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.

    

Out Riddled Using an Enigmatic Scale! Batman: Gotham Adventures 28 Review

The Riddler stories are enjoyable and satisfying simply because they are sophisticated and intelligent. They are intricate and challenging. Edward Nigma's main goal is to outsmart The Darknight Detective, so his riddles usually have a double meaning. A false "surface" meaning, with the real meaning cleverly hidden within the semantics. As a reader, one feels slightly wittier and smarter than either The Riddler or The Batman in being able to deduce the solution. 

Writing Riddler stories has to be challenging and difficult. More difficult than writing a mystery. To lay out a plan through riddles that may mean more than one thing, while confounding The Caped Crusader and the reader. What's disappointing about the tie-in book to Batman: The Animated Series and the subsequent animated series is that writers, such as Scott Peterson, just simply abandon the premise. Or reveal that Batman wasn't focusing or paying attention to the riddles.

Here, Nigma once has a lofty and bold plan all laid out in riddles. Yet, the real clues come from musician Jack West, The Riddler's captive. Batman, Robin and Nightwing simply abandon focusing on the riddles and focus instead on the message from West's background music. Interesting that West would use an Enigmatic Scale.

While Peterson's story is still enjoyable, Levins' art, with Beatty, Loughridge and Harkins is definitely eye-candy. Fewer panels, grandiose images. It's awesome how Levins carries the story and injects wit and humor. A nice zinger is that Nigma has lied to The Joker's henchmen in order to get them to work with him. He's also appropriated the Ha-Hacienda... as a squatter.

The only downside is that Peterson has presented a minor character that out-riddles The Riddler.

"Notes", Batman: Gotham Adventures 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. 

 

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.