[Zacharie]

Title: Batman: The Man Who Laughs (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Ed Brubaker (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

A funny thing happened on the way to the insane asylum...

Ed Brubaker has some big fat cajones. Few writers would dare offer a year one tale of the Joker, considering the love affair fans feel towards Alan Moore's The Killing Joker. Give Brubaker credit, he doesn't shy away from offering his own take on the Joker. Heck, give him a little more credit for writing a solid tale of Batman's first encounter with the Clown Prince of Crime.

Brubaker doesn't dwell long on the events that turn a simple hood into the Joker, instead focusing on Joker's first crime spree in Gotham City. The Batman's career is still in its early stages. He has no Robin and no Bat Sginal. He's not even that confident in his new-fangled Batmobile. Still, Bats exudes the smae dark and fearsome presence as always.

When people begin dying with a smile on their face, the young Batman is faced with something he never imagined -- dealing with utterly insane criminals. As the Bat notes, he was prepared for pimps and thugs, not psychotic maniacs. That doesn't stop him from attempting to protect numerous Joker targets while slowly piecing together the Clown Prince's endgame.

While The Man Who Laughs may lack the smooth pacing and adept dialogue of Moore's The Killing Joke this is a worthy companion to the classic Joker tale. Reading through The Man Who Laughs a second time, Brubaker's take on the Joker feels incredibly authentic, even more so than the first time I read this story. This is a tale of a city unprepared for madness. The Joker's arrival is the turning point in the Dark Knight's career and a benchmark for Gotham's resiliency. After these events, life in Gotham can never be the same and the gravity of this knowledge is fully utilized by Brubaker.

Having only recently been released, The Man Who Laughs is readily available in most comic shops. While it may never attain the classic status of other Joker tales, it's definitely a worthwhile read.

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Written by: Ed Brubaker
Art by: Doug Mahnke

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman: Thrillkill (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Howard Chaykin (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

Is Howard Chaykin's book more thrill or kill?

Collecting the original Thrillkiller miniseries and the Thrillkiller '62 sequel, Howard Chaykin and Dan Brereton's Batman: Thrillkiller is smart and beautiful, but far from perfect. It's the early '60s -- Kennedy's president, The Beatles aren't yet famous and Batgirl and Robin are on a personal crusade to take down crooked cops. That's right, Batgirl and Robin.

In this Elseworlds tale, Bruce Wayne's parents were murdered by their own servants and poor Bruce was left with nothing. He sold his only possession, his house, to Barbara Gordon, who had earned a fortune off her murdered mother's insurance. Bruce entered the force and became a decorated detective while Babs went the Batman route. Only recently did she acquire the man wonder known as Robin. To further spin things on its head, the Joker is a woman, a cold-hearted self-professed bitch named Blanca Steeplechase. It only gets weirder.

The original Thrillkiller which eats up two-thirds of the book, is an original and refreshing look at Batman mythology. It's a slow burn, a deep and engrossing read that's chocked with dark psychological mischief. It's far superior to the sequel that follows.

As per usual, the costumed vigilantes are trying to clean up Gotham, but the police are eager to put them behind bars. Difference is, this time Bruce Wayne is wearing the gold shield. The crooked cops under the Joker's thumb include a two-faced cop who isn't named Harvey Dent. In fact, there's Two-Face in the original and then the completely healthy and sane Dent in the sequel. No, it doesn't really make sense.

Despite a few missteps along the way, Thrillkiller is a fascinating read. The shuffling of character roles and the hard-boiled plot make for an excellent read. Brereton's art is gorgeous in stills, but there are moments when the action doesn't translate well in his paintings. At least every woman in Gotham is a double-d.

Where the Thrillkiller collection goes wrong is in collecting the '62 follow-up. With Bruce Wayne now taking on the mantle of Batman, the story loses its edge. Throw in a rather poorly designed Harley Quinn and, for some reason, Black Canary and you have a seemingly Jackson Pollack approach to plot -- throw a bunch of stuff up on the canvas and hope it looks good. It's tame, slow and unsatisfying.

However, for the price ($12.95) Thrillkiller is definitely worth picking up. You will almost certainly love the original and consider the sequel as an added bonus or sorts. It's not great, but consider it an add-on to one of the better Batman Elseworld's around.

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Written by: Howard Chaykin
Art by: Dan Brereton

[Zacharie]

Title: JLA: Tower of Babel (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Mark Waid and others (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

Batman takes out the JLA. Hot damn!

There is a notion among comic-book fans that Batman could take out anyone in the DC Universe. It's been around for a long time, really since Bats kicked the crap out of Superman in The Dark Knight Returns. However, it wasn't until 1998 that Mark Waid decided it was time to put this theory to use. In JLA: Tower of Babel, Batman's secret strategies for disabling the most powerful heroes in the world come back to haunt the Dark Knight.

Ra's Al Ghul has a new plan to wipe humanity from Earth, one that involves scrambling communications across the globe. To accomplish this, however, he needs the JLA out of the way. His solution is to steal Batman's secret files and use them to take out the JLA. Guess what -- it works. None of the solutions are pretty, all are effective and near-deadly. As great as the threat of Ra's may be, it's Batman's betrayal (for even having such plans) that proves most damaging.

Waid -- accompanied by supporting stories from Dan Curtis Johnson, Christopher Priest and John Ostrander -- does a masterful job weaving this mammoth tale. It's natural, I think, for readers to put faith in Batman's logic, yet Waid is able to raise doubt. Even hardcore Batman supporters will likely waver a little throughout the story. It's a damaging truth and it's hard to believe the League was ever able to recover. Unfortunately, the League's protests come off as hypocritical in light of recent revelations. After all, why should Batman trust people who willingly altered his mind? That's, of course, the downfall of creating continuity "between issues" as was done with Identity Crisis. This story, as great as it is, would not have played out the same way if it had been decided in 1998 that the JLA had once boogered with Batman's brain. Ah, well, you certainly can't fault Waid for not being able to predict DC's future.

Despite the new perspective on the tale, JLA: Tower of Babel is probably one of if not the best JLA story in the past decade. Batman fans will thrill at the ingenuity of the Dark Knight and feel the sting of his hubris.

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Written by: Mark Waid, Dan Curtis Johnson, Christopher Priest and John Ostrander
Art by: Howard Porter, Steve Scott, Mark Pajarillo, Pablo Raimondi, Eric Battle and Ken Lashley

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman: Tales of the Demon (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Dennis O'Neil (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

Ra's Al Ghul's greatest stories collected in one volume.

Few writers "own" a character as much as Denny O'Neil owns Ra's Al Ghul. O'Neil created Al Ghul and his beautiful daughter, Talia, in 1971 and is responsible for the majority of Ra's tales through the '80s. O'Neil has written so many Ra's Al Ghul stories, in fact, that this entire collection -- which spans multiple comic-book series and an entire decade -- are all written by O'Neil.

The Demon's Head is a brilliant creation. While the Joker is the antithesis of Batman -- order vs. chaos -- Ra's is Batman's parallel. Ra's believes in order as well and in justice. It happens to be to an extreme that would leave most of mankind exterminated, but don't doubt that in many ways he and Batman are the same. Ra's in an excellent swordsman, a brilliant mind and a deadly, calculating foe. If there is any villain who can stay one step ahead of the Batman it is Ra's.

This collection isn't the best of Ra's Al Ghul, it is essentially all the stories from Ra's first decade in existence -- eleven stories in all. To be fair, not all of the stories in this collection are compelling. However, as a whole they paint the quintessential portrait of Ra's Al Ghul. While Birth of the Demon offers Ra's origins, Tales of the Demon is the best book to grab if you want to understand Ra's, Talia and Batman's never-ending conflict.

Ra's is a character that has been overused in the past few years and, as a consequence, has become a bit generic. Tales of the Demon can help reinvigorate your interest in one of Batman's greatest foes.

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Written by: Dennis O'Neil
Art by: Bob Brown, Neal Adams, Irv Novick, Michael Golden and Don Newton.

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Marv Wolfman (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

One Robin dies so another can take his place.

Tim Drake has one thing over Jason Todd and Dick Grayson, the other long-term Robins. Jason and Dick earned the job, in part, because they were children of misfortune. Jason's parents were dead and he was forced to steal, Dick's parents died in an acrobatic "accident." Tim Drake, however, earned the roll by proving himself a great detective. From the outset, Tim has proven himself a very different Robin than his predecessors. Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying collects Tim Drake's five-issue journey to becoming the new (and best) Robin.

Following the death of Jason Todd, Batman became reckless, taking unnecessary risks, not using his head, essentially having a death wish. An observant Tim Drake, who has deduced Batman's true identity, is concerned. He knows Batman needs a Robin. The only option -- reunite Bruce Wayne with his original partner, Dick Grayson. Dick, however, is off on his own journey, having just taken leave from the Teen Titans and he has no desire to put on the yellow and red again.

A Lonely Place of Dying is a testament to the detective skills that make the Dark Knight's extended family more than mere thuggish vigilantes. Batman, who has forgone using his brain, is nothing more than a meathead in a bat-suit at this point, the Bat-Cave just a dark mausoleum. Dick and Tim, however, use their detective skills to the fullest. It's clear to all that Tim is a natural pick for the next Robin -- clear to all but Tim. The reluctant hero takes his time coming to grips with the thought of being Batman's sidekick. By the end of A Lonely Place of Dying, it's hard not to cheer him on.

This isn't just a tale of Tim becoming Robin. There is a good story here as well, with an interesting pseudo-psychotic break for Two-Face. The end result is a solid launching point for a new Batman era. Having not read A Lonely Place of Dying for some time, I'd been expecting a very tired story, but this is one of the better in-continuity Batman stories of the '90s. Long live Tim Drake!

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Written by: Marv Wolfman
Art by: George Perez

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman: Strange Apparitions (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Steve Englehart and Len Wein (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers do the Dark Knight proud.

There is a common misconception among comic-book readers that Batman books were terrible until Frank Miller came along in the mid-'80s. That's not true. In fact, the late '70s were good for the Dark Knight. One of the strongest Detective Comics runs of all time came with Steve Englehart at the helm with both Walter Simonson and later Marshall Rogers handling the pencil work. Batman: Strange Apparitions collects one of my favorite runs of any Batman book and features a definitive moment in Joker lore.

Strange Apparitions collects Detective Comics #469-#476 and #478-479 (when Len Wein takes over with a two-part Clayface story). It begins with a rather weak two-parter starring Doctor Phosphorous, but after the slow start this collection kicks into high gear. We're introduced to the beautiful Silver St. Cloud, who quickly steals Bruce Wayne's heart and later discovers his dark secret. And yes, Bruce Wayne has a significant role, but even in the '70s it's clear that Bruce Wayne is the mask Batman wears.

Gotham's corruption is prohibitive. The mayor is evil and a worthy Lex Luthor-type foe for both Batman and Commissioner Gordon. But The Batman has far more concerns. Hugo Strange, a great madman and commendable opponent, has returned and discovered Bruce Wayne's little secret. He offers to sell that secret to the highest bidder -- of which the Mayor, Joker and Penguin act as suitors. But things turn ugly fast as the mayor shows his violent nature to a shocked Strange -- why pay for something you can attain through torture?

There are plenty of surprises in Strange Apparitions and a healthy amount of story packed in just a few issues. Among the best moments is when Joker threatens the mayor. See, the Joker doesn't want anyone pursuing the identity of Batman. "The Joker needs the Batman!" He proclaims, "Nay, The Joker deserves the Batman. What fun would there be in humbling mere policemen?" And he continues by adding, "And for anyone else to destroy The Batman would be unworthy of me!"

To top it off, the Joker has a truly mad scheme that puts the majority of modern Joker tales to shame. Let's just say it involves smiling fish and a billion-dollar copyright.

It's possible that some readers raised on modern comics may have some trouble getting into Strange Apparitions. It's got a slower pace and puts at least two-issues worth of contemporary story into each issue. It also has a lot of things lost in today's Batman books -- things like character development, pacing and great villains. While the Phosphorus story at the start is a little weak, the rest of Strange Apparitions is top-notch and should not be missed.

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Written by: Steve Englehart and Len Wein
Art by: Walt Simonson and Marshall Rogers

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman: Gothic (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Grant Morrison (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

Grant Morrison and Klaus Janson team up for a chilling supernatural tale.

When Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight launched, it was intended as a place for Batman stories taking place anywhere in continuity. However, more and more that place turned out to be the first two years of the Dark Knight's career. The second Legends story arc is no different, based on the early adventures of Batman. But while Gothic takes place at the dawn of Batman's career, like many Batman graphic novels, this tale is actually quite unique.

A man named Mr. Whisper is killing off mobsters. That's not such a bad thing-- even Batman admits that -- but it's quite curious that Mr. Whisper has no shadow and cannot die. At first, it seems that there will be some logical explanation for Whisper, but this is, in fact, a rare supernatural horror story for Batman. Though it may sound uncharacteristic at first to add a supernatural element to Batman, it suits him far better than most superheroes.

Morrison does a good job merging the superhero and horror genres. Gothic never loses sight of Batman, never forgoes the Dark Knight in order to offer extra chills. In fact, Morrison has perfectly incorporated Batman into this nightmarish tale. It seems that when Bruce was a young lad his parents had sent him to a private school that was known for its discipline. Bruce's time there connects with the murders happening in Gotham, which is the only thing that actually convinces Batman to solve the case.

Out of options, dying left and right, the mob families band together and agree to ask Batman for help. Summoning the Dark Detective with an upside-down bat-symbol, they propose that in exchange for stopping the murders, the crime families will cease all illicit activities for a short period of time. "You and your kind have turned Gotham City in a hell," Batman replied. "Now rot in it."

There are moments in Gothic that seem, at first, out of place. Instances in young Bruce Wayne's life, things never before revealed, seem too horrific to have always been hidden secrets. However, the initial shock of these moments quickly subsides. The reason there are some jarring incidents is that few people have ever written a Batman story in the same vane as Gothic. It will certainly displease some, especially those who are deeply-rooted in Batman continuity.

On my initial read, Gothic turned me off a bit. But a day after I'd finished the book, I began to warm to the weight of the tale and Morrison's unique angle on Batman. Fans of the Bat should give Gothic a try. Even if you end up disliking it, you owe it to yourself to experience the rare chiller in the Batman lineup. And who knows, maybe you'll come to appreciate Morrison's story as I have.

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Written by: Grant Morrison
Art by: Klaus Janson

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman: A Death in the Family (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Jim Starlin (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

Jason Todd bites the big one.

There is no more significant comic-book moment for DC in the past 20 years than the four-issue swan song for Jason Todd. Batman: A Death in the Family is notable not only for the death of Robin, but for the 900 number that readers could call to vote for life or death. Forget American Idol, this was the first true test of American phone voting. In just 36 hours, DC received more than 10,000 calls -- each one costing the vote a buck. 10,000 people paid a dollar to vote yay or nay on Jason Todd.

They chose nay. I can't blame them.

Todd was cursed with writing that made him seem bitter, arrogant and disagreeable to a large majority of comic-book readers. Had he been as affable as Dick Grayson or Tim Drake, it's likely DC would never had taken the phone-voting gamble. But Todd was just too obnoxious to live month to month in the pages of Batman. So he died horribly at the hands of the Joker. It's the single best decision DC has made (or, I guess, hasn't made) in decades.

The death of Robin forever changed the Dark Knight and has been fodder for numerous stories. This, however, isn't a tale of the repercussions of said death -- this is the story of how Robin met his end.

When the brash Jason Todd discovers that one of three women living abroad may be his birth mother, he runs away from Wayne Manor on a quest for the truth. As it so happens, Joker has stolen a cruise missile and taken it to the Mid-East to sell to the highest bidder. Batman follows and by chance runs into Todd. Together they work to take down the Joker and find Jason's true mother.

Ironically, Todd is never more likable than in issues 2 and 3 of this classic tale. It's almost a shame he had to die -- but not really. Even knowing what events are coming, Batman's discovery of Todd remain chilling even two decades later.

It's hard to imagine anyone who reads comics who hasn't read Batman: A Death in the Family, but if you haven't, you should. It's not that this is the best Batman tale ever, in fact plot seems a little far-fetched even for Batman. But the emotions dripping from the pages are raw and real and the death scene is worth the price of admission. And it should be noted that the price of admission is only around $5. You can't pass that up.

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Written by: Jim Starlin
Art by: Jim Aparo

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman: Black and White (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): various (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

Do not adjust your TV sets, these books are not in color.

No character seems more out of place in the four-color world of comics than Batman. The Dark Knight lives in darkness and his greatest portrayals are mired in grays (both in costume and morality). No major comic-book character is more deserving of two black & white anthologies than Batman. The first volume, collected in 1996, was originally released as a four-issue miniseries. The second volume, collected in 2001, is a compilation of short tales from Gotham Knights #1-16. While the first volume has bigger talent and greater drive, both books offer some can't-miss work.

Volume 1 features 20 eight-page stories, numerous sketches and four hot covers. While not every story is a hit, all make for good reads and offer some interesting takes on the Dark Knight. Of particular note is Archie Goodwin and Jose Munoz's "The Devil's Trumpet" and Bruce Timm's "Two of a Kind". The best of the bunch, however, is Neil Gaiman and Simon Bisley's "A Black and White World", which imagines that Batman and Joker are just actors hired to play out scenes inside each comic-book panel. With Lobo directing, there's really no way this story couldn't wind up as a favorite.

Volume 2 has 21 stories, but no sketches or cover galleries. There's still a number of big-name creators involved, but the second volume doesn't have quite the same impact as the original. Much of this is simply because the uniqueness of the original is merely reproduced -- how great is a photocopy of a great painting? To its credit Volume 2 has a few stories that equal and even exceed those in the first volume, these are weaved between some more mediocre fare. Of special note is Paul Dini and Alex Ross' "Case Study", which suggests that the Joker is not insane at all, but merely acting crazy.

Though I'd recommend Volume 1 over the second Volume, any Batman fan without both of these books is hardly a Batman fan at all. There are certain to be some of the 41 stories that won't strike a chord with you. However, it's worth reading through these to find the handful of gems that will stay with you forever.

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Written by: Various
Art by: Various

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman Adventures: Mad Love (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Paul Dini (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

Love will make you do crazy things. Especially if you're nuts already.

Paul Dini and Bruce Timm are largely responsible for the cartoon boom currently being enjoyed in the states. It was Dini and Timm's Batman: The Animated Series that proved cartoons produced in North America could be both a critical and commercial success. It wasn't long before the adventures of the cartoon spilled over in the comics medium. Harley Quinn, originally created for the animated series, was an instant sensation. She made her graphic novel debut in Mad Love an origin tale that proves you don't have to be crazy to be in love, but it sure helps.

The comic farce, drawn in the same style as the cartoon, explains how a young psychologist wound up under the spell of the most malevolent villain in comic-book history. Certifiably insane and devoted to "Mr. J," Harley Quinn is your typical talk show byproduct. Her self-worth is tied into the Joker's opinion of her value, something that is constantly in flux. To prove herself worthy of the Joker's love, Harley decides to do the one thing her man never could -- kill the Batman.

This brilliant prestige-format graphic novel shows the cycle of domestic violence that dominates the lives of many women in America. The fact that Harley and Joker are psychotics whose antics are as over-the-top as it gets doesn't change the fact that Harley is the typical abused spouse, the Joker your typical disassociated husband.

Mad Love shows why Harley stays with her man no matter how cruel he is and why Joker puts up with her, despite a hatred for such attachments. While Batman has a necessary role, this is Harley's book. She is center-stage and shows herself a better joker than, well, the Joker.

Mad Love is everything a comic book should be. Though it's set outside of regular Batman continuity, it makes a worthy addition to any library. Unfortunately, this book is currently out of print, making it a difficult find for fans. Should you come across it, snatch it up without haste. Mad Love is one Batman book everyone should read.

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Written by: Paul Dini
Art by: Bruce Timm

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman Hush (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Jeph Loeb (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

Keep it on the Hush...

There are two types of controversy in comics. First, there are comics that raise ire with fans because they do stupid things -- bring back a character from the dead for the fifth time, break continuity -- and then there are books that offer significant changes in the status quo, good or bad. In either case, fans are certain to go absolutely f------ nuts. That's what happened when fan-fave writer Jeph Loeb teamed with Jim Lee for the year-long "Hush" storyline. It didn't just alter the status quo, in destroyed it. And to top it off, it did, sort of, bring an untouchable character back from the dead (or at least left that door open). Hush is the rare case of a comic that hits on both levels of controversy and that's why fans seem to love it or hate it.

As with Loeb's other year-long Batman tales, Hush runs Batman through a gauntlet of his worst villains. There's Joker, Killer Croc, Riddler and Poison Ivy. There's also Superman, who falls under Ivy's control and must be beat-down by the Bat in one of the coolest scenes you'll likely ever see in regular Batman continuity. Loeb has shown a great understanding of Batman and his Rogues Gallery and that certainly remains the case here, but there are also a number of changes that will affect Batman continuity for some time.

Batman and Catwoman dating? Check. Jason Todd's grave suddenly empty? Got it. Old childhood friends we'd never heard of suddenly showing up and having some significant impact on Bruce's early life? Yeah, got that too. Villains gaining upgrades to make them deadlier? Yup. One villain becoming a good guy again? Uh-huh. A long-time Batman ally a betrayer? Oh yeah. This is one story that makes major waves.

If this were a poorly told or badly drawn story, then perhaps I'd have reason to hate it. But Loeb is once again masterful, even if I'm not particularly thrilled by all his choices. And Jim Lee? He's really at his best here. Though perhaps the pacing is a little too quick, Lee's at top form. This is one of the best-looking Batman books you'll find on the shelves. I'm not happy about several aspects of Hush, particularly Loeb's re-using of an old Clayface trick that was done a decade ago. Yet I can't help but love it at the same time.

Things change and in Batman's world they seem to change quite often. Though not as strong a mystery as The Long Halloween, Hush has caused a stir because it's bold enough to make some aggressive alterations to Batman's world. I would hate it, if I didn't love reading it so much.

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Written by: Jeph Loeb
Art by: Jim Lee

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman: Blind Justice (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Sam Hamm (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

Justice is blind as a bat.

With Detective Comics about to turn 600, DC knew it had to mark the occasion with something special. In came Sam Hamm, who was also busy writing the first Batman feature film. Hamm's a big-time Batman fan. He knows his stuff, but has never been as big a geek as some. He doesn't have every issue memorized, doesn't know every minor villain. So he came to write the three-part "Blind Justice" storyline with a love of the character, but an outsider's perspective. That combination works beautifully.

Rather than offer up a gauntlet of Batman villains, as is the default for most writers looking to produce a Batman epic, Hamm uses none of Batman's classic Rogues Gallery. Instead, Hamm gives a glimpse at some of the men Bruce Wayne trained with on his way to becoming the Batman and introduces Henri Ducard. As we discover, Ducard is not much of an ally for Bruce Wayne or Batman. He's merely an opportunist, which makes for an interesting mentor to say the least.

The plot of Blind Justice is absolutely ridiculous. It involves mind control and even mind transfer and yet the writing is so compelling, the over-the-top plot works. Even the villain, who looks like an early version of Bane with white Cobra Commander hood and sleeveless vest, is forgivable.

Some of the greatest Batman stories of all time involve the Bruce Wayne persona and perhaps none so much as Blind Justice. When corruption within WayneTech earns Bruce an indictment on charges of treason, things start to go crazy. Especially when Bruce is shot and almost killed outside of court. To make things worse, Gordon hints to his suspicions that Batman and Wayne are one in the same. He goes so far as to offer to testify to such in Wayne's defense. And after the shooting, when the Batman doesn't make a showing, those suspicions blossom.

Blind Justice works so well despite a goofy villain and a silly plot, because the characterization is so fascinating, This is one of the best stories you can read from Detective Comics and one that truly honors the spirit of the Batman.

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Written by: Sam Hamm
Art by: Denys Cowan

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman & Dracula: Red Rain (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Doug Moench (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

It bites, but in a good way.

No character has starred in more Elseworlds tales than Batman. The Dark Knight has been Green Lantern, a Victorian vigilante and even a true knight. However, all of these fantasy tales pale in comparison to Red Rain, which pits Batman against the one and only Dracula.

For centuries, Dracula has operated covertly, avoiding revealing his presence to the public. Having grown tired of playing it quiet and cool, Dracula has become aggressive. He's taken up residence in Gotham City and is spawning his own vampire legion to take over the city from its only protector, the Batman. Fortunately for Bats, not all vampires are evil. He has allies in this war -- allies who know the only way Batman can defeat Dracula is if the Dark Knight becomes one of their own.

Red Rain is full of the unexpected. Just about every page offers a new twist, a fun surprise. And though you never know what's going to happen next, you'll never get lost along the way. And when Bats grows wings, well, it really starts kicking ass at that point.

The first of a vampire trilogy, Red Rain is the only one that is truly excellent. There are no known Batman baddies clogging up the panels, no Joker or Two-Face -- it's just Batman versus the greatest threat he's ever known. Kelley Jones' art is very controlled in Red Rain, with just enough exaggerated physiology to make it all seem like a horrible living nightmare. The follow ups, Bloodstorm and Crimson Mist are fun stories, but Jones runs rampant in these.

I suppose if there can be any complaint about Red Rain it would have to be the cover. There's a fantastic image of Batman crawling out of the grave, but it takes up just 20% of the cover. The rest is text and some marble-slate borders. A silly complaint, sure, but considering everything else is so great in the book, there's really nothing else to say.

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Written by: Doug Moench
Art by: Kelley Jones

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Frank Miller (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

The Dark Knight Returns ...And kicks Superman's ass to boot.

Few writers are fortunate enough to write one great Batman story in their lifetime. Frank Miller has written two. In fact, he's written the two best. That's saying something. Within the span of one year, Frank Miller absolutely revolutionized the Dark Knight and his influence can be felt throughout comics, even 20 years later.

Following the death of Jason Todd (which, incidentally, had not happened yet in continuity), the Batman has retired. Skip ahead ten years and millionaire Bruce Wayne appears comfortable in his role as philanthropist. He cannot forgive himself for the death of Todd, but he finds it difficult to ignore the nagging voice in his head that he is needed back on the streets.

To make things even more difficult, Gordon is just days from retirement and his replacement has a very firm stance against vigilantism. The world has followed suit in this regard. It isn't just Batman who has hung up the cape. Wonder Woman has returned to Paradise Island, Green Lantern has disappeared in the stars and Superman has become a covert tool for the government (run by Ronald Reagan, surprisingly enough). The world has lost its heroes. Without Batman, the streets of Gotham have gone to hell. Crime is rampant and a new gang, calling themselves the Mutants, have the city in fear. Without a symbol to respect (and to fear), Gotham has fallen to chaos.

When Harvey Dent, having apparently been physically and psychologically made whole, begins committing crimes again Bruce is compelled to don the mantle of the bat once more. Batman's return jars his oldest nemesis, Joker, from ten year's of catatonia. Once and for all, Miller declares that Joker could not exist without the Batman and vice-versa.

What follows is a true masterpiece of storytelling. Scene after unforgettable scene propels Batman into near-fatal conflicts with the police and one final showdown with the Joker. It ends with a spectacular battle against Superman, perhaps the most memorable moment in DC's history. It is in this book that the Batman of the next 20 years is forged. Indeed, Batman does return.

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Written by: Frank Miller
Art by: Frank Miller

[Zacharie]

Title: Batman: The Long Halloween (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Jeph Loeb (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hilary Goldstein (Don't click it, read the review here... )

Review:

Does the holiday thriller stand the test of time?

It opens with an homage to the Godfather, but this mobster saga is much more about the Batman than the mobsters dying violently every few pages. Read separately over more than a year of monthly publishing, the individual issues of Long Halloween seemed to go by almost too quickly. The 370-page collection feels far more substantial. Though hailed as one of the greatest Batman stories of all time, I wasn't sold on the story when I initially read it in 1998. Returning to the story years later and reading it all in one long sitting, I am a convert. Batman: The Long Halloween is deserving of its praise.

Someone is killing off mob members with a .22 calibre pistol capped by a baby bottle nipple (to muffle the sound). The murders take place only during the holidays and each issue takes on the guise of a different festivity. There's Catwoman on Valentine's Day, Scarecrow on Mother's Day and the Joker who stole Christmas.

Essentially a year one tale, The Long Halloween incorporates every aspect of the Batman mythology into one long maxi-series mystery. Batman needs to kick a lot of ass, must deal with a tenuous relationship with the police, has to do considerable detective work, must battle most of the big guns from his Rogue's Gallery and even has to deal with the personal life of Bruce Wayne.

Loeb and Sale have proven themselves a perfect duo, but their place in history together is cemented by The Long Halloween. Though Loeb's mystery is seemingly unsolvable by the clues given, it's still enjoyable to watch unravel. He mixes Batman and Bruce Wayne's lives as well as anyone has and brilliantly demonstrates the bond of brotherhood shared by Batman, Jim Gordon and then District Attorney Harvey Dent. As the murders progress deep into the year, the friendship deteriorates -- in fact, all of Gotham deteriorates. Batman's presence brings out the worst in his villains and that darkness overtakes Gotham leaving it a colder, harsher and less friendly place by the end of the tale.

The Long Halloween shows how far DC's current continuity books have fallen. This is tight, engrossing and intelligent writing that never betrays that characters. Perhaps if the sequel, Dark Victory did not follow, the ending might feel too unfinished. The fact that the story and the mystery continues through a second year (and stands up quite) is a testament to Loeb and Sale's ultimate vision.

If you have The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One on your shelf then your next comic-book purchase needs to be The Long Halloween.

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Written by: Jeph Loeb
Art by: Tim Sale