Batman: Terror

Batman

by Doug Moench

A disturbing drama of fear and horror, BATMAN: TERROR chronicles one of the Dark Knight's earliest encounters with the psychotic Scarecrow. As Batman pursues the elusive Catwoman, the Scarecrow enters into an unholy alliance with the unbalanced Hugo Strange and enacts a terrifying plan. Using the feline fatale and the romantic attraction that she shares with the Dark Knight, the twisted villain subjects the Caped Crusader to a nightmare of fear and despair. Now as Batman fights to regain his sanity, he must rely on his unparalleled detective skills and his indomitable will power to overcome the perverse king of terror.

Collects BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #137-141.

Genres: Comics, Batman, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

124 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

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

[Lost Planet Airman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm trying to read "all" the "modern" Batman (since the 1980's retcon/reinvigoration Batman: Year One). It's a tough row to how, as there does not seem to be a definitive list. So I am using the Wikipedia order, modified by GR's "Modern " list (ya' think?) and another GR list by Bill Finger.

Batman: Terror is #19 on the Wikipedia list, and doesn't seem to occur on the other two lists. It reprints Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #137–141. What I didn't know until after I had read it and it had seemed oh, so familiar, was that it makes up the second half of Batman: Prey, already read.

Good early Batman tale with the return of Hugo Strange (presumed dead from Prey), Scarecrow (you'll see), and early, early Catwoman.

[Katherine (Kat) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 Stars

Individual Issues Rated Below -

Legend of the Dark Knight #137: 4.5/5
Legend of the Dark Knight #138: 4/5
Legend of the Dark Knight #139: 2/5
Legend of the Dark Knight #140: 2.5/5
Legend of the Dark Knight #141: 3/5

[Rodrigo Tello · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una secuela directa, aunque bastante posterior, al clásico de Legends of the Dark Knight "Presa", una historia totalmente estúpida e innecesaria.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doug Moench does what he's known for and that's telling really good Batman stories with a horror edge. Here, what's billed as a Hugo Strange tale morphs into something even more compelling. I enjoyed the look into early interactions with Batman and the antagonists here. Paul Gulacy's art here is phenomenal. Beautiful. Overall, a very good Batman book.

[Epos Opus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Batman: Terror
Story and Art: Doug Moench
Publisher: DC Comics
Format: Paperback
Pages: 115
Language: English
Isbn: 9781840237788
Published: 2003
Read and review: 2025
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐(3)

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Batman: Terror by Doug Moench is a story including the villains Dr. Hugo Strange and Jonathan Strange, aka Scarecrow. There’s a strange chemistry between Batman and Catwoman. Catwoman is a burglar who robs from the rich, but Batman can partly look through some of Catwoman's crimes, maybe because she is not “evil” from bottom of her heart, unlike the other villains. Catwoman also flirts with Batman

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Do not read below if you don’t want to be spoiled.

Dr. Hugo Strange is back in the picture. He thirsts for revenge against Batman.

Dr. Hugo Strange begins visiting the prison, disguised and pretending to be a psychiatrist. He starts “treating” Jonathan Crane, also known as Scarecrow.

Scarecrow tells his origin story: he was bullied throughout his school years. In university, he studied psychology and focused on what causes people to feel fear. He developed a chemical fear toxin, used it to scare a professor away, and took his position as a teaching professor in the university.

Hugo Strange frees Jonathan Crane from prison and takes him to his secret hideout. Strange wants Crane to develop a new version of the fear toxin, to which Strange plans to add hallucinogens.

Jonathan Crane betrays Hugo Strange - he was never fully under Strange’s hypnosis. Crane leaves Strange lying helpless in the hideout, unable to move.

Jonathan Crane captures Catwoman using the new gas. He removes her mask, takes a photo of her face, and threatens to reveal her identity.

Catwoman gives in to Crane’s blackmail.

She leads Batman into Crane’s trap. However, Catwoman ends up betraying Crane and partially saving Batman.

Jonathan Crane has kidnapped his former bullies. He gasses them at a mansion while dressed as Scarecrow.

Batman and Commissioner Gordon call Catwoman in for a talk. Catwoman tells Batman how Scarecrow knocked her out with gas, took a picture of her unmasked face, and blackmailed her into luring Batman to him.

Catwoman gives Batman a tracking device that she secretly left at Scarecrow’s hideout. She doesn’t dare go there herself. However, Scarecrow has found the tracker and is prepared for Batman’s arrival.
Batman frees the kidnapped bullies.

Batman is disoriented from Scarecrow’s gas.

Catwoman arrives at Scarecrow’s mansion and sets it on fire.

Batman goes to rescue and capture Scarecrow from the burning mansion.

Batman manages to capture Scarecrow. Hugo Strange escapes.

Batman and Catwoman have a complicated relationship. Catwoman flirts with him, but Batman disapproves of her thefts and crimes. Still, they maintain a truce.

[drown_like_its_1999 · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this sequel to the LotDK storyline "Prey", escaped convict Hugo Strange executes a series of violent crimes as a challenge to Batman. After recruiting the help of Scarecrow to further his plot, Strange soon finds himself double crossed and Batman must navigate the plans of both madmen. Batman in turn recruits the help of Catwoman in order to outmaneuver the wicked plots in his way.

The narrative of Terror is no more memorable than it's predecessor, but much like the original the ample bounty of Hugo Strange perversion and pervasively impeccable art makes this a fun, light read. I did however find the inclusion of Scarecrow subtracted from the narrative, serving solely to elevate the stakes and feel bigger than the original. Gulacy's art as always is damn clean, expressive, and detailed even if his pencilling doesn't have as a distinct personality you'll find from more idiosyncratic artists.

[Daniel Kovacs Rezsuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it as the second half of the digital collection titled Batman - Prey from 2012. A sequel to the 1991 Prey storyline rightfully considered as a classic, it bears the signs of a story trying to be too many things at once in a very limited space (five issues worth of material). Moench tries to continue the story of Hugo Strange, while he also brings in Scarecrow with another retelling of the character's origin no less, adds Catwoman to the mix whose role is arbitraty to the plot at best and does so in such a tonally confused way that borders on farcical, like a fever-dream that combines the ascpects of both the Burton and Schumacher directed Batman movies. Somehow it works, but only barely and I doubt I will remember any of this a year from now, much less long-term.

[Sotofunkdamental · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secuela de la historia "Presa", de Doug Moench y Paul Galancy. Lectura entretenida para batmaníacos. Argumento: "El Dr. Hugo Strange ha vuelto de la tumba, decidido a derrotar al héroe que se le escapó la primera vez. En esta ocasión, el psicólogo ha perfeccionado un arma nueva con que atacar al Caballero Oscuro: el Espantapájaros, el maestro del miedo. Sin embargo, ha subestimado a Jonathan Crane, que ha provocado un terror que él es incapaz de controlar. Con Catwoman también atrapada en los trucos de Strange, ¿podrá Batman eludir esta macabra venganza?"

[Jörg Schumacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Fortsetzung zu Prey, der Storyline, in der Dr. Hugo Strange neu definiert wurde und an deren Ende scheinbar starb.
Aber nun ist er wieder da und hat noch immer vor Batman/Bruce Wayne zu vernichten. Er will aus seinen Fehlern lernen und schickt diesmal seinen MitPsychoPsychoten Scarecrow gegen Batman in den Kampf.

[Chad Jordahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining story and good art, but both aspects had some very disappointing flaws.

[Rizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not as good as the first installment, "Prey", but still a worthy chapter in the Year One era.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every psychologically horrifying moment and it didn't hurt Catwoman was present.

[Cyril · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 stars
This was actually not that bad, coming at it with zero expectations

[Timo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art cut me off enjoying this one. It was just limping. With different artist, I might have enjoyed this one more.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only crime is the fact that Arkham staff were duped by Strange wearing a wig. Come on! lol

[John Noll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hugo Strange returns, bringing Scarecrow with him. Adjoining the story, we have Catwoman up to her usual self. It's a little better than average, but I wouldn't return to this one.

[Keethan Sangha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good Batman story. ALSO MY FIRST GOODREADS BOOK!!!

[tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

catwoman….. whew

[hyun]

catwoman 🤤🤤🤤🤤

[Tommy D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to ‘Batman: Prey’ which has the same strengths and weaknesses as the first. Scarecrow is introduced but he’s simply not intimidating at all.

[Emilce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This was an interesting and gripping sequel to Batman: Prey.
Dr. Strange and Scarecrow team up to defeat Batman once and for all. However, Dr. Strange's plans don't go as expected and now terror reigns the story.
The story feels a bit repetitive because of Scarecrow's origin story, but other than that the plot was great. The art wasn't the best, but it was pretty good.
Also, Batman and Catwoman's pairing was amazing. The tension between those two was so obvious.
It's not a must-read story, but it's a good one to pass time.

[maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Leonca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this one because I saw a scan online of the goofy faces Dr. Crane was making and had to have an explanation. Turns out this is “Batman’s early days redone #424,781”, not the worst I’ve seen but not terribly interesting. It does deliver some laughs from the artwork and weird dialog, especially the goofball things Strange hypnotizes Crane into saying. Terror? Nothing much creepy aside from that horrifying mannequin/sex doll thing wearing a copy of Batman’s mask. Just… what?

Also, I am so tired of Catwoman’s dumb “sexy” costume designs. That doesn’t look like a tail, it looks like a long purple turd stuck to her butt. I kept waiting for Batman to grab it in an attempt to restrain her, rip it off, and leave her to roam the rooftops with a big hole showing off her underpants. Or for her to trip on those high heels.

[JD Comics · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my Batman and the Monster Men post, I said that Hugo Strange is underrated and that this book, Batman: Terror, shows how devious and cunning he can be. I would love to see him on the big screen. However, although this is a sequel to Batman: Prey, the big bad in this book is the Scarecrow and not Hugo Strange.

I like Doug Moench as a Batman writer, and this book has a lot of things going for it. Aside from Hugo Strange, I enjoyed the Batman/Catwoman scenes, Paul Gulacy’s art, and James Sinclair’s colors. The first four issues of this book were outstanding. However, the last issue was too ridiculous for me. It’s still a fun read, though.

This story arc is also collected in the 2012 reprint of Batman: Prey.

My Batman Collected Editions Instagram page

[Boots LookingLand · Rating 4 out of 5]

i only meant to sit down and start this one, but then couldn't stop. the strange/scarecrow pairing was every bit as excellent as the bruce/selina pairing. wonderful horror tension, wonderful sexual tension, and a good balance of detective work and high-flying action. i could quibble with the storytelling in that there was a bit too much repetition (particularly with regard to crane's backstory), but that's minor (and a bit inevitable in a volume collected from a series).

gulacy's art is full of win! consistently good, moves the story well, and so easy on the eyes! maybe too much t & a for selina, but what can you do? his renditions of strange, scarecrow, batman, and gordon more than made up for it.

i wish they could all be this entertaining!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, so it's not the most fascinating story in the Bat-verse, but hell, the sexual tension between Batman and Catwoman is more than enough to keep me riveted. Truly smoking. Set earlier on in their long acquaintance, Batman and Catwoman are very much teetering on the edges of each other's territory but simultaneously pushing the boundaries. At least, Catwoman is. Scarecrow? Dr. Who? What sub-plot? Fear? What foreign notion is that?

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neither terrible nor awesome. A readable, and admittedly enjoyable story that takes place fairly early in the legend when Gordon is still a Capt. and Batman has his first encounter with Catwoman. I wouldn't buy this one, but worth checking out of the library as a quick bit of comic indulgance on the toitey.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr. Strange takes a backseat to Scarecrow, and this narrative is just interesting enough to keep me from thinking this isn't just a re-hash of every Scarecrow tale, even though this doesn't really bring anything new.

[Dalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

the decision to make scarecrow know crane style martial arts sounds like a joke i would make between a friend and me but would never expect to be real. going into it with 0 expectations made me enjoy this a lot I don't know if I would have enjoyed this as much otherwise.

[Keith Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugo Strange is one of my favorite obscure Batman villains, and I love Paul Gulacy's unique art style.