Detective Comics #301 - What I Saved

 

   (Continuing the series about the comics I saved when I recently sold most of my collection.)

   For modern comics fans, it's not cool to talk favorably about the Batman stories from the late '50s / early '60s.

   Those were "my" Batman stories, the ones I read when I first got interested in comic books, and I held onto a few of those often silly and off kilter - but darned entertaining - comics.

   At the time, Batman wasn't the campy figure from the '66 TV show, or a Dark Detective embittered by the deaths of his parents.

   Instead, he was simply a hero wearing a striking costume, fighting against crime and assorted menaces - including lots of aliens, monsters and strange scientific foes.

   Detective Comics #301 is a good example. In pursuing some crooks at a synthetic gem factory, Batman is exposed to a strange treatment that leaves him glowing red with intense heat and unable to breathe normal air.

   Can't let a little thing like that slow down a crimefighter! He devises a special airship that allows him to keep fighting the bad guys. But when the city is in danger, he puts his life on the line to protect Gotham. 

   You know, like a hero.

   The backup story is truly silly. John Jones, the Manhunter from Mars (better know today as J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter), is shocked when a group of Martian criminals turn up on Earth and start wreaking havoc. J'onn returns to Mars and immediately... runs home and visits his (white-haired) mother and (bald and wrinkled) father! He then discovers an Earthman who's traveled to the red planet and is using fire to take over. 

   None of these stories will ever make "best of" lists, but they're solid little adventures from a simpler time. 

   They may not be cool, but I love 'em!

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Grade: B

Detective Comics #476 (1978)

    Here we arrive, sadly, at the final issue in the initial Steve Englehart / Marshall Rogers / Terry Austin run on Batman and Detective Comics.

    Happily, they'd eventually return, many years later, for a sequel - but more on that another day.

   There's not much to say about this issue without giving too much away, but suffice to say that it's a very satisfying ending to the storylines created for this title - and man, is the art a treasure.

   I should also extend a thanks to Englehart for answering a mystery he started at the end of his first run at Marvel. In Captain America, Englehart's final story featured the Red Skull, who mysteriously managed to kill a victim in a room with others standing by - but the others were not injured. The solution to this mystery was never addressed by the writers who followed on that title.

   Happily, he has the Joker manage to same trick - and explains how he did it! Mystery solved, one universe over! 

    (I should admit that this actually happened in the previous issue of Detective, but I forgot to mention it before.)

    Anyway. 

   In a just world, this team would have gone on to work on Batman stories for years and years. But Englehart had a novel to write (the excellent modern fantasy / adventure The Point Man - well worth tracking down). Rogers would draw more Batman stories - but he should have done so many more, and sadly, now he's gone.

   But the team left behind these wonderful gems, these perfect Batman adventures that will shine as long as readers continue to look for the best in the genre.

Grade: A+

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Detective Comics #475 (1978)

    (This review has been edited from its original posting on May 16, 2012.)

   Writer Steve Englehart started his run on the Detective Comics with an excellent two-issue tale drawn by Walt Simonson, and then he launched into an amazing six-issue series with the talented Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin.

   In the span of those issues, Englehart managed to redefine Batman as a sane man, a great detective and hero who must deal with a crazy world; he gave Bruce Wayne his first believable love interest in the sexy Silver St. Cloud; and repurposed several Batman villains into serious threats, including The Penguin, Hugo Strange and Deadshot; and recast The Joker into a truly scary and unpredictable force of nature. 

   This is the Joker we've been seeing ever since. Dennis O'Neil had returned the Joker to his original status as a madman (as opposed to the almost lovable clown from the TV show), but Englehart took the character to the next step - a character arc that culminated in the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises and the brilliant portrayal by Heath Ledger.

   This issue is the next-to-the-last in the Englehart / Rogers / Austin run, and the Joker shows up with a truly insane scheme - one that involves fish with the Joker's face.

   When a bureaucrat stands in his way, the Joker vows to take his life at midnight - even though the man will be held in a locked room, with the police and Batman on hand to protect him.

   It's a dark delight of a story, with a Joker both completely unpredictable - and quite deadly.

   Not only is it an outstanding story, but the art is amazing. Rogers makes Gotham come alive, his characters are precise and lively, his women beautiful, his villains chilling, and his Batman dramatic and invincible (love that huge cape).

   The only strike against it is the poor printing, which smudged some of the darker scenes. But in a way, it just adds to the mood. 

   It's a fantastic comic, and the Joker nudges this one to the top of the list. And Batman has never been better!

   One more issue to go!

Grade: A+

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Detective Comics #474 (1977)

  Villains tend to turn up again and again because they strike a chord with the readers - while many others make an appearance or two and disappear from view.

   With this issue of Detective Comics, writer Steve Englehart manages to take a one-hit wonder and turn him into a major contender.

    The character is Deadshot, a villain who appeared in Batman #59 in 1950 - and not again until this issue in 1977!

   It doesn't hurt that artists Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin provide a terrific costume, including wrist-mounted guns and a mirrored mask with a sighting lens.

   This issue revived the character, who would go on to star in the Suicide Squad (series and movie) and in mini-series of his own.

   This issue is something of a breather before the final confrontation with the Joker (next issue), but it's a fast-paced and eventful issue - it starts with some heartwarming moments between Batman and Robin, and ends with a startling revelation!

   The art continues to amaze (the cityscape on page 8 is a stunner) and there are lots of Easter Eggs for longtime fans (lunch at Fox Gardens, and a convention center with a giant typewriter).

   This comic proves that, in the right hands, almost any character can become a star. All you need is a high-powered creative team!

   Up next: the main event!

Grade: A

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Detective Comics #473 (1977)

    (We're continuing our reviews of writer Steve Englehart's run on Detective Comics in 1977.)

   Of all the stories in this eight issue run on the series, this has to be the most "normal" of Englehart's Batman stories - and it's one of my favorites.

   It features the return of the original Robin (now a teen wonder who's moved away to college). 

   He's there to help Bruce Wayne recover from recent trauma, and sticks around for an adventure featuring one of Batman's most famous foes: The Penguin.

   It's surprising how much I like this issue because I was not - to this point - a fan of either the sidekick or the villain. But this issue changed my mind.

   Here we have a Penguin who's crafty, laying down a mystery for Batman to solve, and a threat that may be unstoppable.

   We also get to see (in this issue and the last one) why Robin was such a valuable part of the team.

   It's a straightforward struggle between the two sides, and it's fun to see Batman operate when he has someone to talk to. 

    The art by Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin is phenomenal, with stunning environments and striking character designs - the team just keeps getting better with each issue.

   By now it's obvious that the creative team is having a great time, playing in the rich toy chest loaded with Batman lore.

   The next issue would have them dig deep again, and take a throwaway character - and turn him into an icon.

Grade: A

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Detective Comics #472 (1977)

   I had forgotten how amazing this series was!

   This issue follows up the previous cliffhanger, with Batman in the clutches of one of his oldest enemies.

   And that's where he stays throughout the issue of Detective Comics - so Bruce Wayne does not appear as Batman in this issue.

   Instead we get a very tense game of cat and mouse as his enemy (who I don't want to name for fear of spoiling the tale) sets out to dismantle his world and his loved ones. 

   With the stunning art of Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin, we're lured into this wonderful, dark, dangerous film noir world - an amazing (and immensely satisfying) action sequence with a surprise guest star - and plot twists aplenty!

   And I had to smile at the great editor's note. As was the tradition at the time (one that has sadly gone out of favor), the beginning of the story incorporates a quick verbal recap of the previous three issues, all loaded with events and new characters. As the recap ends, editor Julius Schwartz writes, "As you may have gathered, a lot has happened in the past three 'Englehart' issues!"

   So true!

Grade: A+

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Detective Comics #471 (1977)

   There's an old concept about politics  - that there are only two kinds of campaigns: "It's time to move in a new direction," or "We're going back to the good old days!"

   That same idea usually holds true for comic books, too.

   Writer Steve Englehart's run on Detective Comics in 1977 shows that it's actually possible to have the best of both worlds!

    After setting up a number of new characters and situations in the two issues before, this issue kicks into high gear as Batman starts feeling political pressure from a corrupt politician who's out to shut down the Dark Knight.

   But Bruce Wayne is also suffering from injuries at the hands of Dr. Phosphorous, so he has to seek out medical help - which brings him against an enemy who dates back to Batman's earliest (Golden Age) adventures!

   Adding to the intensity is the amazing artwork by Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin - my all-time favorite art team on Batman. Each panel drips with drama and mood, but all with a sharp, modern (yet classic) feel to it. The characters feel "real," and the same is true for Gotham City.

   So it was the best of both worlds - something new and something classic - and oh, that final panel!

   And the story was just getting started!

Grade: A+

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Detective Comics #469 and #470 (1977)

   We take requests here at Chuck's Comic of the Day, and after a review of one of Steve Englehart's issues of Justice League, I was asked to review more of his DC work - so let's run down his iconic issues of Batman in Detective Comics.

   His first issue was issue #469, teaming him up with artist Walt Simonson, already established as one of the bright stars in comics. Here he's inked by Al Milgrom, which struck me as an odd pairing - but Milgrom actually blunts some of Simonson's excesses and brings his art more in line with mainstream DC at the time.

   (One can debate whether or not this is a good thing. I'd prefer pure Simonson, myself, but I was happy to get his work here.)

   The team worked on two issues together, which made up a single story (which is why I've lumped them together in this review). It featured Batman facing down a new character, Dr. Phosphorous - a horrific, glowing skeleton whose touch burns and poisons whatever it touches.

   I thought this was a great addition to Batman's gallery of villains - after all, he's powerful, intelligent and mentally unbalanced (the Arkham trifecta) - but the character never really caught on, and only made a few more appearances.

   But the fun in these issues is watching Englehart start moving supporting characters and events into place that will play out over the rest of his run on the title.

   We meet Boss Rupert Thorn, the corrupt politician trying to take over Gotham City - and Bruce Wayne meets Silver St. Cloud, the stunning and intelligent woman who would become his love interest.

   The key pieces were in place, the stage was set - and with the next issue, Batman would reach new heights!

Grade: B+

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Detective Comics #1000

    Just in time for the Dark Knight's 80th birthday, the comic in which he first appeared - Detective Comics - hits issue number 1000 - so it's time for a party!

   And that's the approach, as they reeled in a small army of top creative talent and gave them each eight (or so) pages to tell a short Batman story.

   And it's a killer's row of talent here - on the writer side, it includes Scott Snyder, Brian Michael Bendis, Denny O'Neil, Kevin Smith, Paul Dini, Warren Ellis, Tom King, Christopher Priest, Geoff Johns, James Tynion IV and Peter J. Tomasi. 

   On the artist side, we have Greg Capullo, Jim Lee, Dustin Nguyen, Becky Cloonan, Steve Epting, Neal Adams, Alex Maleev, Kelley Jones, Alvaro Martinez-Bueno, Tony S. Daniel and Doug Mahnke (among others), plus assorted pin-ups and oh so many alternate covers (I chose the one by Jim Steranko as my favorite of the bunch).

   So is it a great issue? Well, it's a lot of fun, but I wouldn't quite go that far - it's hard to manage something truly memorable in short bites like that. My favorite is probably Paul Dini's little gem of a tale about the ultimate henchman, mixing humor and a rogue's gallery of cameos nicely.

   With that lineup of talent - and even at these prices ($9.99 for this massive comic) - this really is an outstanding issue, worth the cost of admission. Happy birthday, Bats!

Grade: A-

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Detective Comics #935

   It's going to take some time to get used to the new every-other-week publishing schedule for Detective Comics.

   (What can I say, I'm used to the monthly schedule.)

   This is the second issue for the "new" series starring Batman, although the focus is more on the new Bat-Family (or Bat-Army, if you prefer).

   There's a new threat building in Gotham - one that Batman knows he can't tackle alone, so he has Batwoman heading up this new gathering of heroes.

   Last issue was about building the team, and this issue is about training the team, using a really odd version of the classic Danger Room.

   Finally by the end of the issue we seem to be getting close to actually seeing the team in action, so another half-a-month and we should be there.

   So far, the series is bubbling along nicely, with strong art and writing - but it's certainly time to get on to the business at hand.

Grade: B+

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Detective Comics #934

   One of the happier effects of DC's Rebirth is the return to original numbering for Detective Comics (and Action Comics).

   The other big change here is that it's no longer a "Batman only" title - instead, it's become a team book, something of a return to the Batman Family.

    A mysterious new menace is on the move in Gotham City, and Batman is smart enough to realize he'll need help - so this issue is a classic "put the team together" story.

   He starts with Batwoman, whose military experience qualifies her to lead the team he's building.

   There are some nice surprises in the lineup (which we won't give away here), and it's all managed with great efficiency and serves as a strong introduction to the cast.

   It's always a trick to use Batman in a team book - he's most effective as a loner - so it'll all hinge on the story and how he interacts with the group.

   For the opening chapter, writer James Tynion IV and artists Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira are hitting on all cylinders.

   So far, so good!

Grade: A-

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The Classics - Detective Comics #439

   With any comic series that's been around a long time (and Detective Comics has been around a very long time indeed), there are "sweet spots" where a special group of creators gathered and made magic.

   That was certainly the case for a short time in the mid-'70s, and the credit goes to one guy: editor Archie Goodwin.

   During his relatively short run on this comic he gathered some amazing talent - some famous (Neal Adams, Alex Toth), some not as well known - such as the artists on this issue's Batman story, Vin and Sal Amedola.

   They turn in an amazing work here, and it's a story that depends heavily on the visuals.

   That's intentional on the part of writer Steve Englehart (on his first job for DC, previewing his later amazing work on Batman when he switched over from Marvel in 1977).

   He provides a surprisingly emotional story, as Batman witnesses a terrible crime and sets out to bring the criminals to justice. Throughout the story, Batman never speaks - never has a thought balloon. He becomes the grim avenger, relentlessly hunting down the criminals in a series a stunning visual stunts (including one you will never forget).

    Then the final page turns the knife. I've read the story dozens of times, and the final page chokes me up every time. It's powerful, moving and cuts right to the heart of why Bruce Wayne became Batman. One of my all-time favorite comic book moments.

   But that was just the beginning for this issue - it also included several reprints: the Golden Age Hawkman, the Silver Age Atom, the Golden Age Dr. Fate, a Silver Age Batman story (with the Outsider), the Elongated Man (featuring Zatanna), and the Golden Age Kid Eternity.

   Then the whole thing wraps up with another chapter from Goodwin and newcomer Walt Simonson's groundbreaking Manhunter series.

   So it's a combination of top-flight "modern" stories and classic tales - 100 pages worth for 50 cents!

   It was a great time to be a fan of the Bat!

Grade: A

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Classic Comics - Detective Comics #475

I talked about writer Steve Englehart last week and his excellent run on The Avengers.

After about four years on that title (and Captain America, among others) he had a falling out with Marvel and moved over to DC Comics in 1977, where he proceeded to write some of the all-time best stories for the Justice League and for Batman in an all-too-brief run on Detective Comics.

He started his run on the Dark Knight with an excellent two-issue tale drawn by Walt Simonson, and then he launched into an amazing six-issue series with the talented Marshall Rogers.

In the span of those issues, Englehart managed to redefine Batman as a sane man, a great detective and hero who must deal with a crazy world; he gave Bruce Wayne his first believable love interest in the sexy Silver St. Cloud; and repurposed several Batman villains into serious threats, including The Penguin, Hugo Strange and Deadshot; and recast The Joker into a truly scary and unpredictable force of nature.

This is the Joker we've been seeing ever since. Dennis O'Neil had returned the Joker to his original status as a madman (as opposed to the almost loveable clown from the TV show), but Englehart took the character to the next step - a character arc that culminated in the most recent Batman film and the brilliant portrayal by Heath Ledger.

This issue is the next-to-the-last in the Englehart/Rogers run, and it features Batman dealing with the realization that Silver has divined his true identity.

The Joker shows up with a truly insane scheme. He has used a chemical to give all the fish in the area his grisly smiling face. For what purpose? He appears at the local patent office and demands a patent on all fish sold, because they have his face.

When the man in charge explains that it can't be done under patent law, the Joker vows to take his life at midnight - even though the man will be held in a locked room, with the police and Batman on hand to protect him.

It's a dark delight of a story, with a Joker both completely unpredictable - and quite deadly.

Not only is it an outstanding story, but the art is amazing. Rogers makes Gotham come alive, his characters are precise and lively, his women beautiful, his villains chilling, and his Batman dramatic and invincible (love that huge cape).

The only strike against it is the poor printing, which smudged some of the darker scenes. But in a way, it just adds to the mood.

It's a fantastic series, and each issue is a gem - but the Joker nudges this one to the top of the list. And Batman has never been better.

Highly, highly recommended!

Grade: A+

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Detective Comics #1

For those of you keeping track at home, our score on the "New DC" so far is: One good (Action Comics), one OK (Justice League), and one poor (Batgirl).

Which brings us to the first Detective Comics #1 to feature Batman (since he didn't show up until issue 27 back in 1939).

Sad to say, I'd lump this one in the "poor" category.

There are good things about it - the art by Tony Daniels is well done, with some moody splash pages, loads of detail and a chilling Joker.

But Tony Daniels the writer lets the rest of the product down. The story focuses on Batman's pursuit of the Joker, but this isn't the diabolically clever opponent from the past. This Joker is simply a mass murderer - no more, no less.

He delights in killing, and does so in the most crass and graphic manners - including stabbing one guy to death with a knife, and biting out an opponent's throat.

The Joker works best when he's hatching a devilish scheme or is involved in a particularly loony idea - but we see none of that here. Just blood, violence and a Batman who seems capable but is easily outmanuvered.

Too many comics these days seem to be more focused on violence to shock their audiences - and if you like that kind of thing, here it is.

I prefer a more cerebral battle between these two old enemies.

Grade: C+

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The Classics - Detective Comics #301

The Battle for the Cowl tells about a world without Batman - but that's nothing new.

One of the earliest issues of Detective Comics I can remember reading was this one from March 1962, and it was all about the end of Batman's career.

The lead story, credited only to "Bob Kane" (wink, wink), is titled "The Condemned Batman." While chasing some criminals through a factory that creates artificial gems, Batman is knocked out and left beneath the glow of mysterious rays.

He awakens to find his body is glowing red and radiating incredible heat. A quick examination shows he must spend the rest of his time in a capsule, breathing methane gas (which seems an odd choice since he's radiating intense heat, but let's not let science get in the way, kids).

Rather than ending his career, Batman devises a flying capsule that allows him to continue fighting crime until fate resolves the whole problem in a tidy and dramatic way.

The second part of the issue is devoted to John Jones, Manhunter From Mars. In a particularly delightful story, he finds himself facing several other Martians, and discovers they have teleported from Mars. He follows them back to his home planet, where we see a sweet family reunion with his parents, including wrinkly dad and white-haired mom.

Then he has to face the ultimate menace to Mars - a human with a box of matches! (Martians, of course, become powerless when confronted with fire. Yes, it's lame. What can I tell you - it was the '60s!)

So both stories in this issue are mostly silly - but I have nothing but fond memories of reading this comic over and over as a kid, and I maintain that any young reader would enjoy it just as much today.

The art is professional and clearly tells the story. The writing is crisp and efficient. Your mileage may vary, but for me - it's a classic!

Grade: B

The Classics - Detective Comics #438

In this time of $3.99 and $4.99 comic prices, it's fun to look back at Detective Comics #438 and remember how I had to deliberate a while before convincing myself that it was worth the hefty price.

For the then-staggering sum of 50 cents, you got 100 pages of comics (the issue is dated December 1973 / January 1974).

Even better, you got a comic with two new stories and four top-of-the-line reprints!

But then, you can expect quality when you have one of the all-time great editors at the helm. This was the second issue with Archie Goodwin in control, and it is one fantastic package.

How's this:
- a cover by Mike Kaluta;
- a new Batman story written by Goodwin and drawn with amazing detail and power by Jim Aparo;
- a classic adventure of The Atom, guest-starring Zatanna, written by Gardener Fox and drawn by Gil Kane;
- a classic Silver Age Hawkman story by Fox and Joe Kubert;
- a classic Batman story by Bill Finger and "Bob Kane," featuring the shocking fate of Alfred;
- a Green Lantern reprint by Fox and Kane;
- and saving the best for last, the premiere of a new character - Manhunter, by Goodwin and some new kid named Walt Simonson.

I should admit that, at the time, I was very much in the Marvel camp when it came to buying comics, and there were only a handful of DC Comics that I followed - but with this issue, Detective leaped to the top of my "must buy" list.

It was an incredible value, and Goodwin brought in some amazing creators in the months ahead, all anchored by the amazing Manhunter serial! And, it was something extremely rare at the time - it was a finite series.

It's always a treat to see creators working at the top of their game. This was Goodwin at his best and Simonson blazing new trails - it was just amazing to see this kind of quality month after month!

Ah, Archie, how we miss you.

Grade: A+

Detective Comics #853

Finally, the anxiously-awaited second half of Neil Gaiman's "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" story!

This issue of Detective Comics almost defies reviewing - or at least it's difficult to talk about without revealing key points. But worry not, we continue our dedication to not spoiling the story for you.

And what a unique, unusual and original story it is! So nice to see Gaiman's work in comics again.

He's well matched with the art of Andy Kubert, who manages to meld together a number of different art styles, characters and settings to create one of the most unusual Batman stories ever. Just amazing work here.

As to the story, it continues where the first issue left off. Characters from Batman's long history gather at what appears to be Batman's funeral. Each one gets up to speak about how Batman died, and each one tells a completely different story.

As the mystery unfolds, we learn more about why this is happening - and we learn about the true nature of Batman.

I suspect this story will divide fans to some extent, in that some will love it and some will not, but I see it as a clever testament to the eternal nature (and the eternally-changing nature) of the Caped Crusader.

Highly, highly recommended!

Grade: A+