Batman is one of DC Comics's most famous, arguably the most famous superhero in its fictional universe. The character is regarded as one of its "Trinity" alongside Superman and Wonder Woman, its "Big Three" superheroes. Each of the three represent different aspects of the DCU. Superman represents the cosmic, the science fiction aspect due to his being an alien refugee dedicated to protecting the planet that took him in. Wonder Woman represents the fantasy aspect, the Amazon with ties to Greek mythology who fights monsters. And Batman represents the human aspect, the detective of peak mind and body who solves crimes.
Unlike the Kryptonian Superman and the Amazonian Wonder Woman, Bruce Wayne is human. He's a man who has great athletic abilities and one of the most brilliant minds on Earth, but he is still human. He has limitations that Superman and Wonder Woman do not have. And as a result, he is more prone to failure. Early in his career, one such failure drove the Dark Knight to try and prevent another one. This is the beginning of Batman's first encounter with the super-steroid known as Venom. This is Legends of the Dark Knight #16.
The cover is a Jose Luis Garcia Lopez piece. It depicts Batman holding a lantern as he's walking through a sewer. It's a well-drawn cover, if a bit basic. It looks like it should be a poster. It would be a nice poster though, don't get me wrong. I would hang this up on my wall.
"Venom: Part 1"
Writer: Dennis O'Neil
Pencilers: Trevor von Eeden, Russell Braun
Inker: Jose Luis Garcia Lopez
Colorist: Steve Oliff
Letterer: Willie Schubert
Editors: Andrew Helfer, Kevin Dooley
Executive Editor: Dick Giordano
The story begins with the Dark Knight trudging through a sewer. He isn't doing this because the man is bored, but because he is on a mission. The Caped Crusader is looking for someone. And he hears the voice of the person he is looking for.
The little girl's name is Sissy Porter (yeah, I think they likely meant Cissy, like singer Cissy Houston). The girl is tied up, and water is coming up fast.
The girl is behind some very big rocks. Batman promises to get her out as he tries to move the rocks. However, the rocks are very big. Big, and heavy. As the water keeps rising, Batman desperately tries to move the rocks away. However, the last rock he needs to move is a big one. Too big for even him to move. Sadly, little Sissy Porter ends up drowning. As he returns to his home, Batman is naturally broken up about it. He was able to track the girl down, trace the kidnapper...all for seeming naught.
Alfred points out that even Batman is going to fail. After all, the Batman is many things, but he is still only human. The butler suggests Bruce let him launder his costume. After all, he was just in a sewer, and he can not be smelling good.
But the Gotham Guardian still has one piece of business to take care of: giving his condolences...and his apologies to her father: pharmacologist Randolph Carter. Carter's reaction to his daughter's death is rather...bizarre. He claims that it's a shame his daughter died, but then tries to be optimistic about it, saying that bad things could still happen to her if she lived. Batman asks exactly what her kidnapper/killer was after. The kidnapper didn't want money. They wanted some little pills.
These are Carter's magnum opus, pills designed to enhance human potential. He offers one to Batman, saying that maybe if he had one, maybe Sissy would still be alive. However, Bruce isn't interested. The Dark Knight then senses that Carter's got a guest. However, it's four in the morning, Carter lives alone, and he's not expecting any guests. Batman shoves him into the next room as a man shoots his way into the room. Batman easily knocks the killer into dreamland with a Mighty Punch. He tells Carter to call the cops, as this is likely one of the kidnappers. He then jumps out a window and lands on the other kidnapper's, truck as it races off.
The rain is pounding down, and the roof of the truck is smooth, making it very hard for Batman to keep a grip on the vehicle. The driver wildly swerving the truck is not helping. Eventually, the van hits a pole, causing the Caped Crusader to slip off, and he is left in the mud on his butt. A frustrated Bruce Wayne returns home and opens the grandfather clock that functions as the entrance to the Batcave. Alfred notes that it's set on the exact time his parents died. This makes the Englishman realize he's tormenting himself. He comes down and sees Bruce preparing to lift a heavy barbell.
Bruce calculated that the heavy chunk of cement he was unable to move weighed around 630 lbs. That's how much weight he put on the barbell. He tries to lift it, only to tear his shoulder.
Alfred recommends he sees a doctor, but Bruce just wants the car. The two head back to where Bruce fell off the van. Bruce finds traces of the van's paint on the pole. He examines the paint under a microscope to identify the brand of paint that was used. He then makes some calls to various body shops in Gotham to see who uses that particular brand. Bruce then visits the shops and bribes the owners to let him look at their records. He also makes some calls to the pre-Two-Face Harvey Dent, who was the District Attorney at the time. Dent told him that one of the names of the body shop's customers has a record, including being suspected of kidnapping. Bruce wants to pay him a visit.
Alfred advises against it. Bruce has a wounded shoulder, and he's been going nonstop for 96 hours. Yeah, Bruce has been going nonstop for four days. He's barely able to function as Bruce, much less Batman. Dude, get a doctor for that shoulder and go to bed.
Bruce refuses, as he is clearly still very haunted by Sissy Porter's death. He couldn't save her...but he can catch the men who kidnapped her. Alfred thinks Bruce's obsessive nature is pushing him too far, and he threatens to resign. Batman heads out anyway. Inside his apartment, the two men talk about things. Carter strangely didn't press charges, so the kidnapper got to walk free. The driver grumbles that he could have taken Batman. Batman climbs in, telling them they will confess their actions to Gordon and Dent. The driver thinks he can take on the Dark Knight, and thanks to his injured shoulder, the driver has a fighting chance.
Bruce is tired and hurt, which allows the two men to easily beat the tar out of him. The two are able to literally punch Bruce out the window.
Ooh, he's going to be picking glass shards out of himself for a week. The kidnappers want to finish him off, but a figure orders them not to. After all, it's not time yet.
Later, Bruce has a very trippy dream.
Yeah, no more pepperoni and ham pizza before bed for you, Bruce. He wakes up back in Wayne Manor, clearly feeling a lot better. Alfred explained he took Bruce to a doctor, claiming that he fell from a hot air balloon...and landed on a table full of cheese blintzes. Although, saying "cheese blintzes" is a bit redundant as blintzes traditionally have a cheese filling...mmm...cheese...
Bruce gets out of bed and puts on his Batman costume, much to Alfred's consternation. However, Bruce isn't going to find some trouble. He needs to go see a man. Who? Randolph Carter, of course.
Carter is not surprised to see the Dark Knight. And he knows what the vigilante wants. Carter gives him one of his pills, saying it will help Bruce stay in top shape. Just take one a day. Bruce takes a pill, and Carter gives him an envelope containing a month's supply.
Bruce heads back to the cave, and he doesn't feel any sort of worry. After all, he just put a strange new substance in his body. He didn't even examine the pill or ask what was in it. That should worry him. He tries to lift the 630-pound bar again. And this time, he succeeds. Afterwards, he goes to find the two kidnappers for a little rematch.
He finds the two men hanging out at a bar. Batman easily tosses one of them into a table. The bigger one, the driver, is feeling cocky. He was able to take the Gotham Guardian on once, he can easily do it again, right?
Wrong is an understatement. Bruce has had some time to rest and heal up...not to mention Randolph Carter's little wonder pill enhancing his strength. Bruce easily knocks the big man out and tosses him through a window. The story ends with the Caped Crusader looking over his handiwork...and letting out a shriek-like laugh of triumph.
I did enjoy this comic. Now, I can imagine that some may ask why Batman is taking his failure so hard, but keep in mind, this story is set rather early in the Dark Knight's superhero career. This story is telling the tale of Batman's first major failure to save someone. I can imagine this would have brought back all the feelings of powerlessness and helplessness he felt when his parents were killed.
Von Eeden, Braun, and Russell are a very formidable artwork team. I love the final product of their work. Great storytelling and work on the facial expressions.
If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2012 trade paperback Batman: Venom. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!
No comments:
Post a Comment