THE DARK KNIGHT #8

[ EVERYTHING MUST GO ] 

Is this comic book good or bad? Or are the readers just very-very sad? Batman has got no idea. The villains all look very queer. Plus the rest of the world is just raving mad. Or so says the creative team of Joe Harris and Ed Benes, plus Publisher: DC Comics in May 2012. But I could be wrong you know? Sometimes.

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

In 'The Madness', I am very sad to say that everybody's favourite pointy eared vigilantly, called Batman, is very perplexed with a dilemma he is presented with.

You see, a number of strange occurrences are happening in Gotham City at the moment, all of which are really pissing him off. No. It does not have anything to do with Lieutenant Forbes forcing Jim Gordon to go and see a shrink. Though if truth be told, this does not sit to well with him at all. Instead, Batman finds that people in his town are killing themselves for no apparent reason what so ever.

A group of people on a subway train commit suicide on mass. Plus a candidate who wants to be the next president also shoots himself in the head. 

Now who can be behind this problem? A grotesque looking Tweedledum and Tweedledee perhaps? Who trample him whist he is making his investigations? Maybe? Or it's possible that they may lead him to the hat-wearing culprit eventually.  

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

I enjoyed most of the 'Gordon' scenes in this book the best, especially when he says to his councillor...

'Should I tell you about my ex-wife, back in town after I forget how long? Or maybe my daughter - in and out of a wheelchair before I can even find the time to worry at all? Then there is my son... if you'd take some notes about Arkham Asylum for internals to thumb through'.

Well, I am sure that we would all like to know more about the DCnU Gordon, right? He is a character steeped in comic book history, and needs some time to shine.

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

I know that this may sound sick, but I liked that scene where the politician stuck a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. I just found that this action illustrated what most people feel that politicians are doing to their respective countries. In a manner of speaking, of course.

The action is perverse. Though life is sometimes, huh?

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

Why oh why must all the villains in this book have to be hulking freaks all of a sudden? Tweedledum and Tweedledee worked best when Alan Grant wrote about them back in the day, presenting this pair of deranged siblings with a fetish for all things Lewis Carol. Like the Mad Hatter himself as a matter of fact.

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: This story was surprising good this time round. I found that it had a nice way of evolving a tale, juxtaposing Batman's adventure and Gordon's storyline within one well thought out issue. Needed a bit more punch though. Just to make it come across more than another 'guest shot'. 

ART: Now Joe Harris may be no David Finch, but at a touch he was a very good replacement on this book. I liked the way that his paneling had a similar vibe to David's, whilst at the same time allowing himself to show off his 'own stuff' to boot. His Batman is very stoic. 

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

TWEEDLEDUM: In this interpretation of the 'Carol inspired' cretin, why not have Wrestler, G-Rilla? He looks like the type of guy to would take a swing at Batman.

TWEEDLEDEE: Am I cheating if I say G-Rilla again? Why not. It seems somehow appropriate that this villain should be played by the same person. There is CGI nowadays you know.

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

Never Buy Your Hat From A Mad B*stard Who Reads 19th Century Literature. It's Bad For The Political Climate.

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

I could not resist but pick this Avril Lavigne's 'Alice In Wonderland' song to signify how I feel about this issue. They're both bold in flavor, Gothic in tone, and have a wavering kick to them to boot.

FINAL thoughts...

This issue was a marked improvement over the last couple of installments 'story-wise'. Maybe DC has told David Finch to have a bit of a break, and gear himself up for the new writer on this book. Also, it was nice to actually read this book for a change, instead of watch the pictures and moan.

Getting better. 

MARKS out of 10? 8