BATMAN: DARK DETECTIVE (2005) #1
- "Some Enchanted Evening"


Summary:

A mysterious figure is throwing a coin and is asked "Tonight, Sir?". He answers "No, Not Tonight". Then we switch to Batman who is checking out the security by teasing the police who are chasing him during this point of his career. The cops are guarding a foundraiser of Evan Gregory, who wants to become governor. Bruce Wayne visits this event which is a masquerade ball. During his speech, Evan Gregory introduces his fiancee Silver St. Cloud, she and Bruce Wayne make eye contact and remember their fateful affair. But their discussion - which Gregory, unaware of their past history joins, is then interrupted by THE JOKER, who now plays a politician who threatens the audience by saying "VOTE FOR ME, OR I'LL KILL YOU" and wants one million dollar from everyone. He threatens a guy called Haney (a reference to Bob Haney?) who is the first to be collected, the next night. The Joker is leaving, but Batman is now there and a fight ensures. But the Joker escapes. The party ends and we go back to the beginning of the story: The mysterious figure is revealed to be - surprise, surprise - TWO-FACE who cancels his planned scheme (cossing a coin, of course) - after he has heard what had just happened at the fundraiser - by proclaiming that "First the Joker must die!"



Parker's thoughts:

While Englehart/Roger's run from the 70s is hailed as the "definitive Batman" by many, this run got heavy flak by many back in the day. Of course not as much as Frank Miller for "The Dark Knight Strikes Again", but there was simply no big impact. Which is understandable. Contrary to what most writers did, Englehart did not update his style to modern day storytelling, but instead this is a full-blown throwback to the Bronze Age - it is even handlettered, but of course the production quality is much higher, which generates gorgeous art! The story is supposed to play in the now-time of then-continuity, this isn't like LOTDK or an Elseworld, that's why Batman is hunted by the cops. But there is a big error in it - Two-Face is supposed to be fixed, this is post-Hush and pre-Face The Face, but whatever. Gregory also talks about breaking the old Thorne cartel once and for all - despite Rupert Thorne never having played any role in the Batman titles since early 80s. Also the Joker mentions his iconic Jokerfish.



Evan Gregory just comes off as a very nice and honest guy, not a shaddy politician. What else could you expect from a guy who claims that he want "to make the state great again!". He is also brave and stands up to the Joker! But he also has a pretty dumb moment. The Joker offers him a handshake - and he complies! Of course, he is electro-buzzed! There is not much tension in Silver St. Cloud (the name is and remains dumb) and Bruce Wayne's meeting, both pretend that it's mostly offer and stuff, albeit they are clearly unsettled by their meeting. In the end, after having witnessed the Batman, Gregory even says Batman is awesome and that he will support him. Silver just responds she doesn't care about Batman - but that is clearly not a lie, rather a suppression.





The Joker is just PERFECT to me. Say what you want, Silver St. Cloud (despite what Englehart tells you) is not Batman's best love interest, but his Joker... he is funny and witty, he even speaks with weird puns and his speech fonts are drawn cartoony! And he still feels deadly and deranged. When Batman tries to catch him with his rope he can't - because the Joker wears an acid suit. Of course! Why not! Then in the elevator fight he proposes a "backroom deal" (no police pursuit anymore!), like a good politician would! And then when Batman reprograms the elevator to go up to jump out in the final movement, the Joker seems to have been squashed at the ceiling as blood is raining down. No, it isn't - it's ketchup the Joker apparently carries around all the time. This is clearly a pre-Killing Joke/Death In the Family Joker/Batman interaction, and it is better for that. Oh, and did I mention that the Joker taunts his elevator remote control "Stop you ungrateful mechanical midget! I have you life!". Bonkers!



Really, this is Bronze Age comic books fun, I don't see anything that doesn't warrant a perfect score. Unpretentious, action-filled superhero adventure!



5/5