Anthologies are theoretically a great way to tell multiple stories, providing the reader with a wide variety of options and even getting them to read something they might normally pick up. On the flip side, one may end up with a collection of less than stellar stories that come bundled at a price higher than a standard issue. So as Jackson passes the “bat”-on of The Brave and the Bold to me, let’s see what we’ve got.
Batman: Mother’s Day Part 2
Confession time: I’ve never read Gotham Academy. It’s one of those books that just slipped under my radar, and I missed it entirely. However, even as someone completely unfamiliar with this part of the Bat-universe, I found a lot to like in this story. Maps is a fun character, and it was quite a delight to see Bruce back in the gray and blue (you only miss something when you haven’t seen it in a while, huh).
But the best part of this story for me was the haaard turn it takes into weirdness as we go from a mystery surrounding one of Maps’ classmates to a story that involves a cult of Man-Bats, a snake goddess, and a sexy, shirtless, Bruce Wayne.
I love it.
Score: 7/10
The Sweet Science
This next story is typical of what one would expect from an anthology. We get an old yarn about Bat-Lash, a minor character from DC’s old Western comics who isn’t Jonah Hex. It’s a decent one-off about Bat rescuing his cousin from the clutches of her employer that would probably appeal to the five Bat-Lash fans out there (he does retain his wit and charisma) and serves as a decent introduction to readers unfamiliar with him.
Also, if you are wondering why he should even be in this, his name is “Bat”-Lash and his mother Martha died in a tragic accident. Fairly self-explanatory.
Score: 6.5/10
Artemis: The Poison Within Part 2
What started as a rather introspective look at Artemis’ thoughts in the last issue ended being a dud in the end. All of the doubts and fears Temi had about what she was doing and how she was perceived are essentially thrown back to her as her snake poison – sorry, snake venom – induced hallucinations tell her to keep on fighting and being herself.
However, the depictions of the hallucinations pick up the slack as artist Serg Acuña delivers some trippy moments, assisted by colorist Matt Herms. As much as I like Temi as a character – she’s one of the few superpowered Wonder Woman cast members with her own identity – the art is the only noteworthy part of this section.
Score: 6/10
Private Stein
This story is completely forgettable. As in, I forgot it existed between the time I read it and while I was writing this review and would have skipped over it entirely if I hadn’t double checked. It’s an 8-page DC war story about Sgt. Rock, who was such a legendary fighter and saves soldiers in tight spots and is the awesomest guy ever and…what was I doing again?
Score: 3/10
The Crown of Twelve Tails
We begin and end with Batman. It’s a horror comic involving the villain Rat-catcher and an attempt by the villain Zodiac Master to usurp him…violently. This feels like a Batman: Black and White comic that barely missed the cut, and that is meant as the highest form of praise. Ashley Wood does an amazing job with the black-and-white art, delivering some real gems like Batman facing off against Rat-Man.
Batman and horror mix very well, and this story can take its place among the best of them. But ‘The Crown of Two Tails’ also does a good job of making sure that Batman remains in his element, as his detective skills are on point throughout. I appreciate the use of extremely minor villains, as they are mostly relegated to background shots and easy deaths, so to see a story focused on two Z-listers gave the story some variety.
Score: 9/10
Recommended If
- You wanted to read about Batman facing against horror elements.
- You’re one of the five Bat-Lash fans.
- Sexy Shirtless Bruce Wayne
Overall
Like most anthologies, this issue is a mixed bag. There was some truly great stuff, some mildly amusing stuff, and some stuff that can be classified as filler at best. I do wonder what it says that the stories that stood out the most were the Bat stories, but I hope we see more stories like the ones we got—even the Sgt. Rock one. These characters are a part of the tapestry that makes up DC’s rich history and deserve to be remembered.
Also, one last time for those in the cheap seats – SEXY, SHIRTLESS BRUCE WAYNE!!!
Score: 6/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purposes of this review
