, a group of amateur detectives who have helped Batman before. After stopping a routine robbery, Batman is contacted by Commissioner Gordon, who tells him the Mystery Analysts need his help in solving a murder … or possibly three murders. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 295, Brave & the Bold 139”

Comics Reviews: Batman 293, Detective 473, Brave & the Bold 138

Batman 293 coverBatman #293 – “The Testimony of Luthor” – David V. Reed/John Calnan/Tex Blaisdell

This is part three of the “Who Killed Batman?” storyline. This time around, Luthor makes a claim to be Batman’s killer, though he basically categorizes it as collateral damage. We get another extended flashback as Luthor tells his story. Of course, he makes sure to play up the genius of his intricate plan. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 293, Detective 473, Brave & the Bold 138”

Comics Reviews: Batman 292, Brave and the Bold 137

Batman 292 coverBatman #292 – “The Testimony of the Riddler” – David V. Reed/John Calnan/Tex Blaisdell

The “trial” storyline from last issue continues here, with a gathering of villains trying to get the truth about which one of them killed Batman. This time, it’s Riddler’s turn to tell his tale, which he does in another extended flashback. He tells his fellow crooks about how he lay in wait on one of Batman’s patrol routes so he could give the Caped Crusader a clue to his next crime—which is the Riddler’s shtick, as I’m sure you all know. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 292, Brave and the Bold 137”

Comics Reviews: Batman 291, Detective 472, Brave & the Bold 136

Batman 291 coverBatman #291 – “Where Were You on the Night Batman Was Killed?” – David V. Reed/John Calnan/Tex Blaisdell

This is the beginning of a four-part story about Batman being dead and different villains trying to take credit for killing him. We start out with the news that Batman is dead, but nobody is able to agree on where or how it happened. So Batman’s Rogues Gallery convene to hear testimony from villains claiming to be Batman’s killer. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 291, Detective 472, Brave & the Bold 136”

Comics Review: Batman 289, Brave and Bold 135

Batman 289 coverBatman #289 – “Sign of the Skull” – David V. Reed/Mike Grell/Vince Colletta

This issue starts with the villain narrating the story. He tells us his name is Cosmo Dugger aka Skull Dugger, and he has anhedonia, which means he’s incapable of feeling joy. He recounts how he was attending a baseball game and used an invention to steal the joy from the batter who hit a home run. Unfortunately, that killed the player, which seems to have come as a surprise to Skull Dugger. Continue reading “Comics Review: Batman 289, Brave and Bold 135”

Comics Review: Batman 287, Detective 469, Brave & the Bold 134

Batman 287 coverBatman #287 – “Batman-ex—as in Extinct” – David V. Reed/Mike Grell/Bob Wiacek

This one starts with Bruce Wayne at a gala for the Société Française. He’s not really a francophile, he just wants to jump the press director, Renée. A guy named Chester Cole is shadowing Bruce for a magazine profile (and it kinda sounds like he wants to be there when Bruce bangs Renée), but Bruce ditches him. Outside, he finds some thugs in the bushes and pounds them, but their detonator goes off anyway and a robotic pterosaur bursts out of the Napoleon statue inside. Continue reading “Comics Review: Batman 287, Detective 469, Brave & the Bold 134”

Comics Review: Batman 286, Brave & the Bold 133

Batman 286 coverBatman #286 – “The Joker’s Playground of Peril” – (Denny O’Neil/Irv Novick/Bob Wiacek)

This one starts with Joker escaping Arkham Asylum (again!). He kills his psychiatrist by shrinking him (get it? Shrinking the shrink? Yeah, I didn’t think it was funny either, but then I’m not a homicidal maniac like the Joker). The dead shrink leaves a clue, so Batman (with Robin tagging along) goes to an amusement park where there’s a big costume party for charity. Continue reading “Comics Review: Batman 286, Brave & the Bold 133”

Comics Review: Batman 284, Brave and the Bold 132

Batman 284 coverBatman #284 – “If There Were No Batman…I Would Have to Invent Him” – (David V. Reed/Romeo Tanghal/Frank Springer)

This is a weird one, folks, so hang on to your chakras. We start with someone describing how he switched the Sphinx at Gizeh for an exact copy, dumping the old one into the Mediterranean sea. Supposedly, this gave rise to “another fable of Atlantis”, but in the DC universe, Atlantis was real, so I don’t know why he said that. Who is “he”, you ask? It’s everybody’s favourite mystic weirdo, Dr. Tzin-Tzin. Continue reading “Comics Review: Batman 284, Brave and the Bold 132”