Batman YTB - Fansite For Batman Comics, Toys, Figures, News and more!

Print thread view

Batman YTB - Fansite For Batman Comics, Toys, Figures, News and more! | GOTHAM BOOK CLUB | Batman Comics & Other Publications

Page 3 of 3

Author

RE: Paul Dini and J.H. Williams III Run on Detective Comics

Nate

Posts: 1099
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Joined: 29.07.05

Posted on 06-07-2007 23:59

DETECTIVE COMICS #834

Written by Paul Dini
Art by Don Kramer and Wayne Faucher
Cover by Simone Bianchi
Edited by Pete Tomasi

PLOT:
As Batman is brutally tortured in an inescapable deathtrap, the mortally wounded Zatanna is unable to speak the magic words to save them both! Meanwhile, Joker embarks on his farewell performance, intending to kill hundreds of spectators in the grand finale!

REVIEW:
#833 featured a Batman/Zatanna team up that we expected to get from Paul Dini. But it had the shocking revealation for the suspect the two were chasing turned out to be Joker in disguise. Catching us completely off-guard. The issue also went back to Batman's relationship to Zatanna after Identity Crisis, and the fact that Batman has not totally forgiven her. That and her life hanging in the balance was the cliffhanging ending in the previous issue. Now, let's see what happens.

This issue, and the two parter it forms, is one of my favs. Dini has never let us down and this shows why. The final part to the two part Batman/Zatanna storyline gives us a great end. Paul Dini said at Con '06 that his "stand alone issues may not be stand alone" as we thought. We saw that before in a earlier issue, somewhere, and its reinforced again with this where it relates back to the considered great issue of his run: the Robin/Joker Christmas issue. And Paul Dini knows Zatanna (he is married to her, again so you know) and Batman (duh) and he throws in great interaction.

Zatanna got to shine here. Paul Dini writes her in both parts to show how much of a great magician she is. Even with that scene where she and Bruce were kids and how she made a bubble with her hands. Here, when she is trapped in water trap, she managed to write her spell to limit the water in her lungs. Plus, she does a spell at the end where vampire bats seem to appear and eat away at the Joker. That might be inspired by Batman, maybe not. Anyway, it was neat. Also, what was brought up in part 1 of the relationship between the two following Identity Crisis is addressed again. Before, in part 1, I was afraid that Batman would not let it go. But in part 2, not only does he forgive Zatanna completely, they both kiss and make up. This was lovely to see. So finally, thanks to Paul Dini, the mindwipe situation is now closed.

Overall, this issue rocked. Zatanna got to shine, great moments from the Joker, and closure of the Identity Crisis mindwipe situation. Zatanan was expected, and had happened before, to appear in Dini's run. He knows how to write her, as much as he knows how to write Batman and all of the characters in the Batman world. I think Detective Comics, with him as the writer, is the reason why it is on everyone's list. Speaking of that, Dini will not be on Detective for two months and a new writer, John Rozum, will be doing a Batman/Scarecrow 2-parter. Not only do I hope it's for two months, but I hope, since I don't really know the writer for this, that it'll be good. So this issue was great, go get it.

RATING: 4/5

Next Issue: Scarecrow is known for fear, and he decides to make a game out of it. Can Batman stop the madness?

You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns