NML Crossing, Episode 024 - Batman #556 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Twenty-Four

Batman #556 (July, 1998)
“Help Trapped Money Rescue Ruins”
Writer - Doug Moench
Pencils - Norm Breyfogle
Inks - Joe Rubinstein
Letters - Todd Klein
Colors - Gregory Wright & Android Images
Edits - Gorfinkel & O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.95

Back to the flagship for a (relatively) quiet issue, where we check in on the man behind the mask(s), Bruce Wayne, to see how he's handling the Aftershock Era.  We get a bit of tacked-on action, but this is mostly (thankfully) a character piece!

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NML Crossing, Episode 023 - Robin #54 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Twenty-Three

Robin (vol.2) #54 (June, 1998)
“Repercussions”
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Pencils - Staz Johnson
Inks - Stan Woch
Colors - Adrienne Roy
Letters - Tim Harkins
Edits - Gorfinkel & O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.95

Checking in with the Boy Wonder for a nice, quiet post-crossover issue, the likes of which we just don't get anymore!  Get nostalgic for the days before books were relaunched after every event, and we actually got to "take a breath" with our favorite heroes as they adjust to the next phase in their adventures.

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NML Crossing, Episode 022 - Batman: Shadow of the Bat #76 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Twenty-Two

Batman: Shadow of the Bat #76 (June, 1998)
“Aftershock: The Gauntlet”
Writer - Alan Grant
Pencils - Mark Buckingham
Inks - Wayne Faucher
Colors - Pam Rambo & Android Images
Letters - Bill Oakley
Edits - Gorfinkel & O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.95

Keeping up with the Aftershock theme thus far, this issue is another search-and-rescue... with a slight (and sobering) tweak on the formula.  What happens when a group of trapped partygoers run out of food?

Plus: A look at the first slew of Cataclysm ratings in Wizard Magazine, and a trip into Flashback Land for a peek Bat-adjacent USENET chatter circa early 1998!

All that plus a dip into the NMaiLbag!

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NML Crossing, Episode 021 - Detective Comics #722 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Twenty-One

Detective Comics #722 (June, 1998)
“Statistics”
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Pencils - Jim Aparo
Inks - James Hodgkins
Colors - Gloria Vasquez & Android Images
Letters - John Costanza
Edits - Peterson & Vincenzo
Cover Price: $1.95

Another relatively quiet issue in the Aftershock Era, showing the softer side of the GCPD.

But, the real "meat" of today's episode is a deep-dive (perhaps TOO deep a dive) into the 1995 New York Magazine article that inspired the Cataclysm story to become a thing in the first place!  It's an eye-opening and sobering account of what could happen should a Gotham-esque earthquake hit Manhattan! 

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New York Magazine Supplemental:

NML Crossing, Episode 020 - Batman #555 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Twenty

Batman #555 (June, 1998)
“Trapped Like Rats”
Writer - Doug Moench
Pencils - John Beatty
Inks - Sal Buscema
Colors - Gregory Wright & Android Images
Letters - Todd Klein
Edits - Gorfinkel & O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.95

The Aftershock Era rolls on with our titular hero doing a little search 'n rescue in the down below and running afoul of the Ratcatcher!  Lots of fun and interesting chatter to be had today!  Join us, won't you?

Plus: Even another extra-stuffed NMaiLbag! 

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NML Crossing, Episode 019 - Batman: Shadow of the Bat #75 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Nineteen

Batman: Shadow of the Bat #75 (June, 1998)
“Aftershock, 1: By Fire… or By Ice?"
"A Long Slow Death"
Script - Alan Grant
Pencils - Mark Buckingham & Norm Breyfogle
Inks - Wayne Faucher & Mark Buckingham
Colors - Pam Rambo & Android Images
Letters - Bill Oakley
Edits - Gorfinkel & O’Neil
Cover Price: $2.95

Kicking off the Aftermath Era, with an extra-sized issue of SotB!  We've got a pair of baddies to TAKE down... and a man who's lost it all to TALK down.  Lotta interesting chatter to be had today!

Also: Chatting up the Alan Grant letters pages! 

Plus: Yet another extra-stuffed NMaiLbag! 

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NML Crossing, Episode 018 - Robin #53 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Eighteen

Robin (vol.2) #53 (May, 1998)
“Cataclysm, Conclusion: Flattened
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Art - Staz Johnson & Stan Woch
Letters - Tim Harkins
Colors - Adrienne Roy
Edits - Gorfinkel & O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.95

It's taken us eighteen entire episodes, but we have finally arrived at the Cataclysmic conclusion!  Today we're going to find out who the Quakemaster REALLY is... or was... and, in so doing, your humble host (who is denser than most) will have to eat a little bit of crow!

Also: Batman befriends a dog!

Plus: Another extra-stuffed NMaiLbag! 

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NML Crossing, Episode 017 - Batman: Arkham Asylum-Tales of Madness #1 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Seventeen

Batman: Arkham Asylum-Tales of Madness #1 (May, 1998)
“Tales of Madness”
Writer - Alan Grant
Art - Dave Taylor
Colors - Bjarne Hansen & Heroic Age
Letters - Bill Oakley
Edits - Vincenzo & Peterson
Cover Price: $2.95

We enter "pink skies" territory with our third (of three) Cataclysmic one-shots.  This time out, we sit for story-time as some Arkham All-Stars attempt to regale a new security guard with their "Tales of Madness"... hey, that's the name of the book!

Plus: A return to an extra-stuffed NMaiLbag! 

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NML Crossing, Episode 016 - Catwoman #57 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Sixteen

Catwoman #57 (May, 1998)
“Cataclysm, Part Fifteen: Reap What You Sow”
Writer - Devin Grayson
Pencils - Jim Balent
Inks - John Stanisci
Colors - Buzz Setzer
Letters - Albert De Guzman
Edits - Gorfinkel & O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.95

All's I can tell ya is that today's issue happens... at some point after 7:03pm on the night of the verybadthing.  It's Catwoman vs. Poison Ivy, with Harvey Bullock as special guest referee... even though he's supposed to be in the middle of a Hard-Bock Hostage situation.  Oh well!

In addition to that, we'll be going through all the Cataclysmic bits from the 1998 Wizard Batman Special!  Lots of fun (though nebulous) data and information to comb through... lots of food for thought and room for me to baselessly speculate on what might've been going on in the Bat-Offices during the build to No Man's Land proper!

Big thanks to Adam for hooking me up with the Batman Wizard Special.  Please check out WIZARDS: The Podcast Guide to Comics at https://www.wizardscomics.com/

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NML Crossing, Episode 015 - Detective Comics #721 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Fifteen

Detective Comics #721 (May, 1998)
“Cataclysm, Part Fourteen: Shifting Ground”
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Pencils - Graham Nolan
Inks - Klaus Janson
Colors - Gloria Vasquez & Android Images
Letters - John Costanza
Edits - Vincenzo & Peterson
Cover Price: $1.95

More interesting clashes in vigilante-styles between Batman and the Huntress, and a look at some highly "inconvenient" post-Quake Gotham clean-up.  Also, we get a sorta-kinda out-of-nowhere zeroing in on the Quakemaster's lair!

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NML Crossing, Episode 014 - Batman: Huntress/Spoiler-Blunt Trauma #1 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Fourteen

Batman: Huntress/Spoiler-Blunt Trauma #1 (May, 1998)
"Blunt Trauma”
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Pencils - Eduardo Barreto
Inks - Bill Sienkiewicz
Colors - Jason Wright
Letters - Tim Harkins
Edits - Vincenzo & Peterson
Cover Price: $2.95

When methodologies clash!  Today's episode features a look into the secret diary of Stephanie Brown, the Spoiler... as she gets the opportunity to sit under a different sort of learning tree, and learns that the "by the book" Bat-stuff she's learned from Robin might not be the best way of vigilante-ing, especially in a post-Quake Gotham!

Plus: A soul-bearing NMaiLbag!

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NML Crossing, Episode 013 - Batman #554 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Thirteen

Batman #554 (May, 1998)
“Cataclysm, Part Twelve: Master of Destruction”
Writer - Doug Moench
Pencils - Klaus Janson
Inks - Sal Buscema
Colors - Gregory Wright & Android Images
Letters - Todd Klein
Edits - Gorfinkel & O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.95

Aka. Remedial-Theoretical Geology!  Come for the Bat-Talk, stay for the (heavily abridged) tangent regarding Crustal Displacement and the belly-contents of the Woolly Mammoth!  We get a whole lot of information this time out suggesting that our Big Bad might not be able to put his quakiness where his mouth is!

Plus: A wonderfully fun stroll down pod-memory lane via the NMaiLbag!

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NML Crossing, Episode 012 - Nightwing #20 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Twelve

Nightwing (vol.2) #20 (May, 1998)
“Cataclysm, Part Eleven: The Day after Judgment”
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Pencils - Scott McDaniel
Inks - Karl Story
Colors - Roberta Tewes & Jamison
Letters - John Costanza
Edits - Vincenzo & Peterson
Cover Price: $1.95

It's a chapter of reunions, and great leaps in Cataclysmic progression!

Nightwing heads back to the Batcave, Robin returns to the Drake House, Alfred and Harold bust loose, and the Quakemaster's dire threat is delivered!

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NML Crossing, Episode 011 - Batman Chronicles #12 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Eleven

Batman Chronicles #12 (Spring, 1998)
"The Contract"
"House of Cards"
"Trapped"
"A Bird With a Hand"
"Love Me 2 Times"
"Little Orphan Andy"
Writers - Devin Grayson, Chris Renaud, Rick Burchett, Klaus Janson, & Kelley Puckett
Pencils/Art - Marcos Martin, Chris Renaud, Alex Maleev, Rick Burchett, & Klaus Janson
Inks - Vince Giarrano, Bob McLeod, & Bill Sienkiewicz
Colors - Lee Loughridge, Ian Laughlin, Jason Wright, Grant Goleash, & Noelle Giddings
Letters - Ken Lopez & Clem Robins
Edits - Vincenzo & Gorfinkel
Cover Price: $2.95

Welcome to Anthology Land, where we can take a peek into how some of the non-Bat-characters are handling the "new normal" post-the verybadthing that happened at 7:03pm.  It's very much a 90s anthology... so, prepare for a very "your mileage may vary" experience!

Plus: A thought-provoking NMaiLbag

For those playing along at home, the rest of this week's books are:

• Nightwing #20
• Batman #554
• Huntress/Spoiler: Blunt Trauma #1
• Detective Comics #721

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NML Crossing, Episode 010 - Batman: Shadow of the Bat #74 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Ten

Batman: Shadow of the Bat #74 (May, 1998)
“Cataclysm, Part Nine: The Naked City”
Writer - Alan Grant
Pencils - Mark Buckingham
Inks - Wayne Faucher
Colors - Pam Rambo & Android Images
Letters - Bill Oakley
Edits - Gorfinkel & O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.95

As Gotham City continues to crumble, Batman realizes that times of crisis sometimes call for strange bedfellows to come together.  Also: Meet the... err... Quakemaster?!

Plus - Some "fun" Bat-chat outta Wizard Magazine, and your comments!

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NML Crossing, Episode 009 - Batman: Blackgate-Isle of Men #1 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Nine

Batman: Blackgate-Isle of Men #1 (April, 1998)
“Isle of Men”
Writer - Doug Moench
Pencils - Jim Aparo
Inks - David Roach
Colors - Pat Garrahy
Letters - Clem Robins
Edits - Vincenzo, Peterson, O’Neil
Cover Price: $2.95

Taking a look at the first (of three) one-shots tying into the Cataclysm event and finding out what happens at 7:03pm when the Verybadthing happens... at a prison full of violent, dangerous, and angry fellas!  Believe it or not, a humanoid bat-figure gets his land legs back and figures into things!

Plus: a very special NMaiLbag!

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NML Crossing, Episode 008 - Robin #52 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Eight

Robin (vol.2) #52 (April, 1998)
“Cataclysm, Part Seven: Tribunal”
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Art - Staz Johnson & Stan Woch
Colors - Adrienne Roy
Letters - Tim Harkins
Edits - Gorfinkel & O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.95

Holy Red Sky Crossover, Batman!

Today's chapter of Cataclysm... well, isn't really one!  We're going to be paying off an ongoing story arc in Robin, and getting our boy home in time to see the Gotham skyline engulfed in flame.  Please listen anyway... we've got NMaiLbag, and my usual bulletproof analysis.  Um, please listen anyway.

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NML Crossing, Episode 007 - Catwoman #56 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Seven

Catwoman (vol.2) #56 (April, 1998)
“Cataclysm, Part Six: Claustrophobia”
Writer - Devin Grayson
Pencils - Jim Balent
Inks - John Stanisci
Colors - Buzz Setzer
Letters - Albert DeGuzman
Edits - Jordan B. Gorfinkel & Denny O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.95

Putting the C-A-T in Cataclysm, today we find out where Selina Kyle was at 7:03pm when the verybadthing happened!

Plus: Another dip into the NMaiLbag!

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NML Crossing, Episode 006 - Detective Comics #720 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Six

Detective Comics #720 (April, 1998)
Cataclysm, Part Five: The First and the Last”
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Art - Graham Nolan & Klaus Janson
Colors - Gloria Vasquez & Android Images
Letters - John Costanza
Edits - Vincenzo & Peterson
Special Thanks - John Stanisci
Cover Price: $1.95

Where was high school teacher and recovering vigilante, Helena Bertinelli at 7:03PM when the verybadthing happened?  Today we're going to find out!  We also discuss Chuck Dixon deftly flipping the script on the Bat vs. Man-ness of Bruce Wayne!

Plus: Our first dip into the N-MaiLbag... which, uh, don't say that out loud.

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NML Crossing, Episode 005 - Azrael #40 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Five

Azrael #40 (April, 1998)
“Cataclysm, Part Four: Hour of the Quake”
Writer - Denny O’Neil
Pencils - Roger Robinson
Inks - James Pascoe
Colors - Demetrius Bassoukos & Prismacolor
Letters - Ken Bruzenak
Edits - Chuck Kim & Archie Goodwin
Cover Price: $1.95

Azrael was still coming out in 1998?  Oh yes... it was!  In fact, this is the first of many issues of the title we'll be discussing as part of our No Man's Land coverage!  I hope we survive the experience!

Today, having just beaten the man who broke the bat, Jean-Paul arrives in Gotham just in time for that thing that happens in this story... to happen!  From there, he must chase and defeat Bane... again.

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NML Crossing, Episode 004 - Batman #553 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Four

Batman #553 (April, 1998)
“Cataclysm, Part Three: Lifelines”
Writer - Doug Moench
Pencils - Klaus Janson
Inks - Sal Buscema
Colors - Gregory Wright & Android Images
Letters - Todd Klein
Edits - Gorfinkel & O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.95

Cataclysm reaches our flagship book, and its titular hero's story takes a backseat to Barbara Gordon's attempt at herding cats!  It's not the GCPD's finest hour... but, at least they're under good leadership!

Also: some tangent-laden back issue bin chatter!

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NML Crossing, Episode 003 - Nightwing #19 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Three

Nightwing (vol.2) #19 (April, 1998)
“Cataclysm, Part Two: Shudder”
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Pencils - Scott McDaniel
Inks - Karl Story
Colors - Rebecca Tewes & (Allen) Jamison
Letters - John Costanza
Edits - Darren Vincenzo & Scott Peterson
Cover Price: $1.95

In today's installment, Nightwing returns to Gotham and we get some great insight as to how the Cataclysmic Quake has affected the regular citizens of Gotham!

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NML Crossing, Episode 002 - Batman: Shadow of the Bat #73 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Two

Batman: Shadow of the Bat #73 (April, 1998)
"Cataclysm, Part One: Castles Built on Sand"
Writer - Alan Grant
Pencils - Mark Buckingham
Inks - Wayne Faucher
Colors - Pam Rambo & Android Images
Letters - Bill Oakley
Edits - Jordan Gorfinkel & Denny O'Neil
Cover Price: $1.95

At 7:03pm, Gotham City was rocked by a 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake... let's talk about it!

Today we're looking at the opening chapter of Cataclysm, in a Bat-Book I didn't even realize was still a thing in 1998!

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