From 1993, Showcase '93 #5, featuring "The Takedown" Written by Doug Moench, pencils by Kieron Dwyer, inks by Dick Giordano; "Seed of Destruction" Written by Gary Cohn and Dan Mishkin, pencils by Pete Moriarty, inks by Dan Davis; and "The Ghost in the Machine" Written by Mike W. Barr, pencils by Bryan Hitch, inks by John Beatty.
As is increasingly prevalent around here, this is a random comic (probably picked up during a Hastings sale) that I don't have the previous issues for; but the opening story features Robin versus Cuban crime boss Ramon Bracuda. With Batman unavailable, and Commissioner Gordon dealing with bent cops, and Robin's erstwhile back-up Catwoman ditching him; Robin has to bring Bracuda in single-handed; and starts his attempt by whacking him with a quarterstaff while the crime boss was enjoying a steam. Doesn't seem very sporting, but Bracuda puts up a helluva fight, even after his hair catches fire. Despite having both a preternatural resistance to pain, and about a hundred pounds and several inches on him, Bracuda still loses; with Robin both feeling like he'd proven himself, and wishing his boss was there.
There's also a chapter of a Blue Devil serial from his original writers, in which Dan Cassidy is briefly freed from the Blue Devil suit, then stuck right back in it. Still, this was well before Blue Devil's redesigns, and the original look is far more charming. Also charming: the art in the final feature, early work from Bryan Hitch that feels very Alan Davis. Unfortunately, it's for a Geo-Force story, so, enh.
"Expect the Unexpected" was a common refrain in old issues of Warlord. And on the opening theme of Tiny Toons, now that I think of it.
Ugh...Geoforce is SUCH a loser. Blue Devil on the other hand looks as though he's enjoying himself.
ReplyDeleteI've actually got the last chapter of that Robin story myself. He had to team up with Nightwing in the end since Baracuda got help. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteThat early Bryan Hitch art was VERY Alan Davis-eque, almost a direct copy. Glad his style evolved tho.