Jayson > Recent Status Updates

Notes:
(1) Yup, I said the last issue telegraphed the ending and I was right!
- Frankly, there were too many instances of disguise and imitation over the whole four-parter for it not to factor in the ending.
(2) This is a notch below the last issue, since that one managed to make sense of a ridiculous plot, which is impressive.
- This one's just a really solid story.

Notes:
(1) This has a super comic-booky plot, but it makes perfect sense, which is all you can really ask for.
- While not particularly enthralling, there's no dull portions or weak spots.
(2) Judging from this issue, I'm pretty sure I know how the arc's going to end.
- I recall a Batman: The Animated Series episode ending that way, which might even be based on this.

Notes:
(1) This was another decent installment in this villains' court storyline, if hampered by being a bit too convoluted.
- But then, I guess needless convolution is the Riddler's whole gimmick.
(2) When did Two-Face become Mr. Science Fair?
- Last issue he debunked Catwoman with a physics demonstration.
- This issue he debunks the Riddler with a chemistry demonstration.

Notes:
(1) This was a fun one! Catwoman's story can feel a bit flat in parts, but having all the major villains gathered together is a good time.
- Being on trial, hoping to be found guilty is such villain logic!
(2) The art's more fluid than you usually see from Bronze Age books.
- Could just be the quality of the remaster, but I think most of the credit goes to the inker.

Notes:
(1) So, this is one of those science-y logic stories that makes your brain hurt to reason out.
- Reading this is like walking a tightrope, you have to slow down to mentally connect the dots.
- It's a lot of flipping back and reading things over.
- Of course, the final climactic resolution had to be something I need a flowchart to untangle—I think I got it eventually.

Notes:
(1) This is pretty decent, if conceptually complex, with an interesting villain. Frankly, I'd like it a lot more if Batman didn't act like a complete moron.
- World's greatest detective he may be, but who in their right mind breaks into a supervillain's lair and tests a mystery brain gadget on himself, just to see what it does!
- Of course it backfires on him!

Notes:
(1) Like a lot of latter-day Englehart, there's a lot to like, but also a lot of filler.
- A tilting floor sequence, for example, in Joker's booby-trapped house is essentially an RPG mini-game.
(2) If there was any doubt about this being the basis of The Dark Knight film, it's gone by the end.
(3) One last Easter egg: Lieutenant Schiff is a nod to Jack Schiff.

Notes:
(1) This issue was a lot of talking.
- Joker talking with Silver.
- Evan talking with Bruce.
- Batman threatening numerous low-lives.
(2) More Easter eggs: Giella, Friedrich and Robbins are Joe Giella, Mike Friedrich and Frank Robbins, respectively.
- The Joker lives at #1 Jerry Lane, which refers to Jerry Robinson, who drew Batman #1 and co-created the Joker.

Notes:
(1) If you follow my updates, you know I hate hallucination/dream sequences. It's just symbolic filler.
- Here it's framed as a repressed memory, so I'll give it a pass.
(2) More Easter eggs: Mr. Liebowitz, Murray and Adler are Jack Liebowitz, Murray Boltinoff and Jack Adler, respectively.
- At this point, I just assume every random name tributes some DC Comics alum.

Notes:
(1) This is pretty much a retread of Englehart's famous Joker Fish storyline.
- Joker marks men for death and finds a way to kill them in spite of heavy security.
(2) More Easter eggs: Warner Park, Giordano and Mr. Novick are nods to Warner Bros., Dick Giordano and Irv Novick, respectively.
- I'm also pretty sure the Sheldon-Waldorf hotel is a nod to Sheldon Moldoff.

Notes:
(1) It might just be me, but this seems a whole lot like the plot of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight.
- Evan Gregory's in the Harvey Dent role: honorable and running for elected office.
- Silver St. Cloud's in the Rachel Dawes role: a past with Bruce but involved with Evan.
- The Joker and Two-Face are the main villains.
- Batman is an enemy of the police.

Notes:
(1) Despite heavy callbacks, this doesn't seem to directly follow the initial Englehart run.
- It isn't a flashback or alternate history. Time has passed.
(2) References in this first issue are all over the place!
- We have characters named Neal and Haney, nods to Neal Adams and Bob Haney.
- The Joker references John Wilkes Booth, Alanis Morissette and American Idol.

Notes:
(1) Having read every single Batman story by Steve Englehart hitherto, I have guarded expectations.
- While his mid-to-late '70s work is pretty much universally praised, his '90s and 2000s stuff has been hit or miss, ranging from great to middling to awful.
- I have decent hopes for this one, since it seems free of the weird gimmicks emblematic of his lesser efforts.

Notes:
(1) This is a retelling of the "Penny Plunderer" story, significant as the origin of the giant Batcave penny.
- Notably, it's told from the perspective of, aptly named penny-purveyor, Joe Coyne.
(2) This is a much looser, cartoonish style than I'm used to seeing from Graham Nolan—very "Loony Tunes."
- It reminds me a lot of modern Wes Craig, albeit from much earlier.

Notes:
(1) Okay, this is such a stark visual contrast with the first story, which had a very clean and deliberately "Batman: Year One" aesthetic.
- This, on the other hand, is such a product of its time: the bold and brash mid-to-late 1990s.
- It's almost Scott McDaniel levels of "So... what am I looking at here?"
(2) It's less of a story than a commentary on child poverty.

Notes:
(1) This is among the best Steve Englehart stories.
- I don't know why his latter-day work was laden with so many gimmicks, when he does so well with bare-bones Batman.
(2) Bruce's love interest is named Viveca Beausoleil, which is a bit too on-the-nose.
- By choosing a nocturnal life of crimefighting over her, he's literally rejecting a "life of beautiful sunshine."

Notes:
(1) Riddler? More like the Punner.
- He's all about jokes and puns here!
- I don't think there's a genuine riddle the whole issue.
- The one about holes doesn't count, it's a trick question.
(2) Major editorial blunder!
- Real-life quarterback Andre Ware is now two people—Andrew Ware and Andre Watt.
- All the more a blunder because "Ware" is key to cracking the case.

Notes:
(1) There's some notable/odd name checks and references in this one.
- TV reporter Roger Marshall is obviously a play on Marshall Rogers, Englehart's longtime comic collaborator.
- There's a "Who Watches the Watchmen" graffiti.
- Apparently, Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware plays for the Gotham Guardians. I know him because he played for my local BC Lions of the CFL.

Notes:
(1) This is like if Batman had Deadman powers, except he still has a (soulless) body and whoever his spirit inhabits gets Batman abilities.
- Which doesn't make total sense. A little boy, for example, can't realistically beat up grown men, because he's not 200 lbs. of muscle.
(2) This is very early digital coloring.
- Which, while a bit garish and CGI-ish, isn't bad.

Notes:
(1) Okay, so this is better than Part 1, but only because, albeit still stupid, it's stupid in less exhausting and all-encompassing ways.
- Joker doesn't spend the whole issue being the Atlantean Whisperer like last time, sweet-talking everyone into imbecility.
- But Aquaman and Batman do have a fistfight for no logical reason, like it's some inter-company crossover.

Notes:
(1) If you ever wondered what happened to the Joker after Detective Comics #476—the famous Joker Fish storyline—then you hope this is noncanonical or some sort of dream.
- It's just absurd!
(2) Bronze Age Aquaman was in the Justice League, right? How does he not know who the Joker is?
- For that matter, why do Atlanteans just believe everything the Joker says?

Notes:
(1) This is kind of a ridiculous story, but it does make sense.
- It's the sort of thing I think would make a good Saturday morning cartoon, which isn't exactly what you expect from Len Wein.
- In fact, I had to double-check to make sure this isn't a reprint of his early work—it isn't.
(2) I doubt regular-sized birds, no matter how many, can carry adult human beings.

Notes:
(1) There's some nice juxtaposition here between Batman and Clayface's respective girlfriend issues.
- In both cases, Batman's breakup and Clayface's... waxwork paramour, grief triggers odd and irrational behavior.
- There's some definite Mr. Freeze/Nora vibes with Clayface. In both cases, the woman is "frozen." As well, tech/science crimes as means to medical cures.

Notes:
(1) Batman's gone all Dirty Harry, calling criminals "punks" now.
- That said, I'll take it over any other '70s lingo.
(2) While not in Jean-Paul Valley territory, this new Clayface is definitely in the realm of overstylized makeovers.
- He looks like a combination Shredder and Mr. Freeze.
- It wouldn't be so bad if he had Clayface powers and didn't just melt people.

Notes:
(1) This isn't bad, but coming off of his Detective Comics run, it isn't what I expect when I think of Steve Englehart.
- This is a lot more... I guess "tame" is the best word.
- Possibly Batman was meant to be a different vibe?
(2) Barbara's a US congresswoman. Odd, but as good a way as any to get her out of Gotham so Bruce can enjoy his penthouse era.

Detective Comics #408 (left), Detective Comics #477 (right)

Notes:
(1) This is a reprint issue framed as a flashback, notably not re-colored—it's simply a cleaned-up scan.
- It's a striking contrast to the original issue, which Neal Adams re-colored in his unmistakable style.
- I'm guessing this doesn't use Adams' re-color because he didn't draw the framing sequence.

Notes:
(1) Were people so starved for company in the '70s that drivers were looking for hitchhikers?
- For that matter, were hitchhikers so prevalent that you'd just expect to see another one? and during a downpour?
(2) Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this issue, it just didn't really pay off what the last issue teed up.
- The Joker's also less menacing and more kooky.

Notes:
(1) This is among the most famous Joker stories, and I can see why.
- First of all, it's super gloomy. After a couple issues where Batman walks around in the daytime, it's like someone cut the lights.
- Everyone's terrified of the Joker, even Rupert Thorne, who's been the perennial antagonist this run.
- Silly as it seems, smiling fish are just disturbing to look at.

Notes:
(1) This picks up after the last issue, with Robin carrying the priceless Malay Penguin into the Batcave.
- Though, it can't be that priceless, can it? It goes flying when Batman playfully grabs Dick for some impromptu sparring.
(2) The Deadshot story's serviceable, but it's more about keeping all the subplot plates spinning.
- It's an issue that grows on you.

Notes:
(1) This is so reminiscent of "Batman '66." Not in a campy way—this would actually be as if "Batman '66" were played semi-serious—but the type of caper involved and all the bells and whistles.
- Also, Penguin here is basically Burgess Meredith.
(2) I sort of love the idea that if there's a jeweled bird somewhere in Gotham, Batman assumes Penguin will try to steal it.