Diagnosis: Mayhem! Batman: Gotham Adventures 43 Review

Harley Quinn is definitely a breakout character. A standout, breakout character. One could argue that over time, Harley has become somewhat over-exposed. Less really is usually more and more is just more. In other words, a little Harley goes a long way.

Still, Harley is just madcap fun. Plucky comic relief. Go-to for a punchline. Peterson and Levins team Harley with Batman for "Turnabout". Someone is gunning for Harley. It's not The Joker, or anyone from Arkham, as the duo quickly find out. The answer shows just how dazzled Harley was by The Clown Prince of Crime from the very beginning, and how that affected her treatment of others who really needed her. It is hilariously heartbreaking.

The light-hearted comedy comes from all the near misses on Harley's life.

Peterson wraps the tale up with signature sentimentality that hits right in the feels.

Batman: Gotham Adventures 43, "Turnabout" earns four stars. 

Bats to a Flame, Batman: Gotham Adventures 42 Review

Craig Rousseau steps in as guest-penciller for Scott Peterson's incendiary and explosive "Tuesday Night". Definitely explosive as Peterson and Rousseau open with Batman leaping from a burning building and a "KA-BOOOM" courtesy of Albert DeGuzman that Marvin the Martian would be thrilled by.

It's a hot time in the old town! Buildings across Gotham are burning. The fickle finger of fate points toward Suzanne Cormier. Tim contacts Alfred for background. There's a lag, due to disrupted communications and the Batcomputer slowing down. The Dynamic Duo face the same problem when Cormier invites them to find answers as to why her buildings are on fire. Clues lead to contractor Mark Bender, who admits the ventilation system is computerized! The reveal is that Gotham is experiencing sunspot activity! Which is causing the system to overheat and burst into flames.

The science, along with art by guests Rousseau and inker Dan Davis is sunspot on.

However, this would be a golden opportunity to introduce Firefly. Or even Firebug. Perhaps, down the road. The story is solid and enjoyable. Peterson, Rousseau and Davis really fan the flames to put Batman and Robin through their paces. Still, perhaps a missed opportunity.

"Tuesday Night" is thrilling and gripping, earning four stars.

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.

    

When the Smoke Finally Clears, Trace Adkins is Luke McBain 4 Review

"The Beginning..."

Starts off really good. Luke grabs a shotgun. Callie begs him not to go. But it's time for a reckonin'.

Erik, Callie's son is one of the two standing guard at the gate of the McBain Mill. Inside, Paul is selling the mill to a developer who plans to turn it into a golf course. Which might end up destroying the other businesses in Eden. Paul's really not that concerned, his goal is what he makes off the deal and being free of the mill.

Luke crashes the mill gate with his truck. it turns into a glorious spectacle and unravels as a shootout. he gets to Paul's office where the Sheriff is waiting. As the Sheriff and Paul lead Luke out, they're met by their father. Who wraps everything up almost too neatly. He just tells Paul that the mill is not for sale and the deal he made is null and void, just like that. He orders Luke freed and gives him the opportunity to take his shot at Paul. He doesn't. 

And just like that, it's over. Luke and Callie are enjoying a "happily ever after."

What starts off as a thrilling conclusion wraps up just a little too neatly. How exactly does Old Man McBain undo a deal Paul has done? He could lay out the lawyer and destroy the signed contracts. That's not shown. It's just presumed. It really would have been nice to see Dad show the muscle behind the bluster.

Trace Adkins is Luke McBain would make a really cool movie, on silver screen or little screen. The concluding chapter earns four stars.

I may be biased in my assessment. Your mileage may vary.

 

  

One Step Closer, Trace Adkins is Luke McBain 3 Review!

Ladies love Country boys...

The cliffhanger from the previous issue finds Luke and Callie running through the "woods" - a gutted version of the woods - of Eden, Louisiana. Chased by a helicopter. With someone inside the helicopter. Shooting at them. The couple manage to find cover and the helicopter moves off. Under cover, Callie and Luke find comfort. An hour later when the helicopter comes back, they're gone. 

Later still, Luke starts a bar fight at The Wheel House. He uses the fight to cover heading over and looking through his brother's files. The answer is always in the files!

Elsewhere, Paul wants to send a very definite, permanent message to his brother Luke, while closing a major deal involving the mill and Eden. That message comes across loud and clear, not only to Luke, but to everyone else. What's come next is the thrilling, explosive showdown - brother versus brother!

The story and art are pretty consistent. Moody, shadowy. The story plays well into Trace Adkins' tough-guy image. Definitely a comic book version of Walking Tall or a Clint Eastwood story.

"D.O.A.", Trace Adkins is Luke McBain earns four stars.