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[ HANDS UP. THIS IS A BARGAIN ] |
TO QUOTE Joan of Arc: 'Sniff-Sniff! Can you smell burning?'.
THE REVIEW:
On a conceptual
level this second part of 'The Bronze Age' is a story easily divisible by two. One
part of it is focused on Bat-Jim, Harvey Bullock, plus the rest of their crew,
trying to track down and apprehend last month's serial killer. Where as the
other part of the story is focused on the serial killer himself, who's
currently in the act of getting his hands on his next victim.
In this case, the
victim appears to be a young college student that's being nabbed because the
killer wants to dress her up as Joan of Arc. But fear not,
Bat-fans, Jim and the gang manage to stop him before he goes too far, doing so
by figuring out a number of issues relating to his modus operandi.
1) The killer
dresses up and kills people that resemble noted icons who've been the first people
to do, well, whatever -- i.e. the first American president and the first
American in space.
2) Each icon is
historical in context.
3) The killer
removes bones from the people he murders.
4) Each of the
represented icons has a statue of themselves located somewhere in Gotham City .
Now there would have
been a fifth point on this list, a point relating to each of the victims being
male. But of course, we discover this theory to be false as soon as Jim catches
up to this killer and stops him in the act. Stop, not capture.
The tale then winds down in the last couple of
pages by setting up next months episode. We initially have a scene where Jim talks to Harvey while he gazes at his daughter from across
the street (Again). This is then followed by a scene where the serial killer dresses up his next
victims, ready for the kill (Ouch! That must hurt!).
By the way, before I
forget, I did enjoy the dual meaning to the Aparo street reference. Not only does it
refer to the now classic Batman artist, Jim Aparo, but this name also refers to its Greek translation, aparo meaning horse, which we then see on the final page.
Another shout out has to go to Peter Tomasi and Fernando Pasarin. In Peter's case, I did like the way that he gave each of his characters some much needed character (more on that point later), as well as by making this issue of Detective Comics into an actual detective type tale -- it's about time. And in Fernando's case, well, what can I say about his marvelous artwork other people haven't said already? It's well composed. It's very expressive. It's evenly paced. Plus I have to admit, so far I'd say he's drawn the best Bat-Jim yet.
Another shout out has to go to Peter Tomasi and Fernando Pasarin. In Peter's case, I did like the way that he gave each of his characters some much needed character (more on that point later), as well as by making this issue of Detective Comics into an actual detective type tale -- it's about time. And in Fernando's case, well, what can I say about his marvelous artwork other people haven't said already? It's well composed. It's very expressive. It's evenly paced. Plus I have to admit, so far I'd say he's drawn the best Bat-Jim yet.
So overall, yeah, you guessed it; I did enjoy reading this
issue of Detective. The artwork was brilliant and the story in itself was equal parts charming, evolving, and engrossing to
read. Whatever next? More horseplay with the Batman methinks, Ha!
THE MUSIC:
OK. So let me think. What song can I come up with that's about
the first of something? Oh! Wait a minute! I know what song to choose. That one sung
by Barry White, called -- don't groan -- 'My First, My Last, My Everything'.
THE COMPARISON:
Last month I compared Detective Comics #48 to the man who
murdered John Lennon: Mark David Chapman. So this month I thought
I do a similar thing, yet in this instance compare the book to the man who
attacked John's fellow Beatle, George Harrison: Michael
Abram... the nutter.
THE CONCLUSION:
Harvey Bullock inadvertently
unveils a hidden passion of his near the start of this issue. So, just for fun
-- slap-slap-slap -- let's see if you can guess what that subject is out of the
following eight options? Could it be...
- Cosplay.
- Smoking fish.
- Porn.
- Space exploration and astronomy.
- The
filmography belonging to the famous German film director, FW Murnau.
- Morris Dancing.
- Carpet bagging.
- Ferlatio.
Nuff said.
DETECTIVE COMICS #49
Reviewed by David Andrews
on
February 22, 2016
Rating:
![DETECTIVE COMICS #49](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNfJCSlm2scDcan-rkZMqwmuipLOvGMPKBRV5lmY0thhbAQGJSKX6WjdxKCpSv0R1Q8yuguhXc46caTn2vZj4x6hUR_G6JwVb0uEDO00GC2GrlEycPfOvfrA77D08YVVl32hT2sDCIAQ/s72-c/DTC-49-5-4e85b%255B1%255D.jpg)
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