REVIEW - Batman: Tales Of The Demon

BATMAN: TALES OF THE DEMON

Art by Neal Adams, Irv Novick, Dick Giordano and others; Cover by Neal Adams

Review by Brian Grindrod

While most of the material was originally published during the early 1970s, none of it appears outdated or lackluster; a testimony to Dennis O'Neil & Neal Adams' vision of comic book storytelling. This trade paperback edition also includes stories that first appeared in 1978, 1979 & 1980.

There is no doubt that The Joker is the most recognizable nemesis of Batman's rogue gallery. Alongside The Penguin, Two-Face, The Riddler and Catwoman, these characters have helped define as well as elevate The Caped Crusader's popularity in all mediums whether it be comic books, animation or film. However, what separates Ra's Al Ghul from the other villains is that he is not grotesque in appearance nor is he prolifically insane. Contrary to Batman's high profiled enemies, this character is treacherously intelligent, logical and relies on order instead of chaos to further advance his plans. Another distinctive trait is that by harnessing the earth's magnetic currents and the properties of certain chemicals, he has invented a method to revive his body when death approaches. The aptly named `Lazarus Pit' has allowed Ra's Al Ghul several lifetimes in which he created a network whose goal is to cleanse the earth of a parasite that is destroying the planet. That is, the over abundance of human population that is making the air non-breathable, the water undrinkable and rapidly depleting our planet's life giving resources. Al Ghul has no desire to completely wipe out the human race but rather to downsize it at a level that the earth can sustain and of course, would usher this new age as its master. He views himself as a visionary that will save mankind and the environment but Batman regards him as nothing more than a dangerous madman who must be stopped at all costs. Obviously, Ra's Al Ghul's goal is not to commit crimes in an attempt to best Batman in a match of wits or brawn. This is beneath him. In fact, he regards Batman as his most fitting successor and husband to his beautiful daughter, Talia.

With such a complex and unique character, Dennis O'Neil chronicled some of the greatest Batman tales ever. He returned Batman to his roots as a creature of the night but does not shy away from showing a defeated Caped Crusader in combat situations against the likes of The Bronze Tiger or lagging behind an Olympic ski medalist. This important aspect allows the hero to be accessible to the audience. Bruce Wayne's tragedy is obviously still at the core of the character but O'Neil does not hammer down this point incessantly where we can no longer differentiate Batman from his cast of villains. O'Neil's Dark Knight Detective is an intense and determined crime fighter but can still interact with his entourage while prone to failure. In fact, this Batman is not above seeking help in order to bring down Ra's Al Ghul.

Neal Adams' contribution to the North American comic book industry is impossible to measure or quantify. His style has directly as well as indirectly influenced comic book artists for four decades. Adams' facet to perspective and anatomy brought a heightened realism to the character that led the way for future Batman artists such as Marshal Rogers and Alan Davis. While Tales Of The Demon does not feature the best of Don Newton's work, he certainly belongs as one of the top Batman pencillers who could bring out the moody and dark atmosphere of the Dark Knight's world. His four year run on Detective Comics and Batman is still sadly overlooked. Irv Novick is another artist who never seems to get the proper recognition for his astounding body of work. His slick pencilling style puts him in the same league as Gil Kane, John Buscema and Ross Andru. Novick was an artist who could convey all the vibrant action and dynamic pacing of a story that made Batman come to life. This trade paperback also reprints the excellent Dennis O'Neil/Michael Golden collaboration from DC Special Series #15. His highly detailed work from the late 1970s and 1980s made him one of the most relevant artists in the comic book medium during those decades.

Tales Of The Demon is a worthy companion piece to other editions such as Batman: Black & White and Batman: Year Two. While Bob Kane and Bill Finger are the ones responsible for creating this wonderful character, it is Dennis O'Neil who brought back the approach that made him great during The Golden Age of comics. For over six decades, many writers and artists have left their stamp on the Batman legacy but most of them pale in comparison to the inspirational work of O'Neil & Adams.