Knightfall Recall: Detective Comics #660

 Detective Comics #660: "Crocodile Tears"

Art by Sam Keith

Written by Chuck Dixon, Penciled by Jim Balent, Inked by Scott Hana, Colored by Adrienne Roy, Lettered by John Costanza

And now for something completely different. After the last installment's intense hostage standoff, we take a trip to the sewers of Gotham. Killer Croc lurks, munching on rats and lamenting his broken arms he suffered from Bane in Batman #489 which did not make the cut of this collection unfortunately. Meanwhile Bane gloats as he watches the aftermath of the Zsasz hostage situation. "What purpose does the terror I have created serve if I cannot savor it?"

Bird reports to Bane that Batman hasn't even run up against "major league" criminals and he is already looking beat. Robin has followed Bird and discovered Bane but recalls being told not to confront the monster. He attempts to contact Batman who is unresponsive, exhausted from his clash with Mr. Zsasz. 

In rapid fire, we see the Ventriloquist still on the loose and contacting his attorney to inquire about Scarface, the police discuss that murders are heading towards triple digits following the Arkham breakout, and Robin follows Bane as he goes out. Bane quickly realizes he is being followed, attacks and captures Robin. 

Robin regains consciousness after being dragged into the sewers and blindfolded. Interrogating the boy, Bane looks for more information to aid him in his quest to break Batman. However, he senses the presence of another and disappears. Killer Croc removes Robin's blindfold only to be attacked by Bane. "I am Bane! The bane of anything that gets in my way! The bane of anything that lives!" The two behemoths battle, knocking Robin aside. Bane rebreaks Croc's arm but the issue ends with the three lost in the sewers.

Definitely a step down from the intensity of the Zsasz issue but how about that Sam Keith cover art?

Next time: Batman #494

Knightfall Recall: Interlude

 

Art by Graham Nolan

Knightfall Recall: Batman #493

Art by Kelley Jones

 Batman #493: "Redslash"

Written by Dough Moench, Penciled and Inked by Norm Breyfogle, Colored by Adrienne Roy, Lettered by Tim Harkins

By far the most brutal issue yet, the latest installment of Knightfall establishes that thirty-odd murders have already been committed since the Arkham Asylum breakout. The current status on four of the escapees are as follows: The Mad Hatter and Amygdala have been captured, the Ventriloquist remains on the loose, and Film Freak has been killed by Bane. Batman continues to run himself ragged trying to round these criminals up. "No rest, not for the wicked... nor those who dare deal with them." And now serial killer Mr. Zsasz has taken fifteen hostages at an all-girls high school.

Lt. Kitch is on the scene with the police outside the school and waiting to hear from the man they've sent in. Another officer gets too antsy and decides to go in as well. He soon discovers his fellow officer's body and is attacked by Zsasz. Bane observes on television while Bird scouts Batman. Bird suggests they move on Batman only to be told "He is not ready to be broken... not quite yet." 

Harvey Bullock and Renee Montoya arrive on the scene informing Kitch that Commissioner Gordon has been summoned to the mayor's mansion. Zsasz hurls the two cops' corpses from the building and sends them crashing onto a squad car. Batman decides to make his move and heads into the school building. Activating his night vision lenses, he discovers Robin in the building going after Zsasz as well. Robin tells Batman about his encounter with Bird and is ordered to follow him but also warned not to confront Bane.

Montoya goes into the building and barges in on Zsasz just as he prepares to begin slaughtering the girls. Offering herself in exchange, Zsasz grabs her and holds a knife to her throat. Batman runs in and Montoya headbutts Zsasz while he monologues. Zsasz flees with Batman in pursuit. Catching the killer, Batman brutally beats him to the point of having to be called off by Montoya. The man behind the mask is beginning to crack.

Next time: Detective Comics #660

Knightfall Recall: Interlude

 

McFarlane Toy based on Sean Gordon Murphy's redesign.

Knightfall Recall: Detective Comics #659

 Detective Comics #659: "Puppets"

Art by Kelley Jones

Written by Chuck Dixon, Penciled and Inked by Norm Breyfogle, Colored by Adrienne Roy, Lettered by Tim Harkins

"The walls of Arkham came tumbling down..."

Detective Comics begins its part of the Knightfall story with a flashback to the night Bane launched his assault on Arkham Asylum and freed dozens of inmates. Maxie Zeus, boasting of bringing lightning down from the heavens to enable the escape, flees the grounds of the asylum only to run face first into a tree and suffer a broken nose. The Ventriloquist is another inmate fleeing, using a sock puppet to aid him in his search for Scarface. Offering his aid because "somebody blew up [his] room" is the physically massive yet childlike Amygdala.

Moving forward to where we last left off in the arc, Batman and Robin discover Film Freak's body in an alley and easily conclude he has been beaten to death. The two heroes leave before police arrive on the scene with a Lt. Kitch leading the investigation. The cops discuss among themselves that twelve homicides have been committed since the breakout.

Batman and Robin continue to make their patrol in an effort to capture more of the escaped inmates with Robin voicing his concern for Batman's well being. Tailing the pair is the pet falcon of Bane's henchman Bird. The dynamic duo follow a report on a toy store break in. The Ventriloquist and his new friend are searching for a suitable Scarface. Batman enters the toy store after demanding Robin stay put in the Batmobile. He's immediately blindsided by Amygdala.

Robin has noticed the falcon monitoring his movements and decides to investigate because it is not a native species of Gotham. He soon stumbles upon Bird. The caped crusaders' brawls with the villains inter-cut with each other. Batman is tossed around easily before Amygdala breaks down due to a panic attack. Robin is nearly killed before Bane radios Bird to call him off. 

And now a police report comes in that Mr. Zsasz is holding hostages at a school for girls.

Art by Norm Breyfogle.

The issue builds the pressure of Batman running himself ragged trying to recapture the criminals of Arkham. It is also a beautiful showcase of Norm Breyfogle's art.

Next time: Batman #493

Knightfall Recall: Batman #492

 Batman #492: "Crossed Eyes and Dotty Teas"

Art by Kelley Jones

Written by Doug Moench, Penciled and Inked by Norm Breyfogle, Colored by Adrienne Roy, Lettered by Richard Starkings

Remember how I referred to the last issue as "wild"? Well... Batman #492 opens with the Mad Hatter breaking into the Gotham Zoo to steal a chimpanzee. Later, the two are cruising in a convertible and being monitored by Bane's henchman Bird and his pet falcon. Once the bird flies too close, the chimpanzee snatches it so Hatter can tag it with a tracker. Hoo boy.

As the police assess various crimes, we learn that nine violent crimes and six murders have been committed by the Arkham escapees thus far. Batman has already begun to run himself ragged in tracking them down. "I would view this mass escape as my worst nightmare come true..." To visually emphasize his exhaustion, Batman is unshaven!

Investigating a haberdashery break-in with Robin, Batman discovers an invitation to the Hatter's tea party. There, the Mad Hatter distributes hats stolen from the haberdashery and wired with his mind control technology to various small-time criminals. Pulling aside one of the criminals, Hatter sends Film Freak to track down the falcon and discover who has been monitoring his movements.

Film Freak is a villain created by Doug Moench and Tom Mandrake in the mid-1980s. Obsessed with movie villains, Film Freak adopts personas to commit his crimes. Hatter suggests The Godfather's Luca Brasi as he is sent on his way.

Soon thereafter, Batman and Robin arrive to capture the Hatter and engage in a massive brawl with the gathered criminals. Inter-cut with this is Bane absolutely wrecking Film Freak. Pumping Venom into his system, Bane mauls the man in an alley and leaves him dead while Batman is able to apprehend the Mad Hatter after reluctantly accepting Robin's aid. 

Next time: Detective Comics #659