This is the fifth of eight DC Comics Presents Julie Schwartz tribute issues that we've looked at, but after Atlantis Attacks that feels like real progress! So far we've blogged Adam Strange's, the Atom's, Superman's and the Flash's. Today we've got from 2004, DC Comics Presents: Batman #1, featuring "Batman of Two Worlds" Written by Geoff Johns, pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Joe Giella; and "The Ratings War!" Written by Len Wein, art by Andy Kuhn; with an Adam Hughes cover homage to Carmine Infantino's Batman #183. (The classic cover features a Batman '66 style logo on the TV; the modern one has the logo from the then-current the Batman cartoon.)
I was kind of prepared not to like Geoff Johns's opening story, since it featured what felt like modern excess: actors portraying Batman and Robin at each other's throats, with 'Batman' the prime suspect when 'Robin' is found dead on a rooftop. Tim is mildly traumatized but not so much as to not work the case, and goes to the autopsy; while Batman interviews his counterpart, who has been taken into custody but curiously not unmasked. (Unmasking him could be a violation of his civil rights!) Batman is curious why the two actors had once been so close but had fallen out; but there's more to it then that. In fact, it's a nice twist I won't spoil here, so nyaah!
Len Wein's story is pretty good as well: a low-rated TV station has a breakout hit with "The Adventures of Batman and Robin," a new show created with live footage of the Dynamic Duo in action. Batman kind of hates the show undermining his mystique--well, that and the narration. And that it's suspicious someone has been on the spot to videotape them so often: nowadays I suppose it would be a YouTube show pasted together from cell phone cameras. There's a nice twist here as well, so just go find this one. The first story was reprinted in a Carmine Infantino trade, but I'm not sure if most of the rest of the Julie Schwartz tribute issues have been reprinted. If they were packaged with the original issues the covers were taken from, it would be worth getting.
Hmm. Just realized I don't think I have the Green Lantern one of these. Have to keep an eye out.
This easily has the best example of modern Infantino art ever. I wonder if it's due to Joe Giella's inks or Infantino really bringing his A-game here, because I've seen previous examples of his post 70's DC work, and it's not good at all. Take the that one issue of WHAT IF? he did, where Ghost Rider was "evil." Horrible fucking art.
ReplyDeleteI guess the common theme both of these stories has, is the writer's commentary on the classic 60's tv show from what I'm seeing. Looks good though.
I've got the Green Lantern issue- you're not missing much.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed these issues, with a couple exceptions. Did proper respect to Julie and his legacy.