Batman # 852 to 854 - Dark Knight Dark City

Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist/Inks: Kieron Dwyer/Dennis Janke
Publisher: DC
Published: 1990
Cover: Mike Mignola

Batman's back. Back again.

Grant Morrison has finally returned us Bruce Wayne from the hands of time. In the process he has reinvented the Bat Origin Mythos, inspired/based on the 3 issue Batman story Dark City. I'm not going to get into too much detail on this connection as other blogs will do a much better job than me. However a quick recap is necessary to help understand the opening pages of Batman and Robin #16. In Dark City a bunch of cultists have prepared a woman for sacrifice in a hidden basement of a barn. This ritual is to summon the demon Barbathos...but the cultists chicken out, bolt and seal the trap door to the ritual room, leaving the woman to perish.
 
During the final issue of the Dark City mini series, Batman has been manipulated into returning to that same room where he frees the ghost of the woman. Take a look at the below image...take a good long look at this climatic moment of the Dark City run that Grant Morrison has used to usher in the New Batman of the 21st century...


Pretty good right...good guys win...but wait...why, in the last panel, is Batman not wearing any pants?! I can picture it now: 


Batman: "So before I rescue you from this burning inferno, I'm gonna need to slip into something comfortable." Zip "Goodbye pants - hello freedom!"


And there you have it...the story that set the stage to re-define our beloved Batman; our beloved Pants-less Batman.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles # 42: Juliet's Revenge

Writer: Rick McCollum
Artist: Bill Anderson
Publisher: Mirage
Published: December 1991

What do Mr. Howard, Bruce Lee, Mae West, Leonardo, Edgar Allan Poe, and the ninja turtles have in common?

This comic!

That's right, all these fantastic figures make a guest appearance in this issue, making this a star studded comic not seen since the Avengers assembled to battle some powerful earth shattering thing-a-majigy.

If you want to know more, T.S. I'm tired.

How come Donnie gets all the babes?

And what's her deal?

Leonard Nimoy

Writer: Schnakenberg
Artist: Nora Tapp
Cover Artist: Robert A. Herrera
Publisher: Celebrity Comics
Published: August 1992

This is from the Celebrity Comics line. Although they are called comics, in actuality they are unauthorized biographies with some illustrations. Here's a line from the biography. It is in reference to Nimoy hitting pay dirt after directing Three Men and a Baby: "He and Susan spent the rest of the year counting their wad at their estate in San Fernando Valley." Nice. I can picture Spock surrounded by wads of cash, decked in a fur coat, his chest encrusted in gold chains, smoking a cigar while Susan is lounging on his arm complaining: "Spockie-baby, why can't we go out tonight?" whereupon Spock responds "Not tonight, I got an appointment with Kirk honey bunny."

Marvel Comics Presents # 88: Wolverine

Writers: Peter David, Various
Artists: Sam Kieth, Various
Publisher: Marvel
Published: 1991

Growing up this was (and still is) one of my favorite Wolverine stories. It has everything: Wolvie getting beating up, Madripoor, a tough son of a b*tch villain, Tiger Tyger, and hot dog cars. This run also introduced me to Sam Kieth. Lately he has been doing a bunch of work on Batman, but it was Wolverine work that really put him over the top. Kieth deliviered one of the hariest, beastly Wolverines I've yet seen. This ain't no Hugh Jackman.

Wolverine has just been beaten, bad, by Cyber. Cyber is able to deliver hallucinogens via his toxin tipped fingernails. Issue 88 opens with Wolverine in a lot of pain, and the hallucinogens kicking in. He is relieving the moments when he first met Cyber. Wolvie is in school, and is not to pleased with Coach Cyber. Seems the coach has made the moves on his girl Janet. Too Bad for Wolvie that Coach Cyber has got a bigger sausage...car. Looks like the two are going to have a wiener show down.

Hellboy: Seed of Destruction # 2

Writers: Mike Mignola, John Byrne
Artist: Mike Mignola
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: April 1994

Mike Mignola is the King of Lovecraftin' horror comics. Hellboy is the shiznit that hands out justice with his red right hand. Issue # 2 has Hellboy, Abe and Liz deepening their investigation into the frogman murders. They visit Lady Cavendish's place, where Rasputin finally makes his presence known. He advises Hellboy of some disturbing facts, but before Hellboy can digest these new developments, a giant monster bursts forth from below! Can you guess what kind?!


Is the end of Hellboy? Probably not, but if you want to find out for sure, head to your nearest comic shop - NOW! Or this will happen to ya:

Lost in Space # 1

Writers: Matt Thompson, David Campiti
Artist: Eddy Newell, Mark Jones, Mike Okatomo
Publisher: Innovation
Published: August 1991

Found this a year back in Halifax. I never watched Lost in Space, so reading this issue, I was at a bit of a loss as to who the characters were. This really didn't interest me though, because I was still trying to put my head around this questionable cover. Ok, I thought, Innovation does cater to an adult audience, so I left it at that. After a read, I can see why they chose this cover. The story has a giant plant with tentacles attacking the family Robinson. Only problem I have is that the cover monster is gray, and the actual monster is a green plant. Petty, I know, but it does make a huge difference in terms of what kind of monster to expect. The story also has a bunch of ridiculous poses by the guys and gals, that don't quite fit the story. Take for instance these two images:



The first image is clearly Major West checking out Judy, while Judy puts on a major pout. All just because Major West gave Penny a flower! According to Wikipedia, the show didn't really explore Judy and Major West's relationship together beyond the first few episodes, so I guess this is a slight nod to old fan boys...who were probably the only folks who picked up these issues.

In my post on Heroes for Hire I talked about covers and their relation to the contents of the story. The cover implies danger, sex appeal, and giant tentacle monsters. The story had danger, sex appeal (be it lame), and a giant tentacle monster (green though). The Lost in Space cover comes closer to the story then the cover for Heroes for Hire #13 does to its story. In this sense, Lost in Space achieves it's aim of having a provocative cover, all the while reinforcing what a reader would expect when picking up an issue that has a giant monster attacking a bosomy woman. It's not high art, but one could argue its honest...somewhat...

Ghost Rider # 15

Writer: Howard Mackie
Artist: Mark Texiera
Publisher: Marvel
Published: July 1991

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH!

Ghost Rider rocks! This issue is from way back, back when Danny Ketch was the Spirit of Vengeance. Issue 15 is the wicked most spectacular glow-in-the-dark issue.

The story follows Ghost Rider reeling from an attack by Johnny Blaze. Ghost Rider reverts back to Danny, whereupon his bike is taken by force by a bunch of crackheads, which is then taken again by some elite commandos. Ignoring this dilemma, Danny seeks out Blackout (the murderer of his sister). He finds him, transforms to Ghost Rider:


Johnny gets in the way of Ghost Rider's quest for vengeance, thinking he is the same demon that possessed him years before.


After a brief struggle, Ghost Rider orders Johnny to shoot both he and Blackout.


The issue ends with Ghost Rider doin' his thing and handing out some just punishment!







Ghost Rider Rules! Especially when he glows in the dark!



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The Uncanny X-Men # 268

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist/Inker/Colorist: Jim Lee/Scott Williams/Glynis Oliver
Publisher: Marvel
Published: September 1990

This is Claremont and Lee at the top of their game - 90's style! Lee's art is busy action packed, with each panel looking just awesome. Added to that is Claremont's heavy dialogue, which makes this comic an actual read and not just a series of one liners over drawings (ie. anything produced these days). This is one of the comics where the $1.25 I paid was worth every cent.

The story is set in Madripoor and cuts between 1941 and 1990. In 1941 Cap and Logan are handing out some punishment to the Hand. In 1990, the same deal is underway, but now it's Wolverine, Jubilee, Psylocke, and the Black Widow handing out the just desserts.

Without going into too much detail, the two narratives overlap, and because it's a Claremont tale, you really need to read it to get just how great this comic is. They just don't make 'em like this anymore. Well, that being said, they didn't make a lot of them like this back then as well. Anyhoo, check some scans.


BAM! CAP 'N WOLVIE HAVE AT THE HAND!


Wolvies Angels - KICKIN' HAND ASS!


POW! TAKE THAT NAZI SCUM!


Stare into the Wolverine, the Wolverine will stare into you.


Potential Sidekick.




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Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight # 54

Writers: Mike Mignola, Dan Raspler
Artist: Mike Mignola
Publisher: DC
Published: November 1993

This comic rocks. To cut to the chase its Lovecraft meets Batman, as only Mignola can produce. The story/art is just awesome. The only complaint I have is that Batman kills in self-defense. Batman doesn't kill. That's his thing. So, even when he kills in self-defense I can't help but feel uneasy about this. I know it's a grey area, but I figure of all people, it would be Batman who could figure out a way not to kill in self-defense. Anyway, that's time! Pick this comic up. It's probably one of Mignolas best looking comics ever.

Usagi Yojimbo Color Special # 3

Writer/Artist: Stan Sakai
Colorist: Tom Luth
Publisher: Fantagraphics
Published: September 1992

This issue has Usagi being deceived by a sly fox and Tomoe forced to hand out some samurai justice. The second tale has Usagi in space, kicking ass.

I used to have a Usagi toy as a kid and it rocked I would load up weapons on him and he made the ninja turtles jealous, as only a hare can do to a turtle. Too bad for him there are four of them to the one of him.

Hey I'm kinda liking these 90 second reviews. Gets shit done!