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Toyman In The Attic (Superman #85)

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Toyman In The Attic (Superman #85)

What I really liked was how Jurgens told the story. He broke from the linear narration and  flashed back and forth between Cat going to confront Schott and Superman trying to capture him and then finally in the last panel they are seen togethe

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He's a Freakin' Demon! (Detective Comics #603)

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He's a Freakin' Demon! (Detective Comics #603)

Like I said about last week’s entry, I like stories of Batman out of his element, overmatched and out of his comfort zone. Last week’s issue dealt with Batman dealing with an alien invasion and this week features him dealing with a supernatural threat and has to find a way out of a hopeless situation.

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Parasite Aliens Invade Gotham! (Detective Comics Annual #6)

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Parasite Aliens Invade Gotham! (Detective Comics Annual #6)

Back in the 90s, DC ran different themes with its annuals, one year it was Elseworlds stories, one year it was an alien invasion with Armageddon.  In 1993, it was Bloodlines. DC had a universe-spanning annuals theme that featured aliens attacking humans sucking out their spinal fluid and leaving the the unlucky ones that survived with superpowers. It was meant to create new, exciting characters but the only notable character that came from this storyline was Hitman. This book features Jean Paul Valley, Azrael, as Batman but before he adopted the entire costume.

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Running Away to Join the Circus! (Robin Annual #4)

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Running Away to Join the Circus! (Robin Annual #4)

this was a fun retelling of the classic origin story, expanded and updated for then-modern times. Dixon tells a story that’s more than an origin of a superhero, but a story of a boy, alone and without roots finding roots and a family, even if that family is a tad unconventional.

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Gothic Horror in Gotham! (Legends of the Dark Knight #54)

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Gothic Horror in Gotham! (Legends of the Dark Knight #54)

I picked this book up at my local newsstand when it was released based on the cover alone. I wound up really enjoying the book, despite it not having a known villain. The book had such a unique art style and tells a simple yet compelling story that wouldn’t have been lost on a 10 year-old.

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Women in Dumpsters (Batman #414)

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Women in Dumpsters (Batman #414)

This book was disappointing to me as a kid. There was no villain. It was Batman vs a generic bad guy. As a kid,the last thing you want is a Batman comic that doesn’t utilize Batman’s extensive rogue’s gallery. It was like watching the WWF  and instead of getting Hulk Hogan vs. The Undertaker, you get the Undertaker vs. some guy in a satin baseball jacket, with a mustache and a mullet. It didn’t seem like a challenge to the hero.

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Batman v. Superman in 1996?! (Action Comics #719)

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Batman v. Superman in 1996?! (Action Comics #719)

Michelinie’s Joker is great. He’s conniving, unhinged, murderous, and willing to take a beating to further his game. When we meet him, he’s playing solitaire with his toes because his hands are in a straight jacket.

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Revelations! (Man of Steel #6)

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Revelations! (Man of Steel #6)

It establishes Superman’s humanity and that he thinks of himself as Clark, not Kal-El, despite learning of the wonders of Krypton. He ultimately rejects their cold, super-rational culture for the more emotional culture of Earth. I think this is what makes the character interesting, Earth’s Mightiest Hero shouldn’t think of himself as an outsider or an alien. He doesn’t think of himself as an outsider but as one of us.