NML Crossing, Episode 063 – Detective Comics #733 (1999)

3 thoughts on “NML Crossing, Episode 063 – Detective Comics #733 (1999)”

• Another solid episode.

  1) I generally agree with you that these stories might work better in an anthology book, as 8 pagers. However, I also think they would work even better if they were one of a few plots running in a regular comic that tied to the main plot.

  Example off the top of my head, so prob not very good, but I hope it illustrates what I mean: the issue about Alfred doing recon for Bruce while Bruce is getting his new bases, etc.. ready could have been in No Law and New Order – early on in the arc, we see this part, maybe before or after Gordon and others are talking about Batman being absent; then, at the end of the ark, when Batman appears, right before that, we see a convo with Alfred and Bruce that recaps what Alfred was doing and how that helped set up Bruce to tackle No Man’s Land better.

  The above being said, though, I normally like a mix of arcs and one-and-dones, if only because it’s good to have a change of pace and a breather.

  2) While I think Gordon has reason to be mad and disappointed at Batman, I do think he comes across as petulant, almost like a kid throwing a tantrum. I think that’s fine in some cases, to show his break with Batman, but I think showing it every issue or almost every issue starts to make Gordon seem worse than he should. (Or, if they show it every issue, maybe he should express some own doubt over what he says instead of always having Sarah be the one to do that; I think keep Sarah as the larger voice of reason, especially given their relationship being so important to NML, but also let Jim be a little less extreme.

  3) Sorry to hear about your medication struggles. I have fortunately been able to use the meds I was originally prescribed for my depression/anxiety. I’ve had to adjust dose to improve minor side effects, but I’ve never had side effects like you do. I mention this not to rub it in your face, but to say that medication can be helpful (along with talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy) and that I hope you soon find the right med and dosage like I did.

  4) Your discussion of things from our past being trapped in amber in our minds really got to me. I’ve definitely had that culture shock of going back to my childhood stomping grounds in MN (I’ve lived in WI for the last 20 years) and being shocked and saddened at some of the changes.

  I think part of this comes from–about to get a little dark here, sorry–seeing the changes and knowing that place/era is not permanent (and nothing else is). Our cat died a year and a half ago, and I remember talking to my therapist about it – it hit me harder than any death or, at least, any death in the last decade. While some of that had to do with the strong bond we make with our pets, my therapist also pointed out that I was grieving for the stage of my life that had her in it, since both she and that stage would never come back, except as memories. I’m about to hit 40, so that explanation checks out to me.

  And now another big change is bringing up those feelings again. We just bought a house and are moving from Madison to Janesville in WI, which also is bringing about an end of an era and has had me mourning my Madison life. I’m excited for the new stuff, of course, but it’s that bittersweet excitement from a big change.

  Somewhat related to this, I’ve read before that part of the reason or advantage of our memories being imperfect, of our constant forgetting, is that it can help us let go of painful memories. It was focusing on trauma there (This idea was used by Jenkins for his Wolverine Origin mini, explaining why Logan’s brain healing would lead to memory loss, if I remember correctly).

  But I wonder if it’s also applicable to the type of memories like this that throw impermanence and mortality in our face: shedding some of those memories that bring up these conflicts might make it easier to move forward.

  I don’t really have any big revelations and connections other than the above (if the above can even be classified as such) but I wanted to drop the swirl of half formed ideas here in case I forget.

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• Also, I’m excited to check out that YouTube channel you’ll be part of!

  I’ve subscribed to it and will listen/watch it sometime in the next day or two.

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• Seeing that baby in this story makes me think about the ending of this storyline. I probably wasn’t ment as foreshadowing but it feels like that to me.

  Alfred posing as a cop in the flashback once again shows him using his previous action experience to help out his employer. It’s kind of a trope but Burce and Thomas lead similar lives, even down to how Alfred helps them out in non-butlery ways.

  The most interesting bit to me is the Penguin and the food dates. Was this can a part of some other gang lord’s backchannel to the outside world, or was it a piece of Batman’s supply lines for the prison or his personal use? I hope this gets followed up on.

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