Tag: Detective reviews

Comics Reviews: Batman 395, Detective 562, Adventures of the Outsiders 33, Outsiders 7

Batman 395 coverBatman #395 – “The Film Freak” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one starts with a burglar robbing various places in Gotham, setting off the alarms so the cops will chase him down. He seems to be working off some kind of script, trying to set up a scenario where he’s cornered by the cops and has to shoot his way out. At police headquarters, Batman responds to the Bat-Signal only to find Catwoman waiting for him. After their strange night on the town last issue, she wants to talk about their relationship. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 395, Detective 562, Adventures of the Outsiders 33, Outsiders 7”

Comics Reviews: Batman 394, Detective 561, Batman & the Outsiders 32, Outsiders 6

Batman 394 coverBatman #394 – “At the Heart of Stone” – Doug Moench/Paul Gulacy

This one starts with Batman having a nightmare of getting beheaded by an animated statue. Last issue, a former KGB agent gone rogue (Dark Rider) stole some plutonium and hid it inside a bronze statue of a Cossack horseman. Dark Rider eluded capture in Europe and is now heading for Gotham with the plutonium. Obviously that’s weighing on Batman’s mind. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 394, Detective 561, Batman & the Outsiders 32, Outsiders 6”

Comics Reviews: Batman 393, Detective 560, Batman & the Outsiders 31, Outsiders 5

Batman 393 coverBatman #393 – “The Dark Rider” – Doug Moench/Paul Gulacy

This story reunites Doug Moench with Paul Gulacy; the team did some classic stories together at Marvel in the 70s and it’s great to see them collaborating again (especially since I love Gulacy’s art). Gulacy has a very cinematic style and this tale plays out like a movie (a James Bond movie to be specific). It starts with Commissioner Gordon telling Batman the CIA needs a favour from him. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 393, Detective 560, Batman & the Outsiders 31, Outsiders 5”

Comics Reviews: Batman 392, Detective 559, Batman & the Outsiders 30, Outsiders 4

Batman 392 coverBatman #392 – “A Town on the Night” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake/Jan Duursema

This is basically a series of linked vignettes showing Batman and Catwoman hanging out on a typical night in Gotham. Now that Catwoman has reformed, she wants to help Batman in his nightly patrols, but she also wants to spend some one-on-one time with him. The story starts with Batman pounding some drunks in an alley and Catwoman swinging in to help. The drunks are no match for the two vigilantes and after using one strand from her cat o’ nine tails to tie them up, Catwoman suggests she and Batman hang out and get to know each other. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 392, Detective 559, Batman & the Outsiders 30, Outsiders 4”

Comics Reviews: Batman 391, Detective 558, Batman & the Outsiders 29, Outsiders 3

Batman 391 coverBatman #391 – “Death Comes as the End” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one continues from last time, with Robin running into Night Slayer on the rocky islet that holds the Gotham Observatory. Night Slayer is there to kill Nocturna and Robin tries to stop him, but Night Slayer’s crazed strength is too much. He swats Robin aside and starts climbing toward the observatory. Batman is still at the hospital with Selina (Catwoman) Kyle, who was injured pretty badly last issue. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 391, Detective 558, Batman & the Outsiders 29, Outsiders 3”

Comics Reviews: Batman 390, Detective 557, Batman & the Outsiders 28, Outsiders 2, Vigilante 24

Batman 390 coverBatman #390 – “Women Dark and Dangerous” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one continues from last time, with Batman and Nocturna making out in the abandoned observatory. Batman’s still conflicted about Nocturna’s thieving ways, especially since she’s taken over what’s left of the False Face Society and made them steal for her. Nocturna’s rationalizations about only stealing from rich people and using the money to study the weird weather caused by the Crisis doesn’t completely convince Batman … although he doesn’t take Nocturna in either. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 390, Detective 557, Batman & the Outsiders 28, Outsiders 2, Vigilante 24”

Comics Reviews: Batman 389, Detective 556, Batman & the Outsiders 27, Outsiders 1, Vigilante 23

Batman 389 coverBatman #389 – “Red Skies” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one starts in Commissioner Gordon’s office, with Gordon showing Batman a cat statuette that someone left on his desk. The statuette has a parachute attached, so Batman knows it’s a message from Catwoman thanking him for saving her life (in Detective 548) … and letting him know she’s back in town. Batman assures Gordon that Catwoman is a good guy now, but Gordon worries that another vigilante in Gotham might make the cops look bad, especially since the acting mayor is already looking for an excuse to get rid of Gordon. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 389, Detective 556, Batman & the Outsiders 27, Outsiders 1, Vigilante 23”

Comics Reviews: Batman 388, Detective 555, Batman & the Outsiders 26, Firestorm 40, Vigilante 22

Batman 388 coverBatman #388 – “The Round-Trip Looking Glass” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one starts with Mirror Master breaking into the Gotham Museum to steal a jade necklace. He soon finds out he’s not the only one interested, as Captain Boomerang snatches the necklace right out of his hand with a trick boomerang. The two of them start arguing over who should get to ravage Gotham and Captain Boomerang reminds his fellow Rogue that Batman won’t like them being on his turf. (Boomerang and Batman fought back in issue 322 and Boomerang wouldn’t mind some revenge on the Caped Crusader.) Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 388, Detective 555, Batman & the Outsiders 26, Firestorm 40, Vigilante 22”

Comics Reviews: Batman 387, Detective 554, Batman & the Outsiders 25, Firestorm 39, Vigilante 21

Batman 387 coverBatman #387 – “Ebon Masquery” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This one starts with Bruce (Batman) Wayne laying an elaborate trap for Black Mask by throwing a masked ball at Wayne Manor. It’s such an obvious trap (since Black Mask has been killing Wayne Foundation executives after Wayne took over his failing cosmetics company) that Batman knows Black Mask will show up … and he’s right. Black Mask reasons that Bruce Wayne won’t expect him to show for such an obvious set-up and will feel safe, so Black Mask does plan to attend the party … though not in his usual ebony mask. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 387, Detective 554, Batman & the Outsiders 25, Firestorm 39, Vigilante 21”

Comics Reviews: Batman 386, Detective 553, Batman & the Outsiders 24, Firestorm 38, Vigilante 20

Batman 386 coverBatman #386 – “Black Mask: Losing Face” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake

This issue introduces a new Batman villain, Black Mask. Pretty much the entire issue is dedicated to his origin story, showing how Roman Sionis (heir to a cosmetics company) became criminal mastermind Black Mask. Moench really goes all out on this one; maybe DC had started giving creators a piece of the characters they invented and Moench was trying to come up with the next Joker. It didn’t quite work out that way, but Black Mask has lasted a long time and been used in other media, so maybe Moench and Mandrake did make some money off him. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 386, Detective 553, Batman & the Outsiders 24, Firestorm 38, Vigilante 20”