Battle for the Cowl #1
Starts off with Robin and Squire patrolling. Robin needed back up, so he used Cass's Network to get Squire and Knight so help him. Ugh, he mentions something about NOT having crush of Squire. *rolls eyes* Stupid Timmy! *grumbles* So they're chasing a bunch of guys with clown faces. They end up not capturing the clowns, but someone did it for them, since they find the clowns tied up with a note that says 'I am Batman.'
Afterwards, Timmy goes to help out Nightwing, saying they have a problem. Switches over to a bus full of Arkham inmates. (No Joker in sight; where is he anyway?) Some one shows up with guns in front of the bus. Threatens the bus driver and frees all the inmates (Croc, Zsasz, Ivy, Crane, ect, but no Joker). Apparently, Black Mask is back.
Can I be the first to go bwuah? I thought he died?! Catwoman definitely killed that bitch. Ah well. We'll find out if he's him or someone new later, right? Oh, so to make a point, Black Mask mutters some words when Crane attacks him, activating implants every Arkham inmate has now, killing Crane. Awww, no more Scarecrow. That was a shitty way to die. Well, now Black Mask has all the Arkham inmates backing him. They're all outside of Arkham as Black mask says 'Batman is dead. Light it up, boys!' Then Arkham goes up in flames.
Changes to Gordon avoiding all these people saying his department will probably fall apart without Batman. Then the all look to the sky to see the a makeshift batsignal with the letters RIP in the middle of the bat.
Switches to Dick staring at the batsuit in the case when Tim addresses him, saying one of them has to be Batman. Dick says they've gone over it, but Tim gets accusing, saying someone beat them to it. Dick says he knows, a bunch of copycats out there- No, Tim interrupts, saying this guy knows what he's doing, has experience and might even be someone they know. Dick has no idea what Tim's talking about. Tim shows him a batarang, one that the new Batman uses. They're Bruce's design. He even uses bat-rope (oh god, that makes me chuckle).
Tim analyzes all the 'I am Batman' notes, states this new Batman is brutal, but a master at his varied style. He says the new Batman wants to be caught, or he wouldn't have left so many clues. (Also, at this point, it feels like it's Jason; if so, HA, there's no mention of killing, so he's doing a pretty damn good job, if not EXACTLY how Bruce would do it.)
Okay, all the text boxes are definitely Timmy thoughts, but wtf? He called Bruce his father. None of them called him father or even dad. They're too screwy for that. And Tim doesn't like this Batman. He says there can only one Batman, and it isn't you. Sheesh, I have a feeling Timmy hasn't gotten over his Dick hero worship, even after such a long time. Once Dick or Tim has an idea in their head... *sigh* Stubborn batboys.
Tim says it might not be him either, but Dick is very against taking up the mantle. Sooo, we get some nice pretty panels of Dick all half naked and sweaty, practicing on dummies in the Batcave. He knocks one of the heads off of one and almost beams Alfred. Oops. He apologizes then Alfred takes off his jacket, rolls up his sleeves, and undoes his tie. Holy shit, Dick and Alfred sparring! Alfred, go be the new Batman. You totally just owned Dick's ass. <3
Babs shows up on the Batcomputer screen, telling Dick about Arkham being up in smoke. Nightwing meet Commish there; they talk about it probably being an inside job, then Gordon tries to ask Dick how he is, but Dick deflects and says this should only business. (Aww, no more battiness, pleeeease! ;-;) They try to figure out how whoever got the Arkham inmates, disappeared with all of them without a trace. It seems near impossible, with all those strong personalities, unless they had little choice in the matter.
Ding, ding, ding, Commissioner! Black Mask gives a speech to the inmates as they gear up. Switches to Catwoman, who notices a Batman flying about, in the original Batsuit. 'kay, this means there's two Batmans. @_@ Greeeeeaaat. The Robin text is saying that have to clear up the the who's Batman matter. That the wannabe is a wannabeen. >>;; And here comes the sarcasm. Saying friend, your intentions are good, and I'm sure we can find you your own persona like, 'Captain Phony' or 'Identity Complex Man'? Oh man.
Black Mask and the inmates are taking over one of Two-Face's shipments. Then switches to the Batmobile, with that brat driving. Oh, it gets better. Damian picked up a girl! She's all excited about the Batmobile too. >>;; He's all trying to impress her when Oracle interrupts. She tells him to check on the Harbor. He doesn't want to, and the girl says boooringgg. Then Babs asks who the girl is. Damian tries to lie saying there must be radio interference. Then Babs says she can see her too before saying she's taking control of the Batmobile controls. She even ejected the girl out of the car, still in the seat. She had parachute; it made me giggle.
Then Babs tells Damian that he'll need to wash the BAtmobile and stay out of Nightwing's way and maybe he'll forget about Damian's little joyride. Haha. The Killer Croc comes out of nowhere and hits the car. The Batmobile rolls. Babs sends the Birds to help Damian, but they wouldn't get there quickly enough.
Nightwing pipes in hearing all this on the open line, saying 'Pinpoint the brat for me.' Hehehe. Damian gets out of the Batmobile, trying to talk to Oracle, not getting her. He runs into Ivy and Croc. The next part is made of so much awesome I have to type it here.
Ivy: I think Batman just rolled in his grave. Say, Croc--can you think of anyone who likes fresh meat?
Croc: Mmm. Me me me me me...
Damian: No. No. No... Listen, guys, w-we can work this out. I-I'll turn the other cheek and you can just go. I won't tell anyone I saw you. Th-that's fair. Okay? I don't have a problem with you. Just go on. Run away. Run, I said!
Croc: Sushi time! *about to nom Damian*
Damian: *cowers* Mommyyyy! *as he gets grabbed out of the way*
Dick: *flying away on a bat-glider* You all right?
Damian: Who... me?
Dick: No, the other kid on the sushi menu.
Damian: *totally pouting* Uh, Dick... What happened back there...
Dick: Stays back there? We'll see.
*squeals* Okay, dammit, Damian! You're not allowed to pout cute like that! That was totally a Timmy pout! >>;; So they're on the bat-glider, but they get hit, knocking out Nightwing. Well, Damian's nearly pissing himself now, yelling to wake up Dick than as the fall, he yells 'We're gonna die!' *laughs* Oh jeez, what a pussy. *coughs* Sorry. So yeah. They fall, and Damian helps Dick out of the rubble, and they start walking away (which Damian asks if he can run because he wants to run) before another blast gets them.
Black Mask is there, telling his thugs to fan out. Dick tells Damian to stay down and not let anyone see him. Dick stand up, hands up in a surrender pose saying 'I'm here, boys. Come and get me.' The thugs says Batman's dead, and Black Mask has declared open season on Gotham vigilantes, that he'd be happy if they got the main one.
Then, bang bang bang! The thugs are down, and the new badass Batman come sin, guns ablazing. 'Black Mask didn't get the memo. I am Batman.' It was so very badass that even though I don't want Jason to be Batman, I'd totally be okay with Jason being this Batman. Freaking face mask of AWESOME. And glowy eyes... So yeah, the end 'til next time. I'll be covering the whole Battle for the Cowl storyline on here on my journal. I can go back and summarize with my thoughts on Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead? if anyone wants. I may end up doing it since it covers a lot of the women in Gotham, and it is National Women's History Month.
Afterwards, Timmy goes to help out Nightwing, saying they have a problem. Switches over to a bus full of Arkham inmates. (No Joker in sight; where is he anyway?) Some one shows up with guns in front of the bus. Threatens the bus driver and frees all the inmates (Croc, Zsasz, Ivy, Crane, ect, but no Joker). Apparently, Black Mask is back.
Can I be the first to go bwuah? I thought he died?! Catwoman definitely killed that bitch. Ah well. We'll find out if he's him or someone new later, right? Oh, so to make a point, Black Mask mutters some words when Crane attacks him, activating implants every Arkham inmate has now, killing Crane. Awww, no more Scarecrow. That was a shitty way to die. Well, now Black Mask has all the Arkham inmates backing him. They're all outside of Arkham as Black mask says 'Batman is dead. Light it up, boys!' Then Arkham goes up in flames.
Changes to Gordon avoiding all these people saying his department will probably fall apart without Batman. Then the all look to the sky to see the a makeshift batsignal with the letters RIP in the middle of the bat.
Switches to Dick staring at the batsuit in the case when Tim addresses him, saying one of them has to be Batman. Dick says they've gone over it, but Tim gets accusing, saying someone beat them to it. Dick says he knows, a bunch of copycats out there- No, Tim interrupts, saying this guy knows what he's doing, has experience and might even be someone they know. Dick has no idea what Tim's talking about. Tim shows him a batarang, one that the new Batman uses. They're Bruce's design. He even uses bat-rope (oh god, that makes me chuckle).
Tim analyzes all the 'I am Batman' notes, states this new Batman is brutal, but a master at his varied style. He says the new Batman wants to be caught, or he wouldn't have left so many clues. (Also, at this point, it feels like it's Jason; if so, HA, there's no mention of killing, so he's doing a pretty damn good job, if not EXACTLY how Bruce would do it.)
Okay, all the text boxes are definitely Timmy thoughts, but wtf? He called Bruce his father. None of them called him father or even dad. They're too screwy for that. And Tim doesn't like this Batman. He says there can only one Batman, and it isn't you. Sheesh, I have a feeling Timmy hasn't gotten over his Dick hero worship, even after such a long time. Once Dick or Tim has an idea in their head... *sigh* Stubborn batboys.
Tim says it might not be him either, but Dick is very against taking up the mantle. Sooo, we get some nice pretty panels of Dick all half naked and sweaty, practicing on dummies in the Batcave. He knocks one of the heads off of one and almost beams Alfred. Oops. He apologizes then Alfred takes off his jacket, rolls up his sleeves, and undoes his tie. Holy shit, Dick and Alfred sparring! Alfred, go be the new Batman. You totally just owned Dick's ass. <3
Babs shows up on the Batcomputer screen, telling Dick about Arkham being up in smoke. Nightwing meet Commish there; they talk about it probably being an inside job, then Gordon tries to ask Dick how he is, but Dick deflects and says this should only business. (Aww, no more battiness, pleeeease! ;-;) They try to figure out how whoever got the Arkham inmates, disappeared with all of them without a trace. It seems near impossible, with all those strong personalities, unless they had little choice in the matter.
Ding, ding, ding, Commissioner! Black Mask gives a speech to the inmates as they gear up. Switches to Catwoman, who notices a Batman flying about, in the original Batsuit. 'kay, this means there's two Batmans. @_@ Greeeeeaaat. The Robin text is saying that have to clear up the the who's Batman matter. That the wannabe is a wannabeen. >>;; And here comes the sarcasm. Saying friend, your intentions are good, and I'm sure we can find you your own persona like, 'Captain Phony' or 'Identity Complex Man'? Oh man.
Black Mask and the inmates are taking over one of Two-Face's shipments. Then switches to the Batmobile, with that brat driving. Oh, it gets better. Damian picked up a girl! She's all excited about the Batmobile too. >>;; He's all trying to impress her when Oracle interrupts. She tells him to check on the Harbor. He doesn't want to, and the girl says boooringgg. Then Babs asks who the girl is. Damian tries to lie saying there must be radio interference. Then Babs says she can see her too before saying she's taking control of the Batmobile controls. She even ejected the girl out of the car, still in the seat. She had parachute; it made me giggle.
Then Babs tells Damian that he'll need to wash the BAtmobile and stay out of Nightwing's way and maybe he'll forget about Damian's little joyride. Haha. The Killer Croc comes out of nowhere and hits the car. The Batmobile rolls. Babs sends the Birds to help Damian, but they wouldn't get there quickly enough.
Nightwing pipes in hearing all this on the open line, saying 'Pinpoint the brat for me.' Hehehe. Damian gets out of the Batmobile, trying to talk to Oracle, not getting her. He runs into Ivy and Croc. The next part is made of so much awesome I have to type it here.
Ivy: I think Batman just rolled in his grave. Say, Croc--can you think of anyone who likes fresh meat?
Croc: Mmm. Me me me me me...
Damian: No. No. No... Listen, guys, w-we can work this out. I-I'll turn the other cheek and you can just go. I won't tell anyone I saw you. Th-that's fair. Okay? I don't have a problem with you. Just go on. Run away. Run, I said!
Croc: Sushi time! *about to nom Damian*
Damian: *cowers* Mommyyyy! *as he gets grabbed out of the way*
Dick: *flying away on a bat-glider* You all right?
Damian: Who... me?
Dick: No, the other kid on the sushi menu.
Damian: *totally pouting* Uh, Dick... What happened back there...
Dick: Stays back there? We'll see.
*squeals* Okay, dammit, Damian! You're not allowed to pout cute like that! That was totally a Timmy pout! >>;; So they're on the bat-glider, but they get hit, knocking out Nightwing. Well, Damian's nearly pissing himself now, yelling to wake up Dick than as the fall, he yells 'We're gonna die!' *laughs* Oh jeez, what a pussy. *coughs* Sorry. So yeah. They fall, and Damian helps Dick out of the rubble, and they start walking away (which Damian asks if he can run because he wants to run) before another blast gets them.
Black Mask is there, telling his thugs to fan out. Dick tells Damian to stay down and not let anyone see him. Dick stand up, hands up in a surrender pose saying 'I'm here, boys. Come and get me.' The thugs says Batman's dead, and Black Mask has declared open season on Gotham vigilantes, that he'd be happy if they got the main one.
Then, bang bang bang! The thugs are down, and the new badass Batman come sin, guns ablazing. 'Black Mask didn't get the memo. I am Batman.' It was so very badass that even though I don't want Jason to be Batman, I'd totally be okay with Jason being this Batman. Freaking face mask of AWESOME. And glowy eyes... So yeah, the end 'til next time. I'll be covering the whole Battle for the Cowl storyline on here on my journal. I can go back and summarize with my thoughts on Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead? if anyone wants. I may end up doing it since it covers a lot of the women in Gotham, and it is National Women's History Month.