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    Review: Batman #689

    Stephen SchleicherBy Stephen SchleicherAugust 16, 20096 Comments4 Mins Read

    batman689PICON.jpg

    Batman #689 continues Dick Grayson’s incremental takedown of the Penguin’s many underworld schemes, thanks to tips from an anonymous source.  But like any good would be kingpin, Oswald Copplepot isn’t going to take these attacks lightly.

    batman689cover.jpgWhat’s interesting about Dick’s taking on the role of Batman isn’t that he’s fighting all of Batman’s old foes in a new way, but his attitude while doing it.  Instead of the grim and gritty Dark Knight, Dick actually enjoys his work – for what it is worth, and it shows in the many surveillance videos of the hero in action.  Unfortunately, the Penguin is not to happy about the latest rounds of attacks, and teams up with Black Mask to unleash a trap on the hero.

    While Bruce had the Joker, Dick has always had an enemy in Harvey Dent. With the reappearance of Batman in Gotham City, Two-Face is starting to piece things together as Judd Winick and the rest of the Batman Universe writing teams begin to shift Two-Face to the top of Batman’s Rogues List.  Winick does a really good job in this issue by showing how far Harvey is willing to go to figure out what is going on, and easily shows how much Two-Face and Batman are enjoying their new roles.

    I also like the interplay between Dick and Alfred in this issue.  Instead of the stoic passive-aggressive exchange Bruce and the Batman’s batman had with one another, Alfred is actually having a moment as he adjusts to the changes. It’s nice to see this in a Batman title, as readers no longer feel the pressure on their chests from the oppressive nature that was Bruce Wayne.

    And since this issue is called Batman, it is also welcome that Damian appears in name only in this issue. He’s an interesting character that is starting to grow on me, but too much of the brat will have me quickly reaching for the phone the moment DC sets up an 800 number asking people to call in to vote to see if he lives or dies.

    Throughout the issue, Winick does a good job of letting the reader know that Dick knows all the tips he’s been receiving are only setting him up for a trap down the road.  The payoff comes at the end, when the trap is sprung before Batman is really ready to deal with the return of Clayface (looking especially horrific) and a new baddie in the form of The Soldier.

    Mark Bagley takes up the pen and ink for this issue, and does a fantastic job.  There are times when his pencils look a great deal like Jim Lee, yet remains his own throughout.  As mentioned above, I like what he has done with the single panel appearance of Clayface, and hope he can stretch this villain out a truly terrifying creature.  The only weird panel in this issue occurs when Batman shoots exploding fire retardant at a building all ablaze. There is a shot of those trapped inside making their escape, and because of the cool coloring of the panel, and the white foam looking like ice or snow, everyone in the panel appears to be frozen in mid-flight.  It’s a little jarring each time I look at it, which probably means I should stop looking at it.

    Overall, I like what Winick is doing with Dick Grayson and his run as Batman.  The story is tight enough that it doesn’t slow down, and isn’t too outlandish to make me through up my hands in disgust – though the jury is still out on the flying Batmobile. Batman #689 is an engaging read, and one that readers will want to pay attention to down the road as villains rise, a new Batman adjusts, and something big begins to build.  I’m giving Batman #689 4 out of 5 Stars.

    4stars.jpg

    anonymous source Batman black mask brat chests dark knight dick grayson Good Job Harvey Dent having a moment Interplay Joker kingpin old foes oppressive nature oswald penguin Rogues takedown Winick
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    Stephen Schleicher
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    Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...

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    6 Comments

    1. Robbie on August 17, 2009 12:44 am

      This was my fav floppy of the week too. ALL the Batman books are so good right now. I love it!

    2. Brian on August 17, 2009 7:28 am

      I love the Batman comics but can’t help feeling that this isn’t what i signed up for. I loved the Bat-jerk era with the OMAC’s and trust issues. I loved the dark and moody. Now we have Batman … Smiling!?! That is starting to turn me away from my favorite title. Hopefully Bruce comes back soon … right now i’m only reading for the villians and NONE of the heroes (minus Alfred of course).

    3. Dave Morgan on August 17, 2009 10:49 am

      I’ll take this Batman for a long time to come. It’s new, it opens up avenues for stories that could never be told otherwise. That said, we know it’s not going to last long, is it?

    4. CMonocle on August 17, 2009 1:11 pm

      I thought the same thing about that panel. I thought he used Mr. Freeze tech or something.

    5. Bill92 on August 17, 2009 5:53 pm

      I have to agree that although I miss bruce dick has been a welcome change in the costume. Dick has always been a great character and seeing how he handles the mantle in his own way while still getting the job done is fantastic. The fact that he sets up cameras and leaves evidence to make sure convictions stick instead of just pummelling baddies was a great way for him to make the mantle his own. I hope that he stays put for a while in the costume.

    6. ~wyntermute~ on August 17, 2009 5:55 pm

      I tried to comment upon this before, but the website ate my post. The “Batplanemobile” is awesome, IMHO, because BATS FLY. THEY DO NOT WALK, THEY DO NOT SWIM, THEY DO NOT CRAWL. THEY FLY. (Well, I know they have legs and CAN walk, but ordinarily bats are airborne.) Sorry for getting all-capsy there, but if Mr. Wayne had wanted to travel exclusively by road, perhaps he shoulda called himself Die Fleidermaus. :D

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