Chris is on Infinite Earths

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

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!

NML Crossing on Youtube

Monday, January 22, 2024

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!

NML Crossing on Youtube

Sunday, January 21, 2024

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/

Thursday, January 18, 2024

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!

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

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!

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

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!