Batman: Hush, Vol. 2 (A Madman Re-Read)

Volume 2 opens with a night at the opera. Only this isn't the stuff of the Marx Brothers or Queen. What starts as a refined charity event for a community hospital ends in bloodshed when Harley Quinn and the Joker robs the event and murder Bruce Wayne's best friend from his childhood. Only the Clown Prince of Crime claims that he didn't pull the trigger. That doesn't stop Batman from almost killing his most hated foe!

As the story progresses, Loeb's storytelling gets much more complex. So much, that I'm still not 100% sure what one of Batman's allies did wrong. Did they do wrong at all? I've researched for an answer and I am still not all that sure. 

Jim Lee's artwork continues to evolve. Batman looks resplendent by the end of Hush. So do Catwoman and Robin. 

The biggest disappointment is how it feels that by the end of this book, every criminal in Gotham City should know that Bruce Wayne is Batman. They really can't all be that ignorant. Or does the criminal element in Gotham just choose to ignore the truth. New villain Hush, enlists several baddies to make Batman believe that Jason Todd is actually Hush. I find it unbelievable that none of these hired goons went snooping and put two and two together that Bruce Wayne's deceased ward, Jason Todd was the second Robin who died at the hands of the Joker! I don't buy it!

A good story with great art, that just finishes in a way I find implausible. Batman's Rogue's Gallery cannot be that blind!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Batman: Hush, Vol. 1 (A Madman Re-read)

After reading almost the entire gambit of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's The Long Halloween storyline, I decided to give Batman: Hush another go. I had heard that a lot of the storyline from The Long Halloween made it into canon within the pages of Hush and I wanted to see for myself.

The story begins with Killer Croc kidnapping the son of a wealthy businessman and holding the lad for ransom. It's definitely not the villain's normal MO. Even worse, Croc has mutated into something more reptilian. Catwoman ends up stealing the ransom and then Batman's heart and this is where everything goes to hell.

As Batman is trans-versing the Gotham skyline, someone cuts the rope he uses to swing from building to building with. The Dark Knight crashes onto the streets below and nearly dies from a severe skull fracture. When a blast from Bruce Wayne's past returns and performs the live saving surgery, it looks like the billionaire has an old friend back in his life. However, as more villain's start acting in ways that is completely unusual for them, Batman is faced with a villain unlike one he's ever encountered before- the bandaged faced mystery man known as Hush!

I've experienced the artwork of Jim Lee many times before. I've never fully appreciated it until now. As much as Tim Sale is Jeph Loeb's quintessential partner, Jim Lee does a darn fine job. Batman never looks more stern. Catwoman is a vision in her black catsuit. Gotham never looked more frightening with it's dingy back alleys and vertigo inducing heights.

The story is excellent. I've said many times, I prefer Batman when he's playing the Detective. He's got a great Rogue's Gallery. But I like it when the Caped Crusader has to match wits with them as opposed as duking it out in fisticuffs as a standard superhero crime fighter. There's a ton of Batman baddies in this story. But the Dark Knight has to figure who is behind his foes recent quantum leaps in prowess, cunning and deceit instead of just beat them all up and that's the way I prefer it.

Sure, I know who Hush really is. Like I said, I've read the entire storyline before. Only this time, I'm re-reading the book while on a mission. I'm searching for the nods to The Long Halloween and I'm paying attention to every panel searching for hints and clues I might have overlooked the first time I read this modern Batman classic! A classic I might add, that would be perfect if not for how close Batman comes to death and yet not 10 minutes into his recovery, the fool is risking his life again to find out who was behind the Killer Croc kidnapping scheme. I find that completely implausible and worthy of a loss of a couple of stars.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman: The Long Halloween Deluxe Edition- Catwoman: When in Rome

I wondered for the longest time after buying this deluxe edition, brand spanking new in 2022, what the book had to do with The Longest Halloween. I figured that since it was by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, this Catwoman solo venture was just being branded as part of the whole franchise. But that assumption couldn't be further from the case. 

In Dark Victory, Catwoman goes to Italy. It's assumed until the very last 2-pages, that Selina Kyle was attempting to get information over whom might have stolen the body of Carmine Falcone. Well, what happened to Selina in in Europe is explored here in When In Rome. Since it occurs during the events of Dark Victory, this is a midquel, I guess you could say. (Is midquel even a word?)

Needing help with the language and the customs of Italy, Selina has reluctantly hired Edward Nigma, the Riddler, as her traveling companion. Also helping with Selina's mission is a top Falcone family hit man known as The Blonde. It's pretty clear from almost the moment Selena and Eddie step off their plane that someone is trying to kill them. As the hired natives begin using weaponry commonly associated with Batman's Rogue's Gallery, it's becoming clear that somebody from Gotham is behind the plot to kill Catwoman. Could it be Sofia Falcone, who's got a vendetta against the cat thief for putting her in a wheelchair? Or, as Selena's dreams are haunted by visions of Batman could it be the Dark Knight himself trying to kill her?

I feel like I have read this story before. Some scenes seemed familiar. However, I couldn't find evidence in my reading journal that I have read When In Rome previously. I was devouring issues of Wizard and Toyfare when this book originally dropped. Maybe I'm remembering those scenes from an interview with Loeb and Sale. If I had read it before, I had forgotten enough to feel like this was almost an all-new story. 

When In Rome is a very solid mystery. It's psychological as well as a con job yarn. The Riddler was great comic relief. Sale's artwork is amazing as as usual. It's a bit cheeky. If you've ever wanted to see Catwoman's naked backside, you're almost in for a treat. Not full cheesecake, but definitely a sampling.

I've got 1 more story left in The Long Halloween storyline to read. 2021's Batman: The Long Halloween Special. Wait, that's not right. I just learned that a final chapter is coming out. A 13-chapter promised finale, The Last Halloween will start later this month. As Tim Sale had passed away about a year ago, I'm interested in knowing how much he contributed to the closer and if some sort of tribute will be forthcoming with the first issue.

It appears that The Long Halloween just might never end.

Worth Consuming!

Rating 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman: The Long Halloween Deluxe Edition, Dark Victory- The Sequel

The Long Halloween continues. Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale expound on the story of the Holiday killer with Dark Victory, given the deluxe treatment with this 2022 re-release.

A couple of years have passed. Jim Gordon has been made Commissioner of a police force that still has its fair share of dirty cops. On the home front, wife Barbara took their son James and are now living separated in Chicago.

The Falcone crime family is now headed by daughter Sofia, who languishes as a cripple in a wheelchair while trying to reunite the truce with the Maronis. Harvey Dent/Two-Face is an inmate at Arkham, as is Alberto Falcone; the troubled young man who confessed to being Holiday despite looming evidence to the contrary. Dent's wife Gilda went into hiding and hasn't been seen or heard from since. 

Despite accidentally putting Sofia Falcone in her wheelchair, for which the new mob boss has vowed vengeance, Catwoman has agreed to a $1 million bounty to locate the stolen body of Don Falcone and to enact revenge against the perpetrator of the crime. Hopefully, this will eliminate the large bounty that still rests over the jewel thief's head.

There's a new District Attorney; the fiery blonde Janice Porter. She reopened the case against Alberto and is pushing for his release, citing police brutality at the hands of Batman. 

As for Batman, along with Gordon, he's trying to solve a new series of holiday themed deaths. This time, the targets are current and former Gotham City Police with ties to Harvey Dent. Each victim is hanged with a Hangman's puzzle affixed to them. The will they/won't they romance of Batman and Catwoman gets even more complicated when she leaves suddenly for Italy after always seemingly having his back during Falcone involved altercations. As for Bruce Wayne, he's a date with destiny at the next performance of Haly's Circus.

I don't know about you, but my favorite Batman stories are when he's playing detective. There are numerous stories where the Dark Knight has to defuse gang wars or fight through a gauntlet of villains. They're good stories, mostly. But I prefer a more toned down noir story where Batman has to solve the unsolvable. Don't get me wrong. There's a slew of villains from Batman's Rogue's Gallery in this book and they play pivotal roles. Only, at the heart of this story is a mystery and I love it!

The art, while still kinda primitive, has improved dramatically. The Joker seems to have a lot of teeth. Just not as many. Probably because Batman's knocked a few out over the years. Plus, Tim Sale manages to draw several characters similarly in a way to make you think that perhaps one or more players aren't who they really are. I really fell for several red herrings in this book and was nowhere close to solving the mystery! Make that mysteries.

Everybody talks about how great the first Long Halloween miniseries is I think Dark Victory is a forgotten classic and a must read!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Batman Begins: The Movie & Other Tales of the Dark Knight

This DC trade paperback is like a matinee movie in reverse. The comic adaptation of the opening chapter of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy by Scott Beatty and Kilian Plunkett is the main attraction. The accompanying 4 stories are like the animated shorts and adventurous serials you would watch as lead up. Only they come after the movie!

I can't really say a lot about the adaptation of 2005's Batman Begins. Unlike the 2008's follow up, The Dark Knight, I've only seen the origin story once. So I don't have any idea if Beatty and Plunkett's version of the movie has extra stuff that got removed before hitting theaters or not. I will say that reading the comic book version of the film has really pique my interest in seeing the trilogy again. Mostly because there is a lot of material in the comic that I don't remember.

While Batman Begins is what got me to buy this book, it's the 4 shorter Batman stories that really captured my attention.

First by Denny O'Neil and Dick Giordano is another origin story of Batman. Only this is the accepted DC canon version which focuses more on Bruce Wayne studying the science of criminology more than martial arts and the tools of stealth. 

Story #2 is by Greg Rucka and Rick Burchett. It simultaneously tells of Batman taking down a gang while a family of 3 are trapped in their vehicle under the Gotham harbor. With time running out and water rushing in, this story has more of a Batman: The Animated Series vibe to it and was perhaps the best story of the bunch.

Story #3 is by Ed Brubaker. In a teaming with Catwoman, Batman explores what it is that makes him a vigilante. That faithful night in Crime Alley is referenced a lot. Art is pretty good. Yet, despite my feeling that Brubaker is the best crime comic writer of them all, he commits an unpardonable sin amongst fans of the Dark Knight by having the hero proclaim that his true identity is Bruce Wayne! Not the Bat!

The final story is an unusual Batman story by Fables head honcho Bill Willingham. It sees a rooftop Batman losing his footing and crashing to the streets below. Obviously injured from the fall, the Caped Crusader must be helped by an assorted group of Gothamites. I wasn't so much of a fan of Tim Fowler's art. But the story was so different and so very engrossing. 

A great mix of stories celebrating not just the origin of the Batman but also of what makes a Batman. A worthy addition to my Batman collection of comics. Only it's not the feature that makes this book worth owning--- it's the backup material! In fact, I'd rather lose the comic adaptation and just add 3-4 more similar tales to the quartet of additional works!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Nightwing, Vol. 7: On The Razor's Edge

In Bludhaven, the head of its criminal element is the massively strong super villain Blockbuster. Thanks to some surgical enhancements, Blockbuster is a lot smarter than from his first appearances that pitted him against Batman. He's still as unstable as ever and even more ruthless and cruel. He's also at his wit's end. Since his arrival in town, Nightwing has taken an impressive bite out of Blockbuster's empire. To stop this, Blockbuster is testing out some new talent to pit against Nightwing: the assassin Shrike, who has some history with the hero from his days as the Boy Wonder. 

Meanwhile, Dick Grayson has finally made it to the ranks of the Bludhaven Police Department. It's long been Grayson's goal to clean up the BPD which rivals Gotham's police department as the most corrupt law agency in the country. Now if the rookie cop could only get an 'in' with the dirty cops on the force. Grayson thinks he might have that opportunity when his new partner, Officer Any Rohrbach, invites him to meet a special group of people. Only, this group of cops is unlike anything Dick Grayson was expecting. They're honest!

In the middle of all this is some pent up sexual tension. First, Nightwing encounters Catwoman in town to commit a heist against a very powerful crime lord. If there was ever a way that Dick Grayson could ever irrevocably betray Bruce Wayne, it would be hooking up with Selena Kyle. This story very well could be the flame that leads to a powerful explosive of passions. 

Then Oracle, with assistance of Black Canary, comes to Nightwing's rescue after escaping the clutches of Shrike. Babs Gordon and Dick Grayson have always been made for each other. This story proves just that. When will DC finally give the readers what they want and have Dick and Barbara get married?!

Chuck Dixon's writing on Nightwing is phenomenal as ever. I wish I could say the same about the art of Greg Land. Some pages, he's fantastic. In others, I feel like I'm watching scenes from the X-Man Beast's family reunion. It's so inconsistent! Especially in the action-packed scenes.

Another gem I inherited from my late, great best friend.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Archie Meets Batman '66

The combined forces of the Joker, Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman descend on Riverdale in their bid to take over the world. Figuring that Batman is the reason they can't conquer Gotham City, the villains of the United Underworld embark in their most devious caper yet in Archie Andrews' backyard! Aided by the enchanting songs of the Siren, the fiends manage to enslave the adults of Riverdale. But for some reason, the lyrics just don't affect the teenage population. 

With the Bookworm on the loose in Gotham, Batman can't afford to leave the big city. So the Caped Crusader sends Robin and Batgirl in his place. Meet Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon, the newest students of Riverdale High School. Along with Archie and his gang, these young heroes may be the last line of defense between 4 of Batman's most deadliest enemies and the fate of the free world!

Regular Batman '66 writer Jeff Parker pens this swinging 60s era crossover. There's a lot of the magic of that monthly series in this book. But of the Batman '66 crossovers, this is probably my least favorite. The other team-ups made by the Dynamic Duo involved other live action characters like the Green Hornet and the Man from UNCLE. Those stories felt like natural progressions of the TV show. Having Batman, Robin and the rest interact with the Archie gang felt more like those Scooby-Doo cartoon crossovers from the 70s. 

The artwork by Dan Parent was superior as ever. The definitive modern era Archie artist proves that he's got the chops to tackle the Batman '66 universe. And then there's the covers! A half-dozen regular cover masterpieces from Michael Allred (Madman). Plus, there are literally dozens of variant covers by many amazing artists such as Joe Giella, Jerry Ordway and Art Baltazar. 

I must make one giant complaint. There's a great Batman '66/Archie connection that would have made a great capper to this story. Unfortunately, Jeff Parker ruined the moment by having Bruce Wayne flippantly ruin things with an off-the-cuff but it all makes sense sort of observation a couple of issues prior to the ending.

Plus- isn't Barbara Gordon an adult on the Batman '66 series? So why isn't she susceptible to the Siren's call like the other adults? Okay- so I had 2 complaints!

I had read issue #1 a long time ago when it first came out in 2018. And then I had forgotten all about it until just recently. Worth the wait. Just not as perfect as I had built things up to be in my head.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Batman

Thanks to a free preview weekend of HBO/Cinemax, I'm catching up on a few movies I missed in 2022. First up is Matt Reeves' The Batman. 

There was a lot of push back on casting Robert 'Twilight' Pattinson as Batman. But he did a decent job. I don't think he was the best to have ever donned the cowl and cape. However, he was a heck of a lot better than George Clooney and Val Kilmer. With Pattinson, I thought his Bruce Wayne was far better than his Dark Knight. I think if we could have took Christian Bale's Batman and used Pattinson's Bruce Wayne, we would have had a perfect character here.

Jeffrey Wright's (Casino Royale) take on Jim Gordon was by far one of the best ever. Probably only Gary Oldman's version was better and that's just because of how epic Oldman is as an actor. I've heard that a GCPD series is being developed and if Jeffrey Wright is going to be on this, playing a major role, I very much might need to sign up for HBOMax. 

Speaking of the GCPD, it was refreshing to have a Batman movie that was more driven by mystery than action. A mysterious serial killer calling himself The Riddler is systematically killing corrupt members of Gotham City government. When this killer begins sending personalized calling cards to the Batman, the GCPD is forced to work mano a mano with the masked vigilante on this case. 

Other than on the 1966 series, I don't think I've ever encountered a live action version of Batman in which the Dark Knight is on scene in public working with police officers and detectives to solve crimes. Christopher Nolan's trilogy tried to accomplish this but there was a lot more subterfuge involved in all that. It was a refreshing change to see these corrupt Gotham City cops getting freaked out by the presence of an amateur sleuth dressed as a bat, operating in front of all of them.

When this film does dip its toe into action packed waters, I get bored. There was this very unnecessary scene in which the Penguin is being chased on a Gotham freeway by the Bat and the carnage was just gratuitous. Like 7 semis explode and you know a lot of folks died from that destruction and yet Batman doesn't seem to have any remorse over that. 

Kudos however to the actor and make-up team behind The Penguin. I learned in the credits that Cobblepot was played by Colin Farrell and I was stunned. He looks and sounds nothing like Farrell has in any of the few films I have seen him in like 2003's Daredevil. When I realized just who was under all that makeup, you could have knocked me over with a feather. It's that good of a transformation.

Another great transformation is that of Zoe Kravitz (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald) as Seline Kyle. In Frank Miller's Batman: Year One, Selina is portrayed as a light-skinned black woman with short bangs. Well, chalk another mark up for the make-up department as Kravitz's Catwoman looks like she was Miller's artwork come to life. 

I'm seeing on Wikipedia that Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) hopes to make a trilogy with the Pattinson Batman and that part 2 is currently in some sort of pre-production mode. Even though this wasn't my favorite Batman film, I definitely want to see more if only for another mystery. Batman is a detective you know. But it might be how Jim Gordon rises the ranks to police commissioner that I find more interesting than what Bat-tinson does...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Harley Quinn and the Gotham Girls

Originally published as Gotham Girls #1-5. This miniseries is based on the web series of the same name. I'm not sure why DC decided that they had to add Harley Quinn's name to the collection. I would have read this without touting her. But I guess the publisher felt that the only way to sell this trade paperback was to add Harley's name to it. I think that is a sad testament to how much trust DC Comics has in it's female lead properties. 

The premise involves Catwoman stealing a vial of something from a chemical lab. It's revealed that inside the container is a powerful fertilizer that will increase yield a thousand. Unfortunately, this stuff will also cause weeds and invasive plants to thrive uncontrollably. Poison Ivy realizes the harmful potential of this stuff on the Earth and will do anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. With help from Harley Quinn, it's two against one vs. Catwoman. 

Added to the mix is Batgirl ,who is investigating the break-in. Sometimes she's assisted by Catwoman. Sometimes, Catwoman plays opportunist and turns Poison Ivy and Harley against Batgirl. Don't feel bad! Helping Batgirl while conducting official business for the Gotham City PD is Rene Montoya! A little out of her element but not to be underestimated!

I absolutely hated the dynamic between Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. Ivy is so manipulative of Harley in this story. If you ask me, that makes Ivy worse than the Joker because Harley came to the Guardian of Gardens for refuge. Instead, Harley is being used, mocked and mistreated by Poison Ivy.

That relationship also doesn't seem canon to both Batman: The Animated Series as well as the web series. Sure, Harley Quinn can annoy the heck out of Poison Ivy. That, I don't blame one bit. But in animated form. I never got the impression that Poison Ivy was anything but a friend to Harley. Lover? Perhaps. But I never felt like Ivy wasn't truly a friend to the Joker's ex-girlfriend. 

Aside from writer Paul D. Storrie (Graphic Myth & Legends) getting Harley and Poison Ivy's relationship completely wrong, this was an enjoyable read. Though, I did feel that the 5th issue fell a little flat. Issues 1-4 provide backstory to Catwoman, Harley, Ivy and Montoya. Issue 5 neglects to dive, albeit even briefly, into Batgirl's personal history. That omission really interrupts the story flow. 

The artwork was very good. Jennifer Graves (Robin) draws everyone in the hybrid TAS/Gotham Girls style that is both retro and art deco. The covers by Shane Giles were amazing! They screamed the outstanding work of the late Darwyn Cooke! (In other words, I loved it!)

This work was enjoyable. It was far from perfect as a couple of characters just weren't portrayed as accurately as intended. But for someone who loves Batman: The Animated Series and it's various incarnations, this miniseries, I was entertained. Just next time, treat my girl Harley Quinn a lot bit better!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Batman Arkham: Two-Face

The dastardly career of Batman's dual villain Two-Face is explored in this giant-sized collection. Over 300 pages of crimes themed around the number '2'. But just who really is Two-Face?

The criminal started out as handsome District Attorney Harvey KENT. In a trio of tales from the early 40s, KENT finds himself partially deformed after Batman deflects a vial of acid thrown at the law man's face by a doomed criminal. This Two-Face's story is a roller coaster of plastic surgery fixes, re-injuries and lovers town apart by tragedy. But by the end, this villain's story ends well.

That would appear to be the end of Two-Face. But with the establishment of the Silver Age of comics, old ideas became new again. This time around Harvey Kent becomes Harvey DENT. This is probably because DC didn't want readers confused with a more heroic Kent, that being the secret identity of a certain Man of Steel, who appears inside in a World's Finest team-up.

With a jump into the 70s, Two-Face's stories become more complex and more deadlier. The 80s see more soap opera type drama between Batman, Catwoman and the Jason Todd Robin. There's also a heavy dose of sexuality with a maimed model turned stripper named Circe.

The 90s and 2000s see Harvey dealing with his daddy issues. Poppa Dent was a loving widower who turned violent during his lengthy drinking binges. Two-Faces crimes are still focused on the number two. But instead of lining the bad man's pockets, the true purpose of these new misdeeds were about payback against anyone who ever wronged Mr. Dent. 

A great time capsule of Batman stories from just about every decade of comics featuring the Caped Crusader. Though I am wondering why there weren't any stories from the 60s? Did the aborted fourth season of the Batman '66 TV series lead to an era of no Harvey Dent?

Found at an Ollie's for a literal song, this massive volume was a great read starring one of my favorite Batman baddies.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 

Catwoman: The Life and Times of a Feline Fatale by Suzan Colon

Take a look at the Catwoman's Guide To Life in this interesting look at the 9 lives of Batman's true love. 

There's tons of interesting stuff. Starting with a foreword by Adam West. We then get a look at the publication history of Catwoman. From her first appearance as 'The Cat' to her evolution as an anti-hero in Batman Returns and Batman: The Animated Series. Published in 2003, this book doesn't include the Fox TV series Gotham or the debacle of Batman and Selina's wedding bait-and-switch. 

Suzan Colon looks at Selina Kyle's arsenal. The first thing that makes Catwoman so deadly is her sexuality. But she's also got vehicles, whips and feline galore. Then you experience a day (and NIGHT) in the life of Catwoman. Finally, you get to enjoy a classic 1940s or 50s era Catwoman comic story by Bob Kane and company. 

This book has dozens upon dozens of great images culled from various comic book titles over the years. Suzan Colon gives thanks to the many artists and writers whose work she utilized in this book. But I really would have liked to have known what issues she took the images from. There's no acknowledgment of that here.

A fun read about one of Batman's most deadly yet loyal foes. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

DC's Crimes of Passion #1

You gotta love DC Comics. They might take 3 years to complete a 12 issue miniseries or cancel a title before it even goes to print. But the House That Superman Built never forgets a holiday. Crimes of Passion is DC's Valentine's Day offering for 2020 and it was a wild ride.

Featuring 10 stories starring the good, the bad, and the ugly of the DC Universe, Crimes of Passion is an 80-paged mixed bag. There's some really good stories here. There are a couple of stinkers. Plus, you've got some stories that are 'meh.' Thankfully, the majority of this special was very well done. 

My favorite story involves the lesser known character of Slam Bradley. Though he did not create the character, the late Darwyn Cooke is who I most link to Slam Bradley. A grizzled private detective, Slam is tasked to find a cat burglar stalking the rich of Gotham. For once, it's not Catwoman and it was a beautiful tale that made me miss Darwyn even more!

Speaking of Catwoman, she pits a feuding husband and wife against each other for a special heirloom. In other words, the trinket is worth a lot of money and both ex-lovers want it! As the couple are both estranged leaders of a Russian mob and passionate haters of each other, this story was quite humorous. 

I was also a fan of the Batman story. It had elements of Batman Year One and Batman: The Animated Series that made for a very noir romance story. I really liked Bruce's love interest and would really like to see her again. 

The Nightwing and Batgirl story was okay. I still haven't figured out where Barbara Gordon fits into the post-Rebirth era. There also seemed to be a page or two missing from this story as some things just didn't gel right with the plot. 

The Pied Piper story was another story that I was alright with. The ending was great. But the journey to get to that twisty last panel was long and tiresome. 

The story starring what I am assuming is the Vic Sage Question and Plastic Man were just plan awful. If there were other stories in this special that I neglected to mention, it was because they were forgettable. Now that I think about it, that Wildcat story rocked!

One thing that was quite unusual was the lack of heavy hitters. Batman does appear in 2 tales. But where's Superman? Wonder Woman? Aquaman? And no Harley Quinn? She's like the darling of DC Comics. It was really odd not having her appear in a DC special about love and romance. 

Overall, I enjoyed DC's Crimes of Passion. It was a good read to get in the mood for Cupid. You don't even have to have a Valentine to enjoy it. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Catwoman/Tweety & Sylvester Special #1

In this DC/Looney Tunes crossover, the witches of the two franchises are having their Witches Conclave. During this gathering, a bet is made as to who would ultimately win if given the chance to fight to the death- the Tweety Bird or the Puddy Tat? But even when both are given the chance to finally off the other, the two enemies never can seem to finalize on their opportunities.

In order to accomplish this feat, once and for all, both Tweety and Sylvester are granted champions who will do the deed in their place. For Sylvester, he's paired with Selena Kyle- the Catwoman. For Tweety, he's teamed with Dinah Lance- the Black Canary. Though both heroines don't really want to participate in this blood feud, they are compelled. For you see, if Tweety dies, then birds of all sorts will died with him. That includes bird themed superheroes. The same happens for Sylvester. If he used up all nine of his lives, it's night-night forever for Selena too!

Though I had to read the first 3 pages about 10 times to understand the mumbo-jumbo of those in the Witches Conclave, I liked this book. There's tons of surprises in this special. Gail Simone and Inaki Miranda pulled out all the stops in this one!

I also enjoyed the Looney Tunes style back feature. It has both Sylvester and Catwoman trying to break into Granny's apartment. The Puddy Tat wants Tweety of course. The cat burglar wants some of Granny's ice, as in diamonds. It was a laugh out loud adventure that I would love to see done as an actual animated short.

The DC/Looney Tunes crossovers are always great fun and this one is no exception. Too bad the DC/Hanna Barbera pairings aren't as fun. Maybe it's because they try to reinvent the wheel that are the HB properties whereas these specials capture some of the original heart of the Looney Tunes gang.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77

A decades spanning epic starring the cast of Batman '66, Wonder Woman '77 and Ra's al Ghul!

Jeff Parker does a masterful job starting the story in the 1940s in which the first season of the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman series was set. Then we jump to the 1966 era Batman and finally we end up in 1977 where we meet an aged and retired Batman, a grown-up Robin now Nightwing and a new Commissioner Gordon.

To me, there was one BIG continuity error as the first act had the Eartha Kitt Catwoman. But in the second two-thirds of the story, she's white. Jeff Parker claimed that he did this in order to honor all three actresses who played Catwoman during the run of the Batman TV show. However, in previous issues of Batman '66, it was established that both the Eartha Kitt and Lee Meriwether  Catwomen were 'copy-cat' thieves taking advantage of the Julie Newmar's Catwoman being incarcerated in Arkham. So while the tribute is great and all that, it contradicts canon that Jeff Parker himself had established in this franchise of Batman '66 titles.

Regardless of the mistake, this was a really good story. I only hope that this isn't the end of the Batman '66 tales. I really would like to see Batman '66 meet Superman '78 and Flash '90. That last one might be a little too far in the future to really happen. Though the Flash does have the ability to time travel. But maybe we'll see those Legends of Superheroes characters one day. 

Hey, a comic book collector can dream...

Featuring some great covers by two of my personal favorites Alex Ross and Michael Allred!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman: War Games, Act 3: Endgame

    Orpheus, the vigilante hero that Batman handpicked to be his proxy in a war game scenario to control the gangs of Gotham, has been murdered. Without him, Batman's mission to restore order to his city, just got even more harder to accomplish. It's even more taxing as a long thought dead enemy of the Dark Knight has knows of Batman's plans and is impersonating Orpheus in order to put Gotham under their control Adding to the problem, the new Police Commissioner just ordered the GCPD to shoot any and all citizens of the city wearing a mask with extreme prejudice. 
       Batman: War Games comes to an explosive end. It's refreshing to have such a massive scale Batman story to NOT involve the Joker. The artwork chapters involving Catwoman and Batgirl continues to look ridiculous. But the overall story is top notch and is one of the best I've read this side of No Man's Land.

     Worth Consuming

     Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman: War Games, Act 2: Tides

     The way this current Gotham City gang war is evolving seems too eerily familiar to Batman. That's because when Stephanie Brown was given her packing orders to vacate the Batcave as the new Robin, she stole a war game scenario from the Dark Knight's Bat-Computer. 
      The fallen sidekick hoped that if she could bring the gangs of Gotham under control, she'd win favor with the Caped Crusader and be given a chance to be Robin again. However, there was one little factor that Stephanie wasn't counting on and the entire scenario blew up right in her face.
     Now Batman must race to protect the new gang leader known as Orpheus if the hero has any hope of restoring order to the city. Orpheus was being set up as Batman's de facto leader over organized crime in Gotham so that the Dark Knight could control the gangs. Orpheus is the key to the plan's success. However, a long thought dead enemy of the Bat's is hiding in the wings and he has his own plans for Orpheus. 
     Whomever gets to Orpheus first will have control of the board when the War Games enters Act 3!
     I think the second act of War Games was just as good if not better in terms of story than Act One. But the artwork... well, it needs work. There's a couple of chapters that focus on Catwoman and whoever had the duty to render the feline anti-hero made her look like a frog in a black rain coat wearing Madonna's pointy bra. Plus some of the poses of Nightwing and Batgirl swinging through the Gotham skyline are just not physically possible in nature. What's up with that?
    A great story with some so-so art.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman: War Games, Act 1: Outbreak

   A mysterious player calls the heads of all the major gangs of Gotham together. The purpose of the meeting is unsure. But in the end, several leaders and their hired muscle are dead. Now Gotham is in chaos as the surviving gang members seek vengeance for their fallen leaders.
     With the emergency services, fire fighters, and police of Gotham City taxed beyond their means, it's up to Batman and his allies to clean up this mess and restore order. It's the Batman's hope that he can end the hostilities by apprehending the mystery man who light the flame to this holocaust. In the ultimate twist of fate and irony, the principle instigator in this gang war may very well be the Dark Knight himself! 
      A great opening act that is so very well written. There's a ton of characters, twists, and turns that will leave you both guessing and on the edge of your seat.
   
      Worth Consuming!

       Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Batman: War Drums

    Tensions among the gangs of Gotham City is at an all-time high. From the shadows, Batman seeks to control his city's organized crime by putting another vigilante hero named Orpheus as head of one the crime families. 
    Meanwhile, Tim Drake has retired as Batman's partner as a promise to his father. Thus, the Caped Crusader is in need of a new sidekick. Enter Stephanie Brown, AKA Spoiler to take up the mantle of the Boy Wonder. But can she make the grade, especially with an assassin in town seeking to take down her predecessor. 
    War Drums is the preface to a trilogy of Batman acts called War Games. I've been sitting on this and the trilogy for 2 or 3 years now. I inherited these books from the wife of my best friend Todd. These aren't really volumes I've been looking for or had on my list, but they were his and I thought that these would make a great read. So far, good. 
     I've been hesitant to read this. I guess it's been my way of not letting go of my best friend or not accepting that he's gone- or something. Well, my shelves are overflowing and if I want to add new stuff to my permanent collection, I gotta make room somewhere...
     My only problem now- I'm not sure I wanna give this book up. It's that good.

    
     Worth Consuming!

     Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.  

Batman: Ego and Other Tails.

  Darwyn Cooke. 
  Another Comic legend that passed away too soon. 
  Damn you, 2016.
  Ego and Other Tails is a collection of Cooke's foray into the world of the Dark Knight. 
   In the title story, Ego, Batman is pushed to his limits. Contemplating hanging up the cowl for good, has Bruce Wayne's Id battling Batman's Ego (or is it the other way around?) in a battle to the death. 
    The second main story is Cooke's Catwoman: Selina's Big Score. Tangling with the wrong crowd has lead to Selina Kyle faking her own death. But when a girlfriend of a mob boss lays out plans to a major transfer of laundered cash across the Canadian border, it means Catwoman must come out of retirement and organize her own crew. But when she does it will bring a deadly figure from past- and it's NOT Batman!
      An eclectic cover gallery and short stories involving small time thugs, a villain named Madame X, Commissioner Gordon, and the love-hate relationship of Batman and Catwoman complete this collection of tails- I mean tales.
      Of all the material in this book, I had only read the Selina story once before. I wasn't really a fan of it then. I'm still not quite a fan of it now. But I had a greater enjoyment of the artwork as when I first read the book, I couldn't tell the difference between Darwyn Cooke and Captain Cook. 
      The new material was great. Ego was very cerebral and the artwork match it quite well. A little creepy but it was a good creepy- like the enjoyment you get from watching a really good horror story. 

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Batman Adventures #12 (Family Comic Friday)

   Batman Adventures #12. It's one of two most coveted issues by collectors in the past 3-5 years (with New Mutants #98 being the other.) This issue, based on the classic Batman: The Animated Series from the 1990s, marks the first appearance of the Joker's girlfriend in comic book form. Though this series wasn't officially canon, collectors have been in a frenzy to pick this book up in anticipation of today's debut of the Suicide Squad movie.

    In this issue, Barbara Gordon goes to a costume party, dressed as a female version of Batman. When Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy kidnap the guest of honor, Barbara goes into action as Batgirl to save the day. But while the new hero has Harley and Ivy under control, she may have bitten off more than she can chew when a new foe enters the scene: Catwoman!

    For a comic that is fetching prices of $475- to over $1000 because of a first appearance, this book was a bit of a disappointment. Harley is barely in this issue. She's got maybe 8 lines at best. But the collector wants what the collector wants...

     As a Batman: The Animated Series comic, this is a fun read. It captured the spirit of the cartoon very well. The art was spot on and the writing of Kelley Puckett was exceptional. If anyone was going to write a Batgirl themed issue, it needed to be him as he created at least one version of the heroine and was a prolific writer of her stuff in the 90s. 

     Lastly, folks, I hope you're not thinking that I am advocating you buy your child this book- well I am but I don't expect you to shell out $500 clams for an ungraded copy. I choose this issue to review as it's a kid's friendly version of Harley Quinn to read. Thankfully, this issue can be found for less than $20, along with 9 other tales in the pages of Batman Adventures, Volume 2! 

      Batman: The Animated Series and the three series of comics based on the show were such great views and reads. I loved them. My little sister adored them and even my mother thought it was a good show. And now parents who grew up watching this show are sharing with there kids and the second generation has fallen in loved with them as well.

      Even non-Harley Quinn issues can be a little pricey. You can sometimes get lucky in a bargain bin but even after 10 years of active searching, I've barely scratched the surface with my wish list. So check out the reprint collections. Four volumes are currently available and they can be bought for decent prices on Amazon. 

     It's a great way to collect the series without breaking the bank.

     Worth Consuming

     Rating: 7.5 out of 10 stars.