Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Batman `89 #3 Review!

 It has halfway through the “Shadows” storyline, Chapter Three of Batman `89 explores the character of Two Face!  The overbuy interior artist Joe Quinones has Barbara Gordon holding the Batsuit symbol while there is Batman's headpiece, sketches, and the Batmobile in the evidence room!  Batman `89 continues with the writing of Sam Hamm and art by Joe Quinones.  The garage has been set on fire, Barbara watches with the crowds outside, and then district attorney, Harvey Dent, carries out the unconscious Drake.  Barbara rushes to hug Harvey.  

The weary Drake thanks Harvey, he has on a orange and green jacket.  Bruce Wayne also congradulates Harvey.  The act makes the next day’s newspaper, the Gotham Globe, with the headline “Dent’s Inferno”. The news reporters note that on Harvey Dent Day, the mayor gave him the key to the city.  Also that Commissioner Gordon resigned.  For some reason, it seems like this was an election ploy to win votes for Harvey.  It skips to “One year later.”  Governor Dent is in his office and sees Commissioner Gordon, Barbara Gordon.  She explains to Harvey that Batman is a group of mercenaries with her father and the city council support.  This is a twist on what is established in the movies and the one year later is new.    


It starts to get surreal, Mr. Otis suddenly appears in Barbara’s place.  Then, Harvey gets a dream-like image of Mr. Otis flipping a coin, it is not what Harvey calls it.  Darkness, two voices, one says that it is sulphuric acid.  Harvey opens an eye with the acid dripping away, Drake and Bruce Wayne are trying to pull him free.  An explosion!  This is the same dialogue as the dream beginning, but we get a fireman cordoning off the area.  He checks on Harvey and then is horrified!  


Harvey Dent with smoke from his wounds, a pale side of his hair, and ruined suit, he looks out into the crowd.  Barbara and the others are stunned.  The reveal is half-Harvey and a gruesome face with bulging eye, snarling lip, as well as a flaring nose, almost like the Phantom of the Opera.  Interesting design with art by Quinones.  He is taken to an ambulance, tries to reassure Barbara, and then talks with Drake.  The teen has seen the criminals who started the fire.  The paramedic sedates Harvey with skull-like face.  Barbara asks about his condition and doesn’t look good as the ambulance races to the hospital.  


At the garage, Bruce is headed to his car when a reporter, Rosalie Kim, tries to get a comment.  She snaps a picture with her camera.  Lt. Harvey Bullock, a promotion for Bullock?, wants to get a statement from Bruce.  Drake says four men as Batman fans run away from the scene.  Bullock says he found suspects in a dumpster, Bruce looks up, and sees Catwoman wave to him in front of a full moon, nice image.  News vans crowd the gate of Wayne Manor held off by Alfred when Bruce drives up.  Alfred recommends he use the "alternative entrance."  


The next day, Drake is wakened by a knock at the door of his Burnside van.  He is told that the reverend has gathered donations for Drake that he lost in the fire.  The R on the Royal Autobody van looks like the R on Robin's costume.  Drake says the gang was looking for him to Mr. Otis.  Catwoman is about lick Bruce in a mask, but it is really a black cat, kinda old gag.  Alfred has brought flowers from Barbara since Harvey has survived.  Bruce sees the headline, "Bruce Wayne, Superhero!"  Goodbye secret identity.  Alfred tells him about all of his calls including one from Drake Winston.  Another reporter, unidentified is covering the arsonists out on bail.  



It starts to get surreal, Mr. Otis suddenly appears in Barbara’s place.  Then, Harvey gets a dream-like image of Mr. Otis flipping a coin, it is not what Harvey calls it.  Darkness, two voices, one says that it is sulphuric acid.  Harvey opens an eye with the acid dripping away, Drake and Bruce Wayne are trying to pull him free.  An explosion!  This is the same dialogue as the dream beginning, but we get a fireman cordoning off the area.  He checks on Harvey and then is horrified!  


Harvey Dent with smoke still from his wounds, a pale side of his hair, and ruined suit, he looks out into the crowd.  Barbara and the others are stunned.  The reveal is half-Harvey and a gruesome face with bulging eye, snarling lip, as well as a flaring nose, almost like the Phantom of the Opera.  He is taken to an ambulance, tries to reassure Barbara, and then talks with Drake.  The teen has seen the criminals who started the fire.  The paramedic sedates Harvey with skull-like face.  Barbara asks about his condition and doesn’t look good as the ambulance races to the hospital.  Commissioner Gordon has to deal with a police department lawsuit.  


Drake overhears Burnside citizens saying the city is going to burn.  At a medical office, the doctor says that they can’t restore Harvey’s face without knowing the damage to his lungs.  Bruce tells Barbara that he wants Harvey to get plastic surgery in Switzerland.  This is an interesting modern take on how Two Face could go back to having one face.  Harvey is wakened in his hospital bed, he sees his dream self, who takes him in the dream world.  The funhouse like walls makes me think of Batman `66.  Dream Harvey goes over his tragic history, thrown into jail while with his friends robbing a liquor store, and then drops patient Harvey down green hypnotic swirls.  


The temptation of his perfect life and Harvey’s violent side is interesting.  Barbara wakes him up at his hospital bed.  She has brought his coin which he scratches with her nail file and then flips it.  The coin shows that she loves him. Bruce sees on a Shreck's note paper, Max Shreck was the owner of the department store in Batman Returns (1992). He changes into Batman and pursues Catwoman across the rooftops.  They kiss.  Catwoman explains that there is someone behind the bank robbery he defeated.  Batman`89 has a clear story without any confusing points, ramps up the Two Face confrontation and his character, with excellent artwork!   


Four Batarangs out of Five!  


#Batman89, #SamHamm, #JoeQuinones, #MrOtis, #RosalieKim, #MaxShreck





No comments:

Post a Comment