Greetings and salutations, all. Welcome to a new RETRO REVIEW and this week I’ve dug through the comic book vault and pulled out a couple of comics I forgot I even owned. They are Detective Comics # 569, cover dated December 1986 and Detective Comics # 570, cover dated January 1987. Both are published by DC Comics.
Both of the comics feature covers pencilled by Alan Davis and inked by Paul Neary. Here is the first one:
Detective Comics # 569 Dec 1986
And here is the second:
Detective Comics # 570 Jan 1987
Issue # 569 is written by Mike Barr with the same cover art team providing the interior illustrations. This issue is entitled;”Catch As Catscan” The issue kicks off with Batman and Robin preventing a robbery at the Gotham Medical Supply Warehouse, where a Catscan machine is being stored. As you might guess, the hoods belong to Catwoman. Or do they?
As Catwoman appears and turns on her own gang! Catwoman comes on to Batman, or maybe it was Selina coming on to Bruce, but Batman pushes her away with a “Please, Selina, not in front of the boy.” The scene shifts and the true villain of the comic makes an appearance, the Joker!
It appears that he is in a slump, as he hasn’t pulled a job in months and it looks like his inspiration for crime has vanished, until one of his henchmen delivers a newspaper with a headline that says; “Dynamic Trio nabs gang”. The story telling of the capture of Catwoman’s old gang by Batman, Robin & Catwoman, herself!
The Joker sends his calling card to Commissioner Gorden and he contacts Batman and Robin, and Catwoman shows up, as well. The three heroes (?) rush off to confront the Joker, who is stealing an historical joke book. The Joker overcomes the heroes, leaves Batman and Robin tied up and leaves with Catwoman as his captive!
The scene shifts again and we see the Joker and some doctor trying to get Catwoman to convert to his side, i.e. villainy. This is where the issue ends.
Issue # 570 opens with Batman searching the underworld trying to find the Joker and his hideout. Meanwhile, under torture, it appears that the Joker and forced Catwoman to reveal Batman’s secret identity! Batman and Robin track the Joker to his liar, but the Joker escapes with Catwoman before Batman and Robin can battle through all his henchmen.
As they speed away in a Jokermobile, Batman manages to grab ahold of the vehicle and we get a nicely drawn Alan Davis Batman versus Catwoman fight. Catwoman comes out on top and she and the Joker escape. The scene switches and we find that Selina has not given the Joker Batman’s actual identity, as they kidnap a family that the Joker believes is the Batman’s but is not!
Held captive is a father and his young son, as well as, his comatose teenage daughter. Batman and Robin arrive and engage the Joker. During the fight the Joker shocks the daughter and brings her out of her coma before being taken down by the Batman. Catwoman reveals she has never been under the Joker’s control and helps Batman and Robin with the Joker’s capture.
So even the the Joker had evil plans, he ends up doing good by accidentally bring the captured comatose daughter out of her coma! So things end well and the Joker is headed back to jail.
Hope you enjoyed this week’s RETRO REVIEW and plan on returning next week, for a new Fabulous Find. Til then …
be seeing you …
