Long-time writer Marv Wolfman is best known for his many years alongside artist George Pérez on the long running Teen Titans series, one of the biggest DC Comics hits of the 1980s, in which the main character was Robin, a.k.a. Dick Grayson, the former partner of the Caped Crusader, Batman. So, it is kind of fitting that Grayson has so space on this volume.
Tales of the Batman is a collection of books published by DC Comics, presenting a series of books written by some of the main writers in Batman history from the 1970s onward. This volume, for instance presents, in chronological order, stories authored by Wolfman from his first work with the character, in 1971, until 1989. The opening issue presented here, by the way, is a classic: “The House that Haunted Batman” (Detective Comics #408), co-written with legendary editor Len Wein and pencilled by the even more legendary artist Neal Adams. The plot? The kidnapping of Robin by an unknown enemy.
After that, the stories jump to 1980, with the main run of Wolfman on Batman’s own title, with a plot focused on the resurgence of old criminals such as Two-Face and a redeemed Catwoman. But the main storyline, with art by veterans Irv Novick and Frank McLaughlin, brings a new threat that eventually culminates in the return of master villain Ra’s al Ghul in the four-part “The Lazarus Affair” (Batman # 332 to 335). It is a good story, never collected elsewhere before or since, full of action and intrigue. The subplot of this run is the failing relationship between Bruce Wayne, Batman’s alter ego, and Dick Grayson, who has abandoned college to the chagrin of his mentor.
Later, there are two stories with a crossover of the Teen Titans and the Outsiders, a superhero team led by Batman. Once again, the subplot is about the differences in method and philosophy between the Dark Knight and Robin. The volume ends up with what is arguably its most famous story, Batman: Year Three (issues 436 to 439), focusing on Robin’s origin: the loss of his parents, the adoption by Bruce Wayne and the start of his career as the hero’s sidekick. It is a good and emotional story, revisiting some important moments in Batman’s story with a modern outlook (well, modern for 1989). Dick Grayson, now reinvented as Nightwing, tries to bring Batman from the dangerous edge he has been on since the death of Jason Todd, the second boy to take on the mantle of Robin. Alfred, the butler, has a very important role in the plot, as a moral compass and a loving surrogate father to both heroes, which makes it even clearer how much the character is missed in modern Batman books (thanks so much, Dan Didio!). The weak points here are the pencils by Pat Broderick (who would later become a strong artist, but is less impressive here) and the realization that the storyline was probably retitled Batman: Year Three by editorial mandate due to the success of Batman: Year One and Two, since the structure (split between a contemporary narrative and flashbacks) is very different from those four-part stories.
All in all, a good volume with interesting and fun stories to revisit or read for the first time.
Tales of the Batman: Marv Wolfman – Volume 1 (2020, DC Comics)
By Marv Wolfman, Neal Adams, Irv Novick, Pat Broderick
392 páginas
Nota: 7 nerds (de 10) 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
Did you enjoy it? Give it a like and leave a comment!
