Dark Victory and Something Extra

Dark Victory, the not-quite-as-successful and not-quite-as-good sequel to The Long Halloween, was released in late 1999-early 2000.  Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale continued their take on the early years of The Dark Knight’s career in this direct continuation of the earlier work.

Cover to the Dark Victory Absolute Edition

Taking place about nine months after Harvey “Two-Face” Dent killed Carmine Falcone in the climax of The Long Halloween, Dark Victory depicts a “copycat killer” continuing the work of the “Holiday Killer” from the previous book.  This time around, the killer targets people from Harvey Dent’s past (police officers, judges, city officials, etc.) rather than Mafioso, however, the murders still take place on holidays throughout the 16 months (early August of one year to Thanksgiving of the next year) that the story takes place.  The killer, dubbed the Hangman Killer for his use of the children’s game “hangman” when leaving notes behind at the scene of the crime, is ultimately revealed to be Sofia Gigante, daughter of Carmine Falcone.  Her motivation was to exact revenge upon Harvey Dent for his murder of her father.

Sofia Gigante AKA The Hangman Killer

As I mentioned, Dark Victory is not quite as good as Loeb and Sale’s earlier work on Batman, but it does have its cool points.  For example, the inclusion of Police Chief O’Hara, a character from the 1960’s television show.  Unfortunately, Chief O’Hara was one of the victims of the Hangman Killer.

Chief O'Hara in Dark Victory

His Batman (1966) counterpart

Loeb and Sale also released a “companion piece” to Dark Victory starring Catwoman.  Titled Catwoman: When in Rome, the four-issue mini-series details Selina Kyle’s journey to Italy to seek out the truth behind her link to the Falcone Family.  With her travel companion, Edward Nygma (The Riddler), it serves as a good comedic break from the darkness that is the rest of the main series.  It is never fully revealed, but the general gist is that Selina is Carmine Falcone’s daughter.

Cover to the Catwoman: When in Rome trade paperback

Ultimately, Two-Face has the last laugh over the Falcone Family as it is revealed that he is in possession of Carmine’s body.

I keep wanting to make a joke about "ice pops" and Carmine being the "pop" of the killer of this story... I got nothin'.

What makes this story so important to me can be summed up in one word: Robin.  Dark Victory serves as a re-telling of the origin of Dick Grayson as the Boy Wonder.  Early in the story, Bruce Wayne attends the circus in Gotham City.  As punishment for the circus owner not paying protection money to the mafia, the ropes used by the star attraction, trapeze artists known as The Flying Graysons, are burned (using the same acid used to disfigure Harvey Dent) causing the parents of young Dick Grayson to fall to their deaths.  Bruce Wayne takes Grayson into his home and become his guardian.  Filled with rage, Grayson wishes to hunt down the man that is responsible for his parents’ death, a mafia enforcer named Tony Zucco.  This plotline plays out in parallel to the main plot of discerning the identity of the Hangman Killer and, in the process, Grayson is instrumental in helping Batman (who had revealed himself as Bruce Wayne) in breaking the case.

The Dynamic Duo

Without Batman’s consent and with Alfred’s help, Grayson modifies his Flying Grayson costume into something more befitting a crime-fighter.  In the final battle with Two-Face and The Joker, Grayson, now calling himself “Robin” comes to The Dark Knight’s aid.

"What is that you are wearing?"

Dark Victory won’t ever make a Top Ten List of mine.  And that is mainly due to its reliance on the mythos set up in The Long Halloween.  It is a sequel and reads just like it; without having read the original work, the sequel falls short.  That said, it is still a great story to introduce Batman’s first sidekick and does a nice job of wrapping up the plotlines of the Falcone Family and Two-Face.

In an additional, completely not related item, Batman vs. Superman director Zack Snyder originally teased the reveal of an image of the new Batmobile to be used in the 2016 film.  When the picture was released via Twitter yesterday, it turned out to be something so much more amazing.

 

THAT is Batman

Now, filmmaker Kevin Smith said of the new Batsuit a few months ago:

“He (director Zack Snyder) pulls me to the side, he pulls out his iPhone as if it was going to be ‘Look at this picture of my kids,’ and he showed me something that, I’m  not kidding, I went glassy-eyed, and not because I was baked, absolutely glassy-eyed, and I went weak in the knees” Smith said. “It made me happy in such a way that nothing that I’m not involved in has made me feel in a long time. I saw…the batman costume. More than that, I saw a picture of him (Ben Affleck) in the costume.”

Those words have had me more excited to see the new Batsuit than almost anything else.  Knowing how much of a Bat-Fan Kevin is, I knew he would know what he is talking about.  Now that I’ve seen it, I have to say I agree to the fullest extent.  It has short ears similar to that of artist Jim Lee’s design in the Hush series, a Bat-symbol reminiscent of that in The Dark Knight Returns, but best of all, IT’S GREY!  I hate all-black Batsuits, so this is welcome news.  Hopefully this is just the first in a series of great news items for the upcoming Batman vs. Superman (that’s not really going to be the title, is it?) film.

Thanks for reading!

-Josh

Sources: excerpts from primary source interviews; Wikipedia

Batman, related characters, and images in this blog are owned and trademarked by DC Comics, a division or Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.  

Damian: Son of Batman

As part of the DC Animated Original Movie series, Warner Bros. has released Son of Batman.  Available today on Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming services like iTunes and Amazon, the film is an adaptation of the 2006 comic story “Batman and Son”, detailing the revelation that Batman has fathered a son.

Batman and Son collected edition cover

In 2006, Grant Morrison, who is not only my favorite comic writer, but also one of the best, took over writing duties for the main Batman comic title.  He and artist Andy Kubert began the “Batman and Son” (which runs through Batman #655-658) storyline with Batman, on vacation in London, being attacked by a hoard of “ninja Man-Bats” (as in ninjas that have taken the same serum that turns Dr. Kirk Langstrom into one of the Dark Knight’s villains, the Man-Bat).  Defeated, Batman regains consciousness and is confronted by his former lover Talia, the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul, revealing that she had given birth to a son some (8, maybe?) years earlier and that Batman was the child’s father.  

What an adorable little douche

Batman brings the child, named Damian, back to Gotham where Damian meets Alfred and the current Robin, Tim Drake.  Damian and Tim are immediately at odds as Damian wants to assume a place a Batman’s side that Tim currently occupies, not only as Robin, but as Bruce Wayne’s adopted son.  Having left Wayne Manor, Damian returns to the Batcave to find Tim looking for him.  Damian reveals that he “fought crime tonight.  Crime lost.”

Damian hadn't gotten the "no killing" memo

At the sight of the beheaded D-List Batman villain, The Spook, Tim tells Damian that killing is not the way of Batman and his allies.  After a physical altercation, Damian breaks into the glass memorial case that holds the Robin costume of the deceased Jason Todd (we’ll get to that story some other time).  Wearing the old Robin costume, Damian turns on the Bat-signal to summon Batman.  Enraged at Damian for disobeying him, Batman reluctantly brings Damian along with him to Gibraltar off the coast of Spain where Talia is holding the wife of the British Prime Minister and plans to trade her life for control of the island.  In the final confrontation, Damian appeals to his parents to attempt to get them to be a family together, but in the midst of this, the British Royal Navy bomb the area allowing Talia to escape with Damian in the explosion.

 

Batman and Robin #1 (June 2009), a favorite of mine

After that first “Batman and Son” story had concluded, another series of stories began in which Batman is considered to be dead.  In his place, Dick Grayson, the original Robin and now Nightwing, takes up the cape and cowl to become the new Dark Knight.  During this time, Damian becomes the new Robin to help Grayson in carrying on his father’s legacy with the two starring in their own series, Batman and Robin (pictured above).  Obviously, Batman didn’t stay dead for long, but these are all stories for another day.

Son of Batman cover art

Now, all of that served as the basis for the animated film, Son of Batman.  Seeing as this just came out today, I’m not going to spoil too much of it, but I do want to give a look at a few issues that I disliked as well as a few cool Easter eggs that I found.

Damian, the Boy Wonder as depicted in the new animated film

Firstly, the film deviates pretty far from the source material.  Tim Drake’s role in the story is assumed by Dick Grayson (as Nightwing).  There’s no mention of Jason Todd or his death and the costume in the glass case in the Batcave is said to be that of Grayson’s when he was Robin.  I completely understand why these things were changed for the film.  To explain that there had been multiple Robins before Damian and that one had actually died would be too complicated for a 75-minute animated feature.  It is hinted that Talia drugged Batman the night that Damian was conceived rather than Batman consenting (which is how it was in the comic).  I guess I’m okay with that, too.  I’d love for the comic stories to be put directly on film without any alterations, but they come with entirely too much back story for that to be plausible.  That said, my biggest problem with this is the artistic style.  It is decidedly an anime-inspired style of art and I have never been the biggest fan of that.  The character models are great and the backgrounds are solid, but the action scenes are…  Weird at times.  Maybe just a little too over-the-top for my taste.  I realize this is in criticism of a film about a guy that dresses up as a bat, so “over-the-top” comes with the territory.

Nightwing!

All that complaining aside, there was a lot of stuff I really enjoyed.  Mainly how the film is able to perfectly capture just how much of a little shit Damian is in the comics.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s lovable.  But he really is an arrogant little brat.  And I love him for it.  Nightwing’s inclusion gets a pass because of how awesome he is.  Alfred’s seemingly endless string of quips toward Damian is amazing.  Outside of Batman fighting a winged monkey that could possibly be seen as homage to The Wizard of Oz, there are three really cool Easter eggs caught my eye as well.  First, the use of Warner Bros. archived cartoons was pretty cool.  Warner Bros. are the parent company of DC Comics, so seeing a clip of an old Looney Tunes was fun.  The communication device in the Batmobile made the exact same alert tone as the Bat-phone in the 60’s TV show that Commissioner Gordon used to contact Batman.  Finally, the Bat-signal in the film matches that of the one seen on the cover of The Dark Knight Returns #3 from 1986 (shown below).

The Bat-signal in Son of Batman (pictured left) compared to the cover of The Dark Knight Returns #3 (pictured right)

Like I said, I don’t want to give away any of the plot, but I will say that I really enjoyed it.  I’m going to sit down and watch it again tonight to give a deeper viewing, but at this point, I’d give it a solid 7.5 stars out of 10.  I do want to mention probably the best line of the film, though.  Delivered by Damian: “Leave, harlots!”

Thanks for reading!

-Josh

Sources: excerpts from primary source interviews; Wikipedia

Batman, related characters, and images in this blog are owned and trademarked by DC Comics, a division or Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.   

First Look: Batman Eternal

***SPOILERS FOR BATMAN #28 AND BATMAN ETERNAL #1-4***

75 years is a long time.  And for a thing to endure for 75 years…  That’s a big deal.  So, it’s no surprise that DC Comics wanted to celebrate Batman’s 75^th Anniversary on a grand scale.  Many, many (MANY) events will take place this year to mark this occasion, one of which is Batman Eternal.  I’m doing something a little different for this entry.  Typically I look at a completed story (a comic, a television show, a movie, etc.), but this time I want to look at an ongoing series.  In the comics world, books are typically published and released on a monthly schedule.  Each book comes out a particular week each month on Wednesdays (known as New Comic Book Day).  Sometimes, a book will “double ship”, meaning a new issue is released every two weeks.  Marvel tends to do this quite a bit.  As part of the 75^th Anniversary celebration, DC Comics launched Batman Eternal, a weekly series.  This new ongoing series will see a new issue each and every Wednesday for the next year (or possible longer).

 

#Batman75

Before I delve into Eternal, let’s back up a little bit and meet Harper Row.  Ms. Row is a young resident of Gotham City.  She’s got purpley-blue hair, facial piercings, a gay brother whom she protects from bullies, and a dad in prison.  Long story short, she meets Batman and wants to help him, he declines, she tries anyway.  First appearing in Batman #7 (March 2012), she has popped up a few times after that.  Remember her, she’ll be back later.

 

Harper Row and Batman

The Batman #28 "Spoiler Issue"

Serving as a prelude of sorts to Eternal, an issue of the self-titled Batman series (the 28^th, to be exact) was released in February of this year.  Named a “spoiler issue” by writer Scott Snyder, who also serves as head writer of Batman Eternal, Batman #28 flashes forward to give readers a glimpse of what about six months to a year in the future has to hold for the Dark Knight.  The issue begins with Harper walking through Gotham, which is now nearly a police state, with a nightly curfew enforced by the Gotham City Police Department.  Harper journeys to The Egyptian, the last operational nightclub in the city.  Her goal is to meet with the new “Kingpin” of the Gotham underworld to secure a cure from him for her brother for some epidemic that has been ravaging the city.  When she is able to enter the club, she reveals that it was a ruse to gain access.  With the aid of a shadowy figure working back in the Batcave, the power to the building is cut.  When the lights come back on, Harper (now in costume) has a friend with her.

 

New Dynamic Duo

Batman and Bluebird (Harper’s codename) clear the room of thugs before the Kingpin of Gotham reveals himself herself: Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman.  The audience learns that Selina has risen to power as the “Queen of Gotham” and that she and Batman had an apparent falling out when he left her to die (her words, not mine).

Catwoman: Queen of Gotham?

Remember, this is a flash forward, so lots of stuff will be out of context in this issue (NOTE: Scott Snyder has stated that Batman #28 could be considered to be issue #39.5 of Batman Eternal).  Batman convinces Selina to allow him to retrieve something from her safe help him save Gotham from its new status quo.  In the safe, the item Batman is seeking is revealed to be Stephanie Brown also known as Spoiler (her codename is a pun, how cute).

 

Stephanie Brown alert

When Batman Eternal launched about four weeks ago, needless to say, I was pretty excited.  Not necessarily because I would get a new Batman comic every week as opposed to every month, but more so because Batman Eternal is a book about Gotham City and its residents more than it is just the Caped Crusader himself.  In just the first four issues alone, Commissioner Gordon, the Gotham City Police Department, Stephanie Brown, and Batgirl have gotten more screen time (page time?) than Batman.

 

Covers for (clockwise) Batman Eternal #1 through #4

So far, the action and surprises haven’t been lacking.  The first issue begins with a look at the end of the series: Gotham literally and figuratively ablaze and an unmasked Batman with a bat-symbol carved into his chest essentially crucified to the Bat-signal.  That same issue ends with Commissioner Gordon being held responsible for a massive subway accident that kills 150+ people.  He is, as a result, removed from his position on the police force and arrested.  Carmine “The Roman” Falcone returns to Gotham from a five year exile still sporting his trademark scars on his cheek (remember those?).  Mayor Hady, who is in the pocket of Falcone, names corrupt police officer Jack Forbes as the new commissioner.  Stephanie Brown stumbles in on her father and his pals having a meeting, which doesn’t exactly bode well for her as her father and his pals are all secretly super-villains.  It really just kinda jumps right in there.

 

Meeting in your garage?  Must be the Legion of Dumb.

The writing team for Eternal consists of Snyder, James Tynion IV, John Layman (who will be replaced with Kyle Higgins after issue #17), Ray Fawkes, and Tim Seeley on writing duties and Jason Fabok, Dustin Nguyen, and a host of others on artwork.  Each writer has been tasked to take on not only different elements of Gotham and those who live in that not-so-fine city, but also different genres of writing as well.  Tynion will focus on the former Robin, Tim Drake as well as Stephanie Brown. Seeley will write espionage-based stories with Batgirl.  Fawkes will show us the supernatural side of Gotham (featuring The Spectre, who I highlighted in a previous post).  Finally, Layman is in charge of “the colorful aspects of Gotham”, a concept that his replacement (Higgins) will continue. 

 

The Spectre in his human guise of Jim Corrigan

I usually wrap-up with a summation of the work I’m reviewing, but since this is an ongoing series, I’ll simply say that I am very, very (VERY) excited for the continuation of this.  Three character transformations (Stephanie Brown from high school student to “Spoiler”, Harper Row’s into Bluebird, and Selina Kyle from Batman-loving Catwoman to Batman-hating Queen of Gotham’s Underworld) and the reveal of who the shadowy person in the Batcave is exactly are just two things I'm looking forward to.  And what’s the deal with the epidemic in Gotham that Harper mentioned?  Lots of questions.


60 issues (the amount for which Batman Eternal is scheduled) is a lot, but after seeing part of the end of the series (in Eternal #1), the middle (in Batman #28), and the beginning (in Eternal #1-4), I can already say that it will be worth it.

In the spirit of spoilers, here’s a little one of my own:

Thanks for reading!

-Josh

Sources: excerpts from primary source interviews; Wikipedia

Batman, related characters, and images in this blog are owned and trademarked by DC Comics, a division or Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.