Joe Anybody, Batman: Gotham Adventures 41 Review

"A Tale of Joe" finds Batman taking an interest in a slacker named Joe. A guy that can't even do the wrong thing right. A guy who could probably show up late for his own funeral. Joe takes the easy way out. The path of least resistance. But even when he's invited to be part of a crime, he shows up late. He's listless. Directionless. Rudderless. Admittedly, he has no sense of purpose.

And yet, The Batman sees something in him. Something that shouldn't go to waste.

Scott Peterson has crafted a character that could be anyone. An average Joe. Drifting through life. Waiting for something, anything to happen to change circumstance and the environment.

It isn't until Joe is presented with that kind of circumstance that he realizes a change in himself.

Alfred provides the final conclusion to the story.

Peterson, Levins, Beatty, Loughridge and DeGuzman are aided and abetted here by editors Harvey Richards, Nachie Castro, Joan Hilty and Bob Schreck. This is an important moral and ethical story. A very rare breed.

"Don't waste good."

"A Tale of Joe", Batman: Gotham Adventures 41 earns five stars.

Warming a Cold, Cold Heart, Batman: Gotham Adventures 40 Review

Four pages. Peterson and Levins have no dialogue for the first four pages of this issue. All it is, is Batman getting trashed by Victor Fries. It is only when The Caped Crusader crawls back to the Batcave and is greeted by Alfred and Tim that questions are raised and slowly begin to be answered.

As an aside, one is not a big fan of the head in a jar version of Mr. Freeze. The armor is cool. The freeze gun is cool. The jarhead on metal spider legs... not so much.

The mystery is, What is Fries working on and for Whom?

Peterson has crafted a very brilliant story. Yet another tragic tale. Victor Fries is being played like a finely tuned violin, by someone that can pluck frigid heartstrings. The reveal is quite shattering.

Peterson is to be commended on story, Levins on art. They are supported by cool henchmen Beatty, Loughridge and DeGuzman.

"Colder Than Arctic", Batman: Gotham Adventures 40 earns five stars.   

In the Make-Up, Batman: Gotham Adventures 39 Review

There are strange occurrences going on with the production of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Legend has it that the play is troubled and haunted, to the point that performers do not refer to it by name or title, it's simply referred to as "The Scottish Play". Thespian Alfred Pennyworth enlightens Barbara and Dick on the legend of the play. 

Barbara continues to investigate as more and more strange occurrences happen. Eventually Dick and Bruce are drawn in. Obviously, it turns out that Matt Hagen has been drawn to the production like a moth to a flame. Performing and theatrics are just part of his make-up, no matter his guise.

It's such a fun, yet tragic story by Peterson, Levins and Beatty. The focus upfront is more on the play and the accidents which inevitably lead to Matt Hagen's other identity. His other guy enters, "stage left" for a brief curtain call. Clayface nearly brings down the house battling The Dark Knight.

"Acts", Batman: Gotham Adventures 39 earns four stars.

    

Angel and the Batman! Batman: Gotham Adventures 26 Review

And now for something completely different.

Word in the underworld is that everybody is looking for Kristov. Batman: Gotham Adventures 26 opens with Batman crashing a club and busting up all the underworld patrons for information on Kristov. He and Tim Drake follow the lead to a warehouse where they encounter FBI Special Agent DePaola. One of DePaola's agents shares information in Russian, which Batman is able to understand. He and Robin follow the lead further and find that Kristov is an infant.

Peterson's story just turns bonkers. To keep Kristov safe from everybody, Batman keeps the baby with him. All. The. Time. Because he's not sure if even Ra's al Ghul is looking for the baby and won't track him back to the Batcave and Alfred.

Peterson and Levins have fun showing Batman making the rounds of Gotham, carrying Kristov. This wraps up when The Caped Crusader stops a mugging - simply by using the built-in fear he's established. He tells the gang of muggers that if they do anything at all to upset the baby, he will make them very sorry. The story of every new parent everywhere. The mugging victim and even the muggers offer helpful suggestions. The victim even shops for supplies. Alfred helps him over comms with changing a diaper and feeding. This is very thick cheese.

Batman provides an ultimate solution for Special Agent DePaola and the mobs to insure Kristov's permanent safety.

It's a fun, wacky story. Stretches credibility, even for Batman. It might be considered "camp" simply for the premise itself. Your mileage may vary.

"In Arms", Batman: Gotham Adventures 26 earns three stars.    

Hit Him Like a Hammer! Batman 127 Facsimile Reprint Review!

Wow.

Batman 127, October 1959 was re-released as a facsimile reprint, July 2026. It's totally wonky. The first story finds The Dynamic Duo with a "new partner"! The Eagle. Spoiler Alert on a story from 1959 - it's Alfred, who's gained super-powers through a crazy accident. As much as he tries to help Batman and Robin, he ends up helping The Joker more! Until his powers just surprisingly disappear! Alfred comes up with such a wacky Eagle costume. Considering costume designs for Hawkman, this full-bodied and helmeted costume is just bonkers.

Next, Bruce and Dick visit Professor Nichols. Bruce tests out a new invention. The invention is a mental gadget that projects an alternate reality. Bruce's parents are not murdered in Crime Alley by a mysterious lone gunman. Would Bruce still become Batman? (Spoiler Alert!) Yes. Yes, he would. Destiny would still cause Bruce to become Batman. This is probably the highlight story of the issue. For the time period, Bruce is quite serious and grim. It also features a cameo by an alternate reality Superman!

Finally, Batman and Robin are confronted by the Mythic Norse God of Thunder, Thor! He's come to life and is pillaging Gotham City for Odin's sake. (Spoiler Alert!) a non-Kryptonite meteor crashes through a museum window and radiates Thor's hammer, transforming the museum curator into the Norse Thunder God! He's hypnotized into thinking he's serving Odin!

The first two stories are definitely enjoyable. Batman versus Thor...? It's just so lopsided. Batman is just so outmatched. The only way he "wins" is that Thor (Spoiler Alert!) isn't really Thor.

Definitely a time-capsule issue - a throwback to simpler times.

Batman 127 facsimile reprint earns three stars!