Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange

Batman Arkham Collections #10

by Doug Moench, Bill Finger, Marshall Rogers

One of the Dark Knight's oldest enemies, Hugo Strange is the first foe to determine Batman's true identity: Bruce Wayne, mild-mannered playboy billionaire! In Strange's first appearance, he was a simple mad scientist turned bank robber, but after being foiled by the Caped Crusader, he dedicated his life to taking revenge on Batman and assuming his identity.

Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange collects some of the villain's greatest stories by classic creators, including Marshall Rogers (Detective Comics), Steve Englehart (Green Lantern), Gerry Conway (Justice League of America), Doug Moench (Batman) and many more!

Collects Detective Comics #36, #471, #472 and #942, Batman #356, Batman Annual #10, Batman: Gotham Knights #8-11 and Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #18.

Genres: Comics, Batman, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Dc Comics, Fiction, Mystery

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 24, 2018

About the author

Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok. Moench has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics and many other smaller companies; he has written hundreds of issues of many different comics, and created dozens of characters, such as Moon Knight. In 1973, Moench became the de facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprint Curtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs of Planet of the Apes, Rampaging Hulk (continuing on the title when it changed its name to The Hulk!) and Doc Savage, while also serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. Moench is perhaps best known for his work on Batman, whose title he wrote from 1983–1986 and then again from 1992–1998. (He also wrote the companion title Detective Comics from 1983–1986.)

Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.

Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange collects Detective Comics #36, 471, 472, Batman #356, Batman Annual #10, Gotham Knights #8-11, and Detective Comics #942, all appearances of Professor Hugo Strange!

One of my earliest comics was a Brave and the Bold issue featuring Hugo Strange. Since then, the idea of a criminal psychiatrist with the knowledge of Batman's true identity has fascinated me. This volume serves up some of Hugo Strange's best machinations.

The idea of a villain that knows Batman's identity and uses it to get inside is head is a great one. Thankfully, Hugo Strange is one of the least-used recurring Bat-villain so his bit hasn't been overused like a lot of Batman's villains. Apart from the last story, there isn't a dud in the bunch.

The earliest appearance of Hugo Strange presents him as a maniacal mad scientist. It isn't until Steve Englehart brought him back in the 1970s that he really gets inside Batman's head. Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin serve up some great art in the tale of Hugo Strange trying to auction off Batman's true identity.

In Strange's next appearances, he hits Batman where he lives, specifically at the Batcave and Bruce Wayne's wallet! Robin trying to strangle Batman in the shower is a haunting image, as is two Batmen fighting in the Batcave just before it explodes. Strange trying to usurp Batman's identity is some bizarre stuff.

The next story, a four parter from the year 2o00, wasn't my cup of tea at first but it wound up being enjoyable as well. Batman apparently dies with Nightwing and Robin left to battle Hugo Strange in another psychological thriller. The final tale, one from the last few years, felt like filler, the conclusion of a storyline featuring Hugo Strange. Was it meant to whet my appetite for the rest of the story?

Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange is a great collection of tales featuring one of Batman's most formidable but seldom-used foes. Four out of five stars.

[Grace Hennessey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugo strange is definitely not one of my favorite villains. I think he’s mid, but I loved seeing dick, tim and Alfred so prevalently in these stories.

[Ashkin Ayub · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is an enjoyable story collection that tends to focus on one of the best villains of batman who realizes who bruce wayne is truly. the novel is divided into two major sections, pre-crisis and all else. the four stories of 'everything else' bring catwoman to the mix, plus an earlier story of new 52. everything else. the best one is the first half of hugo's book of 1939. the first half. there are also two stories from the 1980s that show the deceptive nature of strange.
it's nice for anyone looking for fun stories that are no longer accessible in many superhero comics.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of Hugo Strange/Batman clashes throughout the years.  

Detective Comics #36 (1940) by Bill Finger & Bob Kane was pretty basic, but not as old and crusty as I thought it would be. The story takes place in the "simpler days" where Strange manufactures a fog to cover a crime spree in Gotham. (Pretty quaint.)

Detective Comics #471 (1977) by Steve Engelhart & Marshall Rogers was pretty enjoyable. Bruce Wayne checks into a fancy rich person's rehab center to heal an injury he got as Batman from Doctor Phosphorus, but the hospital is actually a cover for Hugo Strange making monsters.
There were some LOL moments from the slightly cheesy 1970s writing I was expecting:

"What a nightmare! Wait a minute! I never have nightmares! I give nightmares!"
LOL

and this:
"He has declared war on crime -- And his word is law!"
Detective Comics #472 moves really fast. Strange unmasked Batman at the end of #471 and in #472 he's taken over his identity, captured Alfred, then gets captured himself by the mob boss from #471, and then DIES keeping Batman's secret. Dammmmnnn. What a wild ride!. And thus begins Strange's OBSESSION with Batman's identity, becoming Batman, and how that's morphed in later comics into "understanding" Batman.

Batman #356 (1983) by Gerry Conway and Don Newton was super trippy! And super disturbing  how Bruce kept "killing" those Dick robots. So gruesome!. But we do get some answers from Strange...
Batman: "Why, Strange? Why this obsession --why go to all this insane trouble -- to imitate me?"
Strange: "Because you're the best, Batman!"..."You're wrong, you see, I'm not an imitation of you -- I am you! With a difference. I don't have your weakness!"
And I just love that Robin comes in and can tell the two Batmen apart because Hugo orders Robin to kill the other Batman (after calling Dick "another of my friends" LOL).
Robin: "Who is this guy? He looks like you --maybe he even sounds like you, a little -- But he sure doesn't act like you!"

The ending was almost a nail-bitter with a Bruce Wayne "manandroid" showing up at Wayne Manor. Luckily Batman and Robin escaped Hugo Strange and were able to save Alfred, phew!

Batman Annual #10 (1986) by Doug Moench and Denys Cowan was pretty good. Everything is falling apart for both Bruce Wayne and Batman. So much so, that he gets evicted from Wayne Manor, had a can of beans to eat yesterday, has no money or assets, Dick gets taken by Child Welfare Services, and Alfred is in intensive care after suffering a heart attack. Someone is committing crimes dressed up as Batman & Wayne Manor has a new owner... I wonder who is destroying Batman/Bruce! Tada, it's Hugo Strange! (This is his second death to life revival.)
After a fight and the capture of Strange, Batman tells Gordon that he "hypnotized" Strange into believing Batman is Bruce Wayne (wink wink nudge nudge), so no one in jail will believe Strange when he shows up to reveal Batman's secret identity. Pretty clever. (Except Gordon totally doesn't buy it LOL.)

I loved Batman: Gotham Knights #8-11  (2000) by Devin Grayson and Roger Robinson.
Issue #8 starts off with Catwoman interrupting a burglary-in-progress by a fake Catwoman, which is then crashed by a fake Batman!
Lo and behold the Batman is actually Hugo Strange (a 'no duh' for this book), and he and Catwoman have a whole exchange about Batman & the Batfamily.
Catwoman: "So you wanna be Batman, hu? You talk to the alcolyts about that?"
Strange: "The who?"
Catwoman: "Batman doesn't work alone, freak job. If you want to inherit the cowl, you'd better get in line."
Strange: "What?! What are you talking about? Batman is a loner! A solitary nocturnal avenger! He's an archetype of dark self-assurance!"
Catwoman: "Maybe. But try to take him out and you'll have more masked minions on you than ticks on a junkyard dog!"
Strange: "They must be parasites. Hangers-on. The Batman would never allow his power to be siphoned! Never!"
Catwoman: "Sorry to disappoint you, but unlike me, they're card-carrying members of the pointy-eared calvary. Hand-picked and trained, I'd imagine, if not actually born and bred."

Man that writing by Grayson is so sharp!

Gotham Knights is about Batman and those "card-carrying members of the pointy-eared calvary". It's a bit Batman story, a bit Batman psychoanalysis.

At first, I thought the text box commentary in issue #8 was from Dick's perspective and was shocked when I discovered at the end that it was written by Bruce himself!! I kind of LOVED that! Yes, it was a *cold* inspection on his Batfamily, but it was also one of himself. It's very Batman IMO.

Some of my favorite lines come from issue #10:
Your students come with their own motivations for wanting to learn, so you do not teach them to acquire your wounds, you teach them what you did once you began to heal.
Because of who he was -because, perhaps, of who Batman was to him -the Mission, as embodied by Dick Grayson, looked different.
At it's center, Batman's fight is rooted in anguish and -let's admit it- an almost childish determination to spare anyone else his grief.
But those he's trained, at their centers, they fight from a place of gratitude, devotion and hope.
.

After Catwoman, Strange goes after Bruce, himself. He knows he's Batman, but Bruce does not break character, not even with a gun pointed at him. Kudos, Bruce!

Batman shows up on-scene, of course, and he and Strange duke it out on top of Wayne Tower (while Dick -who is eating popcorn- and Tim watch from below). Batman kicks Strange's butt, ties him up, and then jumps into the Batmobile which then explodes(!!). And OMG, the look on Dick's face... oof, heartsqueezy. :(
I loved that Dick immediately goes after Strange; Nightwing priorities (even though Strange somehow escapes). And the next scene (first page of #10) is also a heatsqueezy one. Tim brings Dick back to Wayne Manor and runs to get Alfred... (Tim: "Alfred, come quick! There was this explosion, and B-Bruce was in the car, and he didn't come out, and-- and Dick can't even breath he's so scared --I had to drag him all the way here, and I don't know what to do, I've never seen this drill before, it's like maybe he's really --maybe Bruce is really--")

The ending was absolutely so just perfectly Batman. Bruce hypnotized himself to forget he was Batman so much so that he couldn't protect himself against Hugo Strange when he kidnapped him. Dick and Tim save him, but have no idea what to do with a Bruce Wayne who isn't Batman. Dick says their oath "to fight against crime and corruption, and never swerve from the path of justice..." (which I had never heard before), which releases Batman from the hypnosis.
Tim: "Wait, so you seriously hypnotized yourself to forget you were Batman? That's awesome!"
Dick: "Not to mention manipulative and unfair..."

But it worked.

On the last page of issue #11 we see Hugo Strange in Arkham totally deranged. "I am Batman and I killed Batman."
I totally loved the story!

The last issue included in the volume is: Detective Comics #942 "Night of the Monster Men, Finale" by Steve Orlando and Andy MacDonald. I liked Night of the Monster Men a lot, though upon the second reading of this last issue I'm not sure how Nightwing's freefall/dive into the monster was the thing that destroyed it when the Watchtowers didn't make a dent. Maybe I'd have to read back more, but *shrug*.
Anyway, this issue is included in Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange to give us another wonderful Strange takedown (+ an awesome assist from Clayface).
It's a bit more out of context than the rest of the issues/stories here because it's the end of an "event" and doesn't make much sense on its own, but it does have some awesome Batman psychoanalysis...
Batman: "You thought projecting my faults as monsters would stop me? You don't understand me at all Strange. I don't run from my monsters... I embrace them."
And Nightwing adding to that: "But Strange got it wrong. He read the book, but he didn't understand. All the monstrous faults he saw in Batman --they're not faults. They're fuel."

All in all, a really enjoyable collection. 4 stars.

[Fizzgig76 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reprints Detective Comics (1) #36, 471-472, Batman (1) #356, Batman (1) Annual #10, Batman: Gotham Knights #8-11, and Detective Comics (3) #942 (February 1940-December 2016). Professor Hugo Strange has an obsession…Batman. He wants to know everything about him, why he is the way he is, who he is, and what makes him tick. Most of all, Hugo Strange wants to be Batman, and he will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal. With a genius intelligence and the keys to figure out Batman’s secret identity, Professor Hugo Strange could be Batman’s greatest enemy by breaking him mentally.

Written by Bill Finger, Steve Englehart, Gerry Conway, Doug Moench, Devin Grayson, Steve Orlando, and James Tynion IV, Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange is a DC Comics collection. The issues feature art by Bob Kane, Marshall Rogers, Marshal Rogers, Don Newton, Denys Cowan, Roger Robinson, and Andy MacDonald, and issues in the collection were also included in Batman: The Golden Age—Volume 1, Tales of the Batman: Steve Englehart, Batman: Gotham Knights—Transference, Batman—Detective Comics 1: Night of the Monster Men, and Batman: Detective Comics Rebirth Deluxe Edition—Book 1 among others.

The Batman Arkham series is fun especially when it gets to some of these more fringe Batman characters. Hugo Strange has been around almost as long as Batman, but it feels like until especially recently, he’s been underused. It is nice to finally see Hugo Strange get his dues…but because of the character’s publication history, the collection is a bit odd.

Hugo first appeared in Detective Comics (1) #36 in February of 1940. He was barely used and popped up on occasion. He then returned with a force and sought to really crush Batman to become Batman. Constantly dressing in Batman’s uniform, it was always odd that this guy with glasses and beard (and sometimes drawn as not the fittest person) keeps trying to pass as Batman. Like most of Batman’s villains, he’s insane, but he is a much better plotter with a bigger picture in general (as seen in the Batman Annual where he completely crushes Bruce’s finances).

The problem with a character like Hugo Strange is that in clumps like this, you see his repetitive nature. While someone like a Joker is consistently mad or characters like the Riddler always posing puzzles, the stories surrounding their pranks and crimes change. Hugo seems to want the same thing every time and goes about it in a similar method by threatening Wayne’s identity. It was kind of interesting to see him essentially face off against Dick Grayson in the Batman: Gotham Knights series, but it would be good to see him paired with some other DC superheroes on occasion.

The last problem with this type of collection is a finale. With comics always continuing, the story of Hugo Strange won’t end with this volume. The collection simply chose his more recent appearance in Detective Comics to round out the title, but it is an incomplete story and you are kind of thrown into it. While it comes down to a Hugo Strange story in the end, it feels like you miss a lot of the context and that you are just reading a random issue.

Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange is kind of what you’d expect from a collection of this character, and it is nice to see someone other than Batman’s normal rogue gallery take center stage on occasion. I wish that they could figure out more to do with this character since I liked his appearances in shows like Gotham and video games like the Arkham Asylum series. Hugo Strange has tons of potential…but it is very hard to tap into it.

[Ben Truong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange is a compilation of some of the best representative of Hugo Strange stories over the years centering one of the more psychologically challenging foes in the Batman Rouges. This collection features Hugo Strange in all his many incarnations throughout the years.

This trade paperback collects Detective Comics #36, #471–472, #942, Batman #356, Batman Annual #10, Batman: Gotham Knights #8–11, and Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #18.

Hugo Strange is a fictional super-villain created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane and first appeared in Detective Comics #36 (February 1940). The character is a former psychiatrist and one of Batman’s first reoccurring villains and one of the first Batman villains to deduce Batman’s secret identity successfully.

As a whole, Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange is a rather well collected anthology of Hugo Strange stories. Story selection must have been difficult to say the least. Hugo Strange has a long and varied history and has been featured or cameos in many stories over many titles and it is no easy feat to pick out the best or favorite from the masses.

The thing is those measuring sticks are subjective and will never reach perfect consensus. Actually, we all can agree that in a collection like this, we could all agree on one story: Detective Comics #36 – the first appearance of Hugo Strange – the rest is debatable. This anthology served its purpose – giving the reader a nice overview of Hugo Strange.

Regardless, I think the editors picked a somewhat nice selection, would I swapped some stories out for others – sure I have my favorites, but it is difficult if not impossible to please everyone, since everyone is different. Overall, I was happy of which stories were presented.

All in all, I think Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange is a somewhat well selection of stories that gives a nice glimpse into the psyche of one of the most psychologically challenging villain in Batman's Rouge Gallery – Hugo Strange. It is a good anthology for both the avid and subdued fan alike. However, for the newly initiated I would recommend a collection that is more substantial and cohesive.

[Cale · Rating 2 out of 5]

One thing I never associate with Batman villains is dull. Until now. This collection of 10 issues (making up 6 separate stories) is boring. Hugo Strange is boring. I'm sure I've read stories where I've enjoyed him and his desire to out Bruce Wayne as being the Batman, but none of them are included here. The first story may be the original challenge between Strange and Batman, and it is very dated. We learn how Strange unmasked Batman (spoiler, it involves Bruce being really stupid), and then multiple attempts of Strange to replace him. The bulk of the book is a 4-issue story where
Bruce hypnotizes himself to forget that he's Batman to 'outwit' Strange . And the weirdest inclusion is the epilogue to a larger series (a post Rebirth story, which may be why it's not fully included) that makes almost no sense without its preceding issues. There's very little action, Strange is never more menacing than a civil service bureaucrat, and the stories just drag on. There's some decent art and the story about Bruce going bankrupt is at least a little more rare a plot, but there's really nothing here that anyone needs to read. And if you're not already a Batman fan, this book could easily turn you off of him. This isn't called 'The Greatest Hugo Strange stories ever told' for a reason; if these are the best of the bunch, it's an embarrassing bar to set.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hugo Strange is an underrated villain. And I think this book which is supposed to be a best of is a demonstration of why. DC writers just have little or not idea how to deal with villains whose methods are so indirect. Probably because comes are visual medium so direct action works best.

Plus they keep changing their mind on what kind of Doctor/Professor Hugo Strange is. Is he a psychiatrist? (As in his initial appearance and most of the 70s-early 80s appearances.) A generic mad scientist with a mastery of chemistry, biology and the not quite understood science of gentics as he was for the appearances in the 40s? Or both a mad psychiatrist and geneticist as he is now.

At his best, as just a psychiatrist who sees Batman as a symptom of Bruce Wayne's own mental illness who pulls some, if not all of these elaborate schemes in attempt to return both himself and Bruce to sanity makes a rather interesting and compelling villain. So two or three of the stories in here are actually pretty amazing a would get three to four star ratings.

The problem is when a Hugo Strange fails it REALLY fails and produces material that is barely readable.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent introduction to Professor Hugo Strange and I found that my favorite among the issues was the first to introduce the character; Detective Comics #36 (1940). Finger's was the most cohesive and interesting plot while the other stories varied in their quality and cohesion. This is the fourth Batman Arkham I've read and surprisingly I found this to be the most ridiculous. Obsession played a larger role in Strange's plots than I would have expected and imitation even more so. If what they say about imitation and flattery is true then my understanding of Strange's and Batman's relationship is forever changed.

[David Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got less interesting as it went. I loved the stories and art from 1977 as a kid and they still hold up. The more modern stuff, no. Gotham Nights in particular seemed pointless.

[Logan Muha · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a few disappointing omissions, this collection still serves its purpose nicely, offering a collection of tales starring one of Batman’s more unique adversaries.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the four-parter that was part of this collection. The rest were just meh.

[Sha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gotta love Batman stories with a focus on out-of costumeness. And transference was an excellent story and I liked it.

[Jennifer Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Strange is one of my favorite Batman characters, and Arkham is one of my favorite DC series. Love the Strange becoming Batman recurrence. This was a fun read!

[Brayan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pitié c’était incroyable!

[Kaylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another collection of stories focusing on one of Batman's villains. This is about Dr. Hugo Strange (not to be confused with the Marvel character Doctor Strange). Besides the first story in this book, the stories all basically have the same plot: Strange knows Bruce Wayne is Batman and wants to take over his [Batman's] life. I liked "The Double Life of Hugo Strange" (Batman #356) and the 4-part story "Transference" (Batman: Gotham Knights #8-11). The latter might be my favorite. Since the "Night of the Monster Men, Finale" (Batman: Detective Comics #942) was the finale to a story, I feel like I missed a lot of the context and plot, but the part with Batman and Strange does work on its own.