Chris is on Infinite Earths: March 2024

Friday, March 29, 2024

NML Crossing, Episode 049 - Batman #563 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Forty-Nine

Batman #563 (March, 1999)
“No Law and a New Order, Part Three: Tactics”
Writer - Bob Gale
Pencils - Alex Maleev
Inks - Wayne Faucher
Colors - Dave Stewart
Letters - Willie Schubert
Edits - Illidge, Gorfinkel, Vincenzo, O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.99

After... another... extended moving break, NML Crossing is back! Today we're going to be discussing the penultimate chapter of "No Law and a New Order" by Bob Gale and Alex Maleev. We're also going to be talking about the proceeding chapter, since I neglected to share my thoughts on that last time out!

In this issue, the GCPD adapts to the new normal of No Man's Land... by crossing a few lines into ruthlessness! Also, our titular hero finally returns and makes his presence known!

NML Crossing on Youtube

Monday, March 18, 2024

NML Crossing, Episode 048 - Batman: Shadow of the Bat #83 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Forty-Eight

Batman: Shadow of the Bat #83 (March, 1999)
“No Law and a New Order, Part Two: Strategy”
Writer - Bob Gale
Pencils - Alex Maleev
Inks - Wayne Faucher
Colors - Matt Hollingsworth
Letters - Willie Schubert
Edits - Illidge, Gorfinkel, Peterson, O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.99

Back after an extended moving break... which is hopefully not going to lead to any further interruptions, it's time for us to meet the All-New All-Different Batgirl! Who could she possibly be... or, has she been the BatMAN this entire time?

Also: Commissioner Gordon incites a gang-war in Old Gotham in hopes of taking back the area his daughter currently resides in.

NML Crossing on Youtube

Thursday, March 7, 2024

NML Crossing, Episode 047 - Batman: No Man's Land #1 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Forty-Seven

Batman: No Man’s Land #1 (March, 1999)
“No Law and a New Order, Part One: Values”
Writer - Bob Gale
Pencils - Alex Maleev
Inks - Wayne Faucher
Colors - Digital Chameleon
Letters - Willie Schubert
Edits - Joseph Illidge, Gorfinkel, Peterson, O’Neil
Cover Price: $3.95

It's taken us over two months... and many, many, many hours to get here... but, today we finally enter NO MAN'S LAND!

Welcome to the "new normal" where apples are worth more than diamonds, crudely-sharpened spears are more valuable than firearms, and the GCPD is nothing more than a roving street gang. The Penguin rules the roost, and Batman hasn't been seen in over three months... or, has he? We're laying the first few bricks in our massive year-spanning crossovent... and it's gonna be a good time (for us anyway, notsomuch the poor Gothamites).

NML Crossing on Youtube

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

NML Crossing, Episode 046 - Detective Comics #729 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Forty-Six

Detective Comics #729 (February, 1999)
“Fight or Flight!, Part Three: 30 Seconds to Midnight”
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Pencils - William Rosado
Inks - Sal Buscema
Colors - Gloria Vasquez & Android Images
Letters - John Costanza
Edits - Peterson & Vincenzo
Cover Price: $1.99

We have finally arrived at the END of the Road to No Man's Land! Today we're officially drawing a line under Gotham City... the hard-luck town finally goes down for the count, but not before one more tango with one'a Nicholas Scratch's League of Losers! Plus... Cobra Commander?

Also: A great dive into the NMaiLbag!

NML Crossing on Youtube

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

NML Crossing, Episode 045 - Detective Comics #728 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Forty-Five

Detective Comics #728 (January, 1999)
“Fight or Flight!, Part Two: Chaos Squared”
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Pencils - William Rosado
Inks - Sal Buscema
Colors - Gloria Vasquez & Android Images
Letters - John Costanza
Edits - Vincenzo & Peterson
Cover Price: $1.99

It's the penultimate issue of the pre-No Man's Land era... and we're about to lower the bar on what it means to be an effective bad guy, cuz it's time to meet a few more of Nick Scratch's own personal goof-troop! Make way for the Dyna-Miteer and Tumult (as in, tumultuous)... and yes, they're as horrible as they sound. Perhaps moreso!

We do get a bit with Commissioner Gordon... applying for jobs outside Gotham City, which is actually far more interesting and discussion-worthy than it has any right being.

We're also going to track the Road to No Man's Land through four issues of Wizard Magazine that ran through this leg of our NML Crossing journey... with the news of a certain character from Batman: The Animated Series finally being added to the mainstream DCU!

NML Crossing on Youtube

Monday, March 4, 2024

NML Crossing, Episode 044 - Detective Comics #727 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Forty-Four

Detective Comics #727 (December, 1998)
“Fight or Flight!, Part One: Nest of Vipers”
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Pencils - William Rosado
Inks - Sal Buscema
Colors - Gloria Vasquez & Android Images
Letters - John Costanza
Edits - Vincenzo & Peterson
Cover Price: $1.99

Kicking off the final arc before we hit No Man's Land proper... which takes us back to Gotham City, for the war at home! Nicholas J. Scratch's minions are being unleashed to cause as much havoc as possible... as if it even matters anymore! The seams are, sadly, really starting to show for the Road to No Man's Land leg of our NML Crossing journey!

Plus: The NMaiLbag is a hoot... walkin' down memory lane chatting up those oddities in our comic collections we can hardly explain!

NML Crossing on Youtube

Sunday, March 3, 2024

NML Crossing, Episode 043 - Batman #562 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Forty-Three

Batman #562 (February, 1999)
“Bruce Wayne Goes to Washington, Part Three: The Devil His Due!”
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Pencils - Jim Aparo
Inks - David Roach
Letters - Todd Klein
Colors - Lee Loughridge
Edits - Gorfinkel & O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.99

Wrapping up the last pre-No Man's Land issue of the flagship, where the hammer finally (officially) drops on Gotham City. Bridges are bein' blowed up, and it's time for all good Gothamites to up-stakes and get the eff out. We also get some more ineptness from Nick Scratch and his crew of buffoons.

Plus: One'a dem "soul bearing" installments of the NMaiLbag!

NML Crossing on Youtube