Batman makes his return In Brian Azzarello’s final chapter of the “First Wave” series number 6. Unfortunately Batman’s role in this final chapter is minimized despite what we see on the cover where he is in the forefront alongside The Spirit and Doc Savage.   As for the “long wait” like many other books containing Batman this one was running a tad late. To be more specific, the last time I put fingers to keyboard for issue number five was December twelfth of last year. I’d…

Tags: anton colossi, batman, brian azzarello, doc savage, dr littlejohn, dr no, first wave, hugo drax, indiana jones, james bond, joe frazier, nei ruffino, phil winslade, rags morales, rick bryant, rima the jungle girl, spirit, star wars

This is the penultimate issue of Brian Azzarello’s First Wave series featuring Batman, The Spirit and Doc Savage. I suppose if this was a TV episode we could expect this to be the strongest of the series with a letdown for the final chapter. But since we haven’t seen the finale yet we’ll have to reserve comment.   Before I get too deep into this review I’d like to comment on the cover by J.G. Jones. Front and center is Batman flanked by the Spirit and…

Tags: anton colossi, batman, batman incorporated, blackhawk, brian azzarello, bruce wayne, darth vader, death star, doc savage, first wave, golden tree, gotham city, han solo, jg jones, justice league of america, luke skywalker, mr sunlight, rima the jungle girl, spirit, tarzan

Bruce Wayne makes his return in Brian Azzarello’s fresh take on the golden age Batman in First Wave #4. Yes, not Batman makes his return, Bruce Wayne. For this latest chapter in Azzarello’s deeply intricate mystery Batman initially takes a back seat as the sleuthing is better left to the splashy entrance of the millionaire playboy.   As we discussed in the past reviews Azzarello has re-imagined Batman fighting along such golden age heroic luminaries such as Doc Savage, The Spirit and the Black Hawks. As…

Tags: anton colossi, batman, blackhawk, brian azzarello, bruce wayne, carrie fisher, doc savage, first wave, rags morales, rima the jungle girl, spirit

After appearing for only a single frame free of dialog in book two, Batman returns for a much larger role in “First Wave” number three.   For many of us that read the Batman titles these days we’ve had to adjust to the non-linear storylines that have become so popular. From Grant Morrison’s “Batman & Robin” series to “Batman-Odyssey” by Neal Adams. These storylines are convoluted and often jump back and forth through the narrative to various points in time.   Brain Azzarello (with pencils from Rags Morales with Rick Bryant, Nei Ruffino…

Tags: alfred pennyworth, batman, batman and robin, batman: odyssey, blackhawk, bob almond, brian azzarello, bruce wayne, doc savage, first wave, grant morrison, neal adams, nei ruffino, rags morales, rick bryant, spirit

Batman finally makes his return in the second issue of the “First Wave” series along side Doc Savage and the Spirit. And for all his fame and notoriety he gets one panel. That’s’ right, one panel. Oh, and no dialog. We finally see Batman as he wraps up a would be mugger in his cape making quick work of the bad guy. But that’s it. Make no mistake about it, “First Wave” is a Doc Savage vehicle and through the first two issues he is sharing the limelight with…

Tags: batman, black canary, brian azzarello, doc savage, first wave, justice inc, nei ruffino, rags morales, spirit

We loyal followers of the Dark Knight are in for a treat this year. No, not just a treat, a singular event. Perhaps something that many of us will only experience once in a lifetime. This year DC comics will not only follow the adventures of one Batman but as many as four, or quite possibly seven!   In 2010 in what I call “The Year of the Batmen” I will endeavor to chronicle these various manifestations of Batman and discuss the dynamic of having their respective storylines running concurrently. Even…

Tags: batman confidential, batman: earth one, blackest night, brian azzarello, bruce wayne, dc comics, dick grayson, doc savage, first wave, gary frank, geoff johns, grant morrison, james robinson, jla, judd winick, rags morales, spirit, superman/batman, tony daniel