The Avengers 4

So posting will slow down a bit, moving to just on Friday's except on special occasions. I have tried to post more than once, and just can't most weeks. I apologize for not being able to, but my reviews are fairly long, and to top it off I do significant amounts of research and hunting to find the issues I feel are important. 

Anyways, The Avengers became one of the signature superhero teams, with most of the iconic and interesting heroes in the Marvel Universe eventually becoming affiliated with or members of the team. The first to join the original team of Ant-Man, the Wasp, Iron Man, Thor, and the Hulk was Marvel's most famous golden age creation Captain America. While originally published by Timely Comics, Marvel became the home for Captain America, and in many ways Captain America reflects the most positive aspects of the Marvel Universe, much like Superman does for DC. He is heroic, courageous, closer to a mortal than the rest of the team, and upholds positive values with few flaws, unlike Iron Man's drinking, Thor's arrogance, or Ant-Man's beating of his wife(Yes it's still a big deal in comics, and yes I will get to it eventually).

Instead of having Captain America come back in his own series, he came back as an Avenger, partnered with a popular title to help get interest in the character. The cover is pretty standard moving into an action pose with the whole team in the shot, but otherwise is pretty typical Silver Age fare. So is the plot. It is filled with weirdness and is over the top and wacky for what would now be a pretty seriously treated event. In the last issue of The Avengers 3, which is quickly recapped, the Avengers fought Namor the Sub Mariner, king of Atlantis, and overall powerhouse. Namor was forced to flee and came upon a tribe of "Eskimos" worshipping a human figure frozen in a block of ice. Angered at all of humanity he breaks the ice, and the block falls into the ocean. The Avengers are heading back to civilization, and discover the body frozen in the block of ice. 

Man frozen in Ice revived decades later. Comic book science at its finest!

Captain America wakes up in shock, and he tosses a god, a metal man, and a giant around with a single body tackle. His rage subsides quickly as he regains his bearings, and he dons his shield and mask. The other heroes are incredulous that this is the real Captain, so Thor does the best thing he can to test him by throwing his hammer at full force. If it wasn't the real captain, they would be hit full force with a hammer to the chest. Perfect test to see if he is the real deal right?

We learn that Captain America would never hit a girl when Wasp jumps in front of him, and he calms down and tells them his story. He and his young sidekick were on their way to stop a drone plane loaded with explosives from taking off. Bucky was able to get onboard as was Captain America, but they were unable to stop it from exploding, which killed off Bucky until he was brought back as the Winter Soldier in 2005, which I will try and get. He fell into the icy water of the Atlantic ocean, and thanks to the super soldier serum survived being frozen. 

As the Avengers reach land, they are photographed by a crowd of newspaper photographers, but become frozen in stone.  Captain America walks right past them after emerging out of the submarine, traveling New York and making comments about how things have changes. After Stever settles into a hotel room, he sees a figure who looks like Bucky, but learns that instead the teenager is Rick Jones, an ally of the Avengers and the Hulk. 

The look at pictures of the event, and see someone pointing a mysterious gunlike object at the Avengers in the crowd of photographers. Captain America decides to go after him, and through Rick's TEEN BRIGADE, are able to get a location of the man. Captain America goes after him, busting into his room,

Captain America takes out 7 guys with a single whirlwind attack.  

So Captain America beats them up, and learn that their master is a green skinned, yellow mop haired, alien, who was mistaken for the Gorgon of ancient Greece when his space ship crashed. If the alien turned the Avengers to stone, Namor promised to help the alien get his space ship. Captain America has the alien return the rest of the team to normal, while Namor prepares to attack the Avengers again. Thor uses the magnetism on his swiss army hammer to pull the spacecraft up, but the avengers are attacked by Namor and a squad of his troops. After much fighting, with the team holding their ground, the space ship of the alien launches, distracting the heroes from Namor and they welcome Captain America to the team, but Bruce Banner, the human side of the Hulk worries about Hulk's jealousy. 

Hulk... Not Hulk Yet. Hulk Confused

So Captain America proves he can still beat people up for justice, which I enjoyed, but the comic's fight scenes are kind of confusing, Thor's hammer can still do anything it wants, and Wasp hasn't contributed anything to the fight. The medusa alien and teen brigade really show their age in this kind of story. I like the personality and figure of Captain America but am still not sold on the Avengers as Earth's Mightiest Heroes. 

This was a tough comic for me to find. I know that Masterwork Marvel: The Avengers has the story, but had a tough time finding a copy, so I ended up purchasing it at comixology.com. This in my mind is more of a historical piece, although the quick backstory of Bucky's death and the freezing of Captain America are very useful and important bits that still resonate through the character. 

The Avengers 1

I was planning on continuing Captain America but the Silver Age Cap is intrinsically linked to the Avengers: Earths Mightiest Superheroes! Captain America became leader of the Avengers in his very first appearance in the silver age, but he didn't start on the team. So here is the introduction to the Avengers. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby brought together many of their creations. The first team included Thor, Hulk, Ant-Man, Wasp and Iron Man, all characters not part of a team and all of them very new.

Badass cover ... Silly comic

The Avengers 1 begins with Loki, trickster god of the Norse, and Thor's nemesis on the Dreaded Isle of Silence which is punishment for something that is not explained in the comic. So Loki is stuck there but can interact with the world of mankind through mystic power. He spots Thor as his civilian self, Doctor Donald Blake, and decides to manipulate him into turning into Thor. He scours the world in search of someone to threaten the world. Loki finds the Hulk and manipulates him by making a railroad bridge appear to have dynamite on it. Hulk dives onto the tracks planning to stop the dynamite, but instead wrecks the bridge. An oncoming train goes there. The Hulk will be blamed, and he even though he saves the train by lifting the tracks, Loki has begun his plan. Hours later the newspapers all report of Hulk's attack on the train, and that they need to go after him. Rick Jones a boy who befriended the Hulk in his first appearance (which I will get to soon.) Jones has his newly created Teen Brigade, a group of amateur ham radio operators who happen to be teens, broadcast a message of help throughout the world. Iron Man(Tony Stark), Donald Blake(Thor), Hank Pym (Ant Man), and The Wasp (Whose Full name isn't used but is Janet Van Dyne). They meet up with the Teen Brigade as the Fantastic Four is currently busy on another case.

While this is of course fascinating, the rest of the comic isn't really helpful in using them to do interesting things. Thor goes after the Hulk by himself, but the Hulk is actually an illusion. Thor figures out that Loki is the only one capable of such an illusion and goes to meet with Odin. Back on Earth the heroes are trying to figure out where the Hulk is. Hulk turns out to be at a circus in makeup billed as Mechano the most life-like robot in existence. Ignoring the tons of robotic creations that will appear in comics, anyone who thinks that a giant green man in eyeshadow and white lipstick is a robot is a bit of an idiot. Ant-man learns of this through his telepathic connection with every ant everywhere(seriously?) so they go after him and cause a a cave in to slow the hulk down. Ignoring the stupidity of the hulk being injured by a cave in caused by ants, they then attempt to trap the hulk in a steel cylinder. The audience, being in a comic book, doesn't run screaming and instead they cheer and hoot. The hulk catches the Wasp, who is then saved by Iron Man, before the Hulk gets away.

We then get a break in the action after Hulk gets away, as Thor travels to find Loki. Thor is attacked by trees and a volcano, but manages to escape them and he confronts Loki who has the Island trapped with a Troll who attempts to drag him under before Thor uses his hammer to create lightning. As a side not Thor fixes every problem with his hammer in this comic. This is called by tvtropes.org When All You have is When All You Have Is a Hammer. Thor eventually captures Loki with the magnetic power of his hammer. Iron Man is still following the Hulk, they go into a tire factory where Iron Man and the Hulk fight. I would point out that at this point in Comics, Iron Man isn't that powerful, while Hulk can pick up and throw tanks! Thor finally flies in with Loki and ... turns radioactive. Really? Ok I didn't know people could just turn themselves lethally radioactive with having all of their cells not be dead, but sure whatever.

Hulk is immune to radiation, and Thor is a God!

They are rendered helpless by radiation, but Ant-Man and the Wasp create a trap door that lets Loki fall. He falls into a conveniently places truck made to contain radioactive waste, and they drop him in. They celebrate their victory, with Ant-Man and Wasp saying they should become a super team. Hulk reluctantly joins to avoid being hunted, and Wasp names them the Avengers.

Wow I don't like this comic. Besides the random subplots that are long and tedious, making this a 22 paged comic, they also don't really fight as a team. If Thor can beat up Loki, why take him to Earth? Why the heck can Ant-Man talk to every ant on the planet to spy on people? I would have liked to see them bond as a Team. To do that, they need Captain America. Next week I will review Avengers Issue 4, which has Captain America become part of the Silver Age, and continues with the Silver Age wackiness.

This comic is not a good read, and not that important in terms of understanding the modern day team. I do not recommend this issue, as you need to have backstory on Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Ant-Man, and the Wasp to really understand what's going on in the comic, such as why Hulk is not trusted, why Loki is on the Isle of Silence, and how they got their powers. I got my copy in Marvel Firsts: The 1960's. 

Captain America Comics No. 1

As the 1940's began, many superheroes became quite popular. Some such as Superman have withstood the test of time. Others not so much. Captain America was one of the first major characters published by Timely Comics, the company that would eventually become Marvel comics. Some of the first charachters were Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the first Human Torch, an android covered in flames. While I will circle back to them, I think it is more important to talk about one of the first "patriotic" superheroes, and one who has become among the most influential in modern media. Captain America was the creation of Jack "The King" Kirby, who is famous as one of the premier comic book artists with titles ranging from Silver Surfer, The Fantastic Four, Thor. and The New Gods. His partner was Joe Simon created many comics, and helped Kirby create many comics such as Young Love, the first major romance comic, creating a genre that lived for many years, and while virtually unheard of today, they helped cement comic books major role in the 1950's.

Adolf socked in the jaw!

Captain America was written before WWII began in late 1940. The comic got a huge reaction, with over 1 million copies sold, but also provoking a mob of nazi supporters to threaten Kirby and Simon. It took the mayor of New York City, Fiorello La Guardia, to protect them with Guardia ordering police protection for Timely's offices. The comic itself was created very quickly, so some of it does look a bit rushed. Since the comic itself has four Captain America stories and two supplements I am going to cover the most important two, Meet Captain America and The Fantastic Tale of the Red Skull. 

 

We start our comic with something that I thought I wouldn't see again. That is a story without introducing the main character in the opening story. Just like both Batman origin stories, we don't get to see Captain America first, but instead get a weird intro. We see a bad guy at a munitions plant and then the next page he blows it sky high. In response Franklin Delano Roosevelt the current POTUS is commissioning a program to deal with the Nazi sabotage. We learn that the Nazi's have filled the armies ranks, and so the president has decided to deal with it. We then learn that the current head of the F.B.I. has arranged some sort of experiment. 

How many B-movies have this premise go horribly wrong?

The experiment is some sort of serum combined with Vita-Rays. The person in charge is a a Professor Reinstein. He has figured out how to make a man into a perfect specimen, increasing strength, reflexes and even intellegence. His guinea pig is Steve Rogers, who has been rejected because of his scrawny physique. The serum works and he grow bigger. This amazing serum however is about to vanish because a spy bursts out, shots Reinstein and shatters the serum. Many origin stories are actually very similar, with the results being unreplicatable. In recent years many comics in the Marvel continuity have even used this serum to explain the origins of other heroes, most notably the Ultimate Hulk, something that even made its way into The Avengers.

Because thats the definition of covert

Captain America is so named because he will safeguard America and represents America's strength. He demonstrates that, taking the assassin and punching him all over the building, eventually making the assassin land in some equipment which fry him to death. Steve sees no problem with this, and it shows the fact that Captain America is a soldier. He is willing to kill to get the job done, but doesn't go out of his way to kill people. He quickly does his job, smashing spy rings and keeping America safe from the Nazis. He is assigned to a military base undercover, namely Camp Lehigh. Bucky Barnes the camp mascot is enamored with the Captain. He wishes to meet him and he does, visiting Rogers at night and finding out that Rogers is Captain America. Of course Rogers decides to make Barnes his sidekick to keep his secret, because no Golden Age comic would be complete with a peppy young sidekick sent against firearms and thugs.

This comic is a good origin story, establishing why Captain America does what he does, as well as how he got his superpowers. Its a much more complete origin than Batman or Superman gets initially. This makes me much happier than the initial issues of Superman and Batman, even though I don't like Captain America quite as much as either of those, because I think he is a less interesting character.

Doomy Doom Doom Doom!

While I may like the first story for its excellent origin for the character, this one doesn't do that. We start with the cover image along with two panels inserted in the comic. I find this very frustrating, but it does get us into the story. Rogers is working with a Major Croy at the base, and has been threatened by someone called the Red Skull. Rogers and Bucky drive back to the base, leaving Croy to go to bed. As he is in the house, Croy is ambushed from behind. He is grabbed around the neck by what I can only assume is the Red Skull. The Skull stares him to death, and leaves him. The next day we learn that no one has been able to figure out why Croy is dead, and so Captain America and Bucky leave to go after the Skull, with Bucky deciding to go by himself. The Red Skull tells his henchman of his plan to go after officials while his team robs banks to fund the sabotaging efforts. Bucky eavesdrops but is caught and beaten up. The Skull having failed his evil overlords 101 class decides to use him as a hostage. The Captain bursts through the door and knocks out the thugs although the Skull escapes.

Private Rogers the next day witnesses a plane crashing on manuvers. The owner of the plane Mister Maxon laments the loss of the plane but not the men onboard. The general of the base gets a visit from the skull, who kills the general despite having a gun, and the Skull shows us a list of targets including Captain America and Bucky. The general's wife sticks up Red Skull, and instead of shooting the man with a red skull for a face and a swastika on his chest, she rushes over to her husband. Captain America bursts in and beats the Skull a bit before getting hit with a chair. Buck comes to save Captain America. They beat on the Skull, with Captain America breaking the red mask and learning that it is the airplane owner. I imagine this in about the same tone of voice as Velma from Scooby Doo. We learn that Maxon had used a hypodermic needle to inject people with a poison while he stared at them. This would create a myth about the Red Skull having a look of death. Maxon struggles to get his weapon but he rolls over his needle injecting himself. The next day military police learn that Maxon had been promised a position of power if Germany took over America. 

Why is this disappointing? Well Maxon isn't the actual Red Skull we know today. That goes to a Johann Schmidt, who is the Red Skull that we know today as Captain America's archnemesis. So the story serves as a bit of fake out for those who would expect an origin story for the Red Skull.

Overall I enjoyed these comics. They come in pretty large issues, unlike what I got with the Superman and Batman Chronicles, as they skip over any issue without those charachters. These have all the stories so include stories about Tuk Caveboy a pulp fantasy in stone age times and Hurricane, a character who looks like Hermes from the Greek mythologies, who is descended from Thor and yet is "the last living Greek God." While this makes no sense and he comes of as a copy of the early flash, it's not a terrible read.

I would recommend this comic for it's historical value and not really the artwork, but the writing is solid as well. It moves quickly, the plot is fairly reasonable. and they have a lot of ideas that will become really popular for the genre in the future, such as experimental superpower, superpowered prototype and a costumed villain rather than someone with an ominous name like Dr. Death. It's a pretty good read, and a good enough origin that I recommend this comic. I got my copy in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America. 

A Death in the Family

Ok so this is one of the comics that has a major impact on what people think of comics as a whole, was one of the first comic books to have user input on the actual outcome, and is still in continuity! A Death in the Family was written shortly after The Killing Joke in 1988, and to most modern audiences it will seem a bit dated, simply because of the events going on in the background. American was very concerned with Iran at the time, especially after the takeover of the American embassy in Tehran in 1979-1981, the Iran-Iraq war from 1980-1988, and increasingly concerned about extremist Islamic groups. This is important background information because much of the plot actually relies on knowing about this, but you can get through this with some pretty limited information. In case you need more click here.

The book was written in four parts, but the TPB I am reading out of has it split into six chapters, so I don't know where the chapters break compared to the books. I don't really like the first two covers, but the last two are alright, showcasing dramatic events rather than strange half brooding poses like the othe ones.

Kick some tail Robin!

Our story starts with Batman and Robin taking down a child pornography ring. Jason Todd, the current Robin, jumps in head first and immediately begins beating the bad guys up, with Batman frustrated at the lack of patience, but they quickly take down the "gunsels."Bruce is pissed with Jason for jumping the gun, and tells him he needs to be more careful, with Jason in a spiteful bout of teenage rebellion, telling him that "life is a game" and that "near misses don't count."

Why does Joker just have a missile lying around?

The next day Bruce speaks with Alfred and they both decide that they need to do something about his aggression. Bruce decides to take him off of active duty, with Jason hearing and deciding to storm out. Meanwhile the Joker has just escaped Arkham Asylum for the billionth time. Joker gained access to a supply closet and being a chemical expert whipped up a lethal batch of his Joker gas with common cleaning agents. This killed eight guards, and he was able to escape. Batman and Gordon both think he will be taken down, as after what happened in The Killing Joke the entire Teen Titans team and Justice League are going to go after the Joker. The Joker is out picking up some old toys, namely a freaking cruise missile. Joker decides that he needs to replenish his funds and to do that he will sell the missile to Middle East.

Secret Agent, Mercenary, Doctor. Why are these in a thugs address book?

Jason is back in Crime Alley, the neighborhood where both he and Batman got their start. The narration is the same as Bruce's so I guess we are learning about Jason's history, and we learn that his dad used to work for Two-Face before being killed by his boss, while his mother died of some sort of disease. As Jason wanders what used to be his home, an old friend of the family recognizes him and gives him some old photos and records from his father. Batman is leaning on known associates of the Joker but is unable to get any real information other than that some of the Joker's thugs were planning to head to Lebanon. Jason learns that his mother was actually his stepmother. He finds an address book with three names that match the first letter of the water damaged birth certificate. They are Sharmin Rosen, Shiva Woosan and Sheila Haywood. Jason uses the batcomputer to find out their current whereabouts and decides to use his credit cards to travel the middle east by himself. I would like to point out there is no indication he speaks any language that would allow him to communicate, he tells no one of his plans, and he runs to find his mom even though he has never met here and has no proof that whichever of the women his mother is that she would accept him back into her life. Batman has found out that the cruise missile the Joker has is actually a nuclear missile but the Joker apparently doesn't know that as he doesn't mention that it is nuclear ever. Batman returns to the cave and learns that Jason has already gone, and that he needs to go after the more pressing matter.

Batman beats up terrorists. What more do I need to say?

Batman is allowed by a friend in the C.I.A. to go after the Joker and is told of a plane that the Joker stole and that if he can deal with the Shiite militants who are in control of the plane he can look it over. Batman is able to tell the Joker is the one doing this from a gunshot wound to the head, which makes zero sense, but whatever. Batman changes and heads into town. Robin is infiltrating an Israeli military compound hoping to learn about Sharmin Rosen, who is part of the Israeli secret service. He learns that Rosen is undercover in Beirut. Bruce is in Beirut and speaks Farsi, so of course he is able to get around and changes into Batman and scares the pants of of numerous gunsels. He learns that a Perter Brando is planning on selling the missile. Rosen is supposed to be staying at the same place, so of course Bruce and Jason run into each other outside. They fill each other in on their respective missions, and learn that Rosen and Brando are working togethor. They follow them in rocket powered bat-gliders, and arrive at the missile as final bargaining is complete with the nuclear missile being sold for a paltry one million dollars. Of course the Joker is ecstatic.

Because Joker's word is trustworthy.

His fun is spoiled however by the appearance of Batman and Robin beating up several guards, taking them out in the space of three panels. He tells the terrorists to take them out, and they strafe the area, but Batman and Robin are able to dodge the fire, and they begin to take out the terrorists and thugs, whittling them down to nothing. Rosen shows her true colors shooting a terrorist, and Robin attempts to rescue her, but Rosen proves that she is an empowered woman and judo throws the thug to the ground. The missile is fired by the terrorist leader, but it misfires. The good guys are able to get to safety, and Batman reasons that the Joker failed at putting the rocket back together, and the warhead failed to detonate. The Joker staggers away, stunned. Robin asks Rosen if she ever had a child in Gotham, with Rosen saying that she had never had a child in Gotham. They decide to head after Sandra Woosan, with the Joker planning on going to Ethiopia, where Sheila Haywood has a refugee camp.

In chapter three, we find out that Sandra Woosan was taken by some terrorists. Meanwhile the Joker has found a way to get back on his feet. He goes to Sheila Heywood and blackmails her using a botched surgical operation in Gotham to get medical supplies for him to sell on the black market. Bruce and Jason have infiltrated the terrorists camp, and they quickly dispatch them, something that makes Batman nervous. Finally he gets that the terrorists are trainees, and that Sandra Woosan or Lady Shiva as she will be known is actually in charge of the camp. She knocks out Jason with a single blow and then fights Batman, proceeding to actually challenge him, proving his equal in martial arts, with Jason helping after regaining conciousness. Jason destroys the camp, and they interrogate Woosan using a truth serum, learning that she has never had a child. Sandra vows to come after Batman later, and they head to Ethiopia with Jason excited to meet his mother. They arrive at the refugee camp with Bruce telling himself that he needs to write another check, and that he will try to forget the horrors, as he can't help everyone even with his resources. Jason finds his mother, and they catch up. We learn that she was part

of some illicit surgery ring thing and that she planned to have Jason's father join her in England, but that he fell in love with another women. Joker arrives, and Jason learns that the Joker has been blackmailing his mother. The Joker even brought tons of his toxic gas to depopulate the camps. Batman learns of the trucks, and tells Jason to wait and not to take on the Joker alone. Jason agrees, but lied, and of course goes off to take on the Joker alone. He goes to his mother and she ignores his demand to help until he reveals his costume underneath his straight clothes. His mother freaks out and takes him to the warehouse. We then learn that Jason's mother is an absolutely terrible person. She lured him into the room for the Joker to take out so that she could keep her skimming of the funds for the medical supplies from being discovered. She pulls out a gun and then asks the Joker what they should do with him.

That's right, Jason's mother lets him get punched, pistol whipped, and beaten with a crowbar to save her own skin. The Joker just keeps beating him and beating him while Heywood watches on, until she decides to look away and smoke a cigarette instead. Meanwhile Batman's batcopter is shot down by the guards of the joker gas filled trucks. Batman knocks out the guards and saves the camp, telling the drives to unload the boxes and leave them for the army. Joker finishes beating him up, with Heywood asking what they will do about their beating up of Batman's little friend, with the Joker deciding to blame it all on Heywood, claiming that Batman "insists on solid evidence before going nova." They tie up heywood and leave a bomb and her tied to a pole. Heywood claims it was unfair and that the Joker should have played it straight which I have no idea why someone who was clearly at least a little acquainted with would even claim was a good idea. Jason unties his mother, but the door is locked, and as Batman drives back to the warehouse, the bomb goes off. We then get batman surveying the wreckage remembering how he took Jason in to prevent him from going down a bad path. Heywood tells batman what happened before dying, and then Batman finds Jason's body. 

The Joker takes his medical supplies and delivers them, but learns that Iranian secret service wants to see him. When the Joker protests they take him in and is impressed to learn that the Supreme Ayatollah, the man in charge of Iran, wants to see him. That's right Iran is such an evil place that they want a mass murderer to work for them. Bruce takes the bodies of Sheila and Jason home, giving them a funeral, and then works on the clue that the Joker left, learning that he plans to do something at the United Nations Plaza. Superman meets him there, telling him that he can't do anything to the Joker as he has been appointed an ambassador by Iran. Batman punches Superman in anger, almost breaking his hand before the Joker arrives. Joker plans his speech, and Batman arrives and learns that he killed Jason. With proof he plans on being an observer during the Joker's speech. Of course at the speech the Joker attempts to kill everyone. Superman saves everyone by sucking up all the gas as he was posted as security. Batman goes after the Joker as he detonates bombs and the Joker runs for the roof. He gets to the roof with Batman catching him as they get to the helicopter on the roof. Batman fights some goons who shoot in the helicopter causing it to crash. Superman tries to find his body, but Batman remarks that it is unresolved as usual. 

So Jason Todd died, something that lasted over 20 years. He was one of the few comic book characters to stay dead for a long period of time. They based his death on a call in number and has 10,614 calls with 5,271 for keeping him alive, and 5,343 for killing him. This is an early social media campaign, which is interesting historically, and it is one of the most lasting comics, with a super recent storyline called The Death of a Family involving all the current Batman titles. This comic is also important as it serves at Batman's greatest failure. He is unable to save his partner, but is also unwilling to kill Joker, or even go after him without concrete evidence. This shows how Batman doesn't kill even in the most dire circumstances, but also how he is still a human being, capable of failure. Modern Batman and his interaction with his partner's can all be traced back to Jason Todd. He even didn't want to take another partner ever. 

This comic is an ok read, a bit confusing due to dated references and the artwork and some of the plot holes. That makes reading this problematic. I recommend that Batman fan's actually read this comic just to get to know the charcters. Would I read this as a standalone comic? Probably not. I got mine in the trade paperback A Death in the Family, but they are doing a hardcover deluxe edition soon. Next week I will look at Captain America, looking at the very first Captain America stories, and talking about the beginning of Marvel. 

No review today sorry!

With the holiday's upon us, I don't feel like dealing with a depressing comic like Death in the Family just yet, and so will get to it on Friday. However historically, superheroes have had many comics that deal with christmas as special one shots, and many adaptive shows do christmas episodes. I would highly recommend Christmas with the Joker (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0519578/) which can be found pretty easily on youtube and such. One of the most memorable superhero Christmas episodes out there.

The Killing Joke

Its just one sick joke.

The Joker is one of the most iconic villains of all time. He is the big bad for Batman, and is also known as the Clown Prince of Crime, or the Harlequin of Hate. This comic is one of the ones that really established the Joker as the main villain for Batman, and that he was not a fun loving loony, but rather a sadistic, insane and truly evil villain. The Killing Joke is one of the most famous comics of all time, and unlike most stories I review is not a miniseries or part of a longer run, but is rather a stand alone comic. Printed in 1988, and written by the very talented Alan Moore, it greatly impacted many characters within the DC universe. 

With that in mind, lets take a look at the comic. 

Coulrophobia (Fear of Clowns)

The comic opens up with Batman stalking the cells of Arkham Asylum to see the Joker. The Joker is there, but doesn't say anything to Batman until grabs him, whereupon we learn that it's not the Joker, but instead is someone painted to look like him. Joker has escaped and is purchasing an abandoned carnival. He is planning something big, and the man is just a complete idiot, as he lets the Joker just walk around and be crazy, even though at this point he is a well known supervillian and crazy as can be. Joker shakes on the deal, which poisons the realtor, leaving him with the trademark Joker grin, and Joker reveals a bit about his origin story. While this is not the definitive origin story, with DC never saying which is the actual correct origin story, we learn that Joker was a former stand up comedian who can't get a job doing comedy. In need of support for his pregnant wife, he begins to plan another way to make money.

He needs a good laugh

This is a very compelling origin for the Joker. He is a sympathetic character, one who turns to crime to provide for his family's sake. Its touching that he is so willing to sacrifice for his family, and tragic that he turns to crime to support them. The Joker is still a maniac and killer however. Batman is at the cave and processes all he can on his computers about the Joker, which is almost nothing. Batman talks to Alfred about how unpredictable the Joker is, and how he cannot possibly predict what the Joker will do next. The comic shifts to Barbara Gordon (Batgirl. Not his wife. Its confusing) and her father James Gordon. Jim is pasting photos of Batman's exploits into a scrapbook while Barbara nags him about brining his work home, and his getting paste everywhere. I absolutely do not imagine Barbara Gordon, the first Batgirl,  nagging her father about bringing work home. We then get one of the most classic pages in Batman, and ones that still shape comics today, over 25 years later.

The shot heard throughout a mythology 

One of the stranger scenes in comics. That says something

Joker comes in and makes a bunch of librarian jokes, comparing Barbara to a coffee table book, commenting on the damaged spine, as his goons take out Jim Gordon. He takes Gordon, and takes pictures of Barbara as she is paralyzed. We then flashback to Joker taking to his mob buddies, who tell him that he will be the main man in their heist, and will be able to support his family with the money that he gets. We also learn he worked at a place called Ace chemical, which they will use to get access to the playing card company they are actually trying to steal from. I have no idea why a playing card factory would be a good place to hit, and additionally while I think its interesting in terms of symbolism, it's also kind of not needed. We know he is going to become the Joker, so why a playing card factory? Anyways, our next scene is Batman seeing Barbara at the hospital, where we learn that she will never walk again. Barbara wakes up and tell Batman to go after her father. We then see Gordon waking up, and Joker talking about how insanity is the best way to deal with the cold hard truths of the world. We learn that while Joker was at the bar he was told by the Cops that his wife had died testing a defective electric bottle heater. Joker is still made to go along with the plan. We then cut back to the tunnel of fear ride where Joker is trying to drive Gordon mad, and shows him pictures of his daughter, who has been stripped of clothing, and they torment Gordon

over and over and over. Meanwhile Batman is searching the city trying to gather clues, ranging from mobsters, to streetwalkers to criminals like the Penguin. Eventually Batman gets an invitation to the Joker's carnival, and promptly swings off. Gordon is almost catatonic after days of the torture, and so the Joker locks him up, while thinking about the random injustice that made him what he is today. The trio of criminals go to the chemical factory, but they are found out by security, which they blame the Joker for. They getengaged with a gunfight, but the two mobsters are killed as the Joker in his red hood flees from them as fast as he can. He runs up a ladder and attempts to get away from the Batman, jumping into a vat of chemicals. He washes ashore and takes of the hood, revealing the Joker.

That doesn't really seem like fun. 

Gordon is still in the cage as the carnival taunts him. Joker taunts Gordon by saying he is an average man, and that he is weak, and will soon snap under the pressure. Batman arrives then driving an old school batmobile, with a batram on the hood. He tells the Joker he came to talk. They begin fighting, with the Joker spraying Batman with acid, before retreating, while one of them thinks about the fact that one of them will kill the other one eventually. Joker manages to escape into the house of fun, as Batman rescues Gordon. Gordon implores him to get the Joker by the book to ensure that the way of law and justice works. Batman goes into the fun house, and the Joker attempts to trap him with poisoned spikes and mocks him for his belief that people cannot be driven mad as him by one bad day. He guesses that Batman is crazy from such a day, and how much Batman's refusal to acknowledge that supposed truth disgusts him. The Joker says everything is just one terrible Joke and that he can see how funny that joke is unlike everyone else. Batman finds him, breaking in and beating him up, with the Joker eventually being thrown outside. Joker asks him why Batman won't kill him even after shooting a defenseless girl and torturing Gordon. Batman says because he is doing it by the book, and that he doesn't want to kill the Joker. Its a touching scene, showing us that Batman still believes that the Joker is a human being, and that they don't have to kill each other. Joker seems repentant, but instead offers up an old joke and the two burst out laughing as the comic ends.

Batman employing the shut up Hannibal

I like that Batman is able to show compassion to his arch enemy, but the fact that Batman is not harsher on the Joker after what he has just done, and seems to almost ignore that is kind of frustrating. Batman could still treat Joker like a human, but should also punish him more for his actions, or at least tell the Joker how wrong he is. Batman here shows his genuine good nature, but in doing so loses a bit of my support.

So this comic is well written, aside from my couple complaints, and is one of the better drawn early modern age comics. I think that this is a very important read for those who read Batman and his associates, as this event resonated throughout the entire mythos. It lead to the creation of Oracle, as Barbara reinvented herself as a hacker and information broker to superheroes. Oracle was one of the only disabled superheroes, and ran the Birds of Prey one of the most important superhero teams, made up of female superheroes. I would recommend this comic based on its historical importance alone, but it also gives a real insight into the Joker's madness, as well as Batman's inherent good nature and his need to save everyone, even those who are his enemies.

Batman: Year One

I like the first cover, but why is there a sun behind Batman in the second?

No batman on the third cover, and a shot that never happens in the fourth. 

Frank Miller is one of those figures who is super controversial within the comics community. While much of his work has been credited to creating the modern age of comics, and several of his works have been received with massive acclaim, he also has created some of my least favorite comics, such as All-Star Batman and Robin(Link is to ATFW, which has an excellent review), which was universally panned, and stories like The Dark Knight Returns, which I dislike intensely. Miller has left a huge mark on Batman, for better or for worse and wrote stories that are considered classics. He was tapped in 1986 to write the new modern age story to introduce Batman. He did so, taking over the writing duties for Batman: Year One, with David Mazzucchelli doing the illustrations. This comic tells of the first year of Batman, even though Bruce Wayne only becomes Batman in April, so it would really be Batman Year 2/3rds, but that makes a crappy title.

Take that tree!

We open up on a shot of a train speeding towards Gotham, with yellow text boxes proclaiming how crappy Gotham is. We learn this from Jim Gordon, who you will remember is the police commissioner in the very first Batman story ever. Here however he has just joined the GCPD after some kind of problem in another city. At the same time we get a shot of Bruce Wayne returning to Gotham, after his long sojourn across the world. This plays out for awhile, but the noirish feel of Gotham is very Millar. The cops are all crooked, their is tons of crime, and only a few people are willing to do much about it. We see Gordon pissing off his partner, not willing to let the corruption slide and Bruce ... well beating up a tree. Its awesome. It is the first glimpse of the skills that
Bruce Wayne has acquired in his years abroad.

Sin City ... oh wait, that is Miller's Gotham. 

We learn that Jim Gordon has pissed off the wrong people, so Flass his partner and some of his buddies beat Gordon with baseball bats. He is able to defend himself at first, but is brought low and then beaten upon. Simultaneously Bruce is scouting "enemy territory." He is hit on by a little girl, and when her pimp intercedes Bruce beats him up. The girl who we learn is Holly Kyle stabs him in the leg and Bruce hits her. Her sister Selina Kyle jumps down and fights batman. If that name sounds familiar it should. That's right Selina Kyle is Catwoman, Batman's primary love interest. And she starts as a hooker. This is something that has occurred a few times but only when Mark Miller is writing. I personally think the idea is stupid. It denigrates  women, places an assertive female character in the worst possible light, and just feels plain wrong. Most adaptions have Catwoman as a cat burglar and master thief, and I vastly prefer that stance. Catwoman is supposed to be suave and sophisticated not ...  well this.

That's Catwoman? Sure. 

Bat Wrath!

Yah, not really a fan of Selina Kyle being a dominatrix hooker. Bruce proceeds to beat her up before being shot by corrupt cops. He passes Jim Gordon on the way back, nearly crashing repeatedly due to a knife in his calf, a gunshot, and a car crash that ends in a fireball. He manages to crawl back to the manor,  Gordon is driving to Flass's poker game, where he waits for him. He then runs Flass of off the road and then does the most amazing thing Jim Gordon will do in any comic ever. He gives Flass a baseball bat, and then proceeds to beat him like a rented mule. Gordon generally doesn't get much action, with the actual work being done by the Dark Knight, so it's nice to see him kick ass and be a hero. This is pretty good depiction of Gordon, although we do get some fairly shocking information a bit later in the comic.

The making of Batman in 4 panels

While Bruce is home, he thinks about the night his parent were killed. He was watching the Mark of Zorro, a character who inspired Batman and dealt with corrupt officials, which is a very nice parallel to the rest of the comic. He then gets the inspiration to become the Batman, when asking for his father's help, a bat flies through the window. The first part ends. The next part picks up with Gordon saving some children from a madman singlehandedly, angering the SWAT commander and the corrupt police commissioner. Gordon continues to protect and serve, but is worried about his wife, Barbara who is currently pregnant with their child. Gordon continues to comment on how terrible Gotham City is, and then we see our first appearance of Batman.

Batman's first appearance in the comic

Batman beats them up, saving the life of the one who is about to fall, and rests. We then cut to Gordon briefing GCPD along with a new character, Sarah Essen, as he discusses this so called Batman. Flass was beaten to a pulp in the middle of skimming of off a drug operation. The batarang is seen, as he disables the entire ring. The entire mob, and the rich families of Gotham are at a banquet. The commissioner supports this Batman, for making the people feel safe, even though the mobsters are concerned about the loss of profits. Batman disables the guards, then enters the room, looking like a vision from hell. He warns them he is taking Gotham back from them. Commissioner Loeb tells Gordon to catch Batman. Batman proves to be an elusive target as he avoids the traps the cops set up. Gordon guesses that Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent may be the Batman, after finding some weightlifting equipment in his office. Batman is actually hiding under the desk?! Batman then saves Essen and Gordon from a runaway truck. Batman manages to escape and runs into an abandoned tenemant. Loeb calls in a helicopter airstrike on the tenement, which somehow happens in under a minute, even though I doubt that the Police Commissioner has huge bombs ready to drop. Batman escapes that, cuz he's well Batman, and so they send in the SWAT teams, and Selina and her sister hear the explosions. Gordon has a tough time dealing with the fact that the Batman is saving people, while the corrupt attack him. The SWAT team eventually goes down to where Batman is hiding, and Selina and Holly come to watch. Cornered Batman pulls out the ultimate Bat gadget, a frequency transmitter that attracts a huge swarm of bats.

Batman is a hero for standing up to the corrupt police force, and as they are taken out by Batman. Batman escapes pretty much scot free, having frustrated everyone pursuing him. Everyone has to be given the rabies vaccine. Essen and Gordon figure out that Bruce Wayne might be Batman, but are unable to prove it at the time. We cut to Bruce skiing, which is random as hell. He comments on the need to get Gordon on his side, and then we have another quick cut to Selina punching out her pimp and leaving. We then cut for the fourth time in two panels, and see Gordon getting into trouble with Essen. Gordon and Essen kiss, so Gordon is now basically cheating on his wife. We then get a shot of Selina putting on her Catwoman outfit.

Catwoman meet Batman, Batman be pissed at Catwoman

So Catwoman is not a prostitue anymore, which is just wonderful. She leaps out the window, out to steal things. We then get a monologue from Gordon about how everything is not ok, with his relationship with Barbara deteriorating, his relationship with Essen complicating his life, a city full of villains and a persecuted hero.  The issue ends, with a shot of Gordon staring at his gun as he sits on the bed. The next issue opens with Gordon breaking up with Essen, but then we learn psych! Gordon is going to continue to make out with Essen. Batman learns of a drug dealer named Skeever who is working for the mob, and Batman breaks into his house and tells him that he know pain, and is able to share it with others. Skeever turns himself into Gordon in exchange for squealing on Flass. Gordon is confronted by Loeb who shows him a picture of Gordon kissing Essen. The Gordon's go to Wayne Manor a few days later, and Gordon sort of rules him out, before confessing to his wife of the affair. Flass threatens Skeever's life, and Gordon and Barbara continue to fight, as Flass's conviction leads to Loeb releasing the blackmail. Skeever survives an assassination attempt, and Barbara has the baby.

Insert jumping of bride joke here

Later Batman learns about several mobsters, and tries to listen in, but Catwoman arrives and disrupts the meeting. Catwoman claws the elder mobster's face off, and leaves his son Johnny to deal with the families business. Catwoman is called Batman's assistant which pisses him off. In revenge Johnny is told to get Gordon, by taking his family. Gordon is called to work, and during that time his wife and baby are grabbed. Gordon manages to save Barbara, and a mysterious man chase after Gordon and his baby. Gordon is able to stop Johnny from just killing his child, but in the struggle, the baby is knocked off the bridge. The mysterious man jumps off the bridge, and manages to save the baby, as both he and Gordon fall of the bridge into the waters below. The baby is saved, but Gordon's glasses have fallen off and he is unable to recognize the man. As the cops come to investigate, the man who of course is Bruce Wayne flees. We learn that Flass takes a few weeks to give up the notes of his meetings with Loeb, and Loeb is tried, but is resigning. Gordon is promoted to Commissiomer and we see Gordon standing waiting for Batman on top of the police building

The beginning of the legend

So basically, I like parts of this issue, and despise other parts. I like the Zorro connections, the importance of Jim Gordon, and that Batman has to get to know his enemy. These all add to the mythology, and flesh out important connections. I however despise the idea of Catwoman as a prostitute, dislike the fact that the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne is given all of one page, and that we don't really see Bruce's training, or even that he is trained in more than punching people. I think that this is one of the better Frank Miller batman stories, but it's really not that great of an origin. It doesn't tell us much about why Batman is who he is, and what he is like both as Batman and Bruce Wayne. It kind of does, but I just feel like I don't know Batman as well as Gordon.

This is not the origin story I would personally recommend, but then again, I am having a tough time finding a good one. It is the most recent origin story for Batman, aside from the new 52, so for right now this is the Origin I would use to get into comics. I got my copy in the trade paper back Batman: Year One. It was also faithfully adapted in the DC animated feature Batman: Year One, which is almost page for page the same as the comic. Next week I will look at another very important modern comic The Killing Joke, while I continue to hunt down a good origin.