REVIEW - Batman Strange Apparitions

BATMAN: STRANGE APPARITIONS

Written by Steve Englehart and Len Wein; Art by Marshall Rogers, Terry Austin and Walter Simonson

Review by Brian Grindrod

During the late 1970s, DC managed to entice writer Steve Englehart aboard on Detective Comics. At Marvel, Englehart had repeatedly proven his skills and imagination on titles such as Avengers, Captain America and Incredible Hulk. Teamed up with Marshall Rogers on pencil and coloring, they created classic stories where today, their version of Batman is regarded as one of the authoritative alongside that of Frank Miller, Dennis O'Neil & Neil Adams, Dick Sprang and of course, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson and Bill Finger's.

The first instalment starts off with the introduction of Dr. Phosphorous and the corrupt Gotham City Councillor, Rupert Thorne. Englehart also presents us a new love interest for Bruce Wayne, Silver St. Cloud. The good doctor has made very few appearances since then (notably in Starman) but Thorne has become a feature villain in the animated television series while St. Cloud served as the template for Vicki Vale's persona in Tim Burton's blockbuster film. Both characters also serve as important elements throughout Englehart's epic run on Detective Comics.

Unfortunately, the first two instalments in Strange Apparitions is not representative of excellent pencil work on behalf of Walt Simonson. Do not expect the type of visual which made Simonson's Thor, Fantastic Four and Orion memorable masterpieces. However, the events and characters' presentation solidly sets up the stage for the next seven chapters in Englehart's story arc.

Marshall Rogers pencilled back up features in Detective Comics #466, #467 as well as a full length story in issue 468 prior to being assigned as regular artist on the duration of Englehart's tenure in '77 & '78. The decision to pair him up with Englehart as well as adding inker Terry Austin to the creative team was another genial one by editor Julius Schwartz. With Rogers' stylized pencil work, angular structure and keen sense of cinematic poses, his Batman appeared more sleek & athletic instead of bulky and muscular.

Rogers also strongly emphasizes background scenery and the architecture of Gotham City. It brings a vivid grandeur to the stories' setting. Combined with Englehart's prominent scribing, their depiction of Bruce Wayne is simply not a facade for the Dark Knight. Bruce Wayne and Batman are one and the same. Englehart strongly emphasizes the man behind the mask without resorting to poorly personifying psycho babble melodrama that has been so prominent since Jim Starlin's departure from the Batman title in 1989.

The team's first effort offers a story which represents a villain which had long been forgotten but yet appeared in the historic first issue of Batman. Thirty-five years after his last appearance, Hugo Strange was reintroduced to a new generation of readers. While Englehart revitalized Hugo Strange and built upon the character's Golden Age foundation, the next four chapters features two of Batman's greatest arch foes. "The Malay Penguin" also marks the guest appearance of Robin who in the last two instalments plays a minor but important role. The complicity and friendship between the two is well depicted as they thwart another outlandish caper by Oswald Cobblepot. This tale also demonstrates Batman's detective prowess and skills as well as Robin's admiration for his mentor.

In the next chapter, Englehart totally revamps a throw away villain from yesteryear. A character which became instrumental in John Ostrander's Suicide Squad series and fortified him as one of the deadliest maniacs in Batman's Rogue Gallery. In a story which seems to pay homage to Dick Sprang's outlandish "props" from the Golden Age, Deadshot is now a menace in very sense of the word.

"The Laughing Fish" and "Sign Of The Joker" stories are considered as the paramount confrontation between Batman and Joker since their first clash in 1940. Englehart severs all ties from Joker's dreaded Clown Prince Of Crime persona and brings him back to his Pre- Comic Code Authority roots. His camp Silver Age characterization now makes place for his true homicidal disposition and his psychotic nature is even more prominent. Only Frank Miller and Alan Moore have been able to exquisitely portray Joker's genial and demented psyche as well as Englehart.

The last two instalments marks a shuffle in the creative team. Dick Giordano replaces Austin as inker while Englehart's position is succeeded by Len Wein. Giordano's influence is quite evident as his heavier inking style slightly alters the look of Rogers' dynamic pencil work and layout. Wein's writing on the two part story introducing an utterly deranged villain establishes why he has his place amongst comic book greats. Wein is Co-creator of Swamp Thing and one of the masterminds behind the relaunch of Marvel Comics' X-Men franchise. Perhaps Clayface III is another lunatic amongst many in Batman's extensive and rich Rogues Gallery but Wein manages to separate him from the other two villains bearing the same name by making the reader sympathetic to his plight. His physical deformity and Clayface's failed attempt at a cure only spiralled his high intellectual capacity into the mouth of madness. But a killer is a killer... Only the imaginative and depraved mind of Alan Moore has been able to recapture and evolve upon the terror of Clayface's powers and mindset.

Strange Apparitions is a worthy edition for all Batman fans, astute comic book readers and those who wish to enjoy a viable representation of the essence of Bob Kane & Bill Finger's character. Englehart, Wein and Rogers' offering to the character's mythos and storytelling standards which left its mark on the Batman legacy may be occasionally equalled but rarely surpassed. This is Batman in his finest hour.