The Monitor Tapes for Monday, December 29th 2008
Last moniter tapes of the year! Final Crisis Batman, Wonder Woman, and Batman Gotham after Midnight. Mini-Cassett overviews and looking to next year.
Comics for the week of 12/24/2008

BATMAN #683- “WHAT THE BUTLER SAW”

Grant Morrison/Lee Garbett

Spoiler heavy

In some ways, if this issue had a soundtrack it would be to “all tomorrow’s parties”. Tis not the end of Batman but it would be a fitting end to the “Caped Crusader” if the title suddenly ended after years of publication.

“Bruce Wayne in “The Man With the Weapon Brain!”

Another retrospective on Bruce Wayne (who is) Batman, the first page opening to the memory of Bruce and Talia’s (who is the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul), interesting that the scene mirrors that of the scene in the disputed continuity graphic novel Batman- Son of the Demon (By Mike Barr and Jerry Bingham), in contrast to the panel in prior issue #656, originally reinterpreting the same scene with Batman wearing the cowl and nothing else (additionally, the panel was from Morrison’s remembrance and not 100% accurate, later explaining the involvement of drugs clouding his memory*) Also note the retcon dialogue spoke by Talia, referring to the act of consummation resulting in the pregnancy (not revealed to Bruce in the original story), though can be interpreted as “pillow talk” lovers make during the act.

The second and third pages show another series of flashbacks from Batman in the 70’s including two of my personal favorites, the sword fight with Ra’s where he “dies” from a scorpion’s poison (Batman #244, “the Demon Lives Again”**), and the shark tank fight from Batman #251 (“the Joker’s Five Way Revenge”***), both Adams and O’Neil classics (both I’m fortunate to own copies of!). As the previous issue was a walk down memory lane beginning with Batman’s birth, crazy space aliens, and Robin’s into (lighting Batman’s world) and exit into Nightwing, this issue begins the more modern “Dark Knight” period of Bruce’s journey.

We see Bruce having flashes to a exciting adult power fantasy of the Batman (as I discussed in previous Monitor Tapes) as he’s a less than remarkable (than Batman) man following in his fathers footsteps as a quiet, single, doctor mussing over grizzly news he’s obviously unable to overcome considering his (illusionary) life. Morrison plays this as the flip side of Wayne, the “realistic, dark, and gritty” character he would be if he were in fact flesh and blood like the rest of us. He even wears glasses in a manor accustom to Clark Kent, the “weaker” (perceived) side of the Superman equation. For fans who cry out for a real interpretation of the character, this is it! No Bat-Costume, no Bat-Cave, no Batarangs, no sexy adventures against clown ghouls at midnight, no adopted wards to share the pain of tragedy, no rendezvous with Cat-Women in tight leather fetish gear. Just a man named Bruce Wayne, his Butler and Chauffer employee acting as counsel for a man powerless against a world of headline news horrors. True, the Cat-Women, Killer Clowns, angry Circus Children and darkness circle his world, but Bruce is merely a part in a play commenting on his world rather than actively perusing a starring role on the difficult stage of life.

Of course we’re all aware of the event’s unfolding in the “Real” world as Simyan and Mokkari with the aid of Lump infiltrating Batman’s mind in an attempt to create a Batman Army, though they begin to fear their actions may all be for not considering the reputation of the Batman. The life Bruce is experiencing is suppose to distract and overwrite while Darksied’s minions continue pirating the Batman persona as a “Weapons Grade” personality for the clone army awaiting its programming. Lump posing as Alfred continues to prod him along the path that keeps him sedate, walking a trail of safety apparently plotted out by his parents (specifically mother) who are referred to as alive despite having no presence. Bruce mocks this stating that “Sometimes, I wish they’d died that night” (you know!) or whishing it was himself as clearly a secret is revealed that is quite shocking now that it’s come to light. Bruce accepts his parents as acceptable losses in a war on crime….

Given the choice, Bruce would in fact not be able to save his parents because of Batman. Batman is bigger than all things and ultimately needed in a world of the Joker, Robin, Catwoman and even Darksied. Bruce is Batman, Batman is not a mask any more rather something else and the true fusion of Wayne and Bat become simple, elegant, and clear. If he could save his parents, he wouldn’t! He couldn’t! His parents are the unstoppable horror-headline that makes Bruce what he is, and what he is not. Had the devil not created Batman, Batman would have to create himself. The man is clearly haunted by the tragedy and always will have the whisper of ghosts upon his lips and ears. The tragedy it’s self is not a millstone chained to him reeking of guilt, pain, and inhuman crushing weight, it’s a part of the machinery that is Batman and a superpower source of strength, his atomic ray spider if you will.

The tragedy of the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne is not what birthed the Batman,
the senseless act of a criminal is, the devils deed if you will. Flashing back to the end of
RIP even if “Hurt” had in fact been Doctor Thomas Wayne, it would not matter for the first lesson was the one that started the path where Bruce chose to not only peruse an education on how monsters operate, but chose to expose himself to monsters to know no matter what this is the thing he must do and his mission will never end as he will not let it as long as monsters stalk the wild black void of men’s hearts and minds.

Back to the remaining story it’s self, Bruce discovers the body of the Batman of Zur En Arrh, reveals as a skeleton, almost acting as a switch trigger activating “Batman” memories due to his apparent persona death, Batman once again rises out of death. In the lab, Lump begins to show signs of attack (as Bruce is in his mind, not Lump in his) and stirs, then settles leaving Simyan and Mokkari to believe they remain in control. Unfortunately for them, Batman now has control and access to his memories, or really had all along using this moment to strike against his enemies. What seemed like a lighthearted moment in which Jason Todd (the “Second” Jason Todd BTW) the loveable angry young scamp steals the Batmobile’s wheels (tires) in Batman #408. Post CIOE Jason was the herald for the modern Batman on what became a bullet train of tragedy fired out of a 44 magnum. Jason was a punk kid with attitude and what would be a short life on a slippery slope of blood and mud. Flashbacks here walk through Bruce’s hope in a partner slowly rots and becomes a sick hole inside him, not unlike the one in Jason’s skull, personally trepanned by the Joker with his delicate and surgical crowbar. In a way, this is a bigger hurt and heavier tragedy as he truly shoulders the Burdon as his and his alone. The hits keep coming when the flash of Barbra Gordon falling under the sick schemes of the increasingly cruel Joker (Killing Joke), as Bruce sharpens his memories and pain like a shiv while his captors begin to gloat and drink the moment like Champaign.

The clones begin clawing their eyes out in horror experiencing the raw information and emotion pours into their empty shells. Flash to Tim Drake (Robin III) pulling Bruce back from the brink of no return while Bruce and the Lump posing as Alfred conversate as Batman reveals he knows something is amiss. Lump reveals he has the means to defend himself utilizing Bruce’s memories as weapons, specifically being broken by Bane and being replaced by a guy named Jean (both painful memories to me ). We skip ahead to the Gotham earthquake, Hush, the death of Tim’s father in rapid succession. ….

The moment everyone’s been waiting for, the reveal of Batman’s whereabouts since RIP, Bruce reveals he did in fact survive the encounter with “Hurt” and that the Black Glove despite their hubris and planning was in fact no match for the Batman. Filling in the blanks Batman swings back into action handling the Final Crisis bringing us up to speed with his current whereabouts. Batman uses the remains of Lump to attack his captors while setting up his escape from Darksied’s lackeys “Second Life” scenario and gearing up for the final confrontation.

Batman and Robin will never die… Especially when Batman is the god of winning, and an unstoppable human force of will on par with the mightiest of Green Lanterns. Only instead of a ring, he’s got his mind, body, and a utility belt in addition to a weapon brain!

*Also of note, Andy Kubert was the one who decided to have Batman in cowl only, as it was not in the script directions.

** Featuring the story continuation and “First” in comic resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul.

*** Featuring the ultimate iconic Adams Batman image, often referred to and used in merchandise, ect. (find image online) on page 21 of said issue.

WONDER WOMAN #27 (in part WONDER WOMAN #26)

Gail Simone/Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan

Picked up the recent issue and previous issue as I’d fallen behind somewhere and just decided to jump back in. After several false starts, back and forth secret ID’s, “Who am I” navel gazing, and a parade of creators attempting to fix a character not broken, Gail Simone puts Diana back together again just before breaking the hell out of her!

As it’s sometimes hard to read and recap single issues in the current “Trade” standard books are written for (mostly to tell more complex stores in multiple parts), I had to pick up the previous issue where we meet Genocide, the new Wonder Woman nemesis (as opposed to the Agent Nemesis/ AKA Tom Tresser, Male Amazon, Partner and Beau of Diana), the Doomsday to her Superman.

Skimming the previous issue shows Genocide not only beating Diana, but beating her badly and taking her Lasso of Truth. Frankly, had anyone done this story (IE “Male” writer) with Diana, they’d be the target of blood and teeth from the internet trolls as the female superhero icon was stuffed into the refrigerator.

Genocide seeks out her father, the madder than usual Doctor T. O. Morrow, he’s begun to comprehend the scope of the God-Gollum that he’s created. Not unlike the terrible God-Machine-Weapon heralds created in 52, the folly of super science runs rampant again in the horror that was created to stop Wonder Woman. Genocide no in possession of the Lasso has it bonded to her body making he more deadly now that the tool is used as a weapon connecting her to her foes by staring into their souls. Being able to see a person warts and all gives “Gen” a tactical advantage making her quire formidable and terrifying.

Meanwhile, the (Roman? Greek?) Gods return from Star Trekin’ round the universe, all sorts of messed up from Darksied’s attack on them during Countdown to Final Crisis. They track down the sleeper Amazons roaming the earth and call them away from their average “Dream” lives they’ve been functioning in. The Gods are none too happy they’ve been forgotten along with the defiling of their realm and of Paradise Island it’s self. The gods seem to have a plan and are gearing up for a new champion (hence the “Rise of the Olympian story title arc) and offer Wonder Woman’s Mother*** a chance to find peace in the offered final rest. Things are bad if not the worst for Wonder Woman and she’s got a fight ahead of her unlike she’s ever faced, in a stage filled with Gods and Monsters.

BATMAN: GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #8 (OF 12)
Steve Niles/Kelley Jones

It’s no wonder the Joker is such a cruel, terrible, horrible man! Batman swoops in on a locked down and straight-jacketed Clown Prince of Crime gagging him and stealing blood samples from his stomach, in a rough and rude manner.

The issue opens with the autopsy/ funeral of Detective Barry Lucas, GCPD cop and victim of the Midnight killer. The autopsy and prior events reveal the cause of death to be at the hands of Waylon Jones, AKA Killer Croc. Batman’s personal investigation reveals the latter suspect being not only the killer, but suspicion of Midnight in fact being a cop and a cover up hidden amongst the evidence.

Batman also has found himself enamored and in romantic interactions with Detective April Clarkson, who is ironically ditching a date with Playboy Bruce Wayne. Yes, Batman is cock-blocking Bruce and chicks dig the cowl. Catwoman being the hussy she is reveals her rage by killing a bird as she creepily stalks Batman.

Christmas Even rolls around as Midnight claims another victim, Santa apparently wont be coming this Christmas so don’t set the milk and cookies out. As a madcap chase ensues, Midnight claims the heart of Batman’s Beau with the assist of Catwoman’s distraction.

Unfortunatly I was pressed for time, but I’ll be “Catching up with Booster Gold!” in the near future with the last 5 issues.

Comics available on 12/31/2009 Future comics! Comics from the future!

BATMAN #684
BATMAN: CACOPHONY #2 (OF 3)
BLUE BEETLE #34
FINAL CRISIS: SECRET FILES
GREEN LANTERN #36
INFINITY INC. VOL. 2: THE BOGEYMAN
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #28
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #22
THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #49
SUPERMAN #683
SUPERMAN AND BATMAN VS. VAMPIRES AND WEREWOLVES #6 (OF 6)
TEEN TITANS #66
TEEN TITANS SPOTLIGHT: RAVEN
TRINITY #31
THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #8 (OF 12)

Next Year! Catch up late with the DC best of 08’ highlights through the month of January 09’, with an eye on the future.

Dabbling in the other ponds of the DCU ocean in addition to seeing those still containing fresh water, and remembering the fishing holes that dried up. And why branding and selling is in fact important in comics.Green Lantern’s big year with the Blackest night creeping up on us like rigamortis.

And who wants to be the Batman, all in the next year (well, first year really) of the Monitor Tapes!

Thanks for reading!