Batman `89 #4 reveals the start of Harvey Dent’s plans and the Robin partnership! The comic book has a cover by Joe Quinones, also interior art, with the new Robin in yellow mask, black and red uniform with a feathered cape, and bo stick. The Robin symbol for a signal? Is smashed with Batman watching him on a far corner of a building. “Shadows Chapter Four” also has Sam Hamm as writer. There is a protest headed to city hall from Burnside. We also have Lieutenant Harvey Bullock who wants to lead a police detail complete with ballistic shields. He gets Jim Gordon on the walkie talkie and ignores his direct order. An officer directs a van driver around the crowd, the drive has the bright orange Robin suit and his van also has the R symbol.
A large bag outside of the rear of the van is lifted up. Tensions increase with Bullock and the demonstrators. Suddenly, massive liquid, paint, splashes down on a van. A dark figure with a yellow cape throws the bag, it drops down next to the crowd, they find it is full of spray cans. They use it on the riot soldiers. The paint splattered Harvey tries to control the situation, but two canisters are thrown down to the police. Police vans head down the street, a gasoline canister that has a lit fuse falls down at the van blowing it up. Bullock has seen the situation out of his hands. Gordon arrives and takes control. He uses a bullhorn to give the order to stand down so the march can continue. This is seen by Robin, Drake, standing on a rooftop gargoyle against the moon, nice artwork, but he still wants everyone out of his house.
Bruce Wayne in his Batman suit thanks Alfred for installing the giant penny from the first issue in the Batcave. Alfred informs Bruce about the disturbance in Burnside which was handled by Gordon, but the butler says the mayor wants him to resign! For defusing a potentially violent situation caused by an officer who went against his orders? Gotham City is a strange place. Alfred has discovered information on Drake Winston on microfilm. Barbara talks to Harvey Dent in the hospital with bandages on one side of his face. She wants to know about Bruce Wyane’s offer of reconstructive surgery. Harvey grasps her arm looking for his coin to flip. Barbara is horrified and calls Bruce. In the darkened hallways of the hospital, Harvey emerges from an elevator, and strikes an orderly. He takes his badge and begins using it to remove the bandages.
Harvey looks in the mirror and sees the twisted, scarred right side of his face, the rest is in shadow, very cinematic. Outside of the Burnside garage, Drake sees a robin on a Dead End sign. Alfred drives up and Drake tells Mr. Otis he doesn’t want anyone to know where he was going. Later, Alfred leads him into Wayne Mansion, then shows him around a hall with paintings. Bruce Wayne meets with Drake who wants him to identify the arsonists that scarred Harvey Dent. They go over their statements to the police, Drake wants him to admit to beating them, but Bruce admits it was Catwoman. Drake laughs at Bruce, then shows him a flask of battery acid, but gets tossed around by Bruce. Still, Drake throws the vial, it is of course not acid. Alfred covers Drake with a taser. The duo admit to their acts, Bruce taking down the thief at the fire escape, and Drake with the cops at the march.
Barbara is at her office working on a computer when she is met by the computer expert, Selina Kyle! Selina is there to deal with the Kitkat virus, must be set up by her, and Barbara notes that she started out at Shreck Enterprises. This is the business from Batman Returns (1992). They are interrupted by an officer who tells her that Harvey Dent is missing along with painkillers. There might be a man covering his face at Barbara’s apartment. Barbara stops by to see Selina who says she will check her hard drive. Harvey in a trench coat is checking Barbara’s laptop when officers search the apartment. He uses the elevator to escape and then heads to the subway tunnels. Harvey hears the gravelly Two Face voice, a split personality like Jekyll and Hyde. This is his new headquarters away from people. We also have the partnership of Drake and Bruce start to form. Selina Kyle, Catwoman, is getting closer to this Batman story. Two Face is just at the beginning of his operation. Batman `89 continues the Tim Burton films bringing Robin and Two Face’s stories to a collison!
Four Batarangs out of Five!
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