Batman `89 #2 has some interesting introductions to some characters and continues the story of Harvey Dent! The first issue pick up with Batman’s war on crime while Harvey Dent works to hunt down Batman and opposes Commisoner Gordon. “Shadows Chapter Two” is by Sam Hamm and Joe Quinones. The issue begins with soldiers closing in on Batman in a foggy alley. Batman is suspended by his line and says he is coming down, but stops a capsule, a flashbang that blinds the soldiers. The Dark Knight ascends toward the top of the building, someone is sweater is startled. The soldiers fire on him and Batman throws down another flashbang.
The teen boy is also startled by the flash and in a silhouette, he shot by a soldier. First, when there is shooting going on, everyone knows stop lookee-looing on a scene. Two, the teen did make a remark and the soldiers should have realized that there is a civilian in the area. Three, if soldiers open fire on a occupying neighborhood, they will be held liable for damages and injuries, plus anyone who ordered their action while be prosecuted. Four, it seems overkill to bring in soldiers to fight crime, this would something on the level of the Arkham prisoners all freed or a city wide attack. There is a series of panels that is slightly confusing, Batman is next to the teen, but reaches out for him as he starts to fall from the fire escape, the next panel just has the soldiers reacting that the teen is dead, so they are liable for murder.
Yes, Batman was in the area, but did not have violent actions to warrant shooting. Then, there is a cry of a baby from the window, I’m not certain about this last panel, a baby would cry when the shooting began. Is to add to the cost of this murder? There is a tray of food? While a radio report tells of four people were injured in the shooting and of the death. There is protests at city hall. Nothing about the soldiers involved in the shooting and who authorized them. Alfred finds that Bruce Wayne hasn’t slept and goes to the Batcave with Bruce telling him about his failure. There is a close-up of a batarang, sudden shift to other characters, Barbara is telling Harvey about the heat seeking feature of the batarang. It strikes Harvey’s shoulder much to Barbara’s amusement. The play of the two just doesn’t seem right with a death and four injuries of Gotham citizens. Harvey says he has to leave for a summit.
Confusion with word balloons, Barbara is asking when where he is going, but this should be the taxi driver, and Harvey replies Burnside. Then, the word balloons are at the driver and front passenger side saying Harvey is not ready to take Barbara to Burnside. So the taxi driver is driving from the back? Suddenly, we get the protest going on outside city hall, this is fine, but a man, Jerome Otis, the owner of the garage, is calling for someone, Drake Winston, off panel. Tim Drake was the third Robin and led Young Justice. It’s kind of a shame to leave off the Tim part since he was named after Tim Burton.
Mr. Otis mentions that Harvey is arriving soon. Drake is polishing his car and replies that he has ordered a part from Omaha so they could have a national inventory for car parts. Harvey enters and says he is looking for Drake to track an exotic car part. Drake is hesistant because of Harvey’s police connection. Mr. Otis notes the arrival of the council. There is a very massive man in sweats, but a protest crowd doesn’t notice him and the other four? They talk about the victims of the shooting, they seem like the last thing on Harvey’s mind, and one member doesn’t want Harvey to talk about his obsession with Batman.
Night, Burnside Park, speeches are made at the protest. Harvey starts to convince he is like the protestors, but Drake just walks away. Four men are walking towards him, two with Batman symbols, and one has the Bat mask tatoo on his face similar to the gang, Sons of Batman, in Dark Knight Returns. Drake questions them and leaves so they eye a Gamestation at a store. The man in the grey hoodie breaks into the store, but a gate is slammed down on him. The gang is confronted by a man in a hooded cape, black with a reversible yellow, and yellow mask. Great design.
He takes down the rest of the gang with the Sons of Batman wanna-be trying to blame the vigilante for “`robbin the store.” The man has others take care of the crime scene. Two kids thought they overheard his name as Robin. A little clever. His mask down, Drake smiles at their conversation. At Wayne Manor, moves are trying to bring in the giant penny that was in last issue. Alfred is there to deal with moving the penny. Several televisions show the new report of the gang taken in custody. KNAX-TV turns to their consultant, Dr. Q, from her look, this is the early, Dr. Harleen Quinzel who of course becomes Harley Quinn. Bruce is doing suspended push ups while Dr. Q explains the reason for wearing masks. The news reports again remind me of Dark Knight Returns.
We see some of the Batcave with capsules of Bat suits, stairs leading up next to the Batmobile, while Alfred enters by the computers. Bruce tells Alfred that he wants the penny in the Batcave. He worries about the little girl left behind in the shooting. Alfred suggest he use philanthropy. Yes! Bruce Wayne should be fighting crime by restoring neighborhoods, investing in education and after school activities, and helping people with medical bills and housing. Harvey is taking Barbara for a walk, they discuss his interview on four networks, wow, he is a villain with not a single thought about the victims. He is mobbed by the press when Harvey Bullock calls him “two-faced,” angry at his speech.
Harvey returns to his office and has a talk with his visitor, Bruce Wayne. The meeting place of the gang has one member who was late for confrontation, but followed Drake! Harvey and Bruce explains to the council that Bruce wants to invest in every Burnside child to have full ride scholarships. Which is good, but doesn’t deal with the five victims of the shooting or the prosecution of the soldiers. On the upper floor, Drake is not interested in their conversation, he should be if there is changes to be made in Burnside. Bruce left the meeting, but hears a fire at the garage. He puts on a ski mask that was in his trunk, ski mask?, no black hood or something? He sees the gang was beaten up…by Catwoman. The same costume as Batman Returns (1992). Batman `89 #2 has set up most of the players and an accident for Harvey Dent, some story problems, but I like the designs!
Three Batarangs out of Five!
#Batman89, #DrakeWinston, #Catowman
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