The Jason Todd Reread (pre- and post-crisis)

[Zaresh]

I'm surprised how scary pre-crisis is so far. I've already read a lot of Jason's post crisis Robin run - and there are dark moments, of course. Batman: The Cult is darker than dark. But post-crisis never had this scary monster vibe, in my eyes. Here, one has Squid's deadly squid, Killer Croc and Man-Bat in a row. I'd like to joke that writers read too much Goosebumps. But Goosebumps started much later in 1992.

I don't like how Jason's emotions regarding his parents' death were portrayed. Sure, there was a moment when he faltered but then he calls Bruce his new father - which is a cute scene, but it happened so fast, too fast for my taste.

Pre-crisis Batman and post-crisis Batman don't seem so different when it comes to some bad guy laying a finger on one of the batkids.

Some comics in the late 70's and early 80's had a slight pulp feel to them, which translates in a dark vibe in the stories and themes, I guess. Maybe it's the same case of Batman and Tec here.

[Mace Dolex]

These scanned pages are coming really clear, are they from the various Tales Of artist and writer books?

[Sergard]

This time (30 March - 12 April) we discuss Batman #361 and Detective Comics #528.

Batman #361: "The Most Successful Species!"

Summary:

Jason Todd has been taken by Man-Bat, who intends to transform him into a bat-boy.

creative team:

Writer: Doug Moench

Penciler: Don Newton

Inker: Pablo Marcos

Colourist: Adrienne Roy

Letterer: Phil Felix

Editors: Len Wein, Nicola Cuti

[Sergard]

Preview:

[Sergard]

Detective Comics #528: "Requiem for Skulls"

Summary:

The Dark Knight takes on the Savage Skull.

creative team:

Writer: Doug Moench

Penciler: Gene Colan

Inker: Klaus Janson

Colourist: Adrienne Roy

Letterer: Ben Oda

Editors: Len Wein, Nicola Cuti

[Sergard]

Preview

[Sergard]

I enjoyed both chapters. Man-Bat and Savage Skull are two surprisingly interesting characters. At least for one or two story arcs.
At first I thought Savage Scull was pretty bland, just a bad cop doing bad stuff and looking scary. But with the introduction of his and Bullock's past his character gains some nuance.
I'm thrilled to see how the story around Commissioner Gordon, Mayor Hill and Harvey Bullock will develop.

Waldo looks so damn scary in Detective Comics #528. Is there even one single clown in the (main) DC universe that one can trust?

[Sergard]

This time (13 April - 26 April) we discuss Batman #362 (no appearance of Jason Todd) and Detective Comics #529.

Batman #362: "When Riddled by the Riddler"

(collected in "Batman: Arkham - The Riddler")

Summary:

The Riddler embarks on another riddle-filled crime spree while Harvey Bullock brings up charges against Commissioner Gordon.

creative team:

Writer: Doug Moench

Penciler: Don Newton

Inker: Alfredo Alcala

Colourist: Adrienne Roy

Letterer: Ben Oda

Editors: Len Wein, Nicola Cuti

[Sergard]

Preview:

[Sergard]

Detective Comics #529: "The Thief of Night!"

(collected in "Tales of the Batman: Gene Colan Vol. 1")

Summary:

The Batman encounters the black-clad Thief of Night, who steals precious gems to bring to his lover Nocturna.

creative team:

Writer: Doug Moench

Penciler: Gene Colan

Inker: Dick Giordano

Colourist: Adrienne Roy

Letterer: Ben Oda

Editors: Len Wein, Nicola Cuti

[Sergard]

Preview:

[Aahz]

Batman #362 is mostly a filler story, basicaly a very typical Riddler case.

Detective Comics #529 is the start of the Nocturna Story line, that will go on (partly in the background) for a good part of the run.

It is nice to have with the Night Thief a Villain who can go toe to toe with Batman, even if his costume is little simple and his stick with his devotion to the Night/Nocturna is kind of wired.

[Sergard]

The Riddler story itself didn't spark my interest but I liked the tension between Gordon and Bullock.
I'm looking forward to Nocturna's story line. I've already read some parts of it and found them very enjoyable.
There is not much Jason in Detective Comics #529 but as it seems Jason and Bruce already had communication problems with each other pre-crisis.
It's interesting to read the Waldo stuff retrospective. I wonder if readers back then had a bad feeling about the clown too.

So according to Wiki, that's the end for Savage Skull.
I can understand why writers didn't want to use him anymore. He's pretty much a one-trick pony. But I'd still like to know if Savage Skull shot an innocent kid or an arsonist.
Savage Skull denies the crime until the end and his backstory, that he and Bullock trained ghetto kids how to fight, doesn't back up the claim that Savage Skull would shoot an innocent kid.

[Aahz]

There is not much Jason in Detective Comics #529 but as it seems Jason and Bruce already had communication problems with each other pre-crisis.

They they streched the time a little bit before Bruce allowed him to become his partner.

[Sergard]

This time (27 April - 10 May) we discuss Batman #363 and Detective Comics #529.

Batman #363: "Elegant Night Crimes"

Summary:

Batman learns the origin of Nocturna and the Thief of Night.

creative team:

Writer: Doug Moench

Penciler: Don Newton

Inker: Alfredo Alcala

Colourist: Adrienne Roy

Letterer: Ben Oda

Editors: Len Wein, Nicola Cuti