Batman: Gotham Adventures #41 Talkback (Spoilers)

[James Harvey]

The newest issue of Batman: Gotham Adventures was released today.

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #41

http://comics.toonzone.net/bga/covers/t-41.jpg (http://comics.toonzone.net/bga/covers/41.jpg)

Written by Scott Peterson; art by Tim Levins and Terry Beatty; cover by Bob Smith and Beatty

In stores August 1. Batman's giving his all to help one of Gotham City's denizens get on the straight and narrow. Unfortunately, the subject of all of his efforts couldn't care less whether or not he was on the right side of the law…or the right side of the Bat. Batman may have to deal with someone who's too lethargic to care about redemption, when dealing with "The Man Called Joe."

Comments?

[Trent Lane]

A good story, as far as teaching a lesson goes. The fact that Nightwing, Batgirl, and Alfred help Batman set this guy strait was pretty cool. The art was great as usual, overall a good book, but I can't wait for the next two issues. They look awesome...

[James Harvey]

As much as I like the book, I think Peterson is stressing too hard on us to "learn a lesson". It just seems to juvenal that he alsways wants a lesson to be learned. Templeton didn't stress a lesson to be learned. It just seems he's writing for the kiddie crowd, and not everyone.

[Trent Lane]

I know what you mean. There hasn't been an issue as of late where a villain has had a real genius plan to get Batman and his crew, just no-name criminals and a off-balance appearance of Mr. Freeze and the Mad Hatter. Burchett's run at the begining of the series was awesome, in no way dissapointing. But, maybe the next two issue, at the least, will change all that. The Two Face story sounds cool, too. Haven't seen him in, what, 30 issues or so?...

[Firefly]

Good issue :)

[James Harvey]

You know, now that I've let the issue sink and and re-read it, I'm actually REALLY dissapointed in it. This is the kind of writing we'd see in a children's book. The more I read and think of it, th emore childish the book seems. I think this may be the worst issue yet...

[Trent Lane]

As I look back, I think I gotta agree with you on this one, DG. Although, every book has to have a worst issue... with the exception of BB, which had several. The memorable books of that run will be 1,5,13,15, and 23. I'd say 21 & 22, but no Superman:(

[James Harvey]

Agreed. No Superman REALLY brought down that 2 ish arc. I think BGA will most be remembered for issues #1, 2, 10, and 14. Those are my stand out issues.

[Trent Lane]

Yeah, Gotham Adventures 1 will probably always be my favorite book out of the series. You've got all your heroes, three villians, and a man who's out for revenge. It doesn't get any better than that. There are a couple that were so-so, like the Poison Ivy cereal issue, it was just okay...

[Batgirl]

hey, what about 33? That issue was pretty good. The end line was a little weak but over all it was great. I haven't seen the new one so I'm comment more later.

[James Harvey]

Issue #1 is a definite gem. Expect for one panel, which I point out in my review, the whole issue just shines! Although the Clayface scene was sorta not right (Electricity has no effect on Cayface) but it was great. The finale was GREAT.

[Trent Lane]

Originally posted by Batgirl
hey, what about 33? That issue was pretty good. The end line was a little weak but over all it was great. I haven't seen the new one so I'm comment more later.

I forgot about that one, Batgirl. I got that issue after I got out of the hospital, so it was one of the issues I had by my side while I was out of comission. That was a good "What if" kind of story, it ranks up there with the best ones....

DG, why doesn't electricity have an affect on Clayface? I know sound and water do...

[James Harvey]

I'm not really sure. I think becuase electricity may be a stimulent for his body. It wasn't really explained in FEAT OF CLAY Part 2.

[DR. BELCH]

Wasn't he incapacitated by Christmas tree lights in "Holiday Knights", though? Maybe something in the chemicals that resurrected him made him more susceptible to electric shock. I know water did a number on him in "Mudslide", but when has Batman used sound waves? Is that just in the comics? I'd also think, being semisolid, intense heat would be a problem--he'd be baked like a pot in a kiln. Or one could just shove a stick of TNT in his bum and run before it blows.... :p

[Joker85]

Issue #41 was TERRIBLE!! B:GA has gone so downhill in the last couple of months. Next month's doesn't look much better. I'll be glad when they stop treating that comic as if all it's readers are 10. I welcome the return of Harley Quinn and Two Face.

[virtual_alfred]

Did anyone read Batman Gotham Knights #19? It was another story without Batman -- just showed how fear of Batman can impact some criminals.

Gotham Adventures #41 reminded me of this story because Batman was kind of on the sidelines here, too.

But what made BGK #19 better was that there was a cool clue early on that kind of book-ended the story. Kind of an inside joke. I can't say more without spoiling it.

One of the things I've often liked about BGA is that the art tells a lot of the story and provides some clues about what's coming. See a fire extinguisher on one page, and in the next someone has picked it up to use as a weapon.

All this is a long, long-winded way of saying that this story didn't give us any clue that the Bat-team was involved, and a little clue or two along the way would have made it more fun to follow. That made the ending feel kind of cheap.

Also, I usually like stories like this, which are a break from the big battles against supervillains. It's a refreshing reminder that Batman hasn't gotten away from the human aspect of his character. I've always liked stories that show how ordinary citizens view Batman or how their lives are changed by him.

[James Harvey]

Issue #19 did work with the formula, buit here it lacks. It is nice to see that Batman still has a human side. The sieeu would've really worked if not for the repetitive un-inspired writing. Plus, the ending was a bit anti-climactic. I don't believe Batman would go through all this trouble. I found it a bit much to swallow.

[James Harvey]

I got my review of that issue up:

http://wf.toonzone.net/batsupes/bga41.html