NML Crossing, Episode 079 - Azrael: Agent of the Bat #57 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Seventy-Nine

Azrael: Agent of the Bat #57 (October, 1999)
“Scratched Out!”
Writer - Denny O’Neil
Pencils - Roger Robinson
Inks - James Pascoe
Colors - Rob Ro & Alex Bleyaert
Letters - Ken Bruzenak
Edits - Williams, Carlin
Cover Price: $2.25

After all these months, it's finally time for our Headsocked Hero to go one-on-one with his arch-nemesis... Nicholas Scratch! It will surely be a battle for the ages... or, maybe a battle that barely lasts two pages?

The Bada-Bin!

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NML Crossing, Episode 078 - Azrael: Agent of the Bat #56 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Seventy-Eight

Azrael: Agent of the Bat #56 (September, 1999)
“The Night Foretold!”
Writer - Denny O’Neil
Pencils - Roger Robinson
Inks - James Pascoe
Letters - Ken Bruzenak
Colors - Rob Ro & Alex Bleyaert
Edits - Carlin
Cover Price: $2.25

In which Jean Paul Valley finally heads toward his epic confrontation with Nicholas Scratch... with a little (read: a lot) of help from the all-new all-different Batgirl! Watch as she does all the cool stuff while JPV stands around like a dingus, not even remembering the task at hand!

The Bada-Bin!

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NML Crossing, Episode 071 - Azrael: Agent of the Bat #55 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Seventy-One

Azrael: Agent of the Bat #55 (August, 1999)
“Misery Dance”
Writer - Denny O’Neil
Pencils - Roger Robinson
Inks - James Pascoe
Colors - Rob Ro & Alex Bleyaert
Letters - Ken Bruzenak
Edits - Williams & Carlin
Cover Price: $2.25

Wrapping up our epic Death Dancer storyline... with surgical precision! Also, our man in the headsock proves to be an ideal medical assistant for Leslie Thompkins' MASH unit.

Plus: A contentious AZ YOU LIKE IT letters page, and a lot of fun in our own NMaiLbag!

The Bada-Bin!

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NML Crossing, Episode 070 - Azrael: Agent of the Bat #54 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Seventy

Azrael: Agent of the Bat #54 (July, 1999)
“Step Into The Light”
Writer - Denny O’Neil
Pencils - Roger Robinson
Inks - James Pascoe
Colors - Rob Ro & Alex Bleyaert
Letters - Ken Bruzenak
Edits - Williams & Carlin
Cover Price: $2.25

Dancing our troubles away with JPV! Today's episode takes our headsocked hero into the Clocktower where he shares an odd, awkward, and almost disturbing flirtation with a... thirsty... Babs Gordon. Also, a bunch of people in alleys get their throats slashed by a Skull-Headed Lord of the Dance! It's an issue so weird, you'll probably think I'm making it up!

The Bada-Bin!

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NML Crossing, Episode 066 - Batman Chronicles #16 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Sixty-Six

Batman Chronicles #16 (Spring, 1999)
“Two Down”
“The Comforts of Home”
“Harold”
Writers - Greg Rucka, Scott Beatty, Denny O'Neil
Pencils - Jason Pearson, Damion Scott, Chris Renaud
Inks - Cam Smith, Wayne Faucher, Sal Buscema
Colors - Digital Chameleon, Ian Laughlin
Letters - Rick Parker, Clem Robins
Edits - Vincenzo, Gorfinkel, Illidge, Carlin, O’Neil
Cover Price: $2.95

We're back in Anthology Land, and we're kicking off that other Renee and Harvey partnership!  We also meet a couple of No Man's Landers who happen across a supervillain hideout, and find out a bit about Handy Harold!

The Bada-Bin!

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NML Crossing, Episode 065 - Azrael: Agent of the Bat #53 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Sixty-Five

Azrael: Agent of the Bat #53 (June, 1999)
“Jellybean Deathtrap”
Writer - Denny O’Neil
Pencils - Roger Robinson
Inks - James Pascoe
Colors  Rob Ro & Alex Bleyaert
Letters - Ken Bruzenak
Edits - L.A. Williams & Mike Carlin
Cover Price: $2.25

In which our titular hero is given his orders to ixnay the Nick Scratch hunt, and instead focus his attention on taking down... the Joker? What could possibly go wrong?

The Bada-Bin!

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NML Crossing, Episode 064 - Azrael: Agent of the Bat #52 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Sixty-Four

Azrael: Agent of the Bat #52 (May, 1999)
“Devil Down Below”
Script - Denny O’Neil
Pencils - Roger Robinson
Inks - James Pascoe
Colors - Rob Ro & Alex Bleyart
Letters - Ken Bruzenak
Edits - Berrios & Carlin
Cover Price: $2.25

It took us awhile... but we're finally back in Azrael-land! Today, our man in the headsock stows away on Nick Scratch's WWII tugboat in order to enter No Man's Land. Along the way, he befriends an old lady who is searching for her runaway daughter... and, hoo boy, their reunion is one you don't want to miss!

Plus: A rather deep NMaiLbag... which, err, gets kind of dark.

The Bada-Bin!

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NML Crossing, Episode 052 - Azrael: Agent of the Bat #51 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Fifty-Two

Azrael: Agent of the Bat #51 (April, 1999)
“Miracle Run!”
Writer - Denny O’Neil
Pencils - Roger Robinson
Inks - James Pascoe
Colors - Demetrius Bassoukos & Prismacolor
Letters - Ken Bruzenak
Edits - Berrios & Carlin
Cover Price: $2.25

In which our new-look hero... gets struck by lightning!  He also makes fast friends with Nick Scratch's old office-mate before visiting Nick Scratch's Uncle's fishing lodge.

Nick Scratch, Nick Scratch, Nick Scratch!

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NML Crossing, Episode 051 - Azrael: Agent of the Bat #50 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Fifty-One

Azrael: Agent of the Bat #50 (March, 1999)
“Resurrection”
Writer - Denny O’Neil
Pencils - Roger Robinson
Inks - James Pascoe
Colors - Demetrius Bassoukos & Prismacolor
Letters - Ken Bruzenak
Edits - Berrios & Carlin
Cover Price: $2.25

And now for something completely different!  It's (already?) time to venture outside of No Man's Land... so, our hero JPV can try and track down... ugh... Nicholas Scratch.  A story too monumentally large to be contained in one single issue!

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NML Crossing, Episode 037 - Azrael: Agent of the Bat #49 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Thirty-Seven

Azrael: Agent of the Bat #49 (February, 1999)
“Gotham City Must Die!”
Writer - Denny O’Neil
Pencils - Roger Robinson
Inks - James Pascoe
Colors - Demetrius Bassoukos & Prismacolor
Letters - Ken Bruzenak
Edits - Berrios & Carlin
Cover Price: $2.25

The final Azraeling... for now, anyway!

Wrapping up the Nicholas Scratch stuff... well, sort of.  There... really ain't much to say about this one, not that that'll stop me from occupying your ear for the better part of an hour.

Thankfully some friends of the show have delivered us an amazing NMaiLbag!

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NML Crossing, Episode 036 - Azrael: Agent of the Bat #48 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Thirty-Six

Azrael: Agent of the Bat #48 (January, 1999)
“Scratching the Surface”
Writer - Denny O’Neil
Pencils - Roger Robinson
Inks - James Pascoe
Colors - Demetrius Bassoukos & Prismacolor
Letters - Ken Bruzenak
Edits - Berrios & Carlin
Cover Price: $2.25

More Azrael!  More Nick Scratch!  You're Welcome... and I'm Sorry!

This time out, our man JPV has some answering to do for pulling a boner on his mission to protect the life of Gotham's only friend, Senator Esty Halivan!  Not only that, he's now on the hook for the murder!  What IS an Angel of Vengeance to do?  Listen in and find out!

Plus: A wonderful dive into the NMaiLbag!

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NML Crossing, Episode 035 - Azrael: Agent of the Bat #47 (1998)

NML Crossing, Episode Thirty-Five

Azrael: Agent of the Bat #47 (December, 1998)
“... a Man of Wealth and Taste…”
Writer - Denny O’Neil
Pencils - Roger Robinson
Inks - James Pascoe
Colors - Demetrius Bassoukos & Prismacolor
Letters - Ken Bruzenak
Edits - Frank Berrios & Mike Carlin
Cover Price: $3.95 (flip-book)

We're officially on THE ROAD TO NO MAN'S LAND... and, with it comes a three-part dive into Azrael-Land.  In today's episode our Angel of Whateverthehell is sent off to Washington, DC to protect Gotham City's last hope on the Hill.  He does so quite poorly.

We also meet the Sensational Character Find of 1998... Nicholas Scratch?!

All 'at and a deep dip into the ol' NMaiLbag!

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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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Chris and Reggie's Cosmic Treadmill, Episode 70: Christmas With the Superheroes #1 (1988)

Chris and Reggie's Cosmic Treadmill, Episode #70

Christmas With the Superheroes #1 (1988)
"Wanted: Santa Claus - Dead or Alive!"
"The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus!"
"The TT's Swingin' Christmas Carol!"
"Star Light, Star Bright... Farthest Star I See Tonight!"
"Twas the Fright Before Christmas!"
"The Silent Night of the Batman"
Writers - Denny O'Neil, Len Wein, Bob Haney, Paul Levitz, E. Nelson Bridwell & Mike Friedrich
Pencillers - Frank Miller, Dick Dillon, Nick Cardy, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Curt Swan & Neal Adams
Inkers - Steve Mitchell, Dick Giordano & Murphy Anderson
Letterers - Ben Oda
Colorists - Glenn Whitmore, Helen Vesik & Jerry Serpe
Editors - Len Wein, Julius Schwartz
Cover Price: $2.95

Keeping our Christmas on Infinite Earths... in July festivities rolling along, today I'm sharing Reggie and my first Holiday special... DC Comics' Christmas With the Superheroes #1 from 1988.


Download

This was one of our longer episodes... as we were looking at like skatey-eight hundred creators and a half-dozen stories.  This was also my longest ever blog post to that point... and, actually, it very well still might be!  I still haven't published that "full-length" Bizarro World piece yet, so I think this one still might take the length-crown!

With that said... Just as with yesterday, if podcasts ain't your thing, there is a text-n-pics variation on this discussion that you can check out if you decide to click the cover below!  While you're at it, you might wanna check out my discussion of Christmas With the Superheroes #2 (1989)!

Joker #6 (1976)

Joker #6 (March-April, 1976)
"Sherlock Stalks the Joker!
Story - Denny O'Neil
Pencils - Irv Novick
Inks - Tex Blaisdell
Edits - Julius Schwartz
Cover Price: $0.25

The mid-70's Joker series is one of those books that I've had a heck of a time tracking down in the bins.  It's one I see so seldom, I almost attributed this weird mythical status to it.  In all my years of hunting, this li'l oddity has always been a "wall book", ya know what I mean?  I've often joked about the "Joker Tax" comic shops will tag onto any issue with the ol' clown on the cover (which, with how we don't even get a week without a Joker cover appearance these days, makes me fear for future generations of collectors... assuming there will be any!).

Anyhoo, after many dives into the bins... I actually managed to find an issue of the series... for a buck!  Needless to say (since you're reading this piece), that I nabbed the bugger!  And what a weird little book this is... I mean, just check out the cover!

You look at a cover like this one... and say to yourself, "Self?  How could a story like this ever actually happen?".  Surely, the Joker has never met Sherlock Holmes... so, this has gotta be a gag, right?  Well... yes and no... and don't call me Shirley.

There's gotta be some sort of explanation as to how this story could ever happen.  The real question is: Is it gonna be dumb?  Well, elementary my dear readers... in other words, yes... it's going to be very dumb.

--

Our story opens in theater residing in a "medium-size town", where an actor named Clive Sigerson is rehearsing for his role in a play about... Sherlock Holmes.  He is confronted by his arch-nemesis Professor James Moriarty... who, pulls a fast one, by going off script and shooting him square in the face... with a boxing glove.  "Moriarty" then unmasks, revealing himself to be... the Joker.  So, there's our pieces in place!

Sigerson is both befuddled and annoyed at this chain of events, and goes to confront the clown.  Joker picks up Holmes' trademark pipe, and... clonks the actor over the head with it.  He and his gang then start tap-dancing before... exiting, stage left.

The police arrive on the scene some quarter-hour later, and the producer is all out of sorts.  I love this guy!  He's really over-the-top here with his "Scandalous!" outburst!

Anyhoo, we learn that this theater is the Bohemia... and, since this is "Scandalous", Sigerson is reminded of the early Holmes short story A Scandal in Bohemia.  I'm sure that was the first thing that popped into all of our minds as well, right?  Right?  Yeah, Denny's a big Holmes fan... so, this one's going to be kind of reliant on having some knowledge of that character and his lore.  Oh!  And also, since the bonk on the noggin with the pipe, Sigerson now believes himself to be the actual Sherlock Holmes.  He realizes that a photo had been stolen from the set, and through some Rube Goldbergian deduction he thinks he's figured out  promises the Joker's next move.  He heads off.  The producer sends a stagehand along to keep an eye on Sigerson.  You'd think the Officer might intervene to stop this clearly confused man from stalking a serial killer, but... nope!

The stagehand catches up to "Holmes" and tells him he's there to "watchdog" him.  Through a series of contrivances, Sherlock deduces that this fella's name will now be "Dock Watson".  Oy.  Back at the Ha-Hacienda, the Joker tells his goons why he's so stuck on screwing with Sherlock.  Ya see, he's got a real problem with Detectives... and would really like to see all of the "biggies" humiliated.  Who bigger than Sherlock Holmes, right?

Anyhoo, we rejoin Holmes (and Dock) as they're pulling onto the Red Circle Golf Course to chat up a J.B. "Red" Wilson... who, we learn is the President of a newly-formed Air Hockey League.  Wait'll we get through this bout of mental gymnastics.

The Joker's goons rise out of the nearby water hazard to, well, do something, I'm sure.  Holmes rushes in and proceeds to box with Southpaw the Goon.

Even Dock Watson gets in on the actions and kapows... Tooth?  Is this goon's name actually Tooth?  Eesh.  Anyhoo, the Joker then drives a golf ball right into Watson's dome, temporarily kayoing him.

Holmes then, snags a four-iron, and proceeds to duel with the Joker.  He's able to easily disarm the clown... unfortunately for him, however, the Joker has more tricks up his sleeve.

The Joker rushes back to his golf bag and... fires a net in the detective's direction, tangling him up but good long enough for him to flee the scene.  We learn here that our man was at the golf course in the first place because of the old Holmes story, The Red-Headed League.  Ya know, that old favorite!  I'm totally speaking out of turn here... I know next to nothing about the character!

Anyhoo, by now Holmes has already figured out the Joker's next stop.  How?  Elementary, my dear readers... which is to say, I haven't the foggiest idea what story contrivances Mr. O'Neil has up his sleeve for us.  Speaking of which, we catch up with the Joker in his Mobile Ho-Home, and find out that all he wanted from the golf course was the flag from the fourth green.  This is (apparently) in reference to Holmes story, The Sign of the Four... not that I would know anything about that!

We rejoin our "detective" later that evening at the waterfront.  There's a party occurring on board a large ship, called... The Baskervilles.  Okay, even I recognize that one.  After being denied entry by a police officer, Holmes has to get creative.  He shimmies up a line from a small tugboat.  At the very same time, our main man "Tooth"... Tooth... is also climbing a line.  He lobs a smoke grenade into the party.

Holmes catches up to... Tooth... and nyoinks him off the line.  Not before referring to him as a "Blackguard"... which, from my (admittedly) little research seems like something very Holmsian to say... but, maybe it's just some "2020" over-sensitivity in me, just seems weird in this particular instance... ya know?

After kayoing Tooth with a sock to the jaw, Holmes is finally able to board The Baskervilles.  Deep inside, the Joker is using a torch to cut through a steel door.

The Joker explains that this hunk of steel is what sailors use to "Dog down the Hatches".  So, it's a "dog"... or, ya know... a "hound".  Alrighty then.  This is a reference to, duh, The Hound of the Baskervilles.  Holmes and Dock Watson then arrive on the scene.

The Joker attempts to flee... but, does not get far.  Holmes uses a high-pressure water-gun on the deck to... I'm going to assume blow a hole in the clown's body.  You ever work with a pressure-washer before?  Those things could kill!  And, I mean... Holmes is attempting to reenact Moriarty's death scene here, right?

Thankfully (I guess), all this does is knock the Joker out.  Sherlock and Dock approach, and it looks as though the Joker has finally been caught.  The only question remaining is, was he caught by Clive Sigerson or... Sherlock Holmes?

--

There are a number of evergreen concepts out there that, outside the main "beats", I have precious little knowledge of.  Things like Robin Hood, James Bond, and... Sherlock Holmes.  These are things I feel I ought to know more about... just can't be bothered to actually put in the "work", ya know?  It's no secret that Denny O'Neil is a pretty big Holmes fanatic... this issue comes only one year after his attempt to launch that strange Sherlock Holmes ongoing series for DC Comics.  Click the cover for the cover...age!

I guess Mr. O'Neil didn't quite get it all out of his system there, eh?  Worth noting that there'll be some more Holmes-ness in Detective Comics #572 (which was edited by Denny O'Neil)... and if that issue wasn't like 800 pages long, I'd love to cover it here!

Whatever the case... Denny's a fan... I, however, am not.  Not that I don't outright dislike the concept, I just don't know enough about it to feel as though this issue is anything all that special (outside of its odd novelty value).  Anybody reading this a fan of Holmes?  Are many of his stories quite this contrived?  Or are they just playing up his art of deduction for silliness' sake?

The story... as mentioned, is pretty silly... but was fun enough to follow.  This is the only issue of Joker I've ever read (or seen priced at under $20), so... is his being captured at the end of the issue like a "running gag"?  Does he always get captured?  I can't imagine this would be fun to read over and over again for nine issues... but, I've been wrong before.

I'm actually completely surprised that DC hasn't tried doing another Joker ongoing series in the near-half century since this came out.  Then again, with as often as the Joker pops up these days, giving him his own series might actually cut down on his overall appearances .  Can't have that, now can we?

Overall... I'm happy I was finally able to read an issue of this run, and share it here on the site.  While it's certainly not a favorite of mine, I can totally see the entertainment value here... especially if you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes.  The art, for the most part was sharp and really nice.  One thing I often have a problem with when it comes to Joker artists is... the ugly "pursed" mouth they sometimes give him.  Ya know, like Caesar Romero through a funhouse mirror?  Irv Novick falls into that trap giving our Clown a rather ugly and impossible smile.  Otherwise, I got no complaints!

Despite this not being my perfect book, I'd certainly suggest that it's worth a look.  This series has been collected in trade, and this issue is available digitally (for only a buck... just like I paid for it!).

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Batman: Death of Innocents #1 (1996)

Batman: Death of Innocents #1 (December, 1996)
"Death of Innocents"
Writer - Denny O'Neil
Pencils - Joe Staton
Inks - Bill Sienkiewicz
Colors - Ian Laughlin
Letters - John Costanza
Associate Editor - Darren Vincenzo
Editor - Scott Peterson
Cover Price: $3.95

Today we're going to be covering a very special book... one that I (for whatever reason) didn't even realize received a domestic release... and certainly not one I ever expected to own.

I wanna take you back a handful of years... I was doing some research on various comic book PSAs for an episode of the show.  Naturally, things like the New Teen Titans Drug Awareness issues, the Supergirl "Buckle-Up" stuff, that Spider-Man & Power Pack issue kept popping up in my search... but also, some more obscure stuff... Captain America fighting an asthma monster, Spider-Man teaches kids how to brush their teeth (with AIM toothpaste only!)... those odd "second-tier" PSAs... the ones that are more "silly" to we enlightened twenty-first century types.

Then, there were these DC specials... about landmines.  Living in America (uhh!), landmines aren't something I think about with any regularity.  For whatever reason, this made me think that these landmine issues were only released outside of the United States.  I don't think anyone ever told me that, or even that I'd read it anywhere... I'd just, again for whatever reason, decided that was the way it was.

That said... imagine my shock when I was digging through a random cheap-o bin near the house, and came across the very issue we're about to talk about!  It's actually a legit release... with a price-tag, bar code, indicia and everything!  I've been holding off on actually covering it here... though, I'm not sure why.  Probably something having to do with not having the time to give it a proper look.  Well, lucky for me (and you, if you're interested), this odd green tea diet I've been subjecting myself to has somehow resulted in improving my focus on stuff like this.  Not sure how long it'll last... but, I may as well enjoy the ride while I'm on it!

Anyhoo, without further ado... let's check this out.

Oh!  Wait, one more thing... this is a very heavy issue, I probably don't need to put a "Reader Discretion" disclaimer, but... ya know, just in case.

--

Our story opens on a car-full of happy folks driving back home in order to celebrate a birthday... it's a father, his daughter, and the daughter's friend.  Along the way, they run over a landmine... which absolutely destroys the vehicle, and ends the lives of two of the three passengers.  The only survivor is one of the young girls... the daughter, Sarah.  I wanna warn y'all upfront, this scene right here kind of sets the tone for everything that's to come.  This is a heavy, unpleasant, gut-punch of a story.

We shift scenes to Gotham City where Bruce Wayne is getting an earful from a Mrs. Orbley.  She is the wife of the man who we just saw die, and the mother of Sarah.  She's blaming Bruce for sending her husband there in the first place... and for the fact that her daughter is now listed as "missing" somewhere in Kravia.  This finger-pointing doesn't exactly sit well with Bruce...

... and so, when he heads back home, he really starts to rattle Alfred's cage about the situation.  He's in deep-denial mode, and even says something along the lines of "If Mrs. Orbley didn't have a headache that day, she would've died too!" as if to suggest that this poor woman is somehow lucky!  Alfred ain't buyin' a bit of it... and actually sorta-kinda throws it back at Bruce.  He's not blaming him, but he's trying to give him a little bit of a "reality check".  Very well done scene!

Alfred then fills Bruce in on the situation in Kravia.  Upheaval, rebellion... just all-around ugliness.  The deal with the landmines is especially horrifying, as they're a) made out of very little metal, so they're difficult to locate, and b) disguised to look like common items... toys, and what-not.  Bruce wonders if there's anything he can do... to which, Alfred replies with "Duh, you're Batman."... followed by a full-page spread of that scene in Crime Alley.  Can't have a single Batman story without one of those!  Thankfully they spare us the scattered pearls!

Bruce raises his cowl, and before we know it... he's on a chopper headed into Kravia.  His pilot warns him about how dangerous this plan is... and assures him, even with a bomb-sniffing dog (which he has), more likely than not, Batman's about to be blown sky high.  Batman appreciates the warning... but, he's got a job to do.  And so, when the time is right, he takes the dog in his arms and parachutes into the bitter cold night.

After landing, Batman gingerly steps across the field... being led by his four-legged pal.  Suddenly, the dog catches a scent... and begins walking with a purpose.  Before it can locate a landmine, however... it is shot by a sniper!  They're really not pulling any punches with this one, are they?

The sniper presents itself at Batman... mocks him for being a stupid American in a cape... then gleefully warns him that the field he's currently standing in contains well over one-hundred landmines.  The sniper, certain that Batman ain't gonna make it all that far, bids him adieu... and retires back into the woods.

Over the course of the next several pages, Batman painstakingly wanders through the minefield... it's really very well done.  Every step feels like an event... and, I say that with no sarcasm... this is a very strong scene!  He finally makes it into the brush, where he climbs a tree and radios in to Oracle.  He tells her of the sniper, and reveals that it had a woman's voice.  Babs does some checking and deduces that this must've been a Colonel Franck... in her words, a "very nasty lady".  Unfortunately, that's all she seems to know about her.

Batman then sleeps for eight-minutes and forty-seconds (out of a planned 10 minute nap), when he's awoken by some local guerrillas attempting to shake down some poor dude.  Batman is able to make out enough of what they're saying to know that the guerrillas are trying to track down Sarah Orbley.

Batman sits in the tree for a bit, before thinking to himself "Whatta revoltin' development"... after which, he dives into the fray and beats everybody up.  After the dust (and bodies) settle, Batman is informed that these locals might've seen a girl in a nearby field, some three kilometers south.  Our man thanks them for the tip, and gets to headin'.

What he finds... isn't Sarah Orbley.  This is actually the body of Sarah's friend, Mariska Kraje... and, I tell ya what, the art depicts her as being pretty grotesquely mutilated, but not overwhelmingly gory.  When I opened this issue, the first thing that came to mind was how little I felt I was going to like the art.  As we work our way through, however, I'm finding a real appreciation for this strange Staton-Sienkiewicz tandem!

Batman spends the next little while digging a shallow grave for Mariska's body.  He feels it's inadequate, but... at present, it's the best he can do.  As he finishes up, he notices some tiny footprints leaving the area.  He assumes they belong to Sarah... and so, he follows them.

As he tracks the tracks... he thinks that there's nothing more important to him right now than to find this little girl.  It begins to rain, somewhat obscuring his view of the path... but he's able to persevere.  Suddenly, he sees a faint light.  It's a tiny village... he chooses to ignore it.

As he trudges ever forward, Batman finds himself stood before a new set of tracks... these ain't footprints, but big ol' tire tracks!  Realizing that poor villagers don't ride around in military-grade vehicles, he assumes these tracks belong to the bad-guys.  He follows them.  An added perk to this is, so long as he walks within the tracks, he knows he won't accidentally step on a mine!

These tracks take him right up to a gaggle of guerrillas... who are gleefully planting new landmines along the path they'd just taken.  Of note, they're pretty proud that some of these mines look like children's toys.  Pretty sneaky stuff here... pretty ruthless too, which makes it all the sweeter when Batman arrives and beats the holy hell out of 'em!

After kayoing the lot of 'em, Batman takes their guns and... just empties them into the pile of landmines, setting off each and every one before they can be buried.  It's yet another very powerful scene.  I tell ya what, this ain't your garden-variety PSA.

Our man hops into one of their vehicles, and follows the tire-trail back to the guerrillas' headquarters... which is a massive palace of a home, which once belonged to a wealthy industrialist.  Ya know, before everything sorta went to pot.  Batman breaches the gate, takes out a few guards and rushes toward the house... where he sees that dude he "saved" earlier, who is happily counting a stack of cash he'd just been given by the Colonel.

Further into the estate Batman sneaks... until he finally finds the Colonel's room.  He busts in on her while she's brushing her hair.  He gives her three choices... which are sorta like 1) Die, 2) Die, 3) Talk... then Die.

Initially, Franck looks kinda freaked out... but, gets over it quickly enough.  We can sorta tell here that she doesn't have all that much to live for... "living" has just become a means to getting revenge.  Batman asks why she's committed so many atrocities against innocent children and families... to which, she reveals that her own children were taken from her by the government.  They'd shot her son and daughter to "teach her a lesson" for writing an unsavory letter to a local newspaper.

In the midst of this contentious chat, Franck reveals that Sarah is still alive... but, won't be for long.  She promises Batman, however, that once she is dead... out of respect, the Colonel will be certain to send whatever's left of her body to the American Embassy.

Batman asks for clarification... and, ho boy, does he get it!  Ya see, Sarah was found by a poor couple... and now, all three are out with one of the Colonel's "Murder Squads" for... uh, "solving".  The Colonel then points her pistol at our man.  Batman has heard enough, and so he back-hands the broad into unconsciousness before she can squeeze off a shot.

Before long, Batman has caught up with the Murder Squad, who have presented the poor couple (and Sarah) with two choices.  They can either 1) Die here, or 2) Die in the minefield.  They choose the minefield, because at least that way, they have a chance of survival (or so they think).

As the trio walks into the minefield, one of the guerrillas asks what'll happen in the event that they actually survive the mines.  Another guerrilla laughs, and says they'll just shoot them then.  Well, not so fast, kemosabes... because Batman's here, and he's heard enough of your crap.  He shouts toward Sarah and Company to stop walking, as he beats compliance out of the Murder Squad.

The couple and Sarah make their way out of the field, guided by one of the baddies.  As they exit the field, Sarah drops her yo-yo.

With Sarah saved, Batman reads the riot act at the Murder Squad... tells them to warn the Colonel that if he catches even the slightest whiff of her acting out of step, he'll be back and rain down whatever Bat-vengeance he can upon her and her's.  Batman offers to take the old couple to the American Embassy, but they've already got somewhere to hide out for awhile.  Hopefully, it's a more secure place than wherever they were hiding before all this.

Batman and Sarah bid the old couple thanks and farewell.  Our man tells the tot that everything's going to be okay, and that he'll take her back to see her mother.  All Sarah seems to be worried about is that she dropped her yo-yo.  Batman smiles, and tells her he'll get her a car-load of yo-yos once they get home.  He hoists her up, and they run toward the rendezvous point.

Batman radios for the chopper to return... and expresses that it isn't often he feels quite this good.  He saved Sarah... and soon she'll be reunited with her mother.  While he wasn't responsible for what happened to her father, at least he was able to do something for the grieving family.  Meanwhile, Sarah's chasing a butterfly...

... when something from out of the corner of her eye catches her attention.  It's a yo-yo!

Only... it's not.

And... that's the end.

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Wow.

Um... I... didn't see that coming.  I probably should have, considering the subject matter... but, holy cow, those last two pages were probably the most powerful gut-punch I've gotten from a comic book in quite some time... perhaps, ever!  I never thought they were going to end it that way.  Wow.

Wow.

This is one that'll stick with you... I, I'm really kind of speechless here.  So often when we look at "Public Service Announcement" comics, they're pretty much written in a way where the stories presented could easily fit into any Saturday Morning cartoon show... ya know what I mean?  Not really controversial... certainly not to the point of depicting atrocities like these... they're usually "safe", easy to digest... and, utterly unmemorable.  In fact, if you remember them at all, it's usually because you're mocking them.

This, however... defies all of that.  This story features the kind of things you want to forget... but, likely won't be able to.  This is a powerful, ruthless story... that grabs you by the throat and forces you to bear witness to the gruesome depravity that... actually exists in the world.  I'm not talkin' the "DC Universe" either, but the very world we're all living in and sharing at this moment.

It's stories like this that conjure up so many unpleasant thoughts... cementing the "reality" of so much of the bad in the world.  I mean, consider this, at this very moment as I'm typing out this sentence... and at the very moment you're reading it, there are people in the worst pain of their lives.  There are children being abused.  It's all out there... and, if you allow yourself to think about all of it... it's rather maddening.

I feel like O'Neil treated this subject with great respect... he even gave the Colonel a tragic backstory, perhaps to illustrate how ruthless and vengeance-minded someone could be when they have absolutely nothing more to lose.  It makes you think... are she and Batman really all that much different?  Well, yes... they are, Batman has a "line" he won't cross... but, I hope you understand what I'm saying.  This story, and the Colonel's specifically, illustrates the different "paths" a victim might take.  She and Batman have similar "origins", but chose very different destinations.

I will admit, though it feels kinda wrong to even go down this path... I was a bit trepidatious when I saw Denny O'Neil's name attached to this... fearing it was going to be full of soapbox lectures and strawman villains.  Thankfully it was not.

Another thing I wanna admit... when I saw the odd tandem of Joe Staton and Bill Sienkiewicz were going to be providing the art, my first thought was "How in the world is that going to work?"... well, after a few pages of "warming up" to their blended style, I gotta say... I thought they worked very well together, and absolutely suited the tone of this story.  Really wonderful work.  Wonderful work all around.

Overall... this isn't so much a comic book as it is an experience, and it's an experience I highly recommend.  An oddity and a novelty to be sure, but wow... what a powerful message... and double-wow, what a heart-stopping ending.  Grab this if you find it.

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Essays & Et-Cetera:

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