James Harvey
06-24-2001, 02:24 PM
Batman faces his greatest foe ever…an empty house, and the looming specter of boredom.
This is one of the best single-issue Batman stories that we’ve seen. Ever.
That having been said, let me say this: We got a double-splash page of action, and that’s it. So if you have trouble with comics that are not filled with ass-clenching suspense, excitement or explosions, well, you may be disappointed. But if you are, well, buy it anyway. You’ll appreciate it later.
Despite the fact that he has the largest supporting cast he’s ever had (Robin, Nightwing, Alfred, the Spoiler, Azrael, the Huntress, Oracle, Batgirl), Batman has been running solo a lot lately. This title is probably the only place we’ve seen Batman team up with the Bat-posse, or see inter-posse interaction. That’s been one of my biggest gripes about the books in the past year or so, and finally, we get some addressing of that.
With Robin and Alfred royally pissed at him, the Spoiler only seen over in “Robin,” Batgirl and Azrael in their own books, and the Huntress MIA since “Cry for Blood,” Batman pretty much just has Nightwing to pal around with. However, the Mid-Twenties Wonder has been getting some good Oracle lovin’ as of late (about freakin time, if you ask me) so while he’s in Gotham more, he’s usually, ah, indisposed. For the title that serves as the touchstone for Batman’s surrogate family, this can be problematic. However, Batman still has plenty of friends to talk to. Like the Bats. And, if things get really desperate, Aquaman.
Ever since Batman started appearing regularly in JLA, I’ve noticed a certain absence of attention paid to that in the Bat-titles that can’t help but leave me wondering if the Bat-honchos were not pleased about him being in the League. Now, that the core JLA members (Supes, GL, Flash, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter and Plastic Man) are aware of his secret ID, we finally get a little glimpse into Batman’s JLA interactions.
Batman receives a call from Aquaman, who says he just heard about Gordon (I’m assuming he’s referring to Jim’s retirement after “Officer Down”) and wants to see if he’s doing okay. You also can’t help but sense a little amusement on Aquaman’s part as he calls him “Bruce.” A nice touch, seeing as how he was also one of the ones who voted Batman out of the League. After an uneventful night in Gotham (there must have been a Blue Moon), Batman returns home, and we get a wonderful walking tour of Wayne Manor, courtesy of Robinson’s wonderful pencils. The large panels and Floyd’s heavy inks really give the whole place a cavernous look. It was also interesting to see Batman walking around the manor in full costume, something that really used to piss Alfred off. Seeing Batman open his fridge, look in it, and then close it without eating or taking anything (something I do about 15 times an evening) amused me greatly. Finally, under the pretense of retrieving some of his things from a deep sea trench in the Batcave, Batman gives Aquaman a call back and asks him to help.
Grayson’s Batman excels when he’s trying to do everyday things, like interact with humans and show emotion because she seems to get that, when he’s not kicking major ass, Batman is a thoroughly ****ed-up human being. His crippling inability to relate to others and communicate in a non-threatening way makes him one of the most human superheroes there is, and that makes me very happy.
This title runs neck and neck for best monthly Bat-title, and if you aren’t getting it, you’re really doing yourself a disservice. I mean, this month we get a glimpse of the giant Penny again. I miss that thing, and the Dinosaur, too. (thanx http://www.popcultureshock.com)
Comments?
This is one of the best single-issue Batman stories that we’ve seen. Ever.
That having been said, let me say this: We got a double-splash page of action, and that’s it. So if you have trouble with comics that are not filled with ass-clenching suspense, excitement or explosions, well, you may be disappointed. But if you are, well, buy it anyway. You’ll appreciate it later.
Despite the fact that he has the largest supporting cast he’s ever had (Robin, Nightwing, Alfred, the Spoiler, Azrael, the Huntress, Oracle, Batgirl), Batman has been running solo a lot lately. This title is probably the only place we’ve seen Batman team up with the Bat-posse, or see inter-posse interaction. That’s been one of my biggest gripes about the books in the past year or so, and finally, we get some addressing of that.
With Robin and Alfred royally pissed at him, the Spoiler only seen over in “Robin,” Batgirl and Azrael in their own books, and the Huntress MIA since “Cry for Blood,” Batman pretty much just has Nightwing to pal around with. However, the Mid-Twenties Wonder has been getting some good Oracle lovin’ as of late (about freakin time, if you ask me) so while he’s in Gotham more, he’s usually, ah, indisposed. For the title that serves as the touchstone for Batman’s surrogate family, this can be problematic. However, Batman still has plenty of friends to talk to. Like the Bats. And, if things get really desperate, Aquaman.
Ever since Batman started appearing regularly in JLA, I’ve noticed a certain absence of attention paid to that in the Bat-titles that can’t help but leave me wondering if the Bat-honchos were not pleased about him being in the League. Now, that the core JLA members (Supes, GL, Flash, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter and Plastic Man) are aware of his secret ID, we finally get a little glimpse into Batman’s JLA interactions.
Batman receives a call from Aquaman, who says he just heard about Gordon (I’m assuming he’s referring to Jim’s retirement after “Officer Down”) and wants to see if he’s doing okay. You also can’t help but sense a little amusement on Aquaman’s part as he calls him “Bruce.” A nice touch, seeing as how he was also one of the ones who voted Batman out of the League. After an uneventful night in Gotham (there must have been a Blue Moon), Batman returns home, and we get a wonderful walking tour of Wayne Manor, courtesy of Robinson’s wonderful pencils. The large panels and Floyd’s heavy inks really give the whole place a cavernous look. It was also interesting to see Batman walking around the manor in full costume, something that really used to piss Alfred off. Seeing Batman open his fridge, look in it, and then close it without eating or taking anything (something I do about 15 times an evening) amused me greatly. Finally, under the pretense of retrieving some of his things from a deep sea trench in the Batcave, Batman gives Aquaman a call back and asks him to help.
Grayson’s Batman excels when he’s trying to do everyday things, like interact with humans and show emotion because she seems to get that, when he’s not kicking major ass, Batman is a thoroughly ****ed-up human being. His crippling inability to relate to others and communicate in a non-threatening way makes him one of the most human superheroes there is, and that makes me very happy.
This title runs neck and neck for best monthly Bat-title, and if you aren’t getting it, you’re really doing yourself a disservice. I mean, this month we get a glimpse of the giant Penny again. I miss that thing, and the Dinosaur, too. (thanx http://www.popcultureshock.com)
Comments?