The Comicologist » Catwoman

Batman: War Games

The Comicologist — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:49:53 +0000

War Games was a Batman cross-over/event that ran in DC Comics between October 2004 and January 2005. The War Games story arc appeared in all the Gotham related titles running at the time, Detective Comics, Legends of the Dark Knight, Nightwing, Batman: Gotham Knights, Robin, Batgirl, Catwoman, Batman, and Gotham Central. The War Games story arc has since been collected in three trade paper backs, Batman: War Games, Act One - Outbreak, Batman: War Games, Act Two - Tides and Batman: War Games, Act Three - Endgame.

The story begins with Stephanie Brown (aka. Spoiler), trying to redeem herself in the eyes of Batman, after recently been fired as Robin. In an effort to regain Batman's confidence, and hoping to take back her Robin mantle, Spoiler sets into motion an elaborate contingency plan Batman had developed in the event of widespread gang violence. In essence the plan involved gathering all of Gotham's crime figures together and to unite them under a single crime boss, Matches Malone, and alias used by Batman to infiltrate Gotham's organised crime. In effect this plan would have given Batman control of Gotham's organised crime, if it were to go to plan. Unfortunately, Spoiler was not aware that Batman and Matches Malone were the same person.

When Spoiler gathers the crime figures without Batman's knowledge, and with Matches Malone an obvious no show, things turn pear shaped, and the gangs go to war with one another. Batman and friends are immediately drawn into the action, trying to put an end to the war before Gotham is destroyed.

In the chaos, The Black Mask appears, a villain that shares a history with both Batman and Bruce Wayne. An opportunist, the Black Mask decides to step into the role Matches Malone was intended to play. With Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Oracle, Batgirl and Catwoman stretched to breaking point, Spoiler is captured and tortured by the Black Mask. When Black Mask learns the truth behind the War Games scenario being played out in Gotham, he has all the information he needs in order to take control, and rule Gotham City's underworld.

Batman War Games 27 issue set complete with specials

US $89.00

8h 36m

Set amongst the over arching story are various sub plots, dealing with individual characters and how they respond to the situation and there personal circumstances. For example, Tim Drake is dealing with his parents learning that he is Robin. At the start of the story he has stood down as Robin, however as the story unfolds, he's drawn back into the role due to the escalating violence. Batman is becoming increasingly withdrawn, Nightwing is dealing with his own demons, which seem to have followed him home, and Oracle is increasingly frustrated by her role in the whole scenario.

As the story winds up, it is the Black Mask that finishes on top, successfully seizing control over Gotham's gangland. As the violence draws to a close and Gotham appears to return to 'normal', Batman is left to pick up a whole heap of pieces.

War Games has a number of repercussions on Batman, and many of the other characters that inhabit his world. Due to events in the story, Commissioner Akins declares that all masked vigilantes are now regarded as criminals, and should be treated as such. Distance grows between Batman/Bruce Wayne and Leslie Thompkins, the doctor who had been an ally of Batman for many years. An already withdrawn Batman is further wracked with guilt due to the death of Spoiler, although apparently the Spoiler character is retconned back to the land of the living later on. The Black Mask becomes the most prominent crime figure in Gotham.

I really enjoyed War Games Parts 1, 2 and 3, and ripped through them very quickly. For me, it was an introduction to a couple of characters I'd not previously seen, Nightwing, the Burtonesque Batgirl, Onyx, The Black Mask and Oracle. Even thought the story was written by a number of different authors, it all flows like one epic yarn.

War Games is essential reading for the Batman fan, so if that's you, hurry up and pick up the trades. Overall I'd give the story arc an 8 out of 10.

Batman War Games 27 issue set complete with specials

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8h 36m

DETECTIVE COMICS 797 BATMAN WAR GAMES WOODS DC jun

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Batman The 12 Cent Adventure #1 2004 War Games Spoiler Catwoman DC Comics

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Batman War Games Act One TP

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Batman War Games Act Three TP

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Batman War Games TPB (2005) #1-REP NM

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BATMAN 12 CENT ADVENTURE COMIC 2004 NO.1 WAR GAMES NR

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Batman #632 "War Games" Act 2, Part 8

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Batman: Year One

The Comicologist — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:57:10 +0000

Batman: Year One is a four issue story arc written by Frank Miller and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli, that originally appeared in issues #404 to #407 of DC Comics' Batman series in 1987. Batman: Year One is one of the "must read" Batman comics, and is also one of the first examples of the "limited series" format (or self contained series within a series) that is now common place in most main stream comics. Batman: Year One is also the story arc that inspired a lot of the key plot points for the film Batman Begins, and there is a clear link between the gritty style portrayed in both Year One and the film.

Batman: Year One begins with the return of Bruce Wayne. Having left Gotham city 15 years ago, following the death of his parents, it appears that Bruce Wayne has spent his time away training in martial arts as well as forensic and criminal sciences. Jim Gordon is also moving back to Gotham City, with his pregnant wife Barbara. It doesn't take Gordon long to figure out that law enforcement in Gotham is not everything that it should be. Corruption has spread to the highest levels.

Bruce Wayne, yet to adopt the Batman persona, hits the street for his first mission, creating an alibi and disguising his appearance before entering the Red Light District of Gotham. Following an altercation with a local with a local pimp, and a brief fight with a dominitrix called Seline Kyle (who will go on to become Catwoman), Bruce Wayne is shot by police. Managing to escape and make his way back to Wayne Manor, Bruce sits alone, bleeding, and wondering whether it's worth going on. Searching for a flash of inspiration, and a way to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies, a bat crashes through a nearby window and lands on a sculpture of his father. "Yes Father, I will become a bat". Batman is born.

All the while, Gordon is on his own search, desperately trying to figure out how he can clean up the Gotham City Police Department. Gordon, now sure that Gotham is run by corrupt city leaders and gangsters like Carmine Falcone, begins to draw increased attention from those he'd seek to bring down.

From here, Gordon and Batman are on a collision course that will bring the two characters together, uniting to achieve a common goal.

Batman: Year One is awesome for a number of reasons. Firstly it gives us a greater insight into the development of Batman, at a time when he's arguably at his most vulnerable. Secondly it's an origin story, and I love a good origin story. But it's not just a Batman origin story, it tells us as much about Jim Gordon as it does about Batman in many respects. It also provides a few insights into the origin of Catwoman, that had not been previously explored.

Batman: Year One also illustrates the formation of the relationship between Batman and a young Assistant District Attorney, Harvey Dent. Year One also introduces crime boss, Carmine Falcone. Finally, Batman: Year One is awesome because it re-established Batman as a dark and gritty vigilante, that wasn't afraid of getting his hands dirty to clean up Gotham City. Frank Miller effectively reclaimed the character, and I think we can all be grateful for that.

What did I learn?

Batman Begins and The Dark Knight both owe a lot to Batman: Year One. Would I recommend it? Heck Yes. Pick up the graphic novel now and read it twice.