Hugo Strange returns to less-than-greatness in Doug Moench's "Batman: Terror," the sequel to "Prey!"

[about_faces]

Okay. I've put this one off long enough

Comments

[psychopathicus]

I have to admit, I actually kind of like this version of Scarecrow's origin - or elements of it, at least. After all, overreaction to the mockery of others has always been a part of his backstory - this just puts its genesis a wee bit further back in the past. Also, it allows for Scarecrow to be at least a moderate physical threat, which, as we've discussed before, was a part of his character to start with, before it was downplayed to the point of nonexistence. I DON'T think that the Scarecrow should be PRIMARILY a physical threat - his true menace lies in his brain, and always has - but I don't have any problem with him being able to land a few punches on Batman every now and then. After all, the Joker is also often portrayed as sort of a scrawny beanpole without much in the way of muscles, and he fights Bats in hand-to-hand combat all the time. (Also, as an ardent Oz fan, I must confess, I liked the nod to 'Wizard', even if it didn't really add anything to the story

[about_faces]

I was finally able to track down my own copy of Riddle of the Scarecrow, and you're right, he actually was a physical presence in his original appearance! Yeah, getting a Joker-level amount of hits in here and there is fine, I agree, but it's just as silly to make him a FORMIDABLE physical threat for Scarecrow as it was for rastafarian Joker in The Batman. The Joker being the physical equal to Batman, my ass

[psychopathicus]

Oh, absolutely - his main threat to Batman should always lie in his mastery of fear-based psychology; that's a given, but a few socks on the jaw every now and then? Perfectly reasonable. There's also a '70's story, 'Six Days of the Scarecrow', that added another twist that I rather liked - Robin tries to take him down with an uppercut and fails, commenting that "punching the Scarecrow is like slapping a bagful of straw!" In other words, his costume is more than simply ornamental - it also surrounds him with a layer of padding which helps him stand up to attacks. A clever strategy, I thought, and worthy of a brain like Crane's.
I get what you mean, yeah. I mean, the bullying issue has more or less been there from the beginning, but so has the 'liked to frighten birds' aspect, which here has been reduced to no more than a footnote - moreover, one he's actively ASHAMED of. Not cool. A good origin should integrate the two.
And thanks!

[maridee42]

...I like the word tatterdemalion. Might be the only thing I do like in this, tho.

Also, apparently Scarecrow's calling himself a hobo.

[abqreviews]

Well, he is a self-proclaimed symbol of "poverty and fear" after all.

[maridee42]

indeed.

[about_faces]

THE HOBO OF FEEEEEAR.

[abqreviews]

That is some of the worst dialogue I've ever read, so bad it makes me want to buy a copy to savor all the gems. Pretty much everything Hugo says ("operating in secrecy from the sexy shadows" HAHAHAHA) cracks me up. "Strong-willed single-minded bat-hating machine". "Nasty elixir". Crane gets in some good ones as well.

Also, that image of Crane sawing the floor above him, Looney Tunes-style, is going to be my new icon.

I actually rather like Crane being depicted as a contortionist and "violent-dancer", it ties in with his first appearence where he was jumping all over the place with "queer grasshopper leaps". Agreed about the mannikin thing as well, way too blatant, and nowhere near as effective as the first time, or the times when Preston Payne had that mannikin.

So PREY is getting collected again, eh? Not surprising, it was going for $200 on Amazon last time I checked. Someone at DC must have taken notice.

[about_faces]

I was hoping someone else would catch the "sexy shadows" line. I couldn't bring myself to remark on it at the time.

Also, that image of Crane sawing the floor above him, Looney Tunes-style, is going to be my new icon.

I can just hear it now: "I am Professor Jonathan Crane: Suuuuuper Geeeenius."

[ext_262094]

Have you ever seen that 2004's The Batman Series that has Hugo Strange? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqS0L2KUFEg

[ext_262094]

[akselavshalom]

He was at his best when Frank Gorshin voiced him. Didn't hate the other guy, though, and the episode called Gotham's Ultimate Criminal Mastemind was a real treat for me.

[surrealname]

this is TERRIBLE! this might be the worst thing i have ever read by Moench, and that says a lot. this is just bad. just... it's garbage. human garbage.

i find the lady mannequin thing to be.. well... i mean. dude, there's already one bat villain in love with a mannequin. what the fuck does moench think he's pulling. it's a creepy gimmick, but it's a creepy gimmick some one else already has.

[about_faces]

i find the lady mannequin thing to be.. well... i mean. dude, there's already one bat villain in love with a mannequin

That's a good point. To make things worse, Moench went ahead and pulled it a second time by having Black Mask, at one point, ranting to his own mannequin girlfriend. Man, maybe Mask, Hugo, and Clayface III should all attend couples counseling.

[psychopathicus]

There are differences, though. I can't comment on Black Mask's 'lady doll', but while Strange uses his more or less as a sounding board so he can brag about his own genius to a woman who WON'T tell him to go jump in the lake, Clayface 3 seemed to genuinely be in love with his, and would no doubt be filled with gentlemanly outrage by how Hugo manhandles and mistreats his paramour.

[maridee42]

or go on a triple date.