DETECTIVE COMICS #11

[ MY SALE ] 

Hypnotic is making his stand. It looks like it's going to be grand. Batman is here. He does not know fear. Just like Green Lantern accompanied by a mariachi band. Let's sing a song, shall we? Come -- let's join Writer: Tony Sally-Anne Daniel; Artists: Julio Ferreira, Eduardo Pansica and Szymon Kudranski; plus Publisher: DC Comics in July 2012. And sing, sing, sing!!!

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

Have you ever woken up one morning with a splitting head-ache, only to make it even worse by watching some educational program on TV? Well, if so, I'm sure that you can relate to what poor ol' Batman must be feel like at the moment too.  

• Just imagine in your minds-eye; Batman is having to speak to professor after professor after professor -- due to his current case.
• Firstly he speaks to double-ish-ous bad-guy, Professor Hugh Marder, before this egghead blows himself up in a radioactive blast.
• Then he speaks to Professor Arthur Manhart, who informs him about quantum physics and some spy from yesteryear.
• And finally he speaks to the spy from yesteryear, Professor Alan Smart, who's currently collecting cartons for a living whilst telling Bruce that Hugh made clones of himself.
• Oh! Let's hope he does not make some more, huh?

Ooops!

Meanwhile, in the Two-Face back-up feature, Harvey does a spot of target practice before being stitched up by some monk. In more ways than one.

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

I noticed something very verbally strange about Batman in this issue. He kept on thanking people internally when he got out of trouble.

'Thank you Lucus' - referring to a contraption Mister Fox devised that got him out of a radioactive predicament.

'Thank God for Alfred' - once he jumped onto an alighting helicopter piloted by the aforementioned Mister Pennyworth. 

Does Batman say 'thank you' that many times? Not sure. But it was noticeable to me in this book.

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

Like the preceding chapter of this story, I did like the pithy seventies vibe that came along with it. In a strange way it reminded me of a very bold episode of 'Columbo' or 'Kojak'. Just with a little less personality and a bit more candour. 

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

OK, so you are a homeless professor living on the streets - so how the hell do you get the telephone number for Mister Rich himself, Bruce Wayne, plus a zip-drive full of related information? Granted, I know that this Smart chap is meant to be very... errr... smart. Nonetheless, it did not feel right within the confines of this story. Too pat.

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: In the Two-Face back-up feature, I did get a kick out of the creative way that the story fed back into itself again at the end of it. OK, I know that this novelised technique isn't a very original story concept. But the moody and atmospheric way it was executed was.  

ART: Considering that there were two artists on the Batman part of the book - Julio Ferreira and Eduardo Pansica - I have to state for the record that it wasn't all that noticeable. I enjoy this type of synergy I do, because it does not distract, it complements - in the same way Szymon Kudranski did in the Two-Face back-up feature with his moody art for a moody story.

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

ALAN SMART: Now if Thomas Hardy doesn't do a good job as Bane in the up and coming Batman movie, then I am sure he'll know what it would feel like to be homeless soon. He looks like a professor as well, doesn't he? One of those gruff lab types.

ARTHUR MANHART: Simply put, Frank Oz is the voice of Yoda, plus his ministerial looks scream 'egghead', doesn't it? What do you mean 'No'? Hmmm. Unwise you are.  

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

Who Needs 'The Dark Knight'? Why Not Go For 'The Smart Professor' Instead? Just Not the Nutty One, OK?

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

I kind of already alluded to what I thought about this issue, haven't I? A mixture of seventies detective shows 'Kojak' and 'Columbo'. But what would this look like I wonder? Maybe something like this...

FINAL thoughts...

I am sure that you have already heard the news that Tony Daniel will be leaving this title within the next couple of issues or so. Now I know that his work on this book has not really been to everybody's liking. However, you can't win them all, can you?

As a sort of creator myself, I can understand that you can only really derive from your own 'personal well' for ideas at times. Sometimes people will like it. While at other times people will hate it. Hit or miss. Take your chance. And hope for the best. That's all a creator can do to appease others.

Anyway, I just wanted to say 'All the best Sally-Ann', and I wish all you the best for your future. Amen.

MARKS out of 10? 8