***surprise secret subject line***
So I have a specific reason for wanting to post the cracktacular Bronze Age epic, "Where Were You the Night Batman Died?" But the problem is, I can't say what the reason is without spoiling the major twist.
Written by 50's-era Batman author David V. Reed (creator of Deadshot), WWYTNBD? is a Bronze Age tale that still feels distinctly Silver. The result is a story that feels less timeless and more awkward in either era, but it's fascinating and fun nonetheless.
Batman is believed to be dead, so the underworld (including all of Batman's rogues) decide to hold their own trial to determine who deserves the credit for snuffin' the Bat. Ra's al Ghul is the Judge (see what I mean about the Silver Age touch?) while Two-Face is given the perfect role as the prosecutor! The testimony of each villain gives me the impression that WWYTNBD? was the main inspiration for the classic B:TAS episode, "Almost Got 'Im."
Rather than scans and crop these issues myself, I'll instead ask that you either buy the collection yourself, or check out the following links from the blog Blah Blah Blah, which posted all four issues of this story. And after you've read the story, click the cut-tag to discuss spoilers.
You ready?
Part 1: The Testimony of Catwoman
Part 2: The Testimony of the Riddler
Part 3: The Testimony of Lex Luthor
Part 4: The Testimony of the Joker
Finished? Read all four parts, or at least pretend you did? All righty then...
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Two-Face Impostor #5: Batman again! Only this time, it's a purposeful disguise rather than mind control, so I'm gonna consider this one a different impostor! ... Perhaps #4.5 would be better? How would you qualify this?
I dunno about you, though, but the twist is the thing which actually single-handedly ruined my enjoyment of this story. I mean, "Two-Face" was awesome here: tearing through the bullshit, showing up the villains, going toe to toe with Lex Luthor, pissing everyone off, and still holding his own in the courtroom because, well, he's still Harvey Fucking Dent.
Except... he isn't. It was never Harvey, just Batman in disguise. Ho-hum. Because we know Batman's awesome, but we so rarely ever see such a rich, awesome take on Harvey, that the twist destroys the thing which, IMO, was most remarkable about this story.
If it weren't for the twist, this could have been one of the all-time great Two-Face stories. But of course, Harvey isn't the star of the book. All we can do is hope that some future Two-Face writer will employ these characteristics in the character itself. Because seriously, how sad is it that one of the few stories that actually makes use of Harvey's legal expertise is the one where he isn't even really Harvey at all?
If you'd like to read this and other great Batman almost-deaths, they can be purchased in the trade paperback collection, The Strange Deaths of Batman.
Written by 50's-era Batman author David V. Reed (creator of Deadshot), WWYTNBD? is a Bronze Age tale that still feels distinctly Silver. The result is a story that feels less timeless and more awkward in either era, but it's fascinating and fun nonetheless.
Batman is believed to be dead, so the underworld (including all of Batman's rogues) decide to hold their own trial to determine who deserves the credit for snuffin' the Bat. Ra's al Ghul is the Judge (see what I mean about the Silver Age touch?) while Two-Face is given the perfect role as the prosecutor! The testimony of each villain gives me the impression that WWYTNBD? was the main inspiration for the classic B:TAS episode, "Almost Got 'Im."
Rather than scans and crop these issues myself, I'll instead ask that you either buy the collection yourself, or check out the following links from the blog Blah Blah Blah, which posted all four issues of this story. And after you've read the story, click the cut-tag to discuss spoilers.
You ready?
Part 1: The Testimony of Catwoman
Part 2: The Testimony of the Riddler
Part 3: The Testimony of Lex Luthor
Part 4: The Testimony of the Joker
Finished? Read all four parts, or at least pretend you did? All righty then...
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Two-Face Impostor #5: Batman again! Only this time, it's a purposeful disguise rather than mind control, so I'm gonna consider this one a different impostor! ... Perhaps #4.5 would be better? How would you qualify this?
I dunno about you, though, but the twist is the thing which actually single-handedly ruined my enjoyment of this story. I mean, "Two-Face" was awesome here: tearing through the bullshit, showing up the villains, going toe to toe with Lex Luthor, pissing everyone off, and still holding his own in the courtroom because, well, he's still Harvey Fucking Dent.
Except... he isn't. It was never Harvey, just Batman in disguise. Ho-hum. Because we know Batman's awesome, but we so rarely ever see such a rich, awesome take on Harvey, that the twist destroys the thing which, IMO, was most remarkable about this story.
If it weren't for the twist, this could have been one of the all-time great Two-Face stories. But of course, Harvey isn't the star of the book. All we can do is hope that some future Two-Face writer will employ these characteristics in the character itself. Because seriously, how sad is it that one of the few stories that actually makes use of Harvey's legal expertise is the one where he isn't even really Harvey at all?
If you'd like to read this and other great Batman almost-deaths, they can be purchased in the trade paperback collection, The Strange Deaths of Batman.