He Knows What Evil Lurks... Batman: Gotham Adventures 27 Review

Batman and Batgirl visit Law professor Sven Svenson in prison. He's been convicted of murdering mob boss Billy Chang. There's an eyewitness. The case against him was rock-solid and airtight. Even Commissioner Gordon is convinced he's guilty. The question is: Why?

Batman decides to dig deeper. 

He visits Pieter Danner, the eyewitness. Danner admits that Gino Tivolli threatened him. He was going to recant but didn't want to face perjury. 

Unfortunately, Professor Svenson shouldn't have involved The Darknight Detective.

Swedish Mafia and Swedish Mob Boss are funny Easter eggs of a joke. Peterson and Levins offer yet another gripping suspense mystery. The more Batman digs the more dirt he actually uncovers. Beatty, Loughridge and Harkins are in fine form under a mysterious Bob Smith, Terry Beatty cover.

The final page, final panel lesson is pretty much the sound of one hand clapping.

"Lessons", Batman: Gotham Adventures 27 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.    

Quick! Think Fast! The Batman: Gotham Adventures 25 Review

The Flash makes a guest appearance this issue. 

Although it's not stated, it appears that Wally West is The Flash that visits Gotham City. It seems somewhat unfair that Wally is presented as somewhat cocky, rash and impulsive. Relying heavily on super-speed rather than calm, cool quick-thinking. Of course, Batman is going to come off smarter. The Dark Knight faces adversaries such as The Riddler and The Joker. The Flash faces off against adversaries such as The Trickster. Most of The Scarlet Speedster's adversaries test his speed, not his intelligence.

Here, The Flash is in Gotham City following computer-related crimes that moved from Central City to Gotham. Batman appreciates the head's-up, however, as usual prefers to tackle things in Gotham himself. What follows is a tutorial for The Flash in clear thinking, rather than simple swift action.

Tim Drake solves the puzzling mystery with a visit to the Gotham Post Office.

Batman actually does provide the final solution. He does credit The Flash with making an effort. His final advice is to think of the consequences.

Peterson's script here is, once again enjoyable. It's interesting that Peterson chose not to feature Dick Grayson or Barbara Gordon in this story. Dick and Wally have a history as Teen Titans. It's curious... perhaps there's an undercurrent of bitterness and grief in Batman seeing Wally in Barry Allen's costume. Although presenting an immature Flash, Wally is presented more light-hearted as comic relief. There's a scene where he races up into the sky to greet an airplane that has changed course. Levins, Beatty, Loughridge and Harkins are all spot-on this issue.

It would be nice to see Wally not played for laughs or as the fool.

Batman: Gotham Adventures 25 earns three stars. 

Can a Girl Get a Little Attention - Or Does That Make Her High-Maintenance? Batman: Gotham Adventures 24 Review

Whoa! That cover! Terry Beatty and Bob Smith really grab attention with Batman, Nightwing, Batgirl and Robin all tumbling down - into darkness! What could this possibly mean? This is definitely a "grab-me-and-read-me" page-turner cover!

Inside, Tim Drake is the first to be trapped!

Dick Grayson is on a rare date but has to leave to meet a buddy. His date is not happy. He's the next one to fall into the trap.

Meanwhile Batman and Batgirl rescue a father and son from a traffic accident on the bridge. Their car is dangling precariously off the bridge, about to plunge into the drink! After the rescue, Alfred relays a message that he's lost contact with Nightwing. 

Meanwhile, Killer Croc joins Robin and Nightwing. They argue. They fight in close quarters.

When Batman and Batgirl show up, Catwoman reveals herself and the reason she's set the trap. Typical, Batman is completely clueless.

Yes, Peterson's stories do follow a formula. Things happen. As the story progresses, everything falls into place and things make sense. Yes, there is a lesson or a moral, just like a typical Saturday-morning cartoon. Tim Levins' art works very well with Peterson's stories. Although, I still prefer the Mike Parobeck design for Croc. Beatty, Loughridge and Harkins are awesome as usual.

It's a fun night out in Gotham City! Batman: Gotham Adventures 24 earns four stars. 

 

Oil Spoils or Oils Well That Ends Well! Batman: Gotham Adventures 23 Review

"Do The Wrong Thing" is a spin on Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" movie title. Scott Peterson opens with a grand Tim Levins splash page - The Caped Crusader has a gun to his cowled head. He's facing a desperate criminal. A father desperate for medication for his sick daughter. Not a fun place to be. A high fever. No money and no insurance. That leads to a bad decision. The lesson Batman shares with Tim Drake is this: sometimes people do the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Later, Bruce Wayne finds that a business meeting scheduled with one Omar Alhazred has been cancelled! He's disappeared! Further digging finds that more and more of Bruce's business associates have disappeared! Seventeen. They all seem to have a few things in common. One, Preston Wainwright, sold everything and moved into seclusion to the south of France.

The only clue is "The Prince of Wales".

Tim Levins' art is spectacular. There is an amazing sequence on the middle of page seven. Batman somersaulting! 

Peterson, Levins, Beatty, Loughridge and Harkins are once again in fine form here. The through line is "doing the wrong thing for the right reasons". Obviously, Batman's adversary this time is Ra's al Ghul. He maintains lofty, "honorable" goals, but goes about them the wrong way.

Batman: Gotham Adventures 23, "Do The Wrong Thing" earns four stars. 

The Things We Do For Family... Batman: Gotham Adventures 22 Review

"We make out choices in life and we live with the consequences."

Batgirl and Commissioner Gordon are in the middle of a prison riot. They find out from the warden that Ned and Ted Spencer made a daring escape during the riot. Ned's a small-time troublemaker. Ted's a convicted murderer and known to be a psychopath. Now they're free.

The pair had help. A getaway car was used from Northstar Brokerage Company. Betty Spencer Welsh helped her brothers escape.

Bullock tips Gordon and Batgirl that the brothers next stop was the Darwin Bar and Grill. They got fake IDs from the bartender.

The trail ends at Gotham General Hospital.

The lesson Barbara Gordon learns from the adventure is that family is important. Another lesson learned is not to waste valuable time with family.

Once again, Scott Peterson's story is phenomenal. Tim Levins' art is awesome. Big panels. Wide eyes. Lots of expressions. Levins is backed up again by Beatty, Loughridge and Harkins.

Batman: Gotham Adventures 22 earns four stars.

What The Blind Man Saw... Batman Gotham Adventures 21 Review

When a little girl named Stephanie Herst is abducted from her home, Commissioner Gordon uses the bat signal to summon The Darknight Detective to the roof of police headquarters. He offers a photo, a locket and a glass tube as clues. Back at the Batcave, he and Tim Drake are puzzling over the clues. Dick Grayson points out that the glass tube is a slide that jazz guitarists use. Batman and Nightwing connect with blind jazz guitarist B. L. Pledge. He gives them a description of the man that was carrying little Stephanie.

Barbara Gordon interviews Stephanie's parents. Her mother works at a bank. Her father is a video editor at a television news station.

Batman gathers information from the underworld that leads to a mob boss. Turns out a mysterious hitman was captured on video for an expose.

Scott Peterson's script is riveting. Tim Levins' art is fantastic, highlighted by Terry Beatty's inks, Lee Loughridge's colors and Tim Harkins lettering.

The lesson of the story is that a handicap, is not really a handicap. B. L. Pledge turns out to be just an older version of Matt Murdock. Blind, his other senses pick up the slack. The story wraps with Pledge telling Batman that even a blind man can recognize the good guys from the bad guys.

Batman: Gotham Adventures earns four stars.